The Stitch

We started off on Saturday - I finished up some work, and Brian picked me up after a morning of Skydiving. We drove out to Letchwork State Park for some kayaking. Please take a few minutes to check out some of the amazing New York scenery, it's worth it . . . . Learn about Letchworth!

I heart NY.

From the pictures you can get a good idea how far down we have to hike to get to the river. You also get an idea of how steep any trail is going to be too. Dragging a kayak is a simple feat going DOWN the hill. Coming back up is another story.

To get to the bottom, simply toss your gear into the kayak, throw the kayak on ground, stick your paddle into the front of the kayak, and give it a good shove down the hill. You can steer the kayak (somewhat) by guiding it with your paddle. You'll want to steer if there are other people on the trail - trust me, they DO NOT LIKE being run down by free-range kayaks.

Once you get to the bottom, be prepared to drag your kayak a couple hundred feet to the put in - but it's not too bad - you can hear the water by the time you reach the bottom of the gorge, and it gets you all antsy to hit the water!

Do the shove-the-butt into your kayak skirt dance, hop in, paddle upstream and play in the surf holes a bit. Once you're tired of that, you can park and drag over some more rocks, and get yourself past the surfholes (You can't really paddle upstream past them, so park and drag past them) There's a nice calm, deep hole past the surf holes where you can practice rolling if you're into that sort of deviant behavior. And further up is some MAJOR white water.

The boys love playing at Letchworth. I love watching them - mostly because I am the worst roller on the planet. I still don't have the hang of it - but that's ok, because I love hiking and looking for crawfish just as much as they love kayaking.

So the typical Letchworth day will end with the boys making a run of the entire strip at the base of the trail - it doesn't take more than ten minutes, and then will play in the surfholes for a while longer before making the trek back to the trucks. . . .

Yeah. That's the part that lingers in the back of my mind while shoving that kayak DOWN the hill at the start of the day. At some point, I will have to drag this flame pink critter back UP the hill."

It takes me almost an hour to do it. I have to stop frequently and my heart always feels like it is going to explode from my chest as I make that hike back up. I don't feel bad though - even Brian has to rest a few times on the way up, and he is Superman.

Personally I prefer the Salmon River - you can drive the kayak to the water's edge, hop in and paddle for a full day without ever having to walk. It's calm at the first stretch, and scary at the second stretch, so it really has good water for every skill level.

Geeesh, I'm ready for another day off! Boys, pack up the gear! Let's go! (Knowing full well that I won't have to twist their arms very hard to convince them!) Anyone out there wanna come with us? Just remember - you have to carry your own kayak! ;-)

Peace, till next.

6/26/03 - Thursday.

Whewwwwwwww - it is PASSIONATE outside. I think it's s'posed to hit the 90s today - and for anyone who has never experienced Lake Ontario summer, it's usually fairly moist when the temperatures rise. I'm not complaining though . . . well, ok, I *am* complaining. It's hot.

Big YAY to dear friend Adam who we went to dinner with last night at California Rollin'. This was my first sushi experience ever, and, although it was good, I don't know if I'll be knocking down any paper walls to get my hands on it. Our waitress was GREAT though. I heartily give it two thumbs and two toes up if you like sushi - or even if you don't - it's a comfy place with colorful ambiance.

Man, it's hot. Makes me wanna run around nekkid and eat sherbet with my fingers all day. Makes me wanna bathe in sherbet all day.

Back in my youth, I would spend summers at my grandparent's camp on Lake Ontario. . . .

Where the blood suckers will get you if you're not careful. Someone once told me that blood suckers (leeches) will attach their nasty, slimy black tar bodies to yours and then burrow deep, deep inside your veins, crawling around, living inside you, sucking your blood, until you slowly wither, and ultimately die.

I love walking along the shore of Lake Ontario collecting shells and rocks and sea glass . . . which makes me a prime target for blood suckers.

I was about 8 years old the first time I saved myself from leech death. I had been exploring the shore of the little beach on Sandy Pond and felt those "I gotta pee" urges creeping up on me. I tiptoed my way to the facilities - which, back then, was a rustic tin-walled shack, with one toilet, no lights, and a crapload of cobwebs and spiders. Unpleasant, but necessary for moments like these. I pulled my bathing suit down, squatted, (Mom's voice screeched thourgh my brain: "NEVER SIT ON PUBLIC TOILET SEATS, YOU WILL CATCH BUTT-CHEEK-ROT!") and started to pee.

Mom also told us that if we played with our belly buttons too much, they would come unscrewed and our butts would fall off.

It was dark inside that little shack, but a small window near the roof allowed a bit of sun into the room. Enough sunshine for me to see the BIG BLACK OOZY CREEPY CRAWLY BLOODSUCKER that had attached itself to my scrawny leg.

The color drained from my faceand I could feel my lifeforce being sucked through my skin. Death was imminent.

I jumped up from my squatting position, unable to control my bladder and managed to completely pee myself. In my hysterical panic, I started running around frantically, slamming into walls, wrapping my entire body with cobwebs and spider skeletons that were older than dirt.

I was a mess and I was dying and my last moments on earth were going to be in a tin-roof crapshack. Finally, a moment of sanity hit me and I was able to regain my composure long enough to realize that the only person who could save me was ME, and if I failed to pull this creature off my leg, I WAS GOING TO DIE.

I braced my body against the wall of bug-carcassed webs, bent over, held my breath, grasped the slimy creature with two fingers, closed my eyes and yanked that nastymiserablesonofabitch off my leg and threw it against the wall in one swift motion.

I was not going to die and I would live to a ripe old age and . . . I . . . looked around and breathed a heavy sigh and realized I was covered with urine, sweat, tears and spiderwebs. The realization that the spiders living in the spiderwebs were as bad as the leech, and I burst from the tiny shack, swimsuit soaked, wrapped around my ankles, causing me to lose my balance and land in a pile of dust-clouding sand. Golden days of youth, my ass.

Peace, till next.

6/23/03 - Monday

Star Date June 21, 2002, one year ago: Brian and the boys plan a weekend skydiving trip. When Heather finds out, she FREAKS. It's her birthday and the boys FORGOT. Brian winds up canceling plans at the verylastminute and spends a very romantic day with Heather. :-) He rocks.

Star Date June 13, 2003 - one week before Heather's birthday:

Geof: Hey! Since everyone is around next weekend, let's have a team practice - and let's do some mountain biking and geeky boy stuff. (Okay, he didn't say "geeky boy stuff," but that's what I heard.)

Me: Uhhhhh, NO?!?! It's MY BIRTHDAY and Brian has promised to do stuff with me! You guys ALWAYS do geeky boy stuff! I get to have ONE WEEKEND for Geeky Heather Birthday Stuff!

Geof: What, do you think?? It's all about you or something???

Me: Uhhhh, YEAH! It's MY BIRTHDAY! It *IS* all about me. If you want to give up your weekend and do GEEKY GIRL stuff with me, you can! But NO GEEKY BOY STUFF this weekend!!!!

Geof: <troll-ish giggle> Well, I think I'm gonna throw a cabin party since everyone is going to be around. . . . Oh yeah - everyone except YOU!

Me: <angry face> That's not fair! You know it's my birthday! Why can't you wait until AFTER my birthday?

Geof: <hard belly laughs, holding stomach - he's prolly gonna wet himself he thinks he's so .....grrrr....... funny>

So I stewed all week about Geof's party and how mean he was being. . . One weekend. That's all I wanted! One weekend for geeky GIRL stuff!

So I spend the week making little Geof voodoo dolls and tossing them to the cat.

Friday comes. Brian is supposed to be home from work at 5:30 and he has instructed me to 'be ready.'

"Ready for what?" I asked!

"Ready for ANYTHING," he said.

So I put on my "ready for anything" clothes and hop in the car.

West, he drove.

Me: <bouncing excitedly> Where are we going?

He: West.

We drove west for about an hour, and I said, "We're going to Darien Lake or to Geof's cabin" (the only two places I know "west")

We approach the Darien Lake exit and Brian screeches: Here it comes! Here's the Darien Lake exit HERE IT . . . . GOES!

He zips past the exit and bursts into laughter . . . then . . . .slows . . . down . . . . I jump forward looking to see where we're going and I break into a giant "Awwwwwwwww!" followed by a <grin>

He knows this geeky gal SO well! He's pulling into my *favorite* fine dining establishment for a gourmet feast.

He gets a shower of kisses as he pulls up to the window and screams "A bucket of extra crispy, slaw and mashed taters!"

I grin ear-to-ear as he orders an extra side of biscuits for me. He pulls out of the parking lot and continues west toward Geof's cabin - and I'm starting to get a little nervous. I know there's Geeky Boy stuff at Geof's, and I'm wondering if Geof has somehow convinced Brian that I really *would* enjoy some sledding off the cabin roof into the pond . . .

We are at the last stoplight before the turnoff to Geof's cabin. I think Brian has noticed the look on my face and he turns his signal light on in the direction of Geof's cabin. I can see him checking my reaction out of the corner of his eye and he deflects pending anger with

"Want to open one of your presents???"

Wellllllll, that's a SILLY question!

My mood is restored as he plucks a brilliantly wrapped masterpiece of festive shiny sparkly paper and hands it to me. I tear off the wrapping excitedly and inside is the most

amazing

interesting

white

Styrofoam cylinder . . .

what the???

"Open it!!!" he screeches, giggling excitedly. "I got it from a vending machine!"

mmmmmm-ok.

I pull back the plastic lid and I'm so happy I could bite my toes!

"I've got WORMS!" I cried!

My darling fiancé had bought me a giant container of the biggest fatty nightcrawlers on the planet! He was taking me FISHING!

WOOHOO! I *love* fishing!!!!!!

Geeky Boy Cabin situation has been become Geeky GIRL cabin situation - Brian decided to risk the wrath of Heather -- that all would be forgiven as soon as I figured out that they had actually planned an "All about Heather" Geeky Girl Cabin event.

But wait, there's more. :-)

We arrived at Geof's and the boys lead me to the barn, where they have saddled the horses for a sunset ride in the back pastures.

*sigh* I'm so touched that I almost cry - I can't believe what has been planned for me. For those who don't know - horseback riding and fishing are probably two of my favorite pastimes. And I'm blown away that Brian has gone to such elaborate lengths to plan this!

So we ride, stuff our bellies full with KFC, biscuits and slaw, and spend the evening with Jeremiah bullfroggin' and some moonlight mist fishing. It was *heaven* :-)

Saturday morning Brian and I traveled east to see my family. Erin made a fabulous litterbox cake - complete with tootsie roll turds hanging off the sides of the litter pan. It was DELISH! My family pitched in for a Home Depot gift certificate and a bag of nasty used socks (to wipe up all the paint I'm gonna spill in the new house!) (Thank you, family!)

Brian's mom sent a blouse (which I wore that night!) and a book about old home remodeling (it's a BIBLE of old home renovating!) with a note inside: "So you will always know if the boys are going about a project in the right way!" ;-) (Thank you, Mom!)

Brian gave me gardening tools, fuzzy velvet tights, grommeted tights (to wear while gardening! hehehe) and a BIG FINALE on Saturday night!

We drove into Rochester, passed a big old brick building with thousands of people gathered outside. A huge sign stood outside the door as we drove past: "SOLD OUT SHOW!"

Me: Is this where we are going?

He: MAYBEEEEEEEEEEE??????

Me: Ummm, it's sold out - do you have tickets?

He: Boy, I sure hope so!

Me: What is it????? Is it a play? A concert? WHAT???

He: It's a "Sold out!"

Me: Ha. Ha. Ha.

We park. I have no idea what we're doing. I only know it's sold out. There are no posters. None of the members of this enormous crowd are discussing what's happening inside.

Then I remembered something I had heard the week before. . . .

My friend Adam had told me that GUSTER was coming to Rochester on June 24. . . .

Now, I have TWO verymostfavorite bands. One is Seven Nations. The other is Guster. When Adam told me they were coming to town, I had emailed Brian asking him to see if it was true - and if so, to get tickets!

This flashed in my head - and I thought, "But it's not the 24th!"

Me: this isn't Guster, is it? They aren't supposed to be here until the 24th!?!?!

He: Welllll, I talked to my people and worked it out so they would do a special show on your birthday. <wink>

KFC Dinner: $25

Worms from a vending machine: $2.50

Dazzling sunset: Free

Geof misleading Heather into thinking that her birthday was going to be a Geeky boy event: $6.32 in voodoo doll sewing supplies

My guy Brian: Priceless, and a definite keeper. ;-)

Peace, till next.

6/19/03 - Thursday

Brian's a Trekkie. I had never dated a Trekkie before I met Brian, so when I first moved in with him and saw him watching Trekkie stuff, I was a little nervous.

At the time, the only thing I knew about Trekkies was that they email me frequently wanting to buy costumes for their conventions. So I knew that these folks were REALLY serious about their costumes and conventions. REALLY serious.

I wasn't sure *how* much of a Trekkie Brian was . . .

Brian watches Voyager each night before falling asleep - I get the impression that Voyager isn't *quite* the coolest Trekkie series - but if it's on TV before bed, it should be watched.

Now, the *only* taste of Star Trek I have ever had is that episode about Fribbles (Wait - I think that's a Friendly's shake) Maybe it's Tribbles or something like that. <shrugs> I dunno. . .

So this Voyager show left me with a TON of questions for darling Bri - (who really should be sainted for putting up with my constant interruptions)

Me: Why is Seven of Nine the only one who wears a skin tight jump suit?

Brian: Because she CAN.

Me: Why doesn't she have a red or a yellow stripe at the top?

Brian: Babe, she doesn't really need one, does she?

Me: But then she's not so very "uniform" like everyone else - why is that?

Brian: Because she is now an individual.

Me: So there's a really DEEP hidden meaning in her clothing?

Brian: Babe, look at her. Do you think they cast her for ANY sort of deep hidden meanings?

<brief pause for commercial>

Me: So who is THAT guy? <pointing enthusiastically at tv> I've never seen HIM before! Why is HE going on such a very important mission?

Brian: he's the guy who will die in about five minutes.

Me: How do you know?

Brian: Trust me.

Me: And what's with this replicator stuff? You're telling me that they can make ANY food out of nothing?

Brian: No, they make it out of SOMETHING. You can't just make SOMETHING out of NOTHING.

Me: What do they make it out of?

<New guy gets killed>

Me: Holy Cow, Brian! Did you see that?? <pointing enthusiastically at TV> That guy got killed! How did you know?

Brian: I told ya! I'm BRILLIANT! <cheesy grin>

So I've learned lotsa stuff about Voyager:

*The chick with the hottest bod gets the tightest suit.

*They can make cheesecake out of anything - and if they want runts, all they have to do is say "Computer, Runts." The computer will even take out the icky 'nanner ones.

*The new guy always dies

*Brian is very, very patient and very, very brilliant

*Every episode can be summarized like this:
Journal entry by Janeway or someone almost as important
Meet bad aliens
Seven of Nine wears a tight costume
Somebody gets beamed
Voyager gets shot at a kabillion times
Something on Voyager breaks and a lot of lights go out
Voyager shakes a lot
The bad guys lose
Voyager gets fixed
Voyager moves on

I still don't know anything about Star Trek - which I guess is a really different critter altogether. I still have not see a full episode other than the Fribble/tribbles one.

Mmmmm. Fribble. ;-)

"Computer, Fribble."

Peace, till next.

6/18/03 - WednesdayBANG!

BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG is cheerful noise that tickled my sleepy li'l Sleeping Beauty ears this morning. I awoke expecting chirpy chickadees to land on my delicate finger, mice to wrap me in silk robes, and the sun's rays to shine on my golden locks as angels whispered songs of peace to me.

BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG <cat freaks out and runs across my face: BAP-BAP-SKITTER-BAP>

What the?????

Who on EARTH wakes up on a Wednesday at 7am and decides that TODAY is the PERFECT day to lay carpet in the hallway right outside Brian and Heather's door?

My landlord, that's who.

:-) <~~~ sarcastic smile

I can't wait to move into the new house. <grumble, mutter> Where's the freaking coffee.

And already, I need another cup of coffee, please, because the BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG directly on the other side of this wall isn't quite loud enough yet.

*sigh*

Peace, till next.

6/17/03 - Tuesday

Brian came back from N'awlins with a plain brown paper bag and announced that there were magnificent gifties for ME inside. (I danced, joyfully!)

But then he said, "NO SNOOPING!"

So what does he do to keep me from snooping?

I'll tell ya!

He left the bag on his desk right here at home! Right there in plain snoopable view! I've been SOOOO tempted. I wanted just a tinylittleittybitty peek; just a preview of the coming attraction. But I *know* how disappointed he will be if I spoil the surprise, and that look of disappointment always, always breaks my heart, so I call my gal Ambie.

"Am! He's left the present bag RIGHT ON HIS DESK! Can you believe it???? All I have to do is lift one corner and I could see it! Just ONE LITTLE PEEK!!"

Am: Heath, don't do it! You'll ruin the surprise! Surprises are GOOD. Trust me! You'll be so disappointed if you peek!

Heather: Ohhhhh, It's killin' me!

Ambie: DON'T DO IT!

Heather: ARRRRRRGH!!!!!!

So I leave it ALONE. For FOUR DAYS I stalked that bag. I came SO CLOSE to peeking - but I didn't do it! I did not give in to temptation! I was feeling mighty darn proud of myself and then on Friday morning, Brian and I woke up giggling at each other, whispering as the sun rose on our little town.

Brian: <whisper, giggle> Wanna know what I got you for your birthday?

Me: <Freaking out, screaming, squealing> YES!!!! YESYESYES!!!!!!

Neighbor upstairs: <Thump, thump, thump> SHADDAP DOWN THERE!

Brian: <giggling again, grabbing paper bag> Here! Open it!

Me: <hesitating> No. I can't. <pouting> (I don't think I can be this well behaved for much longer. It's killing me. I was BORN to be a horrible snooper. Resistance is futile! I will be assimilated back to how I was before I was reformed ohhhhnoooooI'mgonnahaftaopenthisit'sTORTURETORTURETORTURE

HEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLPMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Heather: <GRAB, RIP, LOOK, BLINK, BLINK, GROWL>

Brian: <explosion of hysterical laughter> HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Mehitabel:< runs away in fear>

How sweet. In that bag was a simple 'Caught-you-snooping' note that read: "I love you!" on it. Very funny. Ha Ha. <Thwack>

So we did a bit of a role reversal on that one. He was so sure I would behave badly. And I was doing everything I could to behave. I didn't snoop, and his little CAUGHT-YA-SNOOPING note was worthless.

Well, it was worthless till I caved in.

<shrug>Sorry, folks, I had to. I've got a reputation to uphold afterall. ;-)

Peace, till next.

6/12/03 - Thursday

Brian and the boys have planned a fun, adventurous weekend (again!) Geof, Tim, Joe, Me and Brian will be getting some great paddling action in (calling for rain all weekend, of course). Chico has left for a different trip to do another record-breaking skydive formation. If the weather is decent, we'll try to do a day-long rock climbing venture at The 'Gunks!

We're really lucky to have so many fabulous activities right here in one great state! (We love NY!)

So, many things to do today, among them, a fabric shopping trip and a HUGE shipment of gowns!

Sorry to be so short, but I promise to make up for it with lots and lots of funny camping/climbing/kayaking/skydiving pictures on Monday!

Peace, till next.

6/05/03 - Thursday

So here's the deal: If you don't have a date for tonight, find one. That's your only goal for the day. You don't have to work (tell your boss I said it's ok and he/she will totally understand) - just find a date! It doesn't have to be a romantic one - it can be a friend, or a sister - just get out and do something fun tonight. You have my permission to play. :-) (always)

On to more important things: Okay, people, where are your brains? I'm talking about THIS. It's clever and witty and someone had a lot of time on their hands to come up with those groovy photoshopped pics, but let's think about it for a minute here, mmm-kay?

For those who are reading this at a later date, this is an eBay auction for a "ghost in a jar" - and the auction, at this time, has 68 bids, and the price is over $17,000

You also get your very own mason jar filled with dirt and a "ghost", and you also get "The Black Thing" that has been pestering this poor seller. He claims to have found both the "Ghost in a Jar," "The Black Thing" and a mysterious crumbling journal all near a cemetery. He has pictures of the jar, pictures of the cemetery (with creepy spooky people in the pictures) and a bunch of info about how he got it all.

Being the ever-so-curious critter that I am, I can't help but wonder a few things:

Who would think to bring a camera while you were out metal detecting? I wouldn't. I would just assume that I could bring whatever I found home and snap a few shots. But I s'pose anything's possible. So, we'll give the guy a bit of credit and believe that he had his camera with him that day back in 1980 and really DID snap pictures of the creepy cemetery with the creepy ghost-people in it.

Can anyone tell me what "Sha-ra," Pen-ta," and "cor-ta" means? Personally I think it sounds like some words a bunch of funny kids thought up while having a few PBRs one night.

"DUDE! Ghost-in-a-jar! It's BRILLIANT"

"Hahaha! Yeah, dude! Gimme a beer - we could take some white out and paint some freak-weird voodoo words on the side of an old mason jar"

"Hahahaha! Yeah, dude! Gimme a beer too, while yer up! Shaaaaa-raaaa, Pennnnnnn-taaaaaa, cooooooor-taaaaaaaa . . . Hahahaha!"

"Dude, cut it out, man - yer freakin' me"

"Whatever, Gimme a beer."

I want to know why he is so sure "The Black Thing" is going to travel wherever the canned ghost goes? I don't think ghosts pay very much attention to eBay . . .

and finally, WHY ARE YOU PEOPLE BIDDING ON THIS????? Geesh! If you want scary stuff, come clean out my refrigerator! You won't even have to PAY ME!

If you really want to unload that amount of cash though, just drop a check in the mail to me and I'll gather up some white fabric, download some spooky noises from the internet and I'll head over to your house and give you a "haunting" you'll never forget!

I gotta give credit to the folks who caught on to this Ghost in a Jar thing and decided to cash in on the whole frenzy. I love creative people, so I want to share a few other auctions with you too:

You can bid on a "Ghost in a Jar Vacation Home!" It's a pretty blue jar you can use when your ghost in a jar wants to travel. The seller also writes: REMEMBER, YOU MAY BE GETTING THE "BLACK THING" ALSO. "IT" WILL NEED A PLACE TO STAY!"

You can also buy some "Toast in a Jar!" Now, toast in a jar itself is cute and funny, but what REALLY cracked me up about this auction is that in the top photo, it shows a dirty toaster. The next picture shows a pristine, pure white, clean toaster. I thought to myself, "Huh, that's weird!" and then I read the note next to the second image: "Here is the actual slice of toast emerging from the toaster. This photo required a bunch of cleanup in photoshop. It probably would have been easier to actually clean the toaster."

These are the people I want working for ME someday when I'm ruling the world. (Yeah, don't hold your breath)

Peace, till next.

6/02/03 - Monday

Birthdays: Tomorrow is my sister's birthday! Huzzah, Happy Happy, and Very Merry to Sister!

Wee-bee-bree-bee, my beautiful step-neice has a birthday this week too!

And in case anyone in this world has forgotten (poking Brian in the ribs), I will be turning 35 this year and my birthday is in exactly 19 days!

I hate surprises. I am a chronic snoop. I hate *knowing* that somewhere in the house a birthday gift is waiting for me undiscovered.

At Christmas, I have been known to open presents as soon as they have been placed under the tree, and have spent hours re-wrapping them so nobody will find out how positively evil I am. I'm not ungrateful - I'm just obsessively curious - and that's a good thing . . . sometimes . . . . right?

Brian has a lot of fun with this personality of mine. Two weeks ago he announced that he bought me my birthday present. He does this because he knows it makes me utterly INSANE. He did it at Christmas too - and for two months I hit him with a multitude of revealing questions:

Me: Is it RED?
Brian: Yes.

Me: Is it BIGGER than me?
Brian: Yes.

Me: Does it have a WHEEL?
Brian: Yes.

Me: What letter does it start with?
Brian: Mwwwwhaaaafffffuuuuhahahahahaha

Me: Grrrrrrrr

So, the day before Christmas, I had convinced myself that Brian bought me a portable Movie theater popcorn cart. Imagine my surprise when I opened the deceptive refrigerator-sized gift box to find a beautiful violin inside.

*sigh*

Brian, ever the romantic, has turned the hide-and-seek game of pre-gift giving into an elegant art form, and as with everything in his life, he has mastered it to the point of perfection and it makes me C R A Z Y.

He tells me that somewhere within the confines of these walls hides a birthday gift bearing my name. So far I have not torn the place apart, (but I *want* to). I'm trying to behave, (and it's VERY hard). Even as I pause between sentences at my computer, I am stealing curious glances under tables, in corners, up walls, around ceilings, behind the stinkycat . . . .

Oh yeah, <acting oh-so-casual> We bought a house yesterday.

Since you've all come to know me, you also know that it was absolute torture to wait this long to tell y'all about it and then to announce it so calmly - you KNOW I was freaking out, bouncing off the walls as soon as Mary our real estate agent called and told us the good news!!!!

But YES! My logic WORKED and the house was PERFECT and our offer was ACCEPTED and we close in JULY!!!!!!!!!!

Peace, till next.