Marching through March

This week has been spring break and I have thoroughly enjoyed not having classes.  I was so excited for the week off until I realized that A) I still had to work and B) I had tons of school projects to get caught up on.

I did one fun thing this week at least.  Monday night one of our local theaters screened a touring version of "The Last Unicorn".  I've been watching this movie almost since it was released.  My kids loved it and now my grandchildren are watching it.  The author of the book and screenplay, Peter Beagle, is part of a screening tour across the US which includes a Q & A with him and book signings if one is so inclined.

Guitar Guy faded out at the last minute so I went by myself.  It was a smallish crowd of about 50 people, some who had driven up to 150 miles.  The teenagers cleaning the theater had no idea what the movie was about and asked me if it is a "thing".  Actually it is!  People sometimes come in costume and know every song and bit of dialogue by heart.  The remastered version for the big screen was vivid and beautiful and I had a great time.  Big nerd here and proud of it!

Last weekend we had a glorious time in Phoenix with our daughter.  We went to Arizona Broadway Theater's performance of Les Mis, which was excellent, as was the food and company.  Nicole and I love musical theater. Guitar Guy not so much, but he tolerates it for our sake. Did I mention that ABT has amazing frozen fuzzy navels?

Sunday morning I drove to downtown Phoenix to meet up Facebook Fairyland friend Lorri and her furry boy Dodger.  We've discovered we both have Ragdolls and decided to meet while they were visiting for spring training.  Dodger is loving the spring and was sitting patiently by the door waiting for me (or watching the birds).  I gifted him with a lovely catnip toy (one of Pippin's favorites), which was a major hit.  We talked, drank coffee and petted a purring kitty.  The perfect way to start the day!

As soon as I got back to the apartment, the family headed out to The Great Wall for dim sum.  Unfortunately, because we went late, they were low on baked pork buns, which are my personal favorite.  No one left hungry though.  We made a Trader Joe's run so I could stock up on my favorite products.  Those of us who live in the boonies don't have such options.

This weekend won't be nearly as fun as I'm working on school stuff, which will be my life until the end of the semester.  Next week is my internship interview, so please keep your fingers crossed that I can convince them to take me.  It will mean a lengthy drive twice a week for 8 months but I will persevere!  

February Flew By

Sound Bites for February:

* I actually knitted a baby sweater and socks for my daughter's friend and forgot to take pictures

*School is plugging along and my field placement for the fall is shaping up

*Work is plugging along though not as busy as I would like

*My decluttering has stalled and the clutter is reclaiming the table and counter...sigh...

*We had yummy barbecued chicken last night with left overs for another meal

*The cats don't know that I'm plotting to get them shaved this spring

*It's raining this morning, which is weird after a really warm February

*This week we go to visit our grandchildren for a couple of days - Yippee!

*My daughter is in Tampa, FL interviewing for a nurse practitioner program - keep your fingers crossed

Happy Monday!

January blahs

It's almost the end of January and I'm still not back in the swing of things.  School has started again and life is full of work and volunteering but my beginning of the year energy just isn't there yet. 

I've been trying to do 365 days of decluttering and have kept up fairly well so far.  My kitchen cupboards are a lot more organized and by the end of this week, my refrigerator should be cleaned out.  As much as I dislike cleaning, 15 minutes a day is manageable on most days. 

Now I'm off to do 200 pages of reading on panic disorder and social phobias.  Aren't you jealous :-)

Christmas in Iowa

How quickly our Christmas week in Iowa went by!  The weather was cool and misty.  With no snow on the ground this year we were able to go out and do a few things like a trip to the Amana Colonies and another to Prairie Light bookstore in downtown Iowa City.  The big people even got out for a special dinner together.

Two of the hits of Christmas morning were the rocking horse for Ash and the lighted mini ray guns the boys found in their stockings.  Rowan and Ash had a great time and didn't get bored until the next day LOL

Aunt Nicole was able to come for a couple of days before Christmas and we had a great time together as a family.  We were happy our daughter, Nicole, was there to be part of the fun, and our son, Dominic, and daughter-in-law, Alex, were both off for the week.  That rarely happens that everyone is off together!

It's always hard to leave, especially when the boys are telling us not to go, but the realities of life called us back to Arizona.  The cats still have barely left my side.

Soon school will start again and I'll be back in another round of reading and papers. I'm closing my nonprofit consulting business, to focus on geriatric care and my volunteer work with Creating the Future. Guitar Guy is moving to a different law firm starting January 2, so the new year will bring changes for both of us.

Hoping you and yours had a wonderful Christmas and have a healthy, happy 2015!

First Christmas

Our first Christmas celebration this year was with our daughter Nicole and her boyfriend, Scott.  We baked cookies, made eggrolls and watched Christmas movies.  She was very excited about her new Christmas dragon and the blue Kitchenaid mixer she really wanted.

Today we'll start the morning with pumpkin pancakes and apple cider syrup followed by more cookie baking.  Guitar Guy is off to play a gig with his band, while we continue the movie marathon. 

Life is good.

Lighted Village

 Today feels more like the holidays with Chex Mix in the bowl, fudge on the counter and the village lights glowing.

Grateful for small things

I am grateful for a beautiful Christmas tree, a purring cat at my side and a hot cup of coffee.