Getting Ready for Christmas

The tree went up last weekend - Mike's 52nd birthday. I gave him the book A Team of Rivals, and he's been reading it this week, when he has time out from snow-clearing.

I've been wrapping birthday gifts, Christmas gifts, decorating, shopping, and baking. The first set of cookies came out today: bachelor buttons, which are basic cookies with walnuts, coconut, green and red glazed cherries. They are Mike's favourites. Next on the list are chocolate hazelnut tassies and shortbread.

Mike was measured and tattooed on Tuesday at the Cancer Centre for his radiation treatments which will likely start around the end of January and go for 7 and one-half weeks. He now has little X's on his hips and stomach. He was too shy to ask for anchors on his forearms! I wish he didn't have to go through it.

We are now off work until January 3, 2006. This is the first Christmas that I have taken time off in a long time. The last few years were awful anyway, so I can't say that I missed being at home. I am getting over the memories of bad Christmasses finally. This move has been a good thing that way. So much here reminds me of happy childhood Christmas! And I am fortunate in that I can help make others' Christmas happier.

Bits and pieces of the last week

I found a fun web site that compares your pictures to those of celebrities:

http://www.myheritage.com/FP/Company/tryFaceRecognition.php?s=1&u=g0&lang=EN

Wasted plenty of time on that one tonight.

We went to visit my friend Paige after work and took her a Christmas decoration that we picked up for fun: a lighted, inflatable Santa. Paige used to be our landlady; we became friends when we worked together. I'm still hoping that she moves out here - she grew up around this area, after all. It was fun taking pictures of the Santa (who looks like a friend of hers!). Will post one later.

Had lunch last week with one of my former computer students, Jamie (I've had all kinds of weird and different jobs - a change is as good as a rest). He has just broken up with the latest girlfriend. He always says that life is so complicated, and thinks I'm rather naive because I say it's not. I set him up with a girlfriend from work once - and another time took along my friend Paige to a bar he was playing at (part time musician), to see if there was interest; all unsuccessfully. I have a 0 for 500 batting average at matchmaking, but an abiding interest in it. Anyway, turns out he's moved in on the same street as girlfriend from work. Heh heh heh. Jamie and I can talk for hours; he rants, I am more philosophical. We worked together in 1995 or 1996 for 4 months. I am in touch with most of my former students from that time, but mostly him and Suzanne (who I adore). He is more my age (42) although I had to get used to that since because he was a student back then I took him to be much younger (early 20s, and he was 32). No doubt I talked down to him off and on. He didn't seem to take offence.

My boss announced that he's leaving for a bigger department, will be the Director General of Social Policy. I will miss him a lot. Marilyn and I cried when he told us. He'll be gone after I return from my first Christmas vacation in years.This will be cause for much future disruption, I'm certain.

Old Poetry

In the interests of posting something....
This is really old...mine.
I was so intense. I won't post the really bad stuff, it's too ineptly derivitive of Bob Dylan and Bruce Cockburn! Or worse.

- - - - - - - - - -

There is a knowing anguish
in his manner;
consciously manipulated
in his many facial portraits.
His fingers move crippled
through his hair like broken stems,
reflecting tragedy, while
the mask below contrives comic relief.

- circa 1974

- - - - - - - - - -

Your guitar is the moon
In your fingers.
Your music not played,
But devoured.
And I helplessly listen
In rapture,
Moving rhythmically
In nervous jealousy.

- circa 1974

- - - - - - -- -

I have seen the mocking lights
forever gliding through rotten snow
red and white
shadows on blackened walls.
Waiting at my window
thinking it is raining
but it is not.

I have seen the cautious eyes
searching the concrete, but not with me.
They say that songs
are not like real life.
Waiting at my window
not seeing the days through -
it’s not so.

I have seen the Silent Night
and baptized it with my own eyes.
I have watched the Light
go out with day.
Waiting at my window
for the return of One
who did not.

- circa 1974

- - - - - - - - -

Sunlight

Sunlight through the trees
Sprinkling on the lawn
Shattered glass
Forever falling
In glittering silence.

- circa 1971

Christmas Cards and Miscellaneous

I've been making Christmas cards - about seventy in all over the last while. These are samples. I haven't sniffed so much glue since Grade School. At least I'm not eating it...so far. Amazing what can be done with paper, scissors, paper clips, cotton balls and ribbon scraps. The Onion had a funny pseudo-news item last week on the pitfalls of "Glitter Lung" (pneumosparklyosis) among elementary school art teachers. I know the symptoms. The embossing powder is the worst!

The Canadian election campaign is in full swing. The government has handed out billions of dollars - or rather, promised to hand out billions of dollars. So far, the most fun has been on Rick Mercer's blog:

http://rickmercer.blogspot.com/


People have been Photo-shopping their little hearts out.  Check it out!

I Hate Prostate Cancer - Reprise

Mike and I went to meet with the radiation oncologist on Thursday December 8. His PSA lveels in his three month check-ups had been about .08 for a year (with one zero) then this summer it went to .09. His test in October was .13. That's when he was referred to the oncologist and sent for more tests: bone scans, CAT scan, chest e-ray, blood work.

The nurse who came in first immediately told him his PSA result from November (one month after the October one): "Your PSA is .16, that's good!" I guess for men who are more advanced, that IS good. For us it was bad news.

The oncologist, Dr. Kendall, has recommended radiation. There was a small mark on one of Mike's ribs - Mike asked if it was there in the 2003 scan. Dr. Kendall said, "Smart question, actually, yes it was, and it has not changed." Therefore we all believe it is just a leftover reminder of some klutzy move on Mike's part once upon a time. The bone scans show up old breaks and injuries. The prostate bed itself looked fine - whatever is there is likely still around there and very tiny.

So, sometime after Xmas, Mike will start radiation treatments for 7.5 weeks, Mon-Fri. He feels good about though. At least it's doing something to attack the thing. I am so glad he has a positive attitude about it. I think that's as important as anything. He will likely be able to work through the first part - afterwards you apparently get quite fatigued. And the radiation at the time is painless, although it can leave a "sunburned" skin and cause damage to the rectum (because the prostate bed is right behind it. This can be healed on its own or repaired. No urinary incontinence, but the doctor told him that the radiation will likely "finish him off down there" as far as impotence goes. But at least no hormone treatment is recommended - Mike's more terrified of that than anything.

Canadian Pacific Holiday Train

The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train arrived tonight and we went downtown to see it. This photo shows the front of the train reflected in the Mississippi River. The train colects food and money for North American food banks.

Valancy and David came out earlier in the day to help put up a funky handmade Christmas sign that we found in the garage. They stayed for roast beef and to go see the train.

There was music ("Christmas in the Valley" was the highlight) and kids running all around, rolling down the train grade. I hope no one was under the train when it left! We walked around to see all the lights. Wayne Rostad (Valley Boy), the Moffats, and Amanda Stott sang.

The night was clear and very starry, temperature about -5 C. Very little wind, as you can see in the picture by the river. The town was decorated and lively; truckloads of food were collected and big plastic tubs full of bills. Valancy and I thought that the whole scene was very like the movie "One Magic Christmas," which is our family favourite. It was shot somewhere in old small town Ontario.

My father worked for many years for Canadian Pacific, as did several of my uncles. Even I worked for the "Sleepy R" as Dad called it, for a year. I was their first female "Office Boy" (official job title) in the Freight Claims Department in Winnipeg. I was promoted to "Junior Over Short and Damaged Clerk" and then "Senior Over Short and Damaged Clerk" while I was there. I went back to University after that. I wish Dad had been there with us; he would have loved it. Mike said that it was the cleanest freight train he'd ever seen. When we were first together, he often worked casual labour jobs unloading boxcars.

Our Local Pub: the Ironworks

I took this photo last night after we went to our local pub for supper. It's in an old ironworks mill located on the river between two sets of falls. We had just had our first big snowfall; the pub's Christmas tree was decorated and lit (you can see it in the window). We both had their fish and chips which come with a very tasty coleslaw made from red cabbage with a lemon dressing. The food is very good here. Mike often sees the chef/owner at the butcher shop. Other favourites on the menu are: hamburger with maple-infused crispy bacon (Lanark County being the maple syrup capital of Ontario), steak, mixed green salad with crispy leeks, quesadillas, sweet-potato fries, roasted chicken, chili...

How nice to come back from working in the city to a cozy meal by the window at the water with a view of the town Christmas lights reflected many times, have good food and wine, for $50 including taxes and a 20% tip.

Puppets

I once had a crush on the puppet - or more properly, the marionette - 'Alan' from the Thunderbirds TV show. I think he piloted some underwater thingamajig. He seemed soft-spoken and sweet, more my type. My daughter confessed to having had a crush on the fox in the cartoon version of Robin Hood. Apparently many of her friends shared this. At least mine was an object in real life, resembling a human being!

When the kid was a teenager, we would watch old reruns of the Thunderbirds, mute the sound, and make up voices for them. ONe time, two of them were trying to get out of some kind of structure that looked basically like a hydro tower. They were frantic, and called for help: "Help! Help! Our strings are hopelessly tangled!"

Now I live in a town that has a puppet festival, marked by a puppet parade down the main street. All the local businesses have puppets on display. The event was marred this year by the theft of a puppet image of a local/semi-national celebrity, from a restaurant. My friend used to date him. I just admired the puppet from afar.

The Guy Chopping Wood

OK, here he is.
This was taken three years later, and he has a beard, but it gives the idea.
I like the beard.
Developed a thing for beards, as you can probably guess.

A poem he wrote:

the pale winter moonlight still shines
on the matchbox houses
and the powerful mustangs
especially during power failures

but is most at home
on the empty stubble fields
given up for dead
by the corporate agricultural technicians.

- WHH, 1972

Guess what he grew up to be? Yup, agricultural technician.
He used to make me laugh until my sides ached.

1972

Pierre Trudeau was Prime Minister. Richard Nixon was President of the US -- as I recall, the cover story on National Lampoon that year was "Four More Years of Nixon Jokes!" I was in high school: Brandon Collegiate Institute (BCI - same initials as the Brandon Correctional Institute).

In this picture of the newspaper staff, I am seated in front, far left, looking up at the guy standing in the middle who had just said something. Hans is standing behind me. Next to him is Janice Whitley, one of my friends back then.

Seated on the far right is my younger brother Mark's "fave rave", Cindy. He admired her from afar.

In the summer of 1972, I fell in love with a guy that I detested the first few times I met him. An older man in University! Then I came upon him chopping wood one time, shirtless and wearing cut-offs. He made me feel funny in new places. Gee, I feel funny now just remembering it...

Smug Today

Last night, by accident, I came across a web site that had pictures of two old "boyfriends" - well, not exactly boyfriends. One was my very first kiss at the age of two (captured on film somewhere) and the other was a guy I sort of went out with in Grade Nine, before I met my first long-term boyfriend (Hans). It was a web page with pictures from a golf tournament.They haven't exactly aged well. I was pleased to see that I have done very well in the aging man department, comparatively!

The things that brighten your day. Not always nice things!

I hate prostate cancer

This is Mike.
He's an INTJ, for those into Meyer Briggs stuff.

He's a walking encyclopaedia of certain histories...except sometimes his own.
Napoleonic battles. Both World Wars (Commonwealth perspectives). Now he's learning about the American civil war. He's visited an empty Gettysberg when it was wrapped in a ghostly fog that muted any sound and we had the place to ourselves. He liked drivng around Virginia, visiting various sites such as Harper's Ferry, Mananassas, Williamsburg, Yorktown.

I'd like him to read Russell Banks, but I think it scares him.

I act out his emotions for him (being an INFP myself). I think it scares him.

He is 51.

He has prostate cancer. He was diagnosed at 50, in February 2004. It was a very bad week.

He had surgery for it in July 2004. And a second surgery to stop massive blood loss the next day. He's fought back from all the awful side effects of the treatment. And now it looks like his PSA levels are starting to rise. Which probably means it has come back and he will need radiation. Probably more side effects. But probably early enough to haed it off. Men with prostate cancer usually die of something else, unless it's untreated, and it goes to their bones. Pierre Trudeau died from it.

If you have any healing thoughts or prayers to spare, please send them out to Mike on the (Canadian) Mississippi.

Remembrance Day

Both of my parents were veterans of WW II. Mom in the Canadian Women's Army Corps, and Dad in the Royal Canadian Navy. They met after the war, when my Mom was in Deer Lodge Hospital in Winnipeg for her smashed knee, and my Dad was apparently in getting circumcised! War injuries, you know!

My uncles on both sides were all in the forces. Mom's brother Bruce ("Sonny") was in the Italian and German campaigns, I think as a motorcycle messenger. Others were in the air force and army. Dad was on a minesweeper and a frigate (the HMCS Cap de la Madeleine). He also had a parrot for a short time.

My former boss, Jack Stagg, is the Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs in Canada. He is ill right now, so I am thinking of him today as well as of my family members. I am proud of all of them.

In Flanders fields the poppies grow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place, and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you, from failing hands we throw
The Torch! Be yours to hold it high
If ye break faith with us who die,
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

- Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

That war and the one after were NOT about oil.

Squirrel Barf

This is a funny picture of a squirrel that my daughter Valancy and/or son-in-law Dave took on a vacation in Nova Scotia this summer. It looks as if it's barfing! Must be a bad peanut.

I spent the day yesterday making Christmas cards at Valancy's place with her mother-in-law, Bev, and best friend, Grace. I ended up making three cards, one of which was awful. But I think overall my cards will be nicer this year.

I have to go to Vancouver again this week, for a team meeting. We had two Supreme Court decisions two Fridays in a row. Much excitement around the office; both were good decisions for us.

Mike had some bad news after his three-month check up with his surgeon, Dr. Oake. His PSA levels went up. They had been about .08, .09 for over a year since his surgery in July of 2004. Now it's .13, which seems to indicate that the surgeon did not get all of the cancer. So he's referring Mike to an oncologist, who will likely recommend salvage radiation. This makes me want to barf. Poor Mike, having survived the operation, the emergency operation later the next day to stop the blood loss, the recovery fgrom all of the side effects, and healing - finally looking and feeling healthy - and now this. It's so discouraging. However, he is a long way from death's door yet. I read about a man whose PSA went up from 1900 to 2200 in a month - living with bone cancer (which untreated prostate cancer turns into after a time, apparently).

Yeah, Squirrelly, I know just how you feel.

A Hobby Day

Mike needed to get some exacto blades and supplies, so we stopped at the crafts store on the way home. I cannot leave those places without something that I might use - some day...this time it was some yarn, and Knitting and Crocheting for Dummies. I used to know how to crochet in high school, and made a lot of baby hats for Valancy while I was pregnant - and one cape. She turned these into her Super Grover costume when she was two.

My order also came from Stamping Up - but the inks were the wrong type and colour. Everything else was okay though - soon we can make our Christmas cards. Apparently the Scraptivity kit is also in.

I attend a two-day retreat for sr. management starting tomorrow morning (after my doctor's appointment). It finishes early, followed by my boss hosting a social at his house - I may pop in for a bit and see his renovations; we both endured renovations this past spring.

An important decision for our work comes out of the Supreme Court on Friday. Mitch was lead counsel on this, and I hope for his sake (and for the sake of justice, of course!) that he is successful.

Picture here is of the sunset across the street from our place on Saturday, October 8th.

Hans

This is Hans, my first boyfriend, in a picture taken in June of 1973. His full name was Hans-Jurgen Hugo Albert Kruger, named for an uncle who committed suicide. He is standing in my Mom's kitchen, all dressed up for our high school graduation. He was the only guy who wore a tux. He had beautiful long auburn hair. Sometimes people would come up to him and tell him he looked like John Lennon, especially in profile. He was a very intelligent guy, who read H. P. Lovecraft, believed in life on other planets, was very musical but wrote extremely bad poetry. If I was upset about something he would rock me in a certain way that would make me fall asleep. He spoke German - it was his first language. He died in June of 1974, just before his 20th birthday in August, a couple of months after we found out my Mom had terminal cancer. She died in September that year. I had just finished my first year at university; he dropped out to go out to British Columbia. He came back in the spring and got sick. He had started using needles and got hepatitis.

I thought of him today, after seeing the end of the movie Castaway with Tom Hanks. I used to dream that he would come to me, after I had married Mike, and be angry, saying things like, "I only go away for a year - five years - ten years - and you go off and marry some other guy! What's wrong with you?" He would never have a really good explanation for where he had been, but in the dream it would make sense.

We were almost opposites: he was musical (piano and guitar), I was artistic; he was more athletic, I was a klutz; he had travelled, I had not been anywhere; he was a Leo, I was Aquarius. He used more drugs, more often; I was nervous. We used to argue about things, after he got over feeling so lucky to be with me (he was a geek). He brought out something contrary in me that just had to play devil's advocate. He had a beautiful swimmer's physique: broad shoulders, strong arms, slim waist. He was a lifeguard and also taught swimming at the YMCA. He skied and sailed. We went swimming and camping together; our favourite spot was Lake Metigoshe in North Dakota.

There is nothing of him on the internet - he died before these things were invented. I just want him to be remembered somewhere. When he died, he was cremated, so there is no marker anywhere. I have a couple of letters, that's about it. I have his pitch pipe. I am sure that if we meet again somewhere, we will laugh and ask, "What were we thinking?" He won't be angry with me. We will still be fond of each other. I think he has continued his growth elsewhere. Sometimes people who die young seem to have been so thirsty for life, as if they just knew their hours were limited.

I've forgotten most of the German I learned with him, but not him. And here he is, and I hope people see him.

A Fall Walk

The forecast called for rain beginning Sunday afternoon, and it certainly looked like it might rain later, so Mike and I went out for a walk around the neighbourhood in the morning. Many of the sugar maples were turning bright red, and some poplars and other ferny-leaved trees were a brilliant yellow.

We walked down by the river, where, upstream, hundreds of ducks and geese were floating, making a little noise, but not much (maybe the Anglicans have them trained to be quiet during services?). I got some great photos. Most interesting to me however, were the little tableaus tucked away, out of sight: the hundreds of crab-apples tumbled down to the creek-bed, wasted; the downy, perfectly globular seed puff of a dandelion; the bright blue cornflower-like blossoms of something that might be a weed; the startling scarlet leaves and dusky blue-black and lime-green berries of a wandering Virginia creeper that had crept too far into the underbrush beside the river, shielded by the overhanging trees and unruly brush. A chance to use macrophotography! This is not my best photo, but I like all the different colours and textures.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We actually celebrated Thanksgiving on Saturday, since we have to co-ordinate dates with the in-laws.
Val and I spent the afternoon scrapbooking, while Mike cooked the dinner.

He bought a fresh turkey from the local butcher. Usually we would get a frozen Granny's turkey from Manitoba. This turkey was very good, however. Doesn't it look great? It also produced a very silky dark brown gravy. The house smelled wonderful all afternoon. The dressing was traditional bread with lots of sage, pepper, rosemary, thyme, onions, and celery.

As accompaniments, we had brussels sprouts, wax beans, fluffy mashed potatoes and home-pickled beets. We always forget to have a dessert though. Mind you, no one could have eaten it. We had a Robert Mondavi California fumé blanc with the meal. And our new, improved, filtered water! It was a great day and we sent Val and Dave home with leftovers.

After they left, we watched Carlito's Way with Al Pacino and Sean Penn. As a Brian de Palma film, you just knew it wouldn't end well for the guy, but you wished it did. Now that would be a real twist to a de Palma film: a happy ending! Hey Brian: take a risk once in a while! Don't be so predictable!

Family Portrait

These things are always more interesting with pictures, aren't they? This is me (centre) and my sister (left) playig with photo editing. My brother is on the right. We're ready for Hallowe'en anyway.

Took this rainy day off work, to have a four-day weekend. I'm cleaning up my computer, had a nap. We will be celebrating tomorrow, so as to co-ordinate with the in-laws. They have 5 kids - it's more difficult to schedule. But we have more leftovers to take home!

So Val and I will scrapbook tomorrow while the turkey cooks. It is great to have a husband who cooks. I can cook, but don't like to cook. I seem to do most of the bathroom cleaning and dusting etc.

Listening to some old music I downloaded from somewhere - "This Old House" by Tennessee Ernie Ford - I remember my Dad singing it. A real mix of downloads - hymns, country songs, 60s 70s, love songs, Nantucket Sleighride etc.

Snow in Manitoba and Traffic Rant

My brother in Manitoba sent me pictures last night of the snow in his yard, on his car, in "Hobo Junction", and the birds still at his snowy bird feeder. Some places received 45 centimetres!
Couldn't log on last night to record it, Blogger was down for maintenance.
Val and I went out at noon for our daily walk yesterday and today. Yesterday, I bought a skirt and jacket. Today, I found a really cool place to get inkjet cartridges refilled, cheap!

Mike and I are going out for supper tonight, and have taken tomorrow off - an extra long Thanksgiving weekend. Tonight is supposed to be the first October blues night at the Ironworks...hmmm...we'll see.

Going to Vancouver next week for work. Loooong plane ride...

If I were King of the World, My Traffic and Vehicle Rules:
1. No minivans, SUVs, Hummers, half-tons or anything else you can't see around in the passing lane. Ever. Who the heck do these soccer moms and computer geeks think they're fooling?
2. No semi trailer trucks in the passing or merge lanes.
3. No Volkswagons other than Bugs acn be sold. All non-bug Volkswagon drivers are assholes.
4. Talking on cell phone and driving suspends your licence for a week.
5. There may be only ONE drink holder in any vehicle, for the driver. Too many people drink and drive and aside from manufacturers wasting valuable cargo space with drink-holders, it's DISGUSTING. Our car has about 7 of them! Idiot!
6. People with baby on board signs must drive in the merge lane, and never in rush hour.
7. Turn signals are NOT optional equipment, use them. If you turn your signal on, I will let you in. If you swerve over to suggest you want in, you won't get in.
8. SUVs and Hummers come with an outrageous retail tax; and must pay a toll to drive on any highway. They are not allowed to park anywhere except in gravelled lots with lots of roofer's nail lying about. If anyone in one of these vehicles kills a person in an accident, they go to jail for 10 years minimum.

A Very Warm October Day

Even though the leaves are turning colour - check out this tree in our backyard - the forecast high today was 28 Celsius. Daughter and I walked at lunch time again and went to the art supplies store and bought some supplies.

My boss told me he loved me today - actually he is gay and that's his way of saying that he really really agrees with me. He really is the heart of our office. One of the few people I've worked for that are truly inspiring.

I am much reassured and not so worried that what I expect is too much from people. It's always a balancing act for me between being too open-minded (or naive, some would say) and too cynical. It's easy to go too far either way, and I do admit I've struggled with it over the years.

I see others going this way and that too. I don't like to see anyone totally cemented into an attitude.

Looking at a Florida vacation

A lot of places seem to already be booked!
Condos seem almost the same price as hotels. We loved Clearwater Beach - walking in the morning for miles along the sandy beach, picking up shells. The lovely sunsets where spectators applaud. $1.95 Margaritas at Frenchy"s...
I could understand why some people come down and just stay. You could almost stay on the beach.

The bishops are all meeting this weekend in Rome. Will they continue to run and hide or face up to their responsibilities? Or - maybe they're all in training to be cage fighters.. yeah, that's it.

Our House

This is our home since April 2005. It's a big change, from living in a duplex in the Byward Market, to living in this 1870s home in a small town. We had fun fixing it up, and hired a designer and contractor to finish the addition on the back.

This photo was taken with my brother's camera in June.

It's a quirky old place. The living room is on the left main flor in this picture, the dining room on the right. Mike's office is on the left upper floor, and mine on the right.

The front porch is not really used yet.
The garage also needs a lot of work - if not a completely new garage!

First Weekend of October 2005

We moved here in April, and are still unpacking. Yet today I must change over my summer clsoet to my winter closet - packing and hanging clothes, putting away sandals.
Last weekend we hung some pictures.
Went into town yesterday for a haircut; bought a Brita water filter pitcher. It works - no more chlorine taste! We also looked at an antiques stores in Stittsville. We need more dining room storage.
Mike is painting the kitchen door, since it's a nice day and we can't count on that too long.
I quit smoking September 19. Doing okay so far.
I am doing well, considering it is October (a bad memories month). I don't know if I accept my life as well as I might. I wish it had gone differently, but I do know that is one thing over which I have no control. Certainly my working life has exceeded anything I could have expected. Yet I never tried to get where I am, it just happened.
We have a new car again; this one is a bit bigger than the old one.
I am planning to work on my scrapbooking today, along with the clothes change. Make chili for supper.
Boring life - but then again, I can't post the good stuff.