still thanking, three days later...

So, now it's Sunday and a lot has happened in the last 5 (or so) days. Since the last post, Ben's mom and her husband, Dave, came to town. We all went to Palmdale on Wednesday, then had our annual Thanksgiving feast on Thursday at Ben's Dads place. All so sweet and delicious. Turkey, pies, cornbread stuffing, homemade cranberry sauce... yes, please. The only not-so-sweet part was that Chloe and I got really, quite sick. Her first and then, inevitably, be from holding and smooching her little face so much. It's kind of irresistible to me. Anyway, that started at the beginning of last week and is just now fading out. coughy and coffee this morning. Anyway, here we are at Sunday, my crossword is here, we came home to a fresh apple pie (I love our neighbors) and I still have so much to be thankful for.

something I just realized...

Just learned something about the blog I thought I'd share. Those weeks where there are lulls... it's a lack of imagery... just no photos. That's the key. If I have a good photo to share I can blab on and on about it. No photos, no blabbing.. .. I am going to go take some photos. Type soon.

Grateful List

1. warmth

2. our cozy nest

3. my snuggly loves

4. cashmere

5. alpaca sox

Last night, we spent the night in Ojai...amazing party at our brother Canons place. Canon joined me at thirty. It's a fun place to be... so far, so good. So, great company, great food, conversation and dance. Followed by bitter cold. Down. Right. Freezing. I could not feel my toes till around ten this morning. This solidifies the fact that I would not make it in the east. I am a California native and could not stand a transplant. There's a joke there somewhere, but I'll leave it for you to find. Snow is lovely, I like to visit it, but going home from it, I have to type, is one of my favorite parts. Hence, the grateful list of warm things.

does the dental ever end?

Today started with me in the dental chair... two and a half hours and six hundred and eighty some dollars later and I was driving home... sad. I hate that money (or lack there of) has that effect on me. So, after that I was off selling things... Took an two strollers, a chair, a table and a really unique game table off to the consignment/antique place. Hopefully, I will get a call soon saying that these things sold for lots of money and I recoup some of my much needed, hardly earned monies. For now, I will post some photos of the interesting things... enjoy.

looking ahead a bit...

still Thursday. Yes, twice in one day. Chloe is sleeping, Benny is painting and I am finally just breathing, reading and blogging. Ahhh... This week has been filled with paperworkings. Too, too much filled out paper. "me no like it that one" as Chloe would say. Most of it was for the school... emergency contacts and things I don't like to spend much time thinking about. Some dental stuff, again... more and more. Applications, as part of her going to school will be my returning to work... at a job. Yes, I am looking for work. Seeking employment. Also, as if that weren't enough to set up for our near future, I am thinking about finishing up some classes and setting up some kind of real future with some sort of "career". There is an eight week dental assisting program offered near us. Eight Saturdays, all day. Seeing as how I have had just about every type of dental procedure done in my head, it seems like a good fit. That would certainly tide me over till I could finish up and focus on the Psychology pipe dream.

skip to Thursday...

Weeks have been moving fast lately... maybe because I've been squeezing so much into them. I am in the midst of getting Chloe into a really sweet preschool. I won't type which one, only because it seems unsafe to post where exactly I am going to be leaving my amazing, beautiful child for the day, but it's a really great one, close by, that offers enrichment classes ...more to come

oh, sweet weekend, I'm gonna sum you up!

Saturday we woke, got dressed and Chloe and I got dropped off at the train station just in time to jump on the train and head down to Long Beach. It was a really pleasant ride down this time, with friends we knew on the train and some new ones too. Mom and Mike picked us up and that night we went out to dinner at a really great italian place in Belmont Shore called Papaluccis. Chloe was so good, just sitting in her seat and eating noodles. Sunday was about hanging out with Grandma and Great Grandma. We shopped and lunched and walked. This is why the women of our culture are the storytellers, the passers on of the traditions and customs. We get together like this and just can't stop talking. It would drive the men crazy, so we go without them. I cherish these outings, this time I get to spend with my daughter, mother and grandmother... four generations... it fills me with gratitude and pride. That night it was take out Thai and Pay Per View. These nights are also fun. The only downfall of the weekend was a literal down fall. Chloe fell out of the bed in the middle of the night, causing a near heart attack in me and a small "ouchie" on her head. Monday was the train ride home, delayed and crowded, but fine and brought us back to our loving, warm little home. Papa was eager to greet us and we were so glad to see him. So, that's it weekend! That's you in a nutshell. Thanks for having us!