Er...Hi.

So, I'm still working 2 jobs.  Still trying to get stuff done on the new house.  Still trying to be creative on some level in the few hours I have that are "free."

New things:

• Some kind of terrible imbalance where I'm hungary and irritable (watch out, Ruffers and Lucy and Mom) pretty much all the time and feel like I'm constantly ready to *snap*.  It reminds me of riding really high-strung show horses.  And my arms are getting tired from holding onto the reins.
• Still waiting to hear about a possible promotion in my job.  Keep praying.
• I've started jogging!  I'm up to about 3 miles/day, although it's been tough since we  had a horrendous snow storm last week.  Please, people: SHOVEL YOUR SIDEWALKS BEFORE I KILL MYSELF IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE!  Thank you.
• 2 authors whom I'm loving, loving, loving: Susan Hill and Christopher Fowler.  Wonderful mysteries!  Almost as good as my beloved Charles Todd.

That's it.  I'm so ready to go home for Christmas.  2 blessed weeks in sunny San Antonio, TX.  I feel calmer just thinking about it.  Hopefully I can get through the ensuing 18 days without killing any puppies.  Or my career.  Or my poor sainted mother.  Who I love very, very much.

Chillin in the yard

Beautiful autumn day in the backyard

The Hunter

Orion the Hunter greeted me this morning as I opened my eyes from a deep bus-coma.  He was striding across the sky above and seemed to wave to me while he continued on his journey and I smiled in recognition.  I miss him during the summer months; he's my favorite constellation and seeing him again in the fall is one of those rituals that I have come to look forward to.  But take note--it was so dark when I got to work this morning, the stars were really, really bright.

So I didn't paint my entire bedroom last weekend as I had planned to.  No, I went to Plan G.  I decided that I'd rather wait til my mom visits next summer and we can do a big decoration project on the whole room.  In the meantime, I painted the fireplace and moved in.  It's much quieter back there and I love the view from the windows.  It's the biggest bedroom I've ever had, so sleeping with that much space around me is really nice, somehow. 

I think it looks pretty good.  I'm not crazy about the blue walls, but I can live with them until early next summer.  I love my new room.

Neglect

Oh little blog, how I neglect you.  But come on.  My eyelid has been twitching almost non-stop for over a week--a sure sign that I'm 1. stressed and 2. tired.  Something has to give!  And apparently at least one of these somethings is this blog. 

Things to look forward to this weekend:

1. Watching BBC from Netflix
2. The instant gratification of tips
3. No work on Sunday!
4. Trying a new church on Sunday--the beautiful Methodist one just a few blocks and across the tracks from my house
5. Dare I say it?  Buying paint for my new bedroom!  We're going green, people.  As in, the color green.  The paint will be just plain old Valspar.  I'm cheap and am not going to shell out for the fancy enviro-friendly no-fumes stuff.
6. Perhaps start a new really good book?  If I can find one?
7. Spending some quality time with the R-Dog

That's a lot to look forward to.  And the list of things not to look forward to is neglible.  So, it's good!

Have a lovely, lovely weekend all!
Allie

Uh Oh

Last week, I was at Old Faithful and Lake.  This week, I'm attending the Science Conference in Mammoth.  Which doesn't leave any little chunks of time to write since I still don't have internet access at home.  But, it's been a doozy.

1. Working at Coffee Crossing is making me some nice cash
2. Volunteered at the Blue Slipper Theatre and their production of "Dracula"
3. Ruffers is...maybe sick.  The vet thinks there's a mass on his spleen, which could be very, very, very bad.  Aaron and I took him for a hike last weekend and I don't want to believe it, but it may have been his last hike.  He's acting fine, so I'm hoping for the best.  And am trying not to cry.
4. Went to dinner with my friend Wendy, who was visiting from Alaska.  It was great to see her--we spent a good hour talking about how hot Michael Landon was.  Whew.  Oh, PA!

Gotta run!

The Morning Grind

I know...not such an original title for this morning's post.  But come on...it's early.  And I'm talking about my new job.  Which is in a coffee shop.  That grinds its own beans.  Get it?  Grind?  Morning Grind? 

Anyway...

I like my new job--I like seeing people and the coffee shop's manager and I really like tips.  It's fun and fast-paced and the time really does blow by.  It's a bit scary b/c there are a lot of people lined up in a very small space a lot of the time and I don't know what I'm going to do when all of them order lattes and breakfast sandwiches and I'm the only one there trying to get everyone's order right.  It's not exactly high-tech there--the till is broken, the grinder is tempermental, and as my dad would say, there's not even enough room to change  your mind behind the counter, it's so little.  But it should be fun.  I'll get the hang of it, I'm sure.  I'm friendly, which is the big thing.  And my shifts are later in the day, so people hopefully won't be too grumpy.

Plus, a really good-lookin' rancher-type came in twice on Sunday.  I hope he keeps that trend going.

The downside, of course, is that the weekends are no longer my own.  Even though I'm not working that many hours, I'll still have to be there.  That'll be ok for the winter, but is definitely not going to work next summer.  So, I have until then to get a better-paying job.

As to that, I made the cert for a promotion here in the park.  The job's not mine yet, but that was a big obstacle!  Everyone cross your fingers, toes, eyes, and whatever else you got and send lots of prayers.

I spoke with Donna Cammack last night for a bit.  She's such a nice lady and made me homesick for the ranch.  She called to thank me for the gift Jessi, Emily, and I sent her after she made us the fabulous dinner last month.  She is always so happy and I asked her if she got up every morning and just looked for ways to make the day fun.  She replied that when she was first married, and there were negative people around, she decided that by heaven, she'd be  happy no matter what.  So, just out of sheer cussedness and determination, she's been happy ever since.  I like that.  I like that a lot.  She got me all caught up on community and family gossip, which I also liked a lot.

Ok.  Guess I'll go work now.  Gotta earn that promotion!

Catching Up

Last week was crazy.  I mean, really crazy.  I had an 80-hour work week in the Park and then started my second job at Coffee Crossing, which is right next to the movie theatre in Livingston.  More on that another time.

The Saturday before last, Amanda and I cooked for an entire day to get some meals in the freezer.  We pooled our supplies and grocery shopped for what we didn't have.  We ended up buying about $35 worth of food and made 10 recipes.

We made:
Chicken in Red Wine Sauce
Spinach Cakes
Peach sauce for ice cream
Crustless Pumpkin Pie
Creamy White Chili
Elk and Beef Red Chili
Turkey and Bean Stew
Meatloaf
Thai Chicken
Pork in Enchilada Sauce

My freezer is packed!  I am so stoked, although I forgot to bring something for lunch today except for some hummus and red peppers and nuts.  Dangit!

But it was a lot of fun to cook so much and it's great to look in the freezer and feel stocked up for winter.  Even though it's been in the upper 80s here all last week and weekend.  What is UP with the weather?!