Well, I dressed old school for the interview. Damn it. I should have gone with jeans but I am from the professional school of interviews. Dress BETTER, put your best self forward. I went business casual. I was the first man up. This will make or break. I will report once they let me know. They will. Ack...I do not beleive that I am in the line up.

No other interviews scheduled as yet.

Ever hopeful.

I called the mechanic about the Fiat and he thought he might know something Monday pm. I am to call him then. He sounds on top of the things I wanted looked at and trying to save me money on the stalling issues. Bless that man. I actually miss driving that old thing. It is a blast to drive. Five speed, MANUAL, you know.

Meeting with girlfriends, bike rides and art openings filled my week.

Melissa Chandon

Late in the day my world traveling girlfriend, Bridgette, called to say she was in town for an hour before she caught her flight back to Olympia WA. We hooked for a summary of her wild times. Travels to Africa, France and Italy. I love this girl. She is a pal of my kids. She is amazing and smart and wonderful. She self teaches herself South African dialect. With all the villages, this is no easy deal. She has been to Africa THREE TIMES on her own savings. I just love this girl to bits. And she called me to hang for a minute while she was in Davis. I felt so very special.

I am thinking I need a road trip while I can still afford to put gas in my car. Who wants to go?

Queenie is taking aim at this new year.

Queenie has high apple pie in the sky hopes.

Queenie knows that referring to herself in the third person and calling her self Queenie is just weird so she will stop now.

In the past two weeks I have emailed out 28 resumes. I have received six responses, two fake and one resulted in an interview. Tomorrow morning.

This graphic is called "Films in which characters dress in curtains" (I do not believe that I have this option as I do not have any curtains)

ACK!! What will I wear?

It is for a new boutique in downtown Davis. A denim store. I have lots of denim, I assume they will want the staff to wear denim as per regular BUT...to an interview? Shit. One of my friends is a pal of one of the new business owners so I called her for a little insider scoop on what they were like and how SHE dressed. Good call. I got a little insight. Of course, I will still change my clothes fourteen times in the morning before I go.

The Fiat is at the mechanic. A local import car guy agreed to have a look see after I explained that the car is ALREADY running and I have three or four things I want him to address, I know the car has ISSUES but he need only apply his trade to my list. Once soothed he did peak under the hood without weeping or gnashing teeth. A positive sign.

This is worth more than my Fiat, I am certain

Have been reconnecting with all my girlfriends. And took my mom shopping for a new refrigerator. She got a nice one at Sears. While she did her paperwork I looked at all the expensive refrigerators. There was this one Electrolux stainless steel model that, when you opened the doors, the lights did not just COME ON, it slooowly lit up so that they would not upset your fragile retinas with a blinding light as you gazed upon your beer, er, I mean salad dressing collection or pondered cheeses while considering a late night snack. The freezer did the same. It was so cool. I went back and looked in about seven more times.

Back in the saddle again (this is kind of like my road bike)

Lauren and I have agreed to ride our bikes together at least once a week. We did get out last week. We were suppose to this morning but one of her darling daughters was up all night with a cough so we postponed til Friday. But! I still got out and rode my bike. Yay! Lauren's husband bought her a new bike for V'day and I have not seen it yet. I am so excited! Even more than about that refrigerator.

Nothing promising on the room renting front, unfortunately. FORTUNATELY children and pets are healthy. Lunch with gal pal today, tea with more pals tomorrow. Hooking up with BeeskneesC of xanga on Friday. That will be cool. She and her husband are going to be here in Davis for adult beverages. And, she invited me over. Yay! And even more plans with distant friends for next week. I have been out of circlulation!

It is terribly romantic

I watched "Out of Africa" last night with my son. A beautiful film that I have not seen for years. Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Worth a revisit if you have not seen it in awhile. Has anyone read the book? I imagine it must be wonderful. A young friend of mine should be back state side soon. Bridgett, she has been to Africa, France and Italy, that I know of. Since last fall. I cannot wait to hear all her tales. She is an awesome and inspiring young woman.

Queenie is on tour and playing her blues in a town near yous (and she is thirsty, buy her a drink willyas)

Anyhoos, that covers my world tour updates. I should be at a cool venue in yer town soon. Buy tickets and let me sleep on yer couch, please.

My goal from last week continues in the following weeks. To get my Fiat working. I, in fact, have it going but that does not mean that it is really road tested. I am working on that. Friday I set myself to task to get the oil changed, the tires rotated and a couple of other maintenance things done. No mechanic stuff, strictly upkeep stuff. Easy peasey, one would think.

A FIAT? we do not want to open THAT can of worms!

Oh the abuse I took when I called ALL OVER Davis to set up an oil change for that day. So, I went to the auto parts store that I always go to and bought the parts needed for these tasks. Parts that the places I called they did not have in stock, or they did not have parts books that went back that far, or that I might not be able to find. Napa Auto Parts had everything I asked for. Oil filter, fuel filter, air filter, windshield wipers. I was hoping to get these things done before I drove it to my friend, Royce's, in Sacramento. Royce and his friend, Ed, were planning on putting on my new convertible top. The one that I bought and has been in the trunk in it's original box, since I bought the car in 2003.

I was up early, 8:30 am, making phone calls. Taking abuse. Finally I found a garage that would give it a try. Once I brought the car there at nearly noon, their tune change. They hoped to get to it by days end. But no guarantees, they were unprepared, they could not promise anything. I again said, hey, just the oil change and tire rotation would be great. I have the oil filter. We can do this.

I wish this was my Fiat, but it isn't. The garage owner referred to my Fiat as "your antique..."

Well, it was after 6:30 pm when I was finally able to pick up my car. Oil UN-changed!  But tires rotated, air filter and windshield wipers replaced. They were embarrassed and befuddled but I appreciated their effort. They only charged me twenty bucks. I tipped the kid who did most of the work $10 bucks.

But, I was heading to Sacramento in the dark. The light and electrical are consistent in not working. And the Fiat has a brand new thing going wrong. When slowing to stop, going into first gear, it stalls. It always restarts but I have only been driving around a block or two. Sacramento was on the freeway during rush hour at dark. F word!!!

Oh my dog. It was harrowing (think dimming headlights, stalling in the smallest shoulder imaginable and competing with semi trucks to get on the freeway, I shit you not) but I made it to Royce's by some time after seven in an agitated state. Guh!

We went out to decompressing adult beverages and really good pizza but tomorrow, the real task was at hand.

Royce was up early taking photos of the old top to use as guidelines for installing the new top. Unfortunately, the new top never had instructions or they may have gotten lost over the years it has been rolling around in the trunk of the Fiat.

His friend Ed showed up and we had a wonderful breakfast before we headed over to Ed's place for the guys to see about installing the new top. His pal Ed is really worthy of an entire blog just about just him. Really. He is a nice man.

The boys got right down to business

Royce is awesome!

He went online and found instructions for installation of this top AND he read them - oh my DOG!

The new top heating in the sun and me just sitting around drinking beer! Perfecto!

The guys were funny and patient. They made this look easy as heck, but I know it was not. Not at all. I enjoyed watching them tackle this cumbersome task. They totally cracked me up. The two of them swapping barbs and bad jokes, asking for insight from each other, listening and accomplishing each tiny little tactile job. Not for the impatient or the bossy. And me? I stayed out of the way. Brought beer, water, pizza, laughed at their jokes. The perfect pit tootsie.

Hey, maybe this IS rocket science...

These guys have known each other for a shit load of years...how many is that you ask? Well, I do not do math on the weekends, I am sorry...The new top went on. I cannot believe how quickly it seemed to come together. The instructions stated that it would be at least a five hour task and these two accomplished it all, with breaks, in under four. The dynamic duo!

My Fiat backseat saw more action today than it ever ever has!

One of the final tasks was to use an adhesive to attach the canvas top to the roof bows. Well, that changed everything. The guys caught the intensity of the glue and came up for air a couple of times...but I could tell that the fumes were definitely compromising the integrity of this installation.

"Say Jim, what happend to that glue rag? You didn't throw that away did you" "Why no, Ed, you are soaking in it..."

My mechanics are ZASTED!

A water and air break were requested by yours truly. The extent of their glue sniffing disorientation is only confirmed by their laughter at some really really bad jokes on my part. More water for my mechanics. Oh my gosh, the top looks amazing, though.

 I am admiring their hard work!

So, this week I still hope to accomplish the oil change, fixing the stalling sitch and having the alternator looked at and most likely replaced. Sigh...It will all work out in the end. It always does. Royce and Ed are awesome and I cannot tell you how much I appreciate their hard work, great humor and kindness. Not just to me, but to each other.

Friends, Fiats, Fun, f'ing this and f'ing that, f'ing awesome and the convertible top is FIXED! Now, that is something!

Hope your weekend is coming together as great as my new convertible top has.

xxoo
Cassi

Sorry if this makes you nervous...

Hey, xanga neighborhood - THANK YOU. THANK YOU in big fat huggy gobs of thank you. Like cotton candy chocolate dipped rainbow heart shaped unicorns thank you.

That last blog was a share, a personal share, and I feel like you all got that. All of your positive feedback and kind comments mean the world. I love you guys. In that strange internet neighborhood way. Bless you all. (In what ever way you want that to be...)

Oh Joy!

Alright, I have stuff to blog about. Certainly not the tar pits. Certainly not about anything irritating. NOPE. Just good old fashioned

ALL ABOUT MY KIDS!

Yeah! MY KIDS! Oh yeah, and a bunch of other great kids too.

Sapphire Cordial, some of Jamaica's amazing and beautiful personally crafted wares

Ok, Monday, my daughter played a benefit show in Sacramento with two other bands at a cool venue. This benefit was to raise money to help send her friend, Jamaica, to New York city, as she has her designs and fashions being included in a New York fashion show. This is huge and exciting. She has been singled out many times over around here locally. This is an outstanding deal.

Those Bloody Kids

Joc's friend Chenelle debuted her new band with her bandmate Travis. They both have solo projects but came together to create this massive monster thrash gospel jazz sound. Truly loud and fantastic. Chenelle's smokey bluesy voice mixing it up with Travis' angelic sound and mothaf'ing drum pounding. Really fun stuff.

Alak

Joc's set was fantastic. Ethereal. She was a glowing angel with a pared down solo acoustic song selection. She was fabulous and her voice has never sounded better. I was blown away. Everyone was in awe. It is true.

Natalie, Joc, Lauren and Naomi, these girls would be Agent Ribbons (except, of course, Joc) They are all just a bunch of hotty hottentots!

The last and headlining band was Agent Ribbons. Those girls are just raucous times fun. Natalie's lyrics just get better and I love them to death. They should be famous. Special bonus guest appearance! Jamaica's mom came down the hill for the show. She is one of my Placerville friends. It was great to see her.

Jamaica with the owner, Art Luna, of Luna's Cafe, taking a bite out of the BIG APPLE babee!

Cool fancy new friends and hip and suave friends I have met before! (That guy is a wonderful local photographer that has taken AMAZING photo's of my beautiful daughter on a number of occasions)

The venue was cozy and friend filled. Everyone was in a happy generous spirit. Yay! My regular favorite kids and a bunch of new favorite kids! Now wait a minute, that was ONLY MONDAY! Yeah!

Michael with Sharmi, the dj who had him in the studio

Monday night my son did a radio show on KDVS, the local university station. He was doing that while I was going to his sisters show in Sacramento. I have not heard the show yet but I have downloaded it and once I re-download a frickin' audio driver I will give it a listening to.

Calvin Johnson sings "Rabbit Blood"

So's anyways, it seems that during this little radio ho-down, he managed to get added on to a very cool show at a venue I got to quite often. The Delta of Venus. Supporting kind of an icon in the indie music arena, Calvin Johnson, of K Records. He and his label are very influential in the promotion of anti corporate indie music. All of that out of Olympia Washington. I met him several years back when he did an interview at KDVS. I remember how polite he was and how interesting he was. "Who is this guy??!!" I wondered to myself as I heard him discuss touring with Yo La Tango, discussing Modest Mouse recording for his label, recounting a tour of that he and his label mates (bands on K Records include or have included Pansy Division, Beck, Kimya Dawson, Shonen Knife to name just a couple) did of camp grounds across the Americas. Oh my dog!

Woman Year

He is kind of a big deal. Michael got on this show. He played second, his friend from the show I just saw at the Velvet Leaf boutique last week, Dragging an Ox through Water, was also on the bill. Michael was so on and clear.  I love his music. He writes the most eccentric lyrical pop dark western personal music. He was having  great time riffing with the audience and sharing his thoughts by guitar.

Dragging an Ox through Water

That is a terrible picture of Brian, of Dragging an Ox through Water. He is wonderful . Think Lindsey Buckingham's powerful voice over wall of sound fuzz loops, an echoing acoustic guitar and a bakers dozen of shiny sci fi looking pedals. Wild wild west.

Mucky the Duck (Shawn, who has spent the night at my place a number of times), cool KDVS dj  and musician kid with Michael and Jocelyn and Daniel being in love or just silly

All those incredible kids hanging out in the beautiful  night at the Delta of Venus in Davis, California. A couple of cool nights out listening to music.

But wait, there is more...

Only the cute and cool mechanics wear these!

I got my Fiat running. Now, running does not mean anything more than that. But, I did that much myself. That little car has taken a couple of rides, YAY! I performed all my mechanic duties in my lovely flamingo pj mechanic suit. I will take it to see trained professionals very very soon. Of course they will not dress like me...

When I got up this morning I found an extra face in my living room!

And, Jon is home from his adventures in the bay area with his other band, Sholi. They are heading out on tour next month. Check out his cool new glasses ad cheese cake tat!

So, when I am not lamenting my day job, I am in loves with the night life!

I feel that writing about what is really going on with me and my situation is a good thing. I try very hard to never share too much information but sometimes the writing is cathartic for me. Like all the court and victim/witness things I was dealing with last year.

I look at that time as a true eye opener. A real learning experience. If anyone I know ever has to deal with court and trial things I will have some pretty savvy advice to offer. Being in the system is what it is. You do your best, you follow their rules. You do not take things personally even though at times things seem very very personal. And always remember, even if you are the victim of the crime, the justice system views the accused as innocent until proven guilty. Wow.

This year is handing out all kinds of new challenges for many many many of us on the pay check and job security front. Just over a year ago I was in my twelfth or so year in the mortgage industry. I had been a full time and successful loan processor for all that time. I had good jobs, my future seemed very secure. California real estate, come on! Where could this go wrong? It certainly did go south. I scrambled and was creative, industrious even. And I found work I really enjoyed at an art gallery for the past year. Well, the recession word now actually being used and the economic situation of our current time hit the art world too. I looked for more and other stable work. I am now currently earning one quarter of what I made approximately a year ago. Pretty frickin' eye opening isn't it? I have always been very employable but there is not much work. The job I do have is a decent job but I really really really do not like it. I get a stomach ache when it is time to go in. But I go. I mean, these are not times for being spoiled babies. Plus I continue to clean houses on my off days or even before I go to work in the evenings and help out at the gallery if they need me.

We are all in this together

This is not a poor me blog. I am sharing my experience of this economically trying time. It is hitting everyone. Businesses and corporations are closing left and right. Many people are getting pay cuts and extended time off or shorter work week hours. That is even occurring at the grocery store I am working at. I was at five days a week, but now I am at three and four days a week and only six hour shifts.

I know many of you are facing these same stressful situations and challenging decisions. I have been cutting back on everything. I actually am amazed that I have come this far with how little I have been making. A big decision is on my immediate horizon. I am sure that writing about it will be cause for some of you to judge me, I do not mind. I feel that sharing this will help those of you roiled in your own self preservation campaign and for those of you that may end up here later, you will be glad to know we are all doing our best but still falling short.

I traded in my big suv four years ago. It was a good decision. I was no longer living in the snow, I needed better gas milage. My rig had high miles from all the commuting I had been doing. I downsized to a smaller and more fuel efficient car. I also took out a long loan on it to keep my payment down. It all made sense at the time. Well, I still owe on that little car and the payment is killing me. I have barely begun to pay down the principle. I am going to have to let that car go. Me, who has been driving a new car since forever. I have to stop and just give it back, it is going to totally shred my credit. Which has been taking a lashing this past year anyway. But, I cannot sleep, I barely eat. I mean this is severe. I have always taken care of myself, my children and my expenses. Always.

They even agree to rangle the challenge of putting on the new convertible top!

So, I came to terms with this over the weekend. I am going to get my little Fiat running and at least water proofed with the help of friends in the coming weeks. I have to call the auto finance company and deal with that. They will not be helpful or work with me. It will just be ugly but there it is.

     

My weekend, aside from this mental anguish, was actually nice. My friend Royce and I joined long time friends of his for dinner at their home on several acres in North Sacramento. The day had been sunny and bright but was clouding and threatening to rain when we got there. Our host and hostess were still gone shopping so I got the tour of their groovy grounds by Royce.

   

They got back from shopping and we proceeded to drink some beers and the guys began making pizza dough for the home made pizzas we were to have for dinner. We brought along mozzarella, black olives and soppressata salame as toppings. Beers were replaced by wine and the guys were swapping work stories and punching down the dough. Kathleen and I were talking about work and our kids. It was a great time. I felt right at home and put my cares behind me and definitely found some peace of mind at the bottom of my never empties wine glass.

Bear in Mind

Sunday I actually called in sick to work (I realize that this is not helping my situation but bear in mind that this is probably my first entire weekend off in over a year) and hung out with Royce for the day. We lollygagged, hooked up with his daughter and her boyfriend later in the day, I am home now and going to go to bed shortly. My week is wrapped around getting my Fiat running and continuing my search for employment. I just hate my job at that market. That is all I can say about that.

Tomorrow is back to the tar pits. How are you? Are you hanging in there? Are you rested and appreciated? You all are wonderful and good, that is according to me anyway...

ps. I want you to know that this is embarrassing to write about. I feel like a complete loser. I suspect others are feeling the same way. I am doing my best and I know you are too. Times are interesting and we have to keep our faith. It may not help us pay the rent or sleep better at night but it is what we have so we better take it. xxoo

"Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep;"

Well, if that does not hit the nail on the head and a bit more  penetrating than I would have mustered at this late hour.

Thanks Billy the Shakes. Nicely done, sir.

I met up with my long lost girlfriends this week. The holidays behind us all we all knew it was time for some tea and girl talk. My friend Lauren and I are keen on riding bikes a couple of days a week. I hope we do it. We have nice bike trails right down the street. It may not be off road but it is scenic, low key and friend time. I am excited about that.

This is the image I found when I did a "no phone" search on google. Is she speaking Spanish into her pop bottle? I did not receive any calls from those either...

No calls on the room for rent. That is concerning. I also put an ad on craigslist.com for more housekeeping work. Nothing on that yet either. I was scheduled for only three days this week but because I spoke up I got an extra day added easily. Still, only part time though. Hence the melodramatic blog opening.

My kids did a show together on Monday. At a new boutique in town called Velvet Leaf. Very lovely store and clothing designers, Laura and Becky Carter. I wish the two sisters that have set up shop every great success. They create sustainable certified organic hand crafted beautiful clothing. I love their stuff.

Michael and Savannah did a song together (I unfortunately did not get a picture of the kids together) My camera continues to take a dump

The kids show was short, TOO SHORT. I was there early and headed out to bring back beer. By the time we got back they were more than half way through their set. I felt so bad. My only saving grace is that I have been listening to them rehearse all week so I know how fabulous they were. My son has officially signed with Porter Records with his solo project Womanyear. This is so cool.

Jamaica, the designer of Sapphire Cordial and Church of Satin

Joc's friend Jamaica was in the back room and creative area of the boutique sewing like a demon. She has a number of her designs being shown in New York CITY next month. Her hand made clothing and designs go by the moniker "Sapphire Cordial", she has been making some waves here locally but now she is heading to the big apple to promote her beautiful wares. I am really excited for her.

A Question of Beards

 These boys had no answers but were indeed wondering themselves.

  It was fun to be out and about in midtown. Always something to see.

Fortunately for me, I have very cute earrings and shoes that go with this...

Nights spent working at the tar pits. I continue to show up and they continue to pay me. I cannot say that I am making the best out of it but I am motivated to pay my rent and continue to have utilities stay on.  To some degree.

Any cool weekend plans, xanga-pals? I have something interesting planned for Saturday after I clean a house. I will tell you all about it.

Make it a great weekend!

Meeting new friends and drinking beer was the order of the night last Wednesday.

Birthday beers were the order of the day last Thursday

I spent part of a day with my daughter for her birthday last Thursday. It was a family day. My mom, my son, Jocelyn the birthday girl, my cousin Sandy and myself went to a place in Placerville for a birthday celebratory lunch.

I love this picture of the kids (that third boy in the blue is Jon, he is my spare kid) from my birthday party last year

Joc and Michael took off to shop on their own and I read tarot cards for my cousin Sandy. I have been reading cards both personally and professionally for the better part of twenty years now. My cousin Sandy recently eloped to Tahoe with a man that she had know for most of a year. The whole family and her two daughters fell in love with him too. They married the weekend after Thanksgiving at his enthusiastic request.

You sir, are an unmitigated CAD!

Long story short...he left her before Christmas. She had just had shoulder surgery plus the holidays. I am glad she asked for a card reading. She is wanting to get a glimpse of her future. I was so worried for her. It is far more realistic to just give up on the future after something like that. You second guess yourself and beat yourself up for things you never really had any power over. Her attitude was mad but realistic and I didn't sense any depression. I was just so concerned. I am glad I got to hang out with her.

Petaluma walking bridge

Friday I cleaned a whole bunch of houses but that eve my friend Royce and I piled into his Euro bus for an over night adventure to the coast. We stopped in Petaluma for dinner and beers (beer seems to be a theme for this blog today - well done, ME!). That was interesting. The brew pub we parked at had a "No Dog Parking" sign in front. The pub was part of a shopping center that is along a narrow channel of water ways in downtown Petaluma with walking bridges. The steep and angled shore to the water was chalk filled with CATS. Loads of meowing felines with over flowing bowls of cat food placed along the shore edge. The place was lousy with meow mix. I love cats too but I felt that was rather discriminatory.

Again with the beer

Bellys filled, senses appropriately coddled from the beer, we ventured forth to Point Reyes. It was after eleven pm I believe, when we pulled into the parking lot at Drake's Beach. A single car and a semi truck parked in the far corner were our only neighbors. We parked at the first row with our windshield facing the ocean. The visitor center was closed but seemed to be under construction. I am happy to report that the bathrooms were in full working order.

Drakes Beach Cafe and Visitors Center - currently under construction

It was crazy dark out but we still walked out to the beach to hear the roar of the ocean and to feel the sea air blowing. Back in the bus blankets were pulled out, wine was opened, Christmas lights were twinkling. We settled in with a mug of fermeted fruity goodness to listen to the sea. And the snort snort of the sea lions.

The bellow of the lions, the snoot snout of an aardvark and the eyes of a puppy!

The morning was brilliant! We only needed sweat shirts. In January! No fog even. I ran out to the beach and discovered where the sea lion snorts were coming from. Nearly in front of the parking lot lay an enormous sea lion with his/her snoot snout in motion detecting what was around. 

The day was fricking amazing

Like a beautiful dream only I was awake!

His coffee made the ladies sigh and the sea lions snort for more!

I came back to the bus for FRESHLY MADE COFFEE! Yeah! Royce is the master and commander of all things good and right in the world of camping at the beach.

Table for two, please. Are you still serving breakfast? Do you have any bourbon water? We are parched.

People began pulling into the parking lot, by then we were up and organized. People looking for the whale watching tour bus, dudes looking for surfable waves. Old dudes that spent more time chatting and drinking coffee than unloading their expensive looking sea kayaks. A ranger made a pomenade around the lot, families and a couple of locals demanding food (see photo above).

The morning is spectacular as I hang out with my fine feathered friends (pay no mind to my just got out of the bus hair!)

Our stomachs began to grumble louder than the small talk we were making with all of our new friends. We decided it was time to head to town for some breakfast. To Point Reyes we aimed the bus. Breakfast at Point Reyes Station. The finest breakfast by anyones standard was placed before us.

Two of my favorite Pt. Reyes places

We meandered about for a short bit but it was time to leave. I had to be at work that afternoon. Traffic, quiet, tunes and basking in the afterglow of ocean waves, ocean dreams, ocean friends, ocean breakfast. The sea had soothed all of our senses. The ride home was quiet.

Ok, so, it was back to the tar pits for a couple of days on Saturday and Sunday. I still hate it. I am told that it's bad to say that but honestly, that is how I feel. I still show up and do a good job. I have moderate appreciation for a couple of characters around the place and I work hard but really. I do not have to like it. Do I?

In keeping with my blog theme...more beer

Tonite my kids play a show together. I will be in attendance. And so , my xanga-dogs, that is that.

How is your Monday going? Are you off from the tar pits?

Somebody has a birthday today!

This little mother trucker!

My daughter turns twenty three years old today.

She is beautiful, smart, talented, funny, inspiring, motivated, hard working, kind, interesting, genuine, girly girl girl, a hard ass when she wants or needs to be, selfless, traditional about many things and untraditional about other things, bold, a true and out spoken caring friend, melodramatic, articulate, thoughtful, forgiving, considerate and just all around astounding.

I am very proud to be her mom.

Happy Birthday my daughter! Yay!

Joc in the middle with friends at her last show of the tour

My daughter turns twenty three on Thursday. That is exciting. I expect I will see her before her friends smuggle her away to a birthday surprise. She is staying at my mom's place for now. Up the hill and closer to her boyfriend. They just bought a truck together. Sounds serious to me!

Jon, Naomi and Michael (sitting on said couch) right around New Years

My son and his friend, Jon, are hanging around here. Just like old times. Two big boys sprawled across couches and love seats with piles of boy clothes, huge boys shoes and sox every which way and guitars all about. They are trying to be tidier.

The renter kid is out. He made more waves and melodrama but he is gone. I have put an ad on craigslist for another room renter. No calls yet. Not exactly the prime time of the year in a university town to be looking for a renter.

Michael and George during happier times...

A little too much excitement the other day. My son thought it might be a good idea to take our bird, Baby Greaser George, out for some air. My son felt that he hated his cage. Well, some air is what he got when he swooped up and out of the yard. Landing three stories high in a tree in a back yard across the alley. He chirped through the day. We whistled and set the his cage up high on a garbage can in hopes of his his swooping back to home base.

No luck.

I got home late that night from work. It was cold and I heard not a peep from my bird friend. I went to bed worried for his safety but did not know what I could do.

In the morning, I could hear his song all about the neighborhood. When I went out to spy him I found that he was in a new tree two yards over. I contacted the boys that lived in that house and asked about getting into their backyard to get our bird back. He said his room mate heard our bird singing and said sure, no problem. I got my son up and he went to work trying to find and cajole the bird back into safety. Old George really seemed a little flustered at this point. Easily twenty four hours of wild times in the cold and the wind later.

I did not know what to expect, honestly. George was so far up the tree and not budging, and seeming to fly further with any capture plans on my sons part. I just did not know if that guy was going to be coming home.

Old Baby Greaser George was parched from his journey...

But, home he did come to. My son managed to seek his little bird butt out on a lower branch than expected and grabbed him. He got a beak bite when he caught our fine feathered friend, but, George made it back home.

He slept through the day and the night. Not a peepity peep this morning. He ate and drank, obviously starved an parched. And slept. Too much adventure for his little bird brain to handle in two days.

My computer is still screwed up.

That really covers it. Just really dang busy working at the tar pits, cleaning houses and tending to my pets and children. I still hate the tar pits. I don't know what to do about that except keep looking for work. Which I do.

I have recently made a new friend and his best friend turns out to be the finest pooch in all the land.

Royce and Willie, my new pals

Willie was 17 years old and just the coolest dude around. I liked him right away. Willie liked my gloves right away. (He went into my purse a number of times taking my gloves to add to his stuffed toy collection).

Willie in more robust times

Turns out that the Will Master had been having some serious health issues. I think he ended up at the vet three times last week. Once for an over night. He was going downhill fast. The vet commented how good he looked for being such an old guy. She called him the Sean Connery of dogs. We referred to him as Double Oh Dog.

Some Dog!

Yesterday my new friend and I took Willie to the vet to be put down. It was a sad sad day. The old guy could barely move or walk. But I have to tell you, when ever the vet or her assistants came out to the van to have paper work signed or what not he would sit straight up to greet them. And I was told that he walked himself into the room with the vet. He does love the ladies.

A very very sad day and a true honor that I got a chance to meet Willie. I know it is going to be tough going for awhile for his dad.