Farty machines

A pack of Harleys has been perched outside of my office for five minutes now sounding like they ate 12 cans of beans apiece. I do not see the appeal. I just don't get it. They are annoying and need to drive away NOW.

Just for Jenny

Well, okay, and Mom and Auntie Manda, if not others. We went to Children's Day on the Farm at Historic Brattonsville today and had a wonderful time. I may have a future interpreter on my hands.

Movie plug

This will not count as an official movie review, since I have become lazy in my old age and just don't write that much in blogs anymore. Sorry.

But you simply must see "Death at a Funeral"! Brad and I were in hysterics the whole time. The drugged fiance should win an Oscar, and the bit with the dwarf and the drugs and the coffin ...!!!!! Oh, it was good.

Developments

The first designer is back. I'm not happy about this, but there was a long meeting and we'll see what happens.

Last night, I started a book at 8:30. I finished it at 10:30. Okay, okay, it was kiddie lit, a book called Stargirl, and believe it or not I was reading it for a book club I'm in where the average age is probably 45. The book was about individuality in high school, and it was actually quite good. I always wanted to be the quirky individual in high school, but I never stood out. Now I'm accepting that I find quirky individuals fascinating, but I am just not that quirky. I like jeans, solid colored shirts, simple makeup, even simpler hair, and that's fine. I will admire the quirky folk, hopefully even befriend them, but I will just have to be the straight man in the relationship.

If you know an adolescent, though, it was a very good book. A., they even have a teacher's guide for it.

The golden time

Lately, Abigail has taken to asking for cuddle time after breakfast. To say she is an active kid is an understatement, so these few minutes of quiet together are really sweet. This morning, when she asked to cuddle, she went off on one of her monologues and pointed to a gold star sticker she has and said, "This gold star means that this is the golden time. It's going to tell me when the golden time is over. Only I will know when it is over." Which of course wasn't true because nagging Mommy finally had to break it up or we'd be late for school. But it is such a golden time. She's 5 and a half and getting so big. All too soon she's going to be too big for my lap, and I'll miss looking at her little face while she "dreams".

Puerto Rico

So I'm still lazy, but I'll dutifully avoid working to post some pictures!

We went to Puerto Rico about three weeks ago already and had a wonderful time. We were just in San Juan most of the time, but there is so much to see and do! And the flight was really reasonable from the States, so we highly recommend it. Brad's already talking about taking Abigail back with us -- or moving there all together. We'll see about that, but I did have fun!

We stayed out near the airport just a block from the beach, but city beaches aren't the most spectacular, so we spent the first couple days in Old San Juan. It's obviously very Latin, but there's also a LOT of American influence and everyone speaks excellent English -- so good I really didn't try much Spanish. It was a good first time abroad for Brad. The colonial city was stunning, and the food was delicious (especially the rice and beans, and pineapple juice at Cafe el Punto -- most amazing juice ever).





Then the third day, we went on a day trip, sailing on a catamaran to go snorkeling off uninhabited Icacos Island. Using the snorkel was disconcerting at first -- you felt like you had to take huge, quick breaths, which only made you feel like you were smothering -- but after you adjusted, it was the most peaceful, amazing thing to be floating over a coral reef. If you float very still, these yellow and black striped fish will swim up to maybe a foot from your hand to see what the strange thing is up there -- you can see the curiosity.



Our next stop is central Florida, though I don't think Tampa Bay will be quite so exciting. But at least we'll see lots of friends, and Abigail will have the once-in-a-lifetime chance to make the Smitties' wedding truly memorable, heh, heh, heh :)

Happy happy, joy joy!

I have a new designer!!! And it's someone I've know for years and have worked with and have absolutely no qualms abut using! Yaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!!! A huge load of stress has been lifted.

We have been to and obviously returned from Puerto Rico. We had a wonderful time and I have wonderful pictures, but sadly I am lazy! I will post this week, though. It was an amazing trip.

An appetizer: