So here's Nora in her Halloween costume. She's Pocahontas.
My sister also bought her a black wig in case she wanted to wear one. Here it is.
Brace yourself.
Isn't it hilarious? She's not wearing it; she doesn't like it.
Oct 30, 2009
Nora's Halloween Costume
Halloween Without The Kiddies
I'm not going to my sister's house for Halloween this year because I still have a cough and don't want to get the kiddies sick. (I doubt I'm contagious but it's better to be safe.) I'm so sad that I'm not going to get to see Nora in her Pocahontas costume. (Jack won't wear one. My sister got him a dragon costume and he said, "I'm not a dragon. I'm Jack.") I'm seriously tearing up thinking about them trick-or-treating without me. I miss them. I love them. They are my babies. :(
Oct 22, 2009
Oct 21, 2009
Pretty Weimaraner
I'm going through old pics tonight and I found these that I took of a neighborhood dog.
I love Weimaraners!
Naomi
My friend Naomi! She and Mark are my very best friends.
I love these pictures because they capture her personality so very well.
Nora's Pink Hat
I knit this cute hat for Nora last winter.
I told my sister, "It's 100% wool. You have to wash it cold, dry flat. Do you understand?"
"Yes," she said.
"So what do you do again?" I asked, testing her. "Wash hot, tumble dry low?"
"No," she replied. "Wash cold, dry flat."
She got it.
A few months went by and she called me. "You know that hat you made Nora? Can I wash it in hot water?"
"No," I said. "Wash cold, dry flat—otherwise it will shrink. Why?"
Silence.
And now some photos:
Apparently some kid in Nora's class got lice so she freaked out and washed everything in hot water, but still... WASH COLD, DRY FLAT!
Now I have to make a new one.
PS - I took these photos in March but just rediscovered and uploaded them today.
PPS - Nora didn't get lice.
Oct 19, 2009
Flu
So I'm pretty sure I've had the swine flu. Or maybe it's just the regular flu. Whichever it is, it's lasted for 10 days and has sucked all the life out of me. I think I'm getting better, but I can't get rid of this terrible cough that's deep in my chest. And I still have rales when I breathe. They sound like Rice Kripsies and they freak my sister out. We were on the phone the other night and she said something that bothered me, so I exhaled really deeply into the phone until she screamed "Stop!" to get back at her.
I haven't gone to the doctor because my fever's gone and I thought I was on the mend, but if this chest thing doesn't go away in a couple days, I'm heading there.
Ugh.
The only good thing is that I've already had the flu this year and hopefully won't get it again!
UPDATE: I finally went to the doctor and I'm on antibiotics and Prednisone. Not too happy about the Prednisone, but it's only for 5 days. Thank you for your well-wishes!
Oct 16, 2009
Bev's Birthday
It's Beverly's birthday today! She's seven years old! She's getting to be such a big girl... I remember the day I got her.
We're going to Monster Mutt right now so she can get her annual bully stick. Here's pics from last year's journey.
Oct 15, 2009
More San Francisco
This time for my gay friends.
The Castro!
(Sadly, I didn't get to attend the tribute to Rue McClanahan.)
The rainbow flag!
The actual sewing machine that sewed the very first rainbow flag!
San Francisco
I went to San Francisco for a wedding this past weekend. I took some pictures!
Here are two fun tilt-shift ones I did!
And here are some of the Golden Gate Bridge:
It's Mark! It's Mark!
San Francisco is a beautiful city but it was reallllllly windy (is it always like that?) and oh, those hills... good for exercise, not so good when trying to hail a cab in heels.
I got the flu Saturday at the wedding. It was terrible. I started getting the chills and aching during the reception, and by the time I got back to my hotel that evening, I had a fever. I flew home early Sunday morning still sick, so yes, I was one of those germ-infested people on a plane who probably got everyone else sick. Sorry, but I wanted to get home to my bed. And besides, I think I got sick on the plane out there anyway, so what goes around comes around. (Which is exactly how the flu spreads.)
Updates on my Seattle trip will be coming soon, including how Laura and I almost died on a mountain, and how Beverly was torn between two lovers.
Oct 14, 2009
Modern Family
I watched the ABC sitcom Modern Family on my Virgin America flight from Seattle to San Francisco last week and I absolutely loved it.
I've never watched it because it's opposite Glee and I love Glee. I told Mark and David to watch, so they did, and they loved it too. It's fresh, quirky, and so, so funny.
You can watch the pilot on ABC.com—here's a link.
I'm going to record it tonight and watch it after Glee.
PS - Here's a cool pic that I took out the window of my Virgin America flight.
Should I Be Worried?
I painted my radiator a few months ago with this paint by Krylon:
When I bought it, I asked the guy at the hardware store if I could use it to paint a radiator and he said yes.
So anyway, my radiator just went on for the first time this season and my apartment smells funny. I'm sure it's because they haven't been on since last winter, but the paranoid freak inside me is now wondering about the paint.
I looked at the paint can and it doesn't say anything about whether or not you can use it on radiators, so I went to Krylon's website and saw that they have a special paint for radiators.
Now I'm even more paranoid that I didn't use that kind.
Should I be worried about this? I just don't want to be lying in bed one day and have my apartment explode. (I also don't want to die from inhaling fumes.)
Oct 13, 2009
Starbucks Via
Has anyone tried Starbucks Via yet? What do you think?
I bought some today and I'm going to try it tomorrow.
UPDATE: It was okay. Fine. Nothing amazing, but not bad either. I mixed it with cold water (because I like iced coffee) and I was a little disappointed by how long it took to dissolve. I'm going to mix it with milk tomorrow.
Jack's New Sword
I just got back from a trip to Seattle and San Francisco and bought Jack this shield and sword while I was there.
No, really... it's a sword.
(Btw, my sister is not happy I bought him his first weapon.)
Help Find Shadow a Home!
Hi everyone! One of my internet friends named Jane needs to find a home for her cat Shadow. Jane just had a baby and Shadow isn't adjusting very well. Jane's devastated to have to find him a new home, but it's for the best of the baby. Here are some pictures of Shadow...
...and here is what Jane has to say about him:
Shadow's a big lover boy who loves to snuggle and sunbathe. He's good with other cats and dogs, but would prefer to be the center of attention and be in a home where he's king of the castle without any other furry friends. Because he's such a big boy (approximately 18 pounds), he doesn't know his own strength and is not good with little children.
Shadow has slightly elevated liver functions and takes a half a pill to keep them regulated daily. These pills are very inexpensive and he takes them very easily without putting up any kind of a fight. He loves to snuggle and purr. I would love to find him a new home where he will be loved on and cared for. If you're interested or know of anyone who may be, please let me know!
You can reach Jane at janebrauscher (at) gmail (dot) com. She lives in the Dallas area.
Naked Men
A friend of mine has two daughters, ages 5-1/2 and 7. Her husband was getting into the shower when both girls walked into the bathroom and saw him naked. The 5-1/2 year old pointed to his penis and goes, "What's that?" Her 7-year-old sister answered, "That's a penis." The 5-1/2-year-old said, "I know what that is—what's the brown stuff around it?" The 7-year-old goes, "That's vagina hair, dummy."