the kiddos

we FINALLY all got together (minus Jamie GHG and Lexi, who we greatly missed) to celebrate Mary Emma and Shep's birthday. The kids all had a great time playing together, and they are all too cute. Really. It is hard to believe how precious they are. And I can't wait to meet the 2 new additions, Charlotte and Briggs. Yams is having another boy, due August and Jessica's little girl will be here in October. YEAH!!!

Oh, and I LOVE my new lens. It takes really great pictures. And I downloaded a free trial of Adobe Lightroom. I just need to go ahead and buy it, but I somehow need to find $300 laying around, anyone?

And here is a picture of Grace at the pool on Friday, she is getting so big. It is hard to believe she is already 7 (and a half). However, she acts like she is 11 or 12. I asked if I could take her picture, and she started posing. Hilarious.

how has it been almost 6 months...

since Sammy was born. That is ridiculous. And he is ridiculously cute; here is the proof:

This is my favorite!!!

Critter Control....again

How come everywhere I go, I am surrounded by critters?

A few months ago, there was the bat in the house (see earlier post and associated video). And then there is the rat story from when I lived with the roomies on Ashford Dunwoody. (Remember, Monty ate my bed, and chewed a hole in the wall). Oh, and the nasty wharf rats (honestly, they were HUGE) at my old office that we saw on a near daily basis. And a few years ago, there was the baby opossum in the house that we caught and set free.

Well, they are back. Almost all of them.

The other day, whilst hanging out on the deck enjoying the weather and a cocktail, Gerdie became obsessed with a particular area. Specifically, she was staring through the deck boards, clawing at the deck, and not leaving that spot. I poured water on the deck in an attempt to remove any smells, etc. that she couldn't seem to leave alone. Which didn't work. So Big Connie decided to go under the deck and check it out.

And she found this:

Yes, that's a bundle of bats, baby bats, and they are living under the deck. GROSS!!! There is a huge pile of poo under them too. But Jack said to leave them b/c they eat mosquitoes and such. So, I guess they are going to stay for now.

Oh, and Big Connie said she saw them flying back in for the day when she was running on the elliptical machine the other morning, at daybreak. Freaky.

And by Freaky I mean:

A. That she saw them on the move.

B. That she was up that early AND working out.

So that is critter number 1 back to haunt me. Now on to critter number 2.

Yesterday, Jeremy had stopped at CVS on his way home, and nosy that I am, peaked in his bag at his prizes. To discover a mouse trap. I said, "Oh, do you have mice at home?" (while feeling sorry for him and his critter problems). And his reply, "No, you have mice downstairs."

Um, excuse me? Pardon moi? Repita por favor?

I think I stared at him for a good 2 minutes with my mouth wide open (good thing I was not outside while the bats were on the move....)

He said he was just laying down for bed, heard something, flicked on the light, saw the mouse on top of the entertainment center, threw his wallet at the mouse, which scared the everliving poo out of it, and it was trying so hard to get away, it was just skidding and sliding all over the place. Again, FREAKY. No, actually, GROSS.

So he set up the trap, I assume. I did not see him again last night or this morning, and he is gone until Monday. Great, Monday...that is 4 days away! So I guess we will have to wait and see until then...unless I hear a loud slap of a closing trap or smell something rotting. Because there is no way I am going in there.

Critter numero tres, the opossum, has stayed away....for now. And lets hope it stays that way!

alyssa, this is for you

jennith's sister, alyssa, is in Ghana! and she is going to try to bring me back some more new fabric (if she can find it)! yeah!

here is a picture of what lindsey and emily brought back:

it is labeled: veritable real wax afroget. happy hunting! oh, and i would like a LOT of it...but at least two yards. (lindsey and emily brought back 12 yards total, which is an entire bolt.) 1 yard is enough for a purse/bag. 2 yards would be enough for a blanket/quilt. so, if you find something cool, i could make you something too!

Wow, I need to learn time management skills

So, I keep hearing from people, "when are you going to update your blog?"

Not only am I amazed that I hear this from people other than my mother, I am disappointed with myself for not taking the time to keep up with something that I love doing (telling people the ins and outs of my life like anyone cares, heh!)

Seriously though, I can't believe how occupied and busy I can keep myself while not holding down a full time job. I have a new found respect for stay-at-home mothers! (And I don't mean that in a cynical way, either).

Since I am at home most days (i.e. unemployed), and have been playing nurse-maid to Jack since his surgery (I will blog about this later), there always seems to be a need to run to the grocery store, wal-mart, the gas station, do laundry, dishes, take out the trash, mow the grass, decorate, rearrange furniture, go yard selling, etc. Okay, so maybe those last three are an indication of things I would like to do full time, or as a paid occupation, rather than things I "have to get done" on a daily basis, but either way, I have no idea how I did any of these things while working a 40+hour/week job.

And in case you were wondering about my last blog post, no...the interview did not go as well as planned. Well, I shouldn't say that. The interview itself went well, in my opinion, but the fact that I got no return call/email, as promised, I might have been a little to hopeful. Oh well. My un-employment check is well received each week.

The sad thing is, that since getting laid off, there has only been one job posting anywhere on the internet for a Landscape Architect in GA, and apparently everyone I know applied...as to be expected. And since the hiring company is looking for someone with at least 8 years of experience, even though my resume and credentials are impressive (according to the HR manager), I am not even going to be considered for the position...since there was SO much response to the job.

No shit. Between Brent (former boss/co-worker) we can name at least 25 LA's that got laid off in the last 2 years who are looking for a job. And we can name 6-7 people, that we know of, who applied for this job. So, if you are looking to hire, you are in luck, b/c there is an endless pot of well qualified and skilled people who NEED a job. However, if you are like me, and are one of the many LOOKING for a job...well, see above.

Regardless, I am keeping a positive outlook, looking for ways to make money (watching kids, side-jobs, sewing, etc.) and trying not to stay too worried or anxious about it. There is a plan for me and it is ultimately out of my control, so I am not sweating the small stuff. And when you consider the "small stuff" a steady income, then you must be doing pretty well in the sane department.

Or smoke too much crack.

P.S. (to my Grandparents who read my blog, or at least I think you may occasionally read my blog, I have not, nor ever will, smoke crack...its just a saying among us young "whippersnappers!" And pardon my french)

P.P.S. (more blog posts and pictures to follow...SOON, I promise this time)