Author: Sarah

…to me (and Denis)! We’ve been married for four years – seems like longer…er…you know, like we’ve known each other forever…um…I’d better stop before I dig this hole any deeper! ;)

We had a “date” day today. We both took off from work to do “first-date” type things. First, we went to breakfast at IHOP. Then we went to Chase-Pitkin (ok, so home improvement stores aren’t typically first-date places, but what the heck.) At this point I had to stop into Wegman’s for a single-use camera…I foolishly left my camera home. Then the real fun began: a game of mini-golf, followed by skee-ball, air hockey and pinball. We won enough tickets to get a slinky-dog keychain! (And I beat Denis for the first time ever at air hockey!)

After the arcade, we went to see the new Matrix movie. Eh. I liked X-Men 2 better. After eating pancakes and popcorn for the day, we decided a walk along the canal path with the pups would be a good idea – and found out that Murphy is ok with regular bikes, but scared out of his wits by bikes with trailers and jogging strollers. :) Other than that, they both did very well, and one little kid commented that Murphy looked like he had a tuxedo on, because of the white streak on his chest. Very cute!

Finally, we went to Mario’s via Abruzzi for a lovely dinner. They had someone playing piano, and the owner came around with roses for all the ladies there. Mmmm. Such a lovely way to end the day!

I give up. Not only have I lost the battle with the weeds, I’ve completely lost the war. There are more dandelions around the pool than brick chips. The backyard consists entirely of those nasty prickly plants, dandelions and crab grass – with the occasional tuft of nice soft normal grass here and there. Even the dogs walk gingerly out there. Poor puppy paws. I’m finally giving in and getting the whole thing chemically treated all season for some exorbitant price…just as soon as I check out the stuff they’re using with the vet. After all, we take the dogs outside a dozen or more times a day, and the lawn company’s assurance that it’s safe in an hour or two just doesn’t make me feel very confident.

I’ve also decided that I’m a very impatient person. (Yes, I knew this already, but this situation is just reinforcing it.) When I decide I want something done, I want it done now. Not three or four weeks from now. Just now. I’m all about instant gratification. Which is why it’s driving me crazy that after 6 weeks I still don’t have the plans for the fence in hand. Can’t get a permit without a plan. Can’t schedule the work without a plan and a permit. Grrr. At this rate, it will be winter again before I have a fenced-in yard. (At least the weeds will be gone by then.) If the landscaping company hadn’t been so highly recommended, I’d just look elsewhere…but I’m sure that they are all very busy this time of year.

Instead of enjoying my yard, I’ve spent every outdoor moment stressing about it. Wait, let me focus on the good…at least this year, for once, my rosebushes don’t have black-spot…yet. Knock wood!

The past three or four times I’ve used my credit card (in an actual, non-online store) the person behind the register has commented on how neat my signature is. And, it really is – I never figured out how to scrawl my name so that it’s completely illegible. I guess I should be paranoid, because it would probably be pretty easy to forge my signature, and now I get nervous when signing credit card slips, because I’m worried that if I just muck up the bottom loop of the “y” or something, the cashier may think it’s not me.

Doesn’t anyone else have an easily readable signature? What does it say about me? (And no, I’m not a total neat freak – just come to my house when I’m not expecting company!)

The jewelry was a big hit – nobody guessed that I had made it! Actually, my mom liked it so much that we spent the afternoon and evening making more jewelry…I think I’ve created a monster. :)

I just realized that since I’m a godmother, I should have celebrated mother’s day, too! Plus, I’m a puppy mom. That should count for something. Actually, my mom gave me a mother’s day present – a book about quilting and a pretty little pillow wallhanging that is dripping with ribbon embroidery and lace.

Oh, and that little tiny ball of gray yarn was enough to finish the top part of the shawl. I think I ended up with about two yards to spare. So, now I just have to pick up 339 stitches along the bottom edge and knit the border – which ends up being 691 stitches when all is said and done. Yikes!

…my poor, poor nephew. :)

I have another niece! That brings the total to 1 nephew, 5 nieces. Murphy’s law, of course, was in effect, so Michelle Eva waited until after we’d left the area to make her appearance.

No, I didn’t drop off the face of the earth – we just went out of town for the weekend. This time, I had perfectly wonderful internet access…and didn’t take advantage of it to blog. :D Instead, I played with stickers with my 3 1/2-year-old niece.

We went down to NYC for the twins’ baptism. Unlike Jenny’s and Tina’s recent visit, we didn’t hit any good restaurants or see anyone famous. We did, however, go to Stew Leonards, which seemed kind of like a country-western themed Wegmans with animatronics and a petting zoo. I kind of wish I’d brought my camera!

I did take pictures of all the kids (4 nieces, 1 nephew, and another one on his or her way any day now!) which I will someday get around to uploading to Ofoto. In the meantime, 6 hours of sitting in the car followed by doggy obedience has totally wiped me out, and I’m going to go find my toothbrush and go to bed!