Toffeltour Ends

My good friend, Emily, was visiting us by way of L.A. We had a blast & got to show her all the sights. She's a fellow Journalism major that didn't end up in the industry. Now she's a school counselor in L.A. & has her summer's off.

I wish she lived closer, but I enjoy having someone to visit while in Los Angeles. She's just one of those women that I could never get tired of being around. So inspiring, witty, & warm. I love those kinds of ladies. I hope to be one someday!

Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger

A new week. A chance to be more positive & to show those around me how much I care.

I can really wind myself up & get too overwhelmed. Last week was a doozy, but it ended with a garden party for my condo. We dug up some ugly grass & planted lavender & rosemary & put some fencing up. How many chances do adult, urban dwellers get to play in the dirt?

Not enough in my opinion.

I'm going to see PJ Harvey tomorrow evening with a lovely lady that lives in my building. I'm looking forward to seeing her live because she's always brought out so much emotion in me. It will be magical.

This world does not make sense

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20090609_11_0_TeOlhm209962

A friend I went to college with was hit & killed by a drunk driver in Tulsa. He was a dedicated cyclist & all-around great guy.

I went to high school with his brother & have known the two of them for years.

Just sad & angry.

There was good news today that made me smile. My friends Lacy & Jonathan are expecting.

We are fascinated and frustrated by this world so much of the time.

Clutter Cutter

Whew! I'm back from Arkansas & had a wonderful time. I spent the first week tearing through my grandma's place. I cleared out bags & bags of stuff for the Salvation Army....so much so that they banned us from donating any more.

We tipped the garbage men $10 each & helped them throw away all the bags since there were so many. I threw away so many things that I'm pretty sure I undid all the recycling I've ever done.

It was too hard for my Dad to do, so I was down there to help. I'm hoping that he'll be able to rent it out & start working on building his own place out in the country. He's never had his own place & I'm eager for him to get started.

I made it up to Fayetteville for a few days & met up with my sister & a few friends. I went dancing at Scarpino's & went to a friend's new bar, Smoke & Barrel.

I love Fayetteville so much. It's always so great to be there & hard to leave.

Whew

I did it.

I cleaned my grandparents place of all the dust & clutter. I got rid of so many things, but came across so many lovely memories. I found my grandparents letters to each other while my grandpa was in the Navy in WWII. They were so in love.

To have someone in your life as your best friend is truely devine.

I got to hang out with my dad in Booneville. We needed some hot tub intervention after all that moving. Yesterday I treated myself to a visit to Fayetteville & have been bouncing around to visit so many faces I've been missing.

This morning Kristin & Amber made me waffels. Such lovely lesbians.

Whew, I need a nap.

Big Sigh

Ah, Miami was heaven. I saw so many curvy ladies on the beach, it was fantastic. I don't think a day went by that we didn't see a topless (or bottomless) lady on the beach. They are very open there.

We never realized that South Beach had such beautiful architecture. It was all art deco & they've restored a lot of their original buildings. We went to the Wolfsonian Museum & that was a blast. They had an exhibit on war propaganda posters.

I got back on the 18th & Mandy flew in on the 19th. We did a lot of dancing & shopping. She left yesterday & I'm exhausted! I've got a sore throat & I've realized that I'm a homebody. I wasn't really all that in to going out to bars & drinking all night long.

I've never been a big drinker, but now I rarely drink at all. I think Mandy was a little bored at times. We're only a year apart, but she's up for a party 24/7. Of course, it was her 30th birthday & she works nights as a nurse. Plus, she's single now & looking at all the dudes here. We have such different taste in guys.

It was fun to have my best girl with me, but I'm exhausted now & ready to couch sit & rest. Whew!

I'll be in Arkansas March 5th-17th to help my dad. We'll be pretty busy, but I'm hoping I can get up to Fayetteville to see some friendly faces at some point.

Traveling

I just found out that Andy's taking me to Miami with him on his work trip. We're going to go a few days early & check out Miami. It's not somewhere we'd go on our own, but we both could use the sun.

It snowed last night, but it's actually quite sunny out. I talked to my dad & we decided that I would come to Arkansas for a few weeks next month so I could help him get my grandmother's house ready to rent or sale. I don't like the idea of him renting because it's a hassle he probably doesn't want to deal with. But, selling in this market will be too difficult.

Adulthood can really become tedious at times. I wish I would've reveled in childhood a bit more. I think I was a rather serious kid, now I feel like I've regressed.

It will be good to spend time with Dad. He's still sad about losing Helen, but I know that he is enjoying his free time & being able to do whatever whenever.

Leaving on a jet plane.....

I'm flying to Los Angeles tomorrow to visit Mandy & Emily. Mandy just got a job in Laguna Nigel as a travel nurse. She has a six month contract, but I imagine she'll stay longer. I'm so proud of her for taking this new job on after all the things she's been through in the past year.

Emily is a guidance counselor in L.A.....I can't imagine how spoiled those kids might be. She said they all drive nicer cars than her. It's like that in Seattle too, except that I don't have a car to compare.

I'm so excited to see these two girls. I've known Mandy since I was 12 or so & I met Emily at the UofA in an Advertising or Marketing class. I knew she was different from all the other girls in my class when I saw her wearing Chuck's & a Pinback t-shirt. She was one of the founders of KXUA, the UofA student-run radio station.

Mandy & I were travelling for a game in high school when we became best friends. She was a cheerleader & I was on the dance team. She was singing a funny Adam Sandler song & I thought to myself,"A girl this pretty AND she's funny!?"

I'm just lucky to have them both in my life.

It's sunny here, but still very cold. I'm going to run some errands & get to packing all my summer things for tomorrow!

OH! I forgot the best part!! George W. Bush is no longer our president. Hello!? That was the longest eight years ever. What a mess poor Obama has in front of him but, for some reason, I'm hopeful. He inspires me to do great things as well.

Floods

This is what Seattle's been up to after all the snow we had. I'm hoping to go snowboarding in Snoqualmie soon, but I guess I will have to wait until after the flooding.

I'm feeling more at ease now that all the holidays are over. I'm almost done working at my framing job & am planning some trips.

Mandy is working in Laguna, CA now & I'm going down to visit her. We're going to drive to L.A. & see Emily. I'm looking forward to this girly trip so much. I cannot wait to sit in the sun with those lovelies.

It will be a nice change from Seattle's rainy month. This winter has been particularly harsh.

I'm also planning a trip to Arkansas. My dad is now free of obligations & is finally going to start building his own place in Booneville where he has some land. Nothing will make me happier than helping him start this project.

He's even going to have a hot tub. I can only picture how rugged his place will be, but there will be a hot tub!