Good weekend! Busy, but good.

Busy week ahead, too ...

Today: Former SIL and Little Miss High Maintenance stopping by this morning to say good-bye before moving to Oregon; I've got all three kids, and I'm picking the Munchkin up from school so she can ride.

Tomorrow: Not sure how many kids I've got - at least Copper Top - and need to take the Munchkin to get her formal fitted so it's done by this weekend.

Wednesday: Twelve o'clock interview, babysitting(however that'll work out!), riding in the evening.

Thursday: Kiraz and I are going up to test-ride Chantilly in Bethlehem (Georgia, not Pennsylvania or Israel).

Friday: Three kids, hopefully rejoicing because I've gotten the Parish Administrator job.

Saturday: Munchkin working in the AM, Kat's party in the evening.

Sunday: Hopefully taking the Munchkin up to test-ride Ace and Zoe.

I get tired just reviewing the list. Is it any wonder, [info]nieriel_raina, that I haven't finished Ch. 31 yet? And the work I did last night got erased when my computer decided to randomly re-start ... should've hit save button, should've hit save button, should've hit save button, should've hit save button, should've hit save button, should've hit save button, should've hit save button!

For Dragon*Con, I need:
* black-and-red tights
* a Cleopatra wig
I've already bought the cheap coffee maker, woot! [info]arymetore and [info]witchcat, are we going to Evening at Bree? 'Cause I need my big cooler to put our food in, and my gold overdress!

Okay, time for more coffee. Start your engines, everyone! And for those of you who missed watching the news, here's a treat to start your day:

Oooh. I'm too old for this.

We met up with ADF at Medieval Times last night - fourteen of us in all. (I felt sorriest for Red and Tony, the only men there - they wanted to go to Bass Pro Shops, but nooooo .... ) Seven teenaged girls, all of them very attractive and dressed to the nines, and seven very tired adults! They changed the "show" a little - the knight we had last year, the Yellow Knight, was the Green Knight (bad guy) this year, and is still every bit as good a rider as he was before! Our knight, the Black and White Knight, was very short, but a good fighter and a good rider. All the girls were ga-ga over the knights, and Mo spoke to some of the better riders and exchanged emails with them. One of them even promised to come to the October show ... we'll see!

The Munchkin, Barn Hobbit, and I were so wound up that we didn't get to bed 'til three! Nine a.m. came waaaaaaay too early this morning ... I made them waffles for breakfast, and Kiraz just picked up her charge. We'll be meeting the Usual Suspects at Jason's Deli for lunch today. For our Sunday lunches with the Little Miss and Nesterino, Jason's has the perfect pair of attributes:

1. It's got food they'll eat.
2. It's already noisy.

I'm still having Lunch Wars with Copper Top. I know it's a control issue with him; his mother spends three hours making him the center of attention every evening at the dinner table, and he wants the same from me. Well, he's not gonna get it. He doesn't want to eat? Fine, he can get down. He won't starve.

Slogging my way through Microsoft Office 2007 - hopefully I can get myself certified before I even start taking courses! Dad talked to one of his fellow profs, and he thinks I should go into Web Design. Any opinions? Yes/no/maybe? I'd like to start school as soon as possible, so I can move forward with some sort of career that doesn't involve diapers or screaming toddlers.

I got an email from GypsyLady. Our hats will ship Monday! Woots all round!

We had a message on the answering machine last night from a real estate agent, saying she'd be bringing someone by to see the house between 11 - 2 Saturday. So this morning I got the Munchkin to Kiraz's to bring up to the barn, and spent three hours mopping, vacuuming, and straightening up. Then I showered, changed, and went to do some errands, coming back around one. They had not been. I waited until around two, then decided they simply weren't coming, and ran off to Costco.

Well, guess what? They're here.

Anyway. Always like having a gay couple look at the house. Just so long as they BUY IT.

I bought two cute little mini-toppers from GypsyLadyHats on Etsy for Dragon*Con, on Kiraz's recommendation (Barn Hobbit is going as Goth Alice in Wonderland, and needed a Mad Hatter topper). I got a black and red one with an embroidered dragon, and the Munchkin got a true mini, gold lame with a black brim. I'm planning to wear mine with my black satin skirt, red corset, and shoulder-length black satin gloves. And Monday, I'll wear the cute little goth-girl dress with a red half-corset, red and black striped stockings, black mary janes, and the hat! (I'd post pictures, but the seller's already taken the photos of our merchandise down - how's that for service!) Now all I need is one of those super-gorgeous black leather collars I saw in the dealer's rooms last year - and someone to fork over the $180 for a really, really nice one.

I need a sugar daddy. Or a job.

Well, we're leaving in an hour or so to pick up Kiraz and Barn Hobbit, and then we're going to meet Mo, Tess, and a bunch of other ADF people at Medieval Times for Kate's going-away party. (I still can't believe she's moving away!) I figured, since Kiraz drove the Munchkin to and from Beaver Spring today, I'd do the driving - this way I'm the Designated Driver, and she's the Designated Drinker, which, after the week she's had, suits her just fine.

Let's see ... there was something else I was going to say ... oh well, lost it.

I hate being here when people look at the house ... I always want to apologize for it! What I really want to do is put my satin skirt and red corset on - I haven't put them on in tandem yet, and I want to see how they look together!

Well, in accordance with our real estate agent's suggestion, I have done something that I would not normally do ... something that I avoid religiously ... an activity that I am no good at, do not enjoy, does not interest me, and find futile.

Yes ... that's right ... I planted flowers.



Black-eyed Susans and begonias. Whee.

Also, here's a picture of Pippin and his tumor.



I suppose I could post pics of the Kentucky Faire ... meh, let me futz around with them first. I need a more current copy of Picture!It. And a newer camera. Anyone got a spare $1000?

On the fire for tonight: NOTHING. Deal with it!

Copper Top's mom is going to pick him up early tomorrow, so I can get to TN even earlier than I'd planned! Thank you, CTMom!

This morning, I slept until eight. It felt wonderful.

Straw was an angel last night!



It was oppressively hot and humid yesterday; when I got to the barn, all the horses were snoozing in their stalls. But when Straw saw me walk up to her stall, she turned, pricked her ears, and came right to me! Understand this mare is normally very aloof - a good ride, but not very affectionate. Considering I'm still a very marginal rider, I was tickled pink.

She gave me a beautiful ride - I'm working on my seat, and on keeping my hands and legs quiet; she seemed to appreciate it! By the time the lesson was over, I was bending her at a jog with split reins in one hand. Not too bad, considering Zip was getting all Attitudinal in the arena with us. And when I finished untacking and grooming her, and was giving her treats, she was so sweet, lipping at my hands and nickering to me.

Jaxx had better watch out ... Straw might edge him aside as Oropher's favorite lesson horse!



Now, I have a conundrum. Don't any of you mention this to the Munchkin; I don't want to get her hopes up, only to have them dashed.

Tan's neighbor Lore has a beautiful grey AQHA mare named Chantilly for sale. Affordable, well-trained, good personality. Mo said if they had the acreage she would buy Tilly in a heart beat (a high recommendation, as Mo has atmospheric standards for horses.) Mom earmarked some moolah for her grandbaby to purchase a horse for said grandbaby's birthday, which is coming up in September. But, as those of you who know anything about horses know, it's not the purchase of the horse that costs the most; it's the maintenance - board, vet, farrier, etc.

Do I even have the right - economically speaking - to be thinking about this right now?!

But she is a beautiful horse ... and the Munchkin has met her, and adores her ...

Oooooohhhhhh, I need a sugar daddy!

Anyway. On the fire for today:

* Grocery store, to buy lasagne fixin's (and cat food)
* Oil change/check-over for the van, maybe even have it OMG CLEANED!!!!
* Home to make lasagne, do laundry
* Pack! How many Faire outfits do I need, witchcat07
* Dinner at 's!!! I get to meet the baby!!!

As they said at the end of Hooway for Wodney Wat, "woot woot, wooty toot toot."

I'm not sure what it is ... the past few days I've been afflicted with heavy-feeling headaches, and lethargy. My blood pressure got VERY low yesterday, so I've cut back to half a Lisinopril. But I don't seem to want to do anything ... very unlike the "Jackrabbit," eh?

Got my D*C book in the mail! I'm very excited about seeing Patrick Stewart (sexiest bald man EVAH), Tom Felton, John Noble, and of course Leonard Nimoy. I'm also contemplating funking up my hair for the weekend. I dug out my trusty old box-O-goodies that I used when the Munchkin was pinkified, and I've got:

* Two mixing bowls
* Four sets gloves
* Four applicators (three large and one small)
* Two hair clips
* Half a roll of hair coloring foil
* Two boxes black hair dye
* One box Light Reddish Blonde
* One box Red Penny
* One frost kit, color Champagne
* One box blonding kit
* Half a bottle of creme developer
* Two bottles of Special Effects Atomic Pink
* Two bottles of Adore Violet Gem
* One bottle of Adore Indigo blue
* One bottle of Adore Rich Fuchsia
* One bottle of Jazzing Mood Indigo
* One bottle of Avatar Crystal Clear
* One bottle White Out conditioning toner

The question is: WHAT do I do with it???

[info]susubug, last night was so much fun! Thank you for coming over and giving me a reason to cook! Even though I didn't score any lobster, the langoustine risotto was quite edible, and of course my mother's tomatoes were superb. Best of all, though, was the company and conversation; you are such a fun person to know. You give me hope that I'm gonna survive this divorce after all!

I got my order from Penzey's last week, and decided to christen my Cassia Cinnamon and China Ginger by trying their recipe for ginger snaps. The dough is currently chillaxin' in my fridge; I'll let you know how they turn out.

Speaking of the refrigerator, did you know that all the cold air that circulates through the fridge portion comes from the freezer? And that the fan is what circulates the cold air? And if your freezer is turned down too low, your fridge's ambient temperature remains higher? And that it takes 24 hours for a fridge to cool to a safe temperature (below 40 degrees)? I didn't - but I do now. And in case anyone who lives in the north Atlanta area was wondering, yes, Castleberry's is THE place to go for appliance repair.

So, now I've got Nesterino and Copper Top playing nicely, my kitchen clean, my bunny shedding, and I can't remember whether or not I took my Lisinopril this morning ... the headache I am currently experiencing might be an indicator that no, I have not. Think I'll dig up my monitor and check.

EDIT:
107/77. Think I'll take some aspirin.