Pink Slip

The time finally came; I gave notice at work. Like a good girl, I gave five weeks, mainly in the hopes that they will hire someone before I leave so I don’t have to answer questions post-October 1. Twenty-three more days behind the desk and that’s it for me for a good, good long while. I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time, the closing of a long-winded, difficult and choppy chapter and the fulfillment of a promise made years ago. And then, on to the much more appealing position of children-rearing and homemaking. Sounds heavenly from here!

I’ll do my best to remain positive these last few days although it’s hard. I’ve been surviving on a steady diet of short timers for some time now and a resignation letter and another countdown doesn’t help any. But, it’s the busiest time of the year here so I’m hoping for a downhill sprint to the finish. Although my departure won’t be nearly as fantastical as Steven Slater, it will likely bring me the same degree of satisfaction!

“Take this job and shove it I ain't workin' here no more!”
                                                                        --Johnny Paycheck

Basket Case

Gus and I spent the morning cleaning up clutter and packing away nonessential items in preparation for our move to Seattle. I sorted through my craft project basket and found there a pattern for making a basket which I bought on our visit to Harper's Ferry last year.

The package said "For years 8 and up" so I figured easy enough, right?

First, I took out the package contents and soaked the wood strips:

Then, I wove a square to create the bottom of the basket:

After folding up the spokes to create the sides of the basket I began weaving, first with 1/2 inch weaver and then with 1/4 inch:

Once the basket reached the desired height, I added the handle and pinned the basket's upper rim into place, wrapping a 1/4 inch reed around the rim to secure:

And, the finished product!

It's not perfect and there were some frustrating moments, but overall this was a fun project and a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon!

Out of Towners

How is it that some time can pass so quickly while other drags on into eternity? The past week since my mom and stepdad arrived has gone in the blink of an eye. We've been so busy! Last Thursday night, we went to our first Phillies game which was great fun. The packed stadium of 50,000 plus was a sea of cheering fans in hometown red. The team rallied in the ninth inning but lost. Still, a great time!

The next day we left for Milford, Pennsylvania to stay at the Hotel Fauchere. The trip up there lasted way longer than we expected due to summer road construction, but once we finally arrived we found the hotel to be incredibly comfortable and relaxing. We spent the next two days enjoying our rooms and exploring the town of Milford. In the town's museum, the flag that Abraham Lincoln's head rested on after he was shot is displayed.

On Monday, we left for Gettysburg, another long car ride but not as many delays this time. We stayed in a fantastic bed and breakfast called The Brickhouse Inn, very near the quaint town's center. We hired a guide to take us around the national park in our car, which was a great choice as he was an incredibly knowledgeable and interesting person from whom we all learned a great deal. The museum of the park was great as well with a film, cyclorama and many Civil War artifacts that were fascinating to look at. What a lovely day!

Today we returned to Philadelphia, dropped off the guys and my mom and I drove out to Terrain at Styer's Nursery one last time together. It made me sad to think this is the last time we'll visit this store (which we absolutely love!) together. I'll probably visit one or twice more before we leave.

A few photos of our B&B in Gettysburg:

Visitors

Today my mom and John arrive in Philadelphia after driving across the country from Seattle. They'll take the train back home, as the plan is to leave their SUV here so we can drive it back come November. It's larger and plusher than our car which will make for a more comfortable ride, especially now that I'll be 26 weeks along.

We have a lot of fun activities planned during their visit including a nice trip out of town, but tonight, after they settle in to their hotel and rest, we're making dinner at our house. We're going to have spinach dip with homemade pita chips (not the usual recipe but a great dressed up one from Everyday Food), spatchcocked chicken with garbanzo beans, cilantro and lime, rice and salad. For dessert, last night I whipped up (literally) a blackberry fool that looks fantastic!

So looking forward to seeing some familiar faces and enjoying our time together!

Happy Anniversary!

Today is my tenth wedding anniversary, at once an age ago and yet unbelievable that a decade has passed between today and August 12, 2000.

Over the years, my memory of our wedding ceremony and reception has faded. I know there are a million details from that day that I've forgotten. What was fresh the next day, the next week or even the next year has been lost over time, mixed in with so much life lived in the meantime. Despite these losses, to be re-remembered only in our wedding video, a few photographs and the recall of others, there is one element of that day that has remained for me crystal clear, as fresh as that bright, sunny day ten years ago.

It's not my dress, although it was gorgeous. It's not the band, although they were catchy! It's not the food, although it was tasty. And it's not even the rings, although they were shiny. Believe it or not, it's actually our wedding vows. And really, the whole reason for the event and its pomp and gaiety at all. Call my corny or completely cliche, but I admit I really do repeat our vows to myself every so often and have done so consistently over the last ten years. Under my breath as I walk to the train. As I sweep the living room floor. At night before I fall asleep. While gardening. Not every day, certainly, not every month, but often enough to check in with those seven said lines and know I've kept my word each and every day. To see how that promise applies to our lives right now, differently or similar to years past and how I will continue keep it true in the many years ahead.

And so, from memory, the most important words I've ever said, in celebration and in honor of ten special years:

I take you, Gustavo, to be my husband and these things I promise you:

I will be faithful to you and honest with you.

I will respect, trust, help and care for you.

I will share my life with you.

I will forgive you as we have been forgiven,

and I will try with you to better understand ourselves, the world, and God,

through the best and worst of what is to come, as long as we live.

Forget-Me-Not

Today someone stood me up. We were supposed to meet for lunch but she never showed. I called and left a message but she didn't answer so that was that. I had a moment of politely wondering if something terrible had happened but deep down you know that's not the case. She just forgot, I guess. Which happens, I suppose.

Not as easily forgotten as a missed lunch date are the times when this has happened to you; fortunately, these moments do not come often. Maybe ten years ago I invited a friend for dinner. Gus and I bought the wine, made the dinner, set the table and waited. And waited. Dinner grew cold, the candles burned down, the wine was drunk as the sky darkened. She never showed. I called, but nothing. She had, simply, forgotten. Of course, the next day when she checked her answering machine she was mortified, but by then it really is too late. On her end promises were made for a redo, but we didn't invite her back and the friendship soon fizzled.

Oh well, happens to the best of us, right?

"Ill customs and bad advice are seldom forgotten."

                                                                                             --Benjamin Franklin

Panza Llena

On Saturday, Gus made a big pot of pinto beans, which meant this morning I was in for a real treat. For breakfast, he made homemade refried beans and eggs with a flour tortilla. The only item that would have made it better was some fresh salsa, but we were short on time and tomatoes so, next time. In any event, the true breakfast of champions!
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In other news, today was the first day I found I couldn't button my favorite pair of Sevens so I had to cut the tags off my "Tummy Tube" and slip it on. It's very comfortable and definitely does the job of extending the life of your pre-pregnancy jeans because you can leave the jeans unbuttoned and the tube keeps them in place.

So far, the most annoying part of being pregnant, since I seemed to have skipped morning sickness, has been the vast quantities of unsolicited and unwanted advice that comes your way from anyone and everyone who has ever had a baby or been within a one mile radius of a baby sometime in the last sixty years. Amongst the masses has been a fair share of ladies that seriously doubt that I could possibly be showing before they did, which I've gathered from the comments with a singleton is not this early. Well, with twins, your bump is 6-8 weeks ahead of a single so my slight showing at 11 weeks is right on track.

The jeans don't lie ladies.

And no, it's not because I ate a Paul Bunyon-sized breakfast either. The jeans were on before I tucked in to Gus' cooking.