Flew up to Western Mass to visit my mom who's living in a nursing home near my sister's house. She seems to be doing as well as possible given the circumstances: vascular dementia and liver cancer. I usually end up seeing her at big holiday gatherings and it was really nice to get some quiet one-on-one time with her.

My weekend was busy. On Saturday I threw a big birthday party for my younger kid. My parents and friends helped a ton with running the festivities. My husband works on weekends so it can be overwhelming doing it by myself. On Sunday the kids and I went to visit a dear friend in Orlando area. We swam in her pool and gabbed. Her sweet husband made us hot dogs and hamburgers. Last night we did math review with our older child. Today are math FCATs.

My best friend is moving soon, and I went over on Saturday to help with the packing effort. While I was there, the handyman who is doing some fix-up work on the new place called to say someone had broken in overnight and vandalized it. So we went over, had a look around, and decided we should probably report it to the police.

The police showed up in less than an hour and were very nice. They investigated pretty thoroughly I thought (pictures, dusting for prints) and had some security improvement suggestions. My friend and I implemented most of those suggestions that day, hoping to prevent a recurrence.

The weather was great and we ended the day in a surprisingly good mood considering. I was fine until I tried to actually go to sleep that night, when the anxious thoughts arrived. What if this happens again? What if it happens at my place? Gah!

So I ended up pretty tired and had a horrible headache all day Sunday. I had some errands planned, and got about half of them done before giving up for the day.

I'm glad the weekend is over. Weekends are hard for us as it can be difficult to keep my little kid occupied and engaged. It's not like I get to take time off and do what I want.

Kid woke up at 2:30 am yesterday and today. Both days we couldn't get him back to sleep and so we gave up around 4:15 and started our day.

It was beautiful here, about 75, sunny and breezy. I borrowed my mom's convertible and we went for a ride to a nearby village with little river waterfalls and a fun playground. Daffodils are out and all the snow, even the ugly black mounds in parking lots, is gone. Yay spring!

Really good, and different. but tiring.

I had an assignment to do for class, which entailed spending about 5 hours examining a museum exhibition in order to write a critique. Decided to do it at the maritime museum where I used to work, so LT and I roadtripped down. He hung around in town while I observed, going to the shops, and then we rendezvoud to watch a couple demonstrations and connect with my friends, whom we were staying with.

That night happened to be a fundraiser for a local historical society which one of my friends down there is involved with. So we decided to go along at the last minute. What an event! It was a formal dance, themed as if it were set in 1860 and the town was debating the question of war with the South. There were well over 100 people there, and most of them were either from the vintage dance circuit or were high school kids from the music classes taught by my friend's husband. It was a really cool mix of ages and abilities. Most people came in period costume, or in formal dress at the least, and they had a buffet featuring a historically appropriate "collation" of tea sandwiches and tiny cakes. Everything was delicious. For an event of this kind it actually had very little of the usual dorky reenacting flavor - everybody danced and had a great time. The dances are terrific. It really makes you see what an important role this played in the social life of its time - the intense flirtations, the excitement, something that brings everyone together. Some pictures from last year's are below this announcement, to give you a feel for how it looked.

Then we spent the morning hanging out with my friends at their house, eating a big breakfast and then going for a long walk in the woods with their son and their Sheltie dog. After one more hour of observation, we headed home via Providence, stopping to walk around a little and picking up a nice prepared meal at Whole Foods. Got home about 8:30 and spent the rest of the evening listening to the Red Sox scrabbling to regain control of their season.

All in all, fun, but busy!

The weekend was very quiet and a little bit dull and lonesome.

Too short!

We didn't do much, which after our vacation was quite welcome. Went to a few playgrounds and the central park zoo (we do the latter every other week or so, because we are members and it's a nice small zoo). Met a friend for beers Saturday afternoon. Watched baseball.

I already know what I'm doing next weekend, for sure.

We finally saw Kaiju Big Battel!

So do I, BP, so do I...

Friday night, I did this "NerdNite" thing in Brooklyn. There was a trivia game beforehand, which was pretty poorly run. But our small team (we had half the people of most of the other teams) tied for second. No prizes for runner-up. The talks afterwards were kind of atrocious, though I did get to see the guy behind RRRRThatsFiveRs.com speak. "Oh, hey, I know you!"

Saturday morning, I had an improv class. It was just a free introductory class, but I really want to enroll. I'd have to take it on the weekend, which kind of cuts into my free-time/plans, but we'll see. I kinda need it, as my depression has been kicking into overdrive a lot lately. I have no idea when I'll finally be able to see an M.D. about getting a scrip (my current therapist is a Ph.D.), especially with the commute to Long Island. Ugh. But yay, improv! (Trying to stay positive here.)

Saturday evening, my mother took me to see the Mets play. And they actually won! I enjoyed spending time with my mom, and she loves going to Met games. She's got a Saturday ticket package this year, which means that she gets to go to 15 games. My brother and his boyfriend sprung for the package. Sadly, my mother has decided that despite how much she loves both of them that she is not going to attend their wedding in Canada in November (11.11.11!). It's really disappointing, and she's dug in her heels on this even though (without arguing) I managed to shoot down every one of her objections. I told her she still has time to change her mind, for now. Afterwards, not so much.

Way too windy. We're nowhere near the fires, but there's still the danger of even a spark causing a big problem. Blowing dust on Saturday made us leave the kite festival early, but the kids got to make some neat tie dye shirts.

I resolved not to go out at all on Sunday as the weather alert system said it would be even worse. Sustained winds of 40 mph gusting to 60. It was a brilliant, breezy day all freaking day.

Doesn't help I'm on a ton of new asthma meds that are making me cranky.

I trekked out to Staten Island on Saturday to do a "Let's Play" recording with my co-editor. I'd purchased two USB Logitech mics earlier in the week just for this effort and for about two or three hours, we slogged through a very funny Sierra game. After a dinner break, she tried to export the video/audio recording we'd done so far... and it wouldn't export/save.

So then we switched to another point and click adventure, did that for about an hour, and then I proposed we try to save again. This time the video screen capture saved... but the audio did not. Note: Yes, we did a test recording just before the initial huge recording.

Since it was 9:30 pm at that point and I didn't want to crash there, I decided we should call it a night and try again in two weeks. I trekked back to Brooklyn and to my boyfriend's house where I slept and then spent a lot of time on Sunday creating and starting a Mass Effect game on his computer while he worked on his computer. Dinner, leftovers, Dr. Horrible on BluRay and sleep ended my weekend.

I meant on his Xbox. No, I'm not giving you his Live account name. No, I'm not making an account for myself either.

I was surprisingly out and about this weekend. Friday I had a doctor's appointment (ugh), but then did a driveby to local massage spa place thing (since the therapist has recommended that I work on getting more touch in my life since I have basically zero and so whenever it does happen, it freaks me out), checked out fancy Droid phones at a Verizon store (and have settled on the Droid 2 Global phone since it doesn't have one of those irritating on-screen keyboards), and then went to CVS to drop off my prescriptions.

Saturday, I went to a new clothing donation place/charity to FINALLY donate the boxes of clothes I have gotten rid of over the past year and a half. They were super nice and everything, so they are defintely going to be my go-to donation place now instead of giving everything to my folks, who then to go Salvation Army (blech). I picked up my prescriptions and returned home to work on my readings for the ACA exam and am about halfway through the last book I have on loan, so I'm hoping WSU sends my other books quickly because I do have a deadline (December) to finish reading all 40-45 textbooks.

Sunday was work, then starting week 4 of C25K and I was quite pleased with myself for being able to jog for 5 minutes. Then I came home, made lunches for the week, did my dance noodling (where I'm finally starting to see some patterns), and did more ACA reading.

Miko, that dance thing looks AWESOME.

A friend took the train up from Boston Friday and crashed on our couch; at her request, I arranged to have some friends over for dinner-and-a-movie. It was so great to catch up that we stayed up 'til 4 a.m.

Saturday, I was a homebody, cleaning and sleeping and writing. Saturday night, I watched Lars von Trier's AntiChrist, which was grueling and horrific and about which I cannot stop thinking.

Sunday: Brunch with Mom at a local diner (eggs benedict, which were startlingly fantastic!), then I did some maintenance stuff around her home, then decided to invite sister and mom for dinner, so I zipped home and cooked (baked potato bar with Parmesan, broccoli, bacon, sour cream, garlic mushrooms, caramelized onions; creamed spinach; French bread). They arrived at the moment my back locked up, so I stayed seated while they made their own cocktails and we chatted for a while. Very cozy and easy.

Today, I awoke to thunderstorms, but it's tapering off, so I need to bustle out and do a few errands while the skies are clear!

sperose, it must feel great to have made the donation! I'm always so happy to clear out some things and know they'll be useful to someone else. I really must do that soon.

octothorpe, that sounds both difficult and emotionally rewarding. Sending good thoughts your way, and hugs if you'll take 'em.

Worked on Saturday morning, then got cut around 1:30. Decided to have drinks on my porch that afternoon with one of my best friends. Unfortunately I forgot that alcohol even in moderate amounts at a certain time of the month is a very bad idea for me. Therefore I spent Sunday in bed in migraine/hangover/vomiting/cramped out misery and had to call in sick to work. Feel awful and stupid and am hoping I still have a job, because even if it is a dumbass job, it's the only thing out there right now. On the bright side I found out that I probably qualify for food stamps. Yay?

My husband was out of town, and since I missed the meetup on Friday, I invited a friend over to eat a trial run of a new dish I want to start making. She was gracious in her exclamations of how yummy and delicious it was, but it could've been MUCH better.
Saturday was one of the very best days of my life. It was raining, and the dog and I sat curled up on the couch and watched television ALL DAY LONG. I only got up to refill my drink (sometimes soda, sometimes lemonade, sometimes San Pelegrino Aranciata), and eat leftovers. God did I eat leftovers! And watched a marathon of The Ghost Whisperer, which I never even knew I liked! Then, after TGW ended, I started watching a House marathon, which I do know I like! Hooray for me! It was seriously the best to give myself permission to not do squat, and I look forward to doing it again soon.
Yesterday was a 180 from the day before - I cooked, cleaned, laundry, work, etc. After I was done, and husband was back from the conference, we spent the evening catching up with some friends. We grilled burgers and shot the shit for hours. All in all, a very nice weekend. Thanks for asking!

A friend of mine got me a ticket to the Sounders game, which was a blast, AND the first win of the season. So, good times.

I also went to my first MeFi meetup. The venue was double booked with iPhone software developers, so my plan of looking for people from the Internet fell flat instantly. However, I did end up finding rtha, Errant, dw, mwhybark and Artw. It was a blast, and I'm glad I got to meet everyone!

It is finally warm enough to be outside to garden, so we were out a lot, getting the front and back in shape, rebuilding beds, aerating a lawn my hand, etc.

Sat. night we went to this, which was a live-narrated documentary and really interesting. Part of U of O's Cinema Pacific film festival.

Also went to yoga for the third saturday in a row. . .the key is to keep going until it quits hurting so much for for now it just hurts SO much.

Sunday, weight lifting, more gardening, grocery shopping, vegging and reading.

We bought daughter a car last week, and we still have it, in that she's too busy to come down to get it and she does not know about it yet. Wife will drive it up on the 20th and surprise her with it.

We've had a lovely sunny weekend, around 70F both days. On Saturday I went to the garden centre and then re-planted my herb pots outside the kitchen door, throwing away all the things that were leggy or woody, so I now have lovely new herbs for the spring and two big pots of basil (one Italian, one Greek) on my kitchen windowsill indoors.

I can't grow basil or cilantro outside because ants love it and I watch them cutting slices out of the leaves and marching off with them, which is fascinating, but no good when I want basil for something.

I also found and set up my little solar-powered birdbath fountain in the shed, it's a cheap resin thing (exactly like this one) and the solar fountain is the crudest type there is - it only works when the sun is shining directly on it and doesn't store any energy. But it looks nice and so far a squirrel hasn't knocked it over. The little birds like it.

Yesterday a friend was coming for lunch, so I went to the supermarket, and then we had a barbecue - lamb with Lebanese spices and chicken in lemon, garlic and (fresh) herbs, with grilled veggies and a Greek salad, followed by raspberry pavlova.

Then we went for a walk, just up the hill to the pond (where people were feeding the ducks from inside their car!) and around the church. It was open, so we went in and had a little walk round. It was peaceful and quiet in there.

I wanted to watch a documentary on TV about Jeremy Bamber (I am coming round to the idea that he might be innocent), but I had to record it because I was nodding off by 8.45.

That "live documentary" thing looks fascinating, danf.

Eideteker, I don't know your mom's personality, but you might all just try saying "Ok then" and going on with your lives, getting excited about and planning for the wedding. Maybe when she doesn't see a need to be oppositional, she'll think about it some more.

That "live documentary" thing looks fascinating, danf.

It was. It ranged from the Esperanto movement, to Cuba, to a deserted shopping mall in China. Recommended, but not particularly uplifting.

Good weekend, except for the part where I worked most of Saturday and part of Sunday. And the part where my allergies were HORRENDOUS. Such a conflict every year - I love the blooming spring flowers, hate the pollen.

I went with my boyfriend to his parents' house for their Sunday family dinner (his two brothers and their families go too, so it's a pretty big group) for the first time. I didn't really have the chance to get nervous about it, since due to a miscommunication I didn't really realize that we were going there until we were in the car on our way. I think it went much better than the last time I had a meal at his parents' house (Christmas Eve 2008, last time we were dating). This time, the subjects of my age (I'm 4 years older than him) and different religion were not the focus of conversation - yay!

I did six hours of yard work on Saturday and another four on Sunday. I knew the whole time that I was exposing myself to waaaaaay too much pollen, but I did it anyway. Today I feel like dog butt. Foggy, allergic dog butt.

Mine was good, bf and I went to a fun wedding in Pittsburgh. Now I am exhausted. The flights both ways were delayed and sucky and turbulent, but at least JetBlue has tvs.

We also were able to track down this liqueur that the bride had introduced me to called "Root" which is only sold in PA and we bought 3 bottles.
I am excited to drink them! There aren't many alcoholic drinks I enjoy.

Taxes. Enough said.

I was supposed to go with the mister to a meeting with our mortgage people but ended up with a sick migraine (my ribs still hurt from vomiting). That put a damper on the whole weekend. But there weren't any hospital visits, yay!

We need a sign:

There have been [ 07 ] day(s) without a hospital visit.

Saturday, took the son to tennis, mowed the lawn, washed the cars, did some housework etc.

Sunday, went for a walk with my team - managed to get through the 32 km we had planned (1/3 race distance), including the toughest hill on the course (we've discovered that when the route instructions say 'head steeply uphill for over 1 km', they mean 'head up a 36º slope for over 2 km'!) and a total of 24 creek crossings - slipped and got my feet wet on the 23rd crossing but, luckily, only had another 3 km to walk. Tired afterwards and my knee hurt, but fine the next morning. Scared my team-mate/co-worker/friend driving us back to where we started to pick up her car by testing out the handling of my work car on the winding mountain road. A friend came with us because he was interested in replacing the team-mate we have lost due to work commitments and he called me on Monday to say that he is in! We were worried about having to take on someone from the 'reserve list' that the event organisers maintain and are much happier about having someone along that we know we can get along with. We are now feeling a lot more confident after being concerned about our ability after the previous weekend's training session when we all struggled to get through 28 km and three of us were so tired we felt naseous for the last few km (hence the goal to complete 1/3 of the distance this weekend).

I worked on Saturday, but I got laundry done and out of the way.

Sunday I took my mom to my best friend's house so her boyfriend could check the brakes on my mom's car. Turned out the brakes were fine, but she has a broken swaybar he's going to fix for her.

I was bored in the afternoon, so I went to check out an estate sale. Unfortunately, nothing of interest.

So, since I was in the area, I stopped by a cemetery I'd long wanted to stroll through. Found the largest number of photos on graves there; most from the '20's and '30's. Very interesting. Plus, I finally got an up-close look at a stone I driven past for a couple of decades, now - quite possibly the stone that initiated my fondness for graveyards. Made my day. It's a strange hobby, but I enjoy it.