Time for an update

Good Morning! It is time for an update I guess. As always, there are lots of things going on here.

First off, I had a really nice visit with my Mom a couple of weeks ago. She seems in good health, and even more importantly, in good spirits. She is working on another novel. (Keep in mind, I went to visit on her 84th birthday!). Anyway, along with visiting Mom, I got to see my sis Dorothy. It was really great. I sure miss having family close by sometimes. Then again, sometimes I wonder if we'd get along so well if we DID live close! Well, it was just 2 days, but a real treat for me.

Katy, Josh and the baby are all well. He (Will that is) is quite a chunk-. But a happy, content little fella. They hit gold their first try.
Katy is working a little more on her house. She has decided to put a back splash in her kitchen and is painting tiles to put up. Wow, full time job, new baby and husband. I wonder if I was that crazy when I was her age. Now it just seems like a bunch of steps-(buying the tile, cleaning, painting, curing- and the worst- Renting equipment to cut the tile). Good for her- just please don't ask me to help.

Joey is doing ok considering the circumstance. He'll be in Clermont Co until July 6. Jillian is looking for apartments. I really hope they can keep working on their relationship when he's out. She is a good person, and good for him. I hope he realizes that.

Bari Ray is deep into summer stuff (after only 1 week into vacation). He is in Drivers Ed, I guess the test (THE TEST)- and I don't mean the ACT or SAT's is coming soon. Although, in the last 2 consecutive weekends, he took the ACT and SAT's. The best news here is he made First Honors this last quarter of school. Good for him, I'm really proud he has done so well - - if only he could get the Eagle Project off and running.

Madeline is sleeping at the moment. She had her Recital last night. Friday night was Rehearsal. Both nights are really long --L-O-N-G- - - . But she did really well. There were 40 dances, and she was in 9. That was a lot of costume changes- sometimes with only 2-3 dances in between. The good thing (REALLY GOOD THING)- is that with 9 dances, we didn't have to sit through 3 hours of recital and watch our daughter dance in 1 or 2 dances. That can be really hard. One thing about the studio that Madeline dances for, the director has a lot of different styles of dance, so the whole thing is pretty entertaining. Add on little bitty girls in ginormous floofy dresses, and the cute factor is certainly there.

Sammy went to a carnival with Jillian instead of the recital last night. I had a bit of communication breakdown there - he could have gone, but I thought it (the carnival) would last longer, or they would stay longer or something. Anyway, he missed it, and I probably feel worse than he does. So, last night, while we were all away, he wrote in his summer journal! I was so surprised, I didn't even know he had a summer journal. Sam said that if he writes in it all summer, he'll get a prize when he goes back to school in the fall. Well, good for him. I'm really proud. I don't think even Jillian knew he had a journal.

Yesterday, before the Recital, Bari and I had a wedding to shoot in Eastgate. We started around 12:30. Actually, we started around 1 because the groom and groomsmen (and grooms family) were late. The nice thing was that the couple choose to see each other before the wedding, so we were able to get lots of pics of them early in the day.
I was a little worried about the time, because we (actually- Bari) were supposed to shoot the recital, too. The wedding was supposed to be early in the day- originally it was about 2 o'clock- (no prob to get the recital too). Then, sometime about a week or 2 ago, they changed it to 4:30. Ok- not too bad. It was a Baptist wedding, they are usually 20-30 minutes. That means the wedding is from 4:30 t0 5, I could stay for about a half an hour of Alter Returns after the wedding, and then zip to Winton Woods High School for the recital. Bari would be done early (about 7 when the wedding was at 2 in the afternoon)- and meet me there, and finish up. Well, when the time changed to 4:30- we knew he wouldn't be done till 8 or 9. No prob- I'd start, he'd finish. WELLLLL- -- we got the Pre-Bridals (pics before the wedding) done (even with the half hour lost) and got to the church. The mom's came down the aisle at 4:30- - - good - - - -THEN they had a slide show (no kidding) and it lasted 15 - 20 minutes (NO KIDDING). At that point, I knew I was shooting all of the recital alone. Yey for me. Thank heavens Bari and I practiced the night before at the rehearsal, and (although pretty nervous) I was fairly confident I could do this. So, as of 10 this morning, I still haven't seen most of my pics, but I'm hoping they are not out of focus. And I'm glad I had the chance to shoot and gain some confidence behind the camera. Well, we'll see how confident I am AFTER I see the pics!!!!

Next weekend Bari and I will be in Lexington to go to a Photography Seminar. I'm really looking forward to that.

BUSY - BUSY -BUSY

Wow- wow- wow- - - -

This was the best weekend ever E-V-E-R!!!! We stayed at the Murphin Ridge Inn. It is only about an hour and a half from here- near Peebles. It is in Adams County, in Amish country.

The cabin was fun! (#7-Frolic) on the on-line brochure. Fireplace, whirlpool tub- NO TV! Relaxing- front porch with rockers, back porch with privacy. In the middle of the country side. Easy walking trails.

I can't even BEGIN to describe the food- yummy - and wow- wow- wow. All homemade, with garden or locally grown ingredients.

All the shopping was Amish made stuff, and antiques. It was close to Serpent Mound. What Fun!

On the way home- really- it was hard to leave- we went to Portsmouth and saw the murals. INcredible!

So now we're back home - laundry waits, kids who need to go to bed NOW! and I am going to go see my Mom tomorrow. Can't wait!

We will return (again and again I hope)- to Murphin Ridge Inn.

Oh, because of the lack of TV and radio- (there was a radio, but we had it on NPR, and weren't listening on Saturday night)- we missed all the excitement with the weather.

Saturday update - - -

This is one of those drive-by updates. There is tonz going on- I just don't have time to write (because there is tonz going on!).

My job is terrific- I love it. Busy busy busy. There is always something (if not 5 things) to do all the time. I'm getting better at multi-tasking frame orders, and understanding the 'priority' list my boss has. It is really fun, and interesting (specially since I like sports, and kinda follow the Reds [local pro baseball team for those who don't know]). It won't be long before Pete (Rose) and Johnny (Bench) drop by. My boss is close/best friends with them both. [baseball players- you know- retired, from the Reds]. Again, the framing is interesting but the girls I work with are terrific, and the environment is super.

The kids are all doing well. Bari Ray has the Cappies tonight. It is a local high school awards program for the theater performances this year. They were nominated for Cats. I'm disappointed that I didn't get to see it. We tried to get last minute tickets, but it was sold out. My biggest challenge right now, it that Bari Ray doesn't tell us where he is going, or if he will be home. Most of the time, if we don't know, his mother does- but it is frustrating. He will be 17 on Monday- hmmmm.

Sammy and Madeline are just looking forward to the end of school. They have some fun days coming up. Field day, bowling, and skating. How great is that? We only had a field day- ha, back in the day!

So, this weekend is FULL- a wedding today, church-then BBQ at Bari's mom's tomorrow, and painting the living room Monday. (I don't have to work Monday- AND I'm getting PAID!- just like normal people!). Hey- does anyone have painting drop cloths I could borrow? I can't find mine. I just can't wait to paint the living room!!!!

And (if it could get any better!!!) next weekend is our 5th anniversary. We are going to Murphin Ridge Inn for the weekend. I am soooo excited. We have a cabin booked. The web site shows a great restaurant, and local Amish shops all around. OR we could just sit back on our front porch and chill! Wahoo! - - - -SO, Katy is mad. Yep. Silver lining in every cloud. She and Josh (and baby) are going to my Mom's that same weekend. My big sis from Cali is coming in for Mom's 84th Birthday. Katy thinks I should be there the same time they are, so I can see Grandma (actually- Great Grandma) with her Great Grandson for the first time. Well - see- I'll be there on Monday and Tuesday (AFTER my weekend with my husband). I am taking my sis to the Cinci airport on Tuesday. So it only makes sense to go Mon and Tues, not Sat through Tues. Besides, I'll have Sam and Madeline with me, and that is a long-time for them to visit (and a long time for mom- it would wear her out). BUT- I am excited to see my sis- and my mom. AND I don't feel at all guilty for not being at work because I have a great UNDERSTANDING boss- . Could life get better?

On the side, a little update about Joey. He as voluntarily gone back to jail. We had a long talk, and he said that another year of probation and reporting and all the mess would drive him insane. He already has panic attacks. (Yes, really). So, he went back to court expecting 4 months (the rest of his sentence) but the judge only gave him only 60 days. So, he still has challenges with going back, but I told him to think of it as a job- he has to be away from his family right now, it is his job, but it is temporary, and things will be much better when he gets out. I think he will get better when he is out, because this time he went into jail from HOME- he knows what goes on here, he knows he has stability, peace, a family. All the other times, he went from a 'friends' house, and back again. What is the progress there? I know there will still be hills to climb, but I can't help be a bit optimistic.

Ok- I have laundry, wedding equipment to pack and something else to do before I leave to the wedding this afternoon---- so I better go.

Have a great WEEKEND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the new job

Well, I just finished my second day at my new job. I am worn out. What was I thinking?

I took a nap Monday ( mostly because of the big weekend in Columbus- and very little sleep)- and I took another nap today. I was tired, grumpy, hungry and my shoulder hurt. . . . . . . Actually, I really like my job. It will be very interesting. There is some repetition. But for the most part- it should be fun.

Yesterday and today I re-framed 40 (yes-40. That's where the repetition part comes in) autographs and pictures (not to be confused with autograph pictures). They were all different. And they were different types of celebrities, some sports, some movie (Paul Newman), some music (Johnnie Cash), even coaches.

I learned how to use the double miter metal saw, and the wood saw and joiner. I've used the joiner before. Infact, I think it is the same kind I used to own back in Lima/Dayton. But, for some reason, I can't seem to get good joins on my frame corners. I hurt my shoulder trying to lift frames in place to join. It was frustrating. I've got to figure this out tomorrow because I have 20+ movie posters to glass and frame.

So, if you like sports, especially the Reds, it is a really cool place to work. It isn't uncommon for Pete Rose, or Johnny Bench to stop in. There are other former Reds that my boss represents. I need to go to the web site and really commit those guys to memory so I don't embarrass my self.

I like the people I work with. They are funny and fun. Lynne even made cupcakes for my first day of work. It is really non stop. Like I said, I am really tired when I'm done, but it goes by fast, and there is TONZ to do all the time.

Even more surprising (maybe not) is that I don't miss my old job. I guess that is the best thing of all. Although, my old boss DID A-L-M-O-S-T cry my last day of work there. I also got hugs from the delivery driver of one of our vendors, and the mailman (!!!). You never know. I was surprised how they all said they would miss me.

Well, I'm looking forward to going to work tomorrow. I'm going to master that joiner (or the saw- I still can't figure out which one is giving my the trouble).

And maybe- MAYBE I won't be quite as tired as I was tonight.