worried 'bout the kitty

I haven't seen Licorice since Friday afternoon (and it's Monday night)! I am officially worried. I really, really love that little kitty. Hopefully he'll turn up soon.

*big sigh*

On a happier note, graduation weekend went well. It was great to see the relatives (my cookbook and video were both big hits!), we had a wonderful turnout at the party, and the weather cooperated (although just barely!) for the ceremony.

Guess I'll poke my head outside for the umpteenth time and look for Licorice. (Did I mention I really, really love that little kitty? Thought so.)

as ready as I'll ever be...

I think I'm ready for Offspring #2's high school graduation this weekend. Let's look at the checklist:

1. House de-junked and cleaned? Check!
2. New sod completed on what had been embarrassingly dead front lawn? Check!
3. Party planned and platters purchased? (See -- I can do alliteration with the best of 'em!) Check!
4. Short video retrospective created of Offspring #2 to show to friends and family? Check!
5. Cookbook of grandma's recipes (along with old family photos) self-published as a surprise "thank you for coming" gift to the rels? Check!
6. Is Barb an over-achiever? Check!

Posting might be sketchy until next week...

BTW, blurb.com is AWESOME if you ever want to self-publish something at reasonable rates.

tagged

Aargh! I've been tagged by Serena! I have to post these rules before I give you the facts.
1. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
2. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
3. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
4. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

Alrighty then. Here are eight (count 'em, eight!) random Barb factoids.

1. My summer job in high school was working in my parents' drug store (in a small town in North Dakota). Instead of getting much work done, I spent my time writing and illustrating a newsletter filled with stories about the shoppers who came into the store. Since I was writing it "on the sly", I named it The Underground Gazette.

2. I noticed on Diane's blog that she types 80 words per minute. Her sharing of this fact inspired me to present my factoid #2: I was awarded the coveted Speed Typing Award in high school. Oh yeah. Still have the small medallion. Yep, I beat out Ann Vefik. I think she's still bitter.

3. When I was in college I thought that writing movie reviews for Time Magazine would be my 'dream job'. So I majored in biology and went on to get a doctorate in optometry. Yeah, that's close.

4. When we were in optometry school my boyfriend (who is now my husband) and I went to the movies every Friday night without fail. It was a fun tradition. Next fall when we are empty nesting, I'll bet we will revive that old tradition.

5. The book My Antonia inspired me to do genealogical research for my family. My ethnicity is "Germans from Russia" on both sides. I do, in fact, love dumplings, kuchen, and even sauerkraut.

6. I find my kids so cool that even if we weren't related I would want to hang out with them.

7. I am not a great hostess (even though I try!), so the upcoming graduation party for Offspring #2 will probably be a teensy bit stressful for me.

8. Hmmm.... 8. What to write for 8. Dunno. Can I be done with 7? (Why yes, Barb, you can!)

OK, now to think of 8 people to tag. Geez. That's a lot. Can I just do 2? (Why yes, Barb, you can!)
Cheesehead
St. Casserole

missed opportunity

According to MSNBC, over 200 cyclists in "various stages of undress" took part in the "World Naked Bike Ride" yesterday on the southern coast of England to promote cycling and environmental awareness. Darn! Due to helping Offspring #1 move into her summer apartment, I was unable to participate!

OK. Truth be told, as much as I support their cause, I sincerely doubt I would have done the "nakie ride" unless I took the midnight to 1:00 a.m. shift... on a moonless night... with very fast pedaling.

movin'

Offspring #1 will be taking summer quarter classes in addition to being in the Shakespeare Festival. So Hubby and I are in Bellingham this weekend helping her move out of her dorm room and into her summer apartment (not to be confused with her upcoming fall apartment so we get to do this again later)!

There is a bit of a wrinkle in that the current tenant is still in the apartment. (Offspring #1 is subletting for the summer.) College isn't over yet -- finals are this coming week -- so it's nice the current tenant is letting us invade the space and move stuff in. Next weekend would have been the time to move, but with the June 16th high school graduation of Offspring #2 (and family flying in), it's now or never!

This morning we need to figure out what goes in the apartment (and in what nook or cranny there to put it!), what goes into storage, and what goes home. Plus we need to pick up a couch (purchased from other college students for the whopping sum of $5.00!) College students are very laid back about moving, clutter, etc. Hmm... was I ever that way?

Anyway, I better stop blogging and get moving (in more ways than one).

(BTW, found the cute picture on daveshelton.com via google images. Later this morning, I will be playing the part of the polar bear, and hubby will be the penguin.)

sigh

Cross out 'Alexander', write in 'Barbara', and you've got the title to my work day.
Yeah.
It was like that.

do the drew

WWDD? If you grew up in the 60's, that's probably the question you ask yourself when you receive a perplexing letter or wonder as to the whereabouts of a missing pet. Yes, What Would Drew Do?!

I ran across a book which has been a kick to read during my blogfast: Confessions of a Teen Sleuth by Chelsea Cain. (No, I didn't read any deep theological work during the blogfast.) Confessions is a parody of the Nancy Drew mysteries and is pretty darn funny. According to the novel, Carolyn Keene was actually Nancy Drew's college roommate, and she wrote about Nancy's adventures in order to make herself famous. However, since Carolyn messed up lots of the facts, Nancy Drew decides to set the record straight.

Our beloved titian-haired heroine writes about her life from her teen years through adulthood. Find out the real scoop on Ned Nickerson! Bess! George! Hannah! ... and other teen sleuths like Frank & Joe Hardy and Cherry Ames (Nancy's "nemesis").

Cain does a great job of poking fun at all the characters. I love how Nancy, even as an adult, just can't get out of her teen sleuth mode.

Example:
Nancy (talking to Hannah): I couldn't go to Ned's office party. I had to rescue Ned Junior from the old well in the backyard.
Hannah: But how did he get in the well?
Nancy: I lowered him. We were playing 'rescue from the old well.'

Yep, that's about how I'd picture Nancy as a mom! Anywhoo, if you want a quick, entertaining, mindless read (and if you loved Nancy Drew as a child), I'd suggest you pick up this parody!