Today. What a lovely day. Actually, it was overcast and rainy but I didn't let that spoil the fun. I went to work. At Great Harvest. I learned how to mix doughs and run the oven. I'm still a little worried about wrecking or burning something. I do it at home all the time, why should I think it will be any different just because I'm getting paid. Damn this ADD. Then I went home and studied, went to school and took my test, went to the Rec center at school and then back home. This is when the good part starts. Every show that I missed this week because I was studying so diligently, was posted online in its entirety by the network on which each happens to air. How lucky am I?! NBC never posts full episodes of The Office. What did we ever do before the internet was around? I just don't know...

On Thursday Russell and Paola and I went to the BSU game. Here's Paola & I in front of the smurf turf. That's what they like to call it here.

Also, in case you think Paola being here has cured me of the ridiculous (unhealthy) amount of guilt that I feel for leaving Otis at home for an extended period of time - check this picture out.

Tell me you wouldn't feel the same.

My bad. That last post was a downer. Let me give you four, no, six things that are going to make today (and the next few days) totally awesome.

1. As of 5:00pm tonight, I will no longer be an employee of the State of Idaho.

2. On my last day there is an Employee Appreciation BBQ. I'm having a hot dog and a Pepsi (which I never get to have because Russell prefers Coke and he always gets his way).

3. We got student tickets to the BSU football game on Thursday night which means we won't be going in November which means that we won't be freezing our butts off the way we did last year. All good things.

4. I have three very ripe bananas on my counter at home waiting to be magically transformed into a delicious batch of banana bread.

5. I made a devil's food cake with vanilla buttercream frosting last night. I woke up in the middle of the night last night and ate a piece.

6. After my test on Friday, I'm adding some recipes to my recipe blog and putting the link back up.

I'm feeling... stressed. Lots of reasons. I'm hoping if I list it all out, it won't seem quite so overwhelming. I have a test on Friday in Microbiology. It covers 11 chapters and in class yesterday, my teacher kept saying, "you should know this for the test" and I didn't know it. That never feels good. I've been fighting with Sprint about our cell phones for months now. I refuse to call and be put on hold one more time. Instead, I've e-mailed back and forth about 40 times with some kid who refuses (after I've asked 5 times now) to refer me to his supervisor. I think we're going to be stuck with Sprint for another 2 years and that makes me angry. Russell's last job went terribly, terribly wrong (I won't bore you with the details, by now you know what kind of story teller I am) and I'm pretty sure he's going to get stiffed for his last three weeks of work. Ouch. That's all I'm going to say. My last day working for the state is tomorrow. I am really excited but I'm also a little nervous about starting at Great Harvest. I worked there before in Vegas but I'm going to be a baker now and I'm worried about messing up. Butter is expensive, you know? So, I guess that's really only four things - it seemed like a lot more. I'm still stressed.

I've been doing a really good job, I mean a really good job staying strong. I've been growing out my hair and I have seriously been committed to getting it all back to my normal (natural) color. Unfortunately, this past week I have been wavering ever so slightly. Today, I went for the first "trick yourself into thinking it's something different" move. Switch the part. One problem with that. This dang cowlick! It makes me mad. Anyone have any suggestions for more "trick yourself" moves because I'm considering bleach or a very drastic (short) haircut right about now.

When Russell and I first moved into our house, we noticed one of our neighbors in particular. He was working on what looked like an addition on his house or a garage or something like that. This neighbor happens to wear a tank top with a kilt and work boots every day. EVERY DAY. A kilt. I've been interested in meeting this neighbor for awhile now. I want to know the story, you know? Last week I pulled up to the front of the house and there was a dead bird in the street and I was thinking to myself about how crappy it was going to be to clean that up and I was sure that it was my responsibility since it was right in front of my house. Guess what, as I walked up to the front door, the kilt neighbor came and picked up the dead bird. Yes! Not only do I get out of having to pick up the dead bird, I now have an excuse to bring a little treat over to his house so I can introduce myself. That's not all, okay. I came to work and I was telling everyone about him and one lady, Carolyn, knows the guy! She plays the bagpipes and is on the game committee for the Highland Games here in Boise. He does "heavy" athletics which I think means that he throws heavy rocks and stuff. I'm hoping to do a little baking this weekend - I'll be sure to let you know if I get any new information.

What do you think when you look at this picture?

It makes me laugh.

A hilarious string of comments on my sister Melissa's blog got me thinking. All you have to do to get someone blogging is talk crap about them. The mere threat that someone could be talking about you would be enough to get you looking and if they actually were talking about you, you would have to at least start a profile so that you could respond. Just thinking out loud here...

Russell started a new game with Otis yesterday. Hide & go seek. He would make Otis go and sit on his bed in the other room, then he would hide his Kong (the only toy Otis has had that he hasn't been able to destroy completely). Then he yells, "Come & find it, Otis." Otis runs in and he's sniffing like CRAZY to try to find his toy. He found it every time. I think dogs are naughty when they don't have any work to do so we're looking for a job for Otis. Rescue dog at Bogus Basin, probably not. My Mom used to always joke that she wished Seamus knew "go get me a Diet Coke." I think we'll work on teaching him the "put this in the garbage" command and then go from there.

I think Paola has been dying to go to the mall since she got here. Every time we drove past Cole Road she would say, "the mall is on Cole Road." Typically, Russell and I avoid the one mall in Boise at all costs but I went today just for Paola. Well, it started out just for Paola. The last time I went to the mall I walked by Ann Taylor which is not a store I usually go in to but I saw this dress in the front window. This is the only picture on the website and you can't see it at all. It is pleated in the front, it doesn't come with that belt and it is a little bit longer on me. You may be asking how I'm so sure about the length. Today I went in and found the dress (no longer displayed in the front window) and tried it on and then bought it. It was marked down $48 and (even though it was still more than I would typically consider spending on a dress) I couldn't pass it up. When I went to Wicks n' Sticks and my Macintosh candles were buy one get one 50% off, I took it as a sign. I can't wait for church tomorrow.

Paola always tells me that she can't wait for me to have a baby. Last night she said that she'd bet that my Mom can't wait either, you know, because I'm my Mom's oldest. We talked about it for a long time and I told her that isn't the way our family works. It never has been. Paola's Dad has other kids that Paola doesn't know. I can't imagine not knowing my older brother and sisters or them not knowing me. Remember in elementary school at the beginning of the year when you would have to write a paragraph about yourself, like an introduction? I always wrote that I was the fifth out of eight kids in my family. I think I usually listed names, too (makes the paragraph look good and long). It was very defining while I was little and growing up. Other families don't see things the same way and while that is sad to me, it makes me feel so grateful that my parents made a point to make sure that we knew (and know) that we have a big family. So thanks Mom and Dad...

I gave my 2 weeks notice to the State of Idaho yesterday. This is the post-it note that was attached to my mail this morning. They are really cracking me up. Acting all sad - two of the ladies sang me a song, something about being blue because I'm through. It was funny. I'm going to work at Great Harvest. The owner is opening another location and needs a lot of help. I'm excited about it. I'll be able to work a little less and read my stupid Microbiology textbook more.

This stuff is awesome! My hair is so smooth & shiny. Good thing Paola is here to introduce me to new hair products... Try it! (if you're wondering if I'm getting paid for this, I'm not)

This weekend was so nice. The weather is starting to cool off. Fast. I left my windows open all day on Saturday and Paola kept asking me if I was cold. After about the fifth time I went and looked at the temperature - 67. I pulled all the weeds out of our garden and Otis busied himself chasing the squirrels. This is his usual move. It makes me laugh. I don't know if you can see this, it's a little blurry but there is Otis' little squirrel friend. They run away from him but as soon as they are out of Otis' reach, they turn around and squeak.


I've been wanting to take a picture of our backyard tree and Russell reminded me that I better get to it before all the leaves fall. Look how huge this thing is! Paola says she never has any idea what time it is because her windows are always shaded.

Can someone buy these for me, please? Thank you. (thanks a lot, Bridge)

I can't believe it's September. They shut off our irrigation already. Do you know what that means? It means fall is almost here. Either that or we live in the high desert and it didn't rain enough but whatever - fall is coming! This weekend I'll be making my way over to the Hallmark store so I can buy myself as many Macintosh Apple scented candles as I can carry. I love the fall. That reminds me, I have to take a picture of the giant tree in our backyard before all the leaves fall off - it's huge. It's going to be a huge chore! Good thing we've got Paola around...

It's been awhile since I posted a new Russell/Otis picture. I thought it was funny that Otis had his arm (leg, whatever) wrapped around Russell. As if you didn't already know, Russell covered up his face on purpose.

I feel like a had a really busy weekend. A friend that I worked with at the Cardiologists' office in Vegas came to visit and Paola and I showed her around Boise a little tiny bit. Mostly we went to the Saturday market and we floated down the Boise River. That second thing was pretty fun. This picture is Paola trying to catch up to me. There were a few little dips and it was a little freaky being able to hear the water get fast up ahead. It was fun.

I've been meaning to take a picture of the side of this building for a long time. Paola took care of that for me this weekend. Random sights of Boise, I guess. Not quite as hilarious as Smokin' you know what in Vegas but whatever. I think it's an art studio - not totally sure.