Slacking

Lo it's been another long while since I last wrote...

Feels like I have some stuff to write about. Today's Monday following the weekend boys trip to Chico. Mostly success, our main point in going was a visit to Gearhead Barbershop and Tattoo for manly straight razor shaves, in my case to remove six months growth of facial hair. And I did (remove the hair, that is) but not with a straight razor - turns out they don't do it on Saturdays, they're too busy. Oh well. Still had a fun time visiting there, and the Sierra Nevada brewery, and spending the night camping with Ryan, David, and Bart.


Showings of the house are picking up steam, seems like we have one every couple of days. We also now have our own domain name - 979novelly.com - to sell it to all the cybernauts. Still no offers, but today's visitors sounded like they liked it. Seems like lots of people take flyers too.

We successfully surprised Morgan last weekend for her birthday with a party at the Siena in a most excellent suite. Thanks to all who helped pull that off. Big shout-outs to Gigi, Paige, Tina and all the rest.

Also in news around the Tiar house, our yard sale last weekend was a smashing success. Took in about $250, half of which was from our electric scooters, but got rid of plenty of other things that were cluttering up our lives.

Just in terms of recent days, April is a big month for birthdays. Happy wishes this month to: Morgan, Nana, Emily, Grandpa Dave, Nana, Jess, and Sonya. Whew.

And finally, Nana Tiar's visit is winding down. In a mere eighteen hours she'll be taxiing down the runway at RNO, eventually to land back home in France. Lola has really had a grand time having her around to show things to, ask things of, and generally pal around. Here's hoping their move back stateside materializes soon.

I guess that's 'bout it for now. Ciao! (It's finally Vespa weather again!)

Funny stuff

If you have kids, like kids, and/or think Will Ferrell is a funny guy, this video may be the funniest thing ever on the Internets.  Apparently it's taking the viral video world by storm.

Sorry I haven't written much lately, just busy with mom visiting and post-vacation catchup and trying to sell our house and all.  Wanna buy our house? (Now with virtual tour!)

Yard sale tomorrow.  And Sezmu for dinner.  Chico next weekend for a shave.  Etc.

30

Wow! I can hardly believe that it has been that long since I was born. If I feel that way, then I wonder what my mom and dad are thinking today. My dad may wait until tomorrow as he is always a day off in remembering my birthday.

Lola has been singing 'Happy Birthday' to me all day. I hope she does it for a month as she did for Tina, not quite understanding that it only lasted one day.

I woke up on Monday and warned Marc and his mom about the tragedy that seems to fall around my birthday: Columbine, Oklahoma, Waco, earthquakes, and plane crashes. Moments later, my mother-in-law came in and told me to come and watch the news. My sympathy goes out to the victims and families of the Virginia Tech tragedy. I'll never throw that prediction out there again!

It is the start of a new decade. Wish me luck.

Pics update

Just wanted to mention some new additions to the galleries...a smattering of new Lola photos in her album, and a slew of photos from our San Diego trip in a new album.  Enjoy!

lions and tigers and bears, OH MY!

It seems that I come back from vacation more tired than before I left. Maybe it is a sign of a good vacation? It makes me long for the weeks long vacations to Europe.

We had a great time. San Diego was a perfect place to take Lola. She loves animals!

The San Diego Zoo was amazing. I have never seen koala bears or panda bears in person. I love a good zoo!

Sea World was fun as well. Lola loved the dolphin and Shamu shows. She can't stop talking about how high the dolphins jumped or the 'girl' that was in the water with them. Lola and I had to sit out the ride :( We went to the pet show instead. I thought it was great. They had tons of cats, dogs, pigs, ducks, and birds running around in organized chaos. They were all rescued animals. Too cute!

So, back to reality. We are listing the house today. That means a lot of cleaning when I get home from work! Wish us luck! It would be great to get this sold and us moved before the baby comes.

Homeward bound

Actually wrote this last night, but wanted to add some links so didn't post it.  So rewind to Saturday night...and it's:
Last night in San Diego. Watching MASH again tonight. Funny how vacations can seem like so much work. It's been four days of...

• Indecision - where to eat, what attraction to visit next, what to do


• Unhappy driving - wrong turns, aggressive drivers, gridlock


• Fun! - Sea World today, a walk along Mission Beach, dinner in our room brought in from a too-fancy-for-a-two-year-old Thai restaurant, Coronado yesterday, Gaslamp quarter, good times generally.


• Indulgence - junk food, good food, Starbucks, six big bottles of extraordinary beer coming home with me, several local brews tasted while here.

I guess those are the major themes. Unfortunately weather didn't cooperate for real beachgoing, but we at least touched the water and got sand between our toes.

Lots more detail than this but it's bedtime. Maybe more later or shared in person.

Writing again now in real-time, it's Sunday night in Reno.  Back to the chaos.  I always have mixed emotions returning from a trip...a bit of home-sweet-home, a bit of sad that the fun is over, a bit of stress from the catch-up that's required.  It's worse now because it's back to the home buying/selling stuff that we left behind for a few days.  At least the shower's (almost) done downstairs, that's some big progress I'm glad to have (almost) behind us.  But where success appears in one place, ugliness rears its head elsewhere - tried to bring the sprinklers online for the season and some minor problems need attention from a professional.  Sigh.  It's always something.

What do you get when you drop your waffle at the beach?

Sandy Eggo.  HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

So here we are in San Diego, actually in our little room at the Days Inn, watching some War of the Worlds on HBO and sipping an Arrogant Bastard before we turn in.  Poor Lola's crashed for the night - what a trooper, she got up around her usual time, 6:30ish this morning, and has been an angel all day, on the plane through one stop in San Jose, waiting for a rental car, lunch at Gordon Biersch, some grocery shopping, some brief pool time, and some quality time and dinner in Old Town.  Fell dead asleep on the short drive back here.  It's been a good day all around.

The zoo awaits tomorrow, beaches, Sea World, and other fun in the next few days, then back to Reno before we know it.  Good times!

Until the next update...

It's TWINS!!

Happy April, starting with April first! Good thing Marc is present for ultrasounds and such, or I think this statement may have led him to the hospital with chest pain.

Congrats to my very good friends Kerry and Rick. They welcomed their daughter, Everti Lynn, into this world on Thursday morning. Both parents are doing well and cannot believe what joy she has brought into their lives.

We went and saw Reefer Madness last night at Bruka Theater. It was great. It was only their second night, but you couldn't tell. The cast was great, the music was great and it was an overall great time!! I highly recommend that you try and make it in the next month or so while it is showing.

The weather has been great. You never know though, it has snowed on my birthday (this month) before. We have been enjoying it with lots pf playtime outside, bike riding (Lola) and yard work. I am so tempted to get flowers, bt think that Iwill hold off for a bit longer.

Home improvements are being accomplished left and right. Most of the painting is done - which means that my stripes in the kitchen are gone. I think we have put off listing it until we get back from San Diego.

We take off Wednesday morning to head off to San Diego. Marc and I are both looking forward to a vacation. It has been a while since we have gone anywhere. With all of the 'to dos' lingering, it will be wonderful to escape. Lola is looking forward to seeing animals. I think she will have a great time and will enjoy her vacation even more with Tata Paige around. We will post new pictures (by we, I mean Marc) when we get back.

A few more things about me (this has been lingering on long enough!):

76. I am addicted to Garden Salsa Sun Chips. I am not a huge Sun chip fan, but boy, these are good!

77. I have just reunited with my Swiffer Wet Jet and forgot how great it was. I love getting down on my knees and doing a good scrub every once in a while, but this is so quick and handy.

78. I am a pack rat. With trying to get organized for home sale, I have realized how much shit I have. I am letting go of a lot. Come and check out our garage sale on the 14th!

79. I love to pinch things: pimples, bumps, whatever. If it looks like it can be pinched - I will try.

80. I love shoes.

81. I buy too many shoes and clothes.

82. My new favorite thing is to listen to Marc explain to Lola how to make coffee in the morning.

I think that is all I can come up with right now. I'll try to be more creative in the future and finally finish this list!!