Yesterday afternoon Eric received his intern assignment. We’re heading to California. Redwood City, just south of San Francisco. We’re both super-excited. Eric is a sixth generation Californian and ready to return “home.” I’m looking forward to enjoying the beautiful weather and landscape, meeting new people and finally getting Eric through school.

I’m sad to leave all the great friends we have here, and my fun job, but I know there will be great opportunities in California. Maybe I’ll be a noogler (new googler) soon! We are not set in a timeline yet, but I’ll keep you posted!

Peace,

^_^

ps. Here’s me in the wetsuit!

I am $30 shy of raising $1000 over my fundraising minimum. Considering the minimum was $4200 that is outrageous! Thank you, thank you, thank you to all my donors. Here’s my most recent shout-outs.

B-Co-worker. She’s in charge of HR, so I’m feeling kind of bashful to say anything. Very friendly and encouraging. She’s completed a marathon for  a charity–TNT I think!

The Scots, aka The Elect-Really! They are from Scotland and he went to a Presbyterian seminary. They like to bike and probably think my little quibbles and clip fears are amusing.

I’m super-excited. I’ve never had such a high minimum and I’ve never gone over the minimum by so much! You do realize you are encouraging this craziness, right? If you live in St. Louis, I’ll be helping a teammate grovel ask for donations at the Ladue Schnucks this Saturday. I think this will be his 9th Team in Training Event! He’s just got a little bit to go to get there! Here’s his fundraising page if you feel so inclined.

We swam in the lake on Sunday. I did survive–but the water was super-dooper cold. I heard 50s, but I could be wrong. I also swam at the Y on Monday in the wetsuit. I overheated pretty quick, but after a few fitful 50 or 100 meter go’s of it, I managed to calm myself down and breath steadily for 400m. We’ll test out the lake again May 3. My goal–to do the entire 1600m. They say it is about 800m across. So I’ll go there and back.

Peace,

^_^

She died. By the time I posted about my co-workers mom, she had died. Hospice never even started. What else to do you say? It just sucks.

I didn’t feel the earthquake, but did wonder why my cat ran across my face in the middle of the night. I did, however, feel the aftershock this morning. It is the first earthquake I’ve felt. It was more than a little unnerving.

Looks, like I’m bad at keeping up with the St. Louis Fashion Week info. A Dress A Day details the scenario beautifully. Frankly, I’m embarassed. Someone should offer an apology and since the designer doesn’t think it is a big deal, the St. Louis Fashion Week Committee should. This is why I’m sometimes afraid to say I studied Fashion Design–I don’t want people to assume I’m in it for the “glamour.” I love the art, actually. Sewing, or having someone else, sew up a pattern and passing it off as your own is just awful. I’m not dogging sewing from a pattern–I’ve learned a lot sewing up store-bought patterns and the majority of the things I’ve made come from them–even if partially. I just don’t have the room required to draft everything and my drafting skills could use a good amount of practice. The problem is when people are misled to think it is an original design.

Yesterday evening I survived a bike ride. We rode around our house on a two-lane road that gets a good amount traffic around rush hour. We left the house at 5:30 and returned around 6:30. My feet were clipped into the pedals. I fell over in the parking lot before we started and should have taken that as a clue to turn around immediately. Several cars were very polite. The road we were on is labeled as a bike path. Some cars, however, were beyond rude. We stopped at stop signs and were taking our turn and they didn’t bother to notice us–read almost hit us and just kept going–no apologies. It was plently day light and we were wearing bright colors. Also, several people were in a hurry and would drive so close to us I could have grabbed on and been pulled along without trying too hard. I really want to switch back to my “normal” pedals–no clips. But I have a good amount of time and hope to get more and more comfortable before the big day. I don’t mind riding outdoors. Normally where we go for group training is great–but it is on a bike path only. No cars to deal with!

Peace,

^_^ Katy

I hate cancer. In fact, there are coffee mugs that say $#%* cancer and I’m almost to the point I’d buy one of those. In case you don’t know in about two months my husband will be a interning for a year then officially ordained as a pastor. Society, and my mother, keep telling us that cussing and church don’t mix. Though I’d be the first to admit more than sometimes I say bad words.

A co-worker’s mother has been battling cancer. Things were not going well, but hope always seemed to be lurking in the corner. Now she is in hospice. No freaking fair! My co-worker isn’t old-she is 25.

I just heard of another co-worker who has a brother with terminal cancer. And friend of a friend–though we’ve eatten a meal together so we’re closer than that–who has a dad with stage 3 colon cancer and a mom with stage 4 breast cancer.  I’m so sad for them. I wish I could say the “right” things–at least something real and honest. Cancer sucks. We all hope for the best, sometimes it doesn’t happen. Makes me think of tentatio. A term I’ve found much comfort in. Here’s my better half-explaining the meaning.

Tonight we are eating and hanging out with a dear friend. The photos on my site are of her. She was bribed with wine and happily amused when she found out we were going to use them!

Peace,

^_^

I can’t seem to keep up with this daily! I’m impressed with everyone who does!

I realize it isn’t winter-but this weird sunny and warm for a few days, then cold and rainy for the next few days is getting old. Especially with the addition of allergies! Hopefully my allergy meds and better sleep will get me feeling better in a hurry. 

I haven’t worked out since Monday morning–and my body is aching to get out! I plan on a nice slow, long run after work. Then, I will work on the dress and show you the progress. I was actually a lot further along than I thought. Happy surprises.

Also, weighing heavily on the mind is one of our Team in Training teammates dropped out. He is a survivor and his cancer came back. His wife is still participating. Things like that shake you back into realizing some of the “huge” things in your life–i.e. UFOs, busy schedules, etc.–aren’t huge at all. One great thing from this is there will be a huge push in St. Louis in early May offering free bone marrow donor tests. It is merely a mouth swab. If you match, blood will be drawn. But if you match you can save a life!

In other news, some dear friends just returned from a well-deserved vacation in Provence. They flew into Avignon–which I visited in the summer of 2002! They brought back lovely photos–the carasoul is still in the middle of the town! They also brought back a tea towel. The first thing I did was cover my face in it and breathe. It smells of lavender and brought back such happy memories. Ah…

African Kelli is blogging about National Public Health Week. Her insights are great.

Lastly, I was just notified my library book–they had to pull it from another branch–is available. I will be reading about silk. Hopefully with a bit more understanding I’ll properly respect the fabric and have better luck with my project. Have I mentioned how much I love libraries? They are awesome, awesome places.

Peace,

^_^

Christina, who I’ve never talked to before, but I adore her blog, Assorted Notions listed this Simplicity Sewing Contest. The top to prizes are a trip to Paris and a trip to New York City. Why wouldn’t one enter?

Peace,

Katy ^_^