Sorry I have been such a stranger. Thoughts seem to come to me in spurts and this has been a bit of a dry spell. As I catch you up to the last few weeks, enjoy a photo-stroll around my new town that is finally starting to feel like home.
Eric spent most of the second week of October in Tahoe. He was at the district’s pastors conference. They met in a casino?!? He fell in love with Tahoe and brought home some of his best photographic work yet. While he was away, I took it upon myself to play “catch up.” Getting through the not-so-fun things that always get ignored on “to do” lists. I’m quite pleased with my first attempt at repainting wooden furniture. It is by no means perfect, but it does look much better!
Last week started off great. The three day weekend was beyond refreshing. Standardized testing started on Tuesday and students and teachers alike wore out quickly.
Tuesday, Eric and I quietly celebrated my 27th birthday and his 3 year cancer-versary. I was overwhelmed at the birthday wishes from my family and friends. It sure is fun.
Thursday we left for Texas and a giant celebration for Eric’s mom’s 50th! It was quite the extravaganza. I think we were successful in toasting the birthday girl.
The fun part about the trip was seeing my parent’s new-to-them home. They moved down the street from the in laws. So splitting time was very easy. I got to take 2 long walks with my dad. We talk best while walking. I got to see my grandpa. He has dementia/Alzheimers. It was good. He remembered me. 
Not my name, but me anyways. We got to catch up with one of my bridesmaids and her husband. We also got to see good friends and their crazy dog that helped us survive our first year of seminary and Eric’s diagnosis.
Yesterday was the Nike Women’s Marathon. I ran it in 2006. I tried to get in this year, but wasn’t a lucky lottery winner. Maybe next year. Thanks to all of the people that raised money. $15 million was raised in 2006. That is a crazy, ridiculous number. I just heard from a dear friend that is supporting a loved one with CML. She’s not responding to treatment. I’m grateful Eric and I are some of the lucky ones.
I feel like I’m starting the week a day late, way behind, and am trying to run and tie my shoes at the same time.
Peace,
^_^
Hey, hey, hey. I made it to 27! Eric has made it 3 years since his diagnosis! Here’s to celebrating (later with cupcakes)!
Updated: The cupcakes and atmosphere were not even comparable to Jilly’s in St. Louis. But a mediocre cupcake is still a cupcake and reason to celebrate! Plus, I don’t have to worry about wanting to go back!
Katy
Izzie “adopted” Eric and me when we were at the seminary. Someway or another she got connected to us–nothing official. She is the dearest lady that sends us typewriter-written letters with some frequency. She’s a farmer’s wife and has mentioned that she has never left the county she was born in. Our life experiences could not be more different.
We received one of her letters today. I love the way that in the heading, after her address, she typed, “Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 30, 2008.” I envision her sitting at the kitchen table with the typewriter out, pecking out our note.
Her letters usually include a recipe or anecdote. Today was no different. There was a poem about being a “vicar.” This is the official term for Eric’s internship. I am so grateful for people like her. She is a true gem and has encouraged me more than she will ever understand.
Peace,
Katy ^_^
Why is it so difficult to get photos of finished garments? See, I was wearing the outfit on Thursday–and got lots of compliments which are always fun–and still no photos. I had a haircut appointment and being a girl, I thought, why not take photos after my hair is done? Well, then we unexpectedly, but still very excitedly got invited out to dinner. We were about 30 minutes late because of my hair appointment, then Eric had to jet to church for activities and well, no photos.
Friday was amazingly lazy. It was superb.
Saturday was a conference, then Light the Night. Or Night the Light if you ask Eric’s aunt. It is a very fun fundraiser. Eric is always so excited he gets to carry a white balloon–because he is a survivor. It is one of the few perks. Sadly half-way through the walk, his balloon flew away. We walked two-miles around downtown Palo Alto. It was neat to see a new area, for me. I was caught off-guard as we walked right past the Facebook headquarters. It feels odd that it happens in a normal-looking office building. Not sure why though.
Here’s some photos.
Eric and his white balloon–yay for Gleevec!!
Walking–the balloons have lights on the inside.
Waiting to Start.
So since this was sponsored by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, they also had information about Team in Training. I’m awfully nervous about this–but I’m pretty sure I’m going to sign up for the next event. The Tour de Palm Springs–a century ride. This be my fourth Team in Training event, and the final leg of my Triple Crown–a marathon, a triathlon, and a century ride. I’m hoping to get Eric to join too. Right now the LLS is short on donations because of the troubling economy. Each company that files bankruptcy, or dissolves is also not making corporate donations. Without those donations, new drugs cannot be developed as easily. Team and Training developed the drug that saves Eric daily–Gleevec.
Enjoy a lazy Sunday afternoon. I highly recommend Eric and my favorite Sunday evening show–America’s Funniest Videos. The season premiere is tonight.
Peace,
Katy ^_^
Here’s a sneak peak.
I promise Eric he could take the pictures of me modeling the outfit. By his reaction you’d think he had just won the lottery.
The Arg… Yippee!!! lists are filling up. I’m not sure it is super-productive, but am not yet ready to bail out. I generally quit things very prematurely.. Hrm..
Eric and I have been enjoying homemade lemonade lately. Sparkling water, powdered sugar, lemon juice and ice cubes. Feels like summer is just starting.
The photo of the Eiffel Tower is one of my aunt’s.
Peace,
^_^
Afternoon plans involve this beauty here and some lovely silk butterfly fabric.
I started thinking about my “Arg…” and “Yippee!!!” pages. They struck me as a bit off the mark. In the sense I was all “good for me–I can deal with other people’s crap/niceness towards me and the universe’s crap/niceness towards me.”
But where does that leave my crap/niceness towards others and the universe? So the respective pages will be pulling double-duty as I am also gonna jot down the things that I’ve done well or not so well too…
Darn my conscience. Well not really, but it so much easier to place the blame elsewhere…
Does this make sense??
Off to work on my serger and ultimately the butterfly shirt. I’ve already dusted, oiled, and super-glued the broken piece back to the thread guide.
Peace,
Katy ^_^
Not that kind of sorry…
I’m pretty good at feeling sorry for myself. If you have an hour or two we could sit down to some wine and talk about all that ails me. I’ve been trying this technique for a long while now and am realizing it doesn’t work for me.
So, I’m going to try something new. I grabbed two pieces of paper–bright orange for October–an am titling them “Arg…” and “Yippee!!!” See Exhibit One below.
Exhibit One–notice I had to brainstorm some title ideas…
I’m thinking that if something is really bugging me, I’ll write it down on the “Arg…” sheet. Once it is down on the sheet I will let go of it–for good! On the other hand, if something is making me smile super-big I’ll write it down on the”Yippee!!!” sheet.
Besides having a starting point for prayer, the “Arg…” sheet will remind me all the times that things didn’t go my way. I hope see frustrations as diversions in life. I can embrace them or get sidetracked by them. I can let myself slip down that “feeling sorry” road, or I can press on towards what I want. Besides that, I can go back and laugh about the things that were making me soooo frustrated. Usually they are not that important anyways.
I’m fascinated with fashion history and what inspires designers, what causes lines to fail, what causes lines to succeed, etc. My undergraduate thesis is titled “What Makes a Designer Successful?” Designers, like all business-people have very interesting back-stories. None of them has had success with everything. All of them have faced some kind of adversity. So instead hosting a pity party for one, I hope to remind myself that successful designers, and other people have had to face adversity too.
On the other hand, the “Yippee!!!” sheet will enable me to remember all the positive things happening around me.
I’ll see how this works for a bit and then let y’all know! Let me know if you are doing something similar..
Peace,
Katy ^_^
I had my first chocolate croissant during my first summer in France–2002. I’m not sure if I’ve ever found a version in the states that was up to the tastiness of French chocolate croissants. That was, until I found these. How I love thee, Trader Joe’s. Check out the freezer section.
Here’s how they look when you take them out of the box. They are supposed to sit out for several hours.
Here’s how much they grew overnight!
And after a bit in the oven they turn golden brown.
Eric took his and left for church before I was able to take the “after” shot.
Since I was in the kitchen already, I took a photo of our new dishwasher. So far, it has not disappointed at all. Yay! for soap-free dishes.
Peace,
Katy ^_^