Flashback to Fiber or "Llama Love"

So, as it turns out, I do not have access to the photos that go with my "Flashback to Flight"post. I'll get back to that one. Instead, we are flashing back to--fiber. Not the kind found in healthy cereal but the fiber that comes from--llamas. I have to admit, I love llamas. I'd love to have one for a pet and keep her in the kitchen (it would have to be a her just to keep with the trend at our house). One of my favorite things to do when we visit Woodstock is to stop in at "Posie Thisisit" to pet the llamas. This summer, our visit was a little crazy because Jes and I took all of our kids plus Anya so, ten kids, two adults. A lot of people to squeeze into the llama barn. During the summer, the llamas aren't very active. They stay under cover and enjoy the large fans pointed in their direction. So, we were not able to walk the llamas as we have in the past. We did enjoy a craft led by Posie, the very kind owner of the farm. Each child made a pouch and stuffed it with 100% genuine llama fiber. They also chose photos of their favorite llamas to take home.

As I've mentioned on the blog before, the llama farm was a dream come true for Posie. That makes it extra special to me. Whenever we finally make it to Woodstock, Chris and I plan to adopt a llama for a year. Our llama will be able to make occasional day visits. I'm already planning a llama themed party. Pin the tail on the llama (not the real llama)? A llama cake? Hmmm....

OK, OK on to the photos:

Who knew how much llamas like crackers

Tough decision--give the llama the crackers or eat them myself?

One of the boy llamas

Matthew found his own critter

That's fiber

As we were walking back to the cars after taking our picture with Posie's sign, Sophie went up and silently slipped her hand in Posie's. It touched my heart. I love that about Sophie. She's so friendly, loving and trusting.

And one last picture from today:

Austin, TX

Meeting Baby Josie

Mia wanted to be the first to hold her sweet godsister.

What Day Is It Anyway?

For those who think business traveling is like a miniature solo vacation, here's a quick run down of my day. Actually, it's a run down of all the days this week, in no particular order, because they were all the same.

6:00am Wake

7:00am Breakfast (actually quite nice - full buffet, USA Today Newspaper)

7:55am Walk to work

8:00am Arrive at office

8:01am Begin working

12:00pm Break for lunch (cafeteria in Shell office)

12:45pm Walk around duck pond in middle of office campus (my 2nd favorite part of the day)

1:00pm Return to work

7:00pm Stop working for the day

7:30pm Run/workout (my favorite part of the day)

9:00pm Dinner

10:00pm Email, tie-up loose ends, phone home (they're 7 hours behind -- and oops, that's my favorite part of the day!)

11:30pm Turn-in


Well, don't feel too sorry for me. I work with some great people and we have a few laughs. And did I mention those runs?


I miss you, A.

The cave where we've been huddled-up all week.

Pretty sure that's a fire hazard.

Chicken fight.

Dueling Bloggers

So, as you probably surmised after the last post, Chris is away again. This time, he's gone for two weeks. I sent a camera with him and dubbed him guest blogger so the girls can see and hear about what he's doing. It would be fair to say that Chris and I are both trained writers. He has a degree in journalism and I have a BA and an MA in Spanish Literature--degrees I earned in part by writing many pages of literary criticism. Chris would have made a very good journalist but he made a terrific Marine as well and now, is a faithful breadwinner working for Shell. So, no Pulitzer anytime soon.

It will be fun to write alongside Chris over the next ten days. Feel free to leave comments critiquing his posts. He appreciates brutal honesty. (I prefer flattery.)

OK--some photos from the last few days:

A stray photo from Kevin and Abby's visit

She's "All dressed up"

Some very cool kids' meal prizes. Photo by Grace.

Speaking of Grace

I hosted Moms' Night Out for the homeschool group tonight.

I hadn't seen everyone since the spring and it was great to catch up.

My friend Robin's babe--crashed out

I have a few incriminating photos of our game of Just Dance but as I wasn't supposed to be taking them, I think I'll let you use your imagination. Let's just say I saw a side of these friends that I'd never seen before. So much fun. Next month--karaoke!

From the Land of Wooden Shoes

by CED

Tuesday, Oct 6

Rijswijk, NL

My alarm went off at 6am and I looked outside and it was dark and the streetlights revealed a thin layer of fog. Very few people passing by.

I shaved. I showered in a bathroom with glass walls. I inquired about a paper but there were none.

I put on a dark blue suit and dark blue socks and a blue-ish tie over a light blue shirt.

I ordered eggs, over medium, with red onion and cheese. Toast. A single slice of bacon. Cereal. A bowl of fruit. One pancake. Two glasses of mixed fruit juice: apple with orange.

I walked across the street still sleepy with fog and into the nice office building that was quiet as people busied themselves finding coffee and arranging items on desks and hooking up computers.

It was 8am.

Sweet Tones

So, I have to admit--my favorite thing about my cell phone is the ring tones. I think it's so cool that I can pick an appropriate song for each person in my phone book and recognize the ring when they call. I've cracked myself up with some of my song choices like "Maneater" for my sister Tara--funny because she is so obviously not. OK--funny only to me. It's the little things though.

I always put the most thought into the ring tones I assign Chris. He's had cheesy songs and fun ones and once, when I was mad at him, I assigned him "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room" by John Mayer. I happen to really like that one so I didn't change it back right away and every time Chris heard it, he would say, "hey--will you change that already".

When I switched phones to one of Verizon's new fandangled smart machines, I lost track of exactly how to purchase and change ring tones. So, Madeleine has taken over for me. Now, when my father-in-law calls, I hear "Thriller"--usually on volume ten when I'm in a quiet place. She chose "Smile" by Uncle Kracker for Chris, a song I thought was nothing special when I first heard it but now I love it. It's perfect. Here, a sample of some of the words:

You make me dance like a fool

forget how to breathe

Shine like gold

Buzz like a bee

Just the thought of you can drive me wild

oh you make me smile.

and my favorite lines:

Don't know how I lived without you

Cuz every time I get around you

I see the best of me

inside your eyes.

So now, when I think of what I can do to be a good wife to Chris, I think about this song and hope that he could honestly sing it to me. I hope he's the very best version of himself because he married me. I hope I make him smile.

Thank you Madeleine for a good pick. Now, would you please make a different choice for Grandpa...

And speaking of smiling, this picture makes me smile.

Do you remember how good the hot cement feels when you're soaking wet?

Life Chain 2010

So, today we participated in the annual Life Chain, the one hour a year that pro-lifers of all denominations come together to witness to the devastation of abortion and the value of life. If my mom had not been organizing the Life Chain for her parish in VA this year, I may have missed it. It was not at all well advertised at our parish and even the announcement by the priest at the end of Mass was rushed. As a result, our huge parish mustered only about 25-30 people to stand up for the unborn. Pathetic really.

I have to admit that I don't understand. Is it complacency? A feeling that it's someone else's problem? An unwillingness to really take a stand? If we are to believe the polls, most people think that abortion is wrong and yet Planned Parenthood still manages to keep its doors open and, here in Houston, expand its facilities.

To me, the Life Chain is an easy event. It's not only about holding signs and changing hearts. It's also about standing together with other people who are willing to take the boos and insults for the sake of the millions of babies who have died. It meant a lot to me to stand beside our neighbor David and our neighbors and friends from two houses down. Both of my in-laws were there with us as well. Barbara and I sang a few songs with the girls, an experience I think I'll always remember.

So, even as I felt a little depressed that our chain was so small, I was proud to be there with our daughters. They are our future and I hope that we're raising them to be wise and courageous enough to speak up and to act when they should.

Flashback to Fire

So, our time in Virginia was extra-long this summer for two reasons. First, with our house on the market, we wanted to be away as long as possible and second, we stayed around to help Jamie with Anya and rides to PT during the ten days that Mom and Dad were in Austin. Dave and Jes came out to stay during that time and we decided to have a bonfire while they were there.

Bonfires are fairly common at CK but Dad is normally chief fire builder. As he wasn't on hand, Chris took over the job. The kids gathered a huge mound of sticks and kindling and Chris went to work. You can see the results below. When I talked to Dad the next day, I gave him the bad news that a firecracker had shot from the huge fire to the screen porch which had burst into flames and fallen into the pool. He's smart enough to know not to believe me but nervously asked what really happened. The truth was that with all the wood on the fire, we probably could have kept the coals going for the whole weekend but, sometime after midnight, the guys doused it with water and we all went to bed.

Next up: Flashback to Flight

Hmmm....a little less lighter fluid maybe.....

two blondies

and more kissin' cousins

Bonfire activities included: fireworks, jokes and stories

(Rachel did a great retelling of Paka's "Viper" story)

sparklers

and a little Emo Phillips and guitar music by Dave

Fun, fun, fun. We can't wait to be there to enjoy bonfires in the fall.

Till next time, take good care.