Snarky Chicks Rule

I've been neglectful

2008-02-18T21:19:00.002-06:00

I can't believe I haven't written on my blog in over 4 months. I'm really been slacking when it comes to blogging.

I've been at my job now for over 4 months. So far it's going pretty well. Mike finally found a new job here in California. He will be out here at the end of the week. Along with Mike comes our pets and all of our stuff. It will be nice to be located in one spot. We have rented a house in El Granada, CA.

I'll write more and post a few photos when we move in.

2300 Miles in the Car Together and We are Still Married

2007-10-09T22:14:00.000-05:00

Hi All,

On Wednesday, September 26 we left Chicago heading for California. Mike drove the whole way. I was the navigator. I know that it was mainly one highway but navigation is an important part of the process too. Besides, my driving makes Mike nervous.

The first day we only made it as far as Counsel Bluffs, IA. We got kind of a late start. Iowa was mostly corn fields so not a lot of exciting stuff along the way. Thursday we were in 4 states: Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming and Utah. We drove about 15.5 hours that day. Iowa and Nebraska seemed like one big corn field. Wyoming was a little more interesting it with mountains and large open spaces.

On Thursday night we stopped in Park City, UT. We definately want to go back there and try skiing. Park City was home to the Winter Olympics. Although with my skiing skills hopefully they have a few runs that are less then Olympic caliber. There did seem to be plenty of places to Chalet in the area.

Friday we decided to drive as far as Lake Tahoe. So we drove the rest of the way threw Utah. We stopped at the salt flats in Utah. It was pretty cool and looked like Snow.

We got to Tahoe City, CA around 5:00pm. It was pretty chilly when we got up there. It was only in the 40's. We got to see the lake and walk around the town. We are definately going back to Tahoe. It is about a 3.5 to 4 hour drive from San Francisco and is awesome. It will be a lot of fun to see some snow and ski. The temp continued to drop over night and when we woke up in the morning it had snowed. Yep, I said snow. I couldn't believe it. Snow is september. Even Minnesota doesn't have snow that early.

We arrived in the San Francisco area around 10:00am on Saturday morning. I found a temporary place to live in Pacifica, CA. I'm renting a room for a couple of months until Mike finds a new job and moves out. The place is great and is very close to the beach . . . 3 houses from it to be exact. This is the view at the end of my street.

Mike flew home on Sunday, Sept. 30. I started my new job on Oct. 1. It's been good so far. I spent most of my first week training. So far so good.

I really like the area and the weather has been great. It will be even better when Mike gets here.

Thank you to all of you who kept us company along the way. The IMing, text messages and phone calls made the drive go by a lot quicker. Hope things are going well for everyone.

Still In Chicago For A Few More Weeks

2007-09-07T19:34:00.000-05:00

Well, we are here for a bit longer. I am starting my new job 10/1 so we will be moving at the end of September. Mike has an interview next week so we are hopeful that he will get that and we can move together.

I am really looking forward to the move. It will be a new adventure. I've never lived on the west coast so Mike and I will have new places to explore.

The extra time in Chicago has given me more time to work out with my personal trainer, satan (his name is really Jimmy). I've been working out 2 times a week with Jimmy. We have developed somewhat of an understanding. He worries about the work out part and pretends that I eat healthy and I don't tell him what I really eat. What's the use of working out if I can't have cake! I do feel bad for him sometimes. I can be a bit of a whiner when I really don't want to do something. I just don't like to sweat. You would think all of the IMing and web surfing I do would burn some calories. All and all it has done me some good.

I hope everyone is doing well and I'll keep you updated on our progress.

Moving Again

2007-08-21T20:55:00.000-05:00

I haven't written in my blog for months. I need to reorganize my priorities. Mike and I are moving again...this time to San Francisco. I have accepted a new position with the Justice Department. I will be starting that job the beginning of September. Mike will join me there once he finds a job. If anyone knows of a good electrical engineering job in San Francisco for Mike let me know.

I'll write more later once we get organized. I hope everyone is doing well.

We've Moved!!

2007-03-31T07:31:00.000-05:00

Mike and I have decided to try city living for a year. We have moved to the Logan Square neighborhood in Chicago. It's a pretty cool area with big old homes and condos. Also, it's a pretty diverse area. We like it so far. We've been exploring and finding new restaurants and places to hang out. Another plus is that we are close to my sister Sarah and Mike's sister Jill. Our friend Britta lives close too.

The commute to our jobs is much better. Mike's been taking the blue line to the Metra station and then the train out to work. He was very excited to get his CTA Plus card. I can take the blue line to court and I drive out to the office but its a much shorter drive.

Hopefully, we'll get all of these boxes unloaded soon. I finally found our dishes and silverware and Mike's been organizing the basement.

We can't wait for summer in the City.

Male Enhancement Ads

2007-03-06T18:56:00.000-06:00

Since I am no longer leading a life of leisure, my time to do things I really like has been limited. I don't have nearly as much time to knit, watch tv or blog.

In fact, my Murder She Wrote viewing has really suffered. When I do get to watch it, I'd rather it be free from male enhancement drug ads. I mean, WHY?! From my years in marketing, I would guess the demographic for this show would be mainly older females. They all show some hoochy young woman grinding on the dance floor (all that's missing is the pole). Then some older male comes in. Who are they kidding?! Do they really think mature women are going to be lured into buying this product by young chickies and goofy looking older men who apparently can't get it up anymore? What's next ads for Rogaine and Corvettes?

I would expect to see these ads on Spike TV, ESPN or during Monday Night Football. NOT on the Biography Channel during Murder She Wrote.

The whole thing is putting a damper on one of my favorite past times. I may need to start Tivo-ing it so I can fast forward threw these flights of middle-age male fantasy.

I Got A Job!!!!

2007-02-03T21:56:00.000-06:00

After a long search I have finally found a job. I start as an Associate in the Foreclosure dept. at Codilis & Associates on Monday, Feb. 5. I can't wait. It all happened pretty quick. I interviewed on Tuesday, got my offer on Friday and I start monday. I heard about the job from the Justice of the Phi Alpha Delta Western Suburban Alumni Chapter. He was kind enough to submit my resume to the hiring attorney.

Although, I am really going to miss my friday morning knitting at Wool & Company. However, I plan on going to the knitting guild meeting on wednesday evening so I can knit with the ladies and get my fix.

I'll keep you all posted.

The Yarn Store Lawyer

2007-01-31T20:06:00.000-06:00

I visited a local yarn store today and the sign in the window said "Business For Sale". So I started thinking that maybe I should become the Yarn Store Lawyer. The dual business thing worked for Ed, he owned a bowling alley and dispensed useful legal advice. I know I watch way too much television.

I thought I could knit, draft wills and represent clients all at the same time. Sell a little yarn, give out some legal advice. I think it would work. Maybe I could find a few partners that can knit, sell yarn and lawyer all at the same time. I could have weekly drop in knitting/legal advice sessions. I'm sure I could come up with a fitting name for the yarn store/law firm: Wills & Wool or Lambs, Esq. or Stitch & Sue.

I did have an interview this week. Hopefully something good will come of that. If not, maybe this will be a viable option.

Anyway, that was just my thought for the day. Hope everyone is having a good week.

New Winter Knits

2007-01-25T19:42:00.000-06:00

I have just finished knitting a new scarf, hat, mittens & head band. I can't wait to try them all out. I have been wearing the scarf for a couple of weeks now but I just finished the rest of the ensemble. My bf Neen gave me some great yarn for Christmas and it has been great for these projects.

The hat has ear flaps to keep my ears warm during skiing or skating. I lined the ear flaps with red fleece. It's tres stylish. The ear flaps can be tied up to create that every sexy Elmer Fudd look.

I made the mittens out of red fleece with a knitted cuff. I actually broke out the sewing machine to sew the fleece part. I'm kind of scary with a sewing machine. I'm just glad I didn't sew my fingers together. Even my brother Kyle did better them me in the sewing part of Home Ec. His drawstring bag actually closed. I sewed the channel for the string shut in several locations.

I also made a head band from a pattern found at www.knitty.com. Both Jody and Carla, Friday Knitting Buddies, made one. After seeing theirs I had to attempt it too. It looks pretty good and if my head was slightly larger it would fit better. I am trying to shrink it a little now. We'll see how that turns out.

I think now I'm going to work on some socks that have been in progress for quite some time. It would be nice to get those done.

Anyway, I'll have some quality knitting time tomorrow at the "Knit In".

Oh yeah, I have been looking for jobs too. I had an interview Jan. 15. It went ok but I didn't get the job. Oh well, there will be others. I have been sending out lots of resumes so hopefully something will come up soon. Until then I'll keep busy with my knitting.

Things I've Learned From Jessica Fletcher

2007-01-15T18:03:00.000-06:00

As many of you know, I love Murder She Wrote. Jessica Fletcher is definitely a snarky chick. She's intelligent, beautiful, self confident and not afraid to voice her opinions. While I am fully aware that she is a fictional character, I have learned many things from watching her solve crimes.

1. Be observant
JF is always aware of her surroundings. She always notices a missing earring, fire place poker or letter opener. Later that missing item proves useful in solving the crime and finding the real killer.

2. Follow your gut feelings
Even in the face of seemingly incontrovertible evidence, JF has confidence in her feelings. In many episodes Sheriff Mort arrests someone he believes is guilty. It is always left up to Jessica to find the real killer.

3. Believe in yourself
No matter the obstacle, JF puts her best foot forward. She's a woman who followed her dream to become a successful mystery writer. She travels the world visiting her many friends and bringing justice to all.

4. Think outside the box
She is able to look at a situation and not let initial appearances lead her to the wrong conclusion. Her ability to view things from many different angles and come up with novel ideas is inspirational.

5. Never be afraid to voice your opinions
This is one of her best traits. When the powers that be want to push her aside, she makes them listen. Her confidence and logic shine through when she delivers the narrative of how the crime really happened.

I'm sure if I had more time to think about it I'd come up with a much larger list. However, I think this is a good start. For those of you who read this and want to watch an episode or two of Murder She Wrote, it's on the Biography 2 times a day - 11am, noon, 5pm & 6pm.

Fun in Chicago

2006-12-22T20:27:00.000-06:00

Two posts in one day. In addition to knitting, Mike and I have found some time for fun here in the Chicago area.

On November 18, we went to see the King Tut exhibit at the Natural History Museum. It was an incredible exhibit. The artifacts on display were very interesting and it was facinating to be that close to object that were that old. That same day was the Lighting Festival on Michigan Avenue. We stayed to see the fireworks over the Chicago River. It was cold and crowded but the fireworks were awesome.

For Thanksgiving, Mike and I went to Sarah's apartment. We had a great dinner and the festivities lasted into the wee hours of the morning. We had about six of us at dinner and then a few more of Sarah's friends joined us for dessert and games. We didn't make the early morning shopping that we had planned but we did go out around 10:00am. We still got some good bargains and got our beauty sleep.

The day after Thanksgiving we went to Cedar Lake, IN to see Neen, Bill and the Kids. It was good to see them all and we are looking forward to spending New years with them.

On December 3 we went to see my friend Britta perform in the Chicago Nordic Choir. The performed serveral Christmas carols in Swedish. They sound great! Afterwards, Britta, Mike and I went ice skating at Millenium Park. It was cold but we had a lot of fun. We all managed to skate for a couple hours without falling.

In early December we got several inches of snow. It was really pretty. The river started to freeze over. The river has been pretty quiet since it's gotten cold. I've heard from neighbors that it freezes enough to cross-country ski on. I can't wait. Our plan is to stay here for a while longer. We will buy a house closer in to the city this spring or early summer.

We did leave the area to attend a Christmas party hosted by our friends Lynette and Ken in Fort Wayne, IN . We got to meet Ken's family and see Lynette's mom and brother and spend some time with Marty. It will be great to see everyone again in May at Lynette and Ken's wedding.

Last weekend we went to MN for my Mom's surprise birthday party. It was a lot of fun and she was really surprise to see us show up at her door on Friday night. My Uncle Bud and Aunt Charlotte came in from Ohio. She was shocked to see my Uncle. He had not been to MN in almost 30 years. We also went to her work Christmas Party. It was nice to meet the people she works with.

That's it for now. We are heading to MN to celebrate Christmas and then Clifton Park, NY to spend New years with the Torrence Clan.

Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Knitting Update

2006-12-22T20:07:00.000-06:00

Today is Friday and, of course, I went to Wool and Company to knit with the ladies. Mike affectionately calls this the "Knit-in". It will be sad when I get a job and cannot go on fridays. I really like it there. The people are so nice and the conversation is lively. The time flys by.

I have been knitting up a storm. As Sarah says, "Knit like the wind, Fingers". I took a class at Wool and Company to learn how to knit felted clogs. These things ROCK! The class was great and I learned a lot. This was the first time I felted so it was pretty cool. Mike really wants a pair now. I've also been knitting slippers for the kids for Christmas. I have 4.5 pairs left to knit. I'm almost there.

Today I bought a pattern to make a sweater. That will be one of my projects for January. I have the yarn picked out and I will purchase it at the Wool and Company Annual Sale on Dec. 27.

Well I better run. I have some slippers to knit. I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Peace On Earth or At Least in Pagosa Springs, CO

2006-11-27T20:07:00.000-06:00

I know I had said that I was going to keep this mostly about my activities and my knitting but I saw this news story and couldn't help myself. http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/11/27/peace.wreath.ap/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

In a small town outside of Denver, Co, a woman is being threatened with a $25 per day fine if she does not remove a wreath in the shape of a peace sign from her home. The president of her homeowners association had demanded that it be removed because other homeowners in the subdivision were upset by it since they had family members in the military. What really concerns me was that a few members of the community thought the peace sign was a satanic symbol.

Here is my question . . . Why has it become unpatriotic or anti-military to wish/pray for peace? I support our military personnel. I also support our diplomats and others that are trying to find a diplomatic/political solution to end the turmoil.

I believe it is always appropriate to wish and pray for peace. Working towards peace will make all of us safer and eventually bring our troops home. This woman has every right to display her wreath. May her wish for peace during this holiday season carry through to the year to come.

A Great Show That No One is Watching

2006-11-07T17:47:00.000-06:00

OK. Every fall new shows come out. Some are good and others are not so good. I found a great show on NBC on Monday nights called Studio 60.

Studio 60 is produced by Aaron Sorkin. The creator of the West Wing and Sports Night. Like those two shows, the dialogue on Studio 60 is witty and intelligent. The cast is awesome too. The show stars Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford as the head writer and producer of a Saturday Night Live type show. The cast also includes Amanda Peet, D.L. Hughley, Sarah Paulson and Timothy Busfield.

I've really enjoyed the show and would be happy to see it develop and stay on the air. So, if you like to watch a quick-paced, intelligent and funny show check out Studio 60.

If you'd like to catch this week's episode you can visit NBC's website for the full show or a 2-minute summary, http://www.nbc.com/Studio_60_on_the_Sunset_Strip/.

Well. that's my plug for the week or at least for the day.

7th Annual Isherwood Wine Party

2006-11-07T17:43:00.000-06:00

We held the 7th Annual Isherwood Wine Party on Saturday, Nov. 4. It was a lot of fun. There were a lot of good wines: Merlots, Pinot Noirs, Cabernets, Rieslings, Chardonays and many many more. I will post some photos when I get them.

In addition to the wine, there was a lot of food. I love food as much as I love wine.

Thanks to everyone who came and hung out. It was great to see everyone.

The Socks are Done!

2006-10-28T22:00:00.000-05:00

HI All,

After a month of classes and many hours knitting, my socks are finished. I can't wait to wear them. I also have the next yarn for my second pair of socks. Those of you coming to the 7th Annual Isherwood Wine Party will see "the socks" live and in person.

I know. I'm way to excited about these socks. I really need to get a job. Keep your fingers crossed that I get one of those soon too.

Have a great week.

My 15 Minutes of Knitting Fame

2006-10-25T18:03:00.000-05:00

I have been using some of my time off to learn how to knit. Lately, I've been frequenting a local yarn shop called Wool and Company. I love that place. The people are so friendly and helpful and they have a great selection of yarn. On fridays they have Knitting with Company. It's been great to meet people and get great knitting pointers.

I've also been taking a Knitting Socks on Circulars class. It's been a great class and I can't wait to wear my new pair of socks. If you are interested in seeing my sock and me you can check out their website and blog, http://www.woolandcompany.com/blog/knitters-abound/