Dreams realized?

I've had a couple of mornings with really weird dreams which reminded me of this post from nearly five years ago.

Interestingly, a photo today triggered the memory, and made me start to think about Corky and how eerily similar she looks to Rachel, as well as having grown up in the same nearby city. It is almost as if the universe heard me and delivered to me the girlfriend I not only had no clue I wanted, but the exact person I need.

From TRMS site:

Corky in a rare photo sans glasses:

Ok, looking at these, maybe they aren't exactly twins... However, I find Corky beautiful and amazing and thoughtful and loving and fetching and everything I need in my life. She tells me to breathe when I am stressed out and loves me like I haven't been loved before. She has turned me into a lover of many things I hadn't previously enjoyed. I get lost in her brown eyes and never tire of her smile and laugh, or the way she looks at me first thing in the morning.

I love Rachel from afar for the excellent job she does, but I love Corky for being mine and all of the ways she loves me back.

The Turkey Whisperer

The Youngest talking to turkeys:

A new thing - in the school zone

So I have been noticing things lately that I was initially not aware of. I am going to post these with the label "school zone", so you can skip these if you want. these are all related to things that happen around the schools I am at or near, in the school zone. I hadn't noticed these for so long because I walked to school with The Boys for many years, and even when I started driving a couple of years ago, I never was in the front of said school. Now though, I have been dropping off in front of the school more often, and I see so many hinky things, and I feel the need to write them down somewhere. If you want to also share your stories of horror, let me know, and I could open up a blog or fb page, or something...

Today in the school zone:
Drop off at elementary school - There is a white loading zone in front of the school where I occasionally drop off The Youngest. I saw a car waiting in the white zone with the blinker on, indicating a desire to pull into traffic., I stopped to allow that to happen, even though I was not planning on utilizing that space. The person waved a thanks as they made a three point turn, across a double yellow line, right near the cross walk with the crossing guard.

Still not as bad as a couple of weeks ago when I was parked in the white zone, waiting for The Youngest to get out of the car, when another car pulls into the red zone and halfway across the driveway, lets out the kid(s), and proceeds to execute a three point turn while traffic in both directions is stopped, all while talking on a cell phone.

Sometimes I need to vent.

All the crap

Today was stressful. In a first world problems stressful kind of way. I had a bit more work work to do than normal - ok not too bad. The Youngest forgot his homework, so I took it to school & he called in the middle of a meeting with my boss to ask about a book he actually had. I decided to roast beets and make croutons, but clogged the sink with beet skins to the point of needing 3 bottles of drano and the disposal leaking every time I turned it on. Still waiting to see if it works. I didn't complete any of the projects I was working on, nor the laundry over the weekend. I have some debts needing to be paid, and The Youngest needs braces that I cannot currently afford. I may be moving, and that stresses me out.

I was in tears most of the afternoon, and Corky came over to give me a hug, which helped. Steve made me laugh, which also helped. I came to realize I cannot do everything all at the same time, and so I am putting aside the knitting for a while and working on the wedding book.

The things that are still on my mind, but for which nothing can currently be done: moving; finalization of divorce; getting any support.

The things I am going to care for, in order: unclog sink; complete wedding book; pay bills and balance bank account; register car; schedule vet appt for all pets; knit several favors for The Youngest's birthday and the expected grand nephew of Corky.

Also need to address the internal voices that really cripple my happiness - to talk to my therapist about this week.

Monday Morning Weekend Wrap Up

A full weekend, with little time to write, without sacrificing time spent on other pursuits.

Friday
Corky had the day off and picked The Oldest up from school, bought him lunch and brought him to The Youngest's school where I was teaching art. We worked on negative space studies, and the kids did well. It can be a difficult concept for a high schooler, and the 5th years whom I worked with last year got it pretty well. The 4th's took a bit longer to grasp the concept, but did admirably. The ex returned from another vacation, and picked up The Boys after school. I was able to spend some time alone with Corky in celebration of 6 months together :-) It has been a good six months, with many adventures, and there is still more to discover about one another that I am looking forward to.

Saturday
The Boys went to start homework only to discover that I'd left their backpacks and jackets at the Elementary school, in the office... There was much hand wringing and wailing (this was after the initial wailing over having homework on a weekend to begin with). I was able to get a hold of one of the school secretaries (a friend), and she brought it all over while running errands. We had lunch and a Nerf war with one of The Boys' friends, and my bff. Did some grocery shopping, and tested the aquarium water (which is fine) and so we restocked the fish - 5 flame tetras. Spent the evening working on the wedding book, and got a significant portion complete. When I couldn't look at the computer any longer, I completed The Oldest's knit glove. Went to repair the first glove (that the puppy chewed up), and discovered that the extent of the destruction is beyond my abilities to repair. Began the first of 10 balaclavas I have to knit for The Youngest's birthday in six weeks. Mucked it up and had to pull the first three rows and decided to just go to bed...

Sunday
Got up and went to brunch with my sister, her oldest and her boyfriend. Food was yummy and The Boys were happy to see everyone. Came home, fought over homework, but got it completed. Restarted the balaclava, this time I did ok on the join. Went to see a 20 piece big band, and took the knitting, which was perfect. The yarn store is near where we were, so stopped in to get more yarn for The Oldest's glove redo, and a couple of baby hats for Corky's expected grand nephew. Corky was having a bad afternoon at work, so we surprise visited her for hugs all around, and The Boys got some treats. Came home and The Boys planned the birthday party while I knit and worked on the wedding book some more.

Tuesday Morning Holiday Weekend Wrap Up

A fairly relaxing weekend for the most part.

Friday

Picked up The Youngest at 5th grade science camp. I'd really missed him for the three days and nights he was gone. We spent the afternoon together, but he had no voice (one assumes from screaming and yelling), and wiped out from (as he claims) 3 hours of sleep a night because one of the chaperones snores like a freight train. He did say he had fun. I was concerned as the week leading up to camp was full of emotional turmoil for him in particular. There were many disappointments and tears as he handled those. The oldest came home, and both were picked up by the ex for the weekend.

Corky and I (and 5 of our friends) went to the city to see The Book of Mormon after a diner dinner. Food was yummy and the musical was AWESOME! I spent the rest of the weekend with the music running through my head. I grew up in a home behind a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. There were Mormons in my neighborhood. Now, my kids are friends with Mormon kids at school, and they are all very nice people. I have spoken to a number of my Mormon acquaintances and I truly believe they think I'm ok (as much as I think they are). They all know that I have a girlfriend, and none seem to have issue with that, regardless of the fact that they all sported yes on 8 stickers and lawn signs during that election. They did so without questioning the direction of their church, while I think everyone should question what authorities tell them. Could be why I am not a member of a particular religion or church. We got home super late and camped out on the living room floor.

Saturday

Woke up with Corky beside me (AWESOME). Because I hadn't done any grocery shopping, we had to leave the house to eat. We headed to a great nearby breakfast place, then to a nearby town's main street / antique area. We wandered the afternoon through every shop there, and almost found the one thing we were actually looking for - a small black plastic ecko spatula (like the one below left). We did see a similar one, but with a handle like the one below right.

We stopped by my folks' place to visit and see the progress on their lanai, and the new wall color in the family room. It was a nice visit, and I think we will take my mom the next time we go antiquing. We went to dinner, small grocery trip (for provisions), and headed home for another night on the floor. I do need to clarify that we were on the futon which was on the floor. The dogs enjoyed cuddling with us until their bed time, and it was comfortable, though particularly low to get into and out of.

Sunday

Woke up and made french toast and veggie sausage for breakfast, and cuddled in bed to watch movies. Great lazy Sunday morning before Corky had to go to work. Spent the rest of the day doing laundry, working on the October wedding album, trimming the palm trees, painting my toenails, and vegging out.

Monday

More laundry while working. Even though this is a national holiday for many, my company is run by old white guys, so no day off in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. When I started, we did get the day off in observance. It was removed, and we still had President's Day. Many people complained in an attempt to get an observance day back, but instead, the company also took away President's Day... We still do get the following days off as Holidays: New Year's Day; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. I can't really complain. I've been there long enough to have those, plus 28 additional days off throughout the year. I could take today off, and have in the past. Right now, I am saving my vacation days for Disneyland and field trips with The Boys. Corky spent the day at home with her roommate and their dog, stopping by before work. Feeling bleh today - have more to do than there is time. Bought a couple of knitting pattern for Corky's grand nephew due in a few months. Went grocery shopping in anticipation for The Boys spending the next week+ at home. Vegged for a bit, had dinner, and knit.

My Town Shoot Out - Rustic Details

This week's theme is rustic details.

I aimed to shoot our Heritage Park. I've shot there a whole bunch because I find many interesting sections and details every time I stop by. However, life and all it's details got in the way, so I was in a nearby downtown on Saturday, and found some interesting things, which then caused me to kick myself for NOT bringing my camera. These are directly out of my phone:

This building had red brick under plaster painted green, and it's been peeling off for quite a while, but I like the look of the decay.

This electrical panel, covered by wood had been partially removed during a fire on the upper floor. I'm guessing an electrical fire...

Another more eye level view of the first building.

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