Happy Birthday Mom!

And next on the docket, Mom's birthday! We had a fun weekend of coastal touring and delicious seafood consumption!

Sister made this beautiful cake, the glow of which lit these lovely ladies perfectly! ;)
In the morning we took an awesome trip to the quilt and textile museum in Tillamook. We examined the exhibits in the current show, and played "which one would you keep, which one would you burn?" It was good times.

We stopped into the cheese factory for a treat and to buy some squeaky cheese! I got cake batter ice cream, which is WAY better than the cake batter ice cream at Cold Stone.

Then off to lunch at the Blue Heron! Yep, in honor of birthday celebration, we are sometimes dessert-before-lunch folks.

We all had their clam chowder. It was delicious!

Later in the day, off to Seaside for more delicious seafood! Such a fun day out being leisurely and touristy.

Happy Birthday Mom!

"That Amy, she can be such an ass."

Heh! :)

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today is Dad's birthday. Happy birthday Dad! In honor of the occasion, a momentous event: I have received my first safety award.

For the bulk of my existence, Dad was an industrial electrician for BPA, so safety was a big deal. Even at home, "You kids put on ear protection before shooting that gun." Standing on a swivel chair? Hah!
It seemed like Dad brought home a never-ending stream of imprinted coffee mugs and logo-ed work jackets... "corporate" swag received as safety awards.

Flash-forward in time and space. Folks who have worked on this ridiculous project I'm on recently received a blue windbreaker with embroidered logo... Yep, my first safety award.

How long did we go without a safety infraction? 5 days? 200 hours? A million hours? I have no idea. Which president has bestowed this award? Again, no idea. And yet...Safety Award.

Can't you almost hear him beaming?

Plus, if I ever want to commute to Oregon and get a job pumping gas, I am soooo set.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

I am in Love with the Color of this Sky.

Uhm...is that girl furiously emptying her backpack on the sidewalk (during her walk to work), in an attempt to find her camera? Yeah. That would be me.

With the exception of a slight brighten, this fantastic sky has not been digitally altered. Honest.

Fancy, huh.

Opening Day Tour of the Renovation!

The capitol is open! The capitol is open!!

The capitol has been undergoing a major multimillion dollar renovation for as long as we've lived here...and it finally opened this weekend!
The rotunda! Such nice work.
Here I am resting in one of the side rooms, designed for political leisurating.

You'll note I'm wearing the fabulous magic scarf I received for my birthday from Chris & Sally & Ollie & Lou, which I love. If I'm wearing black, it looks black! If I'm wearing blue, it looks blue! If I'm wearing green, it looks green! It's MAGIC!! I LOVE IT!

We were not able to shake hands with the guv'enah. His office is fancy though.

Indulge me another ceiling photo... This one's in the senate... I think...

There were a ton of folk there, so we meandered out, the capitol behind us.

My husband, looking rather hoodlum-y.

Break From School Goal No. 1: Library Card

Finally, after two and a half years of school, after being sidetracked into buying furniture, I have finally reached one of my goals.

I have acquired a Boise library card!

There hasn't been much time for leisure reading since we got here. I hope to put it to good use.

Here's me in the stacks. I worked at the UO Allied Arts & Architecture library for three years in college... I know the official terminology.
And will wonders never cease! My husband got himself a card too! And even checked out a book!!

Everyone knows boys don't read!

My card is the fancy goldfish one. My husband got the one featuring the Bard.

And, he checked out what seems to me like the quintessential man book, the Pulitzer prize winning, "Guns, Germs, and Steel."

Happy reading!

The Forest for the (Frosty) Trees

Hmm... what do while waiting for the car to warm up enough to drive it the 1.5 miles to work... I know! I'll try shooting the frost... On my car. Compelling, I know. I like this one well enough. Frost on the roof of the Cooper.
Hmm. Well, I don't mind this one either. I was trying to shoot the weird little standing-up ice flakes, like little fish scales standing up on the rubber window gasket...

What the...Holy moly...!

Never mind the fish scales! I was focused so intently on capturing the icy fish scales, I completely missed the fact that I captured the amazing and fancy tattoo-ey frost on the windows!

Not bad, little $125 Canon, not bad.

Find the Wiener Dog

One of my husband's gifts from my parents was a giant, heavy fleecy "throw" that has a giant deer on it.

Miss G is a BIG fan. :)

Another Year Older!

Stacey always says, "if you want your birthday cake done right, order it yourself." Hee hee! My husband had to work on my birthday, so I picked up this wee mousse cake. It was exactly what I wanted.

Despite being very sick, my husband mustered dinner out at a local steak house, where we also got free birthday cake. It was delish, so saved this one for New Year's Day.


In addition to this singing pirate card, my husband got me a new HD Zune! Which was lucky...I had just broken my pink one. Miss G was not so keen on the singing card.

JEWELRY!! Mom got me these new pearls!

A while back, Mom found me this awesome boot cup. Well this year I got the wee boot shot glasses! So fancy!

Another new scarf from sister! This one is much thinner than the others I've received. I love the yarn because it is the colors of Fruity Pebbles.

I promptly wrapped it around Toot because it smelled like Auntie Poo's house.

And one of the best birthday gifts? Getting carded buying wine at Winco on January 4th. :)

Happy New Year!

Bowl Game Fever!

Well, the Beavers fell to the BYU Cougars at their "Maaco Bowl." (It's real, look it up!) Sorry Beavs.

Next up on the Bowl Docket: the "Humanitarian Bowl" (it's real, look it up! ;). Played just a few steps away from the office, and featuring the U of I Vandals versus the...Bowling Green State University Falcons. Excellent mid-day people watching.

Then Friday: the big Rose Bowl, my Ducks versus the.... Ohio State Buckeyes! Whoo-hoo!
A couple of Bronco fans (I imagine) trudged out early this a.m. and left this little bit of well-wishing... I'm sure an enemy of U of I is a Bronco friend.

Lastly, on Monday, the BSU Broncos versus the... Texas Christian University Horned Frogs.

Sorry. I don't really know what a Buckeye is, but Horned Frogs beats 'em all for most awesome mascot. That's up there with the UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs.