ooh, what's that smell?

While opening the curtains in our cave aka bedroom the other morning, I stopped immediately as a foul stench assaulted my nose. I sniffed my breath, my pajamas, and even my hair and the chair I was leaning on. Nope. Then I saw what was hiding underneath the coffee table, rotting:

Who would have thought that a treasure-trove of month-old scrubs containing urine, blood, poop, and bits of human flesh would smell SO rank (sarcasm). Needless to say, they are now in a bag, after Nolan's horrified wife demanded that he finally take advantage of the free scrub-washing service at the hospital. Which is also why he wasn't letting me wash them in the first place. Hhhh. ps-the picture is blurry because he was trying to stop me from taking a picture of the disaster.

This weekend has been all about cleaning and baking. Sounds fun? It was. But that also meant mounds of work, burns on both hands, and flour everywhere. I even inhaled too much bleach at one point and had to sit on the couch to reinfuse my lungs with clean air. But: the end product was a freshly baked loaf of Boule, an artisan bread that was in the recipe book that my mom sent me (thanks, Mom!), and it was DEL-I-CIOUS. Also today I made homemade granola, ALSO courtesy of the book. We've already finished the bread between the two of us, so we'll see how long the granola lasts :)

the pigs, they be flyin'

I won't mention any names here, but I had to post it because really: there are some things that would be a sin not to share.

Apparently when you're a senior leader at a company, you should lock your office door when you leave for the weekend.

Because you never know when the comp. team will donate loads of foam pigs and unsharpened pencils to a noble cause. It's like a swine army marching onward.

For my birthday last week, my team got me an orchid.

It was a revised attempt to make my desk look chipper, after the last attempt failed with flying colours. I still have the rotting petals in a bowl somewhere I think. Since orchids are both beautiful AND low-maintenance, I think this one will be a winner. And isn't she gorgeous!


We're on day 4 of intensely itchy/terrible heat rash. Hhhh.

fingas!

Believe it or not, today we used our final gift card that we received for our wedding...2 years ago. I normally don't go blow wads of cash at Crate and Barrel, so it took me awhile to get myself there, AND I had no idea what to get. We don't really need anything specifically, so I just shopped around the store, and got all manner of knick-knacks and a cool wine-saver and stuff. But I think my favourite item that I got was this:

Because we love our bamboo here, and who wouldn't want a wooden pair of hands to toss/serve salad with? Plus I figured it was artsy-looking enough that Nolan would approve (He thinks kitchen stuff is "chick stuff" and therefore boring, unless it looks more like an art project. Hence: salad hands). I'll just hide the glass butter tray and serving knife until he admits he is pleased with my purchase so far ;)

and also...

...just because I almost peed myself reading this bit of fuggery.

Back to the real world...

...where there is no sunshine, no delicious naps by the pool, and no freshly picked fruit from the apricot tree outside. Instead, I have a trashed house, a bloody scratch on my palm from the devil-cat who is NOT HAPPY about the whole "me not feeding him 24/7 because I actually have to work again" thing, and several bags of laundry to fold and put away. Hhh. Sometimes I feel like I should just burn all of my clothes and never go shopping ever again.

Nolan is also back to real life, but at least he gets to wear the equivalent of pajamas all day (and still looks sexy!).

Naturally, I don't envy him the 12-36 hour shifts, because I much rather prefer to sleep. But eh, maybe I'd give up a few hours here and there if I could wear loose green bedsheets to work every day.

Since I spent so much time in the sun, I almost feel like I got sun poisoning of some sort. I have a fantastic tan almost everywhere (almost), but on my forearms and on my legs, the burn was SO bad from rafting (I put on sunscreen, Mom! Twice!), that I have all these little raised bumps that are like some kind of rash that really itches but then when you scratch them: No Relief! SURPRISE! PAIN! It's like the worst itch ever. Also the skin is still radiating some kind of intense heat, to the point that when I lay in bed the sheets are TOO MUCH in both heat and pressure, and my legs burrrrrn. So I guess what I'm saying is that the sun somehow left a little piece of itself buried in my thigh-skin and is desperately trying to get out.

On another topic: I went in to the DMV on Friday and got my motorcycle permit. Which basically is a 25-question test that, if you pass, allows ANYONE to ride around the state (avoiding highways), whether they know how to ride or not. Fortunately, I do know how to ride, and took my first few solo trips around the county and down by the river. Hooooahh!

Other than that I guess there's not too much else to write...I haven't been to the gym in maybe 2 weeks, and am feeling my muscles atrophy already, so I guess that's where I'll be on my lunch. Though secretly I wish I was in Borders looking at all the new Harry Potter stuff that's coming out in honour of the movie...that comes out NEXT WEEK! smmmmmmmhhh!

following

I will post tomorrow, I promise! Hours spent at home working after-hours on projects means I still haven't had time to update in forever. More to come later, lovies.

Happy Birthday to me...

Well, okay. Yesterday was my birthday, not today. But who wants to blog alone in the dark on their birthday? So I didn't. Instead, I spent the day lounging with Nate at Starbucks and around the house, and then spent several hours playing in the pool while Nate (un)successfully tried to tan "before he leaves for college". Snort. Already I see colour in my skin and the signs of (GASP): summer! To celebrate, Nolan took me out for dinner and Tuttimelon on Tuesday night, then spoiled me with a loooong foot and back massage...YES! The next morning I woke up at 6am to him singing (somewhat successfully) "Happy Birthday" in Spanish and carrying our breakfasts so we could crack open the curtains and enjoy the early morning together. Smmmhhh I love getting up early to just relax. Particularly when it involves my favourite person <3 I then took my time and mosied on up here where I proceded to do the above. And seriously: waking up on a Thursday to the warm sunshine at 7am is SO MUCH BETTER than my normal routine while I'm up here of waking up on a Sunday and sobbing bitterly about having to pack my bags. And I love having several days ahead of me here...possible rafting...possible motorcycle trips...possible lectures from my Opa about how certain pods from a tree in his yard are shaped like screwdriver holes. "Those are Phillips Head holes!"