Shiny Things

Pretty Please With Sugar On Top

Dear Santa,

Last year I asked for a Vespa, which I didn't get.  But...I forgive you because I got my 1964  Dodge Dart for my birthday.  This year I really don't want much.  Here is my short and sweet list:

• Elizabeth Arden 8 hour Cream
• Father Ted on DVD
• A Pashmina in Black or Grey
• Some loose leaf Chai Blend Tea
• A Facial at a Day Spa.  I am kind of keen on Burbank Spa and Garden.
• Candy. 
• A compact and lip stick from Besame.  I would prefer a red lipstick.
• Simple silver hoop ear rings.
• Cupcakes.
• A Day in Bed.  All I want to do is eat goodies, watch movies, and drink tea whilst wearing my PJ's and maybe taking a break for a bubble bath.

My Mom Is In The Cookie Jar

I left home for Thanksgiving on Wednesday of last week.  Home is now a interesting word to me.  Home use to be where ever my mom was living; some sort of apartment in Arcata.  It didn't matter how tiny or funky it was, it was still home.  Now home is where the family is and has become Aunt Debbie and Uncle Bob's house.  It's where Josh lives now.  It's where my mom is at in the 1930's cookie jar on the dresser in the spare room.

I slept in the room that she died in.  Which was very strange.  One of the first things I did after putting my bags down was to carefully peek into the green cookie jar and see what she looks like now.  She was surprisingly heavy. 

My aunt did her best to change the room up for me and make it as comfortable as possible.  She moved the bed and some furniture around.  There was a little TV in the corner, which was nice.  She even put a heated bed warmer on the mattress.   The shock of going from warm Burbank to chilly Arcata can be quite abrasive.  The nice warm bed helped.  That and endless cups of hot tea and cocoa.

Sarah and I made the pies this year.  My mom always did that.  I think they turned out pretty good.  I've always liked to bake and I'm past measuring spices.  I just toss them in.  Sarah just went with it.  Over all I think we did a pretty damn good job.  The only thing missing from dinner was my mom's cream corn casserole.  It's this horrible trashy dish with layers of creamed corn, crushed saltine crackers, butter and pepper.   I love it though.  She always made it for me.  My aunt put a dish of Ocean Spray jellied cranberry sauce right in front of me.  I can eat that stuff right out of the can.  I'm pretty sure I'm the only one who ate any.

After dinner we had a candle ceremony to remember my mom.

The rest of the trip was spent driving around in her car, drinking coffee, hanging out with Josh and the rest of the family.  Over all I had a good time.  It was just hard.  I miss her so much.

I managed to get a few vials of her through airport security, so now a little bit of her is home with me.

Beam Me Up Captain Kirk

What: Captain Kirk Sighting

Where: The Gelato shop across from Vitello's.

When: Friday Night.

Yep, that's right, I spied Captain Kirk.  The Boyscout, me and some of his friends all had dinner at Vitello's on Friday night.  Afterward we walked across the street for some gelato.  Lo and behold Captain Kirk was getting a frosty treat of his own.

More Mom Pictures

Obituaries

http://www.legacy.com/times-standard/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=96821152

Kathleen Sue Morse

Kathleen Sue Morse, beloved mother, sister, daughter, aunt and friend, passed this life on October 18th, 2007. She will be remembered for her love of children, her beauty and her bottomless heart. Kathleen was born June 1, 1955, in Decatur, Illinois, to Charles and Beverley Davidson, the third of five children. A few years later she moved with her family to California. She eventually settled in Arcata, CA, in 1990 and raised two beautiful children. Kathleen’s many years of work for Northcoast Children’s Services will be fondly recalled by children, parents and coworkers.

She was preceded in death by her father.

Kathleen is survived by her mother, Beverly Davidson of Modesto, CA; her children, Michelle Maxfield of Los Angeles and Joshua Morse of Arcata; and her loving siblings, Debbie Stuart and her husband Bob of Arcata, Chuck Davidson and his partner Lisa Heilman of Daytona Beach, FL, Michael Davidson and his wife Michele of Eureka, CA, and Laura Mack and her husband Zack of Ceres, CA; her nephews, Matthew Stuart, Zachary Mack, and Michael Davidson; great nephew, Caleb Kerr; and nieces, Sarah Kerr and Brandi Davidson; and great niece, Lillyann who will all miss her sweetness.

"I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow...I learn by going where I have to go."

The family requests any donations in memory of Kathleen be made to Hospice of Humboldt County.

Ode to Cough Meds

I stepped in a puddle of SARS

I've officially been sick for 8 days now.  It all started last Sunday evening when I felt a little tingly and started to develop a cough.  Well, the cough is in current full blown bird flu mode right now.  I've been downing Robitussin like it's going out of style trying to suppress my cough.  The high point of this little adventure was waking up Saturday morning with my left eye gooed shut.  When I finally rubbed all the yuck off my poor eye was bright red.  Saturday I spent the day trying not to cough up a lung.  I powered through the rest of the weekend though.  Here are the highlights:

Mani's and Pedi's with the Boy Scout and Sir Chadwick.  Sir C manned up and got some black nail polish on his fingers. 

After the great spa experience we headed over to M and E's for a Pre-Thanksgiving bash.  The food and company was great.  After stuffing ourselves silly the dynamic trio set off for San Diego.

That night we hit the gas lamp then we all passed out due to being hopped up on Nyquil and Musinex.

Sunday we grabbed some brunch in Little Italy and then the boys when skating at the Washington Street Bridge park.  After the skate we all hit up old town, ate some tortillas, went out for vegan Mexican food and then grabbed a soy gelato for the ride home.  I passed out in the back of the car.  The boys listened to Cyndi Lauper. 

It was grand.

Oh, and I got home to my cat having taken a big poo in the middle of the floor.  I think he's trying to tell me something.

The Gals Came Through

The Stitch N Bitch gals really came through last night.   

Yesterday was my first time back at knitting night after my mom passed away.  The gals were really great.  They had put together a lovely gift bag of some fabulous yarns.  Some even hand made!  I already have plans for some of it.  It should be up on Ravelry soon.  The nicest part was that they acknowledged what happened and let me decide how much I wanted to talk.  Wednesdays have grown even nearer and dearer to my heart.

Thank you Ladies.  You are wonderful.

I think the hand-spun is going into this: http://www.cosmicpluto.com/blog/?p=443

It's the wee little things in life...

Yesterday was pretty icky.  I was sick, we moved offices, and I barely made it to the end of the work day.  I broke down in the car on the way home.  I didn't feel good and I just wanted my mom.  I got so in a panic over who to call that I didn't call anyone.  I just went home and made a cup of tea, grabbed the cat and settled in to watch television.

Luckily today is turning out much better.  My Mister texted me this morning.  It's those little things that make me smile.  Just taking a minute out of the morning to send a text means a lot sometimes.

When I got out of my car in the parking garage there was this adorable little black poodle walking around.  He was nice enough to say hello before running back to his owner.

I walked into a bright new office.  I finally sit next to a window.  Very nice.

Lunch with Peter, my L.A. father figure today at 12:30.  He's fantastic.  I think we are going to the Good Neighbor.  Yum.

Dinner with M and E.  They always make good food.

Wednesday should be good too, some yoga, some knitting, and some Mister Boy Scout. 

Things are going to be OK.  I'm thinking about taking a crochet class this Saturday, and perhaps looking for a cooking class as well...

Vroom, vroom, lets get Gelato.

Saturday I headed over to the Boy Scout's with two things in mind.  A vespa ride and gelato.  Luckily we accomplished both. 

Around 1pm I drove Dougal over to Toluca Lake with a vegan lasagna on the passengers seat for dinner later than night.  After putting the pasta in the fridge we hopped on the vespa and went to look at houses followed by a quick trip to Pinocchio's for some gelato.  The guy who played Luke's brother-in-law on Gilmore girls was there.  It took me a minute to figure out who he was.  After gelato and a little more touring about the neighborhood we switched cars for a trip to Ikea.  Mister needed a new rug and so we got him one.  By the time we were done and the lasagna had been cooked and eaten I was wiped out.  So, it was time for a disco nap before the get down.

I made the mistake of going for fashion above function for our Saturday night soiree.  I looked impeccable in an early 1960s black dress that had no room for breathing.  But, alas, I froze my tush off.  Turns out the party was outside, rather than inside.  I tried to be stoic and resisted the Mister's coat for as long as possible, but eventually I was just too cold and took his blazer.

Sunday I managed to get us both soy lattes and pastries from Porto's and due to the time change had more time to sit around the kitchen table than previously alloted for.  Finally I made my way home and got ready for tea with M, E, and C.  We hit up Chado for some lunch.   It was wonderful.  Later that day I was suppose to go to church with Q, but she canceled.  So I called up N and we hit Priscilla's for knitting and tea.  By 4:30 I was starting to feel ill, by 6:30 I was asleep on the couch.

Well, that was my weekend.  How was yours?