Wander Life

I Heart My Mom!

Just wanted to say, "Happy Mother's Day!"  Mostly to my mom, but, you know...hope the rest of you moms out there had a good one, too.  : )

In celebration (and because our co-worker sunk his shot at lunch - perhaps I'll explain this bet later...), B &  I babysat L & T yesterday.  We also went to L's 3rd birthday party on Friday night and enjoyed the festivities at the local farmer's market (pictured).  Although it kind of made me miss my nieces, it was a great time, & it made me thankful for the fact that when the Big Guy calls you away from your family, He always provides other people in your life to help fill the voids.  Not that anyone can replace your family, of course, but I guess I mean that He just kind of gives you more "family."  Don't know if that makes any sense, but, anyway, it was just something I was thinking about....

But speaking of family, my sister is coming this Thursday night.  We're pretty much going to try to do all things SoCal (well, maybe not all things...but the cool things, anyway), so should be sweet.  I'll let you know how it goes....

Oh, and I also got more pictures uploaded into the "Middle East" album (left sidebar).  Egypt's done, so just Jordan & Israel left.  FYI.

And I guess that's pretty much it.  This week's highlights?  Well, at work, we had an all-day workshop in which we got to figure out our work strengths.  And although I don't know that I would classify any kind of all-day workshop as a "highlight," we did get to listen to (and tell) strength stories, so that was kind of fun.  Perhaps I learned that I love stories....  : )

Oh, and also this week, I saw the new model of Honda CVR.  And though I am a big fan of my '99 CVR and it has treated me well, I have to say that I'm not a huge fan of the new version.  It's like a little bubble.  Not bad, I guess...just not my style.  Probably didn't help, though, that the accompanying bumper sticker read, "I 'heart' my Honda."  ...I pretty much don't know how to respond to that, but I can say that if you ever see me expressing a sentiment like that on my car, I give you full permission to slap me.  : )

...There are actually very few things I would say that I "heart," but my mom, of course, is one of them.  Again, happy Mother's Day.  Have a great week!                    

FYI - Better late than never?

So, I'm starting to upload some of my Middle East trip photos into an album (see the section on the left sidebar that has albums?).  Only six weeks after the fact - not too bad, ay?  Actually, if I were a super hero, I think my power would be slowness....  Ah well, it is what it is.  Anyway, enjoy the photos...if you're still interested.  : )

And hope the week is starting well for you all.  My highlight was a sweet score on the free table today at work....  It pretty much provided my whole lunch: sandwiches, pasta salad, potato salad, pickles and even cookies.  Though the cookies were nothing to write home about (but clearly, worth posting about), the rest was pretty tasty.  And, come on, it was free!  Also, my peppermint/white chocolate latte was the breakfast of champs this morning.  All in all, not a bad Monday. 

Oh, and I really have to share this latest "our students say the darnedest things" example from one of our teachers.  She had them write papers about American states and, per usual, learned some pretty interesting things.  Three of my favorites:

Washington: Their state dance is the square dance, which means square in French. (French and English are similar like that).

Alaska: The flower of Alaska is don’t forget me. The people of native no longer live a life in the small ice room and eat the rawness, but they have become the workers and live in the city have a modern life.

Louisiana: The most famous feature of Louisiana is the Cajun culture, so you can’t miss it if you visit there, or you will regret for your whole life. (Apparently the jambalaya really is that amazing).

I tell ya, some days I really miss China.  : ) 

Work, Play, Eat

The week in review:

TH & KM (two friends from work) had b-days; my employer sprung for ice cream at Baskin Robbins to help support fire fighters; Israeli, Thai, Japanese, Mexican (twice) & German food was eaten (if Weinershnitzel really counts as "German food"); watched Raiders of the Lost Ark in preparation of the 4th one coming out in three weeks; a million sticky notes (for work & life) were written, crumpled and rewritten; there was a muffin break somewhere in there...and a coffee run or two; not to mention golf, a few runs, LOST, ToGo's sandwiches and Iron Man.  And this weekend I added "oil change" to my list of errands & completed it. 

Oh, and I also got a haircut, but, in order to not worry my sister, I  will mention that it was just a trim. 

And now I will go to bed because my energy level for creative thinking is painfully low.  Here's to a week of productivity, people and life.  Perhaps it'll be a simple as this sign makes it - why complicate things with choices, right?  : )

Oh, and two weeks till sister's visit.  Three weeks till lil bro's.  And one till Mother's Day!

(P.S.  I have no good explanation for our work lunch at Weinershnitzel.  Sometimes these things just happen.) 

Also, if you've ever wondered what happens if you eat a whole glob of wasabi...wonder no more.  It's not that bad.