Very busy week!

I survived my dance recital! We had dress rehearsal Wednesday evening and performances on Thursday and Friday evenings.

Today, Accordion Works performed for the San Francisco Accordion Club. Until we entered the room, I think the median age was around 75! We played most of our repertoire -- some was well received, some wasn't. One thing about older people is they'll tell you exactly what they think!

For me it ended up being an all-day event. I left Stockton at 8:45 a.m., and got home around 8 p.m. We played at the Senior Center in South San Francisco around 3 p.m., but we headed over early and rehearsed from 12:30-1:30. We carpooled from Henri's house in Oakland. There were several other performers at the event, but we were the featured group. It was fun and interesting, but I'm pretty tired now.

Catherine, Sean and I delivered the wedding and rehearsal dinner wine to Orinda yesterday. Everyone was racing around, doing all the last-minute things to make sure the yard is beautiful. We helped out a little bit, then made our escape. I knew I had a huge long day today, so I didn't want to stay up too late. Now Sean's gotten to meet some of the family.

Wouldn't it make sense...

...for the "do-it-yourself" carwash to have a change machine? I think it takes 8 quarters to wash and another 8 (4 at a time) to vacuum. I got there with only 4 quarters, so I vacuumed just the front seat.

Then I went home and did the old-fashioned bucket and hose thing. Basically gave it a spit and a promise. Tomorrow, I'll see how I did. Can't wash when it's hot and sunny, and can't see when it's dark and cool.

I'm running out of weekend! I still need to sew a bra into my ballet costume. Hope it works. Oh yes, and watch Law & Order. Must keep my priorities straight!

Ballet and stuff

Our dance recital is this week (Thursday and Friday), so we had an extra rehearsal today. I think it went okay. I still tend to zig when I should zag, but I'm pretty much getting it figured out. We'll be rehearsing again tomorrow evening and our dress rehearsal's on Wednesday, so I'm just about out of time!

I thought I had an Accordion Works rehearsal this evening, but it turns out it's just the 3s and 4s this time (I'm a 1). We've got a performance in South San Francisco next Sunday and will be rehearsing earlier that same day.

More shoes

Found the absolutely perfect sandals to go with my outfit for the rehearsal dinner. We stopped in to PayLess Shoes after getting new watch batteries. Couldn't resist...

What's happening in our world...

Lizzie's bridal shower last weekend was lovely! Alexa and Holly did an awesome job putting it together. We had all kinds of light munchies, including cucumber sandwiches, and a really nice light cake. My favorite part was that we just all hung out and talked -- no cutesy shower games and activities.

Cat and I went out and got our shoes (for the wedding) last night. We started at Macy's, because I'd seen an ad they were having a sale. They had some nice stuff, but nothing close to right. The challenge is the wedding is going to be outdoors on a lawn. Can't wear spiky heels, you know! We ended up at a little discount shoe shop in the mall and found shoes that looked just right AND were reasonably priced (aka "cheap"!). We have a couple more things to shop for today, but are pretty much done. Cat still needs to figure out what to wear to the rehearsal dinner, though.

Looks like Harvest is going to start 2-3 weeks later this year than it did last year, which is a good thing for my department, anyway. We're putting together training to be delivered before Harvest, so that gives us more time. It also makes the timing of Cat's and my Hawaii trip even better!

"Store Closed During Construction"

I drove by a Chevron station this morning that looked like one of those disaster shots from the news -- every inch absolutely torn to shreds! And I swear it was still in business last night!

There was a lot of construction equipment bustling around and a chain link fence surrounding the entire lot. I took a quick look at the sign as I drove by.

It said, "Store Closed During Construction." Duh!

Catherine as Myrrine in Lysistrata

Here's another fun photo of Catherine as Myrrine in Lysistrata:

Braggin' on Cat!

Catherine made straight A's her second semester in a row. Go Catgirl! (I know, I know...it's "Catwoman")

No family reunion!

For the first time in about a bazillion years, Cat and I didn't go to the big Memorial Day reunion in King City. Apparently, it isn't happening. I tried to e-mail family that would know, but most of my messages bounced back and the others weren't answered. I'm guessing nobody stepped in to take Judy's place. She organized it every year, but died suddenly last year shortly before the reunion.

I had an extra ballet rehearsal today, because our recital is coming up very soon (June 16 and 17). I've also got an Accordion Works rehearsal tomorrow. We had a performance last week and are having another one June 19th.

It's all about the chair...

Cat and I did a girl-bonding thing today. We had lunch at the Frog, then we both got pedicures. I like to have one at the beginning of summer, just going into sandal season. Judging from today's weather -- it's time!

After that, we went to Michael's for a bunch of art stuff she needs for one of her final projects. Then, on to the grocery store to restock our larder.

Our toes look very cute.

ssssssssssssssssssssscat!

I scared the living daylights out of one of my coworkers with this picture. How was I to know she's deathly afraid of snakes?!?

I snapped him out back near the maintenance shop.


My snaky little friend



Cute picture of my Cat girl

Smoking outside the building

Saw the same guy outside smoking three different times today. Then, my brain started wondering what sort of impact smoking has on productivity. And, I don't automatically think it's negative -- maybe some smokers are MORE productive, because they actually take their breaks. Who knows? Stuff for somebody's Master's thesis, I guess.

I got the fun task of digging into the emergency response carts to check the pressure levels on the SCBAs (Self Contained Breathing Aparatus) and inventory the vapor barrier suits. The part in my job description about needing to be able to lift 50 pounds actually is true! The worst part is that the carts are stored in sheds and they're all spider webby. Yuck. Spiders are not my favorite critters. I saw a squished (thank goodness!) black widow on the side of one of the carts. I'm not strong enough to get the carts out of the sheds, so I had to work on them inside with my skin all creepy from thinking about spiders.

On the bright side, the weather is truly lovely today. Rather windy, but quite clear and fresh and warm. I had some serious "spring fever" feelings as I walked from emergency cart to emergency cart.

Aloha!

Here are some lovely flowers from my special guy! Getting ready for Hawaii, already!

Tropical flowers

Lizzie and I are getting together tomorrow with my Accordion Works director tomorrow to talk wedding music, then I'm off to San Francisco for a two-day seminar. I won't be checking e-mail after tomorrow midday until sometime Wednesday, so if you need to reach me, try my cell.

Time to go get my nails done....

More training

Tomorrow, I'll be spending all day at an environmental crash course. It's in Sacramento, so I also will get to be thankful I only occasionally have to make that drive at 8 in the morning. I'm so grateful I don't have a "real" commute, just a dinky little one most days.

Next week, I've got a two-day seminar in San Francisco on training techniques. And, later in the month, I'll be at the Salinas Valley Ammonia Safety Day (Gilroy has garlic; Stockton has asparagus; Tracy has dry beans; Salinas has ammonia!).

I think there was some sort of wreck this morning in front of my building, before I got here. There was a highway patrolman walking around a burnt hulk of a pick-up truck in the ditch, making notes. I'm clueless as to what happened, but that's the sort of thing that never seems to make the newspapers around here!

Has anybody gotten an invitation to the King City reunion, yet? Is it happening this year? Inquiring minds want to know....

Old friends...

Had lunch with an old friend! Anybody remember Julie? She stopped by to visit the IT gang (that's when we worked together), so we all went out. I'm so glad they remembered that I'd worked with her, too, and invited me along. Her life is still as interesting as ever -- she's getting much closer to her dream of being a court reporter.

Julie's youngest son was barely a todder when she left and is now in second grade! Time flies by way too quickly, doesn't it?

Mark your calendar!

Cat's been cast as Cherie in Bus Stop. For the uninitiated, that's the same part that Marilyn Monroe played in the 1956 movie. Performances will be July 8, 9, 10, 15 & 16.

Check out the Stockton Theater Project website and Cat's Blog for more information and breaking news!

Cinco de Mayo!

Today, our boss said she was taking us out to celebrate. How cool is that? So, we're going to Casa Somebody in a few minutes!

Salud!

Update on other things

Turns out the employee who collapsed was dehydrated. Whew! I'm glad he's okay; that was quite worrisome.

Thank goodness for health insurance!

Just got the statements from Cat's doctor visits in February and March. Are you sitting down?

The total the insurance paid to the two doctors was $1245.63.

I paid $35, plus gasoline and a day of vacation.

Bad hair day and other things

Had some excitement at the winery. As the HR girls and I were returning from lunch, we saw an ambulance leaving, and there were a couple of fire trucks in the parking lot. Turns out a temporary employee working one of the bottling lines had chest pains and collapsed. We still haven't heard how he's doing, and of course we're quite worried about him. I'll post more when I know it. He's a young man (30ish). Yeah, that was my first question, too!

I did something really silly (having nothing to do with the previous paragraph)! I guess I forgot to rinse the conditioner out of my hair this morning. It looks like I went a little crazy with hair gel. It looks clean, but it's got a bit of that "brill cream" thing going...

I'd better get going -- need to get Safety BINGO cards handed out to all the employees before I leave.