Long time no type

I have been on a merry-go-round that won't quit.

Some things are the same, including work. Negativity seems to be a virus that infects some people and literally takes them over. I do not like working between two ultra-negative people. I feel like I need to request hazardous material-resistant clothing.

Home.

I like to be home.

Tomorrow, my Laura gets her wisdom teeth extracted. She'll "go under" and wake to confusion. I'm sure it will be much like life in the morning for Laura, every day.

The knight in shining armor who will be her nurse and entertainer while I am at work will arrive late tomorrow night. He gets 'Captain Crunch' for breakfast. She says it's his favorite. I look forward to hearing the laughter that exists in the house when the two of them are here together. I hope he plays the guitar, so I think I'll set it out where it is very obvious.

I told work that I would be two hours late tomorrow, and later, or not present at all, if the Laura isn't feeling okay after her procedure. Priorities.

Work is going fine, and I'm speedy and cheery as ever. The tow truck inspector/liason trooper came up to me today and said it is fascintating to him how many tow companies say that they do not wish to make me unhappy. He says he thinks the owners are influenced by "the voice". I guess I sound sexier than I am. mmm. Ok. If you are noticed by the tow companies, something is either very right or very wrong.

OH MY GOSH. So Endeavor is recording in this studio. It's like .... amazing. And I got to go there, see them, hear it, and bring them candy. One day, in the distant future, this will be important. They are just "my boys". But the music coming out of that tape player thingy was amazing, and awesome, and nearly made me cry because it was so wonderful.

One would not make good eye contact. That was sad. But happy David, his eternally happy self... lights up life itself. And they are amazing. And I am proud. SO proud.

I am looking for a job in western Washington. I have to remain in my same sort of career thing to qualify for the loans necessary to start life over there. I am thinking FBI or something cool. We'll see. Meanwhile, the reality of living there, among real friends, is hitting me.

I got to see my Adam. Adam, you are blessed with a quality I can't define. God Himself has His hand on you. I don't know what is in store. But I am glad I know you.

And Sherri. I don't like women, generally. Sherri is an exception to the rule. She is real, she isn't in some estrogen-driven competition, and she is comfortable. Like an old pair of jeans. She is even in my decade. Wow. God is good. I have a friend who is my age, knows how I feel, and can truly support me.

So okay. I am beyond tired. I must sleep now.

Endeavor boys - you are just the guys from Bothell, but one day you will be who you were always meant to be. I am so blessed to have gotten to know you NOW, before time is precious to you. I can say, hey, I washed their dishes once. I love each of you, so unique, and so loudly who you are.

I got to see the studio. And the dog poop.

Went back to work today

So, today was my first day back on the job. It's been one day short of 7 weeks. I have loved my time at home, but I can't lie - I had a blast being back at work. It didn't hurt that my coworkers and I had a ton of laughs, and that I got a lot of "welcome back" calls from the field mobiles. Sounds so impersonal, doesn't it? "Field mobiles." How about troopers. Law enforcement officers. The guys in blue. They called to welcome me back; a voice they hadn't heard in a long, long time. I pitched them poo poo and they laughed.

We had some interesting incidents tonight, too. Odd for a Sunday night in Wenatchee.

We had a fun weekend too which deserves it's own post. So it will get one later. I need to sleep. Can I sleep? Doubtful.

I'm hungry.

Voice from the past

So you called tonight. How long? Six years? It doesn't seem possible. Spur of the moment drives to Leavenworth, arguments in the kitchen, dinners eaten on the floor in front of your computer. Six years ago? More? Unthinkable. Your voice still sounds the same and can still lull me into that same complacency that says let's just drop the important and do the urgent; fly far from here. No, it's awareness into which you lull me. I know how quickly nine months pass and six years of silence take their place. Maybe seven. I haven't yet counted. Long time. I do read. I do lie on the grass and think sometimes. Not often enough, you'd say.

Your voice brought back so many good memories. I wish you to return.

Tears aren't always bad, young upstart. This post is for you. I raise my glass to you. The contents are unworthy, but the gesture means the same. Here's to you. To you coming home one day. To friendships that do not yield to the pressures of time. To loving forever. To understanding. To your mood not being my responsibility, but my concern. Here's to you. To children being a direct deposit by God Himself into the eternal bank account of our soul. To the means by which they are acquired being a non-issue. To life. Where there's life, there's hope. I will pray that God smiles on you and grants you a speedy end to trouble. God bless you. God bless you. God fill you with hope. God fill you with life.

Update Wednesday

Hi,

So I went to my doctor today. All's well. I didn't break anything inside by doing all the housework I was doing, after all. (darn it?) I "get" to go back to work full time Sunday the 14th. Actually, I am glad. Not glad to go back to work, but glad I can. I had worried that I'd torn or hurt something. Guess it's just the normal recovery pain. GOOD, good news. :-) All in all, I feel much better than I have in years. Ah, the wonders of modern medicine. My doc did go up and cauterize something that had formed a bad scar of capilaries. That was weird, but okay. So, now it's just a matter of continuing to heal completely and trying to be smart. Hmm.

I have a story to write later.

Ruth

Well, that's kinda weird

'morning.

Yesterday I did a fun and unusual thing. Not so unusual in type for me, but still unusual. A long time ago I was asked to host a dinner for a bunch of kids. That's the not so unusual part. The kids are all classmates and friends of Julie, who is a friend of Laura's and calls me Mommy. I don't know her friends. That's the unusual part. So last night Julie, Zander, Joel, Jason, Katy, Brittany, Cameron and Amber all came over. Laura and Daniel were here as well. I made teriyaki steak, fried rice, and Oriental cabbage salad. For dessert, those cute little chocolate rice crispy treat cups filled with ice cream and topped with chocolate syrup.

The night was topped off with watching 'Labyrinth' which may not be as much a part of other families' lives as it is a part of ours! Wow. I absolutely love that movie; and I'd forgotten that it could possibly be un-cool to anyone. At least one of the girls didn't know who the male lead was. *sigh* Children who are neglected in their overall education sadden me.

Today I am going in for my follow-up appointment with my surgeon, so I'd best be getting ready. I'm glad that it's time for the visit, other than the fact that this also means heading back to work and starting up the normal chaotic life again. It's been nice being in this calm fantasy.

This time Daniel isn't rushing off, thankfully, and I get to have him here until Thursday. wOOt.

Music, friends, family, and food!

Four things that were good this weekend. Music at Tom Fest, friends, family in LaCenter, and food. But I really don't like bubble tea. At least not the bubble tea I got at the mall in Portland. It was "Thai milk" flavor, and had black tapioca balls in it. As each little ball shot up the straw and I had to chew on it, I couldn't help thinking it was some kind of congealed mass that happens when something is kept too long and spoils, or maybe a big booger, or a little chewy bug.

Laura and I went to Camas, to Tom Fest, she to enjoy much music and fun with her friends and her Daniel, and I to show the boys of 'Endeavor' that the Shaps think they are worth a 5-hour drive, two-day stay, and two $15 day passes just to see a 30 minute show. They played, after all, right on the main outdoor stage. So go we did. I got to do a lot of relaxing and almost no driving on the way.

I dropped Laura at Tom Fest, got back on the road and found the hotel.

We stayed at a hotel in Portland. It was "nice" but not wonderful. There was a pool, but it was right in front of the restaurant, basically, so you know, it was like indoor entertainment. We didn't use it. Of course, I can't do pools yet.

David and I got to hang out all afternoon and evening on Friday, so we did the Portland mall thing and found me some really good sushi and some other stuff, plus the bubble tea *shudder*. We ended up walking for over 2 hours, so I definitely got my therapy in!

Saturday we went to Tom Fest, having had lunch for breakfast... long story. We met up with Stephanie and Garrett there, and then I got to see all of my boys. In one year the progress the band has made is amazing. They have stage presence now, and more musical ability, showmanship, sound, hair, sweat, and impressive song-writing. I was so terribly proud of them all. I got two dry and one sweaty hug. After we saw the show and did some shopping, we left Laura and took off for LaCenter to spend the rest of the day with Justin and the babies - Sadie was working and then had band rehearsal. We had a great time at the lake with them, and it was gorgeous and very relaxing. I discovered that Justin is able to say "My heaven is fat" in Spanish, and "I understand fart" in Russian. Whoa. Such a talented son. We brought Chinese take-out back to the house at the end of the day and it was WONDERFUL, but not as wonderful as sushi. We ended up taking Laura's suitcase to her at Tom Fest because 'He is Legend', a band I would love to have seen, was due to play at 9pm but at 8pm was something like 100 miles away??? So the girls toughed it out and waited for them. The 'Endeavor' boys made their tired little way home because it was the end of a long couple of weeks and just too late for them to stay up.

Sunday Laura was with Stephanie and was going on to Bothell. David and I went to church in Richland with Justin and Sadie and the babies, and then back to their house where Sadie made Russian food. Very impressive. It was a good time, hanging out at their house in their woods. We didn't get out of there until after 4pm - probably more like 5pm, and then we hit impossible traffic and had huge delays. I got to know several people on I5. Not really, but almost. We got home at about midnight, having stopped at the factory outlet stores so I could buy a dress, a skirt, and a sweater!!! I had a hard time getting to sleep, thus here I sit still PJ'd and sleepy, with yogurt and cereal at my side. *yawn*

Now David is home for a while, and soon will move back for good. I have my doctor's appointment on Wednesday and will find out the verdict. I'm worried about a few things, but all will be made known then. If he gives me the green light, I'll be back at work next Sunday, the 14th. Yippee. *cough* I dreamed that I went back to work. It wasn't real happy.

There are things I'm looking forward to, in getting back to work. I love what I do, which is really fortunate. But I honestly have LOVED being home for this long. I can't wear zippered pants comfortably yet, which is the main reason I bought the dress and skirt - to wear civilian clothing to work for a couple of weeks.

So that was our weekend. God is good. We had travel mercies, no adverse events, and a lot of fun. I shall post a picture when Dad Shap puts some onto the computer for me.

Here is a little advertisement: check Endeavor out on www.Purevolume.com, as well as www.Myspace.com Also, obviously, at www.endeavormusic.com

Here is my little car

I thought about it, and decided you needed to see the little blue baby of which I wrote. *sigh* Here she is. She needs a name, though.

Boring, no news

The past few days have been pretty uneventful. It's very easy to sleep long hours, the day starts slowly at best, and is over before I know what's happened! I like the extra sleep, and I'm sure it's good for me. I do wish for more of a normal schedule, though.

I lifted my driving restriction, and I am once again behind the wheel of my cute little blue Scion. YES! I even drove to Moses Lake and Ellensburg yesterday to deliver cookies to the detachment offices for the Ephrata, Moses Lake, and Ellensburg troopers. That's 4 detachments of troopers, and each got a selection of 3 different kinds of cookies. Ryan, who is special, got his own batch and I got to visit him and his wife and adorable baby boy at their new home. Newly built by Rya n and family home. More like a hotel. It's ginormous and beautiful and absolutely amazing. As luck would have it, poo poo hit the fan in both areas I visited, so I took myself out to lunch.

Today I will be, with HOPEFULLY Laura's and Greg's help, getting ready for our weekend in Camas for Tomfest. David is coming home with us, so there needs to be a bit of spiffying up done around here. We've been lazy, and Greg STILL has his two cars parked in front of the house. Not acceptable. David will have a fit, and rightfully, if they're still here when he gets home. I'm giving Greg until noon, at which time let the nagging begin.

David and I will go to Endeavor's show at noon on Saturday, but other than that I think we will just relax around Portland, see Justin and Sadie and the kids, and let Laura hang out with her friends at the festival. We'll take our sweet time heading home on Sunday. It should be an awesome and relaxing weekend. Like a mini vacation. Priceline and I got a 3-star hotel for $50 a night. wOOt.

I go back to the doctor the 10th for my follow-up. Hopefully my tendency to overdo it hasn't hurt anything. I am mostly feeling very good, with not too much pain. Didn't even take an Advil yesterday - nothing. I have some "discomfort" and I'll have to discuss that with the doc. I am walking every day, but no more insane power walks. I put back on a couple of the pounds I lost, and I think that was due to the crazy late dinners Laura and I were having. Dinner at 9pm? Later? Just stupid. But I'm still 5-6 pounds lighter than when I had surgery.

Well, I have absolutely no incentive to get moving, but I am going to just DO IT and the incentive will follow. I will take that incentive upstairs and jump on Laura with it, and she'll happily rise (ha ha ha) and cheerfully help Mom today. (YEAH RIGHT!)

Take care!