What a weird family photo!!!!!!

This is my eldest son, Justin, who was having a coughing fit. Me, and I have NO idea what I'm doing. Laura, who was evidently making a face for one of the babies. As Greg said, some families are normal, and some families have fun. I noticed that I don't have to worry about having a flat tire on the road; I've got a spare around my waist!!!!!

Christmas was excellent, and I'll tell you about that later.

Mom Shap

Jello brain!

Whoo boy.

So, yeah, working in Marysville is slightly different than working in Wenatchee. Kind of like the difference between a blow-up wading pool and an Olympic size swimming pool. Wow. Things really do move there. Yesterday was my first day of working "on my own" and I needed lots of help. Today so much more fell into place, and I had a wonderful time, and a sergeant even called and gave the supervisor a compliment for me, saying I was "on it" today. This is very, very nice. He also called and told ME that, and I got a verbal from a trooper in person as well. Not bad, not bad, I think I'll survive this! And to think I am there because I WANT to be, and not because I HAVE to be. But after January I think I will limit my days to two a week, to be able to help David with the business as well as get some serious at-home time.

Today I worked from 10am until 10pm. Most of the time I only covered one area, but I am able to take a second area while someone else is on a break, too. I won't gain weight working in Marysville because there is little time to eat.

We got bad news about David's father yesterday. What they had originally thought was fluid in his lungs is actually cancer. He has had cancer for some time, but now it has spread into the lungs, evidently. Barring a miracle, this spells the beginning of the end. At least we can happily dwell on the fact that "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord" and although he will be missed, and we will grieve, it is not hopeless. He's been bought and paid for, and has a home waiting for him in heaven. Unlike the hollow and often fake sentiment "he's in a better place", we can really KNOW that he will be in the presence of God Almighty the second his spirit leaves his tired body.

Right now we've got Christmas around the corner. I'm almost "DONE" if I don't think about the tragedy that is - I HAVE NOT BAKED ONE THING THIS YEAR. UGH!!! But this is not a normal year by any means. I only mailed out one box this year, to San Francisco to my only Sarah May. She should be home for Christmas, but I understand the emotional pressure that kept her in California. She still got her Christmas stocking, however!

The cats have generously left the packages under the tree alone, for the most part. Strong Bad, just a few minutes ago, was trying to open two of the gift bags. Her little teeth marks will be on the tissue. I bought the cats a double deck cat climbing house/scratching post for Christmas. Not sure what to get the dog...

I'm looking forward to being surrounded by family for Christmas. What a great Holiday.

*sigh*

I'm exhausted. I want to be in bed before it's tomorrow.

Mom Shap signing off

Back in the (saddle?) again

Hello patient reader,

Don't hope for anything negative cuz it ain't hap'nin.

I went to work today, well, I went to be introduced to stuff today, at the Marysville office of the State Patrol. I left here at 0705 and arrived in the Communications room at 0739. NOT too shabby, I'd say. I spent most of my day sitting with AJ who explained the weird telephone system which works off a mouse, and other things in general. I filled out paperwork to be employed there, which was really an odd feeling. "Have you ever worked for the State Patrol before?" "In what capacity?"
Whoa. Um, yeah, I guess you'd say I've worked for the State Patrol before. I got to meet several of those dressed in blue. I immediately liked some of them a lot, including the female lieutenant whose name I can't remember. The shift went by very quickly, and I am only slightly frightened to think that I will work "on my own" for four days starting the 19th. *shudder* It's okay. I can do this. Deep breath.

SO in other news:
I got a text message AND call from Justin 2.0. Yes I did. And although it was because he broke himself falling while snowboarding, I was still happy to get both the text and call. I'll be in Wenatchee Thursday and Friday and perhaps I'll see the boy. And maybe he won't be quite as drugged. That was amusing, however...

We spent last weekend painting inside the Wenatchee house. It's going to look really nice. I wish I'd done this work a few years ago, in fact!!!! I'm going to do more of the same Thurs/Fri. I'll be in Wenatchee for the Communications Christmas party on Thursday and the debut showing of Greg's movie (OK, Charley's movie which stars Greg) on Friday night. Too bad I'm going to the party alone. *sigh*


Now I'm hungry again.

We finally got a successful fire going here. Some nice boys showed up today and chopped firewood. Then David showed me that if you blow on the fire it helps dry the logs so they burn better. I did, and it did, and they did.

I need to water the dead tree.

I sent Daniel on a mission tonight, with a $100 bill in hand. Ha ha ha ha it's CHRISTMAS and we'll see if he manages to do this errand for me. Poor guy. It's because of where he works, but that's all I'll say for now. I told him there was an errand-runner's fee in there for him. He laughs at me.

David IS in fact a Citizen of the United States of America. This was called into doubt, as some of you may recall, a few years ago when we took a trip to Canada. No paperwork supported his citizenship. He just found out that just such proof exists, so now we can get passports. (when the documents arrive) We will be taking a trip overseas somewhere to celebrate our new life. This should happen in the next month or so. YEAH BABY. My grandma warned me not to marry a "foreigner".

OK I am so tired, hungry, and need to water the dead tree and put the dog away.

Love,
Mom Shap of the Bothell dwelling

Peaceful times

It's odd, at this time of trying to "finish" moving in (I went through amazing pain today to place 4 pictures E-X-A-C-T-L-Y where I wanted them) that I feel so at peace. It may speak of my small mind that I gain so much satisfaction polishing my new kitchen counters and cleaning my new toilets. I bonded with the wood floors this week, and I love them and they love me. There are still too many boxes in the garage for me to put the Scion in there, but much of the stuff is either garage, long-term storage, or wall stuff. So really, it's not so bad. Our home is warm, welcoming, and as I said at the start, PEACEFUL.

Laura's kitty, the multi-personality StrongBad, had a bit of a run-in with some sort of local wildlife. I wonder how the "other guy" faired. She bled admirably as she ate an entire can of cat food, and by morning she'd cleaned herself up quite well. That was when I bonded with my floors by mopping them. She's walking around normally, now, and I think she's just fine. We let her out less now, and not at ALL after dark.

Thanksgiving was beyond wonderful. It was everything I'd hoped, almost, and in some ways more... which seems like a contradiction but I'm a woman and I'm allowed. I got the luxury of having my sister, Carol, here for a full week. That is a first since I moved away from California in 1990 - but really I haven't had her with me for that long since moving from Fresno in 1980. Wow. My eldest son, Justin, brought his wife and kids up to visit and we got 3 days with them. My daughter-in-law may be the most helpful kitchen partner in the world. I am serious. Dinner was great. But Greg was SO glaringly obviously missing. So was Sarah May. The other Justin; I have to assume he was missing of his own choice... the other two would have been here in a heartbeat if they could have.

BUT on to good things that don't cut me when I pick them up... ;-)

I miss some of my Wenatchee peeps. I do not miss our Wenatchee-style life greatly. Know what's weird? The Bothell Posse has been too busy to visit Mom Shap. Seriously. Yeah, I know. I'm amazed, and sad, and amazed.

I am in love with a store. IKEA and me. Yep. *sigh* Speaking of that, and I'd LOVE to bore you with more stories; I HAVE to get my clothes into my new IKEA dresser. Yeeee haw more empty boxes. My other passion is online shopping, and I ordered 6 Native American prints for the family room. They're all petrogliphs. I can't spell that. Petrogly.... rock paintings.

I'm gonna go unpack for a while, sleep quickly and try not to cough, and head for Wenatchee tomorrow to (ICK) clean and paint.

GOOD stuff is happening for the Shaps. Good stuff. God is so good.

I think maybe I'll tell ya'll some great stories in about 3 months.

And Bothell boys - try coming by sometime. Like Monday or after, since we'll be in Wenatchee for the weekend.

Mom Shap misses ya.

Love,
Mom Shap