Okay-I was wrong about the nectarines...apparently they are plums. Not quite as exciting. Anyone know any good plum recipes?

Bountiful Baskets

Today was my first time trying this new way to buy fruits and vegetables. Some friends told me about this website where you can buy it in bulk and save some money. I paid $17 and this is what I got. It is a surprise when you get there...kind of like Christmas :-)
Celery, green peppers, nectarines, strawberries, pears, mangos, tomatoes, grapes, broccoli. Deal? I think so --plus it was fun, and there was hardly any decisions to be made on my part.

Fun with the girls

I finally got to go see Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants--and I had so much fun! It did however make me miss my friends that are far away--mostly all of my Boston friends and Nicole in LA. I can't believe I still have not made it back for a visit. Some of the fun and excitement of moving to the middle of nowhere is wearing off...but one reason I remain excited is for the good job--because hopefully it means we will soon be able to afford a trip back east, and of course to Greece (I can't just sit here and watch a movie that takes place in such a beautiful place and not imagine myself there). Sam's new job will cover some expenses for travel to dental classes so I was checking out when the next big Dental convention is in Boston...only to see that it is mid-january, unfortunately we have vowed never to return to MA in january so I don't think that will work, but if you hear of any other conventions there, or somewhere else fun-let us know :-)

I am starting to get the itch for a dog, but I think it is just for a puppy. I have never been much of a pet lover--I don't hate them or anything--I just have seen them more as another hassle, that requires extra chores. Anyway--my biggest concern is if I will be a long term pet lover--or if the fun will wear off when it grows up. So --I was thinking maybe I should stick with a dog that won't "grow up". Maybe I can have a dog that stays a puppy forever. Aren't these little dogs to die for!

I took Rachel to the mall pet store today so I could let her hold one. We saw a yorkshire terrier, a silky terrier, and a yorkie poo. Can't you see her just carrying these little cuties around, pushing them in a stroller, putting bows in their hair, and dressing them up :-)

There are a few problems with my plan. Sam is also thinking about getting a dog...except his first choices are a chocolate lab or a german shepard (slightly bigger huh). I think he will need A LOT more convincing. I just showed him these cute pictures--and he still said they look like rats. (BY the way--they sooooo no NOT look like rats...do they? :-) Plus-buying a good dog is expensive. I think the only thing I have going for me is that when we bought our house it already had a tiny doggy door--that wouldn't fit anything bigger than a small cat--ot an adorable Yorkie :-) Anyway--a fun day...maybe someday.

It's Hot.

I think all this heat is starting to get to me. Think late February in Boston--the weather is miserable, you feel trapped in your house, ...and you have a couple months to go before anything gets better. All I have to say is that I am so glad So you think you can dance is about to start! :-)

From Chapterist...to Novelist

I just got back from a writing class titled "21 days to a Novel". I am trying to get closer to my dream of writing a novel. I see moving to the middle of nowhere as an opportunity to become an author, and I saw this as one of my final opportunities to take advantage of the resources in the big city so that when we move I will be all ready to sit at my computer and type away.

The class laid out 21 exercies that you can work on that will help you develop your characters, create your fictional world, write dialogue, write an outline, and then get writing your novel.

One thing I learned is that "you are not a novelist until you have finished a novel." and "Only a novelist can fix a novel, a chapterist cannot fix a novel." A chapterist is the person who keeps rewriting the first chapter until it is perfect--and all they have to show is a chapter. It is a waste of time, because when you finish the novel, you will have to rewrite the begining anyway.

Some people are amazed at the lofty goal of writing a novel. I myself, am not afraid of the length--that I will be able to write down 80,000 to 100,000 words. I find myself a long winded type of person. When I try to tell my siblings stories they are amazed by how I drag out what could have been a very consise story into one that takes FOREVER to tell :-) I think this long windedness will come in handy as I am nearing word 100,000.

I was thinking on the way home, as I was listening to the radio, how I think songwriters are the exact opposite of a novelist. I am amazed at how they are able to paint such a detailed picture of a person's life in just a few minutes. Two of the songs I am thinking of are Phil Vasser's "Mr Mom." and Carrie Underwood's "American girl". I would take HOURS at least to tell a story about how motherhood is not what I expected, or about the love story between two high school sweethearts.

**sorry no pictures--I have been banned (by Sam) from uploading pictures while he is playing HALO .

FINALLY!!!

YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
After many attempts my kitchen and family room are now completely painted! (also note, I painted on thursday and today all painting supplies are bloxed up and in the garage and my house is spotless--that is HUGE for me!). FYI-the guy in the paint store who tried to tell me that painting your walls blue/gray is REALLLY hard...was not lying. Thankfully - a new friend had painted her walls this color-and it looked great so I was able to just copy it. It really was a miracle because at that point I had already looked at tons of color swatches, bought 4 different 8 oz cans of paint from Lowes, and even one gallon of paint--and I was no closer to my dream wall color. Thanks again Hilary! (PS--Sam thanks you too!) Thanks to my mom and Heidi for helping me paint! I wouldn't have been able to get it all done in one day without you...and I think you know what that means...it never would have gotten finished. Here it is in all of it's glory~

Just for fun I will post some of the other attempts...funny how you might say that it looks pretty similar...but trust me this color is Soooooooooo much better! It is hard to explain-but it is muted, and neutral and of course beautiful! :-) The other colors were just too blue, among other things. With those colors I felt like I was going to have to decorate with blue because my walls were blue. This one is more neutral so I think I will be able to do a lot of things with it.

Also, if you think it is wierd that I spent so much time painting these walls when I am going to be moving soon -jump on the bandwagon. Let me just say that this is still my house and I will be coming back. Secondly, I am so happy that I was able to finish this project that I have spent so much time on, and it isn't like I will be moving tomorrow or anything-jesh! After all, I will get to enjoy it for at about a good month-that would be worth it to you too ...right?