First Post from Budapest

Our Room: When we first arrived, the TWIN beds were right next to each other. This is the first trip Carrie and I have taken together where we shared a room. I knew that was TOO close! So I moved the beds to be as far apart as possible.

First dinner in Hungary. We ate at the Ballet Slipper. Carrie and I had been awake for over 24 hours and spent most of the time squeezed into coach airplane seats or waiting in the New York Airport. The expected 5.5 hours was great, Brian met us as the airport and we had a nice visit. However, then our flight was delayed for 3+ additional hours! Needless to say, we did not look our best at dinner -- no wonder they put us up in the loft in the corner! I had my first Goulash! It was the best of the dishes the three of us had. There was also live music playing downstairs. Here is a brief snippett of the music. Of course, they sang a slower song as we were leaving. During dinner, it was mostly jazz music.

After midnight here, doing great. this was our first day. We had our first experience at the breakfast buffet -- big tip -- don't come a 9 am!

We had a great lunch at Menza (I had the goat cheese salad!) Diet Coke is Coca Cola Light.

We then walked through Liszt Ference Square and along Andrassy Street.

We stopped at the Muvesz Coffeehouse. We then had dessert (Zacher) Chocolate and marmolade torte or layered cake. I tried a liquor they have here something like Unicum Next. It is a... cherry flavored liquor it was listed under the digestive section -- my tummy did feel better :)

Oh yeah and we saw some famous sights and bought tickets for the Opera

Bye Bye Baby

I haven't written since April because in May, my sweet Baby passed away. I felt like my next entry should be about her but I could not bring myself to write.

I guess it was the death of one of my co-workers real son, that made feel like it was time. While Baby was not human, she was my baby. She lived to be almost 21. For a majority of those years, it was just the two of us.

When I got Baby, I also got her brother, Buddy. Of course, those were not their first names. I got the brother and sister from my friend, Ann. Baby had been named Vincent because her face looked a lot like the "Beast" in the TV show Beauty and the Beast. (obviously, attorneys -- my friend and her husband -- do not know much about anatomy since Baby was a girl). Since Baby was named Vincent, I named Buddy, Catherine after the "human" in the show. Needless to say we had the sexes reversed. Thus, the renaming of Baby and Buddy.

Buddy died when he was about 3. When I had left for work, I could not find Buddy. When I came home, I was even more worried. My neighbor found him in her yard. Not sure if it was rat poisoning or a car that got him. I was supposed to go to a fundraiser for Norm Rice but was too sad. Baby and I sat on the couch and mourned Buddy.

I used to sleep with my door closed with the cats on the other side of the door. Although I am not sure that was always a good idea, with two cats, they would chase each other all over the house (over my head). One morning I got up and the planter that had been on the stair bannister was in the middle of the stairs where they had knocked it over.

That night, Baby cried at my bedroom door until I opened the door. That was just about the last time I ever closed any doors in my house. The final time I closed my door was when I left for the weekend, not knowing Baby was under my bed...

Yep, I got home to a very hungry, angry cat and of course, some mess to clean up -- all my fault!

She would wake me up in the morning, keep me company each morning and stop me from playing Zuma until late in the night. She was usually pretty good about letting me work at the computer until she would hear those marbles hitting each other (no matter how low I had the volume!) she would start meowing. Those of you who heard her meow, you know it is NOT to be ignored.

I still miss her and think of her each day. I still sometimes try to get up real quiet so I can do some cleaning on the first floor before she hears me and starts calling for me to come upstairs and feed her and hold her. My blood pressure is up a bit, I wonder if it is because I do know have my sweet Baby to cuddle with each day.

The decision to finally put her to sleep was the hardest decision I have had to make in a very long time. I am very grateful to my sister, Judy, she drove me to the vet so I could hold Baby in my arms. I just could not put her in her travel box. She hated it and it felt too much like putting her in a coffin.

I hope you get to eat all the tuna you want and play with lots of toys.

I love and miss you, Baby.

Post for April

I can't believe I have not posted anything this month! I have actually started several times but was interrupted (sometimes by me!)

For our Guild Meeting (Crochet Guild Seattle) this month, I decided I really wanted to have finished a project to take with me. I had created the base of this purse and even done the lace flap during the class that Jean taught us. All I had to do was finish sewing one side and make the strap (the great create a cluster as you go style so you do not have to guess how long it should be!) I finished it and was able to fit my small wallet, car key (not whole key chain) and one tube of lipstick!

This month I also made my Mariner Scarf. I bought the yarn at Stitch and Pitch last year (August 27th this year) from Hilltop Yarn East. The yarn is sock yarn but nobody ever sees my socks so I figured a scarf I can wear on those cold April, May and hopefully, October nights! I went through my 365 Days of Crochet Patterns Perpectual calendar in search of a patterns. My first rule -- lacy, second easy pattern I could do on the plane to and from WLA conference in Spokane and during the conference sessions. I came up with MANY that fit this criteria so then I added "baseball terms" to the criteria so this pattern is Diamonds, March 21 (also my sister's birthday!)

Neat link

I was looking for Office 2007 information on the Pierce County Public Library website and under their Lifelong learning section I found a neat Knit and Crochet link:
http://www.learntoknit.com/home.html

Baby Set

I created this set for Crystal at work. It was fun to make it. This is the first time I ever attempted the sacque (sweater). The hat was from a different group. The hat that was with this set was too girlie for a baby boy. The set also had ribbon around the blanket and sweater. As you can see I choose NOT to do that either! She seemed pleased when she opened it and that is all you can really ask for with a gift.

Another Smilebox

Make a Smilebox greeting

Totally Excited about Inauguration Day!

I watched the Inauguration Concert yesterday, I watched Oprah from Washington D.C. this afternoon, she actually had Will.i.am and others to write a new song! It was pretty good! This is a link to YouTube...



I am so glad I took tomorrow off so I can watch all of it -- without feeling guilty about not doing any work!

I don't know if I have ever felt so hopeful as a president was taking office. It was thrilling to go downtown to see Bill Clinton in 1991 when he was first running. It was pretty amazing at how many people filled Westlake Center.

I can understand why so many people are going to Washington D.C. to be a part of this inauguration.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

A New Year -- do I set resolutions NO!

But I do have some goals. I would like to learn how to crochet: socks (I have some great sock yarn), gloves (at least fingerless!) and mobious scarf.

How about you?

It always feels like I time to set goals. However, September still feels more like a time to start something new. I am sure it is from all the years of starting school in September!

Stay tuned!

Happy New Year!

December Snow

Same view, 2 different days. It looks much prettier when it is not snowing at the time of the picture. The second picture reminds me of pictures from my childhood where the colors are starting to fade.

I have felt very lucky that I can work from home today. Probably tomorrow too, since the temperature is not planned to go above freezing so the snow will turn to ice. If I worked closer to home --

like I used to! -- I would be more willing to driving in but it seems silly to risk my life to drive 23 miles with those idiots who don't think they need to slow down when it is icy out.

Caitlin Likes her Afghan

Finally got to give Caitlin her afghan. She seemed to really like it. Of course, she is spending the winter -- their summer in Australia so it is folded up on the end of her bed here in Seattle. If she was home today, I suspect she would be using it! It is cold out and has been cold for several days now.

Does it look familiar? Yep, it is the background for my Blog heading!