Hubby Feeling Icky

The husband is ill.

Yesterday, he didn't get a very good night's sleep and woke up being sore. That's nothing new for him, so he thought nothing of it. We went to a friend's house and he started to get a headache, but he said nothing about it till we got home.

He walked in the door and immediately started shivering uncontrollably. He ended up laying on the couch for nearly 3 hours after that. And he had a fever.

He called in sick today. He is now coughing quite a bit. The Dr's office wasn't much help. He's to stay home from work until his fever has been gone 24 hours. They have been prescribing Tamiflu, but apparently there is none in town right now! Many people have H1N1 right now, so I'm sure that has depleted the supply.

C's feeling pretty good right now. I hope this does not get worse. And I don't want to get it either!

Apartment Changes

Here's the latest in our kitchen. All my original work now. I will continually be adding to it as I take more...unique shots, but I like the ..symmetry.. of it as it is right now.
We got this bookcase from my in laws last month or so. I have, of course, taken it over. It's barely more filled up since then. It's a great feeling to have a not full bookcase!
Bought an empty wreath last week. Filled in the empty spots with little fake things that were on sale. It's not done yet, as I'd like to get some more doodads, but I couldn't resist putting it out on our door! It's not like that many people see our door anyway!
This guy is a plastic bag holder. I got him from my work this summer and finally put him up today!
We got this painting from a local artist as a wedding gift. I have badgered C about putting it up for the past year and a half and I finally just did it myself!

I adore the colors in it so much!

Random painting I did my senior year of high school as an art project. No, we don't have a dog, but I needed something there! I'm not quite the painter as Sabrina is, but it was still fun. I finally attached a hook to it tonight and hung it on our bedroom wall.
Our lovely Kitchenaid mixer! Haven't used it yet, actually! I know, I know, what am I thinking?

Gradually, the walls are getting less and less bare here!

Winter

Winter is truly on its way. I've been trying to avoid it, but it's coming.

Woke up this morning to 23 degrees.

I started to notice a change towards the end of September. The streets were much less congested in town. So was the grocery store. The tourists were on their way back to their homes, finally!

Now our daylight is rapidly decreasing. Sunset was at 6pm last night. It's dark in the mornings when C goes to work. The leaves are completely gone from the trees.

Last year, we had such a terrible summer weatherwise, that winter just seemed like torture. It really felt like winter never left last year. However, this year has been glorious. An early summer from melting snow due to Redoubt's ash. A beautiful summer with lots of blue skies and warmth. A long October with much sunshine. I think I have myself tricked into thinking that the winter may not be so bad.

And maybe it won't be. Maybe we will have a mild winter. Less bitter cold, lots of sunshine (though that usually means it is cold). My ideal winter would mean less snow...

I can dream! The current forecast says Monday is the day for snow. We shall see!

Creative Digital Camera

Way back in April I signed up for a 1 credit art class on learning digital photography. I have been debating whether I should take it or not, since I have been teaching myself how to do this and the class looked fairly basic. At the least, I figured I could get networked with the instructor, who is apparently quite a big name, Taz Tally.

Went to class today, and didn't know anyone there. Class was just about to get started when in walks my favorite professor! He sat next to me and kept making comments the whole time. It was really strange taking a class with him. (He's a 60 year old genius)

The class looks promising. I am learning a bit, but nothing major, of course. Just little things - a really cool tripod, some Photoshop shortcuts, etc. Some of it is so basic though. One lady doesn't know anything about taking photos or computers in general. The basic requirement for the class is to have a camera that can shoot in the "creative modes." One lady's simple point and shoot didn't have any of those settings.

The whole class is on a mission now to get flashdrives and card readers! But there are a couple of people in there who have quite a bit of experience. I'd like to get to know them a bit.

And, of course, I am by far the youngest student in the class.

It has promise. Next week we might end up at the beach to shoot!

Niece #4

My brother in law has two little girls. His ex wife has custody of them, but my sister in law brings them to church regularly. This morning, in the middle of worship, I head my name in a very high pitched squeal. At the same moment, arms wrapped around my leg.

It was the younger girl, who's 4 1/2 with her bright blue eyes and soft blonde hair. She beamed up at me and then started excitedly chattering away. She ended up sitting on my lap for a while, as I sort of cuddled with her.

I'm not very affectionate with little kids, but this niece of mine has me wrapped around her finger! It's almost enough to make me want a kid of my own...but not quite!

Work Happenings

Stuff that happened at work throughout this summer..

• A group of 5 or so teenage girls came in. They were all very made up, fashionable, etc. The last one who came in had the strangest look to her. She had really long hair, past her shoulders, but one half of her head was completely shaved. It was obviously a statement...
• Someone is looking at candy in the case and I ask: "Can I get you some candy?" "Oh, to try?" "Well...sure.." I was thinking for you to buy...
• Regular customer comes in, "What's that new smell?!" "Um..." My sense of smell is nonexistant at work..
• A customer wearing a tshirt that shows a family of bears eating tourists. The caption reads: "The family that preys together, stays together."
• In July, "These aren't this year's berries?!" Berries don't start coming in until August and it takes about a month (Septemberish) for the berries to get made into jelly/jam. Poor tourists have to wait until next summer to get this year's berries.
• "Do you have chocolate covered mushrooms?"
• As a customer walks in, he eyes the chocolate and announces, "Hello, sellers of evil!"
• Getting asked by children, "Do you know where the bathroom is?" gets old. Of course I know where it is, I work here.
• We sell jewelry with mother of pearl in it. It has a commercial, novelty name in Alaska. I got asked one day, "Does glacier pearl come from glaciers?"
• "Which is better - a lemon truffle or a key lime?" I can't stand either, so you'll probably like both!
• A porcupine was living in our yard. Many customers throughout the summer were ecstatic about it, exclaiming over it and slamming the door, cameras in hand.
• Playing with a ring sizer, "Do people really have this small fingers?"
• A 3 year old boy looking at our rocky road candy "That has rocks in it?!"
  

Those were some recent stories...

2009 Goals Continued

I stumbled across my post I wrote on January 1st of 2009 goals. Let's see how I'm doing since the year is almost done!

Money
Retirement: Haven't done much here. C did get enrolled for his company 401(k) in January after he turned 21. I upped the contributions to get the full benefit of the employer match. We'll have a little to retire on! :P

Savings: Savings are going good. We did go on a vacation like I was hoping. I'd love to go on another, of course, but I don't see it happening yet (scheduling, C being reluctant) Otherwise, our savings are coming along nicely.

Career and School
Career: As I said in yesterday's post, I am changing my emphasis. I will still probably look for an accounting job once I am done, though.

School: Going well. I still think I have 4 more semesters!

Life

• We did go on a trip!
• Didn't really take many more fun trips, went across the Bay once. That was the extent of it. I'd love to do more of that in 2010 for sure.
• Friends? Haha. That one didn't really work. I probably hung out with friends about the same amount of time as in 2008. Kind of a bummer, but it wasn't completely my fault!
• I have been working less, like I wanted. I'm only doing about 6 days a month. But now I have a "business" so I am "working" for that I suppose.]
• Enjoying the winter? I think that might be sort of possible! I have a vehicle that will start! And I am excited to be taking photos of all the winter-y goodness I can find! Though it will still be much too long!
  

I'll probably do another list at the start of the list. I figured that this post could be for how much I have/have not accomplished for this year!