Weekend wrap-up

Well, the bedroom trim is painted, the house is clean(er), and I got to hang out with my sister for a while…. got a massage, that’s always good, and found the diningroom under a mound of stuff. Nighthawk appears to be feeling better. Jessdog got in some serious sun-time, which makes her a happy puppy. And despite how horrible the art looks in both the Saturday (past) and Monday (upcoming) comics, I feel pretty good about them – they’re awful, but a darned sight better than I did a year and a half ago when this ship launched.

Work this week promises to be as hectic as last, but with things a little less crazy at home and closer to conquering the new schedule. See you on the forum.

There’s dirt under my nails.

640 lbs of topsoil, four dozen impatiens, two dozen marigolds, six carnations, two mountain pinks, two daliahs(?), and one rose bush later, the garden is done.

Once again, my sister came through, helping me haul all the dirt and plant all the plants in less than six hours. It’ll be weeks again before we have to do any major work out there.

Still, it looks a whole sight better than the weeds and dead leaves from the bulbs.

The Big Day

I took my first class at Penn State on April 29, 2002. I took my last class August 27, 2005. I received my diploma back in September or October of ’05. Last Sunday, I went to a brunch where I was honored with a certificate of academic achievement for getting a 4.0 GPA. And all of that pales in comparsion to how nervous I feel today, when I finally commence at a ceremony at 7:00 tonight.

Realistically? I don’t even have to go. I already have the diploma. I’ve already been honored for my achievements. It’s just pomp and circumstance. My sister talked me into doing it, because she likes pomp and circumstance.

But there is something to be said for real closure – the feeling that this is done, it can be put away now, and there are other things to do. And after today I can say without any doubt that I am a Master of Software Engineering, which has a pretty hefty ring to it.

That’s kind of cool.

Gather around for today’s life lesson.

Last Thanksgiving I got it into my head that I wanted a fresh turkey, so we bought Bob. But we also had a coupon for a free turkey from the supermarket, and free food is free food, so we also picked up Ralph, a beautiful 16 lb Butterball frozen turkey, and threw him in the freezer.

Ralph has been monopolizing the freezer ever since, so last weekend after playing post-food-shopping-Tetris, I declared that Ralph’s time had come, and we stuck him in the fridge to defrost.

Ralph is currently roasting in my oven. Mmmmmm. I’m having turkey sandwiches all week :)

Which means I have about an hour to clean the whole house, because my sister, and Mike and Steen and the baby, are all coming over to dispose of Ralph.

Which means I’m really regretting that while trying to move the cactus a few minutes ago I dropped it.

Today’s life lesson: never try to catch a falling cactus.

Up and down the rollercoaster

So much to tell you, so tired, this’ll be quick.

On the plus side:

There are comics in the queue, and more on the way, and lots of ideas firing off in the brain cabinet.

Also, everyone is healthy, the diabetes thing is progressing without major incidents, we’re all good.

Plus, I’ve been coding again (more on that in next post) which makes me happy. Tired, but happy. The project itself looked like it was going to be a lot rockier than it turned out to be, and success is iminient.

On the minus side:

I’m on Day 2 of a headache that may be sinus, may be migraine, but is definitely HURT. It’s much better than it was thanks to the care provided by my totally awesome husband, but still lots of hurt.

The coding and the headache have set me way behind on a knitting project for which I was way behind anyway.

I haven’t heard from my sister on what’s going on this weekend yet. (HINT HINT!!)

And, oddest of all, we found out today that Nighthawk’s primary specialist passed away suddenly on the 23rd. He was a good doctor, and a good man, and it’s going to be very strange to go to the office and see someone else after over five years of care.

So, as always, we’re riding the rollercoaster of human existance. But you knew that.