Check out the size of this Blue Angel hosta on the Beaverdale Garden Walk. 

Todd made friends with the goats at the zoo! 

Bad Ending to a Good Day

Todd and I are proud of ourselves. Instead of spending the day vegging on the couch, we went out for lunch and to the zoo. I was a little worried because we didn't get there until 3 pm, but Blank is small, so we had done the whole thing by 4:45 pm. It was a nice day and there were very few people there. Todd and I couldn't believe we were actually at a zoo and it was less than 100 degrees for once! We didn't even have to spend $30 on drinks. It was nice.

We splurged some more and ordered pizza when we got home. It was very tasty, but by 11 pm I was hurling I am so glad I never had morning sickness because I hate to throw up (sorry Roni!). Todd was a trooper and did cleanup duty while I went to bed. I stayed home from work today and am feeling much better :) Off to the diabetes dr. at 3 pm.

Will post zoo pics tomorrow.

All lined up and ready to ride! 

When we got to Fraser, the engine disconnected, then moved to the other end of the train to take us back. 

Chug-a Chug-a Choo Choo!

It has been a good weekend, but now we are bored. Friday night we cleaned since my parents were coming for the weekend. I didn't super scrub the bathroom like usual but it was good enough to pass. Saturday morning Todd and I went to a garage sale in Clive and hit the jackpot. We got a whole bag of clothes and sleepers (some with tags still on) for $10. Then Mom and Dad came. I made tuna and noodles for lunch, then we headed out for a road trip. We went to Summerset State Park by Indianola and Summerset Winery to check things out, then stopped at DQ. On the way home, we thought we'd show my parents where Jen and Steve lived. They were home, so we did a Seinfield pop-in to say hi. Saturday night, Mom, Dad, and I went to Hu Hot for supper (Todd's neck/back was acting up, so he stayed) home. It was fun making our own stir-frys and watching them cook it. Dad doesn't even eat Chinese, so I was impressed he was willing to go.

Yesterday morning I made eggs for everyone, then ham salad for lunch and we headed to Boone to ride the Scenic Valley Railroad. It was pretty neat. It would have been cool if Todd would have worn his bibs like the engineer. The train goes to Fraser (very very slowly) then turns around a comes back (much faster). You face one way going, then you can flip the back of yoru seat over, and face the other way on the way back. I switched sides of the car too, because the smoke from the engine was blowing on me (oh, the air pollution!) We went over a bridge that was 156 ft high an one that was only 25 feet above the Des Moines River. You definitely get your money's worth as it takes 2 hrs to do the trip! Then we checked out the gift shop (Jen beware - there was more Thomas stuff than I have ever seen before), and went to DQ (again). When we got home, I had coal dust on my face and clothes. I cooked dinner (pot roast - my least favorite meal) and then we all sat down to watch tv. Well, mom watched tv, and the other 3 of us napped. Mom and Dad treated us to McD's breakfast, then took off this morning since they are having H and familia over for supper. All in all, a good weekend, and not too spendy either since I actually put forth some effort and cooked (usually we eat out every meal when we have company). Now we are just trying to find something to do other than work in the basement!

Weird Dreams

Rachel's news about the estimated size of her baby must have rubbed off on me. Last night I had a weird dream. I had just given birth and was living in college dormitory with a guy from work. (That's weird enough). Then they got my baby mixed up with someone else's. When they finally brought her over, she was like The Big Enchilada. Did you see The Big Enchilada in the newspaper on Wednesday? She was 13 lbs, 2 oz, and had siblings called The Whopper (11 lbs) and Whopper Jr (10 lbs). Her mom wasn't even diabetic and he babies were that huge. Anyway, when I finally got my baby, it was gi-normus! The biggest baby ever. And I didn't have any diapers to fit, so I just held her over the sink and let her pee into that. Then I woke up. Was 20 mins late to work, and I still am pretty foggy, but at least my nightmare is over!

PS. No, I did not have pizza or bologna before bed.

Emma, Angie, Anna, and Ben 

Angie and me with Emma (L) and Anna (R) 

Heading to Grinnell

I'm excited. This afternoon I am heading to Grinnell to meet up with Angie Henderson, her twins, and the new baby. I haven't seen the baby yet and I don't think I have seen the twins for almost 2 years. We are going out to eat (should be an adventure) and then to the park. Her mom is also coming to lunch to help with crowd control. Will hopefully have pics tomorrow.

Also, I just got the wheels on Old Blue reallinged, so I am excited to take her out on the open road. She has been cooped up in Des Moines for too long. Mr. Stein offered the Vitara with air conditioning, but I declined. It's time to haul butt up I-80 with all the windows down. I am being nice to Old Blue. Tuesday I mentioned getting a new car, and on Wednesday I found out the transmission needs flushed. I think she was insulted that I was thinking of getting rid of her. So, I have apologized and she is purring like a kitten again. Still only at 90,000 miles. Not bad for 11 years old! Especially when I have only put on 33,000 in the past 7 years.

I Survived The Art Fair

Well, I survived the art fair. It was hot, but it helped that we were in a tent. We were also next to Embassy Suites where they had a hospitality room with free drinks and popsicles, so that helped too. I spent three hours asking little kids if they would like to draw something that is outside (flowers, bugs, etc), coloring flowers, or folding those paper dream catcher things. I'm not sure they are called dream catchers, but they are those paper things we all made in elementary school that you move with your thumb and index finger. When we did it in elementary school you had to pick a color, then a number, and then when you opened it, it said what name your husband will be. Well let me tell you, these kids yesterday were not thrilled to find out that on theirs you had to pick a vegetable, then a number, and then when you opened it up, it gave you a gardening tip. Real fun for a 4-yr old. At least they had fun folding it. I did have one mom that home-schooled think it was the coolest thing ever, but she also told me that Friday night she had her kids do a scavenger hunt about nutrients. Fun.

The cool part was that Todd actually went too. We went down early to walk around and eat. Then he stayed another 2 hours to listen to some bands. After we got done in the garden tent, Diane and I got to walk around some more. It was a good day, but I was in bed by 10 pm. In fact, I went to bed so early that Todd had to wake me up at 11:15 for my shot. He came to bed at 11:15 too. I think that is the first time in 18 months that he has gone to bed like a normal person. He is all messed up today. He was up at 8 am and actually ate lunch at lunch time. It's like the twilight zone for him.

Oh forgot to mention, Sunday morning I looked at my confirmation letter and it said I was supposed to work from 1 - 5 pm on Saturday. Whoops! I called Diane and hers said Saturday too, but neither of us had noticed (we asked to work on Sunday). So we headed downtown anyway, and it turned out fine. No one on the Art Fair Committee, at the ISU table, or in the booth had a clue who was supposed to be there and who wasn't, so we just pretended we were supposed to be there.

Nothin' doin'

Whew! It's 3:30 pm and this is what I have accomplished today: nothing!!! If feels good too.
I did go over to Dahl's to buy some ham and buns. Todd has a wedding today and won't have time to eat, so I made packed him 3 sandwiches, some Little Debbies, and some juice boxes to take with him. Usually I worry hysterically when he is doing a wedding, but Steve Hansen is helping him tonight, so I am almost worry free. I'm just a little concerned because he left an hour later than planned and he has to unload equipment in this heat. I am thrilled that I didn't have to go with him though. Thank you Mr. Stein #2 for getting me out of the dj biz.

I guess I did talk to my mom, read the paper, and watch a documentary on the Travel Channel about the Colorado River. That should count for something.

Last night I went and cropped in Indianola. I had to take Old Blue and stop at the dry cleaners, home, WalMart, and to get something to eat before I got there, so by the time I finally arrived I was hot and tired. I accomplished one page in 4.5 hours. Big whoop. I was frazzled all day yesterday at work though, so I feel lucky to have finished one page.

Tonight is my bonus nephew Fred's birthday party in Wloo. I thought about crashing the party and surprising everyone, but it is too darn hot and muggy to travel far in Old Blue (bless her heart) today. My 90 yr-old Grandap is even going. I think it is cool that H has b-day parties for everyone. This is her 5th and final one this year, then she has a break until January.

Bad Karma

I have been punished for trying to gross Todd out with my pee. I got home later than I wanted to yesterday, and he hadn't put it in a ziplock yet. So I threw the container in a ziplock and jumped in the car, and we were off.

Here's the bad karma part. I didn't get the bag zipped up. My pee spilled in my purse. Luckily I had enough left in the container for the test. Of course, being me, my purse was filled with all sorts of other junk, now pee-covered. I have learned not to taunt Mr. Stein anymore.

Tired Pregnant Lady

Last night I splurged and rented a "new" movie. I rented Hitch, and boy, the first 10 minutes was sure good. After that, I don't know. I fell asleep and ended up sleeping for 10 straight hours, with one small break to take my shot. This is very unusual for me! Usually I only manage 5 or 6 hours a night!

Off to the OB today at 4:30. I have my jar of pee cooling in the refrigerator. I put it right in the front where Todd can see it. It really freaks Mr. Germaphobe out!!!

No News To Report

I suppose you could say no news is good news. Nothing going on this week. Work, cook supper, water my flowers, watch a movie with Todd, sleep. We have been watching some real crap too. Last night we watched American Kickboxer 1. Not good, but it was free on cable. Todd has been working in the basement, tracking down records for the SBA, and nursing his back. Real excitement at the Stein House.

Round 1 went to my Sworn Enemies, and here is one of my Sworn Enemies. They may be small, but they are mighty! The oyster shells did nothing to stop them from chewing on the hostas But I shall never surrender!! Now I am fighting them with an entire box of Escar-Go. Die enemies, die. 

Slow but Scary Weekend Winds Down

It has been a slow weekend except for one scary spot. I was really sick late Friday night and Saturday morning (intestinal problems again). Anyway, my inability to keep anything in me led to a blood sugar of 32!!!! (one step away from a sugar coma) on Sat morning. It is supposed to be 90. It came right up when I chugged some juice and some chocolate cake, but I was very lucky that I woke up. Needless to say, I will be calling The Diabetes Center first thing tomorrow morning. If I had any left in my body, it would have scared the crap right out of me!

Saturday afternoon I felt good enough to do my stint at the MG Garden Tour. We had over 250 people come through the Ferrell garden during my shift, and 475 total throughout the day. It was pretty easy. Three of us took turns taking tickets (got to sit down then), counting people, and milling around answering questions. Most of the questions I got were plant identification questions, and they were almost all for plants I couldn't identify... oh well, the homeowner was there, so I just passed the people on to him. Aftwards I just rested and watched Iron Chef America, and then when Todd got home from Burke's party we watched Into the West on TNT and The Terminal. Not bad.

Today I have my spunk back. This morning I got my weeding and watering done by 11 am and then I made banana bread and beer bread. I forgot how nice it is to smell something baking in the oven! Now I will just have to not eat them. I also cleaned the kitchen and did some more sorting in the baby's room. My Goodwill pile grows larger every day and I filled up another waste basket. Other than that, I have been reading this month's Vanity Fair, and carefully monitoring my blood sugar. No more 32's for me!

You'll never believe this one.

Last month I turned my cell phone off and it wouldn't turn back on. Todd took my phone in today and they said that my particular model of Nokia phone has a software glitch in it. It can only be turned on and off 100 times, then the phone is dead forever. What the #$%^? So now I have a picture phone. Maybe I will use it more than the 8 minutes a month I used the other one. I guess I could use it to take pictures on the sly.....hmmm.

Losing Everything but My Mind

I have a terrible habit of losing things in my own home, and then I spend hours tearing the house apart looking for it. This is a bad side effect of 1) living in a cluttered house and 2) my constant effort to clean and declutter. I still end up with the same clutter, it's just moved to where I can't find it.

So far this month I have lost the baby name book (which we have had for 5 years "just in case" and kept in the same place the entire 5 years), Mom's coffee cake recipe (I'm on my third copy), my Home Depot flower book (I just saw it the other day), and the big mystery - my loaf pans. I bought bananas last week and have been letting them turn black so they are perfect for banana bread, and BAM! my 3 loaf pans have disappeared. Also, I never made Jen's beer bread like I posted last week, because I couldn't find them then either. Luckily, I was able to borrow some pans from Diane.

One good thing did happen though, I found my deviled egg tray that has been missing since last fall when I was looking for the loaf pans!

Eating with the Yuppie-Schmuppies

Tuesday night we went to Boston's to eat for Todd's birthday. It is one of the few places in town that he actually likes to eat. He always gets their chicken and rib combo. Well, we got there and lo and behold, they have changed the menu, so they don't have chicken and ribs anymore. Disaster! We had an appetizer, then split and went to Perkins. But not just any Perkins. We went to the Perkins on Jordan Creek Parkway. Compared to the Perkins on Merle Hay Rd, this was the Ritz. We should eat over with the yuppie-schmuppies in West Des Moines more often. The server wasn't skanky, the food was actually hot, and we were in and out in 25 minutes. Only Mr. Stein would be happy eating an Everything Omelet with no mushrooms, onion, or celery (I'm serious - but how can it still be an Everything Omelet?) for his birthday supper. Then we came home and watched Hildago. We are working our way through the cheapo section at the video store. Last night we watched Cold Mountain.