A couple of weekends ago I flew down to Santa Rosa, CA for the graduation festivities honoring my bro.  Here are a couple of pictures:  (The real point of this entry is to see if I can put photos in my blog.)

Oh yeah - he graduated in style!

Speaking of stylish:

The whole family was there and lookin' good!

So, that was cool.

Just call me MH Bahizzle.  I took my first ever! hip hop dance class last night and was very, very uncoordinated.  But, I had a blast, so I'm going to keep going!  Pretty soon I'll be appearing in music videos and on tour with the Black Eyed Peas.  Right...

This weekend I went to Victoria with Mom & Linda.  We visited Butchart Gardens, which are beautiful!  My favorite part was the Japanese garden.  Linda loves the sunken garden and mom liked the dahlias.  We also went to REBAR!!!  I got Enchiladas con Calabacitas, which is one of the recipes I haven't made yet.  It was delicious, especially the "mesa" sauce.  I can't wait to make it.  I have ingredients for Lotus Land Linguine and wildrice/corn cakes that I can't remember the name for. If I have time between all the dance classes I'm doing, I'll make them this week.

Besides hip hop, I'm taking musical theatre and jazz dance as well.  Tonight is musical theatre, which is at once terrifying and exhilerating.  I think if I can just get over myself it'll be really fun.  Also tonight, I'm a TA for beginning swing.  That should be fun.

In crafty news, I'm cross-stitching a Christmas stocking for myself.  It's slow going so far, because I put on a movie and only get stitches done about once a scene.  But, I've got a month or two.  I'm also sewing quilt blocks for a co-worker who's getting married.  They're the guest book.  For that project I've only got a week and a half, so I suppose I'll do those first. 

Mary's coming to visit in a week and a half!  I'm so excitipated!  Can't wait to see her.

Currently Watching Love Actually (Widescreen Edition) By Chiwetel Ejiofor, Colin Firth, Gregor Fisher, Martin Freeman (II), Jill Freud see related

This weekend I worked my tailend off during the fundraiser for my upcoming mission trip.  We only had a few people come, but they were fairly generous, so it'll take a bit of the sting away from paying the rest that I owe.  But, since I'm putting it on my credit card, there's still time for YOU to help!  :) 

I'm still reading the Harry Potter books, and really enjoying them!  It's interesting how the books have been "condemned" by the church I attend, but I find that they strengthen my belief that being a Christian is the way to go.  There seem to be parallels between the conflict in the books and the spiritual one going on right now.  It really started becoming apparent when Cornelius Fudge refused to believe Voldemort was back.  I think Christians sometimes don't want to believe that things are really as bad as they are...  It's easier to fight something you can see and easily define ("Dumbledore is trying to take my job.") vs. something that is sort of nebulous ("Someone may or may not be trying to take over the world.")

I've made only a little progress on the Rebar cookbook recently.  I made Lime Sugar Cookies on Saturday and Nate (who hates lime) ate two or three, so that was a success.  A couple of weeks ago I made Southwest Minestrone soup, which was pretty good.

Currently Listening Absolution By Muse see related

Fall is fast approaching and in PT, it's practically here.  I guess if summer has to end, it's a good thing that fall comes next, and not winter or spring.

Labor Day weekend brought family from miles around to my home.  We played the Dilbert board game, ate delicious food, shopped the sidewalk sales, watched Scrubs, had fun conversation, worked on jigsaw puzzles and visited the Jefferson County Historical Museum.  I got a beautiful cloisonne necklace and a Babar piggy bank, as well as a scarf. 

The trip to Tri-Cities a few weeks ago for Miranda's wedding was so wonderful!  I got to hang out with so many of my oldest and dearest friends that it gave me strength to come back to PT, happy to be alive!  The wedding was really beautiful and Andria and I had so much fun hanging out and laughing until our faces hurt.  (Okay, my face hurt.  I don't know about hers.)

The weekend before last I went camping with a bunch of retired people.  If I'm ever tempted to sign up for that again, just shoot me.  It ended up being okay, but I can think of about a hundred ways I'd rather spend the weekend.  Camping would be one of them, just with some young people as well as the retirees.

This coming weekend I'll be fundraising for the CruisewithaMission.  If you'd like to help me out, drop me a line and I'll give you the info to make it tax-deductible!  Thanks in advance!

Currently Reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Book 5) By J.K. Rowling see related

First off, and most importantly, see Hairspray.  I went on the day it opened and enjoyed myself immensely.  Then, I bought the soundtrack and I’ve been humming the songs since then.  In fact, I hope to go again this weekend – I was even thinking of suggesting a “sing-along”. 

I got back Wednesday night from California!  I had a great time.  Michelle got married and her hair looked great (if I may say so myself).  The cool distinctive things about her wedding were a photo booth for the guest book, hot dogs for the meal, and a shave ice station.  Oh!  Also, ducks walked around during the ceremony making sweet little quacking sounds. 

Phillip and I visited a castle, ate some In-n-Out, went to a party, and got some exercise while I was visiting.  I had a great time!  While Phillip went to work, I visited my old stomping grounds at the CIA and attended a cooking demonstration (after buying myself a new Le Creuset pot) where I learned all about crème anglaise.  Then, a pilgrimage to Soo Yuan in Calistoga was made.  Phillip and I met Jen & Mike & kids.  I had moo-shu vegetables and garlic bean curd.  It did sort of satisfy the craving I’d been having for months, but I could go again and again and still want more. 

I went home with Jennifer and Mike for some fun with their family, and fun I did have!  They have (as Mike reminds me that I predicted) totally cute kids.  The newest addition, Ethan will go from being upset to smiling just about instantly when you laugh with him.  Emily is pretty fabulous at Candy Land – and jump rope.

I got to see other people on the trip and I truly did have a wonderful time.  I don’t think I want to live there anymore, but it’s a fabulous place to vacation!

Next up: A trip to Tri-Cities for more wedding fun.  This time it’s Miranda, and I get to wear a pretty pink dress and be a bridesmaid.  I’m hoping to also visit some family and hang out with some friends.  That’s mid next week – so until then I’ll be here in PT!

Currently Watching Cars (Full Screen Edition) By Mario Andretti, Jack Angel, Michael Patrick Bell, Susan Blu, Rodger Bumpass see related