What 5 seemingly insignificant little things made you happy today?

1) Going to court without another partner from the firm in the stands
2) The cool breeze outside - so different from the past few days
3) Sleeping in past 6:45am
4) Spying on Steve as she watched the birds from our screened in porch
5) N picking up my shoes from the gym (I accidentally left them there) on his own whim, simply because he's that kind of man

We have a wonderful house guest this week, BC. We met through her boyfriend, who went to high school with J and N. But the crazy thing is that she went to writing camp with J, way before she was dating the bf. She and I do not know each other that well - we've met only a handful of times (two to be exact) but she is someone that I would like to get to know better, since I am always on the lookout for more peeps to hang with here in Cville. BC went to school here and has all sorts of crazy fun jobs. She makes organic soaps and such, which she sells on her own. She writes about food for the Cville, she has a killer ebay business selling great finds at yard sales and thrift stores. Seriously, I'm liking that kinda lifestyle a lot more than my current position.

We are getting ready to go up to MD to continue the moving extravaganza. I can't wait for this to be over. Still trying to hunt down boxes and need to collect newspaper to wrap some valuables in. But N's mom, J and Nat are coming over this weekend to help, which will be an incredible relief. The whole process is much more enjoyable when you have many warm bodies.

The garden is growing by leaps and bounds. Our zuchs are going nuts while our tomatos keep us on our toes. We can't wait for them to get here. We have a few babies, getting us excited and all.

I will hopefully post some pics of the garden soon. And for those who have read all the way here, I apologize for lack of exciting news. BC's arrival is the most excitement we've seen in these here parts of town.

This weekend N and I are helping MMG pack up her house. Seriously, not fun stuff at all, but I am looking forward to helping her getting rid of a lot of shit. She's been carting around this stuff for 8 years and now we are going on the 5th move. I don't know where I get this compulsion to get rid of things - but I have this great burning need to pair down, simplify, declutter. And it's not just throwing stuff away. I like to do it in a very systematic way. For example, I have a ton of stuff in my basement right now that I have been putting away for a yard sale. But, I also have some of these items posted on craigslist, some on freecycle, some separated to be brought to a consignment shop. Of course, this is like a whole other job so I do a little bit each week.

This weekend, we are separating mom's stuff into a five categories:

1) Items that she will keep for the new place
2) Items that are not valuable and can be sold at a yard sale to be held in two weekends
3) Items that are valuable to be sold to an auctioneer
4) Items that MMG doesn't want but N and I want to keep
5) Items to be donated to charity
6) Items that MMG does want but can't bring to her new place cause she doesn't have any room (my plan is to keep this pile as small as possible cause our basement is filled with our own crap)

So that's the deal. If you are reading this (all 2 of you) and you want to come help, please don't feel like you can't join in the fun. Cause you CAN!!

Now, for some pics from the wedding:

Brother and sister!!


Feeling good.

Loving the mohawk.

Our unofficial engagement photo.

J bitch slapping his future wife.

Seriously, my favorite at the moment

The wedding weekend was beautiful. Seriously, good times with family and friends. Of course, Nat looked gorgeous, and J was full of humor and wit. I will be sure to get pics up soon. The evening before the wedding, J and V had a big party at their house for all out of town guests, but seriously, about 70 percent of those invited to the wedding showed up. And that's when it hit me - this is exactly what I want for our wedding. I just am not in the position to spend thousands upon thousands of dollars for a wedding, especially since I do not come from a family who has the funds at its disposal. But please don't get me wrong - Nat and J's wedding was absolutely gorgeous. It truly was. Especially the ceremony. When the bride circled the groom with the music in the background, it was beautiful. And the Klezmer band freaking rocked. So I know that I want a traditional Jewish ceremony and I'd love some music. But I just want everything at a house or at a restaurant. This way, N and I won't start our marriage off in debt. I also plan on doing a lot myself - like invitations, and party favors, and I probably won't buy any flowers - maybe just a bouquet - and my dress will be quite simple. Nat has already offered me the use of her veil and maybe even her dress. People, her dress was gorgeous, just so beautiful. If only...

MMG and I had a falling out on Monday, but then we fell back in yesterday. Things to do with finances and mortgages and attention towards one another and such. Being the only child of a widowed parent is not easy, especially of a parent who is still grieving the death of her husband 8 years later. She accused me of not paying enough attention to her - that she felt like she didn't have a daughter. I do the best that I can, but I don't think my best is good enough for her. Do I sound like a candidate for therapy or what?

She is in process of moving to a smaller place, and so we will be going through the painful process of letting go - letting go of physical items that she acquired when my father was alive, letting go of clothing that she's had since before I was born...she's moved quite a number of times in the past eight years and every time, we do get rid of stuff. But this time, she will be getting rid of a lot, whether she likes it or not. Cause you know who has to move it all? Yup, you guessed it. ME!

And to finish off this picture-lacking post, Steve did the cutest thing today. On any other day, it wouldn't have been cute. But since N didn't have any plans, and I was up earlier than expected, it was okay just this one time, that she rolled around in the leaves on the outskirts of the backyard, and came trotting back to the door smelling of horse poop. Seriously, she smelled rank - but at least she looked cute rolling around outside. Then the outdoor bath began and relished it for a while, so long as no water touched her face. Now she looks like a big poofy polar bear. Sweet Shenandoah Steve!

So all that stuff I wrote a few days ago, about engagement and such? Well, it's moot now cause N proposed!! and I said YES (obviously). Very sweet, lots of tears, it couldn't get much better.

Getting ready to leave for a while for the wedding. Good times, I'm sure. We've been packing and getting the house ready for JC while she watches our home and dog and garden.

Last night we were attacked by one ass mother fucking huge bee/wasp/hornet/whatever flying insect in our kitchen. N went nuts and cleaned the entire kitchen with bleach and words such as "FUCK" and "SHIT." Seriously, every time he found a few drops of the Raid Spray, he yelled like the world was going to explode in one millisecond. Then when I addressed this instance of rage, he's like "What? What's the matter?" I think he was mostly upset that the Raid smelled like roses.

Anyhow, I'll be gone from Charlottesville for a few days. While I am excited for the weekend, seeing N's family and friends, I am also a homebody and love to stay home and do stuff around the house and spend time with projects just for me. I often feel I don't get the time to do that. I also have this thing about waking up in my own bed. I spent the last 3 years living out of a suitcase, since almost every weekend I was travelling. And though the whole point of moving down here was to cut the travelling out of my life, we travel almost as much, with seeing my MMG and N's parents.

Oh, and if MMG brings up anything resembling the word "Ring" I will seriously go ape-shit. And the great thing is that I told her that. Seriously people. If one more person asks me - and I know I'll be inundated with that question this weekend - I might burst into tears. Cause I really don't have control over it. And I am happy and that's all that matters. N and I love each other, we are going to get married, and having a piece of jewelry to signify it is not my purpose in life. I am tired of living with the mentality "My life will begin as soon as I pass the bar, as soon as I move to Charlottesville, as soon as I get married..." This is my life dammit and I am happy just as it is. It doesn't need to be rushed.

On another note, I am almost finished this project at work that I've been dreading for weeks. Once in a while, I get a project that I just loathe, mostly because I have no idea what the hell I'm doing. This involved someone's estate and the accounting for it, and I don't really know what I'm doing, especially since I didn't start at the beginning. I just came in and picked up where the other attorney left off, which is harder than starting in the beginning. Anyhow, as I leave for the wedding, it feels great knowing that this will be in someone else's hands. I am so glad it's done. I've been avoiding it as much as possible, but finally, I just sat down, worked my brain hard, and figured it out the best I could.

Okay, that little diatribe about work wasn't that interesting so I'm gonna stop now.

At the local recycling center, there is a trailer where people drop off books so others can pick them up. There are always old encyclopedias and books with old pics, so I grabbed these to use for my card making adventures.

Just some flowers we got to brighten up the place.

It's a sickness, I know, but I just can't get enough of her.

I've crossed a line and want to go back, but am afraid it's too late. I'm becoming one of those annoying pet owners who talks about her dog constantly..constantly people. It's a real addiction and I'm trying to stop but I'm afraid I can't. I truly believe she's the meaning of adorableness. Anyhow, photos of Steve are posted on my Flickr account...Here's a teaser.

In other news, J and Nat are getting married in less than 2 weeks, and though we won't be officially sisters until N and I get 'er done, we are that much closer. I have three half-sisters who are much older than me, and I grew up with three other kids (story for another time), but besides all the adopted and half and step siblings, I am an only child. And if I don't act like an only child, then I certainly acted like the baby of the family when growing up, cause let's face it, I was a baby. I am the youngest cousin, the youngest child, and was always the youngest student in class (don't get any ideas of being in the presence of a genius - I skipped a year of pre-school).

J and N are very close, so I feel lucky that me and Nat have gotten to know each other so well over the past two years. We talk about all sorts of things, especially how much Bolton men love to fart. Now that she and J are going to be in Philly, we'll get to see them that much more. Nat and I are already planning our first pregnancy - can you imagine, calling each other up and asking - You got him in place? You ready? Let's go! Seriously people, we are going to drive the Bolton men NUTS. Heck, we already do. When the house gets filled with people, or we just need some peace and quiet, we can always count on each other to crawl into bed and watch MTV or read Popsugar or paint toenails. Seriously, I love it - someone with whom I will grow old, experience marriage and motherhood, mid-life crises, it's gonna rock. Sounds like a husband but it's different. N won't understand when I start getting hemorrhoids from being pregnant, or needing to go out clubbing dressed like a hooker when I'm 45. Now we just need to make sure that we stay close enough that a 4 hour car drive will do the trick.

Steve after a long weekend

Steve after a long weekend, originally uploaded by elenafreed.

Baby Steve needs much rest tonight after a fun filled weekend of tearing down doors and eating all the deli meat from the counter. But seriously, how can you resist that adorable face even if you have to buy a brand new door?

Now that N is finished his first year of graduate school, he can play around the house more - doing fun projects like planting veggies in the garden, and putting up shelves in the crafty room, where all things crafty are born. He helped me sew a duvet cover for our bed on Sunday night, and it turned out better than I thought. Very beautiful fabric on the top and we found a king-size bed sheet at Marshalls for 10 bucks to use for the bottom. The first night I slept under it, I didn't move a muscle the entire night. Granted, that probably had more to do with the fact that I was still recovering from the birthday shindig we hosted for N and Maressa. It was their 50th birthday this year on Sunday. Happy Birthday!

We spent N's birthday on Sunday not only making the duvet and planting, but also playing with Baby Steve, making yogurt and dining at the very elegant Blue Grass Grill. N got corned beef hash and I had some choco chip panks with a side of bacon and a biscuit. Talk about yummy. It's all about the panks.

Yesterday I took a watercolor class from N (after I burst into tears that he didn't have a good assignment for me and that he likes his other students better than me, and why didn't I get any perks cause I'm sleeping with the professor - but anyway), and I did this thing where I tried to match 5 colors from the spider plant with watercolors and then painted in five distinct blocks. I took a pic of it and will put it up. N taught me that I should consider going back over it and try to match the colors again, considering my perception of the colors will be different today then they were yesterday. It was a cool project. For those 2 people reading this - yes, that was a boring rendition of the project but just trust me on this one, it was cool.

Mother's day on Sunday - MMG made me feel bad that she didn't have mother's day cards in her hand on Sunday and I told her that I sent them on Sat, but I didn't. I didn't lie, I just thought I'd be able to get them off to her on Sat. Anyhow, she does that a lot - makes me feel bad, but she does it with this way that she's joking, but it does hurt sometimes. Whatever. I'm over it. I love her, that's all that matters. Right?

Now that I'm a full-fledged VA lawyer, I'm getting my own cases and even got a salary!! Woohoo! I thought I wouldn't be working the second temp job, but decided to take one more assignment in order for us to catch up on finances. Seriously, it was harder these past few months, getting Steve and having not worked while studying for the bar exam and such. I think if I take on one more assignment, I can get us caught up on bills and we'll be okay. Not gonna lie to you, I do take pride in the fact that we somehow went 2 weeks with only 11 dollars in the bank account. Can I get some props for that plz? Me and JC talk about how proud we are that we got by this past pay period with such little funds. Is that something to be proud of or what?

Dear Shenandoah Steve,

I would like to tell you a few things as our new life together begins, and because I LOVE lists, I will format this letter in such a fashion.

1) I love you. I really do. You brighten up my day by just being a part of our family. I love giving you belly rubs when you get all roley poley on the ground, I love giving you pets and snuggling with you while we relax at home. I love to take you on long walks and don't even mind when you sniff something every 30 seconds - literally, it's every 30 seconds - during our walks. I'm just ecstatic that I can give you a good home, with food and shelter and lots of love.

Even though I love you as much as I do, I have a few requests.

2) Barking in the middle of the night is not necessary when there isn't a masked murderer trying to break into our home. Seriously, barking for the sake of barking is just not required in order to be a part of our family. Like two nights ago, when we were trying to get some sleep at 2 in the morning, there really wasn't any need to be barking at the television, especially since it was turned off. And last night, after we had been sleeping for an hour, you don't need to bark in order to wake us up so you can check out the downstairs. I promise, it hasn't changed. It's the same as it was when you came upstairs. No one is waiting for you down there, the couch that you like to shed your entire coat on is still there. There aren't even any cars driving by that you can look at out the window downstairs. So sweetheart, no need to bark in the middle of the night.

3) You are quite a voluptuous doggie, and we are trying to make sure you get a good, healthy diet. This does not mean that you can jump up to the counter, pull down the treats your Dad just bought you and eat the entire bag of chicken strip treats. This is not so good for your girlish figure, and we want you to grow up to be a healthy pooch. Oh, and carrying the container of treats in your mouth upstairs to show us you like your treats is also not necessary. We know you like them. But still, you can't eat the entire bag or container.

Shenandoah Steve, that's it for now. Don't even forget we love you, but these are just a few things I thought you should know about.

Love,
Your mama

Meet the newest member of our family:

Right now, her name is Eve. This is the name she came with from the SPCA, but we're trying to find a more fitting name. This pic doesn't do her justice, but seriously dudes, she is the sweetest most cuddly dog in the world. She is part lab, part pyrenees, she LOVES belly rubs and snuggling in bed with us, and she has the sweetest disposition. And I know you can't tell from this pic but she's HUGE. She's over 100 pounds. There is no doubt that she loves people. I'm completely in love with her. I couldn't be happier!! I feel like we are the luckiest people in the world to have adopted her and give her a loving home. Don't worry, more pics are coming.

We're THIS much closer to getting a dog. And I've already scoped out the one I want. His name is Mac, and as of 2:30 this afternoon, he is still in need of a loving home. Seriously dudes, how cute is he!!! In order to get a dog, we need money - money for the pet deposit we need to give our landlord, money for the adoption fee at the Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA and then money for all the toys and food and treats and snuggly things we are going to spoil him with. In order to do this (and in spirit of spring cleaning), I am selling my clothes. Yup, come by and see me naked cause I'm selling all my clothes. Nah, just kidding, just the ones that don't fit anymore ever since I grew a big ass and also those that I still have from high school. No joke people, I still have clothes in my closet from high school. Not only can I barely fit one limb in the piece of clothing, but they look like they are from the mid 90s. I posted an ad on Craigslist and already have someone coming by to peek a look-see at them tonight. I even posted some pics on Flickr so no one wastes their time or mine. Granted, I could do this all at a yard sale (which I am still planning on holding sometime very soon), but maybe I can sell enough clothes for the adoption fee.

I'm still on track with my one project a night thing. It helps when I go to the gym in the morning cause then I have time at night to piddle around. I love to piddle around, let me tell you. Oooh, and tonight's Grey's Anatomy. Man oh man, am I going to get a lot done tonight. I wish I knew how to put up one of those thermometer thingys on my blog to track the money I raise to get the doggie. Wouldn't that be nerdy and fun?

So I followed through on my scheduled project last night and made these cute magnets for the fridge out of beer bottle caps and I also decorated some twigs from the backyard with some accessories from a holiday project I did a few years ago. At first I placed the twigs in the glass bottle downstairs on top of our entertainment furniture but it just didn't look right. Then we finally found the perfect place on our dresser in our bedroom. Very cute. I always forget about upstairs cause no one really sees it, and we aren't up there very much (just to sleep and shower - and maybe we do other things - I'll let your imagination take care of that one). But I should think more about our bedroom and making it cozy. I saw these cute embroidered napkins at Circa here in Cville and am now thinking they would be nice to put on the dresser, cause it's very bare and undecorated.

I also managed to clean out the guest room closet, where I hoard my keepsakes and memories from childhood. I go through these boxes every once in a while and always manage to purge them just a bit. I got rid of about three shoe boxes full of stuff. I learned a few things last night about myself - some of which I'm not too proud of.

1) I was quite a moody teenager. I kept letters from my best friend that she wrote me while in high school, and she was always apologizing. And let me tell you, she rarely did anything wrong. I was just a moody brat. Granted, I was experiencing teenage angst thinking that the world was ending, but still, who the hell did I think I was being all moody and bratty and taking out all my growing pains on my friends?

2) I kept a lot of stuff from my childhood, and I'm glad I did. Cause as I was going through all those cards and papers, it brought back memories that I was not ready to forget, and hopefully never will. Granted, I came across things that triggered some memories that I was more than ready to forget. It was like listening to a mix tape from when you were 14 and just hearing a certain song makes you feel weirdly uncomfortable.

3) Last night I read a lot of cards teachers in high school sent to me shortly after my father died, and they all had one point in common. My father's pride of me did not go unnoticed, and he made sure everyone knew it. Man, I think - no actually I know - I was and still am the luckiest person for having him as my father. He pushed me hard to succeed, but damn am I glad he did it. Cause I know I wouldn't be where I am today if he hadn't. The anniversary of his death is coming up - not something I dwell on but something that sneaks up on me and all the sudden I'm like shit - it feels like it was yesterday that he died but crazy cause it will be 8 years this Sunday. G-d I miss him.

Ever since my posting last Monday, I haven't been able to keep my eyes off the news. Seriously, I was getting a little worried about how much I needed my news fix, with all the media coverage about the Virginia Tech shooting floating around out there and then being shot into our head. There were moments, of course, where I wanted to shoot something into the head of the dumb ass newsperson asking a VT student how the mood on the campus was after the shootings. Dude, what the fuck do you think the mood was on the campus? In fact, I heard one newsperson ask a student who had been in a Norris Hall classroom when the shootings were occurring who managed to barricade the door - "How do you feel about being called a hero today?" followed by a painstaking 10 second lull in the dialogue as the student mustered the courage to respond to her idiotic question. Shut the F up. Anyhow, I was pretty useless last week at work, since every 5 minutes I needed my CNN intravenous shot.

Beans was taken from us by Mama and Papa B on Saturday. No joke, there was a tear or two. But I already have asked our landlord if we can have a dog, she gave us the okay (still need to put down a $500 deposit), and I already filled out an application to adopt a dog from the SPCA in Charlottesville. This is as good of a time as any to get one since N is almost finished with the semester so he will be more available to help with the dog. We got into a pretty slick routine while Beans was here, each of us taking on various duties in the taking-care-of-Beans-procedure. I'm totally ready. Seriously, dogs make a home that much more home-esque.

I painted our craft room this weekend a green color - called Wild Artichoke - or was it Wild Asparagus. Oh, can't remember. But I did it all by my lonesome - of course, not without some direction and guidance from N. You know, he did go to school where they teach you how to color inside the lines. But once I got started, I got into it. Granted, it was my first time ever painting so it's not perfect, and I learned what to do (and what not to do) next time. We are painting our bedroom next.

After the painting extravaganza, the wheels started turning and I became somewhat excited by the resolution of having one project a day that I complete (or work on) that makes our home pretty. Not just the daily laundry or dishes or vacuuming (though they need to be done ASAP or someone will get lost in the piles of dirty undies and billowing dust balls) but I'm talking about either painting a room or cleaning out a closet or organizing the kitchen or getting ready for our yard sale...you know that type of stuff. So, yesterday my project was planting a few baby spider plants in pots that were transplanted from a mama spider plant that I picked up from Freecycle. I hope they survive the move.

Hmm, what am I going to do today? Things on my list to do around the house: paint the bedroom (which I could start today by taping everything off), organize for our upcoming yard sale, clean out the kitchen shelves where we keep our food and spices, start on the knitted rug pattern, clean up the sticks in the yard...hmm, what to do. Of course, this plan will most likely go out the window as soon as I get another gig from the other job (the work-from-home-at-night-which-helps-pay-the-bills job). Anyhow, I got these cool old glass bottles off of Freecycle and was thinking of putting a bunch of twigs in them and attaching paper flowers. I saw the idea in a mag. We'll see. I can't believe I'm admitting this, but there is some inspiration over at Martha Stewart's site.

This weekend was full of nothing and goodness. Not much in the way of headline news occurred in our parts of town, but we did spend Friday night with new and good friends for some wine and dine (much more wine that dine). Then Saturday - gym, chopped off my hair, went to a few local thrift stores (I'll try to post some pics tonight), lounged around watching bad TV, did a few hours of work and finished off the night watching Volver. Good movie. Kept me entertained.

Yesterday was filled with hours of working on a project for which I thought the deadline was today, but was pleasantly surprised to learn I don't have to turn it in until tomorrow.

Oh g-d - word in. Check out CNN about shooting at Virginia Tech. At least 22 dead, 17 injured.

Hi Peeps. With AV gone for the next two days and JC out sick, I'm all here by my lonesome holding down the fort. My boss just got word that yet another attorney is leaving the firm. Not because he does't like it, but because of his wife's job. So, this really opens up a can of worms as to the future of the firm. Anyhow, that's all boring business stuff, so on to more cuteness.

I wanted to introduce you to the newest member of our Charlottesville family. Meet Beans:

Beans is N's dog from home and lives up in Reston, VA. However, VB and JB went across the pond to England to celebrate the marriage of VB's son T, so we get to love and pet and snuggle and walk and admire Beans for the next two weeks.

This picture is photographic evidence of Beans' nightly ritual of arranging her blankets right before she plops down to sleep for the night. What's even sillier is that she spends all this time arranging her blankets (yes, she needs two - so high maintenance) and then she usually manages to settle only one-third of her body on one of the blankets. Sometimes she even fluffs a pillow for herself. I truly deeply madly love having her with us. She makes our home feel so cozy. There's something to be said of the feeling you get when you walk through the door at the end of the day and someone's there waiting for you. Welcome to our home Beans!

Favorite Color Swap Pal 2

I want to give a shout out to Kerin, my favorite color swap pal, who sent me such wonderful presents. Here is some of the funky yarn she sent me, for which I plan on making a drop stitch scarf. I think it will block pretty nicely, and a drop stitch pattern just seems to be the perfect pattern for this yarn.Kerin also made this fantastic journal. I've already pounced on her for a tutorial, cause I'm all intimidated by the wood and screws and hand drawn designs. No tutorial to be had, but I feel lucky enough just being gifted with such a pretty thing. I haven't written anything in it, and am thinking I may put photos in it instead. Not sure yet...
To read more about Kerin, check her out here. This was a fun swap. Not only did I enjoy receiving such pretty things, but I also enjoyed the giving portion of the swap.

This past weekend with MMG was pleasant. Ran a few errands, relaxed A LOT, and spent some time helping MMG get stuff in order. She is quite a busy real estate agent, always running this way and that way showing houses, listing houses, running from houses, etc.

I've become quite a gym junkie lately. Even made JC sign up for the gym, even though it was like pulling teeth. She finally fell under my spell and now we have been going to the gym every day (except for days we are exploring other parts of the country - such as home or boyfriend's home). While the benefit of toning is something to be treasured, I am most interested in increasing my energy level. With two jobs, and all the other responsibilities I hold, I am completely drained at the end of the day and just want to the lie on the couch scratching my belly when I get home from work. So I'm hoping that going to the gym will give me the energy to do the other things I love to do - like work in my craft room making my cards, painting, knitting, working on the garden, cleaning up the house (which is a shit hole right now), painting the walls in the house and other things. Also, for the next few months, I will be going this way and that - Passover in Plainview, JV and NL's wedding, my cousin's wedding in Chi-town, etc. So it's uber important that I do stuff at night during the week, or I will become a crabby bitch, someone no one wants to encounter.

Yesterday, one of the associates in the firm was offered a position elsewhere, and will be leaving in a month. Supposedly this change will generate a ton of work for me and JC, but we haven't felt the brunt of it yet. I know that a lot of her cases will be passed along to one of the managing partners, for whom I work directly, which translates into more work for me. But, I'm ready for it, kinda excited to learn more and get more involved.
Boy do we look tired. Here is JC and I with our shawls cause it's a freakin' freezer in here. And sometimes we like to pretend we are nuns.