girl at large

Bachelor Aid

Tom adjusts to the new location of 'his spot'. Ruby stands guard.

Before

After

Tom's new place is great, big and light and roomy. All the family pitched in to send him furnishings--from Grandpa's prints to Mom's rug to John and Molly's redo of the chairs to Aunt Peg's couch, table and bed. He worked on Friday, so I spent most of the day cleaning, organizing and arranging furniture...sounds so familiar. Was I on a break or still at work? I have a problem--even 1000 miles away, I still want to put things in their right place.

Favorite conversation with my brother (aside from The Lightbulb Story):
Tom: sniff, sniff "Did you wash my sheets or something?"
Me: "Yes, I washed your sheets, the toss pillows covers..even your duvet cover."
Tom: "You can wash those?"

Did we not grow up the same house? At least I was spared the Easy Mac--he had that for lunch when I was out enjoying my time in LA...by visiting a furniture factory.

Next Time I'll Pack a PB&J.

There's nothing quite like hitting the open road with your dog--sun in your face, wind in your hair...
steering wheel gripped with your knees as you struggle at 65 curvy miles per hour to open a jar of peanut butter so your dog can lick it off your fingers when climbing through the pass at 4000 ft elevation so she won't whine about the discomfort in her ears she doesn't understand but knows she doesn't like...holding the jar with your thighs, flinging the lid on the floor where it lands sticky-side down, then holding the wheel with one hand as you contort your other hand--wiggling a peanut butter-gobbed finger behind the seat at the general direction of the back seat where the only other passenger is looking back at you in the rear view mirror like the crazy woman that you are.

California Is A Loooong State.

Favorite government-issue exit sign, near Stockton: "Rough and Ready Island"

Road Trip

I'm heading back to Oregon later today...been in sunny, smoggy Los Angeles for a long weekend with brother Tom. Managed to fit in a few factory and showroom visits too, so it's a working, write-off weekend. But it's been relaxing as well. Lunch with friends and their new gorgeous baby girl Violet (can a baby ever be old?) in Santa Monica, downtime with Tom's friend Devon.

I never get too far from work--there's email, the cell phone my boss made me take (though they didn't call, good for them!), and of course, one full day cleaning, organizing and rearranging my brothers new loft. It's a great place, comfortable with an interesting city view over the Staples Center. Ruby is terrified of the elevator and the stone-floored lobby, and check in later for an entry on Ruby vs. Roomba.

I'm off again in a bit, putting the little Jetta to the test on the I-5 (whew, she's dirrrrrrteee!)