Tue Nov 15 - Band was cancelled late in the evening, which was nice for me to relax and not have to race across town to the studio. So I leisurely wrapped up my work-stuff and delivered it to my instructor/proofreader, and spent some time numbering/prioritizing my projects list. I even figured out a funny little HTML code thing (yea! the links are dark blue and not orange-on-white!) which amused me to no end.

Now I'm not saying that every "#(1)" item in the list will be worked on first, but I think it's helpful to see which projects I'd like to start before other projects. My categories are higgledy-piggledy, and I'll probably be working on many projects at once, but I'm feeling a supremely penetrating sense of calm being able to label all the ideas in my head.

I just need to see the *happening* in my schedule now.

I got through the end of Dec 2004 over in the Yarn Harlot archives, and really enjoyed seeing her get through her self-imposed holiday deadlines. I haven't really faced the prospect of Christmas shopping yet, and I worry because each year there are more nieces, nephews, and cousins-who-count-as-nieces/nephews. I hoping that as I start purging the boxes in my room even more than I have so far this year, that when I open up the "gifts and gift-projects" box that I might stumble upon several very clever gifts waiting for me. I'm not holding my breath, but still I might surprise myself.

Oh, and as a quick aside? When band rehearsal gets cancelled, my roomie is not still locked out of the house, my work-work is done, I have the dillusional belief that I can clean my room in the morning before my grandparents get there, and I relax with a snack at my desk with the idea that "I'm allowed to read Yarn Harlot when I'm eating" I can accidentally find myself devouring two more months of archives (Jan & Feb 2005) before I realize I've been nibbling on the cord to my headphones and I haven't heard a thing my favorite radio host has said in the last hour. Oops. *blush*

I might have to re-think that rule. [pause here for another 45 minutes to go by....]

I lied. After typing the above into my journal-entry-draft, I went and finished reading March 2005 too. "Hi my name is Cat and I'm addicted to Yarn Harlot."

Wed Nov 16 - I stayed at home in the morning today, with the original intent of being there when the shower-door guy was going to check on the leak from the new shower doors. But he had to cancel/re-schedule so I'll be home Friday morning too.

Then the grandparents came over to visit for lunch. The visit was *lovely* and they seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves here. They called around 8:30/8:45 to tell me they were going out the door. And I emailed him turn-by-turn directions completely with the full mileage of every step of the way. He printed them out (in larger font, from pasting them into Word, look at him go!) and was very impressed with how good my directions were. At one point in the conversation he even said, "Wow, you're really earning points today!"

The house was clean and neat and picked up (yay me!). We sat and chatted for about an hour, as I finished my coffee and Joyce had a glass of water. They brought me a bag of apples & pears, a box of breadsticks, a CD, and a magazine from a tour they went on recently. It was so darn cute that they brought me housewarming gifts. Grandad was impressed that this was one of the nicest places I've lived in.

Then we walked over to the restaurant/shopping district right behind my apt and had sit-down at (gasp! not a buffet!) this little Hof's Hut ...kind of a surfer-burger joint from 1951 that grew up into a Mom & Pop's chain. Grandad actually gasped with glee at some of the items on the menu, and we had a lovely lunch together.

Then we walked back to the apt and had a slice of chocolate cake (care of my roommate's cooking, yay her!) and chocolate ice cream together before I led them to the gas station and then to the freeway. Ever try to lead a caravan at 55 mph on to the freeway? *gulp* But I got them safely on the freeway and onto the correct second freeway merge lane, and now I'm at the office for the day.

It was lovely, and they got a kick out of the fact that my Mom still hasn't seen my place yet but they have. Oops! I should have taken photos, pooh. I totally forgot. Oh well.

Now I'll be working until late on my work-work, so I'll catch you all later.
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New Artists/Music That I Like: The Gathering (The Netherlands) (huge thanks for Mariam for sending me some music by them today!), Imogen Heap (UK) (who also formed the band Frou Frou); Heikki (Sweden), Ringmaster (album Ringmaster In Camouflage) (US), and Mary Fahl (US) (great, deep, rich, low voice)
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Today's Weather: Typical bright sunny November Southern CA, making me squint and think fondly of rain and snow. In fact, it was snowing in Akron today. *whimper* Hi 70s, low 80s when I was outside today, and 56 at midnight.

Today's Blessing That I'm Thankful For: Grandad and Joyce. It's a joy to see how alive and active you still are, how much love you have for the family, and to see that you're healthy and well again, Joyce. I love you both bunches.