Last Requests

There were two things I wanted to do before leaving the RGV: take a canoe trip down the Rio Grande and have dinner at Tupinamba in Reynosa.

Given all the work we've had to do on weekends, the canoe trip was unlikely to happen. However, the Monday we got back from the last graduation, we decided to dine south of the border.

We parked at the city lot close to the bridge, paid the 50 cent pedestrian toll each and walked across the bridge.



Scott of www.dallasfood.org had recommended Tupinamba back when we first moved to the RGV. I'd eaten Tupinamba's delicious food at the McAllen International Food Festival last year, but hadn't made it to the restaurant itself.

We followed Scott's instructions to veer slightly right off the main square, dodging local drivers as we crossed the street. We went one block too far to the left and ended up approaching the restaurant from the back. (Note: Tupinamba is on the same block as Carl's Jr. on the main square). I turned around saw a pair of blue ornamented iron doors, looked up and saw the restaurant's name. Voila!

There were about four groups of diners when we arrived. We perused the menu and on Scott's recommendation ordered queso divorciado (melted cheese with a meat sauce), empanadas, carne Tampiquena for Mike and cabrito for me.

I'd meant to order a different kind of empanada, but we didn't see the ones Scott recommended on the menu. The kind we ended up with I suspect were goat organ meat--possibly brains. My culinary Spanish wasn't precise enough to tell. They were pretty good.

I ordered a cabrito shoulder, which was gamey and flavorful. In hindsight, I wondered if the thigh/dark meat would have been more tender. Anyhoo, we chowed down and enjoyed the experience.

Here's me with my goat shoulder. Mmmmmm. And outside the restaurant.




We had to go through border security on the way back--show ID, open my purse for inspection and explain what we were doing in Mexico. Just eating goat!

Bloomin'

Before the last open house, we did a bit of landscaping in the front yard. Added 3 Texas firebushes, hot pink pentas and purple lantana to the front bed (all drought tolerant) and put in 3 large agapanthus interspersed with Spanish lavender on the other side of the walkway.

Our real estate agent was impressed we'd done it ourselves--well, with some consulting help from the landscape guy at Waugh's Nursery.





We still have a couple of orange blossom jasmine to plant, but otherwise we're done.

Graduation Part Deux (long)

Another weekend jaunt to St. Louis for 17's high school graduation.

I left Thursday and had to scramble to get the house clean/tidy before 2 showings that day. Mike and I had a late dinner at Steak and Shake (do they make shakes out of steak?) and headed back to the DoubleTree. Mike scored me a cookie by saying I wasn't with him when he checked in (true).

We slept in Friday. Mike was going to talk to 17 about her college finances that afternoon, so he thoughtfully scheduled me for a massage. 17 was too busy to meet her dad, but I had the massage anyway and a pedicure after that.

We planned to meet the kids for dinner before the Baccalaureate ceremony. I quickly washed the massage oil outta my hair, changed and debated about wearing my pedicure thongs into the restaurant in case the polish wasn't all dry. (Since I still get kidded about wearing curlers to a choir rehearsal NINE years ago, I decided against it).

20 was the first to arrive; we chatted about his finals until 22 and 17 showed up. (15 was babysitting). I got 17 talking about her college--when she starts, does she know her roommates, major, housing situation yet? She answered but wasn't very chatty. She wasn't detectably excited about the $300 airline voucher we gave her. 22 loved her graduation travel voucher and gave me a big hug and thanked us. 17 followed her sister's lead and gave us one armed hugs and said thanks before leaving.

When we got to the school, we realized Mike left the camera at the restaurant. I staked out seats in the bleachers and watched the opening processional, band, and the alumni speaker before Mike got there. The choir did a couple of really great songs and then it was over.

We watched the kids and Ex exit and went outside ourselves to find the graduate and take some pictures. She obliged, but said it wasn't the "real thing," just Baccalaureate. I got a couple of 17 and Mike and one with the three of us.

Afterward, Mike and I went to Barnes & Noble to check email. I took a hot bubble bath--all the more decadent because I didn't have to clean the tub afterward--and Mike and I watched "Becoming Jane."

Saturday dawned and again we slept in. Checked email at B&N, bought a bouquet of roses for the graduate plus snacks/dinner at Trader Joe's--heavenly! We took 15 out shopping with us and had to rush to get her home to change before their pre-graduation dinner.

Graduation was at 7:00 pm at a park events/sports facility. We picked through the crowds to get seat in the bleachers and ended up about 10 rows behind the rest of the family.

After the speakers, the principal admonished the audience NOT to applaud/cheer until after all the graduates' names were read; everyone wants to hear their loved one's name and if there's disruptive screaming/cheering, that won't happen.

Mike leaned over and asked me to guess which ethnic group would categorically ignore this request. I'd been to 20's graduation two years before, so I already knew the answer. Mike counted and it worked out to about a 98% rate of raucous outbursts from this particular ethnic group. And it was fun watching the valedictorian's dad sneak past security twice to get closer pictures of his brainiac daughter.

After the tassel turning and cap throwing, the grads dispersed. Mike caught a pic of 17 kissing her boyfriend. We didn't get many pictures of her; the two older kids stayed by us, and 15, the Ex and 17 wandered off to the other side of the gym. 15 was supposed to stay with us overnight so we needed to find them. Eventually, we spotted them and Mike got a few more shots of 17.

15 hadn't brought her overnight stuff, so we arranged to have her dropped off at the hotel later. I had another bath before she showed up and then we snacked and watched Juno together.

We tried to meet up with 17 on Sunday, but she was tired from the all night grad party. We took 15 and 20 to breakfast at The Pancake House. 22 was at a Cardinals game. We took 15 to see Prince Caspian, then went back to the hotel to pack up for Monday morning's departure.

While we didn't get to spend much time with the graduate herself, we had a good time with the other kids and made arrangements for them to help us move/unpack at the Utah house.

Not Too Close Encounter

I spent most of Mother's Day in airports and planes. Hey, it's better than the annual blow-your-wad of adulation at church. Mike made sure I had a lovely gift: a card, a bookstore gift certificate and pedicure funds--thank you, sweetie!

Sunday morning, we dropped 15 off at home because Grandma Sheila was taking everyone out to breakfast before she left town. Mike's flight left at 8 am; mine at noon. So I had a good, long wait.

About an hour before my flight, I parked in front of my gate facing concourse traffic and called my mom to wish her a happy MD and fill her in on all the graduation highlights. (Eye contact!)

As I was chatting, I spotted Grandma Sheila, Mike's former mother-in-law, walking to her gate. I had wondered if I'd bump into her, but figured STL airport was too big for this to be likely.

If Sheila saw or recognized me, there was no indication. It was interesting to observe her undetected. She looked pissed off. Mike says that's pretty much the baseline unless you're her offspring or grandchild.

Shelia never liked or respected Mike and she always seemed hell-bent on undoing a marriage she didn't want to happen in the first place. After 25 years, she got her wish.

Hey, my gain! Maybe I should have chased her down and thanked her.

Eye Spy

Mike and I arrived in St. Louis a few hours behind schedule Friday, due to delays in McAllen and Dallas. We bunked at the DoubleTree and the warm chocolate chip cookies we received at check in were a lovely welcome. I wonder if their recipe is online somewhere? Mmmm.

We awoke early to get downtown for 22's graduation from Webster University. While we were looking for seats, we bumped into 17 (she was meeting 22's boyfriend so he could sit with the family). 15 and 20 walked up to say hello. (20 hugs me hello pretty consistently [which warms my heart and makes me feel welcome]).

Of course, the Ex and Grandma Sheila hadn't saved seats for us, so we hiked up to the next deck. Bagpipers played in the faculty and 105 flag bearers representing the home nations of Webster University students. The speaker was good (quoted Jon Stewart, was brief). After cheering and tassel turning, we ventured over to the theater where the College of Fine Arts had its ceremonies.

That was where things Got Interesting.
__________

Sidebar: Two years ago at 20's h.s. graduation, the Ex wanted her "space," demanding Mike and I stay away while she took pictures. When Mike pointed out this was the first of many family events where we would all be present/let's find a workable balance, the Ex hung up on him. After the ceremony, the Ex and her mom studiously ignored us while we took pictures and made a quick getaway once we were done.
__________

Given the history, I was curious to see how things would play out now--with two years of getting used to Mike's remarriage and a much smaller graduating class. Here's the skinny:

Mike staked out seats in the balcony one row behind where 17 and 20 were saving seats for their mom, grandma and 22's boyfriend. 15 opted to sit with us. Interesting to sit so close to people I've heard so much about but who have (so far) refused to meet me or even acknowledge I exist.

After the ceremony, the Ex and Sheila couldn't avoid walking past us. Sheila didn't look our way at all, but as the Ex went by, she looked at me and gave me a brief, tight smile then hastily looked away.

When we all collected downstairs for pictures a few minutes later, the Ex and her mom stood with their backs to us. Mike asked his former MIL if she wanted to be in the picture with all the kids--he'd be glad to take some for her. She didn't even turn her head, just hissed "Never mind." He was married to her daughter for 25 years and that's all the civility she can muster.

But hey, I got eye contact. Could this be the start of a less frigid relationship? I won't hold my breath. Especially since I discovered I had lipstick on my teeth during the entire exchange and wonder if that smile was really a smirk about that.

All the yard is a stage

Here are some yard shots at the So Tex house. Previous owners did most of the work; we just maintained what was there--and added a tomato patch and planted a couple more citrus trees.

I dig the flower shots at the bottom and the carnivorous-looking, self-propagating succulents growing all over the yard. And (sniff) grapefruit we won't be around to harvest.

I transplanted overgrown plants from the back yard to the front with pleasing effect, methinks. More curb appeal now that the sickly shrubs out front are gone. Will do some more landscaping next week and finally get around to painting the strong green Living/Dining room.

You can also check out the virtual tour here.

Meanwhile...

While the open house was going on, Mike and I had our own adventures. We loaded the minivan with the three cats in their carriers, a litter box and went for a three hour tour.

We weren't a half mile from the house when Belita peed in her carrier. We stopped to buy paper towels and mop up. It was a good trial run for the move. Will probably use puppy pads for the drive to Utah. And NASA diapers for the humans! Just kidding. (No, Mike. Not even if we make better time and fewer stops).

All three cats meowed almost non-stop for the first hour. We stopped for lunch and to let Cosby pee in the litter box. We had such a time getting PK into his crate, we weren't gonna let him out. He wriggled out of a too-tight harness on the drive to Texas, so I don't trust him even when we're right there watching him.

We drove through a bunch of small towns and eventually ended up in Roma at the bluffs overlooking the Rio Grande. There's a birding center there (closed), a crumbling historical district, a bustling international bridge and more Border Patrol agents than I've ever seen in one place. We saw a helicopter take off and head downriver for a bust. Your tax dollars at work.

I wanted to eat someplace local, but not many restaurants are open on Sundays--especially in the smaller towns. My food needs got critical, so I let Mike drive and we headed to Burger King. Ate piping hot fries on the way back to the bluffs before heading back to McAllen.

We called our agent from the road to ask how the open house went. After we hung up, I wondered if he blew out the candles before he left the house. No, it turned out. Maybe that's a guy thing.

Anyway, we'll probably have another open house at the end of the month. In the meantime, I hope the interest from the first one might be all we need. Cross your fingers or pray to the deity of your choice that we'll be able to sell!

Open House, Insert Buyer

We had our first open house Sunday afternoon. We rushed home from church to give the house some spot cleaning and finishing touches.

Our staging impressed our listing agent who took some fresh photos to put on the web listings. We'd hung art and window treatments, put out a new tablecloth, rearranged furniture and I've transplanted overgrown plants from the back yard to the front walkway. (Been watching a lot of HGTV and using items I have on hand).

The backyard is blooming cooperatively--yellow Esperanza, coral Hibiscus, fuchsia bougainvillea, the confederate jasmine camouflaging the chain link fence and the light blue something-or-other that covers the back fence. With the lawn freshly mowed and edged, the swing under the tree, fruit trees and the patio umbrella unfurled, it looks pretty damn inviting.

Our agent said 7 families toured the house. One couple was scouting for their grown children who had to work and another couple spent A LOT of time in the back yard. The yard pretty much sold us on the house; we're hoping it will have the same mesmerizing effect on others.

No word on offers yet, but it was a promising debut. I'll post pictures once the camera is charged up.

Backyard Glamour Shots

This is what our back yard pond looks like in bloom.

So when all y'all come and visit (and we're fully expecting you will) we'll have the BBQ going, some cool beverages with sprigs of mint and scintillating conversation with this glorious backdrop.

That's All?

Our house in McAllen has been on the market for a little over three weeks and has generated (troublingly) little interest.

We're considering a reduction in price and will be throwing in our washer/dryer. The Quincy house is set up for gas appliances and ours are electric, so no go.

We decided to buy the w/d in Quincy, which will save us serious coin and save the seller the trouble of moving them (which was probably his aim all along. We're making him move out all his aquarium stuff and two dozen koi, so I can't blame him for wanting to move two fewer things).

Anyway, I was out in the front yard turning the soil where we plan to re-landscape and two vehicles pulled up to take fliers about the house and ask questions.

Both parties wanted to know the price. I told them the current listing price and said we're considering a price reduction and to call our agent for details. In retrospect, I should have invited them in to see it, but we've been kinda slobby this week and I didn't want folks to see it like that.

After they left, I ran inside to call our agent to give him a heads up. I hope he gets some calls. If so, the blisters I got from using the weed weasel without gloves will not be in vain.

Quincy's second floor

The captions work if I completely ignore what the "preview" looks like. That's intuitive. [Scratch that; they don't go in the right place no matter effing what.]

The nook for the bed.



The fireplace/hearth upstairs.



The entry to the master bath/walk-in closet. Has a built-in ironing board.



The laundry nook upstairs.



The upstairs loo with massive jetted tub. It's cool, but am I looking forward to scrubbing it?

Quincy's Insides

As promised, some photos of the Ogden house's insides.

The captions aren't going where I want them, so I'll just tell you what you're looking at in order of posting:

Original tiled fireplace and mantel. Downstairs bath. Living room with exposed brick walls. Entryway doors. A dark shot of the kitchen (stainless steel appliances--gas range, dishwasher, microwave. Dark wood cabinetry that has mood lighting in 3 colors. Seriously. Stained glass in living room. First floor bedroom (large). First floor bedroom, smaller with weird gas fireplace thingy.

If all goes according to plan,

We will be calling this home sweet home:



Tot Sq Ft: 2257
Tot Beds: 3
Tot Baths: 2.00
Family Rms: 1
Fireplace: 2
Garage: 3
Yr Built: 1902

Features & Info: Deck Covered, Entry(Foyer), Stained Glass, Storm Doors, Storm Windows / Bath-Sep Tub/Shower, Closet-Walk-In, Dishwasher, Disposal, Formal Dining, Jetted Tub, Kitchen-Updated, Master Bath, Range Oven Free Std

Remarks: Beautifully remodeled Turn of the Century Classic!! Curved wrap around porch, covered deck, luxurious master bdrm w/jetted tub/walk-in closet, new kitchen, tile, orig fireplace, detached 3-car garage w/loft, stunning fish pond w/waterfall. You'll never see this again! Hurry!!

What I've been doing instead of blogging

Mike and I went to Utah for MIL Sue's 80th birthday party. Got to meet Sue's sister & brother, longtime family friends and a couple of her grandkids/great grandkids we hadn't met before.

Mike got a job offer from Weber State University which he accepted. Hence, we are moving to Ogden, Utah this summer. Only took 2 years in South Texas to make a Utah move appealing.

After Sue's party Mike and I did a house shopping marathon over 3.5 days. Made an offer on a house we saw on day 3 and had the offer accepted by the time we arrived at the airport to go home.

That was Tuesday, the first day of major flight cancellations by American Airlines. We didn't know ours was cancelled, so we sat at the gate, bewildered by the lack of passengers for a flight that was supposed to be boarding.

We ended up staying in SLC overnight and put up at a hotel on American's dime, plus a $20 meal voucher.

A shuttle trip that should have taken 10 minutes from airport to hotel took over an hour and included 4 detours to pick up truckers in west SLC and people at the VA hospital by the U of U (but by then there were not enough seats for them).

Called friend Mel and she picked us up for dinner: Thai Vietnamese at Cafe Trang--yum!

After dinner, we checked online and found our rebooked American flights for Wednesday morning were cancelled, too.

Thanks to Mike's Gold frequent flyer VIP demi-god status, we were rebooked on Continental to fly out Wednesday morning at 5:30 am. Spent our $20 meal voucher at Starbuck's for breakfast.

I told my supervisor about our plans to move and she was GREAT about it. Loved my suggestion that the admin assistant move into my job; now trying to figure out how have us overlap.

Our cat sitter saw the For Sale sign on the lawn and we're starting to tell people about our impending departure (likely during the last week of May/first week in June).

I know I've bitched a lot about South Texas, but I find part of me is sad about going. It's grown on me and the people here are hospitable and good-hearted most of the time. I never got fluent in Spanish, but I did get radicalized on immigration and opposing the border wall after seeing the beautiful, wild country the wall would decimate and experiencing life on the border.

I'll miss teaching gospel doctrine, but I'm also kinda looking forward to being anonymous in a Utah-sized ward and not having 3 callings simultaneously. We'll also miss the lovely people we met at the local Community of Christ congregation.

Mike's going to miss his orange trees and fresh squeezed juice and sunny 70 degree winter days. Moving to Ice Scraperville puts us much closer to family, friends and has professional opportunities for us both, so we're willing to deal with some snow and ice. Who knows, we might become Winter Texans someday.

We'll look forward to having folks visit us in our new locale. Cross your fingers and say prayers that our house in McAllen sells quickly!

Photos Galore

Two karaoke virgins and a stand up comedian ham it up.




Burger Continental group shot. You slay me with the multiple bunny ears. But what's with the funny look on my face?

The Much Belated Ending

We had one full day left in CA, so naturally we went shopping. We had a Swedish meatball lunch and wandered the wonderful corridors of IKEA. Picked up some groovy drapes and some magazine organizers to replace the ones Cosby gnawed.

We made a quick stop in Old Town Pasadena so I could redeem a gift card from LUSH that brother John gave me last Christmas. Karma soap, mango bath melts and a St. Patrick's Day prize because I found a hidden clover near the dusting powder. Mmmm.

By then, it was time for more sustainance. We'd planned to meet at Burger Continental at 6:30 for their $2 cheeseburgers and karaoke night. It's an alternative family home evening to many former/current Pasadena ward members. A great group of friends showed up (Robyn, Kevin, John Blood, Chester & Marilyn, and Lorie). We even karaoked! We meaning Robyn, then me, Lorie and Marilyn doing our rendition of "My Favorite Things." Remind me to post photos!

After the festivities, Mike and I went home to pack. Our plans for breakfast the next day with my New Era colleague didn't pan out, but we had lunch at Tito's with Marilyn and Lorie before heading to the airport.

Our plane was delayed on the ground in LA for an hour. If you're in that fix, it's nice to be in first class. They kept us hydrated and fed us shortly after we got off the ground. We watched most of "Into The Wild" before the plane landed in San Antonio.

When we were about 60 miles north of McAllen, we saw emergency vehicles parked on the highway and traffic exiting. Mike slowed to ask traffic directors what road we were supposed to take. 1017 they hollered and waved us on. It's the middle of the night, we're worn out and taking a farm road that goes god knows where. GREAT.

Then I noticed the smoke and the still-burning vegetation along the road. Yikes. We probably took close to a 80-mile detour by the time we were allowed back on the highway.

When we got home, now two+ hours later than we expected to arrive, we found
a car parked in our driveway. Huh? Inside, we found our cat sitter asleep on the couch. Our bustling woke her and she explained the power was out on her block. We moved her to an actual bed in the guest room before turning in ourselves.

Eight a.m. came too early the next day, so I called in to work and said I'd be in that afternoon. My co-worker said she was surprised we got home at all. Severe weather in other parts of the state grounded and canceled flights into McAllen and Harlingen. Plus a major wind-driven wildfire burned out of control on both sides of the highway and forced it to close. (We kinda knew about that part).

Needless to say, it was nice to finally hit the sack after a long day of travels and detours.

Trippin' Part Deux

Mom lobbied for us to attend church with her and dad Sunday morning. Who am I to deprive a loving mom from basking in the glow of knowing (and hearing other people confirm) that I turned out well/look good? Was lovely to see many familiar folks from the ward I grew up in (Rosemead) and the singles ward (Arcadia/Temple City).

After a round of post-sacrament meeting hugs and introductions, we chatted in the lobby with Bro. Foutz. I teased him about being old enough to have a kid on a mission--until I realized that made me old, too.

We tore ourselves away in time to make it to Pasadena Ward's sacrament meeting. We visited briefly with beloved folks on the way in. We sang the same sacrament hymn in both meetings--what are the odds?

When the second, astonishingly young high council speaker got to the microphone, the former RS president said "Psst, that's Kip from Napoleon Dynamite!" I wouldn't have recognized him otherwise. How very L.A. to have a celebrity sighting at church. It was a good talk, too.







After the meeting, we visited some more and said hi to the choir rehearsing for Easter Sunday. Wish we could have stayed to sing, but we were meeting mom & dad at Claim Jumper (after a pleasant/strident talk about keeping the Sabbath day holy in their ward). The blackened salmon Caesar and slab of carrot cake were worth imperiling my soul.

Brother John couldn't join us Sunday and his schedule was packed the rest of our visit. Hope to catch up with him in person soon.

After lunch, we visited cousin Marian & Rowan. We had a good time talking about Texas and health care. We strolled around the gardens (where we had our wedding) and took pics of the azaleas and camellias before heading home for a long nap.

Trippin'

We drove to San Antonio early Wednesday to catch our flight. Mike surprised me with first class upgrades--such pampering. Hot towels to refresh us, heated mixed nuts, lunch, unlimited beverages, warm cookies for dessert. Mmmmm. We'll be in the back of the bus for the ride home, but it was a nice treat.

We headed to Tito's Tacos for a late lunch and brought food home to mom and dad. Fortunately, we got on the road slightly before rush hour proper started. Sadly, that stretch of the 10 freeway requires 3 passengers to be a carpool.

Thursday we headed to Garden Grove to meet with Lee Gibson and afterward enjoyed a proper afternoon tea with Lee and his business partner, Mary. We chilled at home for a bit before picking up mango chicken and heading to Lee & Angela's for an Asian potluck dinner with Chris, Kirsten, Lorie, Carlan and the rapidly growing Emma, Isabella and Skye.

Friday morning, we met my former classmate, Bill, for breakfast al fresco and gorgeous mountain views in Sierra Madre. Immediately after that, we booked over to Studio City to meet another classmate, Elina, for lunch at the Italian restaurant next to her design showroom. We caught up over heavenly food--my pillowy ravioli with sage and butter was the best I've had.

Friday evening, we headed to Claremont for the opening session of Sunstone West: a film screening of "Nobody Knows: The Untold Story of Black Mormons." Twas an amazing film, delving into early Balck church members, the priesthood ban, the perspectives of members who joined before and after the priesthood ban was lifted.

I was heartened that the film explicitly acknowledged that the "priesthood" ban also affected Black women, who were excluded from serving missions, participating in temple rituals and being able to marry in LDS temples until 1978. It's a point I have raised in every discussion of Blacks and the priesthood I've participated in and that has been consistently brushed aside by whomever is leading the discussion.

Saturday's Sunstone sessions were equally interesting. I attended Seth Payne's session on the study of the ex-Mormon narrative, the lawyer-heavy Why We Stay panel, and the post-lunch plenary session on the legacy of the late President Hinckley. Some of the tributes were gushing, but Mike and Doe did very well at introducing some of the less-sunny implications of Hinckley's long tenure in top church leadership.

My session responding to a paper on Mormonism and immigration went well and was well attended, and the capstone was the presentation on the genesis of the What Women Know document and web site. It was invigorating to revisit the thought processes and work that went into the statement and a powerful example of positive dissent. The discussion carried on among the thirtysome people who went to dinner afterward. I'm glad we made the trip; everything went smoothly and people seemed to enjoy the presentations.

More later on our celebrity sighting at church!

Unscrewed

Guy came at 11:00 am Thursday to fix my DB, bless him.

I toiled the rest of the day and all Friday morning to get ready for our meeting to clean up the spring audit findings. A frustrating process, since the accountnts seemed to think that if something was resolved on their end, it was likewise fixed on mine. NOT SO.

Until I can print up a new report in all its fixed-ness, it's NOT FIXED.

Each remaining audit item now has a fix-it person assigned to it. I have two days to clean it up before I leave for CA. When I get back, we'll be working on the 86 summer audit findings to be resolved neatly by April 1.

Oh, and somewhere in there, I need to keep cleaning up fall reports which have their own, seemingly endless parade of problems.

Screwed

Guy worked on my database all morning while I tried to find non-computer tasks to keep me busy.

I didn't try to log in to the DB until an hour after lunch when a pair of accountants wanted to check status on some audit items.

Guess what? I CAN'T LOG IN. One of the queries is missing or misspelled. This mucks up, oh, EVERYTHING.

Soonest Guy can come back to work on it? Tomorrow after lunch.

Of the three semesters I'm working on, I can only see/work on Fall. Fall, which is third on my priority list. I'm expected to have both Spring and Summer all cleaned up by April 1.

So I dunno, rather than cry at my desk some more, I thought I'd blog about it. Because I seriously can't do anything else until halfway through THURSDAY.

Goings On

Here are a few of this week's happenings in So Tex:

--I've been trying to buy a 2008 wall calendar. Tried Barnes & Noble and Quips N Quotes; both said they were out of stock until November. Office Depot had some kitten and puppy calendars and some wannabe Asian art; I wasn't about to pay full price for that. Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena stocked calendars year round, so I never thought it would be a problem to find one here in February.

--A local guitar teacher/music store owner was charged with raping a 13-year-old guitar student on Valentine's Day. Two days later, another front page story said he'd been accused of raping a 10-year-old relative.

Last year, I interviewed the same music store owner/accused rapist for a Valley Girl article. Mike remembers him being suspicious when I said I wrote for the newspaper, but I don't. I do remember not wanting to write about the place once I walked in.

--I took our recycling out to the bin and saw huge piles of debris along the drainage canal. The canal banks and bottom had been bulldozed and all the cattails and other plants from the canal were piled up dead on the banks. There's trash floating in the brown water. I saw that the gnarled Mesquite tree growing by a paved area of the canal was gone, too.

I'd seen turtles sunning themselves on the cement by the Mesquite tree. Occasionally, I'd see a white Heron looking for a meal among the cattails. We'd find toads in our yard that I'm sure spent their tadpole days in the canal. Whenever I'd walk along the canal banks or go down by the water for a closer look, there was a vibrant ecosystem at play: butterflies, dragonflies, minnows, birds, plus the turtles and frogs.

I know the drainage canals have a job to do, and they seemed to be handling runoff just fine. I'm sad that someone thought it necessary to denude the banks and canal bottom and scatter (if not decimate) the ecosystem it had become.

Politically Active

The Texas primary isn't until March 4, but the Democratic candidates are campaigning hard. Hillary's made a couple of visits to South Texas and spoke this week at the Dodge Arena. (Sadly, I couldn't go).

Barack's on his first swing through the RGV and he's speaking at UTPA this morning. Students lined University Drive waving placards and cheering when motorists honked. Half the campus is fenced off and I was lucky to get a parking spot at 8:15 am. Heaven help anyone who's trying to come to work now.

They'll open the gates at 9:30 but Barak isn't scheduled to speak until 11:30 am. Since I have actual work to do, I'm not going to stand in line or on the quad for 2 hours. I'll wander down about 11:00 and see what I can get.

Not planning to vote for him, but it is exciting to see people really energized about politics.

On a lighter note...

My college friend, Rob, was in town last week for a birding conference. (Everyone in the birding world seems to have heard of McAllen/Rio Grande Valley and they get to come here for conferences when the weather bites elsewhere).

Rob, his dissertation adviser and a couple of his birding/blogging colleagues had gone to dinner and we met up with them for dessert--and were introduced to a decadent concoction called almond tacos. Mousse-y vanilla and chocolate cream, chocolate drizzles and berries served in a crisp, sugary almond bark "taco" shell. Drool...

Rob has a little more facial hair now than he did at the Y; otherwise, the years have been kind to us both:




Also for your amusement, this is what happens when the sweet potatoes aren't done roasting when you have to leave to go visiting teaching and you forget to tell your husband to take them out of the oven in another 15 minutes and you come home 3 hours later:



Papas del carbon. They were orange once.

Question

After a conflict, if you pinkie swear with someone to let bygones be bygones, can you still blog about it? Or would that be not really letting go?

I would have blogged about the fracas when it happened, but I was swamped with all my Super Sunday assignments: sac mtg talk, SS lesson, making cupcakes for RS. And I stayed out late Saturday night seeing a college friend who's in town for a birding conference.

Now that the situation is supposedly resolved, is it fair to do a crabby write up as I would normally do?

Happy V-Day!

Our supervisor gave all the gals in the office yellow roses for V-day and our admin left boxes of tart Necco Sweethearts on our desks. FYI: the tart Neccos taste infinitely better than the old school, chalky Neccos of yore.

The favored treat in these parts: chocolate dipped strawberries. Students sell them as fund raisers, bakeries and grocery stores hawk theirs and you can't open the newspaper without seeing ads for them. When they're done with quality chocolate and ripe berries, yes, they're good. But is all the swooning necessary?

Mike's teaching until 10:00 pm, so our V-Day celebration will likely be another night. I'll hit the gym, come home to watch LOST and debate whether to make calzones or defrost the buffalo meat for a late night carnivorous dinner when Mike gets home.

Turned out to be a loaded week. I'm teaching SS this week and I'll also be speaking in Sac. mtg with the rest of the RS presidency. Our text: another talk by Julie Beck. Each time I've been asked to speak in this ward, it's based on one of her talks. Enough already! I'll also be bringing the cupcakes for the February RS birthdays. I will likely spend the afternoon catatonic from sugar and overexertion.

Before wrapping up, I want to tell mi querido supernovio, husband and partner that I love him body and soul. Even though the road isn't always smooth, there's no one I'd rather have riding shotgun. Besos, amado mio.

Goin' Back to Cali, Cali, Cali

We'll be in town for Sunstone West March 14-15 at the Claremont Graduate University campus.

Check out the preliminary program here: http://sunstoneblog.com/?p=286#more-286

I'm excited to be part of the panel discussion on What Women Know and to take another dive into the topic of Mormonism and immigration.

Hope to see some friends and eat some great Thai/Malaysian food while we're there!

Tool Time Girl

Last weekend was all about outdoor home improvement projects. I pulled my body weight in weeds from the tomato garden, around the base of a still sickly looking Meyer lemon tree and back behind our BBQ turned jungle.

I also got a bee in my bonnet to work on the front entryway, so I pulled more weeds there, dug deeply enough to remove three pernicious hackberry saplings that had taken up residence and turned over the soil.

While in front, I also wanted to get rid of the dead ficus. I gave the trunk a test push and was pleasantly surprised when it MOVED. Once Mike got up, I enlisted his manliness in toppling said ficus. He chainsawed it into pieces while I scooped up its dead leaves for the compost bin and to use as mulch. I transplanted some succulents and spider plant-like plants along the front walkway and envision the now ficus-less space with a bench flanked with flowering vines.

This was the weekend of long forestalled indoor home improvement projects.

Mike took down the hideous living room ceiling fan (all brass filigree and fluted lamps) and installed the new brushed nickel/linen-look lampshades ceiling fan we bought in January. I handed him tools and parts. LOVE IT! It looks sleek and chic. Mike put the old fussy fan in the alley and I bet him it would be gone before dark (but I haven't gone outside to check).

While we were fixin, I asked Mike to raise the chandelier over the dining room table. The previous owners hung it so low that you'd bonk your head standing up from the table.

The chain connecting the fixture to the ceiling was doubled up, so Mike took out all but two links. He also tucked some of the wiring into the electrical box that was previously twisted around the chain (classy!). I washed the lampshades/bug cemetaries. When we rehung it, it was about 10 inches higher than before.

Just those two changes made a huge difference! The new ceiling fan is quiet and stylish and the old chandelier looks great and is no longer a noggin safety hazard.

Juggling

Incoming Fall reports.

Audit findings on Spring reports (60 or so).

Audit findings on Summer reports (83, or 1/4 with errors). [Eeek!]

Scanning and emailing all the problem reports to people who can help me figure them out.

Keeping track of errors resolved/pending (involves 6 spreadsheets so far).

Trying to keep up with incoming email, phone calls, interoffice mail.

The need to eat, drink, take potty breaks and occasionally look AWAY from my computer monitor.

Gym attendance to save sanity and figure from stress eating.

All things on the home front in various states of neglect (laundry, grocery shopping, cooking, vacuuming up tufts of cat hair).

Church stuff--Sunday school lessons, RS newsletter, missionary meetings, presidency meetings, updating RS rolls and attendance data, trying to control eye rolling during open mike Sunday.

Is it any wonder I have little energy left to blog?

Silence = Agreement

I took a break tonight from my still frighteningly busy desk to hear Paul Rusesabagina speak as part of the university's Distinguished Speaker series.

He explained the political/ethnic context leading up to the 1994 Rwanda genocide and talked us through the events as they unfolded. He said he didn't make the decision to help people survive; initially, people showed up at his home seeking refuge and he couldn't turn them away.

Although his remarks were mainly narrative, he did make several points worth repeating. First, the best (and worst) weapons humans use are the words we say. Paul recounted how he opened dialogues with soldiers and militia that lasted for hours before they arrived at some kind of agreement. Fight with words, not with guns, he advocated. Guns have never been the best solution.

Second, it's essential to listen to each other. We can't find other solutions if we don't understand the other party or what they want/need. He also said he kept his enemies close to him so he'd know what was happening with them.

His final point was to say NO to the killing fields. Don't look the other way. Don't stay silent on the issue because silence equals agreement. If we find genocide abhorrent, we need to SAY SO.

In the Q&A following his remarks, Paul said that America has been largely silent on the genocide in Rwanda. He said Africa needs diplomats to start dialogues and bring truth to the table and that America can help support these dialogues.

And if we ever despair thinking one person's action (or inaction) can't make that much difference, perhaps it's time to re-rent the movie, Hotel Rwanda.

Now: Feeling Groovy

Twas the busiest work week in recent memory--and it's not quite over.

I have a newsletter article about my job processes due tomorrow. (I hope they meant end of business because I only have one paragraph so far). I have 64 audit findings to comb through (plus 3 people the audit missed) and results to summarize for a Monday meeting.

The audit got the higher-ups attention. Yesterday, I was pulled into a meeting with key stakeholders to figure out how we can solve problems more efficiently. The top guy said that I am to ask for help if I need it and told everyone else to give help because certification isn't just my job; it reflects on everyone involved. This was a pleasing development.

And I was pleased with how I handled being called into a meeting with a dozen people and put on the hot seat to explain the problems (diplomatically) and saying where they could help.

New certifications went out today in another meeting where I fielded questions and explained processes like a pro. And I actually FELT like a pro, too. You know, that confident, I did a good routine and I STUCK THE LANDING, TOO feeling. And that feels groovy.

Overload

Spent ALL morning going over my spring reports with the woman who audited them. She shows up, we go over the discrepancies and POOF: it's lunch time.

Some known problems never got fixed. (I passed them off to people who did nothing).

Some corrected, signed reports weren't included in the audit although they were provided to the auditors.

Some employees had another work assignment pop up since the reports ran last July, which makes me feel like I'm trying to hit a bloody moving target.

FY 07 is closed, so there are some adjustments we can't make.

Certification is supposed to happen 30 days after the semester ends and all cost transfers/corrections are supposed to be completed within 90 days. If accounting is late closing the month, I can't run reports.

I stay on top of things pretty well and let go of the things I can't personally fix. But I wonder: How is anyone compliant under these circumstances?!?

After going through all the spring reports twice, the auditor said she was glad she didn't have my job. Ditto that.

Today's Mail

Nothing but a postcard from the Texas Department of Public Safety informing us there is a high risk sex offender living in our neighborhood.

Of course, I Googled the address provided to see exactly how close the guy is. The local police verified the address on January 3, but according to Google Earth, he lives in La Vista Park.

Close enough for a good case of the heebies.

Ding, dong, the Book Group's Dead

I was a slug over the holidays and didn't get around to emailing the book group about our January meeting. When I finally did, I proposed shifting A Tale of Two Cities to February and figuring out the reading schedule then.

Book group has been limping along, never attracting more than the same two or three people. One of the regulars moved and then it was just me and Melissa and one other semi-regular drop-in who usually brought her two kids along. The ward boundary changes put both regular attendees (and almost everyone on the mailing list) in a different ward.

There's been one reply to the announcement from the semi-regular letting me know that she only has time to read scriptures and materials for a class she's teaching. She said someone in her new ward (whom I don't know) is starting up a book group; maybe I could join that? She thanked me for my diligence and hoped more sisters would join me in the future.

This leaves me with two thoughts:

1. Why not hook me up with this other book group organizer and combine efforts? Unless they want to read only church lit, in which case never mind.

2. In theory, friendships or activity groups survive ward boundary changes. But in reality, not so much.

Other than book group, I barely had relationships with these women even when I saw them every week. The ones who've moved away don't keep in touch. Nor apparently do the ones who've "moved" to the McAllen 3rd ward.

I miss my lovely Pasadena Ward book group! I'm still on their mailing list. Maybe I'll just read along with them. I can't help feeling down that another enjoyable pursuit has gone belly up.

10 Weeks of Jane

I know I'm woefully behind and there is much to catch up on about the holidays, etc. I think I have now fully recovered from having all 4 step kids visit at the same time, so look for fresh content in the next couple of days.

In the meantime, enjoy this tasty treat: PBS's Masterpiece is showing Jane Austen movies for the next 10 weeks! I watched a nicely done version of Persuasion last night. I really do need to read the book.

The link below shows the 10-week lineup or check your local listings. Looks like I'll be parked on the couch Sunday nights between now and April. Awesome!

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/austen/index.html

Wreck the Halls

The top half of our tree with slightly askew bow:



And the bottom half, post-Cosby:



Also, our lovely after-Christmas dinner: filet mignon with roasted shallots and not-quite-cream sauce (in which I learn not to substitute half and half for heavy cream):

Community of Christ, Part Deux

We went to the C of C's Christmas Day potluck with a cheesecake topped with raspberry pinot noir sauce. (Ironic, no?)

After winding around the tables and self-serving the wonderful repast, we adjourned to the sanctuary to sing Christmas songs. I saw one our choir sang and suggested it. The fellow leading the music said he didn't know it and asked me to lead everyone--and slunk away chuckling, leaving me to lead the music for the rest of the songs.

After the music, we went back into the room where we'd eaten. The non-singers had cleaned up and set up for the gift exchange. The pastor, Pat, said she had brought extra gifts so the people who hadn't brought one (or hadn't known to [like us]) could participate. We drew numbers and then the gift picking/gift stealing began.

It was a pretty good natured exchange; I've seen this game get ugly--mostly at work where the gift stealing manifested along the lines of extant hostility.

The two clear canisters of cashews changed hands several times over the course of the game. One guy wanted someone to take his gift and took to saying "I have jam!" and later, "I have jam--and a DOLLAR!" One woman finally took the jam (and dollar) off his hands and he looked a little sad.

When someone stole Hetty Jane's vase, she took a full lap around the gift table with her walker checking out the opened and unopened gifts. HJ cracks me up. She's in her 70s at least and at the party the night before, she said some "old geezer" had hit on her.

Anyway, after the game we collected our spoils and went home to open our gifts. Twas a lovely Christmas all around.