Two exciting baby announcements to share!

First, I finally received photos of the absolutely beautiful Sydney Ann Madsen – daughter of equally beautiful parents Lauren & Chris Madsen.  (Lauren is my delightful former step-daughter). 

Can you believe all this dark hair!!  

Sydney was born September 10th at 5:04am, weighing in at 6 lbs 6 oz and 18 1/2 inches long.   I can’t wait to meet her!

And speaking of lots of dark hair….

A couple of days later I got an email from dear friend Amy (Pearce) Gordon introducing me to Veronica Kahaunani Gordon.  Amy and her husband Kimo are adopting this adorable angel from Guatamala, and hope to bring her home before her 1st birthday (in June).   Kimo’s mom says Veronica looks just like Kimo’s baby pictures 

So we’re keeping our fingers crossed and I’m sending positive energy their way for a smooth adoption process….    won’t you join me?  

And while we’re at it – let’s send “stay home” energy for Kimo, who is a Marine.   Looks like he may be deploying again in January…..    Amy, drop by and keep us posted on Veronica and Kimo’s deployment status!

I’m very happy for all the proud new parents, and equally delighted it is not ME! 

As I was watching a little tv and walking by a news/magazine racks this week, I realized there are several current happenings getting lots of attention – which I care absolutely nothing about. 

• Survivor: China
• Halo 3
• Angelina – Brad – Jennifer love triangle/squabbles
• Which celebrities are in rehab or jail this week
• OJ Simpson’s latest arrest
• the iPhone

What don’t you care about?

Children DO learn – but apparently, George Bush does not. 

This is priceless, especially considering the topic and audience.

There is an idiot in the Whitehouse….

As a teeneager, I dedicated whole pages of my diary to my favorite songs at the time (when I wasn’t writing about my favorite boys at the time ).   Here’s my list (in no particular order) from September 26th, 1975 when I was in 9th grade. 

Do you remember any of these?  Were they your favorites too?   You can click on the song title to listen.

• Lady (Styx)
• Aubrey , If  &  It Don’t Matter To Me (Bread)
• Smoke on the water (Deep Purple – the ultimate “stomp” song)
• Jackie Blue (Ozark Mountain Daredevils)
• Vincent (Don McLean)
• Color My World (Chicago – the official slow dance song)
• Jive Talkin (BeeGees???  I’m so embarrassed)
• Holdin’ On To Yesterday (Ambrosia)
• Trampled Underfoot (Led Zeplin…..   I don’t remember liking this one)
• Daniel (Elton John)
• Tell Me Something Good (Chaka Kahn)
• Rocky – Gonna Fly Now (I pretty much hate this song now)
• Don’t Call Us We’ll Call You (Sugarloaf)
• 2001  – No idea what this song is…. unless 2001 Space Odessy??
• Nights In White Satin (Moody Blues)
• Black Water (Doobie Brothers – and fun to sing along….)
• Sundown  &   If You Could Read My Mind (Gordon Lightfoot)
• Foot Stompin Music (Grand Funk Railroad)
• Get Down Tonight (KC & The Sunshine Band)
• Something’s Wrong – No idea???
• Ballroom Blitz (The Sweet)
• Exorcist (Tubular Bells) - (Michael Oldfield)
• Old Fashioned Love Song (Three Dog Night….  still such a classic)
• Best of My Love (Eagles – and it totally reminds me of Kevin Hill )
• Life is  Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me)  (Reunion – the FIRST rap song?)
• Frankenstein (Edgar Winter Group)
• Sunshine On My Shoulder (John Denver)

By the way, I love YouTube.

I took my camera with me when I ran errands yesterday….  I don’t often do that because it is heavy and a pain to haul around. 

But I was rewarded when I came upon a garden of dahlias – standing taller than I am – some nearly 7 feet, with blooms as big as a dinner plate. 

 The sky was lightly overcast giving me perfect lighting to capture the glorious colors.  

I’ve added several to the “Through My Lens” rotation to the right, but wanted to feature a couple of them for you here.

The gardener was delighted when I asked if I could photograph his bounty and proceeded to tell me all about his floral babies.

This one was larger than my spread hand and looked like a flower of flames….  very cool.

I’m experiencing an equal sense of hope and dread about the upcoming election.  I am SOOOO ready for a change from the idiocy we’ve been operating under for the past 7 years (which would be laughable if it weren’t so completely depressing )…..  and yet what will the change bring?

I’m looking at the polls and wonder who all these people are who are so excited about Hillary.  I’m not.  And even though I run with a pretty progressive/liberal crowd, none of my compatriots are thrilled with her either.  Most are in the Obama camp, one is true-blue Kucinich, though I think we’d vote for Hillary over any of the choices the Republicans are serving up….   but none of us want her to get the Democratic nomination, so I am curious – who and where are all these Hillary supporters??  Why don’t I know any?  Do you? 

It’s not that I think she wouldn’t make a good president, it’s that I’m really ready for a CHANGE.  A progressive change.  It’s been Bush/Clinton/Clinton/Bush/Bush for almost 20 years, and I think there is so much bad blood that it will be difficult for many to look past their hatred of her husband and give her a chance.    (At least that’s the scuttlebut I hear from my conservative relatives.)

I like Obama.  He’s smart.  He’s articulate.  He’s hopeful.  He’s inspiring.  He brings a fresh perspective.  He has the “it” factor….   he’s the kind of person I think could facilitate mending the beleagured spirit of our nation, and also rebuild our tattered and strained relationship with the rest of the world.   To bring some dignity and respect back to the office of the president.   

But I’m afraid he won’t get the nomination, and my choice will be Hillary vs. the unthinkable – she’ll lose and we’ll be in for more warmongering, wire tapping, big pharma & black water and kissing the environment, equality and personal liberties goodbye.

Which brings me back to my equal parts hope and dread.  

Kitty was stinky today for some reason, and so I gave him a bath…  did he enjoy it?

Not so much.

But he was really very good and it wasn’t nearly the struggle I had expected.  I held him in my lap, shampooing his belly before I put him in the tub… and after a brief struggle, he (unhappily) accepted his fate.  He just meowed pitifully as I shampooed and rinsed him in the tub.   I wish I had a photo to share of his pitiful little self sitting in the tub,  but I couldn’t let go of him long enough to grab the camera.

 I’m not sure if the bathroom will be his happy place any more.

First weekend in October:

Girls trip to Victoria, BC & Butchart Gardens with
Kristin, Michelle & Chris (woo hoo!).  I love it when friends can plan an adventure like this on short notice!    Thank you Southwest Airlines, for your fabulous internet specials. In addition to the beautiful scenery we’ll be taking in, I expect we’ll laugh ourselves silly.   This is going to be so much fun!

Oh, and Happy Birthday Chris!!!

2nd weekend in October:

Visit from Ashley Rae & little miss Kennedy.  I’m counting the days and can hardly wait!

 Again, thank you Southwest.

3rd weekend in October:

A short trip to Truckee, CA to spend a couple of days with Jana & meet her new husband, Jason.   Check out both of their websites – I designed both of them

I have Southwest to thank again here as well!

4th weekend in October:

A brief visit from Margie, who will be up here speaking at a business meeting.  With all the traveling she does, it’s hard to believe she hasn’t stopped in Seattle since I moved here!

Now, which of my decorating projects should I complete before they all arrive…. ???

So a new kitty moved in with me over the weekend.  He is about 6 years old and has been with the same companion for his entire life – so this was a big change for him.  He’s very sweet, but was totally freaked out for the first few days.   He spent the first day and half hiding under the pillows on my leather chair….  or behind my vcr in the media cabinet….  

The bathroom is apparently his “happy place” because that’s where he runs whenever he hears a strange noise, and where he likes to sleep his day away…..

Bit by bit he is getting more comfortable here – seems to have figured out that he’ll be fed, and petted and there are no other cats to steal his food.   And bit by bit he’s becoming more playful.  Got him to chase a laser light around last night. 

And he’s very affectionate – loves to be cradled like a baby while I scratch his head or rub his tummy. 

He came to me with the name Belli (because he lays on his back and loves his belly rubbed), but it just isn’t fitting for me….  So I need to find a name for kitty.  

Any suggestions?