This picture pretty much says it all

According to a Sept. 26-27 USA Today/Gallup poll, just 27% of Americans approve of the job George W. Bush is doing as president, the lowest rating of his presidency.

I ALMOST feel bad for him. I can just imagine his inner monologue. "Couldn't this all have waited JUST 4 months until I was out of office."

I'd say more about the country's financial crisis but I truly don't understand it. And in this way I think that the President and I relate.

The Happs

-Last Saturday my mom and I had a wedding shower for my sister. So fun! It was at Bella Sera. So yummy. I ate my weight in Bruschetta. It's not my fault- they put mozzarella on it, I couldn't help myself. Anyways I still have to post pictures.

- I finished another small quilt. (Pictures of this later also.) I really like making them. I don't know what I am going to do with these small ones since they are only a yard long but I have fun doing it so whatever. Sushi can sleep on them and then maybe one day I can cover my babies with them.

- The Office season premiere. I loved the proposal. And it's good to see Michael Scott again and hopefully there will be more than like 10 episodes this season. Rodger bought the Season 4 DVD and there definitely were not enough episodes.

- Friday night Rodger and I went to Acapulco (or oocoo booco as we like to call it). Had some really good Shrimp Enchiladas. Then we went to Pinkberry for dessert. Oh, yeah if you didn't know Monrovia has been deemed cool enough to get a Pinkberry. It's pretty good.

- I got shoes for Vickie's wedding, brought them home and realized they are too dark for the dress. So I will be returning them along with the other cute green shoes I bought, right color but extremely uncomfortable. I will probably hit the mall this week to find shoes for the wedding. Need a cute goldish colored high-heeled shoe.

- Went on a run yesterday with Rodger. I am extremely out of shape, but I want to do like a 5K or something soon so I need to get back in shape. I just have to keep telling myself that the more I run the easier it will get. We also plan on starting to swim every Saturday again after all of the wedding stuff is over.

- Excited about the Amazing Race and Desperate Housewives Season Premieres tonight. Apparently the housewives have jumped ahead five years. I know this because I keep hearing about how Eva Longoria is "fat". She looks okay to me. I mean she weighed about 75 lbs before.

- And some kid (or midget) stuck their foot on the back of my car so now I have a footprint on the trunk of my car. Never thought I would see that.

-So that's the re-cap of the happs.

Inspired

Last month my friend Eliza posted about a young mom named Stephanie Nielson who has a popular blog. Stephanie and her husband were in a private plane crash last month. She and her husband were both critically injured with severe burns to their bodies. They have four small children.

After reading about the story and linking to Stephanie's blog as well as her sister's blog I was truly inspired by the good of people. So many people jumped to the aide of this family to see if there was anything that they could do to help in any way possible.

This is a website about Stephanie and her husband's recovery and ways that you can help with that effort.




I believe there is a link to her blog, The Nie Nie Dialogues, on there. Fair warning though, once you start reading through the archives you may sit at your computer for hours mesmerized by this woman's life. The passion she has for being a wife and mother and just for everyday life in general is very moving. I haven't read all of her archives. I almost don't want to read all of her past posts, kind of like not wanting to finish a good book. It really is the strangest thing how one can feel connected to someone they have never met. I don't consider myself a very religious person but sometimes during the day I find myself praying for this woman and her family.

So have a look and maybe also take a look at the Etsy sale- http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6167643 they are having for the next two days (proceeds go to benefit the Nielsons) because if you are anything like me after you read Stephanie's blog you will want to donate your entire paycheck to the cause.

Also, if you want to know about how their recovery is progressing click on the below button for her sister's website but prepare yourself for a good cry.

Kitty Blanket

This is the kitty blanket I sewed (by hand).

Very simple, two pieces of fabric. Sew inside of fabric together, flip right side out and put the batting in then sew the last piece of the fourth side. This one is only one yard, so it wasn't very much work.

I like it. It's my first attempt since sewing my quilt during my Senior year of high school.

Also, I am planning of sewing more so I am going to give my pieces of "work" names. Partly because I think it's funny and partly because Rodger christened my quilt I made in high school "Pinky" so I feel like I should christen all of them.



This one will be called "Missy" because that's Sushi's nickname and she loves her new quilt. Can't you tell from the pictures? LOL!

Recipe for a Jewelry Board

I saw this in my mom's Family Circle magazine. I created one all my own.

Ingredients

1 cork bulletin board
1/2 yard fabric
1/2 yard batting
Stapler and staples
Pins to hold jewelry
Ribbon and thumbtack (decided on after many attempts to hang on nail, not possible with the kind of board I bought, especially after covered in fabric)
Jewelry

Directions-

-Wrap batting around cork board and staple to the back
-Wrap fabric around batting and board and staple
-Staple ribbon to back of board
-Connect two pieces of ribbon at top and pin thumbtack into wall
-Stick pins into board
-Hang jewelry on pins




This should help me remember to wear jewelry and more importantly to buy more!

This song gives me chills (no pun intended)

Shelter From The Storm
Bob Dylan

'Twas in another lifetime, one of toil and blood
When blackness was a virtue and the road was full of mud
I came in from the wilderness, a creature void of form.
"Come in," she said,
"I'll give you shelter from the storm."

And if I pass this way again, you can rest assured
I'll always do my best for her, on that I give my word
In a world of steel-eyed death, and men who are fighting to be warm.
"Come in," she said,
"I'll give you shelter from the storm."

Not a word was spoke between us, there was little risk involved
Everything up to that point had been left unresolved.
Try imagining a place where it's always safe and warm.
"Come in," she said,
"I'll give you shelter from the storm."

I was burned out from exhaustion, buried in the hail,
Poisoned in the bushes an' blown out on the trail,
Hunted like a crocodile, ravaged in the corn.
"Come in," she said,
"I'll give you shelter from the storm."

Suddenly I turned around and she was standin' there
With silver bracelets on her wrists and flowers in her hair.
She walked up to me so gracefully and took my crown of thorns.
"Come in," she said,
"I'll give you shelter from the storm."

Now there's a wall between us, somethin' there's been lost
I took too much for granted, got my signals crossed.
Just to think that it all began on a long-forgotten morn.
"Come in," she said,
"I'll give you shelter from the storm."

Well, the deputy walks on hard nails and the preacher rides a mount
But nothing really matters much, it's doom alone that counts
And the one-eyed undertaker, he blows a futile horn.
"Come in," she said,
"I'll give you shelter from the storm."

I've heard newborn babies wailin' like a mournin' dove
And old men with broken teeth stranded without love.
Do I understand your question, man, is it hopeless and forlorn?
"Come in," she said,
"I'll give you shelter from the storm."

In a little hilltop village, they gambled for my clothes
I bargained for salvation an' they gave me a lethal dose.
I offered up my innocence and got repaid with scorn.
"Come in," she said,
"I'll give you shelter from the storm."

Well, I'm livin' in a foreign country but I'm bound to cross the line
Beauty walks a razor's edge, someday I'll make it mine.
If I could only turn back the clock to when God and her were born.
"Come in," she said,
"I'll give you shelter from the storm."

One More Month

and my sister will be Vickie Madore!

Can't wait for all of the wedding festivities to start.

"Yes, please!"

Saturday morning I took the train to Chinatown to meet Rodger for Dim Sum.

Dim Sum is a Chinese brunch. The one we went to was at a restaurant where food is brought around on carts and you pay for what you pick out.



We had tea, shrimp dumplings, pot stickers, and a couple of other things (can't think of what they are called).




It was a new, fun, cultural experience for me and I am happy to say that I embraced a new type of food.


Thanks for taking me Rodger!

Rendezvous in Pasadena

It delights me to know end that my stomach still flutters when I think about seeing Rodger. We decided to meet in Pasadena tonight (by Rodger's new work) and have a little dinner date. All day I looked forward to it. When I was driving there I got that familiar twitter that I get when I think about seeing him. It's not the nervous twitter like on our first dates, the one that leaves me tongue tied so that on our very first date the only thing I think of saying is "Do you like my new shoes?" but rather it's a twitter of excitement to see him and talk to him and just be around him.


I wish I knew how to get a picture from my cell phone to my computer because then I could show all of you guys how cute he looks in his work clothes. It's beyond cute! Just imagine grey slacks, slim fitting light blue dress shirt, and the cutest faux-hawk you have ever seen.


I just love him so much I can't help it. I just want to pinch his cute cheeks, which if you ever say are chubby he will inform you "they're not chubby, they're well defined."

Here's to my cute boyfriend Rodger for whom my heart swells with love.

Just a bad angle?

Vickie ran accross this picture the other day and we all had a good laugh at my scary eyes and smile? My head also looks like it may not be attached to my neck.

I remember that was one of my favorite outfits at the time. I am actually enjoying what everyone in this picture is wearing. That is my dad, Grandpa Creekmur, and Granny in the picture with me. My granny had the coolest backyard with big avocado trees. I remember running around the yard with my sister and cousins.

Not sure how old I was in this picture (Mom, do you know?) but I was clearly still carrying the baby fat.

And I think that I will end this post by saying what Vickie said when she saw the picture (well after we were done laughing). "Don't show this to Rodger, he might get afraid of what his children will look like." Said in the most loving way possible. It's okay though, we all had a good laugh.

So Funny!

That Cow Just Brings Me So Much Joy

There is a cow up at the dairy on Mayflower and Foothill, I am sure many of you are familiar. This cow's crazy antics just make me laugh! Last year Rodger and I saw it headed out of the room it is stored in over night. Now you have to try to imagine this to see the humor. You couldn't see the person behind pushing it through the door so it looked as if it was moving on its own. We laughed for about five minutes. Right now I am laughing just thinking about it.


The other night I saw that that they had put a large gold foil medal around its neck (in honor of the Olympics), this cracked me up also. Then tonight as my mom and I drove past it I got a closer look at what the medal said. "Best Moon Jumper"! Really can this cow get any funnier?

I look forward to a great Halloween costume and festive Christmas wear for the cow up the street.

High School Never Looked This Pretty

Last night was the premiere of the new 90210. I have been eagerly awaiting this as I loved the old version. I even catch the re-runs on Soap Net every now and then. I love to watch Brenda, Brandon, Kelly, and the gang in all of their teenage angst. Last week I picked up my copy of US Weekly and much to my delight Brenda Walsh was on the cover.




I always liked the show when I was younger but my parents didn't let my sister and me watch it so we would have my cousin tape it and then watch it at my aunt's house. Once my sister and I got into high school we were allowed to watch it but that was already after the high school years were over. The college and beyond years were enjoyable but didn't hold the same excitement.

The new version of the show was great. The girls are a bit too skinny but their clothes were awesome and the story lines were drama filled. I love that Aunt Becky is on it as the mom.

Welcome back Brenda and Kelly! It's great to see you. They weren't on much last night so hopefully their story lines will increase. Kelly has a son on the show and it was hinted at that Brandon may be the baby daddy so maybe he will be returning. Plus Nat was on and the Peach Pit was turned into a coffee shop.
I didn't have the highest of expectations for the new version but they were exceeded and I look forward to watching the show every Tuesday night. You should give it a try too!

Solvang

Yesterday my parents, Rodger, and I went on a day trip to Solvang. Good weather, good food, good people.

My favorite "fudge shop". I got my favorite Rocky Road.

We also finally tried the world famous "Ableskeevers". Very good, my favorite part of was the jam.

It was a great day!