Humor From Paul

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Is it weird that I'm glad the weekend is over?

Its just felt like its been sooooo long. I feel like I need the structure of work to reel me in!

Thanksgiving day started with a trip to Starbucks. I am so in love with the fact that I can get my chai, even on a holiday, altho' I feel bad for the "kids" that have to work. At least they closed by 4 pm.

After crafting for a bit, I ate gud thanksgiving fuds at Bill & Julie's. Homer was there. (I suppose its no big deal if I tell you his name is actually Bob! : .) Post meal activities included: the guys watching Austin Powers, and Julie and I crafting.

I didn't leave the house on Friday. Not to shop, not even to exercise! I took a nap around 11 am and got up to lounge on the couch for the rest of the day. I considered going to the Harvest Festival, but its a commercial retail nightmare and I would have been tempted to buy tons of fud kits to make cakes and dips and stuff.

Made it to the gym on Saturday. It was quite crowded (by those who probably felt they overindulged on Thursday). The guy at the desk complimented me...He thought that they input my age wrong in the check-in computer, guessing I wasn't a day over 29. Ha! Ha! I admitted that I'm "almost" 44. Yikes! Say it out loud, "forty-four!" "44." I don't feel "almost" 44.

Today I was going to go to SF to the Celebration of Craftswomen. Again, not motivated to go shopping, altho' I did hit Beverly's Fabric and Crafts and Michael's to purchase a gift for the stamp club's gift exchange at this years X-mas party. Been at home since, cleaned H'Sif's bowl, and made some pancakes. Did you know that you can improve on Bisquick's pancake recipe (yes, it is possible!) by adding sugar, baking powder, and vanilla to the ingredient list. Yummy!!!

Here are the layouts I did this weekend and past...


Photo of my friend Mike(s) Pumpkin (he and his friends had a pumpkin carving party this Halloween). I had to scrap it!


You may recognize this photo from one of MadRetz's art pieces. Isn't he yummy?! Mad captured this hunk on Shipwreck Beach in Poipu on the island of Kauai when we visited there in 2005.
The quote on this final piece "Faith is walking face first and full speed into the dark" is from the book Eat, Pray, Love. The big, fat felt flowers and buttons wouldn't allow the piece to lie flat, hence the wonky scan!

If you want to see more, please Check out Nudge-Nudge and A Skosh More for my other art!

Hachisuzume & Mariposa

Estor's Mom died on unexpectedly on Monday. During the service for Mary on Friday I was playing with my kleanex and made an image of a butterfly. Early this morning, (around 1:30 am...I haven't really slept well all week, Mary's death is bringing up a lot for me) I was thinking of the service and the kleanex butterfly and wanted to tell Estor how I think of my Mom when I see or hear hummingbirds. (Hachisuzume is hummingbird in Japanese.) Maybe it would help her in her grief if she had a symbol of her mother to think about too. Lying in bed, I saw Monarch butterflies and thought, "mariposa" (Spanish for butterfly, if you didn't know that already : .) Estor's family is hispanic and some people in Mexico believe that the Monarch carries the spirits of dead ancestors to visit (on Dia De Los Muertos, November 2). It wasn't hard to see:

Mary=Mariposa=Monarch

In the mail today, I received a letter from the Nature Conservancy with a story on the plight of hummingbirds, and right there, a hachisuzume was printed on the envelope.

The Universe and Spirit speaks to me and through me.

So, in memory of loved and missed Moms, today's art...

Tag! I'm IT!!! Yeah Baby!!!

From Ragged, from Emily, from...

1. Name one person who made you laugh last night? Me, I crack myself up!!!

2. What were you doing at 0800? Reading email and enjoying my Starbucks chai latte.

3. What were you doing 30 minutes ago? Stressing over details for a meeting in Vegas next month.

4. What happened to you in 2006? I can't remember back that far.

5. What was the last thing you said out loud? But I updated that already!!!

6. How many beverages did you have today? Chai latte, green tea, ROCKSTAR, tons of H2O.

7. What color is your hairbrush? Silver and Black.

8. What was the last thing you paid for? Rockstar from the vending machine @ work.

9. Where were you last night? Crafting w/ Madretz and Kristina.

10. What color is your front door? Reddish, brown woody color.

11. Where do you keep your change? In a huge biscotti container.

12. What’s the weather like today? Overcast, cold, threatening rain.

13. What’s the best ice-cream flavor? Current best...Ben & Jerry's Creme Brulee.

14. What excites you? Scrapbook supplies, potential romance and a good workout.

15. Do you want to cut your hair? Constantly.

16. Are you over the age of 25? Yes, way way over.

17. Do you talk a lot? Someone once called me "Constant Comment."

18. Do you watch the O.C.? Nope.

19. Do you know anyone named Steven? Surely, x-boyfriend tops the list.

20. Do you make up your own words? All the time.

21. Are you a jealous person? I used to be, but now I try to calm the green-eyed monster.

22. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter ‘A’. Annie.

23. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter ‘K’. Kristen.

24. Who’s the first person on your received call list? Karen.

25. What does the last text message you received say? "Good. i dnt now patient i culd b those were good cookies." Yes, English is this persons first language.

26. Do you chew on your straw? Straws, pens, pencils, fingernails, hang nails, etc, etc, etc.

27. Do you have curly hair? I have hair that cries if you try to bend it and reverts to its straightness if I do attempt to curl it.

28. Where’s the next place you’re going to? The gym, where else?!

29. Who’s the rudest person in your life? I can't say it out loud.

30. What was the last thing you ate? Grapes, rosemary and olive oil triscuits, swiss cheese, and turkey pepperoni.

31. Will you get married in the future? One can dream.

32. What’s the best movie you’ve seen in the past 2 weeks? Blair Witch Project.

33. Is there anyone you like right now? Not really.

34. When was the last time you did the dishes? Last Thursday. Domestic engineering is not my strong suit.

35. Are you currently depressed? Deeply, darkly.

36. Did you cry today? No, not yet.

37. Why did you answer and post this? Ragged tagged me and I have to do what the voices in my head tell me to do.

38. Tag 5 people who would do this survey. Anyone can play along if they want to.