Completely and Utterly Exhausted

We worked our butts off this weekend getting the decorations put out in the yard, making "frames" etc. for some of our items to be placed upon (issues we did not anticipate having) and working long hours. It is Sunday at 9:30pm and I'm writing this then going to bed.

The show's still on for Sunday December 2nd :) We got a sample this weekend in our garage with the door shut and lights off...........it's pretty exciting.

If you can't make it that day - please do a drive by some other night. The times the show will be playing and directions on our my website:

http://www.skagitchristmas.com

I'll write more soon!
Randi

Bad Words!

I just typed the longest, most interesting blog post ever - went to publish it - and it gave me a stinkin' error. I'm saying very bad words at it.

I'll type out it again tomorrow ok?
Have a good one!
Randi

Hi Gang!

I haven't been the best at updating my blog - and I don't think I ever will be. May you be entertained at my few posts that I do write! :)

I'm getting very excited for the holiday season! I can't believe Thanksgiving is next week! I think I get more excited for the day after Thanksgiving (shopping) than I do eating of the turkey! K & I are not huge shoppers, but we like to go through the adds and pick up what we need giftage wise that day. Last year we got some pretty good deals! We'll be spending the Thanksgiving here at our house with family visits on Friday.

We started hanging some Christmas lights today! :) My cousin's husband (Shaun and Jenae) bless their hearts have been the biggest help to us - mechanically - to maybe get this show done right! :) Shaun helped to mount our radio station box (which turned out AWESOME!) and he came today and helped re-wire a special 30 amp plug for my Animated Lighting. I will be turning my lights on before the "turn on" party to make sure it all works - but I will be setting my alarm for the middle of the night so no one else see's it but Kauleen and I! :)

Works been OK latley. SLOW. With the market kind of dropping out (plus the winter being our slow months already.....) we could be achin' for some bacon by January. We'll see.

Since the word is out to most people in my family already........I thought I'd start posting about our "baby" tries :) yep.....you heard it - baby tries. This way, maybe if I post about it - someone who is rich and famous will send us money and/or fresh sperm when needed :) I'll try to explain it all......but unless you're doing it and understand - it can be quite complicated.

We've tried inseminating with Randi (me) 2 times. Both times did not take. We decided after the last try that we'd try an "FSH" cycle - meaning a medicated cycle - making more eggs - more targets for the "boys" :) To make a long story short, it was a week of pure stress (getting time off of work every day) and having my sweet cousins (yep, same as above) make a special drug-rep hand-off for another drug to make me not ovulate (as we were pushing my bodies timing....). I made over 20 eggs. We didn't hope for a football team.......we had just hope for 1 and/or maybe 2. We'd take whatever we're supposed to have. :) So, I went through all of the testing, many an ultra-sound, lots of discussion between K & I and the doctors/nurses......and come Thursday when my eggs were not separating big from small - we decided to forego this cycle. Yep, we've paid for it. BUT, the doctor's office has stated our next cycle will be free (minus the medicine). They will put me on different medicine and watch me a bit more closely this time also. UNFORTUNATLY, I can't do it December (it's stressful as is with holiday etc.) but I have jury duty right smack dab in the middle of the cycle - AND - I've already been excused from doing 2 weeks - to just doing 1 week. So, we're forgoing until January. I'm really wanting a baby......we're ready. We've been together almost 5 years now.......:) and enjoyed our time - and have lots of love and space for another human being :) plus, my parents want grandbabies too. :)

I am enjoying my time alone tonight :) and hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving........

Randi

Christmas Website Finished!

http://skagitchristmas.com

Check it out! :)

Randi

Mornin'

It is Saturday A.M. and I've been up since 5:50am! *gasp* I was pretty exhausted last night (for no apparent reason) but went to bed at 8:30. I seem to notice a pattern of going to bed early on Friday nights.......the work week must be exhasting! :)

We were planning on heading to Coulee this weekend, but decided to stick around here due to some low funds. We have 2 heaters that need to get over there, but we'll take them next weekend. :o)

We are almost done with our Merry Christmas letters - I only have one M and one A to make (and will finish it this weekend!) and be done. My cousin Shaun is helping us a bit with a few things too...........it sounds like we may put in another electrical box for Christmas lights :)

My TURN ON Party is Sunday December 2nd at 5:00pm. Soup and bread will be served. If I don't send you out an "official" invitation - please feel free to come - just let me know so I can make enough soup. DRESS WARM!!! (it could be cold/wet)

Works going just fine.......no more layoffs as of yet.

That's it for now..........more later.
Randi

Weekends are TOO short!

I've had a very fun weekend (and work last week wasn't too bad either!) :)

We have something that is called "Education Day" and it is a trade show held every year. They have a theme for it and then each business (banks, inspectors, etc.) put on a booth. I can't remember for the life of me what the theme was last year but Chicago Title did The Wizard of Oz (I may have some pics on the blog a ways back...) and we won first place. It was a blast.

This year, we didn't have a marketer but had a few guys jump in about a month before it - that we're helping us out. Well, they ended up being laid off like a week before........... oh joy. SO, I took control and here's what we did:

The theme was "Everday Heroes". We had contemplated lots of heroes - super heroes, police man, fire men, etc. Kauleen had the greatest idea. :) Get a classroom of kids to draw a picture of their everday heroes and we'll display them. THEN it went on more to be donating blood and having the blood bank come. Well........we didn't get the blood bank - BUT we did get the kids. They were *adorable*. They were from a 2nd grade class and from a 5th grade class. (Some of the heroes were: George W. Bush *lol*, my aunt, my dog, yoda.. :) They were really funny some of them.

WE WON FIRST PLACE!!! :)

I couldn't believe it! I was there to help "setup" and one of the other ladies that was at the trade show when they announced it called me and let me know! So, we get another free booth next year...........

No one was laid off this week :) that's always a more secure feeling. We've been having to cut a lot of people.......just because our numbers aren't where they should be. (It's coming down from the big wigs!). It's always a bit unsettling........I feel I am pretty secure :)

Kauleen's been taking a class called "Electricity for the Homeowner" at a local community college. She's learning lots! She has one more class to go.

I took a class at the same college on Saturday from 9-1 - Photoshop Elements. I am very excited to get my hands on a copy of it to play with!! :)

We decorated last weekend for Halloween - that was fun. We got a few bales of hay from a friend from work, and put up some "caution tape" with orange C9's and black C9's around the window. We'll put up the blow up spider, screaming door mat, scary music, and our headstones with hands out the night before :) It's fun being a kid!

Yesterday after my class we spent the afternoon with K's nieces (4 y.o, 2 y.o, and 7 month old twins!) It was a blast! We went to a local pumpkin patch! They got to play in a jumpy house (but it was filled with balloons swirling all around) and ride on a train/tractor, one got their face painted, the other visited the petting zoo. I got a few pics that I can possibly post.....but waiting for my copy of elements as their will be some lighting issues. :)

Today I plan on hanging out in my sweats all day and enjoying it! I have a few magazines to read, a few letters to finish..... (BTW, I am looking for red 50 mini christmas lights (I'd take 150!) but they need to be outdoor. PLEASE PLEASE, if you find them for a reasonable price (we're talking 2 dollars) let me know!

My grandpa made me a box for my radio sign.......that I still need to post pics of, btw......it looks great! I can't wait to paint it. At this point I'm just waiting for Halloween to get over so that I can put up my Christmas stuff. The first "sunny" day of November we're putting it up.

For those who want to come - I'm having a "TURN ON" party on December 2nd at 5:00pm! We'll be having some soup/bread and then hitting the lights! :) I cannot wait! (my mom and dad are coming for it!)

I think that's it for now...........

someone who reads here is having a Birthday soon.......... *smile*

Randi

Hi Friends!

I haven't had any ambition to post anything! I've thought about it several times, but just haven't done it!

What a beautiful day we had yesterday huh? (if you don't live in NW Washington......well, it was a sunny, non-windy, beautiful day!) I mowed the yard and then we setup Halloween decorations. We don't do a *a lot* in ways of decorating for Halloween.......I have to save my energy for Christmas :)

Speaking of which, we have all these letters done:

E-R-R-Y C-H-R-I-S :) one more "M" is cut out and one more "S" is cut out! We have 6 more to do (whole letters) and we're done. I AM NEVER DOING ANOTHER LETTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! These letters will span pretty much my whole garage door.........over 18 feet in length when finished.

I got my sign made for my Radio Station 101.9fm. :) it looks awesome. My grandpa is making me a frame to put it into. I'll post a picture of the station sign sometime maybe later today.

Work has been kind of crazy and a bit un-settling to a few. We've laid off 3 people and one person has voluntarily taken some paid time off for the slow months. (We hate to lose her........but its best for her family right now). So, we are really just trying to get by......one day and a time. (the lay offs affect me but not my department, thankfully - yet!)

We have been told we can't have a Christmas Party. (Last year we rented a room at the Skagit Casino and it ROCKED!) This year we're told we can't do anything of that sort (we can still use some money to buy food) but can't rent any place? Anyone know of a place that'd hold about 50 people for cheap/free?

We headed to Coulee a few weekends ago to meet an electrician that never made it. (long story) It was obviously meant to be. Since that day, we discussed with a guy that lives near my parents and he kind of gave us the run down of what we need to do........and we were a bit ahead of ourselves. :) You know how it is when you have a product that is never finished - you just want it done??? It won't be done for awhile..........years.

Kauleen is taking an electrical class at Whatcom Community College to learn a bit more about electrical and our Christmas Lights. It is 3 Thursdays from like 6:30-9pm. I'm going to take a class on Photoshop and it starts on Saturday and runs from like 9-1pm. I am excited!

Anyone here good with graphics/photos? OR know anyone that can help me make a cool website/logo/banner for my Christmas webpage??? If so, let me know!!

Wifey just got up so am going to go have some coffee...............

I'll post again soon!!
RANDI

Merry Christmas Letter H

Merry Christmas Letter H
Originally uploaded by kauleen_randi

Merry Christmas Letter E

Merry Christmas Letter E
Originally uploaded by kauleen_randi

I finished my FIRST letter of Merry Christmas (notice I'm missing the "M"?) Well......we're not going in any certain order - other than - the easiest letters to cut out first!

I need to make my radio sign (101.9 FM for those who wanna know now!) but need to finish one project before continuing on.

I made about 2 letters today, my fingers are raw from the zip ties.....and I screwed up the "H" from my brain having to concentrate too hard on the little squares. I think I can only done 1 letter a day.

Randi

Rosa

rosa sleep
Originally uploaded by kauleen_randi

Here's the hellion taking a bit of a 'CAT NAP" :)

She's been keeping us on our toes latley. I worked late the other night (our anniversary! ;o) and Kauleen came home and was going to surprise me with an Apple Pie and she ended up calling me at work because my cat was crying and had been trying to poo and couldn't! (You know, animals NEVER are sick during vet normal hours - ever!) So we called the vet, watched her the rest of the night and she was fine.

Well, today we were going to head out for a bit.....and she was sleeping in her CAT BOX! What in the world?! Cat's sometimes sleep in their box when they are frightened (like at stores, etc.) but CATS do NOT sleep in their box.

So, we locked her up all day (with 3 other cats - you never know whose done what of the bathroom duties) and made sure she pee'd and poo'd before we let her out. Sure enough, she did both........and seems to be fine.

THIS is a cat that just a few months ago was 8lbs - wouldn't eat the food - and was very boney. Well, we took her in to get checked and everything was fine. SHE had lost all this weight from being picky and not wanting the food she's ALWAYS ate. *sheesh* So, we're now buying her expensive food - she's eating it - she's now 11lbs - and thankfully none of the other cats will eat it - so we don't go broke on feeding the stinkin' picky cat. LOL

Have I told you I love her to pieces???? who couldn't!

Official Card Carrying Homo's

Domestic Partner Reg1
Originally uploaded by kauleen_randi

Kauleen and I are now official card carrying domestic partners - thanks to the Washington State Domestic Partnership Law. This law does not allow us to have health benefits (which is what one day we pray we are allowed) but it does allow us hospital visitations, and if one of us dies without a will, we will be able to disperse of the assets as needed.

http://www.secstate.wa.gov/corps/domesticpartnerships/

Randi

Tube in Ear

I had a tube put in my right ear today! It is unplugged now and feeling a little weird (almost echo-eee) but hopefully will help with the itching/pain.

So, K and I took the day off. I needed someone to take me to and from and so we've been hanging out doing stuff around the house. :) It's nice to get a day off to just relax. She's taking a nap right now..........

Randi

All Messed Up!

I have my days all messed up with the 3 day holiday weekend. I tried naming the post what day it was - typed and had to re-type more than 2 times! :) I finally figured out it is Monday. :)

We went to Coulee for the weekend and spent time with the family. It was very enjoyable. We headed out early Saturday morning (makes it wayyyyy less stressful than at night - with deer and all) and the sun was shining and it was a beautiful drive. The trees are just barely starting to turn colors......I LOVE FALL! (but I wish we would've had more summer!!)

We did a bit more painting....and still have probably one more day of paint to go. Sometimes it just so hard to see the end! (This will be 2 coats on the whole thing......then onto the trim!).

We're working on getting hooked up our tankless water heater, 2 wall heaters and 2 outdoor lights. We just need to get the electrical hooked up/re-done. Getting anyone to do anything in a small town, can be a very gigantic task. We're working on it though......after this - we'll have the roof re-done before even trying to start the inside.

I did get my haircut for those who were curious :) It isn't what I was thinking of..... is shorter - but if you saw me in a picture - you'd just see it as shorter. The back has a bit if a different style - but I can't see the back!! :) So, I'm going to grow it back out......thankfully it grows back :o)

We've been eating our corn quite regularly. :) We took 8 ears to Coulee. It is downright yummmy!! We planted about 70 stalks......so we have quite a bit left. We have lots of cucumbers still, onions, strawberries (we have ever-bearing...meaning they grow all summer) and even some carrots left I think. YUM! It was been way fun reaping/sowing the benefits of OUR OWN garden!

I'll get a picture taken of the new-do - maybe tomorrow and get it posted on here.

Take care!

Hi!

I'm so proud of myself for updating my blog at least once a week. IF it hadn't been so busy this week at work and with life, I would've updated it mid-week - I thought about it a few times. A lot has been going on....

Last weekend K & I went to the Skagit PFLAG Picnic (Parents, family/friends, lesbians and gays) kind of a support group locally. We hadn't been to any functions, but really enjoyed our time. I ended up getting us to this ladies house an hour earlier than the picnic *oops* but it allowed us to meet people more on a personal level, than with 55 people there. We saw some people we had already knew and met knew people. It was great being around a group of people that is all loving and accepting. :) The picnic is open to everyone.....so let me know if you want to go next year! :)

Dad's enjoying California. The traffic I guess is horrendous. He bought himself a new toy this week........a laptop. Talk about jealous.

I've made my decision though, I'm sticking with the animation for the lights. I am excited to do Halloween a bit too. I will be getting started on my radio sign (and am hoping maybe my Grandpa can help me make something sturdy for the sign) and then finish my Merry Christmas letters.

At work, some changes are coming down the pike........which will help me greatly.

Kauleen and I are coming up on our 4th year Anniversary on Sept. 6th :) She sure is a huge blessing to me. We were going to do something, but decided that we'll save up and do something maybe later in the year.

My sister and her husband are in town right now hanging out. They came over to help my cousin do hair for a wedding. We have a mutual friends' baby shower to go to this afternoon. Baby Abby. :)

I am thinking of cutting my hair off!! I got some inspiration from a family member (MJ! I love your hair!) and am kind of just sick of my hair. Here's the picture.......

My sister tells me that I had my haircut like this already, just styled differently. NOW, I'm not the one for styling - am very special when it comes to that. I just can't do it. I'm lucky I can figure out how to STRAIGHTEN my hair, let alone do anything else with it. SO, I need something very messy/straight forward. PLUS, I don't want bangs. I've grown my bangs out now (hard work) and I never want them back!!

I think that is it for now. Hope everyone is doing well.

Love you all!

Randi

Lazy Saturday...

Hello Everyone!

It's the weekend again, yahoo!! This work week went by pretty fast thankfully. I'm having a lazy day. I had plans to get a lot accomplished, and don't even have the energy to do anything FUN (getting my toes done) let alone anything NOT fun (cleaning, work, etc.) No energy. Could that be from having gone to bed after 12am last night (after a Seattle Mariner baseball game, thank you to our company and awesome seats/tickets!!) and getting up to an alarm at 7am? :) I think a nap is in store after awhile.

Tomorrow Kauleen and I are going to go to a local PFLAG picnic gathering. We haven't ever been to anything of this sort, but had heard of it awhile ago. I contacted the head person of the local PFLAG Skagit and she invited us to the picnic at her house. I am totally going out of my comfort zone for this one, but hope to meet maybe some like-minded people and make friends.

This coming weekend Ryan (my sister) and her husband will be here from Thursday-Sunday. I haven't seen her since March so it'll be fun to hang out. She is coming over to help out my cousin with a wedding (doing hair..)

The weekend after that is Labor Day and tentative plans are to spend that with my parents. We'll see if it works out. I get very overwhelmed in having this busy of a schedule. Makes me want to curl up in bed and hide!

I'm still contemplating the christmas light/laptop scenario. A battle within myself.

That's all I feel up to posting today.........maybe something a bit more enthusiastic soon.

xoxo.

Work Week's Done!

Some weeks just feel as if they drag on forever! This week was kind of nice because we didn't have something planned we had to do *every* night. We came home, cooked dinner, did some exercising, weeding, and read and/or played on the computer. It was just enjoyable!

We don't really have any plans for the weekend - just hanging out. We're going to drop some yard waste off at a local dump place and then hit a few garage sales, maybe a farmers market or 2 :o) That's about it. Sunday we're discussing going into work (we could use the extra money).

My dad leaves in one week for his job in California. I hope he enjoys himself.

This coming Friday we get to go to a major league baseball game on the company! That'll be a fun time. We'll help Kauleen's sister paint their new house on Saturday. AND on Sunday, Kauleen and I will step out of our comfort zone and go to a PFLAG (Parents, families of lesbian and gays) - kind of like a support group/can't think of the right words for the other part of it! BUT, that'll be fun. They hosts meetings in town once a month and this is their once a year picnic. :) I hope to get involved.

I'm still tossing back and forth the Christmas lights..........I'll let you know the decision when it is made.

I counted 52 ears of corn this afternoon!! AND probably a good 6 beans :) We also have a few cucumbers coming on......and the Kohlrabi is about done.

I'm pooped. I'm headed off to bed.
Randi

Goals, blah, blah...

Kauleen and I have been working on a goals latley - what we really want to do. Our latest has been to pay off debt. We are $18,000 in debt (that includes a truck!) and we were hoping to have it paid off in December. Well, that isn't working as we had wished with the paychecks, etc......but we're now aiming towards March. The stinky thing with paying off debt, is any extra money goes towards it - period. That means, no new clothes (unless maybe at Salvation Army - but if you have long leggies like myself, you'll NEVER find pants tall enough!) and maybe your toes done and/or a massage here and there - but very rarely. It just is kind of a downer. I'd love to have those things paid off (can't even imagine how we'd live with that money coming in) but I guess I just need to get creative with the things we *can* do and not focus on the things we *can't*. Help me? anyone ideas???

In discussing our goals, Kauleen and I had discussed maybe taking a trip to Mexico for her 40th Birthday. Well, in paying off debt......that's not going to happen. So, we decided we could take a small trip (Las Vegas, Yellowstone, Glacier) and I said I didn't really care where we went - especially if I had a laptop. Well......... that then soared into......If you sell your Christmas stuff, you can buy a laptop. *ugh!*

NOW, I love my Christmas stuff. I got a lot of damn cool stuff for this years display - but also know that I'd use my laptop way more than I'd ever use my Christmas lights. ALSO, if I did sell my Christmas stuff, come this Christmas - I'd probably want it back.........BUT Kauleen has promised that if I don't make her help me figure out what lights plug in where and how to get them there - she'll put lights in every nook and cranny of the house.

So, that's been my toss up lately. Christmas Stuff or Laptop?

What's your suggestions???

If you'd buy a laptop - what brand/why? I am thinking HP, built new for me, and/or Apple (that'd be a HUGE change for me - but they seem a bit more reliable!)

I haven't had any energy latley - zip - none. I just want to go to work, come home and crash. I get that way sometimes......and it passes.

Tomorrow is Wednesday! YES!!! :)

I'm signing off..........
Randi

Our Weekend In A Nutshell...

We had a very fun weekend, somewhat non-eventful. Friday night we had planned to do something fun, but by the time rolled around to 5pm, all we wanted to do was come home and crash! We ended up grabbing some chineese and just hanging out!!

Saturday, we had a few errands to run (library books, down comforter at dry cleaners, etc.) and then we were waiting for the arrival of Braxton, our hairdresser's kid (who is 4!). We get free haircuts, and we watch him overnight.

He is never quite happy being dropped off, but calms down after about 5 minutes. We laid down immediatley (had been sleeping in the car) and he slept from 12:50-3:20!! He was so enjoyable when he woke up! We took him to the beach, played in the water and with the sand/rocks, rolled around in the dirt, played on the toys, cooked some hot dogs and only ate the bun with ketchup and mustard! :) and just enjoyed each other. We came home and he took a bath and then we watched Barnyard (funny movie!) and we all crashed!

This morning we woke up at 7am *yawn* and played for a bit outside weeding, playing in more dirt :) and blowing up the basketball, etc. We tired him out because when mom came to get him around 11:00am.....he was sleeping on me, again! :)

He was attached at my hip. He sat on my lap anytime I sat down. He stood by me anytime I stood up. Literally, attached :)

After he left, we enjoyed some quiet time.....at lunch and ran into town to do some errands (Grocery shopping - oh joy!)

We decided we're going to try for the next 2 weeks to not eat any flour, sugar or dairy (specifically the dairy for me). I haven't been feeling the hottest latley, and when we did the elimination diet, this is pretty much what we didn't eat. So, we got some carrots out of the garden, 3 kohlrabi, and we got some grapes, watermelon, peas and cucumbers. We've cut everything up for fresh/easy eating. :) I am sure this will make us feel better about ourselves too.

I've started reading the 2nd Harry Potter Book. I'm enjoying it. Kauleen has now started the 7th book......and is enjoying it too. We are just finishing up the laundry for the work week :)

Tomorrow is K's grandma is turning 94! How amazing it'd be to live that long! :)

Here's some pics of the beach! :)

Love you all!!

Friendly Sniffing.....

friendly sniffing B & W
Originally uploaded by kauleen_randi

This was taken last night too - of Rosa and Clover. They ended up swatting right after this.....but you do not capture these moments with cats very often! :)

Garden Kitty

Rosa B &W
Originally uploaded by kauleen_randi

I took this picture last night of sweet Rosa :)