Two Princess Parties in One Day

I love my job at the tea room.  Really.  But those birthday parties can really kick my butt!  I'm running around trying to get the talent (Ariel or the Face Painter) all set up and trying to make the guests happy.  Basically, it's difficult for me to be "on" that long.  I'm not that happy of a person, people!

But the little girls all loved the party and while I'm about to fall into bed and snooze, in the end it was a success.

 

Two jobs can get in the way of stuff

If only the office looked like that and I had those clothes!

 

I'll have to quit if Margo makes me wear one of those hats-:)

 

While neither of these pics is an exact representation:  My boss at the day job isn't a meanie like the Meryl Streep character in DevilWears Prada, but the subtleties needed to manage some of the high profile people we deal with remind me of this job.  And my sister is a MUCH better cook than Lucy (thank god we don't do chocolates), sometimes our days seem a little Ethel and Lucyesque.

 

However you look at it, I'm working two jobs for a bit.  My former boss needed a fill-in for my old position (the woman hired to replace me is gone - long story).  I love my old boss who is actually my friend, so of course, I agreed. 

 

I usually leave one place to go to the other, so I'm busy seven days a week for now.  I imagine I'll wrap up the old job in another month, just in time for the Christmas season at the tea room.

 

I miss posting on here, but I have been so darn busy and it's all I can do to do the stuff that needs to happen to keep life going.  And did I mention, our Cub Scout treasurer went AWOL and I'm now doing that too???? 

 

I'll be back soon.

 

 

 

 

Just blogging

This would be the way I would choose to start my day.  Lucky dog!  As it is, I usually have about an hour of quiet before the CO Boy gets up and begins talking.  You see, once he starts talking for the day, it never ends-:).  I drink my coffee check emails and make a mental list of tasks I need to take care of for the day.  Gershwin and Mercer snuggle on the couch with me and grab a few more winks while all this goes on.

Been missing the ocean lately so this pic seemed perfect.  I wasn't one to take a swim, but I miss the smell and the general sound of it. 

You know how I resisted Facebook for years?  Well, you should always follow your gut instinct. 

I like to blog.

I like the blogging format better than the quick posting of FB. As I mentioned in one of my first FB posts, I finally acquiesced and got a FB page because I wanted to get on Pinterest.  And then I was happy to connect with some of my old friends so that worked out.  But I just am not fired up about using it for anything else, really. 

So you will see me blog and I'll post the blog link on FB with a very very occasional fly-by FB post.  I don't think you'll mind-:). 

I do have to wonder if I'm getting to that point where one just decides they no longer want to advance with technology.  You know how someone always has the aunt or grandmother who just won't work a cellphone, or the internet and then everyone gets irritated with her?  Well, I completely understand.  These poor folks have followed technology up to a point and have now said, "Nope.  Not doing it.", to anything else.

I'm there.



Let's Reflect..

I am out of sorts and have been for awhile.  Bit of a funk.  Lots going on with home, family, work, etc.  Long story short - I need to change some things.  I want to be happy and I have lots to be happy about.  Lord knows, others have a much larger plate of challenges, so I should just make it all right.  Some times, it can be difficult to do that.

I'm worn down with the needs of others.  I love those I serve.  But I'm sort of over it at the moment.  I'd like to be served, or at the very least, left alone.  Now that won't happen for a long time, I imagine, so I need to figure out how to get what I want out of my life, all the while taking care of others.  This post must make me sound like a mean ol' bat, but I normally don't whine about it, so I'll just do so for now.  Just this time.  Just this post.

I want. 

I keep starting my sentences with, "I want," and I'm sure someone somewhere will tell me it's a sin of some kind-:), and it probably isn't a good way to live anyway.  But I do want.

(It would be nice to be sedated-:))

I want some peace.  I am the biggest worrier on the planet and if I had a gazillion dollars, I'd still worry that I wouldn't be able to afford things.  Guess that comes from growing up poor and sitting at the kitchen table with my mom, counting her tips from waitressing.  Always a measure of anxiety over money.  I want it to go away.

(Snoopy's real, I keep tellin' ya.)

I want time to create.  I feel guilty when I try to create anymore.  Someone or something always needs to be taken care of so in my mind, that is the priority, not my writing or my drawing.

(NOT my closet, but oh how I wish...)

I want order.  My life is totally messy right now.  My house, my car, the list can go on.  As I've heard it said, if one part of your world is out of order, chances are, other parts are a mess too.  That'd be me.

Beautiful - must draw him one day.

I want to be around horses again.  You'd think I would, with the RD and CO Boy always riding.  But I'm usually at work when they do that.  Besides, I'm already spending a minor fortune on the CO Boy's riding.  I don't need to ride all the time.  I just want to be around the animals.

(Never looked like this, but at least I knew where my waist was)

I want to not be fat.  This spare tire disgusts me to no end.  It is the single biggest reminder of how I have let myself down.  And it saddens me that there are some folks in my life who feel satisfaction over seeing it.  (Sidenote:  I was cheering for Maria Menounos on DWTS - bummed she was kicked off.  Also, I miss dancing, but that's another post!)

All of these wants can be fulfilled.  But I am at a point where inertia has just taken over.  Rather overwhelming, but there you have it.

Okay.  I'm finished.  I will figure it out.

Thanks for listening.

Easter at our place

Mary

Today was a beautiful day here!  We spent the morning at the stables and then came home for a lazy afternoon.  I put the final (please oh please...) coat of paint on my office desk and I'm ready for the top coat tomorrow.  It'll be nice to get it upstairs and actually have a place to write.

Had a rare occasion to just browse Netflix and watch an old movie.  We watched, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir.  Do you remember that one??  Rex Harrison and Gene Tierney.  He was so handsome.  See, look:

He was way better than the guy who was in the TV series in the 70s (I think it was the 70s).

Finally, Mercer and Gershwin and I took a little nap curled up on the couch.  So rare to do that.

Hope your day was enjoyable however you chose to spend it.

Been here before

CO High Plains

This photograph could have been taken in Eastern New Mexico where I grew up.  Instead, it's in my current neighborhood.  I ask myself once again, how did this happen?  Some times I really mean it and other times I laugh about it. 

Last night we attended a birthday party for my sister.  It was located on the other side of Denver and the scenery is vastly different.  Lots of pine trees, hills, etc.  While it was beautiful I told the Roping Dummy I preferred our side of the state and it's flat land with the grown tree here and there.

I didn't really appreciate the high plains of my childhood.  I was too busy wanting to leave.  But I really appreciate my surroundings now.  Some times when I'm riding on the back road from the Sonic, drinking a cherry limeade with the windows rolled down and the Colorado Boy beside me, I think of a happy moment from my youth.

Now to be honest, if someone gave me a little house on Catalina Island, I wouldn't think twice and I'd haul all of us back to CA.  But for now, we will ride down the back road and drink our cherry limeades.

The Evening with Hercule Poirot

David Suchet as Poirot

Last night I came home from the tea room and we had pizza and curled up to watch a Poirot mystery.  The Colorado Boy likes this particular series and that makes me very happy.  Sometimes we have to pause the movie (we watch through our Netflix stream) and explain something to the CO Boy but he enjoys the mystery just the same. 

Its cold today and I'm up early to go to the tea room.  Lots of guests and a catering order await.  It's all good.

Enjoy your day!

I've been online, just not here

Best In Show (she's got nothin' on Gershwin-:))

Life is good!

I've been blogging, but over at The Denver Tea Room.  I've done some interviews with three wonderful romance writers who will be at our Book Lovers Salon Tea on February 26th.  Should be lots of fun as nothing is better than scones, tea and books.  It would be perfect if I could wear my pajamas, but alas, they expect clothing. 

In Don & The Roping Dummies news, we have a new date set for the CD release party.  So if you're in town on March 2nd, please join us at The Cool River Cafe for fun and music.

Been busy at the tea room.  Valentine's Day was unexpectedly busy.  When the day began we only had a few reservations but then the phone started ringing with some panicked voices and we helped them out! 

Today is all about Cub Scouts.  The Colorado Boy has his Blue & Gold Banquet tonight.  The boya receive specific achievements and eat lots of spaghetti and garlic bread.  Big time in downtown Brighton tonight!

Snow Day

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: vmburkhardt.tumblr.com via Sylvie on Pinterest

 

The biggest storm of the year, is what they're calling it.  20 inches expected down toward Colorado Springs and about 12 inches here on the plains. 

 

Regardless, we will trek down south this evening where we will have the CD release party for Don & The Roping Dummies.  So don't let a little snow put you off if you're in town and come on out!

 

 

 

 

The end of the road can't come too soon

Photo by Clifford Oto

I'm pretty much right here in terms of accomplishing everything I need to accomplish.  Sort of overwhelming and I'd like to just sit down in the middle of the road to be run over but, alas, one must attend to all commitments. 

School begins next Wednesday and I am beyond sad.  I do not want it to start and I mean that in the larger sense.  Everything becomes crazy once school begins:  School, homework, religious education classes, scouts, and then continuing with horses and guitar.  Somewhere in there, I'm supposed to clean my house, do the laundry, make dinner and go to work, as well as work at the tea room.  And then there's the Nissan Sentra-sized tire around my waist which needs some work, as well as the writing I long to do.

I think I need an attitude adjustment to get me through the next two months.  True, everything will still be at a frantic pace, but certain aspects of our lives, such as scouts and religious ed. will be off and running. 

I believe this will be me very soon.  I will send myself to bed and just read.  I'm due for one of those days/weekends.  A Pajama Day is coming soon.

But tonight we go to the county fair where I shall ride the rides with the CO Boy and watch the rodeo.  Sounds like fun to me!  However, I've scheduled an appointment with my chiropractor for tomorrow so he can undo the damage on my poor bones after being tossed around on the rides-:).



Do I Look Crazed???

I sure feel crazed.  Been a busy couple of months.

Summer has just breezed by and I want about three more months of it.  We've had a good time the past couple of months but it's been chock full of stuff.  The CO Boy begins 3rd grade on August 10th!

I need to post photos of my living room floor!  (sorry for the nonexistent transition there). I simply adore it.  When the RD comes back from his gig, I'll steal the camera and take a few shots.  So once I got the floor finished I moved on to getting the remaining carpet clean and it really makes such a difference.  Of course Ella, Gershwin and Mercer will soon take care of my clean carpets.  If they weren't so darn cute, I'd make throw rugs out of them-:).

My nerd group meetings with the niece and nephew have been sporadic this summer, but the last one was extremely helpful.  The niece read the manuscript that has been waiting for finishing touches, and she was able to offer some substantial suggestions.  I'm actually eager to write again.  I've tried focusing on one manuscript at a time - finish it and then move on.  But my brain doesn't work that way.  I'm a butterfly, not a panther.  So I work on MS for a bit and then my attention is captured by another.

I've had precious little time to write these days but I can never go too far from it.  It's like a rock in your shoe.  Just bugs you until you take it out. 

I'm halfway through cleaning out the Lego room, people!  It could happen!  But perhaps not tonight.  The CO Boy has gone up to Vail to visit the RD's cousin so we have a weekend without him.  The RD and I have a hot date tomorrow night, but tonight, he's at a gig and I'm going to crawl in bed with my pups and read.  Yesterday's bootcamp kicked my butt, or rather my legs.  Waaaay too many squats. But remember, bounding is the objective here...I shall be a bounder one day instead of collapsing on the grass.

Friends

Drawing by Cecil Aldin

I don't have many "real live in-person" kind of friends, but of those few, I have some good ones.

Last night, I had a great meeting with the Nerd Club.  The Nerd Club is made up of my neice and nephew and moi.  We all write in one form or another and so our meetings surround the writing process, our goals, our frustrations, etc.  I used to babysit these two (they're cousins, not siblilngs, btw) and it's a real pleasure to know them as adults.  The photo above is of lazy puppies - a non-activity we have elevated to an artform!

Regarding the artwork, I LUV Cecil Aldin's work.  He was an illustrator known for his animal drawings, particularly dogs and horses.  I draw animals and can only dream to do work as beautiful as this.  But I keep trying-:)

(Gene and friends)

And then this afternoon I had a lovely visit with two girlfriends.  We met through our boys but have our own friendships which are a treasure  This was our first outing sans boys and we've decided on a monthly visit because it was glorious to sit there without boys!  Now we didn't sing and dance ala Gene, Debbie and Donald, but a great time was had nonetheless.

Of course you knew it wouldn't be too long before I posted a Gene photo.  For you newer readers, I adore him.  I could watch Gene Kelly movies 24/7 and be quite happy, thank you.  His dance sequences are mesmerizing and I could rewind over and over to see them. This particular shot is from Singing in the Rain. 

I've often read of the importance of being with friends.  You live longer, you're happier, etc.  But with this HP Life, it becomes so difficult to find the time.  But I can say I came home last night feeling cheered about life, and then today as well.  I must remember this.

Work day tomorrow and the CO Boy is after me to crawl in bed and draw. 

So that's what we shall do.

Gus and The Colorado Boy

He is a patient soul in his mid-teens.

He is many times the size of the little people he allows to lead him.

And the Colorado Boy wishes Gus could live in our backyard.

I love to watch them as he learns to ride.  Gus already knows how - many times over.  But the CO. Boy is catching on.  This was only his third lesson, and his first lesson back since the broken arm incident in September.  He had no problems remembering what Miss Kim had taught him.  Kids are amazing that way.

The CO Boy's papi pretended to be Gus as Miss Kim reviewed some basic reining with him.

Finally, some balance work and then a little trot to end the day.

The Church says animals don't have souls and don't go to heaven.  Well, strike me down if you like....'cuz I'm certain my sweet dog, Basie is saving a spot for Gus.





Why'd I switch and what's with the name?

Some of you have been with me at my old blog, LittleRuthie (LR).  I'd been there for a time, but when I decided to blog again, LittleRuthie didn't feel right (plus it's a Typepad blog, and I'm not wanting to pay up any longer.)

But also, my life has changed so much since I first began blogging at LR.  I wanted a change. 

And I sort of liked the name, "Hautes Plaines Girl".  Part of me is squarely in my world here on the Colorado plains.  I enjoy the open space and the annual county fair.  I mean, what's not to like about funnel cakes and 4H livestock judging, I ask you?  But the other part of me still wants to learn French, go to France and study and just live a life with a little less cub scouts, 8-yr. old baseball and Taco Bell.

But I'd be missing this:

The Colorado Boy's first time to sing publicly with his Papi (dad).

Or,

Colorado Boy in Utah with his papi.
And finally...

Fishing after school

So that's what's up with the name.  I'm conflicted.

Thanks Mary-Laure and Margaret for your French grammar advice.  I'm pretty sure, I'd have botched it up all on my own.  The whole gender agreement thing just messes with me.