So, the weekend before last (the first weekend of October), I went backpacking at Mt. Rogers, VA. It was a girl power camping trip. We hiked, cooked, drank, and peed in the woods. Really, the last was quite the topic of conversation. It was awesome. And the best part? Wild ponies.

Cdub and I went to the parade of homes this weekend. We found a loft for me to live in; I am now taking up a collection. We did not find a $1.3M farmhouse for me to live in, because I would not pay $5 for it.

When I got home from work today, the boys were listening to the stereo. Avril Lavigne. Clearly, the boys do not have good musical tase. Although Ri does love Nelly's "Air Force Ones."

As some of you may know, I went for an Echocardiogram a few weeks ago. Today, I got a letter from my primary care physician with the results. It says, "Very Mild Endocarditis. No antibiotics needed." Now, if you have clicked the link, you know that this is something I will be discussing further with the doctor. But the best part of the letter? That is the part where immediately after they tell me I have inflammation in my heart, they say, "Have a nice day."

So, for those of you who haven't met the boys, let me introduce them.

This is Orion:

Orion will tell you he is the Alpha cat.  Orion is wrong, but we let him have his delusions.  Orion likes to give bonks, but sometimes they turn into headbutts.  Orion is not afraid of anything and really really wants to go outside.  Except for when he sneaks out and gets scared.  If you come over, he will love you, especially if you are also a guy.   Orion's nicknames are Ri, RiRi, and Mr. Ri. 

This is Jasper:

Jasper is the Alpha cat.  He lets Orion think otherwise most of the time, but he does lay down the well-deserved smackdown on occasion.  Jasper is pretty and sweet, and has the breath of a vulture.  See, he has this disease that is making him lose his teeth (current count: 5), and we are just working on keeping him as pain-free as possible.  He does let me know when his mouth hurts.  Jasper is afraid of fireworks and thunder and hides at the top of the stairs when he hears them.  Jasper is a former street cat who has no interest in returning outside.  Jasper's nicknames are Jaz, Jazzy Jaz Jaz Man, Mr. Man, and Dr. J (only Cdub uses the last).

So, the boys usually get along.  Also, they are entertaining.  They have been known to convince Cdub to feed them when I am being neglectful (OK, that was all Ri).  I have come home to the TV on.  I have come home to the stereo on (Avril Lavigne, proving that their taste in music is not so good).  I have watched Jasper fall down the stairs whilst chasing his tail.  I have seen Ri run into a wall.  Right now, they are lying near me wondering when I'll stop typing and pet them.  I think now would be a good time.

It has come to my attention that even though high voter turnout is expected for this election, there is still a large number of eligible voters who will not be voting.  I understand the apathy; I do not like the choices being presented to me and am skeptical that the outcome will have any effect my life, either postively or negatively.  That said, I really have not been in the "adult" world for an administration change before.  I will therefore not tell you who to vote for- that is your decison.  I will not tell you for whom I am voting, as that is my right.  What I will tell you is why I will be voting this year.

I vote to honor the memories of Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Susan B. Anthony, who campaigned for women's rights and suffrage for over 50 years and never gained the right to vote themselves.  I vote to honor the memory of James E. Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner, whose bodies were found in an earthen dam in August of 1964.  They had been working to register black voters in Mississippi.  I vote in reverence to the men and women who have died while fighting to protect our freedom and those of others.  I vote because many of the world's citizens do not enjoy the political freedoms I do.  I vote because I can.

So, had a busy weekend.  First, with the redesign of the blog, then with the life stuff.  Saturday I ran into work to fill up the reserviors for my project and now look, everyone's asleep because, BORING!

After that, I was meeting my friend Gail for lunch before bells (bell choir is curretly being run by the bell nazis.  It is not fun, but I don't think leaving is a option.), but I was early, so I went to Stein-Mart, where, after weeks of searching, I found a fall/winter jacket (don't need heavy duty here).  For $30.  I didn't buy it because of the cheap; that was a bonus.  Anyway, then I met Gail (Buffaloe's cafe, yum!), then bells.  Then I couldn't go home from church the usual way because of the stupid State Fair.  So, I took the beltine home, only to get stuck in (wait for it) STATE FAIR TRAFFIC. 

I don't think I left the house again Saturday.

Sunday, I ran to NCSU's library to photocopy a journal article.  Said journal was not in the stacks because it was still shelved with the current periodicals.  Said journal was from February of 2003.  Also, photocopies, $0.20 each.  Because they are gold, apparently.

So, then I thought, "How about a short hike to break in the new boots?"  (Sidebar:  The weather here is making it very difficult to dress.  It is 45 degrees F in the morning, 75 in the afternoon.  Stupid 30 degree variations!)  So, I went out to Umstead (Sidebar #2:  NC has excellent state parks.) and set off on what I thought was about a 2 mile hike.  About halfway through, I realized, 5 mile hike.  I still had to go grocery shopping, so the last 2.5 miles were quite quick.  Anyway, made it in, got the shopping done, legs hurt.

Today we had a Water for Life (to support WaterPartners) committee meeting.  The meeting was about 5 miles from my house, but it took me 45 minutes to get there.  Why?  Clay Aiken at the Fair tonight.  Gah!

Edited:  It has been reported on the front page of the local newspaper (no, nothing else of importance here.  Claaaaay!) that Clay opened his concert with U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name".  That is at least sixteen kinds of wrong.

No, seriously.  Right now I do.  I finally have a Water Treatment Plant job to work on.  I get to figure out how they can improve their treatment process.  I'm so excited about it that I spent all day yesterday running into Other Boss' office (for those of you new to my world, I have two bosses, known as Cool Boss and Other Boss), and saying, "Can we try this?  Yay!" and then, "How about this?  Yay!"  Because I am all about professional decorum.  Hey, I was wearing one of my good T-shirts. 

So, as I was driving to work yesterday, I was thinking about how I never describe myself as a woman.  When I am with my friends, we are a group of women.  When I am by myself, I am a girl.  I don't know why I don't apply the word "woman" to myself.  Maybe it's because I don't feel like a grown-up yet.  Remeber when you were a little girl/boy and all you wanted was to be a grown-up?  I'm still waiting for that to happen.  I mean, I take care of myself and the boys, I pay my bills, I live by myself, so there is some component of adulthood there, but grown-up?  Not so much.

Oh, and when someone gestures in my direction while saying, "That lady," I turn and look behind me. 

Saturday morning went window washing with the kids.  Y'all know I'm a youth leader, right?  Don't send letters to the parents.  Anyway, the J2A kids wash windows to raise money for their Pilgrimage, which will take place in 2006.  For $40, they come and clean all your windows, inside and out.   Good deal.   Anyway, left early from that to go to bell rehearsal, because today was the ordination of Deacon Dave to the Priesthood.  (He is now Father David.)  We played two pieces, one before the Ordination and one during.  The service was lovely, but do you know what the best part was?  It was The Peace.  See, the choir members usually hug each other when we exchange the peace.  So I hugged Beth, and she turned around and hugged David Crabtree, who was among the visiting clergy.  It was awesome!  He was very gracious about it.  (I just shook his hand.)

Because I only have to work 4 hours, and I have properly budgeted, so that means that on Friday I get to go boot shopping.  Yay!  I am justifying this by saying a.) the image consultant last night told me the boots I was wearing for were wrong for what I want to accomplish (look taller, so that I fit in with my stupid family of giants) and b.) those boots?  I bought them when I lived in MA, so they are what? 4 years old? The soles are wearing out. 

I love boot shopping.

for it is thanks to her that I have fabulous hair.  And if Cool Boss takes a fabulous picture tomorrow, y'all get to see it.  If he doesn't. only Mom gets to see it, because she has to love me anyway. 

One no longer has to cook grilled cheese, as it is available frozen (I believe you can find it next to the frozen PB&J).  I am breathing a sigh of relief, as I haven't cooked grilled cheese in so long, what with all the work involved. 

Also, one no longer has to cut up vegetables and/or meat to cook in the crockpot; there are now pre-prepared crockpot meals available.  I thought the point of the crockpot was to not have to eat frozen dinners.  Maybe I'm just not lazy enough.