It's almost time!

Our week of dogsitting is over tomorrow and I didn't think I would be, but I will be glad to go home. As fun as it is to stay in a house and have a yard and play with doggies all day every day, it is hard to live your life in someone else's home. So we will pack up tomorrow and return to our 500-some square feet and probably find ourselves cleaning up poop after all our neighbors' dogs. I think the old dog knows that we're about to leave because he has not left my side all day.

My *To Do At Home* list:

take my husband for a walk every night (why get out of the habit just because we are dog-free?)

make a Spring wreath

finish the headband I started before we came here

buy some Lysol (Did you know it actually does kill bacteria that causes odors? The commercials are not lying!)

learn how to work the clothes steamer that I got for Christmas...

think seriously about getting a haircut

Of course I did not waste time volunteering for our next dogsitting gig! We will be taking care of our favorite little buddy in 2 weeks. *Can't wait!!!!*

All of these dogs make me miss cats, though. I will always be a cat person, no matter how much I enjoy any other animal. We know exactly when we will be ready to get a cat and how we will go about finding one and what we will do with it- we have a cat gameplan, you could say. Through the long, sad, catless days one thing keeps me going: www.theittybittykittycommittee.com. Laurie Cinotto fosters litters of stray kittens in the Seattle area, photographs their precious daily kitten lives and blogs their hysterical stories. I have been following her on flickr for years because her photos of the kittens are unbelievable. (Who on earth can persuade 6 kittens to pose in a basket, all looking at the camera at the same time? She can.) But she is incredibly talented at telling the stories of these kittens and connecting each of them with loving adoptive families. So check her out for more kitten cuteness than you can possibly stand.

And hey! In case you forgot what we look like, here's my sweetheart:

And me. I love wearing my red hat with bright red hair. My oldest brother once said I look like a bag of Skittles, which was so true back then. I try to consciously tone it down these days, but if I get dressed while I'm tired I still end up with at least 7 different shades on.

Welcome to Arizona

In the winter and spring photographing our properties is my favorite part of my job. (In the summer it is my least favorite, but I am not thinking about summer until it gets here.) I get to spend the day with the Superintendent and learn about their life and ask them all kinds of landscaping questions and we drive/hike all around these beautiful properties that we maintain. Personally, I believe that grass should not exist in the desert and we are stupid for forcing it to grow. But, environmental concerns aside, look how incredible it is.
Most desert plants have natural defense mechanisms (like 2" thorns, needles, hooks, barbs, etc.) that make them look violent, but the ones that don't are really neat. Especially if all you've ever known are Midwestern plants and you come out here and see a mesquite tree and go "Oh, that's what I've been putting in my grill!" By the way, this is what perfect winter turf looks like.
So that is how I spent the majority of my day, today. I came back from my photo shoot and found a new cubicle put up around my desk! I know most people think cubicles are awful, but I've been wanting one ever since I moved to my new office, so it was like Christmas to come back and find it there. :) It is just gray now, but I am going to decorate it with all kinds of pretty things and people are going to want to hang out at my cubicle. I have a large empty space behind my desk, so Sam suggested I put some cushy chairs and a basketball hoop back there so my clients can chill out. Sounds good to me! I created my dream office space on Polyvore (which you ought to check out if you care anything for fashion or interior design)- very retro, a little masculine (all of my internal clients are men) and way fun.

*I didn't realize it would make a slideshow of my Polyvore collages, so you have to click through to find the office one.

Find me on Polyvore

Choking hazard

I just filed our taxes. Ouch. Whatever we did, we did it WRONG. We could support a Mexican family for several months on what we have to pay the government by April. Wow, that is a huge blow.

But hey, I found a great place to take pictures at work! The bathroom in our office is like a glowing white space station, or something. Not really a space station, but I sure couldn't think of anything else to call it. The light is almost unnatural, it is so white!

It hurts my heart to think about our taxes. We are pretty much used to giving things up, but this is not just giving something up, it is also setting us back in our life plan at least 6 months. Sickening, no? I hold very loosely to plans, but geez, not so loosely that I'm okay with the government dictating when we can move, change jobs, start school, have kids, etc. Thank you, Obama, for your idiotic stimulus package that just screwed us right into the ground.

Sam's birthday and other completely random news

Sam's birthday was yesterday and now he thinks he is so old. He calls me 'youngster' and his 'young wife' and talks about his Alzheimer's kicking in already. People keep asking me what it's like to be married to an older man. You'd think he was 50 and I was 25! Really he is 27 and I am 26 and 5/6, but who's counting? Our 26th year was a fun one, we did so many things we've never done before. Our 27th is going to be even crazier, for sure. We have lots of adventures coming up that are secrets for now, but I will definitely tell you as soon as I can. :)

Nothing makes me happier than seeing his dreams come true. I guess there's something about living your whole life in a Communist/post-communist 3rd-world country that makes you think dreams are not actually attainable, but I do not think the same way. So I take every opportunity to show him that everything he ever dreamed of is going to be possible and we can make it all happen. Yeah I'm an optimist, an idealist, etc., but it works for me. I hate the thought of going through life safe but unhappy because you didn't take enough risks or make enough sacrifices to get what you wanted. So his realism balances my optimism and my risk-taking balances his safety nettting and we do just great. Plus, you know, he's so old and wise now...

This is what they boys did a couple weekends ago. I don't know how this exhaust is different from the previous one but it makes him grin every time he starts the car or accelerates. Okay.

Ah, another example of how much fun we have. We rented a 2010 Camaro when we visited my family for Christmas. It should have cost us at least $400 more than it did, but we are pretty incredible at finding perfect deals. Hehehe They practically paid us to take it and then they gave us free upgrades and free weekend rentals for a year. Awesome.

In other completely unrelated news, Sam sprayed me with pepper spray tonight. Whew, that was just a treat, let me tell you! Okay, so he didn't do it on purpose...and he didn't spray me directly, but it felt like it. Yuck. He was testing it by spraying it in the grass and I accidentally walked into the same vicinity with my mouth open. That stuff hurts! It burned and took my breath away just walking into it, so I hate to think of actually getting sprayed in the face with it. Ouch! Blech! Suffering!

I've been having so much fun crocheting, lately. We are dogsitting for some friends right now and I hate that I didn't bring my yarn basket because I keep coming across these awesome tutorials and I am dying to try them! Check out this complete "how to crochet" lesson I found at The Purl Bee. They also have patterns for granny square slippers and crochet shopping bags and so much fun stuff.

farm withdrawal

Having my own computer has become both a blessing and a curse. I've always known these beautiful, achingly magical places/things/people were out there but without access to them I was just cruising through desert life, in our studio apartment and was pretty much okay with that. But ohhh, now that I can find photos like these by the zillions it is getting harder to deal with the brownness and concrete block walls and gravel yards. :( I mean, look at the light coming in that window! [[photo from apartmenttherapy.com] It is so cool and peaceful and welcome, not like desert light which will singe everything in its path if you let it in.And then there's this photo that has such a tangible atmosphere it is hardly two dimensional. It is space and light and air and memory and love. There is a word for this feeling but I cannot think of it right now. I usually get really involved in photographs, imagining the subjects being brought to life but I don't need to imagine for this one. It is so filled with memories that I may have to spend the rest of the day thinking about them all.

I got so caught up in the dandelion photo I almost forgot I also uploaded this one! Books, quilts, pastures, what more could you ask for? Some wings and a little help getting them to fly? In that case, see below:
[photos by Samantha Lamb photography- go look at the rest, they are spectacular]

My very favorite video- Blow Away by A Fine Frenzy

That piggy in the cart just cracks me up.

Ah, so many beautiful things... and now I am off to photograph the boys in their natural habitat- the mechanics shop. They are installing some minute thing that will probably boost the engine performance or fuel efficiency or just make it sound cooler or something. I don't know what they do in there, but it sure makes them happy.

Let me tell you a little story

Have I ever told you about our kitchen? Our kitchen is one of those fancy modern ones that you see in all of the real estate magazines. Cherry cabinets, stainless steel appliances, granite counters, stone tile floor, hip track lighting, the works. Sounds posh, doesn't it? Even opulent?

Now guess how big it is. I'll help you with the math: 1 fridge + 1 dishwasher + 1 gas stove + big sink + cabinets = (drumroll, please) 5 feet by 8 feet. No, there are no typos in that equation. Our glorious, opulent kitchen really is 32 square feet, which sounds great...until you realize your typical shower is about half of that size and your closet is almost definitely bigger, not to mention your bathroom (which does not house any large appliances).

You have to unload the dishwasher onto the counter because you would have to stand on the door to be able to reach over it into the dish cabinet. Or should I say The. Dish. Cabinet. And then there is The. Food. Cabinet. And don't let me catch you trying to open more than one appliance at one time, as it defies the laws of physics. Specifically, the law that states "No two separate objects can exist in the same space at the same time. And forget about three separate objects, 'cause there just ain't room." Yeah, that's the one.

Sometimes Sam and I manage to forget that our kitchen is this small and we both end up there at once. Now, we can both fit our bodies inside the kitchen, but it doesn't do much good. Remember those puzzles where one piece is missing and you have to slide all the squares around until they make the right pattern or picture? That is pretty much what we have to do. So we say "Our kitchen is SO big I can hardly reach that _____ over there, can you hand it to me?" "Oops, sorry, I always trip over that huge empty space right there and run into you." It is hysterical.

I'm not sure what we're going to do when we move and have a real kitchen. More than one cabinet for food? Are you serious? Who needs that kind of luxury?! Hahahahaha Yeah, I guess we're ready for a little more space.

On a completely different note: It is wild to see Evangeline Lily in L'Oreal commercials. I've only ever known her as Kate on Lost, always sweaty, bloody and covered in dirt. Now she's doing these super glamorous cosmetics commercials, swishing her perfectly bouncy, shiny hair and giggling with Eva Longoria. I love it. Just sayin'.

I've been busy!!

Last Saturday Sam and Marian spent the day installing some fancy exhaust on our car, so I had the apartment to myself to make a giant mess of craftiness. I've been on a roll ever since and have more pictures to take, so expect more fun soon!
I have a healthy obsession with ribbon. Grosgrain, satin, solid, printed, thick, thin, it all makes me so happy. Ribbon + plaid = 2 of my favorite things in the world. If I could somehow add kittens and hot wings to this pin, I would just die. The small one is made from an opal pendant my mom has had forever. I think it sort of looks like a Girl Scout badge.
As usual, inspired by the Red Velvet Art girls.
When I worked for an architect in Columbus, I salvaged an upholstery sample book from his trash can with these awesome leather samples. Did you know you could get metallic copper leather upholstery?! Or teal horsehair? Or white alligator?
I look like I am 7 years old. This is why people always call me an elf, I guess. Wow, I totally am an elf.
I wish it actually got cold enough in Phoenix for me to wear this scarf, but it hasn't been, so far, and probably never will be. Guess I'll save it for PA/OH visits! I forgot to get a detail photo, but it has dark purple crochet trim around the neck and a giant button that closes it at the back.
When I was little I had these things called "pop beads" that had nubs on one end and holes on the other end so you could pop them together and apart as your little heart desired. These red beads were originally one long necklace but it reminded me too much of pop beads, so I modernized it as a triple strand on satin ribbon.

This one is my favorite. This poor locket has been missing its chain for who knows how long and I finally figured out the perfect way to use it! However, I do not own one thing I can wear it with...

This is another one of the pieces my mom gave me recently and it still has the wedding photo inside that she put there in the 70's. I'm thinking about putting one of our wedding photos in the other side. :) I
And finally, our Christmas wreath. The letters are little Christmas cookie ornaments. Is our door cool, or what? It makes such a great background.

Yay! It's been so fun making all of this stuff. I have stuck my fingers to the glue gun countless times, yet all the burns are worth the joy it gives me to be creating.

I also just taught Sam how to use Photoshop, which turned out to be much more dangerous than I could have expected. He is obsessed with pimping out our car and now he can do it virtually, over and over and over. So far he has lowered it, added a body kit and side graphics. He is already just about as advanced as I am with the software, the dork.

We all know some crazy people

At least, I know you know some crazy people. Because if you are reading this you probably know Sam and me. And we are your crazy friends/family/whatever. I just thought I'd warn you.

My evening with the personal trainer lit a spark. This guy must be the very best at his job because he got me really excited about working out again, which got Sam really excited about me working out again, which got Sam really excited about him working out again, which made him get a trainer too. Now before you know it we're gonna be beating up criminals in dark alleys. Not sure why, but I think we will...

People who have known me in recent years are surprised to find I am a discipline fanatic. Probably because I come off as a free spirited artist hippie... Well, I was voted "most disciplined" in my high school class for a reason, folks. And though I have changed drastically from my legalistic, academically-obsessed high school days, I still thrive on rules and systems and itineraries (oh my, I hope my mom never reads this!). One of my favorite lessons from early in my art studies was "you have to know the rules inside and out so that you don't have to think about them, you can just work freely and know that you are working correctly".

So my body hurts, I'm tired of having to eat my weight in protein and sure, I'd sort of rather be watching the new episodes of Chuck, but at the same time I'd rather have strength, energy and stamina and that means I follow the rules. The rules are good.

And it is time for my cycle class. :) Peace.

I'm going to work out with a trainer today, for the first time in a very long time. My body has been anxiously awaiting this experience. I know he is going to kick my butt, but I sort of miss that, strangely enough. I'll let you know how it goes. I bet that by the end of the workout my face will match my hair (which is maroon)!

Inventory of Odors

Wow, I am not so great at editing blogger layouts and all the HTML garbage. Bleh. I worked on it most of the night and then ended up giving up and going back to one of the default layouts, which is decidedly better than anything I came up with. So at least I am happy with its very plain blueness.

Today was a day marked by its smells.

#1: I just bought this lotion for wickely cracked skin (like MY hands) and it smells exactly like a Strawberry Shortcake doll from the 80's. It has been making me sniff my hands a lot and chuckle.

#2: Our brand new office is above the brand new mechanics shop, so it smells painfully like spray paint and welding. We will probably be high all of the time and I will most certainly be irate any time it smells like spray paint. That smell just doesn't leave. Plus someone burned popcorn in our microwave, so that was an added bonus. Yuck.

#3: A coworker introduced me to Whataburger, for lunch. The burger was pretty good but man oh man was it mustardy. I prefer the mustard smell to most other smells, today.

#4: I think something died in Sam's lunch box. It smells like macaroni and cheese mixed with Birkenstocks-wearing feet mixed with trash. Wowwww. I may just have to take it out and burn it.

Hopefully things will look up from here, or I'll have to get some nose plugs!

2009 in iPhone photos (in random order)

I've been having some problems with my original blog, so I'm giving it another shot, over here. Hope it doesn't confuse anybody too much. I also just got my own laptop, so I may actually get some screentime! Somebody [cough cough] hogs the laptop to research BMW-pimping techniques and parts.

Tomorrow morning both Rares and I will be working out of a new office in the West Valley. It will be interesting because as long as we worked in the East Valley office we rarely saw each other, but now we will actually share an office. I love the contrast of these two pictures. Above is my new office, below is an office I got to tour in the Fall. At first glance Phoenix doesn't seem to have much going for it, architecturally, but if you really know where to look you can find some great historic/rehabbed buildings, as well as some super cool mid-century stuff. I am a strong believer in adaptive reuse, so it sort of pains me to work in a new-drywall-and-carpet-scented office. Ah, but that is another story altogether... For Christmas my whole family went to my parents' house in North Carolina and Rares finally got to meet my nephew. I'm not sure which one of them is goofier, the baby or the Romanian. It's a pretty close competition!

It's so backwards that, in the desert, you go outside and play all winter and huddle inside all summer. Backwards, but excellent. We totally took advantage of living in Arizona, this year, by hiking and camping as much as possible.

In September we got to go back to Ohio to visit for lots of birthdays and a couple art gallery openings. It was SOOOO good to be back and remember what it was like to have friends. Ethan invented this completely hysterical game called Yardsale Races and we got to inaugurate it. It involves racing a golf cart through an obstacle course to load your basket with yardsale items. What an adventure! :)

We hiked this, too.

We learned a lot about desert camping. Like, how to get rid of skunks and scorpions, how many tents you can fit in one campsite and that you can't grill during summer burn-ban months because you may burn down the whole desert. Oh, and don't use sticks from poisonous shrubs for roasting marshmallows.

Yayyyyy! I got to go to North Carolina for my nephew's first birthday!!!! I don't have the words to describe how much I love this munchkin. He is 100% hystericaladorablehammypreciousperfect.

I made some new friends! Literally, I made them. Out of cardboard. I made these cardboard cutouts of two of our coworkers and they became our office mascots. They made people so happy, which makes me so happy.

One of the biggest highlights of our year was a spontaneous trip to San Diego. We decided Friday afternoon that we should go and were there by Friday evening. This is why we don't have kids or pets, right now. We have some sillies to get out of our systems first. If we could afford to rent an apartment in San Diego, too, we totally would and we'd go every weekend. But I'm thinking that may get expensive...

AAAAAND of course, the main reason we moved here in the first place: to spend lots and lots of time with Marian and Christina! Which we did. We all look pretty great in 3D glasses. (This photo is actually 01-01-2010, so SHHH! Don't tell.)