Brandon and I put an offer on a house yesterday.  More details to come.

Good grief!  It's been a long time since I updated my blog!

 

Summer is over...fall is here.  It's a school day, but I'm at home with Buster because I can't seem to shake my first cold of the school year.  It's only the fourth week and I'm already run down.

 

Buster is four months old now.  I can't believe how much I love him!  He is the cutest and sweetest dog in the world.  He got hurt one month ago while walking with Brandon around Green Lake.  Thankfully, he is completely recovered now.  He's even making progress at dog school!  We switched over from regular puppy class to a small breed puppy class - it's a much better fit.  He gets closer and closer each week to playing with other dogs.

 

Brandon survived the dentist yesterday and the show he's directing at Jet City is going well.  Next month is his 30th birthday - I don't know what we should do to celebrate....must come up with something good.

 

I thought that I would be so sad to see summer go...but now that fall is upon us, I am so excited!  Sweaters, hot cocoa, rainy days and the holiday season just around the corner - woo hoo!

 

I've been watching a lot of HGTV lately (while Buster sleeps in my lap).  I particularly enjoy Mission Organization and Design on a Dime.  HGTV has inspired me to clean and organize our cars, our laundry closet and just last night - our living room.  We moved the couch, chair and bookcases.  I really like it.   It's much more open now.  It gives Buster a bit more room to walk around.

 

On an unrelated note, Brandon took me to see Becoming Jane last night.  It wasn't good.  I have much higher hopes for Superbad, though I doubt that anything can top The Bourne Ultimatum.  Now that was a FANTASTIC movie.

I am 3/4 of the way through what has turned into Dental Month: four appointments in four weeks.  Yuck.  Luckily, I found a good dentist.  He makes it a lot easier to take.  And I've got a cute puppy to come home to, which also helps.

 

I went to the eye doctor yesterday.  It was a lot less painful than the dentist.  I got some fantastic new frames by Lulu Guinness (of London).  Since my prescription hasn't changed, I can still use the old ones, too.  Options!  I love options.  While I was waiting for my exam to start, I saw this woman in the lobby who had an awesome haircut.  It made me think about my hair.  I love my hair color, but I don't really get to "work it" since it's always tied back.  So, I'm going to get it cut at the end of the month.  Not too much...above the shoulders?  We'll see.

 

Less than two weeks of summer left.  Rats!

Summer is usually my time to make appointments.  I'm not a big fan of doctors, so I wait until school's out.  Somehow it's just better that way.  I took Buster to the vet on Monday.  I went to my doctor on Tuesday because I've been having abdominal pain since Saturday night.  Today I'm going to the DENTIST.  And later this month Buster and I will be going back to the vet...and I've got an eye exam.

 

You may recall that I went to the dentist for the first time in several years last spring.  It went as well as it could have, I guess.  The dentist was nice and he had all sorts of technological gadgets that made my experience better.  I couldn't afford to have all of the surfaces drilled and filled that truly needed to be addressed - not enough money - so I only got the right side of my mouth done.  The left side has just been waiting all this time.  My greatest fear is that I'll still have to get those done...and that more have cropped up.  I guess we'll just have to see.

 

Buster's doing great.  He doesn't like it when we sleep with the window open.  It took us two nights to figure that one out.  I think he gets too cold - and that keeps him awake.  And if Buster's awake...so are we.

I am sitting on the floor in our living room - home sweet home -  with a little pug puppy in my lap.  He is adorable.  He is a peeing and pooing machine.  He is getting much better at staying in his crate.  He is only two months old.  He is Buster.

 

The whirlwind part of our summer is over.  After coming home from Europe, we had less than a week before leaving again.  Brandon and I went to Sun Valley with his family.  While I am not necessarily "outdoorsy", I did enjoy the beautiful scenery, bike riding, swimming (in the condo's pool - not some sort of lake or river), and walking around in the hot, hot, Idaho sun.  I got burnt, of course, but luckily it wasn't that bad.

 

Now that Buster is getting used to his new home, I can start on my to-do lists.  We've got a vet appointment on Monday and we need to start puppy classes soon.  It would also be good if I could get in a dentist appointment for myself before school starts again.  Hmmmm.... I hate the dentist.

We arrived in Seattle last night.  I was doing well after a good night's sleep - I love my bed - but after having a delicious  breakfast at Vera's I suddenly started to feel very cold.  By the time we got home I had a full-on case of the chills.  They finally burned off after an hour or so in bed with the heating pad.  Now my body aches and I've got a raging headache.  Boo.

I have the best luck.  Our trip to Paris has coincided with the Paris Sales.  (From an internet post: "we've suspected for a few weeks now that the sales will start the last wednesday of june, and now it is official-- the paris sales will run from june 27 to august 4th. so mark your calendars, start pre-shopping and trying on the items you covet, and enjoy! also, be sure to check out my previous post on the sales for tips on how to do the sales right!")

 

Now, I was very excited about the Louvre, D'Orsay, Pompidou, Picasso and Rodin Museums - but right now I am completely giddy.  It's our last day full day in Paris and I am going to shop. 

 

...and go back to Berthillon for the best ice cream the world has ever known.

To see what we've been doing in Paris, go to

 

http://www.youtube.com/spinelessoaf

or

http://www.flickr.com/photos/team-baker/

Just flew in from Boise this morning.  I don't know what it is about early morning flights, but I always get really sick to my stomach.  Luckily, I don't have to work today (this is my last Monday as a 0.8 Multi-Arts Specialist) so I've been laying low and eating crackers.  We were in Boise to see Brandon's parents and score all sorts of stuff: chair, tv stand, clothes for B, power converters, leftover euros, and even a digital camcorder.  It was a really good weekend - a great visit.

 

Tomorrow is Readers' Theatre Day at school.  It's going to be a long day.  After it's over, and all 11 plays have gone up, I am done.  I may have to be at school on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday - but it'll be movie-watching time.

 

We're leaving at 4 in the morning on Saturday.  After getting up this morning at 5:15 (4:15 Seattle time), and feeling so gross, I'm starting to think that Brandon and I might just stay up all night packing and cleaning.  Why go to bed if it's just for a few hours?

 

As soon as we get back, we'll go down to Olympia and pick our pug.  Then we'll get to take Buster home after we get back from Sun Valley.  That means he's coming with us when we visit Portland next month!!!

 

 

Brandon and I are going down to Olympia next Sunday to see some pug puppies and hopefully make a deposit on one of them.  If all goes according to plan, we'll be dog owners by the third weekend in July!  Timing is crucial here - we'll in Europe for two weeks, home for a week, and then Sun Valley for a week - the pups will be ready to adopt right about the same time that we get back.  Awesome.  Brandon went to PetSmart this weekend to check out and price dog stuff - combs, bowls, crates, what-have-you.  It was very cute.

 

Three weeks of school left.  I couldn't be more ready for the year to be over.  I've got two weeks of rehearsing before our big Reader's Theatre Day...  I don't know if I can watch these scenes for another two weeks.  I'm going nuts.  And don't get me started on the puppets...

 

I'm getting excited for Paris -- really, really excited.  I have a big backpack from REI now.  It's awesome.

An announcement from our staff meeting this week:

"We've been able to move some funds around for next year and increase Kate's position to full-time."

 

Translation: More money, but now I have to work on Mondays (unless it's a holiday).

 

All in all, I'm excited and relieved.  It will make it a lot easier for us to get a dog this summer and save up for a down payment on a house.

I just had the best weekend in Portland!  Ella and I did some serious shopping at Washington Square on Saturday before having an absolutely amazing dinner at Andina.  (Oh my god, I can't even tell you how wonderful it was.  There are no words.)  On Sunday, I got to spend some time birthday shopping with my mom and Andy before having dinner with my Auntie and Uncle.  Then I did some MORE shopping on Monday before heading back to Seattle.

 

I now have my very first top from Anthropologie, lots of summer tanks and tees, and two more skirts.  I also got some good travel stuff for the trip to Paris.  Oh, and stuff for makin' puppets.

 

The only bummer is that I'm sick and lost my voice Sunday night.  It still isn't quite back to normal.  Weirdest cold ever.

 

Very tired.  Will go to bed early tonight.

LA was lots of fun.  Darren and Kerry were fantastic tour guides - we saw a ton.  My favorite spots were The Smokehouse (one of George Clooney's favorite restaurants in Studio City), Pink's (the hot dogs of the rich and famous), and the J Paul Getty Center/Museum.  Oh, and the Santa Monica Pier.  We also managed to do some karaoke and just generally hang out.

 

A day or so after we got back, I managed to cut my finger with our santoku knife.  Onions are slippery.  Usually, no big deal; but this was not a nick.  I was very worried that I'd have to get stitches...and I HATE hospitals, needles, and the whole thing.  Luckily, it's much better now, but I had to wear a splint on it for a while.  Crisis averted.

 

School is drawing to a close, which means that I am frantically trying to wrap up my drama curriculum.  This school year will be over before I know it - and then we'll be off to PARIS!!!

Brandon took me to see Edward Scissorhands last night at the 5th Avenue Theatre here in Seattle.  It was fantastic!  I absolutely loved it!  If you haven't heard about it, look at THIS.  They do a much better job of explaining it than I could.

 

Now I've got some serious clothes shopping to do.  We're heading down to LA next weekend and I need somethin' sassy to wear!

 

 

Brandon's friend, Jepson, put together this amazing video of clips from our wedding:

 

Hope you enjoy it!

I had such a good time Saturday night.  Fantastic!  I posted all of the pics Brandon took - take a look!

It's Friday, and I have yet to work on drama curriculum.  Oh well.  Here's what I have been up to during Spring Break:

 

On my list for today:

 

The concert on Thursday was a complete success!  While it was far from flawless, everyone had a good time.  I think the parents really liked the music I chose - I know the kids did.  And apparently we had record attendance - which is so vindicating after all the Holy Thursday business.  All in all, I am so glad it's over...I felt like I'd run a marathon by the time I got home that night.  Why did I have to wear my high heels all day?  Not smart.

 

Now Brandon and I are having a lazy weekend.  We're continuing the tradition started two years ago - Shanghai-style Chinese food on Easter with the Gachets.  We colored eggs and ate some hot cross buns.  I love Easter as a grown-up.  So relaxing!

 

And by the way, spring break has started - woo hoo!  Brandon and I are going down to Portland next weekend and I can't wait!  I've got to work on some drama curriculum before then...

My very first concert (as a director) is coming up this Thursday.  I'm really nervous and excited...  will any of my kids show up?  what if they sing too quietly and no one hears them?  what if they mess around on the stage - will all of their parents think that I have no classroom management skills?  There's already been a slew of problems and controversy because I unwittingly scheduled the concert for the same night as Holy Thursday.  I should have known better (after all of the Holy Thursday masses I attended growing up) but somehow I totally spaced on Easter and Holy Week.