One Day Off

Had a half-day yesterday, and a whole day off today...

Last night I saw Mary Poppins in the theater, and stayed in the Hilton Garden Inn right next door to the Cinemark "Tinseltown" Theater. Besides the thrill of having everything much larger than life, it was the sound that really made it worth it. As a friend commented on FB who saw it somewhere else, Mr. Banks really sounds like he's in the basement when he's fixing the kite. It's hard to remember all the things that looked and sounded much better, but the one thing that stands out was how much more real the robin looked in the nursery! The whole thing was just lovely!

I didn't go swimming this morning; just thought it lovely to look at. After eating breakfast at the last moment it was open (10am - waking up 15 min beforehand), and posting to my other blog, I did fifty pushups in my room and took a shower. Simply delicious. And even though the breakfast cost $8, the eggs were freshly prepared and everything tasted marvelous.

Jw

With My Church Friends

Saturday morning I went to meet Luke & Christina for archery at Balboa Park. There's a little range pointing down a gentle slope into a deep ravine. They've got compacted bales of hay with cardboard targets pinned on the fronts and wooden backstops behind to catch the wayward arrow.

Christina shoots left-handed, so we took turns shooting a round of six and watching their son Titus. Took me a round or two to get back to my old way of shooting (eye-balling it), and I enjoyed it very much. We were there for two hours, and Christina asked about the next Saturday as well. :)

Went to the library for an hour after that, then returned home for more reading/Netflix & minesweeper. But this time I got creative, doing 20, then 10 push-ups between every game... must have done 70 total. Later I went for a shopping trip (walking) to Target for oatmeal, and of course ended up getting more than I planned... but that was good... fruit & walnut salad was a good investment I think. They had Panera's brand of raspberry vinaigrette, goat cheese crumbles, mixed greens, and very nice, fresh raspberries. Already had walnuts at home. Stopped for a hamburger and some chicken/veggie soup on the way home. Had a lovely chat, but I was pretty tired. Walked 2 miles! Feeling pretty good.

Sunday, today, I was able to sleep in again before getting out and ready for church. Service was good. About why there has to be policies in the church... from Acts. And then the brunch was very tasty! Jalapenos baked with cream cheese and wrapped with a thick slice of bacon... I was wary, but found out they were very mild (from the baking). And veggie lasagna! And banana bread! How nice those ladies at church are! Makes you feel like a part of the family to be able to eat together. :)

We (the small adult group) were supposed to gather at the pastor's house for the Super Bowl at 3. It was just down the street from church, so I spent time shopping at Fashion Valley Mall, (presents) and I finally decided to buy Rosetta Stone's German program. No way I can count on going to a college class, so this is the next best thing. I want to be able to read German (history) and sometime I'd love to visit.

It was still too early, so I stopped by the nearby Mission Trails State Park for a view at the visitor center. Looks very nice... I'll have to go hiking there sometime.

Then it was time. Drove back to the pastor's house, and got there a little early still. I had brought some baby chicken taco snacks and guac from Trader Joes... and the pastor's wife baked them in the oven for a few minutes for me. They were good... along with the chips & dip, tasty chicken wings, pizza from Little Caesars, and various desserts. Did pretty well with my quantities. The game was a nail-biter, so it was enjoyable. Didn't really care who won, but I was pulling for the Giants since the Patriots had won so many times before. And Eli is much cuter than Tom. lol

So there we are... another fine weekend!

Jw

With Navy Friends

After "work" on Friday (which was only getting my Phase 3 liberty signed off on), and after lunch at the galley, my friend Witte and I, along with 3 guys decided to go explore. We visited the bigger NEX across the highway and then got on a military shuttle to downtown. Explored a huge mall for several hours... I got strawberry & chocolate ice creme at Ben&Jerry's, a blue-flowered, button-up, long-sleeve shirt at Amer. Eagle, and got plastered in a game of giant checkers (pieces are about a foot in diameter... had to be kicked around :). When we were done, we wandered around Fourth Street and found an excellent place for dinner. The Rock Bottom Brewery. Had fancy mac'n cheese with tender chicken and crunchy stuff on top. And then we managed to find a taxi back to base.

Today I got a ride from a friend of mine from ATT school to the air show at the Island Air Station on Coronado's Naval Base. He and a friend of his (who came as well) are both fleet returnees, 2nd classes who are having to re-classify and get a different rate, are a little older and are fun to hang out with. We went to Denny's for breakfast and got little things at the NEX nearby before leaving. And I think we took too long! The traffic was horrible! We were stuck still on the base while planes flew by... but at least we could see them all! I saw a B-17 in flight for the first time, along with a WWII F4 Wildcat... and lots of others.

By the time we were out among the exhibits, the grand finale flew overhead... 30+ Hornets in a long formation (almost like Independence Day) and a few others... Prowlers and Hawkeyes. Very neat. We had something to eat and looked around at the jets. Cole showed us how he worked on the Hornets for his previous job... and that was pretty neat. He was so excited about them. The drive back went much faster, and when we returned to Point Loma we went out for some fish and shrimp tacos at a swank place that they've discovered nearby. I think I shall have to go back there. :)

Jp

Snoring and Swallowing

Yesterday I was so wiped out... I was thinking of getting up for Denny's free Grand Slam, and I totally forgot Monday night and woke up barely in time to get to work. At work I wrote a user's guide for reviewing and filing our material certifications that come in; I think it may have fried my brain! When I got home I picked up my room a bit and then laid down for a minute before having leftovers for dinner. And after dinner my parents were talking about something and I couldn't take any conversation. I went and laid down again... and I fell deeply asleep and didn't wake up til about 8:30, when my parents came home again from an errand they were going to do. Heh! I guess I needed it! So they came home, we did our Bible reading, and by that time I was thoroughly awake again, so we watched "Road to Utopia" and it was a hoot! :) But all of you know that already!

I think I got enough sleep last night... I was able to wake myself up. So our department boss had his 50th birthday today, so my boss and some coworkers brought in this fabulous breakfast... homemade sausage, egg and potato casserole, lots of fruit - big slices of fresh oranges, most importantly - and blueberry crumble, and doughnuts, and muffins... and it was a lot. I only had a bite of most things, but I had a ton of orange slices. And then tomorrow is my coworker's last day, so we and our two new employees went out to Coho's Cafe (our usual haunt) and I tried the ginger chicken lettuce wraps (along with my customary Seafood Bisque) and it was excellent!

I'm feeling rested and satisfied!
Jp

Relaxing Day

It was, as Sundays should be.

I hung out with my dear friend Becky all day... we went out to our favorite Thai restaurant, and near the Southcenter Mall we went to Barnes&Noble, then returned to her place, watched a movie, talked, and then decided we were hungry again. Upon inquiry, her roommate said the closest Panera Bread was just a couple miles away in downtown Bellevue (one I hadn't been to before) and we had a lovely time. I got an anthology of poetry at B&N... I want to be familiar with the great ones and decide if I like them or not. I didn't wake up this morning until 11:30 or so... and I'm off to bed right away, so I *might* make it to Jazzercise in the morning (for the first time in a few months). We'll see.

Jp

LOL! A spelling suggestion for "Panera" was Panzer... Heh!
"You vant flat bread? Do ya?"

Food, Feasting & Festivities

Both yesterday and today I had lunch at work... and gift exchanges!

Tuesday was just for my little group in the Quality Data Center. Our boss made a tortilla casserole that was very tasty and not too hot. We each got one gift for the person we drew out of a hat (figuratively speaking - there aren't any magicians in my group). My coworker loved the necklaces I got for her! :) She wore one right away, and one today!

Today was a huge potluck and anonymous gift exchange for the entire Quality department... about 30 people. There were some really nice dishes surrounding the glazed ham that my boss's boss brings each year. Pastas and potatoes and bread and chips and so many desserts! Yikes! Do I feel full and a little lazy too.

Need to get back to working out! :)
Jp

[this evening we watched Pixar's "Up" again... gosh, I love it! :) and yesterday (Tuesday) I mixed up the first batch of Christmas cookies! yay! and we also finished the fourth season of Foyle's War... what a stellar show! sad there's only one season left!]

Thanksgiving Happiness

And I wish it to all of you as well.

My brother came home for a surprise visit last night! He's here until Sunday afternoon! Wheeee!

What can I say about yesterday? Well, it went fast; it was busy at work; and I had no idea what to do when I got home because I'm not used to having time on my hands. I read the Bluejacket's Manuel after leftovers and then we watched a little Reilly, and then I talked to Mike, and then Zac came beating on my door... holy cow! Mom and my sister Andie knew about it, but they kept it as a surprise for a couple weeks! What fun!

Today I was woken up with a "Happy Thanksgiving" text message from my friend in Florida... and then I slept for another hour. :) Mom so has everything together! And then some. She made 7 pies: 2 apple, 2 pumpkin, 1 pecan, 1 lemon, 1 cherry! She did the turkey, gravy, stuffing, cranberries, & yams yesterday... and we helped her with the potatoes and setting out the snacky stuff and setting up the kitchen for 11 adults and 2 kids. We have a feast on the way. I already started a little with snacking on salmon dip, chips and olives... :)

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Thank the Lord for his providence!

Jp

And So On

Thursday wasn't too bad. I did stay through lunch, but I could barely tell. One of our customers brought in a tray of crackers, humus, cheese and salami. And let me tell you, that felt really good at 9 and 10 o'clock. Normally I don't eat breakfast, but that morning I did have a couple blueberry muffins that mom had made the night before. For some reason, eating in the morning makes me hungrier in the later morning. But this wasn't all... one of the main programs had a special lunch for engineers, and one of the quality people came in and invited all us ladies to partake. Wow! It was very good lasagna, garlic bread, fresh, crisp Caesar salad and a very light lemon cake. I probably ate more at work than I would have at home!

I did end up getting through 3 of those huge books all in one day! And I only stayed 3/4 of an hour past quitting time. And when I got home, after leftovers for dinner, we watched the next installment of Foyle's War... all about Communists, embezzlement, stealing and murder in 1941 England. Very exciting.

Now yesterday, Friday, I did make it to Jazzercise again. But it always is hard to get up so early on a day when I don't have to start until 8. Although this allows me time to go back home to freshen up and eat breakfast before work, and I love that even more. When I got to work I hardly knew what to do with myself because all my books were finally all together and my customer wasn't going to be there til Monday. I wanted to crash and fall asleep, but my working so hard all week trained me to keep going even when my head wasn't in it. I ended up going through all sorts of things that had been put off.

After that abbreviated bit of work I came home and my parents wanted to go out to Chinese! I love it when that happens! I had Moo Goo Gui Pan (bok choy, other veggies and chicken) and Sweet and Sour Pork... and egg flower soup and pork fried rice. Yum! Talk about an eating spree this week! Right when we got home I had to take off for a meeting with my recruiter. I thought we'd be doing a workout, but he wasn't there... he was resting from unforeseen complications to his spleen surgery. But the Recruiter in charge was there, so we went over some things for my qualification standards (PQS) while in the program. We talked about A-school... Hey! They allow you to have your own car there!... and general boot camp stuff... about the mind game they play with you there and why. I was also able to recite the 11 general orders of a sentry that I had learned with Mom helping me on Wednesday night. I learn much faster listening to something and repeating it rather than reading.

I went for a run after this and then went to the store to get the Bible on CD... which is good for somebody like me who doesn't love reading every single day... and good since it would be great on an mp3 player when I'm bored to death cleaning something in the Navy. I hear they have to clean things a lot.

Gosh, Monk was good! I was worried the whole time they were going to wreck the Captain's heart *again*, and I was about going to kill someone if they did... but they didn't! :) I loved Monk getting so excited about being Best Man. Gee! Only three more episodes left for all time! :( I'm glad they are taking care of the characters first.

Jp

Corn, and Other Matters

Yesterday evening we had some wonderful news! My sister walked the dog with our friend Jason, and when they returned, they told us that they were going to start going steady! Wow!

And this morning, after sleeping in and getting breakfast, my parents returned from church and the store with some corn-on-the-cob for our lunch with the family this afternoon. And my sister and I reprised our husking roles... :) much to our satisfaction.

Dad had purchased a Cribbage game from Fred's yesterday, so we tried that out as well... and he beat me with an incredible hand at the end. We followed it up with Backgammon, and I won twice :)

Jp