violetismycolor

BB's graduation

We are in Hamilton, NY and our Bonnie graduates tomorrow.  Ack...2 kids DONE with their undergraduate studies, 1 to go.  Hard to believe that we have come this far.

But there's the bad news...the crappy car that we got from Alamo (a Pontiac Firebird, covered with scratches AND not very fuel efficient) got a FLAT TIRE tonight.  We are driving the on teeny-tiny spare tire (makes me nervous) and the old tire takes up half the trunk space, which we will need when we head out to go back to the airport on Monday. 

The good news, our BonBon is graduating Summa Cum Laud and she is so dang happy! 

let's dance...

Disclosure:  My childhood nickname was Twinkletoes.  This was because I was always dancing/walking/running on tiptoe because I wanted to be a ballerina. 

So, it's probably no surprise that I just love watching Dancing With The Stars!  I was a huge fan of Apollo Anton Ono, when he was on.  And now, I am definitely hoping Kristi Yamiguchi will be the ultimate winner.  She is such an incredible dancer...not surprising, given her prowess as a skater. 

I also have to admit that I love watching Marissa and Tony dance.  Marissa is so full of enthusiasm and verve, and Tony is such a great dancer that he is incredible to watch.

I always went to dances in high school, and loved going out disco-ing when I was in college and in my 20's.  I would love to do some ballroom dancing, but I just don't think John would be into it.  So, the next best thing is dancing vicariously with my 'stars' on Monday nights. 

I have to go off and vote for my faves on the ABC website.

house destruction...

My bedroom is Under Construction.  Which means that I am not sleeping there.  John and I are now in Adam's bedroom.  The good news is that he has a really comfortable bed.  The bad news is that we have to step over, around, and through construction debris every day to get dressed.  Yuck.  And now that they are tiling the bathroom, we need to take a few days worth of clothes out, because we won't be able to get to them, otherwise. 

We are going from 80's mauve-and-blue wallpaper and raspberry red tile to light tan silestone (quartz in it is a variety of shades) and Travertine marble bathroom floor and latte-colored walls.  I also had some crown molding installed, which gives it a nice, finished look.  There's more to the change than that, but the biggest deal is that the whole color scheme is changing.  The colors we had just didn't say "Rest here, relax here"  and the new colors will...we will have red and green accents in the bedding and accessories.

MY biggest project is making the drapes.  Not hard, but the materials are always somewhat bulky, and overlarge.  And I don't have a gigantic construction area for the cutting, etc., which makes it a little awkward.  Pictures to follow next week or so. 

I spend a lot of time in my room, which contains my office, so I am really looking forward to moving back in.  Not that it will be completed much before we return from Bonnie's Colgate graduation on the 19th.  Veronica will be living with the construction zone, but she is mostly in another part of the house, anyway. 

mom's weekend info...

Mom's Weekend, OSU-style--was a blast. Not because the school has lots to do, but just because it was so much fun to hang out with Ross.

We started off (on Friday afternoon) by taking a walk along the riverfront in Corvallis. The city has done a great job making this area enjoyable and lovely. There are paved paths, for walking and biking, benches for sitting and pondering, scuplture, water features, a skateboard park, new restaurants and shops, etc.

After the walk, we found a little restaurant, where we split some cheese fondue and had dessert. Then we saw the movie, The Forbidden Kingdom with Jet Li and Jackie Chan, which we agreed was cheesy in parts but highly enjoyable.

On Saturday morning, I picked Ross up bright and early (10 a.m., he IS a college kid), and we went out for breakfast, followed by a hike at OSU's Peavy Arboretum, which is about 5 miles outside of town. There was an OSU-sponsored logging competition, which we saw a little bit of. But the major draw was the beautiful old-growth forest, complete with lots of spring wildflowers and a gnut swimming in the lake we hiked around.

After a quick lunch of Taco Bell and then a shower, we headed off to another movie, this time with Ross's friend Sarah and her mom. We went to see Ironman, which was really very good. Robert Downey, Jr. is not usually who I think of when I think 'superhero' and yet, he did a great job in this part. Jeff Bridges plays his incredibly evil nemesis, and Gwyneth Paltrow plays his faithful aide, Pepper Potts.

Dinner was delish onion rings and burgers at Clodfelter's Pub on Monroe Street, right across from the university, with Sarah and her mom. Then, Ross and I went on to the 9 o'clock Comedy Show, with 2 Comedy Central stand-up comedians. Very funny.

Another 10 am breakfast was had on Sunday morning. We picked up Ross's friend, Melissa, and enjoyed some Belgian Waffles with Strawberries. I took off after that, driving the backroads up to my parents' home in Woodburn. OMG, it was such a beautiful day and driving through the backroads of the Willamette Valley is a real treat. It's gorgeous.

All in all, a great weekend with The Boy.

mom's weekend...

I'm off to Mom's weekend. Ross and I are going to see a movie or two, do a hike, go to a comedy show, and just enjoy some one-on-one time.

real girls...

We saw a very funny and touching movie last night, called Lars and the Real Girl. This is now out on DVD, which is how we saw it, and it is definitely worth seeing.

We had gone out to dinner with dear friends, both of whose daughters work in the entertainment business in L.A. After a lovely dinner in Sellwood (capped with absolutely heavenly bread pudding), we wandered around Willamette Park, then called their daughters looking for recommended DVD rentals. John and I see quite a few movies, so it took a while to get past ones we had seen (Charlie Wilson's War, Atonement, etc).

We settled around the big screen TV and were delighted with this film. The acting is wonderful, with a cast led by Ryan Gosling, who was excellent as the emotionally-numb young man who is unable to connect in his relationships till he buys a lifesize doll (Bianca) and the whole town works with him to get him through his delusion. Sounds really odd but it was delightful.

mom's weekend at Oregon State?

***I call Ross on his cell phone this morning***

Me: Hi Ross. Any chance you have bought any tickets for events at Mom's Weekend?

Ross: Huh? Mom's weekend? When is that, again?

Me: Next weekend.

Ross: Then, uh...no.

Me: Well, I am looking at the website and see that they still have some tickets for the comedy show on Saturday night. I figured you forgot, but a mom CAN be hopeful, can't she?

Ross: Laughs nervously.

Me: I will try to see what else we can do...don't worry about it.

Ross: Thanks, Mom.

Ah, the life of the mother of a youngest child, who also happens to be a boy!

and back to the old pressures...

Weekend:  Fly back from Fiji.  Feeling the love.

Monday:  Car battery dead.  Can't get to my coffee group so that I can celebrate life.

Tuesday:  Dad's chemo day.  Doc reports fluid in his lungs.  Worries about his heart.  Schedules a whole day of tests for next week.

Wednesday:  Templating for new bathroom countertop put off because of problem with angle of the bathtub.  Panic ensues.  Loaner car at car dealership not available so must put off having car fixed.  Annoyance ensues.  Bedroom torn up and stuff piled everywhere.  Stress ensues.

Thursday:  ???

Fiji...

on my way back...

I am in Nadi, Fiji, having spent the past week at the gorgeous Matamanoa resort in a Mamanuca Islands of Fiji.  We have the luxury of being in a private and air-conditioned lounge at the airport, till boarding time for our plane.  Then it's ELEVEN AND A HALF HOURS to L.A., followed by 2 more to Portland after that. 

Will post lovely pics when I am home tomorrow. 

On a totally different note, check out the gorgeous Dutch travel site:  100DutchDelights.com 

Makes you want to travel to Holland, doesn't it?  And it's not just because my family is Dutch...