How can we possibly be just two months away from a new year already? Wow! I apologize for my lack of posts, I have been very busy.

Shortly after my last blog, my youngest sister Beth, was admitted to the hospital again. I managed to delay my start at work by one week, so I could go out and be with her and my mom for a week, helping as I could. The biggest project was helping to clean up Beth's house, which she has not been able to properly attend to, due to her depression. She has five cats, so I had a lot of help! While there, I got to meet mom's cute new dog, Ranger. He is still a puppy and is busy chewing on anything and everything, but he is awful cute. I think that is what keeps him alive!  Here are a couple pictures of him:

Anyhow, we got a ton done while I was there for the week,  but I was exhausted and slept 14 hours my first night back home!

Then I had Sunday to recover and then started my new job on Monday! My first week went pretty well, but there is a lot to learn. The company I work for manufactures and sells a large range of medical products and there are a lot of safety laws in place for the protection of the consumer.  My job is working in the compliance department and working to make sure all the various laws are followed by the company and that the company would be able to pass any audits. So this week, I was busy learning laws, procedures and about a zillion new medical terms and acronyms! But I am definitely making progress and have already started to evaluate and track some of the various requests we get. My specific job is working with requests for grants for medical research, further education, etc.

Meanwhile this week, our friend Joerg from Germany visited for a couple days, before flying back home today, out of LAX. He comes out to the US every couple years and visits various friends. He also uses the opportunity to stock up on English science fiction books, which is one of his passions. He was very popular with the girls, because he brought 3 gift bags full of candy from Germany. Becca has been taking it to school and sharing with her friends, which has made her very popular.

And of course, we had Halloween yesterday. Becca decided to go as a pirate and Becca wanted to be a Japanese anime-type of character. Joe took them over to our old house in Carlsbad, and they went around with their friends there and came home with piles of candy. Meanwhile, I went to bed early, being way too exhausted after my first week at work. We didn't get any trick-or-treaters at the Vista house, but we are off the beaten track here, and they are no longer any young kids on the short block we live on. So, in closing, here are a couple pictures of the girls in their Halloween costumes:

Megan in her kimono

Becca the pirate!

Yesterday afternoon, I had a most welcome call, offering me a job as a grant administrator at the medical company I applied with. It is great on so many levels! First, I will get $5 more per hour, than I would have as a diamond grader. Second, it is just minutes from our house, no more 45+ minute commutes each way! Third, the medical benefits are great and will save us $2500 a month (from what we currently spend to get individual health insurance). I am so glad I went to that job fair! I faxed back my signed acceptance of the offer and just have to do a drug test and wait on my background check. It looks like my first day would be Monday, October 20th. Oh, and they also settled on hourly wages higher than what they had said the top pay would be for the position!

A week ago, Joe and I went to a local Viking Festival put on by the Sons of Norway Lodge. It was fun, had some great music, yummy food and was just relaxing. Unfortunately, due to other obligations that day, we were not able to spend nearly as much time there as we would have liked.

Maybe next year we can stay long enough to participate in the fish fling contest!

This morning I looked out the window and discovered some critter had been in our backyard last night and it had been busy killing pool toys. Two of the foam noodles which had been floating in the water had been pulled out and then chunks of foam had been ripped out of them. On the grass was the sad remains of a blow up little boat, punctured to never float again. I am not sure what it was, all the gates are shut and there is very little room to slip under them, perhaps 2" at most. It looks like the work of a coyote, or perhaps an angry racoon. Either way, I took the rest of the toys out of the pool so they don't befall similar fates!

Tonight is the first new CSI episode of the season, so I am ready, with my CSI t-shirt on. Poor Warrick! I am also bummed that Grissom will be leaving. I hope that doesn't change what I so love about the show. Joe and I plan to crake open a bottle of champagne tonight to celebrate my new job and enjoy our kid-free night of the week.

It has been a tough week for virtually everyone with the economy and stock market. I don't know anyone it hasn't effected in some way. We dropped the price on our Carlsbad house, again, in hopes of finding a buyer. Our biggest problem seems to be that people just can't get loans, regardless of everything else. I am hoping things have hit bottom and will start to look up a bit now.

My general rule is not not talk politics or religion on my blog, they are just way too controversial. But it is *my* blog, so I won't apologize for my next comments.

WARNING, POLITICAL RANT TO FOLLOW:

I am absolutely stunned and horrified that ANYONE can think that Sarah Palin should be VP of the United States. What is wrong with people? She can't even answer basic questions. She isn't intelligent, she isn't well read, and for someone who majored in communications in college, she should be doing a *lot* better. Is this just about sex appeal? Too many guys with fantasies about secretaries or librarians? Yes, I would like to see women in positions of power, but what kind of example is she? She got pregnant while unmarried and then rushed off to elope. Now her daughter is following in her footsteps. Yet our nation has a fit if a male politician has an affair.  She supports shooting wolves from helicopters for sport. The famous pictures of moose she has killed, were trophy kills, not for meat. She thinks the average American is "Joe Six Pack"?? What?? We all just sit around drinking beer and scratching ourselves while watching TV? She uses baby talk and winking to look cute! OMG!

At what point did America decided that our leaders, those people who represent our country to the rest of the world, didn't have to be intelligent, articulate or able to think on their feet? When did a solid education with good grades become "elite"? At what point did it become more important to imagine yourself having a beer with our countries leader, than imagining them trying to make the best decisions and negotiations to keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of dictators?

Look people, this isn't a reality show, this is our life, our future, our children's life. Use your mind, your heart and your soul when you vote. Pick someone with substance, who can stand up and speak to us and the rest of the world in a way you can be proud of. Let them be someone who is an example to our children, an inspiration. Not fodder for every comedian and political cartoonist on the face of the earth.

This last week has gone well with the job I talked about in my last blog. I went back in for an in-person interview and that went very well. Then the had me do a phone interview with a woman in Texas who I would be working closely with, if I got the job. And then Friday I went in for two more hours of in-person interviews with the VP of the department and a couple other folks.

I am pretty sure an offer will be made to me. They said they would get back to me, early this next week. The position would be helping with compliance of federal rules, etc. The company makes medical devices, like braces for knees and wrists, as well as surgical implants, such as knee and hip replacements. Everyone keeps telling me it is a very chaotic, busy position, that requires mega attention to details and organization. I told them it was pretty nuts at Yahoo!, but the VP said other people have told her they are used to chaotic and then were overwhelmed here. It does sound like they work hard, but also play hard. She said once a quarter they all do something fun as a team. This quarter they are going to lunch and then a movie. Last quarter it was lunch and a harbor cruise. Everyone seems very nice and I saw a notice for a weekly bingo after work. So I think people have fun there too.

My guess is, that if they make an offer, they would ask me to start a week from this Monday. But I guess time will tell.

Otherwise the week has been the normal housekeeping, organizing, doing school stuff, taking Megan to Girl Scouts, etc. Nothing much else of major news. Oh we did finally get some cooler weather and even some rain last night! I was starting to wonder if summer was really going to end, were we in the mid 90s all last week! Ugh! I would like to wear a sweater once in awhile now!

Hope the weekend was nice for everyone!

Saturday was Megan's 10th birthday! Wow, I have a 10 year old and a 12 year old now, where has all the time gone? It was a low key, but very nice day. We started out with her opening gifts. Her big wish was for a drawing pad for her computer, so she can more easily do computer graphics. She also got a cash card for an online game she likes called Maple Story, a huge book of adorable cat pictures, a blanket with cute kitties all over it, and a set of episodes of a Japanese anime with a girl who likes to dress up as a cat called "Moon Phase". I would try to explain the story line in Moon Phase, but as in most Japanese cartoons, it is complicated and hard to follow! LOL!

Bet you didn't notice the kitty theme! Yes, Megan is still just crazy for kitties. Apparently that is very common for girls her age with Asperger's Autism. I don't mind, I happen to think kitties are pretty cool as well. Well at least when I don't have to be cleaning their litter boxes or wrangling them to take medications!

Our family tradition is for the birthday person to select the main meal for the day. Megan picked an outing to Olive Garden where she *loves* the breadsticks (much like her Aunt Beth) and the chicken strips. The waitress made her a custom chocolate dessert that had chocolate ice cream, shredded chocolate on top, and chocolate syrup!

Then she got embarrassed as all the staff came over and sang her happy birthday!

You can't see it very well, but she is wearing a new dress I made her. I will try to get a better photo later. I have to get her some hair clips to get her hair out of her face. She has insisted on growing out her bangs, but they are at that really awkward length!

In other news, the offer on the house fell through. The people who made the offer could not get a loan for enough money. Another couple had been interested, but undecided between our house and another. In the end, the decided they didn't like the business park behind our back yard (separated by a road). The business park has never been a problem for us, but to each his own. We are considering dropping the price again, but I don't think anything is going to be selling for any price for the next few weeks in this market.

On the job front, I didn't get the position doing diamond grading, which is still a mystery to me. They kept making sounds that the wanted me. They spent ages doing background checks on me..who knows. So I made up new resumes on Monday and then went to a job fair in downtown San Diego on Wed. For the most part, the job fair was a waste of time. For one things, at least half the tables were for law enforcement of some type. The San Diego Sheriff was there, the Harbor Patrol, the Border Patrol, the Riverside County Police Department and the Los Angeles Sheriff. As well as the Marines and a security firm looking for rent-a-cops. So after all that, I only found about 3 tables even looking for administrative support. I tried to give them my resume, but at each place was told the were not taking resumes or doing interviews there and I should go online and apply on their website. Right. But, I did find out there was a local company hiring, so when I got home I did go and submit resumes for about 10 different jobs online, including one with the local company.

On Thursday, I did get a call back from the local company and to make a long story short, they were interested in me, did a phone interview that I did fine on and have invited me in on Monday for an in-person interview. I had applied for a position as an administrative assistant and they have bumped me up to a better paying job as a grant administrator and assistant. They are a company that makes medical orthopedic supports and donates a lot of money yearly for various causes. This position would be doing lots of research on applications, tracking things, collecting data, accounting for money spent, etc. It sounds really interesting, so please think good thoughts. Of the 20 total resumes I sent out this week, this was the only bite.

Finally, in closing I will share a picture of a new hand towel I embroidered for the kitchen over the last couple of nights. I am thinking of selling some things like this on Etsy.com. Do you think there is a market? What would you pay for something like this? $10? The un-embroidered towel cost $4. You can click on it to see it larger.

Saturday, Becca worked with her advanced art class at the annual Carlsbad ArtSplash.  This is an event to raise money for the arts and help artists to get more exposure. The main event is chalk art, but there are also sculptures, glass artists, entertainment, food and a tasting of local restaurants.

She arrived at 9:00 am and worked till noon and I think had a good time. We spent some time there was well, walking around and enjoying the sites and some fantastic weather.

Becca and her friend Tara with their's classes drawing

Rock Balancing

Can't forget the lady carving the likeness of the mayor of Carlsbad in cheddar!

And of course, a balloon monkey on a balloon coconut tree

Today I finished a dress for the doll I have been making. (And as you can see, she has also been given hair since my last blog!) I decided to call her Mandy, after a favorite book I read as a child. I think Annie and Mandy sound good together, don't you?

The clothing has been more challenging than I expected. The pattern I am working from I bought from a lady online who had "resized" the pattern from the magazine to the correct size. So to make panties, I decided to use the pajama bottoms as a guide, only to find that pattern was drawn too small to fit around her waist! So that pair went into the trash and I decided to just make them from scratch, without a pattern. I was pleased with how they turned out, I think they look professional and not like the hack job I worried they might turn out to be.

Being a bit wiser after my adventures with panties, I checked the dress bodice with a mock up in a throw-away fabric and found that pattern was made way too large for the doll! Arggh!! So once again, I tossed the pattern pieces and just went from scratch, drawing them myself, and then using past experience making non-doll clothing to put it together.

I am pleased, because in the past, I would put something off, rather than risk failure. But this time I just made myself do it. What was the worst that could happen? And in the end, I was happily surprise with the results! What do you think? Next will be a slip, socks and shoes, but first I need to make some kid-sized dresses for Megan!

Yeah, we are having fallish weather today and I am loving it. Seasons are not so obvious in Southern California, so we take what we can get. I love getting to wear sweaters again, and fall foods, the smell of cinnamon, the taste of pumpkin and the crunching of leaves under foot!

I am finally feeling like we are pretty well settled in since the move, there are still things to move at the old house, but nothing critical and worst case I will hire someone to help box it up once that house sells. Things are settled enough that I don't feel totally guilty when I work on crafty endeavors, rather than unpacking and sorting. My most recent project is trying my hand at making a cloth doll, using the same pattern my mother did to make me a doll back when I was 6 or 7 years old. That doll, Annie, was one of my two favorite toys growing up (the other being a beloved teddybear who is no longer). My daughters are more into stuffed animals than dolls, so show no interest in this, but maybe one day there will be grand daughters who feel differently! Kids in general don't seem to be so much into things like cloth dolls anymore, it is hard to compete in a world of Barbie and Bratz!

This is what Annie looks like today, not so bad for a young lady of almost 40 years old!

I am ready to put hair on my doll, but must admit, they look a bit alien at this point! Here is how my doll is looking:

I am hoping to do the hair sometime this weekend. Tomorrow is my monthly miniature club meeting, so I will be off to work on the chocolate shop I am making. I haven't posted any pictures of that, I suppose I should at some point!

Sunday, Joe and I are going to a performance by a group called Celtic Springs, they do Celtic music and dancing. It sounds like it will be fun.

The girls are busy with school again. Megan loves her teacher and is planning a trip to the science museum for her birthday on the 27th. She is going to be turning 10! Wow! I need to finish getting her gifts together. She wants a drawing pad for her computer so she can do more computer animation, something she is very into.

Becca is in advanced art this year and they are doing masks right now. And of course, she is in her social butterfly element being back with all her friends. She is planning to do Science Olympiad this year again. Her science teacher managed to get $30,000 in grants to help fund the program, which used to be totally paid for through fund raisers and parent time and donations.

We are still hoping the old house sells quickly, but so far only the one off and then they refused our counter. We had to take the lock box off the door, because agents kept leaving the doors unlocked! Then, on our last trip, we found a door not only unlocked but standing wide open! Showing the house by appointment only sucks, and will not help the sale, but we can't afford the risk of having the house vandalized or robbed.

Hope everyone is well and please keep all the folks in the path of hurricane Ike in your thoughts and prayers. We have several close friends in the area.

Today I finished my first attempt at making an embroidered tea towel for the kitchen. I think it turned out pretty good.

I added a border of gingham trim and some rick-rack for a nice vintage look. I am thinking of changing the whiskers to something lighter however, I think the black is a bit too much.

I find it hard to believe that Becca can already be twelve years old, but she is! Monday was her birthday and she had her friend Natlie over and a group of us went to Bennihana's for lunch. The girls get to pick a special meal for their birthday, either at home or out, and this was Becca's choice.

The girls doing chopstick tricks, from left to right: Megan, Natalie, Becca and Tess

Natalie eating sushi

The birthday girls has some as well

Can you eat ice cream with chopsticks?

After lunch, checking out the new anime cartoons Becca got as a gift.

Finally things seem to be settling down and moving into a sense of a more normal life. The girls started school this week. Megan is in her last year of elementary school! Wow, where have all the years gone? She has declared she wants to go to MIT for college. I have told her if she gets the grades, I will figure out a way to make it happen! Becca is now in 7th grade and happy to see all her friends again. She looks suddenly so much more an adult than a child and it can be difficult for me at times. But the sadness and shock are tempered with pride, as I see what a great person she is turing out to be.

Rooms in the house are starting to have order. The kitchen is good, the pantry, the linens, Megan's room, our bedroom, the office and craft room, even Becca's room all look more settled than not. Yes, there are still boxes, but they are slowly getting less. As to the Carlsbad house, we have had an offer and we have countered it, and now we are waiting again. Apparently the couple would like to view it again on Saturday, since they have only each seen it alone, due to travel with work. So please cross your fingers and think good thoughts. They have offered 30% down and have been pre-approved on their loan.

I continue to hold hope for the job as a diamond grader. They called me today and said while they had filled the training that was starting Sept. 2nd, they had decided to do another group starting Sept. 29th and they wanted to know if I would be willing to wait to participate in that course. They were careful to say it was not a job offer at this time, but that they were seriously interested in me, and just didn't have enough room in the first course for everyone. I also found some more paperwork to help confirm previous employment, wages and dates, which I have had some difficulty with, due to moving and things being lost in boxes.

In other good news, I learned today that a biopsy I had of my uterus was negative. I have started having some bleeding and cramps at odd times and while I was hoping it was pre-menopause, I was worried it could be something worse, so I wanted it looked into. So, of the options I had, pre-menopause is the better. Lucky me. The doctor said I could do hormones if I wished, but I said no because hormones just turn me into the mood monster from hell. Not a good thing!

Oh, and I found a picture of the shoes the girls got for school. It turns out it was a design done by Converse just for that chain of shoe stores, and no other. Here they are, cute huh?

Hmm, what else? To celebrate my craft area finally being organized, I have decided I am going to embroider a flour sack tea towel. It will be a quick project and is just so cute. Here is the pattern I am using:

Oh speaking of cats, Minux had not seemed well. When we tried to pet her, she was growling at Joe and I, so we set up an appointment at the vet, to try to find out what was wrong. We were worried that Milkyway might have bitten or scratched her and caused an abscess or infection. Then, to make matters worse, the day before her appointment, I woke up to find about a tablespoon of blood on the couch where she sleep! Ack! I immediately thought of Chelsea and was worried history would repeat itself. However, things worked out much better. No bites, no scratches, no abscesses. No blood in her urine. However, she did have a lot of white blood cells, so had an infection of some type. Then the looked at her anal glands and found them very large. Heck, I didn't even know cats HAD anal glads, I thought that was just a dog thing. Well they do, but it is rare for them to be a problem. The vet drained them and we suspect that was the root of her infection as well. Between having them drained and taking antibiotics for several days, Minux is back to acting like a happy kitten, despite her 18 years of age. She is playing with her toy mice and standing up to Milkyway when he is being a naughty brother cat (where before she ran off and hid).

So life is good, and I am grateful the job is delayed for a month, so I can finish up the moving and organizing to better satisfy my obsessive compulsive little mind. Monday, Becca turns 12 years old! And a few weeks later, Megan will be turning 10. Wow! Oh and the girls are with Gene tonight, so I can sleep in tomorrow, rather than getting up at 6 am to take them to school. *grin*