Long Time Not Here...

I'm woefully behind in blogging...

I got back from my voonderbar week away -- and hit the ground running with prepping for the TGC Rummage Sale.

I hate the Rummage Sale.

In case I'm not clear - the Rummage Sale and everything it is associated with... -- is detestable.

I enjoy going to other folks' rummage sales... yard sales... etc... It gives a peek into how strange people live (and by strange I mean unknown... and sometimes weird).

Last year we made $3,000 on the Rummage Sale and for all the agonizing over the lack of help sorting and pricing through the donations that over 100 families dropped off (that is a lot of trash... er -- treasure!!) -- fretting over how many volunteers were actually going to be there to help on the day -- struggling with l i f t i n g and c a r r y i n g -- two things which are truly truly odious to me... I figure $3,000 was barely worth it.

Yesterday we'd only made $1,500 -- which really sucks cuz we were more organized, had done more pre-advertising... had our girls promoting on a local radio station the Friday morning before it starting... had signs out... and in the economy we're in one would think we were in a position to do better. But no.

It will be over today. And for that I'm grateful. And in case you're worried that my feelings are not known amongst my workmates -- please do not be worried.

* * * * *

As for my terrifically fantastic vacation -- I scrapped over 50 pages in total -- 25+ for my sister (with some pages done from said sister and step-mom); and 25 pages of my good friend D's 40th surprise party (he turns 42 in February). I still have the random life photos to put on the pages for D's second album... but the party is done done done.

Seeing family was great -- as always. It was a huge bummer himself couldn't come with me :-(
and he was missed big-time by my family. We played Taboo and Catch Phrase and Clue... ate obscenely (though not as bad as it could have been), and I did a lot of laying around -- oh, and did I mention scrapbooking?

We went to Sea World in San Diego -- and I haven't shared with the world the results of my doctor's visit the Friday before I left -- I came away with the knowledge that my knee issues aren't just because seats are too low... my knee cap is sliding out of its groove -- my sis gave me some exercises to help with it -- and walking helps a lot. I mention it now because walking 600+ acres of sea world wiped me out. I mean, I was done by the time we had walked from the car to the entrance... which is so very pathetic and didn't help me feel good about myself. I got some good pics, but still have to get them off my photo card at the drugstore -- card reader at home isn't wanting to play.

I also came away from the Dr. with high blood pressure medicine (I blame the job -- NOT that I'm way overweight and don't exercise --NNOOooooo.... those two things have nothing to do with it!! ;-) -- some happy pills (which I'm extremely happy to have), and two other things that I won't share with the world, but suffice to say that these are things that never crossed my mind in my 20's & 30's. bleh -- I say BLEH to aging ungracefully (disgracefully??).

After seeing family, I went up the mountain 7,650 feet to Big Bear to scrap with 38 other women for 3 days. I've never done this kind of thing before (not that I haven't wanted to!), and it is so worth saving money and doing 3 times a year! I got so much done, had tons o' fun and I was relaxed and truly vacationing... usually I'm scrambling seeing and doing as much as I can when I go away -- and this was just a really really wonderful chance to unwind and be lazy but still get stuff done!

And I was blissfully chilled - cold even! The weather was gorgeous - warm in the sun, cool in the shade, a beautiful breeze... the hotel was kinda cheesy but very comfortable and the staff was friendly and the food was (mostly) very tasty.

T and I are planning to plan a local (but still 'away') scrapping weekend -- I'm muchly looking forward to it!