Between Projects

I'm currently between projects right now and I have absolutely no motivation to get started on another lengthy project. I consider a "project" anything from getting a freelancing client moving on their web site to cleaning up the various areas of my office, which has letters to go through from over 15 years ago, a wedding album to put together for our wedding that was over 2 years ago and various scrapbooks from events over the past 5 years and backward.

There are also house "projects" like finishing up the basement and actually doing something with that space. Installing the last of our lights in the basement or finishing the Master Bathroom, which desperately needs a new toilet and light fixtures.

Alas, I'm floating along on the Lazy River, occasionally having a twinge that I should do something, but doing absolutely nothing about it.

Northern California Curiosities

We're gearing up for another trip, this time to California for my old roommate-from-college's wedding. Katie is marrying in Napa Valley in the middle of picking season, so it should be interesting and fun, just like her.

I'm in charge of planning our vacation (Kevin, me and my parents) for the 3 days following the wedding. I'm trying not to wear Kevin out like I did on our summer vacation to Ohio, but it's difficult. I'd like to get a photo of the World's Largest Artichoke and then of course there is this sticker factory tour that is only 30 minutes out of the way.

It's hard to remember that just because something is kitschy and I would love to see it that not everyone else feels the same way. Maybe I shouldn't be using "Northern California Curiosities" as my guidebook...

The Bocce Victory

My cousin Nicki and her husband Will brought along a game yesterday to my parents' cookout...bocce. So simple, so easy, so challenging that it brings all of your competitive juices to the forefront. With four teams and 8 colored balls, you toss a small white ball and each team tries to get their colored balls as close as possible. Plus, this wasn't an ordinary bocce set, they glowed and blinked. So the darker it got, the more fun they became.

Team Green (Kristy and Kevin) lagged behind at first as they developed their skill set. Team Yellow (My brother Terry and my Mom) took an early lead, largely due in part to their superior "skeeball" skills. Team Red (My Great Aunt Annabel and Great Uncle Donald) entered the tournament late and probably would have won if they had started on time. And finally Team Blue (Nicki and Will) lagged behind by a point throughout.

The goal was to reach 7 and with clear-eyed determination, Team Green strode ahead to take the Bocce Tournament. Ah sweet, sweet victory. This assuaged all of my torment from playing Blokus earlier in the day!

Block This!

One of my coworkers at the library loaned me this new game. At least it's new to Kevin and me. Maybe you've heard of it - it's called Blokus. There are four colors and the point of the game is to lay down all of your pieces. The person with the most pieces left at the end loses. This is a strategy game, I'm awful at strategy games. Kevin always cleans the floor with me on strategy games.

This game is of course no exception. We've played 3 times in the last day and I've lost 3 times. I've always been extremely competitive and this game brings it all out. When Kevin successfully blocks me, flames shoot out of my ears and my head spins around. Needless to say the dining room table is looking a bit scorched. Maybe this game isn't good for our marriage...