Big Girl Bed

Three years ago, when I bought my first home (I owned it for just 2 weeks shy of year, but had to sell it to move to LA to take the job I have now), I also bought a bedroom set that includes a dresser, 2 night stands, and an armoir. I didn't buy the bed because it was a sleigh bed. I've always thought sleigh beds were too heavy and took up too much room. I've been looking for a headboard and footboard that matched or coordinated with the bedroom set for a long time. I finally found one that I liked in the Pottery Barn catalog, but couldn't justify a Pottery Barn purchase. Well, this year, when I got my production bonus at work, I decided it was time to buy the bed...the whole experience made me feel quite grown up. And, there are benefits to buying a product from a store like Pottery Barn...they delivered the bed, took down the old bed frame and carried it out the garage, put up the new bed, rotated my mattress, helped me put the dust ruffle back on before putting the mattress on, and carried away all of the boxes, etc. that the bed came in...it was fantastic. Anyway, my family has been asking for pictures of the bed...so, here it is.

Veteran's Day

Will someone please remind me why we thought it was a good idea to celebrate Veteran's Day on the actual day? This whole day off in the middle of the week thing doesn't work for me...in fact, I'm working today...I'm not vacationing. A day off in the middle of the week just means your clients pile on the work the night before and expect an answer the morning after. (I know--this is the job I signed up for, but I just had to complain for a minute...OK, back to work.)

Living and Voting in California

I love living in California, but I hate that they generally call Presidential elections at 8 p.m. as the polls are closing in California...very few of our votes have been counted at that point in time. I am proud to be an American and to have a right to vote, but calling elections before my vote has been counted is the reason that voters feel disenfranchised. Celebrate the fact that 75% of California's voters chose to vote by actually counting our votes before you call an election!

Oh ya, and what about Alaska and Hawaii??? How must they feel about their votes?

Election Day

I don't care who you are or what your political opinions, leanings, etc. are...today was an historic day with an African-American and a woman on the ballot. And, in California, they are predicting a more than 75% voter turnout. That, in and of itself, is historic!

I usually vote by absentee ballot. It's easier. I don't have to figure out where my polling place is located. I can call people while I'm voting. And, I don't have to wait in line. I thought I was on the permanent absentee voter list, but apparently, I'm not. So, I was among the millions who stood in line today in California and across the country to vote. Of course, it rained last night and this morning in L.A. (It rarely rains here.) And, the power in my neighborhood (which includes my polling place) went out this morning at 5 a.m. Still, I got up and was at the polling place by 6:15 this morning to wait for the 7:00 a.m. opening. (I had a meeting at work this afternoon and I didn't want to miss voting or have to wait in line for 4 hours by going after the meeting...I knew if I was there early, I would get in in a relatively reasonable time period.) Thankfully, the rain let up by the time I got in line, but the power was not restored until about noon. So, we voted by candlelight. I was able to get in and out by 8:00 a.m. to head home and shower in the dark. ;)

I took a couple of photos this morning on my cell phone...one of the line wrapped around the block after me and one of the line in front of me after they opened the door (what you cannot see is how long the line actually was inside the building in front of me).

Teenage Girls Sure Love Sugar

Food seems to be a big attracter for my young women. Wednesday night's activity was no exception. We decorated cupcakes (with WAY too much frosting and candy). It was like they were elementary school kids with the frosting and the candy...they crack me up!!! I also had the stuff to make these Halloween decorations from October's Martha Stewart Living, but it ended up being the leaders maing the decorations and the YW consuming large amounts of sugar in between frosting cupcakes! Oh well, at least they had fun...

Tiny Patient

My nephew Tyler was born with a congential cataract in his right eye. It was removed when he was only one month old by Dr. M. Edward Wilson, Jr., MD, at the Storm Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston South Carolina. The initial surgery was successful at removing the cataract, but Tyler has had persistent issues with the regulation of the intraocular pressure in his eye, resulting in glaucoma. Today, Tyler had surgery to relieve the pressure--the surgery was performed by Mohamad Jaafar--a pediatric opthalmalogist at National Children's Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Again, the surgery went well, but it's far too early to tell whether it was successful. Thankfully, both surgeries were performed out-patient. Thank goodness there are specialists that deal with these very specialized areas of medicine!

My trip to D.C. was planned before the surgery was planned and/or scheduled. But, as luck would have it, I arrived in D.C. at 5 a.m. this morning, and the surgery was performed shortly after 9:30 a.m.; so, I was able to be at the hospital with Eric & Sheree for pre-op and during the operation. Tyler was a trouper! He didn't get to eat after 5:30 this morning, but he didn't cry and was happy even when he was handed over to the anesthesiologist and carried to the operation room. This afternoon and evening, he's been sleepy as the anthesthesia has worn off. He's also clarly been uncomfortable--and does not like us very much when he won't let him rub his patched eye. But, he's really taken this all quite well...esp. for being only 4 months old!

We've had a lot of fun today during the times when he was awake and feeling well. He's really developed a great laugh!

Here are some photos of the tiny patient in his tiny operation gown...

Look how tiny that blood pressure cuff is...

Getting ready to come home after the surgery...

Off to D.C.

There never seems to be a good time to go on vacation...between work and being YW's President, I don't get a lot of down time. But, I've decided to just plan vacations and take them even if they are not convenient. So, I'm headed to D.C. tonight on the red-eye to visit Eric, Sheree and Tyler. I'm sooooooooooooooooo excited to see them! This will actually be my 3rd trip to D.C. in a year's time. And, the last 2 trips have been all about this little guy (sorry Eric & Sheree)...