Vacation is Over

My nine days are up. I go back to work tonight.

Didn't get everything done I needed to do but I knocked out a good chunk.

Also started a new blog for the West Edge Artists' Co-op.

My mother made roast beef yesterday. Delicious. Then I bugged her while trying to get her picture. (Kathryn)

Pink Diamond

Charlie's redoing the front porch.

The platform I had him have his carpenter, Barney, build to elevate the new washer is now on the porch as a coffee table. After seeing how high it would make the washer top, I decided against using it in the laundry room.

So now he has a place for his radio, green leaf, pink diamond and coffee cup. It's looking like a regular living room out there. (Kathryn)

Elite

Meet the Kenmore Elite HE 5t Front Loading Washer.

Never one to miss a "myspace angle" photo opportunity, I shot a picture of Charlie and me reflected in the bubble front of our new time saving device before he and Auguste manhandled it into the house. (Kathryn)

New Washer

Charlie bought me a front loading washer.

What was the first thing I did? Not wash clothes. I covered the top with The Sunday Shreveport Times so I could paint this piece of art, Capulet Crown. It had to be ready by Tuesday for the WEACo show at Centenary College.

Now I have to read the manual so I can figure out how to run the washer the correct way. Good thing I have a week of vacation starting 6 AM Sunday. (Kathryn)

$40 Wal Mart Wardrobe

Five shirts, two pairs of shorts and two pairs of socks.

Buying your husband new clothes is almost as satisfying as playing with paper dolls. (Kathryn)

Hairs Cut

Still haven't gotten my haircut. Charlie went by himself yesterday while I tried catching up on laundry. I'm heading to the barber shop after I drink my orange juice.

Kay charges twelve dollars to cut my hair. No shampooing, no blowing, no upgrading to take more money outta my pocket.

I do leave a nice tip and I get a swell haircut. And it keeps me from attacking my head with scissors after I've had a couple of glasses of burgundy. (Kathryn)

Talking Trash

On the way to get our hair cut Charlie asks, "How many cans of tuna did you have? Did you empty the trash?"

"Four, if you mean the ones sitting on the counter and this is strange conversation."

"I might have thrown them away in the middle of the night."

This is not the first time he's done odd things in a medicated mid night blur.

Later he digs through the kitchen trash and finds only two unopened cans of tuna. Yes, we keep them and yes, I'm a bit steamed 'cause goddess knows where those other .68 cans are. (Kathryn)

Moroccan Furnishings

Charlie's painting the front of the house and redoing the porch and porch furniture.

Some folks travel and some folks make their homes into other worlds...

Katee took the nifty photos. (Kathryn)

The Great Bike Adventure

We huffed and puffed and rode our bikes for about thirty minutes today.

The most exciting part? Charlie zipping down a hill as he realized the brakes on Katee's new bike didn't work. "Good thing I was wearing tenny shoes," he said.

You gotta love a man who's secure enough to ride a pink girls bike. (Kathryn)

Dad

Jerry came over to spread dirt in a new flower bed in our front yard.

I took advantage of the situation to get a picture of his new hair. He usually gets a perm and has funky do-do hair. I like the short cut. However his head is shaped like his grandfather's, my Great-Grandfather Whitener. (Kathryn)

Zombie Boy

So I come home around 5 AMish one morning last week to find Zombie Boy, otherwise known as Charlie, stumbling around in the kitchen. I checked to make sure the glass pot was under the maker in case he was in the middle of making a brew... can't tell you how many towels are stained because Zombie Boy forgot to put the carafe back in... the pot was there but just before I could sigh easily, I watched him wobble around like a butterfly trying new wings as he tried to wake up from his night medicine. He was leaning over a sandwich on the counter trying to eat it. Things were dripping from the bread.

With his eyes closed and his jaws chewing he said, "I thought I was putting jelly on my peanut butter but it turned out to be chocolate syrup." (Kathryn)

We've Bloomed!

Our last post was back in February. Between forgetting our password and working on our other blogs, starting a business, working at a full time job and trying to make art, things have been pretty busy around here. Not that I'm making excuses, just explaining what's been going on.

The photo is of our first grape tomatoes just before we plucked them from the vine. They are growing in pots on our back porch. Charlie waters them. Although with all the rain we've had it hasn't been a tough job to keep them soaked.

Here are our blogs:
www.crazyinshreveport.blogspot.com
www.kathrynandkateebipolarjournal.blogspot.com

Here are our business blogs:
www.tourdeshreveport.com
www.shreveportbooks.blogspot.com

Here's where some of my photos show up from time to time:
www.shreveportfaces.blogspot.com

Here's my art blog (have yet to find that password)...:
www.bottletreeart.blogspot.com

And will soon be working on a blog for the West Edge Artists' Co-op. (Kathryn)

Men Peein'

Skye and Eko and I were walking down Olive Street when I heard a voice say "look at the men peein'."

Disgusting! I look around for the dudes doing public urination (and damn it Mardi Gras is over! Piss in your own house!) and spot the talker. He's kind of red neck looking in a car with an spreddy out H on it (Honda? or Hyundai?).

Well, slap me with a big ol' solar light blub! He said "look at that Min Pin" but with his regional accent and slow Deputy Dog drawl speed it came out "Men Pee-in." (Kathryn)

Cotton Socks

My black cotton work socks are shot. They do that uncomfortable slide-into-your-shoes move. After searching thirty minutes at the red-circle-dot store and not finding any black socks with any more than 80% cotton, I've run out of time because Katee has to get to work.

Then the sock fairy directs me to a display that shows hanging organic blend cotton socks. They even have the soothing mantra of "Simplify" knitted into them. The label reads "Finding the union between mind, body and spirit brings you closer to your true well-being. ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY no chemicals, no pesticides, mild dyes..." I've found what I need. Then I see the fiber content is 85% cotton/12% polyester/ 3% spandex. I won't even tell you what the cuff of these organic socks are made of. I buy one pair at $2.99 and will wear them tonight.

Why do I think I need 100% cotton? It's about control. I stand on my feet at work, which means I have no cubicle, which means I have no input over my work environment or my polyester uniform. If you're wrapping me in mandated crappy fibers I'll spend time going natural on the rest. I'll shop for hours looking for 100% cotton pants with pockets (but not too many pockets because a dealer could stuff money or chips into them).

The job forces me to rebel anyway I can.

I get radical by waiting for until the last minute to button the top button of my shirt (I do tuck it in before leaving the house--I'm not for anarchy).

I'm not wild enough to take my cell phone into the pit, even with the ringer off. But then again I don't have a cell phone...

I have gone nearly off the deep end by slipping a notebook and pen into my pocket. A couple of months ago at a "huddle" (that's casino speak for pre-shift meeting) we were told no paper, pens or purses allowed on the casino floor.

All I want is natural fibers next to me as much as possible. So I'll give these impure sock a try. It's a good thing it's winter. It think even with this little bit of polyester in the new socks my toes will get roasty. Even with the all cotton socks there are some nights towards the end of my shift I have to go outside and take my shoes off and cool my feet on the freezy metal floor of our boat. I do this while the smokers are huddled together, wrapped in blankets, puffing away. (Kathryn)

maybe i think too much.

I feel like I never have any time. I'm not even going to school this semester, and somehow I never have time to do what I need to do. I'd really just like to take some time off from hanging out with my friends and getting some stuff done. Our house is a mess because no one cleans because we don't have time. My cat misses me because I'm never here. My body is exhausted. I just need, you know, time to myself I think.

The seventh Harry Potter book comes out on July 21st. I'm really excited, but also kind of sad. It's just. . .the end. But it seems kind of appropriate, too, in my case. I discovered Harry Potter when I was 13, the beginning of my teen years, and now it's ending when I'm 19, at the end of it all. Just seems kind of poetic. You know, in a really nerdy way.

I'm going to try and write in here more. I've been on like a two month hiatus pretty much, so I'm going to try to write maybe three times a week. I'd also like to join a gym or something. And maybe work less. There's a lot of stuff I'd like to do.

Excuse my ramblings. It's almost 2 in the morning and I just got off work about an hour and a half ago. I'm tired. But I'll be okay. I always am. :) (Katee)

Super

We watched the Super Bowl but only after hitting the Goodwill 50 percent off sale. And then calling the gas company because we smelled gas outside when we arrived home. I apologized for calling him out (Katee actually called) during the game. He said his teams didn't make it.

After probing the ground with a long rod like thing and checking in the house he declared us safe. He said we were probably smelling a gas leak that belonged to someone else and it was wafting over. I had no idea "gas the stuff that heats your house" would do that but it makes sense since it is a gas.

By the time we got to watch the game we had to rewind the DVR and fast forward through the actual playing of football so we could watch the commercials. I didn't see them all but my favorites are: FedEx: Don't Judge, GM Stripping guys to wash your car, Bud Light English lessons, Bud Light Gorillas, CareerBuilder: Office Jungle Fight, Taco Bell Lions, American Heart Association, Frito-Lay Enjoy the Game, Meet the Robinsons ("I have a big head and little arms) and Budweiser Beer-Stealing Crabs. (Kathryn)

Damn TV

I had to take Katee to Willis Knighton Quick Care yesterday because she seems susceptible to growing strep throat.

Two things about modern life:

1. While hospitals are set at a nice icy 50 degrees QC was baking in heat. I had to keep going outside because it was so hot in there. It was either that or take my shoes and socks off 'cause when my feet get hot, I'm toast.

2. There was a TV blasting in the waiting room. Why? I'm a major remote flipper but there are some places you shouldn't be forced to watch television. What's wrong with nice and quiet? Or even elevator music? However, since this is Louisiana, all ours should be Cajun zydeco.

No strep for Katee. We just had to buy some nice cough medicine with codeine. Only ten bucks. I can't complain about that price. (Kathryn)

Will This Party Never End?

Who doesn't love those goofy paper party hats Brits wear? I've been remaking some long duster vest things and have an abundance of sleeves scattered about. I took them to mom's house Sunday and made everyone wear them while we ate chocolate cake and danced for four minutes to the song Hallelujah by Rufus Wainwright from the Shrek soundtrack. This was the only photo that didn't have Katee's picture and she said the only way I could take a picture was if I didn't post one with her in it.

I then regaled them with my Samuel L. Jackson story:

On my birthday I was in the high limit blackjack pit on a fifty dollar table. I was shuffling the cards when a black man wearing a cozy hat approached my table. He didn't make eye contact. I said hi (in my friendly casino employee voice). It was after greeting him that I realized it was Samuel L. Jackson.

He switched directions after seeing the minimum bet was fifty and went to the twenty-five dollar table. I only had two players. The quarter table was loaded. Mr. Jackson came in with a white man and a white woman. The woman juggled a notebook. Both stood around while he settled down to play.

Seconds later there was shrieking and then the general yahoos started scrambling in from the regular part of the casino. The black man and black woman on my table agreed with me that there was no reason to act like you were raised in a barn and resort to hysterics when you spotted a celebrity. Finally, security was dispatched and Mr. Jackson was able to play a couple of shoes with a little bit of peace. I went on break and when I came back twenty minutes later Mr. Jackson had vamoosed. (Kathryn)

Not A Bad Birthday

This is what I woke up to on Thursday. I promised the person with the purpled out eyes I would not publish this picture but I apparently lied so I gave her a little bit of space by keeping her anonymous (I think it's okay that I lied because this was all a part of my birthday celebration).

Chocolate cake and Hy-top ice cream.

Ya-hoo. What more could a gal ask for?

Oh wait I forgot ...Samuel L. Jackson spent part of my special day with me.

The end. (Kathryn)

The End

News reports stated that Monday was the dreariest day of the year. It just punctuated what we've been feeling the last ten days or so. For Charlie the highpoint of sadness came when the tow truck carted away the Blazer last week after the insurance company declared it totaled.

A moment of silence for the music he lost...

While he did remove the stereo from the vehicle he forgot to remove the CDs from over the visor. The next day when he went to where ever they had towed it the CDs were gone. (Kathryn)