Christmas...a little early

I'm usually pretty strict about sticking to the no-Christmas-stuff-before-Thanksgiving-is-over rule (no music, decorations, etc.), but I bent the rules just a bit this year to make the Christmas party invitations for where I work.

I'm still new at the creativity business, so it's been fun learning how to put things like this together...

Life has been quite busy as of late...but busy with nothing terribly interesting. I will try to come up with something more fascinating by next week. ;)

Dreaming Differences

Last night, I dreamed that my boss assigned all of us at the library research papers. My topic was “Heaven and the Problem of Hell.” My assigned sources? The complete Nancy Drew collection.

It was one of those dreams that was so realistic (in a way) that I was completely stressed out about it when I woke up! It took me a good half hour to realize that I did not, in fact, have to write a research paper about heaven and hell using only Nancy Drew as a guide. This may be due in part to the fact that Fred woke me up at 5:30 this morning. Easy for him since he can go back to sleep when we leave at 7:30.

Also, the dream itself is not terribly hard to figure out as we have been working on a few projects at work lately, and sometimes two of my library pals and I write Nancy Drew novellas (e-mailing various parts around to each other) on slow afternoons.

And I dream about work almost every single night. Usually, it is just a typical day with something wonky thrown in (like Nancy Drew or taking a shower behind my desk or all-green walls in the library). Otherwise, just your average work day. A little tiring to go to work in your sleep but not too hard to interpret.

The funny thing is that Jason and I have completely different types of dreams. He dreams about work, but always about jobs he has held in the past. Never current. When he was working in radio (and not in school full-time), he dreamt about being in class. Never up-to-the-life-moment kinds of dreams.

Our personality types are almost exact opposites, so that might be the explanation.

Any dream interpreters out there?

Now if we could just figure out what this little guy dreams about when he sleeps...

Those paws sure do move fast when he is deep in a dream!

Crazy Day in the Life

So...apparently my day-in-the-life-for-a-month idea didn't quite materialize. I think it's because my days are busy...but sometimes a bit routine, nothing {seemingly} to report. I'll keep looking for the everyday interesting, though.

Meanwhile, I was reading my college friend Anna's blog the other day and was amazed at everything she manages to cram in a day (with three little ones in tow), so I thought I'd pass along a sketch of what is crammed into my typical day.

Up by 6 a.m., coffee, time with God, quick check of Twitter and Facebook, then get ready and leave for work...oh, after walking Fred and fixing Jason's breakfast and both our lunches. Workworkworkworkwork...8-5...with an hour break for lunch (we usually hang out on campus unless we have what I call soul-killing errands to run during the lunch hour). After work, work out, then home for walking Fred again (Jason's turn!), fixing dinner and usually watching a TV show while we eat (we're into the 5th season of House right now). By the time that's done and cleaned up, it's around 7. Theoretically, two hours of "free" time before showering and heading to bed. I'd like to say that I read, scrapbook, write a novel or do something equally worthwhile, but oftentimes I end up watching a movie or, all too often, dozing off on the couch. Before 8 p.m.! Because, apparently, I am 80.

But that's my M-F. Right now, I kinda like it. Although I do wish I were more productive in the evening hours.

And here are a couple of pictures of Fred in his Halloween costume. Oh, I did do that during my free time. That's semi-worthwhile. :)

Hope everyone has a great weekend ahead!

The Gym

Jason and I have been going to the gym on campus lately. I'm not a big fan of running on a treadmill with lots of people all around me in various stages of sweat, but there were several factors that propelled us to this decision.

• My asthma. Blech. I still run outside on the weekends, but I breathe much better indoors.
• The earlier sunsets. Even before daylight savings time, it was hard to squeeze in an outside run after work before it got dark.
• Our apartment gym. Only two treadmills. Almost always crowded.
• Jason. He doesn't run with me outside, but he will hang with me on an adjacent treadmill. And, what do you know, it is nice to have a workout buddy?!

So, we've been enjoying it so far. It's free. Plenty of treadmills and other machines with little TVs tuned to ESPN (or whatever else you'd want to watch; although, I can't imagine wanting to watch anything else while running).

However, we've reached one small obstacle in the gym-going experience.

The locker room.

Brings back memories of 5th grade angst...to shower or not to shower?...to change in front of others or not?...whether to stroll around the locker room completely naked as if you are at home?

A little awkward.

I'm more of the change-in-the-bathroom kinda gal, but the immodesty (or I guess some would call it non-prudish-ness) of others has made me wonder...

What is the protocol for wearing or not wearing clothes in a locker room? And is it different for men and women? (Because, from our discussions, it certainly seems to be!) Thoughts?

A Month in the Life

So I contemplated doing NaBloPoMo again this year, but I just couldn't commit. In fact, I couldn't even get to the computer yesterday, so I would've knocked myself out already. :)

However, if I had signed up, I was thinking I would show a snippet of our day-to-day life in November. It might end up being boring (Jason's initial reaction), but it might be kind of cool.

So here are some pictures of something we did yesterday...went to Starbucks after church. Hang on for a month of excitement! ;)

I thought this turned out to be a really good picture of Jason...

Had a little trouble with the timer, but it looks kind of artsy, yes?

Now there's one with my face and my coffee cup...

Wearing Wednesdays #2

What am I wearing this Wednesday?

Dark red nail polish and a classic white button-down shirt.

Nail polish usually doesn't work for me. I run around too much to keep it nice or let it dry. But Jason and I had a movie marathon on Sunday (Monsters vs. Aliens and Land of the Lost), so I took advantage of the sit-still time to paint my nails this kind of berry-wine shade that always makes me think of autumn. I've had to do a few touch-ups this week, but it's mostly been OK. Is this the secret to having nice, lovely nails? Any nail painters out there have other tips?

Meanwhile, I love my two white button-down shirts, but I always have to wear something under them because they're so thin. Anyone else have this issue? Suggestions?

Happy Wednesday, everyone! (And I know this idea is kind of campy...as is taking your own picture...but it's fun! Join along!)

This and That

Thought I'd show you what we've been up to for the past week or so with a few random pictures that haven't made their way onto the blog...until now...

Eating lunch outside because the weather has been so nice...


Looking at this...

Can you see the turtles? We think there are three living in the pond...

Finishing my Woman to Woman Ministry class...

Getting a new (to us) lampshade...

Jason trying to defeat the impossible puzzle, as my niece calls it...

And me trying to convince Jason that we need another puppy. This one's taken...

Hope your week is off to a good start!