Of Cleaning and Computers

Yesterday Galen went with George to Frys Electronics to get himself a new computer. It's something he's needed for quite some time, and being the holidays and all, I agreed. We've both been on the fence about it for some months, but I finally came up with a good excuse for him to get one. "Come play a game with me Galen! But the game won't run on your computer as it is now, so get a new one!" All paid with real cash mind you, which makes these next few months rather slim, but we'll make due just fine. Besides, I'm getting better at making soups! I made a creamy turkey one that was wonderful. Leftover turkey isn't just for sandwiches! So while the boys were out I decided it was time to clean. Our bedroom dressers seem to be a catchall for various bits of laundry, clothing, papers and whatnots. I know it drives Galen crazy, and I think it just looks messy. Though if we don't put the various bits of laundry up on a dresser, it's bound to get pee'd on by a cat. *sighs* SO. I cleaned off both dressers, and I don't mean just stuffing the items away for the day we move. Everything found it's proper home. There were even dust bunnies on my nicknacks! After this adventure, I did a complete vacuuming of the house, sweeping of floors and dishes. Cleaning counters, keeping the laundry going and folded, picking up living room... and ran outta steam. The only thing left on my list was to clean the stove top. Which still hasn't been cleaned mind you. Could you believe I slept 10 hours last night? Ha! I wonder why.

Today seemed to be blessed with snow! Again! A brief bit after noonish, but it was wonderful!


jamie

Christmas Photo Time!

First, on a side note, I made my soup again last night. Added a can of mushrooms, probably not the best turn out, and decided barley would be good in it. Cut the seasonings in half that I added, and no tummy ache today. Yay!

And now... on with the show!

Yay tree!

Naomi, Galen's younger sister. Pondering her stocking is hard work apparently, hehe.

Scott, Naomi's boyfriend that followed her here from Michigan. Too bad he's allergic to almost every animal to exist!

Don't worry, it's just wrapping paper fever. Don't most three year olds and cats get that too?

Terry and Zoey say hi!

Christmas Eve was spent with Galen's parents. We had a wonderful turkey dinner and lively conversation. Though Galen never did change the label to Scott's present, hehe. Inside joke!


Christmas morning, 6:30am early morning that is, we opened our gifts and stockings. Tux of course, thinks all boxes belong to him.


Pretty Christmas tree! And I couldn't even get all the presents in the picture! This was in the morning as well, so that made for lots of fun paper for kitties to hide under, play with... well you know how it goes.

Zoom forward to 8:30am, and we have bacon and dinner on the counter before Lynnette. Mmmm... bacon. And they peppered it so good this year we had to scrape some of it it off just to eat it! I mean, I can stand alittle pepper, but when it's coated in those little black balls of doom, it's just painful.

Mysterioius box that takes three guys to huff and puff over taking it in the house. Obviously heavy, but there was no nametag! Guess that means it was mom's. *grin* Turns out she's gonna be in a greenhouse this summer! When ya setting it up, dad?

Fire! Ook Ook Unga Unga! And George sporting those lovely candy cane pajamas ladies and gentlemen, give the boy a hand! *applause* He's so cute. Amusingly enough, Lynnette's kitties love the fire and so does my Susie. She will sit infront of it and roast, basking before the flames.

Mmmmm... does anything look so good? Tastes even better! I swear this dinner was part of my parent's present to everyone. Prime rib. Makes me drool even thinking about it.

And of course, what Christmas day isn't complete without SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

jamie

Strange soup

So I'm not sure if it was the soup or not, Galen says it's the tomato juice, but my stomach finally stopped paining me yesterday. Not nauseous mind you, but my stomach itself actually hurt. Naturally, I'm a tad wary of making another batch. Maybe an extra can of broth and less tomato juice? I'm not sure. But now that my stomach no longer is paining me, my back sure is, oyii! Definitely time to go back to the chiropractor for an adjustment. It nags me all day long now, so it must be time. Hopefully I'll be able to get in after Christmas, soon! I even had a dream last night that ended with me writhing on the floor in pain because of my back. In the dream that is, though when I woke it took a bit to get out of bed. No fun :(

On a different note, we had a lazy day and spent it with Nate, one of our gamer buddies from our Sunday game. Went to Chevys, had some fajitas, and came home to shoot the breeze and watch Howl's Moving Castle. If you haven't seen it, you should. Very good movie with good morals. And it's animated, so kids like it too! Must be why Galen bought it, hehe.

jamie

Veggie Soup

So with the cold weather and the holidays, I figured it was time to experiment with some soup. I decided that I liked the veggie soup that Campbell's makes, but wanted to make my own. After browsing online for awhile I finally settled on a variation of this!

Ingredients:

• Fat-free cooking spray
• 1 small onion, grated or diced
• 1 cup celery, chopped into bite-sized pieces
• 3 14 oz cans of fat-free vegetable broth
• 1 lb red potatoes, peeled and diced (Equals about 3 medium potatoes or about 3 cups diced potatoes)
• 1 cup carrots, chopped into bite-sized pieces
• 1 cup green beans (fresh, frozen, or canned is fine)
• 1 cup corn (fresh, frozen, or canned is fine)
• 3 cups tomato juice
  
• 1-2 level tsp of "Bells Seasoning" or to taste (This is found in a small box in the spice aisle. If you can't find it, you can substitute with a blend of rosemary, oregano, sage, ginger, marjoram, thyme, and black pepper)
• Salt and pepper, or to taste
• Bay leaf (optional)
  

Directions:

Spray large soup kettle with cooking spray. Saute onion and celery for 5 minutes. Add vegetable broth, tomato juice, potatoes, and carrots; bring to a boil. Lower heat; Add green beans, corn, and bay leaf; Simmer for 40 minutes or until vegetables are nice and soft. Season with Bells Seasoning, salt, and pepper to taste.

*Remove bay leaf*

Serve hot.

Yields: Approx 8 (1-cup) servings (1.25 points per serving)

Everything is a guide line though, and I'm sure I had more than a cup of everything, since I just put in a can of green beans and whatever carrots we had left. I don't have any Bell's Seasoning either, so I just shook half of my spice rack into the pot and it turned out yummy! Since Campbell's soup uses alphabet letters, I added some Finding Nemo noodles I bought, 2 cups, and it added some plumpness to the pot. Also put in some extra water since the noodles were going in. Yay for experiments! It had husband approval :)

jamie

Writing

So I did some writing for a character of mine back in Aug-Sept. I'm not sure how well it will read out of context, but I wanted to post it anyway since I'm rather proud of how it turned out. It was a server wide Roleplay event, which can be read about here: http://www.wowwiki.com/Server:The_Venture_Co._US/Shadows_Over_Khaz_Modan
Each page break mark was a separate post, and all were written within days of each other.

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The battle might be over, but the war had surely just begun. Whitewind drifted through the wreckage that was Aerie Peak, tending to the wounded and dying dwarves who so valiantly defended their home. Her home. It seemed that every place she called home, the Horde soon destroyed with gleeful joy. Raking a blood crusted hand through her white hair she swore in frustration as yet another dwarf died before her, another soul gone too soon in the senseless conflict. It was becoming hard to keep the building rage inside that had started to burn the day Darnassus was attacked, their leaders wounded so severely she had finally consented to move to the Westbrook Garrison. A darker voice whispered through her thoughts as she wandered aimlessly among the Peak. Whispers of ancient battles and the rivers of blood that flowed, Horde blood at the hand of Alliance.

“Hush mother, I will not be tempted by you again,” she murmured to herself, gaining strange looks from the bartender as she passed him.

The battle still raged at Revantusk, she knew, but had no stomach to stay even if her companions had need of her. Battles like this called out the truly bloodthirsty, but she had children to protect and could not leave them unattended for long within the Peak. Tucked safely away in a small nook, the twins coo’d at her in their baby delight, and she couldn’t help but smile. Such innocence in a place like this, it was no longer suited for infants with the Horde knocking on their door. She placed two slings over her shoulders and settled an infant in each, snug against her body and covered with her tabard. Her distraction with the children almost cost her her life, as a guttural orcish yell was heard and her husband came rushing around the corner. Together, Whitewind and Virendis made a dash for safety out of the Peak, only to be stopped at every corner by more and more Horde. Frustration driven by desperation, each called upon their hearthstone and disappeared into the night. Home was no longer safe.
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With bone deep weariness, Whitewind dragged her feet back to the Peak the next morning. Aching from places she had not felt in years, she nodded to the flightmaster and carefully descended the still blood spattered stairs to survey the wreckage. Throughout the night the dwarves had worked tirelessly to bury their dead, and worked still on the repairs. Whitewind marveled at their strength, having always avoided Ironforge in the past; she hated the smell and closed in feel of the place. Dwarves were strange folk to her and she shook her head in tired wonder, a fleeting smile crossing her lips. If only it was as easy to repair a life as it was stone. Squaring her shoulders with a deep breath, she went to work. She has been a priestess much longer then any of these dwarves had been alive, yet tended to each and every one through their grumblings and complaints. Cuts and burns were smoothed over to fresh pink skin and those that were bandaged the night before with more serious wounds found themselves able to return to work that day. Flexing tired hands, she nodded to herself with a sigh of relief and eyed her gloves critically, adding one more item to her mental list of things to be repaired.

As the sun started to set, so did the work finally slow, for her patients as well as the dwarves. Was it even safe to sleep in her home at night? It felt so empty, devoid of all that made it actually home, and the burnt smell would always bother her. With her guildmates absent, recovering and celebrating their eventual victory in Stormwind no doubt, the great hall in the Peak had a desolate feel that made her skin crawl. Alarm bells started to ring in her head, or was it only the sound of her heartbeat? This was her home! She could not continue to look over her shoulder every moment of her life, could she? A rogue, it must be. They always loved toying with her. Growling in irritation she stalked back up to the guards at the gate and spoke with them quietly. They nodded in agreement and she headed up the darkened path once more. There was one place she still considered home that the Horde had not touched. At the least the sound of water always soothed her, and her children would need her this night as much as she needed them.
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Whitewind woke to the soothing sound of calm waters, and the restless stirrings of children. Taking a moment longer to savor the warmth of her bed, she frowned at discovering she was alone in it. Hoping her husband had not strayed far, she slipped out of the comforting warmth and winced as she pressed her legs closed against the tenderness. Thoughts of the night before welled up in her mind, bringing a wry smile to her lips. Hunter, pirate, husband, there were many roles her loved one took, and she would not change him for the world. A soft cry brought her to the immediate concerns before her, and she walked carefully to the makeshift crib that held her children. Smiling and cooing as she wiggled her fingers gained her the rapt attention of two children until one face crumpled into a hungry cry once more. Sweeping up the fussing child she easily settled him to her breast and swayed slightly, containing a laugh as he gently beat against her in eager hunger. Turning a concerned eye to her daughter, she sighed thankfully as the child seemed to drift in sleep once more, and was only awake before because of her insatiable brother. Walking around the cramped cabin proved a bit difficult and she settled onto the bed once more, snuggling the child to her as he continued to suckle. Only able to grab what was immediately needed from Aerie Peak, even that little bit made the cabin seem cramped. A temporarily home this, once the Peak was safe for her children they would be returning. A nagging dissenting voice in her mind kept repeating “if if if” she could return to the Peak. Surely this was not a world she would have wished to bring children into but the Goddess had other plans for Whitewind, and now she walked that path.

A soft knock on the door roused her from a doze and she kissed the top of the now sleeping boy’s head. Sitting up as the door opened, a kind heart-shaped human face peered in and murmured softly, “I bring some breakfast for you, my Lady.”

Sighing to herself, Whitewind dropped a simple shift over her head and stood, “Jaena, how many times have we been over this? You are as much Lady as I, and need not do such menial things.”

Jaena set a tray of cut fruits and water on the small bed stand and shrugged her slim shoulders, “Someone must watch after the little ones while you are gone.”

Smiling fondly at the young priestess, Whitewind scooped up the groggy child from her makeshift crib and fed her, watching Jaena walk about the room cracking open windows to let in the morning breeze. Bits of armor, a mismatched bunch of new and bloodied gear, were then piled carefully by the door.

“If you do not eat as well, Lady, how will they?” Jaena quietly reprimanded. Eliciting an irritated sigh from Whitewind, she plucked up a piece of cut fruit and quickly ate it.

“I am sure Virendis is out hunting down something for dinner as we speak,” Whitewind stuck her tongue out at Jaena in a fit of childishness and giggled at the thought. Mighty hunter indeed.

“I saw him leave just before dawn, Lady.” Jaena replied, a faint smile touching her normally saddened expression.

Nodding to herself, Whitewind handed the squirming girl child to Jaena and started the long process of putting on her armor. Watching Jaena with the children brought mixed feelings to the new mother. With duty on both fronts it was hard to travel the lands as a priestess, helping those who ask, then come home and tend to children that need not ask. One was a part of her old life, the other part of her new; a mix of the two was a hard adjustment. Putting the last touches on her armor, she stood and strode over to each child, planting a loving kiss on each cheek. An arched eyebrow and knowing look from Jaena, Whitewind plucked up one last piece of fruit, chewing as she left. Another day had begun.
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Sliding off her war talbuk Angel, Whitewind sent the creature off to graze around Theramore. The sun was setting, turning the harbor into a riot of reds and oranges on the horizon. She could not wait for the moon to rise, sending its calming wash of silver over the waters. Walking up the wooden plank with exhausted steps, she was greeted with a slight wave from Jaena sitting on the top deck, the twins on a large blanket with her. A well worn leather bound book was open on her lap, one finger holding the spot in the story she was reading to the children. Murmuring something about a bath, Whitewind hurried below deck to the front cabin, still cramped as ever with child’s toys and stowed gear. Waiting until she heard Jaena’s sweet voice, Whitewind started to remove her armor, grimacing in pain as the crusted blood broke free in some places and healing over her minor wounds with a few flicks of her hand. A handful of the horde Grunts felt the need to harass Menethil Harbor that day, and with Virendis’s help they were driven out. Kicking aside her armor with careless disregard, Whitewind poured some water from a pitcher into a shallow basin and wet a bit of linen. Holding the cool cloth to her face she breathed deep, finally allowing herself to relax after hours of tense hunt and chase with the horde. Wiping down her rounded form, she rolled her eyes at what Jaena kindly called ‘baby weight’. Baby weight her ass, in fact, it was there too. Who heard of a round night elf? All her kind were sleek and trim, yet her race continue to exist. What was the secret of losing said weight? Poking and prodding herself, glancing in the basin of water again and again, Whitewind was thoroughly distracted and ceased to hear the faint footfalls entering the room.

“A lovelier sight I could not have been greeted with,” whispered Virendis, as his hands slid around her waist to cup her full breasts. Squeaking in surprise, the wet slap of her wash cloth connected with his cheek, gaining her a chuckle from him. Pressing close to her damp back he nibbled on her earlobe and breathed into her ear, “You should do this more often, dearest.”

“If you bathed more, perhaps I would!” Whitewind responded with an indignant sound to her voice. “And I was just about clean too, surely your armor is not. Step away you fiendish husband, or I swear you will be swimming in the harbor shortly!” Working herself up into a good fit of anger, she squirmed against his grasp, only succeeding in a louder chuckle from him, and eventually his hands slid down her sides to rest at her hips. Turning quickly she glared at him with piercing silver eyes and he retreated in mock horror. Pointing at the door expectantly, she silently mouthed the word “Out.” Raking his eyes over her naked form once more he casually strolled out the door, humming a jaunty tune.

Grumbling to herself, she tossed the old water out a window into the darkened harbor and poured herself a fresh batch into the shallow basin. Glancing out the doorway suspiciously she grabbed a new piece of linen and quickly washed herself down. Tossing the linen into the basin angrily, she stalked over to a trunk and pulled out a simple clean white shift, wide at her shoulders and ended at her knees. Rubbing her face vigorously, Whitewind sighed to herself, wondering just how much sleep she would get that night between the twins and her husband. A faint smile crept across her lips as she headed back up top to relieve Jaena. Surely the children were hungry by now, and by the look in Virendis’s eye as she passed him on the stairs, so was he.

Ignoring the flutter in her belly at the predatory look he gave her, she smiled overly bright at Jaena and voiced her thanks to the young woman for watching the children once again. Taking as much time as she could to hear about their day, the things the children had done, Whitewind stalled. She could feel him prowling just out of sight in the shadows of the stairs, watching, waiting. Finally the hungry fussing of both children made her scoop up one, Jaena the other with the blanket. Together the two women headed back inside to the small cabin, though Virendis was no where to be seen. Settling down on the bed with Athoria to her breast, Jaena rested Athorian on the bed and folded up the blanket. Making soft clucking noises she scolded Whitewind with a look and went about picking up the scattered bits of armor once more, piling them carefully to the side.

“I know I know, but if I could spend all my time with my children, perhaps I would not be so tired once I came home to look after such things.” Whitewind replied to Jaena’s unspoken scolding. Closing her eyes to the world, she cuddled the small child to her as she suckled, cherishing the time with her children. A healthy wail brought her out of her reverie and she rested Athoria on the bed and gathered Athorian to her. Bobbing a curtsey, Jaena left with a quiet word, passing Virendis as he stalked into the cabin. Cracking open one eye, Whitewind watched him as he scooped up the squirming girl, holding the child to his shoulder and patting her back lightly. Closing her eyes as her heart thumped, she concentrated on the boy child at her breast, brushing her hand over his head and murmuring soft words of endearment to him as he fed. Eventually he had his fill, and she heard Virendis laying Athoria in her crib. Sitting up on one elbow, she kissed the yawning child and Virendis reached for him, holding Athorian to his shoulder and repeating the nightly ritual. Covering herself modestly, she noted his eyes flash, and pulled the covers back on the bed. Sliding under them she wondered just how long the blanket would last as a shield, hoping it would not be long despite the weariness of her limbs. With Athorian settled into the crib and both children tucked in safe, he turned flashing golden eyes upon her and started peeling off his stained armor as she watched. Pointing quickly at the basin of water she was rewarded with a scowl as he snatched up the wet linen. Snuggling down into the warming sheets she grinned to herself. Not fully tamed, her hunter, the domestic part of life appeared to agree with him no matter how much he complained. It was nice to know she was not alone.
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It was there again, but the dream had changed. Inside some magnificent house she had never seen before, she was at the highest reaches in its attic. The bedroom was small and she could not stand fully for the ceiling being so low and peaked in the middle. A single window let in no light from the night, not even the faintest glimmer, she was bathed in darkness. Upon the bed lay her children, she knew, who were awake and as afraid as she, fussing terribly and bringing tears of desperation to her eyes as she tried to quiet them. It was out there, hunting her, and should it find her it would find her children as well. Again and again she checked the small door in the darkness, checked the lock upon its handle, reassuring herself that it was locked and none could get in. Feeling her way back along the hard floor for the hundredth time to the bed, she eventually found a shoe and book that made suitable weapons to swing when she could not see what she was fighting. Huddled with her children upon the bed, all three wept silent tears into the blackness that surrounded them. Smothering choking blackness that seemed to sap the life and will from her limbs. Blackness only nightmares can bring. No longer an it, He was coming. The shadow from her nightmares had found her once more, and she started to scream when the soft click of the lock sounded like the tolling of death bells in her mind.

Sitting straight up in bed as the scream was wrenched from her lips, her eyes flew around the cramped cabin she called home and screamed anew as shadows seemed to take form before her eyes and were leaning over the makeshift crib that held her children. Immediately awake at her side, Virendis leapt out of bed with weapons in hand, looking around urgently for the source of his wife’s terror. Pale as the moon Herself, Whitewind stared in gasping horror as the shadow turned towards her and smiled its knowing smile. One hand caressing the cheeks of her sleeping children, He disappeared into the depths of night. Unable to see anything in the darkened room, Virendis lit a lamp to look around. Seeing that nothing was disturbed he turned questioning eyes on Whitewind. Scrambling out of bed, shaking uncontrollably, she half crawled half fell towards the crib, touching each child nervously. Sighing in their sleep, the twins appeared unharmed; sleeping peacefully in what should have been a peaceful night. Falling to her knees she stared at them sightlessly, until a hand on her shoulder caused her to jump in fear and cringe away.

“Thankfully they will sleep through a storm, as well as your screams. You are white as a sheet darling, what happened?” When no answer was imminent he gathered her trembling body up in his arms and kissed her brow, carrying her back to bed and settling her next to him. Making the same soft wordless sounds of comfort that he did for his children, he held her close until the stranglehold of horror relaxed it’s grip upon her. Taking every effort in her terror filled mind, she turned wide eyes to his and gulped in a breath of air, her words whispered on the exhale.

“The shadow, He is back.”
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~jamie

Funnies

The snowman saga! Very entertaining.

http://www.chase3000.com/userpages/calvinhobbes/

~jamie

Pictures!

So as it turns out, even the smallest tree that was at the lot was still a bit tall...



~jamie

Christmas Tree!

Well we finally got one. Not for lack of trying mind you. We went to the "U Cut" lot that mom recommended, and found out the hard way that they are only open on friday, saturday and sunday. Not to be detoured, I saw a sign on our way to this special lot for more U Cut trees. So we drove down that side street a few miles, and to our unsurprised eyes it had the same note: Only open friday, saturday and sunday. No wonder we always got our tree on the weekends in the past! Who knew, hehe. So we drove up 162nd and stopped at the first tree lot we found, promising fresh cut trees. Thankfully they had one small enough! All of their trees were so tall! Now the tree is home, it has lights, and I need to decorate. Luckily I have kitties to help me *grin* Soon as I'm done I'll take a picture, promise!

~jamie

First Snow!

Just got a call from my mom and it's the first snow of the season!! Little tiny spots of white drifting down out of the sky. Oh boy!

Update: It's 12:45 and there are still little flurries of snow. I had to break out my xmas decorations. Now the biggest task is finding the tape...

~jamie

Heaven's Gate

Back in August of '99 I wrote this for the passing of my Grandfather. It's too hard to write something like that again.

Heaven's Gate

Rise above us, one we love,

As you travel the path of light,

A golden soul so cherished to us,

Do climb into the heights.

Rise above us, one we love,

And look to those that morn,

Trembling, shaking, we weep in sorrow,

From us you are torn.

Rise above us, one we love,

In His arms rest well,

Curled safe, your life now spent,

There is nothing left to tell.

Rise above us, one we love,

As tears come tumbling down,

A life so cherished, yet truly spent?

Our grief knows no bounds.

Rise above us, one we love,

Rest well in newfound peace,

One last sigh and so you leave,

A sigh, such breath, release.

~jamie

Lets Get This Started!

A day of sadness, a time of grief. Our life is shorter then we think. Remember the good, discard the bad, and keep walking forward. We will miss you.

Time to go see George play a trumpet with freezing lips! HA!

~jamie