One tooth down, one to go

I think I have only had 2 or 3 cavities in my life. But today I got to see what all the fuss was about. I had my first tooth drilled on and my first temporary crown put on. I go back in on Monday to get the same treatment on the other side of my mouth. I would like to blame my parents for these cracking teeth of mine. I am going to have to get a mouth splint to wear at night so I don't repeat this process. If only I didn't grind my teeth. They say it is a sign of stress. I remember doing that even back when I was like 7. Poor kid.

I had been weeding, picking up dog poop, watering, and cleaning this evening. I have a bunch more jobs I want to do before Rudd Sr. and the Mrs. get here. Stinky dog needs a bath, then the bath needs a bath...

Greyson borrowed the first series of Buffy the Vampire Slayer so we have been watching that at night. It isn't great but it passes the time pretty well.
The chickens destroyed a part of my flowerbed so they go sent back to the coop. Everytime we go outside they cry and cry to get out and run free. I told them that they blew it. No second chances when it comes to my plants.

That is all my tid bits.
-Mel

Californi Family Photos or Boring you to death

Hi Northwest Family ,
I'm still experimenting with the Blogg adventure. Wanted to send a couple pictures of Mom/Grandma Ruby. One is at Stephanie's reception with our best friends that came from California.( the date is not correct on the photo) The other is Grandma with Phil and Michelle's in-laws. Her new back yard was just finished and hope you can appreciate their great back yard and the view of Simi Valley. Notice the pool in the back with water spouts; at night there are lights and looks like Las Vegas.

You'll get to see Grandma in person for your Labor Day Family reunion; just wanted to share a couple photos. Bye for now,
aunt chris

Weekend at the beach

So I was told that us girls (and corresponding husbands) are supposed to be taking care of food for this coast trip family gathering of ours coming up. Just so you all know, I don't cook well and don't really like to cook either. So that said how do you want to divvy up tasks and what do you want ME to do. I can and will prepare food but it will not be up to the standards set by the Porter's or Dean's. Traci laughed at the last meal I prepared for her family at my house. I am not sure exactly why she was laughing but her children did not go hungry. That is the important point.

So we could each take a day, or whatever. Any ideas? No hurry since we have a month left. I just thought I would throw it out there in case I needed to make a trip in to Costco.

-Mel

Time for a new mailbox

So yesterday I sit down at my computer to download my banking into quicken. As the information rolls in I noticed that Greyson had written three checks out of his new business checking account we had just signed up for and transferred funds into. I asked him what he was writing checks for already and he said "what checks, what are you talking about". Well US Bank scans in all checks cashed against your account and you can view them online. So I started opening the checks up and sure enough, someone else has our checks and is spending our money. Apparently someone went ahead and helped themselves to our mail, including our new checks and was spending away. So we went through all the steps of calls to the bank and calls to the sheriff. They say they have to conduct an investigation and then they will give us our money back. The thing that I found odd that two of the checks were for $15 to winco and $25 to Safeway. If you were going to break the law and use a stolen check, wouldn't you get a little more bang for the buck with each check? I sure would. My co-worker had his info stolen by the parking garage attendant a couple months ago. He gave him a check card to pay for parking and the attendant wrote down the numbers real quick while it was processing and then bought a couple thousand dollars worth of eBay goodies. So I guess the moral is that we have to be a little more careful. hence, our new locking mailbox. We will have to install it tomorrow. One time is enough for me.

I think that was the breaking point for me yesterday. I was feeling stressed out with work since I started working with our Vancouver office last month doing a new type of environmental consulting I haven't done before, including cold calls to potential clients. Next, I was surviving on a limited budget but then our dryer broke a few weeks ago so we have been using a clothesline(which is fine till say Oct.), and then yesterday the dentist said I had 2 fractured molars and need $800 crowns on both and a $400 splint to keep me from grinding my teeth at night and breaking even more teeth. "But your teeth look great" he tells me. How can they look great but be falling apart? What else... Oh, I almost forgot the whole upcoming "lets have you stick yourself with needles twice a day and just ignore all those side effects that make you feel like you are going through menopause for 6 weeks as we try a process that probably won't work" stress. So when the whole stolen money thing occurred it sent me into a stunned/freaked out trance. But with a quick hottub, hug from my hubby and a good nights sleep I awoke renewed.

So on the bright side (which I can see today):
-I will get my money back.
-I now have a locking mailbox that no one can steal from.
-I like the way my clothes smell from blowing in the breeze and my house stays cooler without using those power hungry dryers.
-Once my teeth are crowned I won't have to worry about cavities.
-And hey, there is a chance for a baby where there otherwise wouldn't be. And as a side note, if those of you who have been trained for giving bee sting kits would like to give me a shot here and there for practice I would love to be your pin cushion.
So seriously, things are really pretty good around here.

What else is going on in the Sharp/Rudd household? Well my chickens finally figured out they can fly over a 3' fence. It took them about 4 months but they finally tasted a bit of freedom and are loving it. I am not sure if my flowerbeds will ever be the same. Ada has not killed either yet which is good. I had 2 hummingbirds in the house today that I rescued and one I freed from Miles grasp. I save about 2 or 3 animals a day from Miles even though he is equipped with not one but two bells. I have seen him with birds, bugs, snakes, squirrels, rodents and scorpions. He stalks the chickens but is smart enough not to mess with them.

Our summer has been good but a bit lonely sometimes. It doesn't seem like we have gotten out much or had much company the last few months. I am also working from home a couple days a week which is nice but keeps me from getting out as much as I used to. I have been working out quite a bit and have started doing the bike ride down to SR14 with Greyson. I tried sewing a dress last weekend and I think I over adjusted the pattern for height. I got part way through and the waist was too long, so I tried to adjust here and there. The final product was cute on the hanger but just didn't quite fit. It might have been a tad overambitious for a beginner. I might go back to another shirt for next time.

I think that is all for my update. See most of you at the reunion next weekend.
-Mel

Stephanie and Nate's Wedding in Illinois

Hi everyone,

Wanted to share a picture of Stephanies wedding; was never sure how to do this before Melanie's great email... thanks, melanie. Most of the pictures with Mom/ Grandma Ruby are in the Kodak website our family uses, and I can't make them work.
I had a heck of a time getting Grandma to go to Chicago;she is not comfortable flying alone. She misses all your families, but is so nervous about going places without someone else. So she flew out with me and Phil drove to Chicago with his car full of many of Stephanie's shower gifts that we had for her in Simi Valley.

The wedding was wonderful but would have been even better if more of the family could have come. But we understand Illinois was not very close. After the wedding, Grandma flew back with Michelle and Christopher and Phil and I went on a driving vacation. We had lunch with a couple from Oregon; I went to nursing school in Portland with the wife who now live in Louisville, Kentucky. Then on to Nashville for a couple days which was a great town to visit and to Memphis. Of course went to see Elvis Presley's Graceland and had a great time. Then we drove to New Orleans with lots of heat and humidity. Hard to describe that town; some beauty and some tragedy. We stayed in the French Quarter that did not have much destruction, but still was a sad place visit. Hardly anyone was visiting, the famous bars/ discos open for business, but almost completely empty. Comedians and singing were singing to maybe one or two people. The hotel wasn't anywhere close to being full. Very sad in so many ways. But the spirit of the people was everywhere, they want things back the way it was before.

All was going well, we were having a great dinner in New Orleans until we got a phone call from home. Our 13 yr old golden retriever had gotten very sick and got heat stroke. We had a girl at the house with the pets, but due to the weather and his age, he got overheated and had to go to animal ICU. So.............I flew out the next morning and Phil drove home from Louisiana to California. Raleigh did recover, but is definitely a very fragile elderly dog.

I'll get some pictures of the new rental complex where Grandma is going to live in October. She will be on the third story in a building with an elevator and should have a great view of Simi Valley. Hope this is her final move, our town doesn't have as many choices as other states have, as California has too few choices for the amount of people who live here.

Anyway, I wanted to share a little of what's going on and will be better at publishing.

Love to all,
Aunt Chris/ Sister

Beach Trip (from Mom)

Hope to be seeing all of you at Seaquest for the family reunion on August 13th if not before.

Regarding food for the beach trip, I know you girls are in charge, but . . .

I have promised Traci I would bring potato salad. Also, we have several pounds of bacon in the freezer Dad couldn't pass up because of some sale. I'd like to get some of that out of there, so if bacon is on anyone's menu, I'll bring that. Also, I have some home grown raspberries in the freezer. I'll make a big cobbler if I have time.

For those of you who may not know, we are potentially up to 21 people now. Still one free bed. Melanie and I did the room/bed assignments this past weekend. We have: Grandma Jan, Grandma Ruby, Grandma Faraway, Grandpa Larry, Great Auntie Joanne, Great Auntie Nancy, Auntie Melanie and Uncle Greyson, Auntie Jennifer and Uncle Brian plus Kalena, Emma, Gabe & Nicholas, Auntie Traci and Uncle Tim plus Tucker, India and Christian,Anita and JC. Auntie Nancy is not 100% confirmed yet.

Remember, you need to bring sleeping bags and sheets/blankets.

I'm easing back into work. Went to ODE Monday and Tuesday to earn money for Larry to visit the casino. Worked at the District Office today for about 5 hours. Will work again Friday for 1/2 day or so. Starts in earnest next Wednesday.

Missing

Wow, this is very unusual for me to get on the Blogger and not see any updates for several days. What is going on with everyone? The Porter's are all doing fine. We are going camping tomorrow with the Dean's and look forward to some campfires and smores. Traci and I played in a golf tournament over the weekend for couples and did okay. Traci has really improved and has a very natural swing. The kids are just enjoying their vacation time and spend most of their days playing with friends. Well, that's it for now.

Tim

bla bla blog

First off, a huge congrats to Traci. Regardless of what becomes of the exclusive, that is a big accomplishment to get recognition like that from professionals in the field. I wish her the best. BTW, it was a blast to see the Porters up here for the 4th.

Happy Birthday to Brian. I'll let him disclose his age. Time has been flying. I didn't realize it was already the 8th. The 4th seemed like yesterday. He and I are hanging out tonight to watch a little UFC.

I've been chugging away on my website. I put in a couple of 10+ hour days writing and troubleshooting (ok mostly that) actionscript, which is a programming language built for flash. My head feels as though it's going to fall off of my neck which has been craned for hours on end. If you don't know, flash is software that is generally used for interactivity and 2d animation on the web. It is ideal because it creates a small file size for slower internet connections (dial-up, satellite etc.).

The sun is back out these days after a short hiatus...hooray.

I guess I'll get back to it.