We went to St. George Island for a week with Andrew's whole family and had the best time. I was dreading the trip for about three months -- not because of his family, who are completely awesome and damn they know when cocktail hour starts -- but flying to Atlanta 5 hours + driving to Florida 6 hours multiplied by the act of traveling with preschoolers = 2,563 hours equivalent angst. Or so I thought, but it went as smoothly as could be. The girls skipped along the beach collecting periwinkles, I wore a new swimsuit in honor of losing 10 pounds, and we all flopped around in warm Gulf Coast water every day. It put our freakishly icy California beaches to shame. There were dolphin sightings three times a day AND there was a Piggly Wiggly fer shoppin' at. Andrew got a Piggly Wiggly hat. Boy howdy I miss the south. I could have stayed forever.

Our brother-in-law, Mr. Bill Loehfelm of New Orleans, has a new book coming out in September and I am so proud of him. He's so cool. I read a little of it and it looks good and profane and dirty and dark. Can't wait.

I have been reading lots since we got back, its been keeping me on the level while dealing with this bi-polar crap. Finished Sin in the Second City, which was about highfalutin' Victorian hookers in Chicago. Despite the fascinating subject matter it could have been more thorough - it was just too short. Then finally finished The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay and after that a book called Nine Lives about nine people in New Orleans before and after Hurricane Katrina. I was skeptical since the author isn't from New Orleans but he did a really thorough job and I was impressed at how he really nailed the place. The were events in the book that took place during the brief time I lived in a drunken French Quarter stupor, which I never had a clue about at the time (probably due to the drunken French Quarter stupor?) It made me miss the filthy place and wish I had paid more attention when I lived there. You only get to be young, single and let loose in the Crescent City once (in my case) and I feel like I should have whooped it up less. What is WRONG with that picture??

Now I'm back to Michael Chabon for The Yiddish Policemen's Union. Which, incidentally, is a "genre-pantsing detective novel" according to New York Magazine. Genre-pantsing. I really really love that. I would actually go on to say that it gives the Jew-noir sub-genre a hefty wedgie to boot.

So thats it. Now I'm going to go curl up with our latest rescue pug, Maddy, and my fella and watch "Streets of San Francisco." That show never ceases entertain me because they always pull up to some house in Russian Hill or an office building in the Financial District and there is ample and convenient street parking. Did this magical San Francisco of yore really exist or was it just a TV land fantasy? Either way I am glad there is actual footage in the opening credits of the long ago demolished neon sign of Carol Doda and her blinking boobies at the Condor Club. I read that when it was torn down the construction crew smashed it up because it was "profane" to them. Now... as someone who is A. female and B. has walked by wolf-whistling construction crews at one time or another, I cannot really wrap my mind around such a puritan group of fellas aghast at the sight of a ladies ta-tas. So frankly it sounds fishy.

My little Preschool Graduate in her cap and gown

Gosh, 3 years goes by fast (or slow, depending on how many tantrums they - or I - have had that day)

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Today was going to be pseudo-polynesian dinner and tiki drinks for "Easter Island Sunday", but we have the flu instead. We look cute though, huh?

We took time for a picnic in Wawona today by the Merced River and saw a beautiful coyote. The weather was 70+ degrees and the girls played in the mud with their little friend Andres. Great day.

- been in the hospital for two days
- done nonstop work on the house. I'm so tired of dealing with contractors (except Andre, he rules)
- had to send Nestor to a new home because he was snapping and growling at kids
- been diagnosed as bipolar/manic depressive (woo!) The cure is almost worse than the malady. I'm gradually adjusting to new medicine. It makes me scared to drive.
+ made plans to remodel our kitchen in (hopefully) two months
+ bought a new car and a new bike
- slacked off on Tartlette, not motivated to be business-like or sew little dresses. Made myself three dresses though
+ seen several shows at the Fillmore (Katy Perry, Andrew Bird, Devotchka and have tix for the Kills in May)
+ enrolled the girls in Spanish immersion class. Andrew wants to know why there is no Klingon immersion class?
- decided to go back to work. I am giving myself a year to brush up on design software and build my portfolio
+ been consistently doing pilates and lifting freeweights every day (I still can't believe this one)
- hardly gone to the Yosemite house at all, though I bought a vintage wagon wheel chandelier for it
- felt like I have done nothing, despite all this. I cant believe we have only lived in this house for 5 months, it feels like a year already! I still am on the fence as to whether it was a good move or not, I am kinda miserable here :(

How bout a cute picture to cheer things up a bit?

Thats Vivian, Evie and best friend Sarah

Linzer Hearts with Black Raspberry Jam, it's my Joan Jett inspired dessert. Happy Valentine's Day!

Photos of both are on Flickr!

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Happy New Year from Sentinel Beach, Yosemite NP

Xmas Fundraiser at Filoli in Woodside. This overexposed photo is pretty much the reason I asked "Santa" for a speedlight for my camera for Xmas.

Santa's Fangirls

Evie in her Gingerbread girl dress, inspired by Made with Love by Hannah.
(Can't blame my lack of speedlight for the bad photo, this was via iPhone)

Evie & her Snowperson. Pine straw makes a great smile.

Just barely enough snow in our yard to sled up at the mountains

Doggies weren't so into the snow, as you can see.
Martha Stewart came out with this "Woodland Holiday" line of decorations which was all Bavarian kitsch. I was totally ALL over it. And now it's all over our tree.

After we got back from Yosemite, we scored some new/old antique furniture for the house, which was looking pretty barren.

Lucy Furr Approves

The new stuff kinda coordinates with the sofa...

This is my favorite piece of furniture ever. Its Victorian and I placed a Ouija board under the glass. I have had it since after college.

The new furniture purchases were necessary to cheer me up after finding a huge hole in the ceiling where the wood rotted underneath. Swell.

New years eve, posing with the mini top hat I made and my new speedlight.

I dressed Viv as tiny Marlene Dietrich for New Years Eve

Imperial Angela (she's the English Angela) lookin' fine on NYE!

Colonial Angela (she's the American Angela) looking lovely as well

VERY well behaved little ladies on NYE

Sandra and I at Sentinel Beach over Thanksgiving. BFF!

Kinda awesome:
1. We are all moved into our new house!
2. The new house is huge and in a super cute neighborhood!
3. We got an offer on our old house and are in escrow to close in a week and a half!
4. PRESIDENT ELECT BARACK OBAMA!!
5. Big drunken inauguration party at my house January 20!
6. Thanksgiving with Mikol, Sandra and Ezra at Yosemite, where our new wood stove is installed. Bring on the cozy!

Kinda sucky:
1. New house is really freaking old and needs some major repairs
2. Can't get motivated to unpack boxes. I am so exhausted from selling, packing, moving, blah blah blah.
3. Hilly neighborhood not so good for riding my 3 speed cruiser while towing 50 pounds of toddler in the trailer. Tried today. FAIL.
4. Had to put down Donnie the rescue pug a few weeks ago, he just wasn't getting any better. It was so sad.
5. Ping fell into the pool after about 30 seconds of being at the new house. That wasn't all tragic though, it was kinda funny. She's a decent swimmer, but totally gave me a WTF?? look when I fished her out. Pool fence gets installed in a week.
6. Girls' birthdays are next week and I have no idea what I am going to do about a party. Panicking a bit on that one.

The new house is so cute - its an English Tudor built in the early 1920's and has a pool too! POOL PARTY!

I'm really excited but everything is a big blur. I can't sleep because of all the stuff I still need to get done. Or maybe I just inhaled too many paint fumes today. Ick.

Here are the girls in some new outfits: