No, not this weekend, last weekend, but it's taken me until now to find time to post about it :)

On Saturday we were originally planning on attending an Irish Snake party (celebrating Irish heritage, but NOT St. Patrick, 'cos he brought Catholicism to Ireland and there are the legends of likening that to "driving the snakes out"). Not for long, as it's very much an adults only party and we'd have the Bean in tow. Then plans changed...

It turned out to be the perfect opportunity to throw a surprise birthday party for N. About a month before her actual birthday, she didn't suspect anything. luvcherbear and i picked her up early on the pretense of having to get to the Irish Snake party much earlier because we had volunteered to help set up and weren't staying all that long anyway.

More plan changes... Just the weekend before, at momwillary's eldest's sweet 16 birthday party, momwillary had offered to babysit the Bean. For the whole night! Until the next morning! So we'd be able to stay for the whole Snake party after all :) We got a hotel room nearby for that night for the three of us.

And further changes in plans... N and luvcherbear went back and forth and it was decided that, since this was the first break from taking care of the Bean that luvcherbear and i had had since our California trip, the two of us would have the hotel room to ourselves and N would crash at the party.

So the way it finally worked out: dropped the Bean off with momwillary and family, picked up N, went to surprise party (and she was very surprised :), stayed for Irish Snake party (which included an adult toy sales demo... the second one i've seen by this person, and i have to say she's the least enthusiastic vendor of her wares i've ever encountered), hotel, back to pick up N, then to pick up the Bean, and finally to take N home. On the way there we stopped off at a park and had an impromptu Spring Solstice celebration by a sacred oak tree N wanted to show us. He seemed to be a very talkative tree and the Bean was very enthusiastic about being close to him :)

Later on that Sunday, after we got home, we had a surprise visit from more family. juergen and bunnyjadwiga stopped by, as bunnyjadwiga was heading South for a conference. dr_zrfq also came by as he was taking her the rest of the way. It was the first time he met the Bean! We had a good time all catching up :)

This weekend should be good, too. Going to have dinner with neko_no_kioku and her mom tonight. It's been quite a while since she's seen the Bean, and her mom's never met him yet! It's hard to believe he's almost 7 months old and there are people who Matter who haven't met him yet. In fact, at the sweet 16 birthday party mentioned above, another member of our extended family, who we haven't seen in forever, met him for the first time!

Have a good weekend, all!

Drink deep of the wine / We are divine, we have / Now and forever

First off, Merry Yule and Blessed Solstice!

I had meant to post last week about the previous weekend, but never got around to it. So now i'm posting about last weekend, too.
( Weekends )
And now i'm winding down the last few work days of the year. Tomorrow's my last (half) day, if i don't decide to just call out altogether. Then it's packing and off to California for the holidays!

Join together beneath the mistletoe. / By the holy oak whereon it grows. / Seven druids dance in seven time. / Sing the song the bells call, loudly chiming.

First of all, my pants are completely bankrupt. For reasons why, read on... But do please let me know of anything i should read.

( The Good )

( The Bad )

( The Ugly )

We will tell our children of the Anclient Lore / At the moment of their birth.

The past few weeks...

After the trip (see previous post) i had a few days off, so i was able to go with luvcherbear to her next ultrasound. It's always a wonderful thing to watch :) She's since had another one, so here's the obligatory photo:
( Saving your friends page :) )

Well, i survived my trip to Ireland... The trip there was canceled due to volcanic ash clouds, just as i was about to get on the plane. Had to wait quite a while to get my bag back and finally got home about 2am. So i went a week later, for one week instead of two, with another instructor covering the other class a week later. I wasn't too crushed about not being away for two weeks, as it meant i got to see lovecherbear who got back from California after i had already left for the airport (the first time)! i got back a little over a week ago. Just. I managed to miss the plane and got on standby for the next one a few hours later. Cleared security just as boarding started... Note to self: when using the alarm clock on my cell phone, it would really help NOT dropping it on the floor where it will be muffled by the carpet. This was the second hotel room that didn't have an alarm clock... maybe it's a European thing.
( more... with photo! )
Stay until your love is, love is, Alive and Kicking.

If it's any indication, one of the highlights of the weekend was getting a letter from the IRS on Friday. Seems when i paid my taxes last month i had missed a credit i've never heard of before, so they're sending some of it back "within 6 weeks".
( one good thing, one very bad thing )

Happy Birthday!

*hugs* and *snuggles* and *Love* and *kisses*

I meant to post this all last week... luvcherbear had a "level 2 ultrasound" this past Monday, which is an in-depth check on the baby, making sure everything is the way it's supposed to be. I was instructed to take notes in case mom-in-law had questions afterward, so here is a transcript of the notes hastily taken on my phone while being in awe of what i saw on the monitor :)
( notes and a picture )

Ooh baby, I love your way.

So, besides yesterday's post, my last one was while i was in Northern Ireland, so an update is way past due...
( Read more... )
Hugs and kisses to my loved ones!

There's a moon in the sky / It's called the moon / And everybody is there

Have to keep this short, i'm on another continent and the intarwebs are slow here in the hotel (but i'm working late to fly back a day earlier than usual to make it in time!)

All right everyone, i know a lot more of you are going than last year, but i've lost count... Who can i expect to see at Wicked this weekend? :) Just want to get an idea for possible meet-ups. And there's word there will be tickets at the door if you haven't made your mind up yet: http://www.wickedfaire.com/