Sea otters to brighten your day

http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/

The folks at the Monterey Bay Aquarium do amazing work!

I am so angry

I am so mad about this debt ceiling debate that I feel like fire is coming out of my ears.  I can't believe the selfishness of republicans in Congress - that they would sign a pledge saying they would highjack the American economy by not raising the debt ceiling unless their "needs" or "demands" are met.  It sounds to me like they are treasonous - that they care more about their own necks than the average American.  That they don't understand the word "compromise" nor do they understand that that is what politicians DO.  HELLO- that is your JOB.  Get a friggin grip!  PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let's put the country before your conservative "Principles."  Their terrible two year old behavior is what makes Americans so disappointed in their government.  I tell you what - if this doesn't get done, it will be the first time I truly in my heart will think my government has failed. 



So who is working for America?  Nice attitude John.  This really helps. 

If you want your brain to explode check out the ridiculousness on this website.  It makes my blood boil.

http://www.cutcapandbalanceact.com/index.php

Now - listen to this:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Summer time

This is a video from Dirty Gold - California Sunrise - I love this song!  So old school - done by 18 year olds. Listen!

Updates

Hi all, sorry for the lack of posts!  Let's start off with Pile of Craft.  :-)

My mom and I had a wonderful day.  We drove down to the Charles Village to St. John's Church.  Inside there were rooms and rooms of crafters - everything from jewelry to stuffed toys - glass works to knitted works.  Here are few pictures:

I picked up a few cards of crafters I really liked:

blockpartyprints.etsy.com

jubadaba.etsy.com

namoo.etsy.com

bowerbox.com

jaimezollars.com

survivedesign.com

peneloperakov.com

Check them out!  After the craft extravaganza, we went to lunch at Ms. Shirley's in Baltimore.  I love Ms. Shirley's.  Wonderful brunch/lunch joint - really good sandwiches and above all, the sweet potato fries.  Oh man.  I took a picture so you could see.  :-)

Second update:  the Weekend Warrior in me

So I've been very busy doing stuff around the house.  I finally got the kitchen, living room, and dining room walls painted - the beige is gone.  I've also been working on minor repairs and just finishing the unpacking process!  I set up my craft room, which I LOVE LOVE!  Anyhoo, it's been busy around here, and there is a big list of things to do (as I am sure there always will be), but I am enjoying my inner handy-woman! 

Here are some BEFORE pictures - I had to scrape three layers of paint off of the stairs - I really didn't want to paint a 4th layer on!  So I sanded and scraped, primed, and then painted.



AFTER:

This was Cooper's response as I was working yesterday:

Here is a pic of my craft room - ready for action!  PS- I made that sewing machine cover :-)



Third Update:  I also just finished teaching for CTY - Center for Talented Youth - for three weeks.  I taught 3rd and 4th graders a class called Through the Microscope for three weeks.  It was awesome, but I got hired the day before it started - it sort of dropped in my lap - which I was grateful for, but that meant a LOT of day-to-day prep and work.  I've never taught this class before, so I had to figure it out as I went.  I ended up getting great feedback, and the kids had lots of fun, I hope I can do it again next year!

So that is what I've been up to.  Having a great summer so far.  My tomatoes are growing, the heat is ridiculous, but Coop and I are staying cool.  I hope everyone out there is braving the heat as well!

Getting Excited about Pile of Craft!

This Saturday is Baltimore's answer to the craft movement.  Pile of Craft, put on by Charm City Craft Mafia will host a bazaar of craft.  Everything from pottery, clothes, bags, prints - more than you can imagine!!  I'm getting really excited for it! 

 

This past weekend I had the wonderful opportunity to meet my friend Ubah's new baby and catch up with my friends Ubah and Stephanie.  What a wonderful day.  We had a great lunch and talked and talked and talked.  Just before leaving there was a torrential thunderstorm - the electricity even went out!  But driving home there was a beautiful rainbow.  I quickly grabbed my camera and these ar the best shots.  It was just magical.  Everyone was gawking and looking up at the sky and pointing.  Amazing.  We had a shared moment of awe.  It isn't often that you can see rainbows like this - so bright - so disctinct; I felt very lucky to have had such a wonderful day.

It is HOT today!

I couldn't resist this picture of Cooper!

The fan is running full blast - "too hot to play, I think I'm just going to lay here!"

So I was just online trying to figure out what I needed to do to get Cooper a Baltimore City License and then I was looking up dog parks in the City - there are only three!  And one of them is at the City shelter!  How inconvenient, and what a shame.  I know in other cities there are lots of dog parks - why not Baltimore?  Maybe I should look into this!  :-)