Update

I have a new blog

http://marjorieeeee.wordpress.com

It's about dolls.

Pumpkin Carving

The apartment got us pumpkins and we're having a carving contest. I was super excited. This is actually the first pumpkin I've ever carved myself. I wanted to create something geeky, because I am geeky, but still recognizable. He turned out cuter than I expected, especially since I freehanded everything (I drew the design on paper, and transferred it with the pokey tool; I didn't just grab the blade and start cutting. I'm not that talented).

The Great Fruit Fly Massacre of 2009

On Saturday I worked a double shift because the pharmacist that was scheduled was also scheduled at her own store. (I called her store to get her phone number to see why she was late and she answered the phone--not good). We called a few other pharmacists, but none of them could come, so I stayed. So I worked 14 hours on Saturday and went straight to bed and worked at 7 on Sunday. I took a nap on Sunday afternoon, did a whole lot of nothing, and went to bed at 9 so I could get up early again today. And that worked out well.

But I came home today and they had taken over. The fruit flies. I had a few earlier in the summer, so I did some internet research then, but there are a lot more now. Something about doing nothing but working and sleeping for three days, and weeks of partially completed cans of soda lying around. So most of my day today was spent on the attack.

First step of course is cleaning. Empty soda cans, take out trash, clean sink, scrub counters, mop floor. Hopefully that got rid of the breeding grounds. But that still leaves the flies. And my attack on them has grown quite amusing. I had read about Windex, and I notice if I leave the lights on in the bathroom, they seem to gather on the bathroom mirror. So I've been going in there periodically and assaulting them with the Windex. I can only kill a handful at a time because they start swarming once I start spraying. But I don't have to be gone for long before more have come to congregate, so I attack again. You'd think they'd be smart enough not to tread into the war zone that has taken so many of their brothers and sisters, but they're not.

The other route of attack is the trap. It is a glass. In it is part of those soda cans they liked so much. A sandwich bag is rubber-banded taut across the top. Holes poked in top. They go in the holes to try to get the sugary stuff, but they can't get out. They try, but then they give up and drown. It seems to be taking the life of about one fly per Windex attack. But it smells better than the Windex.

I don't plan on killing all of them, but I'm hoping I got rid of enough of their food store that they won't survive. So gross, but kind of fun. Uck.

Two pictures for Becky

The first picture is from Becky's blog post from earlier this week. The second is a picture Cynthia took the first time I met Luke (September 2006 in Utah). I put them together because they're both wearing the Buzz Lightyear jacket, and the first is at a farm and the second is at a petting farm. I think it's pretty cute. And the leggings Emelia wore to the farm this weekend are a tiny bit similar to the ones she wore to the petting farm in 2006 (not really, but I wanted a place to put my favorite picture of me and Emelia)

Olympic Update

Tonight I booked my travel arrangements for Vancouver 2010. Yay! It's pretty weird, but I'm so glad it's happening. I am taking Amtrak from Edmonds to Vancouver, leaving at 8-something in the morning on Thursday, February 18. Arrive in Vancouver at 11-something. This allows the entire afternoon to explore. The event is in the evening, scheduled to end at 9:05. I then have an 11:45 flight to Victoria. Yup, knowing that I could not afford to stay in Vancouver and that there were no flights that late to Seattle, I searched the website for the Vancouver airport to find out where I could go that late at night. Victoria fit the bill. I have a room at the Travelodge Victoria Airport, which is about a mile from the airport and less than a mile from the Washington State Ferries dock in Sidney. So I can take the ferry to Anacortes, then the buses to Mount Vernon, Everett, and Shoreline. So here's a cost breakdown:


Amtrak to Vancouver $43
Flight to Victoria $205
One Night in a Travelodge $101
Ferry to Anacortes $15-20 (I forget how much, but a pretty cheap option)
Bus to Mount Vernon $1.50?
Bus to Everett $2


So much less than the alternative options (ticket + hotel packages ~$3000; cheapest hotel available in Vancouver that night ~$700). But pretty weird.

That breakdown worked out a bit like a Mastercard commercial, and I did use my (debit) Mastercard. Too bad Visa is the official card of the Olympics, so I had to use that account for the tickets.

If anyone wants to join in my adventure, there are still some ticket packages that include men's figure skating for about $2000 (aka a whole week of my salary). But seriously, the Amtrak does stop in Mount Vernon (the closest option for certain Island County residents).

I'm going to the Olympics!

bitty twin fashion show

So the stuff I ordered in Chicago arrived today (including most of Emelia's present). I knew I overdid it when I was at the store, but when it came and I spent more than an hour dressing them, it really got me. And I still have more items I'm watching on ebay (the kitty and puppy, blue overalls/purple jumper, and the outfits with the orange vest are retired items I got off ebay). But they're all so cute. I love them.

In related news, email from American Girl said they are retiring Kirsten. Glad I swiped her up while I had the chance. I hope she comes back in my lifetime with more stuff. Like back in the day, they said they were "retiring" Felicity from the catalog by making her strictly available online, but then she came back in the new purple dress and had a movie and a friend and more stuff. Maybe that will happen again with Kirsten, and maybe Samantha. But Samantha already has a movie and a friend and was one of the most popular dolls, so who knows. I wonder what will happen. As soon as Samantha retired, Rebecca came out and she's from a close time period. Is this a hint for the next doll?

So with my bitty twin purchases I have basically everything available, so hopefully my wallet can take an American Girl break. But what else do I have to spend my money on anyway? Interestingly, the Chicago transaction hasn't cleared my bank account yet. But if that and my rent check clear before payday (tomorrow) I'm in trouble.

Trip to Chicago

I went to Chicago yesterday. It was fun. I actually typed up a long, fairly detailed report of my adventure, but I lost it. I think I pressed backspace and shift at the same time, which is the same as clicking the back button. I was almost done with it too. But I don't feel like retyping. I'll just call Becky and tell her the stuff I needed to, and post these pictures. You don't get captions or anything.