Child of the Moon

Born under the cancer sign, I am a moonchild. My moods seem to be governed by the moon phases, for when I see a full moon, that is when I feel my most content and happy. A new moon, one I cannot see, seems to coincide with the days I feel my most restless and out of sorts.

I've never been one to follow astrology and horoscopes, but when I read descriptions of my sign, they rarely miss the mark. I'm a big fan of relaxation and satisfaction. I am emotional and I'm my happiest when my surroundings are comfortable, and my bitchiest when my environment isn't to my liking. I'm strongly attracted to water and find peace and spiritual recharge when I am within sight of large bodies of water.

Though I'm reluctant to admit it, my mood swings can be extreme. Nothing thrills me more than sweet words and nothing cuts deeper than unkind words. My family is of the utmost importance to me and while I'm friendly, I do not make friends easily. But when I do welcome someone into my world, they become a permanent part of my world.

The connection between my mood and moon phases was probably apparent to everyone (who knows well) but me. I can be kind of oblivious that way. I prefer carefree, but that's not quite accurate. I guess selectively ignorant is probably the better term. I'm sure the correlation will be stronger now that I'm looking for it. So, according to this month's calendar, you and I will like me best around the 21st through the 24th.

Happy 40th Birthday, Gareth!

For Gareth's 40th Birthday from Gen M on Vimeo.

Happy Birthday, Aubrey

Playing photographer for my tourists

Guten Tag!

Spent a very nice Easter Sunday traveling to Leavenworth, Washington with my husband, my mother-in-law, Gareth’s sister Phedre & her boyfriend Josh. The weather was awful, but the sights were still beautiful. It was supposedly the 4th day of Spring and yet we had to travel through a downpour then snow and ice before spending most of the day dodging a steady drizzle.

Leavenworth is a quaint alpine Bavarian village literally in the middle of nowhere. Okay, it’s somewhere between Western Washington & Eastern Washington. It’s actually a great place to go when you want to drive somewhere and feel like you’ve left the state and still be back in your own bed before nightfall. Sometimes driving is the best way to see Washington at its most beautiful.

As soon as we passed this sign, Mum spotted a bakery and squealed for us to stop. The guys dropped us off and went to refuel the car giving us time to peruse the delights of a German bakery. Mum studied in Germany for her doctorate, so it was almost a religious experience for her to find the pastries and breads she loved. I was just glad we had someone with us who could pronounce the German names correctly.

.

We enjoyed an Easter "dinner" at the Tumwater Inn Restaurant where I had my very first schnitzel supper before roaming the many delightful stores that line downtown Leavenworth. Many were closed, but there were enough open for us to walk off enough of our meal to enjoy the delicious desserts and coffee at The Mozart Cafe.



Mom took this picture with the idea of catching the mountain behind us. It’s there. Behind Gareth’s hat.

I told Gareth, "Now be loving, please." After I gave him "the look" and told him to try harder, this next picture came out better.



Phedre’s much better at the "Be loving" thing. Although right now she’s holding the Webkins we bought in Leavenworth hostage and asking us to meet outrageous demands in exchange for their safe return. Not very loving at all.





This is her plotting her diabolical scheme to traumatize Gareth’s Sir Hiss the snake, Mum’s pink poodle Can Can, my pink poodle Cerise and an unnamed panda.

Actually she was in the waterfall room of the Metal Waterfall Garden. But still. Behind this peaceful and tranquil facade I know that scheming mind was hard at work. She is Gareth’s sister after all.

Speaking of relatives, this picture kills any claim that Gareth makes that he’s adopted. Look at the identical smiles (grimaces?) on Mum & Gareth’s faces.

Meanwhile, Josh aka Ua, wears that same, albeit somewhat pained, smile as Mum later tries to convince him that a wedding in Leavenworth would be "wunderbar!" However, where Josh gladly donned a kilt for our wedding, I don’t know that Gareth would be as willing to sport a lederhosen. But oh, the blackmail pictures ....

Holidays 2007

Celebrating Christmas with
My parents and their grandchildren, Jonah & Aubrey

Happy New Year from Joseph, Gen, Gareth, Grace & Steve
and Amanda, Leah & Sandra

With Mum, Mama & Pops...I swear they weren't drunk....

Me and my beloved Mama.

Celebrating with Gareth & Mum at the Dellosa's.