Playing catch-up

I know, I know. I hardly ever blog anymore. I just can't help it. My mind is full of instance plans, UAT, printers, ERP, Oracle......I have nothing to give right now because it is all going to work.

G and I went to dinner on Friday and on the way home....I patting him on the shoulder and said "I am sorry I haven't been myself in the past couple of weeks." "Weeks!", he said. "How about months." He is right. Months. Where have the months gone? I am so ensconced in work that I am not aware of what is going on around me. The summer is almost over and I don't have much to show for it except tension headaches and a deep appreciation for Precious and Wireless capabilities.

So now that you know my woes.....here is what has been happening outside of work....

1. We cut down the huge, beautiful Beach Plum Rose bush. The Japanese beetles ravished it again. We had enough. It was way too big...it couldn't really support itself anymore. In it's place, we planted: Baptista, Hollyhock, Salvia, and some other plant (I can't remember the name). One Hollyhock is doing pretty well, the other not so much. The Baptista is struggling. The interesting this is that the rose bush is growing back. We are going to let it and see what happens.

2. My front garden looks like crap except for the Hydrangea bushes, those are doing amazing. The violas and johnny jump ups needs to be ripped out. Some new perennials that I planted look awful....the damn slugs are getting to everything! What a mess! My gardening gene is failing me this year!

3. The Mums are growing like crazy by the lamp post. They are so big that I had to take my garden flag out. I haven't trimmed them back or anything, I have just let them go. I think they will look nice come fall.

4. The veggie garden in the back is having some major issues. The tomatoes are not great. We do not have late blight but we do have spotted leaf blight. We are getting some fruit just not the abundance we had last year. Cukes did pretty well. The lettuce bolted (although there were raves about it...more on that later). The green peppers are not producing. The Zucchini....I do not know what it is but I cannot grow zucchini for my life. I have never had success with this plant. The sad thing is that I LOVE zucchini. The onions did ok and the wax beans are eh. Is it the rain? Is it me? I just don't know.

Enough about the gardens.....

5. G and I went on vaca! The family vacation was in late July. We went to Rehoboth Beach. G and I really enjoy that week with the family. (I only had to work a few times....it was much less than I expected. ) G really, really loves to be with the kids and the kids adore him. (Not to say that I don't love to be with the kids....of course I do!). The theme of vacation was: Beach, books, walks, food, and outlets. I did not do as much outlet shopping as I have in the past. I just don't need that much.
Our favorite dinner is Tuna night! We get fresh tuna steaks and G grills them.....awesome! One of the kids even tried it!

We all bring food, make food, get arm stand food (corn, tomatoes, Melon). We brought a ton of lettuce from our garden and it was a huge hit! I think that lettuce last 4 to 5 meals. Next year, we will bring more.

Of course, with all families, there was some conflicts however these did not overshadow the overall feel of togetherness.

My favorite kid conversation from vacation:
Suz: "S, eat your hot dog so you can have dessert."
S: "But this hot dog is gross, it isn't fair"
Suz: "Life isn't fair, eat it."
S: "Life is bitter."
Suz: "It sure is kid, it sure is."

6. I got to read and thoroughly enjoy the last 2 Jen Lancaster books (that I haven't read): "Bitter is the new Black" (her first book) and "Pretty in Plaid" (her latest book). LOVED, LOVED them both. I love her so much that I have contemplated changing my lackadaisical attitude toward my wardrobe. Yes! It is true! I actually shopped at Ann Taylor outlet and found three shirts that I really like. Am I saying goodbye to hoodies? Only time will tell.

7. I read my first Sookie Stackhouse book thanks to my cousin-in-law J. Ok....I am hooked. I have requested the next 3 in the series from the library. I had already ordered Season 1 of "True Blood" from NetFlix. Watched the first and second episode last night.....hooked.

8. Is that it? I think so. Looking forward to our mini-vaca at my sister's lake house in a couple of weeks. Also, looking forward to our long weekend in Salem. G and I are taking a long weekend to celebrate our 5th anniversary. We are very excited about that!

.....and yes, I did call my mother.