Where have I been.....

Let's see....the last time I posted on this blog was back in May. Damn......it's been a long time.
I had every intention of posting at least once a week when I started this blog, but then life sort of got away from me.

So, let's see if I can get you all caught up....

In March I went to my very first NAC (North American Cup). I won my very first National medal in the very first event I had ever fenced in in one of these tournaments. It was a team event and we took the gold! To top it off, the next day in my very first individual event at a NAC, I earned a medal also. It was my karate kid moment to say the least.

Me and Coach Simon Abram

Sadly, during the same time, my beloved cat, Jake, had taken a turn and was in the beginning
of his dying days. I still can't talk about him without the tears welling up in my eyes. I slept in a room with him the last two weeks of his life and I wouldn't give up those memories for the world.

Jake about 5 weeks before he left us.
I am so glad I took out my camera that day.

He was such a trooper and such a special boy. He showed his love for me all the way to the end. On April 8th, the first day off the Eric and I had together in weeks, Jake took his final bow. We were both with him when he took his last breath. He was such a fighter. I still miss him terribly.

Then, life turned chaotic. Work pretty much took over everything......even more so than usual.

I worked nearly 6 weeks with only 3 days off. It was exhausting. Then I went to Summer Fencing Nationals (where I earned another medal...woo hoo!)

Me and my clubmates showin' off our new bling.

After Nationals, I spent a lovely week in SoCal visiting my stepdaughter and her husband. I also visited a bunch of friends and even played some tunes at a super cool little coffee shop with my friend Suzanne. What a fun night.

Sharing the stage with Sooz and a borrowed guitar. I've got great friends!

I returned to another 14 day work week and then we had 3 kids from France come stay with us for an International Training Camp at our fencing center. Having them stay with us afforded me the ability to also train at that camp.....something I couldn't have afforded otherwise. It was an exhausting and intense week. It was great, though.

Ten days after our kids left, my dude took off for a fencing camp in Bordeaux and to see his family in the south of France. It was strange for us to spend our vacation time apart. I certainly wouldn't want to do it every year, but I'm glad we have the kind of relationship where we can let each other take advantage of special opportunities like these were.

Over Labor Day I packed up Duke.....yes, I took my cat......picked up a couple of friends and headed down to Waldport for the weekend. The first two days were beautiful and then the fog rolled in and it got cold.

Foggy Newport Bay

Still, it was a very relaxing weekend and Duke proved to be a trooper in the car and did pretty good being in a completely new environment.

So, that pretty much sums up my Summer....or whatever it is you want to call what we had.

Now, fall is upon us......

The new fencing season has begun and I'm excited to see where it takes me this year......

Hopefully, I'll do better at keeping up with this blog, too!

Summing it up......

Clearly I haven't been very successful at blogging on a daily or even weekly basis and the funny thing is that it's not that I don't have anything to say. Instead, I have found myself feeling bound to the task that I originally started, which was the 30 day list of blog topics. So, to free myself from this (and the admittedly obsessive-compulsive nature of it) I am going to finish this list once and for all.

Day 22 – Something that upsets you: Unkindness
Day 23 – Something that makes you feel better: Fencing
Day 24 – Something that makes you cry: A really good song.
Day 25 – Your sleeping habits: I sleep every night.....does that make it a habit?
Day 26 – Your fears: I'm not a fearful person.
Day 27 – Your favorite place: Collioure, France
Day 28 – Something that you miss: My friends that live so far away
Day 29 – Your favorite foods/drinks: A favorite food is tough to come up with.....I think I'll just have to lump it all into one category as I have loved every french dish I've ever eaten or cooked myself. As for drinks....The three you'll find me with more often than not are Gin and Tonic, Red Wine and Pernod. However, I do enjoy a good whiskey....always neat....and the other night I had a Chili/Mango Martini that was fantastic. I'd put it right up there with the Tamarind Martini I had in Mexico last summer that was to die for.
Day 30 – Your aspirations: To always be true to myself.

So, there you have it. Finished. Tomorrow.....onto new things.

Whew!

Day 21: My Job

This is where I work.


I have worked here for nearly 20 years.
To be exact, I have had this job for 7098 days.
I spend more time here than anywhere else.

However,

Sometimes I get to travel to cool places.
Like here

Taylor Guitars

and here

Martin Guitars

I get to go to the NAMM show...

I can always handle some California sun in January.

me and Gwar

Me, Jorma Kaukonen and my boss

Sometimes I even get to design guitars.

Before......

After....

I have met some amazing people along the way.
Some have become lifelong friends.

Me and Peppino D'agostino

Yeah.....
When it comes to jobs....
it could be worse.
Way worse.

Day 20: My Morning Routine

I can't imagine that anyone really gives a hoot about my morning routine, but since I began this path of 30 days of blogs, I guess I have to do this.....

So, I get up in the morning....at this time.....

Actually, this is not quite true. I don't get up at this time.....I hit the snooze button for the first time at this time.....and then I hit it again.....and again

I realize this might not seem early to you, but I hit the hay between 1:00 and 2:00 am
every....single....
night.....

I also get up at 5:00 am to give an early am feeding to my two old and ailing kitties.....

So....by the time the alarm goes off....I'm just hitting my sleep groove....

I hate getting up in the morning....

Once I've placed my feet firmly on the ground, I go downstairs and turn the heat on (or open the windows if it's summertime) put the cat's food dishes in the sink to soak and then I wash my face. I waste a stupid amount of water doing this. But, Shhhh......
don't tell......

Next.....I gain sight. Without these, my world is an impressionistic painting.

Once I can see, I get naked and step on the scale.......and before you think I'm obsessive, I know that I am not a fat person, but what you don't know is that I am not fat because I work very hard at staying fit. I like looking the best that I can. It makes me feel... confident. I honestly don't care what weight I am as long as I feel good. I know the weight range that I feel my best....so that's where I try to stay.

Next, I step in the shower and begin my second water wasting phase of my day. I get lost in the pleasure of it.....I swear to myself that I am going to keep moving but then I find myself in a daze with the hot, yummy water pouring over my skin.....Damn, it feels good!

Once I get out of the shower, I slather myself with lotion and then I dry my hair.

Next comes my 5 minute face.....seriously....it only takes me five minutes. I'm not so fancy when it comes to make-up.

Then I look at the clock and in a panic as to where the time has gone, I feed my cats (which in itself is a complicated task due to their ailments and age. Suffice it to say it requires much more than pouring some kibble in a bowl.), clean their 3 litter boxes,

pack my lunch, toast half a bagel, run upstairs to get dressed, run back down, pour coffee, slap some peanut butter on my bagel, turn of the excess lights and heat and fly out the door to my super car and head to work where I save people from a world without music.

...If only I had a super cape.

Day 19: Something I regret

I am not a person who lives with regret. I'm a" learn from, move on" kinda gal. That said (and here I'm sounding a little bit like a "Curb your Enthusiasm" episode) if I regret one thing it's that I have never been much of a risk taker. I think that I could have gone much further in life if I had just been willing to take a risk. Like I said before, though, I have the chance to move on from not being a risk taker. So......I guess we'll see what I do with that in the next few years!

Day 18: My Favorite Birthday

I know this might sound really pathetic, but I can't remember ever having a birthday that really stands out. Perhaps it's because I always shared my birthday with my mother. Her birthday is the day before mine, so we always had a joint birthday celebration on her birthday. Also, growing up, my birthday happened to always fall during the week of Parent/Teacher conferences, which meant that I was always off school on my birthday, too. Now most of you would probably be thrilled to have had your birthday off every year, but school was my escape (I know.....now this post REALLY sounds pathetic) and I had to be practically dying to miss school. So, not being there to have cupcakes in class or to hear my friends in the halls wishing me a Happy Day was a little bit of a let down. None of this to say that I didn't like my birthdays.....I just don't recall any that were especially memorable.

I'm just gonna have to say that my next birthday is my favorite.....you never know what might happen!