Well... I mentioned to some of you, I got a bottle of rum, this stuff. SN 938514 if you're curious. I also have a smaller bottle up too high for me to reach it to see if I can find a review of it, also from the Dominican Republic. I don't drink. Mike doesn't drink. This stuff got a review that makes me wish I did, I used to like rum and cokes. You know, when I drank.

I'm not sure if I'm going to the zoo today. The hotel is being renovated, and Mike had to work. E and I went to the Saturday Market though yesterday. First day and it was a blast.
( cut because this could get long )
In other news, last time I bought cologne, I got a bottle of violet. The scent is totally not making it for my family. Mike says "It's nice, just not what I'm used to." and E flat out says she doesn't like it, and wants me to wear rose or that other stuff (Opium). Ah well.

But as you all know, it doesn't take much to make me very happy. My weekend was actually fun overload and today's my birthday and I think I'm all out of fun.

Saturday I went to the market and I bought myself a fish. Actually I bought my son fish, smoked salmon, but it sounds so nice the other way, like it could start a poem. I also got soap from Gladheart Acres, and coffee, the nice lady who owns BB said 1)she'd give me incentives for convincing people to buy her coffee. So I'm pleading with you.. if anything I'd said has convinced you this is the best coffee in Anchorage, give it a try. Tell her I sent you. If you live in Anchorage, she's at the Saturday Market and tell her "Shala suggested I try your coffee", if you order it off the website, tell her I sent you. Hey.. I might get the bestest coffee in town free. She also said she's considering opening a coffee shop in town. Which is nice. I'm more then considering going. Hey.. I gave up blended lattes because I can't get them made from this stuff.. if I could.. that's like crack.
I got some fireweed honey, then went to Kobuk Coffee Co. for tea, and got Mike and William each gunpowder green tea, and got myself some rose herbal tea. My breath will smell like roses. As soon as I put the coffee down.
I walked entirely too much. The kidlets were with me, and Emily of course opted for a hot dog for lunch, she's kind of picky about food, she does try new things occasionally. Usually though if we are out she only tries new things when we go out for Mexican. If it can be folded into a tortilla, she'll try it.
William on the other hand had curry for the first time. He loved it.
Sunday.. well, the big question was "What do you want to do for mother's day?" I wanted to go to the zoo. It was Migratory Bird Day with tons of activities and lots of people. Dad came with us which was really nice. We wandered and Mike and I took a ton of pictures. I got a zoo pass so the kids and I can hop a bus and go there this summer. Part of the excitement was a game, you earned stamps on a passport type thing and got a pencil when you were done, but the guy at that station was just handing them out to everyone. Very cool "mood pencils" they change color when you touch them. I think I'd love a pair of knitting needles covered in that stuff. For some reason, the guy handing them out couldn't change them. Neither could my dad, so they talked about the fact they were probably both dead. Mine changed instantly. It's green of course.
The zoo has a penny pressing machine. I *love* pressed pennies. So now I have a pressed penny with a bear on it. Bears make me happy. Their lumbering grace reminds me of Mike. Not that he's hairy. Hairy men bug me. Sorry. I know a lot of women love a hairy chest, but it makes me slightly ill.
Emily had 4.00, and a determination to buy me something at the zoo gift shop. She finally decided on a piece of candy that was 3.50. A lump of chocolate with almond claws.
Then we went out for a lousy dinner. My choice. I picked a place based on 1) the kids love it and 2) no crowds and 3) dad wouldn't flinch at the price. He's cheap. They have a bunch of vending machines, and one is like a pinball game that gives out superballs which William for some reason at 15 wanted to play. Emily gave him one of her two quarters, he won two superballs and gave her one. Then she used her last quarter for a gumball.
Home again, home again.
Today we went to pick up my cake. you know how nuts it makes me to have a chocolate cake from my favorite bakery about 4 feet away and to KNOW I shouldn't touch it until tonight even though it has my name on it??? After that, we hit the mall so I could drop off some money in my bank account, and Mike got himself a new game, then I had him bring me to Michaels to grab some yarn. Which isn't working out for the project I had in mind, but then again, it's sugar and cream, I can always find SOME use for it. Emily asked for and got a paint a cup kit with two cups. One of them she painted, popped into a brown paper bag with a red bow and told me not to look and hid it somewhere. I'm thinking she'll give it to me later today. The other she painted with a Christmas theme. It's May.

I told her we would start making Christmas cards next week. So if you get a Christmas card in June from me, don't fret, I'm not losing my mind. I'm going to try to get them mailed as we get them done so I know they will be mailed. Plus I have a mailbox finally. Mike got fed up waiting for the PTB to finally put the one in they promised us 2 years ago, and put one in. So I can't mail packages from it, but I can mail Christmas cards.

I found Emily the other day with her ruler from the train openhouse scoring card stock. I said "What'cha doing?" She had her craft book with standard postcard sizes open on one side, and a Disney mag on the other. She pointed at Tony Hawk's address. "He likes postcards" So she made him one and got it mailed before I could snag it and get it scanned. It was *nifty* she drew a skate park on it and a skateboarder on a board made from foil tape (the kind you get in the hardware section) SHINY! So I know you're all just eager to see what she does for Christmas cards.
-Shala