Busy busy busy!

Oi! I have been going slowly crazy since school has started again. I work with awesome people but we're all under a bit of stress and some things aren't quite working out as smoothly as we would like. Things like computer programs, room assignments, schedules, clocks...you know, the stuff that keeps schools ticking...in all of this I had developed a slight twitch above my right eye. It took me all weekend to get rid of it but I think it's safe to say it's gone now. I have identified my stress triggers and placed them in their appropriate prioritization. My lists are made and I'm starting to hammer out some of the tasks that had me up at night. *heavy sigh with a smile*.


I love/hate the third weekend in September. First of all, it is the weekend that falls BEFORE the first paycheck of the school year, hence I have spent all spendable monies from the summer checks by this time. Long story short: Poverty. Secondly, it is the busiest weekend of the Fall with both the Depoe Bay Salmon Bake and the Mt. Angel Oktoberfest to attend. Now granted anyone else would probably just bail on these superfun events if they didn't have the cash but in my household? No way.


My parents live near Depoe Bay and my family are salmon freaks. Seriously, I think we're descended from bears. So off to Depoe Bay we go and I'm always boohoo-ing the drive to the coast but I'm always super glad I went because my parents are really great and I love them madly. Well, there weren't that many people at the Salmon Bake this year and so the volunteers were serving up giant slabs of fish. Conservatively I would say 14oz pieces, killer deal. delicious. I also was able to meet up with an old family friend that I really really adore. 35 years later and I still adore him. Don't you love those people in life that just have that special spark? Ed is like that. I guess that's why he and my dad have been friends forever, my dad has that special spark too.






Every year, Kieran and I volunteer to work for my brother-in-law Jim and his Knights of Columbus group at a sausage stand at the Mt. Angel Oktoberfest. Now mind you this isn't just any sausage stand. This is THE sausage stand to get THE original Oktoberfest sausages made in Silverton Oregon for THE Mt. Angel Oktoberfest. Hence, they are the best. Hence, we are mad busy they whole time we are there. You may think, why go to Oktoberfest and work, when you can go and play? Oh no worries there. We play, but working at that booth with my in-laws, my niece and my nephews is something I totally look forward to every year. It is wonderful fun and they are wonderful people. xoxo



After Mass this morning- which I must say was absolutely beautiful and soul-stirring, Kieran and I walked over to the Mt Angel Cruise in car show and I...fell...in...love. I'm telling you in LOVE. Many of you know I have a thing for car shows. I'm not knowledgable about cars in the least. I could never own one or work on one or even tell you what one was without looking for it's make and model but some cars (and motorcycles for that matter) are amazing works of art. I get a little bit excited about them I must admit. Now this one, this one stopped me in my tracks and I took about 100 pictures of it. I looked for the owner but they were somewhere else at the festival and so I cannot tell you who owns this although they deserve so much praise for maintaining such an amazing vehicle.







On our way out there was this crazy deployment of retired military vehicles. Fascinating how powerful they were/are. Check out how the second vehicle's treads literally tear up the asphalt.