Early spring

The new pots and pans...I wanted to post the picture at the END of this post, but Blogger won't let me do that. Click image for larger view. Sorry for the messy table!

Last weekend's full moon was a spiritual observance for us...in some traditions, it's celebrated on Feb. 1 or 2, but in our tradition, since we follow the moon cycles like our ancestors probably did, so it was just last weekend.

This observation is all about the beginning of spring. And, interestingly, we had our first raging thunderstorm this past week, and the temperatures have been in the 50-75 degree range.

Flowers are coming up, tree pollen is driving people's allergies crazy...and it's only February. The spring flower bed I planted for my mother in law has 2 inch tall hyacinths, tulips, and daffodils poking up.

It WILL get cold again, and there is likely going to be another storm with ice or snow before it's all over, but it's been very nice lately.

I just hope the sprouting flowers don't get nipped.

I blew out the shoulder in my winter coat, so we went and found me a new one on clearance yesterday. Maybe buying a new coat this winter will work the same way buying a shovel did LAST winter....and it WON'T actually get cold again!

We made the two trips to three different places that it takes for me to renew my massage therapist licenses. I have NO INCOME to claim for last year, but am being optimistic and hoping that this year will be better.

Renewing was MUCH simpler than was getting the licenses to begin with....that was 3 trips, and 5 different places.

Dave was out of town almost all of last week. He had to go back to Pennsylvania for more training on the software he uses at work. They send him there a couple of times a year, usually for a week.

I don't like being here by myself, but this time, it seemed easier than the other times since I got here.

Not sure why. Maybe I'm just getting used to it. I don't feel afraid to be in this apartment alone anymore, like I did the first couple of times, so that's good.

My new dance class is going pretty well. I have no idea what I will learn, if anything, but I DO have my first chance to perform.

I studied with Soraya for approximately 20 weeks, and never had the chance to perform. When I showed up at my 4th session with Delphina, I was invited to perform.

MUCH less of a clique atmosphere with this group.

So, I have three numbers I am going to practice later today, and on class night, I will show her all three of them, and let her pick which one I will perform as my solo at her fund raiser show.

The show will raise funds for an organization called World Neighbors. This organization goes into improverished areas around the world, and teaches people how to be self sufficient....rather than just giving them hand outs, it teaches them how to do for themselves.

So, that will be good for me.

We are planning to get our taxes done some time over the next week or so, and Dave's annual bonus is due on 3/1. We will then pay off his new car, take out a consolidation loan to put all of our credit cards into one monthly payment, and then start house hunting for real.

Our lease is up in May or June, so it's time to get serious. There are so many houses available, and the payments will be so much less than we are paying in rent...it's really quite amazing.

There are lots of options out there, so that's very encouraging.

We are off to shop for some new pots and pans this afternoon. Everyone have a good week!

ADDENDUM: OH MY GOSH! I LOVE MY NEW POTS AND PANS!!!! Got a sweet deal on a set of Cuisinart stainless with aluminum core bottoms and oven safe handles! They are SOOO NICE! Surely the nicest pots and pans I have ever owned. I probably won't ever need anything else! WHEEEE!!! Now....to continue with my dream of being a chef without going to culinary school~~! (kidding)