fatal error

The Major Computer Problem has been identified. We have a fatal error in our hard drive and it will have to be replaced. Fortunately, Drew was able to discern this problem fairly quickly and we can fix it. We just need to get a new hard drive. It's only going to cost us about fifty bucks and dinner for Drew. Did I mention how much I love Drew? So now I just have to hold my breath every time I turn the computer on. This could be the time it completely crashes. I have everything of importance backed up on Haruko the external hard drive, but just knowing that a freeze-up may be coming is scary.
We finally got some rain tonight, which is good news for my tomato crop. The plants were looking a bit droopy. I oly hope the weather stays relatively cool, as I am sick to death of temperatures upwards of 95 degrees and heat indeces in excess of 110. Yetch, I hate summer in St. Louis. That is a lie, I love summer, I just hate the heat.

breakfast flashback

Matt and I had breakfast at South City Diner with a bunch of people I went to high school with. Luke was there with his wife Meg and their little cutie Alice. Aaron was there, his fiancee Maria couldn't make it, she had a dress fitting this morning. I've met her, she's really sweet. Jill came, and brought the boys. Margee and Ben came too, and told us they are expecting twins early next year. We stopped in at Dunnaway Books to see Antoinette after breakfast. This breakfast was as close to a high school reunion as I ever will get. It was short and sweet and sticky. (I sat next to Miles.)

Waiting for the call

Yesterday was babyday. We had Anna, Naomi, Miles and Jasper for the afternoon. Needless to say I was exhausted when all the kids left.
Glenna was over for the last hour or so finishing her paper for her Mexican-American History class. I don't know why, but she likes to write papers at my house. I usually proofread for her, and I know she's the kind of person who needs to talk her ideas through when she's writing. I guess she likes to bounce things off Matt and I.
Jill stayed for a bit when she came to pick up the boys. She wants me to go out tonight with a bunch of people from high school. When she left Matt and I did some steak preparation (over the wooden variety, not the meat kind) and called it a night fairly early.
I finished the last book on my kitchen pile (Nation of Rebels: Why Counterculture Became Consumer Culture by Joseph Heath and Andrew Potter) and I am going to start putting a dent into the bedroom pile tomorrow night. I just realised I should clarify about the piles. When Matt and I moved in to the house, one of the first things we did was have floor-to-ceiling bookshelves built in our living room. They are full. We also have bookshelves, the freestanding kind, in the "office" and in the kitchen. They, also, are full. We have piles of books in the bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and in the hall closet. I have been trying to sort books in these rooms into "read" and "unread" sub-groupings (I have a problem with sub-groupings. It manifests itself in all aspects of my life. I should have been a librarian.) so that I can store those I have finished reading and read those I haven't. Anyway, bibliomania strikes again, and I am swamped with too many books and no place to put them.
I also promised reviews of things I have read this summer, but that will have to wait for a future installment.
I'm waiting for our mortgage broker to call and tell us we are getting out refinance. Waiting really really stinks.
I should get ready for work.

Matt and Glenna

Matt and Glenna
Originally uploaded by sarahkate.

Waiting for midnight. I have a very patient friend and an amazing husband who puts up with a lot from me. I love them immensly.

unknown witch and Hermione Granger

unknown witch and Hermione Granger
Originally uploaded by sarahkate.

These lovely ladies were in line with us.

Duff's Harry Potter Menu

Duff's Harry Potter Menu
Originally uploaded by sarahkate.

Here we go, the computer is up and running. Here are a few pictures from Friday night/Saturday morning. I took these while I was hanging out at the Harry Potter Party waiting for midnight to get my copy of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

Major Computer Problems

That's right folks, we are suffering from MCP at the southside petting zoo. Every time I turn the computer on it tricks me. All seems normal on the homefront, no problems, let's get connected to the internet right away! Okay, here we go... need to check you bank balance? No problem! Need to answer those e-mails? Go right ahead! New Megatokyo up? Let's flit right over and read it! Time to check in on the Yarn Harlot? We're on our way... wait, let me spin this little pinwheel for a minute... or an hour, or let's just freeze everything and destroy your life! Yay! Fun! NOT.
Matt asked the charming and talented Drew to come over and see what he could do, but our Drew is quite busy this week. I went to the library to use the computers there, but the wait was forty-five minutes. It has been so hot out that everyone in the entire city of St. Louis is hanging out at the libraries. (I went to three, all had a wait for the computers and a ton of folks just lounging around reading magazines)I am thrilled that the sticky weather is enticing people to read more, but dammit, I have affairs to conduct!
I have a bunch of pictures to upload from this past weekend. The Potter Party in the West End was a lot of fun. The special menu Duff's had was a gas, the costumes were cute and the staff at Left Bank Books was so efficient I only had to wait about twenty minutes in line to get my copy of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.
Matt was right. I did read it all in one sitting, and paid for it the rest of the weekend. I got about two hours of sleep between Friday night and Saturday morning. Work was really lousy on Saturday, I had a split double with Adam's graduation party inbetween shifts. My In-Laws' new patio is quite lovely though.
Sunday Brunch was slow due to the heat, and after work I came home and slept for 14 hours.
I did a double on Monday, went to see how Toni's rental unit rehab is going (Dean did an awesome job on the floors) and then went back to Duff's for a wine class. Matt tagged along for that, and a very informative two hours later we were slightly disappointed that we did not get to taste even one drop of wine. Oh well, the class was fun, and I learned more about the grapes of France then I ever would have on my own. I'm not a big wine fan anyway.
I'll post pictures of the Potter Party when Maguro is in a better mood.(Maguro is my iMac, for those who do not know.)

Friday at last!

I didn't sleep well last night. I had strange dreams about harboring refugees in my house and being invaded by the INS. I had to wake up early this morning because the Appraisal Guy was coming over to do a walk-thru on the house. We need an appraisal so that we could move forward on our refinance. I will get up at the crack of dawn if it helps me get a big fat loan. I never thought myself to be so motivated by cash, but when it comes down to it, I guess I am. Actually, I am motivated by the need for a two bathroom house.
So enough chit-chat. We all know what today is. The Last Day. Glenna and I will be at Left Bank Books tonight at midnight to pick up our copies of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince". I need to take a nap today, because I know I'll be up all night tonight reading. Matt is betting I can finish it before I have to work on Saturday morning. I am doubtful. I think he just wants me to shut up. I've been a royal pain this week, hogging the computer and leaving copies of the first five books face-down in every room of the house. Sorry, I like to be prepared. When "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" came out, I was on vacation with my family in Chicago and I insisted my mom lend me her car at midnight so I could go out and grab a copy of the book. When "Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix" debuted I worked the evening shift at Duff's and when my tables all left I just hopped across the street, grabbed my copy and headed home.
I'm a bit of a maniac, and I don't really care if everyone knows. I love that so many people are getting all wound up about a BOOK.

For Kate: Told you so!

You belong in wise old Ravenclaw! You've a ready
mind, Where those of wit and learning, Will
always find their kind; Said Ravenclaw,
"We'll teach just those whose Intelligence
is surest."


The Sorting Hat Ceremony!
brought to you by Quizilla

not a total wash

We got rained out. Matt and I drove down to Franklin Floats last night. We set up the tent, ate some tofu hot dogs and s'mores, drank a few beers and went to sleep, anticipating a great float in the morning. I woke up about 7:30 to a soft rain drizzling on the roof of the tent. We got up and started to get ready to float anyway, figuring the rain would stop shortly. I had checked the weather online before leaving. The weather people said no rain until Monday evening. The weather people obviously did not take hurricane Dennis into account. The effects are being felt all the way up in southern Missouri folks, I was there. As the morning wore on with no signs of rain abatement, Bob Franklin, The Man Himself, came down to the campsite to thank us for the growlers of Schlafly Bill brought him, and to let us know that HIS weather people were predicting severe thunderstorms and we would not be able to float today. Then it started to pour. We packed a disgruntled Hazel into the car with all of our (very wet) gear and headed home. Oh well, maybe next time.
post script: I got stung by a wasp this morning. I haven't been stung by anything in about twenty years. Matt was much more freaked out that I was. I mean, it hurt, but not too much. I got stung on the top of my foot. Apparently almost EVERYONE Matt knows is allergic to stings and has to be hospitalized for months at a time after being stung. I am an amazingly strong, resiliant person for just slapping some ice on it and getting on with my life. Conclusion: everyone my husband hangs out with are frail individuals or really big babies.
post post script: I know some people really are deathly allergic to stings. I am in no way belittling them, rather I am making fun of Matt's over-reactions. Please do not send me hate e-mail saying I am insensitive to the allergies of others.

almost ready...

almost ready...
Originally uploaded by sarahkate.

psst... you're drooling!
I'm leaving for my float trip in about ten minutes. I just wanted to give you all a sneak peak at what I'll be eating next week. I'll be back Tuesday with float photos (floatos?) and tales to tell. I'm sure!

Saturday double

Not much to report today. I spent all of it at work. I was there for twelve hours. I had a lousy day in terms of money. I pulled a double in the smallest station we have, and I got mostly two-tops. I didn't have any problems, all the customers I waited on today were actually very nice and happy folk, which should have told me something was up right away. I barely made any money. I had a station full of cheapskates from 11am to 9pm. Oh well. Sometimes this happens. I don't care because I'm leaving for a float trip tomorrow and I get to spend all of Monday on the river. I won't have to bring anyone extra pickles or yellow mustard or pitchers of Bud Light or another napkin for a week! I can deal with that, baby!

friday

I got up nice and early today to finish the housework before my friendly neighborhood mortgage broker arrived. Matt and I spent most of the morning vacuuming and mopping. I don't know why we always save the floors for last. It may be because it is the one thing we both hate doing. Amy called to cancel, she had two closings and just couldn't get out of the office. We rescheduled for next Wednesday. I guess I'll have to wait a little longer for my cash infusion. I'm gonna buy so much drywall when this refinance comes through!
Matt and I put in a couple of hours stripping woodwork and hauling out plaster on the second floor. I love working upstairs with him. I wish we had more time together to spend on the house. We both seem to get a good pace going when we are stripping wood together. We got quite a bit of the evil burgundy paint (the bane of my existance) off in the front room. Why oh why would anyone paint beautiful scallop-carved woodwork BURGUNDY? I will never understand this. Photos soon, I promise.
I got the oil changed in my car and then went to work. I hosted tonight. Paul did not host with me. The shift went smoothly, no one complained to me, so I guess it was okay. We were never on a light and the wait for a table never exceeded twenty minutes. I missed Diana tonight, she had family things to deal with and won't be back for a while.
Jill came up to BBH for a couple of drinks after I got off work. We sat outside and talked for a bit. I wanted to talk about the book, but Amy and Paul joined us and the conversation took another direction. Oh well.
I have to work a double tomorrow. I work Brunch on Sunday. I guess it's back to waitress world for me now that Karen is home from vacation. I hope she lets me Maitre'd for her again next time she leaves town. I had a blast. My naturally bossy nature fits right in with the job.
I'm going floating on the Black River on Monday, so that means I'll miss a lot of important television, webcomics and radio shows, but being out in the sunshine on the most beautiful river in southern Missouri is one hell of a consolation prize. Matt might even get to come too! Whoopee! Vacation opportunity with the husband! How unheard-of.

ripening tomatoes

ripening tomatoes
Originally uploaded by sarahkate.

This is for Dad, who never gets over to my house to see my garden. I promise not to give you too much guff about it, and I promise to send you a basket of these when they are all ripe.

Riesling form Luxembourg

Riesling form Luxembourg
Originally uploaded by sarahkate.

My dad's cousin Earlene went to Luxembourg to research our family history. She met some Turpels over there and had a lovely time. She also brought back some lovely Riesling from the town where my Great-Grandma (Margaret Mary Schneiders Turpel) and Great-Grandpa (Mathias Turpel) were born. It was sweet and refreshing on a hot Fourth of July. Maybe we can get some Luxembourg Turpels over for the next reunion.

Everyone says we look alike.

everyone says we look alike
Originally uploaded by sarahkate.

Here is a picture of my dad (second row, second from left) with his Aunt Margurite (in the green shirt), his sister Patti (pink shirt, right end of the first row) and several of his cousins (he has about thirty more). We had a family picnic on the Forth of July. Folks came from Florida, Michigan, Chicago, Iowa and Arizona.

Sunday for Glenna's Birthday.

Glenna with glow glasses
Originally uploaded by sarahkate.

I did my last Maitre'd shift at Duff's. Back to waitressing for me next week. It was a nice little break. Matt and I went out to Aunt Patti's house to see the family. We'll see more of them tomorrow at the Reunion. Glenna came over after her birthday party at her parents' house. Jill, Kate and Joe stopped over too. We sat on the back porch and drank a few beers. I went inside before everyone left to put the finishing touches on the banner for tomorrow. I'm excited to see everyone.