For the last couple of weeks are cats have been acting up, each in their own way. They know the mess in the house is for a Reason and not the usual. The leader of the pack, Penny (7), has been a total %$*# to the other cats, smacking the others at the slightest provocation. If I pick her up and she’s not up for it that second, she makes a beeline for her closest sibling and starts a one-sided cat fight.
The others are thankfully not as cranky. Phoebe (~11) …

Yesterday we donated 7 bags of baby clothes.  We can get rid of a lot more books than we thought since we’re going to get an e-reader sometime this year (maybe the Kindle 2 when it’s released).  It feels really good to just get rid of stuff.  Makes me, the prodigal  packrat, look at things in a new way.  I always wondered how the hell people had really spare & zen living spaces and I just might *get it* now.  Get rid of anything that isn’t needed or used.
Hopefully today’s …

Yesterday I had to break a sheet of ice off our car & sidewalk. It was frigid. Right now I’m inside and my feet – in socks – are freezing. Yet I am blissful and dreaming of hot, sunny days. Ever since we decided and committed to living our dream and moving to Costa Rica, things have been different. Good different. Our outlook on life changed as we had something to work towards that wasn’t a random deadline to do something personally meaningless. …

Ah – Imperial. Costa Rica’s yummy cerveza. Instead of champagne, I thought it would be more apropriate to toast to the upcoming year with The Beer of Costa Rica. We have an adventure that’s already begun and much to look forward to. Here’s wishing everyone a peaceful, fulfilling new year. Don’t ignore your dreams – inspire yourself and make them happen.
(I love how the ornate eagle on the label seems to be holding … a towel. Or as they say in Spanish, una toalla. Why is it there? Is the …

After weeks of workaholism on my part, we FINALLY did some packing yesterday.  Trish purged her wardrobe of many articles of clothing (some 4 garbage bags worth – thankfully the clothing bin at the local FD had room).  We packed one suitcase full of warm weather maternity clothes and stuffed animals until it was 50lbs.  We’re working within the confines of Continental’s checked baggage policy – each of us gets 1 bag checked for free and can add a second for $25.  Each bag can have a maximum weight of …