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By doriluthy, July 26, 2006 11:53 pm

I am in Bellevue, WA right now, laying on the bed in a lovely little room in the quiet apartment of Sylvia. I am here because Silvia is part of the regionally famous Bellevue Art and Craft Fair. So I am staying with Sylvia while working for Silvia.

The story: this is the first major venture across the border for Silvia Dotto Designs, and after weeks of figuring out (or still trying) of NAFTA and customs and forms and stuff, we loaded the van yesterday, and drove out of Vancouver this afternoon on our way to the SOUTH. A phone call half way there from our border broker telling us there was some problem with the paper work, questions, etc. Not what we needed to hear. Okay, we have to wait another hour for the info to process through the system, then go. And in the end, we made it through the border with less stress than I could have hoped for. Arriving at the border according to the broker’s schedule, then we were ordered around for inspection… quietly sitting on a bench in customs, watching the officer making phone calls and computer checking… only to be asked to show our “banner stand”- that one mysterious, unidentifiable item shining out from our Customs invoice. I retrieved the black metal pole from our van and they were much satisfied that it posed no threat to the USA and it’s harmonious operations of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and so we were on our way…

Ahhh, and now after making our way through the rather not-congested (suprisingly) streets of Seattle, and a lovely meal at a hole in the wall Thai restaurant where Silvia and I stuffed our starving faces on all sorts of goodies, NOW I lay here in a fab bed waiting sleep…

But before I drift off to much deserved sleep, I must share the best part of the day: A suprise- my birthday gift from Silvia! And let me just say it folks: It is sheer joy manifest in a paisley print. Oh those European designers, I can’t stop touching it, opening, closing, lifting the handle, folding it shut, OH just imagining loaves of bread and decadent cheeses, a bottle of wine, perhaps, tucked nicely in this German femininity. Oh the delight!! (thank you Silvia- I LOVE it!)

Anyway, that is all for tonight.

g’night dedicated reader (all 3 of you!)

Opps: Duane, I love ya! I’ll get you linked here as soon as I get home and Dustin shows me how to do that… New York looks awesome, looking forward to hearing about the Rockies, too. Glad you are finally taking a break.

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By doriluthy, July 6, 2006 10:14 am

Hey it’s my birthday tomorrow.

Today I begin the festivities with cheesecake at work- two of the ladies are baking my favorite! It is also Yawei’s birthday on Sunday, so it’s a shared birthday party. I have had cheesecake on my birthday for something like 15 years… at least.

And tomorrow for only the third time in 8 years, Dustin and I will be spending my birthday together!! He’s taking me out for dinner to some restaraunt in North Van.

Then on Saturday we are going to a Canadian’s baseball game in the afternoon.

I’m hoping Dustin gets me something really good for my birthday! Something practical, something feminine… something i would never forget…

But, i’m keeping expectations low, i find it keeps me from getting too disappointed then…

oh well!
happy birthday to me!!

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By doriluthy, July 5, 2006 9:19 am

Several years back Dustin, Dan and I drove to Sioux Falls for a get-together with family. We drove Dan’s little purple Honda civic (best gas milage around). We decided to take the long way, drove through the Badlands and stopped and hiked around for a while. Then we headed up into a tiny town that was famous for it’s hot-springs. There was a bathhouse at the back of a hotel/B&B that was set up and had been there for like 100 years. We got our bathing suits on and jumped in. HOT. Stinky sulfur. Almost too hot. But lovely. From there we headed on to Sioux Falls and met up with Justus, Lisa, Daniel, Mom and Dad Luthy. Oh that’s right, we came for Justus and Lisa wedding plans. I bought my wedding dress that weekend. Funny about that.

I can’t remember if that was the same year Dustin Dan and I drove to Winnepeg together or not. That was over spring break one year. And that trip was in my Nissan, i think? Or my old Chrystler. We got stranded in a blizzard along the interstate at a rest stop somewhere in northern south dakota. We slept with the car running, for the heat. Saw people driving into the rest area from the wrong direction, just trying to get there. It was crazy. We drove on the next morning to Grand Forks, to the parents, and then on to Winnepeg for fun. It was fun. We stayed at a nice old hotel down town- Dan and I dropped Dustin at the hotel, he ran in to check in and find out where to park. Apparently we were waiting in a no stopping zone. (oh the big city!) A hotel valet parking attendant came running over and yelled at us: “JUST KEEP LOOPING! LOOPING! Go LOOP!!” Luckily this was just as Dustin came back out with directions to park.

Well, these photos are from the Badlands drive through. The first two are Dan striking some poses- i think he was recalling a rave he had been to recently out there at the Badlands. Or just being his silly self. The third photo is a close-up of Dan, the day only got sunnier and warmer, as you can see. That’s a great smirk. Dan style.

Missing the man, Dan.

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By doriluthy, July 3, 2006 11:23 pm

Lard grease. (You have to read Alissa’s blog- see side link’s)

We just got home. (Hours ago, really) a long lovely weekend down at the mother in law’s home. Searching through old photos, telling a few stories, all this prompted a solid conversation about our own child rearing and family making, on our own family making. Long lines at the border allow for such lingering thoughts about how to raise our own children, where do we wish to be? What family- how close? who? how much? etc. I love this man that willingly discusses such thoughts with reverance and humor at the same time. Mexico? Scotland? New Zealand? or South Dakota? I WANT IT ALL!!!

truth be told, as far as family goes: the more the better. I didn’t have that much growing up- and of Dustin’s childhood, it’s the part i most love. They are: So close, (too close? to be determined) so involved! (too involved? to be determined) so supportive. (etc.)… My gynocologist agrees. Most important things to think about as i’m getting into baby making mode: how close is family?

It is my birthday in 4 days (the 7th day of the 7th month- peace to all you CANCER’s!) I will be 28 years old. And by my standards: SO OLD!! I have not yet passed an offspring through these loins!! I have informed dustin that in one year (no less, no more) i will cease my birthcontrol methods and return to a teenhood regularity.

It has been 8 years since I started dating Dustin. that is MANY years to go without a child in the mix. Especially when, like me, you so desparately want one. one year to go…

let the giggle fest begin.