A month since my last post! I'm just not feeling bloggy. Here's an update:

My son is married! Greg and Lauren tied the knot in a simple ceremony on August 8. I flew in Thursday evening and flew back Friday evening after a nice lunch for just the 3 of us after the ceremony. They took off for the weekend on a short honeymoon to the wine country about an hour away from where they live. Then, on Monday, Greg started his new job as an attorney working for a mid-sized litigation firm. Whew - big changes!

My new shoes: The brown Ros Rhommerson Cynthia shoes I wore at my son's marriage ceremony are comfortable - as long as I don't walk in them. Ack!

The muscles in my feet, ankles, knees, and lower back just weren't up to walking in 2 1/2 inch heels! Now, the black Hugh Puppies Sara shoes with a 1 1/4 inch heel don't hurt me nearly as much!

I don't think the problem with the brown shoes is the shoes - as I said, they're comfortable. I do think the problem is that I'm so used to wearing fully-padded New Balance walking shoes with basically no heal height, that the muscles needed to walk in 2 1/2 inch heels just aren't up to snuff! Because of that, I haven't yet worn the black shoes with 2 1/2 inch heels!

Our home: We're having 5 of the windows in our house replaced on Tuesday - livingroom, kitchen (front window), craft room, bathroom, and TV room - by American Vision Windows.

After that's done, we're thinking about hiring a painter to finish painting the outside trim (a project started last summer but not finished) and paint the house (we're still not happy with the medium grey colored stucco). I'm now thinking a creamy light yellow which will work fine with the white trim.

Bryan brought a girl for dinner! My stepson brought his latest girlfriend Brit to our house for dinner last night - something neither Bill nor I can remember him ever doing before!

Together, Bill and I have joked that, since Billy got married on 7/7/2007 and Greg got married on 8/8/2008 that Bryan may get married on 9/9/2009.

In fun, we mentioned that to Bryan several weeks ago and he responded that maybe 12/12/2012 would be the date he gets married! Of course, there's no rush for him to get married! I just thought it interesting that he brought Brit over for dinner.

Crocheting: No crocheting in the past 4 weeks or so. Just not into it right now.

Quilting / sewing: I bought storage containers and many more fat quarters at JoAnn Fabrics (I couldn't resist the 99¢ sale!) to add to my fabric collection. The weather has been hot so it's taken some effort to get around to washing and ironing all the new fabric - but I just finished this afternoon.

NASCAR: Kyle Busch won his 18th race of the year last night! As I type this, he's working on his 9th Cup series win! Tony Stewart hasn't (yet!) won a race, but at this moment he's one of the 12 drivers qualifying to be in the Chase for the Cup and he still has a chance to win this year's championship!

So cute!

Last weekend, Tony Stewart announced his move as a driver from Joe Gibbs Racing to an owner-driver of the newly named Stewart Haas Racing. My #20 Tony Stewart gear will then be nostalgic since next year I'll be cheering on Tony with a different number and sponsor and color!

And, of course, I'll also continue to cheer on Kyle Busch who's enjoying an excellent first year at Joe Gibbs Racing and will remain with them next year.

About 2 weeks ago, Bill brought home a surprise for me! A bright-orange #20 Tony Stewart t-shirt he happened across while shopping!!! Whoop! I wore it to work yesterday (Thursday's during the summer are our Fridays!) - it was quite bright!

I was doing a bit of web surfing and found these!

Tony Stewart Cake Kit (includes race car) at ShopBakersNook.com.

TY Beanie Babies NASCAR Bears - including Tony Stewart The Home Depot Beanie Baby Bear at BBToyStore.com.

Tony Stewart #20 Quick-Shift Dart Set at The Pit Stop.

Tony Stewart Chunky Racing Rig at Target.

Bill went to a swap meet Saturday morning and brought back a Tony Stewart 20 cap for me!

I just realized I haven't posted in a month! Not much going on, I guess.

On the crochet front: There are 5 more lap blankets to photograph and post about. I'm currently working on 2 more. I've been adding to my pattern collection through regular hunts on eBay.

On the Bay Area weather front: There have been a few rainy days in the past few weeks, but mostly it's been sunny - and today is just beautiful! I still haven't gotten the gardening bug, but I expect I will with more sunny weekends.

On the home front: Cleo and Jasmine are healthy and loving. Bill and I are healthy, not-so-wealthy (but we're comfortable), and wise!

Bill has said he wants to take very other Friday off during the time the college where I work switches to 4 10-hour day work weeks this summer. Hmmm, we'll see if that really happens! The workaholic in him may not let him take 3-day weekends through the summer. He works most Saturdays now - which means 1-day weekends. What's he going to do with himself during regular 3-day weekends? Hmmm, let's see…I suppose he can start by finishing painting the trim on the house! Right now, we're probably not going to re-paint the house, since the medium grey color looks better with the white trim.

On the money front: Gas prices are going up. Food prices are going up. The stock market goes up, then down, then up, then down. Interest rates are down. My retirement account balances are down.

On the California state budget front: The state is cutting education budgets this year and next year. This "year" is a fiscal year that ends June 30, 2008. So, the budget cuts for this "year" need to be made out of the remaining 3 months or so of a budget that was prepared in fall 2006 and has been guiding the college since July 1, 2007.

And next year's budget (July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2009) is also being cut, including that we won't be getting increases in funding that had been expected (well, as "expected" as you can get when you know the state is having budget problems). So that means another hiring freeze, increasing expenses (for utilities and supplies and equipment and computers and software and …) out of a budget that isn't increasing, and more cut backs and doing without at the college.

We haven't come back from the last big budget cuts several years ago. We still put off buying office supplies. We still have unfilled positions, with other people picking up those duties - which makes for very busy (and potentially burned-out) workers.

There are things we should or could be doing that we can't do because there aren't enough people, there isn't enough money for the people or supplies or equipment, there isn't enough time in the day to do what needs to be done.

Ack. Enough of that depressing talk.

On the family front: My son will be visiting for a few days next week! Whoop! And I'm taking 3 days vacation next week. I think a 2-day work week is just what I need - as long as the nice sunny springtime weather holds!

Bill is flying to Maui on Tuesday to visit his son for about a week. And, no, I don't mind him going to Hawaii without me. After our last trip to Maui in July last year for Billy's wedding, I'm all Maui-ed out and don't want to go back. Too windy, too crowded, incompetent airline staff, reserved seats that weren't reserved, too windy, too crowded. Did I mention too crowded and too windy? Oh, and incompetent airline staff and no seats reserved even though I reserved seats? Did I mention crying - not just a few tears, but real crying - in frustration and anger and flying-related stress after finally getting through security? No, I'm definitely not ready for another Maui trip.

Or any other trip requiring a airplane.

Even my December trip to Oregon to visit my son just about wore me out - 2 flight delays and a flight switch.

On the job front: After over 6 years at the college, I still enjoy my job. There are projects and enhancements - and a redesign - that need to happen, but I don't have the time and there doesn't seem to be money in the budget to get me a reliable, knowledgeable assistant, so those things are remaining undone. As they have for the past 3-4 years. The website design is 6 years old and needs to be changed. I'm gradually, as time permits, doing what I can behind the scenes in the XHTML markup to make it more straightforward to switch over to a new design when (if) the time comes.

I like the people. I like the higher education environment. I like the campus location, nestled in the foothills surrounded by open hillsides, trees, cows, horses, birds, and squirrels. I feel I'm appreciated, valued, and respected as a person and in my job. I'm not so keen on some things and a couple of the people can be very irritating, but the advantages and things I like far outweigh those.

On the NASCAR front: My boys Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch are doing well so far! Kyle is number 1 in points! I still say he's gonna win the Cup this year.

I just found these great Tony Stewart items on Target's website! 6-can cooler / lunch box $9.99; pet jersey $29.99 (high!), and toddler-size race car $229.99 (higher!).

I'm thinking seriously about the lunch box!

The 2008 NASCAR season starts soon!!! As much as I have a crush on Tony Stewart, I think Tony's new teammate Kyle Busch is gonna win it this year.

I watched an episode of NASCAR Pre-Season Thunder yesterday on our DVR and noted that Tony Stewart needed a haircut! Lo and behold! Today I find this news article that starts with:

"Unshaven and months overdue for a haircut, Tony Stewart used his trademark sarcasm to welcome the new season."

Full article: Same old Tony Stewart getting acquainted with new Toyota ride.

One of the men who works in the Facilities department at the college knows I'm a Tony Stewart fan (how can he miss the Tony Stewart calendar and photos on the wall!). A month or so ago, he saw a 1:18 scale Winners Circle car while shopping and he bought it for me! How thoughtful!

So adorable! Tony Stewart laughing.

Such a cute smile!

Tony Stewart talks with Jeff Gordon.

I'm a Tony fan. Bill is a Gordon fan. A co-worker wonders how hubby and I are able to live together. That's easy, I said. I let him believe he is right, and he lets me believe I am right.

A devilish grin!

A serious Tony Stewart. Very handsome.

[Update October 12, 2007 - Bank of America has NASCAR RacePointsSM Platinum Plus Visa credit cards for lots of NASCAR drivers through the MyExpression Banking! Including Tony Stewart!]

How cool is this!!!! Tony Stewart-themed checkbook cover, checks, and VISA credit card!

If I wasn't using Bank of America for online bill pay and automatic deposits and we didn't have nearly all our accounts at BofA (my checking account, my small emergency savings account, our Joint checking account, our Joint savings account, and Bill's checking account), I would definitely be interested in opening a Tony Stewart-themed SunTrust NASCAR Checking account. However, it is not available in California!!! "SunTrust NASCAR Checking is available to residents in the following states: AL, AR, DC, FL, GA, MD, MS, TN, VA, W.VA, NC, and SC".

While wandering around Home Depot this morning looking for closet organizer items, I saw a box of framed items and a "20" jumped out at me...framed Tony Stewart pictures! So, I treated myself to 2 Tony Stewart lenticular ("making 2-dimensional imagery come alive by printing on a lens") Images In Motion wall decor to hang in my home office.

My loving husband brought me a wonderful surprise Sunday morning when he returned from a swap meet in Hayward... A Tony Stewart-Shrek 2 T-shirt! Complete with the #20 The Home Depot race car, Tony's name and a mini-photo of him, Donkey, Shrek and Puss 'n' Boots! I, of course, immediately put it on! In addition to being a Tony Stewart fan, I'm a Shrek, Donkey, and Puss 'n' Boots fan! (I am so easy to please.)

The challenge now is to not spill coffee or greasy food or (any more) colorful popsicles on it! (Yes, I dribbled lime green popsicle juice on the front Sunday evening...I hope it comes out in the wash.)

Since I mentioned it in the previous entry... Here's the Tony Stewart action figure collectible Bill gave me as a gag gift at Christmas last year. We don't exchange gifts at holidays or birthdays (preferring to spend time together at a dinner out or with family members), but he couldn't resist! I think Mom and Greg were a bit stunned at my giddiness when I opened the package and saw what it was! I could hardly wait to get the plastic off and put my "Tony doll" on its stand! It has sat on the bookcase in the living room since Christmas. I'm thinking about taking it to work (to add to my mini Tony Stewart collection: calendar, door hanger, and picture) or move it into my home office.

I decided to play around with the Pattern Maker for Cross Stitch software I bought a few years ago. It creates a color chart from an imported photograph or graphic. It can also be used to create images from scratch - much like drawing. I bought it so I could play around with converting some of my photos to charts, but haven't yet gotten around to doing that.

I found a NASCAR logo sticker that probably came with the really cool Tony Stewart Collectible (kinda like a doll) that Bill gave me at Christmas. We don't do gift exchanges, but he saw it in an Oakland truck stop/gas station and had to buy it for me as a gag gift! I was very delighted!!

Anyway... I scanned the sticker and for the past 2 (3?) hours have been playing around with the software to fine tune the design. Looks pretty good!

The chart can be used with any craft that requires a charted design.

The NASCAR logo copyrighted by NASCAR.

This charted design is copyright © 2006 Cheryl Lambert. Free for personal use. Objects made using this design cannot be sold. The design cannot be sold without my permission.

Merry New Year! I'm feeling unusually chatty... Let's see...what's been going on with me?

Not a whole lot! Hmmm, except for my crocheting addiction that is!

The college closed the week between Christmas and New Years and I took two days off before Christmas when Greg visited for a short week from Virginia where he is in his third year of law school. As all law students are, he is stressed with law school activities and coursework! We spent a quiet few days sitting around together just enjoying the downtime. He and his girlfriend Lauren (also a third-year law student) plan to move to whichever city/state they get jobs in after graduation in May.

Speaking of crocheting (I was, wasn't I?)... It's relaxing and meditative, especially when a rhythmic pattern is used, and creative. It can also be challenging - like crocheting with thread (the hooks are so tiny!) or learning different styles of crochet (like Crochet on the Double and Tunisian) or experimenting with new types of crocheted items.

After a few years of crocheting as Bill watched NASCAR races each weekend, I became a huge fan last year of Tony Stewart and was very VERY pleased that my boy - MY driver - won the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup! While in Reno last August, Bill's cousin placed a $20 bet for me on Tony winning the Allstate Brickyard 400 - and he/I/we won ($140 for me - lots more for Tony!)! Whoop! I'm eagerly awaiting the start of the 2006 NASCAR season in February so I (and Bill too, of course) can spend hours each week watching races and related coverage on TV! (Yes, seriously.)

While I don't think I'm totally crazed with my Tony Stewart crush, I do have a "20" Tony Stewart NASCAR license plate frame on my car, a "20" window cling in my car's rear window, and a 2006 Tony Stewart wall calendar in my office at work. For Christmas, Bill fed into my endearing obsession by giving me a Tony Stewart collectible figure! I consider my crush under control, however, since I haven't decorated the house - or any room in it - with Tony Stewart collectibles (yet!).

The girls (our cats!) are healthy and happy. Hmmm, Bubba never seems to be exactly "happy" but Cleo and Jasmine are! Bubba is 17 years old. Her vet said she's an excellent "'88 model" and may live to be 30! (I think 30 is exaggerating, but the Guinness Book of World Records certified a 37-year-old cat!) Both Cleo and Jasmine are 8 1/2 - third graders in people years! Cleo is totally devoted to me and Jaz is definitely Bill's cat!

I continue to donate blood on a regular basis. I'm CMV negative (also referred to as a "baby donor") so my blood is used for babies, burn victims, HIV/AIDS patients, etc. Giving blood is an easy way to save lives, and it takes very little time! Blood supplies around the country are LOW - make an appointment with your local Red Cross or blood bank to donate blood! (Yes, I'm a living commercial!)

With the threat of high blood pressure drugs looming over me, my doctor gave me 4 months to try to lower my blood pressure and lose some weight. So, I began an exercise routine on October 3. I began walking 10 minutes at a low speed and incline on my until-then-unused treadmill and have built up to 30 minutes at a speed of 5 mph on incline 4.5 at least 4 times each week. So far, not much weight has been lost, but I definitely have more stamina and feel a difference in pants! Wouldn't you know it, though, I developed adult-onset asthma which seems to have been triggered by the regular exercise. It's a perfect excuse to NOT exercise, but it's made me even more determined to continue!

It's grown slowing during the last few years while watching NASCAR with Bill. The dark hair... brown eyes... smile... scruffy beard... The Bad Boy image...

I think I'm in love with NASCAR driver Tony Stewart. Born May 20, 1971, he's just about 8 1/2 years younger than me...which doesn't make me a cradle-robber (does it?). Hmmm, he is, however, a few months shy of being 8 years older than my son...

Bill knows I have this crush. He just laughs. He's a Jeff Gordon fan, and his friend Doug is a Dale Earnhardt Jr. fan. There's a nice bit of competition in the air during the NASCAR season.

While walking around Michaels Craft Store after lunch with Paula on Saturday, I spotted a Tony Stewart coloring book for $1.00! I just had to have it! I later saw that the back cover had a cut-out door hanger with a photo of Tony. It's now hanging on a push pin next to the wall calendar in my office at work so I'll see him whenever I look away from my computer! (I gave the coloring book and another NASCAR coloring book to Eddie's boys when I helped her pack yesterday.)

The 2005 NASCAR season starts Sunday, February 20 with the Daytona 500. Hmmm, guess what I'll be doing! Yup, crocheting and watching the race!