Art Auction and Scrapbook weekend

Well....the art auction was a blast. There was about 140 tickets sold for this auction, and the mingling was fun and spirited.

Several of the artists that donated pieces for the auction demonstrated and spoke about their creative process. One artist from Perry, Betsy Peterson, brought her actual inspiration item and read the poem she wrote as well as the art she created. She is a folk artist and Danny and I love her work. I had never bid at a live auction before, but I couldn't resist. There was a healthy battle with myself and one other, but Danny urged me on. We ended up winning the item for $150. I think that was a reasonable price for one of Betsy's pieces and the money went to scholarships anyway. Such fun!

We also met the Steffen's at the auction. (the couple we bought our house from) They were very nice and personable. We talked to them about some of the things we had done to the place. and they were curious which girl slept in which room. It was nice to meet them in person.

I didn't get much sleep before headed out to pick up Joan and get to a scrapbook retreat in Des Moines on Saturday. It's easy to jump out of bed when you are going to play with your girlfriends though...at least for me. I so needed this girl day. My goal was to get 12 layouts done, relax, laugh often, and do a little retail therapy. Mission accomplished! I am so thankful for my girlfriends. Thanks for the perfect day Joan, Mary, and Karla. Also, thanks for putting up with tired and puncy Gina. : )

Vapooling Day #5

Well..... we now have assigned seats in the van in the order we get out . It's like stacking clowns in a clown car.

Also, one of the riders volunteered to sing to me. I hope the look on my face did not reflect the thoughts in my head.... I sometimes have that issue. My mouth and my face don't have filters usually. My face must have said something because she didn't end up singing, but WTH!?!?!

Thank goodness it's Friday. Danny and I are headed to a Art auction for the Rotary Club in Perry tonight. Should be a fun date night.

Vanpooling Day 4-Veteran's day

I didn't ride the van yesterday because I had to be home before 5pm. One of my co-workers didn't think I would go back to the van today after tasting one day of freedom. : )

Well...it was just Marty and I today, but I was there. Admittedly, it was hard to get up after sleeping in about an hour yesterday.

I am glad I rode today though. I found out that Marty is a 23 year Army Veteran. He shared many stories about duties and deployments he had been on. The most touching story was about how he blocked his son from joining , then volunteered for the Gulf War by taking a demotion, so his son was again not eligible. They won't send a son and father. He didn't want his son to go through what he went through.

He left me with the thought that the 4 years he regrets most is the years he recruited. Not because he sensationalized the military but because he sent several soliders to their death. He has lost many friends including one that he was close enough to in order to be at the birth of his triplets.

Thank your veterans today!

Vanpooling Day 3

They made a Gina sandwich on the way in yesterday. 3 per seat is a little much! Marty, the driver, is looking for a bigger van.

Vanpooling Day 2

Well, Day 1 on the vanpool last Friday was pretty tame. I didn't talk much because it was early for me, and I hadn't had my Diet Coke yet.

Day 2 is apparently the day I become part of the inner circle because on the ride home, I learned all kinds of drama.

1) We can't share our e-mail addresses with one member because it might get shared with Facebook spam and porn site. : )
2) One van rider quit this week that had been riding for years because she didn't get the seat she wanted anymore.
3) One van rider, who is also a back up driver, is trying to get her own van because she can't sit in the shotgun seat anymore and wants to control where she sits.
4) Years ago one rider jumped over the back seats to assault the driver and cuss him out.

Drama...drama... I haven't really experienced any of these things first hand yet, but find it funny that any group of people put together for a long period of time eventually has tension and dissent. Funny how humans are isn't it?

Vanpooling....

Well....I have started vanpooling with Rideshare. Aviva will subsidize my commute through Rideshare, so I am saving around $350/month in gas alone not counting the wear and tear on my vehicle I am avoiding.

The crowd I am traveling with are all State of Iowa employees working at the Capital complex downtown Des Moines, so I am a little out of their way. However, that means I am the first dropped off and last to be picked up.

My co-workers are pretty sure this won't last. Even the auditors that are here right now want in on the pool they are talking about getting started betting on the day I will miss the van.
I am known to have a very erratic schedule, don't function well in the morning, and leave late at least one day a week. However, I am bound and determined to make this work. : ) I am hoping this helps me begin work earlier and more regularly each day. Starting earlier is a resolution I made this year and have yet to keep it as I was helping with the girls in the mornings before school.

I have already had quite a few stories to tell about the van trips this week, so it won't be dull. I plan to update this blog from time to time with the vanpooling drama. ENJOY!