Sara with the Buettner Boys!

I got 'em all, even a kitty!

The Buettner boys!

These are easily the happiest little kids, which makes them ridiculously cute (evidence: see the photo :) )

Out like a lion? Or is this lamb?

Either way, March is on its way out! That means it's almost my birthday! Mark your calendars, people! April 27th!

The last month has brought lots of goings-on. We did a lot of work on our condo to get it looking better suited for selling, including hanging crown molding, repainting many walls, removing tons of stuff, and generally touching up the place. Eric's been putting in a lot of time at the office on a big case, and even got to argue in court for the first time last week! I've been networking with some really interesting, cool people, most of whom work at General Mills (or, "the Cereal Factory," as I like to call it) doing fun things like editing cookbooks and trying new recipes in the Betty Crocker Kitchens.

I still have not found work, but I'm looking and applying, hoping to find something sooner than later. In the meantime I'm making myself useful at the synagogue -- last week I gave a presentation at our synagogue's monthly event, "L'Chaim Mount Zion," where congregants present on topics they're knowledgeable in. I presented "Are you Friends with Facebook," an overview of Facebook (and Twitter and LinkedIn) for the uninitiated. It was quite well attended with around 16 people in my audience (apparently the goal is around 12 per session, so this was above and beyond :P ) I've also been trying to reconnect with old contacts and colleagues, and have been scheduling lots of coffee and lunch dates.

Katie and I signed up for the "Meltdown" competition -- a challenge to put in time at the gym, convert fat to muscle, and track what you eat, all in trying to get healthier/fitter -- at the YWCA back in January. We've spent the better part of the last six weeks living at the gym, trying to get in our seven hours a week of workout time so we could get full points. I'm a little burnt out now, but I've had some decent results (official results will be taken tomorrow, 3/29). Cross your fingers for us -- 1st prize is $150!

That's all for now folks -- it's time for me to get my weekend started! Hope you enjoyed the photos and video I uploaded last night from Luke's gig at Dunn Bros!

Suzie & Luke Dekarske

Rocking Dunn Bros

Eric and Luke. Apparently Time *Doesn't* Go On

At least not when it's your family in the audience, begging you to play your old songs ;)

Killin' the Blues

With Suzie Dekarske and Luke Dekarske

Rock and roll!

Luke @ Dunn Bros!

Happy 21st birthday Joe!

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Back in the (blogging) saddle

So something like, oh, three months and 12 days ago I made some New Year's resolutions. The #1 was to post to the blog more often. Although I seem to have figured out how to use the cell-phone-picture-emailed-directly-to-blog feature pretty handily, the updates have been lacking real substance. Sorry.

Here's how some of those resolutions are going:

• We have not sold the condo, nor have we bought a house. *But* we have spent the past three weeks renovating the condo in an attempt to make it dazzle. Cross your fingers for us.
  
• Corollary to previous: I've been doing a pretty good job refraining from shopping, which is kind to our downpayment account. Living at the gym helps that a lot, I've found.
  
• We were on a really good roll of making dinners at home until the renovations started. We'll see if we can get back into it. A three-week hiatus isn't terrible.
  
• We're not doing a great job of attending services more, but I'm definitely involved at the synagogue, leading Noazim (the 20s/30s group), participating in a leadership development group, and doing some communications/social media consulting/advising for Sisterhood and potentially other groups at the synagogue. This also falls under my resolution to volunteer regularly, to some extent.
  
• See siblings and parents more: I don't know -- you tell me. I think we're doing OK -- not better or more, but not worse or less than before either.
  
• See family more -- not just our parents and siblings. We're doing terribly at this, but I did suggest we have a family reunion since cousin Courtney and baby sprouts are US-bound! That counts for something, right?
  
• I have not completed, much less signed up for a triathlon, indoor or otherwise. I have, however, been at the gym like I am. I just want to find someone who will do it with me. Any takers?
  
• And the one that probably should be at the top of the list, not the bottom: finding a job. This resolution is going terribly. I can name a list of reasons why I haven't found a job, but in any other economy they wouldn't fly, so I'm not going to try to pretend like it's OK to use them now. I really need to step up on this one. If anyone has any thoughts on what I could do, people I should talk to, or places to apply to, please let me know!

Eric and Luke are getting a band back together, and are writing, recording, and practicing music pretty regularly now. They've even set up shop in Jim's basement until we buy a house with a space of their own. I'm pretty excited for them, but hopefully you can hear them and be excited too. We'll keep you posted :)

In other news, the kitties are good, though clearly building a resentment towards me for putting them on a diet. (The vet made me!! Poor Murphy...) Three friends have gotten engaged in the past 3 months (Congrats to Nica, Ali, and Katie!!!), and one will get married this May (FINALLY Lynn and Sean!). My eldest niece and nephew just turned 13 and 15 respectively, and I can't get over it for some reason. Basically, life is flying by and I don't know how to slow it down to a pace that can be taken in with any kind of appreciation. But I'm working on it :)

Every blog post needs a picture, right? Voila: me holding little Eli Bits! (He's kind of nap-y. Hence the serious head tilt :) )

Eric the Handyman

My hot home-improving husband :-)

Murphy likes when I make the bed

So much that he is actually between the mattresses this time, not just the sheets.  Funny guy.