The Hoffman Clan: shaking up the home front

Rick left this morning for a job in Manchester, Connecticut. He should be back sometime mid- or end-of next week. Just long enough for me to adjust to him being gone and finally be able to sleep. Tonight, however, is doomed to be the first of a few, long sleepless nights.

The weekend was definitely eventful. Becca and Kristen went to the coast with Ian and his father. They stayed at their grandmother's beach house in Manzanita and hiked all around, jumped over the fences and ran around the edges of large unsecured cliffs and rock overhangs. I hear Kristen fell in the ocean at least once, but not from any cliff, just sometime during their wave-jumping adventures. Manzanita is always lovely, no matter the time of year, and of course, Becca caught the sunset. They all came home quite sniffly and only Ian went to school today because both girls were sick...or just sluffers.

Meanwhile, Rick spent the first part of the weekend preparing chicken bento for 90 friends and the second part cooking it at a 4-band party over at our friend Gene's warehouse. Despite the fact that our friend Ronnie said it was nothing like Vanilla Ice, the bands were great - 2 blues and 2 metal. With the perfect balance of skill and volume.

Conveniently, a bar mitzvah the night before left all their decor, including the light show on the dance floor and orchid centerpieces on the tables. Quite fancy for the head-banging crowd. But there was fun for all, best costume prize went to the headless guy, and the food was fabulous.

And if you can't quite tell from my stellar cellphone-photos, that's an octopus up in the rafters.

Quite the gig.

Earlier on Sunday, I also went to a wedding shower for my friend Tina who is one of the graphic designers at my work. And I totally won the draw-the-bride-on-a-paper-plate-on-your-head game. I know - I am completely without honor when it comes to wedding shower gaming.

And "highlight" of my weekend - dyed my hair. Ha.