So, how was your weekend? Mine was pretty nice. It has even been extended due to some fluffy cold white stuff that has been falling from the sky. What did I do with this nice weekend, you ask? Well, not too terribly much. Caught up on some reading, starting working on a new hat, and watched the 5th season of 3rd Rock from the Sun. Oh yeah, and I bought a house.
!
Monday, January 28, 2008
Monday, December 24, 2007
of botched cookies and chocolate boogies
Merry Christmas Eve, everyone. It's been a quite day here. I have been trying to do a lot of baking. I'm really not in the mood, though (which is strange in and of itself because I ALWAYS want to bake!). But I sucked it up and dug out some old tried and true cookie recipes. I mixed up the dough, popped it in the oven and out came some of the most awful things ever!!! Okay, so that might be a slight exaggeration, but still! I don't make bad cookies! I tried to fix it - but to no avail. So I tried again with a different recipe. Only slightly better, but edible at least. Then I kept forgetting about them and burned like three different pans of cookies! I still have a batch of brownies, banana bread, a sweet potato pie and biscuits to bake and I am temporarily giving up in the kitchen.
Our friends are on their way to Europe, my parents are in Hawaii, and I have to go back to work the day after Christmas and then I get to work all through our school's Christmas break. Bah Hum Bug!
On an slightly more humorous note, I made some hot cocoa mix for some friends for christmas and apparently ended up snorting a bunch of the cocoa powder because the next day I blew my nose and had - no joke - chocolate boogers!
And tomorrow we get to open the one gift under our tree!!!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Our friends are on their way to Europe, my parents are in Hawaii, and I have to go back to work the day after Christmas and then I get to work all through our school's Christmas break. Bah Hum Bug!
On an slightly more humorous note, I made some hot cocoa mix for some friends for christmas and apparently ended up snorting a bunch of the cocoa powder because the next day I blew my nose and had - no joke - chocolate boogers!
And tomorrow we get to open the one gift under our tree!!!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Ho Ho Ho!
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Definitely wrapping paper! Bags can look pretty, but are not nearly as easy to sastifying to open.
2. Real tree or artificial? Do you have to ask? Would youlike artificial gifts?
3. When do you put up the tree? When we get a chance to get it. Usually a couple of weeks before Christmas
4. When do you take down the tree? When it starts dying and we need to make room hide the Easter Eggs! ha ha - just kidding! we do tend to keep it up quite a while, though...
5. Do you like egg-nog? Only if it's been cut with other, how did David put it?... "adult fluids"
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Ooze! I was probably 4 or 5 and my grandma got me a can of the ooze that turned those cute little baby turtles from the pet store into lean green fighting machines (the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, that is). Or maybe the doctor kit I got that year... it was awesome!
7. Do you have a nativity scene? Nope
8. Hardest person to buy for? my parents
9. Easiest person to buy for? hmm.....i don't know
10. Worst gift you ever received? Well, let me tell you... I was about 4 or 5 and on christmas morning I unwrapped this box for a freakin awesome TMNT action figure. When I tore into the box, though, it wasn't shredder I saw. It was this sickeningly pink baby doll. I wanted to cry. That same year (and from the same grandma!) I also go the Hans Christian Andersen version of the Little Mermaid, which was my favorite movie. I was so stoked! But then I watched and even though it was a little different it was tolerable until the end, when Ariel TURNED INTO SEA FOAM!!!!! seriously?!? come on!
11. Favorite Christmas movie? I'm going to have to agree with Kristi -While You Were Sleeping
12. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually around the end of September/beginning of October.
13. Have you ever recycled a present? oh yeah
14. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? i really love my mama's shrimp alfredo
15. Clear or colored lights on tree? sure
16. Favorite Christmas song? Just about all of them. Especially We Three Kings
17. Travel or stay home? i like staying home
18. Can you name all of the reindeer? hmmm, yeah I think so
19. What is on top of your tree? Nothing.
20. When do you open presents? Christmas morning.
21. Most annoying thing this time of year? bells
22. Favorite ornament theme? theme schmeme - homemade is best.
23. Favorite food for Christmas dinner? homemade spaghetti and artichokes with melted garlic butter. What can I say? I'm Italian!
24. What do you want for Christmas this year? nothing.
2. Real tree or artificial? Do you have to ask? Would youlike artificial gifts?
3. When do you put up the tree? When we get a chance to get it. Usually a couple of weeks before Christmas
4. When do you take down the tree? When it starts dying and we need to make room hide the Easter Eggs! ha ha - just kidding! we do tend to keep it up quite a while, though...
5. Do you like egg-nog? Only if it's been cut with other, how did David put it?... "adult fluids"
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Ooze! I was probably 4 or 5 and my grandma got me a can of the ooze that turned those cute little baby turtles from the pet store into lean green fighting machines (the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, that is). Or maybe the doctor kit I got that year... it was awesome!
7. Do you have a nativity scene? Nope
8. Hardest person to buy for? my parents
9. Easiest person to buy for? hmm.....i don't know
10. Worst gift you ever received? Well, let me tell you... I was about 4 or 5 and on christmas morning I unwrapped this box for a freakin awesome TMNT action figure. When I tore into the box, though, it wasn't shredder I saw. It was this sickeningly pink baby doll. I wanted to cry. That same year (and from the same grandma!) I also go the Hans Christian Andersen version of the Little Mermaid, which was my favorite movie. I was so stoked! But then I watched and even though it was a little different it was tolerable until the end, when Ariel TURNED INTO SEA FOAM!!!!! seriously?!? come on!
11. Favorite Christmas movie? I'm going to have to agree with Kristi -While You Were Sleeping
12. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually around the end of September/beginning of October.
13. Have you ever recycled a present? oh yeah
14. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? i really love my mama's shrimp alfredo
15. Clear or colored lights on tree? sure
16. Favorite Christmas song? Just about all of them. Especially We Three Kings
17. Travel or stay home? i like staying home
18. Can you name all of the reindeer? hmmm, yeah I think so
19. What is on top of your tree? Nothing.
20. When do you open presents? Christmas morning.
21. Most annoying thing this time of year? bells
22. Favorite ornament theme? theme schmeme - homemade is best.
23. Favorite food for Christmas dinner? homemade spaghetti and artichokes with melted garlic butter. What can I say? I'm Italian!
24. What do you want for Christmas this year? nothing.
Saturday, December 08, 2007
That's Right...
It's nearly 3am. I'm awake and miserable and now you get to read all about it! If you are one who uses, or thinks of using, the phrase "TMI" often, you should probably stop reading.
Early this week, when I awoke with a sore throat that was nearly swollen shut, I naturally assumed Strep was the culprit. However, as the week progressed and my throat began feeling better, the fever persisted. "Hmm...," I thought, "that's one nasty infection!" Oh, how little I knew...
Thursday night, it began with slight rumblings in my tumblings (mild stomach upset, for those of you not fluent in Pooh-ese). That night I slept poorly and finally got out of bed sometime in the not-quite-wee hours of the morning with that horrible sinking feeling that I had no idea which end was about to explode. Luckily I guessed right and aimed well. I proceeded to spend the next hour+ in the bathroom trying to figure out if it was, in fact, too late to call in sick. After lots of inner debate (and the discovery of some good medication in the medicine cabinet), I decided that I should go to work - at least for the morning. We have been having so many subs, and I figured I could handle at least the morning work time and then maybe go home early. My body had other ideas, and luckily we already had a sub on alert for another staff member who was able to make it, so that sub came for me instead. At about 10am I drove myself home, medicated myself heavily, and then dumped my weary body into bed.
After making my way to pick Shaun up from work later that day and even venturing to the grocery store (so far away from a bathroom!!!), I thought perhaps I would live after all!
But alas, here I am. I could get to sleep (no doubt due to the 6 hour nap) until about 12:30am, and woke around 1:20 with those same darned rumblings and cramps and after another lucky guess made it to the right spot in the bathroom in time. And now here I am feeling drained and pained and restless and awake, looking up old classmates, checking flight prices for trips I'll probably never take, playing text twist... and documenting it all on this oh so illustrious blog of mine.
ENJOY!
and if you don't hear from me soon, chances are i've died. you should send flowers. i always did like lilies
Early this week, when I awoke with a sore throat that was nearly swollen shut, I naturally assumed Strep was the culprit. However, as the week progressed and my throat began feeling better, the fever persisted. "Hmm...," I thought, "that's one nasty infection!" Oh, how little I knew...
Thursday night, it began with slight rumblings in my tumblings (mild stomach upset, for those of you not fluent in Pooh-ese). That night I slept poorly and finally got out of bed sometime in the not-quite-wee hours of the morning with that horrible sinking feeling that I had no idea which end was about to explode. Luckily I guessed right and aimed well. I proceeded to spend the next hour+ in the bathroom trying to figure out if it was, in fact, too late to call in sick. After lots of inner debate (and the discovery of some good medication in the medicine cabinet), I decided that I should go to work - at least for the morning. We have been having so many subs, and I figured I could handle at least the morning work time and then maybe go home early. My body had other ideas, and luckily we already had a sub on alert for another staff member who was able to make it, so that sub came for me instead. At about 10am I drove myself home, medicated myself heavily, and then dumped my weary body into bed.
After making my way to pick Shaun up from work later that day and even venturing to the grocery store (so far away from a bathroom!!!), I thought perhaps I would live after all!
But alas, here I am. I could get to sleep (no doubt due to the 6 hour nap) until about 12:30am, and woke around 1:20 with those same darned rumblings and cramps and after another lucky guess made it to the right spot in the bathroom in time. And now here I am feeling drained and pained and restless and awake, looking up old classmates, checking flight prices for trips I'll probably never take, playing text twist... and documenting it all on this oh so illustrious blog of mine.
ENJOY!
and if you don't hear from me soon, chances are i've died. you should send flowers. i always did like lilies
Thursday, December 06, 2007
The Contemplations of a 4 Year Old
Precious 4-but-oh-so-close-to-5-in-a-month-and-a-half year old girl:
"I've been thinking a lot about lipstick."
me:
"Lipstick?"
her:
"Yes, and, um, I also been thinking about that I am growing up. Into a Human."
I wonder what I have/will grow into?
"I've been thinking a lot about lipstick."
me:
"Lipstick?"
her:
"Yes, and, um, I also been thinking about that I am growing up. Into a Human."
I wonder what I have/will grow into?
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Self-Awareness
One of the most difficult parts of growing up, for me anyway, has been getting to know myself. There have been some changes since my younger days - some good, some not-so-good. And there have been some parts of me that I have simply had to come to terms with - things that wont change. For instance, as much as I hate it, I'm a crier. I don't LIKE it, and I will hide it from as many people as possible, but I cry. A lot. When something is sad, when something is happy, when I'm angry or hurt or confused or upset. When I'm reading, when I'm watching TV, when I'm listening to music, whenever, really. But, as usual, I digress. I have had a bit of a revelation. I am a bad girlfriend. This is something I have had issues with since I was quite young. My interests are not THAT different that most females... and I'm as connection-driven as the next estrogen-ated human. But for some reason I can't seem to hold on to any sort of friendship with another female. Now, this has had it's downfalls over the years, but I'm finding that as I age it's become a much bigger burden. Previously, I have taken my need for socialization and hung out with the guys. However, the older I get the less and less I am able to do this. As my male friends get married their interests and priorities change, understandably. In general it's difficult to maintain a co-ed friendship without the perception of "something more." It's difficult to maintain any sort of friendship, really. Women tend to be obsessed with weddings and babies and furniture and decor and ... all sorts of things revolving around those topics. The exception being my unmarried female acquaintances who have seemingly written me out of their lives because we apparently have nothing left in common. Now I know this is not true, but I have yet figured out how to effectively communicate this to my single friends.
I suppose what it all comes down to is that maintaining friendships takes a LOT of work... and I'm not very good at that. At any inclination of trouble/unhappiness I pull away, not wanting to be THAT person. Not having any siblings, I've never been forced to make a friendship work.
Don't misunderstand - I don't have any ill feelings towards women in general. There have been many wonderful females in my life over the years. I love and appreciate each and every one of them and thank God for the impact they have had on me and the great examples I have had in them. I just need to be better and sticking myself out there and not shy away quite so quickly/easily.
On a happier note, Shaun and I had a great Thanksgiving holiday in the Coos, complete with family, good food, movies, caching and laughter. I have many things to be thankful for and at this moment I am most thankful for my husband's ever expanding patience with me, and the fact that I have another full day before I have to head back to work.
Blessings to you all!
I suppose what it all comes down to is that maintaining friendships takes a LOT of work... and I'm not very good at that. At any inclination of trouble/unhappiness I pull away, not wanting to be THAT person. Not having any siblings, I've never been forced to make a friendship work.
Don't misunderstand - I don't have any ill feelings towards women in general. There have been many wonderful females in my life over the years. I love and appreciate each and every one of them and thank God for the impact they have had on me and the great examples I have had in them. I just need to be better and sticking myself out there and not shy away quite so quickly/easily.
On a happier note, Shaun and I had a great Thanksgiving holiday in the Coos, complete with family, good food, movies, caching and laughter. I have many things to be thankful for and at this moment I am most thankful for my husband's ever expanding patience with me, and the fact that I have another full day before I have to head back to work.
Blessings to you all!
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Rouge Valley Expedition
Friday afternoon I skated out of work as soon as I possibly could so I could get home and get packed up. A couple of hours later Mr. Biggs pulled to a stop outside our apartment and Shaun and I hopped in to get our weekend started. After wading through oodles of icky traffic, we made a quick pit stop at a spinich-loving sailor's chicken joint. Then it was back on the road for the rest of our 5 and a half hour drive. Around 12:30am we arrived at our destination. We spent the weekend catching up with new friends, meeting the new baby and staying up waaaaaay too late! I had crocheted a blanket for baby J, and found that someone else had ALSO crocheted her a blanket in the exact same manner with the exact same yarn!!! What're the odds?
Anyhow, I had lots of fun and learned lots of things - especially about myself. It's getting a little late - I'll write more later.
Ciao
Anyhow, I had lots of fun and learned lots of things - especially about myself. It's getting a little late - I'll write more later.
Ciao
Monday, November 12, 2007
My Sordid Love Affair
Alright, so I suppose it doesn't really qualify as "sordid;" it just sounds cool.
This affair is between myself and - the Multnomah County Library, and it's a fairly recent development that has been long in the making. It all began in the fall of 2001. I was a recent Portland implant and a student, to boot. I had heard a few things about the library but was a little too apprehensive to actually venture to downtown to visit this place. During our Freshman orientation we skipped over the Central Library in favor of Powells. Now don't get me wrong, Powells is a love in and of itself with its overstuffed shelves, colorful rooms and eclectic levels of new and well-loved pages of information, imagination and intrigue.
As the weeks and months went on and I became heavy-burdened with papers and essays and reading from all my classes, and the sense that while the college campus was a place dedicated to higher education, there was little to no space for an easily distracted social butterfly like myself to actually get any work done. So I sucked up my hesitation and slight fear of "the big city," drove to the mall parking lot and boarded the Max train toward the heart of downtown Portland. Before I could make it to the stop that would put me close to the library, I got off at a slightly more comfortable spot - Borders. There I worked up my nerve by picking up a good book and sipping on some delicious Peets coffee while reclining in a comfy overstuffed chair (I must admit there was also some flirting with the cute coffee guy ... which, by the way, paid off in subsequent visits with lots and lots of free coffee!).
Finally I did it. I walked down the street and found myself the Multnomah County Central Library.
wow.
And that was just the outside! As I wandered indoors, I was overwhemed with the beauty of the building as well as the sheer amount of people assembled. At the LIBRARY!?!?! And what's more - these people looked happy to be there! Now in my little bit of the world, libraries were like factories... just a facility that enables one to crank out large quantities of work.
But I digress. I made my way through the two rooms on the ground floor and then wandered up the majestic stairway to the second floor to browse those two rooms. It was a bit dizzying, but I pressed on... up to the third floor. But when I got there, something was wrong. People were making so much noise - in the library. As I rounded that last twist in the stairway I saw what it was - a string quartet had set up in the 3rd floor lobby. I thought surely a dowdy surly-faced librarian would emerge to disperse the crowd and scold the musicians. But no! A kindly gent took the mike to introduce the musicians and explain what they were going to play next! It was kind of surreal, standing at the top of one of the most beautiful staircases listening to a Shubert arrangement with 50-60 complete strangers in this world of books.
It became a wonderful Saturday tradition of mine. Relaxing at Borders with my (mostly) free coffee followed by an afternoon of study and research (and wandering) at the library until closing time - often followed by a bread bowl of clam chowder or chicken noodle soup at Borders (yes, again) while I perused a new book or simply watched the hustle and bustle of Portland through the large window of the store. This was particularly fun in December as it was cold and rainy and the masses were out in full force with their Christmas lists.
This Saturday afternoon ritual was one that I truly wished to share with those I loved - and I tried, oh how I tried. But to no avail. The addition of another person meant conversation and gossip and discussion and debate, which are all wonderful, but it seemed to dispell the magic of the routine.
But as the weeks turned to months, and then to years, I finally graduated from college, was married and got a "real" job, leaving little time for those magical trysts. However, though I have "grown," the public library, in all its splendor, still has its hold on me. With our last move, there is not a library just a few blocks from our house, but I am at work during most of its open hours. However, I have discovered the online catalogue and my ability to put books on hold from my own house. Then all I have to do is stop by on my way home from work and they have my books waiting for me! O glory be - how marvelous!
But wait! There's MORE! In addition to books, they'll transfer and/or put aside my favorite music, language tapes, movies, television series and MORE!!!!! And it's not just the weird educational stuff your 10th grade science teacher made you watch. I've currently got the first season of Frasier, the movie Mystery Men, the new Amy Winehouse CD and the Rick Steve's tour of Italy (okay, so that's one that may have shown up in one of your 10th grade classes, but I'm just a geek like that).
Well, now that my quick little post has become the next great american novel, I suppose I should stop typing. My main message here is : I LOVE LIBRARY! Who's with me?!?!
This affair is between myself and - the Multnomah County Library, and it's a fairly recent development that has been long in the making. It all began in the fall of 2001. I was a recent Portland implant and a student, to boot. I had heard a few things about the library but was a little too apprehensive to actually venture to downtown to visit this place. During our Freshman orientation we skipped over the Central Library in favor of Powells. Now don't get me wrong, Powells is a love in and of itself with its overstuffed shelves, colorful rooms and eclectic levels of new and well-loved pages of information, imagination and intrigue.
As the weeks and months went on and I became heavy-burdened with papers and essays and reading from all my classes, and the sense that while the college campus was a place dedicated to higher education, there was little to no space for an easily distracted social butterfly like myself to actually get any work done. So I sucked up my hesitation and slight fear of "the big city," drove to the mall parking lot and boarded the Max train toward the heart of downtown Portland. Before I could make it to the stop that would put me close to the library, I got off at a slightly more comfortable spot - Borders. There I worked up my nerve by picking up a good book and sipping on some delicious Peets coffee while reclining in a comfy overstuffed chair (I must admit there was also some flirting with the cute coffee guy ... which, by the way, paid off in subsequent visits with lots and lots of free coffee!).
Finally I did it. I walked down the street and found myself the Multnomah County Central Library.
wow.
And that was just the outside! As I wandered indoors, I was overwhemed with the beauty of the building as well as the sheer amount of people assembled. At the LIBRARY!?!?! And what's more - these people looked happy to be there! Now in my little bit of the world, libraries were like factories... just a facility that enables one to crank out large quantities of work.
But I digress. I made my way through the two rooms on the ground floor and then wandered up the majestic stairway to the second floor to browse those two rooms. It was a bit dizzying, but I pressed on... up to the third floor. But when I got there, something was wrong. People were making so much noise - in the library. As I rounded that last twist in the stairway I saw what it was - a string quartet had set up in the 3rd floor lobby. I thought surely a dowdy surly-faced librarian would emerge to disperse the crowd and scold the musicians. But no! A kindly gent took the mike to introduce the musicians and explain what they were going to play next! It was kind of surreal, standing at the top of one of the most beautiful staircases listening to a Shubert arrangement with 50-60 complete strangers in this world of books.
It became a wonderful Saturday tradition of mine. Relaxing at Borders with my (mostly) free coffee followed by an afternoon of study and research (and wandering) at the library until closing time - often followed by a bread bowl of clam chowder or chicken noodle soup at Borders (yes, again) while I perused a new book or simply watched the hustle and bustle of Portland through the large window of the store. This was particularly fun in December as it was cold and rainy and the masses were out in full force with their Christmas lists.
This Saturday afternoon ritual was one that I truly wished to share with those I loved - and I tried, oh how I tried. But to no avail. The addition of another person meant conversation and gossip and discussion and debate, which are all wonderful, but it seemed to dispell the magic of the routine.
But as the weeks turned to months, and then to years, I finally graduated from college, was married and got a "real" job, leaving little time for those magical trysts. However, though I have "grown," the public library, in all its splendor, still has its hold on me. With our last move, there is not a library just a few blocks from our house, but I am at work during most of its open hours. However, I have discovered the online catalogue and my ability to put books on hold from my own house. Then all I have to do is stop by on my way home from work and they have my books waiting for me! O glory be - how marvelous!
But wait! There's MORE! In addition to books, they'll transfer and/or put aside my favorite music, language tapes, movies, television series and MORE!!!!! And it's not just the weird educational stuff your 10th grade science teacher made you watch. I've currently got the first season of Frasier, the movie Mystery Men, the new Amy Winehouse CD and the Rick Steve's tour of Italy (okay, so that's one that may have shown up in one of your 10th grade classes, but I'm just a geek like that).
Well, now that my quick little post has become the next great american novel, I suppose I should stop typing. My main message here is : I LOVE LIBRARY! Who's with me?!?!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Another year....
Another disappointment. Thus far, anyhow. It's 7:37pm and I'm sitting in my well-lit living room with the blinds wide open, jack-o-lanterns lit and inviting, enormous tub-o-candy sitting there by the door, just waiting to empty itself into the waiting bags/sacks of eager little witches and goblins (and Hannah Montanas and Harry Potters).
This has happened many times over the past few years, but it could always be blamed on my living situations (dorm room, secluded apartment off a major road, etc.). However this year is different. We live in a very residential area with lots of children who often play and ride bikes up and down this street. Perfect for a nice lively Halloween, right?
So far there has been ONE trick-or-treating family - and they SKIPPED OUR HOUSE!!!
Short of putting out a HUGE sign that says WE HAVE CANDY, I'm not sure what else to do.
On a slightly different note, Shaun suggested we make our house scary in honor of Halloween. Not just any kind of scary, though, but scary to Portlanders... by putting the following signs in the yard:
NO WiFi Available!
WE DON'T RECYCLE!
MMMM MEAT!
NEAREST COFFEE SHOP: 587miles
WE HATE GREEN
NO BICYCLES ALLOWED
This has happened many times over the past few years, but it could always be blamed on my living situations (dorm room, secluded apartment off a major road, etc.). However this year is different. We live in a very residential area with lots of children who often play and ride bikes up and down this street. Perfect for a nice lively Halloween, right?
So far there has been ONE trick-or-treating family - and they SKIPPED OUR HOUSE!!!
Short of putting out a HUGE sign that says WE HAVE CANDY, I'm not sure what else to do.
On a slightly different note, Shaun suggested we make our house scary in honor of Halloween. Not just any kind of scary, though, but scary to Portlanders... by putting the following signs in the yard:
NO WiFi Available!
WE DON'T RECYCLE!
MMMM MEAT!
NEAREST COFFEE SHOP: 587miles
WE HATE GREEN
NO BICYCLES ALLOWED
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Random Fact #351
My inner dialog is freakin' hilarious. Not just a little funny, mind you, but uproariously, tears-rolling-down-your-face, so-much-laughter-building-up-inside-that-you're-going-to-BURST-if-you-don't-let-it-out funny!
I just thought you should know this.
I just thought you should know this.
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Quickie
So the last week and a half has been crazy busy. This week is crazy busy, but I thought I'd post a quickie since I know there are so many of you on the edge of your seat just waiting to hear about my life.
ha
Okay, so here goes:
1. My husband is awesome.
2. I love autumn
3. I had jury duty for the first time ever ... definitely for a later post.
4. I love geo-caching
5. Shaun and I are apparently just entering the most difficult year of marriage
6. We are pretty darn happy, though.
7. My rabbit is adorable
8. I really love cooking
9. I could read read read for.ev.er
10. I wish I could live in Borders
11. I need to work on me some more.
12. My tolerance for people, which was steadily climbing for some time, is beginning a downhill slide once again.
13. I really love lists
14. I'm STILL fighting some sort of illness (it's there, just lurking under the surface, making me tired and emotional. grrr)
15. In the last 9 months twenty three of my friends have given birth (well, or their wives have given birth). TWENTY THREE!!!
16. I'm not sure why I'm still listing...
There you have it folks, I'm still alive - and Sarah C, if you're still out there reading this, I still REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY wish you would come back to us. We miss you!
ha
Okay, so here goes:
1. My husband is awesome.
2. I love autumn
3. I had jury duty for the first time ever ... definitely for a later post.
4. I love geo-caching
5. Shaun and I are apparently just entering the most difficult year of marriage
6. We are pretty darn happy, though.
7. My rabbit is adorable
8. I really love cooking
9. I could read read read for.ev.er
10. I wish I could live in Borders
11. I need to work on me some more.
12. My tolerance for people, which was steadily climbing for some time, is beginning a downhill slide once again.
13. I really love lists
14. I'm STILL fighting some sort of illness (it's there, just lurking under the surface, making me tired and emotional. grrr)
15. In the last 9 months twenty three of my friends have given birth (well, or their wives have given birth). TWENTY THREE!!!
16. I'm not sure why I'm still listing...
There you have it folks, I'm still alive - and Sarah C, if you're still out there reading this, I still REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY wish you would come back to us. We miss you!
Monday, September 24, 2007
Sometimes....
I want to take my job, walk it deeeeeep into the woods, and shoot it. Dead. And sometimes, I don't. Today was an "all of the above" kind of day, but luckily I left feeling happy and content. I do love my job.
Oh, and I must apologize for my blogging. Normally, I am quite a stickler for correct grammar and such. In fact, one of the things I LOVED way back in my AP English class was our impromtu essays (which, coincidentally were not so impromptu, as we had at least one every Friday). Our teacher would give us a prompt and 20 minutes, in which we would sit for about 10 going "uhhhhhhhhhhhhhh," and then furitively pump out our pages, hoping for the best. The hope was that we would
1. be able to pass the writing section of our AP exam in May, and
2. avoid the wrath of The Red Pen Lady when it came to our "real" papers.
Who is this RPL, you ask? Well, I wouldn't really know, as I have never laid eyes upon her... nor has anyone I know. I always envisioned her as this warty old hunchback locked away in a dungeon somewhere, whose sole pleasure in life was to keep the joy away from pimply high school children everywhere. But the truth is she was some way-smart teacher lady who graded the AP exams in May and agreed to critique our writing. I think her name was Miss Mackie. Or something.
Anyhow, even though I publicly dreaded writing those papers as well as our impromptu essays, I secretly loved them. I wasn't very good, but I did get better, and every structurally sound sentance, every paragraph that stood on solid fountation, every well-organized essay brought such joy to my heart. The way I learned to craft words into rhythmic and picturesque thoughts was... wonderful and captivating! Thanks to that class, and my stickler Step-dad, I have become quite the grammar-nazi. Unfortunately, when it comes to blogging, my brain and fingers get moving faster than my good sense and I end up posting blogs that I go back and read and then want to cry. I'm sorry. Please don't hate me.
The end
Oh, and I must apologize for my blogging. Normally, I am quite a stickler for correct grammar and such. In fact, one of the things I LOVED way back in my AP English class was our impromtu essays (which, coincidentally were not so impromptu, as we had at least one every Friday). Our teacher would give us a prompt and 20 minutes, in which we would sit for about 10 going "uhhhhhhhhhhhhhh," and then furitively pump out our pages, hoping for the best. The hope was that we would
1. be able to pass the writing section of our AP exam in May, and
2. avoid the wrath of The Red Pen Lady when it came to our "real" papers.
Who is this RPL, you ask? Well, I wouldn't really know, as I have never laid eyes upon her... nor has anyone I know. I always envisioned her as this warty old hunchback locked away in a dungeon somewhere, whose sole pleasure in life was to keep the joy away from pimply high school children everywhere. But the truth is she was some way-smart teacher lady who graded the AP exams in May and agreed to critique our writing. I think her name was Miss Mackie. Or something.
Anyhow, even though I publicly dreaded writing those papers as well as our impromptu essays, I secretly loved them. I wasn't very good, but I did get better, and every structurally sound sentance, every paragraph that stood on solid fountation, every well-organized essay brought such joy to my heart. The way I learned to craft words into rhythmic and picturesque thoughts was... wonderful and captivating! Thanks to that class, and my stickler Step-dad, I have become quite the grammar-nazi. Unfortunately, when it comes to blogging, my brain and fingers get moving faster than my good sense and I end up posting blogs that I go back and read and then want to cry. I'm sorry. Please don't hate me.
The end
Sunday, September 23, 2007
I'm baaaaack
OH before I forget, did any of you ever watch the show Dinosaurs? With the Sinclair family? Yeah, I miss that show.
And noooow, back to the show!
I don't mind change. I actually kind of like it. Sometimes. My body, on the other hand, isn't so fond of the thing. For some reason, whenever there's a major (I use the word "major" rather loosely here) change in my life, my body revolts. I don't sleep, I get sick at the drop of a hat, cry more than any human should be able to, and generally become slightly zombie-esque. It's weird. Nothing too awfully bad, just enough to be rather irksome. I think the most major change that has happened was a few summers ago when I graduated from college, moved and got married within just a few months. Yikes. But I wasn't working, which at the time was uber-stressful, but in hindsight was such a blessing. I finally adjusted to having no more deadlines, a home of my own (withOUT four other girls!), and sharing my precious bed with another. It took quite a bit of time, but now THAT is normal, and any change to my new routine throws me out of whack. Now when Shaun is gone, things are all crazy again. Shaun ditched me for the East Coast this summer, and let me tell you - it wasn't pretty!
There is a reason for all this. The mister is now looking into joining the National Guard. And I thoroughly support this decision. In just about every way, this is a great opportunity/decision for us. We have some good contacts with the Oregon National Guard who has our best interests in mind, Shaun's ASVAB scores showed that he is able to go in an do pretty much whatever he wants, and he can even continue to do his current job (which he loves). So financially and career-wise, stability, benefits, etc., this is fantastic. I grew up with a military step-dad (hence the good contacts), so I know the wonderful benefits. But talk about change. Between Basic Training and AIT, Shaun will be gone for twenty-seven weeks. Yeah, nearly SEVEN MONTHS!!!! In either South Carolina or Arizona.
Seriously?!?
But right now, he's looking at going into MI... yeah, Military Intelligence. Oxymoron? Yes. Still super-cool? Certainly! Even though it scares the crap out of me because of my proclivity to reading books containing many government conspiracies and such. But I digress.
I'll keep you all posted on the situation. If you're "the kind," please pray. If not.... go ahead and try it... for us! Just kidding! If you're not the praying type, well then... I don't know.... be my friend when I'm here all alone for 7 months (you praying types can do this, too, by the way).
Okay, only two more things (geez this blog has become lengthy):
1. Dave Barry is freakin' hilarious. If you like to laugh, you should check out one of his books. Boogers are My Beat was a good one... but he's got lots, so read one. DO IT!!!!
2. ONLY FOUR MORE DAYS UNTIL THE OFFICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! whoo hoo!
That's all. Now I'm off to finish my honeydew melon!
And noooow, back to the show!
I don't mind change. I actually kind of like it. Sometimes. My body, on the other hand, isn't so fond of the thing. For some reason, whenever there's a major (I use the word "major" rather loosely here) change in my life, my body revolts. I don't sleep, I get sick at the drop of a hat, cry more than any human should be able to, and generally become slightly zombie-esque. It's weird. Nothing too awfully bad, just enough to be rather irksome. I think the most major change that has happened was a few summers ago when I graduated from college, moved and got married within just a few months. Yikes. But I wasn't working, which at the time was uber-stressful, but in hindsight was such a blessing. I finally adjusted to having no more deadlines, a home of my own (withOUT four other girls!), and sharing my precious bed with another. It took quite a bit of time, but now THAT is normal, and any change to my new routine throws me out of whack. Now when Shaun is gone, things are all crazy again. Shaun ditched me for the East Coast this summer, and let me tell you - it wasn't pretty!
There is a reason for all this. The mister is now looking into joining the National Guard. And I thoroughly support this decision. In just about every way, this is a great opportunity/decision for us. We have some good contacts with the Oregon National Guard who has our best interests in mind, Shaun's ASVAB scores showed that he is able to go in an do pretty much whatever he wants, and he can even continue to do his current job (which he loves). So financially and career-wise, stability, benefits, etc., this is fantastic. I grew up with a military step-dad (hence the good contacts), so I know the wonderful benefits. But talk about change. Between Basic Training and AIT, Shaun will be gone for twenty-seven weeks. Yeah, nearly SEVEN MONTHS!!!! In either South Carolina or Arizona.
Seriously?!?
But right now, he's looking at going into MI... yeah, Military Intelligence. Oxymoron? Yes. Still super-cool? Certainly! Even though it scares the crap out of me because of my proclivity to reading books containing many government conspiracies and such. But I digress.
I'll keep you all posted on the situation. If you're "the kind," please pray. If not.... go ahead and try it... for us! Just kidding! If you're not the praying type, well then... I don't know.... be my friend when I'm here all alone for 7 months (you praying types can do this, too, by the way).
Okay, only two more things (geez this blog has become lengthy):
1. Dave Barry is freakin' hilarious. If you like to laugh, you should check out one of his books. Boogers are My Beat was a good one... but he's got lots, so read one. DO IT!!!!
2. ONLY FOUR MORE DAYS UNTIL THE OFFICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! whoo hoo!
That's all. Now I'm off to finish my honeydew melon!
It's Official!!!
Well, it's finally technically, officially, wonderfully, marvelously HERE! Yes, Autumn has arrived, and "boy oh boy" (ala Joe Peschi in With Honors -if you havne't seen it, you should!) am I excited. I must admit I have been celebrating early. In the past week I have made chicken noodle soup, spaghetti, spiced cider, hot cocoa; I've pulled out my big THICK fuzzy blanket, laundered it and cuddled up with it and a nice book. Ah.
I must admit that I cheated just a little bit. I was so ready to cuddle up with my just-out-of-the-dryer blanket, but it was still a bit too warm in the house. I couldn't believe my luck. I was so bummed. But then, I had an idea. No, I didn't neatly fold the blanket and tuck it away for another day. That's right, I turned on the air conditioner. Yep. I did it JUST to be able to wrap up in a warm blanket. Call me a freak. Tell me I wasted energy and money and all that... and really? I don't particularly care. It was totally worth it!
But I digress. This morning, Shaun and I celebrated the first day of Fall by listening to my Loony Tunes Christmas CD. Oh yeah, CHRISTMAS!!!
Well, I have more to blog about, but I need to go take care of a few things. I'll try to get the rest of everything blogged tonight or tomorrow.
Hey - anyone up for a pumpkin carving party? Or.... something equally festive and fall-y and fun?
I must admit that I cheated just a little bit. I was so ready to cuddle up with my just-out-of-the-dryer blanket, but it was still a bit too warm in the house. I couldn't believe my luck. I was so bummed. But then, I had an idea. No, I didn't neatly fold the blanket and tuck it away for another day. That's right, I turned on the air conditioner. Yep. I did it JUST to be able to wrap up in a warm blanket. Call me a freak. Tell me I wasted energy and money and all that... and really? I don't particularly care. It was totally worth it!
But I digress. This morning, Shaun and I celebrated the first day of Fall by listening to my Loony Tunes Christmas CD. Oh yeah, CHRISTMAS!!!
Well, I have more to blog about, but I need to go take care of a few things. I'll try to get the rest of everything blogged tonight or tomorrow.
Hey - anyone up for a pumpkin carving party? Or.... something equally festive and fall-y and fun?
Saturday, September 22, 2007
#75
We have a bunny. She's adorable... but that's not what I'm here to talk about. She chews. She's a rabbit - that's what she does. Well, she seems to have an affinity for rubber, and in the last 7 months has managed to chew every single button off our remote control. The remote is still usable, but sometimes trying to use the correct button reminds me of that game, Memory, that I used to play as a kid. It's also a bit difficult to get your finger to press the teeny tiny button all the way down.
Today, my husband came home with this:
Seriously!
Well, I suppose we'll never loose the remote again.
hm
Today, my husband came home with this:
Seriously!
Well, I suppose we'll never loose the remote again.
hm
Sunday, September 16, 2007
'Sis the Teason
Call me crazy, but I am totally, officially IN the Christmas spirit! I'm feeling it already! Yeah, yeah yeah, so it's only September... but it's getting a little chilly finally and that just does it for me. I was able to curl up in the recliner today with a fuzzy blanket - all wrapped up for a cozy Sunday afternoon nap. For the first time since May I didn't wake up drenched in sweat because it's so freakin hot! I just stepped outside a moment ago and stood in the dark drizzle of a beautiful autumn evening! SO wonderful! Those evenings curled up with a cozy blanket and a cup of steaming spiced cider or my delicious homemade holiday hot cocoa... not so far away now! I shall take full advantage of this rainy week to make some yummy chicken noodle soup and grilled cheese and tomato soup... and cuddle up with some good books.
To those of you who cringe and cry that summer is beginning to relinquish her hold and pass the reigns on to Autumn, I am truly sorry for you. I know the devistation of seeing your favorite season slip out the back door while a new season full of weather you're not so fond of beats down the front door. I truly hope that this fall and winter are happy times for you and yours.
To us "normal" people - BRING ON THE RAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To those of you who cringe and cry that summer is beginning to relinquish her hold and pass the reigns on to Autumn, I am truly sorry for you. I know the devistation of seeing your favorite season slip out the back door while a new season full of weather you're not so fond of beats down the front door. I truly hope that this fall and winter are happy times for you and yours.
To us "normal" people - BRING ON THE RAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Monday, September 10, 2007
post #72
Original blog title, eh? And boy do I have exciting news for numero seventy-dos.
I cut my toenails last night. I got a little crazy on my right big toe, cut too much nail off, and am paying for it today.
I hate when I do that. ouch
How are your toes today?
I cut my toenails last night. I got a little crazy on my right big toe, cut too much nail off, and am paying for it today.
I hate when I do that. ouch
How are your toes today?
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
hefalumps and woozles
So (I think) I have been what they (cyber people, I suppose) call "tagged" to make a list. Not just any list, but a list about me. Random things about me. I think the tag was for 8 things, but I'm just going to start and see where this goes.
1. I am shy and often uncomfortable around people.
2. When I'm not too busy doing #1, I'm excessively outgoing and silly and goofy
3. I used to dream of being an anchorwoman.
4. I love the freckle-y thing I have on my left index toe
5. I'm slightly ashamed at my extreme excitement over being "tagged" for this list. I've never been tagged before.
6. I love having lots of friends and lengthy discussions
7. I dream of the day I will have more than 2 readers for my blog
8. I am an addict. If there is something to read, I can't help myself
9. I learned most of what I know about US History from The Singing American (Johnny Horton)
10. I try to use correct grammar. I especially cringe at improper pronounciation and hanging prepositions.
11. My favorite camping snack is a brown sugar and cinnamon pop tart with a cold, crunchy dill pickle
12. I love growing things
13. I'm paranoid about being an imposition on others
14. From all my days in Tae Kwon Do, the only physical residue is one wicked-cool muscle on my right foot
15. I don't walk on grates. Or manholes. Or anything that indicated that there may be a hole or room or person beneath that could possibly be under me, waiting to reach up and grab me - or open up and swallow me whole.
16. I hate dolls
17. I'm still sad that my mom would never let me make ice cream in my Barbie ice Cream Shoppe set thingy. It was the only redeeming quality of that gift, and I never got to use it....
18. I can still recall, with great vividity, 2 very disturbing dreams I had at the ages of 4 and 6.
19. I was born on Elvis's birthday
20. I cry waaaay more than I would ever let on to anyone else
21. Books elicit more emotion from me than most any person could (or has, anyway)
22. The sky is enthralling to me. Any day. Any night. Any time.
23. If I won the lottery, after settling my debt and a little bit of sharing, I would buy a watermellon farm and then I would spend the rest of the money on school. I would get about 3 more undgraduate degrees, then move on to some sort of masters degree.
24. After 23 years of little to no TV, I have discovered the joys of mindless enterntainment
25. After 24 "things" about me, I think I'm ready for bed.
G'Night
1. I am shy and often uncomfortable around people.
2. When I'm not too busy doing #1, I'm excessively outgoing and silly and goofy
3. I used to dream of being an anchorwoman.
4. I love the freckle-y thing I have on my left index toe
5. I'm slightly ashamed at my extreme excitement over being "tagged" for this list. I've never been tagged before.
6. I love having lots of friends and lengthy discussions
7. I dream of the day I will have more than 2 readers for my blog
8. I am an addict. If there is something to read, I can't help myself
9. I learned most of what I know about US History from The Singing American (Johnny Horton)
10. I try to use correct grammar. I especially cringe at improper pronounciation and hanging prepositions.
11. My favorite camping snack is a brown sugar and cinnamon pop tart with a cold, crunchy dill pickle
12. I love growing things
13. I'm paranoid about being an imposition on others
14. From all my days in Tae Kwon Do, the only physical residue is one wicked-cool muscle on my right foot
15. I don't walk on grates. Or manholes. Or anything that indicated that there may be a hole or room or person beneath that could possibly be under me, waiting to reach up and grab me - or open up and swallow me whole.
16. I hate dolls
17. I'm still sad that my mom would never let me make ice cream in my Barbie ice Cream Shoppe set thingy. It was the only redeeming quality of that gift, and I never got to use it....
18. I can still recall, with great vividity, 2 very disturbing dreams I had at the ages of 4 and 6.
19. I was born on Elvis's birthday
20. I cry waaaay more than I would ever let on to anyone else
21. Books elicit more emotion from me than most any person could (or has, anyway)
22. The sky is enthralling to me. Any day. Any night. Any time.
23. If I won the lottery, after settling my debt and a little bit of sharing, I would buy a watermellon farm and then I would spend the rest of the money on school. I would get about 3 more undgraduate degrees, then move on to some sort of masters degree.
24. After 23 years of little to no TV, I have discovered the joys of mindless enterntainment
25. After 24 "things" about me, I think I'm ready for bed.
G'Night
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