I"m hoping this new year finds me more blogging, more exercising, more reading and less worrying, less eating, less lazying-about....I want to do MORE. I want to figure out what I want to be when I grow up! I want to be a better friend, a better parent, a better wife - all those things I know I AM but sometimes am too lazy to show the rest of the world.
Happy New Year Everyone!
Monday, December 31, 2007
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Ok, I'll play along...
1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Nope
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Oh, just about every week watching Private Practice - that one where Cooper dressed up as a fairy to get the girls to tell him their secrets? Yeah, I cried. But serious meltdown? It's been a while. I'm very grateful.
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Sometimes. If I try hard, I have nice writing. But mostly it's a toss up and I *always* grip my pen too tight which I'm sure is some therapists wet dream about me not wanting to let go of something in my past. Paging Dr. Freud.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Ham & Turkey - it's a tie.
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Yuppers
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Oh absolutely. *smirk*
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Did you even read the answer to #6?
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes. And every time I go to the dentist, they wonder how I still have them cuz they are HUGE.
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Not in a ga-zillion years
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Lucky Charms. Could eat it every day.
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? No
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? No, not really.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Moose Tracks or maybe Choc Chip Cookie Dough. But only when there's a fukton of chunks of dough in there.
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? I'm so fucking shallow - Their hair.
15. RED OR PINK? Pink Ladies, Baby!
16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? Oh, where do I start? My impatience? My lack of guilt? My current waist size? Pick one.
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? Susan B
18. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Shoes are the work of the devil. I never wear them inside. Blue Jeans
19. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Blueberry Muffin. Mmmmm
20. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Kids playing Madden 07 on PS2. "What? I can't kick a field goal from way back here!? What the frick?"
.21. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Periwinkle. It's blue when you hold it next to something purple, and purple when you hold it next to something blue. I think I'm like that. Not sure its a good thing, in fact the synonym for that might be wishy washy.
22. FAVORITE SMELLS? Coffee, Banana Bread, Lilacs, Autumn outside
23. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Michelle
24. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Football
25. HAIR COLOR? Dark Brown
26. EYE COLOR? Left eye is bluish green, Right eye is true green.
27. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Yup.
28. FAVORITE FOOD? Shrimp Scampi
29. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings.
30. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Just saw Bourne Ultimatum. Good flick, but the camera man NEEDS TO HOLD STILL! I'm getting too old for that shit.
31. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Brown
32. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer
33. HUGS OR KISSES? Oh, you just can't make me choose here. BOTH.
34. FAVORITE DESSERT? Anything with chocolate in it
35. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING RIGHT NOW? "Cross" by James Patterson
36. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? My wrist
37. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT? Law & Order along with something on the Food Network. Always flipping. I *so* have ADHD.
38. FAVORITE SOUND? Chris REALLY REALLY laughing, crunching leaves, water gurgling in a brook or fountain, coffee percolating,
39. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? The Beatles, no contest
40. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? London
41. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? I can crack my right hip on demand. I have 'em lining up for that one, lemme tell ya.
42. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Columbus, GA
42. WHAT TIME IS IT NOW? Time to go tell my kids to be quiet for fuck's sake.
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Hooray for Hooters (The 3 Day, Part One)
So I have successfully completed the first of what I hope are many 3-Day walks in my lifetime. (60 miles over 3 days, raising money for Breast Cancer Research...www.the3day.org)
This weekend was full of hope, inspiration, sore muscles, courage, blisters, and overall pure fun. I will not give you a rundown chronologically of what transpired, just some random observations, since that's how my brain works:
1) NEED WALKERS! Next year, I'll definitely need a partner to walk. At least one – it would be great to be one of those posses with a whole bunch of folks around. While one of my bestest buddies drove one of the sweep vans, and it was very awesome to at least have someone at camp to hang out with and tent with, I could've used someone *on* the route with me, to help me think about something other than how sore my feet were!
I did meet a bunch of cool people and for several long stretches, I had company and that's what I was excited about this year. I'm glad I had that. One lady was PUSHING HER MOTHER IN A WHEELCHAIR becasue her mother had been diagnosed after they registered last year, but had chemo and had another bout of Cancer show up just before this year.....60 miles of pushing a wheelchair! She had lots of volunteers, but she did the majority of it! WOW!
But for such LONG periods I was by myself. I started thinking up things randomly JUST to have something else to think about. I went through all 50 states and their capitals (and no, I don't know any of those cutesy songs that help you remember, so I just went alphabetically by state – what IS the capital of South Carolina anyway? I never could get that one), then I thought up movie titles for every letter of the alphabet, then Harry Potter characters from A-Z, song titles from A-Z, etc….I got a good couple of hours walked that way!
2) ORGANIZATION I'm *blown away* by the organization of this event. Everything went so smoothly, and I can only imagine the logistical coordination that must have been behind this event. We had a different route each day that comprised of walking along very busy streets as well as residential sub-divisions in Farmington, Farmington Hills, Plymouth, Livonia, and Dearborn. The police were out when they needed to be, directing traffic, but we also had this mass of volunteers, at least 1 at each intersection, overseeing the hoardes of women in need of crossing. Yes, there are "walk/don't walk" signs and traffic lights, but it went so much more smoother with someone there directing.
They had "Sweep Vans" – about 7 big-honkin' Conversion vans whose sole job it was to "Sweep" you up if you got tired. They would take you to the next Pit Stop where you could rest and start again. The gals driving these vans were extraordinary, driving along the route non-stop, honking and yelling support throughout the entire trip. Kudos to my favorite van, The "Udderly Fantastic" Cow-van, driven by my friend Jill (YAY!) – they had cows and cow-spots decorated all over, and the words 'Saving your Udders'….but I think the best play on words all weekend was the "Saving Second Base" Van…complete with abou 10 bras stuck to the outside of the van....there was a team of walkers with this on their shirt, as well, and if you think about it….it's pretty funny, huh? Second Base? Breast Cancer? Get it?
These people had the BEST spirit and good-humor about them…I mean, seriously if you can't laugh about this, then it will break you – so laugh in spite of it. Laugh in its face because we *will* beat it.
3) COMMUNITY SUPPORT Incredible. Fantastic. Uplifting. Amazing. Unbelievable. That's what kind of community support we had. I can't even describe how many folks came out to cheer us on. Yes, they had some "Cheering Stations" designated for such, but just along the route we would pass a house that had a mom and her 2 kids sitting on their lawn, in lawn chairs, clapping and cheering as we went by. Sometimes it was an older couple, or sometimes it was the local fire station who pulled out their truck and put one guy WAY up high on their ladder, waving down at us, clapping.....They had made signs, some were passing out candy or water, some had their cars on and their radios playing so we had some music to listen to…..it was in-fucking-credible.
As for how I did – I think I did pretty awesome, actually. Especically cuz I really fell off the bandwagon at the end of my training. The last 6-8 weeks, I really lazy-d off and didn't do much, when in fact I should have been hitting my stride and doing long back-to-back walks! I know if I had done that, I would have succeeded in not needing a Sweep Van. But alas, I did. The first day, the route was 19 miles and I walked the whole thing. Day 2 was 20 and I walked about 17. Day 3 was 15.5 (woo hoo! A short day!) and I walked 13.5, and by the end really could have walked more – but I had a heckuva time starting off for some reason….
Ok, for now, that's about it – I feel I have *so* much more to say but I'll save it for my next blog…Remind me about the awesome musical ambulances, the food, the medics, the tents (!) and the mailbox crushing (*ahem* Jill)....
This weekend was full of hope, inspiration, sore muscles, courage, blisters, and overall pure fun. I will not give you a rundown chronologically of what transpired, just some random observations, since that's how my brain works:
1) NEED WALKERS! Next year, I'll definitely need a partner to walk. At least one – it would be great to be one of those posses with a whole bunch of folks around. While one of my bestest buddies drove one of the sweep vans, and it was very awesome to at least have someone at camp to hang out with and tent with, I could've used someone *on* the route with me, to help me think about something other than how sore my feet were!
I did meet a bunch of cool people and for several long stretches, I had company and that's what I was excited about this year. I'm glad I had that. One lady was PUSHING HER MOTHER IN A WHEELCHAIR becasue her mother had been diagnosed after they registered last year, but had chemo and had another bout of Cancer show up just before this year.....60 miles of pushing a wheelchair! She had lots of volunteers, but she did the majority of it! WOW!
But for such LONG periods I was by myself. I started thinking up things randomly JUST to have something else to think about. I went through all 50 states and their capitals (and no, I don't know any of those cutesy songs that help you remember, so I just went alphabetically by state – what IS the capital of South Carolina anyway? I never could get that one), then I thought up movie titles for every letter of the alphabet, then Harry Potter characters from A-Z, song titles from A-Z, etc….I got a good couple of hours walked that way!
2) ORGANIZATION I'm *blown away* by the organization of this event. Everything went so smoothly, and I can only imagine the logistical coordination that must have been behind this event. We had a different route each day that comprised of walking along very busy streets as well as residential sub-divisions in Farmington, Farmington Hills, Plymouth, Livonia, and Dearborn. The police were out when they needed to be, directing traffic, but we also had this mass of volunteers, at least 1 at each intersection, overseeing the hoardes of women in need of crossing. Yes, there are "walk/don't walk" signs and traffic lights, but it went so much more smoother with someone there directing.
They had "Sweep Vans" – about 7 big-honkin' Conversion vans whose sole job it was to "Sweep" you up if you got tired. They would take you to the next Pit Stop where you could rest and start again. The gals driving these vans were extraordinary, driving along the route non-stop, honking and yelling support throughout the entire trip. Kudos to my favorite van, The "Udderly Fantastic" Cow-van, driven by my friend Jill (YAY!) – they had cows and cow-spots decorated all over, and the words 'Saving your Udders'….but I think the best play on words all weekend was the "Saving Second Base" Van…complete with abou 10 bras stuck to the outside of the van....there was a team of walkers with this on their shirt, as well, and if you think about it….it's pretty funny, huh? Second Base? Breast Cancer? Get it?
These people had the BEST spirit and good-humor about them…I mean, seriously if you can't laugh about this, then it will break you – so laugh in spite of it. Laugh in its face because we *will* beat it.
3) COMMUNITY SUPPORT Incredible. Fantastic. Uplifting. Amazing. Unbelievable. That's what kind of community support we had. I can't even describe how many folks came out to cheer us on. Yes, they had some "Cheering Stations" designated for such, but just along the route we would pass a house that had a mom and her 2 kids sitting on their lawn, in lawn chairs, clapping and cheering as we went by. Sometimes it was an older couple, or sometimes it was the local fire station who pulled out their truck and put one guy WAY up high on their ladder, waving down at us, clapping.....They had made signs, some were passing out candy or water, some had their cars on and their radios playing so we had some music to listen to…..it was in-fucking-credible.
As for how I did – I think I did pretty awesome, actually. Especically cuz I really fell off the bandwagon at the end of my training. The last 6-8 weeks, I really lazy-d off and didn't do much, when in fact I should have been hitting my stride and doing long back-to-back walks! I know if I had done that, I would have succeeded in not needing a Sweep Van. But alas, I did. The first day, the route was 19 miles and I walked the whole thing. Day 2 was 20 and I walked about 17. Day 3 was 15.5 (woo hoo! A short day!) and I walked 13.5, and by the end really could have walked more – but I had a heckuva time starting off for some reason….
Ok, for now, that's about it – I feel I have *so* much more to say but I'll save it for my next blog…Remind me about the awesome musical ambulances, the food, the medics, the tents (!) and the mailbox crushing (*ahem* Jill)....
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Harry Potter 7 - Part 2, The Reading
…continued….
Amy and I read a few pages while waiting to be picked up…Chris comes a few minutes later and we head home, all packed into my Jeep.
1:00am – we get home, get the kids in bed, and Amy and I return to the dining room to read the first chapter together. We indulge in some double stuff oreos (the ultimate harry potter snack food, c'mon now) and get to the reading. We have already determined that although we are not promising to read side by side all weekend, we'll need to check in with each other periodically to see where the other one is, and bounce ideas and theories off one another.
1:30am – I head upstairs to bed, leaving Amy in our guest room to finish reading and eventually sleep. I read until about 2:20am, forcing myself to turn out the light, because I know I'll want to be ready to read all day tomorrow. Of course Jo does not help me here because I tell myself "I'll just finish this chapter" (cuz I'm one of those OCD readers that will only stop at the ends of chapters) and she proceeds to leave a big cliffhanger at said chapter, therefore forcing me to read one….more…chapter….I was asleep by 2:45 I'm sure.
SATURDAY
(the book is 36 chapters, approx 100 pages longer than the last one…we anticipate we'll be done by Sunday a.m. sometime. My sister has said we are to call her as soon as we are done, or she'll call us if she finishes first…)
I come downstairs about 830am and see Alex in my living room. I'm holding the book…he asks how far I got. I tell him about 85 pages…and somebody has already died! His eyes widen. He wants to know who and of course I won't tell him. He wonders if it's a main character. I shrug…we talk some more….then I meet Amy over the Dining Room Table to Get Our Acts Together.
We read all day. We stop every few chapters to touch base and see how we like it, try to clear up any fuzzy spots in our brains, and start theorizing on what we think will happen in the end.
I'm liking it a lot, but there is just so much that Jo has to answer, I've already convinced myself that there is just no feasible way for her to satisfy my every craving in this last book. I'm going along for the ride, enjoying every little bit.
Amy and I admit repeatedly that we are having to force ourselves to read slowly. I know I am skipping words (not on purpose) and full sentences even just because I want to devour the book. This is a horrible habit of mine, and I'm trying to counter it by forcing myself to stop and talk to Amy every few chapters. She's having the same problem.
6pm: My sister calls – we hear her leave a message saying she's done and we can call her anytime. Amy and I look at each other in amazement. She's done? We are only on chapter 18! How can she possibly have read it all? We decide we better get crackin….
This entire time I'm fighting a bitch of a sore throat, horrible sinus headaches and overall pure exhaustion. I know that I'm running on pure adrenaline now, but I will not give up! I will persevere. It's not like I'm not already doing the most relaxing thing in the world already….I can always read. Always.
7pm - A friend of mine, who knows what weekend this is and how I'm not answering the phone....leaves me a message that she knows it's HP weekend, but it's really important and she really needs to talk to me. When I call her, all worried that something serious has gone wrong, she admits it was just a test to see if I was the true friend or not. Sheesh.
9pm
Amy and I are tired, but not sleepy-tired. We have 8 chapters to go. We are liking it a lot, but are astounded that JK has introduced something so new and so important this late in the series….We know that at some point soon, we'll have to stop checking in with each other and just wait til we're both done to talk again. We're not quite at that point yet.
We also know that 8 chapters is a lot to read tonight, but we can't possibly go to bed this early. The caveat to that is, if we keep reading, it's almost like a commitment to finish tonight. There's no way we'll leave just 2 or 3 chapters til morning…..We decide to hunker down and try to finish.
My sister calls and is dying to discuss. I tell her we might not make it and turn in, but we'll try to finish tonight. I am exhausted….my sinuses are killing me…but nothing will stop me now…
10pm
Last check….we both finish Chapter 33, easily the most emotional chapter of the book (or was it 32? "The Tale of the Prince") and we are in just "wow" mode – utter amazement. Not shock as much as just pure literary enjoyment. This book is good. Rowling is a genius. We discuss said parts of this chapter and decide this is it – we'll finish tonight and no more interruptions til we're both done. We've been reading in my living room and we continue to sit across from each other, reading….reading….reading….
…Amy's a few pages ahead of me, and every few minutes I hear a gasp, or a chuckle….quickly followed by an 'I'm sorry! Its' just….' – or better yet, a big groan or grrrrrr…..it's awesome. Exactly as I had always pictured us devouring this book. It's complete nirvana.
We finish. She finishes first. We just kinda take deep breaths and say "ok? What did you think?" and we start to discuss. We don't discuss much cuz it's 12:30am and exhaustion is slowly creeping in….it's off to bed – and then it will be DISSECTION TIME tomorrow.
(But, just FYI – I loved it)
Amy and I read a few pages while waiting to be picked up…Chris comes a few minutes later and we head home, all packed into my Jeep.
1:00am – we get home, get the kids in bed, and Amy and I return to the dining room to read the first chapter together. We indulge in some double stuff oreos (the ultimate harry potter snack food, c'mon now) and get to the reading. We have already determined that although we are not promising to read side by side all weekend, we'll need to check in with each other periodically to see where the other one is, and bounce ideas and theories off one another.
1:30am – I head upstairs to bed, leaving Amy in our guest room to finish reading and eventually sleep. I read until about 2:20am, forcing myself to turn out the light, because I know I'll want to be ready to read all day tomorrow. Of course Jo does not help me here because I tell myself "I'll just finish this chapter" (cuz I'm one of those OCD readers that will only stop at the ends of chapters) and she proceeds to leave a big cliffhanger at said chapter, therefore forcing me to read one….more…chapter….I was asleep by 2:45 I'm sure.
SATURDAY
(the book is 36 chapters, approx 100 pages longer than the last one…we anticipate we'll be done by Sunday a.m. sometime. My sister has said we are to call her as soon as we are done, or she'll call us if she finishes first…)
I come downstairs about 830am and see Alex in my living room. I'm holding the book…he asks how far I got. I tell him about 85 pages…and somebody has already died! His eyes widen. He wants to know who and of course I won't tell him. He wonders if it's a main character. I shrug…we talk some more….then I meet Amy over the Dining Room Table to Get Our Acts Together.
We read all day. We stop every few chapters to touch base and see how we like it, try to clear up any fuzzy spots in our brains, and start theorizing on what we think will happen in the end.
I'm liking it a lot, but there is just so much that Jo has to answer, I've already convinced myself that there is just no feasible way for her to satisfy my every craving in this last book. I'm going along for the ride, enjoying every little bit.
Amy and I admit repeatedly that we are having to force ourselves to read slowly. I know I am skipping words (not on purpose) and full sentences even just because I want to devour the book. This is a horrible habit of mine, and I'm trying to counter it by forcing myself to stop and talk to Amy every few chapters. She's having the same problem.
6pm: My sister calls – we hear her leave a message saying she's done and we can call her anytime. Amy and I look at each other in amazement. She's done? We are only on chapter 18! How can she possibly have read it all? We decide we better get crackin….
This entire time I'm fighting a bitch of a sore throat, horrible sinus headaches and overall pure exhaustion. I know that I'm running on pure adrenaline now, but I will not give up! I will persevere. It's not like I'm not already doing the most relaxing thing in the world already….I can always read. Always.
7pm - A friend of mine, who knows what weekend this is and how I'm not answering the phone....leaves me a message that she knows it's HP weekend, but it's really important and she really needs to talk to me. When I call her, all worried that something serious has gone wrong, she admits it was just a test to see if I was the true friend or not. Sheesh.
9pm
Amy and I are tired, but not sleepy-tired. We have 8 chapters to go. We are liking it a lot, but are astounded that JK has introduced something so new and so important this late in the series….We know that at some point soon, we'll have to stop checking in with each other and just wait til we're both done to talk again. We're not quite at that point yet.
We also know that 8 chapters is a lot to read tonight, but we can't possibly go to bed this early. The caveat to that is, if we keep reading, it's almost like a commitment to finish tonight. There's no way we'll leave just 2 or 3 chapters til morning…..We decide to hunker down and try to finish.
My sister calls and is dying to discuss. I tell her we might not make it and turn in, but we'll try to finish tonight. I am exhausted….my sinuses are killing me…but nothing will stop me now…
10pm
Last check….we both finish Chapter 33, easily the most emotional chapter of the book (or was it 32? "The Tale of the Prince") and we are in just "wow" mode – utter amazement. Not shock as much as just pure literary enjoyment. This book is good. Rowling is a genius. We discuss said parts of this chapter and decide this is it – we'll finish tonight and no more interruptions til we're both done. We've been reading in my living room and we continue to sit across from each other, reading….reading….reading….
…Amy's a few pages ahead of me, and every few minutes I hear a gasp, or a chuckle….quickly followed by an 'I'm sorry! Its' just….' – or better yet, a big groan or grrrrrr…..it's awesome. Exactly as I had always pictured us devouring this book. It's complete nirvana.
We finish. She finishes first. We just kinda take deep breaths and say "ok? What did you think?" and we start to discuss. We don't discuss much cuz it's 12:30am and exhaustion is slowly creeping in….it's off to bed – and then it will be DISSECTION TIME tomorrow.
(But, just FYI – I loved it)
Harry Potter 7 Part 1: The waiting
Most of you know I have an unnatural obsession with Harry Potter. I have greatly admired JK Rowling for years and really felt the stories she wrote were so layered and worthy, not just the simple kids' books that some people thought them to be. I loved losing myself in them. I won the contest to go to England and am on the Goblet of Fire DVD for cryin' out loud! When it comes to Harry Potter obsessions, there's nobody quite as devilishly addicted as me.
Friday, July 20, 2007
This is it! Book 7 is coming! Tres Delish! I'm off of work and ready to salivate over the final chapter to my favorite story….soon, grasshopper, soon…I have no patience. The anxiety is both nervewracking and welcoming. I love feeling this giddy. This, it could be argued, is the best part.
9am: I stop by Borders in Novi (where my book is reserved) to pick up my wristband and am literally shocked to see how many people are standing in line already. And Channel 4 filming all this nerdy gloriousness, too. Now, mind you, this is not the line to get the book. The book is released at midnight and they don't want 10,000 people swarming the cash registers at 12:01 so they devised this "wristband" system. This is the line to get your specific colored wristband that will tell you when you will be called to stand in line after midnight. So basically, there are hundreds of folks standing in line to get a ticket to stand in line later that day!
Insane – I went home and came back.
11am: Got my wristband (no crowds, just walked right in) – I'm silver. Ok, what does that mean? The guy explains there are 4 colors in front of me, and I'm probably about 400 people back. I'll be called in the 4th group. Ok, that's about where I was last time, and it went faster than it sounded (got my book last time about 1230)… so I'm ok with that. There are about 7 colors after me, so hey, I'll take what I can get.
I go home, take a nap, try to shake off this horrible respiratory thing I'm still fighting, then welcome my friend who drove down from Frankenmuth to experience this with me. Amy and I have been looking forward to this for years. We made a pact a few years back that no matter where we were or what we were doing when Book 7 came out, we'd get together to get it at midnight and read it together. There is nobody on earth I'd rather experience this with than her – we are of the same mind on all our obsessions (Harry Potter, Star Wars, X-Men) it's nice to have someone to share this with.
8pm: Head out for a quick dessert with the kids, Chris, my friend– some yummies from TGIFridays is always a good precursor to standing in line, right?
930pm – Arrive at Borders. Last time they had all these activities going on (face painting, magic tricks, crafts) that were Harry Potter themed, to keep us all from killing ourselves waiting, I'm sure. This time, same activities are planned, however about twice as many people are in this building. I'm sure the Fire Marshall was having an ulcer. I could not walk without bumping into someone. Forget browsing the shelves, just try to get from one side of the store to another without losing a kid, a shoe, or your mind!
Ughhhh….we end up hanging out in the back of my jeep for a while, just to get fresh air. Yes, we are tailgaiting for a book. I love the idea that I've never tailgaited in my life, but for a book, I'm ready and waiting. Too bad we didn't bring any munchies. I get the surreal nerdiness of it all and am telling my kids for the 12th time, No I don't want to eat a Vomit-flavored Every Flavor Bean!
11:50pm – Amy and I head back into the store. If I thought the building was full before, I was in for a rude awakening. Wall to wall people. No room to move. Ugh. The kids and Chris wait in the car, ready to make a speedy getaway with us once we have the treasured tome in hand.
It's hot. Borders starts "attempting" to organize and let people know what the plan is, but they don't use their paging/intercom system. They have some girl with a very weak voice, standing on the counter with a megaphone, trying to explain things. Um, ok.
We are getting cranky. It's 12:10 and they haven't called our color yet, but we are next. But it seems like the line is not moving (from where we can see anyway) and there are just so many throngs of people, I'm certain we won't get our book til 2am. My cell phone rings and it's my sister, who is in Lansing. I tell her not to even bother with Borders, just stop by a Kroger and see if she can get one real quick. She does. She gets the book in about 45 seconds. She is on her way back home, book in hand. I pretty much despise her at this point.
12:15am: Silver is called! YAY! We start making our way over to where we think the line is. It's a mess. Chris had left to go see if he could pick one up at Meijer's, but called to say that there was a huge line over there as well. I told him we're actually IN LINE now, so just come back and we'll wait it out.
12:30am: Wow – we are up to the register already! We are buying the book! She is handing me the book! It's in my hands! The cover I've only been able to view online the past few months – it's so beautiful…. the heavy BIG juicy story is in my hands!!!! (Georgi, can you hear me saying "My prrreeeccciousssssss"?)
We walk outside, but Chris hasn't returned from Meijer yet. There are people streaming from the entrance, making their way to their cars, stopping to chat…it's fun to watch….Amy and I find a bench and sit down, not even needing to explain to each other that we just want to read. No words need to be said at this point….We sit down and take the plunge. There are enough lights on in the parking lot that we can successfully read. Ahhhh….I'm savoring every moment, soaking in the constant and ever-moving moments that I'll never be able to experience again.
This is it.
(to be continued)
Friday, June 29, 2007
A hundred MORE things
I couldn't stop....
It's too soon, I know..... Current mood: creative
But remember, I'm impatient? I have been thinking about making another #100 things about me - and well, voila - here you go. And if there are any dupes from the last list, I must REALLY mean it, then, huh?
1) I hate bugs. Irrationally hate and fear them.
2) I dance when I listen to music. All the time. Can't really stop myself sometimes.
3) I think Harry Potter will die at the end of Book 7. If this weren't a children's book, I'd be sure of it. Right now, I'm only about 70% sure.
4) Something that truly turns me on: A guy in a tux, but with the bowtie un-tied and just hanging around his neck. Mmmmmm
5) I married my high school sweetheart.
6) If I could, I'd go barefoot the rest of my life.
7) Even in mid-summer (and we don't have a/c), I still sleep with a big cushy comforter. Mainly for a body pillow, my body is out in the open if it's hot. But I gotta have something to curl up against when I'm sleeping. The flip side to that is:
8) I can rarely fall asleep touching someone else. Relax, yes. Fall asleep? No.
9) I do not wear a watch. It irritates me.
10) My kids say "luckfully" instead of "luckily" - I love that.
11) My first dog was a dalmatian named Pepsi.
12) My husband is actually very funny.
13) I liked being a jock in high school.
14)I'm very organized at work but a complete slob at home. And it's not a conscious decision either. Weird.
15) I'm horrible at managing money.
16) I love eating cookie dough raw. (hey, i didn't get to be my big-girl self eating squirrel food!)
17) I love to scrapbook.
18) My dream job would be a Casting Director or a Book/Movie reviewer.
19) I love getting my hair washed.
20) I love having more than one book to read. Just thinking about how I have 3 books I'm currently reading or have to read, that makes me happy. Book Backlog = happiness
21) I hate not having anything to read :(
22) I want to make love to the song "Tank" - from Cowboy Bebop. Don't ask. Just listen.
23) I really love giving people their first massage. Mainly cuz I know they'll be completely hooked afterwards.
24) One of my happiest memories from high school was actually making Night Show for Marching Band. We had been drilled for years that it was the ultimate goal and we hadn't done it in so long, and it's the crowning achievement for the season, etc, etc. Almost an unreachable goal. And when the announcement came over the loudspeaker in the gym (cuz we had to do a standstill in the gym, remember that?) -- I just remember being up there with Rob, Andy and Erin - and I just BURSTED out crying. So emotionally happy. For all of us. And then I remember getting a big bear hug from Danny Derringer after, we were all just screaming and hugging and crying.....and then night show itself was a mud-soaked mess! Awesome!
25) My favorite Musical is My Fair Lady (no small thanks to the exposure during h.s. senior year) except I've always hated the ending.
26) I love Pat Benatar
27) I am a pale-sun worshipper. In otherwords, I love the sun, but it doesn't love me.
28) It took me a long time (months, maybe years) to admit Star Wars Episode One was a complete failure. The build up was just so fantastic, how could it possibly suck? Lucas is a genius, how could it suck? Well it did. And miserably.
29) I love hearing what actors were also considered for what roles. Like Julia Roberts was offered Sleepless in Seattle. And Kurt Russell auditioned for Han Solo.
30) I think Tom Cruise is a nut. I used to think he was hot, but the crazier he's gotten, the less physically attractive I think he is.
31) I think Ashton Kutcher is an idiot.
32) I have not liked a Kevin Costner movie since Bull Durham
33) I loved Marching Band in high school. It was never popular, but I made some lifelong friendships there that I am sure would not have forged under any other "group"
34) I actually enjoy massaging feet. People always get grossed out when I tell them this, but as a massage therapist, if you do a good job on someone's feet, their whole body just completely relaxes. It's really quite amazing.
35) There is something incredibly romantic about being surprised by the one you love. Even if your woman says she hates surprises, don't believe her. Maybe she doesn't want a big shebang of a surprise party, but you could get her flowers for no reason, stop by her work and say hi out of the blue, call her just to say you are thinking of her, etc. Every woman loves that.
36) I hate public speaking in front of groups of strangers. If I'm with a group of people I know, even if only casually, I'm fine. But actually getting up and "making a speech" I HATE that.
37) I love double entendres.
38) As boring as my job sounds, I actually enjoy mortgage compliance
39) I'm determined to lose at least one full dress size this summer. I'm on my way and hopefully I'll lose 2.
40) I went to college to become a Speech Pathologist. That didn't happen, but I still would love to do that.
41) I love guessing things.
42) I love the concept of time travel and all the paradoxes implied.
43) Cedar Point *is* the best amusement park ever. Don't argue - it just is.
44) Nature-sparkly things make me very happy. For example: When the snow is really really white and it's sparkles in the sun? Or when the lake is sparkling across its entire surface? Or even when something as dull as the cement sparkles in the sun? Cool.
45) My favorite Road Trip Game is "Who Am I?" You think of someone (usually famous) and I have to guess them asking only yes/no questions.
46) Deciding where to go to college was the first time I truly felt like an adult.
47) I have had hour-long conversations on the following topics: Is Severus Snape evil? How will they portray Phoenix in X3? How can the X-Files movie franchise be resurrected and still be respectable? What exactly did all that stuff mean in The Watchmen?
48) I like playing cards. Preferably Peanuts, Mille Bornes, Bullshit, or Blackjack.
49) I'm a firm believer in the following: anticipating something can be almost (or more so) exciting as the actual event itself. Episode 1, anybody?
50) My cell phone is pink.
51) I am constantly on the search for smooth-writing pens. Not scratchy ones! They all seem scratchy!
52) I believe in fate -- to a point.
53) I think you can have more than one soulmate - and said soulmate may not be your husband/wife, but often times it is.
54) I like to listen to Bobby Darin.
55) I believe that people become less/more physically attractive once you get to know them. That hot guy or girl who you salivated over the first time you saw them could be downright ugly once you find out they are a know-it-all. And that so-so guy you met has become increasingly attractive cuz he makes you laugh, has the same interests as you, etc.
56) I'm terrified I'm going to get in the way somehow in my kids' dating lives. Or not get in the way enough.
57) I have always wanted to go in a hot air balloon ride.
58) I hate having more than one screen full of e-mails in my inbox. I sort them all into folders and rarely have more than 15 e-mails in my inbox.
59) I hate having a voicemail that I haven't listened to. If I know it's there, I have to listen to it IMMEDIATELY.
60) I really really like Christmas, but I do not like seeing all the decorations up right after Halloween. Don't know why, but it bugs me.
61) My cats names are Spock, Ember, and Pearl. Pearl is all black and we named her that after Jack's ship in Pirates of the Carribbean. She's our Black Pearl.
62) I love visiting Arizona. I could never live there, however.
63) I love visiting Frankenmuth. I could never live there, however.
64) I love the name Nathan. Alex was going to be "Nathan" until I was about 8 mos. along. Then I just fell in love with the name "Alex"
65) Alex is not an "Alexander" - just Alex
66) My family is consisted of names that are unisex: Chris, Kelly, Taylor & Alex
67) I love g-mail.
68) I am very lucky to have a semi-normal and healthy relationship with my parents and sister.
69) I used to be a big baseball fan, Red Sox inparticular. But after the big strike, they all seemed like such babies and the games just dragged on and on - in-between pitches is like 3 minutes or something! Ugh!
70) I like to watch Sportscenter.
71) I am a huge Ohio State fan - not as fanatical as my sister, but just as dedicated.
72) Eddie George was probably my favorite player. But maybe Chris Spielman (although my sis already has dibs on him)
73) I am a huge George Michael fan. Still. Since I was about 12. Never outgrew him ;)
74) One movie I can watch over and over: 13 Going on 30 - especially when she gets everyone to dance to Thriller. Hilarious.
75) Love the smell of vanilla, cinnamon, and blackberries.
76) Although I hate coffee, I *love* the smell. It's one of my favorite smells actually.
77) I do not buy into the old adage of "Money can't buy happiness" - Sorry, I think it could. People just get spoiled by it - but if I had tons of money, I'd be happy. Yeah, that's my shallow self coming through.
78) If I suddenly came into a ton of $$, I'd give several of my friends HUGE amounts of it - anonymously of course. I would also never tell anyone I won the lotto, or whatever.
79) I think Kevin Smith is a genius.
80) I think cheekbones are the sexiest part on a persons body. If someone has well-defiined (or "high") cheekbones, I always notice it and point it out (to Chris that is....haha). Man or woman....cheekbones rock.
81) I'm slowly becoming more attracted to the bald head on the male species. Thx Susan.
82) I will be going to a psychic soon. I have never been, nor have I put much weight into their vocation, but a good friend of mine swears by this one, so I'm curious.
83) I'm not good at visual/spatial concepts. Like figuring out if furniture will fit somewhere...
84) I really wish I had a hot-tub/jacuzzi. I'd go in it every single night. Summer & Winter.
85) One food that I actually crave if I don't get enough of it: Milk. After about 3 days, I'm really really craving milk. Strange, I know.
86) I'm ecstatically happy that I am still training full steam ahead for the 3 day. And that I haven't given up yet. Nor do I feel I will. I thought for sure I'd burn out by now.
87) Even though I hate bugs, I really like dragonflies. They don't creep me out in any way.
88) I think Scottish accents, followed by Spanish, are the sexiest.
89) Sometimes I wish my son had a volume control button.
90) I can play Roller Coaster Tycoon for hours. HOURS.
91) My cats like to sleep in laundry baskets. With or without clothes.
92) When my kids were little, they would come up to you with their arms outstretched and say "carry you?" - They were used to us saying "Do you want me to carry you?" and they turned that around, and instead of saying 'Carry me?" - they said "Carry you?" - But actually they are the ones who wanted to be carried.
93) Alex took his first step at 9 mos. Amazing.
94) Alex was such a QUIET baby - he didn't talk much til he was closer to 2. Taylor talked for both of them. Of course now, I can't get him to shut up. Go figure.
95) I graduated 7th in my class out of 250 for high school.
96) I've always felt I've never amounted to my full potential. Intellectually, Socially, Emotionally.
97) I think the idea of the Phoenix storyline appeals to me for the reason of #96. Here is someone who developed into her full potential, didn't like what she saw and felt, and gave it up to save her friends, family, and humankind.
98) I rarely drink pop out of cans, for fear that a bug has crawled inside. Unless I have been watching the can the whole time, I won't come back and drink from an open can of pop. Even if I'm inside the house.
99) If you got this far, you are probably WAY bored arent ya?
100) I'm addicted to lists. Ha -no kidding, right? But I can watch Top 50, Top 100 ANYTHING if its on TV - I am a sucker for that stuff!
It's too soon, I know..... Current mood: creative
But remember, I'm impatient? I have been thinking about making another #100 things about me - and well, voila - here you go. And if there are any dupes from the last list, I must REALLY mean it, then, huh?
1) I hate bugs. Irrationally hate and fear them.
2) I dance when I listen to music. All the time. Can't really stop myself sometimes.
3) I think Harry Potter will die at the end of Book 7. If this weren't a children's book, I'd be sure of it. Right now, I'm only about 70% sure.
4) Something that truly turns me on: A guy in a tux, but with the bowtie un-tied and just hanging around his neck. Mmmmmm
5) I married my high school sweetheart.
6) If I could, I'd go barefoot the rest of my life.
7) Even in mid-summer (and we don't have a/c), I still sleep with a big cushy comforter. Mainly for a body pillow, my body is out in the open if it's hot. But I gotta have something to curl up against when I'm sleeping. The flip side to that is:
8) I can rarely fall asleep touching someone else. Relax, yes. Fall asleep? No.
9) I do not wear a watch. It irritates me.
10) My kids say "luckfully" instead of "luckily" - I love that.
11) My first dog was a dalmatian named Pepsi.
12) My husband is actually very funny.
13) I liked being a jock in high school.
14)I'm very organized at work but a complete slob at home. And it's not a conscious decision either. Weird.
15) I'm horrible at managing money.
16) I love eating cookie dough raw. (hey, i didn't get to be my big-girl self eating squirrel food!)
17) I love to scrapbook.
18) My dream job would be a Casting Director or a Book/Movie reviewer.
19) I love getting my hair washed.
20) I love having more than one book to read. Just thinking about how I have 3 books I'm currently reading or have to read, that makes me happy. Book Backlog = happiness
21) I hate not having anything to read :(
22) I want to make love to the song "Tank" - from Cowboy Bebop. Don't ask. Just listen.
23) I really love giving people their first massage. Mainly cuz I know they'll be completely hooked afterwards.
24) One of my happiest memories from high school was actually making Night Show for Marching Band. We had been drilled for years that it was the ultimate goal and we hadn't done it in so long, and it's the crowning achievement for the season, etc, etc. Almost an unreachable goal. And when the announcement came over the loudspeaker in the gym (cuz we had to do a standstill in the gym, remember that?) -- I just remember being up there with Rob, Andy and Erin - and I just BURSTED out crying. So emotionally happy. For all of us. And then I remember getting a big bear hug from Danny Derringer after, we were all just screaming and hugging and crying.....and then night show itself was a mud-soaked mess! Awesome!
25) My favorite Musical is My Fair Lady (no small thanks to the exposure during h.s. senior year) except I've always hated the ending.
26) I love Pat Benatar
27) I am a pale-sun worshipper. In otherwords, I love the sun, but it doesn't love me.
28) It took me a long time (months, maybe years) to admit Star Wars Episode One was a complete failure. The build up was just so fantastic, how could it possibly suck? Lucas is a genius, how could it suck? Well it did. And miserably.
29) I love hearing what actors were also considered for what roles. Like Julia Roberts was offered Sleepless in Seattle. And Kurt Russell auditioned for Han Solo.
30) I think Tom Cruise is a nut. I used to think he was hot, but the crazier he's gotten, the less physically attractive I think he is.
31) I think Ashton Kutcher is an idiot.
32) I have not liked a Kevin Costner movie since Bull Durham
33) I loved Marching Band in high school. It was never popular, but I made some lifelong friendships there that I am sure would not have forged under any other "group"
34) I actually enjoy massaging feet. People always get grossed out when I tell them this, but as a massage therapist, if you do a good job on someone's feet, their whole body just completely relaxes. It's really quite amazing.
35) There is something incredibly romantic about being surprised by the one you love. Even if your woman says she hates surprises, don't believe her. Maybe she doesn't want a big shebang of a surprise party, but you could get her flowers for no reason, stop by her work and say hi out of the blue, call her just to say you are thinking of her, etc. Every woman loves that.
36) I hate public speaking in front of groups of strangers. If I'm with a group of people I know, even if only casually, I'm fine. But actually getting up and "making a speech" I HATE that.
37) I love double entendres.
38) As boring as my job sounds, I actually enjoy mortgage compliance
39) I'm determined to lose at least one full dress size this summer. I'm on my way and hopefully I'll lose 2.
40) I went to college to become a Speech Pathologist. That didn't happen, but I still would love to do that.
41) I love guessing things.
42) I love the concept of time travel and all the paradoxes implied.
43) Cedar Point *is* the best amusement park ever. Don't argue - it just is.
44) Nature-sparkly things make me very happy. For example: When the snow is really really white and it's sparkles in the sun? Or when the lake is sparkling across its entire surface? Or even when something as dull as the cement sparkles in the sun? Cool.
45) My favorite Road Trip Game is "Who Am I?" You think of someone (usually famous) and I have to guess them asking only yes/no questions.
46) Deciding where to go to college was the first time I truly felt like an adult.
47) I have had hour-long conversations on the following topics: Is Severus Snape evil? How will they portray Phoenix in X3? How can the X-Files movie franchise be resurrected and still be respectable? What exactly did all that stuff mean in The Watchmen?
48) I like playing cards. Preferably Peanuts, Mille Bornes, Bullshit, or Blackjack.
49) I'm a firm believer in the following: anticipating something can be almost (or more so) exciting as the actual event itself. Episode 1, anybody?
50) My cell phone is pink.
51) I am constantly on the search for smooth-writing pens. Not scratchy ones! They all seem scratchy!
52) I believe in fate -- to a point.
53) I think you can have more than one soulmate - and said soulmate may not be your husband/wife, but often times it is.
54) I like to listen to Bobby Darin.
55) I believe that people become less/more physically attractive once you get to know them. That hot guy or girl who you salivated over the first time you saw them could be downright ugly once you find out they are a know-it-all. And that so-so guy you met has become increasingly attractive cuz he makes you laugh, has the same interests as you, etc.
56) I'm terrified I'm going to get in the way somehow in my kids' dating lives. Or not get in the way enough.
57) I have always wanted to go in a hot air balloon ride.
58) I hate having more than one screen full of e-mails in my inbox. I sort them all into folders and rarely have more than 15 e-mails in my inbox.
59) I hate having a voicemail that I haven't listened to. If I know it's there, I have to listen to it IMMEDIATELY.
60) I really really like Christmas, but I do not like seeing all the decorations up right after Halloween. Don't know why, but it bugs me.
61) My cats names are Spock, Ember, and Pearl. Pearl is all black and we named her that after Jack's ship in Pirates of the Carribbean. She's our Black Pearl.
62) I love visiting Arizona. I could never live there, however.
63) I love visiting Frankenmuth. I could never live there, however.
64) I love the name Nathan. Alex was going to be "Nathan" until I was about 8 mos. along. Then I just fell in love with the name "Alex"
65) Alex is not an "Alexander" - just Alex
66) My family is consisted of names that are unisex: Chris, Kelly, Taylor & Alex
67) I love g-mail.
68) I am very lucky to have a semi-normal and healthy relationship with my parents and sister.
69) I used to be a big baseball fan, Red Sox inparticular. But after the big strike, they all seemed like such babies and the games just dragged on and on - in-between pitches is like 3 minutes or something! Ugh!
70) I like to watch Sportscenter.
71) I am a huge Ohio State fan - not as fanatical as my sister, but just as dedicated.
72) Eddie George was probably my favorite player. But maybe Chris Spielman (although my sis already has dibs on him)
73) I am a huge George Michael fan. Still. Since I was about 12. Never outgrew him ;)
74) One movie I can watch over and over: 13 Going on 30 - especially when she gets everyone to dance to Thriller. Hilarious.
75) Love the smell of vanilla, cinnamon, and blackberries.
76) Although I hate coffee, I *love* the smell. It's one of my favorite smells actually.
77) I do not buy into the old adage of "Money can't buy happiness" - Sorry, I think it could. People just get spoiled by it - but if I had tons of money, I'd be happy. Yeah, that's my shallow self coming through.
78) If I suddenly came into a ton of $$, I'd give several of my friends HUGE amounts of it - anonymously of course. I would also never tell anyone I won the lotto, or whatever.
79) I think Kevin Smith is a genius.
80) I think cheekbones are the sexiest part on a persons body. If someone has well-defiined (or "high") cheekbones, I always notice it and point it out (to Chris that is....haha). Man or woman....cheekbones rock.
81) I'm slowly becoming more attracted to the bald head on the male species. Thx Susan.
82) I will be going to a psychic soon. I have never been, nor have I put much weight into their vocation, but a good friend of mine swears by this one, so I'm curious.
83) I'm not good at visual/spatial concepts. Like figuring out if furniture will fit somewhere...
84) I really wish I had a hot-tub/jacuzzi. I'd go in it every single night. Summer & Winter.
85) One food that I actually crave if I don't get enough of it: Milk. After about 3 days, I'm really really craving milk. Strange, I know.
86) I'm ecstatically happy that I am still training full steam ahead for the 3 day. And that I haven't given up yet. Nor do I feel I will. I thought for sure I'd burn out by now.
87) Even though I hate bugs, I really like dragonflies. They don't creep me out in any way.
88) I think Scottish accents, followed by Spanish, are the sexiest.
89) Sometimes I wish my son had a volume control button.
90) I can play Roller Coaster Tycoon for hours. HOURS.
91) My cats like to sleep in laundry baskets. With or without clothes.
92) When my kids were little, they would come up to you with their arms outstretched and say "carry you?" - They were used to us saying "Do you want me to carry you?" and they turned that around, and instead of saying 'Carry me?" - they said "Carry you?" - But actually they are the ones who wanted to be carried.
93) Alex took his first step at 9 mos. Amazing.
94) Alex was such a QUIET baby - he didn't talk much til he was closer to 2. Taylor talked for both of them. Of course now, I can't get him to shut up. Go figure.
95) I graduated 7th in my class out of 250 for high school.
96) I've always felt I've never amounted to my full potential. Intellectually, Socially, Emotionally.
97) I think the idea of the Phoenix storyline appeals to me for the reason of #96. Here is someone who developed into her full potential, didn't like what she saw and felt, and gave it up to save her friends, family, and humankind.
98) I rarely drink pop out of cans, for fear that a bug has crawled inside. Unless I have been watching the can the whole time, I won't come back and drink from an open can of pop. Even if I'm inside the house.
99) If you got this far, you are probably WAY bored arent ya?
100) I'm addicted to lists. Ha -no kidding, right? But I can watch Top 50, Top 100 ANYTHING if its on TV - I am a sucker for that stuff!
Friday, June 22, 2007
Summertime and the livin is Easy
SUMMER!
1. Favorite summer food(s) and beverage(s)
In a word – Strawberries. I just walked by Long’s Farm over on Bogie Lake this week, and their strawberries are so FRICKING aromatic, I thought I had fallen into a big vat of the freshest strawberry jam this side of the Mississippi.
I keep reminding myself I have GOT to pick some up. Everyone loves watermelon, but not me – Give me big juicy, squirt all over your mouth strawberries every day of the week. ESPECIALLY in the summer. Yummmmm….
And Strawberry Chicken Salad from Honey Tree on 14 Mile/M5 -- ohhhhh, the very best salad in all of salad-dom. That raspberry dressing is to DIE for.
2. Song that "says" summer to you. (Need not be about summer explicitly.)
SO many here – Any 80’s music basically, but Cruel Summer by Bananarama and Night Moves by Bob Seger. Also Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd. Take The Money and Run by Steve Miller. Glory Days by Bruce Springsteen.
But the ultimate summer song is Cool Change by Little River Band.
3. A childhood summer memory
Playing 4-square with Rick & Aimee in the street until late late or getting all the kids in our neighborhood (and we had a ton!) together for a game of kickball in the street. We usually went towards the end of the block cuz there weren’t many cars in the street there. Gary, the dad of one of the kids, would always pitch. EVERY kid got to play – didn’t matter how young they were.
The outfield was the street fanning out into folks’ yards. The outfielders just placed themselves strategically where they thought they could catch and get you out.
And the bases were just marks on the curb and something on the street for 2nd base. Arguments and Laughter until the sun was going down, and then all the kids begging for one more “at bat” before being called home by all the moms. GOOD TIMES!
4. An adult summer memory
Taking my 6-week old daughter to North Carolina for our first-ever family reunion on my mom’s side. These are people I would see every Christmas as part of our annual holiday road trip down to Louisiana as a kid, but once the cousins got older, we stopped making those trips….it was so nice to be able to see everyone and show off Taylor. The trip was stressful and Taylor was sick the first day there. It was HOT HOT HOT and the roads to the cabin were SO wind-y. And I mean like winding around, not blowing wind…. WAY up in the mountains. I was only 21 and my life had changed hundredfold now, being married and in charge of this little blessing. It was nice to be surrounded by family in such a relaxed atmosphere.
5. Describe a wonderful summer day you'd like to have in the near future. (weather, location, activities)
Doing something on a boat! We just spent a day on my sister’s rented pontoon boat up on a lake and I *so* miss that! Never had a boat, but enjoyed many trips on friend’s boats learning how to tube and waterski. An afternoon on a lake with friends & family…barbecuing all day, dropping kids off and taking more kids out for turns tubing…hanging my legs off the side of the boat, getting just a little bit wet, soaking in that sun….that is the epitome of The Perfect Summer Day. Who’s got a boat? Want some company?
1. Favorite summer food(s) and beverage(s)
In a word – Strawberries. I just walked by Long’s Farm over on Bogie Lake this week, and their strawberries are so FRICKING aromatic, I thought I had fallen into a big vat of the freshest strawberry jam this side of the Mississippi.
I keep reminding myself I have GOT to pick some up. Everyone loves watermelon, but not me – Give me big juicy, squirt all over your mouth strawberries every day of the week. ESPECIALLY in the summer. Yummmmm….
And Strawberry Chicken Salad from Honey Tree on 14 Mile/M5 -- ohhhhh, the very best salad in all of salad-dom. That raspberry dressing is to DIE for.
2. Song that "says" summer to you. (Need not be about summer explicitly.)
SO many here – Any 80’s music basically, but Cruel Summer by Bananarama and Night Moves by Bob Seger. Also Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd. Take The Money and Run by Steve Miller. Glory Days by Bruce Springsteen.
But the ultimate summer song is Cool Change by Little River Band.
3. A childhood summer memory
Playing 4-square with Rick & Aimee in the street until late late or getting all the kids in our neighborhood (and we had a ton!) together for a game of kickball in the street. We usually went towards the end of the block cuz there weren’t many cars in the street there. Gary, the dad of one of the kids, would always pitch. EVERY kid got to play – didn’t matter how young they were.
The outfield was the street fanning out into folks’ yards. The outfielders just placed themselves strategically where they thought they could catch and get you out.
And the bases were just marks on the curb and something on the street for 2nd base. Arguments and Laughter until the sun was going down, and then all the kids begging for one more “at bat” before being called home by all the moms. GOOD TIMES!
4. An adult summer memory
Taking my 6-week old daughter to North Carolina for our first-ever family reunion on my mom’s side. These are people I would see every Christmas as part of our annual holiday road trip down to Louisiana as a kid, but once the cousins got older, we stopped making those trips….it was so nice to be able to see everyone and show off Taylor. The trip was stressful and Taylor was sick the first day there. It was HOT HOT HOT and the roads to the cabin were SO wind-y. And I mean like winding around, not blowing wind…. WAY up in the mountains. I was only 21 and my life had changed hundredfold now, being married and in charge of this little blessing. It was nice to be surrounded by family in such a relaxed atmosphere.
5. Describe a wonderful summer day you'd like to have in the near future. (weather, location, activities)
Doing something on a boat! We just spent a day on my sister’s rented pontoon boat up on a lake and I *so* miss that! Never had a boat, but enjoyed many trips on friend’s boats learning how to tube and waterski. An afternoon on a lake with friends & family…barbecuing all day, dropping kids off and taking more kids out for turns tubing…hanging my legs off the side of the boat, getting just a little bit wet, soaking in that sun….that is the epitome of The Perfect Summer Day. Who’s got a boat? Want some company?
Thursday, June 07, 2007
100 things
I posted this over on myspace but forget you guys can't read it. Some I just stole right from you, Jill. Others I thought up all on my own!
100 Things
A friend of mine posted her 100th blog and made a list of 100 things abot herself. As I'm *way* past the 100th blog, I'd thought I'd do a list of 100 for me in honor of HER blog. Got all that? If you just read the first 20, that's ok, too.
Here goes:
1) I have an unhealthy addiction to chocolate.
2) I can watch certain tv shows and movies over and over and never get tired of them. Many people cannot understand this, but where some folks have comfort food, I have comfort TV.
3) I love fru fru drinks almost as much as I like chocolate.
4) When I go out with my girls, I feel safe enough to get really drunk with #3 because I know they will take care of me.
5) I love to make people laugh almost as much I love to laugh myself
6) I do not like the smell of gasoline or fresh cut grass
7) I like the smell of campfire, but not the fire in my fireplace inside. Yes, there is a difference.
8) I hate tomatoes
9) I won the spelling bee in 6th grade, but got out in the regional on "facility" - I spelled it with a PHY-beginning. Duh!
10) My mom was my girl scout troop leader the entire time I was in scouts (about 7 years)
11) I have met people off of myspace. And I've lived to tell about it.
12) I love my husband more than anything and sometimes have a hard time realizing that I'd probably be nothing without him.
13) I'm a slob.
14) I am notorious for starting something and not finishing it. And leaving it around to make messy piles...
15) I snore sometimes.
16) I cannot blow up balloons. I just don't have the lung capacity. Don't worry, it's only the balloons I can't blow. ;) (ewww, susan just got officially grossed out)
17) Playing volleyball (indoors) is my favorite favorite favorite pasttime. I could play until I was about to drop dead, and then I'd still want to play some more.
18) I hate wooden roller coasters
19) I love metal roller coasters.
20) I've seen the original Star Wars trilogy and Steel Magnolias each (thats' 4 movies now) about 100 times +
21) I love to quote movies. But only in context with real conversations and only if it's to someone that will appreciate it.
22) I also love to quote Eddie Izzard and not always to those who will appreciate it.
23) If I could meet anyone in the world, it would be JK Rowling.
24) Wow, 100 things about me is very draining....you still with me!?
25) I just KNOW Myspace is gonna eat this blog before I can finish it!
26) I have never broken a bone
27) My neighbors and I used to play drive through mcdonalds in my driveway when I was a kid. We would pick my mom's flowers to use as money. She didn't like that much. ;)
28) When I was 4, I used to play "Hot Blooded" on my tennis racket (as a guitar) and thought I was cool.
29) When I was in 7th grade, I had a turtle and I named him Humperdink.
30) I need therapy.
31) I am more than blessed with the amount and quality of friends I have currently in my life. REALLY really blessed.
32) Drunk scrapbooking is my second favorite pasttime. Especially if you have a sober partner to help you actually scrapbook and not just whisper and cut yourself with the scalloped scissors.
33) I love the beach
34) I adore Hugh Jackman. I think he's the next best thing after ... well after nobody. Nobody is better than Jackman in anything.
35) Except maybe the other members of the Four Horsemen (formerly known as the Holy Trinity): Christian Bale, Carlos Bernard and Dominic Purcell. These pure beautiful creatures never look bad even when they have gruffy faces, when they are bald, with long hair, with short hair, when they smile, when they frown....they are just perfect human specimens.
36) I have a myspace page dedicated to #35. I know. I know.
37) I used to be VERY religious. Up until I turned 21 and had kids. Funny that, eh?
38) When I test out calculators in the store, I always add up phone numbers I know.
39)I have horrible hangnails.
40) I am a massage therapist
41) I am not sure who I'm going to vote for next pres. election. I think I'll have a hard time deciding, too.
42) My basketball number in high school was 41
43) I really really love blog comments (wink)
44) I actually miss parts of high school. Just parts.
45) I get great contentment from reading my friend Jill's blogs. She is a superb writer and I love everything she writes.
46) Jill is why I still believe in God - if she can have faith, then I have to think I can, too - the most down to earth person I know.
47) Nobody makes me laugh quite as hard as Susan.
48) I love romance.
49) I think I would get turned on more by charm, wit, and smooth talking, more than physical whatever. I think. ;)
50) I dressed up as the Headless Horsemen one Halloween.
51) My husband is probably the best gift-giver I know. He'll remember something I asked for ages ago and he'll get it and 4 accessories to go with it.
52) I'm extremely impatient.
53) I suffer from instant gratification (see #52). Yes, that's a curse not a blessing.
54) I'm a texting whore. I love to text people. My hubby doesn't understand that.
55) A pet peeve of mine is seeing typos in printed material. Get a proofreader!
56) I feel naked without my cell phone
57) I do not have a middle name. My parents were too poor to afford one. ;)
58) I am a very fast typer. 85wpm last time I was officially clocked.
59) My favorite game in elementary school was crab soccer. You crawl around like a crab (on your hands and feet, but your back is to the ground) and kick this HUGE bouncy ball all over the gym. Fantastic!
60) My best friend in elementary school was Layla Gilbert, until she moved away in 4th grade.
61) My next best friend was Debbie Nickel until she moved in 6th grade. We still keep in touch
62) I can pop my hip on demand. And it's not a "cracking" sound like your knuckles...it's this deep, kinda creepy POP sound.
63) I visit www.mugglenet.com every day.
64) I am on the Goblet of Fire DVD Special Edition (that's harry potter for you non fans) and still get a big kick out of the fact that I won that contest and actually got to go to England.
65) I'm still very sad that JK Rowling had to drop out of the meeting. I cried when I found out she wasn't coming. Pathetic, but there you go.
66) The majority of times I cry, it's not because I'm sad. It's because I'm somethign else, just very intensely. I'm very mad, or very emotionally attached, or very upset some other way, but not specifically sad.
67) I believe in the power of a good cry every so often. At LEAST twice a year, preferably once a quarter.
68) I am too trusting
69) My mom is a twin. I was petrified that either of my pregnancies would be twins. Scared the be-jeezus out of me. They weren't. Phew.
70) I have the utmost respect of mothers of multiples. I could not do it.
71) I talk to myself.
72) Sometimes I make myself laugh as a result of #71
73) I think George Lucas is a mastermind ratfucking bastard.
74) My phoenix tattoo is still so special to me. The fact that Chris drew it and I'm still loving what it signifies to me - the whole Phoenix storyline is just amazingly done.
75) I am a strong believer in comic = literature. They are woefully underrated when it comes to mainstream literature.
76) I'm in a good place right now.
77) I have done some pretty deceitful things in my life.
78) I shave my legs almost every day. It's become an obsession.
79) I love listening to Tom Jones and Gordon Lightfoot
80) Indigo Girls is the only concert I've been to more than once.
81) I've never been on a cruise
82) I still like to roller skate. Shhhh - don't tell the kids
83) I hate writing with pencils. Really really hate it. It gives me chills most of the time. Not sure when this started...
84) I've had my ears pierced 3 times. They closed up twice and now I'm back to regular piercing - hope they last.
85) I will never get anything else pierced. Just not my thing
86) I would really love another tattoo, but I have no idea what, and I want it to mean something
87) I love the name Kayla
88) Famke Janssen is staring at me over here and it's creeping me out and turning me on at the same time. Yipes.
89) I do not keep my ketchup or maple syrup in the fridge. Even after opening. Ick.
90) My fingernails are always dirty
91) I must be listening to music at all times. Almost all times.
92) My moods change a lot :)
93) I love love love driving with the windows down and the music blaring
94) I love driving just for the hell of it.
95) If I could live anywhere in the whole world, it'd be on the west coast of Michigan. Right on Lake Michigan, but down south, near Grand Haven or maybe as far north as Ludington. Those beaches are the best.
96) I have a lot of secrets. Some that nobody know about. But just a few.
97) My speakers on my computer go in and out and sometimes don't work. UGH
98) I love to eat graham crackers and frosting as a treat. YUM
99) I'm not a lush at home, but when I go out, watch out!
100) I think redheads are the sexiest for females. But give me tall dark and handsome in a man any day. I just don't dig blondes. For the most part.
100 Things
A friend of mine posted her 100th blog and made a list of 100 things abot herself. As I'm *way* past the 100th blog, I'd thought I'd do a list of 100 for me in honor of HER blog. Got all that? If you just read the first 20, that's ok, too.
Here goes:
1) I have an unhealthy addiction to chocolate.
2) I can watch certain tv shows and movies over and over and never get tired of them. Many people cannot understand this, but where some folks have comfort food, I have comfort TV.
3) I love fru fru drinks almost as much as I like chocolate.
4) When I go out with my girls, I feel safe enough to get really drunk with #3 because I know they will take care of me.
5) I love to make people laugh almost as much I love to laugh myself
6) I do not like the smell of gasoline or fresh cut grass
7) I like the smell of campfire, but not the fire in my fireplace inside. Yes, there is a difference.
8) I hate tomatoes
9) I won the spelling bee in 6th grade, but got out in the regional on "facility" - I spelled it with a PHY-beginning. Duh!
10) My mom was my girl scout troop leader the entire time I was in scouts (about 7 years)
11) I have met people off of myspace. And I've lived to tell about it.
12) I love my husband more than anything and sometimes have a hard time realizing that I'd probably be nothing without him.
13) I'm a slob.
14) I am notorious for starting something and not finishing it. And leaving it around to make messy piles...
15) I snore sometimes.
16) I cannot blow up balloons. I just don't have the lung capacity. Don't worry, it's only the balloons I can't blow. ;) (ewww, susan just got officially grossed out)
17) Playing volleyball (indoors) is my favorite favorite favorite pasttime. I could play until I was about to drop dead, and then I'd still want to play some more.
18) I hate wooden roller coasters
19) I love metal roller coasters.
20) I've seen the original Star Wars trilogy and Steel Magnolias each (thats' 4 movies now) about 100 times +
21) I love to quote movies. But only in context with real conversations and only if it's to someone that will appreciate it.
22) I also love to quote Eddie Izzard and not always to those who will appreciate it.
23) If I could meet anyone in the world, it would be JK Rowling.
24) Wow, 100 things about me is very draining....you still with me!?
25) I just KNOW Myspace is gonna eat this blog before I can finish it!
26) I have never broken a bone
27) My neighbors and I used to play drive through mcdonalds in my driveway when I was a kid. We would pick my mom's flowers to use as money. She didn't like that much. ;)
28) When I was 4, I used to play "Hot Blooded" on my tennis racket (as a guitar) and thought I was cool.
29) When I was in 7th grade, I had a turtle and I named him Humperdink.
30) I need therapy.
31) I am more than blessed with the amount and quality of friends I have currently in my life. REALLY really blessed.
32) Drunk scrapbooking is my second favorite pasttime. Especially if you have a sober partner to help you actually scrapbook and not just whisper and cut yourself with the scalloped scissors.
33) I love the beach
34) I adore Hugh Jackman. I think he's the next best thing after ... well after nobody. Nobody is better than Jackman in anything.
35) Except maybe the other members of the Four Horsemen (formerly known as the Holy Trinity): Christian Bale, Carlos Bernard and Dominic Purcell. These pure beautiful creatures never look bad even when they have gruffy faces, when they are bald, with long hair, with short hair, when they smile, when they frown....they are just perfect human specimens.
36) I have a myspace page dedicated to #35. I know. I know.
37) I used to be VERY religious. Up until I turned 21 and had kids. Funny that, eh?
38) When I test out calculators in the store, I always add up phone numbers I know.
39)I have horrible hangnails.
40) I am a massage therapist
41) I am not sure who I'm going to vote for next pres. election. I think I'll have a hard time deciding, too.
42) My basketball number in high school was 41
43) I really really love blog comments (wink)
44) I actually miss parts of high school. Just parts.
45) I get great contentment from reading my friend Jill's blogs. She is a superb writer and I love everything she writes.
46) Jill is why I still believe in God - if she can have faith, then I have to think I can, too - the most down to earth person I know.
47) Nobody makes me laugh quite as hard as Susan.
48) I love romance.
49) I think I would get turned on more by charm, wit, and smooth talking, more than physical whatever. I think. ;)
50) I dressed up as the Headless Horsemen one Halloween.
51) My husband is probably the best gift-giver I know. He'll remember something I asked for ages ago and he'll get it and 4 accessories to go with it.
52) I'm extremely impatient.
53) I suffer from instant gratification (see #52). Yes, that's a curse not a blessing.
54) I'm a texting whore. I love to text people. My hubby doesn't understand that.
55) A pet peeve of mine is seeing typos in printed material. Get a proofreader!
56) I feel naked without my cell phone
57) I do not have a middle name. My parents were too poor to afford one. ;)
58) I am a very fast typer. 85wpm last time I was officially clocked.
59) My favorite game in elementary school was crab soccer. You crawl around like a crab (on your hands and feet, but your back is to the ground) and kick this HUGE bouncy ball all over the gym. Fantastic!
60) My best friend in elementary school was Layla Gilbert, until she moved away in 4th grade.
61) My next best friend was Debbie Nickel until she moved in 6th grade. We still keep in touch
62) I can pop my hip on demand. And it's not a "cracking" sound like your knuckles...it's this deep, kinda creepy POP sound.
63) I visit www.mugglenet.com every day.
64) I am on the Goblet of Fire DVD Special Edition (that's harry potter for you non fans) and still get a big kick out of the fact that I won that contest and actually got to go to England.
65) I'm still very sad that JK Rowling had to drop out of the meeting. I cried when I found out she wasn't coming. Pathetic, but there you go.
66) The majority of times I cry, it's not because I'm sad. It's because I'm somethign else, just very intensely. I'm very mad, or very emotionally attached, or very upset some other way, but not specifically sad.
67) I believe in the power of a good cry every so often. At LEAST twice a year, preferably once a quarter.
68) I am too trusting
69) My mom is a twin. I was petrified that either of my pregnancies would be twins. Scared the be-jeezus out of me. They weren't. Phew.
70) I have the utmost respect of mothers of multiples. I could not do it.
71) I talk to myself.
72) Sometimes I make myself laugh as a result of #71
73) I think George Lucas is a mastermind ratfucking bastard.
74) My phoenix tattoo is still so special to me. The fact that Chris drew it and I'm still loving what it signifies to me - the whole Phoenix storyline is just amazingly done.
75) I am a strong believer in comic = literature. They are woefully underrated when it comes to mainstream literature.
76) I'm in a good place right now.
77) I have done some pretty deceitful things in my life.
78) I shave my legs almost every day. It's become an obsession.
79) I love listening to Tom Jones and Gordon Lightfoot
80) Indigo Girls is the only concert I've been to more than once.
81) I've never been on a cruise
82) I still like to roller skate. Shhhh - don't tell the kids
83) I hate writing with pencils. Really really hate it. It gives me chills most of the time. Not sure when this started...
84) I've had my ears pierced 3 times. They closed up twice and now I'm back to regular piercing - hope they last.
85) I will never get anything else pierced. Just not my thing
86) I would really love another tattoo, but I have no idea what, and I want it to mean something
87) I love the name Kayla
88) Famke Janssen is staring at me over here and it's creeping me out and turning me on at the same time. Yipes.
89) I do not keep my ketchup or maple syrup in the fridge. Even after opening. Ick.
90) My fingernails are always dirty
91) I must be listening to music at all times. Almost all times.
92) My moods change a lot :)
93) I love love love driving with the windows down and the music blaring
94) I love driving just for the hell of it.
95) If I could live anywhere in the whole world, it'd be on the west coast of Michigan. Right on Lake Michigan, but down south, near Grand Haven or maybe as far north as Ludington. Those beaches are the best.
96) I have a lot of secrets. Some that nobody know about. But just a few.
97) My speakers on my computer go in and out and sometimes don't work. UGH
98) I love to eat graham crackers and frosting as a treat. YUM
99) I'm not a lush at home, but when I go out, watch out!
100) I think redheads are the sexiest for females. But give me tall dark and handsome in a man any day. I just don't dig blondes. For the most part.
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