Gay Marriage

I don't have a lot of time, and I feel like this article really gets my brain MOVING about gay marriage. But she just says some really spot-on things in terms of where the bible stands on gay marriage. Read here

The randomest of Memes

1. Started your own blog
(Um, yeah, look around ye...)
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4.. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland (Why Disneyland? Does anyone even go there anymore? Isn't it all about Florida and Disneyworld?)
8. Climbed a mountain (like with rock climbing equipment? No, but I've been to the top of mountains before)
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo (You truly haven't heard me sing, or you'd know this is a big no)
11. Bungee jumping>> (Oh you have to be kidding. Hayl No. Lets just put away the OMGIWOULDBESOSCAREDI'dPEEMYPANTS feeling that would surely take over me. My back and neck and every joint in my body SCREAM when I think of that. )
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (The inside was closed the day we visited, go fig...)18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight (wow this is quite the random meme. Visits to Paris and Pillow Fights?
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort (dudes. I live in Michigan. Snow Fort Building is a religion up here)
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon (I walked 60 miles over 3 days, that's gotta be pretty damned close.
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice (This list has an infatuation with Europe)
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset (Um, duh)
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community (in person? Or on the tube? I watched Witness, does that count?)36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person (Again with Europe)
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David (How about something in Africa or Australia? I haven't done those either, but I'd feel better about not having done those. More equally represented...something)
41. Sung karaoke. (George Michael, no less)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa (-a ha! we're moving from europe)
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted (like kate winslet in titanic, no less, right? nope, never done that)
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person (Ugh...more Europe. I want to go, k? Just haven't gone except to London)
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris *sigh*
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theatre
55. Been in a movie (I was on the special features for Harry Potter Goblet of Fire DVD - 2disc edition. Does that count? Yeah, it does. IT DOES TOO!)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China (Ahhh! Hello non-Europe)
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class (no, but i've taken my kids to their martial arts class, so i should make this red or italics. It's a by proxy meme!)
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favourite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial (define visit. Drive by in a taxi counts, right?)
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London (ok, this europe thing is cool. only cuz i've done it)
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
8. Had chicken pox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous (Met the kids from the HP movie and was *this* close to meeting JK Rowling)
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit.
98. Owned a cell phone (seriously?)
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day (Yes, but 2 days is my preferred)

Nostalgia lives here

A friend of mine has started to put up some old recordings of choir and band concerts from when we were in high school.

Did that bring back some memories or what? Let's see - in no particular order:

• Yelling "Dondero Loves Durand" every year...
• Ray bringing us truffles from his upscale restaurant before a competition
• Jill and I locking our keys in our room (twice) in Holland
• The bus breaking down on the way back from Holland freshmen year
• Going through initiation, which is super gross, then having to get cleaned up and come back to play a b-ball game that night. My dad hosing me down outside in the yard cuz I couldn't possibly go in the house looking (and smelling!) like that.
• Having Ray teach us dance moves to "Vogue" by Madonna and "Round and Round" by Dead or Alive.
• Making Night Show Sr. Year
• Listening to Pat and Julie jam to Rob Base all the freakin time
• Freezing our tookus off every weekend in the bleachers!

So. Tonight my kids have a middle school band concert. And unbeknownst to me, the high school showed up as well to give everyone a taste of what the high school band program was like. My daughter will be in high school next year (i know, i know) and so it was a nice mix of the bands. They did a couple concert pieces (that TOTALLY rocked) and then full marching band get-up inside the auditorium. Very FUN!

And it was fun to feel the excitement from the kids. They are excited to be a part of the Marching Experience when they get to high school. It's so hard to describe the type of energy and the type of connections I made during Marching Band. Everyone had their "thing" in high school. For some it was sports, for some it was drama, for some it was choir. For many of us, it was a blend of all of these - which I'm sure made every experience that much richer. I just know that I need to express successfully to my kids how many OPPORTUNITIES there are in high school. And they need to GET INVOLVED.

One thing the h.s. band director did that I thought was cool. She was talking to the audience (including the middle school band students) about how many great things the band did, and how involved and intelligent the band kids were. Then she turned to her band and said 'How many of you are on the honor roll?' - A whole host of hands shot up.

'How many of you play a sport in school?' - Again, a ton of hands went up.

'How many of you are captain of that sport?' - At least 10 hands went up.

'How many of you are involved in volunteer or church organizations?' - Tons of hands.

She got her point across but she drove it home by talking to the kids in a way that they understood. She was very adorably 'with it' and both my kids thought she seemed very fun. I was also secretly (or not so) happy to see a female in charge of the h.s. program as i know that's not the norm and kudos to all the female band directors out there!

<>

I pulled out my h.s. scrapbook and I really need to get going on scanning some of these pics. From my new years eve party senior year. From Initiation during pre-week my jr. year (yes, i think it was spaghetti dinner!) From Key West trip Spring Break. (Would YOUUUUUU rather???? EAT A BEETLE!) From Senior Prom.... I gotta get this stuff up so you can all oooh and ahhhh over our big hair and our young faces =)

Pendulum Swinger

Not sure Blogger will let me embed a video, so here is a link.... but I thought it was appropriate to hear this song today. LOVED it the MOMENT I heard it.

Pendulum Swinger by Indigo Girls

I meet you for coffee
We get together periodically
I got a bad case I can't shake off of me
The fevered walking round wondering how it ought to be

You work in the system
You see possibilities and your glistening
Eyes show the hell you're gonna give 'em
When they back off the mic for once and give it to a woman

I dream like a mad one
Brutal fantasies I catch as catch can
I'm a psychic and a laywoman
I see love and I like to make it happen

What we get from your war walk
Ticker of the nation breaking down like a bad clock
I want the pendulum to swing again
So that all your mighty mandate wasjust spitting in the wind

It doesn't come by the bullwhip
It's not persuaded with your hands on your hips
Not the company of gunslingers
The epicenter love is the pendulum swinger
She is she is she is

It's fine about the old scroll
SanskritGnostic gospels the da vinci code a smash hit
Aren't we dying just to read it and relate
Too hard just to go by a blind faith

But they left out the sisters
Praying to a father god so long I really missed her
The goddess of benevolence
You should listen to your mama if youhave a lick of sense left

Pushed under by the main press,
buried under a code of dress
Relegated by the Vatican
But you can't keep a spirit down that wants to get up again

If we're a drop in the bucket
With just enough science to keep from saying fuck it
Until the last drop of sun burns its sweet light
Plenty revolutions left until we get this thing right

Voting Day!

Last night recap in the ongoing saga that is my life: I stay late at work, don't get home til 7:30pm, turn around and do parent-teacher conferences at the kids' school til 8:30, come home, eat a late dinner (yummy mac & cheese casserole with onions and sausage and garlic that Chris made, which I love every time he makes it), take a shower and then flop in front of the TV to flip between football and Bridget Jones Diary. I know - I'm so fucking eclectic.

ANYWAY.

By 10pm, I was beat. And I mean like dragging my ass to bed beat. Damned clock-turning-back time-of-the-year.

But did that stop me from waking up at 5:30 this morning to go vote early before I came in? Nope! Now, did the time change this weekend have something to do with that? Yeah, it did. So what! It's voting day, bitches!

I *LOVE* to vote! I love the IDEA of voting! I love that we GET to vote in this country. It makes me feel so happy to have that RIGHT. That PRIVILEGE. I feel truly honored. Blessed. Completely fucking lucky.

I have never voted early before. I always go after work. This year I wanted to see what the polls were like at 7am. I dragged Chris with me (he always wants to vote together, it's like grocery shopping or something, it's cute) and we got to the polls about 10 minutes before 7am. There was already a fatmongous line queued up all the way inside the church. Yeah, we vote at a church. Isn't that funny? Church and State anyone? Ah, nah, don't worry - just come inside this BAPTIST church and put your vote in! (ok, i've never had any problems voting here, but i just thought it was funny when we moved that we found out we voted at a baptist church)

But oh, how it warmed my heart to see that line. I was ECSTATIC to wait in line with those folks. I LOVE not only voting myself, but hearing that other folks have voted, too. I *hate* hearing folks who don't vote. Why would you not vote? Isn't that what this country is all about? Get out and vote, people!

Anyway, we saw our neighbor in line and the line moved pretty quickly. We were in and out in an hour. I admit I did not vote for every single item on the ballot, as I'm not knowledgable about who should sit on the U of M board or the Wayne State Regent Board, and I know NAH-ZING about judges. But I voted for my rep, my senator, the 3 proposals, and of course Mr. Obama.

I practically skipped out of the precinct, my heart full of hope and just real love for this country. I really hope that people WANT change enough to go vote for it, and that Obama can surround himself with the support team he'll need to get us out of this hellhole. I think he can. Hell, I wouldn't have voted for him if I didn't think that.

What a historical moment. I am trying to soak that in. This is such a MOMENT. I can't wait to relish in all the coverage and what not tonight. Even though I've been sick of it the last few weeks, I'm now ready to reel it in and watch everything unfold. It's history, people!

GET OUT AND VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!

boringest post ever

So sick of the political process, I could scream. Let's just vote already.

I'm feeling the urge to get back into my scrapbooking again. Haven't had that urge in a very long time. My scrap room looks a little like the cat lady's house met the pack rat from hell. I used to have this SO organized. And when I do, I am the envy of every scrapper out there. I have a kick ass table that is HUGE and sturdy. I have good lighting (when they work *ahem*) I have a SHIT load of supplies and cool tools (although I need a Cricut!). I'll have to see about really getting into a groove and cleaning up this room so I can get back into scrapping. I'm now 4 years behind. I like to be constantly 1 year behind (so that way if someone sends me pics 4 months after an event, I don't slap myself and say 'oh, man! That would have fit so well into the page I just scrapped!')

But my creative juices have not been really flowing and I feel them knocking at the door. Please can we play, too, now? The reading books and blogging and facebooking just isn't cutting it. I need to play with paper, scissors, and die cuts.

My job is going really well. I'm really liking it and the people are both entertaining and helpful. I have some quirky funny folks I work with and that's always a plus. I'm very lucky.

Kids are doing well - Taylor is eye-level with me, and I'm thinking Alex isn't far behind.

We're going to Melting Pot for dinner tonight, and I'm kinda geeked. Haven't been there in ages and it's oh so yummy.

My Buckeyes continue to give me ulcers with winning consistently in the Big Ten, but not prettily. We better beat MSU today, that's all I'm sayin'

Pretty Amazing

Again I walked the 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk

Again I was motivated and inspired by the many stories of survival and struggle.

Again I was touched and saddened by the stories of loss and heartache.

Again I was happy and joyous by the human spirit and being part of something bigger than myself.

My friend Jamie came up all the way from New Orleans just to walk this. Jamie and I had never met before this event. We were Myspace buddies -- shared common interests, made each other laugh, traded emails and pics of our kids, our lives....but when she said she wanted to come up here and walk I was all for it. It may sound strange but in this day of staying connected via internet, texting, e-mailing, and what not, it seemed like the perfect fit.

I was more touched this year by this event, and I can't really put my finger on why. I had put some more effort into training this year and really had my heart set on walking ALL 60 miles. But once I got into the event, I realized (yet again) it's *so* not about the walking. The walk is the FUN part. The money-raising is the meat and potatoes of this event. The getting-the-word-out-about-breast-cancer is the important part. It's a privilege to be ABLE to walk those 60 miles. For those who can't or who are no longer with us.

And if you can't walk them all, who cares? I had that feeling overtake me a bit when we started. It was so awesome to be a part of the Opening Ceremony, listening to everyone, watching the flags go by, seeing the one Survivor in the Survivor Circle cry tears of joy as we shouted and clapped them onto the stage...it seemed like the walking was just the icing on the cake.

Jamie and I walked the entire way on Day 1. Whew! We were really feeling it that night, but big thanks to my mom who picked us up and really baby'd us in the evenings. It made a world of difference for us, and with the way Jamie's knee acted up near the end, I don't know what we would have done had we stayed on site overnight. Total miles walked Day 1=21

Day 2 was hard on Jamie - her knee had swollen badly and her blisters were disturbing, to say the least. She didn't want to get on the bus at lunch to ride back to camp. She had flown all this way up here to walk, right? Nope. She had flown up here to be a part of this meaningful event, and she WAS. She had raised her $2,200+ and she had EARNED the right to be in this sisterhood of walkers. That's all that mattered. Total miles walked Day 2= 19

Day 3 was the Loopy Day. It's when we made the crazy "F" video (if you are on myspace, check out my page... I'll see if Jamie can upload it in another format for those non-myspace users) and we even made up our own song about blisters. *snicker* It wasn't a nice song. Because Blisters aren't nice. Total miles walked Day 3=15 (I think?)

We jammed to the Pink Ambulance Guys.

We took our picture with the lady who had been diagnosed at 7 months pregnant, had had her baby, and was here to cheer on her group of friends walking in her honor.

I walked with a guy from Kzoo whose wife was a survivor of 7 years and he decided to walk in her honor by himself.

I ran into some girls I used to coach volleyball, who were walking for their mom/aunt.

We met Pink Bearded Barry - the 60 year old guy from Huntington Woods who walks EVERY 3-day EVERY year. Yup. 60 miles EVERY weekend for TWELVE weeks. He's done it 3 years now and he says he'll keep doing it until someone shows him why he shouldn't. Every time I would see him, somehow my feet and calves immediately hurt a little bit less.

We *Squeezed* into the most outstanding, bestest, coolest, fantasticness Sweep Van of all and let Chef Erin and Chef Jill cart us to the next Pit all the while Erin was decorating my back with stickers and my feet were numb from squeezing in between the two front seats. =)

We were so grateful to everyone who came out and gave us fruit, candy, pop, slurpees, or just a big pat on the back and a "thank you" - we walk for everyone who can't and until we live in world without breast cancer, we'll just keep walking.

I urge all of you to check out this event, check out the Susan G. Komen Foundation, and get educated about breast cancer and what is being done to prevent and cure it.

The Michigan walk raised over $7 million dollars this year, up from 5.5 last year. Thank you SO much to all of you who donated to my walk this year. It's a big commitment to say "I'm going to raise $2,200 every year" and with this economy hitting us in Michigan, I wasn't sure I would be able to come back this year and do it. But you all proved me wrong. I am so happy and blessed to have the kind of support I do from my circle of family and friends, and trust me when I say I am *more* than grateful. I'm one lucky chicka and I know it.

And let me know who wants to walk next year, cuz I can't imagine a year going by where I'm not walking AT LEAST one of these. I know Jamie is just as inspired and wants her Mardi Gras folks to join us next year. Whoopee! The more, the merrier! There is talk of picking a different city to walk, and we all go there to walk - who knows - I just know I need to be a part of this until there is a cure....

3 Day Video

It's late. This video took WAY too long. I'll blog about the 3 Day in well-deserved detail later. For now, enjoy this... and know that this event continues to be one of a kind....

3 Day Video

(Blogger won't let me put the video in here directly....please go watch the video...I know you don't usually want to click away from the page you are on, cuz it's one more page to open, to wait for, to go visit....but I promise you'll be glad you did)

Excellent Post by J

I don't do this normally, but I'm being hit by this very powerful post by my friend, J. Go and take a look see at her blog entry this a.m.

I pick up Jamie at 6pm tonight and tomorrow come 7:30am, we start The Walk!

Wish us luck! I'll be sure to post a bunch of pics come Monday or Tuesday of next week. Stay tuned. =)

Jeans are the most beautiful thing since the gondola...

Ohhh boy - this is a monumental day in my life. Get ready, folks. Well, actually, yesterday was. Women mark important days in their lives by various things, but getting into a great pair of jeans is definitely one of them.

As you may know, I've been training for the 3-Day Breast Cancer walk this year. I walked last year, and LOVED it and want to walk every year. With all my training and what not, I did not lose ONE pound last year. Nor did any of my clothes start to fit differently, nothing.

Now...I'm not one that owns a scale. I think people who weigh themselves every day are stupid. I did not sign up on the 3-Day to lose weight. I signed up because it is a worthwhile cause, and a magical, life-changing event that I wanted to be a part of. But yeah, I thought it might be a nice side benefit to get in shape a bit in the process. Of course I did.

I remember vividly - one day last November (gunpowder, treason and plot....) I went into the Dr. for some asthma-related thingamajig. I always used my doctor's office as my 'scale' - I am in there twice a year or so, and I figured their scale is probably pretty accurate. I was eager to step on the scale and see how I was. I had finished the 3-Day a month earlier. I was feeling good. I hadn't noticed a lot of change in how my clothes fit, mind you, but.... come on. I must have lost SOME weight, right?

Nope.

Not one freakin pound. I had to hold in a major breakdown throughout the rest of the appointment and had a meltdown that night with Chris. He was reassuring and said all the right things, but I was so pissed off! How could this be? The planets must not be aligned, right?

*sigh*

So this year, I thought: fuck it. I'm going to kick my ass for this cause because it needs it and whatever happens to my body in the meantime, so be it. If God wants me to be fat and supportive of this event, then that's what I'm going to do. Seriously, I started reading up on the women who are fighting for their lives, and really learned more about this disease this year and what is being done to stop it.... Grow up a bit, Kel and see the big picture.

Well, whaddya know? The last couple months, my clothes have been VERY loose. In that "I can barely keep them on" kinda good way. I can't even hold onto my fat jeans (girls, you know what I'm talking about) and my 'regular' jeans were getting too big, too. The ONE time I've been on a scale in 4 months was at my mom's house and when I looked at the number, I was pleased but also thinking her scale was off. *shrug*

Last night I decided to go *gasp* jeans shopping.

I hate jeans shopping. Does anyone really like it? Oh, well, if you are Kate Walsh perhaps you like it. I never can find a pair that fit and are comfortable, and most importantly, are flattering. Sure, I have long legs, but I am a woman. I'm programmed to hate 2 things from birth: My hair and my body. I've made peace with my hair a long time ago, but this...

I pull 3 pair of jeans off the racks (along with a shitload of other items, cuz I can't JUST try on jeans, right?) and think 'wow they have some really cute looking jeans here.'

I start trying them on. They are one size down from what I normally wear. I was very happy. They look fantastic. They've got EVERY style under the sun, and every marketing slick line possibly posted on their tags. Slenderizing! Slimming! Contoured! Flare! Low Rise! Hugging! The only thing I noticed is that the back waistband is gapping in a pretty bad way. But they fit everywhere else really well, so I figure I'll just wear a belt...

Then I get a nasty grin on my face. Kinda like the Grinch when his heart was 3 times too small. I think, "hmmmm, I wonder if I could fit into a size X pair" (no, I'm not quite ready for the entire world to know what size i am, thanks).

So I go and get 2 pair of the NEXT size down. This is a size I haven't worn since college, mind you. (Being 34, that was a LONG time ag0). I thought to myself, if I can even get them past my hips, I'm going to be ecstatic. Well, I did. I got them on and MAYBE could have even bought them, too. If there had been a white Nascar tank top to buy and something to rat my hair out with, I would've been the complete Trashy Woman of the 90's.

Yeah, they looked absolutely PAINTED on, which is good if you are Evangeline Lily (brownie points on this very easy reference - do you know who she is?) -- not so good when you are me. But the fact that I even got them on at all! It warranted a lip bite to quelch the yell I wanted to let go in the dressing room..... and a call to the sister on the way home. Who happened to be at a restaurant and couldn't whoop and holler, but did her best to do so anyway, god bless her, with her hand cupped over the receiver. She said she had 3 different reactions to my awesome news:

1) So so so freaking excited!
2) So so so freaking jealous and wants to call me a beyotch. Beyotch.
3) Pass the Nachos with Sour Cream that they were eating at the time.

And I justified the whole thing by clarifying that I was indeed at Kohls which is a NORMAL store. I was not at the stores that change their labels to make you feel better (You know which stores those are, ladies)....

I ended up buying the one size down (not the 2 size down) pair and needless to say, I was one happy camper last night. In a satisfied, blase kind of way, maybe, but I jammed to some Wham! in the car on the way home and can't wait for Casual Friday this week to wear my new jeans =)

As one of the most endearing, entertaining characters in all of entertainment once said:
"And for the record, I'm down a notch on my belt. I'm a big guy. It's gonna be a while before you're gonna want to give me a piggy-back ride" (brownie points again, here folks, c'mon, you know this one)

So easily amused...

I love the internet. What would we do without it? I'm not young enough to say "I can't remember a world without the internet" hell, I can barely say I remember a world without a remote control....but I have realized how much I've come to depend on the internet and it really is a gloriously big-brother type thing.

I use it for directions probably twice a week.

I connect with friends via e-mail and the all-encompassing myspace and facebook has put me in touch with people I haven't seen or talked to in ages. And wouldn't have made an effort to find otherwise, in all honesty. No offense to all you folks out there, but there just isn't enough time in the day, ya know?

And this connection leads me to many laughs during the day when I normally wouldn't have it. The status bar on facebook alone makes me chuckle when I log in. Ben S, you are cracking me up with those posts about Starship Troopers and what not. And Sharon with your 'virtual hips' comment....All fun all the time. I love it.

The internet has just spoiled me even more in the instant gratification department. When I hear a song on the radio that I dont' know, or I'm watching a movie with an actor that I just KNOW I've seen before but can't place.... voila! Look them up on the internet. Now, sometimes, I let my brain just try and figure it out by itself.

No, really, I do. I love letting my brain work that way. I'll see someone on a TV show and think "Oh, where do I know that guy from" and then my brain will say "Oh, we know him in some kind of uniform...possibly a cop? Or a military guy?" Then I'll keep watching, and listening to his voice. And then my brain will say "Oh, we hear him saying this specific line..." and finally when I figure out it's the guy from Movie X I saw 3 years ago, it's that A-ha!! feeling that is most satisfying.

The internet both feeds and destroys that process with the mighty Google and IMDB. You can look up anything you want! You just need to know that your source might not be so reliable (Suck on lemons to stop your menstrual cycle? Um.... okaaaaaayyy) but it's THERE. It's right at your fingertips! It's just....like....maaaaaaagic! (bonus points if you can tell me where that line is from without looking it up)

I'm off to look up my kids karate class schedule, then print out some directions, then play that addicting scramble on facebook.... toodles =)

Cable Show - Rev Up

So I thought it about time that our cable show have its' own blog....

http://allfiredupcableshow.blogspot.com/

This will house all the random thoughts that All Fired Up will hopefully cover one of these days when we get some equally insane MTV producer to pick up our show. Har Har.

Yes, I really am this obsessed with stuff.

THE Concert

Ahhhh, George.

I was fortunate enough to attend the George Michael show in Chicago 2 weeks ago. And as many of you know, just typing that sentence makes me swoon with some kind of unearthly pleasure. George has been my heartthrob and musical muse for so many years, the idea of me being able to go see him in concert after this many years? ~sigh~

It’s been 17 years since he’s toured the U.S. It’s been a little longer than that since I saw him (yeah, I was 13 and a crazy wacked-out-on-the-80’s school girl) . And as much as George has been lambasted in the press over the years (and rightfully so because can someone fuck up more than him? Oh, thank you Amy Winehouse for taking over that label *sigh*), I’ve still held a special place for him in my mind because I knew his talent was just that good.

So….the concert? Was it everything I hoped for and more? And more! Absolutely! And the whole evening was interlinked with being able to see one of my dearest friends, Susan, who I haven’t seen in almost a year. We met up at the train station and proceeded to have a faboo dinner at Adobo downtown (curse the parking!) and oh how I can’t imagine a better person to spend this whole evening with. We were silly, crazy, and soaking up every minute of it. Well, me more so than her – Thank you Susan for sharing this experience with me and letting me absorb all there was to absorb, and feeding off my frenzy accordingly! I’ve truly missed our lunches, our walks, our everything!

Our seats were much better than I thought – just a bit up from the main floor on the left of the stage. And Susan got her bald fix as we sat right next to a cute gay couple, one half of which was bald. Nothing like chatting up perfect strangers at the GM concert. Of course! That’s part of the fun, right?!

We were at the United Center, a decent venue for this – George’s show was appropriately saturated in the multimedia way he does so well – 40 foot video screens behind him showing reminiscent clips of Wham! Videos and other visual eye candy that really enhanced the music that much more. Plus shots of him strutting around during I’m Your Man and Flawless….oh boy – it was hot to say the least. And the main stage was just an extension of the screen, so that the footage would roll up under the floor of the stage to the screen behind him – a cool effect for sure.

But in the end, it was all about the consummate performer that George is. He hit every note spot on – he let the crowd feed off his energy and vice versa – he was so in tune with us, it felt like he’d been performing like this since he was born.

He opened with Waiting (Reprise) which was a strange choice, but oh so appropriate. Not a very well known song, surely, but him singing behind the stage with the lights down low and the screens just vibrating with vivid colors and graphics….and when he sang “You once said there’s a way back for every man, Here I am!” he comes out through the middle of the stage wall at that point and the whole place went beserk.

Including me. =)

His set list was pretty much spot on. I already had prepped myself for not hearing a few of my faves (No “I Want Your Sex” no “Praying for Time”) but everything he did play was pure magic. I haven’t had that much adrenaline-pumping fun in such a long time.

And as soon as Susan sends me her videos/pics, I’ll share with y’all some of the fun we had that evening. *hint hint* Alas, no videos/pics from the concert itself but you will hopefully get back into the groove of 30 Seconds with Susan vids that have been long missed and needed, right?

His last number? “Outside” – ever seen that video? Youtube it – it’s such a nice sexy farce on his arrests, etc. And he left the stage for just a minute, and came back in this sexy policeman outfit from the video. I about swooned and fell over. Damn, that man knows how to PERFORM! May I look and sound HALF that good at 45. Sheesh.

And he came out for TWO encores, one a slow one featuring Carless Whisper and another one playing Freedom 90 to bring the motherf*ck*ng house DOWN, I’m telling ya! Sheesh, the place was totally on fire.

I’m one sated fan, I’ll tell you that. *grin*

The Mourning of the Car

Driving to work on Thursday, I get into a lovely little car accident. *Sigh* The guy in front of me stopped pretty suddenly and I didn't. It was on back roads, not the freeway, so I was only going about 35... I should have been paying more attention probably, and I did slam on my brakes but not NEARLY in enough time. I hit him pretty hard.

Nobody was hurt. He did not have a scratch, mark, or ANYTHING on his car.

My car didn't look too bad, but it was leaking fluid and I decided it wasn't drive-able so I had it towed. Called the insurance company, called the husband, filled out the police report, etc, etc....All while trying not to cry and shake. Which I ended up doing both anyway. I ended up going back home because I was a wreck emotionally. I called work and let them know I wasn't going to be in today and would get some work done from home. Which I did, actually - surprisingly enough.

I felt like I was on the verge of crying all day yesterday. Kids were home and it was hard to explain that to them. They were concerned and glad I wasn't hurt physically. Hard to explain I was hurt on the inside. Completely shaken. I had made plans to go to my best friends house to hang out with them and realized that would be hard now that I don't have a car. But my friend came to the rescue and offered to pick me up and take me anyway. Thank you, J. She knew I needed the *gurl* time in a bad way. And she was so right. Like she almost always is.

So Thursday night was spent in the company of 2 of the best females I know on this planet, eating a MAGNIFICENT dinner that E had cooked up, and drinking some apple-y concoction that got me pretty drunk pretty fast.

And the cool "I didn't know I needed that but I guess I did" part? Riding back and forth in the van with J and her AMAZING kid while singing to BareNaked Ladies Snacktime? That was probably the most comforting of the whole night! Who da thunk?

Sleeping Thursday was....interesting. I was in this state of total muscle relaxation from the drinking and fell asleep pretty fast. But I woke up at 4am with very vivid, harsh images of the crash stinging my mind. Every time I closed my eyes? I could re-live those 3 seconds before the crash, just as I was about to hit him. That slow-motion replay our minds do when you know something bad is about to happen but you are helpless to stop it. So I would close my eyes, hit the car and jerk my eyes open out of response. Over and over. Finally, about 5 am, I just got up, showered and got ready for work. *Sigh* I was exhausted but my body wasn't having any of it.

The saga continues...

Yesterday I find out that the insurance is deeming my car as a total loss. Yeah, that's right. They ain't fixing it. I guess I didn't realize how much I really loved my Jeep until I heard that. I felt like I'd been kicked in the gut all over again. AND! You'll love this. I had JUST paid off the car on Monday. Yeah, as in 2 days befor the Accident Monday. I had just paid off the final $25 bucks which had been on there and I hadn't known about it. I thought I had paid it off last month, but when I went into the bank for something else, the lady told me I still had $25 on the Jeep and would I like to pay that now? I thought Hell yeah, let's pay that puppy off!

The silver lining is just that, though, I guess. At least now I won't have to pay any of this insurance money to the bank. It's all mine to do whatever I want with car-wise. I won't find out how much I'll get for the Jeep until Monday. The insurance lady said that just looking at my car, I have a lot of positives going for it. The mileage is low for the year it is. I have a couple options that other cars don't have, etc, etc.

Then it's off to go car shopping. Which should be kinda exciting, I guess. But I really really love my Jeep. And the thought of having to go select anothter car? Daunting. Exhausting. Just don't wanna (insert whiny pout here). I don't want another car. And with the gas like it is (with no end of getting better in sight) I'll probably have to go with a sedan or something small so we can get better mileage. I realize that. But I like having a bigger car. I like driving up high. So I need to get over that hump. I need to see that maybe this is a good thing. Maybe I can get a car with really great gas mileage that I can fall in love with like the Jeep.

I'm not there yet. I'm still in denial and mourning. I'll get there. Eventually.

And yes, I'm SO SO SO Grateful I was not hurt, that nobody was hurt. It seriously could have been much much worse. Every time I think of how that *could* have turned out? ~shudder~ Yeah, I'm gonna be fine and it's just a car, Kel.

Random Shmandom

A few random thoughts for you, O Blog Reader(s?) of mine...

--- Got new walking shoes this week. Whoo hoo! Running shoes, actually, as the guy said I'll want running shoes. Wasn't sure I bought his shpeel, but I'm LOVING these shoes. Walked 10 miles in them yesterday and 6 today and my feet barely hurt at all. I have a tee-tiny blister on one toe, or the beginnings of one, which I'll take care of. My feet didn't hurt during the walking either. I'm amazed at these shoes! And J, I still have your shoes from last year. Remember you lent me your pair the 2nd day cuz my feet swelled up? Nice image, huh? Pathetic I know. And your Season 1 of Grey's Anatomy, I still have, too. Sheesh, I'm a lousy friend who borrows stuff.

--- It was good to get out and walk the long walk in the heat today. I am trying to do my training in as much inclement weather as possible as end of September in Michigan can be ANY kind of weather and I need to be ready.

--- Got a PSP for my birthday and I'm loving it. Along with an old-school Atari cartridge that is addicting and maddening all at once. *chuckle* Need a memory card now so I can save my scores.

---Following Susan's suggestion, I do believe I'm imposing a George Michael Hiatus (GMH) on the iPod from here on out. I am exactly one month from the concert and I want to experience all the fabulousness I can from it, so I'm going to go into shut down mode and not listen to anything by him until the actual concert. Audio Euphoria, here I come.

---Getting my hair cut next week and I really want to do something different. I've pretty much decided that my hair style, although I like well enough, is not healthy long-term. I blow dry it way too much, and I wouldn't mind reverting back to the curly/wavy natural look that my hair wants to be....So basically I want to do something a little drastic (is that an oxymoron? how can you be a little drastic?) but I'm not sure what. Would love to do some coloring, too, but that goes against my 'want to be healthy' mantra, doesn't it? *shrug*

---Finished Reading "Duma Key" by Stephen King. First decent read I've had in a very long time. It had so many cool lines, anecdotes, just thought-provoking sayings....and the storyline was just creepy enough without being overly grotesque....a little slow at the end, but I still liked it overall.

---The Lost Season Finale was overwhelming and brutally intense, as I expected. I'm sure I was PMSing to the extreme, because I've never cried so hard watching a freakin Television Show. The emotional release of this show is just so breathtaking sometimes. *SPOILER* *SPOILER* The Dez Penny reunion? The freighter blowing up and Sun screaming? The way Jack said 'See you in another life, brother' to Dez? Oh man, this show has it all. *sigh* Now I gotta wait 7 more months for it to return.

---Saw the Indy movie - VERY disappointed. So forced and Lucas' attempt at heavy-handed humor just makes me cringe. No chemistry between Indiana and Marian. Wasted Marian so badly. *sigh*

---Kids are still into their karate classes - and doing very well. It's nice to see them work hard at something. Summer is now upon us (their last day was Friday) so let the boredom begin! *chuckle*

---I've talked about this before, but have you ever heard a song come on the radio while you were listening that just blew you away because it was one of your favorites and you weren't expecting it? Or you hadn't heard it in a long time? Had that experience recently and its simply amazing to me how music can do that to you.

---Watched the movie Army of Darkness last night. A forgotten treasure. Can't help but laugh in that big, stupid way. Fun.

Soundtrack of My Life

I've done this before, but it's oh so fun, so here we go (thanks, J!)

. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle.
3. Press play.
4. For every question, type the song that's playing.
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button.
6. Don't lie and try to pretend you're cool.

This is my life as a movie soundtrack...

Opening Credits: Praise You - Fatboy Slim (hmmmm, this play is going to be weird, I can feel it)
First Day At School: Chapter 23 of Half Blood Prince (Harry Potter) - Horcruxes.
Falling In Love: Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinead O'Connor
Breaking Up: Sun and the Moon - Miss Saigon Soundtrack
1st date: Iris - Goo Goo Dolls
Prom: Shout - Tears for Fears
Life's OK: Prelude and Overture from Camelot Soundtrack
Driving: Pennies from Heaven - Louis Prima (wtf?)
Flashback: Friends in Low Places - Garth Brooks (ROFL!)

Getting Back Together: Forever Young - Rod Stewart (man, i love this song)
Wedding: Live to Tell - Madonna. Um......okkkkkaayyy
Final Battle: Some Unholy War - Amy Winehouse (FINALLY a cool song that fits!)
Death Scene: Every Rose Has Its Thorn - Poison. Hmmm....
Funeral Song: Take it To the Limit - The Eagles.
End Credits: Seven Days - Sting

Make what you will of that! It was fun to play =)

Eddie, Countdowns and Coffins

So, this week was the "Stripped" Eddie Izzard concert at the magnificent Detroit Opera House. Mr. Izzard was pretty fucking hilarious, if I do say so myself. I felt a little jipped that he didnt' come out in heels and stockings *snicker* as he IS the coolest Action Transvestite I know....but hey, he did have a funky outfit on...tuxedo coat with coat-tails, red lining, jeans and a red button down shirt. Weird? Absolutely? But hey, it's Eddie - it worked.

He talked about everything from dinosaurs to tapestry weavers to giraffes playing charades....oh, and don't forget the Spartan Sheep! OMG, I was laughing so hard and it felt just so GOOD to have that kind of laugh, ya know?

Work continues to be good, as does the family - Alex just had his birthday and we had family over for Mem Day BBQ - all good stuff.

Only 46 days until George - oh man, we're really getting into countdown mode now. Did ya'll catch him on American Idol? He was fabulous, of course. The glasses thing, I don't get, but that's been his thing for a while....but I don't care because it's George. And Kelly <3 George.

Kids are out of school in just under 2 weeks. Ahhhh, this is the time of year I wish I had gone into teaching. Summer is my time, and I hate that I won't have it off to spend with them. *sigh* Buck up, eh?

Lost season finale is this Thursday and we will find out who is in that coffin - my guess is Ben and the EW writer who says it's Claire is smoking crack and should really lay off. Sheesh. The kids have a band concert that night and I'm hoping and praying they are done in time for the 9pm start time. I've already been shot down at the idea of me driving separately. Chris just rolls his eyes and says 'no way' - Yeah, yeah, ok....

Just learned that an old acquaintance was diagnosed with breast cancer this week. *SIGH* I'm continuing to prepare for the 3 Day but with news like that, it doesn't seem like it will ever be enough. But Jamie and I will walk like madwomen anyway, right, girly?

Various Reviews in Super Short Version:

1) Team America: Rented and saw this CRAP movie. A couple of way funny parts and the rest was just completely WRONG! *snicker*
2) Narnia/Prince Caspian - Good movie. A little long, but still way entertaining.
3) Indiana Jones - seeing this tomorrow, stop by later!

Off to watch some sports and read my book - I promise to review this one as it seems review worthy. Haven't had a review-worthy book in a while, so yay for me. Gotta finish it first, though

By George, I think she's got it!

There are a few things in my life that I proudly wear on my sleeve, in terms of my "nerd" status. One is Harry Potter (duh). Two is Star Wars. Three is X-Men. But something that transcends all of that at some level are my music tastes. I am one that must have music on at all times. But even when it's just for a few minutes in the car, or while bringing the groceries in the house, or something that most people probably wouldn't associate with a time to need music....I just do.

And one of the artists that has struck a chord (sorry, that pun is just unavoidable here) with me since I was a pre-pubescent school girl is George Michael. I've been infatuated, for lack of a better word, with him for the better part of my life. I took slack for this in the early 90's when it wasn't cool to like him. Yeah, yeah, he was gay and wouldn't come out. So what? He was a troubled soul, for sure. This made him a helluva songwriter. And then when he became the poster child for getting into trouble out of sheer stupidity in the late 90s and early 2000, I stood by him and still idolized him. He was still producing decent music, even if I had to order his CDs from the UK Amazon.com cuz American outlets stopped selling his stuff.

I learned something about George over the years. He has a helluva sense of humor. Just watch the video for "Outside" and see how he makes fun of himself and his "police/restroom" saga. Anybody who can laugh AT themselves with that kind of vim and vigor, they get huge brownie points in my book. His videos have become more out there in recent years, in terms of strangeness, or quirky-ness and I just eat that up.

His was the first concert I ever went to. 13 years old, summer before my 9th grade year, my dad took my best friend Jamilah and I to the Faith concert. Yup. The one with "I want your Sex". At the concert with my father. Talk about bizarre. *Shaking head*

George's entire persona, voice, and self has always been one I thought was larger than life. He could cover ANY song and do it justice. He could duet with ANYONE and hold his own, often times outshining the superstar he coupled himself with.

Not many folks know his later songs, but his Listen Without Prejudice Vol.1 is one of my all time favorite albums. And Jesus to a Child from "Older" is one of the most beautiful songs ever written and performed.

So all of this leads me to the drama in my life: They announced George was coming to the US for a tour - first time in 17 years. Is he coming to Detroit? No, of course not. But he's coming to Chicago. So I bought 2 tickets and am going to get myself to that show, come hell or high water. No WAY am I missing this opportunity. Do I have someone to go with yet? Nope, not yet. But a few friends are debating about it and I'm sure I'll get someone who can appreciate the concert, if not as much as me, then at least enough to enjoy themselves and not be a killjoy.

And this concert is a "Greatest Hits" concert so I'll get to enjoy all his fabulous songs live and in person. My seats are pretty good, actually (they better be for what I paid for them!) and I'm so excited about seeing him in concert, I get all animated and pathetic if you get me talking about it. He's just such a fabulous performer in person....I can't wait for July 9 in Chicago!

The Izzard Man Cometh!

Yesterday I bought tickets to Eddie Izzard - he's coming to Detroit in May and it's been YEARS, if EVER that he's done a NATIONAL tour (he usually only hits NY and LA) so I'm beyond ecstatic. We got first row balcony seats, and it's at the Opera House downtown, so I think we did all right. I cannot WAIT to go see him with old or new material. NEVER, and I mean, NEVER has a human being made me laugh so hard and for so long, or on so many repeated occassions as Eddie Izzard.

He *is* the funniest man on the planet. Hands down.

Religion in UK


World War II

Crust-Worthy

Yesterday, after 6 days of no wheat for the daughter, and literally no change in her condition, we decide to stop depriving her. Actually we did this Friday night when we let her have the Combos she chose as a snack instead of tilting our head, clucking our tongue and saying, yet again, "No honey, that has wheat!" - Ok, i'm a sucker for my daughter's miserableness, I'm the first to admit it. So sue me.

And yes, one week is perhaps not enough time to really tell if this is a wheat allergy issue. And yes, she WAS faithful - she didn't have ANY wheat or wheat-product for the entire week. Is she still a booger factory? Pretty much.

I think we'll just go to the Allergist and let them run tests again and start officially with them. I have a recommendation of a Allergist close to our new house, so I'll keep you posted.

Meanwhile, check out this conversation I had with T on the phone yesterday morning after she woke up and called me at work:

T: So I can have wheat again?

Me: Yeah, go ahead...

T: (Phone rustling as she makes a mad dash to the pantry and swings the door open): YES!!!! POP TARTS!!!!!! (I can almost feel her pumping her fist through the phone. More rustling ensues)

Me: Let me talk to your brother...

**A non-eventful conversation lasts with me and A about 3 minutes. Then I remember I gotta tell T something, so I tell the boy child to give the phone back to his sister**

T: I LUUUUUUURRVVVVVV POP TARTS (in a low, intense gurgle as she is mauling said pop tarts)

Me: *giggle*

T: (Through a mouthful of wheat-ful deliciousness that only the glorious bread family can truly give someone): I'm EVEN EATING THE CRUST!!!!!!!

This made me just guffaw right out loud, in my office, because this is a bone of contention with her. She NEVER eats the crusts. Of anything, but especially Pop Tarts. They have the devils blood in them? Perhaps. She believed my dad's old hullaballoo about crusts make your hair curly and she wants straight hair? Perhaps. She just doesn't like crust? Yeah, I guess so. (Neither do I, and I grew out of it, so it's not something I fight about with her, but it bothers her brother SO much!)

But all must be right in the world if T is eating her crusts again. Whoo hoo.

Wheat wheat, go away

My daughter has had sinus "issues" ever since she was 3. Even before. ALWAYS a cold. And the last few years it's been ONLY sinus pressure. No sore throat, no ear problems, no anything but drainage CONSTANTLY. She's had her adenoids taken out, she's been on every medicine known to man (over the counter and prescrip) and has been to the Allergist twice to rule out dust, cats, pollen, grass....the normal allergies. Nope, she's not allergic. *ahem*

And it's not like her symptoms come and go with the weather. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter - she's usually best in Summer, but just barely. It's not a weather thing.

A friend of mine mentioned recently to me that her son had the same symptoms and when they cut wheat out his diet, he cleared up like that *snaps fingers*. I never thought of allergies manifesting in sinus related issues. Duh. I don't know why.

So, we are going to try this. No, we haven't been to a doctor yet - because I know they'll just make her do what I'm making her do: Keep a food journal complete with how she's feeling throughout the day (really stuffed up after lunch? Not so bad in the morning? Write it down) and then routinely eliminate one possible food group for a set period of time and see how that goes. Once I think I know what the culprit is, I'll search out an Allergist and we'll take her.

We are starting with wheat. She does eat a lot of bread (and so do I *sigh*) so I told her we'd do it together. Just got back from the 2-hour grocery store trip to try and stock up on non-wheat type snacks and food. *reading EVERY label and realizing everything we eat has wheat....* We can still have cereal (corn flakes and rice krispies, thank you) and we'll adjust what we're having for dinner the next few nights (meat and potatoes or taco night instead of bread-heavy stuff like pasta)...I'm REALLY hoping we've found something here and if it's not wheat, then at least it's something else food-related. Maybe milk. Maybe something more specific.

All I know is I feel SO bad for her always sniffing, blowing her nose, sounding like she has a clothespin on her nose....and constantly having a hard time breathing, etc. And I'm also sick of doctors just telling us to get a vaporizer for her room, drug her up with whatever cocktail is the current fad, and she'll get over it.

Whatever!

The one thing that HAS helped has been her netti-pot - it's a sinus rinse and she hates doing it, but it does clear her out temporarily.

Wish us luck - and I hope I do not turn into CRANKY KELLY this next week or so by not having my bread/pasta/wheat items which I know I have too much of. Oh hell, I will. I figure it's only fair she has someone do this with her and besides it's better for me, anyway.

3-Day Original Blog

I want to link people to my original blog from just after last year's 3-day....but its over on myspace and I know people can't access that as well. So I'm re-posting here. WELCOME 3-DAY READERS! Here's what the 3-Day did to me....

Oct 1, 2007
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….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)....



WOW
Current mood: accomplished

The 3-Day is complete and I am one changed individual. My brain is kinda mush now (let's not even start on what my body feels like) but it was SO worth it and I am *SO* doing this every year. You guys who wanted to walk this year but couldn't - start planning now! As soon as I know the dates of the 2008 walk, I'm signing up and I MUST Have someone to walk with next time. I know I could have done better had I someone to talk to throughout the walk....

I promise to give a thoroughly interesting blog later this week - I'm off to stretch and rest. Oh yeah, and EAT! Later, gators! Thanks for your support and stay tuned...

http://08.the3day.org/goto/kelly.thompson

Good Deed vs. Crazy Lunatic

So....I'm at home last night with the kids alone. It's about 8pm. It's dark. A knock sounds on our door. You have to realize that I don't live on a "block" where people just come up and knock. I live on a very busy road. If someone is knocking, it's usually a) Missionaries *Sigh*, b) The UPS Driver, or c) a few kids that live on the only real "block" by my house. As it was 8pm, pitch black and freezing out, I had quickly ruled out all 3 of those folks.

I answered the door, with a little pit in my stomach to realize a young man standing there all huddled up, cold, hat pulled down over his forehead. He said his car had run out of gas at the end of my drivway, and would I happen to have an empty gas canister so he could go get a gallon of gas?

In all of about 7 seconds, my mind thought all of the following (and pretty much in this order):

1) Wow, it would really suck to be out of gas at this time of night since it's so bitter out.
2) This guy could TOTALLY be lying and he's here to murder me and my kids. Or possibly just rob our house.
3)I'm bigger than this guy, and I could maybe put up a decent fight.
4)What the hell? Just help this guy, already, Kelly!

So I did. I had him stand in my foyer, coming in from out of the cold (still fighting off the very strong WTF moment that I just let a complete strange man into my house), grabbed my shoes, coat, and purse and took him out to the garage. He told me he had tried the houses behind me but they said they didn't have any canisters, which I explained was probably true because the one neighbor has a huge shovel type mechanism on the front of his truck and he just plows the street himself, hence I doubt anybody even has a snowblower.

The kids were watching from the big window. I actually also thought, OK if somethign happens to me, they'll see and they are old enough, they know how to respond. I think. Unless this guy has 2 other hooligans hiding in the bushes, ready to enter the house and take the kids out, too. Sighhhhh.....

This guy was willing to just take the canister and walk up to the gas station (which would have taken him at least 30 minutes each way and, it's FREEZING out! And we don't have sidewalks, so he would have been fighting off cars not trying to hit him on my narrow two-lane roads)...so when I offered to drive him up to the gas station, I think he was taken aback. So was I. What was I doing? Getting into a car with this guy? Leaving my kids at home alone? But ya know what? I just couldn't shake the idea that this guy needed help and I was the one who needed to provide it.

This story has a happy ending, don't worry. I took him to the gas station, we filled up the one-gallon canister, he filled his car up, and he thanked me, driving away successfully.... Turns out, he's from Royal Oak, and he grew up on the street right next to mine! Went to the same elementary school, had the same teachers. Yeah, yeah, I know - too coincidental right? I'm naive and I offered all this information to him and he just went with it, that's what scam artists do, right??? Nope.I was careful. I didn't offer anything myself, I just asked where he lived, if he was close....and it's his parents that live out here after they moved from R.O.

Anyway, the entire time (this whole scene took about 15 minutes) I'm fighting the urge to keep my keys locked in between my knuckles in order to stab him should he make a move. Or watching the people around trying to figure out who to yell out to should something happen. Or how I can swerve mightily should he try something in the car....I mean, seriously, what is this world coming to that I can't go help somebody without all these deranged thoughts popping up in my head?

Alive and Well

Ok, so time has completely slipped away and it's basically mid-February now. *Sigh*

I started the new job and I'm very much loving the job, but very much hating the drive. Took me 2 hours to get home when we had the big snow-dump during traffic-time this week. I've come to realize I don't really hate snow and slush and gunk, I just hate it from 5am-8am and from 4pm-7pm Monday through Friday. But even without the snow, it's a good hour each way. I'm hoping that I can possibly flex my time in the near future to avoid driving during the most horrific times of day, which I'm doing now.

The new place of employment is more than I could have expected. I had resigned myself to the fact that after 4 months, I was probably going to end up back in the Admin (really do hate the word Secretary, I know that's so uppity of me, but too bad) world as somebody's Support Person and probably for less money and a longer drive, blah blah blah...Wasn't looking forward to that. I enjoy doing the project managment that comes with Compliance and I wanted to keep doing that.

Then I found this place. I can't believe how much of a good fit this is for me so far. Yes, it's only been a week, but I'm REALLY liking the people, and REALLY liking the way the company runs, and I'm considering myself MOST fortunate to have found this. It's Compliance! Yipee! Just for a different industry, which I'm learning about and finding utterly fascinating actually.

Ok, so I'm gonna stop gushing about my new job now cuz I know there are so many of y'all out there not in my boat, but suffice it to say I'm happy. Just not with that new drive. Ick.

The flip side to all this fabulousness is the fact that not only is the drive long, but I had gotten into a pretty good groove being home when the kids got home. I started this job 3 days after they offered it to me and that doesn't allow a lot of time to prepare for change. Yes, the kids are older and they had adjusted to both of us working a while ago, but they had a re-adjustment period (re: fell into a lapse of comfort)when I was home. We all liked me being home when they got home. And me not being in de-compression mode for the evening. I have to re-adjust to that and I'm working on it.

I've been off the radar in terms of communication with folks and that's just cuz I'm running out of time during the day. And energy to type up something and send it. Sorry bout that.

Random Thoughts:
1) First day on the job story: (Quick backstory is a good friend of mine lives very close to the new job) I come out to my car after my first full day, feeling content, exhausted, and needed again - something I hadn't felt in a long time. I'm in a good place. I have a smile on my face. I see a piece of paper on my windshield. It's ripped out of a mini-steno book. Written in blue scrawled ink: 'I am a survivor of Oceanic Flight 815' - I started laughing so hard. That night was the Premiere of Season 4 of Lost, and I knew my friend had stopped by to give me this little gem to make me laugh. And laugh, I did. She hadn't signed it, but she hadn't needed to. She knew I was a nut for Lost and I just knew this was her. I called her, and she answered oh-so-sheepishly after a few rings. We had a good guffaw, and she admitted driving by, seeing my car and thinking 'This is just too easy!'

2) I'm loving Lost, yes, but I've found another new show that I am hooked on, and it's called Eli Stone. It's on after Lost, and it's not one you can really watch after the intense gut-clenching-fest that Lost is. So I've recorded it once and watched it online once, at my leisure. Much better. Ahhhhhh....this show is like that little confirmation you always want to hear: RE: life is not a pile of shit, but that it DOES have meaning and there IS a purpose to which we are all meant to figure out. Or not. *Snicker*

I mean, this show has everything. It has interesting court cases. It has the most charming nerdy main character since Jason Bateman was on Arrested Development. IT has quirky Ally McBeal type moments that make your brain go "huh?" -- It has VICTOR GARBER SINGING AND DANCING in one scene, only to switch to his Stone-Face-I-Used-To-Play-Jack-Bristow-Don't-Mess-With-Me face the next. And if THAT weren't enough for you it has the ONE, the ONLY.... GEORGE FREAKIN MICHAEL singing his sexy songs IN JEANS in this guy's living room!

Um, hello? Can there be a more perfect show for me? Legal court drama? Check. Quirky, nerdy, charming lead? Check. Fuktabulous Victor Garber? Check. No, no, no that's not enough - we need to put George in there just to drive Kelly absolutely batty. I swear if JK Rowling shows up in this show, I'm gonna spontaneously combust!

Yeah, so watch that show if you get a chance. =)

I always intend to have a purpose or a story or a SOMETHING resembling sense when I start these blogs. Guess I'll have to keep working on that. Hope you've stayed wtih me here. Stay tuned next week when Kelly writes about her NEW! EXCITING! ADVENTURES!

Happy Day

I'm having a really good week. Wanna know why? Lots of things:

I've had several conversations with friends recently that just make me laugh and laugh and laugh. I never get sick of laughing. Who does, right?

I got a call back for an interview that I really really want, and I totally nailed the interview. Fingers crossed. I know that's not the healthy way to look at it, because you should't get all hyped up, right? Wrong. I'm gonna ride this "hype" all weekend, thank you very much. If I don't get it, oh well. It wasn't a good fit, then. But it is and I will. =)

I feel loved by friends and family and I feel good giving it back in spades.

I am really itching to start training for the 3-Day again, and I think that's a great feeling. I can't wait for the weather to break and to get out there and walk. Something about exercising outside, I need that. I crave that. It's building inside of me and I can't wait to get started.

The kids and I are having game night and just being SO silly. Fun silly. Taylor is becoming the funniest kid I know and I love seeing that sarcastic wit in her. I have a feeling of euphoria for them and about them that is such a rush.

I might actually BEAT somebody at Scrabulous for once. Whoo hoo!

My kids got good grades on their report cards. Yay.

I am lucky that my life is drama-free for the most part right now. Damn lucky. And damn grateful. Thank you.

3:10 to Yuma

Now this is what "Best Picture" material is supposed to be.

I finally saw 3:10 to Yuma, the western remake with Russell Crowe and Christian Bale and I'm totally in love with it. Yeah, Bale is hot and what's not to like about sexy cowboys out-shooting each other, right? Right. But this one had some teeth. An engrossing story. Witty and mainpulative characters. Surprises and supsense. It had me on the edge of my seat.

The performances were outstanding. I haven't wanted a character to get his come-uppance more than I did of Ben Foster's slimy "Charlie" - and Peter Fonda is the bad-ass he was MEANT to be, not that half shell of a bad-ass he was in Ghost Rider.

No spoilers here, but let's just say the ending did not disappoint. Westerns can't ever really have happy endings and still be GOOD Westerns, right? Right. This movie is very much worth watching, and why it's not up for more Oscar nods is beyond me.

One more rant: And I realize this is so unfair of me as I didn't even watch There Will Be Blood, but seriously how many psychotic, blood-bath-seeking villains can Daniel Day Lewis play before the Academy realizes that ACTING should be a big part of the award here....let's give it to someone who is acting outside thier comfort zone, huh? How about Bale in this one? He's been so overlooked his whole career, not even earning a nod...what a ripoff.

Thus concludes my very positive review of this movie and my very shallow rant of things that really matter not at all in the grand scheme of the universe.

One Week til Lost! Woo hoo!

Book & Love/Hate Meme (thx Jill)

Book Meme - Jill says whoever wants to play, play....so here we go...

1. One book that changed your life.
Alan and Naomi by Myron Levy. Read it as a kid and I'd love to read it again. First time a book really touched me and showed me that happy endings aren't the true mark of a good book.

2. One book that you have read more than once.
All of the Harry Potter books, except #5 - that one just doesn't do it for me. Shoulda cut out about 250 pages there, Jo.

3. One book that you would want on a desert island.
Awwww, only one? Ok...how about the His Dark Materials trilogy. Yeah, I have it all in one book, so that counts. So there.

4. One book that made you laugh.
So many here - how about the one I'm reading now - A Long Way Down by Nicky Hornby

5. One book you have been meaning to read.
Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer


Love/ Hate Meme
I love to eat: Shrimp Scampi, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Crab-Stuffed ANYTHING, fall-off-the-bone ribs
I hate to eat: green peppers, olives, beets, sushi
I love to go: to the movies, to the bookstore, on a scrapbook weekend, play volleyball
I hate to go: to the dentist, to the grocery store, far away from the family for too long
I love it when: I have a good book, it's warm outside, and I'm all by myself with nothing planned...
I hate it when: the kids are sick, my budget never stretches the way I think it should, I say something stupid (!)
I love to see: first tulips in my yard in the Spring, the house freshly cleaned, the trees by my house right around the 3rd week in October...
I hate to see: piles of clean-but-unfolded-laundry (so why do I leave them around all the time?!)...I'm stealing this one. NEVER ENDING!
I love to hear: both kids trying to out-laugh each other, a song I havent' heard in ages but love, George Michael crooning (!)
I hate to hear: a baby screaming, a bad car sound (you know the types!), James Taylor singing (ick)

Whoever wants to play, play!

Juno Juno Wherefore Art Thou Juno

So...I saw the movie Juno. I only heard fab things about it, including a coupla friends who just were ga-ga over it. The hubby had no interest, so I took a friend. Overall, I'd say this movie is definitely worth going to see. Even worth paying full price for. LOL. In these times, that's a glowing enough review in and of itself, isn't it?

The main character rubbed me a little raw at first, she was a little too cute with the one-liners and comebacks. Irritating would be the right word. But she grew on me fast and I know that's just me getting old anyway.

The relationship developed between the Adoptive parents Vanessa and Mark, and Juno, was one I enjoyed watching develop. Especially because Vanessa seemed to be *just* that little bit overbearing, anal-retentive mom you see in movies, but deep down you find out she really does have a heart, and all she's ever wanted to be is a Mom. She just wants to find that baby to love and be loved, doesn't matter how....she knows this is her destiny. Yeah, Destiny.

The part I didn't like was the message sent regarding teenage pregnancy. This gal sure handled the idea of having a baby her Junior Year and giving it up for adoption in a very cavalier way. Sure, throughout the movie and at the end, she had a couple emotional scenes. But the whole beginning scene with her buying the preg-test at the party store, and joking about it with the cashier? It was all so casual and it made me cringe. May my daughter NEVER feel that casual about finding out she's preggers at 16. I mean, c'mon. I know it was supposed to be funny, but I was put off by it. Call me a prude, I guess.

It seemed to just gloss over the emotions tied in with being pregnant. The ups and downs, the mood swings, the obvious pang that someone would feel when giving up the baby for adoption...it was completely absent. I guess that wasn't really the point of the movie.

I did laugh hysterically at the awkwardness of it, and at her dialogue. Who else can cry "Thundercats Ho" when her water breaks? ROFLMAO! And I cried when they showed what the note said at the end (the one from Juno to Vanessa)...I won't spoil it for you, but it was a perfect movie moment.

So overall, I'd give this movie a 7 out of 10. Best Picture material? No. Worth seeing, yeah, for sure. Just not with your 16 year old.

Nobody calls Han Solo a DirtBag

Ok, ok, I PROMISE to get my highly intelligent, very thoughtful review of "Juno" up here ASAP, but for now.....aw c'mon, I can't NOT Post this.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBkA3R2Habo

What a croc

I have tried to like them.

I have tried to get on the bandwagon.

I have tried to be cool (but that's another blog post entirely, now isn't it?)

But no matter how I crane my neck, or try to buck up and sound hip, I just cannot like those Croc shoes. They look oh-so-convenient, I'll give 'em that. But they make me want to put my hair in one ponytail on the side, find some jelly bracelets, and smack some gum. They look so juvenile. You are out in public, people. You aren't gardening. To me, those are gardening shoes. Or shoes little girls wear to play dress up. Look! Bright Pink Plastic Shoes, mama! Ok,ok, I know they come in normal colors, too. It's the plastic part I can't bet past. Rubber. Plastic. Whatever. Tupperwear doesn't make clothes for a reason.

I feel like I now know how Clinton feels on What Not to Wear when they catch women in public in pajama pants. *ahem*nocomment*ahem*

Now, I have friends who swear by these shoes...and how comfortable they are. I can't quite believe that, because I think my feet would slide around in all that sweat from having RUBBERIZED PLASTIC ENCASING THEM.

I guess you could wear socks with them. Ewww... Maybe not.

To all you croc wearers out there, god bless ya. It's just one bandwagon on which I will not be hopping.

The Road

A friend strongly recommended I read "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy. Hmmm, ok.

It won the Pulitzer.
It was an Oprah Book Club Selection.
It's a post-apocalyptic, dreary tale of fiction that looks like it could bore me to tears.

I wasn't keen on reading it. Me? I was ready for a new Stephanie Plum novel - something light, page-turning, and funny. I was fighting digging into something deep.

But then something peculiar happened. I got a Barnes & Noble gift card, and I didn't have it already spent by the time I walked in the door. Now, if you know me, you know I could literally spend my entire paycheck (oh yeah, i don't have a paycheck right now...haha) in the Bookstore, and I usually have a laundry list of things I want to get....this time was different. I needed a calendar. Big whoop. So I started doing something I haven't done in years: I just went to the Fiction/Literature section and started browsing.

Um, yeah....I remembered there's a reason I don't just pick up books on a whim - I'm a sucker for packaging. Cool font? Breezy colors? Some surreal design on the cover? Catchy or Wordplay kind of title? Ok, I'll check you out. But they ALL do that now. Sighhhh....what to pick?

Then I saw "The Road" and remembered the friend who swore by it. I picked it up and sighed, 'Ok, I'll get it this time' (after several previous trips to the bookstore which caused me to pick it up, only to put it down in favor of The Watchmen (yay! fab storytelling!) or The Sandman (boo! ick! yuck! terrible!)...

Let me just say that I'm still digesting this book, so this review may be a little tainted in that "first impressions" kinda way. But I like first impressions, so there.

Wow.

Yeah, that's my review in one word.

This book is NOT a style I would normally read. It's not a topic I would normally read. And I had to get past the whole 'What's the STORY about? - What's the PLOT of this book?' - I'm usually very plot-centric. I like the Character tales every once in a while, but usually the story has to have action, integrity, logic, and some kind of beginning, middle, and end. This one didn't have so much of a beginning, middle, or end...it took a while to get used to. But it had such a powerful tale of love and connection between a parent and a child. Horrific, morose, depressingly terrible conditions. Simple, powerful, no-nonsense link between this man and his child as they travel the road....you don't need to know how the world got like this. You don't need to know why things are the way they are. They just are, and this is how you would deal with it. A tale of survival for all time.

I cried a few times, of course, but not necessarily because of the horror (although there is that) but because the sweetness of it all rang through the horrible ordeals they came through. And so much to learn and teach for a child.... I do NOT recommend reading this is if you are in any kind of emotional PMS state. LOL. I was not, and by the last 5 pages, I was clearly in the running for Niagra Falls Crying Award. I mean, BUCKETS of tears, not just "my eyes welled up" kinda thing. More like, "I need about 6 more tissues, please, and no, don't look at me as I sob over and over again"

Anyway - I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a deep, meaningful read. And my advice? Don't put it down until at least 100 pages in. It's not the easiest read, but you'll want to finish it, trust me...

the new do

The daughter got a new do - she is growing up so fast! Four inches cut off - it looks great, she's geeked. I'm geeked - we're all having fun. Hope this pic works?!

Have you ever....

...started to explain or tell a story to someone, and about quarter of the way through, you realize it's not going to come out the same, and as you thought originally that it was funny, or poignant, you realize as you are talking that it's just not working, and you are going to look stupid for even mentioning it?

...seen a policeman on the side of a big-rig truck, on the side of the road, climbed up so he can talk to the driver, totally looking like a little kid whose truck is too big for him?

...seen someone you care about get sick and wish you could do something for them IMMEDIATELY - not wanting to wait for a doctor, or the trip in the car to the doctor, or ANYTHING. IMMEDIATELY.

...had a friend who truly understood you, and when you mentioned something to them that you were embarrassed about or weren't sure how they'd take it, they took it in the best way you could have possibly imagined, making you feel super relieved and thankful?

...laughed so hard, you couldn't breathe?

...had a friend who continues to lie to you, and you can't understand why cuz really it's not that big a deal in the first place?

...been so excited about spending time with a friend, you actually count off the days on your calendar until she comes?

...missed a friend so much that it actually hurt a bit? All the little things you used to tell each other every single day, you don't have anyone to talk to like that anymore, and you miss that fabulous way of dumping all your thoughts in your brain to someone, and being able to just randomly throw out thoughts and she'd understand, laugh, and completely "get it" ???

Snow Day

Today was supposed to be the kids' first day back at school after the Christmas break (Yeah, I still say "Christmas" break instead of "holiday" or "winter" break - sue me)...but we got too much snow, so school was cancelled. Oh darn!

Today was going to be the first day I started my boot-camp style workout as well, and I almost decided against it with everyone home (hubby stayed home today, too, sick as a dog)...but I thought that would lead to me just giving up the entire week, so I attacked. I found a circuit of workouts that really killed, about 35 minutes total. I was hoping for an hour, but I think I'll need to work up to that. The exercises are very intense, and an hour of that probably would have landed me in the E/R...I'm assuming I'm gonna be very sore and stiff tomorrow, so I'm planning on just doing cardio tomorrow, and laying off the "intense" exercises until Friday.

I really want to do well in the 3-Day walk this year and it's depressing beyond belief that I've been off work 3 months and have only lost 5 lbs. I'm not as concerned with the NUMBER of my weight, as I am with the distribution. I don't even own a scale. One of my biggest pet peeves is when someone complains they've lost weight overnight, or heaven forbid, GAINED weight overnight. YOU DIDN'T GAIN THREE POUNDS OVERNIGHT! It's called water weight fluctuation, people. Read about it. I believe in the old "weigh yourself once a week or some other regular time-frame, same time of the day, and keep track"....only then, by COMPARING long-term, can you really determine if you are losing weight.

And me, I can tell when my clothes start fitting better, so I just use that as my scale. The only time I get on an actual scale is when I'm at the dr. I would like to get a scale, but at the same time, it helps because I know my doctor's scale is constant and I can use it as a good measure. I don't go to the dr. much, but I was just there a few weeks ago, and I had lost 5 lbs since the last time, so that's ok by me.

Anyway, I'm so sick of this extra weight I'm carrying around, and lately, I've been much more "aware" whether it be the other moms at school who are just oh-so-skinny, or while I've been Christmas shopping, just people watching in general...I know I'll never be rail thin, and I don't want to be, but I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to lose about 30 lbs. That's do-able, isn't it? Yes, I think it is.

http://www.mibootcamps.com/

I found this and thought it would be REALLY great, cuz my problem has always been motivation (oh, ok, that and chocolate chip cookies)...and I would love a structured, really intense, every-day workout. Alas, I do not have $300 to blow right now, being unemployed. So I'm making the best with what I have: Weights, Staionary Bike, Lots of room in my basement, and lots of knowledge of specific exercises, and TIME. Heck, I'm home all the time now, there's no excuse for me to not execise every day. Plus a couple new videos and routines from Comcast On Demand....anybody else have any "fail safe" procedures, tips, or tricks they wanna share? Please feel free!



And this concludes the typical, cliche, "new years resolution-gonna lose weight" blog. We now return to your regularly scheduled program.

Ring in the old routine...

Some routines are just that: Routine. Which sounds boring, dull, overused. But our New Years Eve routine always starts out that way, then turns into fun and craziness. This year was no exception.

Taylor spent the night at a friends house on the 30th. Staying up til 2am, she was tired, plus she started getting sick. All day, we were off in our little corners, watching Law & Order Marathon on TNT (Me), or Twilight Zone Marathon on Sci-Fi (Chris) --with me flipping back to the Jon & Kate plus 8 shows on TLC....and the kids playing their new computer games. About 6pm, we decided we should have something for dinner TOGETHER, as all week meals have just been hodgepodge, get what you want when you want it...

Chris cooked spaghetti. Yummy spaghetti with fettucine noodles, plus aromatic garlic bread. The kitchen smelled great. Taylor practically fell asleep during dinner. But we had decided to start playing board games (the beginning of our NYE routine) right after and she didn't want to miss that. So, she bucked up. We played Family Feud, which was new for the kids, and it was fun, albeit stressful, as we dont' have a buzzer and Alex would take up to 3 minutes to think of an answer. Sighhhh....

After a few rounds of that, I suggested to Taylor that she could take a nap, and I'd wake her up about 11, so she could be up for the New Year. She agreed. She went upstairs in her clothes, the lights on, and crashed on her bed, asleep in about 2 minutes.

The rest of us went downstairs, Chris and I to start playing the DVD version of The Newlywed Game. A few years back, Game Show Network played a plethora of those old shows and Chris and I LOVED them. The last time we had a family reunion, we tried to make up some questions for everyone to play. It's a great couples game, and it can get silly and embarrassing in no time flat. My mom got us the DVD version, and we popped it out. You get to play against old TV couples from the show. Just watching the hairstyles and clothing styles from the 60s was enough to make us laugh....but then our answers were something else entirely. We were giggling pretty hard by the time we were done.

Alex was bored, though, so we started playing Password, another of our fave games, and one the kids are JUST starting to learn. About 30% of the words are above their heads, but they try. Of course when you dig into Alex's brain, and you start to sort out his thinking process, it can get quite interesting. For instance, the word was "Permanent" - I have to say one word that will get him to say "Permanent".....so I used the opposite tactic and said "Temporary" as a clue. He said "Quicksand" - I was astonished. I said "WHAT?!?!?" HE just started laughing in that awesome belly-guffaw of his, trying to justify that Temporary only means for a short time, and if you are Quicksand, you would be in there for a LONNNNNNNG time....My face must have showed the incredulty of his thought process, cuz he could not stop laughing at why I couldn't understand.

But the kicker was when I did say something stupid, and it reminded Chris of this other time he tricked me into playing HIS side of the points on our electronic Air Hockey Table, and whenever he thinks about this, he seriously cannot. stop. laughing. And Chris rarely laughs hard like this. When he does, his whole body shakes, he's quiet except for gasping for breath, his face turns beet red, and tears start streaming. If you don't know what's going on, you may think he's in trouble. But oh it's one of the best sights ever. It makes me laugh just thinking about it. He was on this kick for a good 10 minutes, and Alex and I couldn't stop ourselves laughing at him. Fabulous.

At 11, Chris went to wake up Taylor, but she wasn't having any of it. The light was still on, she was still in her jeans, and she was out. He tried several times, but uh-uh. Nope. She was out. All for the better, I thought, cuz when she gets sick, she gets S-I-C-K, so she needed the rest.

We missed the ball dropping, but then watched Alex kick ass on Guitar Hero (after Chris and I repeatedly stunk) for a while before going to bed. Taylor woke up at 3am, coming to my room crying cuz she missed out on the activities. She was truly upset. I comforted her a bit, but she was just sad. I told her we'd make up for it today playing games all day. She's going to need a nap, however, cuz it's 845 and she's still up. But with the snowfall we got last night, we aren't gonig anywhere today, so it's another lazy fun day on the schedule and I'm more than fine with that.

Happy New Year everyone :)