Combining a great kitchen device with scenes from Breakin'? Complete brilliance.
(Props to The Man, who knows what I like)
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Meeting New People is Hard
Tonight, The Man and I went out on a double date with one of his coworkers and the coworker's fiancee. We have yet to mingle with couples besides those related to us since moving to Texas, so this is a big deal.
First off, I was way overdressed. Don't get me wrong, I was still wearing my requisite jeans, but I had heels, matching jewelry and my leather jacket. I failed to take into account that The Man and his coworker, and incidentally the coworker's fiancee, all work for game design companies, and the dress code is casual. The Man wears lounge pants to work, for crying out loud.
We had a great time, grabbing pizza before shooting some pool, after which it was declared I was on every losing team. I don't know what that means.
Here's the conversation we had on the way to meet them:
Me: I'm kinda nervous going out with them. A lot of pressure to be interesting and make good conversation.
The Man: Don't worry about being interesting, just try to be yourself.
Nice.
First off, I was way overdressed. Don't get me wrong, I was still wearing my requisite jeans, but I had heels, matching jewelry and my leather jacket. I failed to take into account that The Man and his coworker, and incidentally the coworker's fiancee, all work for game design companies, and the dress code is casual. The Man wears lounge pants to work, for crying out loud.
We had a great time, grabbing pizza before shooting some pool, after which it was declared I was on every losing team. I don't know what that means.
Here's the conversation we had on the way to meet them:
Me: I'm kinda nervous going out with them. A lot of pressure to be interesting and make good conversation.
The Man: Don't worry about being interesting, just try to be yourself.
Nice.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Johnny Come Lately
So all the "Susan Boyle Britain's Got Talent Bound To Be The Most Viewed YouTube Clip Ever" revealed to me a video that is CURRENTLY the most watched ever: Evolution of Dance by Judson Laipply. I've never even heard of this. Am I just a total loser who is clearly not up on current events? A Johnny Come Lately? My head stuck in the Internet sand?
Please tell me I'm not alone, that you are not among the over 100 million people to have seen this clip.
And by the way: I can see why this has been viewed so frequently. Simply awesome.
Please tell me I'm not alone, that you are not among the over 100 million people to have seen this clip.
And by the way: I can see why this has been viewed so frequently. Simply awesome.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Mawwiage
I got this Couples Quiz from Chicky Chicky Baby.
What are your middle names?
Mine is Audrey, after my maternal grandmother. His is Stuart, after the mouse. Not really. I don't know where his came from actually.
How long have you been together?
We started dating August of 1989 (oh my gosh I'm so old) and we were married in August 1993 (exactly 4 years to the day of our first date). Awww.
How long did you know each other before you started dating?
Basically for a summer. We all hung out as friends, his buddies and mine (his sister Tiff was my high school best friend), and we started dating at the end of summer.
Who asked whom out?
He asked me out, and I said something likeOh hell yes!!! okay, sounds fun.
How old are each of you?
I'm barely clutching onto 37 with jagged claws (my bday is in June, start saving up now), and he just turned the big 4-0.
Whose siblings do you see the most?
Since his sis is my best friend, definitely his. My brother lives in California and we don't see each other often.
Which situation is hardest on you as a couple?
Ooh, tough one. MY answer would be the running of the household (cleaning, parenting). I have definite ways I want things done, a system for everything, and I tend to get crazy about it sometimes, causing much friction.
Did you go to the same school?
Yes, but only for a year, and we didn't know each other. I was a freshman, he was a senior.
Are you from the same home towns?
Yes, which makes it great for holidays because our moms still live in that town. One stop shopping.
Who is smarter?
He is, but doesn't have a big head about it. I make up for it in useless trivia facts and the ability to find my way around town using more than one route.
Who is the most sensitive?
He is. Ahahahahahaha. That's a good one. Definitely me. I can get bent out of shape and have an entire internal war waged between us before I say anything and he's all, "that's not what I meant" and I'm all "oh".
Where do you eat out most as a couple?
We go to a local theater every couple of weeks that has a setup for dinner and a movie. Each row has tables in front of it and they serve food while you watch. It's awesome.
Where is the furthest the two of you have traveled as a couple?
Ireland. Sigh. I want to go back. We went in between kids, because we knew it would be a LONG time before we'd travel again after having kid #2.
Who has the craziest exes?
Neither of us, I think. Not much of a pool to choose from for me, considering we started dating the summer after I graduated. How crazy can you get in high school? Don't answer that.
Who has the worst temper?
I think he does, although he doesn't show it much.
Who does the cooking?
Lately me, but he used to cook all the time because I didn't know how to do anything in the kitchen when we got married. I blame my mother.
Who is the neat freak?
Totally me, although I'm not that neat. I just let things go and let things go until a wild, crazy woman takes over my body and I screech at everyone to clean up all your crap! Now!!!
Who is more stubborn?
Oh. My. God. Me, beyond a shadow of a doubt. I am SO stubborn. He will listen to reason, although he's SO reasonable on a day to day basis that it's hard to compete with. I cannot listen to reason if I think my way is better.
Who hogs the bed?
He does. I woke up the other night with his forearm across my head. We've got a Cal King bed, and at one point we were seriously discussing the merits of transporting ourselves into a 1960's sitcom so that we could have two twin beds with no social stigma attached.
Who wakes up earlier?
We trade off waking up with the kids, so there's no real winner here.
Where was your first date?
We went to see The Abyss at the local theater. Good flick.
Who is more jealous?
I think I'm more jealous, but I have no empirical data to support this.
How long did it take to get serious?
I think a few months, but it's kinda hazy. He went back to UC Santa Barbara a month or two after we stared dating, so it took a little longer to get serious.
Who eats more?
He does, but he's a lot bigger than I.
Who does the laundry?
I do, mostly because I don't trust him.
Who's better with the computer?
Oh, that's a good one. He's a computer game designer, so he knows his way around a PC. I know a lot about locking up my laptop and downloading the latest virus.
Who drives when you are together?
He does, usually. Luckily, we're comparably sized when sitting, so no changing the seat when we switch off.
What are your middle names?
Mine is Audrey, after my maternal grandmother. His is Stuart, after the mouse. Not really. I don't know where his came from actually.
How long have you been together?
We started dating August of 1989 (oh my gosh I'm so old) and we were married in August 1993 (exactly 4 years to the day of our first date). Awww.
How long did you know each other before you started dating?
Basically for a summer. We all hung out as friends, his buddies and mine (his sister Tiff was my high school best friend), and we started dating at the end of summer.
Who asked whom out?
He asked me out, and I said something like
How old are each of you?
I'm barely clutching onto 37 with jagged claws (my bday is in June, start saving up now), and he just turned the big 4-0.
Whose siblings do you see the most?
Since his sis is my best friend, definitely his. My brother lives in California and we don't see each other often.
Which situation is hardest on you as a couple?
Ooh, tough one. MY answer would be the running of the household (cleaning, parenting). I have definite ways I want things done, a system for everything, and I tend to get crazy about it sometimes, causing much friction.
Did you go to the same school?
Yes, but only for a year, and we didn't know each other. I was a freshman, he was a senior.
Are you from the same home towns?
Yes, which makes it great for holidays because our moms still live in that town. One stop shopping.
Who is smarter?
He is, but doesn't have a big head about it. I make up for it in useless trivia facts and the ability to find my way around town using more than one route.
Who is the most sensitive?
He is. Ahahahahahaha. That's a good one. Definitely me. I can get bent out of shape and have an entire internal war waged between us before I say anything and he's all, "that's not what I meant" and I'm all "oh".
Where do you eat out most as a couple?
We go to a local theater every couple of weeks that has a setup for dinner and a movie. Each row has tables in front of it and they serve food while you watch. It's awesome.
Where is the furthest the two of you have traveled as a couple?
Ireland. Sigh. I want to go back. We went in between kids, because we knew it would be a LONG time before we'd travel again after having kid #2.
Who has the craziest exes?
Neither of us, I think. Not much of a pool to choose from for me, considering we started dating the summer after I graduated. How crazy can you get in high school? Don't answer that.
Who has the worst temper?
I think he does, although he doesn't show it much.
Who does the cooking?
Lately me, but he used to cook all the time because I didn't know how to do anything in the kitchen when we got married. I blame my mother.
Who is the neat freak?
Totally me, although I'm not that neat. I just let things go and let things go until a wild, crazy woman takes over my body and I screech at everyone to clean up all your crap! Now!!!
Who is more stubborn?
Oh. My. God. Me, beyond a shadow of a doubt. I am SO stubborn. He will listen to reason, although he's SO reasonable on a day to day basis that it's hard to compete with. I cannot listen to reason if I think my way is better.
Who hogs the bed?
He does. I woke up the other night with his forearm across my head. We've got a Cal King bed, and at one point we were seriously discussing the merits of transporting ourselves into a 1960's sitcom so that we could have two twin beds with no social stigma attached.
Who wakes up earlier?
We trade off waking up with the kids, so there's no real winner here.
Where was your first date?
We went to see The Abyss at the local theater. Good flick.
Who is more jealous?
I think I'm more jealous, but I have no empirical data to support this.
How long did it take to get serious?
I think a few months, but it's kinda hazy. He went back to UC Santa Barbara a month or two after we stared dating, so it took a little longer to get serious.
Who eats more?
He does, but he's a lot bigger than I.
Who does the laundry?
I do, mostly because I don't trust him.
Who's better with the computer?
Oh, that's a good one. He's a computer game designer, so he knows his way around a PC. I know a lot about locking up my laptop and downloading the latest virus.
Who drives when you are together?
He does, usually. Luckily, we're comparably sized when sitting, so no changing the seat when we switch off.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Wordless Wednesday: How High
(Please, for the love of all things holy, ignore my poor focusing skills.)
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Fashion Tuesday
A trip to the park would require no less than your fashion best.
Also, getting the pose right is crucial. She can be doing anything, not paying me the least bit of attention, and as soon as I point the camera and say her name, this happens:
Monday, April 20, 2009
Blue Crayon Disaster Follow-up
I'm sure you've all been impatiently waiting for an update on the Great Laundry Disaster of 2009. No? Well, fine I'm not going to tell you.
But before I tell you, let me just say, it speaks volumes about my wicked housekeeping skillz to note that I am JUST NOW getting around to dealing with the blue crayon laundry load, mere days shy of three weeks later. It also speaks volumes about the amount of clothing that Loodle actually has that I can ignore a load for three weeks.
Here is the solution I came up with, after scouring the internet and polling my neighborhood mom's group:
Step 1: Throw away any items that had been passed down to Loodle from her sister. Who am I kidding? Any treatment I give those clothes will just speed up their imminent demise.
Step 2: Look around my laundry room for stuff to get out stains. Pull out a long forgotten bottle of OxyClean Laundry Stain Removal and a new, unopened bottle of Spray N Wash In Washer Stain Removal. Have I mentioned the laundry skillz I seriously lack? Stain removal and TLC are listed among them.
Step 3: After reading both bottles, proceed to dump half a bottle of the former and half a capful of the latter directly into the washer.
Step 4: Add a random amount of regular laundry detergent on top of that. Just in case... something.
Step 5: Add clothing to the washer and wonder just how many bubbles will be forming, and if a toxic vapor cloud is anywhere in my future. (Remember an incident before kids where The Man came upon me dumping various cleaning products into the bathtub in hopes of clearing up some pesky grime; recall tongue-lashing I received for possibly causing a toxic chemical cloud to form and kill myself; remind myself not to tell The Man how I got the crayon out; ignore the fact that he reads my blog la la la I can't hear you)
Step 6: Stop the wash from running when the thing is full of water, allowing all those chemicals to ruminate and contemplate deadly transformation.
Step 7: Run the wash, come back to see VICTORY! All the crayon is GONE.
Step 8: Vow to follow up my parenting book with a laundry care book. Possibly with diagrams.
But before I tell you, let me just say, it speaks volumes about my wicked housekeeping skillz to note that I am JUST NOW getting around to dealing with the blue crayon laundry load, mere days shy of three weeks later. It also speaks volumes about the amount of clothing that Loodle actually has that I can ignore a load for three weeks.
Here is the solution I came up with, after scouring the internet and polling my neighborhood mom's group:
Step 1: Throw away any items that had been passed down to Loodle from her sister. Who am I kidding? Any treatment I give those clothes will just speed up their imminent demise.
Step 2: Look around my laundry room for stuff to get out stains. Pull out a long forgotten bottle of OxyClean Laundry Stain Removal and a new, unopened bottle of Spray N Wash In Washer Stain Removal. Have I mentioned the laundry skillz I seriously lack? Stain removal and TLC are listed among them.
Step 3: After reading both bottles, proceed to dump half a bottle of the former and half a capful of the latter directly into the washer.
Step 4: Add a random amount of regular laundry detergent on top of that. Just in case... something.
Step 5: Add clothing to the washer and wonder just how many bubbles will be forming, and if a toxic vapor cloud is anywhere in my future. (Remember an incident before kids where The Man came upon me dumping various cleaning products into the bathtub in hopes of clearing up some pesky grime; recall tongue-lashing I received for possibly causing a toxic chemical cloud to form and kill myself; remind myself not to tell The Man how I got the crayon out; ignore the fact that he reads my blog la la la I can't hear you)
Step 6: Stop the wash from running when the thing is full of water, allowing all those chemicals to ruminate and contemplate deadly transformation.
Step 7: Run the wash, come back to see VICTORY! All the crayon is GONE.
Step 8: Vow to follow up my parenting book with a laundry care book. Possibly with diagrams.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Hunker Down In My Cave Day
It's raining. And thundering and lightning. And it's darker now than when I dropped my kids off at school. And I have absolutely no reason to get out of my pajamas until 2:30 this afternoon when I go pick up the girls and their friends for a playdate.
After I make this place presentable to guests, I've got a date with DirecTV, my big green chair and my soft blanket.
Enjoy your day.
After I make this place presentable to guests, I've got a date with DirecTV, my big green chair and my soft blanket.
Enjoy your day.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Two Things Too Many
I'm reading this great book called "Love Walked In" by Marisa de los Santos. I'm only 107 pages in, and already I don't want the book to end. She is funny, thought provoking, wonderful at drawing you into the Philadelphia life she's narrating.
There's a section where the 11-year-old protagonist walks in on her mother, who is in a downward spiral, seemingly bipolar, and sees that her mother has purchased and is donning a summer dress and strappy sandals, in the middle of a Philly winter. Clare simply stands there, uncomprehendingly staring at the garment bag and shoe box.
The sentence that really spoke to me was:
"When Clare realized what they were, they stopped being what they were and simply became two things too many."
God, I love that. This describes so many of my over-the-top reactions about insubstantial things. A pair of shoes sitting in the middle of the living room floor. Trash bag full in the can. A spill on a freshly washed tablecloth. Ordinary, minor details of life and family. Setting me off, because they are one thing too many.
That's it. No grand wisdom to impart. No sweeping, life-altering realization. Just... yeah. THAT.
There's a section where the 11-year-old protagonist walks in on her mother, who is in a downward spiral, seemingly bipolar, and sees that her mother has purchased and is donning a summer dress and strappy sandals, in the middle of a Philly winter. Clare simply stands there, uncomprehendingly staring at the garment bag and shoe box.
The sentence that really spoke to me was:
"When Clare realized what they were, they stopped being what they were and simply became two things too many."
God, I love that. This describes so many of my over-the-top reactions about insubstantial things. A pair of shoes sitting in the middle of the living room floor. Trash bag full in the can. A spill on a freshly washed tablecloth. Ordinary, minor details of life and family. Setting me off, because they are one thing too many.
That's it. No grand wisdom to impart. No sweeping, life-altering realization. Just... yeah. THAT.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Happy Easter
We had our neighborhood festivities this morning, and nothing speaks more to the celebration of the risen Christ than...
A rabbit? Wearing camouflage? In a tank? We do things a little differently here in Texas. Happy Easter, y'all.
A rabbit? Wearing camouflage? In a tank? We do things a little differently here in Texas. Happy Easter, y'all.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
So, Focus on the Light, Huh?
Yeah, that big speech was a day before I came down with an evil stomach bug. It's really hard to focus on the light whilst staring at the bottom of the toilet bowl.
But focus I will. The Man comes home tonight from a business trip. (God help him for what he's coming home to) And tomorrow, no questions asked, he volunteered to drop his mom off at the airport and take the girls to the Hannah Montana movie. Wuv. Twue wuv.
I have a great neighbor with whom we carpool, and she volunteered to pick up my kids today, on her off day, leaving me to wallow in bed all afternoon.
The girls have classes today, one in hip-hop and the other in cheerleading (again, I beg you not to ask). They would have missed out today if not for their intrepid Grandma who, being a little under the weather with a cold her own self, volunteered to drive them. We HEART Grandma!
I'm missing out on what promises to be an awesome par-tay at Bunco tonight, BUT I managed to find a last minute sub to take my place, no easy task.
I was supposed to cook a delicious, nutritious dinner for all of us tonight, to send Grandma off with a bang, and to welcome home The Man. Yeah, that's not happening, and the fact that I don't have to cook is a little ray of sunshine in and of itself.
Lastly, I was just one stomach bug away from my goal weight in the great Fit and Forty challenge, so bring on the May 1 weigh in!
But focus I will. The Man comes home tonight from a business trip. (God help him for what he's coming home to) And tomorrow, no questions asked, he volunteered to drop his mom off at the airport and take the girls to the Hannah Montana movie. Wuv. Twue wuv.
I have a great neighbor with whom we carpool, and she volunteered to pick up my kids today, on her off day, leaving me to wallow in bed all afternoon.
The girls have classes today, one in hip-hop and the other in cheerleading (again, I beg you not to ask). They would have missed out today if not for their intrepid Grandma who, being a little under the weather with a cold her own self, volunteered to drive them. We HEART Grandma!
I'm missing out on what promises to be an awesome par-tay at Bunco tonight, BUT I managed to find a last minute sub to take my place, no easy task.
I was supposed to cook a delicious, nutritious dinner for all of us tonight, to send Grandma off with a bang, and to welcome home The Man. Yeah, that's not happening, and the fact that I don't have to cook is a little ray of sunshine in and of itself.
Lastly, I was just one stomach bug away from my goal weight in the great Fit and Forty challenge, so bring on the May 1 weigh in!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Perspective
Madeline Spohr passed away last night.
Baby Stellan is going on three weeks in the ICU.
I heard a talk by the woman in charge of this ministry today.
I am not eloquent enough to express what is in my heart today, but if I had to sum it up, I would say it was *perspective*.
How can I obsess over my foibles and concerns in the face of such overwhelming grief and struggle? My children live. They are healthy. I am in a loving marriage to a wonderful man who makes me CUH-RAZY sometimes, but who I am blessed to be with every day. I have a home. I am not under the threat of war. We can worship whatever religion we choose. We have access to schools, hospitals and the protection of the police.
One of today's speakers says that when she began her mission journey, God told her to focus on the light. There is so much darkness in the world, but you must focus on the light, or you will be lost.
Argh, I've been trying to come up with a good ending paragraph to encapsulate all this. I just want to say, I'm not going to be caught up in the negative, in the darkness, in the things that bring me down. I am going to focus on the light in my life, even when it seems counter-intuitive in the face of the situations listed above.
And so that you're warned, don't be surprised if, in talking with me about something sour, I tell you to focus on YOUR light as well. :)
Baby Stellan is going on three weeks in the ICU.
I heard a talk by the woman in charge of this ministry today.
I am not eloquent enough to express what is in my heart today, but if I had to sum it up, I would say it was *perspective*.
How can I obsess over my foibles and concerns in the face of such overwhelming grief and struggle? My children live. They are healthy. I am in a loving marriage to a wonderful man who makes me CUH-RAZY sometimes, but who I am blessed to be with every day. I have a home. I am not under the threat of war. We can worship whatever religion we choose. We have access to schools, hospitals and the protection of the police.
One of today's speakers says that when she began her mission journey, God told her to focus on the light. There is so much darkness in the world, but you must focus on the light, or you will be lost.
Argh, I've been trying to come up with a good ending paragraph to encapsulate all this. I just want to say, I'm not going to be caught up in the negative, in the darkness, in the things that bring me down. I am going to focus on the light in my life, even when it seems counter-intuitive in the face of the situations listed above.
And so that you're warned, don't be surprised if, in talking with me about something sour, I tell you to focus on YOUR light as well. :)
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Oh Hey Guess What?
You know what happens when you wash an entire load of kids' laundry and don't notice a crayon somewhere in there and then you put it all in the dryer and run it, and even do a 20 minute touch up just to be sure it's all nice and dry?
The crayon MELTS. Yes. Yes it does. It melts ALL OVER the clothes in the dryer. That awesome tumbling action REALLY works it all around in there, agitating that crayon, rubbing it on every. piece. of. clothing.
Did you also know that I hate laundry, so when I wash my kids' laundry, I pretty much stuff ALL their clothes into one load? Yes. Yes I do that.
Did you also also know that The Man called me 20 minutes after he left for work to tell me he's leaving this afternoon on a business trip to San Jose, leaving me to deal with this all on my own? Yes. Yes he did.
Did you also also ALSO know that my mother in law is coming on Saturday, so in the midst of the Dryer Crayon Disaster of 2009, I'm frantically trying to get the house in order? Yes. Yes she is. And yes. Yes I am considering taking up drinking.
The crayon MELTS. Yes. Yes it does. It melts ALL OVER the clothes in the dryer. That awesome tumbling action REALLY works it all around in there, agitating that crayon, rubbing it on every. piece. of. clothing.
Did you also know that I hate laundry, so when I wash my kids' laundry, I pretty much stuff ALL their clothes into one load? Yes. Yes I do that.
Did you also also know that The Man called me 20 minutes after he left for work to tell me he's leaving this afternoon on a business trip to San Jose, leaving me to deal with this all on my own? Yes. Yes he did.
Did you also also ALSO know that my mother in law is coming on Saturday, so in the midst of the Dryer Crayon Disaster of 2009, I'm frantically trying to get the house in order? Yes. Yes she is. And yes. Yes I am considering taking up drinking.
Best Bluebonnet Outtake Ever
I don't know how I could have possibly NOT included this photo yesterday. It's sublime. And for the record, completely unscripted. Any attempt to explain it defies my writing abilities. Enjoy.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
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