It has again been too long since I've posted. Life gets so busy. With visiting relatives, the Easter holiday and other spring happenings, time has gotten away from me. But, the lapse of time means I have a big(ger) announcement: Ry and I are moving!
We have been pretty dissatisfied at our current apartment for quite some time, and have been looking at purchasing a condo at Reflections for about a year and a half. Unfortunately, they're a bit overpriced and the association fee is killer. So, after deciding we weren't in a permanent enough place to buy a house or condo, we decided to rent, and found the PERFECT 2 bedroom/2 bathroom condo at Reflections. Very, very exciting. The move-in date is mid-May. We're on the 10th floor overlooking a nature preserve... I'm sure pictures will follow after we've moved in. One of the best parts is that I'll be right on the light rail, so won't have to drive in and pay for parking downtown. Yay!
So, I know this probably wasn't the most exciting of posts, but at least it's something, right?
3.26.2008
3.18.2008
brian regan = favorite, too
I love Brian Regan. He's a great, decent comedian. Hilarious. I've been a fan for several years, thanks to my brother. And everytime I hear/see Mr. Regan, I laugh harder and harder.
Here's a sample:
Here's a sample:
3.14.2008
ode to griff
I love my brother. He is visiting us for a few days after a training seminar he went to in Ohio. I'm very proud of him -- he's a civil engineer for the United States Forest Service and lives in Medford, OR.
We've been hanging out and talking about our childhood and growing up while he's been here. We used to have so much fun! Some things we remembered:
1. Going to Southa-Northa... (this game was born out of our family vacation to North and South Dakota, and consisted of us piling up blankets, coats, canteens, umbrellas, scarves, G.O.R.P. (good old raisins and peanuts), pistols and rifles, cowboy hats -- well, you get the picture; pretty much anything we thought we'd need on our trip, we packed. We'd put it on our horses and off we'd go!
2. Eep Hoop: This game involved the swing set that my dad built us; it was huge and swung out over a hillside, so it would feel like you were swinging really high. We made up a series of tricks for the swings, and then would put together a show, with one person making the calls. It was great, and I must admit -- we were pretty impressive at Eep Hoop.
3. Cowboys and Indians. This game was played in the pastures and old buildings at my grandma's ranch. Since it was right across the street, it was convenient. The game is pretty self-explanatory. I should note that often 'cowboys and indians' would involve us halter-training our calves. I don't know how we connected the two, but we did.
4. Bike Races. Enough Said.
5. Building a fort -- again, enough said.
6. Packing a picnic lunch and taking it down the Back Road. This was always an all-morning preparation activity. Nana or my mom would go with us, and we'd have such a fun time. I can almost smell the grass and water, and can here the birds and the far off sounds of the town. It was wonderful.
I loved my childhood, and Griff will always be one of my best friends. We also joked about how we didn't fight very often, but when we did, it got brutal and wasn't pretty. More on that another time...
We've been hanging out and talking about our childhood and growing up while he's been here. We used to have so much fun! Some things we remembered:
1. Going to Southa-Northa... (this game was born out of our family vacation to North and South Dakota, and consisted of us piling up blankets, coats, canteens, umbrellas, scarves, G.O.R.P. (good old raisins and peanuts), pistols and rifles, cowboy hats -- well, you get the picture; pretty much anything we thought we'd need on our trip, we packed. We'd put it on our horses and off we'd go!
2. Eep Hoop: This game involved the swing set that my dad built us; it was huge and swung out over a hillside, so it would feel like you were swinging really high. We made up a series of tricks for the swings, and then would put together a show, with one person making the calls. It was great, and I must admit -- we were pretty impressive at Eep Hoop.
3. Cowboys and Indians. This game was played in the pastures and old buildings at my grandma's ranch. Since it was right across the street, it was convenient. The game is pretty self-explanatory. I should note that often 'cowboys and indians' would involve us halter-training our calves. I don't know how we connected the two, but we did.
4. Bike Races. Enough Said.
5. Building a fort -- again, enough said.
6. Packing a picnic lunch and taking it down the Back Road. This was always an all-morning preparation activity. Nana or my mom would go with us, and we'd have such a fun time. I can almost smell the grass and water, and can here the birds and the far off sounds of the town. It was wonderful.
I loved my childhood, and Griff will always be one of my best friends. We also joked about how we didn't fight very often, but when we did, it got brutal and wasn't pretty. More on that another time...
3.11.2008
top benefits of giving up pop
1. Saving approximately $2 a workday – that’s $520 a year.
2. No caffeine headaches.
3. Being one of the “healthy” people that asks for water at parties.
4. Using one Styrofoam cup a day, instead of three.
5. Eating out is cheaper – don’t have to pay $2.50 to $3 for drinks.
6. Clearer skin.
7. Sleeping better at night.
8. Spilled water is easier to clean up than spilled pop. And I’m a klutz.
9. Losing weight (hopefully).
10. Keeping my grandmothers happy – they’ve been warning me about diet pop for years.
2. No caffeine headaches.
3. Being one of the “healthy” people that asks for water at parties.
4. Using one Styrofoam cup a day, instead of three.
5. Eating out is cheaper – don’t have to pay $2.50 to $3 for drinks.
6. Clearer skin.
7. Sleeping better at night.
8. Spilled water is easier to clean up than spilled pop. And I’m a klutz.
9. Losing weight (hopefully).
10. Keeping my grandmothers happy – they’ve been warning me about diet pop for years.
3.09.2008
you know who you look like? chandler.
Ryan and I went to work out today. The fitness studio was open, and it was pretty quite in there.
Warning!! Shameful confession: Sometimes I work out to the Dancing with the Stars workout video.
I went to see if the fitness studio (complete with walls of mirrors) had a tv and dvd player. Guess what? It did!
While looking at it, I said to Ryan, "It would be nice to have the mirrors so I can see if I'm doing the moves correctly," and then I did a couple of silly examples of the moves they do in the video.
"You know who you look like?" asked Ryan.
"Who?" said Callie.
"Chandler."
Chandler? Really? You really want to say your wife dances like Chandler? It's good thing I have a sense of humor. He even went further to say that I look like Chandler dancing at his wedding. Can't remember what that looks like? Enjoy the video.
Warning!! Shameful confession: Sometimes I work out to the Dancing with the Stars workout video.
I went to see if the fitness studio (complete with walls of mirrors) had a tv and dvd player. Guess what? It did!
While looking at it, I said to Ryan, "It would be nice to have the mirrors so I can see if I'm doing the moves correctly," and then I did a couple of silly examples of the moves they do in the video.
"You know who you look like?" asked Ryan.
"Who?" said Callie.
"Chandler."
Chandler? Really? You really want to say your wife dances like Chandler? It's good thing I have a sense of humor. He even went further to say that I look like Chandler dancing at his wedding. Can't remember what that looks like? Enjoy the video.
3.06.2008
couldn't you wait until you got home?
Two posts in one day... what is the world coming to?
The inspiration for this post comes from the man driving the Toyota Camry in front of me at the stoplight on the way home. He was shaving. While stopped at a stoplight.
It all went down so fast that it's hard to remember the details. I pulled up behind him, saw him glance at the cars around him. Apparently we weren't enough of a deterent, because the next thing I knew, he lifted up a razor and started shaving. Gross.
I told Ry this story once arriving home, and he didn't seem to think it was a big deal. His first question? "Was it an electric razor?"
"It was not," I replied. "It was a black bic razor."
"Sick," said Ryan.
"I know," said I.
It kinda makes me gag when I think that all of that guy's whiskers flew into the upholstery of his car. What if he was shaving on his way to pick up his date? She'd have no idea that she was about to sit on a pile of whiskers. Blah.
Moral of the story? Don't do anything in your car that may make someone blog about you.
HOWEVER, in light of my previous blog posting, he is "still a guy".
The inspiration for this post comes from the man driving the Toyota Camry in front of me at the stoplight on the way home. He was shaving. While stopped at a stoplight.
It all went down so fast that it's hard to remember the details. I pulled up behind him, saw him glance at the cars around him. Apparently we weren't enough of a deterent, because the next thing I knew, he lifted up a razor and started shaving. Gross.
I told Ry this story once arriving home, and he didn't seem to think it was a big deal. His first question? "Was it an electric razor?"
"It was not," I replied. "It was a black bic razor."
"Sick," said Ryan.
"I know," said I.
It kinda makes me gag when I think that all of that guy's whiskers flew into the upholstery of his car. What if he was shaving on his way to pick up his date? She'd have no idea that she was about to sit on a pile of whiskers. Blah.
Moral of the story? Don't do anything in your car that may make someone blog about you.
HOWEVER, in light of my previous blog posting, he is "still a guy".
still a guy...
Not me -- I've never been a guy. But I do have a fondness for them... especially Ryan. :) Here's another ode to Brad Paisley -- One of my favorite songs. I love real men.... Just listen.
When you see a deer, you see Bambi;
And I see antlers up on the wall.
When you see a lake, you think picnics
And I see a large mouth up under that log.
You're probably thinking that you're gonna change me.
In some ways well maybe you might.
Scrub me down, dress me up, ah, but no matter what
Remember, I'm still a guy.
When you see a priceless French painting,
I see a drunk, naked girl.
You think that ridin' a wild bull sounds crazy;
And I'd like to give it a whirl.
Well love makes a man do some things he ain't proud of,
And in a weak moment I might
Walk your sissy dog, hold your purse at the mall
But remember, I'm still a guy.
And I'll pour out my heart,
Hold your hand in the car,
Write a love song that makes you cry,
Then turn right around knock some jerk to the ground,
'Cause he copped a feel as you walked by.
I can hear you now talkin' to your friends
Saying, "Yeah girls, he's come a long way,
From draggin' his knuckles and carryin' a club
And buildin' a fire in a cave.”
But when you say a backrub means only a backrub
And then you swat my hand when I try,
Well now, what can I say at the end of the day,
Honey, I'm still a guy.
And I'll pour out my heart,
Hold your hand in the car,
Write a love song that makes you cry,
Then turn right around knock some jerk to the ground,
'Cause he copped a feel as you walked by.
These days there's dudes gettin' facials,
Manicured, waxed and botoxed.
With deep spray-on tans and creamy lotion-y hands,
You can't grip a tacklebox.
Yeah with all of these men lining up to get neutered,
It's hip now to be feminized.
I don't highlight my hair.
I've still got a pair.
Yeah now honey, I'm still a guy.
Oh my eyebrows ain't plucked.
There's a gun in my truck.
Oh thank God, I'm still a guy.
When you see a deer, you see Bambi;
And I see antlers up on the wall.
When you see a lake, you think picnics
And I see a large mouth up under that log.
You're probably thinking that you're gonna change me.
In some ways well maybe you might.
Scrub me down, dress me up, ah, but no matter what
Remember, I'm still a guy.
When you see a priceless French painting,
I see a drunk, naked girl.
You think that ridin' a wild bull sounds crazy;
And I'd like to give it a whirl.
Well love makes a man do some things he ain't proud of,
And in a weak moment I might
Walk your sissy dog, hold your purse at the mall
But remember, I'm still a guy.
And I'll pour out my heart,
Hold your hand in the car,
Write a love song that makes you cry,
Then turn right around knock some jerk to the ground,
'Cause he copped a feel as you walked by.
I can hear you now talkin' to your friends
Saying, "Yeah girls, he's come a long way,
From draggin' his knuckles and carryin' a club
And buildin' a fire in a cave.”
But when you say a backrub means only a backrub
And then you swat my hand when I try,
Well now, what can I say at the end of the day,
Honey, I'm still a guy.
And I'll pour out my heart,
Hold your hand in the car,
Write a love song that makes you cry,
Then turn right around knock some jerk to the ground,
'Cause he copped a feel as you walked by.
These days there's dudes gettin' facials,
Manicured, waxed and botoxed.
With deep spray-on tans and creamy lotion-y hands,
You can't grip a tacklebox.
Yeah with all of these men lining up to get neutered,
It's hip now to be feminized.
I don't highlight my hair.
I've still got a pair.
Yeah now honey, I'm still a guy.
Oh my eyebrows ain't plucked.
There's a gun in my truck.
Oh thank God, I'm still a guy.
3.05.2008
rag & bone
Jack White is a genius. For real. So, remember when I said that Ryan commandeered us a new TV? This 52-inch HDTV is a beauty. I’m enjoying watching American Idol on this new contraption with great sound! But anyway, I had to laugh when I was listening to this song on the way into work today. So much of what we have in our apartment is hand-me-downs. We’re essentially Jack and Meg. Ryan and Callie. Too funny. Just listen to the lyrics.
On a totally unrelated note, I found a gray hair on my head two days ago. It was traumatic. I pulled it out (don’t they say that’s the worst thing to do?) and closely examined to see if it was just ultra-blond. It wasn’t. This is the first gray hair I’ve ever found. I’m getting up there in years.
Finally, I’ve been pop free for three and a half days. I just may be successful at this endeavor. Fingers crossed. And if you have any pop you want to give away, you know, if you’re not going to use it, well don’t give it to me. It’s one thing I won’t accept.
On a totally unrelated note, I found a gray hair on my head two days ago. It was traumatic. I pulled it out (don’t they say that’s the worst thing to do?) and closely examined to see if it was just ultra-blond. It wasn’t. This is the first gray hair I’ve ever found. I’m getting up there in years.
Finally, I’ve been pop free for three and a half days. I just may be successful at this endeavor. Fingers crossed. And if you have any pop you want to give away, you know, if you’re not going to use it, well don’t give it to me. It’s one thing I won’t accept.
3.04.2008
two and a half days…
On Saturday night while hanging out with my fab sister-in-law and her husband, we discussed diet pop and the (apparently) negative effects that it has on a body.
My grandma has been warning me about these effects for several years, and now with the additional prodding of others, I’ve taken the bold step to give up pop. I will be transparent and say that I’m trying to drop another couple of pounds before my sister’s wedding, and cutting out pop will be a factor in attaining my goal.
So, it’s been two and a half days without Diet Coke. I did have a bit of headache today, but a little bit of coffee chased it away. It somewhat sad, but like I said, I’m feeling motivated. J I wish lattes were cheaper – I’d drink those as often as I used to drink Diet Coke. Blah.
Anyone have any success stories for giving up pop?
My grandma has been warning me about these effects for several years, and now with the additional prodding of others, I’ve taken the bold step to give up pop. I will be transparent and say that I’m trying to drop another couple of pounds before my sister’s wedding, and cutting out pop will be a factor in attaining my goal.
So, it’s been two and a half days without Diet Coke. I did have a bit of headache today, but a little bit of coffee chased it away. It somewhat sad, but like I said, I’m feeling motivated. J I wish lattes were cheaper – I’d drink those as often as I used to drink Diet Coke. Blah.
Anyone have any success stories for giving up pop?
3.03.2008
what a difference the sun makes....
I slept a lot yesterday. For some reason I just couldn’t stay awake. It made waking up especially easy this morning. And nothing was better than walking outside into the sunshine. Even though it was a bit chilly (9 above), the sun made all the difference for my mood. This Monday might not be so bad.
I’m having lunch with a friend and going horseback riding tonight. It’s shaping up to be a good day. Hopefully a good week…. There is one factor that could make it a tough week. I’m giving up pop. I usually drink diet pop, but have recently heard from my sis-in-laws and my husband that the diet pop ingredients aren’t very healthy, and I’m not willing to get the calories from regular pop – so, I’ll probably be a bear for a few days with my withdrawals from caffeine, etc.
Note the new song playing… it’s to encourage spring.
P.S. Paula, I watched the end of the NASCAR race yesterday. :)
I’m having lunch with a friend and going horseback riding tonight. It’s shaping up to be a good day. Hopefully a good week…. There is one factor that could make it a tough week. I’m giving up pop. I usually drink diet pop, but have recently heard from my sis-in-laws and my husband that the diet pop ingredients aren’t very healthy, and I’m not willing to get the calories from regular pop – so, I’ll probably be a bear for a few days with my withdrawals from caffeine, etc.
Note the new song playing… it’s to encourage spring.
P.S. Paula, I watched the end of the NASCAR race yesterday. :)