MapQuest sucks.

Yesterday my co-worker Lori and I were going to my boss's retirement party after work. We had seemingly simple directions, courtesy of MapQuest. The drive should've taken us about 15-20 minutes in the afternoon traffic.

(Note: I said should have.)

First off, MapQuest wanted us to go the most difficult way possible to get part-way there. All we needed to do was to take the nearby highway south a couple miles. But they had us driving all over hell and high water. Once we get about half there, MapQuest wanted us to turn onto a road that actually does not meet up with the other road we were on. After an hour and a half of driving all over the entire city, on both sides of the state line, multiple phone calls to people getting directions and street names, stopping two people on the side of the road, and using up a quarter tank of gas, we finally made it.

By the time we get there, we only had time for 1 quick glass of wine just as the speeches started, and we got just the last few bites of food that were left. We were there just over an hour. We actually spent less time there than it took us to find the damned place.

The ironic part is that once we left the country club, we drove by the corner where we had originally stopped to ask a mail lady for directions. We were maybe a mile away. *ARGHH!*

The only upside to this story is... I now have a new saying.
"I wasn't lost, I actually knew right where I was. It just took me a while to get where I was trying to go from where I was."

So, I am no longer using MapQuest. They suck.

Night-Night Time!

Danica likes to sleep. She most deffinitely is not a morning person, and needs to be woken up with the utmost care, and sometimes that doesn't even matter. If you can let her wake up on her own, that's the best way to go. It was also recently pointed out to me that I have a lot of pictures of my daughter falling asleep at any given moment or the odd positions. Let me demonstrate...

This is after throwing a temper tantrum and literally falling asleep in the same spot she had been standing, screaming, for the last half-hour or so. When there was silence, I went to check it out...

And this is from her baby-sitter. Reportedly, Danica came in from playing outside and practically collapsed, asleep before she hit the pillow. With her shoes on.

This is how I found her sleeping one morning...

Now those might not seem too strange... but let's take another look...

This is Danica asleep at a ballgame. It was School Day at the 'K'. The game was sold out, and was full of screaming children. Not to mention it was 90 degrees out, the sun was rediculously bright, and we were in the front row behind the dugout. So needless to say it was not the most comfortable place to nap. Did that stop her?

And most recently... my baby-sitter sent this to me. (I just love that Candice can email me pictures and updates while I'm at work!)

Admittedly, I too can also sleep just about anywhere. I used to joke that I could lay down right now where ever I was and be able to conk out. (And as tired as I feel lately I bet I still could!) As much as Danica looks and acts like her daddy, I guess we've finally found the one thing that she got from me.

Isn't it strange how genetics work?

10 things to do before becoming a parent...

I know it's been a while since I posted. I'm sorry. (to the 1.7 people who read this blog)

Recently I came across this blog...
and I somehow felt so understood. ;)

Read on parents, I'm curious to know what each of you miss about your pre-child days...


Mine would have to be.... (in no particular order)

- Go to the bathroom in private. (This does not count if you have to lock the door and listen to your toddler pound on the other side while she screams, "Momma potty! Momma potty!", hysterical because she thinks she's missing out of the excitement of the flushing toilet.)


- Running somewhere really quick just to pick up one item. (While bringing only your ID and check card.) Ha. My purse always has diapers, wipes, and animal crackers, and running anywhere 'real quick' also includes putting her shoes on, trying to keep her from pulling them off while we drive the 0.2 miles to the store, putting them back on when we get there, etc.)

- Not having to get up on a weekend morning. Not the all-day sleeping, but just getting up at my own pace, and because I wake up, not because someone is crying, screaming, or hollerin' at me from her bedroom.


- Be able to get drunk. I might have a couple drinks some nights, but never like I used to. (lol, I guess I was a bit of a party animal.) In no way do I want to be like that again, but I'd like to be able to drink and maybe get drunk, but not having to worry about being able to take care of my kiddo first thing in the morning. I would just like the option.

- Listen to whatever you want on the radio. I hate having to change the station in the middle of a song because I've just remembered the lyrics while singing along. (Unfortunately Nine Inch Nails and Nickelback are not so child friendly.)


- Go shopping for me! Now don't get me wrong, I love buying my daughter clothes and whatever else she needs (and of course some of what she wants. ;) ), but whatever happened to buying things for myself??? I actually went shopping this weekend, bought my daughter a bunch of clothes, my husband a few items, and a couple little decor items we'd been considering. No clothes for me!!


- Let my husband smack my ass. I know this may sound weird... but I swear, it's not kinky. ;) Something he's always done is smack my bottom, just randomly, though out our day. I could be making dinner, or just walking by him. It's just like our little way of smiling at each other and saying 'Hi'. Unfortunately I had to ask him to stop when Danica is around, because she thought it was funny and started doing it to me also. Somehow it is not nearly as cute and endearing when she does it.

- Come in early to work, or stay late. Not that I'm a work-a-holic, but I'd like to be able to stay 30 minutes late and finish up some project, and not have to worry about picking someone up, making dinner, and getting that same someone to bed by 7:30. *sigh*

- Finsh a project. I am extremely project-oriented. I'm always in the middle of at least half a dozen things. And I'd be able to get through them much quicker (and with much less frustration from my ever-loving husband), if I didn't have little hands in my paint, or crying because her hands are icky (read: she touched the paint), or because she just doesn't know that she should sit like a little angel, unmoving, untouching, and put up with whatever it is that I'm doing that day. (What, you mean kids don't do that??)

- Do the horizontal mambo with my husband at any time of the day, and not have to time our romance during naps or after she's gone to bed for the night. Oh, and not having to lock (or even close) the door while we do it!

In all honesty, I love my daughter more than I ever thought possible. Seriously, who in their right mind can resist this adorable spaghetti slurping mess?

And this face looking back at me in the rear-view mirror is priceless... she just melts my heart. :)

And in all honestly, I don't really even mind her 'helping' me fold the clean laundry, because this is how it ends up.

I wouldn't trade this beautiful little girl for anything, nor would I ever wish we hadn't had her.

However, there is something to be said for peeing in private...

Just the two of us...

I've seen this a few times now, and thought it was kinda cute. I figured I could steal borrow it and fill it in about Brian and I. Here goes nothing...

What are your middle names?
Mine: Michelle
His: Garrett

How long have you been together?
Together almost constantly since 1/29/98
Dating (almost constantly) since 6/29/98
Married 5/29/04
(Yes, I know, I have a memory thing with dates.)

How long did you know each other before you started dating?
5 months (see above)

Who asked who out?
I think it was mutual... we both just knew we wanted to be together. ;) (Yes, I know that sounds cheesey.)

Who said I love you first?
Me

How old are each of you?
I am 25, he's 27

Who's siblings do/did you see the most?
His, because they all live around here.

Do you have any children together?
One, Danica Teralyn

What about pets?
At the moment, two dogs, Merlin and Tobin

Did you go to the same schools?
Nope

Are you from the same hometown?
Kinda... we both call the KC area home

Who is the smartest?
It totally depends on the subject.

Who is the most sensitive?
If you know us, that's a stupid question. (Me, of course.)

Where do you eat out most as a couple?
Um... does Sonic count? We really don't eat out much.

Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
To Texas. (Sadly, both times were for a funeral.)

Who has the craziest ex?
Me, although I have other choice words than crazy in mind...

Who has the worst temper?
Him, without a doubt.

Who does the cooking?
For dinner most nights, he does. :) I love my hubby.

Who is the most social?
Me usually.

Who is the neat-freak?
Haha, we both are.

Who is the most stubborn?
We both are, but I think he's got me beat by a mile.

Who wakes up earlier?
Me

Where was your first date?
I guess it was to the movies. Or just driving around town talking.

Who has the bigger family?
We both have pretty big families... but his immediate family is bigger, mine is mainly extended.

Do you get flowers often?
Only if I buy them for myself.

Who do you spend the holidays with?
Everyone from both families usually.

Who is more jealous?
That would be me again.

Who sings better?
LoL... Me. And that's not saying much.

Who does/did the laundry?
Moi again. Some people don't every remember which clothes cannot go in the dryer on high.

Who’s better with the computer?
Me... but he's improving a lot.

Who drives when you are together?
Usually me, unless I'm the DD.

Who picks where you go to dinner?
We usually agree

Who is the first one to admit when they’re wrong?
Me (like I said, he's much more stubborn.)

Who named your pet?
I actually named both of our dogs.

Who wears the pants in the relationship?
We both do. (Does that mean we both wear skorts?)

Who has more tattoos?
Neither of us have one.

Who eats more sweets?
Me

Who cries more?
Me again.

Purple Rain?

Not in my gym!

Every Tuesday and Thursday night I participate in a Lift class at my local community center. I love it, I get excersize, to look and feel better, to get out of the house, and to be around adults other than co-workers. (No offense to said co-workers, but you know what I mean!) Last night as I was setting up my equipment for class, one of the other women said, "Come here, one of the sprinklers went off in the gym!". (Apparently someone hit the sprinkler head with a basketball.) I figured, hey, it's a sprinkler, no big deal, right? So I didn't hurry, I finished what I was doing, and then I wandered out to look down into the gym. I was a little shocked.


I assumed that a sprinkler would spray water, right? (I should have known better than to assume... the saying holds true to me every time!) Clean, clear water. Well, this crap was like black oil, or liquified rubber tires. (It stank just like burnt tires too BTW.) Of course I had to snap a picture to preserve this memory.

From the mouths of babes...

I am a huge fan of those quotes by kids. You know, the ones where the say things so sweet, insightful, and sometimes hilarious, without even meaning to?

Here are a few I came across lately, they are all childrens' thoughts on love, marriage, and relationships. there is some good advice here. ;)

Q - How do you decide who to marry?
A - You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming.

-- Alan, age 10

A - No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with.
-- Kristen, age 10

Q - What is the right age to get married?
A - Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then.
-- Camille, age 10

A - Eighty-four, because at that age, you don't have to work anymore, and you can spend all your time loving each other in your bedroom.
-- Judy, age 8

A - Once I'm done with kindergarten, I'm going to find me a wife.
-- Tom, age 5

Q - How can a stranger tell if two people are married?
A - You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.
-- Derrick, age 8

Q - What do you think your mom and dad have in common?
A - Both don't want any more kids.
-- Lori, age 8

Q - What do most people do on dates?
A - Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough.
-- Lynnette, age 8

A - On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date.
-- Martin, age 10

Q - What would you do on a first date that is turning sour?
A - I'd run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns.
-- Craig, age 9

Q - When is it ok to kiss someone?
A - When they're rich.
-- Pam, age 7

A - The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that.
-- Curt, age 7

A - The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do.
-- Howard, age 8

A -You should never kiss a girl unless you have enough bucks to buy her a big ring and her own VCR, cause she'll want to have videos of the wedding.
-- Jim, age 10

A - Never kiss in front of other people. It's a big embarrassing thing if anybody sees you. But if nobody sees you, I might be willing to try it with a handsome boy, but just for a few hours.
-- Kally, age 9

A - It's never okay to kiss a boy. They always slobber all over you...that's why I stopped doing it.
-- Jean, age 10

Q - Is it better to be single or married?
A - It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them.
-- Anita, age 9

Q - How would the world be different if people didn't get married?
A - There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there?
-- Kelvin, age 8

Q - How would you make a marriage work?
A - Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a truck.
-- Ricky, age 10

Girls' Night Out!

Our first full night in Colorado, my girlfriends and I had a night out planned. All the husbands had the children, and the town was ours. It was going to be awesome. Amazing. We had grand plans in our minds... our previous girls' night had included things like crazy karaoke, free drinks, impromtu 'bachelorette' parties, thrown-out backs, and unintentionally picking up women.

The night started out great. We met up at the Rio for yummy Mexican food and even yummier margaritas.

(before leaving the Rio)

After we ate and each had consumed a couple beverages of choice, we went across the street to what used to be a really neat karaoke bar inside the Brunswick Zone. It turned out there had been a remodel, and it was now not nearly as hopping as we were hoping. Oh well, we thought, we can still have fun and liven the place up! So we each order a drink and sit down to chat. After about 5 minutes, I realized I had a horrible stomach ache. I actually couldn't drink my drink (it was only my third, so no, to answer your questions now, I was no where near intoxicated.). After just a couple of uncomforable minutes, I had to go to the bathroom and proceeded to get sick. I won't go into much detail, but it was not nearly the kind of entertainment I'd been hoping for.

I still don't know what came over me... was it the altitude? the food? something I'd eaten earlier in the day? Whatever it was, it came back with a vengence. I was the party pooper of the night, but I asked Tiffany to take me home. I was so bummed, but I did not want to have to wash my foot off in the sink again. (Once was enough, thank you.)

So yes, Diana, the initiator of Girls' Nights Out, the one who loves to sing Karaoke into the wee hours of the morn, was in bed clutching her stomach by 11:00 on a Saturday night, still wearing her cute jeans and earrings. *sigh* Geez I'm getting old.

At least the hubby was in charge of the kid for the night.

Why would you want one?

My family and just came back from a week-long trip to Colorado. Not too long after piling into the car to start heading back this way, we drive through a small town which consists of a Sonic, a Safeway, a couple of bars, fields of cows and horses, and a few cute old houses. On this particular trip, I noticed that for some reason there is now a giant moose on a busy corner near the center of town. Not just a bronze looking one (which seem to be very popular out there), but a bright and shiney silver one.

I actually first noticed it because the glare from the sun was so bright that I would've thought the moose was on fire. (I know, the picture out my moving car's window as we drove by doesn't do it justice.)

And now I'm curious... does someone go out to polish the moose every so often? (And am I the only one who giggles to herself because I think that sounds stupidly dirty???)

Where has the time gone?

I find myself thinking a lot lately. Even more than usual, and I can't seem to stop, and honestly I'm not so sure that I want to. It's making me appreciate things so much more. Maybe it's the fact that my daughter is almost two years old (TWO?!?!), or that in 3 days, I will have known my husband for exactly 11 years. (I know, it's crazy.) Whatever the reason, I feel so thankful for what I have. (Even if sometimes it doesn't seem like it.) Any yes, I feel old.

Yesterday Brian and I took the side rail off of Danica's crib. I was so excited, but so sad that she is actually in her 'big-girl bed' now. She slept there for her nap and all night last night. Both times when she woke up, she didn't even get out, she just called to us until I came in and told her she could get out. (But when she's playing she climbs in and out of it all the time.) I am waiting for the night she she starts wandering the house on her own, and now that she can finally reach the door handles, she will go where ever she pleases. I don't know what were we thinking. Maybe I should put the rail back up tonight afterall...

(1/23/09 in her crib with that cheesey grin)

(1/25/09 in her big-girl bed...)

On January 29th, 1998, I met Brian at the movie theatre in Liberty. (fka The 'Berty 8, now the 'Berty 12) He was there on a blind date with my best friend (set up by her sister and his stepbrother), and I was dating someone else at the time. I was 14 and he was 16. We hardly even spoke that night, I was hyper, giddy, and (probably) pretty obnoxious. He was shy and quiet. I am pretty sure the movie was 'Good Will Hunting'. And look where we are now. I feel so lucky that I love my husband, and that we keep growing together. :)

I think that part of what makes me feel so old is that all our younger siblings are grown now, and they are starting their own lives. My mind can hardly wrap around that concept, I still see them as cute, awkward kids. (I can only imagine how our parents feel now. Can I say Oy?) And I say 'our' siblings, because to us, Brian's are mine, and mine are his. We have known each other since they were in elementary school, and they seem to have stuck that way, permenantly imprinted in my mind as an 11 year old. Now Christina's daughter is turning a year old, Chandra just got married and had her son, Gary has three little girls now, and Clayton, Darren and Laura are all in serious relationships themselves, and Laura is now talking about marriage. I want to cry! I'm realistically only 25, and as long as the Fates allow I have a long time left ahead of me. But I can't stop thinking I'm a quarter-century old, a grown up, a real grown up who is married, a grown up who has a child, a grown up with a grown up job. What the heck happened???

I know... I'm rambling again... *sigh*

I guess I should do it too.

I have seen this list on about 6 other people's blogs, as well as seen it in a couple more forwarded emails. I thought that might mean that it's time to fill it out myself. Peer preasure I guess. Here goes...

(The bolded items are things that I have done, the italicized items are things that I want to do, and the normal font are things that I could live without doing.)

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (Well, an orchestra. It's about the same, right?)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child (I'm not opposed to it at all; but not at this moment.)
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (Why on earth would I want to walk it??? That's why there are elevators!)
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (Well, some of them. I am really a mutt.)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language (In school, with the help of teachers, but I'm guessing that doesn't count...)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke (Many times, and if you happened to hear it, I appoligize.)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight (I will this summer!)
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling (Again... this summer!)
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies (for 9 years)
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 favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
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
77. Broken a bone (only my toe though.)
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
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury (I was in the box and got interviewed, but I didn't get chosen.)
91. Met someone famous
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 law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

And hey, I guess that is me in a nutshell. I just realized how dumb that seems when you consider that I don't like nuts very much at all. Hmmm.

Another to-do list...

I can be a bit obsessive when I get something in my head. Now depending on what it is and the timing, this can either be a good thing or a not-so-good thing. Reading has always been a huge obsession with me. Once I start reading a book, I physically cannot put it down. It is like a horrible addiction to me. Even if it's a bad story, it doesn't matter. It disrupts my entire normal life until the story is over. (This got me into quite a bit of trouble in school actually, b/c I'd be reading all the time during class, in the halls, etc.) I always try to start a book when I know I don't have anything else that needs to be finished anytime soon, or when I'm completely alone so I'm not rude to anyone else.

Case in point... I had sooo many people telling me I should read the Twilight series. I put it off for months b/c I did not want to get into another 'project' if you will. Well, Monday I broke down and got the first book. (I already had the 2nd one thanks to a Christmas gift debacle.) I started reading the first one after dinner on Monday night, and by 11:30 am on Wednesday I was finished with book #2. I read in bed late at night, I read while I was on the bus into work, I read on my lunch breaks, I read every spare second I could get. Now I'm freaking out because I have to go to the library on my lunch break and see about the next 2 books. *sigh*

Now that I've fallen off the non-reading wagon, I'm in deap for a while. Here's my current and ever-changing list of things I'd like to read... (and of course I'm always open to more suggestions...)

- Eclipse, Stephenie Meyer
- Breaking Dawn, Stephenie Meyer
- the Sookie Stackhouse series, Charlaine Harris
- The Stalking Horse, Miriam Grace Manfredo (I know she has others that are good too...)
- The Lovely Bones, Alice Sebold (I need to re-read before the movie comes out this summer)
- The Host, Stephenie Meyer

It seems I have a theme to the books that are catching my attention lately.

It's been an emotional last couple of days...

Monday was great. Brian and I had a day off together thanks to the MLK holiday, so we made the entire day into a date. Brian dropped Danica off at daycare at normal time, and we went to Starbucks for a liquid breakfast. We drove downtown and went to Crown Center, where neither of us had been since we were dating over 10 years ago. We walked around, did a tiny bit of shopping and walked around for a while, and then we went ice skating. :) I was so excited, I hadn't gone since I was a very little kid, and Brian had never been in his life. It was so exhilirating, I forgot how much fun it is! And I must add that I was very proud of Brian, he didn't fall down once, and even tried skating backwards with me. (Although sadly yes, I fell down once right as we were leaving.) After we decided we had had enough of the cold for a while, we drove down to the Plaza and had lunch at the Cheesecake Factory. (Yum!) We talked and planned, and everything was so nice. (The only thing that could've made our date day any better was if it had been dark so we could've seen all the lights on the Plaza.) ;)



After lunch we went to the hospital to visit with Brian's step-sister Chandra, her hubby Nate, and their new baby. Westley Victor Kettlewell was born Monday morning while we were shopping, and he is so precious! Mom, Dad, and Westley are all doing as well as possible, except that they are all exhausted of course. He is so tiny... and holding him, that new, that tiny, smelling that good, wearing that little hospital hat... it was almost enough to make me want to have another baby right now. Almost, but not quite. :) (Let's wait until after our summer vacation and then we'll see what happens... )



The entire day played almost like a movie in my mind. It was just so nice to have a kind-of break from reality and to just be together. I feel so lucky to be so in love with my husband, and to know he loves me too. (Ok, cue the cheesey music now... )



And then yesterday was Inauguration Day. Wow. No matter what your political affiliation, I don't see how anyone could not be moved by the enormity of everything. Almost everyone in my office was peeking at a t.v. all day, and we all watched together for about an hour while the actual oaths were being taken and the speeches were made. I was literally in awe to see that many people, together for the same cause, supporting the same ideas, people from every background, all over the globe, it was truly amazing. Many times I had to hold back tears. Not even because of the new President necessarily, but because I felt like I was living in history. It's so hard to describe, but I couldn't help but think over and over again how I was witnessing probably the biggest world event in my lifetime as of yet. And of course I had set my DVR, and watched it again after Danica went to bed last night. I will probably watch it again tonight as well....




I guess my emotions just never get a break, do they? I swear I must drive those who know me crazy... up and down, up and down, it's crazy. But I guess that's what happens in life; everything is constantly changing, and sometimes it feels like it's all I can do to hang on for the ride.

A Slightly Drunken Saturday Night...

Well, it's now after 1:00 in the morning, and Brian and I have been up drinking with our friend James. I've had some wine, they've had some beers, and we have all been reminicsing. We've gotten to that all important point where the discussion becomes serious. So what do I do? I break out the camera. (Brian and I will have our own discussion later.) :) (Oh, and to anyone who may ask about the swords... yes, Brian is a huge LOTR nut. But I love him anyway.)

Please Mom, can I have a snow day?

This morning it snowed. When I got up, it was a whopping 5 degrees above zero. (Better than yesterday, when it was 3 below.) The snow fell pretty hard for a while, and blew all over the place, but we only ended up with a couple inches of accumulation. Of course, that didn't stop people from driving like idiots who cannot find their gas pedal. I mean, I understand the need to slow down a bit, watch out on bridges and curves, things like that. But people here are scared to death to drive in any kind of weather! Maybe it's from living in Colorado and dealing with 2-3 foot snowfalls a couple times a year and driving like it was no big deal. But I grew up here, I learned to drive here, and I don't ever remember driving 35 miles an hour on the freeway when there are the lightest of flakes falling. (No exaggeration here.)

Anywho... since the snow stopped, it's gotten very sunny out and it looks so inviting, despit the fact that it's so cold out. Unfortunately from my cubicle (yes, I work in a cubicle) I cannot see out the windows.

There is however, a conference room across the hall from my cube-sweet-cube, from which I normally get a nice view of some downtown rooftops.

Today though, I have a strange yearning to do down there and turn doughnuts in the fresh snow on that rooftop parking lot. Anyone want to join me???

Okay, I pulled a Natali.

As soon as I saw this sign, I thought of my friend Natali. No, not because of the sign itself, but because she is always posting blogs of random, strange, or just plain funny things she sees along her wanderings. I actually thought of this post in particular.

I found this sign hanging in the bathroom of the office building next door to mine yesterday. (Our buildings are connected by a catwalk, so I'm over there quite a bit.) Sadly, I did not cary my phone with me at the time, so I actually returned to that bathroom today just to get this picture.
(Please forgive the blurriness; I still have not mastered the camera on my phone, and it was typed in very strange old-school-robot-like font anyway.)

It reads... "Do not dipose of sanitary napkins, towels, pantyhose, etc. in toilet stools."

Now to me this means either one of two things...
1) that someone is seriously confused on exactly what pantyhose are used for, or
2) that someone at one time has actually tried to flush pantyhose down the toilet

Unfortunately scenario number 2 seems more likely to me...

Dear blogging world... please go easy on me!

I suppose that since I spend a good deal of time each day going from one friend's blog to another, and from each of them to another few blogs, and so on, that it was probably well past time for me to make my own blog and have a place to keep up with all the others that I visit.

I did try a blog once before. A few years ago. I feel horrible, but I honestly don't even remember the name I made up. (Obviously I didn't put too much time or effort into it!) I promise this time will be better. :)

I guess this is all I've got for today.