Date Night

But first...

Dear Facebook,

Do you really have to get rid of the "most recent" news feed? For a while yesterday, when I clicked on Most Recent, it just gave me the "Top Stories." I'm guessing that means we're one bumbling and inelegant step away from that change coming out of beta.

Your fancy Top Stories algorithm doesn't ever show me the stories I care about. Not even close. They're not the friends with whom I interact most, nor are they the types of posts I want to see.

No love,
Me

Date night last night! We had dinner at Evangeline's and played games at Dave and Buster's. I complained to the dude selling us the game card at D&B, "You don't have any pinball games!" He laughed and replied, "We used to have one, but no one played it, so they took it out."

Yeesh. He must have thought I said "jukebox."

His suggestion as I was walking away- "You could play skeeball!"

On what planet is skeeball a reasonable substitute for pinball?

Skeeball.

I did get 1st place on some driving game. I also did awesome on Galaga, as usual. (So they have Galaga, but not a single pinball game in the building?) My favorite game was actually Deal or No Deal, where I made case choices based on the sentimental and personal significance of the numbers, while my husband made his case choices by the size of the models' boobs. Everyone has their system.

Saturday 9: Bad Day

1. Is there anything that you tend to do to cheer up when you are having a bad day?
Find something fun to go out and do with someone. Call a friend. Listen to music.

2. What’s the last card game you played, and with whom did you play?
Uno Attack with Lauren and Jeff

3. What’s the last board game you played, and with whom did you play?
Balderdash with Jeff, Lauren, Jim and Jaxon on the cruise

4. What’s the last computer game you played, and with whom did you play?
My gaming geek friends are going to have a field day with me. Is this a question about PC games or do Playstation and Wii count? The last Wii game I played was Super Mario Galaxy 2, with Lauren as my occasional Luma helper. The last PC game I played was - (do online games like Mafia Wars count? I'm so sucking at this question)- Spider Solitaire.

5. Is there somewhere you’d like to visit but have not, and where is it?
There are so many destinations I have yet to see! I'd love to visit Italy- my mother's favorite place.

6. Think of your favorite movie (or a movie you really like, if you can’t think of a favorite). Some people say that the reasons you love your favorite movie are related to what you value in romantic relationships. How is this true or untrue in your case?
I have a lot of favorite movies, but I decided on Lord of the Rings before reading all the way through the question, so I'll stick with that one.

If we go straight to the obvious and look at the Aragorn/Arwen romance in the film, yes. They have the basics of caring and passion covered, and also a sort of timeless bond that survives obstacles like distance and temptation.

If we turn down the lights, put on our berets and get all deep and stuff, and contemplate the story itself, I also very much value a "team" (or "partnership" since there are two rather than nine people in our little fellowship) vibe in a romantic relationship. Life's crap is going to come our way now and then, and we are in this together to get through it.

Also, a ring is always nice in a romantic relationship. ;)

7.What physical attributes do you find the most attractive?
Dark hair. Broad, toned shoulders.

8.How many people live in your house? Tell us about them.
Three. There's me, who everyone here knows. *waves* There's Jeff, my husband, who is a brainy engineer. He likes electronic gadgets, and does high-powered rocketry as a hobby. He's exceptionally knowledgeable in the interests he has, so people are always calling him for help with their computers, their rockets, etc. and he's happy to help out. He's tall and has the requisite dark hair and broad, toned shoulders. And finally, there is Lauren, our 16-year-old. She's a very pretty young lady with a great smile and a sparkly personality to match. She is a talented cheerleader and dancer and color guard... -er? She gets near perfect grades. Recently, she's been expressing an interest in attending Texas A&M. She is currently deciding between psychology and forensics as a major.

9. Ever punch someone in the face?
Yes. Myself during cardio-kickboxing. I have a fabulous right uppercut.

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Happy Friday!

RE: the ESP I thought I had in yesterday's post... If I had it, I would have waited for Scott's email to arrive, rather than calling him. Just thought of that.

Desktop Meme
Take a snapshot of your desktop right now. Don't delete or change anything. Post it on your blog.

Here ya' go, in all its yawnworthy glory (click the image to enlarge):

I still need to change my background image. It's been the default since about May, when I got Windows 7.

ETA: BTW, Windows 7 was my idea.

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Still Here

I called Scott just now to ask if they were in with our group for the Aztex game this weekend, since I hadn't heard back after a couple of days. As soon as he picked up, I got a notification that he had sent an email. I'm certain now that I totally have ESP.

I had an ESP test kit when I was ten. It had things like flash cards with shapes that you would think about and the other person would try to read your mind. My friends and I would quiz each other to see who had "the gift." Apparently, none of us. I did know, however, that Lori was usually pondering what it would be like to kiss Andy Gibb.

We're in the thick of another Foundation event now. Once that is over, things should quiet down again. My crafting website is running in fits and starts. Just when I think every boutique craft store is going out of business, I'll get two brand new stores contacting me in one day. Yay for them, especially in this economy. Hobbies are the first thing to go when money is tight. Some of my advertisers are exclusively booking events through my website, so while I was thinking I may have to shut the site down, it's actually helping. Nice!

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Tuesday

I was at KathyL's Saturday night. She's on a Bahama Mama kick. I only had one, because I don't like to waste calories on things like fruit juice in my alcohol. It's like getting whip cream on your coffee drink. The guy at the Barnes & Noble Starbucks tried to convince me yesterday that the whip cream he wanted to put on top of my lo-cal drink only added 15 calories. That's just BS. According to their website it's 80. I wanted to say, "Dude. Do you know how many calories I wasted on juice this weekend?"

TMI du Jour: My hair is now the perfect length that when I'm working out, it clings to my shoulders and then gets caught in my armpits.

(Is laughing at your own blog post the first sign of insanity? Just checking.)

We played Speedminton last night. So fun!! I had to fog myself with DEET to keep the swarming mosquitoes off. No one around me ever gets bitten. Very weird.

Patrick's Saturday Six

1. When you visit a supermarket, do you usually buy all of the things you need to hold yourself over for a week or so, or do you make multiple short stops during the week?
I always buy for a week. Sometimes I have to make another little trip for more fresh produce, because it doesn't keep for long.

2. When you’re able to enjoy a night with the house to yourself, what are you most likely to do?
catch up on DVR'ed stuff on TV and take a long shower or bath or hang out in the hot tub

3. Consider the last time you ate a well-grilled steak: who did the grilling: you or someone else? Was it to your satisfaction?
I haven't had a backyard-grilled steak in forever. Jeff's dad grills pork loin when we're there. It's really good. My mom used to do steaks (and sausage) over charcoal, and they were always amazing. I can't grill, but I would looooove to learn how!

4. What was the last meatless meal you ate? Did you enjoy it, or did you find yourself missing the meat?
Pasta with marinara sauce. I don't miss the meat in that.

5. Take the quiz: What Toe Are You?
You Are the Fourth Toe
You tend to be a cooperative and social person. You like being around others.
You are pretty attached to your friends and family... but only in a healthy way.
Love and relationships are the cornerstone of your life. People come first for you.
You are independent when you need to be, but you prefer not to travel solo. You like having your support system.

6. What part of your body would you say is the most ticklish?
Definitely my feet! Just thinking about it makes me squirmy.

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What the FrenchToast

I (probably all too) frequently use silly words like "craptastic" or "coolio" (I said it waaay before Chasez did, so don't even start with me). A while back, I said "What the HIZZOW?" which Lauren immediately informed me was neither a word nor a cool allusion to the "fo' shizzle" sort of urban slang.

"What about, 'What the hizz'?"

"No."

So since then, I've been saying, "What the HOO-HA?!" And now? I've got other people saying it.

Dorks.

In other linguistics news, I was reading Lauren the directions in Spanish for cooking something in the microwave. I read, "En horno de microondas..."

Cue the eye roll. "Not hor-no," she says. "It's or-no."

HOLA. (heh) Yeah, I knew that.

And finally, on a completely unrelated note, when we were at JeffC's yesterday, there was an insect there which he informed us was a "damselfly" rather than a dragonfly. How freakin' CUTE is that? I've never heard of them. They are smaller and slimmer, and when they're at rest, their narrower wings are against their body, rather than away from it. Well, plus they have the long golden hair...

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Gaga Mini-Review, Etc.

Lady Gaga was fantastic! It was much like a Prince concert- amazing music coupled with a very extravagant visual production. I have to admit, it was better than the three awesome Prince concerts I've been to over the decades. The dancers are incredible. The costumes and effects, stunning. The girl may be controversial, but I think even many who despise her persona would concede she has a beautiful voice and a hell of a lot of talent in the songwriting department.

I really like her new song "You and I." Very country/rock. Do not miss her fabulous voice at the end!



I dreamed last night that six of my high school friends kidnapped me from a CRO investigator's meeting I was attending and drove me around to restaurants and tourist spots in San Juan. The friends looked like they did in high school.

Okay then.

Saturday 9: The Sun Rising

1. When was the last time that you watched a sunrise? Who were you with?
I watch the sun rise most days when no one else is up yet. :)

2. If President Obama promised he'd do one thing you asked, what would you ask him to do?
Re-energize to again project the strength and steadfastness that got him elected. He seems very disenchanted and uninterested the last year or so.

3. What is one experience that has strengthened your character the most so far?
Becoming a parent. Deja vu. I think I just answered this.

4. What is the first thing that you usually do after completing Saturday 9?
go downstairs and have breakfast. That's what I usually do after blogging.

5. Tell us about someone either in your life or in the blogosphere that you think is extremely funny.
The Bloggess! She just has a sense of humor that is right up my alley. Seeing funny stuff in the everyday.

6. Where was the last bed that you slept in that was not your own?
at the hotel Friday night in Dallas

7. Have you ever been too drunk to remember anything?
Not remembering anything when you're drunk is a myth. You remember everything that happened. You may have been embarrassed by some things, but don't play the "I can't remember" card.

8. Have you ever licked something to clean it?
No, I don't lick anything for cleaning purposes. If it's dirty, I'm not putting my tongue on it. I have, however, licked my finger and rubbed something to clean it.

9. Who, outside of family or a S/O, has influenced your life the most?
Among my friends and teachers, there are so many. Probably my high school physics teacher, who introduced me to engineering and fostered my interest in it. That not only determined my college major, which affected all sorts of things in my life to this day, but also instilled in me the general drive to be whatever I want to be, regardless of gender roles and other people's desires or expectations.

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Rah Rah Ah-Ah-Ahhhhh

What does a forty-three-year-old mom wear to a Lady Gaga concert? Yeah, I don't know either. I don't have a fur hat, a rubber dress OR a cockatoo. I suppose I'll stick with jeans and a cute top. Can't go wrong there. I am excited about the show!

Scotty posted this in a comment yesterday, and I've got to re-post, because it's so great. It's an a capella group from U of Oregon.



Thursday Thunks: None of Your Business

1. What is the most common question that you are asked that is none of the questioner's business?
I'm a pretty open person, so I don't think many questions are out-of-bounds. Certainly none of the questions I am frequently asked have been. Like most women, I was occasionally asked a none-of-your-business question when I was pregnant.

2. Who makes you happiest right now?
Lauren

3. Would you consider yourself to be spoiled?
I'm not overindulged. I don't really lack anything in any aspect of my life right now though. Perhaps that is "spoiled" to a small degree.

4. Do you want to be famous one day?
I would love to be famous for something like a scientific discovery (or writing a musical!), not like movie star famous. I don't want to pop up on TMZ.

5. Could you handle being in the military?
No. I like to be in control of things in the workplace, and a large part of that job has to be governed by others. In a combat environment, it's out of control altogether.

6. Do you believe in Karma?
Yes, I believe that you reap what you sow in life.

7. What’s the stupidest thing you ever did with your cell phone?
Almost sent a text to my facebook status, instead of the person it was supposed to go to.

8. Who knows a secret or two about you?
My close girlfriends each know a secret or two about me. Jeff knows a few, too.

9. Who is the most experimental person you know?
Janeen. She's one of those people who will casually mention that she's decided to go to Reykjavik to take a Lighthouse Keeper course. She thrives on doing and learning new things.

10. Last thing you did that ticked off your S/O (or if not in a relationship most recent S/O)?
Neither of us can think of anything. LOL. It's been a while since I annoyed him. Watch- today I'll really piss him off. ;)

11. Have you ever purposely been irritating to someone? If yes, explain.
I'm never purposely irritating. It doesn't fit with my pursuit of being "iridescent."

12. What's crazy to you?
Women who date abusive men

13. Who writes the most interesting blog?
Anderson Cooper

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Put a Shirt On

After Lauren left around 5:30 last night for a sleepover, I worked out (late- yuck). My workout outfit du jour was capris and a sports bra top, and I had it on for maybe an hour and a half. Then I had to run something over to her, so I tossed my daytime clothes back on really quick (denim capris and a lightweight linen top) and hopped in the car.

About halfway there, I was stopped at a crowded traffic light. A very creepy feeling came over me-- that I had put on my regular bra again, but NOT my shirt, because I had gotten used to just the sports bra. I slowly looked down... I had the shirt on. It would have been a better blog story if I hadn't, but there you go.

Also last night, I was jamming along making dinner and I got to the third line of the recipe and it said "marinate overnight." Yeesh. I did an hour. It wasn't really long enough. Later we were watching a show on Travel Channel about some restaurants in Puerto Rico where they marinate everything for at least two days. Now that is my kind of marinating! ...As long as I know ahead of time.

I LOVED Inception. I wasn't sure I liked it at all for the first ten minutes, but the movie is almost 2.5 hours long, and I felt like it was an hour-and-a-half, it was so compelling. Pure drama and action. Not "cerebral" like The Matrix, but along the same lines, you do have to pay attention to what is going on. There are many different things occurring at the same time, with the same people, in different places, at different speeds, so it helps to skip the potty break and keep up. I'm telling you, do not get a drink. It'll save you a squirmy hour... and about $6.

Instead of the song lyrics of the day, I have for you a...

Screenplay Line of the Day

Some of us get dipped in flat, some in satin, some in gloss, but every once in a while, you find someone who's iridescent. And when you do, nothing will ever compare.

Bryce's grandfather tells him this in next month's Rob Reiner film, Flipped

I literally had to stop and catch my breath. If I have ever wanted to be anything in life, honestly, it's "iridescent." It makes me think of someone with innate joy. I absolutely adore that line. I want it on a poster on my office wall.

Yeah, in a week, I'll have an office again! I share it with a bunch of books and supplies and a fridge, but hey! It's mine. :-)

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Wednesday Wickedness

...the meme. Not anything perverted. That's tomorrow- Kinky Thursday.

Wednesday Wickedness: Ellen Degeneres Quotes

1. "I was coming home from kindergarten--well they told me it was kindergarten. I found out later I had been working in a factory for ten years. It's good for a kid to know how to make gloves." How old were you when you started working and what was your first job?
Sixteen- Gallagher's restaurant hostess

2. "My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty. She's ninety-seven now, and we don't know where the hell she is." Tell us about your grandparents.
My Opa died when I was very young. My Oma lives in Worms, Germany. She is a vivacious woman with a strong personality, who covers her envelopes in pretty little stickers when she mails us letters. She speaks not one word of English. She will absolutely never fly on an airplane, so we've always gone to see her. We love her!

with Lauren in 1996 in Schönau am Königssee 

 Opa and I- Germany, 1968

My Grandma died when I was 11. Her name is my middle name. She was a mom to five children who kept her very busy. She was funny and sweet and did a lot of volunteering at her church. Some of my favorite memories of her are during a trip we took with my mom and aunt to Wisconsin, where she is from. We were very close, and I have her photo on my desk.

 with me in Wisconsin 1976

My Grandpa just turned 90. He grew up in a tiny little town west of Houston, then after college, became an officer in the Army and traveled the world for many years. He retired as a colonel, worked at Texas A&M for several years, and continued his world traveling for fun. He has a great sense of humor. I really admire him.

 at his 90th bday lunch in 2010

3. "Procrastination isn't the problem, it's the solution. So procrastinate now, don't put it off." Do you procrastinate or are you on top of the situations?
I used to procrastinate a lot. Now, not so much. I like to get things done early, so I can play.

4. "Sometimes you can't see yourself clearly until you see yourself through the eyes of others." What would others say about you?
They'd say I am brainy and very into music. Scotty says I'm "the life of the party." (Where the heck is Scotty, anyway?! Hellooooooo?)

5. "The only thing that scares me more than space aliens is the idea that there aren't any space aliens. We can't be the best that creation has to offer. I pray we're not all there is. If so, we're in big trouble" Do you believe in life on other planets?
Carbon-based life forms? I doubt it, because there probably isn't another planet with the same physical characteristics of Earth, but it's not out of the realm of possibility.

6. "I'm a godmother, that's a great thing to be, a godmother. She calls me god for short, that's cute, I taught her that." Do you have a godchild?
I have two! Cathy's children, Scarlet and Julian.

7. "I don't understand the sizes anymore. There's a size zero, which I didn't even know that they had. It must stand for: 'Ohhh my God, you're thin.'" When was the last time that you were called too thin?
During radiation treatments when I was 21. I weighed less then than I did in the fifth grade.

8. "I have the worst memory ever so no matter who comes up to me - they're just, like, 'I can't believe you don't remember me!" I'm like, 'Oh Dad I'm sorry!'" Who was the last person that you should have recognized but didn't?
Jacinda from dinner the other night. Renee asked if we knew each other in high school and I said no, and I got the feeling she was about to say yes. Sure enough, I totally knew her. She has long hair now and had a very punk, short hairstyle in the 80s.

9. "I gotta work out. I keep saying it all the time. I keep saying I gotta start working out. It's been about two months since I've worked out. And I just don't have the time. Which uh..is odd. Because I have the time to go out to dinner. And uh..and watch tv. And get a bone density test. And uh.. try to figure out what my phone number spells in words." Do you work out? Have you ever joined a gym and quit almost immediately?
I work out five days a week at home. I belonged to an aerobics club in college for a couple of years, and went religiously. I belonged to a gym here in Austin, when Lauren was little, for about six months. She hated the childcare there, so it made it difficult to go.

10. "We use 10 percent of our brains. Imagine how much we could accomplish if we used the other 60 percent." Do you feel that you utilize all your intelligence in every situation?
If only any of us did!

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Two or Three Tickets to Paradise

Heard yesterday morning at my house...

Me (singing): ...Cheeseburger in Paradise. Pack your bags we'll leave tonight...
Lauren: Are those the words to a real song?
Me: It's a real song, but I have momentarily forgotten the real words. Oh yes. (singing) Three tickets to paradise. Pack your bags we'll leave tonight...
Lauren: Why THREE?
Me: Hmm. It must be two.

It is, btw.

Have I commented on here yet about Mel Gibson? The guy is an out of control, racist, chauvinistic whack job who can't ever keep his anger in check. I agree his girlfriend is a piece of work, but holy freakout, Batman.

You know what we forgot to do at the reunion that they have always done in the past? A GROUP PHOTO. Huge duh. The only other complaint anyone has had is that it was so casual that we didn't even have anyone say a few words to the group, or establish who came the farthest, etc. Ahh well. Next time.

HGTV asked on Facebook yesterday, "If money were no object and you could own a second home, where would it be?" Most people probably have an immediate answer, but I sat and thought about all the practicalities and pros and cons of living here and there. I mean really, if we're going to ponder, let's be serious about it.

In the end, I choose Hawaii. It's removed enough that you get that ironically glorious "small" feeling like when you're on a ship in the middle of the ocean. But it's not incredibly removed, like Fiji, where you have the whole "Can you hear me now?" thing with your cell phone. It's a relaxed culture and lifestyle. And speaking of tickets to Paradise, y'all can come visit any time and stay as long as you like, because if money is no object, that sucker will be at least 8,000 square feet, right on the beach.

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Reunion in Review

This was my first high school reunion. It was actually quite a few of my classmates' first one as well! No one went into the lake... awww.

We started with dinner with three of my close high school buddies- Renee, Shane and Sheryl. Shane's wife, Teresa, who is also a classmate, Renee's and my friend Jacinda from the class ahead of ours, and Renee's hubby (Frank) and mine were also there. Then we caravaned over to the bar on the lake, where the reunion was already crowded and rockin' along.

So many great people were there! Old friends and acquaintances, and some spouses and friends of theirs. I couldn't walk ten feet without seeing someone and starting the hugfest all over again. Eee! Frank and Jeff pretty quickly established the "Plus One" table right by the deck railing outside, while we all flitted around inside for about an hour. Frank, Jeff and Jacinda were joined by Mandy, who came with a girlfriend who was a classmate of ours.

There was a huge fan inside that everyone kept walking past and then returning to stand in the air, since it was warm in there. Way more amusing than it should have been. There's a great photo of me with my hair blowing back like I'm in a photo shoot or something. Ahaha.

The bathroom decor was fabulous. Primping and chatting in the crowded mirror with a bunch of classmates, many of whom I hadn't spoken to in school, was really cool. Talking about the boys, etc. I went back a few times just to check my Houston hair and chit-chat with everyone who happened to be in there at the moment.

When the band started playing, we moved the party outside to the deck. We sort of had a dueling party with the people at the club next door. They had more boats, but we had more school spirit. Heh. Then the "Plus One" table became our home base. At some point Renee was talking about my BFF Grant J. I said, "Grant J is HERE?" She said "YES!" I said no way. She got up and grabbed my hand and dragged me back into the bar.

We wound through people until we came upon this very tall, Mr. Universe sort of guy, when she said "Kathy, this is Grant S!" (Not my Grant.) He gives me a huuuuuge hug. I said, "I don't think I know you, Grant. Do you know me?" He looked at my name tag. "Nope," he said. We both said it was nice to meet you... and I was like, Renee! WTF. So that was my one awkward moment of the entire night. It was fine. lol.

At one point Greg G was by our table outside and I called to him, "Greg G! Why do we know all the same people on Facebook, but I don't remember you from school at all? And I know you don't remember me." He said, "I remember you... (glance to my nametag) KATHY."

"Uh huh."

"We had physics together!" *grin*

So I still don't know him, but it was fun to finally meet him.

Luckily, it wasn't a whole night of "So what do you do?" and "How old are your kids?" Once those little interesting questions were answered, we easily floated right into everyday conversation, just like we were hanging out 25 years ago. We stayed until the very end. I loved it! Awesome event!

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High School Reunion Day

It's reuuuuuuuunion daaaaay!!!! Over just the past week, I've successfully coerced convinced a few people to attend, so I am very happy about that. We have a BFFs' dinner planned before the event tonight, and also brunch for Sunday morning... should we be awake... or still awake...


Saturday 9: Love Hurts

1. Tell us about the last time that you got hurt in the arena of love.
Jeff loves when I tell this story. (Note my sarcastic font.) He and I had dated for 12 months when we returned to school after winter break at home (he in Dallas and I in Houston) our junior year. He called me over to his apartment and told me he'd gone out with someone at home over break, and thought we should split up because we were too young to limit ourselves to just dating each other.

2. Have you ever been part of a wedding party, other than your own?
I was invited to be a bridesmaid and maid of honor at two friends' weddings while I was in college, but I wasn't able to attend either ceremony. I was a bridesmaid in KathyL's wedding in Nashville.

3. Let's say you find yourself in Hell after you die. Think about everyone you've known in your life. Who would be the one person that would least likely to surprise you by being in Hell with you?
If I go to Hell, Laura is going with me.

4. What brings you good luck?
Thinking positive. It's a self-fulfilling sort of thing, I think.

5. Do you have a photo blog? If so, feel free to share the link with us!
Sure. Are you 18 or over, with a credit card? ;)

6. What is your biggest source of news? (Internet? Newspaper? Television? Radio? The Daily Show? Other?)
internet

7. What's the hottest you've ever been in your life?
We went downtown with friends one night when I was about 24, and I wore this great Lara Croft sort of outfit with these fabulous black boots.. oh you mean temperature hot. I think when our neighborhood flooded during Tropical Storm Claudette. It was hot anyway, and all of us were wet, like drowned rats, because we'd waded out into the water to get into the rescue boats. We had to ride buses to the Red Cross shelter, and it was positively sweltering.

8. If you had to choose a theme song for your blog, which would you choose and why?
Well, the blog title is from Duran Duran's "New Religion," so I have to go with that. The lyrics are delightfully random, too, which is fitting.

...I'm talking for free
I can't stop myself 
It's a new religion...

9. Who was the last person you had an online conversation with that you've never met or talked to on your phone?
Eva :)

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Steffy Consults "The Old Spice Guy"

The Old Spice guy (Isaiah Mustafa) tells George Stephanopoulos how Obama can regain the support of female voters. "...Hello ladies!" Ahahaa!



I seriously have a reminder sticky note here by my desk right now that says "add ninja to wishlist." Isn't Mafia Wars fun? Every now and then, someone impresses me with a witty MW name. Most recently it's "Don Pérignon." *snort*

Tracy and I went to the Grease Sing-Along movie last night at the Alamo Drafthouse. John Travolta and Jeff Conaway in 1978- sooooooo freakin' cute. This was the first sing-along I've been to there. (This studio-produced sing-along is very unlike the not-so-fancy self-subtitled versions AD usually does, our host told us.) It was really fun. There were even party favors. It was really cool watching the film in a theater again, and with a very participatory audience, not only singing loud, but cheering, booing and quoting along as well. Incidentally, there is a filthy line in "Greased Lightning" that I didn't know until last night. "...You know that I ain't bragging, she's a real p***y wagon..." P-Wagon? Really? I never had a clue what he said there. I may have been mortified had I known at 11. Back then, we were all giggly just hearing him sing the S word.

This brings us to the song lyrics of the day. Sometimes just one phrase from a song really strikes me as brilliantly written. It's very difficult to write a few words that pack a lot of emotional punch, but here's one great example:

Song Lyrics of the Day

...You could crush me
but please don't crush me...

Mayday Parade, "Untitled "

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Unfollow Already!

In a frightening display of stalkery weirdness, and/or an omen that computers are finally taking over the world, I un-followed someone on Twitter, but they continue to show up in my updates. Go. Away.

Thursday Thunks

1. Billy Mays died about a year ago. What kitchen gadgets have you bought that you've used less than three times?
infrared thermometer gun that I begged for. It only tells you surface temp. What's the point of that?
jar opener- I can usually strong arm those things.
pancake batter bowl- Sure, Pampered Chef... Suck people in with awesome tools like the chopper, then sell them a ridiculous batter bowl to go with it.

2. What celebrity would you like to shake some sense into, and why?
John Gosselin. He had the entire fanbase of their show on his side in the beginning and then ruined it by becoming a royal douchebag. Now we're all left to deal with Kate on an ongoing basis.

3. Jimmy Buffett just did a concert to benefit the victims of the Gulf. Name a Buffett song that you like.
"Come Monday"

4. How did you feel about Ringo Starr turning 70?
He did? That sounds about right.

5. What sport do you absolutely see no point in watching?
I used to say golf, but I've actually seen some really exciting golf in the past couple of years, so... I'll say sculling.

6. Trivia time. Do you know the first names of the French twins?
I don't even know what that refers to.

7. You are in the best seafood restaurant in Canada. What type of meat do you order?
I'm all sorts of confused on this question. Why are we in Canada? If I'm at a seafood place, why am I ordering meat? Fine. Pork chop. They probably won't have the best steak there.

8. How far would an electric car have to go without a recharge before you'd buy one?
200 miles

9. Did you see that a high court ruled that you can swear on regular TV? What word can you just not wait to hear?
The C word. I'm on the edge of my seat.

10. You are in the finest steak and rib joint in Kimberville (Arizona). What seafood dish do you order?
Okay. I see where we're going now. I would never order seafood at a fine steak and rib joint. For the sake of survey participation, I would order popcorn shrimp. It's fairly foolproof.

11. What was the last concert that you attended that really sucked?
Craig Morgan when he opened for Carrie Underwood. I was in physical pain listening to that twangy country. Just the vague memory makes me nauseous. About 90% of the audience loved it though. Shows how much I know.

12. What type of accent would you like to have, if you were forced to change yours?
Australian

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Right Off Your FACE!

In one of the early U.S. World Cup games, someone took a ball to the face at a pretty high velocity, and it bounced a good distance. Everyone in the restaurant went "ooooh" and Lauren enthusiastically exclaimed, "...RIGHT OFF YOUR FACE!" which made sent me straight into a giggle fit. Since then, it's a frequent comment around here if anything happens involving someone's face.

*crickets*

You have to hear/see it. I promise- it is the pinnacle of hilarity.

JeffP is already pondering on Facebook which of our classmates is going to fall into the lake first this weekend at the reunion. (Note his carefully placed usage of the word "first.") As long as it isn't me... And guess what???!!!?! Another one of my BFFs is coming!!! I'm sworn to secrecy on this person's identity, but I'm SO excited to see them.

Lauren and I went to Bananarchy yesterday. Scott had told us about it and then suddenly there was a Groupon for it, so I felt it was fate that we'd end up there. It was delicious! Frozen bananas dipped in your choice of topping and then rolled in your favorite dry topping. We had the chocolate, which was really good. Real chocolate, not some cheapy-deapy sort. Try it! It's on Lamar just south of Barton Springs, on the west side of the road.

Just heard another of what I consider to be one of the best songs ever written- Lifehouse's "Hanging By A Moment."

Song Lyrics of the Day

...Desperate for changing
Starving for truth
I'm closer to where I started
Chasing after you
I'm falling even more in love with you
Letting go of all I've held on to
I'm standing here until you make me move
I'm hanging by a moment here with you
I'm living for the only thing I know
I'm running and not quite sure where to go
And I don't know what I'm diving into
Just hanging by a moment here with you...

Lifehouse "Hanging By A Moment" 

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Fredericksburg

We went to Fredericksburg yesterday. Beauuuutiful day for it!

Every two feet between Johnson City and Fredericksburg there is a peach stand. The big game was to shout "Peaches!" every time we saw a sign. I wish I'd known they would be out, and I wouldn't have bought peaches at the Farmers Market on Saturday. Of course, we couldn't have made peach cobbler that night for dinner...

We ate at the fabulous Rathskeller. I had the traditional German sausage, sauerkraut and potatoes. Jeff went with the fish tacos (?) and Lauren had the chicken salad on focaccia someone had raved about. It was great!

We shopped and hung out along Main Street. Lauren got a silver ring, which she's been wanting for a while. I found the A&M lanyard I've been looking for, to use for my work ID. (Our librarian is a die-hard Longhorn. She's got the UT one. Mwahahaha!)

We had intended to go to the National Museum of the Pacific War (formerly the Nimitz Museum), but ran out of time. We did learn that Admiral Nimitz was born in Fredericksburg, which is why his museum is there, etc. Interesting!


Monday Mayhem

1. Lindsay Lohan was recently sentenced to 90 days in jail. What do you think her future has in store for her?
She's a person who was blessed with so much potential and talent, who has squandered her opportunities time and time again. She became a diva of epic proportions and indulges in all sorts of selfish behaviors. She's disrespectful and thinks she is above the law. Unless she pulls off a rare "Robert Downey, Jr.," she will probably fade into obscurity. We can hope.

2. What is the biggest fashion "don't" that you would like to police?
Men wearing flip flops with jeans. Ack!

3. How should we punish sites that lure us in with "read this" and take us somewhere where we are first greeted by a pop-up and then a series of click throughs to actually read the meat of the story?
Eliminate them from Google. That will be the end of them.

4. What is the most you will do to post a comment on a site? At what point is it not worth posting a comment?
I'll log in and do a captcha (if I can read it). If I have to provide personal info or sign up for a site, I usually won't. Or if I type a novel and it disappears for some reason, I won't type it again.

5. If you purchase something online and you are charged for postage, is it still reasonable to charge for "shipping and handling"? What exactly does "shipping and handling" entail?
I understand that shipping and handling is supposed to cover the cost of getting the thing from the shelf of the warehouse and preparing it for mailing. Like most separate little fees, it should be included in the price of each item. It's the cost of doing business. It's completely reasonable to recoup it, but I don't want to see it as a separate charge. They don't have "Joe's Christmas Bonus" or "Mike's 401k Matching" listed separately.

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Reunion

I'm going to my 25th high school class reunion next weekend! I'm pretty excited. My only worry is that someone will run over to me, yelling, "KAAAAAATHYYYYYYYY!!!!", give me a giant hug and I'll have absolutely no idea who they are. If a person doesn't remember or recognize me, that's fine. I don't want to be the one who doesn't remember someone. There were almost 800 people in our class.

Maybe I'll study the yearbook before I go.

I tried to get KathyL to go, but she's washing her hair or something that day. *eyeroll* She is one of several of my close high school friends who said "Let's plan a weekend for just our group! That will be more fun anyway!" We all know what happens to that idea. It happened at the 20th. No one ever sets it up. I was supposed to set up a BFFs pre-reunion get-together next weekend, but so far, only one BFF is committed to coming.

Wankers. :)

I saw Eclipse with KathyL and Lauren. It was good. Not the best movie ever, but I was entertained for 2.5 hours without looking at my watch. It's definitely something I would be more into if it wasn't specifically aiming for the teen demographic. There's something creepy about women of a certain age checking out Taylor Lautner's abs. So I give it a thumbs-up, but not as excitedly as some of my friends have. Highly recommend it for the 13-22 crowd.

I liked a couple of movie trailers for upcoming films. Eat, Pray, Love looks excellent. Javier Bardem is HOT in this trailer. Holy cats. *faints*



Also interesting-- an action comedy called Red, with Bruce Willis and Helen Mirren and an all-star cast.

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Bethenny's Bathroom Dilemma

I finally watched the wedding on this week's "Bethenny Getting Married," and yes, I cried. Jason is such a great match for her. When she peed in that silver bucket at the Four Seasons, with Shawn, her wedding planner, holding up her dress, I thought I was going to DIE laughing. I might pee in the bucket, but I would never do it on camera. Awesome. Only Bethenny Frankel...



Spent the evening with Scott and Julie last night. Great restaurant, great wine... Jeff and I made a peach cobbler yesterday and we had that afterward. Good times!


Patrick's Saturday Six

1. Think of the last time you were in a coffee shop: were you with a group, one-on-one, or alone?
I think the last time it was just Jeff and I.

2. Other than national chains like Starbucks, how many local coffee shops are there in your immediate area?
two

3. Do you have a specific favorite coffee shop near you that you usually go to when you’re in need of a coffee fix?
Starbucks is super-close

4. Do you find yourself ordering the same item no matter what coffee shop you visit, or are you very open to each individual shop’s “signature drink”?
I'm open.

5. Take the quiz: The Coffee Shop Test 
You Are a Realist
You are a down to earth person, but you know how to have your fun. You strike a good balance.
You see the world clearly, and you're good at anticipating problems. You are very proactive.
You are charming and outgoing. You know how to brighten anyone's day.
There's little anyone can complain about when you're around - except that you're gone quickly! 

6. When it’s just you at the coffee shop, how likely are you to order a pastry or something else to go with the coffee?
Highly unlikely. I hardly ever order anything to go with it.

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Life is Short. Have an Affair.

Yesterday, Jeff told me about a website called Ashley Madison, a dating service for married people who want to have affairs. It was a funny conversation that started with my saying that since I can't find Doug anywhere online, I had started looking for his mom. She's a really fun, pretty, outgoing woman. I told Jeff she was the "swinging single" sort. If anyone in his family were on Facebook it would be her.

Jeff said, "Maybe she would be on that cheating site... Madison something? Dolly Madison? Umm... Ashley Madison!"

Ahahahahaaaaaaaaa!! Oh reeeeeeally now.

"I've never heard of it," I said.

"It's advertised on Howard Stern all the time."

Okay, I'll buy that. Jeff's off the hook.

We pulled it up on my computer. 6.5 million members! This website's tag line is- no joke- "Life is Short. Have an Affair." It's almost $300 to sign up, so only serious cheaters, tired of the traditional buy-a-girl-a-$7-drink-at-a-bar method, need apply. There is a free part, but it's limited, like at most other dating services. Once I got to their blog, I was really intrigued.

Not intrigued like I wanna join. That stuff shows up on credit card receipts.

I was surprised by the plethora of incidental data they can collect on human behavior. The blog has all sorts of interesting infidelity stats from website activity. According to the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram, there are an abundance of Texans on the site, and lots of them are newlywed females. Hmm.

Single people who want to meet married people are on the website, but in the FAQ it indicates that they have trouble finding matches, because they aren't risking anything. Never thought of that.

I was just amused by the unapologetic tone of it all. Jeff found it a sad commentary on society. Usually I'm the deep one.

Anyhoo... Doug's mom's name is, like his, very common. I had no luck finding her either. Bah.


Saturday 9: Go Your Own Way

1. When was the last time you were told to go your own way?
Lauren told us last night to go out without her, because she was going to the movies with her friends. (They loved Despicable Me.)

2. What one experience has strengthened your character the most so far?
Becoming a parent.

3. What's your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?
Play in the rain. If that's not practical, I like to watch from a cozy spot, maybe read a magazine.

4. How long can you go without your cell phone?
from recent experience... about a week. Then the tremors and palpitations begin.

5. Do you wish you were somewhere else right now?
Nope. I'm enjoying being at home after being away for a while.

6. Of all the people you've ever known, who have you most feared?
There were two guys in my department at A&M who were good friends with each other. They called me one night and addressed me by name, but didn't say who they were. I totally recognized them from their thick New York accents. There weren't too many of those in College Station. They started out flirtatious and silly, but when they wouldn't tell me what they were doing or admit who they were, I kept hanging up. They got angry and more vulgar, and eventually said they were coming to my apartment. It really freaked me out. I confronted them with a friend of mine the next day, and they very unconvincingly denied it. I steered clear of them from then on. Luckily they turned out to be harmless.

7. Do people tell you that you look your age?
I usually look my age, but if I do the ponytail and the right clothing, people tell me I look younger. Most of the time I get comments about not looking old enough to have a 16-year-old, which is strictly a reflection of how young I was when I had her, compared to the average moms of 16-year-olds, who are about ten years older than me.

8. Your ex shows up randomly at your house, what do you say?
Which ex is it? Eh, it doesn't really matter. I would be very surprised, but I would love to see any of them. I would probably give him a huge hug and say, "What the heck are you doing here?!"

9. Do you believe everyone deserves a second chance?
Nope. It totally depends on the circumstances. Many people don't deserve second chances.

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Friday Already?

We saw The Last Airbender last night. It was alright. I liked the visual effects, but thought the dialogue sucked. The kid is adorable, but I'm not impressed with his acting. I didn't spot Night Shyamalan anywhere in the film. It's like Where's Waldo, isn't it?

From last week...

Saturday 9: Make Me Say It Again, Girl

1. Do you feel that you need to keep repeating yourself when talking to a particular person?
Jeff. In the last few years he's had hearing loss in one ear. The doc wonders if it was caused by rocket noise, but I think it's being married 20 years.

2. It's July. Do you have anything special planned?
We're going to Houston for my high school reunion and to Dallas for Lady GaGa!

3. Who is your big celebrity crush?
We all know the big one. In a very distant second... Bradley Cooper.

4. Tell us about a local restaurant you are sure we'd love.
Salt Lick. Best barbecue anywhere on earth. Featured in magazines and on Food Network. It's a casual place out in Dripping Springs, just south of Austin. Great side dishes, too. 

5. Tell us about the shyest person that you deal with regularly.
KathyL. I wouldn't call her shy in general, but she is probably the quietest person in most social situations. Not quiet at all around good friends. She's also very confident and forthright in a business context, and speaks at conferences all over the world, interacts with clients, etc.

6. What is your vision of heaven and hell?
Oh my. We got awfully serious on this one. Heaven I see as love and light (yeesh, I'm actually quoting the crazy chick from Real Housewives of NJ?). An ethereal sort of place, not like our current reality. I think we see our loved ones there, although I sometimes wonder how it goes when like Grandma is there, and then Grandpa arrives, and then Grandpa's second wife shows up. So I assume Heaven is stripped of all awkwardness.

Hell I see as another intangible sort of place, dark and lonely. No literal fires or any of that. It's torturous, but not in a physical way. More like being in a box. Forever.

7. What is your neighborhood like?
It's suburbia, which I love. Large community. Lots of neighbors. Beautifully landscaped. Most houses are two-story, which bums me out, because I want a one-story. We have those, just not too many, because I think the square footage is limited by the lots.

8. What's your favorite cook-out food?
Sausage. Reminds me of my family's cookouts when I was younger.

9. When was the last time that you saw fireworks?
Last weekend.

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World Cup

Germany vs. Spain was a long, but good soccer match. The players weren't taking falls. Refs not calling much. It was great. Congrats to Spain. My World Cup is over. I can't muster any real excitement over Spain or Netherlands. And watching a match for 3rd place is kinda blah, don't you agree?

If I end up watching the final, I could always use Lisa's "go for the hottest team" strategy. (She said Mexico was the hottest. Too bad I didn't see any of their games!) Between Netherlands and Spain, that would be Spain. Sure, Van der Vaart and Vorm are great, but Casillas.. *swoon*

 Van der Vaart

Vorm

Casillas

Or I could go with Angel's "best colors" choice. That would easily be Spain over the loudest orange on Earth.

I could use my own "best shirt font" strategy, like I did when, by some odd alignment of planets, I ended up watching Spain vs. Paraguay. I'm not a fan of the cartoony roundish numbers on Spain's jersey, but I like the round letters. The Dutch have extremely squared off letters and numbers. It looks like someone could impale themselves on those things. Spain wins there as well.

So, uhhh... GO SPAIN! :)

I enjoyed my dad's German beer selection- Warsteiner Dunkel- for the game watching. Jeff likes lighter beers and tried Spaten Premium Lager (eww) and Paulaner Hefe-Weizen (it was ok), but he hated both. By two minutes into the game, he had a Shiner in his hand. German beer from Texas. Probably why the Germans lost. Well, that and Müller being out.

Was I the only one going, "Meuuuuller?... Meuuuuller?..." through that entire game? Surely not.

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The White Chocolate Myth

I tell people this all the time! Now, straight from Dave Zinczenko (of Eat This, Not That)...

FAKE FOOD: White chocolate isn't technically chocolate, since it contains no cocoa solids. (It's mostly fat and sugar.)

I try to tell you. Don't fall for the hype. Don't waste calories on it. White chocolate is not chocolate.

While we're on the subject, a friendly reminder that vanilla is not a flavor.

You're welcome.

Bwahaha!--- When BP Spills Coffee at Work

After a lovely al fresco dinner at Torchy's (whose taco of the month is "The Damn BP"- shrimp, pickled jalapeños and onions, jalapeño tartar sauce, slaw and mango, with $1 from each taco going to Gulf Aid), Jeff and I spent last night catching up on all the Real Housewives shows we missed on vacation. Yes, he watches, because they're that good. Or he wants to participate in the spirited discussions amongst me and my girlfriends later.

My favorite quotes from Bethenny from last week's "Bethenny Getting Married?":

(to Jason after his bachelor party) That was your last hurrah. You laughed. You cried. It was better than Cats.

(to her psychologist) ...You know... how you feel bad about yourself just because you're not whistling "Zippadee-Doo-Dah" out of your ass all day long.

That girl cracks me up. She is always running through life at a million miles per hour, and still never misses a moment to insert a clever remark... sometimes at a million miles per hour, so you have to rewind to even hear what she said. Don't miss it.

Germany game today. Get 'em, Schweinsteiger!!

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Cruise 'n' Soccer Rant

I didn't take copious notes on this cruise like I did on our last couple. *crowd cheer* I'm sure I'll think of stuff through the week. Some brief recollections:

In the Austin airport before we left, I got up from lunch and walked into the restroom, where a pilot was adjusting his shirt in the mirror. Just as I thought, That poor guy is going to be really embarrassed when he realizes he is in the wrong... I realized I was in the men's restroom.

On the flights to and from Miami, the pilots pointed out the oil disaster below us in the Gulf, fires and all. Sad.

We spent one day cruising a way out along the coast of Cuba. That night, around 8:30 pm, when it was pitch black outside, Lauren and I were chatting out on our balcony. There were some lights on the water in the distance. About ten minutes later, the lights were approaching us, and they appeared to be three boats. A cruise ship officer got into our ship's side glass compartment, where the Harbor Master sits during docks in port, and shone a huge halogen spotlight on them. I thought maybe we should go inside our stateroom, but we just waited to see what would happen next. Nothing did. We passed them and eventually turned off the spotlight. Whenever we told that story, people would say, "Pirates!" Ahaaha.

Cruise Director Mike, on the PA system (during a skit), in his best Norwegian accent: Dis is Captain Charles from the bridge... because... vhere else would I be? I vant you all to know they serve the best strawberry daiquiris on the bridge. And... I'm not veeeearing aaaaaaanyyyyy paaaaaaants!!

A guy proposed to his girlfriend on the ship one karaoke night, when he got up to the microphone. We were there, cheering him on. It was great! She said yes. Then he sang.

Royal Caribbean's most traveled passenger, Mario, was on our ship! It was his 302nd cruise with RCCL. I had just read an article about him on the cruise line's blog about a week before we left. He had his own reserved table and chairs by the pool, with a sign and everything. Nice guy. He was walking by me during the Walk for Wishes on Saturday (a Make-A-Wish benefit walk along the track up top- there were two wish children on our cruise). I wonder what Mario does/did for a living to be able to cruise constantly like that. Nice!

When we got home, I was blissfully unaware of any and all world and local news of the past 12 days, but I can tell you about all the soccer games played during that time. We were at the Surfcomber lounge in South Beach for the US/Ghana game. :( Tough loss, but it's great we made it that far. Best game was Germany/Argentina in the Schooner Bar on the cruise ship. There was a great international mix of people, really into it. What a win!! Go Germany!

I now know the rules of the game, thankyouverymuch. A very exciting sport to watch. There are two things that make me nuts though.

Ahh yes.... I owe you a soccer rant.

The two things about soccer I think are ridiculous: Feigned injuries and fluffy timekeeping. Kenneth was telling us that a Comedy Central show (I cannot find this thing on YouTube- darn it!) had done a whole segment on taking dives in soccer, about how you can use that technique for everyday situations. Your girlfriend catches you on the phone with another girl? Fall to the ground and writhe around moaning, "Ohhhhh!!!! My LEG!!!!!" LOL. She'll be distracted trying to make sure you're okay.

Two subcomplaints about taking dives: 1) It makes those guys look like prissy princesses. 2) It really seems that for most games, the first person to fall to the ground and wince gets the penalty called on the other guy. So it's like a race to see who can fake it first. Some referees don't put up with any of that crap. I LOVE that. You tell 'em, refs. Get up already, and let's play some ball.

On fluffy timekeeping: Not only do they keep the clock running when teams like Ghana blatantly waste time dorking around, but they tack on this totally random extra time after 90 minutes. Then the referee can evidently blow the game over before the extra time runs out, if he thinks it should be over. Or, he can let it go past that time, if he's feeling charitable towards the losing team. WTH? Just stop the clock and start it again during the game. It would be so simple. Plus then newbie fans could jump up at 90:00 and cheer without everyone in the room rolling their eyes. :)

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Holiday Monday

Ever had one of those early mornings where you're just dropping off your daughter for a week away at camp (yes, mere hours from when we arrived home from a two-week vacay), and you toss on your yoga pants and a university tee, throw your hair into a messy pony tail and skip the makeup, because you are certain you'll be kissing her goodbye in the car and she'll hop on her merry way? The sequined flip flops are cute, but they don't quite match the... hmmm... "workout" ensemble?

Yeah, you know what happens. The quick drop off becomes an event, where you get out of the car, and lots of people are there. There's chatting and such. I'd have given my left arm for a little lip gloss.

After the child transfer is complete, your husband wants to go out for breakfast. He thinks you're beautiful without makeup or fashion sense (and/or he's really hungry). He's also sorta proud of the fact that he's wearing his clothes over his pajamas, so there's really no reasoning with him about going home to change first.

I did manage to complete the outing without seeing anyone else I knew. :)

Hope everyone had a fantastic fourth and is enjoying their extended weekend! My post-vacation chores are about over, then I'm off to do the same!

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