Meme: Shopping Tips

I have my "official pre-op visit" with the plastic surgeon this morning. It's actually my third pre-op consult with him. What. I want to get it right!

Cathy posted a Facebook status about her feeling that our rights are being violated with the new airport security measures. Many people weighed in, agreeing and disagreeing. The brother of my first-ever serious crush from sixth grade, strongly disagreed and said something about how we should be grateful they're doing whatever it takes to keep terrorists off our planes. Then my husband gets into a conversation with this guy.

You couldn't have told me when I was eleven that my future hubby was going to be chit-chatting with Bobby's brother. Facebook-- creating wrinkles in the time-space continuum since 2004.

KathyL now has two job offers! Both of my out-of-work friends have gotten double job offers in the last 24 hours. And Kathy may just be able to take a generous severance package and walk right into a new job. Can't beat that with a stick. I am so incredibly happy and relieved for both of them!


Monday Mayhem (on Tuesday of course)

With the holiday shopping season in full swing, we want to hear your shopping tips for the situations below. Have fun!

1. You mention to your neighbor, with the body odor, that you are heading out to the mall in the morning. Neighbor asks to go with. What do you say?
I say, "Sure!" and then fumigate my car with Febreze and hope some of it rubs off.

2. You go up and down every aisle in the parking lot until you finally scope out that perfect place. You patiently pull over to the side and put your signal on to wait for the person pulls out. Someone snags your spot before you can pull in. What do you do?
Key the jerk. Okay, I wouldn't, but I would fantasize about it for a good five minutes before driving on to look for another spot.

3. You find that perfect sweater for grandpa and it's the last one in that size. Some lady with three screaming kids approaches you and asks for the sweater for her husband who is deployed in Iraq. What do you do?
She's lying. I take the sweater.

4. You found the perfect gift for your best friend and you notice that there are no less than 100 people in line in front of you. Unfortunately, you just drank 3 cups of coffee before you entered the store. What do you do?
If I can't take the gift to the bathroom with me, I hide it behind a bunch of things in another department so I can return to grab it. (Did you know that by the sixth grade, your children have mastered this art with books in the library?)

5. You're within 10 people of the checkout after waiting in line for 40 minutes and the person in front of you lets three people in line- he was just saving the spot. What do you do?
Three people is fine. I seriously blew a gasket when that cheer mom let about sixteen girls into our line a few years ago.

6. You get to the check out and your card is declined. What do you do?
Write a check. No biggie. Then I call Jeff and ask what fabulous jewelry he bought me that maxed out our never-even-close-to-maxed credit card.

7. Oops...you forgot to buy something for Aunt Edna. Do you regift the fruit cake George from next door gave you?
I'd rather give nothing than fruitcake. If George gave me something else, I may be tempted to re-gift that.

8. Are you planning on doing most of your shopping in the stores or online this year?
In stores! Whee!!

Read more...

Monday Monday

We saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows yesterday. It was really good, and reminds me a lot of Lord of the Rings. There's the elf who speaks an awful lot like Gollum. The quest. The dark environment. The amazing special effects.

I had no idea Ralph Fiennes was in the Harry Potter films. I had to ask who he was. When I found out, it was no surprise I hadn't spotted him right away. Heh.

The movie also reminded me a bit of Love, Actually. At least two cast members are in it. (Maybe more I didn't recognize because their noses were amputated. The things an actor will do for the sake of his art...)

HUGE congratulations to Cath, who has been out of work for a month, and just landed herself not one, but two job offers. Yes, she rocks that hard! Wooooooo!!

Read more...

Just Call Me "Wild Child"

For hours of fun, here's a very amusing link, gacked from J-Blo:

The Euphemism Generator

Went out with Scott, Julie, Vicky and Ed last night. We had pizza at this awesome place called Saccone's. Vicky is from New Jersey and she confirmed it is authentic "Jersey pizza." We went to the football game afterward. I had been warned that the other team was amazing. Those guys were fully twice the size of ours. They're definitely very good. And they beat the tar out of us. :( Also beaten- my alma mater, Clear Creek High, who was always in the pit of the district standings when I was there, so rock on CCHS kiddos! Fantastic job making it to this level!

While we were at the game, Lauren texted us that she and Jaxon were going to eat and then to get Jaxon's ear pierced. The time was later than the mall was open, so we asked where they were going to get the piercing done.

"Paradise Ink."

LOL. Well, there are two locations, one downtown and one on Burnet Road. Two teenagers downtown late on a Saturday night at a tattoo parlor was a no-go for me, but I might have been okay with the north location. Then it occurred to me that you have to be 18 to get services at a tattoo place anyway (or have a parent with you).

"Jim is driving."

Mmmmkay. (Jaxon got a conch piercing, which is through the cartilage, and your regular Claire's-type place won't do those.) It turned out, Jim AND Janeen took them, and they went to the Burnet Road location.

Exchange of the evening...

Janeen (to Lauren): I was so shocked when Debbie got a tattoo. It wouldn't surprise me at all if YOUR mom got one. She's a wild child!
Lauren: MY mom??
Jaxon: Lauren's mom??
Janeen: Yes!
Jaxon and Lauren: Ahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaa! No.

Read more...

Patience, Young Jedi

It seems that the iPhone 5 will be coming out in June. Of course, my contract is up in MAY, and I'm already counting the days. So I'll have to decide between the 4 and the 5. I'm guessing I'll want the new one. *sigh* Patience is not one of my virtues.

Jeff finally got his Android phone. (He hasn't even had internet access on his cellphone until now.) He loves that thing. It has a lot of cool features, but two things are weird:

1) you can't set different ringtones for different people, and
2) all the apps continue running in the background when you close them.

What the...?

I guess every phone I've ever had has some features I wanted and is missing others. I would like to mention that all these months I've been going on and on about iPhone and its cool apps, Jeff was shaking his head and rolling his eyes. He's now the biggest app addict ever.

Kimberly sent me a link to a FB page, and asked me if it was a guy who worked with us at Gallaghers back in the day. I said it looked like him, but Frankie wouldn't be 22 today. Hee hee. Ahhh how many times I've done that- spotted someone I thought I knew from a long time ago, but realized unless they just stepped out of a time machine from 1987, it's not them.

Greg from high school friended me on FB. He's the one with whom I share like 20 real-life, good friends, but I don't remember at all from school. The one I ambushed at the 25th reunion this summer. I was going to friend him myself as soon as I got home from the reunion, but I had had enough beer that night that I wasn't quite sure if he was amused or annoyed by our brief conversation. My buddies have assured me that I knew him back then, but so far none have been able to stir any memory at all. Nice guy though. No wonder all my friends hung out with him.

I can see it now... like an episode of Seinfeld... where every single time I left the lunch table to get a napkin or something, he showed up and then left before I returned. Kimberly would say goodbye to me before third period, then he would walk her to class. He was at every party we went to, but in the next room. He played bass in our band, but always stood just out of my peripheral vision...

Read more...

Whoop!!

Aggieeeeeeeeees!!!!!!! The game was AWESOME. A little too close for my liking, but it definitely was not boring. Scott and Julie brought Kirsten along, whom Julie claimed was a Longhorn fan, which she always had been (as was Lauren). Well, turns out that Kirsten, as Lauren, has decided not to go to UT. On top of that, she hates football. (What is the DEAL with people hating football, the greatest sport on earth?!) So the group maintained its natural tilt towards the Aggie side. Whew.

Early in the game, Kirsten left to hang out with friends and Lauren went to watch the game at Zach's house. When ESPN was panning the crowd at the game on TV, Julie said we should keep an eye out for our daughters. I said, "Yeah, they're there with a beer in each hand." We laughed, but we watched a little more closely after that. Haha.

The last time we were with Scott and Julie, I was telling them about my new love affair with chocolate and red wine. He said I had to try this "chocolate wine" at World Market. We all cringed. Last night, he brought me a bottle. It's a mixture of chocolate, cream and red wine. It looks like a screw-top wine bottle full of Yoohoo, but it tastes almost exactly like Bailey's Irish Cream. Seriously. It was pretty good. I wouldn't go out of my way to buy it, but yeah.

The hotel Thanksgiving brunch rocked. I didn't like it quite as much as last year, but it was still delicious and I always like when I don't have to cook. Although... I did cook a bunch of stuff for the game last night. I would never have done that, had I made a turkey in the morning.

It took Jeff a few minutes to figure out I was going for the Saints when we tuned in to the last ten minutes of the Dallas game. He forgets I grew up in Houston as a very serious Oilers fan, and our football teams were mortal enemies back then. Honestly, I could not have cared less who won the Dallas/NO game last night, but I had to pick someone. It's nice to pick correctly though. :)

This morning, the in-laws are flying in from Dallas for a late celebration of Lauren's birthday. Flying back this afternoon. I have but one simple tip for all of you today: Take a job at an airline the last ten years of your working life, then get free flights anywhere forever for you and your spouse when you retire. Positively brilliant.

Read more...

Turkey Day

Turn your blog into a book! 

Blog2Print from SharedBook turns your blog into a soft cover or hard cover book. You pick the cover, add an optional dedication, then preview and you're done. Prices start at $14.95.

Awesome. Laura's Christmas present-- done.

Lauren and I saw Burlesque yesterday. It's a fun movie, light on plot and acting, but fantastic music, choreography and costumes. It reminds me visually of Nine, but Nine didn't have any music I enjoyed. Christina Aguilera has one of the best voices in music today. Honestly, it is amazing what she can do with a song. Such a big voice for such a tiny woman. Cher's solo song did not thrill me, but her opening number was awesome. She should lighten up on the Botox, so we can tell what mood she's in. Stanley Tucci is terrific in any role, is he not?

Today I am thankful for the wonderful life I am so blessed to have with Jeff and Lauren and all of you fine people. Happy Thanksgiving!

Beat the Hell Outta t.u.!!

Read more...

Burlesque!

Burlesque opens today! Yay! Gotta get my grocery shopping done first though, before today's crowds hit the store.

JeffP's football status du jour: "Time to sharpen those saws."

Indeed. Whoop!

Trying to extend the guest list for the "Ass Whoopin' Party," but most of our local friends are 'sips. And as Jim said, "I don't want to be within ten miles of any Aggies on Thursday. It's probably not going to be a good game."

One can hope. ;)

JeffC doesn't like football and also says he "doesn't have a dog in this fight," but I know he wants to stay through the afternoon to taste my tortilla soup. And watch Julie and I argue over the refs' calls.

I am still a bit under the weather from allergies gone bad. This cough is driving me crazy, and getting worse. The inside of my throat is actually itchy. Neither Zyrtec nor Claritin are doing a darn thing for me. Today's strategy: Benadryl and Shiner.

Read more...

Literary Tuesday

This is an excerpt from a little something called "Fair is Foul," which I wrote in high school. Scotty remembered it all these years. How awesome is that? :D

...Hold on tight, up and down
Hanging in the balance now
Blood-stained floors where fairies dwell
Murder on the carousel...

LOL. Dark and memorable.

I am looking at a very thick folder full of my songs and poetry from 1982-1986. I wrote a lot of shiny-happy things, too. Here's another, in its sparkly entirety:

live in love

love someone

share a dream

sandy beach

pink ice cream

hearts in time

beating fast

quiet smiles

love will last

holding tight

silent talks

happiness

moonlight walks

tender kiss

hearts in woo

you love him

he loves you

by Kathy K, 1984 (age 17)

Programming note: To go along with the release of the R.E.M. Live From Austin, TX DVD, PBS is re-broadcasting R.E.M.'s appearance on Austin City Limits in 2008 on November 27. Check local listings for time.

Read more...

Short Week

It's a two-day week for me! Come on TUESDAY! :)

Coach Pelini of Nebraska needs to take a pill. That guy is going to have a heart attack. (Awesome job this weekend, Aggie Wrecking Crew!!!!!! WHOOP!)

Reposting a touching link from The Bloggess:
The Red Underwear


Sunday Stealing

What was the last thing you put in your mouth?
a straw

How late did you stay up last night and why?
Only about 9:30 pm, because I was tired as all get-out.

If you could move somewhere else, would you?
Not just for the sake of moving. I like it here, but I would move if we needed to.

Have you ever been kissed under fireworks?
Probably, but not for any special, super-memorable reason.

Do you believe exes can be friends?
Definitely. Not best buddies, but genuinely "friends."

When was the last time you cried really hard?
A couple of weeks ago

What items could you not go without during the day?
internet, phone

Who was the last person you visited in the hospital?
Laura's friend DeeDee, who was diagnosed with Hodgkins, several months ago

How do you feel about your life right now?
Happy, despite it not being exactly perfect at the moment. 

If we were to look in your facebook inbox, what would we find?
entertaining messages mostly from Cathy, Renee and Doug (on the first page at least... if you're really nosy, feel free to look back further than that)

Say you were given a drug test right now, would you pass?
I would pass any day.

Has anyone ever called you perfect before?
Before what? Ahaha. Nope.

Someone knocks on your window at 2:00 a.m.: who do you want it to be?
Obvious answer. Next...

Do you think too much or too little?
too much

Do you believe in fairy tales?
nah, but reality can be fantastic, too :)

Have you ever licked the back of a CD to try to get it to work?
Why on earth would I do that?

What’s the largest age difference between yourself and someone you’ve dated?
Serious relationships: 1 year (one older and one younger). Individual dates: 6 years (older)

Have you ever been on a blind date?
A couple. I'm not a fan. But thank you, well-meaning friends.

Do you have any friends that you’ve known for 10 years or more?
A bunch

Have you ever had a crush on a teacher?
Yep- college American History

What song do you want played at your funeral?
I can't think of a funeral song off the top of my head, but I would want something unexpected that would make everyone smile.

Would you tell your parents if you were gay?
Of course.

What would your last meal be before getting executed?
ribeye with Gorgonzola butter, from Austin Land and Cattle

Do you walk around the house naked?
Extremely rarely.

What do you do as soon as you walk in the house?
Take off my shoes.

Who is the person you can count on the most?
Jeff

What is your favorite Holiday?
Christmas

Would you ever get plastic surgery?
I'm having it in three weeks.

Have you ever caught a fish?
Several. In the lake and the ocean. My first fish was a croaker at the Texas City Dike when I was 8 or so.

What is the first thing you notice about people?
Their hair.

What is the farthest you’ve been from home?
Munich. 5483 miles from Austin.

How did you meet your spouse or significant other (or most recent one)?
in a class at college

Where was the last place you drove (other than home/school/work)?
Chuy's

Read more...

Indecent Proposal

Joke of the night last night with Cathy and the Jeffs...

Somehow we got on the subject of if there were any sum of money that would get Cathy or I to sleep with someone we found extremely unattractive. The question evolved into being specified as "a very elderly, unattractive guy like the one Anna Nicole Smith married." (Disclaimer: This was not intended to disrespect elderly guys, but to add the pervy element of the extreme age difference. We all agreed that when we're 85, we'll be perfectly happy to sleep with 85-year-olds. We now return you to your regular programming.)

Were there ground rules for what we had to do?

"Whatever he wants."

Cathy said absolutely not, for any sum of money. Cuz she takes the high road in these things. When she knows I'm about to take the low one anyway.

I said I'd do it for a million dollars. The response from the group? "No you wouldn't!!"

"I might have to hurl, but I would get through it."

Cathy says, "Just don't hurl on..."

(I think she's going to say "...the guy." )

"...THE MONEY!"

Just don't hurl on the money. Nice high road there, CJ. ;)


Saturday 9: Happy Turkey Day 2010

1. Tell us about your very favorite Thanksgiving.
Has to be the year (not sure which) in college when KathyL's parents took us all out to lunch in College Station before the football game where we beat the snot out of t.u. WHOOP.

2. What are you doing for Turkey Day this year?
Going to a fabulous hotel brunch with JeffC. We went there last year and loved it, so we're going for the replay this year. Then that night we are having an "Ass Whoopin' Party," so dubbed by ScottK, who has no care in the world who wins the A&M/t.u. game, but assumes A&M will win big.

3. If you were to go to somebody else’s house, what would be your favorite dish to bring?
My sweet potato casserole with the pecan/brown sugar topping. No disgusting marshmallows! Whee!

4. Tell us about the funniest person that you'll be with this Thanksgiving.
That would probably be JeffC. Last night I told him he should have a blog for all his witty and interesting observations. He won't do it, so I said I would start one and just post everything he says. He said I could call it "Sh*t My Friend Jeff Says." Ahaha.

5. What would surprise us to know about your Thanksgivings?
I have never cooked a whole turkey. The biggest Thanksgiving meat I've cooked myself has been a turkey breast. We've stayed home for Thanksgiving since Lauren was about five, so it's a small group for the meal portion of the day, sometimes just the three of us. I can only eat holiday leftovers a couple of times before I gag at the sight of those food containers.

6. Does your usual mix of guests result in drama, or is it a group you’re happy to see?
No drama with such a small group. Ask me about Christmas.

7. What did your family do for Thanksgiving when you were a kid? Do you still do it?
We always went to my mom's parents' house in College Station. Huge family (my mom was one of five kids), huge meal. Football on TV all day. Playing with my cousins outside for hours. Nope, we don't do that since my grandparents moved to Dallas several years ago. :(

8. We know you've been asked this probably 15 times this week. But share with us in 2010, what are you most thankful for?
Jeff still having his job, Lauren having grown into such a responsible, bright and generally awesome young lady, my treasured friends and reusable shopping bags.

9. Okay, the big question: are you going to 'attend' any of the "Black Friday" sales? ...and if you are, are you hard core serious like the 5 am "be there" crowd?
I will avoid stores like the plague on Friday. My mother-in-law LOVES shopping on Black Friday at 5am. I used to tag along, sipping my coffee, just irritated with the crowds. Yeah, you can get someone a Christmas sweater for five bucks, but you have to fight fifty sleep-deprived women over it. Without spilling your latte. No thanks.

Read more...

TGIF

Was not unfriended by anyone on Facebook on National Unfriending Day. Awesome. I would like to unfriend a few people, not because I don't know them, but because they aren't ever on. Not people who log on once a week, which qualifies as "never on" for all practical purposes, or even once a month, but literally never. Like they stopped participating two years ago, but didn't close their account. They've got wall messages like "Where are you?" and birthday greetings from '08. Those are the people just asking to have embarrassing photos of them posted and tagged. Mwahaha.

Our kittens are four-and-a-half months old. About three weeks ago, we put out a very soft throw in the living room. Both cats instantly started sucking on this blanket, and kneading, too, which goes along with nursing. It's a little distressing to watch, because it makes me think they are stressed out or miss their mommy. Google says many cats actually do this, whether or not they were raised by their mothers, and in times of stress or happiness, just as a comforting thing. Not a whole lot different than a child sucking a pacifier. Still... weird. 

I was reminded this morning of that story Chasez told about when he ran out of milk and used amaretto coffee creamer to make mac-n-cheese. Yikes.

Cathy will be here when I get off work. Time to get the weekend started! Have a good one, y'all!

Read more...

Time to Shuck Some Corn

The Dems kept Pelosi? She is so awful. Well, they do know what's best for the people, even if we don't know it ourselves. *eyeroll*

For those of you who may not be aware (or who live in Belgium), Texas A&M will play the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Saturday evening. Seen Monday on Facebook--

JeffP: Time to shuck some corn on Saturday! Whoop!
Wade: Is that what you couples in the burbs are calling it these days?
JeffP: Yep, we shuck corn in the suburbs. It's a lot different than that cornholing thing you city folk get into.

Bwahahaa! (Since when are city folk the opposite of suburbanites? Makes it sound like we're out on the farm, milking goats. Incidentally, cornholing is also a beanbag game.)

94.7 has taken to playing Creed's "Higher" about twice a day while I'm in the car. I began to wonder if it was some sort of sign. Now that I've really looked at the lyrics, I'm thinking, no. Or maybe you have to be high deep to get it. I always really dug the verses of this song, but oddly, I find the chorus incredibly blah. If anything, it's usually the reverse!



Cathy has decided to come up this weekend. Yay! I'm trying to set her up with Jason. Maybe I can throw something together on that front. :D

Read more...

Don't be Fancy, Just Get Dancey...

Why so seriouuuuuuuus???????!
...We will never be never be anything but LOUD
and nitty gritty
dirty little freaks...

"Raise Your Glass" P!nk

Revealing that I like that song is almost as embarrassing as when I was all over "Tick Tock" by Kesha. Yeah, "Tick Tock" really is a great tune, if you ignore the lyrics. If you ignore the lyrics, however, you miss out on a great deal of entertainment value. The first time I heard it, I said to Lauren, "This reminds me... there is some gross song supposedly out now, where a girl brushes her teeth with Jack Daniels."

"That's this one!" she said, as if we'd just stumbled upon a delightful mutual interest in Peruvian art.


Patrick's Sunday Seven

The website Frisky recently posted a list of 20 things a couple should do before they get married. The items make sense. But your task this week is to narrow the list, or come up with something they missed.

Name the seven most important things you think a couple should do before getting married.

1. Complete school. Although I certainly favor waiting until the age of 25+, it's really education that most concerns me. If you're not going to college, then graduate from high school before getting married. If you're going to be a pediatrician, then complete medical school first. Whatever your goal is. Because it's difficult to add the stresses of marriage- good and bad- to a plate full of classes and school-related social activities. You also want to be free to make educational decisions based on your own goals, and not having to consider those of another person.

2. At least meet the other person's family before the wedding planning starts. Not because his crazy aunt might be a deal-breaker, but because you don't want your first experiences with your spouse's family to take place during that surreal, busy engagement or wedding time. Even better to get to know them before all the wedding stuff begins and you become part of the family.

3. Definitely talk about kids (how many, when to have them) and religion (if different- how will kids be raised, where to go to church, etc.).

4. Have sex. Or at least get fairly close, if it's important to you to wait. You don't want to find out too late that your intimate relationship is not great. This is someone you're going to be with forever.

5. Discuss and agree on name-changing. And don't forget to decide what your children's last names will be, if you will not share the same last name with your spouse.

6. Discuss and agree on career issues, like if you'll move when one or the other of you gets transferred. Whose job takes precedence, if any? Will both of you continue working when kids are born? These are things that are fluid in nature over time, but at least being in agreement before marriage, and just being aware of the other person's priorities and dreams, is so important.

7. Live in the same city for at least six months. Well, I didn't think about that, but if you are marrying someone with whom you are in a long-distance relationship, I agree that it would be vital to live in the same geographical area for six months or so before marriage, if that is what you will be doing after the ceremony. If, as KathyL would prefer, you are marrying someone who lives far away, and you only plan to meet up every weekend for fun and frolic, then I think the six months could be safely skipped. (As could the marriage part...)

Read more...

Referring to the Northeast

Was pondering...

When my friends from Massachusetts refer to New England, they say "back east." When I refer to the same area, I say "up north." Well, I usually say "New England," but I guess when I'm feeling a little apathetic and it comes out all vague and wishy-washy, it's "up north." Neither "back east" nor "up north" is really correct, considering our geographical location.

"Back east" sounds a little more "summer in the Hamptons" than "up north" does. "Up north" conjures up visions of sled dogs and Canadians in funny hats.

Both of the Massachusetts peeps went to small liberal arts colleges up there.... erm... BACK there. My Pennsylvania friend who went for the scientific degree says "up north" like me. So, perhaps it's a liberal arts major thing. Or a Massachusetts thing.

*is clueless*

One of the funniest "How I Met Your Mother" episodes ever was on  last night, with Robin's Canadian teen show that really looked more like soft-core porn. With Alan Thicke, no less. Bwahahaha! I was dying at the joystick scene. Hilarious.

Read more...

The Flavors of Christmas

JeffC has figured out the types of exchanges I deem amusing enough to make it onto the blog, and instantly knew that this was going to show up here.

Heard last night in the frozen yogurt shop parking lot--

Me: They have all sorts of Christmas-y yogurt flavors right now. Pumpkin, eggnog...
JeffC: ...reindeer...
Me: ...Santa...
JeffC, Jeff and I: Ewww!
JeffC: Tastes like cookies!
Me: Ewww!

That is just all sorts of wrong.


Sunday Stealing: Another 14 Question Meme

1. Lots of pillows or just one? Describe your pre-sleeping rituals.
I remove all the decorative pillows and add a regular pillow on top of the one I sleep on, at a good TV-viewing angle, so I can watch Letterman. When I'm ready to go to sleep, I toss the extra pillow, and sleep on one.

2. What kind of books do you read?
Non-fiction... biographies, self-improvement, learning books like website development or graphics design (whatever I'm into at the moment)

3. What are your neighbors like?
Very friendly, with a wide variety of backgrounds and interests. Many of them work from home, so there are a large number of adults around during the day, which is nice.

4. What's really creepy to you?
scorpions, snakes, Marilyn Manson, oatmeal, young women who marry old guys, peeling someone's chewed gum off the bottom of my shoe, über-long fingernails, dolls with one or both eyes missing...

5. What's your current fandom/obsession/addiction?
I don't have one at the moment. That's probably for the best.

6. Do you prefer your junk food sweet, salty or savory?
salty

7. What was the last expensive thing you bought?
washer/dryer

8. What is your greatest fear?
That I will wake up from my re-augmentation surgery and he'll have given me double-F's on both sides. Oops.

9. Do you get cravings? If so, what do you crave?
I get cravings for things that you can't make at home, that you can only get at one restaurant, like Torchy's queso or the spider roll at Musashino.

10. What do you do to change your mood?
Usually I listen to music or call/visit a friend. If I'm in a great mood and want to take it down a notch, Sunday morning political shows work wonders.

11. What was the last meal you ate that you loved?
I made this new recipe for balsamic chicken Thursday night, and served it with grapes and our favorite corn casserole. Unlike my regular balsamic chicken, this had roasted balsamic cherry tomatoes and onions all over it. Yummo. The fam was not as impressed with the chicken as I. :(

12. Do you want to learn another language? If so, why?
I would like to learn German so I could talk more easily with my brother and other German relatives. Also, Elvish. Very geek-chic.

13. What's something that you'd like to say to someone right now?
I would like to tell the Aggie football team, "WHOOOOOOP! You ROCK!!" They are masters of the comeback.

14. What are you looking forward to?
Thanksgiving Day. :)

Read more...

Hello Beautiful Saturday!

It's highly likely KathyL is losing her job this week, as a casualty of a merger and re-org. :(  She is very high up in the company, and it may take her a while to find something else. She may also have to move out of Austin, which would be very sad. Last night, we discussed starting a business together, but we were drinking wine, so our brainstorming was not very fruitful. Our most realistically profitable idea was opening a Krispy Kreme in the neighborhood, but I don't need Krispy Kreme nearby, and I certainly don't need to be working there. We did think of a perfect location that we know would make a lot of $$$.

I'm heading out-of-town for one of Jeff's rocket launches today. Lauren and a few friends are going out to a very nice dinner tonight for her birthday (which is actually on Tuesday).


Patrick's Saturday Six

1. Which late night host, past or present, would you consider television’s all-time greatest?
Johnny Carson. When I was 8-10, I used to sneak out of my room and stand silently in the hallway to watch the Tonight Show. My parents finally got to where they would periodically turn around and see if I was there. Sometimes I was actually asleep in my bed. HA. :p

2. Which late night host, past or present, would you consider television’s all-time worst?
Arsenio Hall, although I am as guilty of watching as most of you.

3. On average, how many nights per week do you actually watch a late-night talk show?
five - I always watch Letterman, except on the occasional Friday when I'm not home.

4. Which popular late-night skit are you most likely to enjoy: a good monologue, a man-on-the-street segment, an audience quiz, a funny headlines segment, or a hidden camera segment?
a good monologue - by far

5. Take the quiz: What Late Night Show Are You?
Ack. Can't stand Jay Leno. But this is a pretty accurate description of me.

You Are the Tonight Show
You are old fashioned and down to earth. Once you like something, you usually stick with it.
You find it easy to laugh, and you have a good sense of humor.
You are laid back and hard to upset. Even if there is drama going on around you, you avoid it.
You're just here to have a good time. Too bad to anyone who isn't!

6. If you had to appear on a late night talk show, which one do you think you’d be most comfortable as a guest on?
Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. I love Dave, but if you say anything remotely stupid, he will punish you for it, for the sake of the laugh. While I enjoy watching others squirm, I wouldn't want to do it myself. Craig is one of those people who always makes his guests look good.

Read more...

♪ Cuz You Had a Bad Day... ♫

I had a rough day yesterday. So many little things... blah. The worst was something suckeriffic that happened at work. I learned a huge lesson in what can happen when you take your eyes off someone you shouldn't. *sigh*

The only bright spot- the PC Gamer Magazine boys. Those kiddos make me smile with their enthusiastic discussions of all things computery. Very smart and well-spoken little guys. It's like watching Steve Jobs and Bill Gates at age eleven.

Thought for the day: Passionate people use the word "love" a lot. They don't "like" things, they frequently LOVE them. I don't mean common things that are loved, like people or vacation destinations. I'm talking about a keen appreciation for simple things like a sunset. It's been borne out in my own world of friends. The ones with joie de vivre use the word prolifically, while the regular ones are sparing with it. (I loooooove using it. Hee.)

Oh yeah. Here is what greeted us at the theater the other night, when we went to see Saw 3D:

Well, hello, Chris Pine. Not my type at all, but SO pretty to look at.


Friday Survey

1. You have 10 bucks and need to buy snacks at a gas station. What do you get?
Hopefully they have something fresh, like kolaches or breakfast tacos. If not, I just go for the Funyuns and a Diet Dr. Pepper.

2. Who's your favorite redhead?
Debra Messing

3. What do you order when you're at an ihop?
Buttermilk pancakes.

4. Rock concert or symphony?
rock concert

5. If someone were to buy you a gift, what would you like it to be?
a Tervis tumbler

6. What type of shirt are you wearing?
a pretty green, gauzy one my husband told me is too low-cut

7. If you could use only one form of transportation for the rest of your life, what would it be?
silver BMW Z4 :)

8. What is your deadly sin?
Lust. Hey, if you have to pick one...

9. What are you listening to right now?
"Almost Lover" A Fine Frenzy

10. What's your favorite city?
Only one? Las Vegas. I love that it is lit up and alive all night long.

11. What's the first word that comes to mind right now?
Blow

12. What type of pet do you have?
two four-month-old kittens

13. What did you have for dinner last night?
I made shrimp po-boys.

14. Where have you lived the longest?
Austin

15. What's the last thing you said out loud?
"What time does Lauren get up?"

16. Who was the last person that spent $100 on you?
Jeff

17. What's the last piece of clothing you bought?
Black slacks at Macy's

38. Who makes you laugh the most?
Laura

Read more...

Foggy Thursday

My plastic surgery consult is this morning. Whee! Thank you, girlfriends, for your opinions. I now know more about everyone's boobs than their husbands do. How awesome is that.

Queen Latifah was on Ellen yesterday, talking about the "It Gets Better" campaign/movement. She pointed out that this applies to all sorts of bullying. She was always taunted in school for having big breasts. When she became an adult, she realized it was actually a great thing. Ha.

That is all. Hey, at least I stayed on topic this morning. :)

Have a good day!

Read more...

Dad

Talked to Dad yesterday. The pathology results are in from the removal of his bladder cancer several days ago. He does not need chemo! Woohoo! He sent me a copy of his path report, "since you can make more sense of this than I can." He has papillary urothelial carcinoma, low grade, stage pTa. Of course I knew immediately that this is one of the more desirable types of bladder cancer, and his cure rate is at around 90%. (Nah, I didn't. But Google did.)

So YAY!!!!!!!!

As is typical for cancer patients and survivors, the diagnostic tests will test your fortitude more than the disease itself. He's going to have cystoscopies every three months for a while. *cringe* Of course this is the guy who said he had "no discomfort at all" after bladder surgery. He's a stone, I tell ya'.

Seriously Random Questions Meme

1. Your ex is on the side of the road, on fire. What do you do?
Holy Moses. On fire? Uh, yes I would put the fire out and call 911.

2. Your best friend tells you she is pregnant. What is your reaction?
I have a few best friends, and my reaction to any of them being pregnant would be shock and horror. Although it would be tons of fun to babysit... if I'm not hanging out in San Juan or Vegas or...

3. When is the last time you wanted to punch someone in the face?
People like OJ Simpson and Joran Van der Sloot get me riled up. The ones who commit unspeakable atrocities and think they can get away with them. I've only wanted to punch people on the news in the face, never someone with whom I've had personal contact- even that rude cheer mom at the Frisco competition a few years ago. I wanted to physically remove her from the line, but not to beat the crap out of her.

4. What is the last thing you spent money on?
Lauren's birthday gift

5. Do you think you gained or lost weight this past month?
I know I've stayed the same. Woohoo!

6. Crunchy or Puffy Cheetos?
crunchy

7. The first person on your friends list just called you a bitch. What do you do?
Alicia-- I would punch her in the face. Ahaha. I would just laugh. She probably gets called a bitch ten times more than I do.

8. Congratulations! You just had a son. What’s his name?
Ethan

9. Congratulations! You just had a daughter. What’s her name?
Yeesh. These two babies are really gonna screw up my travel plans. Ummm... Cassidy.

10. What are you craving right now?
Cheerios. What am I- three?

11. What was the last thing you cried about?
Ugh. The job. :(

12. When you buy something and your change is 2 cents, do you keep it or tell the cashier to keep it?
I keep it. The cashier doesn't want it any more than I do. We should stop circulating everything smaller than a quarter.

13. What color is your tissue box?
maroon

14. Do you have a ceiling fan in your bedroom, and if so, is there dust on that fan?
Yes, a gorgeous one! Of course there's dust on it.

15. What was the last voicemail you received about?
Laura on my work phone, asking if I liked my office, after her daughter messed around with my A&M stuff when I wasn't there.

16. Have you ever blocked someone on Facebook?
One person who I didn't know who kept trying to friend me. WAIT!! Maybe I did know her. ;)

17. Scariest thing you’ve experienced in the last year?
Suddenly feeling the valve on my implant for the first time, and thinking it was a tumor. Just another reason to go with silicone.

18. Do you wear a name tag at work?
I wear my photo ID around my neck, but no name tag.

19. What kind of car do you want?
Z4. Or for practicality, perhaps a Toyota RAV4.

20. What do you order when you go to Burger King?
Haven't been there in ages. I used to get a mustard Whopper and fries.

21. Have you ever had a garage sale?
A few. Mary was telling me about a relative of hers who will pick up all your stuff and sell it, for a fee of 40% of the money. Now THAT is a deal. Garage sales are a total headache to me.

22. What color is your cell phone?
black

23. What is the last alcoholic beverage you had?
Mango margaritas at Curra's. Yummy!

24. Are you happy right now?
at the moment, yes

25. Who came over to your house last?
Douglas

26. Do you drink beer?
I do.

27. Have your brothers or sisters ever told you that you were adopted?
LOL. I'm an only child and was spared that particular torture.

28. What is your favorite key on your key chain?
I'll go with the Pilot key, because it has the alarm buttons on it. My key is separate from the alarm thingie.

29. What was the last movie you watched at home?
Iron Man 2

30.What is in your pocket?
nothing

31. Who introduced you to your bf/gf/husband/wife?
I introduced myself.

32. Where do you hurt?
My knee still hurts a little most days.

33. Has someone ever made you a build-a-bear?
Nope :(

34. What’s something fun you did today?
It's early, so yesterday a fun thing I did was peruse chicken recipes on FoodNetwork.com

35. What is your favorite aisle at Target?
organizational stuff

36. When is your birthday?
April 2

37. Is there anything hanging from your rear view mirror?
No

38. How many states in the US have you been to?
35

39. What kind of milk do you drink?
Skim

40. What are you going to do after this?
Go grocery shopping!

41. Who was the last person you went shopping with?
Jeff

42. What is something you need to go shopping for?
Tervis tumblers

43. Do you have the same first name as one of your relatives?
Jeff has an aunt named Kathy, but she spells her full name Kathryn.

44. What kind of car do your parents drive?
I have no idea what my dad is driving these days.

45. Are you rich?
Nope. We're not destitute either.

46. What color is your couch?
Gold. Not sparkly lamé. Just regular.

48. What famous person do you look like?
Ellie Kemper

49. Does someone like you right now?
The hubby likes me a lot.

50. Say you were given a pregnancy test right now. Would you pass or fail?
It would be negative, which would be a total A+ in my book.

51. Favorite pop-tart flavor?
Eww. None.

52. Do you know anyone in jail/prison?
Shockingly and unfortunately, yes. A friend's dad.

53. What are your plans for the weekend?
Not sure. Working on that now.

54. Do you like the color green?
It's my favorite.

55. Who was the last person you sent an instant message to?
Donna

56. Last restaurant you went to?
Melting Pot

57. How many hours did you sleep last night?
6

58. Do you swear at your parents?
Hell no. Never did.

59. Do you think someone is thinking about you right now?
Oooooh. :) No.

60. Have you ever changed your clothes while in a vehicle?
Many times. Last time was in October at a rocketry event.

61. What is your ringtone?
Daughtry "No Surprise" or Katy Perry "Waking Up in Vegas," depending on who is calling

62. What were you doing at midnight last night?
sleeping

Read more...

Saw 3D

Saw Saw 3D last night. We've seen all the Saw movies, and it's become an annual activity over the years. Never was there a horror franchise as absurdly disgusting, disturbing and cheesy as this one. It's Motel Hell on a big(ger) budget. (There were even pig masks in this installment! Time to make the sausage. Mwahaha.)

Lauren told me afterward that Cary Elwes, Westley in Princess Bride, played Dr. Gordon in the original Saw and in this one. Whaaa? I had no idea that was him. Perhaps if he had just said something like, "I spent the last few years building up an immunity to iocane powder..."

We kept the glasses, because nothing beats them as nerd glasses when you pop out the lenses. Not that I frequently have a need for nerd glasses, but you never know.

I'm already scouting out activities for next weekend. It's a great time to hike, tour wineries... all sorts of cool things! Can you say slooooooow aaaaaaat wooooork? Come on, Friday!

Read more...

Need More Weekend

Doug and I had a fun afternoon yesterday! We went to Curra's and Zilker Park. Just another gorgeous day in the ATX. There won't be a Trail of Lights this year, but the Zilker Tree is up now! Not lit yet though.

In unrelated news, I have caught Lauren's stomach bug from last week. Yeah. It's as awesome as it sounds.


Patrick's Sunday Seven

The Mattel toy company has given media haters a gift: the Barbie® I Can Be… News Anchor Doll. Envisioned as a way for girls to “play out different roles and ‘try on’ fabulous careers,” the first job was chosen by a vote of Barbie fans. So now that she has her first career choice out of the way, it’s time to help guide her towards her next careers.

Name the seven careers you’d like to see depicted in a Barbie Doll.

Barbie® I Can Be… Ghost Hunter
Barbie® I Can Be… Carny
Barbie® I Can Be… Senator
Barbie® I Can Be… Crayon Color Namer
Barbie® I Can Be… Professional Student
Barbie® I Can Be… Paparazzo
Barbie® I Can Be… Gangsta Rapper

Read more...

Gig 'em Ags!!

Trounced OU, despite the cruddiest third quarter ever and injuries and penalties out the yang. You know you're on the edge of your seat during an entire football game when a full five minutes after the win and subsequent celebrating concludes is the first time you realize have to pee so bad you're not really sure you can make it to the bathroom. Just saying.

Gypsy Picnic was an awesome Austin-y event! Had a great time with Scott, Julie, Jim and the kiddos. There were a few details the event might think about working out, but it was the first year, so I think they did an amazing job. The food trailers were in a giant circle on Auditorium Shores, but the lines were very long and winding, so it was difficult to figure out where the end of your line was and to cross lines to get anywhere. They definitely could have removed all the trailers and tents in the middle of the circle to help that. Long lines took only about 10-20 minutes for most places, which is pretty good.

Ideally, they would have all 30+ trailers lined up next to each other and the waiting lines coming straight out with ropes between. Ahahaa. Impossible, but ideal. You're welcome, Gypsy Picnic planners. :)

Sunday Stealing: The 14 Question Meme

1. What do you consider your hometown to be?
Houston, TX

2. What’s the hardest part of your average day?
when I'm bored at work

3. The easiest? Why?
about 8pm, when dinner and cleanup is complete and we're relaxing and hanging out

4. What beverage do you reach for to quench your thirst?
unsweetened iced tea

5. What is one not-so-secret goal you have for your life? I’ll let you keep your secret ones to yourself.
Having a fabulous entertainment room to treat our friends and ourselves to a perfect spot to watch thrilling football games like last night's!!

6. What physical pain do you fear most? For example, I’m trying to decide how bad my jaw pain needs to get before I risk a potential needle from my dentist. So, for me, throbbing is preferable to jabbing.
it would be a tie between migraines (which I used to get) and childbirth

7. Where do you find solace?
music

8. What makes you the saddest when you read/see the news?
a child or animal in fear or anguish

9. What do you eat for a favorite snack?
grape tomatoes

10. What movie could you/would you watch more than two or three times and still enjoy just as much as the first time?
50 First Dates & Love, Actually

11. What boy/girl first made you cry?
A mean boy hit me on the playground in first grade. Does that count? heh. My first serious (and unrequited) crush, BobbyM, in middle school.

12. What brand of coffee/tea do you drink most often?
Luzianne decaf tea, Starbucks coffee

13. Dig in the dirt with or without garden gloves?
With. The dirt doesn't bother me, but the thought of touching a worm or other creepy crawly thing does.

14. James Taylor or Carly Simon?
Neither really, but I'd prefer James Taylor.

Read more...

Monday Mayhem on Saturday

So I got up at 9:15. I'm still in my jammies. I'm dorking around here on the computer for a bit, then having a teensy snack-breakfast before we head out to Gypsy Picnic with some friends for an extended lunch. Tonight several of Lauren's friends are hanging out here. It's going to be a great day!

Monday Mayhem on Saturday

3 Places I Would Pack My Travel Bag For
Moscow, Rome, Honolulu

3 On-Screen Characters I Love To Watch
Cam on Modern Family, Sheldon on Big Bang Theory, Jim on The Office

3 Moods That Describe Me The Best
chipper, contemplative, optimistic

3 Things I Always Think Of Doing On A Weekend
festivals/events, trail hiking, movies

3 Things From My Childhood That I Can't Forget
-My mom wasn't at the highway to meet me one day walking home in 1st grade, so I crossed without her (oh man was I in trouble for that) and went to a neighbor's apartment. She spent a couple of hours trying to find me.
-One of my journalism "friends" my sophomore year of high school, offered to take me home one night after a banquet. It turned out somehow he had been drinking all evening. In his parked car, he tried to get me to mess around with him (oh heck no), and actually got me pinned against the door before I was able to get out and call my mom to pick me up. Grant was supposed to have driven me home that night, but we had decided it was easier for this guy to do it. Grant felt terrible about it- poor guy!
-When I was 13. The sight of my father in lederhosen. ;) It was a big party at our house, and he changed into them in the bedroom and came out holding up a beer stein and singing opera. Everyone was dying. I have the photos, too, to remind me if I almost forget. Hee hee.

3 Things I Would Never Say No To
a trip to Vegas, Salt Lick, backstage passes

3 Things I Can't Live Without
music, internet, phone

Read more...

Here's to Good Hair Days

I got more compliments on my hair yesterday than I have in months. Wanna know how I wore it?

In. A. Ponytail.

Freakin' hell. If I had known I could be rockin' the pony all this time, I would have been doing it every day.

Best comment-- "You look 29." An obvious exaggeration, but very sweet anyway. I wasn't even wearing my up-high Cheerleader Ponytail. Wait until they see the CP! I'll practically look like a student.

Shhhh. Don't burst my bubble.

Mrs. A told me I have to try the Hecho in Mexico restaurant on William Cannon. When I told Lauren about it, I left off the silent H. She was all, "Really? You went to the trouble to use the accent on the hecho part, and then said the X in Mexico?" *g*

Friday Five

1. What were your three favorite songs ten years ago?
1) "Smooth" Santana feat. Rob Thomas
2) "Bye Bye Bye" NSYNC
3) "Bent" Matchbox Twenty

2. What songs or groups from ten years ago did you love then, but don't like anymore?
I thought Britney Spears was a real talent in her early days. Not so much since then.

3. What songs from ten years ago did you love then, still love now, but haven't heard in a long time?
"Bailamos" Enrique Iglesias, "Story of a Girl" Nine Days, "I Hope You Dance" Lee Ann Womack

4. What songs or groups from ten years ago did you not like then, but do like now?
I did not like Train back then, especially their song "Meet Virginia." Now I love them!! I still despise that song though. "Music" by Madonna- a song I didn't like when it came out, but it's grown on me over the years.

5. How has your taste in music changed in the last ten years?
My taste in music is the same. I haven't gone country or anything. That happens to people in Texas, you know. Something takes you over in the middle of the night...

Read more...

Thursday

...Show me, show me, show me how you do that trick
The one that makes me scream, "SEASICK!"...

Ahahaa! Yeah. Misheard The Cure lyrics from a hundred years ago. Just in case anyone else on the planet heard the same thing, it's actually:

..."Show me, show me, show me how you do that trick
the one that makes me scream," she said...

You're welcome!

(Seasick rhymes better.)

Finally beginning work on a song or two for my musical. It's in its very early stages, since I still don't have a good story yet. There has to be a song about some sort of strife, and a sappy love song... that's easy enough to build some basic phrases and hooks. I'm really looking forward to writing the requisite duet with two characters singing over each other. You know the one. I'm thinking I'll have to involve my melody guy at that point.

I still need some great new music to listen to! If any of you can recommend something, I would be very grateful. I like everything but twangy country. Prefer alternative and pop.

Have a wonderful day!!

Read more...

Voting Notes

I voted against two particular candidates, rather than for their opponents, yesterday. That's a real cup-half-empty sort of way to process one's options, but when the opposing candidate is not a favorite of mine, that's how I do it. Like... remember when George W was the "lesser of two evils" back in 2000? Well, to me anyway. Ahaha.

There was one State Board of Education race I've been watching like a hawk via television ads for several weeks. Turns out it isn't even my district. Boooooo. I want to get the extreme conservatives out of there quick, before our textbooks are complete garbage. Looks like a lot of others do as well. :)

I had to run the gauntlet of political enthusiasts outside my polling place, including one candidate himself, who kept talking about his platform as I walked off into the building. That whole scene was almost as annoying as the hundreds of political phone calls I've fielded over the past month. Yeesh. Thank goodness it's over.

On a happy note-- I am loving this cool weather!!

Read more...

Voting Day!

Everybody please vote! It's important.
----------------------------------------------

Lauren: Sometimes at night, I walk down the hall and I see your George Clooney desktop reflection in the window. And I think woo!

That's probably a secret, but it made me smile, so I've written it down, here on the internet, in ink.
(I'm quoting that terrible film, The Social Network, again. Make it stop!)

Of course, then I start worrying that my screensaver isn't working, since she's seeing the desktop...

I met Booty Call Girl at the elementary school yesterday. And discovered the difference between "flip flops" and "thong sandals." (It's the quality of the materials. They're all flip flops to me. Keep in mind, however, that I grew up calling my night gown a "night gallon...")

Still enjoying Mrs. A's amazing life stories at work. Just when I think I've heard them all, she starts in on something like "The summer I worked as a pole dancer in Dubai...."

Read more...

Good Morning, Monday!

Well, we kicked Tech's bootay. Wooohooo! It was a really good game. The weekend was great. I love being in College Station and it's exciting to share all those things with Lauren.

One Tech shirt we saw was actually pretty funny. "I Gigged Your Mama." LOL

I was listening to this song on repeat last week, and Eva just mentioned it on Twitter, so I'm sharing it again here, especially for Angel, since her beloved Gators also won on Saturday! Yay!!

Great cover! Awesome singer, of course. He looks very young, eh?



Saturday 9: Elected

1. Many of my friends have commented they cannot discuss politics with co-workers, family, friends and others without conflict rearing its ugly head. Do you feel you can talk with your family and friends about this particularly divisive election?
There are a couple of people with whom I would not discuss politics, but I can talk with most friends and family members about it without getting into any nasty arguments.

2. Do you know who you're voting for in next week's election? How did you decide?
Yes. First I kick out all the candidates who can only manage to tell me what a loser the other guy is. Then, if there is anyone left, I find out their stands on major issues and vote for the one who agrees with me most.

3. What do you think is the most important issue in next Tuesday's election?
So many. Reducing government spending on unnecessary garbage is one. Government needs to do what regular folks do in a poor economy- PRIORITIZE.

4. Can you go a day without laughing?
I laugh pretty easily, so it would have to be an exceptionally bad day for me to go 24 hours without it.

5. Do you think that you can choose who you want to love?
(Sometimes unfortunately) no. lol. It's either there or it's not.

6. Have you ever been on stage? For what?
Many times. I did plays and musicals in elementary and middle school. I was in countless choir shows. I did the high school talent show and senior musical. After high school, I never did any more performing.

7. Would you ever live in a different country? If yes, where?
There are several I would live in. Germany, England, Australia would be my most likely.

8. Any plans for Halloween?
We gave out candy. Lauren went to a party at Kristin's.

9. The last costume that you wore, what was it and why did you choose it?
I wore zombie makeup several years ago when giving out candy. I chose it because it was easy. Lame, perhaps, but also easy. Last real costume I remember was being a flasher my sophomore year of high school.

Read more...