It's the middle of summer in California, but from this photo you'd think we were on the shore of Lake Baikal in January. Can you see the sun? It's a sliver on the horizon.
Happy 18th Birthday, Alayna!
3 years ago
Thursday, August 04, 2005
We were at the beach because our church was having a beach barbeque. I like to stay on the perimeter of group functions, if you couldn't tell from the photo.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
I always say "you can't trust a well dressed man"
I watch "Ambush Makeover," I do, it makes me all the dumber for it, but I keep watching. What I have learned is that there are way more male make-up artists out in the world than I ever imagined.
I have a problem with this. I would feel like a failure as a woman if a man could do my makeup better than I can. A man can decorate my house, teach me how to dance, even dress me, but in my mind only a woman should do my make-up.
I have a problem with this. I would feel like a failure as a woman if a man could do my makeup better than I can. A man can decorate my house, teach me how to dance, even dress me, but in my mind only a woman should do my make-up.
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
I usually try to avoid geriatric products
But I really want this handle thing.
My civic is so low, and I'm so front heavy, it's a bad combo and I narrowly avoid tumbling onto the driveway on a daily basis.
(why's it gotta be 35 bucks?)
My civic is so low, and I'm so front heavy, it's a bad combo and I narrowly avoid tumbling onto the driveway on a daily basis.
(why's it gotta be 35 bucks?)
Monday, August 01, 2005
mini post
During the Bradley classes, we were shown a big color anatomical chart of how a normal woman's internal organs are arranged, all happily working together, doing their own special jobs to make said woman function. And then on the other side of the chart we saw where all those organs go when the baby moves in. Organs are pushed every which way in the the same way dirty laundry is stuffed in a closet when guests arrive unannounced.
I am that closet, and my guest is staying another month.
(Oh and I can't let it go, my feet seem to belong to someone else.)
I am that closet, and my guest is staying another month.
(Oh and I can't let it go, my feet seem to belong to someone else.)
Thursday, July 28, 2005
just put the microphone down
There's a race downtown this weekend.
I was watching an interview with the head of Team Australia on the local news.
At the end of the interview the painfully white bread american reporter said
"I know what Australian for beer is, what's Australian for good luck?"
To which the harried man said "uh...do it."
"Do it, okay great! Hey if you need an Outback, I know where one is."
"oh okay."
After the tape interview was over, he told the news desk:
"that man was actually from Scotland."
Idiot.
I was watching an interview with the head of Team Australia on the local news.
At the end of the interview the painfully white bread american reporter said
"I know what Australian for beer is, what's Australian for good luck?"
To which the harried man said "uh...do it."
"Do it, okay great! Hey if you need an Outback, I know where one is."
"oh okay."
After the tape interview was over, he told the news desk:
"that man was actually from Scotland."
Idiot.
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
all credit goes to Allison
I already feel a kinship with the author of this book. Just read those few pages. Bless that woman, and heaven help me, I know I'm gonna have to deal with "coddlers" real soon!
If you don't have time to read those pages, here's a quote that made me laugh:
"Time and again I have seen four and five year old children punching their mommies in the face, slapping them across the head, and kicking them in the shins, while the mommies say in a calm gentle voices, "Honey -ow- please don't hit Mommy. Sweetie, please. Honey? What's the matter, honey? Are you having angry feelings, sweetheart? Ow." The mothers continue attempting to soothe the little savages into submission with hugs and kisses, while dodging tiny but vicious blows."
Gold.
If you don't have time to read those pages, here's a quote that made me laugh:
"Time and again I have seen four and five year old children punching their mommies in the face, slapping them across the head, and kicking them in the shins, while the mommies say in a calm gentle voices, "Honey -ow- please don't hit Mommy. Sweetie, please. Honey? What's the matter, honey? Are you having angry feelings, sweetheart? Ow." The mothers continue attempting to soothe the little savages into submission with hugs and kisses, while dodging tiny but vicious blows."
Gold.
I forgive you, bus.
As I was driving north on 280, I noticed a city bus hurdling southbound with a marquee that read simply "SORRY".
It must have been a naughty bus.
It must have been a naughty bus.
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
oh san joser
Can you believe it? We beat San Francisco by two spots.
Okay I can believe it. In answer to the titled question "is you city overpriced?"-- YES. Can I just tell you that my boss's house cost 750K, and it's a 2bedroom/1bathroom? Yowza. Nope, no ocean view, no acreage, not even a pool. That's life in the valley. I will withhold how much our modest little home cost, it kinda makes me ill. But I will say that for the same price we could be living in this house in Texas. Ouchie. (Let's give a nice big round of applause it for Kevin and "daddy-Ebay" that made buying a house here possible)
It really doesn't make any sense and people usually only stick around here for a little while before they move away to Nevada or Colorado or even "down south" but they don't mean Alabama, they mean Orange County. (hence all our friends leave!)
It's not that I didn't know that coming here. Thankfully I've lived my whole adult life here, so it doesn't hurt as much as I'm sure it would if I had lived on my own a few years somewhere more logical.
viva la santa clara y san jose, viva el ultraje.
Okay I can believe it. In answer to the titled question "is you city overpriced?"-- YES. Can I just tell you that my boss's house cost 750K, and it's a 2bedroom/1bathroom? Yowza. Nope, no ocean view, no acreage, not even a pool. That's life in the valley. I will withhold how much our modest little home cost, it kinda makes me ill. But I will say that for the same price we could be living in this house in Texas. Ouchie. (Let's give a nice big round of applause it for Kevin and "daddy-Ebay" that made buying a house here possible)
It really doesn't make any sense and people usually only stick around here for a little while before they move away to Nevada or Colorado or even "down south" but they don't mean Alabama, they mean Orange County. (hence all our friends leave!)
It's not that I didn't know that coming here. Thankfully I've lived my whole adult life here, so it doesn't hurt as much as I'm sure it would if I had lived on my own a few years somewhere more logical.
viva la santa clara y san jose, viva el ultraje.
Thursday, July 21, 2005
**trumpets sound**
I invite you read my maiden post on Wordaholism.
Tonight as I receive this honor, I'd like to thank the gracious host of Wordaholsim, Esbee, and all of the other contributors who are obviously more clever than I.
Tonight as I receive this honor, I'd like to thank the gracious host of Wordaholsim, Esbee, and all of the other contributors who are obviously more clever than I.
It's gonna be rough
This is the dogs' life now...No wonder Franklin's been peeing in the baby's room, they know their lives will never be the same in 6 weeks.
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
social comentary: a little shame, a little glory
I cannot support:
the new Dodge Charger
cell phone mania
Tim McGraw meets Nelly song
But I do support:
the new saturn roadster
Funnel cakes at IHOP and green tea frappuchino
Martha Stewart redeeming herself with a french bulldog
the new Dodge Charger
cell phone mania
Tim McGraw meets Nelly song
But I do support:
the new saturn roadster
Funnel cakes at IHOP and green tea frappuchino
Martha Stewart redeeming herself with a french bulldog
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
a Craigslist gem
I like to puruse craigslist, it's like garage sale shopping for lazy people.
I came across this ad tonight and it made me happy.
What a funny little man.
I came across this ad tonight and it made me happy.
What a funny little man.
Monday, July 18, 2005
I want to tell!
Aurora called me today and told me the sonogram results but neither her or Scott have blogged so I guess I'd better zip it until they tell (oh the waiting!)
Today I had another installment of -things I do-:
On Sunday, Kevin and I were excited to have our lunch be simply all the guacamole and chips we could eat. He had his bag of Tostitos and I had my bag of blue corn chips (they're healthier, alright?). I thought for sure I would finish off my whole bag (medium sized!) so I tore it open for easier chip selection access. But I didn't eat them all, and I didn't remove the bag from the table either. Later last night I was using a laptop with the cord trailing over the coffee table, then I handed the laptop to Kevin which made the cord sweep under the bag of chips and tip them out onto the table. I laughed...and again I didn't remove them from the table.
After I finished my lunch today, I looked down at the chips and thought "the dogs would like these." So I made up a mini-game called "get the chips." Very similar to 52 card pick up, but with dogs and chips. I threw them up into the air and onto the carpet, and they, with great deftness, scurried to eat them all up. My little champions.
Today I had another installment of -things I do-:
On Sunday, Kevin and I were excited to have our lunch be simply all the guacamole and chips we could eat. He had his bag of Tostitos and I had my bag of blue corn chips (they're healthier, alright?). I thought for sure I would finish off my whole bag (medium sized!) so I tore it open for easier chip selection access. But I didn't eat them all, and I didn't remove the bag from the table either. Later last night I was using a laptop with the cord trailing over the coffee table, then I handed the laptop to Kevin which made the cord sweep under the bag of chips and tip them out onto the table. I laughed...and again I didn't remove them from the table.
After I finished my lunch today, I looked down at the chips and thought "the dogs would like these." So I made up a mini-game called "get the chips." Very similar to 52 card pick up, but with dogs and chips. I threw them up into the air and onto the carpet, and they, with great deftness, scurried to eat them all up. My little champions.
What in the name of all things holy?!
As I was cleaning out my inbox of spam (of which I get millions because I've had my email address for 10 years) I noticed the title "SEXY Christian Singles" and thought "what in the hell?" But as you can see from the picture, spammers will say anything. I expect that if I was affiliated with Islam that the korean hooker photo would say "Come meet sexy muslim singles" Or maybe not. They could get bombed for that.
Sunday, July 17, 2005
come see the harder side of me
I just registered for my first real conference
Although it's bound to be a very adult atmosphere, I'll be sure to take notes on some silly paper with japanese hamsters printed on it and maybe a sparkley pen.
If anyone would like to join me in scenic Fremont California on Saturday, you're welcome to. (why did it have to be Fremont?!)
Although it's bound to be a very adult atmosphere, I'll be sure to take notes on some silly paper with japanese hamsters printed on it and maybe a sparkley pen.
If anyone would like to join me in scenic Fremont California on Saturday, you're welcome to. (why did it have to be Fremont?!)
this is where it starts gettin ugly
The salad days of the the second trimester are long gone now.
There was so much I wanted to get done this weekend, but instead I spent a lot of it laying on our (unclean) living room carpet and staring at the ceiling...occasionaly flopping to either side to mix it up. My ability to focus is shot too. We needed to make some decisions about the bathroom, yesterday and today, and there were just too many variables for me to compute. I feed my brain information and all I get back are error messages saying "i don't know, i don't know, hot, it's hot, can't stand up, tired, can't think."
The feeling is like I just ran a 5K then immediately sat down and ate a whole thanksgiving turkey covered in lard and strawberry syrup-- all day long.
One would think I'd be sleepy, but sleep ain't happenin' either.
6 weeks left...
There was so much I wanted to get done this weekend, but instead I spent a lot of it laying on our (unclean) living room carpet and staring at the ceiling...occasionaly flopping to either side to mix it up. My ability to focus is shot too. We needed to make some decisions about the bathroom, yesterday and today, and there were just too many variables for me to compute. I feed my brain information and all I get back are error messages saying "i don't know, i don't know, hot, it's hot, can't stand up, tired, can't think."
The feeling is like I just ran a 5K then immediately sat down and ate a whole thanksgiving turkey covered in lard and strawberry syrup-- all day long.
One would think I'd be sleepy, but sleep ain't happenin' either.
6 weeks left...
Friday, July 15, 2005
To keep these to myself would be selfish
If I could string together certain moments of my life, written just so, I might have a funny movie. Well funny to me.
On their own they don't have much narrative quality to them, but I don't want them to go to waste.
Here's a recent one:
Last Sunday I set a container with about two inches of milk in it on top of my car as I unlocked my car. Right as I got the door open, the wind blew the cup over and onto the backseat window of my car. I think I said something like "ohhh miillk, ohhh."
Am I clean? No. I let it dry on there.
Then later in the week, I had a glass with a few inches of watery, warm lemonade in my cup holder. As I was about to dump it out onto the concrete, I thought "maybe it will wash off the milk."
It didn't. It just made more smeared marks down the side of my car.
Did any of that spur me to wash my car?
Absolutely not.
It's all still on there
Another one:
I've had this fugitive pile of laundry hanging around for months. Not fugitive in that it's hiding. On the contrary, I put in plain sight, hoping day after day, that the me-of-tomorrow will get sick of looking at it and do something about it. But, it's a tricky pile, you see. It's a bunch of winter clothes and clothes that I plan to donate. All dirty, and there is absolutely no demand for them to get clean. So as i was trying to clean the house on Tuesday I dumped the pile in the middle of the kitchen floor, with the idea that "That'll irritate me enough to sort and wash them."
No one should be surprised that that pile stayed there for several days.
One of those days I cooked a bowl in the microwave long enough to make it like magma to the touch. There were tea towels hanging from the oven and oven mits in the drawer across the kitchen.
But I used a sock.
A dirty tube sock from the pile.
More nuggets to come. They happen all the time.
On their own they don't have much narrative quality to them, but I don't want them to go to waste.
Here's a recent one:
Last Sunday I set a container with about two inches of milk in it on top of my car as I unlocked my car. Right as I got the door open, the wind blew the cup over and onto the backseat window of my car. I think I said something like "ohhh miillk, ohhh."
Am I clean? No. I let it dry on there.
Then later in the week, I had a glass with a few inches of watery, warm lemonade in my cup holder. As I was about to dump it out onto the concrete, I thought "maybe it will wash off the milk."
It didn't. It just made more smeared marks down the side of my car.
Did any of that spur me to wash my car?
Absolutely not.
It's all still on there
Another one:
I've had this fugitive pile of laundry hanging around for months. Not fugitive in that it's hiding. On the contrary, I put in plain sight, hoping day after day, that the me-of-tomorrow will get sick of looking at it and do something about it. But, it's a tricky pile, you see. It's a bunch of winter clothes and clothes that I plan to donate. All dirty, and there is absolutely no demand for them to get clean. So as i was trying to clean the house on Tuesday I dumped the pile in the middle of the kitchen floor, with the idea that "That'll irritate me enough to sort and wash them."
No one should be surprised that that pile stayed there for several days.
One of those days I cooked a bowl in the microwave long enough to make it like magma to the touch. There were tea towels hanging from the oven and oven mits in the drawer across the kitchen.
But I used a sock.
A dirty tube sock from the pile.
More nuggets to come. They happen all the time.
friday afternoon report
This afternoon I went to the pool. A kid puked in the pool. They said "everyone out." So I left.
On the way home I thought, maybe the dogs would like to have their own little pool.
I stopped at a drug store to get one.
I also needed milk.
No milk at the store, but I got the last pool.
I put the pool out. The dogs didn't like it.
I resigned myself to watching Dr. Phil. Re-run.
Damn.
On the way home I thought, maybe the dogs would like to have their own little pool.
I stopped at a drug store to get one.
I also needed milk.
No milk at the store, but I got the last pool.
I put the pool out. The dogs didn't like it.
I resigned myself to watching Dr. Phil. Re-run.
Damn.
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Weddings la la!
My friend Megan got married a couple of weeks ago and here are the photos Hooray!
And two random people from my past are also getting married next month. Danny Lynch sticks out in my mind as the guy who fell on my head on the playground at recess in elementary school. And Jacki, well I might have a few classes with her, but who would of thought these two would get married? Not me.
And bonus, if you read their engagement story, I've been to that restaurant in SF, yep, I have.
And two random people from my past are also getting married next month. Danny Lynch sticks out in my mind as the guy who fell on my head on the playground at recess in elementary school. And Jacki, well I might have a few classes with her, but who would of thought these two would get married? Not me.
And bonus, if you read their engagement story, I've been to that restaurant in SF, yep, I have.
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
it's not like it's Michael Bolton
My boss bought a Michael Bublé CD from the Starbucks across the street last week, and I think I've found a new artist for my "closet music" collection. Closet music being music that is totally uncool to like but I like it anyway, I just don't tell music snobs and don't play it when Kevin's home.
It really is a shame he doesn't pronouce his name like "bubble" but I guess that name is already taken. I heard the name is French Canadian, evident in the way he pronouces "llama" like "lamb-a" on track 13. No Mexicans in Quebec to straighten him out I guess.
Truthfully, he's a wanna be Harry Connick Jr. who probably can't write a song to save his life. But I still like it. I do a little chair dance whenever that CD comes around in the changer at work. And I wish even more that we could just listen to it on loop instead of the toturous Billy Joel, the Eagles or Paula Cole, yikes!
It really is a shame he doesn't pronouce his name like "bubble" but I guess that name is already taken. I heard the name is French Canadian, evident in the way he pronouces "llama" like "lamb-a" on track 13. No Mexicans in Quebec to straighten him out I guess.
Truthfully, he's a wanna be Harry Connick Jr. who probably can't write a song to save his life. But I still like it. I do a little chair dance whenever that CD comes around in the changer at work. And I wish even more that we could just listen to it on loop instead of the toturous Billy Joel, the Eagles or Paula Cole, yikes!
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Well it's about time
I have stumbled upon a blog of quality! I thought I had found them all, especially after being thougroughly depressed about all my neighbors' blogs when I first purused my "blog map." (If you want to be bored and learn about techology issues, click the map at the bottom of my page)
Without further adieu, I give you Wordaholism.
Delightful, really.
Without further adieu, I give you Wordaholism.
Delightful, really.
Monday, July 11, 2005
Summer started yesterday
Yesterday my long hunt for a public pool ended. I now love the city of Cupertino because *they* have Blackberry Farm.
Granted it's a little more pricey than when I used to go to the Heights Pool as a kid (what was it like $1 a day?). But it's quality as you can see from their site, lots of trees and grass. Not like dumb Santa Clara pools that are open like 1 hour a day if you're not on a team or in a lesson. I bought a 10 day pass for 45 bucks yesterday and the guy let Kevin in for free, nice man. They have a nifty snack bar and 3 pools, hooray.
I didn't want to get out-- in the water I don't feel big or heavy or hot. The humorous downside to that is that when I got out of the pool I felt like I had double the gravity bearing down on me and trying to tip me over, heh.
There were no photos taken of me in my big hot pink maternity swimsuit, but I will have Kevin take a photo of me today, per Stephanie's request. Don't touch that dial.
Granted it's a little more pricey than when I used to go to the Heights Pool as a kid (what was it like $1 a day?). But it's quality as you can see from their site, lots of trees and grass. Not like dumb Santa Clara pools that are open like 1 hour a day if you're not on a team or in a lesson. I bought a 10 day pass for 45 bucks yesterday and the guy let Kevin in for free, nice man. They have a nifty snack bar and 3 pools, hooray.
I didn't want to get out-- in the water I don't feel big or heavy or hot. The humorous downside to that is that when I got out of the pool I felt like I had double the gravity bearing down on me and trying to tip me over, heh.
There were no photos taken of me in my big hot pink maternity swimsuit, but I will have Kevin take a photo of me today, per Stephanie's request. Don't touch that dial.
Saturday, July 09, 2005
Friday, July 08, 2005
I promised I'd post it
Kevin: "Charlie, never throw cats at people, ever!"
I get in trouble for funny things. :)
I get in trouble for funny things. :)
I am now going to pretend I'm on a talk show
Charlie: Hey, it's great to be here! Thank you, you're a great audience, wow.
Conan: Charlie it's great to have you on the show.
Charlie: Thanks! Wow your hair is so much bigger in person...
1. How do you spell your name backwards?
Aslrahc (totally unintelligible, and deifnitely no Nosilla)
2. Where were your parents born?
Um, I think both in El Paso. Aurora, can I have a confirmation on that?
3. What is the last thing you downloaded onto your computer?
A photo of a pug. What?
4. What's your favorite restaurant?
Chuy's in Dallas. Pink Godzilla here.
5. Last time you swam in a pool?
Ugh, don't get me started about the elusive public pools around here, grrr.
6. Have you ever been in a school play?
Yeah, and my family loves to tell everyone how bad I was playing Cinderella's mom.
7. How many kids do you want?
Dos, por favor.
8. Type of music you dislike most?
I concur with the angry man music, also Ragtime is horrible. Pop country too.
9. Are you registered to vote?
Yeah
10. Do you have cable?
To my detriment.
11. Have you ever ridden on a mop?
What in the hell?
12. Ever prank call anybody?
Possibly, I know that my friends had 3 way calling when I was younger and we were bored alot. Prank calling makes me tense now.
13. Would you go bungee jumping or sky diving?
I've bungeed jumped. I'd sky dive if it was free. I'm not gonna pay to fall to the ground.
14. Furthest place you ever traveled?
Togo, Africa
15. Would you consider a tatoo?
The question is, would I consider a second. I do consider it, but I probably won't.
16. Do you have a garden?
By proxy. It's Kevin's and I enjoy the fruits of his labor. Mmm parsnips.
17. What's your favorite comic strip?
Bizarro
18. Do you really know all the words to your national anthem?
Yes, thank you RISD education!
19. Bath or Shower, morning or night?
Whatever and whenever I damn well please.
20. Best movie you've seen in the past month?
Batman Begins
21. Favorite pizza topping?
Cheese and peperoni, I'm normal.
22. Chips or popcorn?
Chips! Although it has been ages since I've had them, I long for cool ranch doritos. Why can't they be good for me?
23. Have you ever smoked peanut shells?
This question is just too dumb. And no.
24. Have you ever been in a beauty pageant?
Kinda, not really. No.
25. apple juice or orange juice?
Orange (sorry I couldn't be clever there)
26. Who was the last person you went out to dinner with and where did you dine?
Kevin. We went to Chevy's, only because it was open late on a Sunday.
27. Favorite type chocolate bar?
Symphony...do they sill make those? Dang, those were good.
28. Twinkie OR HO-HO?
If a food has the word HO in it, it's okay by me.
29. Last time you ate a homegrown tomato?
Yesterday morning! I fried a green tomato from the backyard. It was a country moment.
30. Have you ever won a trophy?
Yes, for reciting Japanese Poetry. How frickin goofy and non athletic am I?! I still have it.
31. Are you a good cook?
Yes. Hmph!
32. Do you know how to pump your own gas?
Obviously this interview was conceived in Oregon.
33. Ever order an article from an infomercial?
No, but I desperately want a Ronco Food Dehydrator. Beef Jerky can me mine, at anytime!
34. Sprite or 7-up?
Sprite, whatever.
35. Have you ever had to wear a uniform to work?
Thank heavens no.
36. Last thing you bought at a Walgreens?
Sunblock for Sensitive Skin.
37. Ever thrown up in public?
No I don't believe I have. Another thing to be thankful.
38. Would you prefer being a millionaire or find true love?
Why can't I have both? I'v already got one (that's right, I said it!)
39. Do you believe in love at first sight?
No. Beware of overtly attractive men.
40. Can ex's be friends?
Yeah I guess.
41. Who was the last person you visited in a hospital?
My dad.
42. Did you have a lot of hair as a baby?
Nope, bald like George Castanza...even less actually.
43. What message is on your answering machine?
Kevin: "Hi we screen our calls, give it your best shot."
44. What was the name of your first pet?
Bear the mutt. He didn't love us.
45. What topic can you discuss with strangers but not with friends?
Um, nothing. I'm an open book.
46. What was the worst name you were ever called on the playground?
I didn't get called names. I was bigger than all the other kids.
47. Is it acceptable to give someone else parenting advice before being a parent?
In my head, yes.
47 questions?...well ok.
Conan: Charlie it's great to have you on the show.
Charlie: Thanks! Wow your hair is so much bigger in person...
1. How do you spell your name backwards?
Aslrahc (totally unintelligible, and deifnitely no Nosilla)
2. Where were your parents born?
Um, I think both in El Paso. Aurora, can I have a confirmation on that?
3. What is the last thing you downloaded onto your computer?
A photo of a pug. What?
4. What's your favorite restaurant?
Chuy's in Dallas. Pink Godzilla here.
5. Last time you swam in a pool?
Ugh, don't get me started about the elusive public pools around here, grrr.
6. Have you ever been in a school play?
Yeah, and my family loves to tell everyone how bad I was playing Cinderella's mom.
7. How many kids do you want?
Dos, por favor.
8. Type of music you dislike most?
I concur with the angry man music, also Ragtime is horrible. Pop country too.
9. Are you registered to vote?
Yeah
10. Do you have cable?
To my detriment.
11. Have you ever ridden on a mop?
What in the hell?
12. Ever prank call anybody?
Possibly, I know that my friends had 3 way calling when I was younger and we were bored alot. Prank calling makes me tense now.
13. Would you go bungee jumping or sky diving?
I've bungeed jumped. I'd sky dive if it was free. I'm not gonna pay to fall to the ground.
14. Furthest place you ever traveled?
Togo, Africa
15. Would you consider a tatoo?
The question is, would I consider a second. I do consider it, but I probably won't.
16. Do you have a garden?
By proxy. It's Kevin's and I enjoy the fruits of his labor. Mmm parsnips.
17. What's your favorite comic strip?
Bizarro
18. Do you really know all the words to your national anthem?
Yes, thank you RISD education!
19. Bath or Shower, morning or night?
Whatever and whenever I damn well please.
20. Best movie you've seen in the past month?
Batman Begins
21. Favorite pizza topping?
Cheese and peperoni, I'm normal.
22. Chips or popcorn?
Chips! Although it has been ages since I've had them, I long for cool ranch doritos. Why can't they be good for me?
23. Have you ever smoked peanut shells?
This question is just too dumb. And no.
24. Have you ever been in a beauty pageant?
Kinda, not really. No.
25. apple juice or orange juice?
Orange (sorry I couldn't be clever there)
26. Who was the last person you went out to dinner with and where did you dine?
Kevin. We went to Chevy's, only because it was open late on a Sunday.
27. Favorite type chocolate bar?
Symphony...do they sill make those? Dang, those were good.
28. Twinkie OR HO-HO?
If a food has the word HO in it, it's okay by me.
29. Last time you ate a homegrown tomato?
Yesterday morning! I fried a green tomato from the backyard. It was a country moment.
30. Have you ever won a trophy?
Yes, for reciting Japanese Poetry. How frickin goofy and non athletic am I?! I still have it.
31. Are you a good cook?
Yes. Hmph!
32. Do you know how to pump your own gas?
Obviously this interview was conceived in Oregon.
33. Ever order an article from an infomercial?
No, but I desperately want a Ronco Food Dehydrator. Beef Jerky can me mine, at anytime!
34. Sprite or 7-up?
Sprite, whatever.
35. Have you ever had to wear a uniform to work?
Thank heavens no.
36. Last thing you bought at a Walgreens?
Sunblock for Sensitive Skin.
37. Ever thrown up in public?
No I don't believe I have. Another thing to be thankful.
38. Would you prefer being a millionaire or find true love?
Why can't I have both? I'v already got one (that's right, I said it!)
39. Do you believe in love at first sight?
No. Beware of overtly attractive men.
40. Can ex's be friends?
Yeah I guess.
41. Who was the last person you visited in a hospital?
My dad.
42. Did you have a lot of hair as a baby?
Nope, bald like George Castanza...even less actually.
43. What message is on your answering machine?
Kevin: "Hi we screen our calls, give it your best shot."
44. What was the name of your first pet?
Bear the mutt. He didn't love us.
45. What topic can you discuss with strangers but not with friends?
Um, nothing. I'm an open book.
46. What was the worst name you were ever called on the playground?
I didn't get called names. I was bigger than all the other kids.
47. Is it acceptable to give someone else parenting advice before being a parent?
In my head, yes.
47 questions?...well ok.
Dr Phil report
Much to everyone's dismay (except Aurora) I get my Dr Phil (and Oprah) fix on Tuesdays and Friday afternoons.
I have to share:
Today the subject is "unethical marriages" and there's a couple that found out they have the same dad! aaa! They're not white trash either. This shows better than the county fair, I tell ya.
How will it end?! How will Dr. Phil fix this pickle? I'm glued!
I have to share:
Today the subject is "unethical marriages" and there's a couple that found out they have the same dad! aaa! They're not white trash either. This shows better than the county fair, I tell ya.
How will it end?! How will Dr. Phil fix this pickle? I'm glued!
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
all night slumber party of one
(see how my title was like a wheel of fotune "before and after" category puzzle?)
Although I feel relatively lethargic during the day, I've gotten into this habit of not-wanting-to-go-to-bed. It's very similar to when I was a kid and wanted to stay up on weekends as late as possible, even if I had to make up stuff to do, other than sleep.
It's a result of many factors:
-I feel like this flopping back and forth from side to side. A bit tough to move 'round.
-On average, I am woken up twice to get up and visit my local toity.
-The cat irks me during night. You see, I sleep in the same bed as her high lord and master and she must pay him allegiance all through the night by walking around and keeping herself clean (with her loud tongue!!).
-I also just wake up randomly and get that internal frenzied feeling like I need to break out of a straight-jacket or in my case, get out bed. I'm gonna guess this is the pre-baby conditioning that old ladies talk about.
All of this does not coax a giant turnip like me to go to bed. Instead I'm left with the bored but lazy feeling.
Que lastima, si? Si.
Like right now, it's 10:15PM, I should go to bed. Because hey, in bed, my thighs wouldn't be adhered by my own sweat to the leather chair. And my underwire could take a break for the night too. The hot laptop should also spur me to action. But it doesn't. Not yet anyway.
Although I feel relatively lethargic during the day, I've gotten into this habit of not-wanting-to-go-to-bed. It's very similar to when I was a kid and wanted to stay up on weekends as late as possible, even if I had to make up stuff to do, other than sleep.
It's a result of many factors:
-I feel like this flopping back and forth from side to side. A bit tough to move 'round.
-On average, I am woken up twice to get up and visit my local toity.
-The cat irks me during night. You see, I sleep in the same bed as her high lord and master and she must pay him allegiance all through the night by walking around and keeping herself clean (with her loud tongue!!).
-I also just wake up randomly and get that internal frenzied feeling like I need to break out of a straight-jacket or in my case, get out bed. I'm gonna guess this is the pre-baby conditioning that old ladies talk about.
All of this does not coax a giant turnip like me to go to bed. Instead I'm left with the bored but lazy feeling.
Que lastima, si? Si.
Like right now, it's 10:15PM, I should go to bed. Because hey, in bed, my thighs wouldn't be adhered by my own sweat to the leather chair. And my underwire could take a break for the night too. The hot laptop should also spur me to action. But it doesn't. Not yet anyway.
yahoo representin'
Look what photo showed up first on the yahoo photo news highlights! I've done that! I couldn't get the caption to link so here it is: Tubers float down the Guadalupe River, Wednesday, July 6, 2005, in New Braunfels, Texas. Wednesday's weather was partly cloudy and reached a high of 101 degrees.
I want to go tubing...I wonder if I can do that here, I must investigate. I worry that around here in fancy-pants land that it has to involve a catamaran or a kayak or something high class to be allowed.
I want to go tubing...I wonder if I can do that here, I must investigate. I worry that around here in fancy-pants land that it has to involve a catamaran or a kayak or something high class to be allowed.
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
movie review
Batman Begins was good. I highly recommend it. I can't entirely recommend seeing it on an IMAX screen. Sometimes bat ninjas can be too big.
Monday, July 04, 2005
Nothing even remotely related to my life
But I thought this was bizarre, so I'm sharing it:
(from Mercury News)
"Since Katie Holmes became attached with Tom Cruise and the Scientologists, she's not allowed to be alone -- ever. When Holmes accompanied Cruise to a recent taping of ``The View,'' eyebrows were raised when she wasn't allowed to go to the bathroom alone. At one point, Cruise asked where the bathroom was and ``took Katie with him into the men's room,'' an insider told the New York Post. Later, when Holmes needed to go, ``three Scientologists followed her in.'' A rep for the show said, ``We don't follow guests to the bathroom.''"
(from Mercury News)
"Since Katie Holmes became attached with Tom Cruise and the Scientologists, she's not allowed to be alone -- ever. When Holmes accompanied Cruise to a recent taping of ``The View,'' eyebrows were raised when she wasn't allowed to go to the bathroom alone. At one point, Cruise asked where the bathroom was and ``took Katie with him into the men's room,'' an insider told the New York Post. Later, when Holmes needed to go, ``three Scientologists followed her in.'' A rep for the show said, ``We don't follow guests to the bathroom.''"
Sunday, July 03, 2005
How I spent my summer vacation
by Charlie Thayer.
Okay, this isn't formal essay. But I wanted to share (and encourage others to do the same) my most memorable 4th of July.
I had just joined the youth group at my church in Dallas when I found out they were going a summer road trip to a Young Life camp in northern California. I signed up knowing only one person and set out on 4 day roadtrip to Woodleaf. (don't worry, this isn't a story about friends and caring and sharing, keep reading)
Our last day/night before we got to the camp we stopped in Tahoe and somehow our leader arranged it so we could set up camp on local church's sunday school floor.
That day was the 4th of July and after swimming in the freezing cold water all day (which is very unlike me) we sat on the shore and watched the fireworks over the lake. :)
That's makes it on the top 10 list of warm fuzzy teen memories. It's funny that now that I live within a day's drive of Tahoe, I could go there anytime I want. But I know that if I went up there now, with strangers my own age from our church here, it totally wouldn't be the same. It think it was the combination of other people in charge, no job or school to worry about and being hundreds of miles away from home.
Happy Independence Day.
Okay, this isn't formal essay. But I wanted to share (and encourage others to do the same) my most memorable 4th of July.
I had just joined the youth group at my church in Dallas when I found out they were going a summer road trip to a Young Life camp in northern California. I signed up knowing only one person and set out on 4 day roadtrip to Woodleaf. (don't worry, this isn't a story about friends and caring and sharing, keep reading)
Our last day/night before we got to the camp we stopped in Tahoe and somehow our leader arranged it so we could set up camp on local church's sunday school floor.
That day was the 4th of July and after swimming in the freezing cold water all day (which is very unlike me) we sat on the shore and watched the fireworks over the lake. :)
That's makes it on the top 10 list of warm fuzzy teen memories. It's funny that now that I live within a day's drive of Tahoe, I could go there anytime I want. But I know that if I went up there now, with strangers my own age from our church here, it totally wouldn't be the same. It think it was the combination of other people in charge, no job or school to worry about and being hundreds of miles away from home.
Happy Independence Day.
Friday, July 01, 2005
It's very RuPaul of me.
I just ordered a chandelier for our bedroom. And if you notice, it's a muy good price for one. Just try and find another $99.00 chandelier I dare ya.
I was inspired to do so after going to the Fillmore and they have giant chandeliers with black lights shining on them so they glow violet. They're so cool, I couldn't stop staring at them, and I said "someday I'll have my own blacklight chandelier!"
And so it begins. Goodbye ugly ceiling fan, hello fabulous fixture.
I was inspired to do so after going to the Fillmore and they have giant chandeliers with black lights shining on them so they glow violet. They're so cool, I couldn't stop staring at them, and I said "someday I'll have my own blacklight chandelier!"
And so it begins. Goodbye ugly ceiling fan, hello fabulous fixture.
Thursday, June 30, 2005
-itis is the wrong suffix anyway
Did anyone have a teacher in high school that would annoyingly talk about "senioritis," the idea of seniors knowing that they were about to get the hell out of high school and not caring about piddly schoolwork anymore?
I've got something like that. My work is futile now. Okay, well it was futile before because I was and still am "desk girl," but now I see the end and it really doesn't matter now.
Generally, I try not to count down to things. Meaning, I think every day should be appreciated and put to use, and not seen as a means to an end. But I'll admit it, I'm counting down to August 18th.
I've got something like that. My work is futile now. Okay, well it was futile before because I was and still am "desk girl," but now I see the end and it really doesn't matter now.
Generally, I try not to count down to things. Meaning, I think every day should be appreciated and put to use, and not seen as a means to an end. But I'll admit it, I'm counting down to August 18th.
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Let's have a vote.
Everyone likes to tell other people what to do, so I expect all to participate:
I decided a while back that once I left my job to be a house-frau, that I would do my hair "fun." Fun, as in a strange color or cut that I've never been able to have because of school rules or having to look respectable at work. Basically I've never had a lifestyle which afforded me pink hair...until now!
As you can imagine, there are many ways one can have pink hair so here are a few options:
(don't get distracted by the people in the photo, think of it in my context)
A. The all over fuscia
B. The half chocolate, half cherry
C. The platinum pink
Unfortunately, Kevin will not allow hair this short, but that was what I originally had in mind. Feel free to vote for that too if you want, I could sway him maybe.
Cast your ballots, or um, comments. Anyone who votes for keeping my brown hair will be disqualified. :)
I decided a while back that once I left my job to be a house-frau, that I would do my hair "fun." Fun, as in a strange color or cut that I've never been able to have because of school rules or having to look respectable at work. Basically I've never had a lifestyle which afforded me pink hair...until now!
As you can imagine, there are many ways one can have pink hair so here are a few options:
(don't get distracted by the people in the photo, think of it in my context)
A. The all over fuscia
B. The half chocolate, half cherry
C. The platinum pink
Unfortunately, Kevin will not allow hair this short, but that was what I originally had in mind. Feel free to vote for that too if you want, I could sway him maybe.
Cast your ballots, or um, comments. Anyone who votes for keeping my brown hair will be disqualified. :)
I won't take no LÖVA for an answer!
The vision for the baby's room demands a giant leaf. So when I went to IKEA last week with Sam to get one, I was alarmed that they were out of stock and didn't think more were coming in. The woman even told me they could not be ordered online. I came home and placed and order for one online, thinking that IKEA person was dumb. A few days later I received and email saying, they were out of stock too. Apparently that chick wasn't dumb after all.
So this morning, I called and sat on swedish-hold for a while for my backorder, and placed it. Nothing is going to get in the way of me and my big leaf!
So this morning, I called and sat on swedish-hold for a while for my backorder, and placed it. Nothing is going to get in the way of me and my big leaf!
I hope you all have your crackers ready...
...because it's cheez time!
I've compiled a list of baby songs that if mixed tapes were still in vogue, I would make a baby Thayer mix tape.
Daughters- John Mayer
Danny's Song- Kenny Loggins(I know it's about a boy, who cares)
Isn't She Lovely- Stevie Wonder
Arms Wide Open- Creed (yeah I know, Creed sucks, just go with it)
Tupelo Honey- Van Morrison
And these soundbites keep running through my mind:
Raising Arizona
Planes Trains and Automobiles
(sorry, that site doesn't like linking to their wav.'s so you just gotta click the quote called "Short")
I've compiled a list of baby songs that if mixed tapes were still in vogue, I would make a baby Thayer mix tape.
Daughters- John Mayer
Danny's Song- Kenny Loggins(I know it's about a boy, who cares)
Isn't She Lovely- Stevie Wonder
Arms Wide Open- Creed (yeah I know, Creed sucks, just go with it)
Tupelo Honey- Van Morrison
And these soundbites keep running through my mind:
Raising Arizona
Planes Trains and Automobiles
(sorry, that site doesn't like linking to their wav.'s so you just gotta click the quote called "Short")
Monday, June 27, 2005
Family photos, fresh from my inbox!
I can't believe all these family members were ever in our house at the same time. This must have been one of those times they told me to go out and play. Key figures of the Blaylock family, all on (or near) our couch, incredible!
Anybody catch that ram shaped lamp on the table? Wow Mom, where in the hell did that come from? Rams, Monets, and geometric couches, it's all good, it's the 80's.
Sunday, June 26, 2005
Say your prayers, weedies.
I remember one time my mom got ahold of a electric shrub trimmer, which I think she might have stolen from a neighbor. She spent like a whole day hacking up all the hedges, trees and bushes around the yard, they were practically bald by the time she was done. I think the event was spurred by some pent up aggression mixed with a comment from a nosy landlord.
Now, we don't have a landlord and I don't know how much anger I had bottled, but I sure did hack up the yard today with our brand new edger/trimmer, and it made me think of Gwynn. We only have a "scissor cutter" lawnmower. Yeah like the kind donald duck would use to cut his lawn. It works pretty good, but edge the lawn, it does not. Nor does it cut the really long stuff. Enter the trimmer.
It was great. The sensation was very similar to the successful sound a vaccuum makes when it sucks up a lot of dirt. I must have looked super sexy out there, pregnant with giant chemistry lab goggles and a power tool.
Now, we don't have a landlord and I don't know how much anger I had bottled, but I sure did hack up the yard today with our brand new edger/trimmer, and it made me think of Gwynn. We only have a "scissor cutter" lawnmower. Yeah like the kind donald duck would use to cut his lawn. It works pretty good, but edge the lawn, it does not. Nor does it cut the really long stuff. Enter the trimmer.
It was great. The sensation was very similar to the successful sound a vaccuum makes when it sucks up a lot of dirt. I must have looked super sexy out there, pregnant with giant chemistry lab goggles and a power tool.
Friday, June 24, 2005
Rocker part two
...and now the excting conclusion to my rocker decision:
old timey.
Kevin already knows my true motive for this rocking chair-- I wanted two for the front porch. This way I get my overpriced rocking chair and the desire to buy me one is satisfied. I don't know why this didn't occur to me earlier.
We'll see if it works!
old timey.
Kevin already knows my true motive for this rocking chair-- I wanted two for the front porch. This way I get my overpriced rocking chair and the desire to buy me one is satisfied. I don't know why this didn't occur to me earlier.
We'll see if it works!
Thursday, June 23, 2005
today's progress photos
Here is one side of the room, where you can see on the right will be the door to the bathroom and the other doorway for the closet.
And here is what used to be two closets, one in the hall and one in our room. Now, bigger room!
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
flummoxed
Kevin's mom said that she wanted the family (meaning his family) to go in on a rocker/glider for me and the baby. This item had not crossed my mind. At first I kind of fought the idea internally, all the while smiling and nodding at her suggestion.
Then I resolved to find one that isn't hideous, as I feel most are. Gliders always looked convalesent like some sort of orthopedic support chair for moms. I did find chairs like this that are closer to my style than this caca.
However, as you might have noticed, the good ones are way more $$$. I'm not sure if I should tell her that I only want the good kind or just to say, "that's okay, I don't need one."
Hmm.
Plus, even the "good ones" aren't my style. I mean honestly I wish this chair came in a glider.
Maybe it'll all work out and the family won't agree on a date for the shower, and I can avoid this whole issue...and get a car seat like I need. :)
Then I resolved to find one that isn't hideous, as I feel most are. Gliders always looked convalesent like some sort of orthopedic support chair for moms. I did find chairs like this that are closer to my style than this caca.
However, as you might have noticed, the good ones are way more $$$. I'm not sure if I should tell her that I only want the good kind or just to say, "that's okay, I don't need one."
Hmm.
Plus, even the "good ones" aren't my style. I mean honestly I wish this chair came in a glider.
Maybe it'll all work out and the family won't agree on a date for the shower, and I can avoid this whole issue...and get a car seat like I need. :)
Happy Summer to you
Anyone hear about this? Holey moley.
I've got to share, though few probably want to hear it. I've got 'fat feet' and I'm not happy about it. There are certain conditions I thought young (ordinarily)thin women didn't get. Apparently during pregnancy, all bets are off. It's humbling in a way, I think back to all those times when someone told me their ankles and feet were swollen and hurt. And I'd think "oh sucks to be you"--- now look at me.
I've got to share, though few probably want to hear it. I've got 'fat feet' and I'm not happy about it. There are certain conditions I thought young (ordinarily)thin women didn't get. Apparently during pregnancy, all bets are off. It's humbling in a way, I think back to all those times when someone told me their ankles and feet were swollen and hurt. And I'd think "oh sucks to be you"--- now look at me.
Saturday, June 18, 2005
Friday, June 17, 2005
to market, to market
Way way way way back when Aurora worked as a checker at Tom Thumb, I remember she came home and talked about how funny it was to see what people bought or the combination of items and what that said about them. I always think about that when I go to the grocery store. I beam proudly down at the rubber conveyor belt when I have a pile of whole grains, organic produce and yogurt. Surely this shows that I'm a well adjusted person. And I also feel like a total weirdo when, like this afternoon, I buy 4 limes and a cheese slicer. The larger part of the story is I did have a few normal items to buy 25 minutes earlier: milk, bread, cheese, tomatoes and chicken, which I bought. Then I got home, realized I forgot limes, drove to a different grocery store (yes, to avoid shame), bagged my limes and suddenly remembered that I broke the cheese slicer and needed to puruse the "Bake Time" aisle for a new one.
And that is how that happened.
I was also on the lookout for potential molesters on my two grocery trips. My afternoon of TV was all about molesters for some reason: news blurb before Dr. Phil, Oprah, and then the actual news. What I gathered from this afternoons stories is that the number one sign of a molester is bad hair. The guy in line in front of me with a toussled comb-over and the out-dated glasses, surely a molester. The checker who was a little too old to be a checker, fumbled nervously, and didn't smile, also a potential suspect.
My mantra: Beware, and be ready to kick the groin!
And that is how that happened.
I was also on the lookout for potential molesters on my two grocery trips. My afternoon of TV was all about molesters for some reason: news blurb before Dr. Phil, Oprah, and then the actual news. What I gathered from this afternoons stories is that the number one sign of a molester is bad hair. The guy in line in front of me with a toussled comb-over and the out-dated glasses, surely a molester. The checker who was a little too old to be a checker, fumbled nervously, and didn't smile, also a potential suspect.
My mantra: Beware, and be ready to kick the groin!
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
It's Allison's Song!
If you haven't heard it, here are the lyrics
It's great...except that whole Ohio thing...nevermind that.
Request it from your local radio station!
It's great...except that whole Ohio thing...nevermind that.
Request it from your local radio station!
Monday, June 13, 2005
This used to be a plot of dirt
It's not crystal clear what's goin on here from the photo, I know. It's an aerial shot of the soon to be toilet room, which I like to call the "water closet."
A link worth clicking
Kevin recently got a sausage maker attatchment for our kitchenaid mixer. Yep, Kevin's gonna be making sausage, and that in itself is entertaining. But even better I found these guys and their sausage site while looking for recipes.
Would you trust anyone else to make your cured meats? No, big fat guys with creative facial hair are the authority of sausage as far as I'm concerned. And look, they have the site to prove it.
Would you trust anyone else to make your cured meats? No, big fat guys with creative facial hair are the authority of sausage as far as I'm concerned. And look, they have the site to prove it.
Saturday, June 11, 2005
"she's turning into a blueberry...
...it always happens, they always turn into blueberries" -Willy Wonka
Man, okay I'm now in third trimester land, also known as "help, I can't get off the floor" mode. The Venus of Villendorf joke is becoming more real.
(ow! I cut my finger making dinner and I'm keep forgetting not to type with it! dangit!)
We've made lots of progress on the new bathroom addition, pictures to follow soon. We've got walls and roof beams. We almost bought the tub and the shower head and faucet today but a couple of factors are holding off the final purchase until Monday. We do however have the lights and the sink faucets ready to install. We also went today to Organized Living, which is a close cousin to The Container Store, but not quite as big. We got our closet quote there and that was fun. Why is organizing fun?
It was the errands that drove the point home that I'm carrying around a constant backpack backwards, or Kris Kros style, if you will. Well and also, I can't quite bend over anymore. Good thing I rarely employ shoelaces, they would just be untied.
Man, okay I'm now in third trimester land, also known as "help, I can't get off the floor" mode. The Venus of Villendorf joke is becoming more real.
(ow! I cut my finger making dinner and I'm keep forgetting not to type with it! dangit!)
We've made lots of progress on the new bathroom addition, pictures to follow soon. We've got walls and roof beams. We almost bought the tub and the shower head and faucet today but a couple of factors are holding off the final purchase until Monday. We do however have the lights and the sink faucets ready to install. We also went today to Organized Living, which is a close cousin to The Container Store, but not quite as big. We got our closet quote there and that was fun. Why is organizing fun?
It was the errands that drove the point home that I'm carrying around a constant backpack backwards, or Kris Kros style, if you will. Well and also, I can't quite bend over anymore. Good thing I rarely employ shoelaces, they would just be untied.
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
This post's for you!
This post goes out to Samantha "ready for a fight at any moment" PM:
Sam, this made me think of you.
There are craft fairs and there are aquatic creatures, and they should remain separate...apparently.
Sam, this made me think of you.
There are craft fairs and there are aquatic creatures, and they should remain separate...apparently.
How could I forget?
Yesterday morning, before we drove back, we walked into a Denny's and this was on the TV. What trip to L.A. would be complete without a high speed police chase? Cracked me up.
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
thanks for watching and be sure to spay and neuter your pets!
Yeah, we did it, we were in the audience of the Price is Right. As you can probably already guess, neither Kevin or cute little me were picked to be contestants, but it was so fun, it didn't matter. I had to keep reminding myself to close my mouth because I was so agape with awe of the whole event taking place all around me. It's an uninteresting series of facts of why we didn't catch the first taping like I had planned, but it was no problem at all to catch the second taping of the day. (It goes like this)
I was really surprised how nice everyone was who worked at CBS. I mean, no one I came into contact with was rude or pompous. Amazing! I get way more attitude from people at the supermarket than I did that whole day. Plus, most of these people not only had to wear silly outdated red CBS blazers, but they had to deal with some crazy people (you know who I mean) and they still were friendly. Go CBS!
Here's another list of things I learned that day:
-It takes hours to get from arriving at the studio to getting to your seat. Gotta get your name right, show ID's, SS#'s, etc. All x 300 silly people.
-Everyone gets a mini interview by the director, your name and where you're from. That's when they choose whose name gets called. Pressure!
-The studio is so tiny! It looks huge on TV, but it's little, like smaller than a high school gym. We decided that they use tricky lenses to make it look bigger.
-Bob chats with the audience during the breaks. This freaked me out a little bit, like when they pass the microphone to anyone who raises their hand at church, but it is from these breaks that the best stories come from...
One lady wearing a custom T-shirt with a photo of a housecat that read "My cat and I watch Bob Barker everyday" raised her hand and asked the question, "My cat wants to know why you still use a microphone with a long string instead of one without."
Good heavens.
Another woman raised her hand and said "I want to show you something," and started up the stairs towards the visibly alarmed Bob. Thankfully all she wanted to show him was her own custom shirt. As she turned around, Bob read the back which was something like his own chronology, born here, raised here, did this, did that at that time, etc. A bit creepy, and I think we all sighed with relief when she sat herself back down.
My favorite was a girl, roughly my age, who yelled out, "Bob, you gotta sign my T-shirt! I made it, it's you!" He said "what is it...oh it's my head!" Indeed it was his head, made completely out of sequins-- very impressive and tacky. If there was a contest, her shirt won in my book, it was awesome. He agreed to sign it, but wanted to sign the back, y'know to avoid the boobs. But everyone in the audience and the girl herself begged for the front, because it just made sense. He cracked a little joke,"Is there an attorney in the house?," and then he enlisted two stage people to help him sign the front side of her shoulder.
It airs on June 10th. If by chance you do watch, Kevin and I are in the very back row, almost perfect center. I'll go ahead and tell you that both contestants went OVER on the showcase showdown, so tragic. But one lady's got a fine outfit on, well worth watching for.
Viva la Bob, 33 seasons and still truckin.
I was really surprised how nice everyone was who worked at CBS. I mean, no one I came into contact with was rude or pompous. Amazing! I get way more attitude from people at the supermarket than I did that whole day. Plus, most of these people not only had to wear silly outdated red CBS blazers, but they had to deal with some crazy people (you know who I mean) and they still were friendly. Go CBS!
Here's another list of things I learned that day:
-It takes hours to get from arriving at the studio to getting to your seat. Gotta get your name right, show ID's, SS#'s, etc. All x 300 silly people.
-Everyone gets a mini interview by the director, your name and where you're from. That's when they choose whose name gets called. Pressure!
-The studio is so tiny! It looks huge on TV, but it's little, like smaller than a high school gym. We decided that they use tricky lenses to make it look bigger.
-Bob chats with the audience during the breaks. This freaked me out a little bit, like when they pass the microphone to anyone who raises their hand at church, but it is from these breaks that the best stories come from...
One lady wearing a custom T-shirt with a photo of a housecat that read "My cat and I watch Bob Barker everyday" raised her hand and asked the question, "My cat wants to know why you still use a microphone with a long string instead of one without."
Good heavens.
Another woman raised her hand and said "I want to show you something," and started up the stairs towards the visibly alarmed Bob. Thankfully all she wanted to show him was her own custom shirt. As she turned around, Bob read the back which was something like his own chronology, born here, raised here, did this, did that at that time, etc. A bit creepy, and I think we all sighed with relief when she sat herself back down.
My favorite was a girl, roughly my age, who yelled out, "Bob, you gotta sign my T-shirt! I made it, it's you!" He said "what is it...oh it's my head!" Indeed it was his head, made completely out of sequins-- very impressive and tacky. If there was a contest, her shirt won in my book, it was awesome. He agreed to sign it, but wanted to sign the back, y'know to avoid the boobs. But everyone in the audience and the girl herself begged for the front, because it just made sense. He cracked a little joke,"Is there an attorney in the house?," and then he enlisted two stage people to help him sign the front side of her shoulder.
It airs on June 10th. If by chance you do watch, Kevin and I are in the very back row, almost perfect center. I'll go ahead and tell you that both contestants went OVER on the showcase showdown, so tragic. But one lady's got a fine outfit on, well worth watching for.
Viva la Bob, 33 seasons and still truckin.
Thursday, June 02, 2005
Like a McGruff safety pamphet
Last night Kevin's mom said that when Kevin was a baby he had "one of the first car seats," and I found this hard to believe. He was born in 1977, surely people didnt just carry their babies like Big Gulps bewteen their knees while they drove before 1977.
So I looked it up, and apparently his seat was one of the first mandated ones. I guess people just tossed babies in the back floorboard on the way to the supermarket before the government made laws against it. But car seats had been around before then, thank you Swedes once again.
Aurora, did you have a car seat?
My rabbit trail search continued and I found this disturbing fact:
An independent nationwide poll on child passenger safety reveals that 21 percent of grandparents - one in five - say they "never" use a child safety seat when they have their grandchildren as passengers.
Grandparents--, they let your kids get away with murder, and then they try and murder your kids.
So I looked it up, and apparently his seat was one of the first mandated ones. I guess people just tossed babies in the back floorboard on the way to the supermarket before the government made laws against it. But car seats had been around before then, thank you Swedes once again.
Aurora, did you have a car seat?
My rabbit trail search continued and I found this disturbing fact:
An independent nationwide poll on child passenger safety reveals that 21 percent of grandparents - one in five - say they "never" use a child safety seat when they have their grandchildren as passengers.
Grandparents--, they let your kids get away with murder, and then they try and murder your kids.
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
this is not helping
So as I've mentioned before, I plan on using cloth diapers. Don't flip out, this is why:
-It Takes 20 Trees to Diaper One Baby in Disposables for 2 Years
25,000,000 trees are cut annually for this one product in the United States.
-Single-use diapers represent the 3rd largest consumer item (after newspapers and beverage and food containers) in the municipal solid waste stream. These diapers will require over 500 years to decompose.
-Not since the Middle Ages has there been so much human waste in our garbage. There is NO safe way to dispose of single-use diapers. Flushing them down the toilet causes 95% of clogged sewer lines in the US, and creates 43,000 tons of extra sludge per year. Most people simply toss these soiled single-use diaper into household, hospital, or roadside garbage. This adds 84 million pounds of raw fecal matter to our environment per year.
Knowing this, and also knowing that "Mom" will be my full time job, I knew that I should "go cloth." I'm not doing it to be earthy or make my life harder. I'm doing it out of sheer guilt. Incidentally, that's the same reason I recycle.
And so, I've been researching how this whole business works, cloth diapering that is. Depending on who you talk to, and what you read on the web, difficulty levels vary.
It's all very confusing at this point, and it's not from a lack of information. The world is super saturated with cloth diapering products and advice.
Here's a maddening example:
"How To Wash Diapers
Unstuff any Fuzzibunz and unfold diapers as you put them in. Close any velcro tabs. Spray any poop with Zout. DO NOT put any wool covers in the washer, ever.
First Step: SOAK
put in detergent halfway up to the first line on the cup. (NEVER use fabric softener)
put in the diapers (including fuzzibunz), but not the covers or pail liner.
set the washer to:
- cold wash
- cold rinse
- second rinse
- high water level
- regular agitation
- SOAK on the dial
The washer will agitate and then stop.
LET IT SOAK for at least one hour. Longer if there is a lot of poopy diapers. As long as you want to if you are going out or busy.
SECOND STEP: PREWASH
Turn the dial to prewash and let it run through. (this agitates for 4 minutes and spins out the water but does not rinse)
THIRD STEP: HOT WASH
Turn the dial to regular wash. Add just a touch more detergent, just enough to cover the bottom of the cup. Put in the covers and the pail liner turned inside out. Let it run all the way through spinning.
Take out the pail liner and hang it up to dry.
FOURTH STEP: extra rinses
Turn the dial back to rinse so that it goes through two more rinses. Every other wash time, or if the Joeybunz are feeling crispy, run through two more rinses. You can also check the water of the last rinse and if there are still suds in it, run more rinses.
FIFTH STEP: extra spin
turn the dial back to spin and spin it again. This helps them to dry faster
SIXTH STEP: drying
Hang up the Fuzzibunz and the covers (including the fleece covers), put the rest in the dryer on medium heat. Once in awhile, put the plain white (Green Earth and ProRaps) covers in the dryer, especially if they have been leaking. After the dryer stops, take out what is dry and start it up again."
Um, that can't all be necessary. Anyone getting visions of the "Anal Retentive Chef" from SNL?
None of this is shaking my confidence that I'll follow through, I just want to get my game plan down. But I am sure that I'm not going to follow that woman's wash routine, she's crazy.
We might even use the local diaper service. Still tryin to figure out what's cheaper.
Ok enough information. Entertainment time!
-It Takes 20 Trees to Diaper One Baby in Disposables for 2 Years
25,000,000 trees are cut annually for this one product in the United States.
-Single-use diapers represent the 3rd largest consumer item (after newspapers and beverage and food containers) in the municipal solid waste stream. These diapers will require over 500 years to decompose.
-Not since the Middle Ages has there been so much human waste in our garbage. There is NO safe way to dispose of single-use diapers. Flushing them down the toilet causes 95% of clogged sewer lines in the US, and creates 43,000 tons of extra sludge per year. Most people simply toss these soiled single-use diaper into household, hospital, or roadside garbage. This adds 84 million pounds of raw fecal matter to our environment per year.
Knowing this, and also knowing that "Mom" will be my full time job, I knew that I should "go cloth." I'm not doing it to be earthy or make my life harder. I'm doing it out of sheer guilt. Incidentally, that's the same reason I recycle.
And so, I've been researching how this whole business works, cloth diapering that is. Depending on who you talk to, and what you read on the web, difficulty levels vary.
It's all very confusing at this point, and it's not from a lack of information. The world is super saturated with cloth diapering products and advice.
Here's a maddening example:
"How To Wash Diapers
Unstuff any Fuzzibunz and unfold diapers as you put them in. Close any velcro tabs. Spray any poop with Zout. DO NOT put any wool covers in the washer, ever.
First Step: SOAK
put in detergent halfway up to the first line on the cup. (NEVER use fabric softener)
put in the diapers (including fuzzibunz), but not the covers or pail liner.
set the washer to:
- cold wash
- cold rinse
- second rinse
- high water level
- regular agitation
- SOAK on the dial
The washer will agitate and then stop.
LET IT SOAK for at least one hour. Longer if there is a lot of poopy diapers. As long as you want to if you are going out or busy.
SECOND STEP: PREWASH
Turn the dial to prewash and let it run through. (this agitates for 4 minutes and spins out the water but does not rinse)
THIRD STEP: HOT WASH
Turn the dial to regular wash. Add just a touch more detergent, just enough to cover the bottom of the cup. Put in the covers and the pail liner turned inside out. Let it run all the way through spinning.
Take out the pail liner and hang it up to dry.
FOURTH STEP: extra rinses
Turn the dial back to rinse so that it goes through two more rinses. Every other wash time, or if the Joeybunz are feeling crispy, run through two more rinses. You can also check the water of the last rinse and if there are still suds in it, run more rinses.
FIFTH STEP: extra spin
turn the dial back to spin and spin it again. This helps them to dry faster
SIXTH STEP: drying
Hang up the Fuzzibunz and the covers (including the fleece covers), put the rest in the dryer on medium heat. Once in awhile, put the plain white (Green Earth and ProRaps) covers in the dryer, especially if they have been leaking. After the dryer stops, take out what is dry and start it up again."
Um, that can't all be necessary. Anyone getting visions of the "Anal Retentive Chef" from SNL?
None of this is shaking my confidence that I'll follow through, I just want to get my game plan down. But I am sure that I'm not going to follow that woman's wash routine, she's crazy.
We might even use the local diaper service. Still tryin to figure out what's cheaper.
Ok enough information. Entertainment time!
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