Letter of Frustration...

Dear So-Called "Sandwich Artist"...
I really was not going to get a sandwich today - but when I went home to get some laundry going, I found a card from your shop. It was one of those "buy 10 get one free" cards...and although I have no idea how it got filled up, since you're sandwiches aren't my favorite - but I figured "What the Hell"..and headed over to get a sandwich.
And now, I arrived at work 20 minutes late because of YOU.
I left my house (which happens to be 5 blocks from your establishment) at 12:45pm - and am now arriving back at work (which also happens to be just about 5 blocks away) at 1:20pm.

Now, let me explain that one of the things I enjoy about your sandwich place is that you have those little forms to fill out EXACTLY what I want. I consider these to be somewhat foolproof because how could anyone screw that up? You don't have to remember that I don't want mayonnaise on my sandwich...all you have to do is look at the paper and see that I only want MUSTARD.

So here's the deal,
I understand that you must be somewhat of a perfectionist since it looked like you spent at least an hour styling your hair and applying 478 layers of different colored eyeshadow and mascara. I also totally appreciated your t-shirt that said "SPOILED" on the front. And of course I noticed those perfect and fake nails that handled my sandwich like it was absolutely out to RUIN YOUR MANICURE...pinkies in the air and everything.

But I do not understand why it took so damn long to make my sandwich. I watched you slowly lean over and take the sprouts out of the refrigerator. I also watched you VEEEERRRRY SLLOOOOWWWWLY disperse said sprouts onto my sandwich...and then I sat there and stared as you tried to put the lid back on those sprouts 5 TIMES. I'm sure there were a few stragglers trying to get out - but seriously, did you have to attempt it 5 TIMES? Just put the darn lid on and get on with things.
I also watched as you grabbed a handful of onions and proceeded to seperate each and every ring of onions before you strategically placed them onto my sandwich - I can only assume that you really felt like you were making art? or perhaps you were mesmerized by all those little circles overlapping each other...
I also was positively amazed that you spent 2 entire minutes rearranging the meat on my sandwich, so that each slice was perfectly folded over and pretty looking....like a ruffle...and yet -as I was watching you, I wanted to scream "Just PUT THE MEAT ON THERE, SLAP THAT THING TOGETHER AND LET ME GET ON MY WAY!"
I alllllllmost got up and let you know what a hurry I was in - but I was so amazed at the slowness, that I couldn't help myself...I had to sit and watch you.
I saw you STOP putting my sandwich together, and actually lean over and check out your reflection in the microwave...and then I saw you scoot my fully made, but not put-together sandwich over just a bit to the left...and start on another person's sandwich. At this point, I actually did get up and ask you to just wrap mine up so I could go...and you blankly blinked your Tammy Faye lashes and looked at me while saying "huh?"
I pointed to my sandwich and said "I'm in a hurry, can you just wrap that up before completing the sandwich for the customer AFTER ME?"
You then actually SIGHED and said "I thought you were together?"
which is when I blinked at YOU. Because the guy after me, was outside drinking a beer at a table with his buddies...while I was sitting INSIDE all by myself (alllllll byyyyyy myyyyseeeeeeeeeeelf!)
I stared at you for a moment until you started wrapping up my sandwich.

And when I FINALLY got back to work - I opened up my sandwich and found....not mustard...no, no....no mustard for me! But a big slab of mayonnaise spread all over my perfectly ruffled looking meat...and gently placed sprouts.

If I didn't have to work, I would definately be headed back to your shop and mentally squishing my mayonnaise laden sandwich right into your perfectly coiffed hair.

I don't care if it WAS free....

Signed,

Late-for-work-mayo-scraping-customer-no-more

Long time no type

I don't understand myself - I actually really enjoy writing in this BLOG..but sometimes time just gets away from me and I avoid it for some odd reason.
Alot's going on - of course we had Easter...then hubster's sister had ANOTHER baby girl (that makes 7 neices and 1 nephew)...then we had our neice Gracie's 1st birthday. In the midst of it all, trying to get information on building a fence and doing research for the dog we're going to get after we come back from our May vacation....and of course going on vacation in exactly 25 days, woooo!

I think one of the reasons I haven't been posting is because I like to post pictures - and our camera has been jacked up for a while. For some reason whenever we took indoor pictures, they would come out totally blurry and overexposed. So last Saturday, we took our 1 year old camera back and returned it for a brand spanking new (and better!) camera. It's much more user friendly and seems to take better and more detailed pictures than our old one.
I of course had to delete all the pictures off our old camera and found a few on there that I should have posted a while back...

Hubster had left an uneated Taco Bell taco on our coffee table. It was still wrapped in paper and everything, and I believe he meant to toss it - but forgot.
The following morning, this is what we found:

Now, am I crazy? Or does that look like an actual BITE out of the taco??

We of course knew right away which cat was guilty. And you know, usually - the perpetrator will always revisit the scene of the crime....observe:

That would be the blurry head of Tiny the Scavenger.

I've never seen a cat eat more people food in my life. He'll eat pretty much anything we're eating...even candy...(yes, I know, I'm a horrible parent...I feed my cat sweetarts...blah, blah, blah - not that he eats much...but one or two I figure won't hurt him...)

His all-time favorite foods would be Yogurt and Fruit Rolls. Although, I think he likes Fruit Rolls more...

Hubster and I have actually hid under blankets and in closets with those two foods - and no matter where he is, or what he's doing...even if he's in his bed snoring! HE WILL FIND US..

Good thing he's cute...

Welcome Spring?

I'm what I like to refer to as a "sometimes" person. Can I be anal about the house being clean?
Sometimes...but more often than not, it's a mess.
Can be on top of the laundry and not have it piled all over?
Sometimes...but again, more often than not...it's piled all over.

I'm the same way about gardening.
See, I usually get an itch to be a "green thumber" at least once per year. I plant all kinds of lovely flowers in pots and dispurse them throughout the front of our house....and for the next week or two, I very patiently tend to my little growing flowers daily, and marvel at their beauty. I'm always so proud of myself, and swear that I will take care of them. By the next two weeks, I water them MAYBE twice a week...and after that...they turn into what Hubster calls "death row". They'll stay like that and continue to be nasty looking until I get my next green thumb spurt.
Usually, I'd say that my psycho garden lady period shows up right around the beginning of spring...but this year, for some ODD reason - I planted flowers back in January. Pickings were slim, but I love pansies - and so I bought a bunch and planted them.
Hubster came home on the day I was so motivated, and started humming the Darth Vadar theme from Stars Wars (dum, dum, da-dum, dum, da-dum, dum, da-dum)
So of course I got all defensive and said "no death row this year! I'm gonna keep up with it, I swear!"

Ha. ha-ha.

After a couple of weeks of tender care, my flowers took second fiddle to sitting on my butt...and Hubster predicted "Death Row" episode 5.
UNTIL - we started to get rain. A couple of days of rain, with a couple days of sun for weeks on end, is what turns out to be the PERFECT watering schedule for pansies...because LOOK:

Almost 3 months later, and Holy Growing Flowers, batman!

Also? Here is definate proof that Hubster and I are by far, the biggest slackers on the planet:

YES, this is our Christmas tree.

Placed there to be cut in half and tossed in our green waste bin....except we don't have a saw that isn't completely rusted.

What's that? Go to the hardware store and buy a new one?

Yes, I know that's a viable option - but there is much ass sitting to be done in our house...and sawing away at a tree isn't condusive to lazyness.

Besides, now that it's turned such a lovely copper color - we kinda like it. We now call it our "Yard Art"

Some people have little ceramic gnomes, we have old christmas trees...so be it.

Except now that I actually LOOKED at that picture, I have to pay attention to all the weeds that need to be pulled AROUND our "Yard Art"

Guess I'll have to wait for another attack of the green thumb...

Surprise, surprise

This weekend is my sister-in-law's baby shower...and since they don't know what they're having, I've been racking my brain trying to figure out what to get her as a gift.

Well last night, my inner craft goddess (the one that's usually on the couch eating pringles) had a COMING OUT party!

Because folks....look what I made...

A DIAPER CAKE! WOOOOO!

I kept seeing them online while I was researching baby shower games, except they were around $100...

So I decided to make one myself. There are 70 diapers in that thing...and I put all kinds of toys and silk flowers stuffed in there. The top is a baby bottle filled with candy...

here's the back:

Online, it looked like they tied ribbon around each diaper - but my inner craft goddess doesn't have that kind of patience...so I used rubber bands. Once the big ribbon was tied around, it hid all the rubber bands. I also taped down each layer, so it won't fall apart during transport.

Hubster was so impressed because I never do stuff like this. I think he originally thought the whole "diaper cake" idea was silly...but once he saw it, he thinks his sister will be thrilled.

The nice part was that it wasn't costly at all...and I just flipped on King of Queens and by the time Survivor started, I was DONE....quick and inexpensive....WOOOO!

A New Family Member

Meet Bailey...

She just joined us yesterday and she's already SO MUCH FUN!

The guy we bought it from (who is from MEDFORD, OREGON believe it or not) completely redid all the interior and he did an amazing job...

Gray and Purple interior...how cool is that??

We decided to keep the name from the previous owner...out of respect. You could tell this guy was quite heartbroken about having to sell her. (another coincidence about the seller? He lives in our old apartment building...how wierd)

She's so fun to drive - and runs very well considering she's 32 years old! Hubster and I have always wanted one and when we stumbled across this one in such good condition, we went for it. Kind of an early 30th birthday present for the hubs...

Tidbits..

~ Dreyers slow churned rich and creamy LIGHT ice cream (yes folks, I said light...meaning...NOT AS BAD FOR YOU AS THE REAL STUFF) is DA BOMB! I actually passed up real ice cream the other day for my light stuff...it's THAT GOOD.
I got coffee flavor - haven't had any others, but I would venture to say they're probably damn good as well.

~ THIS? is pretty cool...

~ Any of my friends who like to pray, could you please say a prayer for my friend Allison who's in labor on the other side of the world....like RIGHT NOW??? Go Allison Go!

~ On Sunday, Hubster and I were sitting watching tv - when a commercial came on for Bud Light...the one about the guy who made a trick wall to hide the fridge full of beer? And then on the other side, there were a bunch of frat boys screaming "the magic fridge is back! Hurry!" and they start grabbing beer out of the fridge....that commercial made me laugh so hard I was still laughing 2 commercials later...

~ Another one that makes me laugh? I have no idea what it's advertising..but some guy is using a pomeranian to sweep floor dirt into a dustpan...that was hilarious. We tried it with Jackson, but he didn't seem to like it too much.

~ LAUNDRY. SUCKS.

~ Clean, fresh sheets? RULE

~ My sister in law is going to have a booth at our local Strawberry Festival (she's sharing with another person) so anyone who has extra cash should go buy something from her because she's AMAZINGLY TALENTED. She showed me some boxes that she's making...and holy CRAP are they flippin cute! I swear that girl is on the verge of being a millionaire....or having her own show or something.

~The movie The Aristocrats? SHOCKINGLY DIRTY, and altogether disturbing...and quite boring I must say. I'm tempted to suggest it to either my parents or hubster's parents...just for laughs....but I probably won't. I'd probably get ostrasized from the family...

~Is it wrong that when I ordered office supplies for work...I ordered a rubber band ball? Just for kicks...not that I actually NEEDED a rubber band ball. It's so cool though...

~I've discovered that when I get so far behind doing laundry...and I have to seperate all the colors and whites into piles that line the hallway walls....the cats think it's great fun to run and slide onto the piles...thus SCREWING UP ALL MY PILES...and making me yell "BOYS! KNOCK IT OFF!" - All my neighbors probably think we have actual KIDS...as opposed to the furry troublemakers who sometimes are like real kids in tiny little cat suits.

observations shall continue throughout the week as we are getting ready for company...meaning the closets are crammed with stuff we don't know what to do with...and don't even THINK about looking under our beds...

I'm cold...

Some idiot from downstairs left the DOOR OPEN. We have a gate that locks going upstairs to our offices...but still, that door being open for who the heck knows how long...let ALL THE ICE COLD freezing air in...
Our office temperature gauge said it was 49 degrees in here this morning...
BRRRRRRRRRR - I'm huddled in my office with a scarf around my neck and a space heater cranked...pity me.

This weekend, the hubster and I really didn't do a whole lot. It was really nice to just be lazy and watch tv, or read books. I did a few loads of laundry - unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher....but other than that, we had a very relaxing weekend. Took a couple of drives, went out for breakfast - it was really nice.

It's really hard to type when you have stiff, ice-cold fingers...I'm just sayin.

Anyway, today I'm hoping to get off early because I have to brave the aisles of Walmart, and I'd much rather do it earlier rather than later. Of course being that today is President's day...it's probably crowded anyway. *sigh* - I hate shopping. I know it's like having a birth defect to some people...but I really hate it.

You know what else I hate? Those girls from high school that never change.
I remember there were certain girls from high school who NEVER looked bad. They never looked as if they just rolled out of bed and came to school with pillow creases still on their face. They always had flawless hair...flawless make-up...flawless outfits...flawless grades.
I used to glare at girls like that in class. While I was just struggling to stay awake...and putting my long hair up in a messy pile on my head...and of course most of the time wearing jeans and a t-shirt...or sweats...
So last week, I took a friend to the ER because she was sick...and of course I looked like hell - no make-up...hair in a messy pile...I got my "comfy clothes" on. (you know the comfy clothes...the ones you put on after you realize you don't have to go anywhere for the rest of the night...and the bra is off, and the shoes are most definately off) But I didn't care...who the hell was I gonna see at the ER?
And who do I see at the ER? But one of THOSE GIRLS from high school. Now, I know for a fact that this girl is a mother of 3 small children. And yet...
Flawless hair, flawless make-up...cute little matching outfit...hadn't gained an ounce since high school...not even after having 3 kids....blah, blah, blah
I glared at her with my mascara smudged eyes and had visions of myself walking up to her and messing up that perfect "do" - perhaps I'd catch a wrinkle or two on that face of hers. I of course figured if she saw me, she probably wouldn't recognize me anyway. My face and body are much puffier than they were in high school...

There is a part of me that just hates girls like that because they seem to have it all "together". But at the same time, I'm quite proud of the fact that I'm a REAL PERSON...and yes, my hair is in a pile...and I may be schlepping around in my COMFY clothes...but dammit, at least I'm comfy. At least other people can relate to me and I don't feel like I have to impress people.
I'm sure I could use a style make-over...for SURE I could...and I could definately get up earlier and actually DO my hair and make-up instead of piling the hair...and throwing on some mascara and calling it a day.
But then I'd probably end up glaring at MYSELF...hahaha

*edited to add - does this page look pea soup green to anyone else? Usually it's yellow, but today it looks pea soup green....gross...

Weekend Recap...

I figured I'd just list some highlights of things that I learned during the last couple of days...

~I should not offer to set up a computer...after drinking a Margarita

~Hubster cheats...at cards. Actually, he'll cheat at pretty much any game he can...my parents do not want to play games with him anymore

~I will laugh my ass off every time my mom says the word "Friggin"

~Big German guys who boast about all the weight lifting they do at the gym...are LAZY BASTARDS when it comes to actually lifting and moving real items

~Flightplan is a good movie...but very stressfull

~when Hubster is holding and carrying a sick and sleeping 4-year old to the car...I will get tears in my eyes because I can tell how much he loves that little girl.

~Papa Napoli's deli in Santa Maria makes darn good sandwiches...and just going in that place and smelling all the delicious smells is enough to make me gain 10 pounds

~Don't ever "miscommunicate" with my brother...because there will be yelling...lots of yelling.
Also? instead of talking back, it's best to keep my trap shut

~Even though I've lived here my whole life, I'm always amazed when I can wear shorts and t-shirts and STILL be hot...in February

~When my neices are sick...I worry ALOT more than I ever thought I would

~Mom and I can pound champagne like nobody's business...

~Dad is a good cook, but he "frets" when he can't have everything ready at the same time - hee!

~Watching hubster and my brother go through a yearbook from 1962, and pick out all the "hot chicks"....makes all the women in the house roll their eyes.

~When people call themselves "trailer trash" in my presence...I have no idea how to respond...and when I just smile and look away...those people will repeat themselves at least 3 times...leaving me to think they must have identity issues

~The new modular homes they make nowadays are pretty darn nice, and I could live in one quite happily

~Bayer back and body ache pain relievers work very well

~sleep is my friend

~One of my pet peeves is getting a limp handshake from someone....EW

~Old people are hilarious...and nosy


That is all

Inspired...

Those people who know me...know that I positively SUCK at the whole "decor" thing. It takes me months to hang things on the walls in a new place. I could really care less if things match...I don't give a crap about THEMES...I have just a mish-mash of stuff in my house. Also, I rarely if ever change out pictures from their frames. Which means I have many pictures of neices when they were BABIES...even though they are now 4 and 6 years old. I may have some loose recent photos propped up in FRONT of those baby pictures, but still.
Anyway - we've lived in our house for 11 months. Our hall bathroom is huge, and for most people would be FUN to decorate. I remember my sister-in-law walking in and saying "oh wow, this would be perfect for a BEACH THEME with white and seashells and it would be SO CUTE!"
Yeah, well my sister-in-law puts MARTHA to shame, so I'm sure that she could make it adorable...but me? not so much.
The bathroom has white walls...white sink...we bought white cabinets and a white bench...and it has pale blue tiles in it. ALOT of wall space to decorate and yet, in 11 months I have done NOTHING in there. Sure, I put a white cabinet in there...and sure I put a white bench in there...but stuff on the walls? NOPE....any COLOR going on in there? NADA
I am decor-challenged. Either that, or I just don't care...hahaha - I think it's a little of both.

BUT - once in a while, I get inspired...and AMANDA inspired me. She gave hubster and I the most beautiful mosaic mirrors and specifically for the bathroom because she thought they'd be perfect in there...and my gosh - she's right!
Here is one mirror:

beautiful eh? not the best picture - but trust me - they are GORGEOUS...

So anyway, here they are in my bathroom:

I LOVE them...and now I am inspired. I hung up a little hook thing for robes, and hubster and I bought some white shelves to put up that I can put - DECORATIONS on...

Also, Amanda once gave us a Van Gogh painting of the Starry Night - Starry Sky, or whatever it's called and it's all blue and I think it'll go PERFECTLY in there....so yes - COLOR and DECOR IT SHALL BE! WOOOO

I still have a long ways to go - but it's a start right?

Also? She gave us this too - and lo and behold it's hung up and we love it :)

Thanks Amanda :)

Also? Does anyone else think this is funny?

hahaha

A little bit of sap...

4 years ago today, at this exact time of day...I was dressed in a white dress...smiling through many pictures...cursing my hair, and my undergarments...and nervous about the fact that I had to walk down an aisle and stand in front of many people...and about to marry the love of my life.
Yes, that's right - it's our 4 year anniversary today.
I simply cannot imagine being married to anyone else - hubster just GETS me. We have the same weirdo sense of humor...the same quirks and smirks. We can laugh and laugh and laugh together...and yet, we can be very serious and have long talks about our hopes and dreams and the future. He is without a doubt, my best friend - and I'm so blessed and lucky that Amanda insisted we meet and tried so many times until we FINALLY got together. She knew before I did...which just proves that sometimes your friends know you better than you know yourself.
Some of the things I love about my hubster:

I love that we can lounge around all day in our Pajamas watching movies and eating junk food
I love that he understands why I love kitty toes
I love that he is excited about being a father...to something that's not furry...more baby-like
I love that no matter where he's going, how long he'll be gone, or what kind of mood he's in - he ALWAYS kisses me goodbye and tells me he loves me....even if he's just going out to get the mail.
I love that he likes to bake pies and cakes and cookies...because that means that I don't have to - but I still get to eat them
I love that he helps me with the laundry and the dishes without even asking
I love that he's not a picky eater...and he'll eat whatever I fix...even if it sucks
I love that alot of times, I don't even have to cook - we just have "do-it-yourself" nights - where he eats what he wants...I eat what I want...and it's all good.
I love that he lets me sleep in on the weekends...even if he's up and bored
I love that he doesn't mind when I spend money on books, books, and more books....even though I have stacks of books I haven't read yet
I love that we both love the rain...and fireplaces...
I love that we can get in the car and take a roadtrip for days and days...and not have even one single arguement - we just laugh and sing and go wherever we want
I love that he is such a good uncle to our neices...that he'll get down on the floor and play games with them...and that he'll make them cookies whenever they want
I love that he's got such a weird sneeze, that it still makes me laugh 4 years later
I love that he loves his family...and mine
I love that 99% of the time, he's in a good mood....and when he's not, I can tell him so, and he just agrees and says "you're right, I AM in a bad mood"...instead of getting all pissed off
I love that he doesn't mind ironing, and will always iron my clothes when we're going somewhere nice
I love that we both enjoy reading before we go to sleep at night
I love that we can be somewhere and we can just sit quietly and serenely enjoying our surroundings and people watching...without saying a word to each other
I love that one day, I'm gonna be wrinkled and gray haired...and perhaps a bit of a crotchety
old lady - and I know he'll love me anyway

Yup - I think I'll keep him :)

Behold the Pinz!

Last night, hubster and I had just finished dinner, when the phone rang. Hubster picked it up and even I...sitting way over on the couch....could hear alot of noise from the phone. I then hear my brother's voice shout "HEY! I'M COMIN OVER!"
hubster said "I can barely hear you!"
and my brother said "I KNOW! THAT'S WHY I'M SHOUTING! JUST WAIT...I'LL BE THERE IN A FEW MINUTES!"
So we're just sitting watching the news, and all of a sudden, we hear this rumble. I told Hubster to mute the TV, and the rumble gets louder and louder and it's pulling into our driveway. We come out of the house and see THIS: (on the right)

That would be a PINZGAUER - a swiss army vehicle from the 1970's...made by Mercedes Benz if you can believe it.

My brother has been wanting one forever...and finally found one for a good deal. It's one of only TWO in the entire county - ha!

It totally looks like a refrigerator on wheels...it's hysterical.

It carries 8 people in the back with 2 bench seats that go along the sides of the vehicle...except I rode back there, and you could probably fit alot more than 8 back there...here's a peak:

My brother was incredibly giddy and excited last night, as was hubster...new toy!

Of course the first thing we did was hop in for a spin around town...which was funny because see this?

These would be the controls...which are all in GERMAN...hee! It was kind of a "learn-as-you-go" process...

It's super loud - which explains the yelling...and there is a metal gate that seperates the front from the back, which kinda made me feel like a prisoner. There was a moment of me hanging on the gate and screeching like a monkey...but only a moment.

We got some LOOKS driving down the street in that thing - it was pretty darn funny. The top rolls up and latches to the frame...it's kinda like a old swiss version of a hummer.

And see this?

That steel rail means that this thing was built to go over anything and everything in it's path.

LOVE - IT

If there is ever a nuclear disaster in this town, we'll all be heading for my brother's...because who needs roads when you have a Pinzgauer?

He's so excited - and so are we because it's fun and hilarious to ride in...hehehe

Behold the Pinz!

Brrrrrrrr

Check it out... know what this is??



That...my friends...is ICE - found this morning on the roof of my car:

I was ten minutes late to work - because it took me that long to get all the ICE off my windshield...

It's almost like it was wet...then froze....then got wet again...and froze again....very thick sheet of slick ice...not even frost - but ICE...

notice I keep saying ICE....yeah, because we live in GROVER BEACH....it's just not right I tell you...

When you step out our front door, we look over a garage/studio building (empty) between our house and another house...

USUALLY - the roof is a really dark gray - but not today!

*shiver* - it's cold - that's all I'm sayin...

Day Trip

A couple of weeks ago, Hubster and I lounged around the house on a Sunday morning - and decided to drive to Morro Bay and have lunch. It was a GORGEOUS day, not too cold - not too hot...very crisp and clear. We drove down the Embarcadero and decided to eat at the Hoffbrau and sit out on the patio.
I had clam chowder - which wasn't that great because I'm spoiled by Splash Cafe in Pismo.
I got some great pictures of Morro Rock though - and the harbor as well:

That last picture cracks me up because it reminded me of when I was younger and some friends (I think Elizabeth and Mylissa?) and I used to joke about flashing Gang Signs for Morro Bay by holding up 3 fingers....you know....for the 3 stacks, yo.

So Hubster and I cruised around and pretended to be tourists...we went into this one souvenir shop and hubster found a t-shirt that he wanted. It was black, with a white skull and cross bones...the skull had a patch over one eye, and at the bottom it said "Gimme yer Booty". He HAD to have it - which makes me think that perhaps I should do a "hubster's silly t-shirt" entry one of these days.

Later on at work - I guess hubster was telling his co-workers about the shirt...and they said "so...you bought a PIRATE t-shirt that says GIMME YER BOOTY?"

as you can probably guess, hubster's new work nickname is now "BUTT PIRATE"

(that'll get some google hits huh?)

Men - sheesh!

Anyway, as we continued on our way, I found my new favorite store called Southern Port Traders. They had so many beautiful clothes - long flowy skirts and pants and shirts that I could have gone crazy in that place. I settled on a purse - or actually, it's not a purse - but more like a BAG...sort of a messenger bag style:

I made sure to give hubster a business card from that store - a reminder for birthday's, anniversary's, etc....

From there, hubster said he wanted to go to Cayucos for cookies. Ha! Sounds like a fundraiser or something..."Cayucos for Cookies!"

I was in an agreeable mood, so I just nodded and said "let's go!" - without asking any questions.

So we get to Cayucos, and hubster goes "okay, now look for a Chevron station"

???? a CHEVRON STATION?

I said "you're kidding me right?"

and he goes "nope, I've heard it's a bakery in a Chevron station"

And I said "really...hmmmm...allrighty then - and you don't know WHERE this Chevron station is?"

and he said "nope, but how hard could it be?"

So we drove and drove and finally found the Chevron station - and lo and behold...a bakery! Inside a Chevron Station! With Cookies! The size of my HAND!

Dang those things were good.

Arrrrrrrrrgh

Apples of my eye...

Tonight, while I was cleaning up after dinner, the phone rang...and when I answered it - I heard this tiny little voice say:

"Auntie? When can we come spend the night?"

and my heart melted into a puddle at my feet...
Before I could answer my sweet six year old neice, I heard her say:

"how about Friday? Mom says it's okay!"

And I said "of course - Friday sounds good!"

and then I heard a scuffle, and another little voice...a 4 year old voice...came onto the phone and said:

"Hi Auntie...are we going to your house on Friday?"

and I said "yes, if it's okay with your mom"

and she said "it's okay, we already asked her if we could spend the night"

and then she said "how long away is Friday? Is it far?"

and I said "no sweetie, it's the day after tomorrow!"

and she goes "okay, see you then...love you!"

Thump...down went the phone

My sister-in-law picked it up and we worked out the details...she said they'd been bugging her all day about coming to our house.

I hung up with tears in my eyes because it's been a while since we've had the girls over, and I'm looking forward to it.

How lucky am I to have neices that will pick up the phone at 6 and 4 years old and ask if they can spend the night???
Eventually, Gracie (who's 9 months old) will join them and we'll have a houseful of sweet little munchkins....to play with and give back of course.

I think about how much I love those girls, and our neices on hubster's side as well.....and my sister's kids...and I wonder how my heart is going to handle having kids of my own. Is it just going to explode in a million peices everywhere?

I think it just might...

All better now...

Okay, so I've been better for a while - but I've been BUSY dealing with year end and year beginning stuff at work.

Good news is that Hubster and I booked a trip to Washington DC for May!!!
We've always talked about going, and especially before we have kids...and so we're actually going to do it. Hubster's never been East of Colorado - so he's THRILLED...and I haven't been there since I was about 8 or 9 - and I LOVED IT...we're just going to have so much fun.

Hubster is a huge history buff, and former political-science major - the boy watches History channel incessently and it drives me insane. So he's really excited to go on tours through the white house and the capitol building...he got online last night and wrote to our local congressman to get tickets to some of the "special" tours. He was so into it that I practically had to lean over and wipe the drool off our desk...

I'm not especially into politics - in fact, hubster and I have pretty different opinions about most things political...but I still love DC - and he'll be in history heaven. He has a tendency to give me long history lessons complete with background information when he's excited about a topic - so I told him that he has to promise not to be offended if I casually slip on some headphones while he's talking...hahaha
I think that's the only way I'm going to be able to stay sane on this trip. Headphones...

Headphones and booze...ha!

Our 4th anniversary is coming up on the 26th - and I CAN'T BELIEVE it's been 4 years! so weird...
I went to a baby shower last night and got a million questions of "when are you having kids?" and "what are you waiting for?" and "you've been married 4 whole years and no kids yet??? Better get crackin!"

which is when I buried all those people in my backyard....

KIDDING!

I understand the question - I do....but I am AMAZED at how many people ask over and over and over and over and over again...and it seems like the longer I'm married WITHOUT kids - the more the question gets asked. After a while, it's just downright annoying...
and I get tired of saying "oh, I don't know...we will eventually"
or "soon enough...soon enough"
I'm not even going to GO THERE about family members asking those same questions - but on a consistent and persistent basis. Big....sigh....

There was one lady though who has a son (who I went to school with and never liked, because he was a punk little pompous brat) who married a friend of mine...and apparantly they have decided not to have kids and focus on their career and become body builders. Which is fine - more power to them...too many people these days are having kids that they don't REALLY want them...so if a couple decides that they don't want kids - then GOOD FOR THEM.
But this woman is SO BITTER about the fact that she's not going to be a grandma...my gosh - she was walking up to every woman at this shower and saying "well, how many grandchildren do YOU have now?" and then someone else "I don't have ANY grandchildren...you're lucky to even have ONE"
She even walked up to me and elbowed me in the side and goes "how many grandchildren have you given YOUR parents?" and I looked at her and said "none" and she goes "oh, are you one of THOSE who's decided not to have kids?" and I said "no, we just haven't decided not to have kids YET"
and she goes "well at least you'll have some eventually - MY son and his wife are too into themselves...they don't even care that I'm not going to be a grandma"
Which is when I hit her over the head with my wine glass and buried HER in the backyard...

kidding!

She started bitching about how her son and daughter-in-law called her once from the penthouse at the Bellagio in Vegas and she was so upset that they just took off spontaneously and didn't even tell her they were going...and my gosh, why would they spend that kind of money on a penthouse for 2 people?
and my mom piped in and goes "well, they don't have kids - so they can afford to do whatever they want with their money! Good for them!"

HAHAHAHA - I was laughing...go mom....

Gimme a break lady...get over it. She was driving everybody nuts...people were trying hard to just smile and be nice...but you could tell that most people were rolling their eyes and gritting their teeth behind her...

I've heard that this year is going to be a baby boom - which makes sense considering I know so many people that are going to be screaming in a hospital room sometime this year. Every month through September, I know someone having a kid...some months, I know TWO people having kids...
I read it has something to do with the war, and the disasters...etc, etc...hospitals are going to be busy!

That's allllot of baby showers...and allllloooooot of "when are you having a baby?" questions...

My backyard isn't that big...so I guess I'll have to pray for patience...and resist the urge to tell them that I'm barren and run off sobbing....

hehehehe - talk about a good way to avoid THAT question....

Sucks To Be Me

Head.Hurts.Throat.sore.Voice.Gone...will post entry when the evil has left me

Last Vacation Post...

Alllllrighty....I suck at this, I should have just done it all in ONE entry - so, to get this whole vacation post over with (since we've been back for almost a month now, sheesh!) We left off at us traversing around Eugene. We then left Eugene on Friday and headed back down I-5. We figured we wanted to look around the Redding area, so we decided to drive there and stay the night in a hotel. Except remember that SQUALL that we drove through? Yeah, it got worse...and worse...and worse. I did get some pretty sunset pictures during a dry spot though:

















We made it to the California border, after driving very slowly and carefully through all those mountain passes where it was pouring rain and getting colder and colder, so we were getting worried about black ice...and decided that we'd better stay in the first town we came to. Which was beautiful YREKA...hahahahaha - we stayed at a really crappy little Best Western - the worse hotel we'd stayed at yet, and decided to just get into bed and call it a night. We were both really sore...I think mainly from sitting for so long after climbing that column - our legs got all stiff and weird. Hubster started looking at a brochure and said that the next day, he'd like to stop by the Lake Shasta Caverns before we head home. Now, I thought it was a great plan...but let me repeat...it was HUBSTER'S IDEA. This will be very important later on in the story. So the next morning, we groan ourselves out of the horribly uncomfortable bed that we slept in...and decided to get the heck out of dodge. We figured we'd stop and get breakfast somewhere on the way to the Caverns. One thing that was SO BEAUTIFUL, but I didn't get pictures of because it wasn't really feasible from my side of the car....was Mount Shasta. Hardly ANY snow when we drove up...but this time, COVERED with snow! Also, the surrounding mountain tops had snow on them as well...so we really did drive through a big ole storm... Anyway, we head deeper and deeper into the trees and realize that we probably won't be able to get any breakfast because the Caverns aren't exactly in a populated area....so we finally got there about 30 minutes early, and found a bag of cookies and a bag of chex mix in the back seat of the car....yum, breakfast of champions right? So we munch, and then head over to the ticket counter...well, you see - there was a slight (VERY slight) incline to get to the ticket counter...and we were SO SORE, that we both were taking little tiny baby steps and cringing "ouch, ow, ouch" all the way down that weensy little hill. Which should have been a good indication that the whole cavern thing might not be a great idea. Especially when we saw a sign that said "if you have trouble climbing stairs, this probably wouldn't be the best tour for you" We decided to tough it out...how bad could it be right? Well...ahem....let me just repeat that this whole thing was HUBSTER'S IDEA... So they tell us that our group can go ahead and head down the stairs out back where a boat would meet us and take us across the lake to the caverns. So we head down a small set of stairs, wincing the entire time... and then we look up....and HOLY MOTHER OF GOD is that the LAKE? ALL THE WAY DOWN that CRAPLOAD of stairs we have to go down? Oh no - so we of course are the LAST ones at this point - no way we're keeping up with everyone else....so we make it down to the last of the stairs - IN PAIN...and head around a corner only to see the following...

That right there? Would be a big ass hill that we had to climb down. It might not look like anything big...but seriously, look at how tiny that person is walking...it was a big hill! And especially when our muscles were killing us already... We finally get down there and gratefully sit down on the boat to enjoy the nice, leisurely ride across the lake...picture time:

Isn't that beautiful?
Okay, so we make it almost to the other side when we realize that we're facing another hill. Only this time we have to climb UP. The tour guide said "okay folks, go ahead and go up the hill and climb onto the bus there at the top!"
We groaned - but going up seemed less painful than going down...and thank goodness we weren't the only ones heaving and panting when we got to the top. We get on the bus and drive another 800 feet up the mountain...then we get off the bus, and I steal an opportunity to take some more lovely pictures:

So we all gather in a group with the tour guide, next to a door that's right in the side of the mountain. She had to give us a little background info first...so she starts out by pointing at a rock on the mountian and asking what a scientist would call it...
Hubster shouts out "ROCK!" (whatta teachers pet)
and then she laughed and goes "yes, it is a rock...but does anyone know the scientific term for it?"
and hubster shouts out "BIG ROCK!"
I cracked up, and everyone in the group just kinda stared at us - seriously, sometimes I don't think people really "GET" us, you know?
Anyway, we get through the door and walk down a really long DARK tunnel and into our first "room"...

That one above is what they called "cave bacon" - HEH
So, as we're walking from room to room - we keep having to go up and down stairs..which aren't too bad because it's in short little spurts, plus, it was just so interesting in there, that we weren't so focused on it...UNTIL...the tour guide goes "well folks, I have some bad news...we've got a staircase of about 80 stairs to climb, and then another set of 25, and another set of 35"
Hubster looks at me and goes "who's idea was this anyway?"
and pointed my finger at him and gritted my teeth and said "YOURS! it was YOUR bright idea....ALLLLL YOURS!" - mainly because he hadn't shut up about my column climbing expedition...until now of course.
So we moaned and groaned our way through all that stair climbing...
This picture came out wierd, but I kinda liked it anyway:

and this one - is where the guy who discovered the cave in 1878 signed his name with soot...

So the cave was pretty cool - except there was ALOT of stairs, and when we got outside - we had to climb DOWN about 200 more steps to get to where the bus was parked. All told, they said the tour included about 675 steps. WOOOOOOOEEEEEEEEEEE - no wonder our legs hurt!

There was another tour waiting down by the dock area when we arrived back to the visitors center...and as we passed by them all hubster loudly goes "damn, those 600 stairs about KILLED me"

hahaha, the look on some of those people's faces was priceless...should have gotten a picture of THAT.

Hubster was nice enough to push me up the hill on the way back...and when we FINALLY got to the top, and I shoved my face in the nearest drinking fountain...there was a couple all decked out in leather motorcycle gear, who had missed the last tour and they were standing near the fountain looking wistfully at the boat moving across the lake. Then they took one look at my tomato-red face and my rabid panting and said "seems like that tour would have kicked our ass...maybe it's NOT such a bad thing that we missed it"

That was a proud, proud moment for me. I feel like I spared them the pain...

Into the car we went, and as we were leaving - we met up with some friends:

She came right up to the car and I was tempted to feed her something - but all I had was animal crackers and somehow that didn't seem appropriate...

Sweet little thing - and a lovely way to end our trip!

finally, sheesh - I'm the QUEEN of procrastination...

Upon Request...

I sent an email to T the other day - and I've been told that I have to post it here as to allow other people to share in the stupidity of others:

I gotta wonder how people get through their day to day lives not having a brain cell in their head?

This girl calls me up and says "yeah, is this the place that takes PG & E bills and stuff?"
and I said "nope, sorry"
and she goes "are you sure?"
and I said "uh, yeah I'm very sure"
and she goes "well, I think you might be wrong, are you new there? Because I was told there is a copier place on grand that takes bills and you're a copier place on grand"
and I said "I've worked here for 8 years and I can guarantee you that we do not take bills here. I believe the place your looking for is called Dave's Copy and Fax"
and she goes "oh...allright...and you're not a part of that company?"
and I said "nope - they make copies, we sell and repair copiers"
and she goes "well can you give me their number please?"
and I said "we are not affiliated with them...I do not have their phone number"
and she ACTUALLY SAID "you don't? oh, well...do you have a phone book?"
and I said "you know, how did you get OUR number?"
and she goes "I looked it up in the yellow pages"
and I said "well, if you look a bit further UP, you'll probably see Dave's Copy and Fax listed"
and she goes "I just closed the book, if you could look it up for me that would be great"
and I said "unfortunately, my yellow pages is in someone else's office...and I'm quite busy...I'm sorry, but you're going to have to look it up yourself"
and she goes "oh, well good job on the customer service - I won't be leaving any bills with YOUR company!"
and she slammed down the phone...

Oh girl, I laughed and laughed and laughed....hahahahahahahahahahaha!!! Holy crap, I am so amazed at some people's ability to be complete DUMBASSES!

quick thing...

Natalie from Portland? could you email me when you get a chance? I need a favor!

gobble, gobble...

I know I need to finish the vacation thing - but I had to jump in here and tell a funny story first...
I decided we needed to roast our own turkey this year, on top of what we'll have for Thanksgiving. So far, for the last several years, my brother has preferred to BBQ the turkey - which comes out good, but it's nothing like a regular ole roasted turkey. Hubster and I are more traditional when it comes to stuff like that...and my family is always trying new recipes and all. So we decided to have our own little thanksgiving meal sometime before Thanksgiving.
We purchased a 13 pound turkey, and I had it defrosting in the fridge for a couple of days, and decided yesterday that I needed to get that sucker cooked.
Now, we have one of those Ronco Set it and Forget it rotisseries that has been dubbed "The Raging Inferno". Hubster's parents bought it, but when they used it - it got so hot that they thought their cabinets were going to burst into flames. They only felt safe using it in the garage...and that just became inconvenient, so it sat in a box being unused...until I came along - and hubster and I became the perfect ones to inherit the Raging Inferno.

We've used it quite a few times, and while it does get hot - it's not enough to make me worry...and the food comes out DAMN good. So of course, I decided to rotisserie the turkey!

So yesterday, I get home...grab the turkey out of the fridge...and proceed to take out the INNARDS. That part gives me the heebies, so I did it quickly...throwing the INNARDS into a bowl to throw away later, and I rinse the turkey thoroughly and set it on a huge cutting board to start prepping. Between the time that I moved the turkey from the sink area, to the opposite side of the kitchen, all 3 cats had jumped up and grabbed the bowl of INNARDS...knocked it onto the floor...and one grabbed the liver and ran off...the other grabbed the neck bone and was trying to drag it across the kitchen floor...and the last one was trying to figure out how to bite through that little bag. I couldn't believe how FAST they grabbed all that stuff! I swear sometimes I wonder if they have super powers that I don't know about.
I wrestled it all away from them...cleaned up the floor (EW)...and put it in a bag for the trash while they sat looking at me all forlorn. I did let Hubster give them the liver later...liver later...hmm, say THAT 3 times fast.

ANYWAY, so I've got the turkey on a big board...I massaged it with garlic and salt, (the cookbook said MASSAGE, so I did...no happy ending though) crammed it full of onion and more garlic...pinned both ends closed...which is a very strange thing to consider...I pinned the NECK HOLE and BUTT HOLE closed. Yeah, anyone feel like eating turkey NOW?
Anyway, I put the turkey on the spike thing for the rotisserie, and realized that the legs and wings were going to be flailing about, and we can't have flailing wings. So I pinned them down as best I could...and put it in the rotisserie. Well, first time around, the pins fell out and the wings flailed and sizzled against the heating rods in the back. I stopped the rotisserie, and took the turkey out. I had used all the string to tie the legs together...so I was out of string...but knew that I needed to tie it all up somehow. So I went searching, and found the next best thing...KITE STRING. hehehe
I'm sure that if anyone was watching they would have cracked up at the contortions I was bending into while trying to tie up a slippery turkey with kite string ALL BY MYSELF. (and yes, I hummed that song while doing so "all byyyy myyyyyyyseeeeeeeeelllllf")
I had that sucker bound and gagged by the time I was finished...it was like a turkey straightjacket by the time I was done.
Which is funny because on the side of the machine, it says it can do a 15 pound turkey, an ours was only 13 pounds. I guess I got the wrong BODY STYLE of turkey? hahaha
So into the rotisserie it went, for about an hour...until I started hearing a sizzling noise and seeing puffs of smoke from the top. I noticed that one of the wing bones was catching on the heating rods. I messed with it a bit, but I couldn't get it to not hit the rods...my turkey was too fat. It was really HOT, and I even tried cutting the bone off completely - but to no avail. I ended up using two forks to pry the wing under another string hoping to bind it tighter against the turkey so it wouldn't hit.
I must be a genius because that actually worked...although it kept slipping out from the string, and I had to babysit it (set and forget it, my ASS) for most of the time it took to cook. The main problem with that is that I realized when I was stopping the rotation, it would seriously COOK THE CRAP out of the opposite side of the turkey, while I was futzing with the stupid wing.
I told Hubster that the turkey would either be really good, or it would spontaneously combust in the Raging Inferno and we'd be eating Taco Bell.

All in all, after the HOUR it took to destring and depin the damn thing....it turned out FANTASTIC...and was worth all the trouble. The meat practically fell off the bone...and was juicy and taste...I made sweet potatoes with brown sugar and marshmallows, and stuffing. Yum-may!

Course, it was 9pm by the time we ate dinner, but oh well :)