Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Maybe I'll Win This Time

This is great news: Lee and I will be blogging every day in April. Lee explained the challenge really well in her post here.

This post is kind of a rip-off of her post, but the deal is we're going to be writing about reading. But it's not going to be boring. It's going to be fascinating and hilarious, as usual. Of course, Dan will probably be the most hilarious, if he joins the challenge. (YES, everyone -- Bob, Bethany, Rachel, and basically everyone who's ever met Dan -- I KNOW that Dan is so funny.)

As Lee mentioned, I think it would be great if others joined the challenge.

Let's see how this goes! It's probably going to be awesome!

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Brush With Fame

At first when the smoke starting pouring off of the stove during the cooking of the pork tenderloin, I felt anxious. Especially when the smoke detector began sounding in our vacation condo.

We began our usual anti-smoke routine of waving things frantically in front of the detectors, but due to many factors, including a dearth of dish towels, we failed. The alarm starting blaring throughout the building.

Dan quickly dialed the desk to explain. They told him there was nothing we could do but wait for the fire department. I covered Mac's ears and took the boys outside.

In no time, we heard the engine approaching. "Here they come!" I told the boys. The engine parked, and we watched the fighters descend. It was exciting. Two of them were wearing full jackets and hats, and one was wearing a tightish t-shirt under his fire suspenders. His shaggy brown hair was loose.

There's nothing else to say except THAT LAST CASUAL FIRE FIGHTER WAS RYAN SUTTER, WINNER OF THE BACHELORETTE.

I must admit I handled myself extremely well during this celebrity sighting. I did not ask for a photo, I did not gush, I did not reveal that I'd seen EVERY EPISODE of his winning season. I did gesture wildly to Dan and mouth "BACHELORETTE" until he said calmly and firmly: "Yeah. I got it."

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Dream Big

I've been looking forward to today for weeks.

It's my birthday! I'm 32! It's not so much that I'm looking forward to getting older, or that 32 is a particularly exciting birthday. It's more that I'm looking to today as a turning point.

This year hasn't been the best or smoothest. Nothing truly terrible happened during 31, but nothing really great happened either. And, now I've convinced myself that starting today, things are going to get better.

The first thing that's going to happen is that we're going to sell our house. Attention home buyers: get your offers ready! I'll be considering them tonight, right after cake!

After that, other great things will happen, too. And fast.

Some have suggested that I'm pinning my hopes on an unrealistic dream with this March 23rd turning point plan, and that may be true. Still, I'm putting my intention out there.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

People In the Place

Great news: Shef and I recorded a podcast. I was inspired by Lee to make a podcast about my recent reading. I made Shef do it with me.

If I sound bossy in the podcast, that's because in real life I actually am bossy.

Head over here to listen to the podcast.

Monday, March 15, 2010

As Strong As We Are United

Today, I had to skip my lunch hour to work with my fourth hour class on filming a submission video for a contest. The prize is a trip to the opening of the Harry Potter theme park in Florida.

They wrote a cute script about why our class is extraordinary. I got the feeling that they thought they had a good chance of winning the contest.

I myself doubt that we'll win, but I was happy to help with the video. There were some odd stipulations in the contest rules. For instance, I have to have a clean criminal record with no felony convictions. Also, the video had to include a full-body shot of me. I tried to wear a flattering outfit and look my best. I did apply lip gloss just before my scenes.

I'm a little worried that the kids will make a gag reel of stupid clips of me and post it on the internet, but these are the risks you have to be willing to take for a chance to win a trip to the Harry Potter theme park. If we win, I'll definitely take Shef. He's obsessed with Harry Potter, just like that fourth hour class.

Friday, March 12, 2010

Listen All Of Y'All

Not just every kid can look this cute doing water work:



Also, not every kid looks as cute while yelling, "Big truck, Mom! Big truck!" all the time in public. We're looking forward to the day he can make the "tr" sound. Right now that sound is a very clear F.

Friday, March 5, 2010

Plugging In

This week, I've been really preoccupied and kind of stressed about a work project. I've been working pretty much constantly on that project, to the detriment of other responsibilities; including my diet. Basically, I've been eating all kinds of terrible foods all the time.

As a result of this behavior, I got a ginormous zit on my chin. Or, I should say, I got a ginormous almost-zit. Right under the surface.

This next part will come as no surprise: I picked the hell out of that almost-zit. I jabbed it and squeezed it, and now it's a scab at least the size of a dime.

The worst day in the life of my blemish was yesterday. It was seeping some type of yellowish puss, which would collect on my chin in a little yellow puss scab. Then, periodically, I'd pick this off and the zit would start seeping all over again.

Obviously, I don't work in an office or a cube, so I was never alone with my complexion. Instead, 30 different people were looking at this hideous protrusion every hour of the day. Nevertheless, I did make it through without any comments made about the zit by any person except me.

That is, until I went out to dinner with Shef. He remarked, "Mom, ew! There's a booger on your chin."

Thanks, pal.

I'll be buying myself a new skin-care regimen tomorrow as an early birthday present. Oprah says it will change my life. Probably I should eat some fruits and vegetables as well.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Can I Get A

I've reached a place I never wanted to be: I'm mostly too busy to watch tv. This is so sad for me. I always thought people who were too busy to watch tv just weren't trying hard enough.

But, here I am with three episodes of Life, Unexpected just sitting there on my Tivo.

Also, I haven't seen American Idol for weeks.

And, I'm behind on Biggest Loser, my fave.

Finally, I haven't watched the new show Parenthood starring two of my all-time favorite television stars, Casey McCall and Lorelei Gilmore.

The busyness has gotten to the point where, and this is really saying something, I was kind of glad that Mac was awake from 12:30 to 2:00 because I was able to solve a lot of problems related to my latest work project during those 90 minutes.

That's just sad.