Random Factuals of the Moment

- My company's new health plan had an incentive to register for a free pedometer to upload your daily steps, eventually leading them to give you a discount on your plan. Or something. I didn't care because I was blinded by the new pedometer...it's so beautiful. I've worn it every day since...even though it's pretty bulky on my waistband. I love the challenge. Today's count? Over 13,000.

- When we say goodnight to the babies each evening, J insists that Mary needs to hear her name both first and last. As in, I'll say, "Goodnight, Mary. Goodnight, Leo." And J will add, "Goodnight Mary." He says it comforts her. We end up giggling about it every single night.

- I had a work lunch today with a very interesting group of gentlemen, including a foreign liaison officer from Singapore. He was very, very smart and nice. I got to spin class tonight and lo and behold, there he was, on the bike next to me. I wonder how long we've been sitting next to one another without knowing it. He's better at jumps than I am.

- I've finally started reading "A Thousand Splendid Suns." It may be the best book I've read in years. I love it and don't want it to end. If anyone can recommend a book to help ease the pain, please share.

- When we were designing our wedding website, music was a huge decision. We needed one more song to add, and I wanted, "Heard it in a Love Song" by the Marshall Tucker Band. Yes I know it's actually anything BUT a love song, but it was also the first song on the radio when we got back in car after the hike when J proposed. :) Followed immediately by "Power of Love" by the one and only Celine Dion. Both songs now have a very special place in my heart. PS, he'll deny it now, but on that euphoric drive home, we both belted out that Celine song. 'Cuz I'm your laaaaaaaaaadyy......and you are my maaaaaaaaaaannnn.....

- I was heartbroken yesterday at some very, very upsetting work news and spent my evening in a seriously sad funk. Today I came home to a clean house full of good smells and a "German feast!" that J had prepared...and there was no more funk to be found.

- My friend was just certified to be a yoga instructor after a 15-day session in Arizona. She's a vegan now. With crazy-toned arms. So when she offered freebie classes to her gals this month I jumped at the opportunity. It was my first ever instructor-led yoga class and I loved it (yes I realize I'm 10 years late jumping on this bandwagon). I'm still sore from Tuesday night's class. Yay for making it into crow pose!

- I can't stop listening to "Cold December" by Matt Costa. It's been one of my highest play counts in iTunes for a few years now, but I've recently found myself on another kick.

- I'm going to Berkley's second birthday party next weekend. Cannot believe our wee baby niece is turning two...I remember meeting her when she was just a mere 8 days old. She's not really turning two though, since she was born on Leap Day, after all.

- My favorite water bottle broke yesterday at the gym. I mean, it really broke. I went to take a sip and it squirted ALLLL over the guy on the elliptical next to me. There was an awkward moment where we both just kind of slowed down, glanced at each other, and then went back to working out. On the hunt for its replacement, I could not find a perfect water bottle. I have two of the metal ones, yeah yeah, I'm over that trend**. As far as I'm concerned, they always make my water taste awful, I don't like the smell, and they're not easy to open when you're in motion. I think I could make a cool million designing a sturdy liter-sized BPA-free plastic bottle with a easy to open squeeze-y cap.

**No offense to those of you who enjoy the metal water bottles.

Laugh, Smile or Frown

Things that made me laugh in the last 24 hours:

- We bought a new grill this weekend.  The old one belongs to our landlord.  I asked her if we could throw it away since it crapped out.  She said yes.  But she also reminded us not to throw away the propane tank.  What??? You mean those things are disposable?

- There is a serious "sidler" at work.  He normally sidles right up to my desk and scares the crap out of me.  Today, he sidled up to my cubemate and gave someone else a heart attack for once.

Things that made me smile in the last 24 hours:

- At father's day dinner, J's Granddaddy asking me if I wouldn't mind splitting some of my potatoes with him -- he only wanted a small taste.  So sweet, I'd give that man ALL of my potatoes if he wanted.

- Having J tell me that I'd invented his "New favorite chicken recipe EVER!"

- Opening my eyes this morning to see Leo's face about two inches from mine.

Things that made me frown in the last 24 hours:

-  Being told, "At this point people, it's best to go ahead and cancel your 4th of July weekend plans.  You'll be working."

Pictures from my phone

Over the years I've lost so many pictures from my phone due to sheer stupidity.  I never ever email pictures to myself *I just recently inherited J's BlackBerry, and before now it's always been too hard.*  So very much in need of some decompression time, I present to you my collection.  I call it, "Pictures from my phone: In random chronological order because I don't understand why you store them in random order, BlackBerry." 

Llamas in Napa.  Namely, Tina and Tina.  We were so captivated by these Llamas.

Two of my favorite guys.  My daddy and Ryan James Winstead.  Ryan was our youngest houseguest ever and stole the hearts of many.

A family of geese and...umm...baby geese (gooselings?) that live in the compound at work.  They do not have security badges, but don't think this lack of respect for security would work for you, because they won't even let some employees in the gates (Ha, Team Weymouth?).  The geese babies are bigger now, but I always love seeing them on my way into work.  Starts my day with a smile.

Finley Wald.  LEMonade and I had just picked her up from her pack's house upon our return to San Carlos from Napa.  Finley was exhausted and super sweet, and unbeknownst to us, had a pop-up-car-trunk-like wound on her pad.  Sick.

Mary.  Princess of the Seat of Power.  Mary trembles like a leaf during storms and the short stint of thunder yesterday was no exception.  I invited her into the "seat of power" (AKA what J called the middle seat in our "L-sofa" please-do-not-call-it-a-sectional), made her a fort of pillows and tied a long-sleeved tee shirt around her like a cape.  I've seen infomercials where you can buy a cape for your dog that is supposed to rid them of their fear of storms.  Turns out a 5 year old pink J. Crew tee has the same effect -- it worked!

My belt for LEMonade's wedding.  I finished the flowers yesterday and received approval; both from Bride and my fabric flower-making mentor Va Va Va Bloom. :)

Ahh these two.  I'm so angry at them right now.  Remember the need for decompression I mentioned earlier?  Wonder what that was about?  I'll give you a guess...it was because of these two.  If you need a refresher, I invite you to reread one of my previous posts entitled Houdini Soup, because they are full of hi-jinx.  None quite as disgusting as what I came home to today though.  

I'm warning you.  GROSSNESS ahead.  VERY NASTY THINGS in the scrolldown.

-----------

Seriously, you should stop now if one of the following applies to you:

1) I'm eating oatmeal

2) I just finished eating oatmeal

3) I'm thinking about eating something in the near future

-----------

Ok, sicko, proceed with caution...

Behold.  Dog puke.  Heaps and heaps of it.  Yeah.  It's basically just their breakfast and nothing more.  You can file this one under "reasons I hate being the first one home." I of course yelled "WHO DID THIS!?!?!" at them three or four times halfway expecting one of them to point sheepishly at the other.  No luck.  This must be like Fight Club with these two.  Only it's Puke Club.  I'm just thankful it wasn't Poop Club.  It was disgusting and it was everywhere.  And you can see how the perpetrator skillfully took special care NOT to get it on the easily cleanable wood floor.  Thank goodness for you, Spot Shot.  And my very stretched-thin p a t i e n c e.  

What?  I warned you it was nasty.  You still looked.

Just a quick word

I am procrastinating getting my bum ready for work this morning, I have no energy.  And I have so much to say.  In random order.

- NAPA WAS AWESOME.  I have great pics and memories alike.  I also found a bottle of BV Sauvignon Blanc last night and I'm going to have some this weekend and pretend I'm at BV, swaying slightly, whispering to Emily and Lauren, "hehe, I'm drrruuunk!"

- My afternoon commute yesterday was exactly 2 hours long.  120 minutes.  Normally, it is 7.  I was unhappy.

- Lauren's wedding is in a handful of days.  I am so excited for her wedding!  And the days leading up to it, I know she did a wonderful job planning.  

- Speaking of weddings, another bff got engaged: Miss Joanna!  Since my heart has been full most of this year, it just stretches to cram in extra bits of happiness.  I cannot wait to meet her mister at abovementioned wedding.  I already like him a whole lot on Facebook and I think that really means something.  He proposed with a gorgeous ring that compliments her hand wonderfully.  The happiness continues. :)

- I've been wrestled into working nights again at work.  I'm not happy about that.  I feel like everyday at work I'm forced to remind people that I'm 26 and still "living" my life.  Someone said yesterday, "Oh yeah, you're going to your friends' wedding soon."  I gasped and said, "It's my BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING!?!" and expected him to understand the importance of the event.  These are my coworkers, folks.

- When I returned from Napa, J had purchased new dog beds for the babies.  They're so cute.  The first night we had them, I fell asleep smiling about how his new pre-bed ritual involves telling the dogs that "You're SO adorable!"  I love him.  And them.

- Yesterday after my 2 hour commute from hell, I just wanted to relax and not think about anything stressful and how much laundry is piling up and how much stuff needs to be done before leaving for Texas bright and early Friday morning (one week) and so we decided to explore one area of our wedding spreadsheet that so far was blank: honeymoons.  Who knew how expensive they are?  Not I.  We looked at one that really got us excited.  Found the info on the plane in a second-hand bridal magazine from a friend.  I'm gonna owe her a glass of my BV wine for that one.

- Work.  Again.

April Fool, Chicken Little, and a blood-sucker to boot

Just a few things:

1) Today is Leo's fifth birthday.  He's my little April Fool.  Hard to believe, but yes, five years old. For your enjoyment, here is a picture of him totally loving his bed being surrounded by three of J's duffel bags that were filled with dirty clothes the day we moved in together.  Oh Leo, you are the living end, pet.

2)  Not sure if anyone read the news about the sky falling Sunday night in Virginia.  Or was it a meteor?  Or a UFO?  Or a rocket from Russia?  We don't know either.  J and our friend Bob were out on our balcony and heard the boom (which I think the experts have said it was a sonic boom either way...the cause is what's unknown) but I was having dinner across the bridge with friends.  It's been all the hype this week and I felt so left out for not having seen/heard it.

3) I watched Twilight last night.  J had one of his buddies over and I was trying to give them some privacy so I confined myself to my office.  Two hours later, I emerged, glossy-eyed, and totally in love.  Jamie & Lauren: I'll be buying the books ASAP.  I started my next conversation with J, "Soo, how do you feel about...vampires...?"

T minus 70 minutes

We are going to meet our new "Land-chick" at 5:00 to exchange rent checks for keys.  I cannot verbalize how excited I am.

Also exciting happenings of the last 24 hours:

-Joanna (rockstar) found us an awesome house in Napa for Lauren's bachelorette weekend in May.  The excitement continues! :)

-We met our first neighbors last night.  Very nice, they're letting us use the driveway for the big move.

-Had an interesting conversation with J about a certain sparkly something he put in his new safety deposit box at the bank.  A certain something that was hidden in the apartment for 3 months.  A certain something that he showed to Leo, and apparently licked it.  I can't believe a boy who can't keep secrets from me kept this amazing secret.  BUT--then he spilled the beans.

-My mother decided to be amazing and sent us a happy moving gift.  A HUGE box of barbeque from Jack Stack in Kansas City.  That's where the 'rents took us when we were in town this summer and we loved it.  We will have all meals planned for us this weekend which was a huge help, and also delicious.  Plus it came packed in dry ice which was pretty amazing.  Just like the Thriller video.

-J took the babies to the dog-spa today to get their nails professionally trimmed down in honor of our wood floors.  He then brought them home and Pedi-Paw'd them by himself.  The dogs have lost their battle against the Pedi-Paw.  We win.

I'm getting ready to unplug my computer now.  Which means silence until further notice.  Wishing my people an amazing weekend!  

Sevensies

So since I have nothing of any interest to write about, I will grant Laura's wish/command and write 7 totally random things about myself.  This isn't too hard for me...want to know why?  I'm a list gal.  Now, Laura asked me, Oh Beehive, LEMonade, and Va va va Bloom to take on said task of 7 randoms, so I now pass this task on to three lovely and interesting ladies, on a night when you don't feel like writing anything else:  Cassie, Emily, and Alexe'.  Do it!

1.  I listened to "Reason to Love You" by Meiko today about, hmmm, 43 times.  I have totally been digging her lately, and recommend her to any of my friends who might be checking out another Ingrid Michaelson concert this weekend. :)

2.  I have a picture of a fountain near where I lived in Germany hung in my bedroom.  I decided to put it up in my room after having recurring dreams about that fountain for about 2 years.  Since I've hung it on my wall I haven't had the dream.  I think it's because I've realized that yes, I will in fact go back some day.  I consider it a place my soul longs for.

3.  I call my dog Leo by the nickname "Bubs" or "Mr. Bubs" more than I call him by his real name.  I can't remember where it came from or why I started calling him that.  Yes, he answers to it. 

4.  Some things I find unforgivable: slowing down in front of me in the Midtown Tunnel so much so that I have to downshift, telling me to "SMILE!" first thing in the morning (that means you, Mister Security Guard Badge-Checker at work), and using tissues as napkins.  That's not what they're for.  Go ahead, try and hand me a cookie on a tissue.  I won't take it--that's a promise.

5.  I talk to my mom every day, sometimes twice.  My dad is harder to get ahold of but we spoke 3 different times on Veteran's Day.  I used to think that was weird when people would say that, but then I realized I'm one of the lucky ones who wants to speak with her parents as much as possible.

6.  I make up songs to sing to the dogs.  Last night I sang Mary one I called, "Black face, soft ears."  It was about her.  She loved it.  Tonight, the little boys (that's what I call the baby fish...is that weird?) got a song but they were much less appreciative.

7.  Since I've moved out on my own, I've been much more aware of karma.  I try to be a good person, and for the most part, I like to think I am.  However, tonight, I was walking into the grocery store and I stopped to let a dad pass me with his two little daughters.  I smiled, they smiled.  But then a mean huffy-puffy-in-a-hurry girl shoved up behind me and walked around me, cutting the dad/daughter trio off, thus negating the pausing I was doing to let them pass.  I tried to keep it in, but I felt the words coming up.  They were my sister's words.  "You're EXCUSED!" I said to her, and she turned and looked at me.  I was mortified.  Wonder how I'll pay for that one. 

Lovely randoms of this week

Monday:  J accepted a job that could offer international relocation in the future.  We spent the evening figuring out how far away Rotterdam is from our favorite cities in Germany, ya know, just in case.  (Answer: NOT FAR AT ALL).

Tuesday:  Worked a 14.5 hour day.  But I didn't mind so much because I had my own office for the day...and access to an all-you-can-drink gourmet coffee bar.

Wednesday:  Joined my newly-engaged pals for a night of toasting with champagne (and then toasting again with wine).  Another friend got laid off.  Another announced that she's 8 weeks pregnant.  What a day!

Thursday:  I got reacquainted with a banana-eating Polo-clad super smiley Lallie Beth of Team Weymouth.  Adorable, that one.  While awaiting her grandmother's chauffeur service to arrive, I got to provide a safe haven from the coastal storm for little Natalie and her mama Alexe' in my car.  Lallie Beth found my steering wheel to be the most enticing teething ring she's ever seen.  I think Alexe' should throw away her teething rings and just buy her infant daughter a Jetta to teethe on.

Friday:  I slept through my alarm, but somehow managed to get to work only 10 minutes late.  I need to reassess my routine.  Like Kramer on that episode of Seinfeld, where he ponders how to cut the amount of time he spends in the shower.  

Odd and Ends

Thought I'd end this week with a little wrap-up.

Songs I can't stop listening to:

1. Boys with Girlfriends -- Meiko

2. Madly -- Tristan Prettyman

3. Gray or Blue -- Jaymay

4. Come On Get Higher -- Matt Nathanson

Things that I can't help but smile at:

1. I have my first paying freelance gig! Smiles at you, flagship client.  I also think I got another one today at work.  I finally got all my software unlocked tonight, so I'm ready to rock!  I can't wait to get started on this, and that's such a good feeling...coming home from work, ready to work still!

2. Slim Charles.  That's the name of my iMac.  When Oh Beehive and I were in high school we had so much fun naming the Macs.  This one was a no-brainer.  As most of you know all of our fish are named after characters from The Wire (love love loved that show) and Slim Charles was my favorite from the last season.  And HELLO, this baby is SLIM.  Perfect fit. J and I had fun playing around in Photo Booth the other night.  I decided I'm going to pull an MTV and make all my friends have a round in it when they visit.  Here's J's first go at it.

3. The fish had more babies.  Yeah.  Pretty sure we have 1 female and like 7 males.  Sorry, Avon! I keep joking (maybe not joking?) that we're going to start giving baby fish away as gifts to our friends.  "Oh thanks for coming over, lovely time, now don't forget to take your fish with you!"

Things I've been meaning to blog about:

1. Our trip to see J's sis and her hubs and baby.  So fun...seriously such a wonderful couple. They are such amazing people/parents/family.

2.  That's all.

Ketchup

I've been quite the busy bee lately, so here are the top 10 happenings as of late:

1. Last week we spent Sunday - Wednesday every evening at J's family's beach house to celebrate his g-parents' 70th anniversary. His family, all 45 that I met, is just awesome and I loved spending so much time with them. Apparently that's a rarity in this world, but I'm lucky enough to come from an awesome family as well, so I just think that's normal. They're a really great bunch and I am amazed at how "in" I already feel with them.

2. Once we decided to stay in the Euroloft, i.e. saving money, we decided to schedule a quick weekend camping trip. We went up to the Rappahannock River (about 2 hours away) and camped and canoed. We did an amazing 11-mile canoe trip. It was such beautiful scenery. At one point, I convinced J to "park" the canoe (I'm so not nautical) and just sit in some rapids for a little bit as if it were nature's jacuzzi. We stopped on a little beach and ate our picnic and relaxed in the sun. Saturday night, J made hobos in the campfire (hello Girl Scouts!) and we just passed out from exhaustion.

3. After #2's invoked exhaustion, we coined the phrase "Tennessee Tired." Meaning the happy tired feeling that comes after an extreme hike, canoe trip, etc., that reminds us of how we felt every night in Tennessee. Tired, but content.

4. Work has been so incredibly slow the past 2 weeks that I've wanted to rip my eyelashes out to stay awake. It's a bad slow.

5. My birthday is in 6 days! I got my first bday present from J...a beautiful sapphire ring. He did so well. He was too excited to wait and give it to me later...I love that boy to death. His second gift, that will be blogged about fo' sho', is a trip with the dogs to a pet psychic. I can't wait to ask Leo a ton of questions. Can anyone think of anything really great to ask him?

6. I've been out of Allegra since Saturday. AAGGGH. I'm also covered head-to-toe in bug bites despite my best efforts to stay covered in a blanket of bug spray. However, my religious applications of SPF helped, because neither of us burned despite being in the direct blazing sun on a river for 6+ hours.

7. Heat index in Norfolk today? 105

8. Scratch that, I only had 7 things to talk about.

You are what you Google

During a discussion tonight with LEMonade about Mary's storm anxiety, she suggested I google a remedy about using a dryer sheet to wipe her down. Something about removing the electric charge preceding the storm that tends to make dogs freak out. And yes, Lauren, thanks, I found an article and will be trying it ASAP (not to mention that she'll smell Febreezy and fresh!)

But as I typed in "dog storm anxiety dryer sheets" I realized, hmm, I've got some strange things in my Google cache. (Laura, is that the right word?) Here are my favorites of the ones I've got in there now:

"NES Legend of Zelda how to get master sword" (Answer: you need enough heart containers)
"Neverending Story Atreyu's horse" (Answer: Artax)
"Noseeum bite relief" (Answer: NONE. You will scratch your arms off before the bites stop itching).
"Whale dung" (J and I were discussing it...what does it look like? Answer: we still don't know. Strangely, it doesn't pop up under the images section).
"Bananas Foster ice cream cake" (Oh Mahi Mah's, I love your dessert menu so!)
"Is it safe to give dogs Benadryl?" (Answer: yes. And they sleep like a rock afterwards!)
"Slurpees extreme headache migraines coke flavor" (Answer: I'm a freak of nature).

So if there is someone out there reading my Google searches, they've concluded by now that I'm an overweight nerdy 12-year-old boy.

Things that annoyed me/made me happy today

Annoyed me:
1. The woman who sits in a cube adjacent to mine must be under some sort of contract that anytime a person opens a can of soda, she must shout, "That didn't sound refreshing enough to be a beer." I kind of chuckled the first time, because sure, it's funny. Once.

2. The heat. There's a heat index of 101 today. Plus smoke from the wildfires (side note: there was an article in the paper the other day talking about how long the smoke will linger in the area. They referenced a wildfire back in the 20s that burned for 3 years. Umm, at the 4 month marker I think I'll be packing my bags, thank you!). Hot hot heat + smoky smoky air = not a favorable condition for an asthmatic. At least 3 times this week I've woken up unable to breathe. Joy!

3. Work. Period.

4. Bugs and bug bites.

5. J's employers. Seriously people.


Made me happy:
1. Leo. He might be the cutest dog ever. Just the action of him walking up next to me, sitting down, and then grunting like a little piglet is enough to make me smile. And then smoosh his chest cowlick down. It's a compulsion.

2. Friday. Not so I can go out and party like a 25 year old, but so I can stay home and catch up on rest. Borrrrring.

3. TJ Maxx. After seeing the most adorable dress on Alexe's blog, she told me where I could find it, and whammo, I found 3 super cute (read: cheap!) dresses, and I couldn't resist. I wore one to work today and it really did make the day a little better. Thanks, fashion director!

4. My Nintendo. I'm not going to go on and on about it, but let's just say I'm on a new diet. It's called "The play so much Nintendo that you forget to eat diet." I'm doing very well on it. :)

5. J loves Chambord. He loves the taste and the quaint little bottle. He held it up and said, "In our new apartment, I want to put a fish in this and use it as a fishbowl." I won't let him do that of course, but I loved hearing the phrase, "In our new apartment..." come out of his mouth.

6. My mother. Since she's out of school for the summer (cue: schoooool's out.for.summa!) we talk a lot more, either email or phone. She's quite a lady and I'm so honored to be her friend, let alone offspring. She also mailed me the welcome boxes she made for J and I for our visit and I got the package today. When they were dropping us off at the airport, J said, "Oh, I didn't get anything for my mom. I probably should have." So my mother included a little gift for his mama and his daddy. She also tucked in an "80s bracelet" from her closet. Yeah, mom, "80s bracelet" is code for: awesome bangle my mother's been hiding from me all these years.

Who said I haven't updated?

Two of my great gal pals mentioned to me in the past two days that I haven't been updating my blog regularly. Well, take this: three posts in one day! A little something I stole:

i am: trying to empty my brain so I can sleep
i think: Leo's paws smell amazing...just like Frito's
i know: how special I am to have so many great friends
i want: to stop worrying so much. About every.little.thing.
i have: no idea what my life would be like if I hadn't moved to Virginia
i wish: I had more PTO so I could take a longer trip home next week!
i hate: when people chew loudly
i miss: seeing my best friends every day
i fear: many, many things; some rational, some irrational
i feel: the muscles in my arms getting stronger
i hear: Leo snoring softly on my bed
i smell: smoke from the wildfires in North Carolina...nature is such an amazing and terrifying thing
i crave: Rita's custard...mmm
i search: for my tiny clear hair-ties all day every day...why don't I just buy the black ones?
i wonder: why people think they have to settle?
i regret: living so many years of my life not being myself for fear that people wouldn't like me
i love: hearing "Goodnight, baby girl" every night before I fall asleep
i ache: from my incredible workout yesterday
i care: too much about what some people think sometimes...I'm working on that
i always: have Chap Stick on my person. The blue variety.
i am not: going to be ready to come back from my trip home next week
i believe: I've been incredibly blessed by meeting such a loving man who knows *me*
i dance: around my room in the morning when I get dressed
i sing: in cars, in showers, sometimes by accident at the gym
i don’t always: return calls when I should
i fight: back the urge to speak my mind when it isn't appropriate
i write: when it tickles my fancy, and I should start really writing again
i win: trivia games
i lose: my freckles every fall
i never: leave my house without saying, "I'll be back, Leo."
i confuse: my coworkers when I say things like "negative space"
i listen: to white noise when I sleep...it centers me
i can usually be found: picking up after J and the dogs
i am scared: of something bad happening to my loved ones
i need: to a better job staying in touch with my people
i am happy about: the way my life has turned around in one year's time

Lists of lists (of lists)

I find that when I'm feeling rushed/anxious/strapped for "me time" I like to make lists. Lists to help me remember what I've got to. Sometimes lists of things that I've already accomplished, just because it feels so good to check them off. Buy dress for wedding on Saturday -- CHECK! But tonight I've just got to do a little more verbal dumping so I can read my book and go to bed.

1. So the wildfires down in North Carolina are still a-raging. Know how I know? Because the past 4 days have smelled like a campfire outside. Tonight it's so bad that there is no breeze so the smoky smell is just hanging in the air. It looks like very thick fog...pretty spooky.

2. I'm feeling awfully grateful for a giggly baby girl in North Carolina (no correlation to said wildfires). Alexe', you are such a wonderful mommy and I plan on telling Lallie Beth how extraordinary her mother is someday. Hugs, my dear.

3. It's been extremely hot in Norfolk since Friday. I believe the heat index today was something crazy like 115? Insane. I of course don't know, because I work in a cement shoebox with no windows. For the first time today, I was thankful for that.

4. I got my hair redone tonight. Last week's 'do ended up a little odd. The top layer "grabbed" the color more than the rest, and I kind of looked like Elvira. Not really, but compared with my pale-ish dishwater reddish hair I walked in with, I felt very emo. Now, I'm much happier with the gold woven through it. Whew!

5. J just told me about a website http://www.nintendo8.com/. You can play any old-school Nintendo game online...I fear I may never sleep again. Have I mentioned how awesome I was in Contra?

6. Something I've been thinking about a lot lately: the fact that my father raised me to be just as neurotic as he is about mouth noises. Mouth noises are defined as any noise that comes from the mouth aside from speaking, laughing, singing, and belching (technically belching is grouped into that category, but they do not bother me). Smacking your lips, chewing loudly, sucking on hard candy, tongue clicking, whistling = all annoy me to the point of almost insanity. I can't help it. I was raised by a man who was probably raised by someone who also hated those sounds, and now I can't stand it. I realize that there's no way to change the world (just those around me, right? hehe) so I need to somehow, someway, deal with this. Until I find the strength, I'll just continue leaving the room, or turning my iPod up louder.

7. We may've found a place to live. I'm not going to get my hopes up or anything (lies, lies) but my friend Chris is being stationed in France for 2 years (hello, awesome!?) and he's looking to rent out his condo, which just so happens to be across the street from J's current place. AKA the neighborhood we want to stay in. Well, umm, I happen to know some tenants who would just love to take care of his lovely 2-bedroom condo with all new appliances and super cute paint job. Guess when he's leaving for France? September...the same month we're looking to cohabitate. It's kismet, it has to be. He also happens to live in the same building as my dear friends Bob and Lauren, and soon to be Bob's girlfriend, AKA my g-friend Christy. In a time of recession and gas prices out the ying yang, one can certainly same some dough living the same building as one's pals. Cross your fingers! :)

8. I'm going to go drink a tall glass of water, perhaps watch 15 minutes of whatever trash is on MTV and then get in bed with my book and my dog. Must not play Contra. Must not play Contra.

Things floating around in my brain right now

1. I had straight carrot juice for the first time yesterday. Not V8 Splash made with carrot juice (which I love, btw). JUST carrot juice. I couldn't tell if I liked it or if I wanted to spit it out. It was really sweet, but once I swallowed, it was all, "oh, hey carrots." I eat a huge bag of baby carrots every week, so you know, I'm all for carrots. Just not sure if it was too much carrot.

2. Something I haven't talked about on here yet, but most/all of you know anyway. J and I are moving in together in the Auguts/September timeframe. I'm so stinkin' excited, it's amazing how giddy I get thinking about it. We're so ready. So ready.

3. Due to an unfortunate event 2 weeks ago, Leo's favorite toy suffered a horrible accident. Horton's ears were torn off (Mary is a little less delicate with toys than Leo). Therefore, Horton could no longer hear the Whos. In a strange twist of fate, there was ONE Horton at Wal-Mart on Thursday. He came home with me. Now Leo is back to his old self again, with Horton-two firmly in his grasp.

4. I like watching "What Not to Wear" but I seriously dislike Stacey. Seriously. I know that she's on TV and all, but I think that personas like hers encourage mean and rude behavior in regular joes who can't decipher between fantasy and reality.

5. J is currently 18 days nicotine-free. I'm so proud of him. He is so strong; quitting cold turkey is insanely difficult, mentally and physically. His new addiction? Sunflower seeds. Being a baseball player, he's quite skilled with them. I've had to learn to understand his "seed speak" when he's got a cheek full of them. I've been finding them everywhere: my car, my porch, my bathroom??? But ya know what, I'd rather have seeds all over my house and all of my belongings to have a healthy, non-smelly man. You go, J! :)

6. This time in 2 weeks I'll be at my parents' house. My mom and dad already have my entire trip planned. And ya know what? I'm so glad about that. I can't wait to just sit around and talk to them...aaaand watch Ruby jog on the treadmill.

7. Went up to visit J's dad's dad (Granddaddy) in Moon, Virginia, on Saturday for his 92nd birthday. J and I canoed to a private little cove, took tons of photos, got a lil sunburn, got caught in the current and laughed so hard I couldn't paddle for a while, and of course he taught me a few more flowers.("Look, the Yucca Filamentosas are blooming!") Granddaddy is definitely one of the most influential people in J's life, and it's easy to see that he's the one who taught J to appreciate nature, and all things beautiful in nature. For a while, Granddaddy just walked me around his house showing me things on his shelves, or showing me pictures. We're going back to visit soon and I can't wait. This is a picture of a little 4-drawer piece I saw in his amazing treasure-filled barn...reminded me very much of my mother.

8. Worked out very hard at the gym tonight. I feel good right now. I wish there was a way to bottle this feeling.

9. Getting my hair done tomorrow at my hairdresser's new salon. I'm really stoked to see it since I've been watching it come together for the last 6 months.

10. I need to find a dress to wear to a wedding next weekend. Anyone seen any super cute summery dresses lately?