It Ain't Easy Being Green

You are Kermit the Frog.You are reliable, responsible and caring. And you
have a habit of waving your arms about
maniacally.
FAVORITE EXPRESSIONS:"Hi ho!" "Yaaay!" and "Sheesh!"
FAVORITE MOVIE:"How Green Was My Mother"
LAST BOOK READ:"Surfin' the Webfoot: A Frog's Guide to the Internet"
HOBBIES:Sitting in the swamp playing banjo.
QUOTE:"Hmm, my banjo is wet."

What Muppet are you?

I'm Sure You'll Think I'm Superficial, but....

I am going to make a statement that most of you will disagree with at first, but trust me, I am right. Overweight women should wear thongs. Panty lines are abhorent on any woman, but when you are stuck walking behind a very, very large woman with full panties that are cutting into her behind, they are that much worse. Underwear should be worn, not seen...at least in public anyway.

You Should Be Dancin'

I admit it freely, I watch "Dancing With the Stars" if I am home Wednesday evenings. I refuse to call it a guilty pleasure because I feel no guilt, nor do I feel shame. Before you mock Mark, consider this: I grew up watching Dance Fever (Adrian Zmed was no Deney Terrio), ballroom dance contests and Solid Gold.

Go Canada (and Spain)

Who says Americans are better than Canadians? Well, the people who redirected all planes there on 9/11 but those are probably the same people who are against gay marriage, national health care and cheaper prescription drugs. I think it is fantastic that the number of countries that have legalized gay marriage is up to four. We could learn a lot from our Northern neighbors. And if another Republican tool is elected in '08, I may take up the offer of someone on the website above.

Time to Play Catch Up

Things that I have not had time to blog about:

• "Hit me Baby One More Time" - mock all you want, but you have not lived until you've seen Wang Chung performing "Hot in Herrre".
• Timothy Busfield is morphing into John Ritter.
• Sprint commercial with Donny Osmond "No Tito?"
• While making breakfast for Paul and myself the other morning I realized I learned how to crack eggs open with one hand from Jack Tripper on an episode of Three's Company. I kid you not.
• I have not tasted a hot dog if Hebrew National is to be believed. Considering they answer to a higher power, I can only assume they are correct.

Items in the Express

The Express is the free, small version of the Washington Post that is handed out to Metro riders each weekday morning. It is great because it is small, manageable and has brief snippets of the bigger stories in each day's Post. There were two that caught my eye this morning on my ride in.

1. "10,477 - the number of divorces among active-duty Army officers and enlisted personnel in 2004. That's nearly double the 5,658 divorces in 2001. A chaplain said the hike shows the effects of stress from war on families." I would be interested in a study on when those couples were married and under what circumstances. Is it possible a significant amount of these marriages were quick so that soldiers were leaving behind wives instead of girlfriends? Just a thought.

2. "Souter's N.H. House Sought". I may be petty, but I love that one of the Justices who voted for governments' ability to seize private property for economic development may now lose his house. Click on link above for the press release.

Pulp Fiction

Pulp or no pulp? That is the question. I'm drinking some oj at my desk right now wishing there was pulp in it. Can you tell I hate my job right now? This is all I have time for. Ugh.

Habitrail for Humanity

This could be the solution to not only our homeless problem, but also overcrowding in prisons! Genius Onion, pure genius.

Why I Love Working Where I Do

I'm sitting at my desk after a very long day. Boss just got back into town from a week in France (a trip I almost got to go on), didn't sleep well (last mention - I promise), heavy workload, Jackson verdict....It has been a somewhat difficult day. So I sit here drinking some bourbon with a coworker and think "My job could be worse. I could work somewhere where they DON'T allow you to have a drink or open bottles at your desk". Life is good my friends, life is good.

Lazy Days of Summer

Is it the heat that makes everyone so lethargic on weekends? That's the story I'm going with. After a productive Saturday, I went to Paul's that night to grab dinner and a movie. He's got some pulminary infection caused in large part by his allergies so he's running a bit slower than usual. We decided to just have dinner and watch a movie (In Good Company - Topher Grace and Dennis Quaid were great) back at his place. We were both ready for bed by 11:30....yes, we're old, but not 1968 old. Sunday we woke up, made breakfast, took a nap (yes you read that correctly), ran some errands around his neighborhood, made lunch, laid around watching tv and took another nap. It was the laziest Sunday I have had in a very long time and it was wonderful. I'm glad I got all that sleep yesterday afternoon in light of the evening's activities.

Gunshots Rang Out Like a Bell

Turns out Vanilla Ice was incorrect. Gunshots are more of a popping sound as I found out last night between 10:30 pm and 1:00 am. 7 shots here, 10 shots there, 8, 7, 12, etc. Louder, then softer. It sounded like someone was target practicing in the alley behind my house. Either that, or some unfortunate bastard has about 40 bullets in him. Needless to say I was freaked out and didn't get a lot of sleep last night. I heard my landlord get up, come downstairs and call someone (I am assuming it was the police). Shortly after, the shots stopped. A quick perusal of the blotter this morning turned up a double shooting about a mile away. Unsure if it is related or not, but really glad it wasn't in my alley.

And for those of you with Ice, Ice Baby stuck in your head - 1. You're welcome. 2. The lyrics are linked to the title above.

Oh the Horror!!!

I'm still reeling from the shock that was the cover of this morning's Express (smaller, free version of the Washington Post). Who on God's green Earth thought that anyone would want to start their day seeing Mike Tyson in his panties? I just threw up a little in my mouth thinking about it. Click on the title above for the article and photo if you dare.

In other, better Express news I may have found the man I'm going to marry. Well, not really. But Matt Swenson must have been reading my mind when he wrote the article "Anthem Cheer for the Birds". For those of you who have never had the good fortune to attend a game at Camden (one of baseball's greatest parks), the O's fans have a bad habit of yelling "O's say" instead of the actual "O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave". It is something that just drives me batty and strikes me as rude and borderline disrespectful to our anthem. What bothers me more is there are people who are doing it at the Nats games. WE ARE NOT IN BALTIMORE. You have your own team and your own stadium - go yell O there.

As my man Matt put it "It's all well and good to be an Orioles fan in this age of Nationals baseball, but do Washingtonians have to suffer through the same desecration of the National Anthem seen every game day at Camden Yards?...Granted, there may be some guilty parties who just don't know what they're doing. For those poor souls who proudly cheer 'O's' at the Nats game, there are doctors who can treat the illness." Amen, Matt, amen.

Boys are Dumb - Throw Rocks at Them Pt. 2

I have figured out why girls think boys are dumb....other than the fact that they are a lot of the time. Women tend to talk things out/over with their friends. Men don't do this. At all it appears. And oftentimes they get mad when women do. They don't understand why we do it, we don't understand why they don't. I talk to my friends about situations to get insight (most times from both sexes in case my female brain is missing something obvious to a man brain), maybe get validation for the way/things I'm feeling/thinking or when appropriate, a smack upside the head to make me see the way I'm feeling or the thoughts I'm having are completely ridiculous and unfounded. Granted, this isn't a perfect system. The "others" are only getting one side of the story....mine. But that's kind of the point. If I'm talking to a friend about something related to a relationship I have or some jackhole move my boss pulled, etc it is because I think I am either overreacting to a situation and need someone to talk me off the proverbial ledge or checking to make sure I'm not making excuses for that other person's behavior because I tend to avoid conflict. It's a system of checks and balances and despite its flaws, it works.

And that my friends is why women are better at relationships with others than our male counterparts, minus our overemotional moments but those are only there to make up for the male underemotional robotic moments. How's that for stereotyping?

PJ Harvey? Really?

Which Rock Chick Are You?

I Was Joking About Being OLD

I stopped by Whole Foods last night on my way home since I had no vegetables or fruit in my house and I need them so I don't develop scurvy. One of my favorite wines was on sale, so I picked up a bottle and headed to the checkout with my basket of nutrition. The woman didn't card me, which is fine. I look over 21 - I learned to deal with that years ago and now laugh when I actually do get carded. I really am okay with it. What I am not okay with is the date she entered in after looking at me. 10/10/68! OHMYGOD. I am 31 and am okay with looking over 30. I cannot be okay with someone thinking I'm over 35. I don't really look that old, do I?

Oh Baby!

The total of pregnant friends of Plan B has now reached three! My best friend from high school is expecting. She is the one who has been stressing about getting pregnant and I am delighted for her. She and her husband of a year and a half just moved into a new home so the timing is perfect. I can't wait to see what happens to the tattoo around her belly button in the next 6 months. In other baby news....my other pregnant high school friend and her husband just completed their trek across the country and are settling nicely in North Carolina. I feel a road trip coming to go see her expanding belly. It is comforting to know that even surrounded by these moms-to-be I am not feeling any urge to put myself in that position any time soon. Sorry mom - looks like the pressure is still on my brother to 'produce'.

Stripper Cash

I just turned in a number of petty cash receipts (magazines and taxis add up) and all they had were one dollar bills. So I now have $44 in ones in my wallet. Friends, we're going to Camelot for lunch!

"I'm a Pretty Pretty Pony"

$5 to anyone who can tell me what the hell that is from. It's a tv show or movie or something and it's a guy saying it. This is absolutely driving me effing crazy. Ugh.

On a brighter note, googling the above mentioned phrase led me to one of the funniest blogs I've ever had the gut busting pleasure of reading. This woman is hilarious and I can only hope she and I become friends at some point. She does remind me much of my friend Katie, so maybe she's someone else's Katie. Who knows. Enjoy. February 20, 2004 is the posting with the pony reference. Definitely worth a look up.

http://finslippy.typepad.com/finslippy/

Memories, Like the Corner of My Mind

Now that I've got Cats stuck in your head (meow). Wednesday of last week I came back to my office from lunch and found two boxes from CA. I quickly figured out they must contain the stuff my mother packed away when she moved across country last month. I opened them up and among other items the boxes contained:

• My high school letter jacket (track and it still fits)
• Hundreds of pictures of my trip to South Korea junior year of high school
• Our grad night video
• Prom photos, including the booklet with everyone's photos

A few of my coworkers and I shared some laughs over the hair in the prom booklet (it was 1991 after all) and I pointed out this guy who was a friend of mine junior and senior years because he was about 6'4" and his date was maybe 5'3". I haven't thought about him for a couple years, since our reunion probably. He was still dating this girl who was the little sister (sorority) of a high school friend of mine. They met at my 20th birthday party if I recall correctly. Anyways, I remembered him fondly and then went on to talk about others in the book (a few couples got married, this is my "friend" Mark, this is my best friend of the wedding last year, etc).

The very next day I got an email from a kickball administrator saying she had received an odd email from someone looking for me. She wasn't sure if it was a bad email or not, but thought she'd take the chance and forward it to me, hoping I didn't mind. It was from Suzanne, the girl dating my old high school friend. After 12 long (wonderful according to them) years, they are getting married in November. And they seem to think they have me to thank. Coincidentally (even more so) that day Paul and I had been discussing going to SoCal for a weekend in the fall. So it looks like we'll be heading that way in November. I'm so excited to be reconnected with them - they really are a great couple and are so in love. It's fantastic to see good people happy.

Another Reason Paul Rocks

So I had my fourth dentist visit in about as many weeks this morning. I made an appointment for 7 am, which normally isn't too bad. Except Paul and I had Katie and Peter over to Paul's last night to watch the Sox/Cardinal's game (Katie is from St. Louis). We grilled out, then in once the storms started, watched the game, had some dessert and went to sleep about 11:45. The alarm went off at 5:30 am, Paul and I got up, I hopped in the shower and Paul made us breakfast. We ate, I got ready, he went back to bed (did I mention he rocks?) and I headed out to start my day. Whenever I get irritated with him, please remind me of this morning when he went out of his way, not feeling well, to wake up and do something nice for me.

Weekend of June 3rd - 5th

This past weekend was fantastic. I'm not sure what made it so great, it just was. After a hectic week, it was so nice to relax and rest and finally unpack from the Boston trip (although I still have laundry to do). Friday night I stayed in, ordered Thai (first time ever the woman kept saying "and then") and watched Boston beat my Angels (that's Anaheim Angels to you). I wanted to make it an early night because I had to wake up at 6:30 the next morning for the Race for the Cure. We put together a team here at work to honor a coworker's mom who passed away recently after battling cancer for 15 years. It's amazing to me how many people are affected by breast cancer. They had signs you could pin to you that had "In celebration of" or "In memory of". I chose to celebrate my grandmother even though she has passed away. She was winning her second fight against breast cancer when she passed away from a stroke about a year and a half ago. She was an amazing woman. Tearing up, moving on. So we did the Race Saturday morning. I ended up walking about 10 miles that day (from my house to the office, to the race start, then the 3K race, then to breakfast, then home) and ended up with swollen knees and a pulled hamstring. I AM OLD. So sad I even laughed at myself. But it was worth it. Our team raised about $2,000 for the Susan G. Komen Foundation and we had a great time doing it. I went home and napped (see above, I AM OLD) then got pretty for the Nats game with the girls. We had fun, so much that we completely missed how the 2nd base umpire ended up on the ground and why a Nat was ejected. Mystery solved Monday - he was trying to stop the player from rushing someone else and got clipped at the exact angle needed to knock him on his ass. After the game Paul and Peter (Katie's man) met up with us for drinks. Sunday Paul and I had lunch then I went home to get clean and met up with him to watch the third game in the Angels/Sox series. We had a little bet going and after the Angels' crushing 13-6 victory Saturday night we were tied up 1-1. The Sox ended up beating us (sad, sad day) and I got to find out Paul is a poor winner. The day ended well with the return of Entourage though and I went to sleep a happy girl.

Pretend I Was in a Coma

So things have been going on during the weeks (tastings, events, baseball games, etc) but I just don't have the time nor the energy to catch up on the month I've been slacking. Highlights include a reception for the Republican House Press Secretaries where I made friends with (among others) a very nice man from Perth, Australia who is delightful and charming and tons of fun; dentist appointments (it is just sad when the receptionist recognizes you); lunch with the journalist's son (nice guy, very interesting but the conversation was a bit forced); I guess I have a boyfriend now since neither of us want to see other people and we're planning more months ahead than we've been dating; I saw Star Wars III (best of the new ones, but the over acting was awful - best part was Yoda climbing up Chewy's arm...so cute); and concerts (Snow Patrol was awesome).

Memorial Day Weekend

Last weekend (Memorial Day) Paul and I went up to Boston to visit the families. It would have been the perfect long weekend but for the fact that for the third time (out of four visits to Boston) I caught a head cold. The city must not like me. We arrived late Friday night, Paul's uncle was there to pick us up and whisked our tired selves to his home where we stayed the entire weekend. His aunt and uncle are lovely people and so nice to let us come and go as we pleased. Saturday his uncle made us breakfast then we took our time getting ready and headed into the city to watch the Sox game (remember - I am dating Fever Pitch) and have a late lunch. We picked out hats and shirts for his nieces at Fenway (man it's hard to gauge the size of kids when you have none) with Paul refusing to get them pink ones. My thought on colored hats is this: If it isn't a team color, the hat shouldn't be made. With two exceptions 1. If the fan base is predominantly Irish or the team is from a predominantly Irish town, I have no problem with the green hats with the shamrock. 2. If you are under the age of 12 and are female, you can wear the pink one (you've got to get girly girls interested in sports somehow). Moving on. Saturday night we had dinner at the aunt and uncle's house with their two children and the son's two children. Let me just say, not the most well behaved kids I've ever been around. 'Nuff said. Shelly and her fiancee are great (albeit hard core Republicans but that made for great debate) and after I spent the day in bed sleeping away my cold, we ended up having drinks and watching the game Sunday (see a pattern?) with them and Paul's best friend. After a couple rounds of shots, I was very happy that I had Shelly write directions to her parents' house on a napkin as Paul was in no condition to give them to the cabbie. Monday we lazed around recovering and then headed up to the North side of Boston (about an hour trek from the South where we were staying) to meet up with my mother and have some dinner. Mom and I caught up on all the happenings with my normal aunt and the cult one as well while Paul continuously glanced at the game televised in the bar section. I understand that it was a game against the Yankees, and that he was probably a bit overwhelmed by my mother's and my near constant chatter about people he has never heard of, but it would have been nice to hear him have a conversation with my mother. He is, after all, only the fourth boy of mine she's met. Anyway, after dinner we headed over to my brother and sister-in-law's to pop in and say hello. It wasn't a long visit, nor was it very enjoyable only because Paul and I were exhausted and had to get up early and Larry and Christine were exhausted from flying in from New Orleans that day. Regardless, it was great to see them and meet their dog, who is the cutest thing ever, and hopefully when Paul and I are up there in November we'll all be in better spirits. We flew back to DC early, early, early Tuesday morning and I headed straight into the office where I worked the Longest Day Ever. My boss decided that the day I woke up at 4:30 after going to bed at 11 would be the perfect day to work until 7:30 pm. Ugh.