25 Really Random Things About Me

I was "tagged" on Facebook with providing 25 random things about me, and I thought that it would be fun to share them here too. So, here goes:

1. I once had a dead mouse fall out of a heating duct in my car and hit my leg while I was driving down a street in Spokane. I was horrified, to say the least.

2. When I order at Starbucks, it's a grande non-fat raspberry mocha, extra stirred. Which really means: "please actually put the spoon in my drink and mix it together so that I don't miss out on any of that chocolate-y goodness at the bottom of the cup."

3. Dark chocolate is my favorite of the chocolate food group. Extra bonus if it's dark chocolate with raspberry.

4. I lived across the street from my elementary school, which meant that I was really envious of my friends who got to ride the bus.

5. I am terrified of rodents of all kinds. If I even think that there is a rodent within my vicinity, my skin crawls and I can't sleep or think of anything else... see #1 above.

6. I've always lived in Washington state.

7. Ever since Target came to our area, I've lived within 5 miles of a Target store.

8. I once believed that I would meet my future husband at Target, because you can get anything there.

9. I met my wonderful husband in a corn maze. Our first date was on Halloween.

10. I believe that things happen and people come into your life for a reason, season, or a lifetime.

11. I hated tomatoes until about 6 years ago. Now I can't get enough of them.

12. I own two fantail goldfish. They don't have names because I never really got around to naming them. It's been two years now...

13. I've never owned a brand new car, nor have I ever had a car payment.

14. Kenya, Denmark, France, England, Ireland, Greece, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Fiji, the Bahamas, Canada, and the Virgin Islands have all been international travel destinations for me.

15. Reality television is a less-than-secret fascination for me. Real Housewives, Top Chef, Celebrity Rehab, Amazing Race, I'll find a way to catch up on almost all of them.

16. My hair hasn't been it's "natural color" without help since I was 16 or so.

17. Just thinking about my hubby makes me smile.

18. I have friends that go "way back" to elementary school; and I have some of the greatest friends.

19. I'm in denial about the fact that I have been out of high school for almost 14 years.

20. I believe that I have just entered the best years of my life.

21. There are not many things that I could ask for to make my life any "better." I have it all: a great husband, fabulous friends, a kick-butt family, health, home, laughter, and love. Everything else is just icing on the cake.

22. If I could move anywhere and be a beach bum, I would move to Cabo San Lucas, Baja, Mexico.

23. "Say Anything" is one of my all-time favorite movies.

24. "If I had a $1,000,000" by the Barenaked Ladies is one of my favorite songs.

25. Harry Connick Jr. is my "other boyfriend" -- I love his music, love his movies, and think that he's hot. Harry, if you're reading this: call me! :-)

Sklar Brothers & Superbowl

If there were ever two people that would make Lennie and I laugh every time, it's the Sklar Brothers. So, when I came across the following videos from Comedy Central and McDonald's, I couldn't resist sharing:
Halftime Show Commentary / Predictions

McDonalds Dollar Menu Presents

Sklar Brothers - Onside Kicks - The Big Game

More Funny Videos
Comedians on Tour

Get Funny Ringtones
Stand-Up Comedy

Game Commentary

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Tiki Barber

Daily Show Full Episodes
Funny Political Videos

Important Things With Demetri Martin
More Funny Videos

Lather, Rinse, Repeat

Life has been going at a pretty steady pace here... not much to report really. We're still battling the epic colds that have been going around (a gazillion weeks and counting now), but I suspect that we're on the way to healthier days. The shower project is almost done, and it feels good to make progress on the condo.

I'm so happy that it's Thursday today, as it's been a long week, full of ups and downs, and a little "lather, rinse, repeat." All good stuff.

Improving Home Improvement

Over the past two weeks, we have been somewhat uprooted, as Lennie and I (well, really Lennie mostly) took on the task of redoing both of our bathrooms. At the time that we started the project, it seemed like a good idea to do both at the same time, since my parents were out of town and we could stay at their house while we had no showers. In true optimist style, I thought that we'd have the project done in a few days, just under a week tops. Boy, did I overestimate our skills! :-) Actually, I underestimated the amount of time it would take for things to dry and for us to wedge home improvement into our busy work schedules. Minor miscalculation, to say the least.

So, we were displaced out of our home for over a week and a half (thanks Mom and Dad for putting up with us!), and I was eager to get us back in the condo. On Tuesday evening, we were able to return to our mostly completed house -- despite the dust. As I said before, Lennie did most of the work, and I'm really proud of him. I did, however, learn the finer points of mudding and taping drywall, and I did a pretty good job if I do say so myself! We've still got another coat of mud to put onto the drywall, and we do need to install shower doors, but we're back at home and loving it.

I've been taking photos of the whole process, so I'll be sure to post them when the drywall is complete, the paint is dry, and the shower doors are installed. Until then, I'm grateful to be home in my own bed and enjoying the condo again.

Tired, Sick, Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired.

[rant] It seems that Lennie and I have been battling colds or sinus stuff since before Thanksgiving. While the past two weeks haven't had me feeling completely knocked down, but I certainly haven't felt 100%, and it has made me really tired and frustrated by sinus headaches and pressure. Ugh. We finally went back in to the doctor yesterday, and got prescriptions that are supposed to do the trick... alas, so far not so good for me. Today has found be excessively tired, and battling hot and cold flashes. I thought that the drugs were supposed to make me feel better, not worse! Ay yay yay. Perhaps a long nap will do the trick this evening? [/rant]

I hope that everyone out there hasn't been bogged down by the cold and flu bug this season -- seems like a lot of us are struggling with a bug that simply won't let go! :-(

Happiness New Year 2009

Happy New Year! May you be blessed with happiness, health, love, and adventure in the upcoming year.

Space Needle fireworks, January 1, 2007. Photo by me. :)

One of the blogs that I read regularly challenged readers to define 2009 with one word instead of creating new year's resolutions. I have chosen the word happiness. In 2009, I will strive to bring happiness to those around me, to find happiness in everything that I do (to always look for the silver lining in the least), I will seek happiness, and I will find happiness in everything I do, not matter how big or small.

So, what's your word? What will define you in 2009? What can you do to make it happen?

Merry (Belated) Christmas! Ho, ho, ho!

We're in the middle of the holiday season, winding down the year and finishing off the holidays simultaneously. I had five glorious days off from work, and I have to admit that today I had a little trouble shifting my brain back into gear at work. (Don't worry, I did succeed in getting some work done today!) After being snowed in for two weeks, I finally got to take my vehicle out for a spin today. I felt like it was a late Christmas present, really. I think that I was beginning to take freedom for granted, but being snowed in really put it in perspective. There's something to be said for not having to rely on other people to do simple things like run to the store at any time, that's for sure. My driving was mostly uneventful today, although I do think that my car may have laughed at me when I tried to pull into a parking spot that had a little (I mean a little) patch of snow in it. Thus proving, once again, that my car has little tolerance for snow, to say the least.

Our "white Christmas" was nice, as the snow cleared up just enough for us to get together with family and to attend our favorite church service. Good times. Lennie and I also enjoyed some after Christmas shopping on the 26^th. Now, normally, I'm not the type to be beating down the doors of the stores for sales, but for some reason, I agreed to dental appointments at 8 a.m. on Friday morning. A waste of a good sleep-in opportunity, but also a chance to enjoy some after Christmas sales. We had a good chuckle over being out and about in the nearly deserted stores on Friday morning, but we also enjoyed spending some of our gift cards and perusing the aisles for some good deals. (Just ask my mom about her new "lawn ornaments," they were on sale!)

Merry belated Christmas. I hope that all of you had the opportunity to enjoy time with friends and family, and that you also got to stop and ponder the true "reason for the season." I know that I feel truly blessed this year.

I Guess I'm Still a Kid at Heart!

So, we still have snow. Lots. of. snow. So, I made the best of it. :-)



Lennie and I went out for a walk last night (we didn't get far, can't get down our driveway safely on foot), and I couldn't resist making a snow angel. Too fun!

View more photos of the Seattle snow.

Snow Days in Seattle

So, it's been snowing here on and off for the past three days or so, which is completely abnormal for the Seattle area. Usually, we get a quarter inch of snow and it's gone within 24 hours. Not this time. We've had a major arctic blast, which brought 3+ inches of snow to our house, and has left me homebound for the past three days. After working from home on Thursday and Friday, I did manage to get out of the house today to get my hair done. It was a simple pleasure to just get out and see other people, let alone be on the streets. Since my car is less-than-snow ready, my father came over and rescued me. (Lennie had to go to work at the crack of early this morning, so he couldn't get me out of the house...)


Thanks to my dad, I got to see the roads first hand, and it wasn't as bad as I expected (the news always makes it sound worse than it really is, doesn't it!?), but I was really glad I wasn't the one driving, to say the least.

Alas, we have another weather front coming in right now (the snow is already starting to fall), and I'm ready for another few days snowed in the condo... brace yourselves, Seattle... it's going to be a cold one out there!

Christmas Question

I've been pondering this question over the past few holidays, and I'm going to go public with it, hoping that you can help me solve the puzzle. Here it is:

If Christmas is about the birth of Jesus, then why don't more churches put up displays of the nativity scene on their lawns and in the sanctuary buildings instead of putting up Christmas trees?

I'm not even sure that there is a nativity scene set at our church, but I know that there are multiple Christmas trees. This kind of bothers me, really, and I wish that there were more places that were willing to display a nativity scene during the Christmas season.

Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas trees, and I am sitting with our tree twinkling in the corner as I type this. But, our nativity scene is also just a few feet away. Because really, Jesus is what the Christmas holiday is all about.