Monthly Archive

I am an engineering widow. This means my husband spends hours in the office studying things I could never in a million years wrap my head around. Something about an iron and copper mixture hardening, and if they harden at different rates, yadda yadda yadda! It also means I have to occasionally support NC State and their pathetic athletic endeavors (which is painful given my UNC Chapel Hill alma mater!), find ways to entertain myself while he’s studying (hey, you, update your blog…I’m bored over here!) and get to bask in the glow of B’s nerd-dom! An excellent example can be found below…

The following exchanged occurred about a half hour ago via text message:

B: Me and one other guy are tutoring 5 people for the test.

Me: How many of them have breasts? (note: he was asked to tutor a single young lady last test - he assured me it would only occur in the crowded library. I don’t question his intentions, I question hers. Little college trollop! Kidding. I kiiiiiiid!- I don’t even know the girl and I don’t think B would dare tutor a hussy, plus trollop is a $100 word! As is hussy:))

B: Just one, relax

Me: You should get paid! (note: because he’s smart, people! smart! he should make $ to share his brains! Just my humble opinion)

An hour later and out of the blue (and me forgetting the test was today)…

B: U better call the police

Me: What? (confused, with a twinge of concern, but expecting something cheesay!…)

B: Because I’m about to murder this test! (the cheese is delivered!)

Me: My god you’re a dork. Kill it baby!

He’s definitely a dork, but he’s my dork and I love him

On another note, how does True confession Tuesday sound?  If I do it every post, then I’ll run out of unique little facts to share and that’s no fun.  Works for me, hope it works for you

Is she really resorting to a post in list for this early in her blogging career?  Yes, yes, folks, she is!

A random list of things I’m thankful for at the moment (not all-inclusive, and in no particular order) along with some photographic evidence:

• Having the office to myself today.  I may be bored to tears, but it’s a lot more relaxing that the norm lately.
• Inexpensive red shimmery nailpolish - my fingers and toes dressed are in holiday style!
• My pups - they make me smile, even on my crankiest days.  They are better people than I will ever be…and they don’t judge me:)  Even when I rant and rave and cry on them!  They just kiss, snuggle, bark, and warm my heart!
• Vacation days I get to use up in the lazy company of my family. 
• My awesome cousin who hates to sit still - she scheduled my visit around a Colbie Callait concert at the Norva.  You rock, Doodle!
• My husband - I may have wanted to ring his neck more often than not in the past few weeks, but he works his tiny little ass off, is (usually) level-headed, and is just so damn cute sometimes.  Sigh….I’d marry him all over again, the big lug!.
• My mother - she is my biggest fan and I’m the accomplishment she’s proudest of (please note I’m an only child).  Without her, I wouldn’t be who I am…or have nearly as beautiful a home as I do!  She’s generous with the love, the praise…and um…the gifts;)  Thanks mom! Plus, she’s a force to be reconed with.  Such a strong woman. I’m so proud!
• My DVR - how great is it that I can record horrible TV at any hour and watch it in the warmth of my blanket, love seat and animal companions without having to subject my husband to pettiness of the Hills, the witty banter of Gilmore Girls, or any of my other guilty pleasures (including, but not limited to cheesy reality shows, chick flicks, teenybopper movies, etc).

• My inlaws - I am truly blessed in the area of inlaws.  I really couldn’t have picked a better family to marry into if I had my choice.  They’ve always made me feel at home, even when Brian and I were in that awkward “we’re not dating, we’re friends who snuggle” faze.  I think my lucky stars for them every time I hear a horrid mother-in-law story!

•  My new friend K - It’s hard to find a good, reliable friend in the grown up world.  Especially when you’re part of a couple.  K and her boyfriend R are the perfect match to B and myself.  K’s goofy, spunky, and willing to pose for silly photos with me at World Market, the shoe store, or the bar (as evidenced below for her birthday).  Werd!  That’s my gangsta face - it took a few lessons, but I think I got it down!

• Good haircuts and flat irons
• Lazy Sundays
• The Harry Potter books.  Shh…don’t tell me, I just started book 7 after re-reading 1-6 and if someone ruins it for me, I might have to use the cruciatus curse!
• The smell of fall/winter air when someone’s burning a fire in their fireplace
• Pizza, cheese, pasta, chocolate, ben&jerry’s ice cream and other things I’m not supposed to eat.
• Cozy sweaters
• My mom’s hugs
• Grey’s anatomy
• Gilmore Girls and Fraggle Rock on DVD - I don’t own them, but I probably will one day
• Shoes and purses - they always fit!  Oh, and jewelry too, if we’re being super materialistic!  Gotta have the bling.
• BLOG COMMENTS!  Seriously folks, comments make me do a happy dance!  If you visit, say hi!  Pretent it’s the great MoFo delurk or something!  Make my day!

There are plenty more, but if I keep going, I may bore you to tears. 

May your stuffing be tasty.  May your turkey be plump.
May your potatoes ‘ n gravy have nary a lump.
May your yams be delicious.  May your pies take the prize.
May your Thanksgiving dinner stay off of your thighs.

Have a fabulous Thanksgiving! 

Today’s true confession:  I studied Spanish from 6th grade until my senior year of college.  I have a degree in Spanish…and yet I’m not fluent!  I’m proficient and can carry on a conversation, but I never quite broke the fluency barrier.  !Que lastima!

My parents have been divorced since I was 10 years old. I have always been the peace-keeping child, and I was well aware of how unhappy they were together. One January my dad went on his week-long company awards trip to Hawaii without my mom. On Thursday night my mom came to tuck me into her bed and told me that the next day would be my last day at the school I was currently attending. She was packing up the house in the morning and we were leaving my father. I think I only cried for about 10 minutes. I’m still amazed at how little the whole ordeal phased me. At 10 years old, I knew my parents were not meant to stay together, but that I was loved and everything would be alright.

I went into school the next day and all my teachers were aware of the situation. The day passed with a lot of good-byes and a promise to come back to visit. Mom, grandma and I packed up a truck and off to live at grandma’s house we went. The only things I really remember vividly are building a car out of boxes while mom and grandma packed, and being worried that my daddy wouldn’t know where we went. I left him a little figurine of a sleepy hitch-hiking bear and made my mom swear that daddy would know where to find us.

My mom had been told by an attorney that she needed to pack up and leave with me if she wanted to be sure to get custody of me. A mother’s love is unparalleled. She would do ANYTHING for me. She packed up and left. Daddy knew where to find us. I saw him often. Fortunately, my parents had a pretty peaceful seperation as far as I’m aware. I was asked who I wanted to live with by my father, and everyone decided that a 10 year old girl was best off with her mother. By the end of the school year, my mom had made plans to move from Virginia to North Carolina, moving me 3 and a half hours father away from my dad. This is where we started our new life. Where she met my wonderful step-father, who has ignored the “step” part and been a 2nd father to me since he stepped into our lives. Despite living in another state, I saw my dad every other weekend, and for a couple weeks in the summer like clockwork all through my childhood. I know now how lucky I am to have a father who cared enough to commit himself to driving 3.5 hours to pick me up on Friday, only to lather, rinse and repeat on Sunday to get me back home. How easy would it have been for him to see me once a month, or just on holidays and my birthday.

I hear all these stories of dead-beat dads who see their kids once a year, if at all. I have friends who barely have a relationship with their father. I am incredibly lucky. I talk to my dad on the way home from work every day. I can talk to him about anything! We’ve been on countless trips, just me and him. When I was 11, I got to go to Hawaii for the company awards trip. My senior year, daddy and I went to Orlando and goofed off together at Disney with beanie propellors on our heads. The January before I got married, he took me on one last father daughter trip to Florida where we went scuba diving and drank alcoholic smoothies in Key West.

My father has the patience of a saint. His hasn’t a single recollection of his mother raising her voice to him or my uncle and it shows. He’s never met a stranger and will talk your ear off if you let him. He loves to fly, and the 1st time I ever went for a plane ride was as his co-pilot. He talks to me every day on my ride home from work and listens to me babble on about all sorts of random things. He does his fair share of babbling too! He’s a pro at silliness, and doesn’t care what other people think. He used to threaten to punish me by holding my hand and acting the fool because I’d have no choice but to claim him. He’s my most frequent house guest. He’s my friend.

Daddy came through town this week on his way to visit my aunt and uncle in NJ. I took this visit as an opportunity to snap some much needed photos, as very few recent pictures exist aside from his presence in our wedding pictures from 3 years ago.

All snazzed up from having just returned from an internet date, Daddy obligingly posed for my photo shoot. Internet ladies, eat your heart out. This man is one hell of a catch!

When I was younger I was worried daddy would remarry and be a father to other kids and I wouldn’t be daddy’s little girl anymore. He never remarried. Now that I’m older, I hope he finds a nice lady and settles down, drowsy in happiness and comfort. He’s excellent at keeping himself in the company of good people. He’s happy on his own, but a good man deserves a good woman. She just better realize that I’ll always be daddy’s little girl!

I love my father as the stars - he’s a bright shining example and a happy twinkling in my heart. ~Adabella Radici

Today’s true confession: I love stars. I love staring into the night sky and seeing how infinitely small we really are and how much space is out there - it can really put things into perspective. I took astronomy in college and it threatened to suck all the magic out of the night sky for me. I barely eeked by with a C in the class. I did a happy dance when I passed. Literally. I have a cluster of shooting starts tattooed on my lower back

Today’s post brought to you by a mongrel of the Yorkshire Terrier variety and a pair of heels of the Italian Leather variety!

I’d love to be all atwitter over here, but to be honest, nothing noteworthy has yet occurred. I haven’t joined WW yet - I think I’m going to wait until after Turkey Day. I have a yummy dinner date with a long lost friend tomorrow night at The Melting Pot and I will be going out of town for a few days after Thanksgiving. I don’t plan on gorging myself, but I will not be in the mood to count points and who wants to start off like that. Plus, there may be sausage bread! And French toast! I’m a pushover for french toast…I hang my head in shame.

You know, I take it back - interesting things have been happening, but they’re all work related and I can’t post about that stuff, damn it! Let’s just say I’ve had my fill of cops and crazy!

So…what have you been up to Internet? Posting household tips? Doing a little jig?

I just visited Rhi in Pink’s site and now feel inspired. Would a true confession a day whet your appetite? A little peek into the ol’ brain? Sounds like fodder for a blog post to me!

Today’s true confession: I can do amazing things with my toes. I have monkey feet - I can pinch you, pick up your socks, break your pencil…fear the monkey feet! I should be on Letterman’s stupid human tricks!  They say the only normal people are the ones you don’t know very well.  Believe it!

It appears that I goofed and thought there was a WW meeting on Thursday.  Oh well, guess I’ll have to start next week.  Drats! I guess I get a few more days of calorie freedom!  I took advantage last night and had 2 brown sugar pop tarts for desert.  I live on the edge!  B isn’t too happy about me shelling out the dough to join WW, but I seriously lack willpower and going to a meeting weekly to be accountable for my actions will probably be helpful.  The meetings are within walking distance to my house, so I have no excuse not to go!  The only thing I’m wondering is if I should attend meetings, or go for the more economical online route.  Anyone have a recommendation?  I’m getting into this kind of blindly.

On another note, I think I found a new stylist!  For less money!  See, I got the best haircut of my life from a stylist recommended by a friend…and then said stylist up and moved to the beach.  Gah!  I feel betrayed.  A one cut stand!  How could she make me gorgeous and then up and leave…without a recommendation of who to book with next?  I have a razored cut that needs some TLC every couple months to keep it’s shape.  It’s starting to irk me (it’s getting stuck in my sweathers.  i can feel it on my neck.  eew!), so I had to finally suck it up and make a decision about who I shall trust my locks to next.  I got in contact with an old acquaintance from high school (thank you myspace*!) who just opened a fancy salon in itty bitty downtown Wake Forest that happens to be about 5 minutes from my house!  And she razor cuts!  And she’s giving me a discount!  The gods have blessed me with the opportunity of a decent cut but a well trained professional close to my house for $30.  You can’t beat that with a stick!  Wonder how much some lovely warm highlighs would cost me

So, how’s your week going?  It’s been a bumpy one for me.  An argument with B (nothing earthshattering, I just “spend money on stupid sh&t”), craziness at work**, plus the early darnkess have just kinda made the week drag.  On the upside, we have a little extra moolah coming in courtesy of one of Brian’s bosses needing some help with his side business.  It’s quick work and the pay is good.  Brian counts vehicle parts, I write down the tally, they give us money when we’re done.  Wham Bam, Thank you Ma’am - or sir rather, but Wham Bam, Thank you Sir doesn’t really roll off the tongue, does it?

No shoes today.  I wore chunky ugly ones and no one needs to see them.  I’ll take some pictures of the pretty ones to make it up to you this weekend. I have some lovelies in the closet, they’re just not worn all that often. 

Happy Friday!

*I realize I am almost 28 years old and probably too old for myspace.  I also realize that it allows me to see what people from hs are doing without actually having to talk to them.  Or awkwardly run into them somewhere and having think of things to say or people to talk about.  All of the gossipy info without the odd ball dance of “do I stop and talk or be cool and run along” .  I’ve had too many of those.  They’re like scratching nails on a chalkboard.  Plus I remember too many people.  And can’t stop myself from saying hi when I see them.

**I work at an apartment community.  When you work where people live, drama occurs.  I’m a bit of a gossiper, but for fear of losing my job, I have to withhold from you the juicy juicy details of the drama I witness on a regular basis.  It’s a shame to - that would make for one hell of a blog!

I’m experimenting with posting pictures directly from my flickr account today and the format is kind of driving me bonkers. Not really sure how this is going to turn out it type. If it’s less than esthetically pleasing, please don’t blame the newbie behind the keyboard! So…with that said, feast your eyes on the shoes of the day.

Once again, got these babies at a steal. I may work 6 days a week, but Saturdays I earn my greenbacks by reducing prices and giving honest opinions to the lovely ladies that frequent my mother’s consignment clothing store. I tell ya, if a girl’s gotta pick up a 2nd job, this is the one to have! I have a blast working, I get killer discounts, and my husband can’t complain that I come home with new clothes/shoes/handbags/jewelry every weekend. He tried once, but my feisty mother told him he’d better clam up or she’d start paying me in said clothing and accessories. That said, I come home (almost) every Saturday with booty (the treasure kind, not the junk in the trunk - I carry that around daily) and some extra cash. Thank you mom!

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Let me preface this by stating that I’m not overweight. I’m perfectly normal for my height and my BMI tells me so. That said, I’ve gained about 15 lbs or so over the 3 years I’ve been married…and when you’re 5′3″, there isn’t much room to store it. I don’t hate the way I look now, but I was very comfortable in my skin 3 years ago and want to go back to that happy place. Plus, I’m planning ahead - B will be finished with school in the Spring of ‘09 and we plan on trying to start a family around that time. For purely selfish reasons, I want to drop the extra poundage now (and learn to eat better to keep it off) so there will be 15 fewer pounds of baby weight to work off. Ya know? Anyhow, I’m just putting this little plan out there so that perhaps it’ll inspire me to stick to said plan. Hear that guys? Hold me accountable!

What is that I hear? The oven timer on the last tasty pizza in my freezer? I gotta go chow down one last time before I must assign the gooey delight a point value!

Well, I was a little late joining the NoBloPoMo bandwagon, and I am not sure that I can make my life interesting enough in type to post every day anyway…but what I CAN do is post a pair of shoes every day. Le sigh…oh how I <3 shoes! With a passion. Shoes, jewelry and purses are my friends. They don’t judge me when I sneak a 2nd slice of cake around the holidays. They don’t mind if I don’t make it to walk at the park for a month. My accessories and I have a boundless love - a love with no strings attached. And without further ado…I present to you today’s shoes…

The nitty gritty - Predictions brand slike on mary janes purchased at local Good Will over the summer for somewhere in the neighborhood of $3.50. They’re excellent work shoes because they’re comfy and I can wear them with the New York & Co. khakis I bought last year that have shrunk up at least 2 inches despite my washing in cold water and air drying (what kind of crap is that?!). The down side is that if I wear them without socks, well…lets just say that you could smell my feet from where you’re sitting if I were to slide the piggies out to air at the moment. I just suck it up and keep them on all day and then scrub scrub scrub the stink off when I get home. Bet you didn’t want to know that little tidbit of information. O well, I’m sure there are plenty of bare footed dress shoe wearing women out there that have closet-foot-stink. My Nine West kitten heals have the same problem. What’s a girl to do.

As a bonus…and to make up for starting 4 days late, here are the adorable little peep-toed skimmers I sported yesterday, posed seductively on my bed:

Sorry if you can see the twinge of foot grime on the stark white lining - you can’t wear socks with peep toes! I love these shoes and I got them at a bargain too! DSW on clearance with a gift card - score! I know they’re kind of juvenile, I like what they represent and how I feel in them.

My latest shoe craving? I am currently seriously digging low top Chuck Taylors again. I am dying to get a pair…pink maybe? I love the matching chucks Brenda and Baby Bug sport over at Secret Agent Josephine. Wee baby chucks make me all mushy. Ah, who am I kidding - any baby shoes, or anything baby related (if we’re being honest) make me weak these days…but that’s a post for another day. Back to Chucks…I wore blue ones daily in my baggy tshirt and jeans youth and scribbled on the insteps, had friends doodle on the toes, etc. Ah…they bring back memories, and they’re just so damn cute in kicky colors!

Have you had your fill of shoes? Just for sticking with me for this long, I’ll reward you with a picture of Stella doing what she does best…well, other than snuggling:

I had the best intentions of starting this blog before yesterday, so that I could participate in NoBloPoMo, but I got lazy last night on the couch with my mongrels and a headache, so that didn’t happen.   

 Now that I’m sitting in front of the computer, drafting my post, I am suffering from a serious bout of performance anxiety.  Do they make a little blue pill for this type of situation?  If they did, the commercials wouldn’t be nearly as amusing.  I love how the Viagra commercials always have some subtle sex imagery thrown in…because of our drug, the retired quarterback’s football can still flawlessly enter the tire target, etc.  How amusing it would be to sit in the board room while the advert. company was brainstorming ideas!  I’m sure there were plenty of perverse suggestions a-flowin.  I wasn’t intending to babble on about penis drugs in my very 1st post…hmmm…

I have no good segue to use to transition merrily from ED medication to my puppies, so…this is what you get.  Insert some witty words here…and poof…we’re onto another topic.

I would, at this time, like to introduce you to 2 of the loves of my life.  You will, no doubt, be hearing a lot about these little guys, as until B (the husband) is out of school, they are my babies!  Without further ado, Rex is pleased to make your acquaintance…and itching to tear off that stupid hat!

Yes, he is the missing member of The Village People.  He recommends you rent a room at the YMCA, join the Navy, and other such things.  He’s a Yorkie - 8.5lbs of fury that loves anyone he has ever met!  He’s smart and loving, but has his own agenda.  You want to snuggle?  Ha!  I want to bark at you until you throw my ball! 

Next, meet Stella (AKA Monkey)

Stella is my little rescue.  She’s 3/4 Chihuahua and 1/4 Yorkie and weighs in at a whopping 10lbs…but she’s 100% a darling.  She has a PhD in snuggling and is shy and barky around new people. 

 Is it odd that I introduced my animals before introducing myself?  Well…if you’re wondering, here I am…2 months ago in all my new haircut glory:

I’m sure you’ve figured out by now that I’m a dog person.  I also love to sew, craft, read, be a lazy lump on the couch and hang out with fun people.  My husband B is working on his engineering degree, which means I work 6 days a week and he works 2 jobs  on top of school and studying.  We’re busy people, which will hopefully make for lots of lovely stories here on my little slice of the Internet.  Only 3 semesters left and I’ll be the wife of an engineer!  A smart one at that!

Well, thanks for stopping by for this random little inaugural post.  It was nice meeting y’all!  You’re welcome back anytime!