Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Is it possible??

Is it possible to have the opposite of anorexia??  Because I think I might have it.

I know I've gained some pounds.  I see the scale.  I've noticed that some of my pants are tight.

But over all I didn't think I looked too bad.  I'm not kidding myself - I know I don't have the body I did at 22.  But I didn't think I looked too bad...  especially for weighing 35 pounds more than I did in college...

But I just looked at some pictures that were taken at the family wedding a few weekends ago. 

WOW! 

I'm a chub!

I was insulted!  How come I didn't realize how chubby I've gotten?? I mean seriously!  I see myself nekked in the mirror every day! Isn't it usually the other way around?  Girls think they look all chubby and fat but it's not nearly as bad as they think...  I thought I was all that (sans a bag of chips...) but I'm so not!!

I guess I will be rethinking my daily activities and nutrition....

Monday, August 30, 2010

long weeknd

The hubby's Grandma passed away yesterday evening after battling bowel cancer and dementia. 

Needless to say it is going to take me more time to post the "part 2" of the cousin's wedding. 

Monday, August 23, 2010

A start

I'm still waiting on getting photos from the hubby so I'll catch you up on the topics of this past weekend that have no accompanying pictures.

First I'll identify the nicknames:
"Hollywood"  aka "Don Johnson" aka My brother-in-law
"The Agent" aka my sister-in-law's longtime boyfriend
"Blondie" aka my sister-in-law
"Dancing Queen" aka my hubby's gay Uncle M

The wedding was at an inn in Kennebunkport, Maine.  Beautiful place.  And if it sounds familiar to you it might be because the former president's family has a huge compound there and vacation there often. 

The happy couple got married outside, by the water - a tidal river that crept off the Atlantic ocean.  (From a photo only one might mistake it for Mount Pleasant, SC....  except it was much cooler than SC this time of year.)  After the "I do's" there were appetizers and drinks outside on the lawn directly adjacent to the nuptials location while the remaining professional photos were being taken of the wedding group. 

While we were out enjoying our beverages by the water a small boat went by.  We didn't take much notice of it until we realized there was a similar, all black boat right behind it with "US Secret Service" on the side.  That's when we caught a glimpse of bush.  The former president George H. W. Bush!!!  (get your minds out of the gutter!!  : )  It was obvious it was a wedding on the lawn and he was nice enough to wave at all of us!  (but my camera was not close...  darn it!!)

So I'll skip over Hollywood's suite pants and The Agent's underwear. Because They are part of the same story that requires pictures. But don't worry - I'm not going to show you pictures of underwear...


The Agent apparently has this drinking game that in order to play you have to be part of "the club". I made the mistake of accepting an invitation to join this "club". There's one rule: You get caught drinking a beverage with your dominant hand (my right) then you must immediately chug said beverage. It could be water or milk - but that's not very fun.

In my case it was a dirty martini during the wedding reception.

Twice.

Needless to say I could have easily been the "Dancing Queen" as easily as a sober Uncle M really is the "Dancing Queen". 'Cuz there were also a few G&T's imbibed as well. I just didn't get caught with those in my right hand....

And after many dirty martini's for Blondie and a glass of champagne for the Dancing Queen they looked as though they were trying out for SYTYCD... Or so said my MIL who said she was going to send in video of all three of us to the competition.... Wait - there might a photo to accompany this story... I'll look.

The wedding was on Friday so most everyone headed home on Saturday.  It took us about 6 hours to get to the wedding.  So we assumed it would take us that long to get home. 

Nope!

It took us nine and a half hours to get home!!  We went 25 miles in about 3 hours on a stretch of interstate in Massachusetts.  We couldn't figure out what was wrong.  A terrible car wreck??  Construction??

Nope. 

There was an air show at an airport right beside the interstate.  As soon as we passed the exit to get off for the airshow the traffic picked right back off as though NOTHING had happened!!!  But we still don't know why traffic had slowed to a crawl!  There was no accident, no fender bender, no cops directing traffic, not even traffic to get off on the exit to the show!!  So apparently for 25 miles people were rubbernecking at the planes overhead.  That's all we can figure.  What a pain in the ass!!!

Sorry - but you will have to wait for the other stories and accompanying photographs.  I'll try to get to it soon!!!

And BTW - MH - Once I start posting some pictures you'll probably NEVER forget that I married into an Italian family.  There's no mistaking it once you see "The Family"....

Saturday, August 21, 2010

the C-F Wedding

We are on our way home from cousin Lauren's wedding Kennebunkport, Maine. Since Lauren is a cuz of the hubby it was also a huge gathering of Italians... if only i hd taken video...

So I'm in the car and not in the mood to type out all the shennanigans on this tiny keyboard. But I will tempt you with a list of things I will share once IMm at a regular sized keyboard and have associated pictures to post.

Shennanigans of the Cusano Clan:
- "Hollywood's" suite (pants specifically..)
- "The Agent's" drinking game (and his underwear)
- "Blondie" and the "Dancing Queen"
- A glimpse of bush
- the air show
- The cheetos bandit

So there you have it. Once i review the pictures I might have more to add. But this will do to pique your interest and serve me as a reminder.
Published with Blogger-droid v1.5.4

test

i just got a blogger app and i want to see if it works.
Published with Blogger-droid v1.5.4

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Favorite class

I'm not sure if this would necessarily shock some of you - but one of my all-time favorite classes EVER was 8th grade shop class.  (for those of you who went to school with me and can't remember if I was in school with you in 8th grade - I probably wasn't.  I went to school in WV the last part of 6th grade through 8th grade there.)

I don't know if shop class was a requirement for you in school but it was for us.  And I still have my shelf I made in class!! ....unlike the madras shorts I had to make in Home Ec...  and even if I did still have them I probably wouldn't be able to get them up past my knees...  However, a shelf is always usable!  Which is one reason I think I have continued to be interested in DIY projects over the years.  ...as opposed to sewing.  even though I actually do own a sewing machine.  But I digress.

Up until now all of my project have been of the DIY variety.  Tile floors, painting walls, installing new trim, ceiling fans, cabinets, lighting fixtures, etc.  The only thing truly "made" was the inset bookshelves that dad and the hubby built our first Christmas we were married.  But I didn't help with that project.  It was, I suppose, a father-in-law/ son-in-law "bonding experience" project.  Alas, I was not asked to help.  I suppose the hubby made new shed doors.  But he boldly declared he was going to make them and who am I to get in his way??

I don't know if you're the same as me but I notice that if I don't purchase something myself I really never learn to use it properly.  For example, a month or so ago I got a Driod phone.  The hubby already has the exact same phone.  Even when I tried to learn on my own it really didn't happen that way because 1) if I had a question I asked the hubby as opposed to figuring it out on my own and 2) he didn't really explain a lot - he just grabbed it, did what I was asking and handed it back.  Therefore I really didn't learn.  He just did it for me. 

This is a problem.  Because now I don't know myself.  See the dilemma??

This is the same with our power tools.  I used to know my way around lots of tools.  Still do.  But there are a few that the hubby bought and has been overly protective of them since the purchase. (I don't think he means too at all.  I doubt he even realizes it.  Maybe it's not a matter of being overprotective but actually being greedy with them.  Every time one has to be used he insists he do it...)  For that reason we have a tool or two that I'm not familiar with and would like to became better acquainted.  By myself.  That's the only way I can really learn.

So I'm making a Murphy bed. 

I would say "by myself" but that isn't exactly true.  It's damn near impossible to cut out shapes from a 4 x 8 foot piece of plywood by ones' self.  So I had to enlist the help of the hubby to get my pieces cut.  Hopefully that's all the help I need.  Because I really want to make this myself.  Not that I think the hubby wouldn't do a good job.  Just the opposite.  He'd do a great job!  It'd be to EXACT specifications, would take 14 months to complete and I wouldn't have had a hand in any of it.  Because we don't "share" projects well.  It would be "his" project.  And that's not the point.  I want it to be "my" project.  So if it looks good then I did a great job.  And if it looks shitty.... well, then I guess I'm not as good as I'd hoped I'd be.

So, how am I going to build a Murphy bed?  Do you even know what a Murphy bed is??

A Murphy bed is sometimes referred to as a wall bed.  You pull it out from the wall.  Mine, however, is not going to be "inside" the wall.  A Murphy bed is just attached to the wall.  You pull it down and TA DA!  A bed.  This will be for our guest room.

If you try and buy one of these beds already constructed it will cost you over $2000.  (now do you see why I'm going this myself??)  I found a company online that will sell you a kit that contains all the hardware you need (including the pistons) and detailed instructions on how to make your own Murphy bed.  The kit was $300.  Not only does it have instructions but also a DVD.  So unless you cut or measure wrong (which is a real possibility) it's dummy proof.  (and I will NEVER admit that I said that if I run into problems with this build later down the road....)

So, one trip to Home Depot, 3 trips to Lowe's, a new circular saw and $300 of lumber later I'm on my way.  I've cut all my pieces and made my frame. 


Sorry but the only open place to lean it up in the garage was against the shelves with the recycling and other miscellaneous "stuff" on them. 

I'm on a short hiatus until next week.  Tonight I have a dinner I have to go to and tomorrow I have to run an errand about 45 minutes up the road.  Then the hubby and I are off to a family wedding in Maine.  But I'll be back to work next week.  I'll keep you posted on how it goes.  I don't think any of you reading this are probably into making stuff with wood and power tools but it's what I'm doing so I'll tell you about it.  And I'm sure this won't go smoothly.  It can't.  There's bound to be hiccups I'm sure that'll be noteworthy, if at least not funny. 

But if I stop blogging all together then worry that I've cut off something with a power tool and am in the hospital.  (just kidding...  even a finger I'm sure they could stitch back on and send me on my way within a few hours.)

Monday, August 16, 2010

Connie's next life

Connie, aka Funny Lady, is retiring and her last day is Wednesday.  (I figure it's time to give her a "real" name plus it's part and parcel to the story...) 

Since Connie has worked her whole life and has been worried about 'what to do" once she retires she's been joking that she's going to start pole dancing. 

Did I mention that Connie is 70?

So the other gal in my office (we left the guys out of it for good reason) and I decided that we were going to set her up for life.  We were going to give her everything she needed to start a home-based, part time business after her official retirement.

First, we had to get her some posters to announce her new vocation:


Now she's going to need some equipment.  So we provided her the appropriate pole and boobie tassels as well.

Now all she has to do is dance!

Here's she showing off her skills on her pole, holding her other "accoutrement" in front of her poster:


Here's she's giving it the "ballet" treatment.  I mean, come on!  She's got a classy act!!


And in case you need a close up....

So don't any of you out there worry!!  Connie will be just fine after retirement!!!

Friday, August 13, 2010

Fabulous Book

I just finished reading Funny in Farsi by Firoozeh Dumas.   It was great!  It's an easy read, funny to boot and really showcases growing up in America - when you're not from America.

I highly recommend it!!  If you need a good book that isn't too heavy and isn't too long and is funny and imparts universal lessons in human behavior - this is it!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Think of KVeg

Although you may not know her please keep KVeg and her family in your thoughts.  Her grandfather passed away this past weekend. 

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

LOVE it!!

I'm officially hooked on Netflix!  If you don't already "do" it you need to! 
  • It's cheaper than going to the theater
  • And it's cheaper than pay-per-view movies off the TV
  • It's on your schedule (snack break, pee break, phone call, etc...)
  • You can browse titles online - not standing in a movie rental store - which requires gas, making your way through traffic to get there, possibly arguing with someone else about what title to rent and late fees
  • Oh yeah - no late fees!
  • And there are lots I can rent and watch immediately with my Wii (also works for Xbox and PlayStation)
This way I can watch movies when the hubby's not around and worry that I'm racking up $5 a movie (pay-per-view).  Or I can watch it and not worry the hubby wants to watch it and can we both get to see it before it has to be returned??

Monday, August 09, 2010

In search of the perfect shave

Haven't we all, at some point, been on the search for a perfect shave??  I've been on this quest for some time.  And I know some of you have too.

And it's more than just a shave.  I'm concerned about the environmental effects of going through those metal shave gel cans.  They aren't recyclable.  I know KVeg is concerned with animal ingredients and animal testing.  So I took these factors into account when I purchased this newest shaving cream.

I'd decided I'd try the shave cream route.  And when I say "shave cream" I mean an actual cream that comes out of a plastic bottle and doesn't really lather.  (as opposed to gel or foam) This way the container is recyclable.  And a bottle of the stuff actually lasts longer than a can of gel.

The first one I tried was a while ago and it was "Skintimate" shaving cream.  It was right there in the shaving aisle with all the other foams and gels.  Not sure on the animal testing part because I didn't look at the time.  But I highly DO NOT recommend it.  In their attempt to provide a butt-load of moisturizing components they created a formula that was greasy.  And it clogged up my razor!  The razor wouldn't cleanly rinse each time and I ended up ruining blades after each shave.  No good.  This was my first attempt at the cream and I thought if all of them were like this I wasn't going to get far!!

So I went back to regular gel.  But a few weeks ago I was in the Nature section of the grocery store and saw a plastic bottle with a pump of shave cream from "Kiss my Face".  It was almost $6 for a bottle but this thing will last FOREVER!!  It's definitely cheaper, in the end, than a can of foam or gel!!

It comes in scents but I opted for the fragrance free version.  You pump out just a little and lather it up in your hands.  It doesn't bubble or foam but the thickness of it seems to increase when you "lather" it.  I used it on my pits and legs and it's great!!  It also cleanly rinses off everything - skin, razor blade, shower curtain (I flopped it around the shower a bit...)  I HIGHLY recommend this stuff!!  And it's vegan and does not test on animals.

Now, if I can just perfect the 'stash wax I'll be set....

Monday, August 02, 2010

Lord, what will I do when I'm 60?!?!?

I'm about to confess to some of my personal craziness here.  I expect none of you to judge.  Or at least not make any more fun of me than I'm making of myself...

Yesterday the hubby and I took the dogs for a jaunt around the block ('cuz that's all they can handle.)  As we were rounding the corner another neighborhood couple (that I did not recognize) were out walking their dog together as mom held their young daughter.   Not sure of her age but I'm guessing under 1 year old but not a brand-new new born. 

Our golden could have cared less about this other dog but our lab (who I was walking) went right for him.  I'm pretty sure the other dog bristled first and that send both dogs growling and trying to go after each other.  (Our golden, meanwhile, was off to the side probably sniffing someone's lawn, not having a clue what was going on 10 feet from him....)  I pulled our lab back and they pulled their lab back and started apologizing "He's really gotten territorial since we had the baby!!"  I assured them it was no big deal.  No one was hurt.

We parted ways and we kept walking.  The hubby and I weren't having a conversation - we were just alone in our own thoughts.  Or at least I was.  For some reason I was re-playing the dog event over in my head.  For no particular reason.  All of a sudden I hear the hubby say "Who are you talking to??  What are you over there mumbling about??"

Wha???

I was talking out loud???

I was caught.  Apparently my inner self-dialog had made it to the "outer self-dialog" stage....

Oops.

I find myself doing this a lot more lately.  I used to do it all the time as a kid.  When I was still an only child.  My mother would worry because not only would I talk out loud to myself, I would answer myself too.

And I have an almost- constant inner dialog in my head.  I always thought everyone did.  But I've learned fairly recently that isn't the case.  So now I'm worried that I don't even realize when the "inner" dialog goes "outer".  It's one thing if you're aware of it.  It's a completely different issue if you don't. 

And I'm only in my mid-30's!!  What will I be doing another 30 years from now??  (I know, I know.  I'll be a certified "crazy cat lady"!!)

Help!!!