Life and Death

For any of you who follow my friend Emily's blog you'll be happy to know (if you haven't visited her recently enough) that she gave birth to her twins on July 1st. Both babies (Finn and Mirabelle) are doing great, as is mom. I believe she now has a post up about them so check her out!!

Congratulations Em!! Let the fun begin!!!!

In sadder news, David and I attended the funeral of a fellow rower this afternoon. He was tragically killed while cycling with a friend this past Friday. He was only 47 and had a wife and 3 teenage boys.

Please, please, please watch out for cyclist, runners, et certa on the roads!!!

Life and death events, I'm sure, get many people thinking about, well, life and death.

Both the birth of Em's twins and the death of a fellow rower remind me to live each day to the fullest. Life is a gift. Live it, don't waste it.

250th Post

So, some of my friends decided when they hit landmark posts to write X number of things about themselves. I thought it was quite fun to read through!!

But I'm pretty sure I can't come up with 250 things about myself - let alone fun enough stuff to keep you entertained. So here are just 25 things. I'm not going to guarantee they're interesting or funny... maybe something will be new to you.

25. I'm quite proud of my fingernails now that I'm adult. They don't grow long but they grow - which is not what they did when I was a kid.
24. I check my wedding set at least 3 times a day because I'm scared shitless I'm going to "break" my ring and lose a diamond. I'm still truly uncomfortable wearing something this expensive on my person...
23. I've noticed that my body shape is changing quite dramatically since I've turned 32/ 33. Not in ways I was hoping...
22. I wish I'd had more "fun" when I was in high school/ college... but then again if I did then I wouldn't be making up for it now! : )
21. I also wish I'd taken college more seriously. I think I got it backwards - all serious and studious in high school and then got lazy in college.
20. I'm easily bored.
19. I still hate getting my picture taken - although I've gotten better at not making it so apparent to people. (out of courtesy)
18. I can eat my avocado salsa for every meal of the day. As a matter of fact, I did just that yesterday!
17. I miss playing racquetball - but there's really no good place to play here. (yes, we have a Y but it's expensive as hell...)
16. I go through stages of being extremely frugal and then spending. I don't spend a lot - it just seems like it because 1) I rarely do buy stuff and 2) I buy it all at once or 3) I buy big ticket items - like a piano... ; )
15. I haven't gone backpacking since 2002, camping since 2007. : (
14. I'm starting to actually enjoy running -a first in the 20 years I've been running.
13. My favorite thing to do it curl up on the sofa with a cat. (and a book - but the cat never lets me read it...)
12. I've been in 4 weddings, not counting my own. And I've been a witness on the marriage license at two of those.
11. I can't stand things between my toes... but I'm getting better. I finally started to wear thongs (flip flops!!) a few years ago.
10. I buy my underwear in packs of three. Isn't that sad? I never bought packs of underwear when I was in college...
9. I can spend hours reorganizing my planner - but I lack the interest to organize my house.
8. I dread the thought of having braces again - regardless if they're the Invisalign or not. It would make it the 3rd time!
7. The big scar on my left shin was from making an ass of myself in front of a boy I liked - but it got me noticed! ; )
6. The little, yet deep scar on my right ankle was from making an ass of myself in front of a different boy... (that one should'a had stitches, but didn't...)
5. I can't bring myself to take out my navel ring for good... I don't know why.
4. I want another tattoo.
3. I'm one of those crazy drivers singing to the top of her lungs in her car - I don't care who sees me.
2. I had a much better vocabulary when I was in 8th grade.
1. I used to think that I wanted to be a person who lived for their job. Then I realized that it all sucks no matter what and decided I'm trying to live for when I'm NOT at work.

Another wedding pic

I can't help it. Laura looks so beautiful and I had such a GREAT time....

Here's one I just got from Laura. Isn't her dress awesome?!?!?

The Wedding Story

So my cuz Laura got hitched to Bill on June 7th at Bald Head Island, NC. There are a few things you should know about the island:

1. No cars allowed - you get around in golf carts
2. There's a dress code at most (but not all) places on the island
3. Yes - this is the same island Kate was on with her sextuplets, and no I didn't see them but they were there about the same time we were

This is how it looked driving around the island - from a golf cart perspective.

These two pictures are of the chapel were L & B got married.

Here is Bill, me and Laura at the welcoming dinner. Note we'd all had a bit to drink at this point....

The lovely bride and groom!!!

(gorgeous, isn't she!! He's not too shabby himself ; )

Entering the reception....

David took pictures all during the reception. Every picture of me is essentially this pose. Here I'm dancing with the ring bearer.

And here's the best picture I have of me and David... unfortunately it was taken with a Blackberry... : ( I think the professional photographer got a similar, yet better, picture of us. I'm hoping I can get that one!!!

Of course we had a blast. So much, in fact, that I'm having dad make us "kids" t-shirts of the "Top 10 Things Said at the Honeycutt - Baxter Wedding". The "kids" who are getting shirts know they are coming but they don't know what the shirts say - it's a surprise!! But I'm going to list it here for your benefit - with explanations. I hope you find it as funny as we do. If you really don't understand it must be a "you had to be there" kind of thing... sorry...

10. Oh well, it's just water OVER the bridge!

My Aunt has a way with messing up common phrases. This is one of them...

9. I didn't know you knew the words to "Joyful, Joyful"!!

During the ceremony we sang the hymn "Joyful, Joyful". I don't know the words, sorry - and being in the wedding party - we didn't have hymnals up at the alter with us. During the hymn I look over to the Best Man (groom's bro) and he's singing all the words! All three verses we sang! I was impressed! I asked him later about it. He grinned "I don't know the words! I was just moving my lips to make it look like I did!!" FAKER!

8. All the ladies are gettin' their war paint on.

A perfect explanation from my Aunt's husband as to where all the women disappeared to before the wedding started. In case you didn't understand, that's West Virginian for "putting on make-up"... ; )

7. Ever heard of hallway sex?

Famous joke from Chuck (best man) and his wife. When you're first married you have "house sex" - you have sex in every room of the house. When you've been married for a few years you start to have "bedroom sex" - sex just in the bedroom. When you've been married 15 or 20 years you start having "hallway sex" - you pass each other in the hallway and yell to each other "Fuck you"!!

6. Show up, shut up and pay up!

This was the joke to my Uncle Sam, Laura's dad. enough said.

5. Maybe she could find her phone if she had a BIGGER bag!!

Read my previous post for explanation....

4. At ease, soldier!

My cuz Tim (Laura's brother) was a career Navy man. He was also an usher at the wedding. Needless to say, many times we had to remind him to relax - this is a wedding, not the Navy...

3. Oh my god! I look like a drag queen!!

The make-up artists Laura hired took over an HOUR to put our make up on. Laura even had fake eyelashes!! Of course the make-up made the pictures impeccable - but you should have seen our reactions to ourselves when we looked in the mirror the first time with all the goop on our faces!!

2. Sam! Wine! Now!

Of course, this is me to my Uncle Sam to open a bottle of wine - pronto - for Laura. I would have gotten her a glass of wine myself but I too, was trapped in the make-up chair!

And now for the infamous #1....

Rock out with your (insert image of rooster) out, Jam out with your (insert image of open seashell) out!!!

At the rehearsal my cuz Patrick (Laura's brother) pulled out this doozy. We ended up saying it ALL WEEK LONG!! Ok, this is definitely one of those "you had to be there"... I understand.

C'mon Twins!!

Click here to view these pictures larger

While I was in NC week before last I was able to get to Wilmington and visit my friend Emily from high school. As you can see she's pregnant. Very pregnant!! With TWINS!!!

Doesn't she look great!?!?!?! From the back she doesn't even look like she's pregnant! I think most other pregnant women are probably VERY jealous of her!!! : )

She's technically due middle of July but is ready to have these kids! Everybody pass your good "labor thoughts" to Em!!!

NOTE: I like how it looks as though my boob is resting on her tummy!! She's very tall!!!

Aw.. the kids are graduating!!

We had two graduation parties this weekend. They're not even "our" kids and I still can't believe how fast time flies.

Of course I'm talking about rowers...

I was talking to the older brother of one of the graduates (and one of D's former rowers) and was asking him about school, etc. I can't remember exactly how I phrased my question but he looked at me funny (which he usually always did anyway so it wasn't out of the ordinary) and said "Julie, you DO realize I just finished my sophomore year, not my freshman...."

What!!! Where did that year go??

Oh well. I guess I'm really starting to get old. I can't keep YEARS straight!!

I finally convinced D to start an annual alum cookout at our house for the alumni boys he's coached. So the planning begins for a fun day sometime in the end of July before they all go back to school. What does that mean?? That means Zookeeper (mwa) will start the planning, sending invites, etc... But I think I'll definitely put on the invites "RSVP - for all you guys that means CALL US either way - if you're coming or not!!" These still are college boys (ok, some still have a HS mentality) and need a primer in proper etiquette. Not sayin' their parents didn't raise them right - this a GREAT bunch of boys!! But sometimes the parents don't know or it just never sank in. They are boys after all!!

Any suggestions on what to do to keep guys between 18 - 22 entertained?? We will have the pool open...

Sick of junk mail???

I don't know about you but I get, on average, about three credit card offers in the mail A DAY!!! I don't want anymore people!! I'm set. I'm good. STOP SENDING ME OFFERS!

The worst part - Marriott keeps sending me offers for their credit card that I ALREADY HAVE!!!

WTF?!?!?

Well, I found this great website yesterday. You can register to opt out of many different mailings, such as credit cards!! You can also control catalog and magazine mailings and other types too.

I just went an did a 5-year opt out for all credit cards. I left the catalogs alone - I admit it - I'm a catalog whore. I want to receive new and exciting catalogs. I really don't get junk mail that falls out of those two categories but you can surely stop a bunch of stuff through this website.

If you're sick of getting junk or just want to reduce the paper used on the planet I highly suggest that you visit the site.

Oh, and you're welcome.. ; )

Today's Random Thought

How is it the skinny little guy from high school grew up to be HOT gay man??? And he apparently hangs out with the most beautiful, HOTTEST group of gay men too!!! Damn!

Man, I love FB... great for snooping... ; )

Hallelujah, Laura's married!!

I know you've been thinking I've just been delinquent in blogging - but that's not the case. In fact two weeks ago I was on a business trip all week and last week I was "Matron of Honor" (sounds old, doesn't it... ) in my cousin's beautiful wedding at Bald Head Island, NC.

Now I'm back at work trying to get caught up so I can't blog about the whole shebang right now - but I'll give you a nugget to tide you over until I can get more time (and have other people remind me of all the funny stories... you know I can't remember anything...)

Picture it - we're at the rehearsal in this gorgeous, intimate sea-side chapel on the island. It's around 2:30 on a perfect afternoon. I'm Laura's "best girl", Chuck is Bill's brother/ best man. My cousin's Tim and Patrick are ushers. The readers are Bill's sis Susie and my mom.

NOTE: If you know my mom you will really find this even more amusing....

We've gone through most of the rehearsal. The minister is walking us through the last part. He starts " and I will turn Laura and Bill to face the congregation and say..."

random sound in the church: HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH...

Oh my god!!!!! After a second we all realize it's a cell phone ring tone!! Holy shit - It's apparently coming from MY MOTHER'S PHONE!!!

She has this ENORMOUS purple tote - not purse mind you - an f*#cking TOTE. She's digging around in it, trying to find her phone as it keeps on singing to us! Everyone is now laughing as we can't believe the timing.

The minister, not knowing it was my mother, leans to us and jokingly says "I wonder if she could find it faster if she had a BIGGER bag!"

HA!!!!

Well, eventually she found the phone. AND THEN proceeded to get up and answer it as she walking out of the church!!!!

Only my mother.

David Classics

Today is the 10 year anniversary of a good friend of David's from college. I personally just met Neda and Kypp end of last year but David has know them since college and was privileged to be in their wedding. Neda posted some pictures on her blog so I took the liberty of "borrowing" some with David. Funny how much guys change! Both David and Kypp look so young in the wedding pictures and so much more grown up now! Not old, mind you - just more... mature.


Congratulations to Neda and Kypp on 10 years!


Kypp and David



All the men in the wedding party...



And here's David now...

How I spent my Memorial Day

David and I decided to take the dogs to a State Forest for a light hike. It was a place we'd never been before but we have directions!! Interestingly, the Garmin didn't recognize the address... that tells you that you are truly out in BFE...

David went to a NY website and there was a link to get a map from mapquest to our destination. He printed them out. He also printed out the blurb about the forest itself - just for some fun info.

We drove and drove, turned around a few times, and finally consulted my NY state map book. Needless to say the mapquest directions were WRONG! Luckily the blurb about the forest included general directions at the end. We had to backtrack and follow those directions to get us where we needed to be.

However, the detour did provide us with a great drive through the country. We passed many fields of cows - or Moos - in our house. David and I were commenting on the cows when we came across yet another field of cows the follow exchange occurred:

me: Look, they're Amish!

D: how do you know??

me: because there's a plow hooked to two horses ( I said in a confused voice...)

D: OH! I thought you meant the cows were Amish!

really???

Orlando - and the reasons you might want to skip alcohol

Last week I was in Orlando for work. I know, I know, tough life... Not only was I in Orlando but our trade show was at the Coronado Springs hotel at Disney World. It was just me and one of coolest sales reps, the RV queen!

On the last night at the show RVQ and I went to dinner with some of RVQs friends - so it was super casual... For the record I was in khaki shorts, a "Life is Good" t and my Keen sandals. (you know, the ones that look hideous because they cover your toes, but are very comfy!!)

Let's say adult beverages were enjoyed by ALL before and throughout dinner. Then one guy with us suggested going to a night club, conveniently located in our hotel! Why not?! While at the "night club" I drank lots of water but was livin' it up dancing. Sometimes people in my group would dance with me... sometimes not. Although not trashed, I looked like the poor drunk girl dancing by herself on the floor a few times. It's just because everyone else wasn't participating! There were other people at the club that would get up some. (a gaggle of girls would hop out every once in a while.) And apparently I got a few strangers to get up and dance too. ("You look like you're having so much fun and you're out here practically by yourself! We decided to dance with you!")

BTW - I had a LOVELY BBQ stain on my T from dinner. I was one classy broad, lemme tell ya!

It just so happened that on this trip some bonding on one of my front teeth broke off. Make me one REAL CLASSY, TRASHY broad!! So I had already called the dentist before I even got home to schedule a repair.

Monday morning I show up early at the dentist. One of the hygienists looks at me and says "You were in Florida this weekend!"

Um... how'd she know???

She continued "you were at Rix night club on Friday night!!!"

Holy shit! How'd she know that? And oh my god!! I was probably making an ass of myself!!

How's this for interesting... she was in Orlando for a friend's wedding and all the gals (the gaggle of girls I saw) went out to the night club! She saw me and didn't know my name but knew she recognized me some how. Then totally by coincidence I happened to have an appointment at her office Monday morning and she put it all together!!

WEIRD!!!

Never assume you're somewhere where no one knows you.... especially if alcohol is involved!!!!

New neighbors

It just so happens that we no longer have a nest-o-Robbin eggs in our bush anymore. (see previous post.)

We now have new neighbors!!!! Little birdie babies!!!

Entertainment

Like my friend Neda, we have some "friends" living in our yard. We thought we had a bunny or two living under our shed since we moved in almost 5 years ago. It used to be our form of entertainment to watch the dogs bark at them through the sliding glass door - or better, let the dogs out and watch them go leaping off the deck to chase them.


I was never worried - those bunnies are MUCH faster than our dogs - even speedy Nikki.


However both dogs are getting up there in age and aren't so amused with the bunnies anymore. Or maybe they're so used to getting outrun that they aren't as interested the in game...


But alas - David called me the other day to inform me we, in fact, do not have 2 bunnies living under the shed. We have FOUR! He happened to see them all out at the same time. About the same time he noticed one of our holly bushes was DEAD... I hope the bunnies had a good feast...


And then the other day he sent me this:



We've been wondering why we hear birds chirping so loudly lately, even when the windows are closed! This nest is in our bush in the front yard. I just hope the neighborhood kitties don't bother it!! I'm temped to have D put some snow fencing around it to allow the birds access but keep out cats. (side note - our cats are all indoor, but we do have "Ace" that belongs to an unknown neighbor and roams the neighborhood.)

More of Corporate America

In the latest of corporate whining...

my boss walks in this morning giving me feedback of a few changes he thinks needs to be made to piece of sales literature for a new product we're launching....

...never mind he's reviewed this piece a few times already over the past 3 weeks (or so, probably longer...)

...never mind he approved the final version for printing...

... never mind he just signed the purchase requisition to get 3,500 of them printed...

... and never mind they are probably on the printing press as we speak...

And as he's told me before (although he didn't say it now - but I like to think of it as how he operates...)

"I don't want to hear about the labor I just want to see the baby."