What a weekend!!

I've been thinking lately about how long I really want to stay here.  In this town, I mean.  This is longest I've ever lived anywhere, except Ohio when I was a kid. But I'll admit this is definitely not the place I would have guessed I'd be living for so long.  It's not that it's bad, it's just....  well...  it's "ok". 

If I could live anywhere here are some things that I would like to have easily accessible to me:

• mountains to bike, hike and ski
• water (river???  not a fan of the beach) for the hubby's rowing
• lots of "green space" - community trails, bike friendly, etc...
• active community
• liberal people and politics
• multi-cultural
• warm/ hot summers but NOT especially humid!!!
• winters can be cold or not - just so long as there's sun!!
• close to major airport and interstates
• and of course - a good job for me!! (the hubby is fine so long as we're by an airport)

Do any of you have any suggestions of places that meet the aforementioned criteria??

The place we live now has mountains but they aren't in my backyard.  They take at least an hour to get into the "good" mountains.  So there's no way I'm slappin' my bike on my jeep and heading out after work.  Well, I could but there are limited places within 30 minutes of work/ home. 

Don't get me wrong - I'm not bitching, exactly, about where I currently live.  (please do not read above with a whiny voice.  That was not the intent.) It's just that while living here for now is fine I don't see us living here forever.  It's not my "forever" place.  And the hubby agrees, despite the fact that he grew up here.

That said we're not quite ready to pack up and move within the next year or so.  So this is a great time to really reflect on what we want both in a place to live and a job before diving head first into a job hunt. And to really enjoy what's to offer here.

I admit - with me working in an office of 5 people and the hubby working from home we really don't know many people here.  (which is also probably why I don't feel like I "belong" here.)  I decided that I was going to do things that I "used" to do but haven't in a long time, even it's by myself or just me and the hubby.

So to start, I decided to go skiing.  And totally by coincidence there was a deal at one of the mountains Friday nite.  Lift ticket for only $6 to ski between 4pm and midnight Friday.  (usually about $45)  So after work the hubby and I headed up to the slopes.  This is probably the only time I'll get to ski this season so I wanted to make the most of it.  I had all intentions of staying until midnight.  However, Thursday night I was so excited to go that I woke up at 4am and couldn't get back to sleep.  (like a kid at Christmas, I tell ya!!)  Need less to say that by the time we drove up, rented out skiis and hit the slopes I lasted exactly 2 hours and 45 minutes.  We were home by 10pm.

It was crowded.  The deal, along with it being the last day of Feburary break (whatever that is...  the kids got the whole week off.) there were a million people.  So to get through the line faster I had the hubby and I split up and ride as singles to mingle in with doubles.  (this let us get in many more runs!)  On our last run I rode up with 2 snowboarders. These guys looked like they were in college.  Of course I chatted them up on the way to the top ( as I did all people I rode up with..).  Apparently they weren't students - probably my age - but you can't tell with winter coats, helmets, goggles and neck gators!!! But after that run I decided that I was getting tired and the fun of skiing was no longer worth waiting in the long lines.  So we headed out.

Saturday we headed downtown to a fancy restaurant for dinner.  They have a thing going on where several places have a three course meal for $25.  It's a great way to try a new place or go somewhere that usually is way too expensive.  So I got dressed in my "hoochie" skirt and we headed out.  After dinner we met up with the SIL and her friends to grab a drink for her birthday.  While standing at the bar this guy walked up beside me.  I kept looking at him out of the coroner of my eye and finally said "excuse me, were you snowboarding last night?!?"  I SWEAR he looked just like one of the guys I rode with on the lift!!  After looking at me like I had three eyes, he said "um, no".   Ok - I'm no dropdead buxom blonde - but did he really have to give me that look???  "Oh, I'm sorry - I thought you were someone else."  Which promptly brought out a huge laugh from the hubby's cousin, Post Lady, who was there and witnessed the whole thing.  "OMG!  Are you picking up guys right in front of your husbnad?!?!?!"  uh, no.  I was merely inquiring whether the gentleman was boarding as I thought that would be quite a coincidence if he were and we ended up at the same bar the next night....  Hey PL - all conversation betwen a man and woman does NOT indicate that the conversation starter is looking for a good lay!  GEESH!!  The hubby, standing, actually between me and the guy, just gave her a "whatever" shrug.    In retrospect I should have said to PL "oh, don't you know??  D and I are swingers..." and just walked away.  That would have thrown her for a loop...

Then on Sunday they had a "Bloody Mary-off" at downtown bars from 11am to 4pm.  Since KVeg doesn't drink I was kinda on my own.  But the hubby went with me - except he doesn't like BMs.  You get a ticket for $5 and then go to 13 different bars and get a sample (boo!!  only a 1oz sample?!?!?) of their BM and then you vote for your favorite.  Last weekend they had a "Cosmo/ Martini-off" on Saturday and then a "Margarita-off" on Sunday.  I can't believe I missed those!!!  : (  Although the hubby was great company it would have been more fun with a group of people....  But I persevered by myself.  It was hard, I'll tell ya... but I managed.  ; )  Drinking all those different BM...  tough to do by yourself.

So now I'm trying to get more involved with what we have to offer in town.  The winter is especially hard here so I was glad to get out this weekend.  Once warm weather rolls around it's easier to get out and about.  So for those of you in warmer climates... you can bite it.  It was 14 degrees this morning.  And we're supposed to get more snow today.  The hubby is concerned that they won't be able to get on the water for rowing until a few weeks later than usual.  (they have to wait for the ice to melt on the lake/ river!!!)  Do you want to know how much snow we get a year???  Check this out.  Hopefully it will drum up some sympathy for me.  BTW - Clay is a suburb of Syracuse and Utica is right down the road about 30 miles.... Cheektowaga is over by Buffalo....

my address confirmed

I finally logged in from home and can confirm that I will show up on your stats as rr.com from Watertown.  Which I should note that KVeg might visit your blog and she would show up as the same thing.  I also have another friend here in town and I haven't determined if she would show up with this or if she has her own fancy IP that shows up with no location.  (which is possible since her BF is a computer whiz and they have their own server and such...)

You may not really care about all this but since I'm always wanting to know who it is that's visiting me I thought I'd let you know about me and my friends here in town.  I'm a little overportective of myself that way...

Panic ATTACK!!!!

Funny Lady is a grandma of 5 kids.  Did I mention all 5 kids are from her one son?!?!?!?  Did I mention that all five kids are under the age of 10?  The oldest is 10, the youngest not quite 2....  Yeah - do that math.  That's a lot-o-kids in a short period of time.

This week our state has a "February Break".  They get the whole week off.  And no, it has nothing to do with Easter or Spring break.  That's an entirely different week...  So FL's son (who's about 4 or 5 years older than me) decided to stop by the office today to surprise grandma - with ALL FIVE kids!

They are the cutest kids and quite well behaved.  But they weren't here 2 minutes and my thoughts immediately turned to "WOW I live a quiet life!!"  I mean I talk a lot and loudly...  I know.  But I'm still quiet when compared to five under-10 aged kids - hands down.  And what's worse it that they were probably only here in the office a whole 10 minutes!!!  They weren't unruly or especially loud - just 5 kids, their dad and FL all talking at the same time?!?!?!  Holy moly! 

I actually spent most of their visit in my office - I haven't quite confirmed whether or not I'm allergic to kids - but when I went into the kitchen they were all in there walking around, talking to each other, trying to get grandma to give them chocolate (like she said she was going to do until dad put the kabosh on that.  Never fear - grandma and the kids eventually won out to each get one bite sized hershey bar.)

I can handle a kid.  Maybe even two at the same time - provided I can eventually turn them back over to their parents.  But FIVE?!?!?!?!?!?!  I almost broke out in a sweat and had a panic attack right here in the office....

FB. It's a love/ hate thang

When I don't feel like tending to my daily adult responsibilities I go to FB.  (among other sites.)   I have that chat feature installed - but rarely use it.  1) because rarely is there someone on at the same time I want to talk to and 2) believe it or not, sometimes I just don't feel like "conversation".

But I have one friends, the Aussie in the UK that I sometimes see on there.  I love it because it's really where we chat.  We don't talk on the phone (unless she's in the US and we're trying to find each other to meet up).  And when we do chat it's because she's home from work, winding down, (probably with a glass of wine or cider) and I'm trying to find a way to pass the last few hours of the day.  This is a perfect combo for some very interesting conversations!

Like yesterday.  Anyone looking in on our conversation might have been confused.  First you have the delay.  I ask a question and say something and by the time she gets it, answers and it gets back to me I'm on to something else.  And vice versa.  Becuase come 3pm I'm really cravin' some conversation and it just spills forth like a waterfall....  I can't be expected to wait for a reply before I write again!!

And like last night, AUK had a bad day.  I can just see her konw curled up on the sofa, with her laptop  beside her, TV on in front of her and a HUGE glass-o-wine in her hand.  Last night she chastized me for "talking" so much I was keeping her from drinking!! You know - because she had to sit down her glass to respond... I reminded her to take her time replying - definitely after a bad day she needs to get some sips in!!

But in that format we cover all kinds of topics, including, but not limited to:

• our next vacations/ outtings (mine is going skiing tonight at a local ski place.  She's going to France this weekend.  Who do you think has a better deal??)
• the best way to thaw out food.  (if you read this blog then you know my prefered way...)
• when she's coming to the the states next
• our current jobs
• bitching about our old jobs (we both used to work for the same company.)
• the do's and don'ts of trying to find a new housemate.  (she's looking for one, not me.  Never fear NN, the Ball was not prelude to a divorce for me and the hubby ; )
• and I'm sure there was something thrown in, a side comment, about sex - or lack thereof.  Funny that I can't remember since she was the one drinking through the conversation and I was just sitting at my desk...

I have to keep reminding her that I'm a TMI American - not a prudish pommie.   (apparently that's slang for a Brit.  I just hope it's not completely offensive since I just used it here.  I just "learned" this factoid last night in our conversation too...)  There was at least one instance where she couldn't believe she admitted something to me.  Really?  In my opinion it was tame but then again I'm all out there.  No propriety whatsoever.  Yep,  with me it's "what you see is what you get".

So, AUK - this blog's for you.  I know you stalk my blog and never leave comments!!  Never fear - my friends are a nice bunch.  We might make fun of Brits, but not Aussies!!  I swear!!  ; )  And I promise not to call you a Kiwi by accident!

Gym Delimma

I've worked out most of my life.  But, like so many others, I'm not consistent about it.  I haven't stepped foot into my gym since my half marathon.  That was mid-January.  I haven't gone on a run outside or anything. (it's frickin' cold here!!)  And I'm finding that since purchasing the Tempurpedic I have begun to have issues getting out of my cozy bed.  I can actually sleep in until 7:30 or 8am on the weekends!!  (People - that's LATE for me!)  Which is an issue because I used to love to work out in the morning.  Can't work out in the morning if you can't get your ass out of bed...  I can't even convince myself to get up before work to do a yoga DVD at home.  And there is NO excuse for that.

A lot of it has to do with winter.  It's hard to get our of bed when it's dark outside.  But I got up in college at 4:30am for practice for a whole semester.  But I can't do it here where I live now.  It's cold and dark and well, it just sucks.

I used to like group classes but either they don't fit my schedule or they are so jam packed that I have no desire to fight for floor space.  So I pay a monthly fee (albeit cheap) to lift weights and use the treadmill on occasion.  Although still cheap, I actually pay for 2 memberships.  Because we have one for the hubby and I think he's gone 5 times in the 4 years we've been members.  He doesn't lift weights and we have a rowing machine and bike trainer at home.  Of course I'm afraid that as soon as we cancel it he's going to get some inspiration to start lifting and we'll be screwed.

I thought about joining a gym with a pool and try my hand a triathalons.  There are only two options around here with a pool big enough to do laps.  One is about 7 miles away and the other is about 9 miles.  I know that doesn't sound far at all but it will turn into a 10-15 minute drive.  (did I mention my gym now is 1.5 miles away?? and takes less than 5 minutes to drive there?)  Plus to join a gym with a pool I'm going to increase my monthly fee a lot!!  And let me tell you - paying more for a membership does not entice me to go to the gym more to pay for it.

I think a long term solution is to move somewhere I can be outside (comfortably) more of the year.  I like getting outside.  As for a short term solution...  I dunno....  No Wandering Girl - not interested in that P90X thingy.  Sounds interesting to see someone do - but not so much for me to do it.  I want to play a sport so I forget that I'm working out.

I really need to take pictures

I really need to get the camera out and start taking pictures.  It would make my blog so much more exciting!!  Alas, the ones I do take are with my Envy 2 and although it's not a bad camera newer phones have much better cameras these days.  I don't aspire to do the 365 project - I'm not that ambitious - but a few pix this weekend would have been nice to accompany this entry...  oh well.

The hubby and I decided that for Vday cards would suffice.  That and a good dinner of course.  But I'm not one to battle crowds at a restaurant so I mean that as in "a good dinner at home".  And since it's Vday why not go with a romatnic 70's classic??  Fondue!!

And I don't just mean chocolate fondue for dessert.  Or cheese fondue to start.  I mean a whole Melting-Pot-at-home experience!! 

Starter:
Classic cheese fondue with homemade croutons, granny smith apples and a broccoli-cauliflower-green bean-carrot mix, blanched and tossed with a light lemon vinegrette.  (all for dipping the cheese of course...)

Main:
Broth fondue with beef, chicken, shrimp and portabella mushrooms complete with three dipping sauces: garlic lemon aioli, teriyaki and curry yogurt.  This broth was awesome!  I just knew it was going to be great when it called for a half BOTTLE of white wine!!!

Dessert:
Chocolate fondue with strawberries, bananas, pound cake, marshmallows and biscotti.

I also had champagne with chambord ready to go but I never made it to that part.  I could only muster a glass or two of wine during the meal.  And since I had Monday off I decided to have a mimosa with breakfast and then drank the rest of the split with chambord.  I HIGHLY recommend it.  YUM!!

I then went back to the liquor store last night to get more champagne since I drank it all before the hubby had a chance to try it.  But screw the little split. This time I got a whole bottle!!

Editors note:  I added soba noodles to the leftover broth for leftovers.  It's AWESOME!!  (half bottle of wine, remember??)

One more glitch to fix

When I recently made "upgrades" to my blogger account I selected that search engines NOT crawl my site.  Therefore my blog should not show up on any searches.

Well..  it still is and I'm not likin' it.

I surfed around to find an answer to this and came across a suggestion to add some html code into the blog.  I tried it and it didn't work.  Ok, I tried it a bunch of different ways and couldn't get it to work.  I'm now waiting for someone to comment back on my post on a chat site to see if I can get clarification.  Either way I'll see if the hubby can help me this weekend. (although I don't think he's familiar with html either....)

Speaking of privacy settings...  I was checking out refering websites and found someone came to my blog, via a google search for "longest sexy toes".  This was a search in the US, although it couldn't tell me where.  I'm not even as concerned with this search mostly because this person wasn't specifically looking for blogs. 

But really people!  "Longest" toes?!?!?!  I know I have long monkey toes but does google really think they're bad enough to include in this search??  Ugh!! 

No more craddle robbin'

 YOU know what today is??

Ab-lucious Taylor Lautner turns 18!

Now I don't feel quite as old-woman-icky swooning over is sexy bod.

 I have one word:

ME-frickin'-YOW!!!

Private parts

Ok - here's the explanation of why I decided to go private. A loooong time ago I posted this on my blog.  Note the second comment....  Kinda freaked me out.

So I polled a few wives of my guy friends from high school thinking "ok, whose jackass husband thought this would be funny??"  Of course I assumed it was a boy...  another woman wouldn't freak a friend out like that for a laugh.  No one 'fessed up.  It did creep me out because who in the hell is readling my blog that would leave that comment???

That was back in 2007.  Fast forward to 2010.

While visitng our friends in FL I asked NN about her blog.  I happen to know that she installed a tracker on her site so she can see who's  coming and visiting.  It shows IP address, city, state and what blog that left to come visit your blog.  This is some scary info!!  As in, I can get this info for FREE!!  (http://www.sitemeter.com/)


I had totally forgotten about toe stalker when I asked her about this. 


First I changed some settings on my blog - that my blog is NOT searchable by search engines.  Then I installed the softare and was having fun seeing who was visiting my blog.  For example, there were a few cities that had visited where I don't know anyone.  When I check to see where they had been before my blog I see it was one of my friends with a blog.  Yes, techincally that person could be stalking them and then jumped to my blog from a link on their page, but I prefer not to think of it like that.  That kind of anonymous visit doesn't bother me at all.  In fact I welcome it!

Then I realized that there were some international visitors from countries where I definitely don't know anyone.  I saw they were coming to my blog from a google search.  (Which pisses me off because I technically had removed the ability of search engines to find it over a week ago....)  And it would actually show me what they had searched!!

Most were begnin so I wasn't worried.  Then I found the guy (I'm assuming) from Singapore.  His google search was "sexy toes blog".  Mine was the last blog on the first page.  There are many things wrong with this picture:

1. It's creepy that someone is searching that specifically.  I mean he's looking for blogs.  If he has a toe fetish wouldn't he just be searching for "sexy toes"??
2. My blog made it on the first page of the search. 
3. I'm still showing up in google searches even though I specifically opted out of that.  (I am still investigating this issue.)

Of course I immediately thought of the commenter from 2007.  Is it the same person??  I have no idea.

Realistically, I'm not worried this person is a murderer or anything (at this point).  Probably just some creep jacking off to what he can find on the web.  But still, the thought of someone using my blog for that purpose completely creeps me out.  As my Aunt Newlywed says "If they're going to be using something of mine I at least want to get paid for it!"  ; )  Think about it folks, there's some good money to be made here if one wanted to pursue this.

I digress.

The short of it is this:  I don't want people visiting my blog if they are only coming to use it for fetish porn.  Since I'm not getting paid for it, of course : )

So I instituted the privacy setting.   It's really keeping all of us safer since, if they can't read my blog, they can't read your comments.  So I apologize for any extra steps it may require you to access it.  Again, I'm not opposed to adding legit people to my blog.  So if you know of someone I haven't invited just let me know and I'll add them to the safe list.

There's one caveat with this whole "privacy" setting.  If you write a blog - not just have an account - you can read any blog on blogger.  So a note to my toe fetish viewer: 

If you are a blog author and can still get access to my blog know this:  I'm watching you. I know when you're here.  So STOP.  If I find that you're still visiting I'll report you.


P.S.  On another note - does anyone know where the spell checker is on the upgraded blogger??  I can't seem to find it and I know for a fact I can't spell or type so I really need it!!

Feeling old

I turned 34 a little over a week ago.  I normally don't really care about my age so much.  But this week has reminded me I'm not in my 20's anymore. 

First we hooked up the Wii.  After tons-o-fun we have decided the following:

• Due to low ceilings and ceiling fans in our house, there will be no playing basketball on Wii
• Liam does not understand the concept of "getting out of the way" for moms and daddy to play Wii (see picture below)
• The hubby does not like any games where the wife can beat him.  He won't admit this is the reason but I've noticed a pattern....
• Wii golf is surprisingly realistic.  My back even hurt like a SOB the next day, just like when I play real golf...
• Must find a way to move Wii into dining room where we have more space....

See, we have a small family room - as evidenced by this photo.  And of course Liam loves being 'round his "people"...  The hubby is trying to bowl here.  I don't think this particular turn was very successful...

Speaking of old...  (wasn't I talking about being old???  I can't remember.  I must be getting old...)

The hubby and I were in the car on our way to my MIL's 60's birthday dinner.  Now you'd probably think that a 34 year-old going to a 60 year-old's dinner would make one feel young, right?  Wrong.

As we're in the car the hubby, while driving, reaches over to remove a cat hair he saw on my chin.  Except it wasn't a cat hair.  That bitch was ATTACHED!!!  The hubby accidentally found my first chin whisker!!  And since I'm in the car there were no tweezers near by.  I sat and plucked at that bitch for minutes before I got it out.  NOT making my day.  So to make me feel better I ordered a really dirty martini at dinner.  And then had wine.  And more wine.

On top of all this weekend excitement I was battling a terrible head cold.  As in "honey get the drill out. I need a small hole drilled in my head to let out all this pressure and gunk."  As a matter of fact, I didn't even go to work yesterday because of it.  I'll spare you the details of what was draining out of my head.  So to help with these issues I went to the store and stocked up on Puffs with Lotion (highly recommended for the nose.  Not so much for cleaning the glasses....) and Puff with Vicks.  Ah, the sweet, tingly relief of menthol!!!!!  If you ever have a terrible head cold I highly recommend Puffs with Vicks and a lovely Vicks nasal inhaler.  You'll look and smell like grandma for a week but it's such sweet relief!!!  And, if you can't stay away from the Wii while you're sick I suggest ping pong.  You only have to stand there and flick your wrist.

What Superbowl???

We are not a football house. 

The hubby just texted me to let me know our Wii arrived today.

Guess what we'll be doing all weekend??

I will blog about any sustained Wii injuries on Monday.

Gettin' my Veggies On

I decided that the hubby and I need to eat more veggies. Especially the hubby... When I put together a grocery list and ask what veggies he wants it's usually "fresh green beans". I agree, this is a good suggestion, don't get me wrong, but this is usually the ONLY thing he comes up with. He doesn't like GB casserole or anything that like. And he won't eat them out of the can because they're not crunchy. So I just give 'em a quick toss in EVOO in a skillet and they're done.

But really - one cannot live on green beans alone. He's not much of a salad eater either. In his defense he does have IBS, or something similar, so he doesn't like a lot of things solely because of what they do to his system. (or so he tells me...) I understand that. So, he may be able to survive on green beans, but I can't.

So I instituted a new rule. Each week one of us will choose a veggie and I'll try to make a few things out of it. Last week I made brussel sprouts. I've made them once before at Thanksgiving. I saute them with pancetta and garlic. I remembered it being really good. Well, the grocery was out of pancetta so instead I got prosciutto. (note to anyone in this predicament - use bacon instead!!!) Thus the sprouts did not turn out that great. And we both admitted it was not a "do again". Fine, we tried. We should get points for that!!

This week it was butternut squash and parsnips. (going for what's in season...) Two nights ago I made butternut squash souffle with greens and a parsnip and turnip au gratin. The souffle didn't exactly "souffle". Either way I liked the flavor - more savory than sweet, but not so much the texture. It was really smooth - which would have been great on something, but not by itself. It was like eating warm baby food. The au gratin wasn't too bad. The hubby agreed the au gratin was a do again. The greens were... well, just greens. Swiss chard cooked down tossed with butter. Nothing fancy. The hubby and I both need the nutrition of the greens but neither of us is a big fan. I told him to hold his nose and swallow it down. It was good for him. (I had to do the same...)

So Tuesday night's dinner was "blah" to put it nicely. I was starting to think this veggie a week thing wasn't such a great idea. But then came last night and the butternut squash risotto!! HELLO, WE HAVE A WINNER! It was great. (at least I think so. I would give it 4 or 5 stars, I would guess the hubby was hoovering at 3.) It was no 20 minute meal, I'll tell you that. But it's the first risotto I've made where you don't stand there and stir is constantly. I like that!! Plus there's pancetta in it (they were stocked again with real pancetta this time) which for all intents and purposes is bacon. (and who doesn't like bacon?? except KVeg...)

Although it did take some time it was easy. So if you're looking for something a little more high class than green beans out of a can this recipe is for you.

Tonight it's butternut squash and shallot soup. (and chicken. I think the hubby might rebel if I serve another dish without a meat main course....) Man I wish I had an immersion blender....

Urban Dictionary

So what's this thing going around FB about looking your name up on urbandictionary.com??

I have no idea - but I decided to look anyway. I found it quite amusing. First I looked up my first name that I go by everyday:

Sweet and downy haired girl, changeable and often misunderstood and complex. A fearful creature as well as highly loyal. She will rule your affection and once you have hers it will be forever.

OK, not exactly how I would describe myself... so I decided to look up my real first name. THIS was a hoot!

Most are artistic, smart, romantic, beautiful and also very charming. They can get whatever they want if they try. They can be very sexy so watch out! They are romantics and love old movies, art and books. They love old stuff!!! They aren't usually very athletic but if she is she's a kick in the butt!!! They have great fashion sense usually look smokin'! She will most likely become a mother because she loves kids. They are very successful in life and there is just something about them that draws people in. Also they are ah-mazing dancers!

The second description really makes the first one look like a winner. I mean really - "great fashion sense"?? "loves kids"?? "loves old stuff??" (ok, maybe that explained my last boyfriend... touche!) And ask anyone who's seen it - I wouldn't describe my dancing as "ah-mazing"....

But nonetheless it was fun to look!!

Oooh! I think I'll look up the hubby next.

Hopefully this time

If you pray, meditate, talk to the universe or something that could be construed as "similar"to the aforementioned, could I ask a small favor? Next time you're doing your chosen communication method to a higher power, could you ask that he/she/they point my little brother in the right direction?? And if you don't do any of the above that you just keep him in your thoughts?

Most of you know his struggles. I got word today that my parents sent him to California for help over the weekend. (which is quite an accomplishment that my divorced parents actually got together to coordinate this.)

I hope this time he decides to turn his life around.

What day is it??

This past weekend the hubby and I went to Florida to go to a Mardi Gras Ball in Coach and Neda's Notions. The Ball was in Mobile, Alabama (of all places....) The story goes that Mardi Grad originated in Mobile. We had quite the most wonderful, whirlwind of a weekend, thoughtfully captured in pictures for my dear readers. ; )

First a few notes. One, I was screwin' around with the particulars of the images. It started so you could see the pictures that were dark better. But I can't just stop at minimal updates. (it's that "picking" neuroses I have.) Therefore you will see some color discrepancies. But I ended up screwing with them so much I can't really fix them at this point. So just deal with it. All of us have lovely peachy-pink complexions in real life. I promise. Except the hubby - standing beside the rest of us he sometimes looked Edward Cullen-pale. And that's not a bad thing 'cuz we all know how I feel about Edward Cullen... ; )

Second, I'm just posting the pictures I think best represent the evening - not necessarily the best pictures of me. I hope you appreciate this. As many of you know, I am especially self conscious of my face. Although I do admit I look a LOT better after the surgery than I did before, my jaw is still crooked. And it is painfully obvious to me in these pictures. But if I only posted pictures that I like of myself then there would only be one or two. And where's the fun in that??

Ok. I'm done. Please proceed.

Here is a group shot of the four of us. NN, Coach, the hubby and me. NN artfully balanced her mamma-jamma, seriously professional camera on the TV of the hotel room for this one. If I had photoshop I would shop out the bed post behind my head. (and many other things, but I won't get into that....)

Here are "The Girls": me, NN and Lady Di. LD is originally from Mobile and has the contacts to get us the tickets to this Ball. Here's probably a good place to explain this Ball. in Mobile there are groups of men that have formed "fraternities", in a sense. Each is called a "krew". During Mardi Gras there is a parade and each krew has their own floats. (unfortunately due to terrible rain the parade this year was postponed for a later date. : ( They each also throw a Ball during the Mardi Gras festivities. We attended the Conde Cavaliers Ball. Dress requirements: Men in tail and women in floor length gowns. Classy!!!

Here is a picture of LD's hubby, Coach and my hubby in their fancy tails!! SEXY!!

The two BFFs from waaaaay back!! Handsome men, if I do say so myself!

We were having SO much fun!!

See, this is how much fun sexy fun I was having!!

The Conde members dress up in costumes for the Ball.

It is tradition that if it is your first time at the Ball a Conde slips you a garter. And since I was a Ball virgin.....

Not a flattering picture of me, but I wanted to make sure you all saw how much fun we were having!!

After the ball headed back to Florida on Saturday. What was really great about this weekend was that my birthday was Thursday and Coach's birthday was Saturday. It was like one HUGE bash! Saturday night we decided to stay in, order pizza and play Wii. Coach and the hubby had a blast playing Guitar Hero.

Since he's singing I guess he knows this song...

We also bowled. Everyone kept making fun of my "style".... but I didn't do too shabby! If works don't knock it!

We had SUCH a great time!! (I'm eloquent, aren't I?? ; ) Of course, as usual, whenever I travel somewhere the weather does shitty things. As it was, FL was in the 40's on Sunday. The other days weren't much better. Oh well, I wasn't there to lay out on the beach anyway!

And of course the hubby and I decided to break down and get a Wii. It is TOO MUCH fun to play. Never fear - I'm sure you'll be hearing about it in the future. (as in all the injuries I sustain while playing a frickin' video game. 'Cuz I'm sure it's going to happen....)

Thanks guys for a wonderful weekend!!