Blockbuster Magic

One of my friends let me borrow her first and second season DVDs of Six Feet Under, knowing how addicted to marathons I get. I watched them all, and I love the show, which she knew would happen. Turns out season 2 ended in such a way that I NEED to see season 3. Now.

A plan is hatched. I know, you're thinking that I'd illegally download them from the internet. Well, you'd be wrong. And it's not just because finding the third season all by its lonesome is a difficult task and like, no one is seeding it. It's because it would take a few days. I'm not about to wait that long.

So, I picked up my three Blockbuster DVDs from the mail and decided I'd finally turn them all in (seeing as how I'd watched them all already). I was going to suck it up and only rent 3 of the 5 discs of season 3. I'd get over it. UNTIL...

As I was in the car, I remembered that I get two coupons for free rentals every month. That makes five things I can rent for free! The whole third season! Thank you Blockbuster! I love you!

So I did. I've never walked out of there with 5 DVDs before without paying one little penny. It was pretty cool. And now I'm going to plant myself firmly on the couch and watch as many as possible today. Now I kinda wish I hadn't slept so long so there was a chance of getting all the way through the season in a day. But, it's a good thing that I likely won't - because I will be in the same predicament for season 4, and I will no longer have the free rentals. I'd put them on my Blockbuster mailing queue, but they can't be trusted to send them in the proper order.

Hooray! I'm off to watch a season 3 marathon of Six Feet Under of my own creation! Happy Easter to me. I love that I'm watching a show about a funeral home on Easter.


End Blog.

Oh, PS, if you spoil me on what happens in this show, you'll be making your own trip to see the Fisher sons, and Rico will be in charge of your restoration.

Daily Dose

That's right, it's that time again: Your daily dose of doggie goodness!


It's Remy!

End Blog.

Jungle Dog

Jungle Dog, Jungle Dog...
Does whatever a Jungle Dog does...

Lays on the couch.

Okay, I think that picture's cool because if it's out of focus, it feels artsy. But, the auto settings on my camera did that, because apparently Mr. Spidey seemed more important than Remy. But, since I know how to work a camera (or rather, trick a camera while its still on its auto settings), I also have a better picture. Although, it doesn't quite scream "Jungle Dog" as loudly.

Look out...
There lays the Jungle Dog.

End Blog.

Health Insurance

Health insurance is really cool. Remember my eye problem? Well, I finally got my insurance claim from that. I had a $20 copay because I was seeing a specialist, but the total bill came out to $159.60. Just for the exam. So, I'm glad I didn't have to pay that on top of the charge for the antibiotics I had to buy.

That whole medical and dental insurance thing really comes in extra handy. Thank god I have a real job and am no longer in grad school.


End Blog.

It's 70 Degrees in Here, Too

"It's so nice and warm outside today!"


"No thanks. I don't care if it's nice outside, I'm perfectly content right here."

"C'mon, Rem! Let's go play outside!"

"YOU go play outside!"

Seriously, I've created a monster. She's so not interested in retrieving or anything anymore. Maybe she's depressed. Does she look depressed to you?


End Blog.

Merry Spring

Happy first day of spring, y'all. We had a lovely day today. So lovely in fact, I swindled my friend into holding the base of her own ladder for me while I finally took down my Christmas lights. Yes, you read that right. I finally undecorated the house. What? They were only up since the day after Thanksgiving...

That can't be right. Man... four months? That's like a third of the year! I'm a horrible homeowner.

You know what I need? A tenant... who pays rent... and has a ladder.

Wanted:
Quiet, unobtrusive dog lover seeking home filled with dirty dishes, dog hair, and obnoxiously large video game equipment for the few games actually owned. Must own ladder, garden hose, and install own window coverings in available room. Large DVD collection and ability to cook a plus. No cats, smokers, drug users, snorers, light sleepers, felons, mental health patients, vegetarians, hypochondriacs, or generally freaky people need apply. I reserve the right to evict from premises without notice, at any time. And I'm not kidding about the ladder.


End Blog.

Death and Taxes... Or Just Taxes

I hate the country but love my state. Why? I finally did my taxes.

I owe the Feds $339. I hate them. I ALWAYS owe them something. And I never feel like they deserve it.

Missouri, on the other hand, is giving me $177. And I'd give that $177 right to Kansas City, if they promised to put it into the Police Department funds somehow... you know, since the city is in a major budget crisis. (People are trying to save the zoo because it's been suggested that's a good place to cut city funds. I agree. I have yet to go to the KC Zoo, so I really wouldn't miss it... and I know other super useful places that money could go. Like the police department, so all my best friends at work don't get fired, or so that they can actually pay for the gas that goes into the patrol cars. But I digress...) I love my job. And the city in general. I wouldn't care if my local taxes were raised. It was only like, 1% of my income. It hardly seems fair. I mean, this is where I care about, where I live, where I'd actually see improvements with the money they've taken.

They give you the option of donating your tax refund to the general state fund. If I could guarantee that money went to KC and not anywhere else, I might have actually done it. But I can't know where that money goes, so I didn't. Also, I need it to help pay off what I owe to the Feds. Damn them. *raises fists to the sky*

So, considering the fact that I had to pay $13.95 to file my state return online, and the numbers I listed above, this year I come out owning a grand total of $175.95.

I almost don't care because I know I don't have to fill out those forms again for another year. And I'm hopeful that since I'll have more interest accrue on the loan for the house, I might not owe as much next year. You know, since I only had the house for like 3 months in 2007. I'll likely be sorely disappointed when it comes to filing the 2008 taxes, huh? Ahh... what else is new?

But it's over! Over for another year! Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!


End Blog.

Kristen Wiig = Favorite SNL Cast Member

Saturday Night Live has seen better days. Sure, I agree with that statement. But I think that the current women of SNL are really brilliant. I miss Tina Fey as an anchor on Weekend Update and her writing in general, but since I have 30 Rock now, I'm not complaining about her loss from the show. (I'm very happy she's moved on to bigger and better things.) Amy Poehler does a great job on SNL. But, I have to say, I am most impressed with cast member Kristen Wiig. More specifically her reoccurring character, Penelope.

She cracks me up to no end.

Please write more Penelope. I adore her and can't get enough.

The bit at the end where she says, "Oh, hi Tony the Tiger, how are you? ...Oh, just good? That's weird. I thought you'd be something else." BRILLIANT!!! Brilliant, I say!!

Really... more, please. It's Grrrrrrrrreat!


End Blog.

Lazy Weekend

Remy and I spent a wonderful weekend at home. I wouldn't really call it doing nothing, so much as preparing for an hour of lost sleep.





We love daylight saving time... we just hate switching to it.


End Blog.

Fortunate

I had a fortune cookie for desert the other day and when I cracked it open, there was no fortune inside.

I have no future. The cookie told me so. I thought you'd want to know.


End Blog.

I'm Going To Eat Your Babies

Yes, my friends had to go out of town again, and I agreed to watch their dogs one more time. In return, they are to change the oil in my car. I think this was a fabulous plan. I mean, how hard could it be, watching them for another weekend? Simple. Totally. Dogs love being around me. Easy. Right?

Angel.

Devil.

"I'm Going To Eat Your Babies!"

I think she might be a hellhound or something. She chewed up the rug in my bedroom and ate her brother.

Okay, the cannibalism part wasn't true. But she did chew up my carpet and wake me up at 6am every day she was here.


She's pretty cute... but Remy's still the best dog in the world.


End Blog.

The Free Go

You may not know this about me, but I'm a seriously awful bowler. I remember bowling with my parents when I was much younger - probably between the ages of 7-10 or so, and I have to tell you, I was much better at it then. And we weren't even using the magic bumpers or anything.

Since then, I have lost all bowling talent. And that's why I invented the "Free Go". Here's how it works:

Make sure you get two balls to play this game. One must be really light (think 6 pounds) and then something else that looks like you actually know how to play (an 8 or 9 pound ball usually works for little weakling girls like me). Now, throw the light ball down the lane, but don't give it too much power. It'll knock over a few pins (if you're lucky!). Usually this will not reset the mechanism that re-racks your pins. Don't ask why, it's a big mystery. I think if the computer likes you, you get to go again. So, while your pins are rolling about on the lane, take the other heavier ball and toss it down the lane as well. You'll likely pick up a few more pins... and if not, the heavier ball will register whatever it is that resets the pins.

Voilà! The Free Go.

Now both of your balls will be returned to you and you can try this again. The key is to get some pins down on your first light-ball turn, because if you get a gutter ball, the machine will reset itself. The second key is to not push the reset button... or let anyone else near the reset button who would push it for you, thinking that they are being helpful... or trying to prevent you from cheating.

Listen up. The Free Go is NOT cheating. It's a FREE turn given to you by the all knowing bowling gods. It would be wrong to upset them. It's totally cool to throw another ball down the lane if they don't reset your pins. They want you to. It's just that most people only have one ball... so they push the button to get their ball back and go again. This is silly and unnecessary. Get two balls.

It doesn't work every time. It's an art that must be mastered. I am very good at it. We all have talents.

With this technique, my score nearly broke 100. I would have done it too, if it wasn't for frame nine where I got two gutter balls.



Look at that score! (N would be me.) One of the spares was a two ball spare (a "real" one), the other was a four ball spare, and that strike? It was a two ball strike. I was the second best player that game.

...I also got the most Free Gos. Think how you could improve your game!

Also - Yes, I do think that you could throw MORE than two balls down the lane in the event that the second ball also does not register the reset of pins. However, I have no idea how many pins and balls it can handle and I get nervous of putting three down there at a time. But, by all means, check it out. I'm sure that anyone can be a great bowler if they try hard enough.


End Blog.

Excuse Me, But There is a Monster on Your Pencil

"I have captured this monster and skewered its head for you, Miss."

"It will cause you no more harm, Fair Lady."

In case you can't tell what she's looking at in this photo - it's this finger puppet monster. (Grrr... Arrrgggg) Never fear, I am now safe from its tyranny.

Also, this is the same spot Sad Remy was looking at me from in the picture below. It's a popular spot.


End Blog.

Random Puppy Pictures!

Remy being antisocial. She never lays on the floor, much less on the floor under the table, away from people. I wonder if our guests are not wearing out their welcome in her mind?

Sad Remy looking over the back of the love seat towards me, sitting at my desk.

Someone chewing the tag off of a squirrel!

The tan dogs, chillin' on the love seat. I'm not sure how much love there is though... Rem seems on edge. She never put her head down to rest. So unlike my lazy dog.

Yay, random drive-by dog pictures!


End Blog.

Nonessential Personnel

I woke up to a snow/sleet/freezing rain mess this morning. I didn't want to drive into work, but I'm a good employee, so off I went. I spun the tires a few times and had to drop the Escape down into a lower gear twice, but I made it safe and sound.

However, about 10 minutes into my commute, I saw this on 35 south right after the entrance ramp from 210 west.

It's an eighteen wheeler on its side with an SUV resting against a set of its tires... facing the wrong way. I'm not quite sure how it happened, but EVERYONE slowed down to look at it. I even had enough time to take this wonderful photo. Camera phones are spiffy.

After arriving at work, they sent us home five hours later. All department members deemed "Nonessential Personnel" were allowed to leave. (That's me.) Sweet! So, I went home after lunch.

On the way, I was prepared. I figured there wasn't much chance of getting that JB Hunt truck off of the road in five hours. I was right. On the way home traffic slowed again, and to my left, they were trying to hoist the truck back to its wheels. I didn't get a really good look at it because traffic was still moving a bit and I was blindly snapping pictures in the direction of the truck. Here's what I got:

The red truck is the one trying to right the fallen JB Hunt truck.

There's the truck still resting on its side.

And here's the side of the truck as I passed. You can see the chains wrapped around the middle of the trailer.

Anyway, this was my entertainment for the day. I got home slightly before 2pm and let all the dogs outside. Remy's a much bigger wuss about the cold and snow than our visitors are, but she wanted to play with them a lot more than they wanted to play with her.




You know, even though this weather got me out of work early, I am still really sick of it. I'd really enjoy it if we could get some warmth soon. I'm super tired of the 19 degree weather. I mean, I still haven't taken down my Christmas lights because it's been just too damn cold to do it.

I'm sure I should probably do something productive with my newfound time off, but I think I'm going to take a nap. Because I can. And I'm that lazy. And it's freakin' freezing outside and too crappy to really go anywhere.

So... Happy snowy Thursday, everyone.


End Blog.

Dogsitting

I'm dogsitting for a coworker friend of mine. I have two of her three dogs here because I guess she felt like she couldn't pawn all three of them off on me at the same time. It's a good thing. I already think that three dogs in my house is a few too many. But that's mostly because I still haven't gotten that pesky back yard all fenced in.

I guess that doesn't really sound fair. Two of the dogs are very good. One of those two dogs is mine. And the third? Well, she's only six months old, so she has an excuse for her absolute craziness.


Yep. That's the back of the couch. I swear, she thinks she's a cat.

I caught her standing on top of my end table, too, but didn't take a picture of it before yelling at her to get down. The yelling seemed more important at the time, although now I wish I had that picture.

I'm sure she's going to get into all sorts of other shenanigans while she's here. Remy's already trying to get her to play, but she's still a bit intimidated by her size. I'm sure that won't last too long, though.

Also, she tried to kill elephant by shaking him to death. It was quite hilarious. Little dogs are SO different from the kind I'm used to.

Let's hope elephant survives.


End Blog.

Super Tuesday

I did my part! Yay democracy!


Thank you 19th Amendment!

Why's the right to vote called suffrage, anyway? Because the government makes you suffer through the election process for a year?


End Blog.

Missouri Bellwether

So, I learned an interesting thing now that I'm living in Missouri: They have voted for the president who won the office every year since 1904, except in 1956. They call Missouri the Bellwether for the nation because it has a 96% accuracy in voting for the next president.

I have hope that the state will go democratic this year, as it did in the 2006 Senate race when Claire McCaskill won. It was a really close race and we stayed up watching CNN and FOXNews probably too late to be completely functional at work the next day.

But, tomorrow, it's just the primaries, so we shall see how that goes. I'll be voting after work. And this year, if the bellwether is off, we can blame me moving here! Lord knows my vote did nothing in Virginia. At least I'll feel like I'm making a difference in Missouri.


End Blog.

Superbowl XLII Campions

Oh man, I thought I was going to have a heart attack several times during this game. Everyone thought it would be high scoring. Everyone thought the Giants would lose. Well, everyone was really wrong.

But there were lots of times that Remy just couldn't watch. It was too stressful. She had to pull her hat down over her eyes.



Like, the whole fourth quarter.

I mostly screamed, "Eli! Throw the ball!" And I was so happy that Plaxico got that touchdown pass. He totally deserved to score.

And we won! Today was an awesome day. The only thing that's gone wrong in February so far was that damn groundhog seeing his shadow. Let's hope I feel the same after the Super Tuesday elections.

Hoorah!


End Blog.

Ant-EYE-biotics

My right eye has been bugging me for about a week or so and since Martin Luther King Jr. gave me the day off today, I figured I'd finally go and figure out what was causing the annoyingly excessive tearing and sneezing. Just because my eye was rather swollen this morning and had bothered me all night, doesn't mean that I wasn't planning on having someone look at it today anyway. Although, I totally wasn't.


Doesn't my eye look perfectly healthy and normal to you?

Well, it seems that my optometrist thinks that I have a low grade viral infection in my eye, which was determined by putting a fluorescent dye in my eye and looking at it with a blue light that was similar to the ALS I use at work all the time. Although, he says, it might be accompanied by bacteria as well... and since I'm in discomfort, I might as well have a prescription for some eye drop antibiotics and use them four times a day. Peachy.

I'm not sure if anyone knows this other than my mother (remember that time I had pink eye?), but... I simply can't do eye drops. The whole thing is beyond me. I could stick my finger in my eye if I had to, but dropping liquid from a bottle is just completely beyond my technical abilities. I can't see the drop, so I don't know when it's going to fall, and those drops just hang on the end of the bottle forever, now, don't they? Actually managing to get it inside my eye and not somewhere on my cheek or eyelid is impossible.

Imagine my surprise when I got the first dose in properly on the first try. I hope the rest of the applications go as smoothly, because I really have no faith in my ability to conquer the complexity that is eye drops. Cross your fingers (or your eyes) for me. I can only hope that this will clear up whatever's been going on in there the past few days. Especially since it cost me $45 for the eye exam and antibiotics.


End Blog.

I Love Hat

Remy says, "Woof woof!" which I'm sure means, "Go Giants!", not, "Stop putting stupid hats on my head!"


End Blog.

Go Big Blue

I've been a Giants fan since I was eight or nine. Certainly, there were a few years that I wasn't really following professional football at all, but not this year. I've been watching the team this season, along with the Chiefs, because well, I thought I should cheer for the hometown team. I finally made it to my first professional football game, too.

It's nice to be able to say this, the year I really got back into watching and cheering for football...

YAY!! The Giants are going to the Superbowl! Finally, I can cheer for a team instead of watching commercials (which, by the way, have been seriously lacking in quality in recent years).


Sure, they're up against an undefeated team, but I have faith in my underdogs, and of their NFL record of ten consecutive wins on the road. Plus, I hear that cheaters never win...

GO GIANTS!


End Blog.

Why Even Bother With Elections Now?

Chuck Norris approves Mike Huckabee for President.



Maybe we should let Jack Bauer weigh in on the subject, too.


End Blog.

Teeeheeeheeeheee

Get this widget!

This makes me laugh. Teehee. Heeee. Hee. It's so funny in a super creepy way. Her head flails around as if completely independent of her body! Go ahead... click her head. Teeeeheeeeheeehee.


End Blog.

Hillary's "Tears for Votes" Campaign

Sigh. I didn't want to do this, but I've found myself so angry about this non-issue that I need to speak my peace. Just to get everyone on the same page, if you haven't seen the infamous Hillary Clinton "crying" clip, here it is. She was at an informal coffee shop meeting in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and was asked how she could stand the stress of the campaign trail:


It evokes a memory of Howard Dean "screaming" after naming states. Both events were blown completely out of proportion. So, here's what I have to say:

1. I don't think this was staged, and I'll tell you why. This is the most natural and authentic I have heard Hillary's voice... ever.

2. She is not "crying" or holding back tears because she thinks she's losing her campaign or because of her defeat to Obama in the Iowa caucus. She's not crying because of the stress. I have held back those exact same tears. They are tears of pride for her country and the opportunities she has been given in her lifetime. They are tears for her own accomplishments and those that she has not yet finished fighting for. Those are tears of passion and determination to get the job done. I completely understand them. They are not a sign of weakness, they are a sign of hope for the future and the potential that we have as a country.

3. Yes, it is very likely that she cries about other things like the war, the Katrina aftermath, and so on. Just because it's never been caught on film before doesn't mean that she has not cried for those things.

4. She's not the only one who has teared up on the campaign trail. That's right, Republican Mitt Romney choked up on NBC's "Meet the Press" while talking about his religion. Later, in a speech made during the Iowa caucus, tears welled in his eyes as he spoke of watching the casket of a soldier killed in Iraq being carried off of an airplane at the airport he was invited to, to welcome a soldier home. No one had told him the soldier returning was no longer alive. Not one person in the media talked about these events. Stop making this a female weakness issue. It has nothing to do with the matter. Get beyond this double standard.

5. In the book Dead Certain: The Presidency of George W. Bush, which went on sale Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2007, President Bush is quoted as saying, “I’ve got God’s shoulder to cry on. And I cry a lot. I do a lot of crying in this job. I’ll bet I’ve shed more tears than you can count, as president. I’ll shed some tomorrow.” How many more of these things must I point out? I've even seen Bush cry at an awards ceremony.

6. Having men analyze Hillary's tears will only inspire more women to defy the continuance of male chauvinism in politics. The more you talk about it, the more it will hurt your campaign. Quit while you're ahead. It is clear that women bonded over the issue that the media created. Women aren't going to let them get rid of Hillary just like they did with Dean. This has made Hillary more human to everyone. More compassionate, more likable, and more likely to be a leader. She is no longer Bill Clinton's stone cold unemotional wife.

7. Oh, and one other not-really-related thing: McCain's primary win in New Hampshire was reported when only 12% of the votes were in, yet the Democratic race was claimed, "too close to call", even though Hillary Clinton led in the polls ALL NIGHT. I just wanted to point that out. People were expecting Clinton to fail, and when she didn't, they couldn't even report the facts. Maybe an African American president won't be the 'biggest American political story in modern times' that all the media are looking for. Maybe, just maybe, the country will decide to spell change "w-o-m-a-n", not "o-b-a-m-a". Congratulations, Hillary Clinton. You're the first woman to ever win a primary presidential election, and as a fellow woman, I am proud of you.


Okay, I suppose I'm done for now. I just wanted you to know that the news media makes me sick.


End Blog.

An Open Letter to John Edwards

Dear John Edwards,

Please create another speech or pay someone else to do so (is the writer's strike affecting you, too?). I have seen you speak live three times on television and each time you've said approximately the same thing. And so I ask you to stop speaking about the girl who died because she didn't get a liver transplant and the dude who couldn't get his cleft palate fixed until he was 50 because of lack of health insurance. Also, I know your family worked in the mills. Let's work on talking about something else.

Thanks,
Nikki

An Open Letter to John McCain

Dear Senator John McCain,

There is no "R" in Washington. Please stop putting one there.

Thank you,
Nikki

The Vampires Saved My Life!

I'm writing this blog because Brenda told me it was due. Apparently I now have deadlines or something, and am responsible for entertaining people at least on a monthly or biweekly basis... or... some sort of time period.

Last night I saw a piece on the news that said Kansas City was at a critical shortage for blood, especially O negative and B negative blood. So, being the upstanding fine citizen that I am, I thought I'd go out to the Community Blood Center and give them my blood tonight after work. I somehow conned a coworker with O negative blood to come with me.

On the way there, there must have been some sort of multicar vehicular insanity happen on the road because they closed both lanes of traffic. We took some random made up detour where I guessed a lot. (Yes, I do think your Garmin is brilliant and I do want one, okay?) But, we eventually made it because my sense of direction is so keen. (I hear you laughing.)

We go in, fill out the paper work, and get to givin' ye old blood. And because I know you're interested, my temperature was 99.1, my pulse was 72 and my blood pressure told them I was dead (or 102/68). But they took my blood anyway. And my hemoglobin fell at 14.7, so that was good because it has to be between 12 and 18 and women usually fall on the lower end of that range. So, I guess I'm in relatively good health. Because I pretend that's a physical.

I have to tell you though, that needle is way bigger than I remember. I gave the 500ml of blood relatively fast for me, and when I was done I hung my legs off the side of the cot thing and felt fine. Then I sat down and drank my apple juice and had a cookie and a half waiting for my coworker... and then... I felt odd. All of a sudden. And I got all hot and sweaty and just didn't feel right, although I can't really describe exactly how I felt. Just that it was "not right". So, I put my head down and felt myself sweat... a lot. Like, summertime running outside sweat when it all drips off your face. Apparently I sweat so much that it went through my shirt and left a nice wetness on the back of my chair.

Coworker made me look at her, noticed that I was YELLOW, and asked a nurse for help. FOUR nurses rushed to me, picked me up off the chair, laid me down on the floor, and propped my legs and feet in the chair. When asked how I was doing, I replied, "I don't know." And then I said, "Really hot."

They broke open four of those instant ice pack things and put one on my forehead, one on my stomach, one on my neck, and one on the back of my neck. I was cooled off pretty instantly and started feeling better within a few seconds. They made me drink some RC Cola (That still exists?) through a straw... which... was interesting. I was sucking on the straw but getting little fluid through it, which made me laugh and wonder if the straw was defective or if I was an idiot. I'm still not sure of the answer to that. (I also don't need your input on the matter.)

I laid there for a while, sat up a little, drank the soda from the cup, and was totally fine. Then I got fun questions I had to answer for the nurse and she wrote some things down on my chart thingamabob. Fun times!

I got a free long sleeve t-shirt (large) and a sticker for my ordeal! Oh, and some apple juice and RC Cola and Oreos.

I'm not really sure what happened or why because I had a normal lunch, drank 3 bottles of water today, and had a "snack" of a package of crackers and a Snickers bar before I actually gave blood. Maybe something in that combination was a bad idea. *shrug*

Either way, I'll totally do it again. My little inconvenience is worth it if I can help out someone else in need. Yay for B negative blood and the other 2 percent of the population that has it! Don't worry, I'm here for you!


End Blog.

She Does This All the Time

"Dr Pepper is so delicious!"

Okay, she didn't say that, but I can tell it's totally what she's thinking. Because her thought process has nothing to do with hating to wear that hat. I can tell. I know her best.

She also totally left it on her head for more than three seconds. That's a completely casual, unplanned picture.

In fact, she put it on herself. She wears it all the time. She had it on when I came home from work!


Fine. It makes me giggle, okay?


End Blog.

Happy Anniversary Blog

Hey look, it's been exactly three years since I started blogging. I've gotten a Master's degree, have a career-type job, moved to Missouri, have a dog, and bought a house since I first started doing this.

And surprisingly, I'm still not a grown-up.

*runs about the blogspace*

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

In just slightly over three years, I'll be thirty. You can check back in with me then to see how I'm doing on the grown-up front.

Am not!


End Blog.

Chief Nation

It's December 16th and the high temperature today was 32 degrees (although it was only 19 degrees when I left the house). I believe it was the last regular season game for the Chiefs (read: last game). I had managed to get tickets to the game using a police/military promotion where we only paid 25 bucks for regularly priced $69 dollar seats. With the other random charges and whatnot, they came out to $33 a person and were on the very upper level end near the uprights. However, Beth managed to get her boss' season tickets from them since they were not planning on spending the day outdoors watching the Chiefs lose and becoming popsicles. So, we took those tickets instead. Here is a picture of the seats we SHOULD have been sitting in from the seats we WERE sitting in.

We were 21 rows up from approximately the 40 yard line. The view was fantastic. And we were also every bit as cold as the seats were awesome.

Beth and Dan:

Brenda and Me:

Me and Beth:

The Chiefs were actually winning for parts of the game. And then they just sort of... stopped playing... gave up... whatever. There were moments of promise in the first half, but after that, the Titans pretty much kicked our asses.

It might be because at halftime the cheerleaders dressed up in Santa outfits. They looked awfully cold. And, see the players? They just got all distracted and couldn't finish the game.

Then, after that, Remy ran around on the field catching Frisbees. She didn't even tell me she'd be there! Seriously though, they had these "disc dogs" who ran all over playing with Frisbees. There were like 5 of them... but I only took pictures of the puppy that reminded me of my own. They could be twins! (At least they could from that far away.)

So, after Rem finished up doing her thing, and the Chiefs started sucking... a lot, Brenda took a nap because the game was so boring. And then she succumbed to hypothermia. I shall miss you, dear friend.

But even though his team was losing, KC Wolf didn't care. He was just there to have a good time. So, he put on his hunter's orange coveralls and went sledding on the piles of snow that were plowed off of the field. And sadly, watching him was more entertaining than the game.

This last picture pretty much sums up the Chiefs season. This guy was sitting a few rows down from us.

This also pretty much explains why I haven't been to a Chiefs game before now. The cheapest seats are $69. I guess compared to Washington Redskins standards this isn't much... but compared to Royals standards, it's $62 over budget.

Also, I found out that if you want to get on the bigscreen at the game multiple times, all you have to do is wear a Santa hat with full beard attached. Because the guy that did that, I saw at least three times.

Regardless of expense and temperature, it was a good time though. I'd totally do it again. But only if I had my hand and feet warmers supplied to me again!


End Blog.

Technically, It's Not Even Winter Yet

Jack Frosty the Snowman stopped by my house today. He also got me out of work an hour earlier than I'm used to, but that entire time was spent in the car doing 12 miles an hour trying to get home. But, for now it looks pretty. And it appears that the insulation in my house is doing its job.

Today that song is totally right. It IS beginning to look a lot like Christmas.





But you know the best part about my job and it snowing (apart from finding the footprints of doom more easily and getting to leave early)? I have an ASCLD calibrated ruler to measure the snowfall amounts! And since I also recognize that my love for the metric system is not shared by the rest of America, you even get to see the snowfall total in inches. I know, I'm too kind.




Remy was surprised to see me home so early. She came to the door slowly with a sleepy face and said, "What time is it? What's going on?" But once she got outside, she couldn't have been happier. I, however, asked her why she didn't shovel the driveway. Her smart reply? "You don't have a shovel, and even if you did, I'm not shoveling a gravel driveway." I guess I can't blame her. I'm not going to do anything about it, either. Let's just hope I make it out of my driveway in the morning.


So, I let Remy out and she ate some snow, and played some ball, and then proceeded to smell the entire yard. Because, I guess snow makes everything smell different. No, I mean the entire yard.

Now we're warm inside and I'm gonna go figure out what kind of alcohol goes best in eggnog.


End Blog.