It's been a really, really long time since I've blogged (I can't believe my last post was in June 2009!). Life since April, 2009, has been, well, interesting. I think pretty much everyone who reads this blog knows our story, so I won't get in to it again. Let's just say the stress and uncertainty put a damper on my creative juices. Things have settled down considerably, and I find I miss blogging. So, I figured the new year was a good time to get back to it.
My 2011 New Years resolutions are basically the same as they were back in 2008 when I started the blog. Except that I want to get back to all these things, not start doing them!
Get Back to Blogging
Clearly this is the first step to that. I may not be the world's greatest writer, but I enjoy doing it and the blog gives me a reason to several times a week.
Get Back to Running
After I completed the Disney World Half Marathon in January 2009, I didn't sign up for another race of any kind, and I obviously needed that motivation to keep up with the running. I'm not sure what my immediate next race will be, but in 2012 I hope to complete Disney's Coast to Coast Challenge by finishing both the Disney World Half Marathon in January and the Disneyland Half Marathon in September. In the meantime, I'm back on a basic 5K training plan (which I started tonight and will talk more about later). I'll be looking for a 5K to do at the end of April or beginning of May - the program is 15 weeks. Then, I hope to shoot for a longer race in the Fall, which will put me in a good position to start training for Disney in January. I am generally more fit than I was when I started back in 2008, due to my job managing a Pilates studio, where I get to take classes 2-3 times per week. Several of our clients are runners, and have said that Pilates has helped them improve so I hope the same holds true for me.
Get Back to Creativity in the Kitchen
One or two people have told me they've missed my recipe-of-the-week posts, and I miss serving all those new dishes! I like learning new things, and most of the time it's fun to sort through recipes and cookbooks to find something new to try (though I have to admit that sometimes it's also frustrating, because while I have tons of recipes to choose from, sometimes nothing sounds good). In the end, I feel a sense of accomplishment from doing it and it's a great way to keep Alec and I out of the rut of eating the same meals week after week. Ingrid, Raoul and The World's Greatest Niece (TWGN) gave us a new slow cooker for Christmas so I plan to try a bunch of recipes for that. Also for Christmas, M.K, E. and E.W. (the world's greatest nephew) sent a neat box of spice blends, so those will be a lot of fun to experiment with. I've already tried 3 new recipes this year, including one in the slow cooker and used the spices twice so I'll post about all that soon.
It's well past time for me to be shutting down the computer, so I will close but I promise to be back soon!
Showing posts with label life in general. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life in general. Show all posts
Monday, January 10, 2011
Thursday, June 25, 2009
An Update
Alec and I visited some of my family over the weekend, and my cousin Belle was on my case (but in a nice way!) about not updating the blog. We've just had so much going on, and it's not that I haven't had anything to blog about, but I just haven't had the motivation.
We moved to the Washington, DC area at the end of April (can't believe it will be 2 months on Monday - time flies). As I think most everyone who reads this knows, Alec lost his job, so we've been staying with his folks while he looks for one. The new news is that now I'm job hunting to, as my contract was cut from full-time to as-needed (which has consisted of about 8 hours in the last week - not really enough to live on, even when living with family!). When it rains it pours, that's for sure.
We have done some fun stuff since we've been here, though, so I'll have some posts about that. No new recipes lately, though. I just haven't been feeling creative in the kitchen.
This week, my goal was to get back on the running bandwagon. I want to do the Marine Corps 10K in October, and though I haven't signed up, I do have a training plan laid out. I did my "assignment" for Monday (a 1-mile walk), then skipped Tuesday and Wednesday. I am making myself go out tonight, though, for a 15-minute workout. I'm doing Jeff Galloway's run/walk method, which I did informally for the Disney 1/2 marathon, but this time I'm actually following one of his training plans (or trying to anyway). Since I haven't done much running since Disney, I took his 10-K plan, which starts with 2 mile "long" runs and added on the first 5 weeks of his 5-K plan, to build up to the 2 miles. So, tonight will be a 10-15 minute run, with 2-minutes of walking/2 minutes of jogging. That should actually have me covering a little more than a mile, as I was able to walk my mile on Monday in a little over 15 minutes. Fortunately, my in-laws' neighborhood is walker/runner friendly. I have also been getting in at least a mile a day with River, but those are slow walks as she must stop to sniff every few feet. Still, we go about a half-mile in the morning and in the evening.
We moved to the Washington, DC area at the end of April (can't believe it will be 2 months on Monday - time flies). As I think most everyone who reads this knows, Alec lost his job, so we've been staying with his folks while he looks for one. The new news is that now I'm job hunting to, as my contract was cut from full-time to as-needed (which has consisted of about 8 hours in the last week - not really enough to live on, even when living with family!). When it rains it pours, that's for sure.
We have done some fun stuff since we've been here, though, so I'll have some posts about that. No new recipes lately, though. I just haven't been feeling creative in the kitchen.
This week, my goal was to get back on the running bandwagon. I want to do the Marine Corps 10K in October, and though I haven't signed up, I do have a training plan laid out. I did my "assignment" for Monday (a 1-mile walk), then skipped Tuesday and Wednesday. I am making myself go out tonight, though, for a 15-minute workout. I'm doing Jeff Galloway's run/walk method, which I did informally for the Disney 1/2 marathon, but this time I'm actually following one of his training plans (or trying to anyway). Since I haven't done much running since Disney, I took his 10-K plan, which starts with 2 mile "long" runs and added on the first 5 weeks of his 5-K plan, to build up to the 2 miles. So, tonight will be a 10-15 minute run, with 2-minutes of walking/2 minutes of jogging. That should actually have me covering a little more than a mile, as I was able to walk my mile on Monday in a little over 15 minutes. Fortunately, my in-laws' neighborhood is walker/runner friendly. I have also been getting in at least a mile a day with River, but those are slow walks as she must stop to sniff every few feet. Still, we go about a half-mile in the morning and in the evening.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
How Yesterday Turned Out
Yesterday ended on a much better note than it started. To continue the story:
2:34 pm: The Orkin man asks to unplug the extension cord he had to run in order to work in the back yard, because the outlet back there didn't work. I figure this means they must be done with the drilling. I am very happy.
2:35 pm: I resume watching High Noon. I enjoyed this movie, too. As with Midnight Bayou its been too long since I read the book to really compare them, but it was a good movie.
3:10 pm: They start drilling again!!!!!!
3:20 pm: Alec reminds me via IM that his photographer picked him up, so he is at work without a car and needs me to come get him.
3:36 pm: I load River up in the car and head out to get Alec
When we got home, the Orkin man was still there. He told us he was done in our yard, though so we could lock our gate.
Later, we headed out for dinner (we opted to actually eat at the sushi place rather than get take out). The place we like is very small, only 3 tables and about 7 seats at the sushi bar. They're all full when we get there, but a few people are finishing up. We decided to run over to Blockbuster to pick up a movie & come back.
At Blockbuster, they have Australia, which was my second choice for my birthday movie, so we got that. We also got Bedtime Stories with Adam Sandler. We trade in our mailed movie so we get one free rental.
Back at the sushi restaurant, we have an awesome meal. Then, we went to Maggie Moos to get ice cream. After that, we headed home to relax and watch our movies. Australia was a great movie, but quite a bit more sad & emotional than I expected. So, even though it was almost 3 hours long, and it was close to midnight when we finished it, we decided to watch Bedtime Stories to cheer ourselves up. This was a very cute movie. Thus, my day ended at 2 am, and I was happy but tired!
2:34 pm: The Orkin man asks to unplug the extension cord he had to run in order to work in the back yard, because the outlet back there didn't work. I figure this means they must be done with the drilling. I am very happy.
2:35 pm: I resume watching High Noon. I enjoyed this movie, too. As with Midnight Bayou its been too long since I read the book to really compare them, but it was a good movie.
3:10 pm: They start drilling again!!!!!!
3:20 pm: Alec reminds me via IM that his photographer picked him up, so he is at work without a car and needs me to come get him.
3:36 pm: I load River up in the car and head out to get Alec
When we got home, the Orkin man was still there. He told us he was done in our yard, though so we could lock our gate.
Later, we headed out for dinner (we opted to actually eat at the sushi place rather than get take out). The place we like is very small, only 3 tables and about 7 seats at the sushi bar. They're all full when we get there, but a few people are finishing up. We decided to run over to Blockbuster to pick up a movie & come back.
At Blockbuster, they have Australia, which was my second choice for my birthday movie, so we got that. We also got Bedtime Stories with Adam Sandler. We trade in our mailed movie so we get one free rental.
Back at the sushi restaurant, we have an awesome meal. Then, we went to Maggie Moos to get ice cream. After that, we headed home to relax and watch our movies. Australia was a great movie, but quite a bit more sad & emotional than I expected. So, even though it was almost 3 hours long, and it was close to midnight when we finished it, we decided to watch Bedtime Stories to cheer ourselves up. This was a very cute movie. Thus, my day ended at 2 am, and I was happy but tired!
Friday, April 10, 2009
This is so not the day I had planned . . .
So, my office is closed today. And even though I work from home, I don't work on days when the office is closed. Alec does have to work, so I was all set to enjoy a "me day." My plan for the day was:
Sleep In
Watch the two Nora Roberts movies I recorded recently
Read
Dinner with Alec as a belated birthday celebration (sushi or takeout sushi, we haven't decided)
Movie (P.S. I Love You) delivered from Blockbuster online (since there is nothing good in the theatre)
Here's what has really happened so far:
7:50 am - River wakes me up because she is hungry. No problem, I'll feed her, let her out & go back to sleep, just like I do on weekend mornings.
8:00 am - Get back in bed to go back to sleep.
8:10 am - Orkin calls from the call box at our gate because they're supposed to do some work here today. I don't know anything about that. Also, the feature that allows us to open the gate from the phone isn't enabled so I can't let them in. Which I wouldn't do anyway, since I did not call them and frankly I can't be sure it's actually Orkin so I'm not about to let them into the complex. I tell them to call the landlords.
8:20 am - Evidently Orkin got in touch with the landlords, and whatever they're doing involves making a whole lot of noise in the other half of our duplex. So much for sleeping in. I decide get up and make breakfast.
8:50 am - Another call from the gate - what's up with this? It's Alec's photographer. Alec said to meet him here. Alec's not home, though. I tell the photographer to park in the parking area outside the gate b/c I can't open the gate. I call Alec. He's on his way. Also, the gate does work now; they fixed it yesterday and Alec forgot to tell me.
9:00 am - Settle in with my coffee and cereal to watch the first movie Midnight Bayou. It's very good. I don't really remember the book, so I have no idea how well it follows that, but it's a good story. Also, it has Jerry O'Connell (so cute!) and Faye Dunaway (so awesome!).
11:00 am - Start the next movie, High Noon. Whatever Orkin is doing is getting progressively louder.
12:00 pm - The movie is getting suspenseful. There's a knock on the door. Orkin is evidently drilling holes in our foundation. They need to get in our backyard, but I can't remember the combination for the lock on our gate. I tell them to call the landlords. They get the combo, but I can't get the lock open. I let them come through the house. They get the lock open - must have been stuck since it hasn't been used all winter (it mainly gets opened when they come to mow the grass). While I am trying to open the gate, the landlord leaves a voicemail - Orkin is treating the building for termites and they may need to get in the yard - no kidding. The drilling makes it too loud to watch the movie anymore.
12:30 pm - Instead of watching the movie, I am playing on the Internet. It occurs to me that I haven't gotten an e-mail from Blockbuster saying they received the movie I returned, or that they shipped the next one in my queue (the aforementioned P.S. I Love You that is supposed to be my it's-my-birthday-I-get-to-pick-the-movie treat for tonight). I go on-line and check my account. It says that I still have the previous movie, which I mailed on Monday. I can report it and they'll send the next movie in my queue. I decided to wait & see what we end up renting from the store in case we can get it there. Luckily, we have another movie we haven't mailed back, so we'll get a free rental at the store.
1:42 pm - They are still drilling in my yard. I am going insane. I just heard them say "only 20 more holes to go."
Will they ever stop the drilling? Will I ever get to finish watching High Noon? Will the Blockbuster store have a movie I want to see?
Sleep In
Watch the two Nora Roberts movies I recorded recently
Read
Dinner with Alec as a belated birthday celebration (sushi or takeout sushi, we haven't decided)
Movie (P.S. I Love You) delivered from Blockbuster online (since there is nothing good in the theatre)
Here's what has really happened so far:
7:50 am - River wakes me up because she is hungry. No problem, I'll feed her, let her out & go back to sleep, just like I do on weekend mornings.
8:00 am - Get back in bed to go back to sleep.
8:10 am - Orkin calls from the call box at our gate because they're supposed to do some work here today. I don't know anything about that. Also, the feature that allows us to open the gate from the phone isn't enabled so I can't let them in. Which I wouldn't do anyway, since I did not call them and frankly I can't be sure it's actually Orkin so I'm not about to let them into the complex. I tell them to call the landlords.
8:20 am - Evidently Orkin got in touch with the landlords, and whatever they're doing involves making a whole lot of noise in the other half of our duplex. So much for sleeping in. I decide get up and make breakfast.
8:50 am - Another call from the gate - what's up with this? It's Alec's photographer. Alec said to meet him here. Alec's not home, though. I tell the photographer to park in the parking area outside the gate b/c I can't open the gate. I call Alec. He's on his way. Also, the gate does work now; they fixed it yesterday and Alec forgot to tell me.
9:00 am - Settle in with my coffee and cereal to watch the first movie Midnight Bayou. It's very good. I don't really remember the book, so I have no idea how well it follows that, but it's a good story. Also, it has Jerry O'Connell (so cute!) and Faye Dunaway (so awesome!).
11:00 am - Start the next movie, High Noon. Whatever Orkin is doing is getting progressively louder.
12:00 pm - The movie is getting suspenseful. There's a knock on the door. Orkin is evidently drilling holes in our foundation. They need to get in our backyard, but I can't remember the combination for the lock on our gate. I tell them to call the landlords. They get the combo, but I can't get the lock open. I let them come through the house. They get the lock open - must have been stuck since it hasn't been used all winter (it mainly gets opened when they come to mow the grass). While I am trying to open the gate, the landlord leaves a voicemail - Orkin is treating the building for termites and they may need to get in the yard - no kidding. The drilling makes it too loud to watch the movie anymore.
12:30 pm - Instead of watching the movie, I am playing on the Internet. It occurs to me that I haven't gotten an e-mail from Blockbuster saying they received the movie I returned, or that they shipped the next one in my queue (the aforementioned P.S. I Love You that is supposed to be my it's-my-birthday-I-get-to-pick-the-movie treat for tonight). I go on-line and check my account. It says that I still have the previous movie, which I mailed on Monday. I can report it and they'll send the next movie in my queue. I decided to wait & see what we end up renting from the store in case we can get it there. Luckily, we have another movie we haven't mailed back, so we'll get a free rental at the store.
1:42 pm - They are still drilling in my yard. I am going insane. I just heard them say "only 20 more holes to go."
Will they ever stop the drilling? Will I ever get to finish watching High Noon? Will the Blockbuster store have a movie I want to see?
Thursday, April 2, 2009
I'm on Twitter
Last week, Alec convinced me to sign up for Twitter. I haven't "tweeted" because Alec is the only one following me. He usually knows what I'm up to.
If you have Twitter, and you want to follow me, look me up. Well, I think you can look me up. I tried to search for myself and I didn't find me (am I have an existential crisis?). I had my profile set so that I have to approve my "followers" because in the first two minutes I got two random followers and that's a little strange. So, I took that setting off and I still don't show up in the search results. Then I put the setting back on.
So, if you do want to follow me, I'm not really sure how you can go about doing that. Unless you just search for Alec (using his real name, of course) and then you'll see me as one of the people he's following. He actually does come up in the search results.
That is, of course, if you care that much about my life. It's really not that interesting.
I do, however, think it's fun to follow other people. I'm not really following anyone I actually know, except Alec. One friend came up when I searched using my e-mail address book. Other than that, so far I have: Martha Stewart; Elisabeth Hasslebeck & Sherri Shephard from "The View" and two bloggers I like, Pioneer Woman & Bakerella.
If you have Twitter, and you want to follow me, look me up. Well, I think you can look me up. I tried to search for myself and I didn't find me (am I have an existential crisis?). I had my profile set so that I have to approve my "followers" because in the first two minutes I got two random followers and that's a little strange. So, I took that setting off and I still don't show up in the search results. Then I put the setting back on.
So, if you do want to follow me, I'm not really sure how you can go about doing that. Unless you just search for Alec (using his real name, of course) and then you'll see me as one of the people he's following. He actually does come up in the search results.
That is, of course, if you care that much about my life. It's really not that interesting.
I do, however, think it's fun to follow other people. I'm not really following anyone I actually know, except Alec. One friend came up when I searched using my e-mail address book. Other than that, so far I have: Martha Stewart; Elisabeth Hasslebeck & Sherri Shephard from "The View" and two bloggers I like, Pioneer Woman & Bakerella.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
2008 Wrap Up
Wow, I can't believe it's been a little less than a year since I stared this blog and outlined my resolutions for 2008. I'm proud to say I've kept them all.
Start a Blog
Well, this blog has 105 posts! I know I've neglected it of late, but with preparing for the holidays, work trips and training for Disney, I haven't had a lot of time to keep up with it. I hope y'all have enjoyed reading my ramblings.
Try a New Recipe Every Week
I haven't gone back and counted, but I think I've done this every week, minus a few when I was traveling for work or we were on vacation. I cooked the final one of the year yesterday. It's been a lot of fun to try new things and I'm happy to say that most of them have been a success! I actually still have a few that I haven't posted. I guess I'll have to get to them next year!
Start Running
I pretty much summed this one up the other day. I did go for a 10.45 mile run on Sunday and with a combination of running and walking, I finished in 2.5 hours and had an average pace of 14 minutes, 20 seconds per mile. I'm certain I'll do a fair amount of walking during the race, but I'm now actually confident that I'll finish (and maybe even have time to pause for some character photos)!
I wish everyone a safe, happy, healthy 2009!
PS - I have no resolutions for 2009 yet, except to keep the 2008 ones going strong . . .
Start a Blog
Well, this blog has 105 posts! I know I've neglected it of late, but with preparing for the holidays, work trips and training for Disney, I haven't had a lot of time to keep up with it. I hope y'all have enjoyed reading my ramblings.
Try a New Recipe Every Week
I haven't gone back and counted, but I think I've done this every week, minus a few when I was traveling for work or we were on vacation. I cooked the final one of the year yesterday. It's been a lot of fun to try new things and I'm happy to say that most of them have been a success! I actually still have a few that I haven't posted. I guess I'll have to get to them next year!
Start Running
I pretty much summed this one up the other day. I did go for a 10.45 mile run on Sunday and with a combination of running and walking, I finished in 2.5 hours and had an average pace of 14 minutes, 20 seconds per mile. I'm certain I'll do a fair amount of walking during the race, but I'm now actually confident that I'll finish (and maybe even have time to pause for some character photos)!
I wish everyone a safe, happy, healthy 2009!
PS - I have no resolutions for 2009 yet, except to keep the 2008 ones going strong . . .
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
I Voted!
I didn't get an "I Voted" sticker though. They didn't seem to be handing them out at my polling place. I guess I could have asked, but the people were kinda crotchety.
I registered to vote right near the deadline. For the longest time, I didn't think I could register because I haven't gotten my drivers license here. (I have one, it's just for our old state. Why I haven't is a long story.) But, then I found out you don't have to have a license, so I went ahead an sent in my registration form.
Then, I started waiting for my voter card to arrive in the mail. It didn't come before I left on my work trip. It didn't come while I was gone, before Alec left on our trip. It wasn't in the held mail from the Post Office when we got back. It didn't come after we got home.
The other day I checked on-line and saw that I was registered and that my registration was valid as of Oct. 30. So, I checked to see what else you can bring to the polling place: drivers license (no good, wrong state), birth certificate (possibly no good, has maiden name - duh), passport (also possibly no good, has maiden name & is expired), utility bill (bingo - right name, right state, right address!). It was all over the news that it's much easier for the polling people if you have your voter card, but I couldn't really help it.
I also checked on-line for my polling place and found out it's two blocks from the house, which was great. I planned to walk there. Since I work from home, I planned to go at a random time to avoid lines.
So today at 2:00 PM, I got up from the computer, found some shoes, put on a little makeup (I was going out in public, after all) and headed to the polling place. There was no line at all! Three people came in at the same time as me, but we were it.
There were two people checking registrations - A-M and N-Z (or something like that). So, I go up to the cute grandmotherly lady at the N-Z table and tell her my name. I even spell the last name for her.
Grandmotherly Lady: Your name starts with "C", you need to go to the other line.
Me: No, my first name starts with "C." My last name starts with "T."
Grandmotherly Lady: Oh.
So, she finds me on the roll and stamps the little "voted" stamp next to my name. I hand her my utility bill and explain that I didn't receive my card. She starts to write what I guess is my registration number on a little sticky note to pass to the next person, who is writing the numbers & names on another sheet and having people sign.
Meanwhile, the 3 other people are in the A-M line. The man checking that line has already passed the first person on to the lady filling out the signature sheet. Grandmotherly Lady is still writing my number on the sticky note. The next person steps up to the A-M Checkin Guy and hands over his voter card.
A-M Checkin Guy: Good, you have your card. I like it when people have their card. It makes it so much easier.
A-M Voter: doesn't say anything
Me (in my head): It's not my fault. My card didn't come in the mail. If they didn't have time to get the cards sent out, they should have made the registration deadline earlier.
So finally Grandmotherly Lady passes me on to Signature Lady, who writes my info down on the sheet and slides it over to me to sign.
Signature Lady: Sign here on line 20
Me: OK (reaches for pen Signature Lady is holding)
Signature Lady: (in kinda mean voice) This is my pen. You use that one.
Me: (nicely) Oh, I'm sorry.
So I sign and Signature Lady passes me over to the Booth Lady, who explains how to use the voting machine. This is actually the first time I've ever voted on an electronic, touch screen machine. It was kinda cool. I picked my candidates, reviewed them and pressed the flashing red "Vote" button. And, I was done.
Me: (as I'm leaving, to the volunteers generally) Thanks y'all.
Me: (in my head) I don't get an "I Voted" sticker? Bummer.
Then, I walked back home and sat down at the computer to get back to work.
Total time elapsed: 25 minutes. I think that might be some kind of record.
Anyway, I hope you voted too. I'm going to go cook some dinner and watch the returns.
PS - I went running tonight! I've been a real slacker. But, I'll post about that tomorrow. If I'm going to post every day for 30 days, I gotta have something to say.
I registered to vote right near the deadline. For the longest time, I didn't think I could register because I haven't gotten my drivers license here. (I have one, it's just for our old state. Why I haven't is a long story.) But, then I found out you don't have to have a license, so I went ahead an sent in my registration form.
Then, I started waiting for my voter card to arrive in the mail. It didn't come before I left on my work trip. It didn't come while I was gone, before Alec left on our trip. It wasn't in the held mail from the Post Office when we got back. It didn't come after we got home.
The other day I checked on-line and saw that I was registered and that my registration was valid as of Oct. 30. So, I checked to see what else you can bring to the polling place: drivers license (no good, wrong state), birth certificate (possibly no good, has maiden name - duh), passport (also possibly no good, has maiden name & is expired), utility bill (bingo - right name, right state, right address!). It was all over the news that it's much easier for the polling people if you have your voter card, but I couldn't really help it.
I also checked on-line for my polling place and found out it's two blocks from the house, which was great. I planned to walk there. Since I work from home, I planned to go at a random time to avoid lines.
So today at 2:00 PM, I got up from the computer, found some shoes, put on a little makeup (I was going out in public, after all) and headed to the polling place. There was no line at all! Three people came in at the same time as me, but we were it.
There were two people checking registrations - A-M and N-Z (or something like that). So, I go up to the cute grandmotherly lady at the N-Z table and tell her my name. I even spell the last name for her.
Grandmotherly Lady: Your name starts with "C", you need to go to the other line.
Me: No, my first name starts with "C." My last name starts with "T."
Grandmotherly Lady: Oh.
So, she finds me on the roll and stamps the little "voted" stamp next to my name. I hand her my utility bill and explain that I didn't receive my card. She starts to write what I guess is my registration number on a little sticky note to pass to the next person, who is writing the numbers & names on another sheet and having people sign.
Meanwhile, the 3 other people are in the A-M line. The man checking that line has already passed the first person on to the lady filling out the signature sheet. Grandmotherly Lady is still writing my number on the sticky note. The next person steps up to the A-M Checkin Guy and hands over his voter card.
A-M Checkin Guy: Good, you have your card. I like it when people have their card. It makes it so much easier.
A-M Voter: doesn't say anything
Me (in my head): It's not my fault. My card didn't come in the mail. If they didn't have time to get the cards sent out, they should have made the registration deadline earlier.
So finally Grandmotherly Lady passes me on to Signature Lady, who writes my info down on the sheet and slides it over to me to sign.
Signature Lady: Sign here on line 20
Me: OK (reaches for pen Signature Lady is holding)
Signature Lady: (in kinda mean voice) This is my pen. You use that one.
Me: (nicely) Oh, I'm sorry.
So I sign and Signature Lady passes me over to the Booth Lady, who explains how to use the voting machine. This is actually the first time I've ever voted on an electronic, touch screen machine. It was kinda cool. I picked my candidates, reviewed them and pressed the flashing red "Vote" button. And, I was done.
Me: (as I'm leaving, to the volunteers generally) Thanks y'all.
Me: (in my head) I don't get an "I Voted" sticker? Bummer.
Then, I walked back home and sat down at the computer to get back to work.
Total time elapsed: 25 minutes. I think that might be some kind of record.
Anyway, I hope you voted too. I'm going to go cook some dinner and watch the returns.
PS - I went running tonight! I've been a real slacker. But, I'll post about that tomorrow. If I'm going to post every day for 30 days, I gotta have something to say.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
It's been a long time . . . (again)
Well, I had good intentions about being more attentive to my blog! Guess that didn't work out too well, though. Things have been really crazy around here!
Alec and I had a great July 4th weekend! We went to see fireworks and a concert on Friday night. On Saturday, we went and met up with some friends in the Wichita Mountains in Oklahoma. We went on a great hike and had a fun dinner (more about that later).
That Sunday, I went to Tulsa for a week to do some training at the office. It was fun to see all my co-workers and some of our friends. I got to eat at a bunch of places that we don't have here, which was a treat! I sent Alec pictures of my food from a couple of the places he likes. I guess it was kinda mean, but I sure thought it was funny!
Since I had to go to Tulsa, I postponed the cake decorating class until August. I didn't want to miss the first class! Luckily, they had another session scheduled so I was able to transfer into that.
I got back, and 3 days later my mom came to stay! It was wonderful to see her! Alec and I drove to the city to pick her up. We planned to go to a museum, but we shopped instead. So much for culture. I had great plans to show mom all around town, but we ended up mostly sticking around the house! Saturday, we took her to the Wichita Mountains and tried to do a hike to an old mine, but the trail wasn't very well defined so we turned back. Alec got poison oak, so he's pretty miserable. Mom helped me start a t-shirt quilt made from old shirts from my high school and college days. Other than that, we didn't do much at all. But, it was still fun!
Mom left today so life is back to normal. Maybe I really will get back into the swing of blogging!
Alec and I had a great July 4th weekend! We went to see fireworks and a concert on Friday night. On Saturday, we went and met up with some friends in the Wichita Mountains in Oklahoma. We went on a great hike and had a fun dinner (more about that later).
That Sunday, I went to Tulsa for a week to do some training at the office. It was fun to see all my co-workers and some of our friends. I got to eat at a bunch of places that we don't have here, which was a treat! I sent Alec pictures of my food from a couple of the places he likes. I guess it was kinda mean, but I sure thought it was funny!
Since I had to go to Tulsa, I postponed the cake decorating class until August. I didn't want to miss the first class! Luckily, they had another session scheduled so I was able to transfer into that.
I got back, and 3 days later my mom came to stay! It was wonderful to see her! Alec and I drove to the city to pick her up. We planned to go to a museum, but we shopped instead. So much for culture. I had great plans to show mom all around town, but we ended up mostly sticking around the house! Saturday, we took her to the Wichita Mountains and tried to do a hike to an old mine, but the trail wasn't very well defined so we turned back. Alec got poison oak, so he's pretty miserable. Mom helped me start a t-shirt quilt made from old shirts from my high school and college days. Other than that, we didn't do much at all. But, it was still fun!
Mom left today so life is back to normal. Maybe I really will get back into the swing of blogging!
Friday, July 4, 2008
New Stuff!
I have made some fun new purchases (besides the camera) the last few days.
A New Phone!
My step-mother-in-law J. was really sweet and sent me a another one of the cool purple phones that River ate a couple years ago. She gave me the original one and I was so sad when River decided to chew it up. At the time, she didn't think there was another one laying around the office, so I just got a boring silver one. Well, J. and my father-in-law recently sold their business and in the process of sorting through the stuff they brought home from the office, they found another one of the purple phones and sent it to me. But, Alec was afraid it's too outdated so he decided I shouldn't use it.
But, then we got a call from Sprint and they said that I was eligible for a really good deal on a new phone. So, I got the cool new LG Rumor. I am very excited because it has a keyboard! So, now I can text message. I had always refused to text because I hated doing it on a regular number pad. Now that I have a keyboard, I am ready to text! So, if you have my number (I'm not going to post it on the Internet, obviously!) send me a text. And, I will reply!
An Awesome Movie
One of my favorite movies ever is Disney's The Happiest Millionaire. It's such a fun movie! I have it on videotape, taped off of the Disney channel a long time ago. I love to watch it when I need a pick-me-up. But, I haven't watched it in a long time, since we no longer have a VCR hooked up to our main TV. A few years ago, they released an extended, "roadshow" edition of the DVD. My cousin K. had it and I was soooooooooo jealous. I put it on my Amazon wish list but nobody ever got it for me (of course, it's hard to choose when there are like 150 items on there!). Then, it went out of print.
So yesterday, we were in Sam's Club, just browsing around. I was looking at Disney DVDs and thinking I should ask Ingrid if she's collecting them for my niece. I noticed they have a few classic Disney films, like 20000 Leagues Under the Sea. And then, I saw it - The Happiest Millionaire - and it was the roadshow edition! I had to get it. I really do try not to impulse buy too much. But I have wanted this movie for sooooooooooo long and I thought I'd never, ever find it. Alec thinks I'm crazy. But I think it's $12.88 well spent.
A New Phone!
My step-mother-in-law J. was really sweet and sent me a another one of the cool purple phones that River ate a couple years ago. She gave me the original one and I was so sad when River decided to chew it up. At the time, she didn't think there was another one laying around the office, so I just got a boring silver one. Well, J. and my father-in-law recently sold their business and in the process of sorting through the stuff they brought home from the office, they found another one of the purple phones and sent it to me. But, Alec was afraid it's too outdated so he decided I shouldn't use it.
But, then we got a call from Sprint and they said that I was eligible for a really good deal on a new phone. So, I got the cool new LG Rumor. I am very excited because it has a keyboard! So, now I can text message. I had always refused to text because I hated doing it on a regular number pad. Now that I have a keyboard, I am ready to text! So, if you have my number (I'm not going to post it on the Internet, obviously!) send me a text. And, I will reply!
An Awesome Movie
One of my favorite movies ever is Disney's The Happiest Millionaire. It's such a fun movie! I have it on videotape, taped off of the Disney channel a long time ago. I love to watch it when I need a pick-me-up. But, I haven't watched it in a long time, since we no longer have a VCR hooked up to our main TV. A few years ago, they released an extended, "roadshow" edition of the DVD. My cousin K. had it and I was soooooooooo jealous. I put it on my Amazon wish list but nobody ever got it for me (of course, it's hard to choose when there are like 150 items on there!). Then, it went out of print.
So yesterday, we were in Sam's Club, just browsing around. I was looking at Disney DVDs and thinking I should ask Ingrid if she's collecting them for my niece. I noticed they have a few classic Disney films, like 20000 Leagues Under the Sea. And then, I saw it - The Happiest Millionaire - and it was the roadshow edition! I had to get it. I really do try not to impulse buy too much. But I have wanted this movie for sooooooooooo long and I thought I'd never, ever find it. Alec thinks I'm crazy. But I think it's $12.88 well spent.
Monday, June 30, 2008
An Update
Wow, it's been over two weeks since I updated the blog! My how time flies. My friend Miss Priss called the other day just to check and make sure I was OK because I hadn't updated in so long. Sorry if anyone was worried.
Life has been plugging along here in TX. I can't believe it's the last day of June!
Last week, Alec and I volunteered at a junior golf tournament here in town. The golfers were ages 6 - 18. The little kids were so cute, all decked out in their golf clothes. Saturday and Sunday I helped with check-ins while Alec helped out around the course. Everything was based at our municipal course, which is actually technically still under construction. It's been closed about a year and was supposed to be open it time for the tournament, but it wasn't quite yet. They had to go out and just paint the tee lines on the grass! Monday-Wednesday Alec went out after work and marshaled on the course. Monday I came out for dinner and didn't really do anything useful! But, Tuesday & Wednesday I set up a table to sell merchandise with the tournament logo. Most of it was just left over from prior years. The guys in charge of the tournament didn't think it was even worth doing, but some of the other people said it couldn't hurt. I ended up selling $775 worth of stuff the first day and about $800 the second day! The people in charge were really impressed! I had a lot of fun and it was nice to have a volunteer opportunity. They've already said we must come back next year!
They actually gave me a $100 bonus for doing such a good job on the sales at the tournament. I didn't want to take it, but they insisted and if they were going to insist who was I to say no. So, on Sunday we went to Sears and I bought us a new camera! It's a super cool Canon Elph SD1000. I actually had the original APS film Elph years ago and I loved that camera! I am excited to have the digital version. It has a lot of really cool features, like you can select a single color and then it will shoot the rest of the picture in black & white and continuous shooting. We had seen it on clearance at Sears a few weeks ago, so I did some research on it and it got good reviews, so we went back to get it. I am excited to try it out. We did get the protection plan for 2 years in case we mess up the shutter on this one!
If you are looking for a camera, I highly recommend Imaging Resource for research. They have a great "Find the Best Camera for You" feature where they ask you all kinds of questions about what you want in a camera and then recommend a bunch that meet those criteria. One of the things I really wanted was a "regular" viewfinder. I was always frustrated with our old camera when trying to frame pictures in bright light and couldn't see the LCD screen.
I'd better go get dinner together. I'll try not to go so long without updating again!
Life has been plugging along here in TX. I can't believe it's the last day of June!
Last week, Alec and I volunteered at a junior golf tournament here in town. The golfers were ages 6 - 18. The little kids were so cute, all decked out in their golf clothes. Saturday and Sunday I helped with check-ins while Alec helped out around the course. Everything was based at our municipal course, which is actually technically still under construction. It's been closed about a year and was supposed to be open it time for the tournament, but it wasn't quite yet. They had to go out and just paint the tee lines on the grass! Monday-Wednesday Alec went out after work and marshaled on the course. Monday I came out for dinner and didn't really do anything useful! But, Tuesday & Wednesday I set up a table to sell merchandise with the tournament logo. Most of it was just left over from prior years. The guys in charge of the tournament didn't think it was even worth doing, but some of the other people said it couldn't hurt. I ended up selling $775 worth of stuff the first day and about $800 the second day! The people in charge were really impressed! I had a lot of fun and it was nice to have a volunteer opportunity. They've already said we must come back next year!
They actually gave me a $100 bonus for doing such a good job on the sales at the tournament. I didn't want to take it, but they insisted and if they were going to insist who was I to say no. So, on Sunday we went to Sears and I bought us a new camera! It's a super cool Canon Elph SD1000. I actually had the original APS film Elph years ago and I loved that camera! I am excited to have the digital version. It has a lot of really cool features, like you can select a single color and then it will shoot the rest of the picture in black & white and continuous shooting. We had seen it on clearance at Sears a few weeks ago, so I did some research on it and it got good reviews, so we went back to get it. I am excited to try it out. We did get the protection plan for 2 years in case we mess up the shutter on this one!
If you are looking for a camera, I highly recommend Imaging Resource for research. They have a great "Find the Best Camera for You" feature where they ask you all kinds of questions about what you want in a camera and then recommend a bunch that meet those criteria. One of the things I really wanted was a "regular" viewfinder. I was always frustrated with our old camera when trying to frame pictures in bright light and couldn't see the LCD screen.
I'd better go get dinner together. I'll try not to go so long without updating again!
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