Van Morrison - Into the Mystic

Maybe it's because I have been thinking about my Poppop a lot lately, but this song has been stuck in my head for days. I loved watching him dance with my Namaw to this on my wedding day, their 57th anniversary.

Krissypooh is getting married!

I am off to St. Michael's for a fun wedding extravaganza, one that I am part of and not photographing! Yay!

PS I feel the need to vouch for Krissy and I in that photo. We had only 3 hours of sleep prior to bus excursion 2008 and we look sleepy because we are sleepy damnit.

Sweet D LOVES Sweet Tea!

My obsession with McDonald’s Sweet Tea is getting a little OOC (out of control for those of you who don’t party with Krissy and me). It’s gotten to the point where I begin to salivate when I pass a McDonald’s, and nooo not for something a normal person would crave like a cheeseburger, but for a really cold iced sweet as can be tea. Even when people call me Sweet D at work now all I can think about is Sweet Tea. There is even a message on my dry erase board at my desk writing about how Sweet D likes Sweet Tea. Whoever wrote that, I hate you, because now whenever I look at that board, my mouth is drenched with the thought of that big styrofoam cup, that is destroying the environment but who in the world gives a rats butt because that big styrofoam cup is filled with the most awesomest and sweetest beverage that I am about to drink out of a the best fast food drinking straw that I have ever used.

Ugh. I am parched.

Pet Peeve - Shopping Carts

See this? This is blasphemy and becoming a very large pet peeve for me. Yes, a lot of things annoy me. Yes, I complain a lot. Yes, I purposely park as close as possible to one of the cart returns. So naturally, yes, it makes me homicidal when people leave their flippin carts in parking spaces. I didn't use it, so I am definitely not responsible for returning it, but I also can't park in this really beast parking space unless this cart gets moved. Seriously people, take your lazy ass and put your damn cart away! Jeez!

Fat Lazy Cat

I kick him whenever I do the advanced step aerobics when he does this.

He deserves it because sometimes he messes up my center of balance tests by standing on my board! The last time he did that my Wii Fit Age was 45!

Top 10 - Things I love about Howard County, MD

10. Everybody works out.

Seriously. You cannot drive down any street in Howard County without seeing someone walking, running, biking, or rollerblading. Usually with a dog in tow. I like that everyone there is very health conscious, although this definitely has it’s downsides too. I have been running a bunch since I moved back and am already down almost 5 lbs! Yay for me!

9. Old Navy

Umm…why doesn’t Frederick have one? I always think there is one by the Best Buy and have gone there multiple times looking for it but alas, Hagerstown or Westminster are the closest.

8. Not driving on 270.

Although 95 and 495 aren’t so hot either. At least they don’t have HOV lanes to taunt/tempt me.

7. Pine Orchards Liquor Store.

This is by far the best liquor store in Ellicott City. They are inexpensive, open in snow storms, and they have a very large selection to choose from. What more could a girl want?

6. CA/Plethora of organized activities.

I love CA, Columbia Association. I have been a member since I was 12, it’s wildly expensive so my mommy still pays for it because she loves me and hasn’t taken me out of the family plan yet. You can get into any number of gyms including a gym just for women with nice plasma TV’s scattered throughout, a boatload of pools, and get discounts at local stores and restaurants.

5. Noodles and Company

Yum. One of these would be perfect for a place like Frederick.

4. Columbia Mall – or at least a mall with a food court.

Malls without food courts are just silly. And no it doesn’t count to have numerous fast food restaurants strategically scattered in each wing. I need a communal place where all of the mall patrons can go to eat with a wide variety of places to choose from. And Columbia Mall has Anne Taylor Loft, I could not ask for more.

3. Trader Joes.

Possibly the best organic grocery store ever. And so dirt cheap! And Frank even likes it! He has been eating organic food all week and loves every bite!

2. The people.

Okay, yes, sometimes the people make me want to gag because they are like cookie cutters. But first, they aren’t all like that, we have a pretty eclectic bunch around these parts and second, everyone is sooooo nice. Our neighbors take time to talk to us, there is no old lady at the grocery store who looks likenot only death itself but also that she could rip my head off at any second (ie Giant Eagle aka Big Pigeon as I like to call it).

1. Being so much closer to our families.

Yes. I said it.





But the #1 thing I miss about Frederick???!!! :

Julie, Lindsay, Krissy, Jenn, Andrea, Jessica, Justin, Kari, Abby, Rachel, Mandy, Michael, Kim, Kristin, Chelsey, Steve, Erik, James, and Il Forno. Among others who are on the tip of my tongue but haven't written. And yes, you are all tied with Il Forno. Deal.

OAR - I Feel Home

But I will feel even more home when some friends come over. Almost presentable guys and gals! Soon enough! Post wine fest sounds good!

Black, White and Red All Over

These are the beginnings to my black, white and red loft! Looking good so far.This room is going to be so fun when it is done. I have some shelves that I am going to paint black to hang on either side of the red curtains for my black and white photography, but I am in need of some smaller and fun details. Let me know if you have any suggestions!

Mmmm....floating shelves. Love them! Go me!



Yes, I did find a clock that is red, black and white. And a really, really soft red blanket that goes on Frank's huge recliner.

I Miss Chincoteague!

This is the first year in the last 4 I believe (don't quote me, could be three) that we were not able to sneak away for Labor Day. I think Labor Day vacas are the absolute best. It gives me closure to the summer and without closure, I get anxious and angry when it starts getting cold.

These are some of the reasons I miss that place. It is just so pretty and has the best natural light, and fish!

This one and the other sunset photos are taken right off the dock from Payton Place Suites where we always stay. It's just over the main bridge to get to the island and it is so quiet and peaceful.



This is on some trail where we usually get eaten alive by all sorts of Chincoteague bugs, or get run off the path by crazy bicyclists.



Not only are there horses...but little Bambi's too!



Who doesn't love a gorgeous sunset? And it was like that every single night, without fail.





Mmmmm....Reminds me that I can be found at the Maryland Wine Fest on September 20th, with a bunch of my favoritest people!

I have a new love...

…and it is the Wii Fit!

So, status post DVD cabinet fight, Frank stormed out of the house and stayed at our empty apartment in Frederick. I know I’m dumb; I shouldn’t have let him go. But, we are such drama queens sometimes. Admittedly. Plus, big bed all to myself……yum.

I get a text the next morning at around 8ish with a pic of the Wii Fit and a note saying that he was “sorry about last night.” Melt my heart. (Please note: that this Wii Fit was still owed to me because I bought him an Xbox 360, remember that post? Yeah, so don’t think he is sooooooo sweet, I was owed it. Still, adorable.)

I tried it out for the first time yesterday and I am seriously head over heels in love with everything about it. (Lindsay! It has crazy plank exercises that reminded me or kickboxing! And the Wii knows when you are cheating! Damn those planks!) My gluts are killing today and it is so embarrassing the real reason why…nope, not because I have begun running excessively again, but because I am a master at Hula Hooping! On the Wii Fit! My hips haven’t moved so fast ever, in my whole life, I am convinced. Today I got up to 734 spins on Super Hula Hoop! It is funny to picture, me laughing hysterically at myself, moving my hips in a large circular motion that just most have looked like the most ridiculous thing anyone has ever seen. Seriously, never moved faster.

I am also an awesome ski jumper. It’s all about finding your center of balance. And the warrior pose in Yoga, BRING IT ON! 4 STARS! Go me! Not to mention that step aerobics music I can’t get out of my head. I’m still bobbing to the beat.

I just can’t wait to apply these skills to real life. I think I am going to start with buying a hula hoop.

The DVD Cabinet

I got this really awesome DVD cabinet with a glass door at Ikea on my recent shopping extravaganza. It has many shelves, holds a lot of movies and hangs on your wall.

Frank willingly put the large thing together and very well too. Although at first, he gave me the look of death because of all the parts that came with it. He got it all put together as I made dinner, and we realized we needed a drill to hang it onto the wall. We were going to a friend’s house that night and asked if we could borrow their drill. Frank and I made a deal that we were going to hang this DVD rack up before we went to bed so we could see the living room floor tomorrow.

Now the next part is where everything went wrong, and how the DVD cabinet and the damn drill almost caused the d word. Yes, divorce. Over a DVD cabinet. And a drill. We got home and measured out exactly where we wanted the cabinet, and when Frank got the drill out he was unable to get the adapter part that would connect tools like a screw driver and flat head and all that jazz off. This ballooned into a fight about competence, and manliness, which escalated to a fight about finances and our current situation as a couple who works and goes to school. All in a span of 5 minutes.

So, note to all of you out there, don’t try to hang DVD cabinets when you have consumed an unknown amount of beer and tequila. It is just a really, really bad idea.

Murphy's Law

What a horrendous couple of days. Horrendous you hear.

I’m not even sure I can recap the complete madness of the whole thing.

But it started on September 2nd. I broke my beautiful car. I pulled into a parking spot at Ikea in College Park, and at this Ikea, not every spot has one of those curb things (yes, I know, very descriptive but after almost an hour I cannot think of what they even might be called so this is what you get) so since I hadn’t seen any in the spots prior to this one, I did not think there was a curb thing, but what did I do you ask? Yes, I pulled my car right up onto one of those curb things and it made the front fender pop out of place and cause some breakage to my valence. So, shopping in Ikea with my bud Lauren, I moped the whole time and felt bad for her because she had to deal with mopey me.

Leaving Ikea was a success, we fit everything into my Fit, and we were able to get it into my new place. But when I left my new place, I got off on a wrong exit, and to avoid an oncoming car, I made a right turn too quickly and without paying too much attention to the road and went up onto the curb and ended up with a flat tire and damaged wheel. My 24 hour Geico Roadside assistance came about 90 minutes later and put on my spare and I was able to drive 40 mph back to Frederick to take my poor car to the doctor. 40 mph for 40 miles on 70 West is no fun.

The next day was moving day and I was hoping for a much better day than the one prior. The movers were scheduled to come between 8am-12pm. But guess who got a call at 9:00am? Me. I got a call saying that there workplace had been vandalized and the tires on all of their trucks slashed. They said they may not be able to move me today. Breath now. I am getting fired up just thinking about it. I let them know that there were going to be moving me that day, because this is the day I contracted for and this is the day we are going to keep. About an hour later, I get a call saying that they have transferred my move to a different branch and that they should be giving me a call shortly. About an hour later I get a call saying that they will be here in 2 hours, so around 12:30pm. Not bad I think. 1:30 rolls around…still no movers…2:00 I place a call to the branch manager and ask where the hell the movers are, well the movers got caught up on the metro getting to work. I fail to see where this is my problem. 2:30 rolls around…still no movers….3:30, ahh, there we go, your truck is finally f-ing here. Now if only Frank and I didn’t both have to be at work at 6pm. By 4:30 we were on the road to the new place. And by 7:30 they were done unloading it. And I was only a whopping 2.5 hours late for work.

So, we’re moved in and I finally get a good look at the place and there are a bunch of things to fix, like the fact that our bedroom door doesn’t close, or that the blinds in the dining room are broken and the horrendous noise our really nice garden bathtub makes every time you move your feet in it.

I’m looking forward to a new week.

Adele - Hometown Glory