| Home | My Account | Directories |
How to travel with big furniture and tiny cars
Published on 2012-05-19 19:12:00
Today on the freeway I passed a mustang convertible, top down, with about 6 patio chairs crammed in the backseat at odd angles. The driver who, for some reason in all his 50+ years of living did not have a better solution, must’ve figured that his wife holding on to the legs of one of the chairs counted adequately in place of a tie-down strap. I will say that one thing I’ve taken for granted since meeting Chris is the convenience of a pickup truck. Between him and his friends, there is al [..] > read more
Cruise Tip #3: how to swim a horse
Published on 2012-04-18 19:51:00
Today we will give you instructions on how to "swim a horse." > read more
O Californians, how you drive... me insane
Published on 2012-04-14 02:02:00
An Open Letter to my west coast friends on the open road: Dear California Drivers, I know this is going to be a hard, but you are going to have to break yourself away from your unhealthy obsession with the left-hand lane. > read more
Cruise Tip #2: rednecks like big fishes
Published on 2012-03-28 20:44:00
For their birthday this year, Frick and Frack (that's my husband and his twin, in case you were having trouble following there) got to go on a fishing boat in Cabo with their friends Sleepy E, Wobbie, and Vegas. > read more
Cruise Tip #1: Bring your own mustaches
Published on 2012-03-26 21:01:00
Oh yes that's right. > read more
Friday Night Fever
Published on 2012-03-19 18:52:00
This is what a rockin' Friday night looks like at our house. > read more
3 Years
Published on 2012-03-14 19:10:00
The husband and I were at the grocery store yesterday, picking out our dinner for the night. Chris suggested that we also get dinner for the following night. “Unless you would rather go eat at a nice restaurant tomorrow?” I looked at him. We didn’t usually eat out on weekdays. “Why would we do that?” He looked back at me. “Because it’s our anniversary.” Oh, um, oops. It’s not that I forgot about our anniversary. I just had been so focused on the fact that our cruise [..] > read more
Oh, yeah
Published on 2012-03-01 22:20:00
As if I'd ever get a Lamborghini
Published on 2012-02-23 20:28:00
The Husband and I are preparing to take a cruise for our anniversary this year. Since I have an irrational fear of being completely disconnected from work, I was reading through the shipboard internet options to see how feasible it is to periodically check my work emails during our vacation, when I came across this polite-but-snarky blurb that demonstrates the cruise line's obvious frustration with people who complain about dumb things. It's like if someone were to gift you a Lamborghini Reven [..] > read more
Date Shakes
Published on 2012-02-16 19:32:00
There's a lonely stretch of Interstate 8 that runs through the desert, about halfway between Yuma and Phoenix, that boasts a place called "Dateland." Along the freeway is a giant sign advertising their world-famous date shakes. We always drive on by, of course that's usually because it's too late or too early in the day to be interested in a milkshake. Only not today. I happened to be driving by Dateland around lunch, so it seemed perfect to stop for a sandwich and a date shake. I had never [..] > read more
Minivan castles
Published on 2012-02-07 19:44:00
I say, who needs to take the kids to Disneyland, when you can just have Disneyland come to YOU: > read more
Worst. Dentist. Appointment. Ever.
Published on 2012-01-20 22:07:00
I don't really mind going to the dentist. Usually. Heck, sometimes I even blog about it. Some people are just lucky and their teeth are naturally awesome. And some people brush and floss religiously and still have tons of cavities. I am one of the former. I have never had a cavity. In fact, one of my former dentists once told me I had "super teeth" and that I could probably get away with only a dental visit once a year, instead of every 6 months. If we're being honest, I'm not the best fl [..] > read more
School Pride
Published on 2012-01-14 12:15:00
Seeing as how the husband's family always sends us gear promoting the University of Iowa, it seemed only fair that my family send us gear promoting Kansas State. And my parents did just that for Christmas. Afterwards, the husband and I had the following conversation. THB: I like my new K-State sweatshirt, but I think it's funny that they picked the camouflage one. What, do I scream redneck? ME: I wouldn't say so much 'scream' redneck but you definitely 'announce loudly.' > read more
In memory of a wonderful grandmother
Published on 2012-01-05 23:33:00
This is my favorite photo of my Grandma, and the one that I will always remember her by. In my memory, Grandma Fern was always this person: smiling on the porch steps, standing in the warm dappled sunlight of a Michigan summer. She was the grandmother who was always happy to see you, who would give you hugs and kisses and send homemade fudge at Christmastime. She would patiently play cards with pre-teen adolescents as if it were the one thing she wanted to do most in the world. She let us ea [..] > read more
Floor Turkey
Published on 2011-12-29 23:15:00
Def: when your husband is carving up the turkey he deep fried and just as he puts the last piece of carved turkey on the serving platter the massive quantities of grease combined with the forward motion of the carving knife cause the platter to slide off the kitchen counter and on to the tile. The turkey that touches the floor is referred to as "floor turkey." The rest of the turkey, that doesn't touch the floor, is referred to as "edible." Although if you're me, you follow the old 3 second ru [..] > read more
An early Christmas gift, for the dog
Published on 2011-12-16 19:48:00
This is what the dog got for Christmas. It's 250 Vitamin K pills. Because she helped herself to a tasty treat that was supposed to be locked up in the garage, where she couldn't get to it: So what else did Chloe get for Christmas? She got to vomit and go on a car ride to the emergency vet. Oh, and of course the $300 worth of pills. Merry Christmas dog, it looks like that's about all you're getting for Christmas. Except maybe a lump of activated charcoal in your stocking. Oh, yeah, and th [..] > read more
Craigslist vs the Yard Sale
Published on 2011-12-12 20:05:00
If Craigslist and a Yard Sale were to duke it out over which one is the better way to get rid of old crap that you don't want anymore, Craigslist would win hands-down. And here's why. Getting rid of your stuff at a yard sale: 1) Poll all your neighbors and friends to see who wants to go in on a yard sale with you.2) Give up on convincing your neighbors and friends. Go to an office supply store and buy neon signs, magic markers, and duct tape.3) Make the signs. Crappy old filing cabinet but ev [..] > read more
Big city shopping
Published on 2011-12-05 00:17:00
So this past weekend, my husband and I went on a date. Like, dinner and a movie and some quality time together. It was super. The only weird part is that the movie theater is in the mall, but it's not one of the mall anchors. It's, like, smack dab in the center of the mall. So you have to walk through the mall to get to your movie. In our case, we parked by the Wal-Mart and walked in to the mall. Also, does anyone else think it's weird that the mall has a Wal-Mart? Anyway, as we were wal [..] > read more
Holiday Cheer... and a subtle warning to the neighbors
Published on 2011-11-21 20:22:00
I saw this in the craft store, and thought it would be the perfect holiday gift for our neighbors... you know, the ones who let their pet peafowl run wild and poo all over our backyard? Just saying. > read more
Interwebs FAIL
Published on 2011-06-15 20:18:00
Revealed: The Thing That Lives In My Lamp
Published on 2011-06-13 22:15:00
Well, sort of. I know have a photograph of The Thing That Lives In My Lamp, but I'm still not really sure what it is. > read more
California Sweet Corn
Published on 2011-06-10 21:58:00
In case anyone is wondering how the sweet corn in our backyard is doing: > read more
Falling through the sky
Published on 2011-06-09 19:31:00
Because apparently the Warrior Dash wasn't enough adventure for the month of May, Chris and I, along with 10 or so of our friends, signed up to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. This is the conversation that was had about two weeks before > read more
Warrior Dash-ed
Published on 2011-05-28 12:02:00
So at the beginning of May, Chris and I participated in the Warrior Dash, along with some good friends of ours. To put it mildly, none of us had really spent much time on those things that people typically do before running a race, like "training" an > read more
My co-workers like to drink a lot so the local bars are doing well
Published on 2011-05-27 00:29:00
A while back I wrote a post about our local watering hole. If you haven't read it you might want to pop over on this link and take a look at the photos: Dive Bars and Beers. I work for a construction company that travels from job to job. > read more
You can't take the country out
Published on 2011-04-28 00:06:00
My husband, for those who don't know, grew up in Iowa. He grew up on a farm (really!) growing corn and hogs and plus this one lady wrote a great book about their library cat. And also, in case you didn't know, my husband has a twin broth > read more
The Thing that Lives in my Lamp (and my first contest!!!)
Published on 2011-04-24 03:37:00
Today's blog is brought to you by: The thing that lives in the hanging lamp in the front entryway of our rental house. We moved into this house last fall, and I am ashamed to admit that I have known about the thing in the lamp since shortly af > read more
Memoir Monday: How NOT to rent a car in France
Published on 2011-04-11 20:07:00
It's time for a Memoir Monday! This one is entitled: How (not) to rent a car in France. In 6 easy steps. When I was 19, I spent a semester in France. The university I attended was just about 2 hours west of Paris, so at one point, my bes > read more
Sometimes you don't even need the Sniff Test
Published on 2011-04-07 20:45:00
Chris makes fun of me often for my very lax perception of food that can still be considered "edible." Maybe had I ever had food poisoning I would be a lot more cautious, but the fact of the matter is, if it looks okay and smells good, > read more
Warrior Dash
Published on 2011-04-07 20:21:00
So, Chris and I are doing this thing. It is called the Warrior Dash. I am woefully out of shape. That's really all I have to say about that. (Except that it's a competition, Chris and Payson against myself and Payson's wife. My only ho > read more
Monster Truck Rally
Published on 2011-03-22 22:36:00
Last night, Chris and I were relaxing in the living room, watching an episode of House. At one point in the episode, Dr. House has the team meet him in the parking lot of the hospital. The following scene takes place: House has driven Co > read more
I'd like to file a complaint...
Published on 2011-03-20 22:14:00
Things have been a little quiet around here lately, I'll be the first to admit it. Work has been absolutely insane, 12 hour work days six days a week. There are days when the weather is beautiful and I've accomplished so much an > read more
Sexy Pizza Cops
Published on 2011-03-05 21:51:00
Let's just take a minute to appreciate how much I love pizza. Although, ironically, I didn't like pizza so much when I was growing up. This is ironic because when I was growing up, my father owned a pizza restaurant. When I was about 8 or 9, > read more
Part 3: Dinner and an (improv) show
Published on 2011-02-19 22:16:00
Maybe you remember that last year we forgot to make reservations until February 13. And the year before that we didn’t have reservations and ended up with a three hour wait at Claim Jumper in which I was so hungry by the time we got our food > read more
Valentine’s Day, PART 2
Published on 2011-02-18 20:32:00
The one that all the food servers will appreciate. Part 3 of this story, “Dinner and an improv show,” is really the best part. I will give you a little bit of foreshadowing when I say that our dinner cruise involved unlimited champagne and > read more
P.S. Apparently I need to retrain myself on how to use a staple gun
Published on 2011-02-14 19:40:00
So to make a long story short, I was attempting to staple some things to some stuff and in the middle of attaching a laminated piece of paper to some corrugated plastic I hear, "pffffft". I paused, perplexed for a minute. Then.... Ohcrapohcra > read more
Home Decor
Published on 2011-01-30 20:32:00
Who needs a decorative throw for your couch when you have: It's the "Domestic Feline Armchair Decoration"! Only $19.95! Now with less hairballs. > read more
Something is digging in my flowerbed
Published on 2011-01-29 20:29:00
*hint* and it's not rabbits. What, oh what could it be? Here is my first clue: Hmmm... a bunch of feathers, OK. Here is my second clue: Golf-ball sized avian poops. OK. And, finally, the PROOF: Luckily, I have a specialized peacock deterrent pr > read more
TYSE #3: Pillowmints
Published on 2011-01-16 22:07:00
Since I have been sort of unfairly picking on Chris these lasts few posts, I suppose it's time to make fun of myself. I haven't done a "Things You Shouldn't Eat" in a while so it seems fitting to share this bit of advice with you all. Last Chr > read more
Complete Nonsense
Published on 2011-01-16 09:32:00
Last night, Chris fell asleep on the couch while we were watching TV. When the show ended, I went to wake him so we could go to bed. I shook his shoulder gently and whispered that he needed to get up and go to bed. "Mumble mumble just wait mu > read more
Super Frack
Published on 2011-01-08 14:23:00
This story is about the birth of "SuperFrack." (And if you need a reminder as to why my husband is called Frack, click here.) Flashback to 4 years ago. Chris and I had just started dating. I was in San Francisco for the weekend, attending my cous > read more
The Five Things of Thursday
Published on 2011-01-06 21:43:00
FIVE THINGS I NEVER THOUGHT I'D LIKE, BUT NOW I LOOOVE 1) National Public Radio (NPR) 2) Hummus 3) The Kindle (love love love!) 4) Red Wine 5) Aluminum Water Bottles FIVE THINGS I THOUGHT I'D LOVE FOREVER, BUT NOW NOT SO MUCH 1) Tye-Dye sh > read more
786,000 Gallons of Water
Published on 2011-01-04 21:26:00
Chris and I were at the house last weekend when the doorbell rang. It was the meter-reader. He wanted to let us know that our water use for the past month was very high. Which was very considerate of him, although a few months too l > read more
The Cat pulls a Houdini
Published on 2010-12-27 20:12:00
You guys have met my cat right? Let's just say she's an indoor cat who doesn't possess very many "street smarts." And she's not much of a hunter, judging by her 25% success ratio with catching flies and moths. Also, she's not very fast.& > read more
Because I have so much to be thankful for, and how awesome is the postal service
Published on 2010-12-27 19:41:00
I'm going to take a pause for a moment to be totally serious. Although I didn't get to spend this holiday season with family, I did get to spend it with some of my good friends. And I am so thankful for how awesome they are. (And to my f > read more
O potato, how shall I eat thee?
Published on 2010-12-20 20:24:00
The week before thanksgiving, Chris, myself, and the roommate Payson decided to host a Thanksgiving dinner for everyone at work who was away from home or just wanted an excuse to hang out and eat. The original invite list was small – but quic > read more