You know....?

Do you know what makes me want to write?

No, it is not the pleasure I get to putting words and ideas from my crazy head into some semblence of order...

No, it is not the time I get to spend in self reflection...

No, it is not my love of literary labels (thats right, I just popped out some alliteration in your face...booyeah!)

It is the comments.

The feedback that I get from people stopping by and saying..."hey that 10-30 min. that you spent today did not go to waste...unlike that piece about clandestine spying for lawyers that will ultimately go the way of electronic trash can."

And nothing gets me jazzed more than the double figures of comments....seriously.

Now I work hard for some of those comments...I scour the internet commenting on random peoples blogs...you know who you are....
but in the process, I have "met" some pretty cool people and some pretty cool blogs. This is why I have had so many "linky" posts.

So why don't you make these last few minutes worth something and leave a comment?!?!?!

Preferably about what makes you happy to blog...or what makes you happy...we can make it a veritable Sound of Music rip off....call me Sister Maria.

Make Me Laugh Monday-Lolcat edition

okay, I am not a cat person, but I am a Lolcat person. Go to Icanhascheezburger.com and check out some really funny pictures that people caption for fame and fortune...Okay well maybe just fortune...what no money is involved...SO it's just for weird internet pride. But if you are a blogger than you understand that.

Here is my contribution to MMLM:

Enter the ICHC online Poker Cats Contest!

Quick and Dirty

Leigh had asked for some photoshop hair advice...so here it is: what do you think she should do:


Her Now:

Meg Ryan



Lisa Rina



Martina



Mandy Moore




Okay these were quick and dirty, but hopefully they will give her a looksee. I think the Martina is the best!

What do you think!?!?!

Wordless Wednesday-My Best Friend's Wedding

I don't usually participate in Wordless Wednesday, this pic just seemed to fit.



wordless wednesday

Make me Laugh-a day late

Okay, I have been cruisin' the blogosphere and found Absolutely Bananas. It is absolutely hilarious.

She has started something to make me look forward to Mondays (even better than my short lived, More-than-less-Moot Monday). It is MAKE ME LAUGH MONDAY.

Now I don't have kiddos to laugh at, but I have youtube!



Here is a good Mom meets YouTube via Brooke Shields.

Happy Late Monday

The Cold Hard Truth

UPDATED: Erin's link corrected. Sorry!

So, as you probably can tell, I have not been in a chatty mood the past week or so. Why? For a number of reasons:

1.) Work has been crazy. Everyone I work with has decided that I look like just the person to pick up their slack. I do not say no easily, so here I am with a mound of work and 0 time.

2.) My house has been crazy. There are clothes EVERYWHERE! They are clean clothes mind you, but for some reason for a week and a half...I would take clean clothes, fold them...stack them...and then have to shuffle them into a closet or pile somwhere because "COMPANY STOPPED BY!" So I have to have to have to take care of this. We are down to wearing the same clothes over and over again because we can't figure out where our clothes are! Also, our light bulb in the closet burned out...so I can't see the clothes that are hanging up.

3.) My husband has been working crazy. KW has been wonderful for the first part of the semester. None of his usually crazy "I HAVE TO WORK 110% OF THE TIME!" All the sudden it hit again in full force. This is why I have had no help with the laundry or light bulb fixing. (However, he did take Penny in for her day of beauty without being asked!)

4.) My dog has been crazy. We went to the vet with what we thought was a cold and was told...NO, probably not but here is some medicine anyways (my doctor never gives me drugs "just in case" does yours?). Anyway, I started giving her the medicine and we noticed an odd change in her behavior, she would sleep all day and then bark all night. She has never done this EVER! On her first night with us, she slept like a champ in her crate. She is an early riser for food and busies (yes, that is what my family calles dog business: little busy-pee, big busy-poop. She is getting good at responding to them.) So for 3 nights in a row, we were up every 2 hours with a whiny dog. We thought it was for food, outside, boredom and we tried everything...finally it dawned on me that it was her medicine. So we took her off of it, played with her a little more before bed and she was gold (so far, I hope I didn't speak to soon!).

5.) I have been feeling crazy. My hormones are nuts (PMS anyone). I feel completely gross because I have caved in my New Years, Lent, Weight Watchers resolution. So I probably need to get to the gym. Urgh.

All this to say, I haven't been posting, but I have been reading. Here are some sites that I have really started to get into:

Mrs. Fussypants-she writes a lot of stuff about being good to your husband, which I could always use a reminder.

Kelly at Filtering Life...another one from Erin's blogroll. I just love her photography.

FanFiction for Jane Austin: this is where normal people write sequels, redos, and anything related to their favorite book. I love the Jane Austen section because I have become obsessed with retellings of Pride & Prejudice and I have read every one that is out in print. So this is a good fix, without the cost.

The McNulty Quads: I don't remember how I became "introduced to this blog." Maybe it was Erin, I don't know. But thier story about raising quadruplets is awesome. Both posters (you get mom and dad) are hilarious and have funny captions to their pictures. They also just love thier kids and love learning their different personalities. I also secretly think (when I get freaked out by the perfect parenting/birthing blogs)...well, if they can do it with four babies maybe I might be able to handle one baby.

Better than a Leg Lamp

ITS A MAJOR AWARD, AND I WON IT!
(sorry Leigh, I had to steal it...)

Leigh over at General Ramblings gave me this:


Not only does this awesome blogger make my day daily with her antics (she always has a great story to tell)...she has great taste in music and can take some kickin' photography (which for those of you who don't know, I'm trying to learn more about).

Thank you Leigh for giving me my first award! And like yourself, I have looked on at others awards in envy. Saddened that I was not cool enough, not witty enough, not popular enough to warrent an award...BUT NOW I AM! WOOT!

Part of the award is passing it on:
(I feel like the batchelor..."and I give a rose to _________, because she makes me laugh and brightens my day." Sadly, I don't watch the show, so this is the only thing I know from it!)

First up: Butcherfam...gotta give it up to my sister (soul and sole). She keeps me updated on her kids when I haven't seen (well, one of them...EVER!) in awhile.

Secondsies: Huckfam...She doesn't post a lot, but when she does, she'll make you wet yourself. She's just like that. And she continues to be a quiet, sweet, Christian influence on me.

Thirdly: Erin at Peach Livin in the Everglades...cause she is a transplant like me and has introduced me to some great blogs on her blogroll.

Fourths: Is Rachd over at Life with Hannah and Lily. One of the blogs from Erin's blogroll. This woman has a great spirit. Her story is touching, hard, unbelievable, and basically full of love. She doesn't know me...but I want to know that she makes my world a brighter place.

And I give my last rose to....can you feel the tension...I should give it to anyone who reads this post (cause, all 4 of you have either given me the award or are already given one....)...So I officially give the last rose to Katherine at Raising Five. I always look forward to reading her post. She talks about hard issues, is going through a big move right now, and seems to have this fun-indelible spirit. She is a big deal in the blogging world-cause she has gotten many very legit awards, but hopefully she can squeeze this one in the back of the pod.

I hope you all have had a great week, I am sorry that I haven't posted a lot. Work is going crizazy. But more on that later!

Some Insight to My Hubs

Now, KW is not going to like this, but I am going to expound on some of the virtues that is my husband. This is "important" for two reasons: the more you know of him, the more you know of me, and I had an awful dream last night where he had a blog (he hates blogs, fyi-i try not to hold it against him) and was saying all sorts of stuff about me (not bad, just stuff) and he didn't tell me!!!!. So dream payback is a b*tch. And I will tell him that I talked about him and this will be met with eye rolls and a groan.

Besides being a kind and thoughtful man, my hubs is usually pretty patient with me. And I test him. On Saturday, I was feeling pretty angsty and just wanted to groan and whine and kivetch like a toddler. No real reason. Just felt the need. When he wouldn't play along (like he usually does), he started to get irritated and then finally he figured out how to get me out of my upsetness funk. He danced. I have shown evidence to this before. I love that he makes me laugh.

Another thing about KW is that he loves his adventures. Now, I've alluded to this before. But he loves to find free stuff around town (or out of town) and go to it. This can be when it is raining, snowing, 110 degrees. He is the postal worker (and my postal worker is good so I will not say anything negative here) of adventurists. Now we do not climb things, we do not dive into mystical deep waters...we do silly things.

Like go to a little place called Hell, Michigan...when it snows...so we can get this picture:


A snowballs chance in hell.

You'll notice KW's eyes behind Penny in the Lil' Devil one. We took the Princess (we call her that and it fits!) with us for her first car ride that wasn't medical or drop off related (just for funsies)...and she enjoyed it.

He also dragged along the ever willing Montagninis to come visit the birthplace of Motown

It was actually really fun and our guide was awesome!!!! It was in a sketchy area of Detroit (sadly, a lot of Detroit). And I typically would not have let KW drag me downtown on an early cold Saturday morning, but I went with little protestation since the Montagnini's were coming.

This weekend, here were the options he gave me for entertainment:
Go look at Chinese water symbols, Irish clog dancing, or a poetry reading. I opted for none: it was -2 here!!!! I can't support going out in that weather!!!!

He has also recently taken me to UofM women's gymnastics meet (SO FUN!) and men's diving (also a good time!).

All of this to say, that he drags me to and fro but I always have fun and love him for wanting me to be next to him for all of life's significant and insignificant goings.

Lenten promises

Growing up I always gave up french fries and potato chips for Lent. I have really learned the benefit of doing something positive for Lent rather than just depriving myself. It doesn't help that I usually end up not sticking to my guns by the end.

So this year, I am going to go back on Weight Watchers (although, my anger at my quasi-boss is making it harder for me not to drink all my points) and work out every night for a minimum of 30 min. a day.

Also, KW and I are working to pray together more regularly together.

I am also praying a prayer that I made up every morning:


Dear Lord,
Bless my eyes to see your glory (open my eyes)
Bless my ears to hear your word
Bless my mouth to speak your goodness
Bless my hands to serve those in need and
Bless my feet to walk your path (put feet on floor)

Thank you Lord for this day, let me use it to your glory.


Thought I would keep myself accountable on my blog!

Suck it Merriam-Webster Dictionary

This is a first for me. When I was done with my last post, I hit the spell check button (which I try to remember to do for everything) and nothing happened. I thought that blogger was not working. Something must be wrong, and now I can not post because all of the grammar freaks out there will laugh and mock if I mess up. So I pressed the button again and had a shocking realization. I DIDN'T MISS SPELL ANYTHING!

Look, I think I'm pretty smart but I will tell you laziness and carelessness get in my way of being a FANTASTIC speller. Until now! I should go on that ESPN spelling bee contest. I am a spelling genius. Watch out world.

Update...spoke too soon, spell check really isn't working. In my efforts to fact check after posting...like all good reporters. I copied and pasted my post to Word and got several angry underlined red underlined words. Oh well, it was good while it lasted.

Bucket Lists

So a lot of people I know now has been inspired by the movie, the Bucket List, to make their own list of things they want to do before they die.

I initially thought, "Wow, that's kinda fun...what would I do..."

Some people said they wanted to live to know their grandchildren as adults, see their kids fall in love...and while I hope I get to do all those things, I don't feel that is appropriate for this list because you can't really actively do those things. Their just wishes.

Some people listed that they wanted to write a great novel (sure, I'd love to do that), paint beautifully (eh, I can paint mediocrely and I'm okay with that), accomplish great things with their career.

Here is my problem...I don't care if I do anything!!!

With my life, with my day...

I'm not the kind of person that says, "I feel so useless, I didn't do anything with my day." KW is like this...he has to see new things, meet new people, go places, contribute to the world and his future all in 16-20 hours.

He also frequently asks me, "what do you want to do with your life?" "Are you doing what you always wanted to do?"

Big Clue To The Insight Of My Soul: I never had any goals or fixed plans for my life. I assumed I'd get married at some point, have kids after that, and live in the south. Well, I got married a little earlier than I thought, am going to have kids (God willing) later than I thought, and haven't moved back to the south yet...but I'm okay with all of that (but I miss the south constantly). I never aspired to do anything magnificant career wise. I just wanted to be happy and serve God and my family...however that came about.

All this to say that you will never see a bucket list from me. And if you forced me the only thing on that list would be:

Snuggle for 48 hours straight with my husband and dog.

maybe I'm just lazy

Rockin' It Since 2001

I love CBS's tv show How I Met Your Mother. Now my brother gave me the DVD of seasons 1 and 2 for Christmas (he is a great brother!)...and I watch them all the time. Simply hilarious. But CBS also has the some later episodes online. During this time of writer's strike, it can fill your non-primetime viewing.

A great episode is when two of the main characters get married. During their makeshift vows, Lily (played by Alyson Hannigan-cutie!) says to Marshall (who--as a character--is a law student at Columbia and has been with Lily since the first day of freshman year in college)...I love you because you made me a sweatshirt that said "lily and marshall rockin it since 1996." I loved the idea of a cheesemo shirt that I designed a logo for me a KW.

I told you I am ridi-que-LOS with the photoshopping.
Here (hopefully) is one of my favorite clips from How I Met Your Mother:
background--Robin is Canadian, hilarity ensues.

Another Victim to my Photoshop

Now, if this is weird, forgive me and tell me to stop.

I have been reading Leigh's blog, General Ramblings, and I have loved getting to know her spunky attitude (you should see the dance routine she is learning!) and her love of Loretta Lynn (who I happen to adore).

Since Leigh has a shiny happy picture of herself on her blog, I thought "Leigh likes Loretta Lynn so much, I should photoshop her into some big Loretta hair and dresses."

So that is what I did. Leigh, I am sorry that you can't meet Loretta today but you can play digital dress up as her!

Again, I know this is silly...I'm sorry. I like to challenge myself to see if I can do the silly ideas that come into my head.

Dinner tonight

Okay, confession time, people. I do my shopping daily. I go to the grocery store almost every day.

I know, I know, I know. I waste money, time, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah...

But I can't help it. With just two of us, we are driven by whims and tastes. We love to eat according to mood.
Often we will pair it with what is on t.v. Big game = sports night food: pizza/hot dogs and beer. Project Runway = fancy salad.

Second confession: both KW and I hate making decision. We both want the other to be happy, so we hate saying "I WANT THIS!" because that might make the other one less happy.

So I was shocked yesterday that KW wanted to get stuff to make Chicken Marsala for today (A DAY AHEAD!)

We were there getting food for dinner that night and we planned ahead. This went in vain because we went again after work to get more stuff (for surprise dinner guests--great to have you Montagninis and an emergency snow storm predicted for tomorrow).

I made Chicken Marsala, which is my little brother's favorite. He made me make it for him all summer (when we lived in ATL). It turned out well, but it was an easy meal to make with company sitting in our kitchen.

Here is the recipe:
Make 2 bowls:
1-Mix Italian flavored bread crumbs with 2 tbs of melted butter with fork
2-scramble 3 eggs in a bowl and salt and pepper

Filet and Flatten chicken boobs

dredge said boobs in the egg mixture and then bread crumbs

Saute (3-4 min on each side) the dredged boobs in a pan with 2 tbs of margarine/butter and 3-4 tbs of olive oil
I had a hot cookie sheet in the oven ready to keep the chicken warm and finish off the cooking if needed.

After chicken is cooked, use left over oil/butter to saute mushrooms (I had to add more margarine). After the sliced mushrooms are cooked down, I put 1 cup of marsala wine, italian seasoning, garlic salt, parsley flakes. After this has cooked down, I added a few tablespoons of flour to thicken.

it is so easy and yummy. And easy to manipulate with what you have. I served it with pasta and salad.

I know that most of you are going "yeah, Alex, this is chicken marsala...why are you posting this?" well, if you are wondering what to make for dinner, may I recommend Chicken Marsala.

The baby

It has happened. I mean I thought I was in love before. It took me awhile to really feel anything about her...but now it can't be helped.

She is the sweetest and funniest little thing. And the best thing is that she has finally captured KW under her spell.

The one downfall: she hates having her pictures taken. I know! It is so weird because we call her "the supermodel." She just gets scared because of the flash
I am going to have to try in daylight because she freaks out when she sees the camera. i have turned off the flash, no dice. Hopefully, I will have some better pics soon.

I am also going to start posting some training tips and questions.

Let me just say again, she is so much fun.

Flattery will get you everywhere

She asked for it...She got it.

This is not my best work, but as I should get some work done, I was in a hurry.
But Mimi and her toes are inspirational for this photoshopper. I may try my hand again.

While I Was At Work

I get bored every once in awhile at work and need to look at something other than the colors and graphics of the school. They are nice graphics but the gold kinda gets to ya.

So in my quest to build my photoshop skillz and to "be sweet" as my mom would say (this means to do something positive instead of being "mean"/making fun of something). I have taken to working on graphics for my "Net friends." These are people I come across in the blogosphere...maybe I like their blog name, maybe they are excellent writers, maybe they leave me wonderful comments...Anyways, to give them a warm fuzzy back, I am posting "doodles" for them.

My first victim: Life in the Northwest. I love that she is another southern girl transplant. She often has great posts and her blog roll has been very fun to get to know. So here you go, Peach, a doodle for you!

Back at Work

So I did it! A full day back at work with only 9 people asking me if I should be at home?!?!?

I feel okay despite two things: I have an awful cough and that awful cough kept me awake last night...so now I am very tired.

But I did it. I made it through a fullish day of work (I was a teensy bit late but that is more routine these days).

So hopefully this will be the start of better more productive days. I was not terribly productive today but I got some stuff done and HEY that is better than none.

Off to the homestead to play with the Penny and then to our Montagnini's to be fed. It is nice to have friends who will cook if you bring them dessert and booze.

Never Ever: Sick

I realized yesterday this is the first time since I was in elementary school that I was sick enough to miss 4.5 days of school/work. I felt awful but I didn't realize that first day of sickness that this would be an Alex Record (not quite as cool as Guinness World Record). And let me just say only .5 of those days was a "too tired from being sick before" recovery period.

Thought I'd share this Never Ever.

Have You Ever: Hair Dresser

Have You Ever: Gone to the Hair Dresser and Come Out Thinking "OH, NO This is Not What I Wanted" But Said Nothing.


I have had several of these moments mainly because I will often just say "Oh, do whatever" and because I hate to say "THIS SUCKS FIX IT!"

Once was the infamous Carol Brady Hair

I had to go to three different hairdressers after to get them to CUT THE MULLET!

The last time was at my friend Crouton's wedding. As Matron of Honor, I was priveledged to get my hair done with the bride. I had wanted to wear it down but the hairdresser said that my hair would look limp (which was probably true)...so she went ahead "doing whatever!"....and it looked AWFUL!

I complained to the other bridesmaids, I think she might have heard and asked to redo it. And then I felt bad about whining too loud. She redid the whole thing...and it was just moderately better.

So, I put this to the blogosphere: Have you ever said to your hairdresser "Um, this stinks...fix it." Did it work out okay? or did you get the equivelant of a sneezer (ie. when you ask a server to take your food back in a restaurant and they sneeze on it).