An Open Letter to My Father

Dear Dad,
        When I have children, whenever that may be, will you teach them to be lovers of books?
Daniel and I will do what we can, but I would like you to read them Winnie-the-Pooh, The Wind in the Willows, The Velveteen Rabbit, and The Chronicles of Narnia whenever you have a chance. You, of course, would not be limited to this list.

Respectfully and With Love,
Your Daughter

Don't Go Away...

I have not fallen off the face of the blog-earth. It's been a busy weekend. I'll definitely be updating you on the interesting things I did this weekend. With pictures as well. That will be edited using...wait for it...

Photoshop CS4

Best Christmas present ever.
Thanks, Daniel. Love you long time.

Speaking of Christmas presents, I am on the edge of my seat right now. One of my customers sent me a gift card to Anthropologie for Christmas (my all-time, most favoritest store in the world). No harm done. But I called the number to get the balance of the card last night and...$100. What?!
I started thinking about it, and thought, Is it possible, that by accepting this gift I'm violating some company code of ethics?
So I went to my boss and told her, Despite how much it pains me, I'd rather give up this gift than get fired. So here's what happened...
She said she thinks it might be okay, but she's making an "anonymous inquiry" with the powers that be to be absolutely sure I'm not violating any policy.
So there's $100 of Anthropologie money burning a hole in my pocket...my heart...my mind...
And I can't touch it.

The true purpose of this entry is to tell you that there is more to come. And it will blow your mind.

Just, hang on.

How the Mighty Have Fallen

(I bet you thought I was done spreading crazy for the day, huh? Surprise!)

Neat thing about having a blog/journal: looking back.

I spent a few minutes going back over my earliest entries. Remember when I wanted to live in the country? And the time(s) I took really awful pictures with my point-and-shoot camera? And that other time I lied to my grandparents?

After several months and the building of great friendships, I no longer want to live in the country. At least not right now. Daniel and I are looking for affordable living spaces as close to the city as we can possibly get! I'm not sure what it was that made me want to get out and far away, but now I'm longing for closeness and community. Interesting.

I have a DSLR now, my dreams were fulfilled...and now I'm taking bad pictures with a DSLR. Does life get any better than that?

I no longer lie. Ever.
But the downward spiral of my mental state is beginning to worry some.

I'm an optimist--you take the good with the bad and make lemonade. Am I right?

Blogosphere

This morning I've had a few minutes free. Since the show last week, everyone has been in a haze. So this week, a few of the main players in our show organization decided to take a little time off to recover.



Have you ever clicked "Next Blog" on the toolbar above? I started clicking through a few and thought it was pretty neat. There are some really...strange...blogs out there, but there are some interesting ones as well. It's pretty amazing to me that there are so many people out there who are blogging, and that's just on blogger.com. There are hundreds and thousands of blogging websites. And there are millions--or billions of people on the internet writing...many times writing about absolutely nothing. Like me.

Some people write poetry, stories, post photography, pictures of their children, anything!

On blogger, as I browsed through, I realized how global this silly blogging thing is. There blogs in all sorts of different languages, displaying different cultures and religions and philosophies..and some pretty freaky stuff. But it's all good.



I stumbled upon a couple of interesting blogs:

These two guys are travelling the world together and journaling their travels with photos:

http://karibu-jambobwana.blogspot.com/

This girl is going to school in Hungary:

http://vakmero-utazo.blogspot.com/

As I continued browsing, a few more interesting blogs popped up. But the rest were more like mine--a website someone might stumble upon by some freakishly twisted accident and wonder, Why, God?

What makes a blog appealing to people in general? I understand, you all are here because you know me and you feel a little sorry for me...and you are drawn to it by some sadistic power, like a train wreck or a severely deformed cat. But take, for example, The Pioneer Woman blog (that's on my blogroll over there on the right). She started out on something like Wordpress posting pictures of her children and now she gets over 25,000 hits a day!

What do you think it is?

If you know, tell me, so I can blog for a living and sleep in sometimes.

Mentally Deceased

Perhaps if I had any brainpower at the moment I might be able to share some tidbits about the show this weekend with you.
Instead, this may turn into some rambling train of broken, tired, exhausted, over-worked, half-thoughts. I've been at work every day all day since last Monday. Maybe I should have taken that week off this week?
The last couple of nights have been frustrating; I lie in bed, exhausted, completely spent, and I can't sleep. Like clockwork I've been waking up at 3:21 and been unable to fall into any sort of deep sleep.
While I had SO much fun at the show, getting goodies and going to VIP parties and meeting big names in the "hair world," I am beyond tired today! Who knew that the simple act of being on your feet all day could wear a person out so much?

I'll write more later. Maybe I'll be alive tomorrow?
There are only about four people in the office today because everyone else is at day 2 of the hairshow. I'm here to answer all of the phonecalls that we aren't getting, telling everyone who calls that no one is here.
It's kind of a relief. Yesterday was complete madness, so the quietness of the office is nice.

Well, have a good Monday.

Post Script

I shall post pictures this evening (hopefully?).

Mysterious Noises

For the past several weeks now I've been happily working at my new job. Things have been running smoothly and I've really been getting the hang of things.
Sometimes in the mid-morning or afternoon there's a lull in the action around here and things get very quiet. No voices chattering in the conference rooms, many people are at lunch or out on errands. Up at the front it's silent and still.
Lately, and rather frequently, I'll be sitting in the quiet working away, when suddenly I'll hear a loud crash. The crash sounds as if it happens right next to me and always makes me jump...but I can never figure out where the crash is coming from. And sometimes it comes from other directions. It's extremely loud, a sound of impact and breaking.
This has started to happen so frequently that it was starting to freak me out a little bit. I thought maybe the lobby is haunted? Perhaps the restless spirits of receptionists past are here, trying to chase me away from their precious desk and phone. Who knows? Who really knows...?

Well, today I was sitting at my desk, working extremely hard as usual. And it happened again! Only this time it was close to the roof (the lobby here has very tall ceilings). I looked up, and there he was. The culprit.
A big, ugly, black grackal shaking his head from the impact of running SMACK into the window.

Mystery solved.


If life ever went according to plan, this day, today, Tuesday, would be my last day at work this week. But alas, Ike pushed ashore this past weekend and completely screwed up my life.
It's really not that bad, and I shouldn't be complaining--especially while there are people who are now without homes, jobs, and power because of this storm.
All's I'm saying is: my parents postponed their trip to the U.S. by ten years...or a week. Something like that. The new plan means that I'll be taking time off by myself instead of with my dear husband, which is just no good. But we'll get our time off together...someday...maybe...

Next week I'll be off from Tuesday on and I'll be spending time with my parents and I'll get to see little Henrik again (I met the little booger this weekend. He's a prince!). All of these things make me happy, happy, happy.
But it seems like it never works out for Daniel to be around for these things and that makes me a sad girl.
Maybe something will work out.

A Waterspout in Texas

This is really wild to me. How can people witness natural phenomenons so stunning and awesome and not believe that there is a Great God behind it all?

I did not know THESE existed.



I have been a storm chaser from my desk all day long, keeping an eye on our friend Ike out there in the Gulf. I've found my favorite links.

This is one of them.

Last night I was bemoaning the fact that maps of the weather rarely map out exactly where the cities are, and I'm just not that good at geography. This is actually the only map I've been able to find that has Austin on the map.

As I look at it right now (7:48 AM), things are looking a little better for Austin. We seem to be out of the line of fire for now, but of course that can change quickly. I hope that it continues to turn north and all we get is some rain. Plenty of rain.

But tornadoes? Eh...



I went and filled my car up with gas today. All of these radio ads and newsstories warning me to make sure I have gas before the weekend totally freaked me out. I think I'll fill up again tomorrow afternoon if I can. I am seriously dependant on foreign oil.

I keep picturing myself sitting in darkness in the guest bathroom under the stairs, anxiously listening to a battery powered radio.


Today is Friday! Jeans! Huzzah!

Non Sequitur

Oh, I need a drink
A drink tall, strong and pink. You,
Write me a haiku.

Do it.

Good Night, Moon...

(Photo: Brian Vanden Brink)

If you are looking for me, that's where I am today (mentally). After a nice relaxing weekend I barely woke up this morning and have felt asleep all day. One of those Mondays.

I wish I could curl up under those covers with a good book and listen to the rain today.

Oh, sleep. Oh, book. Oh, rain.

Whaaaaat?!?!

I've been laughing my face off for 2:28.

I love it when they're talking on the phone!

It's Monday, I Can't Stop Rambling...

I read this morning that Morgan Freeman, that great actor, aka Lucius Fox, was in a terrible car accident over the weekend and is in the hospital in serious condition. Praying for him and his family!

Yesterday I did almost nothing.
I went to church (Wes Baker preached, very good!), went to lunch (Central Market, did not like what I ordered. Boo), and then I went home.
Here's what I did:
I slept.
Watched a movie.
Slept some more.
Watched a movie.
Ate.
Walked outside for 10 minutes.

The original plan was to go see The Dark Knight on IMAX...but it was sold out. So everyone went to the movie in regular theaters, but I backed out. I've already seen the movie twice on a regular movie screen, and movies are pretty darn expensive. So I went home and pretended to be one of the couch cushions all day.
I hate the way that I feel after being so worthless. Suddenly the sun has set, the day has passed, and you wasted it.
Daniel was out playing golf in the 105 degree heat. CRAZY.

Tonight I'm going to buy a book.
I've been reading a couple of non-fiction books, but I'm really wanting to get into some fiction again. Because it's fun.
I don't think I'm doing a very good job of keeping my mind sharp. Maybe I should start doing crosswords and Sudokus more often...

Sorry this post is the most boring post I've ever written.
I'll do better next time. At least I'll try. I can't help it if my life is boring. But that's probably not true.

Yes, It's Really That Funny

One of the characters in Arrested Development, a lawyer, is named Bob Loblaw.

Bob Loblaw.

Bob Loblaw, Bob Loblaw, Bob Loblaw.

Hahahahahaha

I love reading things like this...

Faith: Heston, Crowe, and Denzel...

Clicky.

Woe is Me.

I can't find a good picture of what I'd like to do with my darn hair.
I'm going to my favorite Aveda salon in two weeks and getting a cut and color.

Why do I love this salon?
-When I walk in the door they offer me a glass of cheap wine. I like cheap wine.
-Their shampoos and conditioners smell like nature (in a good way)
-I get a complimentary hot-towel treatment and neck/head massage with Blue Oil.
-I get a complimentary hand massage while I'm getting my hair cut
-They actually know how to style hair after they've cut it
-Tipping is strictly prohibited (woo hoo!)
-I always leave feeling like I spent a day at the spa.
-I always leave loving my hair.
-They're inexpensive.
-They're inexpensive.
-They're inexpensive.

I'm getting blond highlights again in because my gentleman prefers blondes. Who knew? Not me. That is, not until Sunday when I hung him up by his pinky toes and made him tell me what color of hair he likes best. It's hard to get straight answers from the guy, since I've conditioned him to fear questions like that. I think he was afraid the conversation would go something like this:
Me: Honey, do you like blondes or brunettes better?
Honey: Hmm, I like blond hair.
Me: You hate my hair?!?!?!
Honey: No! That's not what I said!
Me (getting screechier): Yes you did! I heard you say it!

Well, this time it wasn't a set up. I really wanted to know. And he told me he liked blond hair (careful not to say "blond women") with this addendum: "I like your hair no matter what."
Now that's unconditional love.

But as far as the cut goes, I'm not really sure. I'll probably clean up what I have right now, but I WON'T go short.
I may have been married 18 months, but I am still susceptible to "the newlywed haircut" label. Heck, I would say it about myself still.
You know, that chin-length bob that, like, EVERY SINGLE newlywed wife gets within a year (or two) of getting married.
Well I ain't doing it. I just ain't.
I'm not ready to look thirty-something yet.
And I think that's why they do it. They have this whole psychological issue with looking young and getting married, and they want to feel more mature, so...they decide to do the soccer-mom makeover.
I really hope I'm not stepping on any toes here. Maybe I should just stop.



Hey you, I likey your hair!

Mr. Clock on the Wall:

Must you move so, so slowly?
Do you not know that it is nearly the weekend and I have fun things to do?

Perhaps you enjoy moving this slowly, because I stare, and stare, and stare meaningfully into your face.
And you know that the minute you strike five o'clock I won't spare a moment to look at your face until Sunday evening when I say, "Ugh...tomorrow is Monday. I should probably go to bed now."
I won't look at you this weekend because I know if I do, it will only remind me of the fact that you'll be winding ahead a bit faster, causing my weekend to whiz by in the blink of an eye. And you'll have done it, as you always do, just to spite me. To remind me to watch you a little more closely.

See you next week.

From My Lunch Break

I wrote the blog below yesterday while I was on my lunch break. Today, I'm at Panera Bread Company munching on a Chipotle Chicken Sandwich and appreciating Free Wi-Fi more than ever.

As I write this, I’m sitting in Barnes & Noble sipping a Café Vanilla Frappucino. I was hoping to get on the Internet and blog a bit during my lunch hour, but alas, I’m in one of those awful places that charge you to use their Wifi. The public, due to these unfortunate circumstances, might never see this unofficial blog, but you never know.

Today has been sort of a whirlwind! I got to work this morning, and the next thing I knew it was 1:30 and I still hadn’t taken a lunch. I really like days like this, actually. They go by so fast.

Lately Daniel and I have had an evening habit of getting into bed and watching reruns of The Mary Tyler Moore Show on http://www.hulu.com/. It’s something I’ve come to really enjoy! For one thing, I get to cuddle up next to my boyfriend/husband/handsome guy. For another thing, I enjoy seeing the culture and ideology of another time.

For example: last night we watched one where Mary realized that in order to pay the bills, she’d either have to get a raise or get another job!!! Ideally, she wanted to continue working with Lou and Ted and all the guys, but they just couldn’t give her a raise. In order to figure out where she might be able to cut costs and keep her current job, she drew up a budget.

And get this: she budgeted $3.00 a month for gasoline.

Three dollars.

Tres.

Trois.

1-2-3.

3.

A month.

Gas is, like, $4.00 a gallon right now.

I had to pause the show and make a big deal about that.

Thinking about the fact that she paid less money for gas in a YEAR than I spend on a single tank of gas kind of made me want to scream. And cry. And punch myself in the face. Eight times.

Anyway.

We watch MTM and Daniel laughs and laughs at the anchorman Ted Baxter and I comment on how cute Mary and Rhoda and Phyllis’s clothes are…except for those sweaters that Rhoda wears. Those are pretty frumpy.

Good times.

Dude, Lighten Up!

It's summer! And I'm having such a good time. I've seen a few downs as of late...but you know, I'm not going to dwell on that!
Despite my incredible resilience and upbeatness, I'm totally enjoying the angst of this dude:

"To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,

Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,

To the last syllable of recorded time;

And all our yesterdays have lighted fools

The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!

Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player

That struts and frets his hour upon the stage

And then is heard no more. It is a tale

Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury

Signifying nothing."

Uninspired

I don't know why I'm writing right now because I'm really not feelin' it. I have nothing to say. Nothing to talk about.
I'll tell you this: my puppies are really fun and cute. I wish I could put them in my pocket and take them everywhere instead of leaving them at home in their bathroom dungeon all day, but that's just not plausible.
When I first got Fletcher he was so tiny and fit in a little bag, and I'd take him everywhere with me. I kept a little bowl of water and food in the bag's pockets, and I'd tote him around. I'd take him and his tiny bladder outside every thirty minutes for some fresh air. A few times I carried him around the mall in his bag. For a while this worked, but then he started to be more of an active puppy than a sleeping baby, and then he thought he needed to be out of the bag seeing everyone and greeting them, and he's scratch and whine against the mesh opening, begging for freedom. He hardly ever barked. It wasn't until we got baby Kingsley that the barking began...and 8 months later it hasn't stopped.
Kingsley's life has been vastly different than Fletcher's. Fletcher was spoiled rotten, the center of attention, taken everywhere, hardly ever left alone, and treated like a little prince. Kingsley's been treated more like...a dog. But don't get me wrong. He's still spoiled rotten.
I think that because of Fletcher's childhood, he's developed all kinds of disorders and issues. Things that Kingsley will never have to deal with. Kingsley know's he's a dog, and he's okay with that. He like to sleep at the foot of the bed or on the floor. He's a little rough and likes to growl and bark and chew on shoes and beat up Fletcher. But Fletcher is confused. He thinks he's a little human, but he doesn't understand why he can't sleep draped across my neck or snuggled in between Daniel and me like he did as a 2 pound infant (although, once we're asleep that's usually where he ends up). He doesn't understand why he doesn't get taken everywhere in a purse anymore and he has no idea who this new creature is called "kingsley" who likes to wrestle him to the ground and bite his ears.
I must say, he's growing up a lot though. He's actually starting to play and he's learning how to defend himself against Kingsley's sneaky attacks. But he still reverts to that cowering little angel that gingerly crawls into your lap and puts his head on your chest, begging for your love and attention.
Kingsley, on the other hand, flings his body against you and smothers you with his pink tongue. If you're not quick enough he'll shove that tongue up your nose before you've even realized what's happened. It's gross.
My puppies are special.

One of these days...

I'm going to post some of those darn pictures I've been snapping with my spankin' new camera.
It is too much fun!
Things I've found out about myself:
1. I have an obsession with super-close pictures. I heart those little details.
2. I take a LOT of pictures of my dogs and food.