Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Moles and Warts
I am really disturbed and confused as to why I'm listed as a "relevant resource" on this website. |Hip Huggers
I got word that my Grandma fell and broke her hip yesterday. She had surgery this morning, which they said went well. When I called the hospital she was just waking up from the anesthesia and was pretty out of it, but it was good to hear her voice and to know that the doctors think she'll recover well.Please say a prayer or send good thoughts or hugs (hence the goofy title) her way. She's a great lady.
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How You Know Your Office Is Too Small (Part 2)
Apparently I'm a grump in the mornings at work because when I came in 10 minutes late this morning and said good morning to my suite mate she took a double take at me. I had a smile on my face which she apparently found very out of the ordinary.Her immediate response was, "Did you get some this morning!?"
She's a good guesser. |
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
The Nashville Experience
I'm tired. We had a good visit with my Mom and step-Dad, but sleeping on an air mattress for 3 nights affected my sleep. Plus? It was freaking HOT this weekend, so the heat zapped my energy big time. I didn't hear my alarm clock for a good 10 minutes this morning, then I finally stumbled out of bed to turn it off. I made my side of the bed (Huz was still sleeping...probably still is, the punk) and laid down on top of the comforter, you know, just for a little "rest." Next thing I knew I had 30 minutes before I needed to leave for work. I made it out the door in the nick of time, but I can tell I was half-asleep getting ready to go; I just went to the bathroom at work and looked in the mirror. I'm wearing purple eyeliner, but I thought I put on brown. Yeesh. At least my shoes match!We wanted to do some Nashvillian things with Mom and step-Dad, with the exception of anything country western because none of us like that genre of music AT ALL. So, we went to a very Southern restaurant for breakfast (the line was crazy long, but the biscuits and homemade preserves were pretty darn good). We went on a driving tour of downtown (all 3 blocks of it) and then to Huz's favorite bar to sample some of their beers (step-Dad is a beer drinker too). We made them a belated Christmas dinner that we still owed them. Huz made a wonderful grilled roast with marinated portabellos and blue cheese and I made chocolate strawberry shortcake with white chocolate mousse, both of which were well received. We went on a 3 mile hike around Radnor Lake on Sunday afternoon, which was a tad bit cooler than Saturday. Being from Colorado, I think they enjoyed seeing what a Southern forest looked like. No pine trees, but lots of vines and poison ivy. We even saw some wildlife - deer, a snake, frogs, otters, ducks, weasels, turtles, a big fat centipede, and some baby birds.
Also? We went shopping. My Mom always buys me something when she visits, which I feel guilty about, but I suppose I shouldn't. It's her way of showing us that she loves us and wants to help us out. I've been looking for a rug to go with our new sofa and chair so she bought one for us. (Thanks Mom!) It should arrive this week and I'll be sure and take a pic of it to show you. She also bought us a charcoal grill (only $30 on sale!) at Home Depot because Huz had to squat to use the little tiny one we've been borrowing from a friend. I'm sure his quadriceps will be grateful.
It was a good visit and I'm very glad they came. The cats warmed up to them nicely and by the end Cambridge was cuddling with my Mom in bed instead of me.
[In addition to a cool new wool rug and grill, my Mom was sweet enough to bring me a whole bunch of really stylish maternity clothes! Somebody's excited to be a grandma! Now Huz and I just need to get cracking so I can fill these clothes out.] |
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Telltale Signs
Something big is happening in the Victoria household.For one, Huz has been doing his part to de-white trash our house. This has involved several things. The first, which is the most important, was him taking down the rusted out basket ball hoop from the backyard. This was a long process because he used only the mere tools of a mortal renter (a kitchen stool and a wrench). Then he braved the wilds of the backyard again to take down the dilapidated shed that has driven me crazy for almost a year because 1. it's hideous, 2. it's broken door slams loudly in any windstorm we have, and 3. it's hideous. He did this task with only a pair of work gloves and a screwdriver - where there's a will, there's a way. He successfully de-white trashed our yard, for which I am eternally grateful.
Then tonight I vacuumed the floors, dusted the furniture, and used the wonderful cleaner called Windex. Now when you take a gander at your reflection in the bathroom mirror, you no longer have to look through dried bits of toothpaste or Huz fingerprint streaks (despite my best bitching he still tries to wipe the condensation away to shave). The dust bunnies that have resided peacefully under the bed and corners of the hallway were also given an eviction notice tonight.
Me: Ahhh. We are now prepared.
You: For what?
Isn't it obvious? My mother's coming to visit! She and my step-dad are making their first Nashville visit which has me desperately googling "fun things to do in Nashville." It should be fun. At least they won't be scared away by our white trash backyard. |
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
There's a Reason Wedding Photos Are Expensive
Because it's a lot of work! It was an honor to do this for friends, but let me tell you, I was exhausted after the wedding. 12 hours of photography on Saturday + 1 chocolate martini at the hotel bar = passed out Victoria.The photos came out really well, though. Here are some of my favorites.
Congratulations Josh and Amber!!! |
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Flap, Flap, Snap, Snap
We're going out of town this weekend. What's Missouri like? I've never been there before. (Do you know that my husband is such a nerd that he wants to get a map and put pins in it for every state we go to? He's adorable like that.) We're going to a friend's wedding, but not simply as guests. I have been asked to be one of two photographers for the event. I agreed, but am trepidacious at the thought that I'll screw up. I hope I remember to pack my camera (that's my biggest fear) and that the battery stays all nice and charged and that I take some cool shots that will do the bride and groom justice.My other fear about going? That Neville won't understand the concept that we're leaving him for a while and that the 3 days worth of food we leave out for him and his sister should be rationed for 3 days. I fear that the bowls brimming with food in front of him will cause his head to twitch, his eyes to expand saucer-like, and his jaw to slacken so that a little drool will come out. I fear that he'll turn into a grey Garfield and will eat the whole lasagna in one sitting. If this happens (him eating all the food and leaving none for his tiny sister), so help me, I'll punt that grey football across the room as I run to pick up the skeleton cat (that would be Cambie) and feed her pudding with a spoon. (Whoa. That was some crazy stream of consciousness there.)
Wish Cambridge luck. Oh, and me as I take pictures. Thanks.
Also? I discovered what our future will be like once we procreate. I can't wait. |
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
The Surprise You Thought I Meant
I'm eating this right now because I have a serious (and I mean SERIOUS!) need for chocolate and it was all I could afford from the vending machine. (What do you mean a plain chocolate bar costs $1.25!? I only have 90 cents!)Also? I have major cramps. So if you thought I was knocked up already, you were wrong. Besides I TOLD you we're still protecting through the summer. Sheesh! ;) |
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
The Hair Response
Here are some comments I've received since my big hair cut. Some are duh-inducing, others try to hide that they don't like it, others are sincere."Whoa."
"Did you cut your hair?"
"It's so cute!"
"Hi baldie. Do you like it?" (The REAL question is, do YOU like it!?)
"You cut off all your hair! It's cute, though."
"You look older."
"You look like a little kid." |
Saturday, May 13, 2006
The Surprise Factor
I am an unusual person. I love to surprise Huz with gifts that I buy him, whether random "just because" gifts or Christmas/Birthday gifts. I get more excited about it than he does without fail. The problem is? I get so excited that I often hint about what it is or I beg him to let me give it to him early (ie, a week before Christmas). He always rolls his eyes and tells me no, then I go to my room and slam the door (just kidding, but I totally used to do that as a child when I played a board game with my Mom and sisters and I lost).One time I bought him a paper embosser so he could mark all of his books with his name and I turned it into a treasure hunt. I was jumping up and down behind him the whole time TOTALLY excited while he calmly went room to room following the clues. Now, I love to surprise and I love to BE surprised, but I'm impossible to surprise. I always guess gifts he gives me before I even see their package. I hate it when I do that to myself, but it seems inevitable.
Anyway, I wanted to surprise Huz yesterday and so I didn't tell him about a certain appointment I had made after work. I just said I had to be somewhere and wouldn't be home right afterwards. He was a little put off that I wouldn't tell him (because secrets are really unusual in our marriage), but he went with it.
I've been sick of my bangs being in my eyes for the last couple of weeks so I decided to see Leslie at my usual salon to get that taken care of. I decided on a bit more than a bang trim. When I walked in the door, Huz said "whoa." Then I demanded whether or not he liked it and if short was still sexy and he said it was. So then I did a photo session to prove to myself that short is sexy too.
Here's my best Sarcomical impression.
>Apparently Cambridge smells like roses.
Then we BOTH made a sexy shot. Er, can't tell if this is exactly sexy or constipated, but I decided that if we were musicians it would totally be the cover of our next album. What should or band be called I wonder?
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Friday, May 12, 2006
Wasting Time
I am so enjoying this game as I waste the remaining Friday work minutes! The graphics are great, the music soothingly cool, and the characters adorable! What do you think?Thank you isoglossia for the link! |
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Pissed
Chris was awesome. What were people thinking!? |Wednesday, May 10, 2006
The Tease
Friend: "Are you busy tonight?"Me: "Hmm...just watching Lost, why?"
Friend: "Oh, it doesn't matter anyway."
Me: "What do you mean? Why, what's going on?"
Friend: "I had an extra ticket to the Cirque du Soleil, but I already offered it to my sister."
Me: blink, blink
Thanks for the tease, buddy! :-p
[Added later because my crazy friend called me again and essentially RE-invited me (for real this time) because her sister cancelled. Then she was like, "See!? I have ESP - that's why I checked to see if you were free." Yeah, right. But hey, at least I'm going to a concert/dance thing for free!] |
Monday, May 8, 2006
Oh Yeah
Niiiiiiiiicccceeeee!
Now I just need to get rid of the Ikea coffee table then get some nice side tables and a cool rug. |
Sunday, May 7, 2006
The Headache (and belly ache)-Inducing Party
Well, we survived the party and had a fun time. I got sloshed, but so did everyone else so I think I over-shared just as much as they did (you know who you are). Here's some scenes from our 2006 Cinco de Mayo Cocktail Party (you're welcome for remembering to take them...not sure how I did).First, we decided to free either of us from bartending all night by making it a DIY bar. Here's the nifty menu we came up with (I love working somewhere that has a laminator!). Click on it for a bigger picture.
Here's the bar. It was a very popular place all evening.
Here's the house before the party. Do you love my hot new hallway and kitchen colors or what!?
Huz (who, despite the looks of it, was not yet drunk) made some yummy fruit tarts with apples in cajeta sauce (goat milk caramel) and berry compote.
And some deelish margarita-infused pineapple. He's pretty much my resident culinary rock star.
Here I am before the party (in case you were wondering).
And then we had some friends and major drinking action ensue.
The night progressed and ended up with Huz passed out on the (old) couch.
And with me and some walk-home-distance friends outside smoking-and-a-drinking.
Oh, yeah. At some point during the night my friends decided to make up a new grocery list for me and Huz (this was payback because I did the same a few weeks ago - what goes around comes around).
It was a fun night, but the next day SUCKED. Oh, the headaches. Oh, the nausea. I'm think I'm too old for this. |
Friday, May 5, 2006
Buy Me a Drink, Sailor
We're having a cocktail party tonight with about 20-25 people jammed into my little house. It should be a fun time. This is our 3rd cocktail party we've thrown, but we're doing it totally differently this time. Usually Huz is the bartender making things off the drink menu we made for the evening. Problem with this is? Huz is stuck behind the bar all night and can't socialize at his own party. So we're doing it DIY style tonight. We'll have fruit and mint for muddling, some yummy syrups Huz is going to make (mint, ginger, simple), juices, club soda, and, of course, some booze. We're making up recipe cards for those who want guidance, but we're also looking forward to the creativity that will come of it.If I remember to, I'll take some pictures of the event. Wish us luck and Happy Cinco De Mayo! |
Tuesday, May 2, 2006
Learning To Fly: A Pictorial Narrative
A cacophony of chirps and tweets drew me to the window and what did I find?A baby bird in a sea of green.
Mom and Dad cheered her on and she eventually flew to my porch.
Mom checked on her from a distance.
And so did Dad.
Mom encouraged her to fly by sitting near her and chirping at her.
>Then Dad joined in.
Then they made their way across the yard to a little tree.
Cambridge watched the entire time.
And so did Neville.
And then he imagined how good that baby bird would taste and salivated a little.
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Monday, May 1, 2006
Hold The Pesticides
I am a new member of a Community Supported Farm. This one to be exact. This means that I get a share of fresh, organic produce every week for the next 26 weeks. How cool is that? Here's our first week's bounty:
All greens this week - spinach, arugula, lettuce, and a small handfull of cilantro and dill. Since I've busted my butt (actually my arms and shoulders) painting for the last 3 days, Huz has been good enough to make dinner each night. Saturday night he made chicken* with chipotle cream and spinach. It was dee-lish. Sunday night he made an arugula risotto with a green salad and some of my homemade sourdough bread. I never knew arugula could have so much flavor. So far, I'm enjoying knowing where my food came from and getting to meet the people who grew it. Hopefully the produce will get a bit more exciting in the weeks to come.
*I'm not so much a vegetarian yet, but at least it was grain-fed chicken. |
Take a Seat
My couch is coming! My couch is coming!I FINALLY got the "it's here" call from the furniture store this morning (exactly eleven weeks and two days after buying it). I could have it delivered this week, but because we're having a cocktail party on Friday (wanna come?), I decided to get it delivered next Monday instead. We won't have a drunken brawl or anything, but I don't want to be all stressed out about the new, awesome, expensitivo couch being stained. YIPPEEE!
Also? I spent my weekend painting AGAIN! Betcha can't wait to see it, can ya? The hallway and kitchen are smokin', let me tell you!
Pictures soon - I'm still finishing up the kitchen. Be patient, dearies, be patient. |
