bonne année (2009)

the year of the wedding.  the year of the move.  the year of the reds winning.  the year of the ox.  the year of incandescent lightbulbs being banned in ireland & new zealand.  the year of barack.  the year of a total solar eclipse.  

the year of change.  enjoy it.

the hills were alive...

i ADORE the movie "the sound of music".  i could watch julie andrews cavort about in any movie, but this one is one of the best.  

i found this interesting article about the true von trapp family, and as is the case for most movie adaptations, true life was quite different than what was portrayed @ the multiplex.

the real von trapp family

do yourself a favor and sing along.  the perfect way to start a new year.

le sigh.

ode

this is an ode to my favorite kitchen thing, the (silicone) spatula:

oh spatula, you are so helpful.

you get every last bit of food out of the bowl.

oh spatula, you are so strong.

you can even help mix tacos.

oh spatula, you are so noble.

you help with my need for a clean sink.

oh spatula, you are so loyal.

you are my best kitchen friend.

hi, i'm a mac (user)

so i broke down last week and bought a new computer.  not just any computer, though, i got the new macbook.  i am not one who spends money easily (or much at ALL), but my old desktop was going on 6 years old and was laboring.

after about 6 months of consideration, i decided to make the switch to mac.  while i am still trying to figure everything out, here are a few details i have grown to love:

• backlit keyboard
• streamlined, easy to understand tabs
• voice commands
• dashboard
• the ease of iChatting
• iCal colors

there are still lots of places i haven't ventured into.  i really want to get the true experience of my new buddy.  

any tips for a new mac user??

hot stove game

check out this site to see how good you are at naming all 30 MLB teams in 3 minutes.  

NO PEEKING!!!!!

http://www.jetpunk.com/quizzes/name-major-league-teams.php

i got 29/30.

and yes, this is what baseball fans do for fun in the offseason.

in other news...

to update my medical condition:

my last period was just horrific.  i was not allowed to start the pill until after the period, so i had to live with unbelievable pain in my side.  thankfully, it ended, so i have begun the hormones/pill.  i can't really tell if it's working yet until a few months in. but so far, so good.

it's tricky getting used to taking something at the same time...everyday.  does anyone have any good tips/tricks they use to make sure they keep on schedule?

here i am

do not abandon hope....all ye who click to here.

i have not died.

i have neglected my blog.

but fear not, i have the solution.

i am currently blogging from the comfort of my couch, although i could choose to blog from the kitchen, bed, or nearby starbucks.

why, say you?

because i am blogging from my very new, very first MACBOOK!  yes.  i actually went out and spent some money on something and i LOVE it.

i got the newest macbook (with the backlit keyboard).  i am still learning how to make the switch from PC to mac, but so far, so good.  my good pal erica recently got one too, so i'm hoping to learn a bit from her.

until then, cheers from the couch!

males beware

this week, i have had a few medical problems.

i will explain in detail below...with important points underlined. feel free to scan the underlined font, as there is a lot of information. also, i will NOT censor my explanation, so if the words period, ovary, uterus, or blood get your panties in a twist, do not read on :)

i presented on sunday with severe cramp-like pain on the right side of my abdomen. i thought it was just cramps, so i took some ibuprofen and went to bed. monday, it was worse. i went to school all day and went to UTC that afternoon.

they suspected a pulled muscle or appendicitis, so they ordered a CT. good sam hospital's radiology dept was closed, so they told me to go to the ER. being stubborn, i went to my parents' instead. (in case i birthed alien babies or something in the middle of the night).

tuesday morning, it was a little worse, so i decided to go down to good sam. (little did i know i could've just gone to st joe east...but that is beside the point). after waiting forever, they took a ton of blood and did a CT scan. blood was normal, it was not my appendix, but they found a 2.2 cm adnexal mass on my ovary.

i was ordered to my ob/gyn the following day for an immediate ultrasound. i went to dr. jean's office on wednesday where she attempted a pelvic exam. it was too painful, so she ordered the ultrasound for thursday.

thursday, i went to st joe for my ultrasound. it hurt quite a bit. i took the results back to dr. jean where she informed me:

• i have a ruptured ovarian cyst with fluid in the cul-de-sac (ovarian area)
• probable endometriosis (reason for the mass)
• my ovaries and uterus are normal size. i have a slightly tilted uterus, but that will not affect future child-bearing.

(read more about these things here and here)

every woman has (functional) ovarian cysts at all times, but they are normally dispelled during ovulation. cysts can grow if there is a problem with the release of the egg or other things spelled out in the website above.

the tissue mass is never anything that would be benign OR cancerous...it's just tissue (it is what it is). the fact that my pain has gotten worse over my last few periods leads her to believe it is more than just a ruptured cyst. also, my bowels are VERY jacked up during my periods.

the course of action is being put on hormones for the next 3 months.

if the pain gets better, then i will remain on hormones until menopause. if the pain stays the same, i will switch to a stronger hormone. if the pain gets worse, she will have to go in laproscopically to remove said tissue.

so, there you have it. it was a stressful week and i'm still in quite a lot of pain. i hope this course of action works out. i'm greatful for everyone's thoughts. now, on to the holidays....

my wordle

this is the wordle maria made of my blog. my archaic* computer is unable to view this in a bigger size, but i just LOVE that the biggest word is ONE.




*in the market to buy a new, snazzy computer this weekend!!!

in search of...

i am in search of the following things:

1. new laptop
   *this computer is from early 2003 and is SOOOOO slow
   *any suggestions?
   
   
2. female orange kitten
   *lilah needs a friend
   
   
3. 30+ mason jars
   *centerpieces
   
   
4. someone to ice 400 funfetti cupcakes the week of the wedding
   *i can make & freeze them ahead of time, but i am NOT going to want to ice them.
   *or even, someone to make them for me...that won't charge upwards of $1.50-$2 for ONE CUPCAKE (which is what one baker told us). the entire box of funfetti doesn't cost that!
   
   
5. new camera
   *mine is from high school and takes FOUR batteries (= cumbersome)
   *i spilled applesauce on it one time at the lake and the zoom hasn't been the same since
   *any suggestions?

j'adore reader

i am obsessed with all things google reader.

i love the simplicity and the fact that i can create wedding categories to file away for the exact moment i need to look at pics of wedding hair. blogs i read must have a humor factor. after my hard days at work, i don't need anyone bringing me down!

here are a few blogs i've been frequenting:

• weddingbee : my #1 wedding blog of choice forever. hilarious, diverse, LOVE it
  
• keepyourreceipt : any blog that has the line The massage place was on the end of the row and before I even opened the door, I was assaulted by eucalyptus-scented potpourri, like they spent the morning roasting koalas on a bed of cough drops. in it is AMAZING in my book.
  
• cake wrecks : HILARIOUS. gives me a guffaw every day. i LOVE that someone else critiques grammar and poor workmanship as i do.
  
• who dey revolution : great blog that commiserates with fans of the worst team in the NFL. step down, mike brown (sometimes NSFW due to language)

anyone else have good suggestions?

greetings

wow. i have been neglecting my blogging duties. my november resolution is to blog more.

i have been working hard on wedding stuff for the past month. i got my dress, worked out more with the budget, started planning centerpieces, and created & ordered my save-the dates. i hope to start picking out colors soon -- so bridesmaids, when are you free?

here is a teaser from our save-the-dates


chris was in town this weekend and we had a wonderful whirlwind of a time. we visited all sorts of people and had the surprise shindig at shamrock's last night. he is already nearly to NY already. here is our schedule for the next months:

*two weeks: thanksgiving in philly w/ the andersons
*one week after that: army/navy game in philly
*two weeks after that: xmas break/xmas cabin

this is one of the best stretches of our relationship yet, in terms of getting to see each other so much. i can't wait until i get to be with my best friend and love every DAY.

okay. one post down, dozens more to go.
i resolved; therefore, i type.

la bibliotech

i've been reading several books lately. here is a rundown of a few:

• Fat!so? This book has been a wonderful, intriguing read. It deals with body issues in a new way. It doesn't preach weight-loss or a fad diet...it preaches acceptance of self no matter what. the tagline is "don't apologize for your size"
  
• the audacity of hope haven't gotten far into this one yet (thanks...sinus infection) but he is a great writer.
  
• toxic in-laws while i would consider my future in-laws to be far from "toxic," it is true that chris and i were brought up differently. our current relationships with our parents are different, too. this book does a good job of breaking down issues and laying out how i can better respond when one of his parents does something i don't understand.
  
• the minimalist cooks at home i am not a minimalist in my daily life, but i am in the kitchen. cooking for one is difficult because who wants to eat the same leftovers 4 days in a row? this book helps me cook better meals with fewer ingredients and portions. examples i can't wait to try out are pumpkin soup and grilled fruit skewers w/ ginger syrup.
  
• ky insurance pamphlet open enrollment time...what a scream!

Nuptuals on the Net

Here is the link to our wedding website. It's still a work in progress, but I couldn't hold out any longer.

Chris & Emily

Browse around and let us know what you think.

late summer playlist

here are a few songs that i have been listening to ad nauseum this month.

matt costa - wash away


coldplay - vida la vida


1, 2, 3, 4, 5


5 little monkeys


matt costa - whiskey & wine

"we're going antiquing!!! through the quad and up to the gymnasium"

i have an insane love of french country/antique/toile patterns and styling. i have been in lust for a small, girly, crystal chandelier for my bathroom for some time now. i have been unsuccessful in my search, thus far. i refuse to pay full price...and love unique finds at off-the-beaten-path type stores. yesterday, co-teacher extrordinare (allie) and i went off in search.

i will not tell what i got at these stores...you'll have to come visit to see!!

here is a breakdown of some stores:

• room service (near winchester @ liberty): HUGE selection. weird stuff kind of, cool stuff kind of. i found out about this store from my parents. i got three things from here.
• sofas and such (in the old buckhead restaurant building...off regency rd): weird smell. weird selection. i got a set of 4 things from here, a set of 2 things, and one other thing. probably wouldn't go back.
• habitat restore (southland dr. across from marikka's): closed @ 5
• lowe's: not what i was looking for
• walmart: got a quart of paint to finish the living room.
• overstock.com: too expensive
• ebay: not quite right

so there you have it. today will be filled with dispersing new items and painting 1/8 of a wall. also, showering and hanging out w/ ria somewhere.

couric interview

while i do not consider myself to be an overly political type, i found this interview quite interesting. i am not a fan of either woman, but i believe in educated national leaders.

don't get your panties in a twist...i'm sure there are many such videos on both sides of the scale. just thought it was very telling.

beisbol

today was the last day of the regular season; always a sad time in my life. my resplendent redlegs are out of the playoffs for an 18th straight year, but beisbol was good to me this year.

in honor of my favorite sport, i have created a "good/bad" list of things i like and don't like (excuse the lame name...it's 11pm on a school night).

15 good things:

1. 100 RBIs
2. 6-4-3
3. outfield assists
4. baseball movies
5. baseball books
6. uniform pinstripes
7. extra innings
8. pitchers who can hit
9. SCORING A GAME :) :)
10. replay
11. Jon Miller & Joe Morgan
12. Brennamans
13. Buster Olney & Peter Gammons
14. backing up every play
15. batting around

15 bad things:

1. not running to first
2. all-white home uniforms
3. long pants to the ankles
4. wasting pitchers for L/L, R/R matchups
5. ol' leatherpants (aka: Jim Bowden)
6. Sox vs Yanks ad nauseum
7. corey patterson & adam dunn
8. sac bunts with one out
9. DH
10. all-star voting
11. cheerleaders
12. "speeding up the game"
13. new helmets w/ the slits
14. the wave
15. people who explain the rules wrong to others

i'm sure there are MANY MANY other things i could list. but i love beisbol and i can't wait until it starts again.

okracoke

last weekend, chris surprised me by booking our honeymoon.

i gave him full reign over the travel plans and didn't really care where we went...north, south, warm, cold...etc.

we will be spending a week on okracoke island in the outer banks, NC. i am so very excited. i have been to outer banks before, but always stayed in condo-like locales.

this place is a private island with:
*our own private beach
*two story house
*hot tub
*outdoor shower
*private kayak
*hammock (the ONE THING i said i wanted for our honeymoon)
*etc etc etc

i was in steve & barry's when he called with the news. i was immediately brought to tears. it seems like the perfect place with the perfect person. i want to go this week!

upcoming travel

being in a long-distance relationship means one of us is always traveling. we have several trips lined up in the next 8 months...as well as some tentative plans for after the wedding.

sept 22: dinner in frankfort w/ erica
oct 1: BLC dinner in winchester
october 9-12: chris in town for my cousin's wedding
nov 26-30: chris and i in philly for t'giving (at one of the groomsmen's houses)
dec 5-7: army/navy game in philly

feb 7-10: reading recovery conference in columbus (teacher thing)
feb 21: 100th night @ WP
may 23: WP graduation

chris will have 30-60 days of leave after graduation. we will be going on our honeymoon and settling in together. we don't know official dates yet, but we do know this much:

*BOLC II: 6 wks in either ft sill, OK or ft benning, GA
*BOLC III: 11.5 wks in ft lee, VA
*after that, we will get our official post. we can post at many places: 3 posts in germany, 1 in italy, or any major post in the US. (not sure about asia yet)

it's crazy to think about all of this actually happening, since we've been talking about it for so long. i can't wait to be together with chris every day. it will literally be a dream come true.

the weekend that was: sun

this busy little bee was not done yet!

on sunday, before church, i cleaned out my google reader and went through some of my DVR.

went to church at the andover campus (alone...since everyone was in g'town) and headed to g'town.

the bengals lost (surprise surprise), but there was lots of fun at the bennett household. it is SO nice to watch sports with actual fans. who know what an O-line is and why it matters. who can debate great position players and quote actual evidence.

after that, i came home and spruced up a bit. my parents came over and helped finish putting together my new kitchen island. eric stopped by also and we watched some of the SNF game.

i DVRd sunday night baseball and, then, i washed my hair (quite a feat, if you know me). while i would not consider myself a yankee fan, i am a baseball history fan. tonight is the final game at yankee stadium and i found myself a bit choked up at yogi's opening.

now, i'm watching the fantasy score updates, watching romo on SNF, and thinking of possible new kitten names.

what a lovely weekend. the only thing missing was him.

the weekend that was: sat

on saturday, this busy little bee was everywhere.

the dames and i went to the midway fall festival in the morning. there are all sorts of booths, vendors, and people watching to be found. the highlight was the "magic" show in the tent. this "magician" reminded me of a college professor--just loved to hear himself talk :)

i caught up on my google reader and caught lilah in the cutest nap position...splayed out on the loveseat. then, took a glorious 2 hour nap of my own.

i had dinner at fazoli's on campus and then headed over to CTK's oktoberfest. while it seemed to be middle school central, we found our way to the bingo tent and proceeded to suck at bingo. we finished up with some graeter's. ria and i shared a cup of cider sorbet. delish.

the night finished up with a lovely conversation with my husband-to-be.

the weekend that was: fri

i was a very busy bee this weekend.

on friday, my friend, mj, and i went to the downtown gallery hop.

i have heard about these things, but have never taken part in them. i consider myself a slightly artsy person and it was very enjoyable to get to see the local art and mingle with other yuppies. the BEST part was getting to walk around and not have to worry about parking or such.

after that, we stopped by the festival latino @ the new courthouse. there was a parade of nations going on and it was cool to see all of the nations represented. i was hoping to see some of my students there, but we didn't stay too long.

then, we went to deVassa, lower 48, and the pub room. we got to check out the 3 new bars near vctorian square. i liked the vibe of the pub room the best.

a dalmatian plantation, I say

happy 101st post to me.

thanks to my readers. thanks to my brain. thanks to the internet.

here's to 101 more...

...with liberty and justice for all

i have not taught my students about the pledge yet...so each morning, when they show kids saying the pledge on the "morning news", we sit and watch them.

one of my girls asked the other day "are those kids praying for you?"

oh, innocence.

put up...shut up

as i watched the bungles lose their first game of the season, i was perplexed by one thing:

not by the fact that carson called a run play 88% of the time
not by the fact that rudi was not there
not by the fact that cats normally eat birds

i was reminded of the old "dennis rodman/terrell owens rule". if you want to act crazy and demand attention, you'd better be able to back it up with your play.

chad JOHNSON is the antithesis to this rule. he runs his mouth all the time, demands attention like one of my kindergarteners...yet had 0 receptions in the first half. what did your mama call you??? THAT'S your name.

why are the bengals paying him so much money?
why is anyone still paying attention to him?

stay classy.

r-o-s-i-e, it's rosie

um. there are no words for this weatherman...but at least he's having a heckuva time at work.

go reds.

Drosophilidae

time flies like an arrow,

fruit flies like a banana.

~chris hurst

argh. disregarding my homemaker duties in the past week has attracted these little buggers to empty beer bottles, open cat food, and dirty dishes.

when i called maria to ask her how to get rid of them, she was brilliant. "wash the dishes". hah.

check: ceremony site, reception site

i realize my posting prowess has sucked lately, but in my defense, i had bronchitis, then chris came into town. i have also been getting an official wedding website up and running (hopefully will have the link next week). it's totally cute!

one exciting thing to report is that my mom and i went to talon this past week to sign the contract. it's official. i really am getting married.

this week, we are going to DaRae's to firm up the menu.
i've also been in contact with the photog.

wow. guess this is really happening! i'm really glad we had the time to sit and wallow in the post-engagement goodness. ain't nobody pushing this bride around!

j'adore j crew

source

in 3-7 business days, i will be the proud owner of this j.crew dress. i love all things j.crew, especially the frequent online sales. i have been trolling the internet for cute summer dresses on sale and found this little beaut for 20% off the final sale price. the prefect wedding shower dress, no?

holla!

head on over to j.crew and find yourself a little end-o-summer pick me up. (use code EXTRA 20) to get extra off.

now if i could just stay away until sunday (when the sale ends)...must....get away...from computer!

bon anniversaire

happy 24th bday to my favorite person in the world. make a wish!

ROFL

there are no words to describe how much i laughed at these pictures this morning. i think i loved these so much b/c they look so cute, but are amazingly tongue-in-cheek. bravo, humor!


all credits to threadless.com


this one is called "runnin' rhino". ROFL. i literally had tears running down my cheeks i was laughing so hard.







this one is called "a birth day". these animals look like fisher price farm animals!









this one is called "russian newborn". hahahahahahaha

yippie! yuppie?

the last of my stuff from the old apt was moved downtown this morning, so i am officially and totally a yuppie now. i am in love with my new surroundings.

i enjoy the 4 block walk to work each morning, as it allows me to center myself and ready for the tasks ahead.

i enjoy the farmer's market on saturday morning just around the corner.

i enjoy triangle park at any time i wish.

i enjoy all of the interesting architecture and vibrance along little pathways rarely seen by the driving masses.

i enjoy seeing change...albeit sad and, at times, politically motivated...because it reminds me that others think, breathe, and live all around me.

hello, lexington, once more.

whew

oh dear sweet luscious internet. how i missed thee.

i have been without internet for 2 1/2 weeks now. it's been horrible! thankfully, they got their shizz together and hooked me up.

i have also been battling bronchitis on top of a sinus infection this week. so it's not been the best of times for ms. em. thankfully, things are looking up. we are soon to sign the contract for the caterer and the final contract for talon. and most importantly, chris is coming into town this weekend! happy twenty-four (on tuesday) to my love.

IKEA finds

here are a few pictures of some things we bought at IKEA the other day. **more to come i promise!**

little moments like that

it has been a whirlwind week already...and school hasn't even started yet. here are a few musings to mull over. i've GOT to get to school to beautify my classroom.

*i ate SUSHI last night. ami suggested that we all get to know each other better, so off we headed to miyako. i probably won't be eating it every night, but i was brave and it wasn't bad!

*i feel very honored to be in the new bluegrass ladies club. i have been searching for a long time for a group of genuine ladies in lexington and i believe i just might have found it (rather, we found each other). can't wait until the 27th!

*this week, i have been slowly moving into my *new* apartment on market street. it is even more adorable than i remembered and i can't wait to call it my home. chris has been doing SO much work for it. last night, maria and i went to check out the progress after dinner and chris was so sweaty, tired, and dirty. but you know what, i loved him a little bit more in that moment because i know how hard he was working to make this a livable place.

*today, i have my first caterer meeting. we are looking at several options. as long as they don't make me eat live anything, i think i'll be okay. my mom and chris are coming too. i'll let you know how it goes.

*school starts in ONE WEEK. i can't believe how quickly the summer goes. i thought it went quickly when i was little, but 2008's just flew by. i made some great memories, but i am very excited about the upcoming future.

GAH it's already 9. meeting kerry for lunch at 1130, then the caterer at 1. must run. hope everyone else is doing well. i promise to upload some "before" pics of the apartment once i find the cord. for rizzle.

mini-update

i signed the lease last week and am in the process of moving apartments. it's nice not to have to rush and do it all in one weekend. i'm trying to get the apartment at least a little presentable by this weekend because i might have a few drunkies crashing the place. :)

open invite to anyone: atomic cafe this saturday

today is a great day! chris and i are going to IKEA (aka mecca) to pick up some things for the new apt. then, we are going to the beach waterpark. if you go after 4pm, it's only 10 bucks to get in. and you KNOW this red-headed, pale beauty can take all the precautions she can get.

i took pictures of the new apartment, but i haven't uploaded them yet. can't wait to do a before/after type thing.

today, i am specifically looking for shelving, a sleeper sofa, kitchen storage, and maybe a comfy looking ottoman.

cincy-bound...

estelle getty (sophia petrillo)

i was saddened this afternoon to read that estelle getty had died. she played one of my favorite tv characters, sophia on "golden girls."

like most of us, i grew up watching that show and often catch myself watching it on lifetime while falling asleep at night. RIP estelle.

two examples of sophia's wit:

Dorothy: MA, WOULD YOU PLEASE STOP THAT!

Sophia: These are FRITOS, Dorothy. What do you want me to do, swallow them whole?

Dorothy: We're here to pay for a funeral.

Mr. Pfeiffer: Oh, isn't that nice, the three of you planning ahead for mother.

Sophia: [walks a little bit closer] Hey Puh-feiffer, how would you like a punch in your puh-face?

split screen sadness

Here's what I've learned about dogs: They're a lot like pretty girls. Having one or two around makes everything more fun, but when you get a whole bunch together, it turns into one big power struggle. --Scott Westerfield--

Canvassing my past and present friend history, I notice I have had many girl acquaintances, but few girl friends. Girls tend to always be judging and we exhaust ourselves trying to be the cutest or best.

It's true I would rather work alone than in a group, but this does not always ring true in relationships. There is only so much you can clean or organize before you start to wish you had a gaggle of girls to share funny times with.

I always seemed to find myself in a horde of girls...whether it be on a softball team, on friday nights in high school, or in my sorority in college. However, I often caught myself with low self-esteem and feeling as if I was a lone reed. I am quite shy when it comes to new people and am not very good at breaking the ice. This probably makes me appear hoity at times, but I assure you, the opposite is true.

Even in 2008, I often find myself feeling this way. Even with the world at my feet...wonderful fiance, job that I love, etc...I feel a lack of true connection. I get so pissed at myself for pushing people away, only to feel lonely. Oh, self. You stink sometimes!

Does anyone else ever feel this way or sabotage themselves?

i'm on pins & needles

one of my favorite shows begins its 5th season tomorrow night...PROJECT RUNWAY.
i adore tim gunn's accent, heidi's hair, and the music played during runway shows. i do not adore michael kors' monochromatic palette, nina garcia's snootiness, or wendy pepper.

i got into project runway near the end of the 1st season. since then, there have been a veritable scope of designers that have catwalked their way into fashion infamy.

my favorite designers have been: nick verreos, daniel vosovic, and kevin christiana. i also enjoyed watching santino, christian, and jeffrey piss people off :) i would most want to be friends with chris marsh because he is so freaking peppy.

watch what happens.

j. hamilton

as i'm sure most of you have heard, josh hamilton became a "breakout star" last night at yankee stadium by blasting 28 home runs in the first round of the home-run derby.

i think i am one of the few baseball fans left in the lexington area...especially one that DVRs baseball tonight, reads 3+ baseball blogs a day, and knows the names and histories of all baseball broadcasters and most reds since 1990.

hamilton's story is one for hollywood or hemingway. he overcame addiction and came out the hero of the bronx.

i can say, with authority, that i saw this coming. i saw it coming during the lazy days last season, when i got the hamilton jersey for my birthday. the day hamilton was traded for volquez was the second saddest day in my personal baseball history (the day casey was traded made me cry).

the one thing i can't stand, though, is all of the bandwagon people. one look through google blogs today points to tons of new posts about being a hamilton "fan". where were you when he was on the reds? where were you when he was on the DL twice last year? where were you when he was first traded to the rangers? oh, that's right, you were doubting his abilities and his story. or you were too busy jumping on (and then off) the rays bandwagon.

i wear my hamilton jersey regularly with pride...even on off days. (**note: i would wear my casey jersey if it still fit :/ ...thanks college**). i couldn't be happier about his sudden rise as a "breakout star" among the many hamilton "fans". however, to me, the true fans are those that were there through the entire process. i am very proud the reds were the ones that offered him the fresh start.

it's obvious i have some sort of issue about bandwagon people. does anyone else get irritated when they hear people extoling the virtues of people you have long known about?

5 months later...

WE SET THE DATE!!!!! :)

june 5, 2009

talon winery

hooray! now the real planning can begin.

pixifoods

this interesting quote comes from joe posnanski -- a sports writer whose blog i frequent:

Another new word: Pixifood.

This is the kind of food that tastes absolutely delicious when you are young but is shockingly disgusting when you become an adult. It is named, of course, after Pixie Sticks, which I recall tasting a bit like heaven when I was 9 and now, I realize, is like pouring sugar down your throat. The idea alone makes me a bit ill. I don’t know if funnel cakes are a pixifood. I think Cookie Crisp cereal is a pixifood (but Cocoa Pebbles holds up quite nicely).

I think Chef Boyardee’s mini ravioli may be a pixifood. I lived on that stuff and a few weeks ago I had some for the first time in years, it was gross, tasted like rolled up mud balls or something.

i can think of several foods that could be considered a pixifood: m&m's, fish sticks, that candy gel stuff, lifesavers, tootsie pops, spaghetti-Os, raisins, butter, sugar packets...

what are your pixifoods?

downtown girl?

my lease is up at the end of august and i am searching for a new place to call home. since i work downtown, it only makes sense for me to live closer to downtown.

i found the CUTEST little 1BR apartment in gratz park.

pros: it's within my budget. i could walk/ride my bike to work. it's near the bars so i could walk home if needed. rarely have to drive anywhere. not scary neighborhood. can take lilah with me. unique architecture. hardwood floors.

cons: further from meijer. no roommates. no dishwasher.

does anyone have any advice about living in downtown?

twenty-three

happy bday to me. gosh -- i'm getting old.

we're going to shamrock's tonight around 8. come one, come all, and bring your A game!

independence day

tomorrow marks my FAVORITE holiday of the year: the 4th of july

i love the patriotism. i love the colors. i love the food. i love the random trinkets/housewares at kohl's/garden ridge/target. i love the block parties. i love the fireworks. i love the olympic spirit. i love the day off. i love the month. i love 4th of july baseball games. i love it all.

tomorrow, the lexington parade is at 2 and the fireworks are at 10. i'm sure there is lots of stuff to get into in between :)

happy birthday, america!

sparkling spotlight: volume 1

i have decided to start a semi-regular spotlight on my blog of a person of my choosing. in order to be eligible for this prestigous recognition, you have to meet some stringent expectations: 1) i have to know you, 2) you have to know me, and 3) you have to be nice.

the first person i have chosen to spotlight is my fiance, chris. (applause)

a few things i love/know about him:

• he is currently a senior at west point. although this was/is a difficult thing to work through sometimes, i love his dedication and growth over time
• plays the most amazing bee-tar ever
• shares my sense of humor
• thinks before he speaks
• we are great travelers
• will be a fantastic father
• is very thoughtful at all times
• perfectly fits this quote from the fray "when i'm losing my control, the city spins around, you're the only one who knows, you slow it down"
• is always up for a walk
• has the perfect 'emily head-shaped' nook on his shoulder

a few things i don't love about him :)

• the smell of his farts
• being so far away
• his propensity to over-help (although i secretly love this...i don't always at the time)
• driving too slow
• that one song he plays over and over and over on the bee-tar
• his ant joke

above all, he has changed my life for the better and i cannot wait to be his wife on june 6th or 7th next year. he is a romantic in every sense of the word. i love you, chris. there are so many trite things i could say, and i could go on for days, but this quote fits perfectly:

Romance is the glamour which turns the dust of everyday life

into a golden haze. --Elinor Glyn

1st kid

i caught this gem of a movie this morning. when we were little, we watched the heck out of this movie. sinbad is hilarious and this is a fantastic movie for all ages.

small sampling of quotes:

Wilkes: This is a black tie affair!
Simms: I know, sir and I got it covered. I'm black and I'm wearing a tie.


Dash: You guys suck.
Simms: We suck, ya hear that Luke? We suck, alright, we suck! Let's make a sucky left turn here.

atomic cafe

i partook in one of my favorite summertime (or anytime) activities last night: reggae dancing at atomic cafe. every friday and saturday night, they have a live reggae band on the patio. if you get in before 9, there is no cover.

they've got sweet potato chips and all the fruity drinks. on tap, they have guinness, longboard, bass, and something else. yours truly imbibed ky ale and killian's (as per usual). you should definitely check it out.

new project...

i have decided to make a t-shirt quilt. i have too many t-shirts that don't fit, but i simply can't part with.

i have never quilted before in my life and all the sewing i can do is a straight line.

any words of encouragement?

crisis averted

so, the other night, i was nearly homeless for the evening.

as i was going through my nightly routine, i realized i didn't have enough contact solution. i remembered i had an extra bottle in the car, so i grabbed my keys to go out to get it. as i locked and closed the door behind me, i had a slow-motion moment because my apartment keys were STILL INSIDE. grr...locked out.

note: i was in my pajamas, no shoes, no contacts, no license, no cell phone, and i had just taken a PM to help me sleep better.

so i drove to thornton's to use their phone, but that place is a little seedy after dark. so i prayed jen was home. after banging on her door, she let me use her cell phone to call a friend who had the only other spare key.

thankfully, all is well and i got back into my apartment.

i was a hot mess...

dix on thurs

10 biggest time-wasters

1. wikipedia
2. organizing something random in my apt
3. sleeping
4. texting
5. ANTM marathons
6. looking at wedding stuff online
7. grocery shopping
8. napping
9. mike & mike in the morning
10. traffic

hi, my name is...

rapid-fire update:

• good lord, redlegs. PATTERSON hitting leadoff? dusty the douche needs to grow up and remember he's not managing the cubs anymore.


• dunn DOESN'T have a passion for the game. he is the laziest and suckiest player ever. i'd take 18 million griffeys over him anyday. go back to tex-ass and sit on yours you oaf.


• the JJ concert was AMAZING. i didn't much like the venue, but JJ was wonderful. he played many of my favorite songs.


• erica is in meh-he-co with her lover and his fam this week. i am anxious to hear about their adventures (and perhaps a ring?) when she returns this weekend.


• RIP tim russert. your zest and whiteboard brought a sense of home to an otherwise elite political world.


• i love joe torre's brand of managing. PLZ come to cincy!


• we had a wonderful vacation in florida. we went to all the disney parks and recouperated on the other days. it was so fun to relax and brush off the school year.


• we got my dad a new kitten for father's day and she is so freakin cute. she doesn't have a name yet, but she is gray, 8 wks old, and tiny. lily is none too pleased about it. being around the kitten has really made me want to get lilah a playmate. if i find an orange female kitten, it's mine.


• my lease is up on sept 1. i would love to move downtown. anyone know of any great rental properties that are NOT on campus?


• yoga tonight.


• there is this kid on my brother's baseball team. i literally cannot stand him. i know i tend to be crotchety sometimes, but this kid is more than i can stand. he's 16 with a trash dash and a baby on the way. more than his problems in life, i can't stand the way he hangs outside the dugout with his entourage during the game. he couldn't give two shits about his team or teammates. i am kind of a baseball purist and i can't stand it when one person thinks they are bigger than the team (see: clemens, roger). also, he is inconsistent at the plate and on the rubber. he threw his bat last night all the way to the dugout, THEN the coach apologized for getting on him. grow a pair! after all of that, his mom handed him a cigarette on the way to the car. yeah...smoke in front of your baby mama who is carrying your unborn child you POS. i have NO PATIENCE for low-life, low-class people like that in this world. sorry....had to vent that somewhere.


• we are thisclose to signing our contract for our reception site. :)

"i was crazy about you then and now the craziest thing of all..."

OMG today could quite possibly be one of the best days of my life. tonight, i will see jack johnson live. holy crap.

i have loved his music since the release of his first CD. i have fink to thank for introducing me to this marvelous musician.

chris and i will be carpooling with allie and her friend dara to indy. the forecast predicts a 90% chance of rain, but come rain or come shine, i will be cheering my head off.

the kid

congrats to griffey for hitting his 600th homer tonight. you are the fifth* player to do this and i am proud to have you on the hometown team. (*i do not count barry lamar bonds as having accomplished this feat. he's a cheater AND a douche bag)

hooray junior!

i'm a miranda

SATC was amazing.













**SPOILER ALERT**

1. i literally held my breath when steve told miranda he had cheated.


2. brady and lily are adorable


3. i never saw samantha settling down, so i wasn't surprised by that


4. i don't think charlotte's character was developed enough in the movie. i know she was always the bubbly one, but honestly...


5. i LOVE the closet


6. didn't stanford and anthony despise each other?


7. jennifer hudson did a marvelous job as louise.
8. can't wait for the sequel.

by the way

slow down
slow down you're moving too fast
--ray lamontagne

i cannot believe the school year is already over. it seems like we just started. my students came so far this year...but there is still so much i would have loved to have taught them. i can't wait to see their prom pictures and their smiles on their graduation days.

i will have many more classes to come, but this class will always hold a special place in my heart.

last night, i slept 16 hours straight. i think i was past exhaustion and woke up at 4pm today wondering where the hell i was. i went to waffle house for breakfast (late bird's special?) and spent the rest of the day "nesting". every once in a while, i get this urge to clean things. erica and i call it "nesting" before our boys come home.

here is what i have done since my late start:

• changed tea lights in the candles
• vacuumed all 730 square feet of the apartment
• loaded/unloaded dishwasher
• handwashed about 15 dishes
• cleaned kitchen floor (on my hands and knees)
• changed lilah's litter/eating area
• washed sheets
• washed towels/robes
• went through closet and got rid of a TON of stuff
• taken out the trash 5 times
• went through fridge, cabinets, and freezer (YUCK). i have a habit of forgetting about food.
• unpacked from last day of school
• sorted mail
• washed trashcans
• de-cluttered nightstand
• endorsed checks
• cleaned out 4 purses
• swept front porch
• cleaned out vacuum
• dusted
• watched most of the reds game
• made new itunes playlist
• made icea tea
• went to cvs for prescription, asst other things
• declogged garbage sink thing
• put away last of the holiday stuff.
• hung some pictures
• talked to erica, mom, dad, chris
• played with lilah
• sorted cleaning products
• showered, shaved

would YOU be this productive in 7 hours?

On another note, chris is on his way home right NOW! i am so excited. i haven't seen him since early april and it's about time. we are going to disney with my family on thursday and will be back next wednesday. hooray!!!!

coldplay

i was scared

i was scared

tired and underprepared

those lines perfectly describe my day. due to legal issues, i am not allowed to go into much detail, but let's just say that today is the first day i've ever really cried at school. most of my students have tragic stories, but today's events took the cake.

please, for the love of everything, wear a condom...get "fixed"...do something. don't bring a child into this world and then leave it.

off to drink the day's events away w/ loverfern.

10 on tuesday

10 things you are really good at (in no order):

1. playing cards...especially hand & foot
2. drinking beer
3. scoring a baseball game
4. playing the piano
5. making a decision quickly
6. teaching
7. driving
8. cutting produce
9. walking in heels
10. remembering song lyrics

ceremony sites?

i found the perfect reception site, but now i am unable to use my original ceremony site.

i am in need of suggestions within the immediate downtown area. i know there are tons of churches -- but here are the parameters:

1. must have a center aisle
2. must allow an "outside" person to perform the ceremony
3. does NOT have to be a church.
4. little to no fee
5. inside/outside doesn't matter
6. be able to accommodate 150-225 guests

any ideas?

juno thoughts

this was my favorite movie of 2007. this song makes me so very happy.

while reading about it, i came upon a discussion on whether this movie was pro-choice or pro-life. after much careful thought, i think it depends on which character's viewpoint you are thinking from.

looking at it from juno's viewpoint, i can see how it could be both. although she seems very "liberal" (in a very liberal interpretation of that word), she took the time to find a caring family for her eggo. but she also called PP to see about a "hasty abortion". what an intriguing topic to debate...for once.

my thoughts on this are still simmering. thoughts?

i am not dead. just taking a break from most things in my life. re-evaluating, if you will.
wedding planning, getting ready for the end of the school year, spring cleaning, traveling (like always), and teaching lilah to walk on a leash.

i have no new pictures to post b/c my camera is all but done for.

however, i would like to note that i CALLED the winner of ANTM from the first episode of this cycle. i think that successfully defends my dissertation.

hope to blog more in the coming days/weeks.

guster "satellite"

"satellite"
Shining like a work of art
Hanging on a wall of stars
Are you what I think you are?

You're my satellite
You're riding with me tonight
Passenger side, lighting the sky
Always the first star that I find
You're my satellite

Elevator to the moon
Whistling a favorite tune
Trying to get a closer view

You're my satellite
You're riding with me tonight
Passenger side, lighting the sky
Always the first star that I find
You're my satellite

Maybe you will always be
Just a little out of reach

You're my satellite
You're riding with me tonight
Passenger side, lighting the sky
Always the first star that I find
You're my satellite
You're my satellite

back to school, back to school

hooray. back to school today.

new york on friday.

gotta love 3 day weeks.

HAPPY EARTH DAY!!! (links to follow after school).

7 on sunday, vol 3

here's an interesting topic from a few weeks ago

places you'd take a tourist* in your hometown:

1. triangle park -- hands down, favorite place in the world of all time
2. keeneland -- to include tailgating
3. putt-putting @ the ice center. then a snowcone afterwards
4. ale8 factory. winchester is NOT lexington, but this is my mecca
5. richmond rd fazoli's
6. KY theater
7. joe b's

*i am super anti-tourist in lexington. yes, i know they contribute to our economy, but get the hell off the road, quit clogging up target, and yes, no one actually goes 55mph on new circle.

** yes, i know there is some place i'm leaving off, but it's late and i'm sick.

blah

strep throat. i mean...honestly.

fever et. al. what a way to ruin a weekend.

7 on sunday, vol 2

7 favorite actors/actresses:

1. kate winslet - not afraid of her body
2. morgan freeman - best voice ever
3. tom hanks - so friendly and unique
4. mandy moore - not cookie cutter
5. julie andrews - classic
6. joaquin phoenix
7. dakota fanning

7 on sunday, vol 1

(stolen from Ten on Tuesday. i'm always too busy during the week to keep up with it)

Seven Things You'd Fix in your Home (if you had time + money):

1. get a gorgeous dresser
2. paint bedroom wall
3. install a wall of bookcases from ikea
4. fence around the patio
5. outdoor storage space
6. gas fireplace
7. dvr (not something to fix...something to get)

L.O.V.E. I.K.E.A

OMG. how have i not been to this store before now? i am officially an IKEA junkie. i was fortunate enough to go to the new northern cincy store yesterday and it is BRILLIANT. anytime anyone wants to go, please let me know.

here is a mere sampling of the things i bought yesterday: (had it not been for space limitations in my dad's car, you'd better believe i would've bought a ton more)

obsessed.

these heels were made for....

like cameron, i also bought new shoes recently. mmm mmm good. i couldn't find the actual picture online, but they are closest to the shoes on the far left. i got them from the bitten line and they are exquisite.

perhaps we can take our new shoes out, cameron?

3Rs

i love love love reducing, reusing, and recycling. i stumbled upon this website tonight and am so interested! instead of throwing out crap, people are offering it to those in their local communities. kind of like the "free to a good home" ads of yesteryear.

here is a link to other such sites. although, the freecycle one is my favorite so far.


(kinda lame...but the best i could do on youtube tonight)

on a related note, i am in need of a dresser. gently used...lime green...blah brown...missing handles...doesn't matter. my poor t-shirts just need a place to live. anyone? bueller?

c'est possible

could it be?

i am thisclose to being done with ktip.

VIP drinks on me thursday night (or maybe friday)

controversy de la chinese

as i awoke this morning, CNN was showing live coverage of the olympic torch relay in paris. it seems people are trying to extinguish the flame b/c they are upset with china's bitchiness towards tibet. i'm not much into world politics...in fact i know nothing about this particular issue. but in some weird way, i felt kind of proud that people would stand up like this.

i am a very cheesy person sometimes and seeing people stand up for what they believe in makes me a little verklempt. and the pictures of the people who scaled the golden gate bridge to hang a sign were wicked crazy.

as an aside, i absolutely LOVE the olympics...politics aside. i love the pomp and patriotic-ity and the human interest stories and just everything about it. it is a dream to go to the olympics one day...as a spectator, of course. although i feel i could maybe do this with general ease.

run, fatboy, run

my dear friend, erica, and i went to the matinee showing of run, fatboy, run today at regal. this movie is freaking hilarious and heartwarming. it runs along the lines of juno and little miss sunshine, but i LdOL at the other movies more than this one. i would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a good story.

next on the movie list is 21. anyone interested?
now, back to KTIP.

on the road again

greetings from the road! we have internet at our hotel in cleveland. here are a few highlights from our trip so far.

• a glorious lunch at wendy's
• 90s sing-along
• catching the bus by a nose.
• "um...what do i do, then?"
• honey brown at the stadium
• nacho cheese waffle fries
• blind pig -- sing along and free beer
• losing our way back to the bus
• interesting bus ride back through the heart of cleveland at night

today, we are travelling to chicago. we have no game today so we are going to soak in some of the sights. au revoir, friends.

PS: friday night, i'm going to the 80s dance party at the dame. then, keeneland on saturday.

PPS: RIP mr. wildcat

PPPS: dang you, darren horn.

wanted....alive.

i swear, i'm not dead. time has just slipped away from me. chris was in town last week and it was wonderful. finishing up KTIP crap. march madness. PLUS i called the bottom FOUR in antm last week.

i hope to update before monday morning. the bestest and i are taking a baseball roadtrip. i couldn't think of anything else i'd rather be doing.

la semaine

this week's schedule thus far:

MON:

• 3 parent/teacher conferences
• 504 review
• mtg after school at central office
• monday at an inner city school (need i say more)

TUES:

• 3 parent/teacher conferences
• 2 SAT mtgs during school
• DI observation
• informal RF observation
• JA
• faculty mtg (eventually cancelled)
• mtg w/ principal
• KTIP observation
• after school mtg for ESS club
• 1 load of laundry
• fazoli's w/ allie (after leaving school at 6:30pm)
• library for research until 9pm
• worst behavioral day in class history (10 on yellow, 3 on red)

WEDS:

• 1 parent/teacher conference
• grade level mtg
• ANTM

THURS:

• KTIP observation (principal)
• PAWS for proficiency celebration
• 1st day of after-school clubs
• yoga

FRI:

• KTIP observation
• RF mtg
• 1 parent/teacher conference
• CHRIS IS COMING HOME

c'mon friday!

t-o-p-s

stand up and cheer

stand up and cheer for dear old western

for to-day we raise

the red and white above the rest.

rah-rah-rah

our team is fighting

and we are bound to win the fray

we've got the team

we've got the steam

for this is dear old western's day

t-o-p-s TOPS TOPS TOPS

wednesday poem

i love when
he does this or
that

i love that
he provided
the cat

i love his
eyes
so deep

and around him
my life
begins to seep.

NINE DAYS.

wknd update

sometimes, i get so discouraged at life and the pursuit. the pursuit of what? oftentimes, it seems i am a lone reed in the world...authenticity revealed, but never appreciated. but then other times, it seems i am one with every tribe and tongue. yes, we can.

as i went through this school week, i reflected on the lives of my students and my heart broke. i have tried to stay emotionally distant from the horrible home hells of most of my students, but this week, it just hit me. i grew up with one of the best upbringings possible. loving family, excellent education, open opportunities, and the chance to literally do anything i wished. interesting that i chose a profession in which i would impact those the most different from me. yes, my students may have nothing, but they have me. and i will fight for them -- they will always be my children. yes, we can.

i have still not processed the transition my life is undergoing. two weekends ago, chris made me the most honored woman of all time. he asked me to be his wife. i was and am still in awe. this man, this honorable, gracious, accomodating, lovely man wanted to have me in his life. us in our lives. forever. on february 16, 2008, we went to the philadelphia museum of art, dinner at the victor cafe, iceskating outdoors, and then for a walk along penn's landing. that moment, the one i had dreamt of since august 2006, had arrived. and i am still in awe. darling, yes, we can.

last weekend, i took a trip in which family was the theme. from the dames to the duricks to the gosselins, family was all around. i was impacted not by words said or things given, but by authenticity. that one word can change a mind, change a mood, change a life. yes, we can.

W.W. part tres

this morning is the official start of women's wknd part three. we will be traveling to the hotbed of american wildness...ft wayne indiana.

we will visit all 103 members of ria's family (jk) AND see jon&kate+8 speak at a random church. a good time will be had by all.

full rundown and pics of engagement weekend should be up mid-week next week.

loving!

and my girl is...

my pick for ANTM this cycle is whitney.

1. there has never been a plus* sized winner before.


2. she recognizes the same thing i do....most plus* size girls' flames flicker out as the cycle wears on

*plus sized in ANTMland is normal size for the rest of us. thus, i refuse to think of these girls as fat.

wascally wodent

on my way home from g'town last night, i almost hit a raccoon. he was actually kinda cute...like a fat cat. if not for the fact that he had garbage in his mouth, he might've been the perfect playmate for lilah.

goin' to the chapel

it's official. i am engaged! many, many posts to come.

it happened on saturday night in philly.

check facebook for pics of the ring/wknd.