j&k+8

so i was catching up on some things on my DVR tonight and i watched two episodes of jon&kate+8 back to back.  i found this show way back in the early days b/c i am one of those suckers that LOVES(D) to watch the stories of multiple birth families.

in the early days, i enjoyed watching the tribulations of caring for 6 infants day in and day out.  seeing all of the little things it took and how freaking adorable the kids were.  i loved figuring out their personalities from a wee age.

i am sad to say that this show has jumped the shark.  after watching the two episodes (one old and one new), i finally figured out what had been bothering me about this show of late.  it's the lack of interaction.  in the old episodes, the family would do things together, interact with people outside the immediate family, play.  jon and kate would giggle together about things the kids had done.  if you look at the most recent episodes, there is none of that.  no real interactions, no giggles.  just lots of eyerolling, screaming, and passive/aggressiveness.

i will NOT get up on a high-horse about the ethics of this family.  it's really none of my business.  but it is sad to see such a loving family become one that spends most days independent of each other.

could it be editing?  sure.

but i, for one, will only stick to old episodes.

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.

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. :)

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!

the newest addition

a few of you know that my cat, tiger, died in dec 2k5. it took me a very long time to get over this, and even still, i have not visited her grave. however, i had recently pet-sit and decided i was ready for another feline in my life. chris said he would get one for me for christmas and, thus, began the great kitten search of 2007.

we looked at the shelters in lexington, woodford, and jessamine. i finally found one i fell in love with at the jessamine shelter. we brought her home on jan 4 and we are now bonded for life.

lilah is 4 months old, loves cuddling, has a feisty side, is not afraid of plastic bags, is afraid of the vacuum, and loves talking to chris on the webcam. she sleeps next to me and puts her paw on my hand. how stinking CUTE! she has already met grandma, grandpa, uncle brett, uncle eric, cousin lily, aunt maria, uncle mark, and aunt sarah. come on over for a visit!


we named her delilah after the song "hey there delilah." chris found that band right around the time we first started dating...1.5 years ago. that song eventually became overplayed, but it still holds a special place in our hearts because of our long-distance relationship.

welcome home, lilah!

bon anniversaire

happy birthday to my favorite youngest brother. you only turn 16 once, kid.

let me tell you about this kid:

• he's a rice, therefore, he loves: playing cards, sports of all sorts, Bdubs, seeds, skyline cheese, and egg kisses
• he's one hella good baseball player
• he has red hair, which i am super partial to
• he is an uncle to the CUTEST kitten ever

basically, he's on the corridor to the area of awesome.

fab fam

this weekend, i was at a family reunion in indy. when i was younger, i used to avoid these gatherings, but in my old age (?) i have come to look forward to them. it is so weird to see how everyone else is getting older. the kids that used to be in elementary school are now about to graduate high school.

family is a funny thing. when i am at these reunions, i can't believe i don't hang out with these people more...but in the two years between reunions, i barely think twice about them. i suppose that will be my new year's resolution. to keep up with family more.

the rice clan has always been close...now i need to share the love with the extended ones.