I Wish I Were a Loser

Ever since I got my bike, I've noticed some great changes going on in my legs. They're shrinking!!! And getting much more muscley.

Now my arms and beer gut on the other hand...

A few months ago, Husband went out of town, and out of sheer laziness, I only ate lean cuisines for lunch and dinner for the entire weekend. And even though it was just a couple days, I noticed my pants getting roomier.

So I've been looking for an opportunity to take that plan up a notch. August wasn't plausible since I tend to make my birthday last a month, and pig-out the whole time.

But September is the perfect time! Plus, I'm going to be seeing my whole family the beginning of Oct, so working hard the month before could help me look my best.

For the next month I'm planning on, not dieting per se, but taking preventative measures against junk food.

It's not so much that I want to restrict myself, I just want to protect me from bad decisions.

I'll be having breakfasts that are high in fiber, and lean cuisines for lunches and dinners. I've bought crackers and sugar free jellos to ward-off any cases of the munchies. And my case of diet dr pepper should not only keep me from buying a full sugar one across the street everyday (but will also save my wallet tons, since i'm shelling out a $1.50 each time!)

I'll keep biking 5-6 times per week, and I really need to go back to curves more often (since I'm paying for it anyway!)

Before you know it, I'll be the hot redhead that Lindsay Lohan wishes she were.

So wish me luck! I'll try to keep everyone posted on how I'm doing!

Humility, Sponsored by Google

I heart google reader, and look forward to reading it. Admittedly though, I don't know how to use all the little features of it.

Recently, I figured out that you can look at the details of each blog, and find out how many people subscribe each one.

of the blogs i read: most have between 100-1,000 subscribers

Which (naturally) made me curious how many I might have.

Based on these findings, i guessed that I might have about 60...

So i click on apathetic fish's info, and find that i have a whopping: 8. EIGHT

I mean, I know I "celebrate mediocrity" but geez

And the most pitiful part?
technically, it's 7 because I'm one of them

BUT rather than be sad about the small number*, I am going to treasure those 7 like days o' the week undies!!!

sunday: amber monday: elle tuesday: rachel (...and I have no idea who the rest of you are, but I appreciate you just the same!!!!)

So for those of you that do read this, thanks!!! (And feel free to tell your friends**)

*quality, not quantity right?
**shameless self promotion

It's Not Easy Being Green

Admittedly, when I first moved here, the sight of all this environmental friendliness was blinding. I mean really, all this solar panels and Prius' were almost enough to make a girl buy a hummer and vote republican (...almost).

Early on, I switched to compact florescent bulbs as a minuscule attempt to appease the [carbon footprint conscious] masses. (I was hoping to avoid a tar and feathering, but they're so dang nice around here it's more like a 30 minute lecture and pamphlet-ing)

I was more than pleased to keep my SUV. But over the course of this past year, I've found i drive less and less. Now that I have a bike, I use that as my first method of transport, bus second*, car last.

I've been cultivating the thought (for awhile now) that we could definitely survive with just one car. Unfortunately, I've also been told (multiple, multiple times) that Husband intends on never (ever) getting rid of his "baby" (aka-car).

HOWEVER! if he ever does get a large dose of "save a polar bear"-itis, then here is my utopia of transportation:

My Bike (of course)

seriously mom, stop buying me orange PLEASE


a VESPA!!!



And a toyota camry hybrid

that's right, I said hybrid...this is me, JUMPING on the bandwagon. woop, woop.

Oh dear lord, I'm one fair-trade outfit away from being a madisonite.** Guess I better start buying local and acting accepting towards others...

*i use Husband's free student bus pass, yo.
**madisonian? madisonese?

Things That Make You Go Woo

I accidentally participated in a marathon this morning.

Ok, fine. It was a half-marathon.

Ok, fine. I was on my bike.

All morning long, I kept hearing faint "woo's" outside my window. Since it was freezing*, and my 60 year-old windows don't exactly shut well, I assumed it was the wind. I tried my best to ignore and get ready for work.

Being overly pleased with myself that I was ready for work EARLY, I grabbed my bike and headed outside with a huge smile on my face. A smile that was quickly slapped off by the wind**.

Oddly enough, I could still hear woo, but it wasn't coming from the breeze. As I headed towards the main roads, the woo's became louder and louder. Then, in one right-turn, I suddenly found myself surrounded by red-faced runners, with numbers on their shirts.

I tried my best to stay out of their way. Sadly, no spectators provided me with a woo.

Fortunately for me, the intimidating traffic cops were only mean to cars, and we're beyond helpful to me (and, let's be honest, my ridiculous predicament that only I could have managed to get into).

I suppose it's better than the last time I found myself surrounded by runners. On a particularly "rough" morning, we went to Mickies for grease and coffee, to find ourselves surrounded by marathoners who we carboloading for an entirely different reason.
[I love that I have just woken up, and they had already run 26.2 miles***]

However, I'm about to toot my own horn (and I imagine it to be something like a trumpet), I will give myself props and announce that I'm attempting to ride 6 miles tomorrow (before work). However, it says you can stop and start whenever you want, so we'll see if I get past .05

Wish me luck!

p.s. mom, stop buying me orange. I had on an orange sweatshirt while riding an orange bike. You couldn't decipher between me and the construction barrels marking the race path.

*50 degrees in August. COME ON WISCONSIN, SERIOUSLY!?!?
**it also made a yo-mama joke, punched me in the stomach, and then laughed at me as I hugged myself and cried.
***but you know what, I bet I drank waaay more than them the night before, so HA

Addendum

Not sure if this is exactly I was talking about in my last post, OR IF IT'S THE GREATEST VIDEO OF ALL TIME*

*hopefully the latter

Dear Parents,

No matter what you may think, your child is not exceptional.*

And even though you might find it adorable, bad behavior is simply that, bad behavior. Encourage it at a young age, and then blame everyone else when they become satan's minions during their teenage years (especially the teachers, it's always the teachers fault).

When your child makes a mess, and you leave it, someone has to clean it up. No, it's not "typical" for a server or sales assistant to have to clean up mounds of products** off the floor. And if you're not going to pick it up yourself, the least you could do is let someone know before another customer finds it and considers the store slovenly. Beyond that, the rest of the customers did not come to the store to see your child. The don't find the screaming cute or endearing.

If you're child cannot behave at a restaurant, mall, etc, DON'T BRING THEM. Treat yourself to an afternoon alone and get a babysitter.

That is all.

With Regards,
Your Apathetic Fish

*except for MY nephew and niece, but that's just common sense

**see also: urine

Yes, but He's MY Idiot

Husband and I were at the laundromat yesterday. While I went for a walk around the neighborhood (don't worry, we went to the non-ghetto one this time), Husband was left with the responsibility of swapping the clothes from the washers to the dryers.

Seems easy, right?

He pulled the clothes out of the ginormous, front-loading washers and walks over to the "dryers". He puts the clothes in, puts in the money, and presses start. Only to find water gushing out. Turns out, he had somehow confused a top-loading washer* for a clothes dryer. After a momentary panic, he starts pulling clothes out before they got too soaked.

Enter me, laughing my ass off. I wasn't even mad about the $1.50 in quarters I'd never see again...however, the owner of the place was there and cracked-up when he found out what happened (...because i told him. it was too funny to not share!). He was nice enough to refund our money, and considered it worth the entertainment.

Aww, sweet Husband.

I have to say, since I've met him, he constantly keep me laughing...it's about 60/40 whether it's at/with him.


*I mean, maybe I could understand if it was front-loading, but seriously??? how would clothes dry in a top-loader?

Three Things Thursday*

Three Reasons I could never be Kosher:

1. Pork (see also, Bacon and BBQ)
2. Crustaceans (shrimp, Crabcakes and lobster, OH MY)
3. The whole 'meat and diary can't touch' thing
   (Me give up cheeseburgers and sausage pizza?!)

MAD Props to those of you that are! I would never have the willpower.

Not to mention, i'm not jewish...

*ok, now I'm just making shit up. there's no such thing as 3 things thursday. However, since I happened to label the past two days, i figured I could go the whole week.

GPOYW*

My Husband's Got Big Balls Edition

(He's a tennis coach, but I don't really see how an oversized ball helps. However, the larger the tennis ball, the smaller I look: so enlarge away!)


*I hope I'm not offending or stealing anyone's idea, but I have seen alot of blogs with GPOYW (gratuitous picture of yourself wednesday), and I wanted to join in the fun!! Although, with my track record, this may be the one and only time I do it.

You Tube Tuesday

I was driving home earlier, and heard a song playing on 105.5 triple m (this station is amazing, and one of the few independent ones left in the us).

Anyway, i was enthralled by the song i was hearing. I kept thinking, "wow! I hope other people are hearing how great this is too!" It was called, Portland, by Mike Droho.

when the song was over, the dj informed us that the artist was actually the winner of a competition the radio station had held to find new talent.

I wanted to share it with you, but since he's not very well known (yet), it was hard to find a version online. Watch the video below, the song starts at minute 4:35



This video doesn't begin to do it justice. Hearing it in surround sound in the car was breathtaking.

And since you've been so nice to humor me about that, I will now attempt to make your day with the following youtube clips. (if these don't make you smile, then there's something wrong with you!)







I guess I'm on a bit of a bulldog kick today...

Decisions. Decisions.

Which color should I get?



The purple ones seem much more attention getting. But the black would go with more outfits, so I could probably wear them more often*

What to do. what to do.

*the really sad part is, all this time and consideration is for a $25 pair of shoes

Little Foot-Jewelry!

For anyone that knows me in real life, I'm not very big into shoes.

Mainly, it's the fact that I suffer with a condition known as "abnormally large, bulbous feet".
Seriously, I wear a size 11. So for the most part, no one makes shoes in my size. Or, while the may be cute as a size 7, they look mutated and creepy when they are enlarged to an 11.

(Coincidentally, the one good thing Paris Hilton has ever accomplished was making designers aware that there is a market for larger sized shoes!)

For the most part, I buy unisex shoes. My closet is a veritable cache, rich with clogs, flipflops, crocs, etc.
If you only knew me by my shoes, you'd probably assume that I am either a rugged outdoorsman, or a frequenter of lilith fair.

Neither one could be further from the truth.

However, every once in a awhile i get sucked in. Yesterday was one of those exceptions. I happened upon a pair of shoes beckoning me. begging me to adopt them. convincing me that they would be miserable with any owner besides myself.



Upon trying them on, I instantly called Husband (who was elsewhere in the store) and shouted, "Come here! bring money!"

Sadly, they didn't go home with me that day. Although we both agreed that my life would be incomplete without them, we also agreed that I would need to wait until we actually had money in our accounts*.

Being rational sucks.

However, I do need a cocktail outfit for my grandma's 90th birthday this October. And I've already decided that I should buy the shoes, and find a little black dress with a coordinating ruffle. (see how easy it is to convince myself of something? my arm is just so twisted, ow!)

So now, not only must I purchase the shoes, I will have to force myself to try on oodles of cute dresses too.

Man, sometimes life is just so rough.

*currently, when we log into our bank accounts, rather than seeing numbers, we are greeted with the :( emoticon

so.many.questions.

Due to a series of unforeseen circumstances, I had to ride a bus to chicago for buffett:

In the row across from me, I saw a man "Napoleon Dynamite-style" chugging a 2-liter of Dad's RootBeer.

For one thing, where do they even sell dad's rootbeer? especially in 2liter size
Also, why must one chug it so forcefully? that can't possibly be refreshing

I pretty much spent the next 3 hours of the bus ride pondering this...(along with the fact that after 2liters of soda, he never once had to go pee)

Reasons 34 and 35 Why We Shouldn't Go Shopping*

(We tend to get a little distracted....we were there to buy deodorant)

*reasons 1-33 are just variations of "we have no money" and "we have no time"

I Prefer My Beaches Without Bette Midler*

Sweet Home Style is taunting me!!







This is made all-the-worse by the fact that I haven't been to the beach in a year, and I won't get an opportunity to go until 2010!!

I desperately need a vacation, but the few times I've been out of town this year, it's to visit family. And family is all well and good, but not nearly as relaxing as hearing the waves lap, while a monkey brings me an umbrella topped fruity drink.

I made Husband promise me that when he's finished with grad school we will go on a vacation. A steel drum, hawaiian shirt, spf50**, sand in your toes vacation.

I am counting down the days.

*ok, fine. the truth is, i LOVE that movie
**but somehow I still get burned

How I Met Husband

everyone loves annoying surveys!!

1.) Where did you meet?
In the back of my roomate's car

2.) Who introduced you?
My Roomate, went to highschool with him

3.) What was the first thought that went through your head when you met?
I was very drunk, so it's hard to know... [probably something like, "Gosh, i'm really drunk"]

4.) Do you remember what he/she was wearing?
YES!
A sweater (that we still argue over whether it's green or gray)
and corduroy pants with pleats and cuffs (ugh!)

5.) Where was the first place you kissed this person?
at the bar, in front of about 14 of my friends

6.) How long did you know this person before you became a couple?
roughly 30 minutes

7.) How did he/she ask you out?
I'm not certain he ever really asked me out... We lived in separate towns, so when we got together, we were visiting, and it was just understood that we would be hanging out.

8.) Do you have kids with this person?
Nope, but i could go for a puppy!

10.) When was the first time you realized that you really liked this person?
I have too many moments that made me realize how great he is. but here's one:
after i visited him the first time, he called me and told me I left something very valuable at his house, and I better come back and get it... It was a green ponytail holder:)

11.) Do you get along with his/her family?
Yes. I adore my in-laws

12.) Do you trust this person?
Definitely, but I don't necessarily trust him to remember things :)

13.) Do you see her/him as your partner in the future?
In general, yes. But that can tend to fluctuate depending on my/his mood

14.) What is the best gift she/he gave you?
an orchid, diamond earrings, and a trip to spain

15.) How long have you been with this person?
6 and a 1/2 years (yeesh! i feel old)

16.) How well do you know your man or woman?
Sometimes, I think I might know him better than he knows himself. I can predict his actions or moods a lot.

17.) What features attracted you to them first?
he smelled really, really good. (and he has a nice tooshie)

18.) Hair color?
Brown.

19.) Does he/she let you wear the pants?
I alternate between pants and skirts, but he would prefer it if i wore nothing ;)

20.) Do you have a shirt of hers/his that you sleep in?
Nah. All his teeshirts are older than our relationship and have yellow pit stains

21.) Does she/he make you happy?
yes (among a barrage of other emotions too, but mainly happy!). he makes me laugh constantly

22.) Does she/he have any piercings?
no. but that mental image is hilarious

23.) Does she/he have any scars that you know of?
he's got a big one over his right knee from acl surgery

24.) Is she/he Outgoing or Shy?
usually shy. But he certaily wasn't the night he met me!

25.) Does she/he sing?
Only to punish me (JUST KIDDING HUSBAND! he's going to hate me for this, but: he once got invited to be in a barber shop quarter, which he of course turned down because...it's a barber shop quartet)

26.) Do you like her/his friends?
Yes, almost all of them. However, he's way too nice and friendly for my tastes, so he makes friend with everyone, and i get annoyed by some of the moochers or ones that take advantage of him.

27.) Does she/he have any tattoos?
no. he hates them. I think it stems from when he was a kid and hated wearing stickers

28.) Does she/he look like their mom?
very much so

29.) Do you like her/his sisters/brothers?
He's got one brother, and I like him. although, when the 2 of them get together, they drive me CRAZY

30.) What is the most romantic date you have ever gone on?
when I got off work, there were flowers and a clue at my car. and I went on a scavengar hunt across town, picking up clues, until I found him on the beach at sunsent with champagne. and then, he had filled my apartment with balloons, and when you popped one, it had a note inside saying a reason he loved me (man, he's good)

31.) Do you have any nicknames for each other?
Yes. I call him Monkey, and he calls me Cakey

32.) Do you live with this person?
Yes. Going on 3 years now.

33.) Do you have any pets together?
We have a dead plant...

34.) Where is this person?
Sitting on the couch with me, eating leftovers from last night

35.) What is your anniversary date?
we have 2: One for when we met, 2/8/03, and every year we have to make each others present
the other, 7/7/07 (it was NOT on purpose, I really didn't want that date...)

36.) When will you guys do something next?
we are both exhausted! probably, we will watch tv, and then sleep (does that count?)
I'm not sure we "plan" dates anymore, so much as go out whenever. but it's still fun!

This is What Fun Looks Like.

not that this wasn't really occurring, but this picture is a fake. I am holding my thumb over the opening of a very warm beer.













Q: Hey, you know what makes a concert even more fun?

A: TAILGATING! (especially, tailgating for 9 hours!)

I had a GREAT time in chicago this past weekend for my first jimmy buffett experience!! I am now ridiculously broke, but already planning for alpine valley next summer!

Why I'm Never Doing Laundry Again!

I've told you about my laundry woes before (How I wait until the last possible minute, and can never do them in the scary basement because I never have any quarters).

Well, today I purposely got cashback in quarters from the store, and I was all set for an evening of drinking, cleaning, and periodic laundry attending in the basement.

The sun was still out when I put the first load in, so I had no problem going by myself. About 10 minutes ago, I was headed to put the second load in, when (at the last minute) I asked Husband to go with me. (I tend to be a big baby when it comes to going in the poorly lit, creepy basement alone)

Well, I am so glad he agreed to be my sherpa, because we get down then and see something moving around in the back corner. We both look and realize a bat is heading right for us! We run, and hover in the stairwell, and instead of staying in the room we where in, he follows us. I run up the stairs screaming, "[expletive!expletive!expletive!]"

We inform our landlord, and she was oober thankful since she was planning on going to the basement later too.

I surrender to the fact that our clothes in the washer will need to be rewashed, since they'll get mildewy before the exterminator will get here tomorrow. that sounds rational right?

Well, apparently that's not ok for Captain Cheapskate (aka: Husband). He decides to get a tennis racquet and head down. Of course! that makes total sense. Why waste a dollar to rewash, when you could risk impending death tonight.

Fortunately, he has made it back upstairs safely. And Lumpy (that's what he named the bat), must have decided that one scare was enough for the day, because he left Husband alone.

Yum.

Husband finished his summer school classes this week. They were really kicking his ass, so he was relieved to be done with them (Although, he did awesome!).

To celebrate, I made bellini's and bruschetta.

The bruschetta were such a big hit, I wanted to share the recipe. In full disclosure, I first learned about these from Jeff Johnson, the owner of Sauce's Restaurant. I fell in love with them instantly, and while I don't know his recipe, I am sharing the version I made with you. Enjoy!

bruschetta with balsamic and goat cheese

You will need:

• a baguette
• chevre (goat cheese)
• balsamic vinegar
• a container of good quality bruschetta
  of course, you could make your own bruschetta too. But if you buy everything premade, it only take about 5 minutes to prepare. (I bought all my ingredients from Trader's Joes)
  

Directions:

• Lighty toast baguette slices.
• Sprinkle balsamic vinegar on each piece.
  you only need a couple drops per slice. Either cover the top of the bottle with your thumb, or use a spoon as a dropper to control the pour.
• Spread a layer of goat cheese on each slice.
• Place them back in the oven (while the oven is off, but still warm) to let the cheese soften a bit.
• Right before serving, place a spoonful of bruschetta on each slice.
  

and, enjoy!

Hodge Podge of Randomness

Welcome to my unstructured, random thought blog! Here's what's on my mind:

Husband had to get up too early this morning (especially considering it's my day off, I mean, where's the courtesy? Nothing should be schedule on Tuesdays or Wednesdays before 10:30). Since the room is small, the alarm clock woke us both up, so I surrendered to a morning on the couch watching the Today show. Let's just say, I wasn't dressed.

I am in hour 2 of my trancelike state (watching Matt Lauer being licked by an adorable puppy!), when all the sudden i hear a "clang-clang" going outside my window. I hear two men's voices get closer and closer. I look out an realize there is a ladder right in front my window, and two repair men are trying to get on the roof.

The blinds are open, and I'm on my couch wearing 1/5th of what would I should be. I leap of the couch, grab the nearest blanket, and do a backwards lobster walk into my bedroom.

Unfortunately for me, our apartment is so small, that we had to put our dresser in the living room (it lives a double-life as a tv stand), so I have to wait until they are gone before I can go back outside. Sorry Mr. Construction Men, I think you got a free show with your job today!
...........................................................................................................
It finally happened. I, the clutz, fell off my bike. Technically, i didn't have a "bike accident" since the bike wasn't in motion. I had just bought a six pack from trader joe's, but it was too heavy for my basket, and was making the basket rub on the front tire. I was trying to peek over the front to see how heavy it was and somehow lost my balance, and we all came tumbling down. (i know. seriously, who hurts them self while the bike it standing still?!?) I got a pretty nasty bruise on my leg, and sadly, the basket broke. [sniff. sniff. r.i.p.]Technically, the basket is ok, but the mounting bracket is shattered. I knew it was too good to be true. I've never gotten something I really, really liked with ruining it shortly there after. [Think of me as Lennie, from Of Mice and Men]. Don't worry though, all six beers made it home safely.
.............................................................................................................
I realize I have probably driven everyone crazy over the past 2 weeks, since every other word out of my mouth has been "bike". So I promise to try and take the obsession down a notch, or at the very least, stop mentioning it so much. However, I did want to share this with all of you.

I've always love bike bells and horns. I think they are such a fun, whimsical addition to your bicycle. But I am not exaggerating when I say that, as a child, i had the best bike horn ever. I've always tried to describe it to people, but was never able to do it justice. And no amount of google image search was ever able to find a picture of it.

Until yesterday! I finally found one on ebay. So here is it for all of you to enjoy!



It's a sesame street honker horn! circa 1986. You squeeze its nose, and his two hears are the horns! I loooved it. I remember not wanting to attach it, because I didn't want to limit myself to only being able to play with it while I was on the bike. I think all bike horns should be this fun!
..................................................................................................................

And there you go, my threesome of random thoughts for all of you to digest. Enoy (but you should probably take an antacid after all this too)

Let's Talk about How Awesome I Am

I, your Apathetic Fish, rode my bike to work!

This means that:

• I did something environmentally friendly
• I woke up, and left in enough time for the commute
  
• I chose to voluntarily exercise
  

This is a HUGE deal. Me, the girl who traded-in her car for an suv when gas was at $3.00. Me, the girl who usually leaves the house when I am supposed to be at work. Me, the girl who has gotten in her car, driven two stores down, parked, and shopped some more.

My carbon footprint's so low, I probably just saved an entire panda.
(Leave me alone Al Gore, I didn't do it for you...well, maybe a little)

No...I'M RIGHT!

grrr.

When Husband wanted to quit his job and go back to grad school. I knew we'd be poor. Technically, we've never been anything but poor. But I knew that for the next two years, I'd have to be the breadwinner and our bread would need to be generic and stale. And I agreed. I also knew that when Husband's job ended for the summer we'd be even poorer. And I agreed. It's ok, i decided. I can eat ramen, and live with "borrowed" internet. We're both making sacrificies right?
and regarding the borrowed internet, it hasn't worked in 3 days, and I'm sitting at a park that offers free wifi just to type this. Unfortunately, it also offers me as an "all you can eat buffet" to the mosquitoes that are currently hovering overhead.

Well, for my birthday, my wonderful mother-in-law gave a some cash. Nothing substantial, but enough for me to buy something I wouldn't normally be able to. [Sidenote: you know you're getting old when you open your birthday cards, and no more checks fall out]

I decided I wanted to put the cash towards a digital camera. It would cover about half the cost, and I could definitely pay for the rest. I mean, that's why we have a savings account right? To buy things that aren't an everyday expense, right?

[I'd like to stop for a moment and address my parents, who are inevitably asking themselves, "what the hell happened to the camera we got you for christmas?" And my answer this, I am going to adopt the military's don't ask, don't tell policy...but if you must know, it went out with us on St. Patty's Day, never to return home. (which makes whoever found it a jerk, b/c I had my name and phone number in the camera case!) Sorry guys, I win the ungrateful daughter award.]

Anyway, I set out the other day, still in the "it's my birthday and I get to be extravagant" mood. I get my eyebrows waxed (with a coupon), i get my oil change (AND pay for husband's oil change too), and I'll be damned if I'm not gonna get a new camera.

Then starts Captain Cheapskate (aka-Husband) with the "Do we really need one right now? Shouldn't we wait until I'm working again? blah.blah.blah" Finally, I give in. I don't buy a camera that day, and resign myself to wait a little longer.

[Parents: I also had this great plan to buy the exact one you got me so that you'd be none the wiser]

So ok, it's been a few days, I still have no camera. I still really want one, but am will to wait until our finances are a little more secure.

But THEN, Husband gets a call from his friends tell him that it's almost Draft Day for their Fantasy Football League. Does he hesitate in the slightest to fork his share of the pot to play fantasy football? THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT IT WOULD HAVE COST ME FOR MY CAMERA!!! nooooo, of course not. Because that's not a frivolous expenditure. Who needs a digital camera when you have a cell phone with 1/18th of a megapixel quality camera?

The point: I'm skeeved

Husband is currently on hour 1,000 of "lets take FOREVER to pick our players" THAT DON'T EVEN MATTER BECAUSE IT'S NOT REAL. spoiler alert: Guys, it's fake. You aren't a team owner, nor are you a coach, and actually, you can't even play football
............................................................................................................................

The real lesson in all this (gentleman), is make sure your fantasy football draft day doesn't fall on one of your wife's "3 irrational days per month"...

May I just reiterate HOW much fun I am having with my bike?

Today we rode to famous dave's for bbq. nom nom nom.

I've received a couple suggestions on what to name her. Here are some of my favorites:

• Jessica Fletcher (I could call her Fletch)
• Lucy
• Stella
  
• Molly
• Thelma [or] Louise
• Cindi Loo Who

All good suggestions. But I think I have a winner!

Everyone, Meet Isabella
The Bike, not Me



I will call her Bella for short. Which is perfect since it's Italian for Beautiful, and that's exactly what she is! I now imagine myself cycling throughout little Tuscan villages, wine and fresh bread in my basket, and people everywhere stop and shout, "Ciao! Bellissima!" (nuh uh, it could too happen!)

I am definitely digging this biking lifestyle.


The one thing I'm quickly learning though, is that we will soon need to get Husband a new bike too, because, handsom as he is, he just can't keep-up on a used mongoose without working breaks...

Dear Facebook,

Actually, this goes out to all social networking sites: stop it, just stop it!






this one cracks me up, i've never even been to michigan!

Stop giving me pregnancy ads. Just because I am married doesn't mean I'm ready/trying to reproduce. It is in a babies best interest to stay away from this couple for awhile. It would get lost amidst the mountains of laundry that have taken over our apartment.

Why Can't We Be Friends?

I SERIOUSLY need to make some friends up here. It's been a year and my social circle could fit in a petri dish. Plus, all this sitting at home alone is causing me to watch videos from The Muppets (which, although enjoyable, really ought to be done sparingly).

Husband is great, but we both think we'd like each other more if we each had some outlet besides each other.

I have plenty of people that I am on friendly terms with, and when I am around others I have lots of fun. But still, no one's saved in my phone that I could call up at anytime for a cocktail or movie. I underestimated how hard it is to move to a new city when everyone else is already rooted. (i know, i know: pity party, table for one)

One thing I really want to do (that I think could help me meet some people) is join a book club.
I have a couple friends who are in them (in other cities). In one, they meet once a month. Everyone makes a dish, and whoever's willing to host it gets to pick the book for that month. In another friend's, they take turned making a parts of a meal that are themed around the book (honey for secret life of bee's, red foods for twilight, etc.) and when the book's done, they watch the movie. I'm not sure how I would handle watching a movie right after reading the book. I'd probably be hated, since all I'd do is point out the discrepancies.

Either way, I'd love to join one! I've been trying to all year. I even went so far as to whore myself out on a craig's list ad. I only got 2 responses, both creepers [Note to creepers: when inviting me to a bookclub, it's pretty suspicious to ask me for a photo of myself].

Even if I don't find a bookclub to join, something needs to change soon. I'm scared I'm just a couple steps away from living in my mom's basement and creating an avatar for second life (somewhat appealing since I could design myself tanner without the extra lard around my midsection).

Fortunately, the one saving grace in all this, is that my mom doesn't actually have a basement.

This is What I Waste My Time Thinking About on My Days Off

I've been enjoying my new sweet ride! So far I've ridden to the zoo, the library, and went to pick up sandwiches for dinner (which fit ever-so-neatly into my basket)! A woman even stopped me to ask me where I got my basket, maybe I'm setting a trend! (hey, there's a first time for everything)



I'm thinking we need to name the bike.

It's so pretty and shiny that I think it must be a girl. I suggested Jessica Fletcher, since I very distinctly remember on Murder She Wrote that Angela Lansbury's character rode a bike everywhere. However, it doesn't really roll off the tongue. (plus, I'd constantly be explaining why I named her that)

So, people of the interweb, I am yet again calling upon you for any helpful suggestions you may offer!

Perfect Day.

My birthday was this past weekend. In the past, I've dreaded my birthday. Not really sure why, it just always seems anticlimactic. Even as a youngin, I used to think, "My God, another year of my life is over, wasted!" (I was very dramatic).

However, last year, I was on a cruise on my bday. It was fantastic! I decided then and there, that no birthday would ever be as great, and I would just stop having them.

I was wrong though, because this year's couldn't have been more wonderful! (I hope it means that it sent a precedent for all future bdays)

It started with me awaking to an apartment festooned with balloons! Husband and I went to the Come Back Inn for brunch. We enjoyed $1 mimosas & bloody mary's, and the rudest waitress I have ever encountered. It was almost laughable. She never once introduced herself, and when she found it it was my birthday her exact words were, "Well, good for you." Yes, snarky waitress, good for me indeed!

Afterwards, we went back to open presents. I received lots of goodies, including some new clothes, rubber spatulas (i really needed some!), and my very own bocce ball set.

For the afternoon, we decided to go to the "beach" (on the lake), and Husband suggested we pick up some champagne first.

We stopped at Trader Joe's to get a bottle, but I was very confused because TJ doesn't have chilled champagne and I wasn't about to drink it warm. We get in the store, and I start walking around, picking-up some extra items I wanted. Husband walks up to the manager, and they talk very hush-hush for a moment. The manager goes to the back, where husband explains that they have a chilled bottle waiting for us. Confused, I wait for the mgr to return. He hands Husband the bottle, and they both look at each other, then at the products in my hands, then back at each other. After a moments hesitation, the mgr says, "don't worry about it, just take the stuff."
Then comes a very awkward couple of minutes where I figure out that Husband has already paid for the champagne, but I can't figure out why or how. Not wanting to be a clepto, I put the rest of my items back on the shelf, and we head out the door.

Only find a shiny new bike waiting for me outside!! I was flabbergasted. I know I had asked for a bike, but I wasn't expecting such a nice one, nor did i think it would be bestowed upon me at a grocery store :)

I was in shock. Husband said it's the only time he's ever seen me at a loss for words (which I think was music to his ears). All I could muster out of my mouth was, "oijhdflhwebg".

It's beautiful....and very orange:) I'm adjusting to the color. My mom said it's so that everyone will see me coming and I won't get hit, which sounds good to me. All I can say is, Thanks mom and dad!! (and Husband and TJ's manager for all your sneakery)

I think my favorite part so far is all the accessories. It has a wicker basket in the front, a little bell, and (the best part) a cup holder! You know you're a casual rider when you need a cupholder for your coffee instead of a water bottle holder.

I rode it to the beach, ringing my little bell the entire time. After a glorious and relaxing 3 hours at the beach, I rode home, only to find that I had burned myself a bit and was doing a magnificent impression of a candy cane.

Being famished from the day, we enjoyed a delicious cake that Husband baked all by himself! (See, miracles can happen!)

We had planned on pf chang's for dinner, but at the last minute chose red robin. It was festive, and the singing was utterly humiliating for the birthday girl (which I think was Husband's goal).

We had planned on mini-golfing afterwards, but were too stuffed/content/exhausted. So we headed home, promising ourselves a rain check and that we would go in a couple weeks.

It was a perfect day. I couldn't have asked for anything better.

And now, pictures!


my new baby, waiting for me a trader joe's with roses in the basket!


Me holding the yummy champagne


Delicious Success, compliments of Chef Husband


the fancy, website version of my bicycle. I will definitely get noticed on this puppy.