While I currently work in tourism, my real passion is in stationery. Although I technically have no skills, I do enjoy manipulating publisher to the best of my ability. For the past year, I have been making invitations for family and friends for a tiny profit.

(Eventually, I plan on going back to school for my associates in graphic design, but that plan is on the back burner while Husband attends grad school)

Anyhoo, My Grandma will be turning 90 this fall, and she is planning a big blow-out party. She has asked me to design a few samples, and I am sharing them with you!




















I'll update you later on which on she picks. However, i really doubt is she'll like any since they are a little too contemporary... I mean she is turning 90, so maybe she's be more comfortable with a papyrus scroll. I KID I KID!! I love my grandma!

Name the Puppy

My mean parents, knowing full well how badly i want a puppy, have decided to break my heart and buy one for themselves. I don't think it's fair, since they already have a dog.

Parents: 2
Me: 0

At this current moment, he is nameless. My 2 year old nephew has been calling him "my puppy" or whatever thomas the train engine he comes up with at the time. And as great as those names are, I think we can do better. So i am inviting all of you in cyber world to help name the pup!

Here are some pics (i know it's hard to look past my ADORABLE nephew in these pics, but look hard, there's a squirmy black and white furball there too)









So please, offer some name suggestions! All will be considered, there are no bad suggestions.
[Ex. I tried to name him Michael Jackson since he's black and white. but no, that got vetoed]

Seriously???

Ok, I am not as adept as some of you interneters, so for all i know this could have been around forever, but IS SHE FOR REAL???

Mirandasings08 has got to be one of the most entertaining things I've found on youtube lately. She a colossal bitch, but i can't figure out if she's serious or not...

The horrible lipstick is enough for me to hate her, but the singing is atrocious.

Hehe, however I have found myself impersonating her in the same key she's in (much to Husband's chagrin).

Honestly, if she's joking it's GENIUS!

(if you know the truth, please weigh in, i'm DYING to know)

***UPDATE: well, she really is an evil genius. her name's Colleen

I've been replaced

Husband has left me for someone younger, skinnier, and faster.





Ah well, can't say I blame him.

The normal one stands alone

It has come to my attention that I might not be weird enough for my new town.

I realized this as I was walking to work donning bunny ears, and no one gave me a second-glance.

In my previous towns, my stunning beauty red hair was enough to make me stand out. I was always used to people recognizing me, but alas hair color is not enough (unless it is a color not ordinarily found in nature).

In Madison it is an understood fact that everyone marches to the beat of a different drum. There are so many drums clanging that sometimes you can't even hear yourself think.

There is a quintessential hippie look, it involves grabbing at least 7 clothing items that don't match whatsoever. Also, at least 2 items worn must be handmade by someone who forgoes electricity and soap (by choice).

I am most comfortable in jeans and a tee shirt. However, I guess I need to pair that with a skirt (over my jeans of course), halter top, and homemade hat...

Of course, since everyone is "different" then technically that's the "norm". So aren't I being different by being so normal???

i heart books

It needs to be said that I love to read.

Books are my crack-cocaine. I am an addict, and sometimes I go through withdrawal. When I do get my fix, I tend to shut out the rest of the world completely. No eating, no drinking, no human interaction of any kind until the book is finished.

This is why I have to limit myself. Secretly, the husband loves that I become engrossed in a book; because this is my impression of what usually happens when he gets home:

[door opens. ATTACK HUG]
Hi! Did you miss me? Did you have a nice day at work? What did you have for lunch? Did you miss me? What do you want to do tonight? Did you miss me? We should get a puppy. HEY, do you want to eat a cake? WHY AREN'T YOU ANSWERING ME???*

*this has all happened within a 90 second period. There is no pause between these questions, not even an intake of air

Needless to say, he gets a little giddy when he comes home and I am glued to a book and don't even acknowledge his presence. He finally gets to relax, take a nap, do homework, or (god forbid) play video games.

That being said, here are some books that I could read again and again:

If any of you interneter's ever want to get back into the tangible world of books, I highly recommend any of these to ease you into the transition. Some are hilarious, some are cathartic, and many are both.

And if you ever decide that you can't stand this blog and want me to stop, just anonymously mail me a crate of books...

I'm Learning So Much

from LeVar Burton. Let me preface:

I've always tried really hard not to live beyond my means. This means no iphones, no netflix, no tivo. We don't even have our own internet, we're "borrowing" it.
It sucks. Especially at the current moment, since we've been using an analog signal to receive 6 glorious channels, but since February have been reduced to a mere 2.

Due to my job, my weekends are on Tuesday and Wednesday. Not sure if any of you employed people realize how crappy daytime tv is, but it's super horrid when you only get two choices. Ours consist of Fox and PBS.

The Fox affiliate here, in their infinite wisdom, has decided that 6 hours of nonstop court tv shows is exactly the uplifting programing it's viewers need (Sometimes I get sucked into watching them, but it just makes me depressed and vow never to bring children in this world).

So, my only option is pbs. Although at this point, i feel the need to point out i watch a lot of tv on the internet. However, sometimes I don't feel like squinting at a 13" monitor, so i just leave the tv on in the background while i try to catch-up chores.

It's been a good 15+ years since I truly watched PBS, and some things haven't changed. LeVar Burton is still hosting Reading Rainbow, and telling me that "I can fly anywhere". Of course, it's still the exact same episodes from when we were children originally aired in 1987. That way, he's as timeless as Dick Clark. [sidenote: I cannot tell you how desperate I was to be one of the kids that said, "to find out how this book ends, visit your local library." But alas, fame was never my destiny]

However, I've caught myself watching a couple shows during my alleged cleaning time. And there are a few worth mentioning. (I'm trying to make my blog unique, how many of you have a review of publicly funded programs?)



Martha Speaks: a fascinating tale about a dog who eats alphabet soup, and the letters get sent to her brain instead of her stomach, and all the sudden she can talk. (who comes up with this stuff? I bet the husband wishes there was a soup that could make me stop talking)







Word Girl: the drawings remind me of shows from cartoon network, but with a kicky educational edge. With the help of her monkey sidekick, she is able to fight the evil sandwich guy (who's head is shaped like a sandwich, mmm)





And Finally, FETCH! with Ruff Ruffman

Where the hell was this show when I was a kid? It's awesome! If I were a kid, I would watch this everyday. Who am I kidding? I'm 25, and have watched at least 4 episodes. It combines animation and reality tv. Kids compete in adventures to win crappy prizes. it's great (seriously).






Of course, odds are that the lack of options have caused my standards to be lowered so much that the black and white static has appeared entertaining. Fortunately for all of us, I am losening the purse strings just a little for John's upcoming birthday. Since he reads this I can't tell you what it is, but I can tell you that I probably won't be watching pbs kids much longer... except for Fetch! of course