And the answer is . . . .

Damn sangria. Damn yummy sangria. I just typed an entire fabulous post and accidently hit delete on the stupid laptop. Dumb computer. Doesn't it know that drinks were 2 for 1 and my typing is a little erratic!?!?!? Damn, damn, damn. Must start over.

Anyway. . . .

If you guessed on yesterday's post that "B" was the correct answer, you passed the test. From the list of things on yesterday's post, the only one that didn't happen dealt with my t-shirt. My tagless tee was worn perfectly all day. It does sound like something I would do, though.

I am proud to say I survived a day filled with student-generated profanity, four hour meetings, free martinis, 16 hours of work, and pee in Mt. Dew cans.

Tomorrow. . . .I spend the day at Six Flags. Hoping that the sangria doesn't wear off before then!

T -2.5 and Counting

There are only 2.5 days of school left. The closer we get to the end the stranger things get. Today was a real winner, so I'm not quite sure how tomorrow can get any weirder.

Which of these things didn't happen to me today?
A. I left the house at 6:30 a.m. and didn't return until 9:50 p.m.
B. I walked around all day with my tagless t-shirt on inside out.
C. I attended a meeting that lasted four hours.
D. After the meeting, I coincidentally ran in to three other people from the meeting at the bar.
E. I got a "free" chocolate martini when the waitress forgot to add it to my check.
F. Two students peed in a Mountain Dew can and made another student drink it.
G. A student called my co-worked a bitch and a slut (neither one of which she deserved).

Hmmmm. One of those things did not actually happen to me today. Thank goodness I have a dinner date with some fun gals from work at a place that claims to have the best sangria in the area tomorrow night!

THE Hostess with the Mostest

If you've never been to a party at Angie and Mike's, you have to drop what ever you're doing where ever you are in the country and get here. Now. This girl throws the best parties!

A party during any season is fun, but it is especially fab in the summer--chicken from the flip-flop grill and all kinds of fun summer food and drinks.

Last night's lethal drink was a lemonade and vodka concoction invented by Angie and Darla especially for last night's party.

There was also some seriously competitive bocce ball. Please note the drink in Darla's hand. This is a game played best while drinking.

But, the best part of parties at Angie and Mike's is the laughter. You are guaranteed to laugh so hard you can't breath / think you might pee / have an ache in your side. Love it!

In other news, I'm downloading songs on to my new iPod (hiding in its cute pink case) right now! Even as I type I'm filling it with all my faves. Right now . . . . (embarrassingly enough) I'm adding songs from Prince's greatest hits albums. Yes. That's right. I have two greatest hits Prince CDs.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

What's your word?

I've been busy devouring, yet savoring, Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.

In the first section of the book, she visits Rome for three months. She gets in a conversation with her traveling partners where the following question is posed,

"'Don't you know that the secret to understanding a city and its people is to learn--what is the word of the street?'"

Basically, the author believes every city has a word to capture its essence. Sex for Rome. Achieve for NYC. Succeed for LA. Conform for Stockholm. People don't feel like they fit in a city unless the word they choose to represent their life fits with the word for the city.

I'd chose AVERAGE to represent EC. I think I'd chose GROW to represent the Fox Valley. But, I haven't been able to come up with the word I'd choose to represent my life.

What is the word I'd chose to represent my life? Can you sum up your life in one word?

And the winner is . . . . .

Lucky # 49.

Brad chose a number 1 - 72 to pick the winner.

The 100th post RAK goes to Katrina. Love reading this gal's blog. She always has something fun to say and is a rockin' scrapper. Check out her 2Peas gallery.

Congrats, Katrina!

In other news, take a second from your day to send Ang some cheerful thoughts. This girl gives her all to the people she cares about (not quite sure how I got so lucky as to have a friend like her) and life has been not-so-kind to her lately. From waiting patiently on a new job to basements flooding to food poisoning to getting a cold, she's had more than her share of bad luck. Hang in there, Ang. Things will turn around soon. They have to.

One more thought. . . . On Saturday night at dinner, Brad asked (in a completely serious voice), "Do pickles grow on trees?" He honestly didn't know/forgot that pickles are cucumbers and grow on a vine. Ahhhh. My husband.

Happy 100th to Me

In honor of my 100th post, I'd like to leave you with a list of a few things that are making me happy lately . . . . .

1. Ice cream
2. A day of sunshine after 15 consequetive days of rain
3. Starbucks. The one 2 blocks from my house opened on Friday!!!!
4. Helping other people. (I did lots of good deeds this week.)
5. Nine more days of school this year
6. Grey's Anatomy (watched season 1 all over again last night)
7. Doing nothing while wearing pajamas
8. Grilling out
9. Flowers (especially spring flowers like tulips and lilacs)
10. My new pink Brewers hat

What makes you happy? Let me know in your comment. I'll draw a name from my commenters to win a RAK that might just have 100 little scrappy goodies in it (assuming it's won by one of my scrappy friends and not a normal friend).

Just another week

No serious news here. . . other than the fact that there are only about 11 days of school left. For all the bitching I do about my job, it is pretty fab that I get a fresh start every year. I can wrap up the year and start all over in September.

Anyway. . . . has been a busy week.

I spent all day Monday in suspense about Grey's. And I've spent every day since then in suspense about Grey's. I'm going to be a basket case about it all summer. Why do I feel like I actually know these characters, like they're my friends?

I finished my CJ tonight. I know. I'm a slacker. Big time. But, I was honest with Em about it not being done. I just didn't feel like doing it. Couldn't really get my groove on. There are some pics of the finished product over at Two Peas. This is one seriously talented group of ladies. I'm so pumped to get Hailey's book.

Tomorrow will be my 100th post. Stay tuned. It's going to be great. BIG things planned. HUNDREDS of things planned. Tell everyone you know.

Graduation

I'm seriously considering building an ark. I swear, it's been raining since like Tuesday, and it's not supposed to stop until Friday. Despite all the gloominess, I had a great graduation yesterday! The ceremony was inside, and we just had the party in our garage. Plus, we busted out the Beach Boys on the boom box and plenty of tropical drinks for the ultimate luau atmosphere!

I'm so lucky to have such awesome friends and family. Everyone contributed in their own way from borrowing us tables and chairs to remembering to bring a heater to keep everyone warm to arranging vegetables as flowers on the top of the potato salad to endlessly snapping pictures for me, everyone was so helpful and fun. Even the woodpecker (damn him!) chipped in by choosing not to peck this morning and letting all of us sleep in. Plus, almost everyone had on assorted luau uniforms. Although, no one ever did bust out a coconut bra! I was so busy having a fun time, I didn't get to take many pics. I'll rely on the other party guests to share their photos. For now, though, this is what I've have to offer.

Pic # 1: Brad and I after the ceremony.

Pic # 3: Jennifer (my littliest cousin) came to the party. She was a real trooper hanging out with the adults all night. The highlight of the night was when she handed my mom a dessert and told her she "better eat the whole damn thing!"

Pic # 3: Despite her flooded basement and over-all bad day, Angie still came to luau with us. She made a killer fruit salad.

Pic # 4: My dad built a tiki bar! Leave it to him to come up with something so totally great. There certainly was not a shortage of liquor.

Pic # 5: My grandpa gave me the last quilt my grandma finished as a graduation gift. I'm usually a cryer, but I'm proud to say the only tears of the day that I shed were when I opened the quilt. In my defense, though, I don't think there was a dry eye in the house.

My parents were such sweethearts for the whole weekend. They brought an entire trailer full of luau goodies and food for the party all the way here! We had a great time hanging out on Friday night. My dad is such a Mr. Fix-It. He never comes here without doing some kind of a big project. Today's project was to hang a cabinet they bought us for Christmas in the kitchen. Stay tuned for some great pics of my dishes looking all fab in the new cabinet. For now, though, I'm off to lay my butt on the couch. I'm wiped out!

Damn Woodpecker!

Remember Woody the Woodpecker? When he'd peck something metal or really strong his beak would curl all up and his head would shake around. He didn't like it.

Not the case with the woodpecker that has decided to take up residence in our neighborhood. He lives on an old television antennae on top of our roof. Each peck of his sharp little beak on the metal antennae is like a gong sounding in our house. It starts early (before 5:30 am each day). It lasts for a long time. The antennae is right above our bedroom, so it's loud. It's driving me crazy!!!!!!!

Brad requested I ask my students if someone has a sling shot he could borrow. None of the students did, but the principal had one he confiscated from a kid that he gladly sent home for Brad. Brad is now outside trying to shoot the Metal-Pecker with the sling shot. It has trouble written all over it. I'll keep you up to date. I may need to be investigated by PETA if the troubles with the Pecker continue. UGH!!!!!!

Done. Finished. Through.

I'm done!!!!!!! I just attended my last class towards my MSE. Three years and more money than I care to disclose and I get to wear this ridiculous hat, which, I am convinced, does not look good on anyone.

P.S. For those of you wondering what exactly is going on in the picture. . . I was trying for a perplexed, intelligent look. Plus, what teacher is complete without their red pen?!? Mostly I just wanted to try on my hat.

Get this! Brad won't even entertain the idea of going out for a drink because 24 is on. Come on. Priorities, babe!

I Spy . . .

Tulips in a park downtown. This is a shot for my $40 a Day CJ.

One sick baby. I know this isn't the best pic, but it does capture the misery. Natalie is okay. Pink eye, ear infection, bad cold. Nicky is one tough lady. I don't know how she does it!


An altered CJ album somewhere in the mess. I don't scrap well in messes!


Please notice the orange glitter on the cover. There is orange glitter all over my craft room. It looks like a bottle of tang exploded. All I have done so far is the album. I still need to do the sign in pages and my own page. I need one more picture for my page--of a turtle sundae from Tom's. Guess I'll have to eat one soon. Yum. Maybe tonight during Grey's.

Not much else for now. I baked pink cupcakes in Barbie papers for my LAST grad class tomorrow night. Some of the ladies are pretty serious. I don't know that they will appreciate the childishness of the whole thing.

Hoping for a great week.

P.S. This is my 95th post. I have some great things planned for my 100th. Stay tuned, dear readers.

Happy NSD!

How cool is it that my hobby gets its own national day of recognition? Yah! Scrapbooking! It was quite an eventful day.

• Got fab new hair yesterday. Of course, today it didn't look nearly as hot as when Lindsay (my substitute stylist) did it.
• Talked to Ang this morning. She was considering wearing gauchos. We discussed (briefly) what it would look like to morph her worst body traits with mine. The result would be strange!
• Drove around the Valley taking pictures of food-related things for my CJ. The topic is $40 a Day. Now, I just need to get them developed and get my butt moving on the book.
• Visited my LSS twice today. Yes. You read that right. Twice. Once with Angie and a second time to get goodies for Nicky.
• Scrapped with Nicky today. Created the page above. I made another one, but need to keep it secret for the little CK contest.
• Went to the ER with a very sick Natalie today. She has snot running everywhere and is one sick kid. The best part?!? I had my camera along and took a whole ton of pictures. I am one sick scrapper!

JC, Bugles, and a Good Read

So, you've all met my hot mailman hubby (some in person and some via the Blog). Mr. Barb (as he's affectionately become known upon my blogging buds) has a secret admirer!

She's not really so secret. She's a middle-age women he works with. She thinks he's a total hottie. The other day she told him she thinks he looks like a young Johnny Cash. She's now calling him JC. To some that might mean Jesus Christ. To us heathens, it means Johnny Cash.

Thought that would give you something to giggle about tonight.

In other news. . .
Last night's little chat with my "Internet" friends led to an interesting talk about Bugles. Em, apparently, likes to put them on her fingers and use them like claws. I had the brilliant idea tonight that it would be hilarious to send her an Edward Scissorhands-esque picture of myself with Bugles on my fingers. Didn't work out so well because, apparently, even my fingers have become plump. I broke every single Bugle I tried to shove on my fat little finger tips. Memphis (who was declared overweight by the vet on Monday) thoroughly enjoyed each and every Bugle. Oh well! It's the thought that counts, right?

One last thing. Hauled my increasingly large caboose to the gym tonight. Hopped on the elliptical and totally fell in love with Eat, Love, Pray. The whole entire time I was reading I was thinking how much I'd love to be friends with Elizabeth Gilbert. Am even considering not sitting around on the computer and reading tonight instead. It's fab. Well, the first 50 pages are fab.

One can only take so much randomness in one night. I'm outta here!

Impatient.

I'm horrible @ keeping secrets. Horrible @ patiently waiting for something. I'd be a basket case if ever prego b/c I could never wait 9 months for something that fab to happen.

I'm thinking about entering the Scrapbooker of the Year contest through CK. But, that means I need to create 12 fabbity LOs between now and June-ish that I can't share with anyone.

But, I'm sharing this one. It's too fab not to. Plus, it's not CK material. I must give credit where credit is due. Got the idea for the scalloped background from Missy's Dare LO this week. Plus, Michelle previously scrapped these crazy pics. I know Angie can't get enough of our tipsiness floating around cyberspace. Enjoy, loyal readers.

One other thing. A shout out to the fabulous Em. Do check out her blog today. There are some wonderful words and some touching pics. Love it, Em!

I'm off to get a little Grey's Anatomy fix. I've been itching for it for weeks now. Can't wait to put on my pjs and get comfy with a little Dr. McDreamy.

Eating My Way Through the Weekend

Had a totally great first half of the weekend.

Drove to Angie's last night straight from work to scrap it up. Got to talk to Michelle and Em last night (my Internet friends). Hung out with Angie for most of the day today, too. And even got a visit some relatives who happened to be around for the weekend.

One main theme of my weekend was definitely friendship, as it's always great to be able to spend so much time with Ang. Even if we aren't really doing anything, we still have a great time and tons to talk about.

Another main theme of my weekend, though, was food. I probably consumed more calories in the past 24 hours than someone in a third world country does in a week. Like I told Michelle last night, we're not exactly thin here in WI, but no one person should eat this much. Here's the list. Anything sound good?

Pizza and cheese bread from Sammy's (where Angie knew the waitress)
Lambrusco (only two glasses, much to Michelle's disappointment)
Ice Cream (purchased, but never actually eaten)
Chocolate Chip Pancake (only ate half, as it was bigger than my face!)
Bacon
Hot Chocolate
White Cherry Icee from Target
Chocolate Beefsticks (aka Chocolate Carmel Sticks--new from Hershey's)
Taco John's (tacos and potato oles)
Ka-Bobs for dinner (made at home and oh-so-yummy!)

Would you believe that no where in there did I drink any Coke?!? How disappointment. And would you believe that right at this very moment, Brad is begging for me to go out for ice cream with him?!?! Ugh. I don't think I can do it.

Have some scrappy stuff to share later. Ta ta.

It's FRIDAY!!!!!

Raise your Starbucks cups and toast to Friday! Hooray!!!!!!

It's been a long week, and I'm thrilled that's it's almost over. Have big plans to scrap with Ang tonight. You should see all the crap I packed up.

We're even having a slumber party. Watch out! You never know who we might call. Is your refrigerator running? He, he, he.

No. 24

It's been awhile since I've done it up Effer style. But, with Ali E. as inspiration this week, I couldn't resist. This week's dare was to observe life around you. I focused on my job: my attitude towards it and the attitudes of people around me.



For those loyal Babble readers and close friends, you know I've totally been in a work-related funk lately. It's started to get really ugly--my attitude and outlook toward work is carrying over into my "normal" life. I'll spare you any rambling about it tonight. But, this dare was a really helpful chance for me to really think about what makes me happy.

I loved Angie's post about happiness tonight. Happiness is a condition we create. It's not about having things or about achievements. It is about living life. I can't believe how many people waste such a huge portion of their life being unhappy. I don't want to be one of those people. I won't be one of those people.

Speaking of happy, Em (drinker of four beers on a school night) entertained me with some fabulously funny emails. Thanks for the laughs, Em!

High Five

Haven't done a fun little tag or list thing for quite awhile. I found this on Chiara's blog.

5 things In my fridge
Milk
Cherry Kool-Aid
Cauliflower
Half-drank bottle of wine (A travesty, I know!)
Left-over Potato Salad

In my closet
(I'm pretty organized about this)
clothes
shoes
luggage
purses
pink cowboy hat

In my purse
Coupons for my LSS
Work Keys
Cell Phone
Burt's Bees Lip Balm
Hand Lotion

In my car
Empty chocolate milk bottle
CDs
My glasses (I never wear them)
Empty shoe box
Gym bag (It hardly ever leaves the car)

I tag the Bloggin' CJ gals. Can't wait to get to know everyone better.

Lazy Routines

Have been feeling really worn out and just not myself lately. Took a sick day to take care of myself. Lots of sleep and lots of liquid.

Didn't take off my flannel pants all day.
Drank tea with my breakfast out of my big, blue mug.
No shower.
Napped on the couch with the dog.
Read for awhile.
Didn't answer the phone.
Watched Bridget Jones's Diary.

What are your sick / lazy day routines?
How do you take care of yourself when you're not feeling so great?

I made friends today.

I know that sounds like a really juvenile thing to say, but I made a whole bunch of friends tonight!!!!!!!

The fabulous KatPost has organized a rockin' CJ filled with awesome ladies. Check out all of their links over to the side. Can't wait to learn more about you and get scrappy, gals!

Am off to bed early. Am not feeling 100%. The kiddos prey on that, you know. Any weakness they can sense and pounce upon.