America at Its Best

I just got back from DC, and I had a ridiculously good time. DC definitely had an electric buzz in the air while we were there, and I've never seen our country so darn loving, happy and hopeful. It was amazing.

My trip there was quick, but I laughed a lot, cried (happy tears!) and froze my butt off. Although, Tish, Liz, David and I were unable to be there for the actual inauguration (it's a long story, but basically we all got screwed by gates that never opened, and we weren't the only ones, according to a number of articles, including this one), we did make it home in time to watch it at home all together and I, for sure, felt like I was there. (Chanting "Obama, Obama, Obama" in 13-degree weather at 6:30 am with a few thousand people will do that.) Thankfully, I have video from a little of that.



Along with a quick video of what I do best: Accidentally take video when I'm trying to take a picture. And curse.



For more from the trip, check out my pics here and Tish's pics here. I certainly had a FABULOUS time, and I'll always remember it. Cheesy as it is, I've never felt more proud to be an American. I not only witnessed history, but I got to witness it with some of my best friends. I can't wait to see what our future holds.

Oh, and for a more detailed play-by-play of our trip, check out Tish's post. She got the details yo and has video of us in line! 

Friend Feast and a Belated Anniversary in Lawrence

As if everyone hadn't had enough turkey on Thanksgiving, Ryan and I had the KC peeps over the Sunday after T-Day for what I call "Friend Feast." The name is a little misleading as we didn't feast on friends (ewww), but it was a feast fit for friends. Check the bird:

For the first year, Ryan and I brined our turkey. If you're not familiar with brining it's basically dunking your bird in salty, herby water overnight. We did it in a cooler that was left out over night. Classy!

But, the technique resulted in a really moist, tender and tasty bird. Definitely a repeat. As per the generous nature of our friends, everyone came with tasty dishes and wine galore. AKA: Heaven.


This was also the first year that everyone had a partner for the holidays. Yes, it was a little sickening sweet, and Mike and Katrina decided to emphasize that by dressing alike. How cute.


Here we are before the meal. Unfortunately, no pics after, but just imagine us full and groaning. You know, a traditional Thanksgiving meal.

Last weekend, Ryan and I celebrated a belated anniversary in Lawrence. Isn't it just lovely? We were totally wrapped up in nostalgia from Ryan's grad school days.


We ate at Free State Brewery for a lovely lunch and beer, did some shopping on Mass and just generally got away. It was fantastic.

We stayed at the historic Hotel Eldridge and loved it. The staff was nice, the rooms were clean and spacious and it was quiet. Even on a Saturday night.

No mint on the pillow, but that's okay.

Granted the view wasn't much, but whatev. 

Before out night of gorging ourselves on pad thai from Thai Siam (simultaneously the best and worst restaurant in Lawrence) and drowning our sorrows from the MU game (or lack thereof) in a bottle of scotch, we stopped by campus for some serious reminiscing. Here's Marvin Hall. Where Ryan spent 90% of his time (including sleeping) from 2004-2007.

We had such a great time. And although I took no pics in Henry's, they still have sangria, and it's delicious. Well, the red is. They added white recently, I guess, but avoid. It's terrible. 

Whimsical, windy Chicago

As promised, here are a few photos from my trip to Chicago with Tishy to celebrate her 27th year of life. We had a blast...from seeing Wicked (I highly recommend you see it if you can) to the perusing the Art Institute to catching Horton Hears a Who to getting some good grub to even doing jello shots and drinking beer (no pics of that there. I'd hate to tarnish my reputation with photographic evidence of such acts of foolery.) Here's some of the most memorable shots from the trip, with commentary:

I had a crush on this captain at Navy Pier and couldn't resist the urge to salute him properly:


Gino's East had some dang good pizza. The kind we noshed on had asparagus, tomatoes, spinach and squash. Yay for veggies!

I love me some punctuation marks! Ellipses and commas -- a girl's best friend!

Outside of the Art Institute were these lovely beasts of art:

Back to grubbing. Tish enjoys her birthday cake and makeshift candle. (Look closely...it's a plastic knife. We class it up, ya'll.)

An art exhibit Tish and I were not on the same page with...

Some of their Asian art was beautiful...

This was the Van Gogh wall at the Art Institute. One of the best rooms in the place!

Tish and I were amazed by the strength and beauty in this sculpture. It looked so contemporary yet was done before 1940.

The Navigator Jelly Bean thingie was awesome, especially on such a warm and sunny day. Check out that sky.

Chicago 2008! The year of new beginnings! Happy birthday, Tishy!!!

The boycott is on.

I’ve had it with winter, and I’ve especially had it with 60 degrees one day, 25 degrees and snow/ice/sleet the next. Therefore, I’m boycotting winter. As of today, Tuesday, February 25, 2008, it’s officially spring. Feel free to wear your best spring attire. Today, I’m sporting three-quarters-length sleeves and ballet flats -- with no socks. Daring, I know.

I implore you to celebrate spring with me. I beg of you…even though tonight it’s supposed to snow again, look deep within your soul and find that warm and cheery spring soul that I know you have. It’s there, and it’s strong enough to melt any freezing rain that the big man upstairs can throw down. Hallelujah!

I feel warmer already…

The Yaris has a boo-boo.

Ever notice how as soon as you get something new, it’s like that thing automatically has a giant target placed upon it? For example, white tennis shoes. The first time you wear them someone is destined to step on your foot or you’ll get stuck in a downpour when there was no mention of rain in the forecast. Or, you have a giant bruise on your arm and everyone and their uncle decides to slap/squeeze/grab you there during casual conversation. (Granted that example isn't really getting something “new” and it’s actually kind of creepy that people would slap/squeeze/grab you in casual conversation, but roll with me here...)

OR, you have a new car.

Last night on the way to puppy class, the poor Yaris (Ryan still hasn’t given him a proper name yet) got "rubbed." It had recently snowed (don't even get me started on that), the roads were slick in spots, and, while coming down a hill, a car slide into us. It really wasn’t much; just a nudge that resulted in a couple of scratches to the bumper. But, it still sucked. New car, new scratch. No fun.

Ironically, the woman who hit us was an insurance agent. She immediately admitted fault, filed a claim and off we were. It was seriously the fastest and most polite “accident” I’d ever witnessed.

Hopefully, now that the car has been initiated twice (remember, it also got rubbed in the dealer’s lot before we bought it), the target is faded if not completely gone. Here’s hoping.

Snowbound

I couldn't resist posting some pics of Siena in the snow. It's hard to top the cuteness of a puppy, let alone a puppy romping in the snow. And romp did she. I particularly think this photo sums it up best (note tongue hanging out):





You can also get a good idea of how snuggly she is from this one.




This dog is seriously awesome. And, although she was pretty mild and timid her first night with us, she is quickly gaining confidence, independence and mad play skills. Her curiosity is hilarious. Here she inspects some snow-covered plants. Fascinating:





She's also responding to her name, is doing better with getting her "business" done outside (when we got her she was newspaper trained, which is better than no training at all, but I'd still like the little bugger to do it in the yard), and is slowly learning to not only fetch her toys, but also to return them to you. Not too shabby for two days.

If you're interested in more cuteness overload. Check out these live-action scenes with Ms. Siena herself by clicking here, here and/or here. (I apologize in advance for the use of my baby voice...after watching these I know I need to tone it down, or I'll make everyone gag. lol.)

Like clockwork

Every single friggin year, I get a cold during either Christmas or New Year's. This year is no different. I have a stupid cold rendering me a sniffling, sneezing, stuffy headed scrooge. Boo_ (For those of you who may not know or remember my failed attempt at creating a new punctuation mark, I have tried to use the _ as an under emphasized period, donating a certain lack of excitement or happiness. Here I find it useful to show that I'm not shouting boo at someone like it's Halloween or simply stating boo. I'm under-emphasizing the word, almost frowning.)

Here are some pictures from Ryan and I's visit to my parent's and grandma's for my side of the family's Christmas. I'm pre-sickness in most of them. We made cookies galore! And opened some sweet ass presents.

Merry Christmas everyone! I'm off to find the Advil Cold and Sinus.

Making Merry

This past weekend was full of fun, snow, and tasty drinks and beverages. Here is a photo essay of some of the weekend's activities (with notes of course -- I have to point some things out, hehe).

My camera doesn't really pick up individual snowflakes, but when I took this it was coming down for sure:





Sarv and Tessa come over for some fondue, drinks and Cranium:

Thank you, Oprah, for the Pomegranate Martini recipe:

Spiked hot cocoa!

Cozy!

Scoring Update

Ice Storm: 2, Jenn: 0 (still)

The ice storm dealt me yet another blow. During the icing/raining extravaganza, our power glitched a few times, thereby frying our answering machine. Our phones still work and all, but if you want to leave a message, tough luck. Try blowing up the celly, yo.

And, in my perpetual battle with the friggin post office, the score now reads USPS: 1, Jenn: 0.

I hate the post office. I know those are strong words, but most of the time they're not open, they keep changing the dang cost of stamps, and generally they have too few offices for the number of people who need to mail things, especially this time of year. Earlier this week though, I had softened on them after discovering you could order shipping supplies online, buy stamps, have a postal carrier pick up your package at your house, etc. But, I'm writing to tell you that I was wrong. W-R-O-N-G. Wrong. The post office still sucks.

Thursday, I set Tish's gift out on my doorstep, awaiting its scheduled pickup. I was delighted to come home Thursday evening to see that, yes, it was indeed picked up. But, what did I come home to tonight? This, in all of it's stamped-up glory:

With a label slapped on it, reading this:

Are you kidding me?! I was livid. Don't freakin advertise that you'll pick something up if you won't. I read everything I could on their stupid Web site, and it didn't mention ish about 13 oz. ARGH! So, now, on my Saturday, I have to go to the post office and fight with all the other ticked-off idiots who are trying to get their Christmas gifts mailed before the big day. Wish me luck and that I don't go postal (ha ha, that was bad, sad joke).

(And yes, Tish, this is all too hilarious after you recently had a friend from work prank me, pretending to be a USPS worker saying they couldn't pick my package up from my home. You were more insightful than you realized!)

Photo time!

Here's what my front yard, back yard and street looks like -- icy!

No snow day, no ice day, but, really, I’m not bitter.

I did pout a little this morning about having to go to work. I’m not gonna lie. A snow day would have been sooo nice. A nice breakfast at home. Sipping on good coffee. A little Ellen or Oprah on in the background while I e-mail, edit and write away. But oh no…the office was open. And, I couldn’t get my internet to work at home, rendering any attempts to work there pointless. And, really I had no excuse not to go to work because I have no children. Score one for the man.

However, with temperatures currently hovering at 33 (note: one degree above freezing), our wet roads can quickly turn into an ice rink. We might even get snow tonight! Well, that’s if you believe the weather forecasters hype, which can always be doubted because they’re hardly ever right. However, I guess I’m buying into it because my butt is about to rush home early to avoid the possible craziness of rush hour. Plus, I can still edit from home on paper. And catch Oprah.

One of the craziest things of this storm -- besides how freaked out people get over weather, myself included -- is seeing transformers blow. Last night Ryan and I awoke to the strangest boom-like sound (which I originally thought was thunder because of all the rain) followed by blue and green flashes of light. I told Ryan that it’s the Midwest’s version of the Northern Lights.

Another highlight (for lack of a better term) of the storm is that the trees are beautiful. Sure, because they’re all covered in ice they’re more likely to break off and onto your house, your car or you, but they’re still gorgeous. On the drive in this morning, some of the tree’s branches were so weighted down and low that my little car just had enough room to pass under them. I think Ryan described it best when he said the trees on Sommerset were “eating the road.”

It looks like I should have enough light to take some pics of the trees and my street when I get home. I’ll post as soon as I do!

Ice Storm: 1, Jenn: 0 (participants)

Tonight, I went to teach my first class (To the Core!) at KCFITNESSLINK. I've already posted about how fantastic the place is, and I was quite excited (and a tad nervous) for my first time teaching in the studio. Turns out, that excitement and nervousness will last for another week.

Due to the ice storm, no one had the balls to get out (frankly though, neither do I as I never would have gotten out unless I had to...shhh don't tell), and Darryl and I were left just chatting it up from 5:45-6:15 pm. Although I didn't get to teach, the place has good flow, and I always feel great being there.

Next week, when all of this winter nastiness is past (and it's like 70 degrees cause KC weather is whack like that), come check it out! For now though, pray that our power stays on during the expected inch of ice that we're supposed to receive and that the powers that be close the OP office. If they do, prepare yourself for the obligatory snow day post. :) I may even get out and take some pics of Big Winter himself.

Stay warm!

Winter Wonderland

It's definitely winter here, KC-style (meaning that it has iced all weekend with a little bit of snow, making everything outside an ice rink and getting into your car a 30-minute process of scraping and cursing). Gotta love it.

Since it was the perfect weekend to not go anywhere, Ryan and I took the two days to celebrate the holidays and give the Nut some much needed TLC (obvious joke there that I won't touch). On Friday night, we spent the evening drinking wine and watching holiday movies. I'm now a huge fan of "The Nightmare Before Christmas," (What's this? What's this? So visually awesome!) and I got my fill of one of my favorite holiday feel-good movies, "Love Actually."

Saturday, we put up Christmas lights (LED!). Here's Ryan freezing...for some reason he refused to wear gloves.

Later that day, we cleaned the house from top to bottom...scrubbed bathtubs and toilets, dusted everything and Ryan even deep-cleaned the wood floors. The Nut is so pretty now! Then we FINALLY painted the baseboards in our living room and hallway. See?

Take note of how we're painting the partially painted light-green baseboards white. Here's the finished product. We should have done this a long time ago!

Let it snow!

Today, it snowed. And for the first time in years, I enjoyed it. Why? Because driving home in it didn't involve 35 miles of K-10. Hallelujah!

Here's a few pics of the Nut in the snow (I rushed to get home, but it was still pretty dark out, so I apologize for the lack of light) and of our fully decorated Christmas tree, complete with kiwi ornament. Kiwi power!

That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.