On this date last year, I talked to Raw.
She was unmarried and had no thoughts of ever having a child.
Oh what a difference a year makes, right?
Happy Birthday, Raw!
3.28.2006
3.27.2006
And Junction City Ain't the Spot
I took a short trip home this weekend. I came back in my "new" car.
It's not the Escalade I really wanted, but it's quite a bit more affordable.
Not to mention, it's ten times better than my old car. How so?
1. CD Player!
2. My windows go down and then back up!
3. The fabric from the ceiling isn't caving.
4. The speedometer isn't broken!
5. There's no mysterious rattling sound.
6. I can see out of my rearview mirrors.
7. The line to the cruise control hasn't been cut.
8. The glove box isn't held shut by a rubberband.
9. The windshield wipers will actually shut off without having to turn off the ignition.
10. No raggedy-top.
My dad found it and decided it was a good car. It's taken me a little while to get up to Clay to claim it.
In the meantime, my mom has been driving it around. She even took it all the way to Missouri.
"I'm not sure I want to give it up!"
Dad helped me carry stuff to my car when I was leaving on Sunday. He patted the car and said "Take care of my girl."
"Oh, I'll try."
"I was actually talking to the car."
So now I'm driving a Buick. I guess I really am getting old.
That must be why at Marcus's birthday meal at Cracker Barrel, I ordered the Old Timers' Special.
3.23.2006
Don't Break the Mold Kid, Just Eat Around It
The seventh of March was quite a big day for me. Not only was Sophia born, but I had a Pampered Chef party to attend.
And Marcus and I had tickets to see 311 in concert at The Cotillion.
Marcus made it to town about six, which gave him just enough time to attend the Pampered Chef party with me. Needless to say, he was the only male over the age of five in attendance.
After the party, we drove across town to The Cotillion and parked approximately twelve miles away.
Well, maybe not quite that far, but pretty far. We still arrived in plenty of time to have a couple of drinks before 311 took the stage.
Back in the days when I was going to a lot of concerts, I was always right in the middle of it all. I would push and fight my way to the very front, no matter how far back I started.
But this time, I had decided that I was going to take it easy and hang out toward the back of the crowd. I was hoping to get some good photos.
After Marcus has had a couple of beers, his bladder shrinks to the size of a peanut. So just a couple of songs into the show, he had to head toward the bathroom.
While he was gone, I inched my way a little closer to the stage. Just to get a better shot, of course!
Marcus made his way back and managed to find me. It was funny to see how into the show he was.
This was his first concert that wasn't in a huge venue or just a little localish band. It's a lot easier to get into shows like this one. I think I even caught him dancing.
It really was a great concert, even though they didn't play my favorite 311 song.
Every few songs, Marcus would head to the bathroom and I would end up even closer to the stage. Eventually, I grabbed him and dove into the masses.
We ended up going through a bit of a mosh pit. I stuck to what I had learned in the old ways and made my way through.
I turned around to see Marcus with this surprised look on his face getting popped from all sides. I nearly fell to the ground laughing.
I ended up just one row from the front and looked back to find Marcus. He was about four more rows behind me, lifting someone onto the crowd.
From then on, everytime I looked back, Marcus was hoisting a crowd surfer into the air. I, on the other hand, was not paying attention and missed the carry on a few surfers. I felt bad, especially when one guy fell down right beside me. Oops!
After the show, I found Marcus panting. "I've got to sit down! I can't breathe!"
Apparently all the excitement an workout was just too much for him. He really must be getting old!
Happy birthday, Widuh Bwudah!
3.21.2006
This Could Be the Longest Drive of My Life
After spending a few days in Lawrence with the new baby, and surviving a tornado, I made my way home on Sunday.
Just past Topeka, I saw an old car on the side of the road. "That's going to be me someday," I decided.
I continued heading southwest on Turnpike and had just stopped to see Knute Rockne at Matfield Green. My drive was quite pleasant.
I started smelling a peculiar scent. "I hope that's somebody else," I thought.
But then I noticed my temperature guage going crazy. "Crap."
So I pulled off onto the shoulder and slowed down. My face started feeling really hot and I freaked out, thinking maybe the car was on fire. I think it was more embarrassment that flushed my face.
I opened the hood to see fluid all over and steam shooting out of a hose.
A very kind Highway Patrolman used his car to push me a mile to the nearest exit. I paid my fee and had The Croc towed away.
A few days later, my dad called me with the news. "Well, your car is toast."
I know it's silly to get so upset over a car. I have been known to get attached to machines and inanimate objects.
But The Croc isn't just any car! It's been in the family since it was new! There is history in that car!
When I told Raw, she understood. "It's like the end of an era!"
Unfortunately, it also marks the beginning of another era. The era in which Aunt Bee has a car payment.
I've never had a car payment before. So I thought maybe you might want to help out:
Secrets Collecting Dust but Never Forget
Today, I was given a link to the System Requirements Lab.
The website will take into account your computer's capabilities and decide if it is able to play a game chosen from their list.
I decided to see if my computer would play the latest Sims 2. Not that I would ever play that or anything . . . Yeah . . .
Much to my surprise, I failed the test. I was very surprised since I have maybe run the game already.
Luckily, the site actually shows why you don't meet the requirements. It turns out, my disk is too full.
My hard drive is bursting with crap I don't need and will probably never use.
Just like my home!
3.19.2006
To Save You from Yourself
Don't worry. I'm pretty sure everything is okay and that he'll recover, but it turns out Tom Green has been seriously injured.
"I felt my life flash before my eyes."
If you've ever seen any of Tom's work, you'll probably agree that that would not be a pretty slideshow to watch before you die.
It's Sure to Fall Soon
Last Sunday, I was sleeping on the couch underneath the windows at Raw and Casey's.
I woke up to a loud clap of thunder and a few minutes later, there was another. It sounded as though the lightning had hit pretty close, but I didn't hear any other rumbles.
I was just falling back to sleep when I heard a different kind of rumble. It was the wind and it was blowing hard.
The building shook with the force of it and just as abruptly as it had started, the wind was done.
A minute later, another big gust came along. I looked outside to see tree branches flailing wildly and then rest.
When the next gust came along, Raw's parents came out to see what was happening. "Should we be worried?"
"I don't know. I think it's just wind," I replied as I turned on the television.
I flipped to The Weather Channel and we saw the scroll at the bottom of the screen as another gust of wind shook the building: "Severe Thunderstorm Warning."
Just then, the tornado sirens started sounding.
Raw came flying through the room with the baby. Apparently, she had looked outside and saw things just hanging in the air.
She and her mom rushed to the laundry room in the basement. I went to the bathroom, put on my shoes, gathered my camera, phone and bag. Then I thought to grab Raw's purse and went to the basement.
After I made sure the three ladies in the basement were okay and gave Raw her purse, I did what every smart person who grew up in Tornado Alley does . . .
I went outside to take pictures.
There was a bunch of rotation in the clouds. Unfortunately, that doesn't really come across in the pictures.
Nothing really happened where we were. But apparently, the rest of Lawrence got toasted.
3.15.2006
All for You, Sophia
I know it's been a terribly long time since I've posted, and what a cliffhanger, no?
It turns out that Raw's nap tactic did work quite well. But somehow, sleep just can't overcome inducing.
Sophia Gabrielle, a.k.a. Cookie, was born March 7, 2006.
Somehow I predicted, not only that she would be a girl, but that she would be a whole week late. I had three days of vacation scheduled for the end of that week. So I headed up to Lawrence and had plenty of time to hang out with the new family of three.
While I was there, she slept most of the day and really only woke up to eat. She fits right in with all of us lazy creatures!
She frowns all through her sleep. Frowning probably isn't even a good description. It's really a good scowl.
When she wakes, her mouth opens and her head turns to the side. Time to eat!
For awhile, I wasn't sure she had a lower lip. She sucks it right up into her mouth all the time. Especially in her scowly sleep.
Raw and Casey are really good at the parenting thing. They're all about lavishing her with attention and making sure she has everything she needs.
Casey, unlike most fathers, rushes to change diapers. Even the poopy (his word, not mine!) ones.
Raw and Casey are also trying hard not to spoil her too much. They were really good at laying her in her bassinet and letting her be for awhile.
I, on the other hand, was horrible at this. I had her lying on my belly all day. We were lazy together.
I got to be there for several of Cookie's "firsts."
I helped her into her carseat for her first ride in a car.
I was there for Cookie's arrival and first day at home.
I helped with Cookie's first bath.
We watched her first KU basketball game together.
I was even there for her first tornado sirens!
When I left on Sunday, I thought a lot about all the "firsts" I'd be missing. I knew as soon as I left, there would be a billion new things happening.
Maybe that's why it was so hard to leave.
Or maybe I'm just turning into the biggest pansy known to man!
3.06.2006
Don't Act Like it's Not Happening
A couple of weeks ago, Raw started having some cramps. She thought that maybe this might be the first signs of labor and she would finally be welcoming her child into the world.
So she went to bed and took a nap.
Raw just wasn't quite ready for it all, and the nap seemed to work. A little too well, in fact. The baby is still hanging out in her belly.
Today, I got this text message. And the excitement began. Or so I thought.
I just talked to Raw and Casey and it doesn't appear the baby will share a birthday with Michaelangelo.
They were just preparing to give Raw a sleeping pill so she would get a good rest because tomorrow is definitely the day.
Seems to me she's just trying the nap tactic, again.
Cause I Feel I Have to Salute You
I was watching the Oscars tonight.
I had read that Tom Hanks had sent out a video detailing how to give a nice, short acceptance speech.
I never like it when someone goes on and on and on and on and on and on, either. But with this being pretty much every actors' dream, I think they deserve to have some time on stage.
This year, the music wasn't a signal that your time was up. This year, the music started playing as soon as the winner got on stage.
I found it incredibly distracting and felt bad since a few of the winners read their speeches as if they were that guy from the Micro Machines commercials.
What was more irritating was the fact that they felt we should see about eight different montages. I'm all for the "In Memoriam" but the rest, I can really do without.
Seriously, a montage showing how cowboy movies were always rather gay? We've heard enough of the jokes!
I guess it's a good thing I don't have the music coaxing me out of a ramble. Oh . . .
Well, I just want to thank my mom and dad and grandma and grandpa and grandma and grandpa and all my great-grandparents and my brother who always was forced to listen to me prattle on and to everyone who has since let me bend their ears constantly and
3.05.2006
His Life Depending on Their Gold Demands
We are just closing out Day Six of the "Cookie Come Out Already" baby watch.
I don't think this is a secret, but I'm good at not keeping secrets that I don't know are secret, so who knows: If Raw and Casey have a boy, they're planning on naming the baby Holden.
The problem is the middle name. I thought they had it settled, but they're having some second thoughts and they ran a few new ones by me.
I hadn't even really thought about it until they pointed it out, but Holden sounds like a lazy "holding." So a middle name can turn into a joke.
Like when I suggested "Holden Hans."
Or when Casey came up with "Holden Hostage." And my face exploded in laughter.
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