Finales

I admit it. Fox has me hooked with its incredibly cheesy summer reality shows. At least Hells Kitchen went to the right chef, even if they were both incredibly dull. But tonight is my favorite little addiction, So You Think You Can Dance. I'm soooo cheering for Heidi, but I know Travis will win, because the judges totally tilted it in his favor. Beerman's flight from Portland lands at 6:30, so by the time he gets his baggage and we get home, it'll be after 7. I should still be able to make the good stuff since it's dragged out over 2 hours. In other news, I have had no less than 4 people at my work today say, "I'm glad I'm not you," or, "Thank God I don't have your job." Yeah, things are going splendidly these days. It makes me rethink why I feel I need a "career". But as Daddy always said, that's why they call it work not fun! At least I have pilates at 3 p.m., which always makes me feel good. Now I'm off to go dream about being on a beach far, far away from my job, with a beer in my hand and sand beneath my toes!

Random Musings

Why are people such angry drivers these days? I mean, if you've got time to flip me off, then you've probably got a little time to wait and let me merge safely into the lane. Even more, if you've got time to roll down your window to shout obsenities at me for following the law by turning right into a right lane (just because it wasted a millisecond of your time because you wanted to get in that lane) then don't you have time to think something nice about your fellow drivers? Can't we all just relax our white knuckles for one day and be courteous? C-man is really having trouble with his teeth. I know it's not his ears (for once) because we were just in to see the doctor. But he sobs in his sleep. I get up and hold him, hoping he'll wake up or just go back to sleep, but he's in such pain. It's so sad. I had my book club last night. Apparently a few others felt like I did about the stupid book, because the discussion was really limited about the book itself. That's the thing with book club books - they need to have some depth in order to be able to discuss it properly. On a good note, here's the sweetest face I've ever seen:

Monday Madness

In case you didn't notice, it's Monday. Beerman is in Oregon, doing his Beerman thing, so C-man, the dogs and I are on our own. So far so good... I have a book club meeting tonight, so C-man is with a babysitter for a few hours. We're discussing Peyton Place. I hate going to book club meetings when I thought the book was crap, but here goes nothing. Can someone please explain to me why this trashy crap was such a sensation in the 60s? In funnier news, Boy George is on trash duty. I wonder if he's serenading the other inmates while picking up the trash.

If this isnt love...

Earlier this week, after showering, I heard Beerman go back into the bathroom where none of his things are kept. I then heard him humming as the distinct sounds of someone putting on deodorant hung in the air. I popped my head in the bathroom, and sure enough, there he is in nothing but a towel and God's glory applying a stick of Dove deodorant -- curiously, the same kind I use -- under his arms. This morning, after picking a few underarm hairs off the end of the stick (I shave each morning, so unless the dogs are into deoderant, I'm pretty sure I know where it came from), I let him know that both CVS and Walgreens sell deoderant. After he left for work, I then sat down on the toilet, and looked over to see that there was no toilet paper on the roll... Guess I'll be finding CVS or Walgreens after work today!

Codeine and Her Red Shoes

C-man hasn't been sleeping well between his incisors grinding through and this cold that keeps him up coughing. Since I've got this stupid cold too, I've had a hard time sleeping. I finally broke down and got up mid coughing fit to take some Tussinex (the codeine cough syrup). I chugged a bit, smiled at myself, and as I slid back into bed stared in horror at the clock that read 4:16 a.m. I took codeine just 2 hours before I had to get up! Arrrgh! To make myself feel better, I put my red shoes on. Now I can't get the song out of my head:

Oh she move like the diva do

I said I'd love to dance like you.

She said just take off my red shoes

Put them on and your dreamll come true

With no words, with no song

You can dance the dream with your body on

And this curve, is your smile

And this cross, is your heart

And this line, is your path

Jay-Z Storms the UN, yo?

So Jay-Z is now joining with Kofi Annon at the UN to talk about the water crisis in the world. Is this some sort of bad joke? What is the new program going to be called: Water for Cristal? Oh, but I forgot, Jay-Z is worried about such worldly topics such as shunning Cristal. Maybe his highly intelligent and insightful lyrics will be upgraded to something like this:

I gotta let you niggas know the time like Movado

My motto, stack rocks like Colorado

Bottle off the DASANI, WATER by the bottle

It's a damn shame what ya knot though me

Slick like Igot though (who?) fuckin Jay-Z

Makes me fell all warm and fuzzy inside knowing he's at the forefront of one of our major world issues.

Tricky Tuesday

In case you don't have enough wasted time in your day, see if you can figure this out: http://www.aimsedu.org/aimskids/ipuzzles/farmer/farmer.html Also, I've been on a quest to read 52 books in 52 weeks this year. So far I'm doing pretty well, and am on schedule to finish it. Being in 2 book clubs has helped out in the quest. My favorite books this year have been the Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, by Lisa See, and Memory of Running by Ron McLarty. I've been making a list of all the books people have recommended to me, and it's looking like 2007 will have to be another 52 in 52 year just to finish them all. If you have any requests that I haven't put on the already-read list, let me know!

State Fair Hangover

Beerman, C-man and I went to State Fair yesterday with our $4 tickets. (It pays to buy them in April) Man, I sure do love that place. It was great watching C-man see all the animals, realizing that they aren't just Little People figurines. Now when he says a cow goes "Moo!" he knows they really do! I caught a cold from our little household germ machine, so I wasn't into the food as much as usual. However, I'll review the little I did have. (By the way, this year boasts 40 items on a stick!) Pork Sandwich: While they still have that tasty bbq sauce, the bun got all cheap-o this year. Corn Dog: Oh, my, greasy goodness. I wait 12 months for this tastiness. Monkey Tail: It's like an ice-cream sundae without the ice cream, but just as good. I prefer mine rolled in nuts. Pizza: C-man had to have his pizza, and I tasted a bit. If you're going to go to the fair, stick to the fair food. The new thing this year was the horticultural center. There is a whole area of gardens from around the world. For a more serene Fair experience, I highly recommend it.

Friday Foolery

Now who thinks this is a good idea? I really have to appreciate this woman's ingenuity! For those of you who have never been, I highly recommend a visit to the Wisconsin State Fair. Where else can you eat corn dogs, drink beer, eat corn, and watch horse pulling all at the same time?

Hot Enough For You?

Yesterday I decided to walk to the Milwaukee Public Market for some lunch. On my way there, I see a 40-ish construction worker approaching me. Construction worker: (head-snap nod, half-smile/sneer on his face) "Hot enough for ya?" Me: No, I'm married. Now, what in the hell was I supposed to say when I'm passing this guy who I don't know going opposite directions? "No, I really enjoy the heat and humidity. Despite growing up in rural northern Wisconsin, I hate the snow and cold more than anything." What ever happened to "Hello beautiful"? Anyhow, I spent my lunch hour on a picnic table in the hot sun thinking of a few things I could have responded: "No, I prefer them younger" "No, I'm just not into bald guys" "No, I'm waiting for global warming to really heat things up." "No, I prefer when my skin melts off" In other news, the Wisconsin State Fair begins today. I can say with an honest heart that I've never attended a better festival/fair anywhere in the world. If you can get there, be sure to go!

Wacky Wednesday

It's too hot and boring to be witty. So here's one of my favorites... And of course, I couldn't leave out our highly respected international peacemaker extraordinaire...

Number 100

It was so hot and muggy, but I did it - I ran the 5K at Miller Park on Saturday. I "woo-hooed!" at each mile marker, but no one else seemed to get the humor. Running through the stadium was pretty darned cool. I'm pretty embarassed at my slow time, but am getting over that a bit. I checked my stats this morning, and I came in 1027th overall, and 100th in my age group at 41:39. I could do better if I did it again, since I'd know how hard to really push myself. And maybe next time my family will recognize me when I pass the finish line!

Friday Foolery

What a great idea! And how can this not make you laugh?

2 Running Days 'til Hell!

Only 2 more days before I pant, slobber, and crawl my way through the 5k Sausage Race. About every 5 minutes I think, "Damnit, why am I doing this?" Did I mention that it's supposed to be 94 degrees and stormy on Saturday? OH-MY-GOD! In other news, I got internet back on my computer at work, so can blog freely. (I've been out of commission since Monday afternoon). I also got a sleek, sexy new chair to sit in while I do it.

Strawberry Shortcake

I've created an animal. I let C-man have some angel food cake yesterday. When I pulled out the strawberries to put on top of it, he went nuts! I have to admit, however, that while I didn't get to eat but a couple bites of it myself, having him on my lap going "Mmmmmmmmmmmm!" as he shoved pieces in his mouth was pretty precious.

Weekend Recap

This weekend Beerman and I went to the IRL race at the Milwaukee Mile courtesy of the Rayhal/Letterman team. We got free tickets, parking pass, hospitality tent food and beverage, and farmer tans. Good times for a free day. Well, except for the babysitter's fee. On that note, C-man had a new babysitter. She's a Marquette student, so I'm always a fan of promoting the local talent. They were at the park when we got home, so guess we'll use her again! In not so good news, Irwindale brewery voted its contract down. Beerman doesn't have to be a scab, but his entire staff does. This means C-man and I will be on our own a lot in the next few weeks. Bummer.

Friday Foolery

Okay, now how can this not make you laugh? And this is great too:

I've got a race number!

Haffenfeffer

Spot the Bunny has been my friend. He is the only one of his siblings who had decided to stay in the hospitable environment that is my herb garden. We named him Spot because, well, he has a white spot on his forehead. Anyhow, I began to have dreams of haffenfeffer when I went to my herb garden for some tarragon and saw it had been mowed down at the base, with the top just left there to wilt and die. He couldn't have nibbled downward from the top? I'm willing to share, after all!

Caleb officially has Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease. Damn that daycare! Anyhow, before anyone gets freaked out, it's not the sheep or cow disease -- that's hand and foot. It stinks, anyhow. He's had a fever for 3 days, a rash on his feet and a few mouth ulcers. We're pretty sure his throat hurts, because he doesn't want to eat or swallow and is a complete drool machine! I stayed home yesterday with him, and Troy is home today. In other news, it's been hotter than a dog's tongue this summer and we, of course, have no pool - only hot, dusty dirt. I am hating the decision to get rid of it more and more each day that I look out onto my dirt farm of a backyard!

Pack Rat Genes

It's official. Being a Pack Rat is in your genes. Don't believe me? Here's proof!

In other news, Pilates went well last night. Well, at least my body hurts in places I didn't know could hurt. So that's good, right?

We're planting a tree this weekend. I've decided on a nice locust. It's supposed to be 95 degrees out, though, so we'll see how far we get on that!

Anyhow, TGIF!