...but not every day

Talk Sh*t, Get Hit.

2010-11-18T09:27:00.000-08:00

If you can't play nice, play roller derby.

– unknown

Hello long lost cyber peeps!

A major change has happened in my life.

i've become a Burning River Roller Girl! i've been training and practicing since August 1st and it finally became official on Thursday November 4th!

**phew** that skills test was hard! (twss)

I do want to brag about being this tough chick on skates, but instead i'll brag about something else...

...other tough chicks on skates. This Saturday, at the Wolstein Center, the BRRG will be hosting the Black and Blue 5 Charity Bout, The Fur Brawl. Each year the girls pick an charity to sponsor, this year it's the Cleveland Animal Protective League!

5:30 PM – Cleveland Firestarters Jr. Roller Derby Scrimmage (Kittens vs. Puppies)

6:00 PM – Main Event – 1st Period: Black Alley Cats vs. Blue Blood Hounds

6:30 PM – Halftime: New Recruits (that's me!) battle in Full Contact Musical Chairs (on skates)

7:00 PM – Main Event – 2nd Period: Black Alley Cats vs. Blue Blood Hounds

our official After Parties (YES, two!) are at the Old Angle and Garage Bar in Ohio City!

you can buy tickets on line here or buy them at the door. Part the the ticket sales will go directly to the APL!!!

Don’t forget to dig up a little extra “scratch” for the BRRG mother lode of raffle baskets, featuring Cleveland Brown’s tickets, BRRG 2011 Season Passes and much, much more! Raffle tickets are always three (3) for $5 or an arm span for $20. Contents and prize value will be announced at the bout.

i really hope you can make it...not just to support the furry critters of the APL but the totally rad chicks that make up the Burning River Roller Girls! and if you don't know what team to cheer for, just pick the Blue Blood Hounds! that's the team i'm representing!!!

see you Saturday!!!

Your Truely,

LuLu

miss me yet?

2010-08-26T09:19:00.000-07:00

If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there.
– Lewis Carroll

--

besides being so busy at work, packing for my move to Ohio City and Roller Derby i've missed out on some good ol' hang-time with my loves.

i miss all my friends. AJP is at her new job, JV is in Tremont, Jess is getting ready for her wedding, Shibani even designed a new blog that i didn't even know happen till yesterday! and all my other friends (yes i have more than 4) i have no idea...my weekends have recently been sucked in to family events...which is fun, but, hello, i need to drink with my friends and find out what's going on with them! and facebook will only get me so much information.

what do i have planned this weekend...
Tonight: finish packing
Friday: move and date night
Saturday: clean old apt, rest for sunday
Sunday: Blood & Thunder Derby Boot Camp...all day
Monday: unpack, clean and enjoy new apt.

so to all my friends that miss me, i miss you just as much. but have no fear. i'll be planning an awesome house warming party. in the mean time please feel free to facebook stalk me.

have a great weekend.

how i met your mother

2010-08-23T06:03:00.000-07:00

It's going to be legen... wait for it... dary!
– Barney

--

this post wont be as funny as the tv show, but two weekends ago Karate Jon and i drove 8 hours to Delaware...the state.

it was our first solo vacation...i wasn't nervous about meeting the mom, his sister, or some friends...i was nervous about the drive. 8 hours, next to each other...no where to go. the last time i spent 8 hours in the car was with Alexa and AJP on our way to DC for the 1/2 marathon. it. was. scary. as. HELL! mainly cause Alexa wouldn't stop texting and twit-pic'ing. i'm pretty sure she wrote a blog while driving.

anyways. i was nervous for no reason. i know jon is a good driver. i slept some, drank some red bull, read and napped some more. i even drove through part of PA, or was it maryland?

we stayed at his brothers house while they were at a beach house for the weekend. it was great. the comfort of home without the stress of other schedule's.

Delaware is a pretty awesome state. i wasn't a fan of all the driving. it seemed like every place took 15-20 minutes to get to. which isn't bad, but i couldn't get my bearings for the life of me. it's very pretty and green and everyone is SO NICE.

we went to Spencer's Market. like a 1/2 breed West Side Market and a Flea Market and mix in some Amish Cooking. it was so fun. i bought some jewelry and pins for my bike bag...actually jon bought them...i had no cash.

his mom is adorable. she's this tiny little lady who has a lot of pep...she's an awesome cook...i wonder where he gets it...i only wish i could've spent more time with his TWIN sister. she had a hectic work schedule...

yeah. jon is a twin. maybe next year i can get her to come to twinsburg for some twins days action. all the Delaware friends i met were down right awesome. they should come to CLE and visit if they get the chance.

anyways. dinner, beach, shopping, eating, drinking and more driving. it was an awesome weekend and i hope to be invited back.

oh, and i think i need to start following the Fighting Blue Hens...i just need to find out what sport they play.

getting arrested.

2010-08-18T14:38:00.000-07:00

Seven out of 10 American's are one paycheck away from being homeless.
– Pras Michel

--

so you need to hear about my awesome weekend in Delaware (the state)...but that's going to take a hot minute to write.

in the mean time i want to write about a quick experience AJP and i had yesterday while we were running 3.3 miles...i know cause i MappedMyRun. anyway...as we started off we were on the Detroit/Superior bridge heading west. a cop car is driving east and does a U'y right in front of us.

then immediatly stops next to the homeless-looking man walking towards us.
now, i don't know if he was homeless. he was wearing a yellow flannel shirt and had a scruffy beard.

kinda like brad pitt here...minus brad pitt's stunning good looks and more creepy.

anyways the cops motion for us to stop so they can talk to him.
which made me a little nervous...was this guy gonna pull out a gun and start shooting and run away?

the cops asked for his ID then made him put his hands on the hood. Once they got the info they needed they seemed satisfied, apologized and let him go.

mistaken identity. not a problem.
but that means there is a homeless guy who kinda resembles a creepy brad pitt roaming the streets of CLE that the cops are after.

roller derby, cooking and moving

2010-08-06T09:36:00.000-07:00

Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon
– Doug Larson

--

ironically all three of these have something in common.
i will be doing all of them in the next month!

actually participating in derby has made me want to cook more. WHAT!?!
yes. i want to cook. however my current living arrangements really don't allow for a lot of cooking cause my kitchen is so small.

I decided to move. yep. i'll be an Ohio City resident starting in September.
with the move, comes a bigger kitchen...which i can't wait to practice plow stops in. and with that i thought...hmmm...if i'm in the kitchen i might as well cook.

so i'm gonna find a cute little apron, and A-Line dress/skirt and cook on skates. basically harnessing my inner Betty Draper. i think it will be good for me. maybe not so good for my cooking skills.

either way, Derby is all i thought it would be. the ladies rock, the practices are so helpful, my body hurts and i have an awesome boyfriend to rub me down.

yep life is good. for now.
i still have to pack, move and pass my skills test. oh, and learn how to cook.

in the mean time. i'm going to my first ever Krusty's tomorrow.

wish me luck!

public water parks.

2010-08-04T08:18:00.000-07:00

We swim because we are too sexy for a sport that requires clothes.
– Author Unknown

--

back in the day i used to love the pool, Geauga Lake, Sea World, Cedar Point and Dover Lake. oh the memories.

i was on The Aurora Shores Sharks (yes, the ASS's) swim team for 10 years. well maybe only 9, the last year was spent skipping practice, giving the coaches a hard time, hiding under a pile of towels and trying to make sure my hair didn't turn green.

about age 16 (ftr, i loved my Gilligan hat)

This one time at Dover Lake with my cousins and brother, we were around the ages of 12-15, we took a break to get some food at our picnic site and decided to get into a food fight. twinkies, ho-ho's, twizzler's, crackers, you name it, if it was in arms reach we were throwing it. including garbage. juice boxes, apple cores, empty cans of pop...shudder...cans of pop.

My loving and newly engages cousin Kevin...i could smack him. i'd like to give him the benefit of the doubt and honestly believe he didn't pick up an un-opened can of pop and hurl it in my direction, but i think he knew what he was doing. long story short (to late) the can of pop hit me right above my lip. right across the Philtral Column. i still have a scar. my mom wanted to take me to the hospital. me, being deathly afraid of needles didn't want to go. so we left. day=ruined.

but that's not what this post is about. its about public water. now that i'm getting older, wiser and more mature (ha) i tend to be grossed out with public water. i'm convinced that every time i swim at the local pool i get a sinus infection. people don't realize that they should rinse off before getting in the pool. i don't care how many chemicals you use...multiple people are basically showering in the pool, water slide, lazy river. and don't get me started on Hot Tubs. i'd rather spend my time at edge water swimming in Lake Erie drinking a beer. or a Aurora Lake floating at Boater's Beach...drinking a beer. or at Mohican floating on a tube...drinking a beer.

a co-worker in my area recently went to cedar point and said he got water up his nose...now he is coughing and sneezing. just the thought of that stewing public water going up his nose almost made me gag. Sinus infection, nice to meet you.

so, how do you spend your summers trying to stay cool?

Fresh Meat August!!!

2010-08-03T13:12:00.000-07:00

If you can't play nice, play roller derby.
– Anonymous

--

Sunday might have been the best day of summer yet.
it started off waking up at 8am...not hungover (cause i was lame and didn't go out for Steph's 30th birthday...sorry lady, hope you had a great time!) and i was able to take my time getting ready, eat breakfast, do a little stretching and hop in my car at 8:55.

i drove 15 minutes out to Euclid to Pla-More Roller Rink. i honestly thought it would take longer. but after getting there and realizing that it was Sunday morning at 9am...the only people on the road probably did the walk of shame to there car just a short time prior.

What was i doing at Pla-More Rink in Euclid?!? why, attending Fresh Meat August with the Burning River Roller Girls!

For the past 6 weeks i've been attending wRECk...which is the rec league for BRRG. i've been brushing up on my skating, learning to fall (small and correctly), playing fun games like Queen of the Ring and tag. and it all starts to pay off starting yesterday.

all 44 of us!

i officially met the BRRG Board and a bunch of other ladies that don't normally go to wRECk. and now my facebook friend request is going overboard! but i love it.

after Fresh Meat i booked it to my moms house in Aurora to go out on the boat. i waited for AJP and we hit the beach. had some beers and went wakeboarding on my neighbors awesome boat. then it was time to grab some diner. my mom made taco's. YUM.

the end of the night was awesome the BF and i watch some Mad Men, season one. (omg. i love this show!) and i surprised him with season two that a fellow Fresh Meat'er let me borrow. see derby is going to be awesome!

anyways. i'll keep you posted on my continually improving derby skills and mark your calendars right this second.

Saturday, November 20.

it's the Black and Blue Charity Bout at the Wolstein Center.
they divide up all 4 teams into two teams, Black and Blue. None of the Fresh Meat Girls will get to participate, however, at half time we do get to participate in Full Contact Musical Chairs!!!! Check out 2008 here.

hope to see you there.
oh, and i might be doing a poll to pick a derby name.
stay tuned...

**note: wRECk is not directly affiliated with BRRG. They are more like cousins vs sisters. wRECk was started by former BRRG members and people use it to train for BRRG but there is no formal affiliation.

Shooter McGavin

2010-07-20T11:31:00.000-07:00

Hey, if I saw myself in clothes like that, I'd have to kick my own ass.

– Happy Gilmore

so friday was my 29th birthday. and i feel like i've been celebrating for 2 weeks...oh wait, i have been.

i would like to give you every last detail but it's to much. i would however like to thank all my friends and family who have helped celebrate!!! thanks for all the cards, gifts and drinks!!!!

on my actual birthday i decided to go golfing. i'm not good. i cheat when i golf. i can't help it. if i don't like my first drive i'll keep dropping balls until i get something worth playing. my biggest no-no: if i'm to close to a tree i'll throw it on the fairway. usually no more than 5 feet...unless i'm really in the woods.

anyways, me, jon, ajp, my dad and new friend Bodoni (actually Biondi) went to Little Met to play a round of golf.

not gonna lie. i was kinda disappointed. it was almost too much of a beginner course for me. i think i only threw my ball 3 times! so i'm either getting better or its to easy. they didn't have any working golf carts, however the hand cart came in handy and you're not allowed to bring adult beverages on the course. actually, maybe playing sober is why i did so well...hmmmm

on the plus side of Little Met, i did get to see a mama deer, two fawns, ground hog and a hawk.

i've only been on two other courses Sleepy Hollow and Brandywine. Sleepy Hollow was my first course ever and it was for a client. But i think my heart belongs to Brandywine. i love the front 9. the last hole is especially awesome. it over looks a pond and the club house. i've lost a ton of balls trying my hardest to land on the green. the last time i was there my brother almost hit a lexus in the parking lot and i just happened to hit the 1" thick electrical wire that drapes over the pond...go figure.

so now i have have the golf bug. i bought a set of clubs and bag at unique thrift for a total of $25. My 7 wood is originally like $150!!!

since i didn't plan a super long vacation this year i'm totally up for a round. i'm willing to try another course or just go to Brandywine.

don't worry. derby update is coming soon!

the Y

2010-07-15T12:46:00.000-07:00

Every Accomplishment starts with the decision to try.

– anonymous

Hello long lost readers.
i feel like i'm having these conversations with you more and more often.
but fear not. i think i'm finally going to be on a blogging schedule.

i love structure in my life.

most of you know that i'm a graphic designer. not to long ago i was promoted to Associate Art Director at Adcom Communications. Awesome, right!?!

well with that came a ton of responsibility...i'm a tough cookie and i welcomed the challenge. over the past few months i've been working on a super sweet project.

they have recently launched their new brand, website and facebook page. and i've had the honor of working on posters, ads, direct mails and numerous other pieces to the brand. including an awesome 4.5 day photo shoot right here in downtown Cleveland. (if you check out the website, you might see someone you know...ME!)

we decided to do 2 sessions, one in May and one in June. we worked closely with Keith Berr Productions. His studio is so awesome. Keith and Linda were completely organized. they fed us and made sure we had everything we needed.

we hired a lot of local talent and used some friends, family and co-workers that were willing to help out for a great cause.

The Y has kept me on my toes for quite some time and the future looks just as bright. i can't even to begin to state how thrilled i am to be working with some super sweet co-workers, clients and photographers. Hopefully as soon as we have final approval on some things i can show you more!

till then check out the new brand video that Uppercut has been busy working on!!

a BIG special thanks to all the people that made the photo shoots turn out awesome!

designer note: siegel+gale created the new brand

check back soon to hear about my adventures in The Burning River Roller Girls Roller Derby and Fresh Meat August!

oh, and if you didn't know...tomorrow is my birthday!

29 baby!

mothersday...

2010-06-01T07:49:00.000-07:00

As a child my family's menu consisted of two choices: take it or leave it.– Buddy Hackett

--

okay i know mothers day was like 10 years ago, but i've been busy. and while i hate talking about stuff that happened so long ago i felt this was post worthy.

why?

cause i cooked.

yes.
me.
i cooked my dearest mother, grandmother, adam and my brother dinner.

it.
was.
awesome.

i got the recipe from my great friend/co-work Mr. LaPerna. i knew it was going to be good. i instructed my brother on what to buy and i was the chef for the after-noon. even though my mom insisted on make appetizers i was the chef.

it was called Sicilian Basil with Scallops on Angel Hair Pasta. it was good. however, i'm not a fan of Angel Hair so if i ever make this again i'll probably use linguine.

everyone loved it and i think i finally was able to give my mom and grandma left overs.

if you're interested you can get the recipe here.

so without further adieu...

check back tomorrow for a recap of memorial day weekend!

free bird.

2010-05-28T08:08:00.000-07:00

Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.

–Winston Churchill

--

So Tuesday was the last High School commencement i'll attend for a long time.

it was kinda nice. i actually saw some of my old high school friends who were there for their families.

i know its a Commencement CEREMONY, but god, was it awful. my littlest sis, her last name starts with A, so she was seriously the 4th to cross the stage...but it wasn't even that. the speeches were meh. i mean one talked about picking out shoes and the Macarena.

i mean it was impressive, if you followed my tweets. there were like 363 in the graduating class. Class of '99 had like 230. and the top ten students had to have a minimum 4.375 GPA. and they had something like 4.7 million in scholarships and awards! crazy smart people are graduating from THS this year.

along with announcing the Top 10 students each one had to pick a VIP Teacher and that Teacher wrote a little something about them. Long, Boring, Meh.

the CEREMONY took a little over 2 hours. GRRR. and i was hungry and Olive Garden was calling my name.

anyways...i was really irritated with something i heard after the CEREMONY. a little background cause i'm sure all ceremonies are a little different. there are 4 guidance counselors and they have a certain section of the alphabet. so while they announce their group each kid walks down center stage and shakes hands with all the important people. they grab a blank diploma holder and exit the stage.

behind the scenes is where they actually give you your diploma. its the last line of defense that the faculty has to make sure each student behaves on stage. WELL...

this one girl gets announced and instead of shaking everyone's hand she curtsies for each one. it was really kind of adorable. and i thought it was timeless. i mean people curtsy for the queen and such. anyways, turns out they didn't let her get her diploma. i was mad. especially when the Superintendent son (or maybe nephew) hugged majority of the people. one student even went across stage and hugged the announcing counselor. did they get their diploma revoked? no.

i just wonder how students are suppose to feel empowered and proud of their accomplishment when they have something like not receiving your diploma hanging over your head.

and this brings me to my original point. why does it have to be a CEREMONY? its a celebration. even in this day and age some of those kids might be the first to graduate in their household. why do we, as the audience, have to wait till all 363 students are announced to clap? why can't they take an extra few seconds to let the family cheer? i would totally be happy if i had that to look forward to. it's 2010 Faculty, lets celebrate!

speaking of celebrating i would like to congratulate my VIP Twinsburg/Chamberlin Teacher...Mr. Smith. he retired yesterday. he was my "Graphics" teacher. i learned Photoshop, Silk Screening, Offset lithography and other things that really pushed me into my Graphic Design career. Mr. Smith, you rocked!

Oh, and Samantha. I'm so proud of you. Good luck next year at my Alma Mater, Kent State! You're going to be a great Honors Architect!!!!

how was everyone's last few weeks? have a great and safe memorial day weekend!

#ridingderby part 2

2010-05-07T14:24:00.000-07:00

Oh My!
– George Takei

--

see i told you i was a bad blogger.
work has been crazy busy, then there was cinco de mayo and the blind pig run for the border race on wednesday...but i'm back and ready to finish telling you about my 3rd Kentucky Derby with AJP.

Derby Saturday
after waking up at around 10am the sky was a little overcast and AJP and i were definitely going to the derby. we had a few errands to run...like going to target and getting matching rain boots, getting some pizza hut. at target and the obvious bank stop. we would've purchased poncho's but they were all out. in past years, my first cousin once removed, todd, would come with us and we wouldn't have to worry about driving or parking. but this year he was MIA and we didn't feel comfortable bugging his roommate. so i hoped on my trusty macbook pro to look up directions.

we decided to park in the UofL stadium lot and walk to Churchill...logic took hold...this will be a nice sober walk back. once we finally found parking around 1:30 we were lucky enough to park next to some derby tailgaters. i believe they were from Chicago or at least Illinois. they offered us some beer...we said yes and it was official Derby 136 had commenced!

the wind almost blew AJP's hat off numerous times. we made our way to the entrance around the 3rd turn and entered Churchill Downs shortly after 2pm. once we got into the infield we were on a mission to find a miller lite tent. found one and it just so happened to be close to where alexa was. Hooray for meeting up with cleveland friends. to bad there were no pics to prove of our out of town hook-up. then the plum and i were on a mission to get some mint juleps. i was a little disappointed when i realized they raised the price to $10!!!! oh well, it didn't stop me from buying/drinking/savoring each one.

a new mission commenced, find the bathroom and karate jon. we did both successfully. however finding bob and Rkelly = not so easy. it turns out they had the best seat in the house...well the best seat for $40. they were on turn 1 and 2...and it was a pretty sweet set up. you could actually see the horses!

after Super Saver won the Kentucky Derby we decided to head out and walk back to the car. (fun fact: i had to look up the winner of the race) we decided to meet Todd at his bar, Bearno's by the bridge. we ordered some drinks, food and got to watch the cavs win! we even got the other Clevelanders in the bar to chant "Cha-Lu-Pa!".

AJP and i knew we wanted to show bob and karate jon what 4th Street Live was all about. so we were getting ready to leave and guess who decides to show up....the cop that drove me and AJP to 4th street 2 years ago was waiting out front to take us again!

yup...we got a ride to 4th street in a cop car. i even touched the shotgun that hangs up in the back. rockin. after a few drinks there and some people watching we decided to call it a night around 1:30...which was lucky for us. by the time we got back to the house it started pouring down rain. and i HATE driving in the rain. we hung out outside and watched it lighting and i think we all passed out by 3.

no money was won, no fights broke out that we saw, no embarrassing falls in the mud. but it was still an awesome time!

let the pictures commence.

bob checking out AJP's caboose

Me and my dapper gent.

the ride to bearno's

karate jon was a little tired.
yes, that's sun glare in the background

a special thanks to Todd and my family for making this such an awesome experience yet again! and to all the boys that bought us drinks and called us pretty. and to AJP for officially making the Derby a tradition for us!

can't wait for next year!

all i can ask is "who's driving?"

have a great weekend. hopefully i'll get back into some sort of writing habit.

GO CAVS!!!

#ridingderby part 1

2010-05-03T14:42:00.000-07:00

If, after the first twenty minutes, you don't know who the sucker at the table is, it's you.– David Levien & Brian Koppelman, Rounders

--

i'm a bad blogger.

i should be sent to my blogger room.

it's been way to long and i apologize.

but without further groveling i give you my awesome Derby weekend...

we had a fully booked weekend and took advantage of every moment...

Derby Thursday

the usual, oil change, packing, picking up AJP driving 6 hours, getting stuck in traffic cause there was a horrible semi accident we finally made it to Todds. Todd is my First Cousin Once Removed...seriously. i have 7 cousins on my dads side. Todd's mom Stephanie is my cousin. She has 4 rocking kids Timmy, Todd and Kristen are all around my age and then there is little Kate. who is going to be famous or on American Idol or something....anyways, Jen and i always stay at Todds...its tradition.

We unloaded the car, said our hello's and got ready to hit the town. Todd had a country concert to go to while Jen and i had a VIP event to attend. My cousin Chip is President, CCO of Bisig Impact Group. (fun fact: i interned there the summer of 04). His company is a co-sponsor of the Derby Poker Championship! This was the second year they've helped put on the event. it.was.awesome!

It was held at the Palace which is an old theater with awesome character. Since we were VIP we got open bar and free reign on the poker floor. the host of the evening was Phil Hellmuth. i didn't know who that was till Thursday. i honestly thought he was an old guy. but he's pretty funny...at least he was on the mic...i've heard stories as to what a d-bag he can be.

the night was awesome i meet some of Chips clients, got to rub elbows with famous people that i didn't know existed and we even made it to the after party on Fourth Street Live. Fourth Street Live is totally awesome...great for people watching and the southern gentle men will buy cute ladies drinks! but beware, it can also be full of d-bags.

Thursday Night = Success!!!

AJP, Phil Hellmuth & me!

Derby Friday

we couldn't have asked for better weather. we were out to the waterfront to hang out at the Fest-A-Ville. we were outside all day! drinking beer and enjoying live bands...and not just country music! they played some rock-n-roll!

after some bench side people watching we moved location to Joe's Crab Shack to have a beach party (fun fact: beach party is when everyone in your group is drinking a corona). After a full day of drinking we got ready for the 5th Annual Unstable Clown party that my Cousin, Stephanie, puts on every year. Unstable Clown has some history...quick overview: there is a famous Gala every Derby called the Barnstable Brown Gala. All the famous people who plan on going to Derby go to this party. Well my cousin lives on Speed Ave. Speed Ave is where all the limo's drive down to either turn around or drop off famous guest. yep. the limo's drive by this little niche of homes to get to this FABULOUS party. So to celebrate this once a year event she hosts the Unstable Clown Party. there are drinks, music, dancing and even a fog machine! it was a lot of fun, and family friendly. there was no swearing aloud. if you had to say, for example: "you f'ing idiot". you had to say "you cussing idiot". all swear words were replaced with the word cuss. pretty awesome. i can picture AJP using that.

there were no crazy disasters like last year, wear my "cousin in law" (is that real?) leaned up against the stove, turned it on and lite the back of his coat on fire. Little Kate was prancing around in her older sister (Kristen's) super cute heals. she even got me and AJP to do the do-si-do.

after our fashionably late arrival and hanging out with 5 of my 7 cousin Jen and i decided to say our good byes and make back to 4th street live. we didn't get lost, it just took us a long time to get there. we finally arrived and parked by the police station around 1:30. (fun fact: bars stay open till 6am Derby weekend).

we went to a couple bars meet up with Todd and his friends and danced. it was probably 4:15ish when we decided to call it a night. after our long walk back to my car terror struck. yes. terror in the form of a stolen/towed car. my car was missing. we even went into the station and tried to find out if it was stolen or towed. no luck. i cried. i even asked jen if it was okay if we took a few minutes on the curb for me to cry. i then needed to walk it off while we waited 45 min for a cab. then jen suggested walking one block over and there beneath a beacon of street light was my glorious car...with the passenger side window open about 2 inches. but nothing wrong with it. we jumped in, i wiped my tears from my face and we proceed to go home.

Friday Night = Success!!!

Derby Saturday...i'm going to copy the plum and post Saturday for you tomorrow....don't hate.

...i'll cry if i want to

2010-04-15T05:30:00.000-07:00

Your birthday is a special time to celebrate the gift of 'you' to the world.– anonymous

--

Happy Blog Birthday to me!

i can't believe that little miss butnoteveryday is 1 today!
it's been such a fun trip.
too bad i've been so busy lately. i have like three stories to share with you.
but they'll have to wait cause i ~~want to party~~ have to work!!!!

today it's suppose to be 80º! i rode my bike to work and if i don't have to work late i plan on watching some bike polo. or maybe doing the "wednesday night ride on thursday"!

i've meet some awesome people through this blog and plan on meeting a ton more. yes, even you!

but since i'm so busy i would like to take a few minutes to introduce you to the next big blog in cleveland!

...CLEshopaholic...

take some time and check her out!

have a great weekend kids!
i'm looking forward to a pedi this weekend!

i'm practically famous...

2010-04-06T08:17:00.000-07:00

You aren't famous until my mother has heard of you.
– Jay Leno

--

okay i'm a bad blogger.
i've been crazy busy. no lie.
i was promoted at work and i'm now working on a national campaign.
which equals longer hours. but i'm not complaining. i like it. i love it.
and i'll be completely thrilled when i see this national campaign finally revealed.

there has been so much i wanted to blog about.
• how the plum almost killed me and AJP on our way to DC. all her texting and driving...i'm surprised we made it.
• the awesome party that was St. Jesse's Day
• the bone thugs concert. (yes i'm a fan, but i will never go again.) i'm sick of listening to no name crappy "rappers". i paid to see Bone. Not no-name slick-dick.
• and then the Blatchel going away party. it was sad, but they're just going to Columbus. which i might swing by and say HI on my way down to Derby!
• Easter was fun. especially meeting some new additions to the family! yes, sally, i'm talking about you! you got a grandma hug and a lulu hug!

And i really need to talk about the april fools joke i played on my cousin, Kevin. but i have better news to share!

i love cleveland sports. i've said it a million times. i don't know stats and as soon as someone gets traded i tend to forget about them. except omar. i miss you omar. and i love twitter. i love how real time it is. and combine the two and i follow some sports bloggers, some other fans and yes even the players...

well yesterday i kinda felt like i rubbed elbows with some of the elite. i follow boobie gibson (however his account isn't certified) so it could be some fakey-mcfakerson, but i'm still excited about what happened. (ps. Kevin, if this is your payback, i don't care)

so i see...
@the_real_gib: we don know what coach gon do for rotation this wk but he told me be ready

so i tweet: i'm going to the cavs game tomorrow...could @the_real_shaq and @the_real_gib be back on the hardwood?!?

THEN BOOBIE TWEETS ME BACK!

@the_real_gib: @butnoteveryday i'm really not sure.. its possible but coach tryin to be cautious wit shaq n andy

omg. i was in heaven. i even blushed at my desk when my friend t-bone brought it to my attention!

so yes i'm going to the game tonight. and i may or may not make a sign that says "boobie you tweeted me yesterday!" ha. maybe not. but maybe.

hope you all have a great week. i'll try to get the april fools story up in a day or two...enjoy!

always inappropriate.

2010-03-18T13:25:00.000-07:00

There's so much we can't express in our day-to-day interaction with people because it's considered inappropriate. And acting is all about being inappropriate.
– Wentworth Miller

--

congratulations for surviving st. pat's 2010!

there were 3 people that i came across that almost didn't.
the couple that was humping and grinding to Irish Rock at Flannery's. groping and rubbing and hands in inappropriate places. i wanted to dump beer all over them and tell to to take a cold shower or get a room.

and the stupid drunk blonde that pinched my BF's butt at Teresa's. i kept my mouth shut at first cause i thought you guys new eachother (not that that makes it any more appropriate) but when you asked for me to slap you in the face, your lucky i only did one shot that day, cause girlfriend, lets face it. you're 110 frame would've broken in two if i would've gotten my hands on you.

yes. i have a mean streak.
just ask the random girl from OU during the 2006 MAC Tournament.

anyways.
Trivia night was a blast. Congrats to team Poetry In Motion for finishing first and winning a $25 bar tab for next week!

i only took 3 pics of St. Patty's day.
but i'm only posting one...cause i know the Plum will get mad if i beat her to posting the most awesomest picture ever.

me and Shiba at Lincoln Park just like last year!

my most awesome sisters!

can't wait to drink with them legally!

well this weekend i'm off to DC with the plum, AJP and Jess! we run the 1/2 marathon on saturday! have a safe weekend!!!!

you can't do that on television...

2010-03-15T13:57:00.000-07:00

OH NO! We're all out of powdered toast!
– Ren Hoek

--

for those of you who don't know...my friend @sarabot and i are hosting our first trivia night at Cranky's tomorrow night! it all came about a month or so ago when we were there for another trivia night and we signed up. we picked St. Paddy's Day Eve cause we figured people who are taking on Wednesday will want to start early and what better way than playing trivia!

we meet up at Taco Tuesday about a month ago to think of the 40 or so questions. we knew we wanted it to be based around the 90's.

our notes had stuff like Mariah Carey, Sparkle/Glitter, Motley Crew, David Bowie, Dinosaurs (the TV show) and the like. but some how we kept circling the idea of a total Nickelodeon based trivia night. and the four categories were born!

• SNICK
• Celebrities
• Cartoons
• Miscellaneous

The miscellaneous section isn't based off of Nickelodeon trivia...there were just some really fun questions that we HAD to include...

i mean what isn't to love about this video!?!

tomorrow night is going to be so much fun! i hope you can all make it. the prize's are pretty sweet! and there may or may not be some green slime jell-o shots...

i hope everyone has a great St. Patrick's day. i'll be out and about tremont, ohio city and downtown...totally looking forward to seeing Boy's From County Hell at Flannery's! You can get there whole St. Patty's day schedule here.

i can't wait for...

2010-03-12T06:13:00.000-08:00

If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow.
– Chinese Proverb

--

if you know me i have zero patience. i need things to happen right away. (probably the biggest understatement of my life)

anyways...walking to work today i made a mental list of things i can't wait for...in no particular order...

• the downtown flowers that hang on the lamp posts
• st. malachi race tomorrow (5 miles with 90% chance of rain)
• the tribe home opener
• the DC 1/2 marathon
• the DC 1/2 marathon road trip with The Plum and AJP
• st. patty's day
• Sara & Lara Host Trivia Night NICKELODEON Style @ cranky's on tuesday!
• Spring Co-ed football
• bike polo
• day light savings
• Kentucky Derby and the Unstable Clown Party
• Cavs playoffs
• Maggie's Chicago Bachelorette Party!

i think that's it for now...
have a great weekend everyone, and don't forget to come to Cranky's on St. Patty's Day Eve! Sara and i have some awesome gifts to give away!

the most awesomest thing...ever!

2010-03-10T05:52:00.000-08:00

Screw you guys, i'm going home.
– Eric Cartman

--

so if you didn't know this past weekend i went to Colorado for the first time to visit my friend Marcie. She's lived in CO for 2+ years now and not one of her cleveland friends has come to visit...so me and AJP made plans to go.

it was awesome.

i can't even describe with words how awesome it was! so i'll give a brief (yeah right) outline with pictures...

We landed Thursday in Denver, i was ~~sunny~~ hazy and 50º. so we drove around the city (mainly cause Marcie couldn't find the bar we were going to) but it was fun getting to see such an awesome city. the weather was nice and all i wanted was my bike to ride around. the 3 of us order some food and drinks and meet up with Steph and played catch-up. the sun starts to set and we get cold from sitting outside and decide to head up to the house in Breckenridge...but first we made a stop at REI.

Oh. My. God.

it was like i died and gone to heaven. i thought the Dick's in Legacy Village was big. this place was huge!!!! they had everything, even their own VISA card that i almost signed up for so i could buy a new pair of ski's. but i didn't. i'm on a budget and i don't need/want more debt. but, AJP, on the other hand was all about a new snow board. i think we were at REI for almost 2 hours if not more and jen walked away with this bad boy...

its pretty bad ass. she better give it a bad ass name. it was then off to Breck. it normally is around a 2 hour drive, but because mother nature wanted to show us what snow in CO was like it took us closer to 2 hours 45 min. but it was great. marcie is such a good driver with her cute white suburu. The house we stayed in wasn't actually in Breckenridge...it was about 20 min away. We stayed at this awesome house in Fairplay. Fairplay is awesome...it is also the home of South Park! yes. THE SOUTH PARK! there has got to be some sort of time warp continuum if you watch South Park in South Park, but i digress.

Saturday was my first time skiing out west. and when my friends say you'll never look at Holiday Valley or Peak N' Peek again...they're right. i'm in love with powder...fresh fallen pow. our first night there it ended up snowing 4inches. and then more throughout our day at Breck.

me at Breck, i think about to go off on my own for a little,

while the two Board Bunnies stay on Peak 9

When we got to Breck and Marcie told me about the Imperial Bowl and i knew i had to accomplish that.

what's the Imperial you ask?

well...you take the lift up...but not to the top. its not allowed to go that high...but skiers and boarders think different...once you get to the top of Imperial, you can hike the rest of the way to get to the summit of Peak 8. Peak 8 is 12,998 feet high. but i'd guesstimate that you have to hike about 200 feet...in ski boots...carrying your ski's and poles...while inhaling high altitude air. NOT FUN.

The 3 ski/board bunnies on a booze break.

i was told about this on friday, but since i could barely see the top of Peak 8 and i didn't have anyone to venture up there, i decided to wait till sunday. hoping for better conditions and that Sam, Marcie's BF, would want to take me up there.

Friday evening was fun. we hung out in Breck for a little, watched the Cavs. i bragged about how Adcom was behind the Cavs Snuggie Night to some locals. they were impressed...as they should be.

Saturday was just as awesome. we drove out to Leadville, CO which is about 1.5 hours west of Breck. there we got to witness Ski Jouring. which is an actual competition...see the video i took here. by the time we got back to the house i decided to cook some perogies for Me, Jen, Marcie and Sam. i figured i should feed him well if he's going to be my tour guide for the Imperial the next day. after dinner we played some Trivial Pursuit from the 90's...which me and Ronnie happened to win! then we played some Asshole and then off to bed.

Sunday was awesome. we got to Breck around 10. Marcie and Sam had some extra buddy passes and we got in for cheap again. we did a couple runs on Peak 7 and 8. then it was off to conquer the Imperial! its super tricky the way we went to get up there. we had to take the T-bar...which i failed at on the first try. but finally i got to the top of the Imperial Chair lift...the hike was miserable. Sam said that by the time i got to the top i'd be bent over gasping for air. he was wrong. i was laying flat on my back cussing up a storm. some southerners that were there thought i was a riot.

That faint orange line i drew in is to show the edge of the mountain.

it goes straight down. and its the only way down.

That's also the top of the lift so you can see how high we really had to hike.

That's me on my back, trying to regain energy to ski back down.

I think it took me about 10 minutes to ski about 1,000 feet. but it was awesome. the powder was sweet. and if i had had more energy and didn't feel like i was going to faint, i would've done it again in a heart beat. but i was pretty much done for the day. i wanted to go brag to jen and marcie about how awesome the experience was. and since it was sunny and 40º we meet up for food, beer and convo before one last run of the day.

being our last evening we booked it back to the house and grabbed our bathing suits and headed to Mount Princeton Hot Springs. yep. naturally hot water. it was awesome. i'd show you pictures but none of us brought our cameras and even if we had, none of us are bathing suit ready. pasty white girls sitting on rocks...not very flattering.

it was such an awesome weekend. i'm glad i got to spend it with some awesome people and make new friends. i know i didn't do my trip justice with this blog.

Marcie and Sam. it was awesome hanging out with you guys this weekend. you were both wonderful hosts and i can't wait for next year hopefully i'll have my new ski's and will get to look totally badass walking through the airport.

single or double...?

2010-03-02T09:33:00.000-08:00

do not be surprised when those who ignore the rules of grammar also ignore the law. After all, the law is just so much grammar.
– Rober Brault

--

so the other night i was talking with my friend T-Bone about reading blogs [he told me he enjoyed reading my blog ::blush::].

he's a lawyer and he likes proper sentence structure. capital letters at the beginning, proper punctuation, etc. which is funny because i ~~hardly~~ never do any of that.

anyways, i was discussing my love of the ellipsis and how i use it all the time...mainly in this blog, status updates and IMs. he told me about how he likes using ellipsis with a fourth punctuation...a fourth punctuation?!? GASP! i needed an example stat. after a few minutes he came up with this...

"did you do it...?"

my mind immediately goes in the gutter. but i liked how IT implied a bunch of things. i'm even giggling right now thinking about IT. hehehe.

i explained how i liked ellipsis for the dramatic pause they're suppose to create. and how they separate thoughts visually.

T-Bone then had the nerve to say "kinda like two spaces at the end of a sentence." internally i felt my stomach hit the floor.

where on earth did he learn to put two space after sentences!!!! law school, of course.

now even though i went to college for the same amount of time as lawyers, i'm pretty sure my awesome Bachelor of Fine Arts degree taught me correctly by putting single spaces after punctuation. it's been engraved into my daily life. So much so that i automatically do a command+find on every project that comes across my desk. and the fact the my proof reader would kill me if she got a 20 page brochure with double spaces every where.

Why, why on earth put two spaces?

the reason he gave me is because lawyers want to make sure that every sentenced is read. and that the reader is able to understand what they're reading. which makes sense cause lawyers are complicated as it is.

but it got me thinking. how different each profession teaches people to do things. even standard things. another observation, measurements.

one of my most favorite teachers at Kent State, Lee Goskey, taught me in my freshman year that measurements always go Width x Height x Depth. (i think i also learned that in woods class in middle school)

no. matter. what.

I get really frustrated when i have to work on outdoor billboards and they decide its okay to go Height x Width...grrr...

are there things you do in your profession that aren't kosher with the rest of the public?

hook, line & sinker.

2010-02-26T06:14:00.000-08:00

Fishing is the sport of drowning worms.
– Author Unknown

--

yesterday i felt like i was drowning. from tweets, emails and having to change passwords to all my accounts.

yep. yesterday i was phished.

it was quite embarrassing. especially since a co-worker was the first to tell me. it was a little scandalous. something about being a hot 24-year-old female and to contact "me" on a hotmail chat.

hello! i'm 28! get it right hackers!

so i rushed around twitter deleting my sent DMs and changing all my passwords. but considering i've been on the interwebz for like a bajillion years and this is the first time i've been hacked i think that's pretty impressive. and to know that the reason i got hacked was because of my own doing...not too bad either...sort of.

i was really pissed when it happened...i got a DM tweet from a reliable person whom i've meet IRL. when he DM'd me: haha. is this you??? (with a twitpic link) i thought it was legit.

SRSLY!
i actually thought "oh no, he probably saw the outrageous Fluorescent February outfit i wore on Saturday" so i clicked on the link to confirm. and laugh at myself again.

hack accomplished. the link directed me to a blog. i was a little confused so i DM'd him saying the link didn't work. when he told me he had been hacked i knew it was only a matter of time...and it took about 5 hours for it to happen to me.

so i sincerely apologize to all the DMs you got. i think i've got it under control. otherwise enjoy chatting with Paris928Love on hotmail.

one down, eight to go.

2010-02-24T10:23:00.000-08:00

Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back.
– Eugene O'Neill

--

some of you may or may not know that i adopted a kitty from the Cleveland APL.

you're probably asking, "what happened to Bagley?" well because my apt is so small and my moms house is so big she's decided to adopt him from me. oh, and the fact that he wouldn't get in my car to go home helped.

But anyways, i adopted mac from the APL in mid November as an early gift for me. he's awesome. he can play fetch. he's a purrer. and he's a guard cat. no lie.

he has recently taken an interest to all things water. my water glass at night, the sink, the toilet even the bath tub.

the other night i went to take a shower and i notice my drain was clogged. gross i know. but i couldn't shower, i hate standing water. it was too late to get drain-o from anywhere so i planed on getting it super early in the AM the next day.

i plop myself on my couch and watch some tv. i played a few rounds of fetch with mac and i notice he wasn't interested anymore. as i'm watching a House re-run i hear some strange noise.

like scurrying. as if mac got stuck on tile and couldn't run away fast enough. that's almost what happened.

i run into the bathroom just in time to see mac leap out of the tub soaking wet. he didn't realize that the drain was clogged and the tub had standing water in it.

he looked horrified.
i think he just lost one of his 9 lives.
what do you think?

little mac with his soaking tail and feet.
you can even see his soggy foot prints in the carpet.

rise on, verizon.

2010-02-23T09:38:00.000-08:00

The telephone is a good way to talk to people without having to offer them a drink.
– Fran Lebowitz

--

i'm a fan of verizon. i have been since i got my first cell phone in 2002. i was no longer living under my parents roof (not even for holiday breaks!)

so i could spend my money where i wanted = cell phone, booze and fast food.

anyways, i've been really loyal to verizon. even when at&t got the iPhone, i held back thinking that one day verizon will get it. and it'll be super sweet.

my contract was up last march, but i waited to re-up my contract in hopes that Apple would finally see the awesome-sauce that is verizon. alas, nothing happened. i went to a verizon store along with my mom and grandma (since they're on MY family plan) in june to see what our choices were. but we all left the verizon store empty handed as we didn't see any phones we liked.

then the unthinkable happens. i drop my perfectly good Blue Chocolate Slide phone in a large cup of beer at the Browns/Bears game at Soldier Field. i was sad. but i was mostly drunk and it didn't click that i had just submerged my phone in a tasty beverage.

When i got back, i got the LG Versa. i love it. i love it like people love their blackberrys. its a touch screen. its easy to use. i love it.

so when i noticed the screen was all F-ed up at the Snoop Dogg concert i cried. yes i shed a few tears because my beloved phone was broke, i didn't get insurance on it and i didn't feel like spending $300 on a new phone. i'm a sissy.

so friday i went to the verizon store expecting to drop some moneys. but when i told them what happened which was basically "i don't know what happened" they looked up my information, checked the back, called a few stores and finally said "you'll have a new one shipped to you by tuesday"

wha wha what???

that was all i had to do. i was skeptical about the delivery date, quality of the phone, etc. but when i got home yesterday there sitting in my doorway was a fedex box with my name on it.

i updated my phone this morning with Michelle from Verizon and she was super helpful. since i can't get insurance on a refurbished phone she said i still have the original 1-year warranty on it from my previous phone. they even gave me a fedex mailing label to send my old phone back!

so verizion, please hurry and get the iPhone. but in the mean time, i'm a customer for life!

can you hear me now? who is your cell phone carrier? what do you like dislike about your phone?

my first...

2010-02-17T07:00:00.000-08:00

Unbeknownst to most historians, Einstein started down the road of professional basketball before an ankle injury diverted him to science.
– Gary Larson

--

...valentine's day
(haha, did my title trick you? just wait till april fools day)

okay, so this sunday wasn't my first valentine's day. but it was my first with jon, and my first since junior year of college...i think...

to sum it up.
jon cooked me an awesome meal.
• french onion soup
• salad (like my favorite from rockne's)
• portabella parmesan
• wine, lots of wine

(everything had cheese on it, i was even allowed to add more cheese to my soup!)

Monday, i took him to melt. we went to the museum of natural history. (i passed for a college student) then we played kickball.

jon sprained his ankle sliding into second base in like the 5th inning.
we ended up winning, but i had to take him to the hospital to get x-rays.
everythings fine...except the swollen ankle and the pain.

i then treated him to wendy's.

i think jon wins the valentine's day award.
oh, and his birthday week started yesterday.

feel better karate jon you're only 30 28 once

smoking in the girls 'room.

2010-02-10T07:05:00.000-08:00

A nonsmoker is forced to find food, but for a smoker breakfast can be a cigarette and a cup of bad coffee.– Brock Fiant

--

a fun fact you might not know about me: i used to smoke from 1997-2002.

yep. i'm a former smoker...and proud of it. funny, though, starting and quitting sort of revolved around two former boyfriends.

actually the first time i tried smoking i was in 7th grade at a friends house. my parents were both closet smokers and i would steel my moms salem lights from under the drivers side floor mat.

my friend and i would sit up in her bed room hanging out her window smoking...or trying too...i was never good at inhaling and decided smoking was too hard.

fast forward to junior year of highschool. my boyfriend and all my friends were smokers...i was on the track team, staring the girls soccer team, running cross country and i wont even talk about my basketball career. but as i realize i wasn't breaking the HS record for girls 100M hurdles, wasn't getting scouted for college and i obviously wasn't going to the olympics (yes, at one point i dreamt i would run in the olympics). i decided to cave into peer pressure and pick up smoking. my boyfriend was already buying all my friends cigs, so why not me. i remember i would give him $2 and he could keep the change for a pack of marlboro lights. i was cool, driving around in my '89 red jeep wrangler with a cig in my hand.

fast forward to college. i decided to quit (for a little) when i got my wisdom teeth pulled. the dentist said something about dry socket and how smoking can cause bad things to happen beside the usual. so i quit...for about a month...stress of college and breaking up with my boyfriend lead me to smoking again...plus i had declared a major. Graphic Design. all the art students would sit out and smoke in-between and during class. and lets not forget about the professors and T.A.'s who would smoke and actually have a normal conversation with you. another way to be cool.

a year or two passed and i started dating this guy. he was all in to running. wanted to qualify for the boston marathon. he would go to the rec and run forever on the track. so i started going to the rec and working out more and more. and i realized i wanted to smoke less and less. then one of my best friends and i decided to quit for lent. it was fun and crazy. she was in withdrawal the next morning. it didn't hit me till the following day. it was nuts. but we kept telling each other the first few days are the hardest. and before you knew it 40 days had passed and we made it.

since then i've maybe had a total of one pack of smokes. usually just a hit and i'm instantly reminded of how horrible it was. cleveland did an amazing thing and band smoking from bars. now i can wear the same jeans two days in a row without smelling like bar! (yea for saving money on laundry!)

but the point of this post wasn't to tell you about my smoking history, but rather to complain about public smoking. last night i was at the cavs game. i was in the club section. i had to go pee. i walk in the girls bathroom and i'm bombarded with cig smoke. some lady was too lazy to walk out side to smoke. i was so irritated. i almost went and complained, but the culprit was gone and the only thing left was her horrible stench. really?! stupid smokers. go outside.

do you smoke? have you snuck a cig in a bathroom or public place? do you want to get lung cancer?

Harry Potter, Super Bowl & Underwear!

2010-02-08T06:37:00.000-08:00

Indianapolis Colts you just lost the super bowl? what are you going to do now?...Go to Harry Potter World!

– Super Bowl Party People from last night.

Now i don't know everything about football. but i know enough.

i play on a co-ed rec team. we've never made it past the first round of playoffs, but with the saints winning last night, i have faith.

i'm sure every blog post today will somehow reference the super bowl. and i wont be any different. a lot of people i spoke to were cheering for the colts to win. i didn't have a preference till i read @MikeAmmo post yesterday on who he's cheering for.

Picking the Colts cause of Payton's commercial exposure is a solid reason, i suppose. but i did have an emotional attachment to this years super bowl. New Orleans really needed a win. having never been to the super bowl and dealing with hurricane Katrina...they were the underdog. and being a browns fan, i'm always drawn to the underdog.

With the start of the super bowl i feared i had chosen the wrong team. but after the saints pulled off that onside kick i knew they had a chance at bringing home a win.

the commercials, meh. the fact that there were a lot of men in underwear got me thinking. i know there was suppose to be a commercial advertising an "e-harmony" for same sex couples and that didn't air. so maybe there was some conspiracy that caused all the other commercials to show men in manties. (men+panties=manties).

but after all was said and done, payton blew it. its always the QBs fault. and i'm proud to post the first issue of Payton on the cover of Shambles Magazine.

So, if the saints can make it to, and win, the superbowl. i have faith that the Browns will be there before we know it.

oh, and a guy at the party i was at last night brought up a good point...if Baltimore would've kept the Colts the Browns would've never eventually left.

in bazaar-O world, the Browns would've been at super bowl XLIV.

What did you all think of Super Bowl XLIV?

Ay Bay Bay!

2010-02-01T08:13:00.000-08:00

A Harvard Medical School study has determined that recal thermometers are still the best way to tell a baby's temperature. Plus, it really teaches the baby who's boss.
– Tina Fey

--

I'm not a big fan of kids.
i mean, i'll entertain them for a little and they make me laugh, but they also make me cranky. especially if i don't know the baby. nothing annoys me more than being in a public place with a crying baby.

however, if i'm with you and your baby is crying, i'll probably laugh at you and then go buy an icee and keep myself entertained. i'm the type of person that could be the permanent aunt. i'll spoil them for a day, maybe two, then send them back home all sugared up and with some toys.

I've done my share of babysitting. which is a sure way to make you feel old. like, this past holiday season, i see kids i used to babysit drinking, driving, smoking and making dirty jokes...usually not all at once. OLD.

oh, and i used to babysit my step-sisters (when they were in diapers)...before there was ever a whisper that they would be apart of my future family tree. they're 18 and 19. OLD.

or, i've been at Adcom now for 5 years. i remember when some of my co-workers kids were 2, or not even born. OLD.

but nothing compares to when your friends have kids. and you get to watch them grow-up before your eyes. like my friend Ryan and his daughter Audrey...she's going to be 4. 4-years-old!!! i can't believe it. OLD.

and now, another close friend of mine just had a baby girl. Vacey Jane. Here she is in the blanket i got her.

i can't help but think she's making a poo in this picture

originally i wanted to get her some pink chucks. but i ~~was forced to get something off the registry~~ decided against it. i'll wait till she's 4, walking and causing all sorts of trouble.

yeah, fatty, she's going to be a trouble maker. i'll make sure of that.

So, welcome to the world Vacey. you have two great parents that might just be the coolest parents on the planet.

what are your thoughts on kids? have any? want any?

Casi-NO, more like Casi-YES!

2010-01-19T07:48:00.000-08:00

Gambling: The sure way of getting nothing from something.
– Wilson Mizner

--

So this weekend was there was an impromtu ski weekend in Ellicottville, NY. it came about with me inviting AJP and myself to Jesse's condo for the weekend.

we arrived shortly after 11pm on frida and had a few drinks. with Jesse telling us that we'd be up at 7:30 to hit the slopes at 8:30 for the first run...a little slacking took place but we made it on the lift by 9am. morning skiing is so awesome. it was perfect conditions and then around noon the sun came out and the clouds disappeared!

here is a picture from last year at Holiday Valley

Not to be confused with this picture from this year at Holiday Valley

The skiing was awesome. but most importantly was the company.

Me, Kramer, Hatchel, AJP, Jesse and Bryan

after a full day of skiing and some drinking a nap was in order. it was awesome. i woke up to all the guys yelling at the tv cause of some stupid call during an NFL playoff game. plans were being finalized and jen and i got ready to hit up Kramers outdoor hot tub.

i've only been in an outdoor hot tub once...back in highschool...for new years eve...don't look into it. but this time it was fabulous. we had some Yeungling and Coors, Fitchko and Kramer had their cigars and we all had the clear night ski above us.

after all that awesomeness we still needed to get ready, eat and hit up some local bars. We started at Cadillac Jacks...i was so dehydrated i almost went home and back to bed. but after a few tall glasses of water and everyone making fun of my ID picture i was quickly put in a better mood. Oh, and lets not forget about the Crown Royal bag the bartender gave me. SCORE!

After CJ's we headed over to Mulligans where we dance, requested songs, did shots, played pool and judged people and their outfits. its now 2am and the bars are closing. we need a cab. but not to just drive back to Jesse's, oh no. its now officially time to go to the Casinos. Seneca Casino, on an indian reservation.

Casino? CasiYES! we got a cab to take us there and he promised to pick us up at 5am. 5am! so we get there and AJP and i kinda learn to play craps. we get to throw the dice and lose Kramers money. all the while drinking for free.

that is until 4am comes around. they stop serving at 4 on saturday nights/sunday mornings, and don't start again till noon. So, having drank and slept most of the day, what does one do when there is no more booze? sleep some more. yep.

that's right, i plopped my but right on the ground next to the craps table and closed my eyes. funny how you get yelled at for eating in the casino, but not sleeping...at least not until i woke up and they made me move. so me, jen and captain walked around the casino waiting for 5am to come around and for our cab to show up...well lucky for us he did show up...at 5:30ish. i slept the whole ride back and then went straight to bed thinking how i had a 3 hour drive ahead of me in a few hours.

i woke up surprisingly not hungover and jen and i were on the road by 1pm.

it was an awesome trip and we had a ton of fun. it made us that much more excited for Colorado, which is 6 weeks away!!!!

Jesse, please invite us back.
CLE, i'm really worried about having casino's here, mainly because i'll want to spend all my friends money.

Do you ski? board? how far have you gone east/west?

PS. i didn't not come up with Casi-NO, Casi-YES. so i must not take credit.

Happy Birthday Wishes.

2010-01-13T07:50:00.000-08:00

The secret to staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly and lie about your age.– Lucille Ball

--

First off i want to wish Jenn Vojta a Happy Birthday! (Even though it was last week, it is now forever in cyberspace).

Her actual birthday was Wednesday, January 6th. and let me say, i was not a happy camper on Thursday. We started with a happy hour at D'Vine wine, where on Wednesday's they have 1/2 price flights of wine. after about 10 of us got 2 flights each the crowd started thinning. Only 4 remained. Me, Jen Page, Sara and the birthday girl.

What are 4 girls going to do downtown in the middle of the week with tons of wine swirling in their heads? Go to Nauti Mermaid of course!

We got some booze, food and more booze. we played songs on the digital juke-box. and we celebrated. but the night wasn't just about JV's birth. we also go to celebrate Sara's new adventure...she got a new job at Chartreuse. we are all super excited and happy for her, but i can't help but feel selfish and wish she were staying at Adcom.

We've be pod-mates for so long now, i will be sad and lonely when she's gone. still i wish her nothing but the best! Chartreuse is probably the most perfect fit for her!

so with being a week behind in my blogging i'll be skipping the crazyness that was saturday, better yet you can read what The Plum wrote about JV's saturday birthday celebration!

i hope you have a great and safe weekend. i'll be skiing my brains out at holiday valley this weekend!

(PS. another special happy birthday to Jenna, my little sis who just turned 19. enjoy it!)

letters for the new year.

2010-01-05T06:25:00.000-08:00

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.
– Oprah Winfrey

--

Dear 2010: i look forward to being 10 times as awesome as 2009 with 10 time more new friends, hobbies and parties!

Dear Low Fat Cream Cheese: you taste like cardboard, i'm going back to regular.

Dear Downtown YMCA members: if you're using the treadmill to walk and your NOT using an incline, please get off so i can run my 5k. kthnxbai.

Dear Harry Potter 7: i can't wait to finish you. you complete me.

Dear World Peace: Be somebody.

Dear New Sewing Machine: i know your still in the box, but i'm going to jo-anne's tonight to get supplies for you.

Dear LeBron James/Cavs: please please please bring a championship to Cleveland. i promise not to go to any more games, as you tend to lose in my presence.

Dear Bank Account: please stay full of monies as i have numerous trips to go on this year.

hope you all had a great, fabulous and safe new years!

Giving Makes Me Smile

2009-12-30T08:37:00.000-08:00

I have found that paradox, that if you until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.
– Mother Theresa

--

The most favorite part of the holidays, for me, is seeing everyone's eyes light up with joy and happyness when they see how awesome my gift giving abilities are.

i swear, my gifts totally rock.

last year my brother was on a Where the Wild Things Are kick, mainly cause the movie previews started coming out...so i made him this...

Yes. It's the bottom of an old skate board that i painted by hand to look like the famous scene in the book.

So this year...instead of being super creative and i decided to do more shopping for people then making...

plus, working at South Park Mall for CLE Clothing Co. got me in the mood to shop. Among other things, but for another time.

Mainly my gifts were t-shirts from CLE, but i did come up with one amazing idea.

Build-A-Bear. For Grannie-Annie.

a quick background. there are four grandkids, me, my brother Mike and my two cousins, Kevin and Kristi. Grannie-Annie calls us the Get-Along-Gang cause we grew up together and actually, for the most part, got along.

and like any grandma, she spoiled us rotten. and she has a million pictures of us. she calls the pictures "her little people". "i miss my little people" she'll say over the phone. past gifts to Grannie-Annie have included: a blanket with all our names embordered on it, a 4-picture locket with all our pictures, picture trees, anything and everything that can hold any sort of picture of us. it makes her melt when she sees all 4 of us together...which, now only happens around the holidays.

because...my kick-ass cousin Kristi is the next Mother Theresa, true story. she would give up her college spring breaks to go down south and build houses, she raised money for habitat for humanity by biking (cycling) across America for 3 months...she is currently living in Mississippi partaking in her first year of Teach-For-America.

but back to my awesome gift giving skills. while walking through the mall to go to the CLE Holiday Shop, i walked by Build-A-Bear. and i knew i would have fun in that store playing dress-up with a stuffed animal. So i decided right then to get the Get-Along-Gang together and make bears for Grannie-Annie. it was really hard trying to schedule time when we could all get together...but the time finally came on Tuesday of Christmas week. Good thing the Mall was open till 11, cause it took us all about 45 minutes to make our bears, dress them and figure out how to get them birth certificates. We decided to make our bears to look like each of us. So then Grannie-Annie could have all her "little people" all the time and not just look at pictures...i mean who wants to cuddle with a picture frame.

we decided the best way to give these mini versions of ourselves to Grannie-Annie as the very last gift of the day.

she opened one bear house at a time and loved every single one to pieces. i'm pretty sure there were a few tears.

Grannie-Annie with her Get-Along-Gang and our respected versions of ourselves as bears.

it was really one of the greatest gifts we could've given her. she just beamed the rest of the day. and after all the commotion said "i can't wait to show my friend Bea what you guys did for me"

tear.

Grannie-Annie, it is our pleasure to make you so happy and proud of all of us. we love you higher than the sky.

so peeps. what did you get, give, enjoy this holiday season?

Popularity Contest

2009-12-11T09:22:00.000-08:00

This was for them. I just wanted to let them know how much I appreciate them. It was a moment like this that you want to share with them. I hope the people in Cleveland enjoy this one because they deserve it.

– Phil Dawson

(pointing to the Dawg Pound after the victory and spent a few moments honoring them)

In order for the Browns to win, i need to work a full day, wear my Cribbs jersey, drink christmas ale and miller lite and be at blind pig...i think i can handle that.

Last night my awesome friends and i were at blind pig. Alexa was able to grab some miller lite VIP passes from two strangers (thank you) that allowed us to drink miller lite and eat for free...fun times then, rough times now.

i'm not sure if i can talk about the upcoming competition between Alexa and Tripp...who's Tripp? oh, just my friend Hartzel who looks like this guy

Tripp Vanderbilt from Gossip Girl

but the fact that some stranger went up to Alexa last night at Blind Pig and asked if she was the Plum...sorry dude...you are gonna lose.

have a great weekend.

Here We Go Brownies!

2009-12-04T11:22:00.000-08:00

They realized that as long as the ball got there on time, it didn't matter how it looked.
– Bernie Kosar

--

Okay. So its a little late to be talking about the Browns. and i'll probably lose some readers, but something happened last night that made me a realize how special it is to be a Browns fan.

I mean what other city has a play who's sole purpose is to talk about the past awesomeness that is the Cleveland Browns.

Last night Jon and I went to see Browns Rules at the Cleveland Public Theater.

i had a smile on my face for two hours. i never knew that thinking of the browns for 2 consecutive hours would ever put a smile on my face.

inside everyone's program was a piece of orange paper that said For the Browns to Win the Super Bowl you gotta: and you fill out what the rule is.

3 lockers decked in Browns paraphernalia. the main actors, Nick, Eric and Nathan are obvious browns fans. the songs, the dances, and the slight scene changes take the audience on an amazing trip through Cleveland Browns history.

did you know that Otto Graham was our first quarterback?
did you know that in 1950 we went 10-2!!!
did you know that the browns backers is the biggest sports affiliation, in the world!?

They even include the audience. one side is on offense, one side is on defense and at one point Nick finds a lady to dance with. I got to be that lucky lady. (at intermission, i got asked if i was part of the show!)

There are only 4 more shows. i strongly recommend going. for any brown fan out there, its worth it. even if its to just remember the "good ole days".

oh, and at the end of the show they read out 29 of the rules. what was mine?
In order for the Browns to win the super bowl you gotta: Beer Bong in the Muni Lot.

have a great weekend kids.

Go Browns!

Reunion Recap

2009-11-30T11:16:00.000-08:00

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

– Alphonse Karr

This past weekend was a crazy one. there was the usual, Get Smashed Wednesday, followed by Hangover/Stuff Your Face Thursday, Black Friday where i worked 5 – 1:30 and the Highlight of the long weekend...Class of 1999 Reunion on Saturday!

All morning and afternoon I was going back and forth...nervous and excited. thinking, will it be weird if i walk in by myself? should i wear that dress with those shoes? should i bring a flask? who's gonna be there? will i remember everyone? will people remember me??? okay not so much of the last one...i'm kinda memorable...i mean i had to have two extra inserts of blank pages in my year book for people to sign! yeah, just like Melissa Joan Hart in Can't Hardly Wait.

Before i get into the details that i remember, i just want to say that Erin, Katie and Jenn did such an amazing job putting this together, Ricky did an awesome job DJing and everyone who made it, thank you for making it so much fun!!!!

This being my first high school reunion i noticed there are two types of reunion-goers...the people that want to reminisce and the people that want to prove something....we'll call them the remies and the provers...brilliant right? i was a remy. i wanted to talk about Mr. Lally's class, i wanted to talk about the 4th grade play, i wanted to talk about the parties, the fights, the football games...i wanted to hear stories that i forgot about. i mean it's great that people are married, have great careers, have kids, found happiness, or are still figuring it out, but i wanted memories. i just hope i wasn't too cold to anyone...

and then there were the provers...the classmates that came to brag, to flaunt thier stuff...i'm surprise business cards weren't passed around...however, i did brag...about my kickball championship! and i made sure to leave my business cards at home...it did cross my mind.

but i wanted to take a trip down memory lane, and with the slide show, the music and the awesomeness that is the Twinsburg/Chamberlin Class of 1999...it was an awesome trip. too bad we didn't all have matching hats like D.C. trip. and all the spouses and pictures of kids, and talks about the past, present and future really got me thinking how old we're getting. i mean the next time i'll see some of those faces will be 2019...omg i just typed in 2019.

Here is my little Best/Worse of the reunion...

best part of the night: the group picture.

worst part of the night: saying goodbye.

best accessory of the night: the mom wallets.

worst accessory of the night: high heals.

best party foul: getting hit on by a bus-boy.

worst party foul: perry dropping his drink on my shoes during the electric slide. hehehehe.

To the people who said "the people i want to see i still keep in touch" you missed out on some awesome memories. and to everyone who just couldn't get home to see friends and family i hope you make it next time.

Twinsburg/Chamberlin Class of 1999

Bragging Rights

2009-11-25T08:19:00.000-08:00

If you done it, it ain't bragging.

– Walt Whitman

the Restless Natives have finally won a kickball championship!

it's been a while since our last championship...i can't even remember.

but this year...the Restless Natives, in third place, surpassed the second place team and run-ruled the first place team!

it was such sweet victory! and here are some of the highlights...

Jess: first base girl, got a double play!

JV: far right field babe, had some on target kicks!

Jeremy: right field stud, had a few awesome on the floor catches and kicks!

Jen Page: second base chica, had a record night of catching outs at second!

Maggie: all round fielder hot mama, had awesome kicks and base running!

Carmen: shortstop ball magnet, had some close catches and assisted Jen Page in her outs at second base.

Wes: kick ass third baseman, almost took Carmen's head off and had some pretty sweet plays at third.

J-Ho: left field sticky fingers, had awesome base running and some unbelievable catches!

Me: deep center, had the game winning catch!

Afterward we went upstairs of Mulberry's to have a few too many celebratory drinks! John, the owner of Cleveland Play's, was there and he had our Championship Sweatshirts!!! (expect for maggies, he ran out of smalls. sad face.)

But not only did we win the championship we had some awesome spectators watch our awesomeness too!

a special thanks to: Travis, Nikki and Heidi of the VBB!!!

and a big shout out to: Sam, Randy and his wife, Adam P, Tom P, Tiffany O and Optiems client Dawn from ET!!!!

we'll be defending our title in winter kickball starting in a few weeks!

i hope everyone enjoys the awesome holiday weekend! i'll see all you Twinsburg Tigers out tonight and Saturday for our 10-Year Reunion!

be safe!

Champions!

Back: Carmen, Me, Wes, J-Ho, Jeremy

Front: JV, Jen Page, Maggie, Jess

HOVA

2009-11-20T09:27:00.000-08:00

He who does not feel me is not real to me, therefore he does not exist. So, poof... vamoose, son of a bitch.

– Jay-Z

okay. i'm not gonna lie.

i am not a music buff.

i didn't know who AC/DC was till college.

i didn't know flea was the name of the bassist of Red Hot Chili Peppers.

i don't know what HOVA stands for.

my friends that know un-godly amounts of music trivia kinda freak me out.

i get intimidated. i know nothing. i just smile and nod.

so when i get to flaunt the small bit of musical knowledge that i know, watch out.

i will totally rub it in your face. take for example last night.

jon and i had an awesome date night which consisted of sushi rock and then barley house/map room to meet up with some of my lady friends. we then decided to drive to bike night at Now That's Class (yes, i wanted to drive. jon wanted to ride) i looked too cute to ride my bike anywhere.

so on the ride there its a given i have Blueprint III in my CD player. so we start talking about which songs are better and we get into a discussion about which came first Jigga What or 99 Problems...and i knew for a fact that Jigga was first...duh, i used to say it (in my head) all the time in the halls at high school...and i knew 99 was when i was in college...but since we didn't have any proof (or internet access) we decided to consult the next best Jay-Z expert.

My brother. MIKE! (who is totally freaking awesome)

so i called him and asked and i was right. yippy! in your face jon!

i wish i wouldn't have celebrated so much...because it turned into much more...

so while we're standing at the bar at Class i get a text from my brother and it snowballs into Jay-Z Jeopardy...

Mike: Multiple choice Jay-Z has how many solo albums?

A. 12 B. 8 C. 15 D. 10

Response: Lara: B. 8 Jon: D. 10

Mike: Good job jon! 10 is the correct answer! And for the daily double Alex, here it is...True or False? Jay-Z put together the full sound track for the 2007 motion picture "American Gangster"

(now in my head i kept thinking of Gangs of New York...i never saw American Gangster)

Response: Lara: false Jon: True

Mike: Jon's on a roll, it's True! Last one, Jay-Z did two calaboration albums with which 2 artists?

now, he called me and gave me the answer...i want you kiddies to let me know what you think...no google'ing or bing'ing or itunes'ing...let me know your answers!!!

have a great weekend!

Let the spending begin!

2009-11-06T06:05:00.000-08:00

Whoever said money can't buy happiness simply didn't know where to go shopping.
– Bo Derek

--

I was recently hired for a part time job to get me through the holidays. Starting Saturday I'll be working at Strongsville mall at a kiosk.

what will i be selling?
only the coolest Cleveland t-shirts ever!

yep, i got hired by C.L.E. Clothing Co.
The kiosk is there every day till January, however my smiling face will only be there on the weekends.

there are some great shirts printed on American Apparel and they're all about supporting Cleveland!

it's been a while since I've worked retail, so we'll see how it goes. i used to be awesome at selling roller-blades while i worked at Koenigs...yeah, it's been that long.

so this weekend if your out starting your holiday shopping...stop by, chit-chat and I'll sell you some of the awesome shirts.

GO CLEVELAND!!!

picky petunia

2009-11-04T08:56:00.000-08:00

As a child my family's menu consisted of two choices: take it or leave it. – Buddy Hackett

--

Picky Petunia.

That's the new nick name i got this past weekend. thanks jon. i guess anything is better than rape legs.

i know I'm KIND of a picky eater...but its really not that bad. its quite simple, i don't like spicy stuff and i don't like my tongue to be on fire.

i can find something to eat on any menu. however...if we're talking about Mexican, it might be a little harder. especially when there is tongue and brain on the menu.

yes, TONGUE and BRAIN.

on sunday, after drinking all day for the Browns/Bears game we came back to Amy and Gregs to order some Mexican. i got something simple, Cheese quesadilla and chips and guac. Jon and Greg on the other hand...i gag just thinking about it.

Jon got something with brain on it, and Greg got tongue. Brain and Tongue. Cow brain and Cow tongue!

the craziest thing i've ever eaten would probably be alligator soup...it was in key west when i was little...however, i think it was a trick...can you really eat alligator soup? i'm pretty sure they're endangered. and i'm pretty sure it was just chicken.

so what crazy things have you eaten?

chi-town weekend recap

2009-11-03T09:21:00.000-08:00

Oh Shit!
– Chicago graffiti tag

--

How time literally flies when you're having fun.
Despite driving 5.5 hours to Chicago, adjusting to CDT, then adjusting to CST, and finally driving 5.5 hours back to EST...the gained and lost hours were totally worth it...

Friday: I did not get lost driving to my friend Amy's. Jon and i only listened to the Jay-Z album 1.5 times. and at one point my left hand went numb front the white knuckle driving i had to go through. i hate driving in the rain at night. Hate it. Beer and awesome conversation proceeded once we finally got unloaded and settled.

Saturday: finished up my Halloween costume. Jon and i brought our bikes and the weather was perfect for riding around Chicago. We went downtown around Michigan ave., got yelled at for riding our bikes in Millennium park, took pics by the big bean, got some Chicago hot dogs, got a Chicago bike map (no offense, but i was kinda disappointed. Pittsburgh's is way better.) We then headed north to Buck-town to see my friends Katie and Natalie. there was this bar by their place that had a petting zoo. yes, goats, pigs, ducks and sheep...in Chicago.

Jon on his bike with John Hancock in the background

graffiti tag that's all around Amy & Greg's neighborhood

billy goats gruff

Halloween: Jon and i had two parties to go to. a zombie party hosted by Mike and Aminda...they dressed up as Sunny and Cher as zombies. other fun costumes consisted of: Legends of the Hidden Temple; 3 girls dressed as the Purple, Red and Blue train routes; and some lady carrying around a stuffed skunk. then we headed to a house party...there was swine flu; kat von d, lady gaga, donatella versace, and karl lagerfeld to name a few. Surprisingly we left at our designated midnight curfew. and i took a nap in the taxi on the way home.

Greg & Amy (Mad Hatter & Alice)

Jon & Me (He-Man & She-Ra)

The stuffed skunk

Lady Gaga, Donatella & Karl

Sunday: woke up at 6am to Amy calling us bitches (hehehe). got up and out the door by 7am (i think). found our tailgate by 7:45 and started to enjoy the $25 all you can eat and drink. We walked around the parking lot, and it kinda sucked compared to Muni-Lot tailgating. there was no music. a few corn-hole games and hardly any Bears Tents. The Muni-Lot Morning Warriors will be proud to know that i represented. i bonged a beer, made friends with some Bears fans and made sure that Bears fans knew Browns fans were bigger tailgaters! Out of the 6 of us going to the game 4 of us were browns fans. i totally enjoyed being the minority fan. trying to explain a "brown" to a bears fan was like convincing lady gaga to wear pants. we did have a fun conversation with some bears fans that Browns fans do exists...."we're like urban legends...like unicorns" hence the pictures with our hands on our foreheads...

Kathy, Brian, Amy, Me, Greg & Jon. We totally got our $25 worth!

Browns fans are rare in Chicago, just like unicorns

Solider Field: Yes there is a UFO attached to the upper section of the stadium and yes that's where the 4 browns fans sat. it was fun. the bears fans around us were pretty nice. although i had to get inappropriate at some points. I even told a kid Santa didn't exist (only cause he was heckling me first) he said he already knew that...then i apologized (i really felt bad). his dad or uncle or guardian thought it was hilarious and tried to get us to hug. which i was all about, but this little guy was a true bears fan, not even a high five. oh, and he was probably like 10. After i dropped my phone in Amy's beer, we made more unicorn remarks, the bears block our extra point and we lost, it was time to go. finding the Jon and Greg, who sat in the better seats, wasn't that hard. the nap in the cab on the way home was nice. we napped some more, ordered some Mexican and watched the Hangover. what a perfect end to an awesome weekend.

pre phone-in-beer. Go Browns!

Amy and Greg were perfect hosts. the sticky-buns, apple pie and Christmas ale that we brought didn't hurt either! and nothing sucks more than leaving Chicago with another Browns loss. I'm glad i got to see all my Chicago friends and even make a few new ones.

Kathy and Amy, yes you can keep me. i need to be fed at least twice a day and be taken to the bars on a weekly basis. other than that I'm pretty low maintenance.

Until next time Chicago.

How was everyone's Halloween weekend?!?

NOTE: if you are ever in Chicago and looking for a Bears Tailgate the Fork You Tailgating Club is by far the best deal! DO IT!

worst blogger ever...

2009-10-27T13:50:00.000-07:00

You can't teach people to be lazy – either they have it, or they don't.– Dagwood Bumstead quotes

--

ugh.
i don't even know where to begin.

when i realized that my last blog took place in chicago i realize how long ago that was. sorry. i'm finally walking normal, however i haven't run since the race...well minus a few football games and some touch downs!

anyways...so after the race i had to celebrate birthdays...happy birthday dad! i was hoping to get in one more round of golf, but the weather was crap. then my brother turned 26 and jon and i went to the first bar in Reminderville.

Yes i grew up in a village. and actually my dad was mayor for almost 10 years! bet you didn't know that.

then i had an engagement party for my friend Jess! it was champaign and cupcakes! who doesn't love that! Congrats Jess and Eric!!!

so much more happened...and i don't have pics to tell you about it. sad face.

weekend: engagement parties, house warming parties, meet the parents, interviewed with C.L.E. Clothing Co. for holiday help, family dinner for mike, saw where the wild things are, watched the browns loose. :(

week: won kickball game, went to the Tremont Taphouse Yappy Hour with Bagley, found out i got the job with C.L.E., decided what to be for my work halloween party, took a 1/4 day and went to Wendy Park with Bagley, work halloween party!

weekend: won football and had 2 touchdowns, took a brief nap, Hatchel's 30th birthday party, meet up with some old friend on West 6th, saw a bunch of douche bags, went tailgating, went to the browns game, went home for dinner and laundry.

week: won kickball! watching the cavs home opener somewhere downtown.

here are some pics to satisfy everyone. sorry for such the crappy re-cap. i just couldn't have my next blog be about chicago. i'm a CLE girl!!!

mike, claudia, me and jon

bagley, his tongue, the cuyahoga, and CLE at wendy park

scary pic of US Coast Guard building at Wendy Park

AJP, Hatchel and me

Kerry, Amy and me (not pictured: D-bags)

JV, Jon, me and AJP tailgating in the awesome Muni-Lot

Hope you guys have a great weekend. i swear ~~monday~~ wednesday i'll have a post of this coming halloween weekend. I'll be in Chi-town for halloween parties and Browns/Bears awesomeness!

will run for cheers! (part two)

2009-10-14T10:07:00.000-07:00

Pain is temporary, pride is forever.
– Spectator's Sign At The 2009 Chicago Marathon

--

...and we're off. Me, PB&J and Greg. shuffling our feet closer and closer to the finish line. Greg was planning on finishing in 5 hours and we were planning on finishing in 4:45 so we decided to run together. it was fun. all the cheering all the spectators.

Over 1.5 Million people came to watch the race!

We were at about mile 3.5 when we saw Greg's GF and my long time friend from home Socks. she was able to snap a pic of us.

Me, Greg and PB&J (with our neon gloves and throw away pants!)

The race was absolutely amazing. PB&J and i put our names on the front of our shirts so people could cheer for us. and boy did they! Let me just say that the people of Chicago can really pronounce my name. i think of the hundreds of people cheering only a handful said it wrong. there were some points of the race that i had to go towards the middle cause i couldn't stop smiling from all the cheering!

seeing all these people and kids out on the side of the road was so inspiring. we were able to run up next to them and give them high fives! i love high fives!

right around mile 6 we lost Greg because we decided to wait 15ish minutes in line for the restroom. (note: Chicago calls them toilets, not restrooms. even in restaurants)

the whole north portion of the race was the most crowded with runners and spectators. as we're heading south back into the city we run through Boys Town. By far my most favorite section of the race. there was a stage were these "marines" did some sort of choreographed dance with fake riffles, there were cross dressing prom queens and transvestite cheerleaders! IT. WAS. AWESOME!

shortly after that we were coming up to the half way point. we just got done saying how we think we must have missed PB&Js parents when BAM! her dad calls out to us!

we stop for a quick photo op. which i don't have pics to share. it was so fun.

we're feeling good crossing the bridge to head west out of the city. once we hit mile 15 we were super excited. it was the farthest that PB&J had ever run! ever step was a new record for her. i wish this excitement could've lasted for me.

around mile 17 i started to pay attention to the blisters on my pinky toe and the crowd started to diminish a little. Then out of no-where an angle appeared!

i think it was between mile 19 and 20...this woman, probably around my age. she was standing on the curb with her husband/BF shouting...

"cold beer, get a beer!"

O.M.G. that was just what i needed. i grab the cup from her hand and it was just enough for one swig. down it went and it was good!

next on the course...Chinatown at mile 21.5. that was a lot of fun. they had two dragons at the entrance along with a big arch that says "welcome to chinatown". after china town we ran though the Hispanic area which was fun. everyone was cheering and waving flags.

then finally we make the turn onto Michigan Ave. the last 2.5 miles of the race. We were suppose to see our friend Shibani on the sidelines so we kept a look out. as we were running north back to the city the crowd started getting packed. the cheers were coming from all sides. "Go Lara! Go Jennie! Cleveland Rocks!" it was so exciting.

then i hear the worst thing possible. two people are running next to us..."after this right turn we run up a hill and then turn left for the finish"

A Hill?!? i thought this was a flat course! so i immediately tell PB&J so we can mentally prepare for this "hill". psh. hill my butt. it was at the most an slight incline. and it was actually welcomed. running on a flat course is actually kinda boring for your muscles.

the one thing i noticed...the spectators had stopped cheering. they were just watching us. WTF! i just ran 26 miles. i have .2 to go and your gonna sit and watch quietly! HELLS NO! so what do we do? what any clevelander would do.

we started cheering on the spectators! doing the whole "get up on your feet" type of cheering! and once we could see that beautiful word FINISH up ahead we picked up the pace and crossed that finish line hands above our head in victory!

and soreness. we could hardly walk. no cramps. just stiffness. we had to walk about another .8 miles to get out of the runner area. but we got pictures taken, free beer and our awesome medals!

it was a really fun race. and i'm so proud of PB&J and Greg for completing their first marathon...without walking! PB&J and i finished in 5:26:41 (minus the 15ish for the bathroom). it was the only race were we finished together. we got a little teary-eyed once we got our medals. then quickly dried up and headed to the post race party.

we only stayed for a little. we realized we had to meet up with PB&Js parents to take us to our friends Fazio's so we could take a nap. zzz...

Fun Facts about the Marathon:

• a blind runner beat us

• Sammy Wanjiru (KEN) finished in 2:05:41 (we weren't even at the 1/2)

• Liliya Shobukhova (RUS) finished in 2:25:56 (we still weren't at the 1/2)

• i finished 29,039 and PB&J finished 29,038 out of 33,608 runners!

before the half way point! feeling good!

mini pic of me after the race...with a beer.

how was everyone else's weekend?

will run for cheers! (part one)

2009-10-14T08:53:00.000-07:00

Poop if you gotta.
– Spectator's Sign At The 2009 Chicago Marathon

--

here is a little run down (pun intended) of this past weekend for those who didn't see pics on twitter...

Saturday morning PB&J and i landed at Midway airport all excited for the weekend. we had a beer while we waited for Jen's parents to pick us up. Midway airport is really fun for people watching!

we go straight to the expo. picking up our bibs and chips was a piece of cake. getting our shirts and baggies was maybe a 15 minute wait. when we saw the weather was going to be 32º we decided to buy some neon yellow gloves and hats. it was an awesome expo. we could've easily spent tons of money and time walking around.

me and PB&J with our bibs! Go Plum!

we decided to go downtown and get some Big Bowl for lunch. YUM! and walk around Michigan Ave. PB&J bought a super cute dress from XXI and we went to Nike Town. Nike was a big sponsor for the race which was awesome.

they had this wall outside of the store. everyone's name was on it who was registered for the race! it was so crazy! oh, and inside the store they had free photos where you write your "magic number" (ie your bib number, qualifying time, birthday, whatever). so PB&J and i took a pic.

after that we decided to go back to the hotel, organized all our stuff for the next morning and made some last minute decisions on transportation. PB&J's parents ran over to KMart and picked us up some bananas and "throw-away pants" (thanks!). we went to Mama Luigi's for dinner and carb loaded, along with a nice glass of Cab. in bed and asleep by 10...

...alarm goes off at 4:30am. on the El by 5:30. downtown by 6:30. i think the weather channel said there was a wind chill of 24º. it was so cold we couldn't stretch without twitching. We stop to take a pic of our pace group and sat and waited. Of all the thousands of people running this race, my friend Greg walked by while we were sitting. He was running for Team Fox to support Parkinson's.

At 7:30 the place erupted in cheers. the race started. runners were throwing all sorts of clothes toward the side. then 20 minutes later we cross the starting line.

it was so surreal. so awesome...so how did we do? what was my favorite and least favorite part? stay tuned. part two coming up shortly.

marathon time

2009-10-09T07:52:00.000-07:00

Most people run a race to see who is fastest. I run a race to see who has the most guts.

– Steve Prefontaine

Yippy!

its race time!

the Marathon website says 1 day 21 hours till race time!

OMG 2 days away! 17 weeks of training. this is what i've been waiting for.

to run 26.2 miles with 45,000 other runners! no joke 45,000. its a first come first serve race. which cost $125 just to run. not complaining, just sayin.

it better be worth it. from what i've heard from numerous co-workers, friends and random people...its the best race ever. super flat and there are a ton of people cheering everyone on. roughly about 1.5 million people will be there!

screw the olympics chicago. you have one of the best marathons in one of the best cities!

so if you want to track me on race day click here.

if you're in Chicago cheer me on!

PB&J and i will be out in Bucktown on Sunday night. after the race, a few beers and a nap. in that order.

thanks to all the friends and family who have help support me and put up with all my complaining the past 17 weeks! i couldn't have done it without you!

Oh, and good luck to PB&J, Mark, Greg and all the other runners!

who here has run in the Chicago Marathon? any advice? will you be there?

i put on for my city...

2009-10-07T06:23:00.000-07:00

I don't need too much. Glamour and all that stuff don't excite me. I am just glad I have the game of basketball in my life.

– LeBron James

--

So this post was going to be a million different things with a million different topics. and ultimately the most confusing thing to read.

so i trimmed the fat. a lot.
i like that saying "trimming the fat". like, its so easy.
just a snip here and snip there.

this post is all about basketball. and music. mainly LeBron and Jay-Z. duh.

recently my brother gave me a copy of The Blueprint III cd that he recently bought. yes. he paid for it. anyways. when i get a new cd and go to listen to it for the first time i put it on shuffle.

so the first song that comes on for TBPIII is Empire State of Mind featuring Alica Keys. awesome song. just awesome. i immediately listen to the lyrics. This song had me convinced that the rest of the album was going to be an invitation.

an invitation? yes. to LeBron. An musical invite to LeBron from Jay-Z to come to New York.

the first lyric that i heard that peaked my interest was...

...sitting courtside Knicks and Nets give me high fives...

then the chorus...totally obvi...

In New York,

Concrete jungle where dreams are made of,

There's nothing you can't do,

Now you're in New York,

these streets will make you feel brand new,

big lights will inspire you,

lets hear it for New York, New York, New York

then there was this lyric...

...shit i made the yankee hat more famous than a yankee can...

(i shudder every time i think of this image)
ugh. just step on my heart LeBron.

Then the final lyric that put the nail in the coffin.
If Jesus paying LeBron, I'm paying Dwayne Wade

After being at tonight's game with the plum and realizing he could only be here for 45 more games (including pre-season/not playoffs)...it makes me want to cry.

what also makes me want to cry is the awesomeness that is LeBron, Shaq and team. do it to it. i can only hope to get last minute tickets to the home opener. the first half of the first pre-season game was beautiful. including a signature slam dunk by the king himself!

whatever L-bomb decides to do. i'm happy we had him for the time that we did. he is truly an inspiration...and i can't wait to see More Than a Game.

Go Cavs!

what are your thoughts on LeBron, Jay-Z or the Cavs this season?

ps. that was the only song that had me fully convinced...there are a few lyrics from some other songs that could be interpreted as talking to LeBron or about him...but it was a little far fetched...even for me.

pss. i'm more convinced that he'll stay since he got Edwards sent to the Jets. And i'm sure Edwards punches to LeBrons friend also helped him get sent to the Jets.

dolla dolla bill yall

2009-10-01T14:18:00.000-07:00

Cash rules everything around me.
– Wyclef Jean

--

Yes. i quoted Wyclef.

anyways. i'm working on a rather interesting post, but its not ready.
so in the mean time i'll just let everyone know that i spent some money.

a few bucks at Michaels Craft, mainly for yarn for a new scarf!
a few more bucks at Jo-Anne Fabrics for my halloween costume and some more yarn for another scarf!
and almost $50 on two new t-shirts at CLE Clothing Company

t-shirts? really? yes.
these two amazing shirts.

This one i plan on wearing to Chicago next weekend for the plum herself, and for the marathon.
(i wonder how many peeps will say something)

this one i plan on wearing to the home opener.

(i don't have tickets yet, but i look good as arm candy if you need a date)

oh, and they found Delonte! hooray! the championship season can start!!!

talk soon cyber peeps!

apologies...

2009-09-24T11:20:00.000-07:00

Never ruin an apology with an excuse.
– Kimberly Johnson

--

i want to start off by saying i'm sorry.
i'm sorry for not posting something sooner.
i'm sorry for not being a great blogger.
i'm sorry to the girl at Constantino's for taking the last of the soy sauce for my sushi.
i'm sorry.

those two words can make a situation so much easier to deal with.

i went to happy hour a little while ago with the plum, PB&J, lzone and some others. and we played this awesome game...Revelations. someone picks a topic i.e. biggest pet peeve and you go around the table talking about your pet peeve. mine was when people put toilet paper or paper towels going under instead of going over.

i actually wrote a post about pet peeves but only dealing with running/riding outside.

anyways, today marks the day when the TP/PT pet peeve moves down to number two. sorry TP.

what takes first place you may ask?
not apologizing.

i am a very avid believer of wo/manning-up when you screw up.
and it has to be sincere, not one of those "i'm saying sorry because my mom is making me". i probably say it too much and lessen the apology all together...which is never my intention.

but this revelation didn't happen because someone didn't say i'm sorry. its because someone did. this afternoon i went to Constantino's to grab a quick lunch. as i was walking back and approaching west 9th and st. clair a white POS car pulls up the st. clair hill. clearly blocking the crosswalk lane *grumble*

i had my big sunglasses on so i don't think they were able to see the disgust in my eye. the two men in the car looked over and saw me approaching, realized what they had done and promptly went in reverse to give me ample room to cross the street. as i approached two words came out of the drivers mouth.

so sorry.

i smile, nodded and crossed.
that, i think, might've made my day.

as i walked back to my office i started to think of all the times that people should've said i'm sorry and how much easier, nicer, warm and fuzzier i would've felt. instead, it makes me hate them even more...and i'm really not a hater. just wo/man-up!

PS. i love watching degrassi and hearing them say "sorry" those canadians are soooo funny!

do you say sorry, too much, not enough or never?

you've got mail

2009-09-16T12:48:00.000-07:00

The internet is just a world passing around noes in a classroom.
– Jon Stewart

--

The other day i'm at work and i recieved this awesome package from karate jon. and i got to thinking. i never send letters anymore, and i hardly send cards. i used to have a pen pal from canada...i think we met in a chat room on AIM. then we found eachother on facebook, i believe she's getting married. (i know i'm weird, but whateves) but the only thing i mail anymore is a bill or two (yea for e-billing and going green!) and maybe a mothers/fathers day card if i know i wont see them.

but for the most part i do all my communicating via the interwebs. i hardly use my phone. for example last months bill i used 80 minutes of my 700 shared minutes. my mom, grandma and i are on a family plan. Yes, i'm a good daughter and added them to my plan.

however, i used 110 text messages, 413 Mobile to Mobile texts and 21 pix messages. so i text more than i talk. i hate talking (says the girl who got most talkative in highschool). but i love communicating!

but even worse i hate leaving/checking voice mails. i see you called you obviously need to tell me something i might need to respond, so let me just call you back. (i swear i have that same convo with my dad all the time). why would i want to check a message to see that you called just to call you back to tell you something?!?

anyways...i'm digressing from what i really wanted to talk about...IMing. I have an AIM. I have FB IM that i am logged into all day, and sometimes all night. Hello! How else am i suppose to facebook stalk. i kid, i kid.

i'm usually only on IM at work cause i use it for work. WHAT?!? My office is sweet, sometimes someone is on a conference call and i need to know how many comps are needed for the 3 o'clock meeting or need to know if that image is approved for re-touching or i need to know who's going out for happy hour. We're allowed to use it. and facebook is good for social media along with twitter. its nice to see all the interesting and creative websites that others are tweeting and blogging about...

i was thinking how much i text at work. and surprising its not that much. today, i only sent out two texts. if i'm making lunch plans there might be more. but usually under 5 a day. but today marks a special day in txt and pix'ing.

i got a pix message from an unnamed co-worker while we were in the same building not more that 100ish feet from each other. this is the convo that took place:

co-worker: You won't believe what I just found in my desk drawer.
co-worker: I'll snap a pic and text you.
a few seconds later i get the pix message on my phone.
me: OMG, too funny!

now maybe co-worker was on a conference call and was bursting at the seams and couldn't wait to show me. or maybe it was such a good tell that they decided that those few moments that it took to send the pix was the right amount of dramatic pause that was needed.

i think it wouldn't have been as funny is they would've called me, or even if i was there in person for them to show me what they found...the pix was the perfect way for them to tell this story.

on a side note, i love when co-workers post things on facebook and we all comment about them even if we are only a few feet away. it brings a nice camaraderie feel to the interwebs.

how many txt, pix, tweets do you send out? have you ever gotten them from someone right next to you? this does not count sexting...we've all gotten some of those ;)

PS. Direct Message me if you want to see the pic my co-worker sent me.

walk of shame...

2009-09-15T10:14:00.000-07:00

I'm always looking for meaningful one night stands.

– Dudley Moore

--

So everyone knows the walk of shame. i had one of these...in the middle of Sunday afternoon.

It was like my worst college nightmare. i get all dolled up wearing my signed josh cribbs jersey, browns necklace, orange knee high socks and my "tailgate" hat. I have my friend Shiba pick me up and we go to the party at 6:45AM. we do a little crowd surfing to find the best parking spot to call our own and we set up our little nook of a tailgate. while our other friends show up fashionably late we eat some sandwiches, have some beers, do some delicious pudding shots and request songs to the DJ. as time passes we need to switch locations we chug another beer and do another ShotSki and say our slurred goodbyes and make unkept promises of meeting up at the bar. this is where i regret my choice. i go home with the cute boy that i've been oogling after.

I go home. Home to Cleveland Browns Stadium hand in hand with Josh Cribbs. We have a blast together! one of my bestest friends Shiba sees how he treats me and is in awe! the girls around me want to be me and the boys just want me. but my heart is solely for mr. cribbs. He even does 67-yard punt return for a touchdown that i feel is dedicated to me! there is laughing, high fiving and hugs galore!

Then half time hits and the night is over. josh and i pass out...holding each other in our arms and dreaming of the Awesomeness that is Cleveland. and then like an annoying alarm clock, the game is over...i stumble around trying to find shiba and walk back to her car. smelling like booze hanging my head in shame.

this was my walk of shame Sunday afternoon. but no matter how humiliated i feel making that walk i will do it for every home browns game. i am a fan, i bleed brown and orange. and i love josh cribbs. once i got back to my house i checked my phone to see all the inappropriate things i texted to friends and family. another shameful moment in my life.

however, i am not going to end this post on a negative note.

After the humiliation passed from the Browns loss, PB&J and i went to melt with RKelly and had a delicious sunday meal. And on Saturday the beginning of Cleveland Plays Co-Ed football started. the team i'm on, Seduce and Destroy, won!!! We beat the Misfit Toys 38-36 (i think). i even had a touchdown the second play of the game. so even though the browns lost i still had a winning weekend.

PB&J and me at Treehouse celebrating out win!

PB&J and me the Muni Lot Morning Warriors Tailgate!

Me and Shiba at the game.

...and the livin's easy

2009-09-08T11:14:00.000-07:00

It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.
– Archie Griffen

--

Fall doesn't start for another 2 weeks, but with pre-season over and college football started and the browns playing this Sunday, in my book fall is here. so here is a look back at the last 1/2 of my summer....

The one time i see Marcie is the one time big foot comes out this summer!

The best birthday gift ever. and the sticker is pretty cool too!

Stolen mustaches from garage bar before we went to HOB for Kid Cudi and Asher Roth

Yes. my mom made a birthday cake with me playing bike polo.

Even Miss Watermelon made it on my cake!

Me and Bootsy Collins at the Cleveland Food Rocks event!

Taking five during filming of "Oh, Amanda" for the 48 Hour Film Project.

Out at Matinee for Sarabots birthday and to see Ren before she left for Lebanon!

Prince Charlies last polo Sunday cookout!

One of the many pics taken for Karate Jon and Matts move-in-party!

Matts awesome spray paint tattoo on the neck of Homeless Lucas.

Me and Mrs Pastore at her wedding! she was so beautiful!

Me and Mr Pastore at his wedding. So handsome!

Me and PB&J at my moms for our last hurrah on the boat. literally.
it died while we were on the lake and needed to get towed back. sad face.

Needless to say my summer was freaking awesome. There were so many other things that i want to talk/blog about, but I'll have to wait for some other time. A shout out to all the new friends I've made and to some re-newed friendships that i hope will last longer the second time around.

See everyone in the Muni Lot this Sunday...dark and early for some awesome Browns Tailgating!

...the need for speed!

2009-09-03T12:15:00.000-07:00

If God had really intended men to fly, he'd make it easier to get to the airport.
– George Winters

--

Okay so i've been trying to come up with a post to leave you guys something before the long weekend.
yes, i'm taking Friday off. boo-ya, suckers!

so, hmm...what to write about...hmm...dirty desk that i don't feel like cleaning? nah. Sarabot's excellent music selection (only cause i can hear it through her headphones)? nah. cute kittehs and puppehs? nah.

oh, how about planes! they've been zooming by my office window for a few days now for the air show this weekend. PERFECT!

i love flying. period. its fun, except when there are crying babies on board. they should be given something to keep them quiet. i can sleep on planes quite easily, unless i'm super excited to land and go to the beach and drink a rum runner. oh how i miss ft. myers.

about 5 years ago, when i was still in college i made a promise to myself. that after i had my student loans under control and i well paying job i would take flying lessons.

yes, me in the cock-pit. some of you know how i drive and are probably thinking i'm crazy, that or you'll never fly with me. i get it, i have road rage.

but just think...up there...in the sky...is it possible to have sky-rage? i don't think so. i mean i obvi wouldn't fly in crappy weather, and it would be close trips. like to chicago, new york or maybe OBX since i've never been.

so, yeah, 5 years have passed and i'm still no where near signing up for flying lessons. but as i'm playing bike polo on Sunday and watching the air show, i'll be thinking about winning the lottery and taking those lessons. maybe by the time i'm 40 *shudder* i'll be able to fly with the birds.

have you every wanted to fly? or have you flown before?

side note: everyone have a safe and happy labor day! you'll be getting a new post monday/tuesday on my weekend adventures!

to remake or not to remake...

2009-08-28T13:49:00.000-07:00

Roads? Where we're going we don't need roads.
– Dr. Emmett Brown

--

So i was thinking...the other day on twitter a few exchanges were had...

@JennVojta Eek! This cloud outside of my window is straight up ghost busters style! http://twitpic.com/flt8x

@clevelandsaplum stay puff marshmallow man? RT @JennVojta Eek! This cloud outside of my window is straight up ghost busters style! http://twitpic.com/flt8x

@butnoteveryday how come when people talk about ghostbusters they only talk about the first one? @jennvojta @clevelandsaplum

@fattymcbastard @butnoteveryday for the same reason no one talks about Teen Wolf II or Blues Brothers 2000... The originals are FAR superior...

@butnoteveryday @fattymcbastard until they do remakes and ruin a whole generation.

@fattymcbastard @butnoteveryday most sequals are bad... but prequels are even worse... (exception: Batman Begins)

my last remark about ruining a generation got me thinking...what are we showing the kiddies about creativity when directors and writers and producers are just remaking good old movies, or even bad old movies?

where do we draw the line? did the creativity barrel dry up? i mean i'm totally going to see Alice In Wonderland when it comes out. on that note, what about books to movies? i do my best to read them before i watch them...i like to see how my imagination works compared to the vision of producers and such...and i'm not going to lie, when the dark towers movies comes out i'm going to the midnight showing.

but i mean do they really need to remake the karate kid? and what does will smiths kid have that ralph macchio doesn't? Footloose, Short Circut and Child's Play?!? really? and my biggest surprise...

Rocky Horror Picture Show!!!!

Checking out the wiki page i was happy to see that some of my favorites didn't make the list...Legally Blonde, Mean Girls and Anchorman. and i can't believe Cruel Intentions, Father of the Bride and Vanilla Sky were remakes!

i mean where is the creativity people??? what movies would see like to see remade, or not remade?

All my single ladies!

2009-08-28T06:07:00.000-07:00

When women are depressed they either eat or go shopping. Men invade another country.
– Elayne Boosler

--

So while i was getting ready for work this morning it hit me...
...i have girlfriends again!

Say whaaa?
okay so, in previous posts i've said how i'm one the last single girls of my friends. well not anymore. kinda. this fall is going to be awesome. i know your dying to hear why. let me tell you.

Reason #1:
PB&J is finally getting her very own apartment. living by herself! i don't really know how this effects me having girlfriends but it's a big step for her and we were talking about it last night and i'm so excited and happy for her! Yay for women living on their own!

Reason #2:
My friend Shiba is husband-less this fall. only cause he decided to go to Italy for the KSU architecture program (lucky bastard). anyways, this is where the more girlfriends really comes to focus. she's the hostess of our group. throwing awesome new years parties, organizing tailgates and having PB&J and myself over for dinner and a movie, oh and a bottle of wine.

we sat around her cute kitchen. talked, ate and drank. and let me just say...OMG it was so good. i haven't had a meal like that in a million years. there was an awesome salad, but i was too hungry to take a picture of it.

after dinner we migrated to the living room to watch Confessions of a Shopaholic on her 63" highdef flat screen tv. it was awesome. if only we could get some Bradley Cooper or Michael Vartan up on that beeotch i will have died and gone to heaven.

hopefully her hospitality will make an appearance every week. Oh and lets not forget the fact that PB&J picked me up and Shiba let me do a load of laundry!

Reason #3:
Fall indoor kickball starts in less than two weeks! some of my old lady friends are back on the team. for instance, my friend Margherita. her fiance is in DC doing lawyerly things. so she too is living the single life. when she was asked to be on my kickball team she gladly excepted! so come monday nights some hot ladies will be running around mulberry's kickballing the night away...well at least till 9, gotsta get in some gossip girl!

so the fact that my friends are living the single life i feel like i'll be force to do my hair (after i decide how to get it cut) dress all fancy, and probably put on my dancing shoes every other week...but i am definitely not complaining. i need a good dose of estrogen!

thanks again for the awesome meal shiba! keep them coming!

Hair today

2009-08-26T12:43:00.000-07:00

She was what we used to call a suicide blonde – dyed by her own hand.
– Saul Bellow

--

okay.
so my hair is getting annoying. i'm shedding in in the shower like its my job (the hair on my head, please remove yourself from the gutters).

to be honest i love my hair, not many girls say that. i love the way it smells. i can wear it almost any way, straight (depending on humidity), curly, short, long, with bangs...

i've had a range of hair styles...blue hair (in college, sadly i can't find any pictures of it.)

i've had the blonde bob, long and straight, and i've even gone dark brown (not a good look if you don't do your eyebrows too).

Hair at one of its short points
(Ryan, Biljana and Me after a turning in a typography project in college)

Blonde bob. I was actually cutting this myself
(me and Selders blowing at an AIGA student event)

Hair at its almost longest
(don't mind the hottness that is PB&J and Anderson)

Short, curly and with bangs!
(me and PB&J in Chicago for the Kanye concert)

i've even donated my hair to locks of love. but i don't know if it ever made it...the guy cutting my hair seemed to think he knew what he was talking about.

anyways. the end of summer is upon us and i feel the need for a hair change. it might be as simple as a trim, but i need some advice. do i go short again? do i go super short? do i grow it out longer? i'd like to keep my natural blonde going...it explains so much.

i'm an active young professional (how long am i aloud to say "young professional?") so being able to pull it back is an added bonus, plus having longer hair means i don't HAVE to wash it everyday.

so let me know what you think...what were some of your favorite/no-so-favorite hair styles???

Pet Peeves...

2009-08-12T06:05:00.000-07:00

I don't have pet peeves, I have whole kennels of irritation.
– Whoopi Goldberg

--

OMG. so it's been almost a month. and a crazy month at that. i want to thank the few friends of mine who have kicked my butt to get me to post something. one thing that has been taking up a lot of my time this summer [besides drinking] has been training for the Chicago marathon. PB&J and i will be running through downtown Chicago in two months. oy vay.

so yesterday as i was running a measly 5 miles around Cleveland i started thinking of all the things that piss me off when I'm running or biking around the city.

now don't get me wrong this little rant is not a reflection of my mood.

let the peeving begin...in no particular order

Holla: don't whistle, honk or yell at me while I'm running/ridding [unless you know me, i wear headphones for a reason]

Dazed & Confused: if you're waiting for the bus and see me coming please move out of the way

Littering: after you're done chewing your gum, throw it in the trash can 5 feet from where it ended up on the ground [same goes for glass bottles]

Passing: if you hear me yell behind you "on your left" that means I'm coming up behind you on your left...maybe you should go back to kindergarten and learn the difference of left and right

Lanes: •sidewalks are for walkers/runners not bikes. bike lanes are for bikes. don't get pissed at me when I'm on the Lorain bridge, running on the sidewalk and you have to stop to let me pass. that's why the city made bike lanes. for bikes. (there is even a little character of a biker on the ground for easy reminders)
•Cars, do not stop or park in bike lanes. they are for bikes. use a damn parking lot. [someone actually cut me off and parked on the Lorain bridge after a basketball game. they were trying to pick-up or drop-off some skank. needless to say i gave them a piece of my mind.]

Pedestrians: yes, i need to vent about them. Please pay attention to cross walk signs. if the little light up person isn't lite up, DON'T CROSS. especially on Lorain and 25th. Southbound traffic on 25th gets a left arrow to turn onto Lorain...which means they have the right away, not you stupid people who decide to walk. you hold up traffic then they get pissed and take it out on riders. please pay attention and have 1 minute of patience, you'll get your walk sign.

Swerving: cars, please remember that our little tires are delicate. and with all the pot holes in Cleveland there might be some last minute swerving of bikes...please don't get pissed at us, we do our best to stay out of your way. we don't want you to hit us either.

Clear space: on my ride to work, cars, i know you see me. so driving as far right as you can to not let me pass you [which is really the bike lane] doesn't make me to happy. yes i have to slow down but in time I'm still passing you. like the white car today on Detroit. you think you were so smart to block my lane. too bad I'm super small compared to your big ass car...yeah i put my foot down to pass you...but in the end, who reached the other side of the bridge first...okay you did, but that's because you can go 35 up that hill...

Cars and intersections: if its a red light or stop sign you are suppose to stop at the white line. which is a line that is BEFORE the cross walk. please don't give me dirty looks when i run my hand over the hood of your car cause your in my way, or the fact that i run in front of you. if i was slick i would do one of those stunts...you know, where the good guy slides over the hood of a car. otherwise back the f&$k up.

i think that's it for my peeving. now don't get me wrong, some bikers and slutty runners have ruined it for the rest of us. For example, my friend Danger Dan rides the wrong way on one way roads, surely pissing off downtown traffic. and I'm not one to follow ALL the rules either. if no traffic is coming, yeah, I'll ride through that red light...only if no traffic is coming. it's all about being safe.

so cars, please give bikes and runners caution when you're by them. Pedestrians, please pay attention to your surroundings. And runners and riders, please be safe out there.

what are some of your running/ridding experiences or peeves???
By the way, i didn't even touch on what happens at the gym [only cause i haven't been there since February]

As if...

2009-07-16T06:45:00.000-07:00

Searching for a boy in high school is as useless as searching for meaning in a Pauly Shore movie.
– Cher (Clueless)

--

Ten years ago today was a Friday (i checked) and i was on summer vacation. i had high school graduation parties to go to. i had a boyfriend who's car was broke and i had to drive around in my soft top red jeep wrangle. God i miss that car. i had 1 bill to my name. my pager.

for my 18th birthday the HS BF and i went to the zoo. yes, i wanted to see penguins on my birthday. i got my navel pierced (and passed out) and i went to the pool to show it off to my dad and step mom. that night at dinner (or whenever i had my birthday dinner) i lit up a cig in front of my dad. yeah, i felt totally rebellious.

so now, after voting in 3 presidential elections, a college diploma, and a "big kid" job i still want that rebellious feeling. however, i don't want to end up in jail.

i think a new tattoo might be needed. what should i get and where?

Cleveland Wins At Everything

2009-07-09T08:07:00.000-07:00

I think we enjoy the camaraderie as much as anything. It's just about getting out, getting exercise and enjoying the friendship.
– Chuck Newman

--

Okay. So this is really long over due. Sorry Fatty.
I've actually been busy with work, marathon training and lets not forget about my new hobby...Bike Polo (aka another reason for day drinking).

The Pedal Republik of Cleveland has welcomed me with open arms. or rather, i just show up all the time and they finally let me play. It's not at all easy and it's only as scary as you want it to be. A list of the rules (from Pittsburgh) can be found here.

Fourth of July weekend was the Pittsburgh tournament. Urban Velo hosted and it was A-MAZING! it was so much fun and Cleveland rocked the house. i think we ended up bringing about 12 polo players and their better halves (halfs?) to participate, watch, cheer, cook-out and of course drink.

Teams were picked randomly from 3 piles. Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Everyone Else. it was double elimination. The weather was awesome, the crowd was full of heckles. My team was the Scuba Monkeys with Lee (from Dayton) and Chris (from Pittsburgh). we lost our first game, drats. but no worries. We came in 3rd over all.

THIRD! my first tournament after only playing a month and we (they) came in third! I'm not gonna lie, i hardly did anything. i did have one goal that day, Choo Choo! the whole experience was awesome and i have the bruised legs, and shoulder to prove it.

Me, Lee, Lee's daughter and Chris

It was an awesome weekend (have i said awesome enough?)...here are some highlights from the rest of the trip.

Friday:
• Getting all the bikes to fit in my car.
• Having a shitty waitress and Lucas tipping her in nickles
• Getting to hold a python at the after party
• Getting lost downtown Pitt and pulling a cop over to ask for directions
• While being lost seeing Karate Jon through his bike

Saturday:
• Meeting cool people at polo
• Watching Prince Charlie fall out of the polo court
• Meeting Pittsburgh Jenn Page
• Getting 3rd place over all
• Going to some awesome bars
• Not getting lost

Sunday:
• Awesome breakfast with dippy eggs
• Realizing i was more sore from laughing all weekend then ridding
• Getting home in one piece

The guys and girls of the P.R.o.C. are super sweet and i can't thank them enough for making me feel apart of the group. You guys rock!

If you're ever looking for some entertainment. We meet at the tennis courts east of the Muni Lot on Thursdays and Sundays. Hope you can come watch!

Pedal Republik of Cleveland

What did everyone else do for the holiday weekend?

CLE to CHI

2009-06-22T12:06:00.000-07:00

You know what they say about Chicago. If you don't like the weather, wait fifteen minutes.
– Ralph Kiner

--

Okay so PB&J and i had to wait about 30 minutes in the rain to get to my friend, The Faz's apartment. It was only a block from this picture.

This weekend a wave hit Chicago...Maybe Cleveland finally did something right. We brought summer to Chi-Town.

Originally i wanted to tell you all about it. like every single detail, down to packing 2 vitamin waters so i could survive all the alcohol i was going to consume. But this post will just be the highlights and a few lowlights.

But before i begin i want to say thank you to all my former CLE friends who are now CHI-dwellers. i'm jealous of your new condos, awesome apartments, public transportation, street festivals, 50 million beach volleyball courts at North Ave., the shopping (even though we didn't do any...this time). i am truly jealous. So, as i thank you for all that you did, keep in mind, i know where you live. and i expect a bed, couch, floor or a random guys bed upon my next visit.

Friday
Highlights: Arriving at Midway safe and on time. I finally got to witness hail in person. I didn't realize how cold it is. Drinking Great Lakes Dortmunder. Walking around Wrigleyville to find a bar and getting offered free tickets to the game. Seeing Socks and day drinking. Meeting some guys who buy us drinks at a few bars. Going out with the Faz and getting booze food at Jimmy Johns.
Lowlights: Waiting 30 min in the rain on the stoop of @Properties to walk a block to Faz's place. We had to get ready drunk, which is never fun. Having an awesome meal at Ear Wax only to not be full enough to keep drinking (which led to the late night jimmy johns run)

PB&J and me at Wrigley, the second prettiest field.

Saturday
Highlights: Getting to the Cubs game early enough to get a free Cubs hat. Watching PB&J struggle with her hangover. Getting to see some awesome Aurora Shores peeps! We got invited to a VIP Pool Party for Sunday. Went to the Red Ivy to meet up with some CLE friends and one MIA friend who followed Vince Vaughn out of Wrigley. Made it back to Bucktown to get ready on time and out to the Taste of Randolph street festival. Went out to some local bars and met some really cool people.
Lowlights: Waking up early for the Cubs game. Watching PB&J struggle with her hangover. Not taking any pictures during the day.

PB&J, Faz's Roomie, Faz and Me at Taste of Randolph.

Sunday
Highlights: Going to North Ave beach and playing volleyball with a bunch of people. i was in heaven. Hanging out with some cool new friends.
Lowlights: Realizing its our last day. Saying goodbye to the Faz and her roomie. Tribe not winning a single game. Almost missing our flight. Getting our luggage with a big LATE sticker on it. Not going to bed till 1:15 EST. (stupid time zones). Having to get up this morning in Cleveland, not Chicago.

All the sweet volleyball players at North Ave Beach. I was able to play for a few hours...loved it!

This was the best mini-vacation i've had. i needed it. I'll be back in October to run the Marathon and do some damage to my liver...after the race. And who knows, i might take the mega bus out for another weekend this summer. Or, book a flight for the Brown/Bears game in November. Better yet, move there.

To all the friends that i didn't get to see. i'll be back. Miss you all. and thanks for an awesome weekend!!!

Excuse Me Miss.

2009-06-10T05:57:00.000-07:00

When one has tasted watermelon he know what the angels eat.
– Mark Twain

--

Good Morning Everyone!

So for those of you following me on twitter or facebook know that i've been working on a little project.
Actually it's kinda big for me, as i am not one to usually finish things. A few examples from my first post.

But yesterday was a glorious day!

I finished Miss Watermelon, my hipster, polo bike!

Introducing Miss Watermelon. (Lazarey is in the background)

She is part 1970's bike from my mom, part Mid 90's bike from my 10 speed huffy and part modern day.

It started last week when i was convinced (very easily i might add) to start to participate in bike polo. I usually just would go, watch, drink and laugh when the boys would fall. Mean, i know.

This past Sunday i was at my moms rummaging through her garage and i found the start of Miss Watermelon. So i took off her wheels, tires and tubes (which were totally dry rotted) and brillow padded the heck out of the rims. (i wish i had before and after shots). I also took the handle bars and seat from my 10 speed.

Monday after work was fun. i was a grease monkey. i took off the handle bars, break lines, gear shifters and deraileurs. The best way to learn how something works is to take it apart (good luck putting it back together).

And finally yesterday. But claiming i did all the work isn't fair. My friend Karate Jon came over yesterday and helped me put most of her back together. This included: old seat from my 10 speed, new tire tape, tubes and tires; new front break and cable, sawing off the old 10 speed handle bars and adjusting the chain length for the right gears.

TA-DA! for $40 i have a new/old single speed bike!

i rode her around Tremont last night since we were done around 8. it was a glorious night for Taco Tuesday at Lincoln Park Pub. yum.

So now i'm praying that the rain holds out tomorrow so i can participate in my first bike polo match with the Pedal Republik of Cleveland. Watch out boys.

What project have you started/finished lately?

Pretty Long. Pretty Awesome.

2009-06-08T11:26:00.000-07:00

I was at a yard sale one day and saw a box marked "Electronic cat and dog caller – guaranteed to work." I looked inside and was amused to see an electric can opener.
– anonymous

--

So it seems like its been a million years since i made a post.
it took me that long to get over the Cavs defeat and i'm still not over it.
but i'm pretty optimistic so i'm gonna keep on truckin. maybe next year.

within the past week and a half i've been pretty awesome. no lie.
(hopefully you'll continue reading to see why)

Saturday of Game 6 i was not at home/a bar watching the game. instead i was with PB&J at Nelson Ledges for a Badfish concert. This was our 4th concert, 3rd trip to the ledges. and it gets better every time. My tent pitching skills are awesome (get your mind out of the gutter) and walking the campsites observing the hippies is probably the best things to do on a nice spring evening. I was on a mission to buy a bag/purse but i failed. instead i decided to ask for a sewing machine for my birthday (July 16th, if you want to send me a card) and make my own bags...

Sunday was family time at my moms. we celebrated my grandma's boyfriends 84th birthday. yes my grandma has a boyfriend. they've been together since 1968, give or take. they live together and never got married. so all the grand kids got together and hung out it was nice cause with my one cousin trying to be Mother Theresa it's pretty hard to get us all in the same room.

Ballamechi, G-ma, The Cuz, Me, Mother Theresa & Murphy
(and the famous yellow doors)

The next week went by super fast. Work was good, concepts got approved and the weather was nice.
So nice that i had my eye on this past Friday and took a "mental health day". it was by far the smartest thing i've ever done for myself. and i was productive. Dog park, laundry, laying out, edgewater, Garage bar, Howl at the Moon, Map room....say what? yes i was at howl at the moon. it was fun and depressing at the same time. i used to go there all the time in college and it was packed and awesome. Mainly because of Bill Kraus. he would also perform at Glory Days in Kent...oh how i miss college...

but anyways PB&J ended up going to Howl because our friend The Jerk told us to (we're pretty obedient that way). i got there first and found out there was a $5 cover. and me with no cash. so a little conversation and flirting ensued...
i get up to the Door Man and show him my ID.

Door Man: it's a $5 cover
Me: really? crap, i didn't bring any cash (batting my eyelashes)
DM: are you with a party?
Me: oh yeah, was i suppose to say that?
DM: who's party?
Me: (thinking of the most common name on the planet, sorry PB&J) Jennnniiiiffffeeerrrs????
DM: (moving a book to reveal a list of party names and i see the golden ticket)
Me: I mean Katie, i'm with Katie's Party
DM: (not really falling for my awesome acting skills) fine go in, but don't tell anyone
Me: thank you so much (wink)
(jk on the wink, in all honesty i would've fallen on my face)

So i get inside and immediately text PB&J and tell her to say she's with Katie's Party. she gets in without a hitch. so as we're drinking the last two PBRs we glance around and see how empty the place is. compared to its hay day. we had plenty of seats available to choose from. Where there for a while and think The Jerk and friends are standing us up. Its a pretty good trick actually. but Alas they didn't. we told them about Katie's party (sorry katie) and they all got in too. drank a couple of fish bowls and proceeded to Map Room.
So yeah, Friday was the perfect day for focusing on my mental health!

Saturday, lost to More Cowbell in co-ed, two hand touch playoffs. ARRRRGGGG. Their plan to get us drunk the night before kinda-sorta worked. did some day drinking at Treehouse, played some pick-up volleyball at Whiskey Island, took a nap and had a bon fire at Karate Jon's. This is the most exciting part (minus the smores')...i decide i'm going to attempt* to make a single gear bike to participate in bike polo! Choo Choo!

Sunday, got to see Bike Polo'ers eat scrapple, rode through the Tremont Yard sale, went to my moms to work on my new/old bike. i'll be sure to update you on the progress. it'll be interesting.

This post was a lot longer than i thought and i apologize. hopefully i wasn't too boring.
and admit it. i am pretty awesome.

What are some of your big projects for this summer?

*when i say "i'm going to attempt" i really mean get all my friends who play bike polo to help (thanks in advance guys)

Very Superstitious

2009-05-27T05:44:00.000-07:00

The root of all superstition is that men observe when a thing hits, but not when it misses.
– Sr. Francis Bacon

--

There are so many things i want to blog about today. Has that ever happened to you? However, i'm going to focus on one topic. It'll be short. i hope.

Cleveland Cavaliers.
C'mon. Really?
I'm a die hard Cleveland fan...although ask me about statistics or names of past players...who am i kidding even some current plays...no clue. but i'm still a fan. i cheer, i drink, i cry.

I'm also very superstitious, for example...

Game One of ECF: started off at Barley House we were winning at the half. Went over to Clevelander, we blew a twentysomepoint lead.
Game Two: Stayed the whole time at Barley House LeBron hits "the shot". my friends will not let me live down the fact that i had tears swelling up in my eyes...so much i almost couldn't see that most beautiful shot.
Game Three: Blind Pig for a going away party = fail
Game Four: I was in Akron for my little sisters high school graduation. my brother had his smart phone and was checking the score every 3 seconds while we were waiting for our food at Olive Garden (ps. they don't have a TV). As soon as dinner was over and we all said our goodbyes and congratulations i jumped in my car to listen to the radio. I got all the way home with 2 minutes in regulation. I don't have TV so i laid on my couch listening to my radio. Tears would form and i'd wipe them away.

I even had that fairytale moment when a tear would hit my pillow and then Joe Tait would scream "CAVS WIN, CAVS WIN!!!!!".

But alas, I'm laying there with my eyes closed to hear we go into over time. All that salad, bread sticks and seafood Alfredo are making me nauseous...As i lay there waiting for overtime to start the worst thing happens...

I fall asleep.

I missed it. I woke up around 1am not knowing the final score, my Internet wasn't working and i have no TV to check so i decided i'd go to bed and pray that we won. That one of my tears will make a fairytale come true.

i wanted a win so bad that i had a dream that i was with my dad and he said "wasn't that amazing? I can't believe we won" (i think we were on Obama's boat) wishful thinking.

What i'm so sad about is that Cleveland has been through this sooo many crappy times. We're so used to it. This negative energy. Even in game one, while I was at the Clevelander, i could see the fans on TV...they looked as if we had already lost. The Cavs need us. Just like we brought to Detroit. they need us. Now more than ever.

Since i don't follow statistics i don't know how accurate this is...but i know its near impossible to come back from 3-1 loss. But if any team can do it, its our Cleveland Cavs.

I'll be at the game tomorrow decked out in almost every single article of Cavs clothing i own. I'm hoping that me being there brings the luck that I so desperately want for this city. And if they're loosing at half time, i'll be making my way over to Barley House.

What are some crazy things you've done because of your superstitions?

Choo Choo...

2009-05-21T14:11:00.000-07:00

Come on ride the train it's the choo choo train
Come on ride the train it's the choo choo
– Quad City DJ's

--

Helllllloooo!
Just thought i would double-up today...
after have a rough yesterday and early morning today...my afternoon has done a 180!

so i thought i would share.

first, i'll admit on the blogosphere, i'm bad at math. really bad.
so bad that i've bounced more than one check in my life.
well this time my bad math was in my favor.
i checked of some wrong bills in my check register and when i realized this, i ended up with $50 more in my account! Choo Choo!

then went home for lunch to hang out with Bagley. he didn't get into any trouble and we went for a nice walk...i mean 80 degrees outside! Choo Choo!

After our awesome walk i rode my bike back to work. i ended up wearing my bathing suit top and a tube top cause its so f-ing gorgeous out! (don't worry, i brought work appropriate clothes to change into)

so now its the end of the day and i'm heading out to watch some bike polo (ie. have a beer and be in the sun) then ride off to bike night at Now Thats Class for a free beer.

hopefully tomorrow with be a good one. Pick-up volleyball at Whiskey Island around 3:30 (yeah, my office closes at 3 tomorrow)

have a great rest of your day!

Grumble...

2009-05-21T06:02:00.000-07:00

No one said it would be easy.
– LeBron James

--

GRRRR.
I'm in a bad mood. Not an ordinary i'll get over it in a few hours bad mood, but one that's been lingering since yesterday around 8pm. (yes, even before the Cavs lost).

Usually a good night sleep fixes my bad moods, that or a few beers.
But neither helped.

Yesterday evening started off right. I rode my bike to work and to volleyball. My dad took me to dinner and stayed to watch me play volleyball...that's when it stared to go down hill...

we lost volleyball 1-2, and the other team was down a player...Grumble.
i got home to find my loving dog felt like finding my x-rays and doctors notes from my fractured hand and having a snack with them...Grumble.
i find out that i'm getting hit harder with this stupid recession than i thought and i realize i can't afford to have a lot of fun this weekend...Grumble.
i have a brief convo with a rival kickball team about how they're the champions two sessions in a row and they point out I'm in a bad mood...Grumble.
The Cavs lose...Grumble.
On my ride home from downtown some black Cadillac POS with rims decides to park his car in the bike lane on the Lorain bridge. i swear and flick him off cause i almost rear ended him (on my bike)...Grumble.
i wake up this morning to find out its only Thursday...Grumble.
i go to the pop machine to get a juice for breakfast and its out...Grumble.

I know the things that put me in a bad mood are petty, but pile them all up and with a hard loss from the Cavs, you'd be in a bad mood too. Hopefully this bad mood doesn't last much longer...i do have some things to look forward to...what you ask?

My little sis is graduating from high school on Tuesday.
I get to work on this cool video for a client that will resemble Monty Python-ness animation.
my co-workers and i are going to the tribe game next Friday.
next Saturday i'll be at Nelsons Ledges for a Badfish concert.
in about 3 weeks i get to see my Florida bestest and go to a wedding with her!
and in 4 weeks from tomorrow i'll be landing in Chicago for a weekend of Cubs/Tribe baseball with PB&J and the rest of Cleveland!

So until this mood swing passes it might be best to stay out of my way...
What has put you in a bad mood? How long has it lasted?

Guess Who's Back?

2009-05-19T10:30:00.000-07:00

Guess who's back, Back again, Shady's back, Tell a friend.
– Eminem

--

I'm BACK!
Two fully functioning hands! I feel like i can type at record speeds.
Huzzah!

I really wanted my returning post to blow everyone out of the water, but i can't think of a good topic.
so i'll tell you about a little conversation i over heard at the doctors while i was waiting to get my cast off.

I ended up taking the Healthline cause parking at the clinic is like $12. Riding the Healthline is $4 for a two way pass! Not stimulating the economy + being eco-friendly = score!

Anyways, i got my cast removed at 8AM. If you've never had a cast its the most bizzare thing to happen. it's this little vibrating saw-thing and it really tickles. Next stop...sink.

i had like a trillion dead skin sells to wash down the drain (gross i know). Then i compared my tiny hand to my normal hand. Actually it was more so my wrist that was reduced in size along with a noticable tan line. I then went to get my x-rays as i'm waiting for them to develop this was when the convo took place...

There was a man sitting next to a female. I couldn't figure out if there were together. It was pretty crowded and seating was limited. Neither of them seemed to be in any pain or getting x-rays. She was mostly flipping through a magazine and acknowledging him when it mattered. it went something like this...

Man: i can't believe i set 4 alarms last night and i still couldn't get up in time to be here. i mean i set my alarm clock, my other alarm clock across the room, my phone alarm clock and my t.v. alarm clock. Oh yeah, i can set my tv to turn on and it usually wakes me up. but i slept through all of them.

he goes on and on about how many he set and how he couldn't get up. i just rolled my eyes and started thinking. I have one alarm clock...i mean yeah so i hit snooze, sometimes up to 6 times, but who doesn't. it's usually days where i don't have anything super important going on. but this guy had to get to the hospital, or get x-rays...there is an understanding of being late, but having to set 4 alarm clocks to make sure you get up. ridiculous.

i think something is seriously wrong with a person.

i mean, i almost couldn't sleep the night before, i was so excited to get my cast off and have two hands again. i mean if its an important day i tend to make sure i'm up...for example, days like: reviews at work, christmas morning, a wedding, getting to the doctor to find out what's wrong with you.

maybe i'm being to judgemental, maybe he was there to find out why he can't get up in the morning, or maybe he has a weird work shift and an AM rise and shine just doesn't work for him...but 4 alarm clocks really??? in my opinion (and please feel free to disagree) non-productive people have multiple alarms (which is different from a snooze). if i just float by everyday without any goals i would spend all my time in bed too (if my bed was more comfortable).

please note that i was there at 8am. he could've been there earlier than me, but i didn't notice him. Also, i'll admit that on important race days i would set two alarms, or i'll make a friend call to make sure i'm up. I'm sure PB&J would've like 4 alarm clocks after her 25th birthday bash last year...leaving her to miss a fun ski trip to Holiday Valley.

With that i ask, how many alarm clocks do you use to get up? or how many times do you usually snooze?

PS. Cavs = 2 Sweeps. On to the Conference Finals! Choo Choo!

Oh Mother Where Art Thou

2009-05-10T18:56:00.000-07:00

When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child.
– Sophia Loren

--

Happy Mothers Day!
I know i said I wasn't going to post anything till Thursday...but it's Mothers Day and I want give a shout out to two important ladies in my life. Mom and A., both who are amazing, outstanding & loving women.

The inspiration for this post wasn't entirely based on the fact that today is mothers day...it was what I saw in my office parking lot on Friday.

I pulled into the lot, already running a few minutes late, to see this SUV blocking the isle I was in. Getting annoyed and wishing i had my car horn fixed, i waited for the car to pull into a spot. I noticed the driver was a man in his early twenties, the passenger looked around 50 (but I'm really bad at the age guessing game). Anyways, the guy gets out to examine the car he parked next to. This kinda gets my attention so i slow down getting my stuff out of my car.

He's wearing scrubs. Walks all the way around it and checks the tires. The driver side door of the SUV is still open and i see the older woman undoing her seat belt. the guy looks at the car in approval says "thanks for the ride mom!" The moms gets in the driver seat and they both leave in different directions. Awe, she dropped her son off so he could go be a doctor. (I'm not sure why he had to inspect the car but whateves).

At that moment i started thinking of all the times my mom and step-mom drove me, picked me up, dropped me off and made me feel better when life was crappy. I must have won some sort of childhood lottery because I have two mothers that I get to learn from, respect and love.

I mean there are a million stories I could tell about each one...but i'll keep it relatively short.

In high school I ran track. And if you've ever had to go to an invitational or relay you know that all the kids are participating and running around with hormones and what-not...That really takes up a lot of energy and kids get hungry. So after eating apples, oranges and peanut butter (not all at the same time), napping, chasing boys around from other schools and finally participating in your event (mine was 100M hurdles) a girl can get really hungry. So instead of eating concession food my mom would make mini-turkey subs.

Ingredients: Hot dog bun, shredded lettuce & turkey. Cut in half and individually wrap.

I think my mom would buy 3lbs of turkey and a bottle of Italian dressing. Load it in the cooler with some blue or purple Gatorade and meet me in the stands at some point during race day. I would probably eat 4-5 mini-subs. It never started with 3lbs of turkey...but I like to share, especially my moms cooking. So word got out at how simple and good the mini-subs were. And she gratefully excepted the duty of TRYING to feed the Twinsburg Varsity track team for 4 years...I think this is why i eat a turkey sandwich for lunch every day. No lie.

My step-mom kicks butt. She speaks her mind and has an amazing point of view. One that I don't think i could ever get from a blood relative. When I was finishing high school and in my first few years in college i was living with my dad, A. and two step-sisters. A. was really there to help me get through all the drama that comes with high school and college. Toward the end of my freshman year at Kent i decided to end things with my first real boyfriend, the first (and only) one I've said 'I love you' to. We'll call him Mr. First.

There was lots of drama with this. I was in my dorm room and after the argument of breaking up (in person) was over and I was in my room crying. I called A. to calm me down. We were on the phone for like an hour. I was questioning if what i did was right and why i still felt like crap...All the usual post break-up thoughts. i hear the family dog barking in the background, which means someone was at the front door...yep Mr. First went to my dads to talk to them, cry or something. My dad briefly talked with with Mr. First and A. kept me on the phone as this made me start crying all over again. Anyways, the one thing I'll treasure for the rest of my life and pass one to my kids (if i have them) is this... "the first 100 years are the hardest." It's actually a saying her grandma or grandfather would tell her.

And as i get older i look back at all the memories I've had...with both these amazing women. And the lessons i learned...if not right away, at some point. They have both made growing up and looking to the future that much more exciting. And I'm so lucky to have them both in my life.

I love you both!

So Happy Mothers Day to all the moms out there! And to all my friends who are popping out babies! Hope you have/had a great day!

So I ask, what motherly stories do you have? embarrassing ones? i have plenty of those...for a later time though.

PS. Go Cavs!!!

In One Week

2009-05-07T11:01:00.000-07:00

They say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.
– Andy Warhol

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In one week from today I will have the use of both hands!
That's right, my cast comes off next week!!!

I'll do my best to take pictures of them sawing it off and how funny my tiny hand will look.

Thanks to all my friends who helped me out...especially with my hair!
And thanks to the Cleveland Clinic, I know it wasn't a face transplant, but they did their job!

So I'm signing off till I have both my hands back.

Have an awesome week kiddies.

Miss Me!

Gettin Down & Derby!

2009-05-05T12:25:00.000-07:00

Money, horse racing & women, three things the boys can't figure out.
– Will Rogers

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One thing everyone must do in their life is visit Louisville and attend a Kentucky Derby.

This year marked my second derby in a row. I can't speak highly enough of the city, people and places. You really need to check it out for yourself. Just make sure you pronounce it right...Lou-vull, like you have marbles in your mouth.

Something you might not know about me...I lived there for 3 months while doing an internship at Bisig Impact Group . While I was there 4th Street Live didn't exist, but Bardstown Road did! I have a ton of family that lives in KY...how many is a ton? Thanks for asking...

Out of the 7 cousins that my aunt had, 5 of them live in Louisville. Between my 5 cousins there are 12 first cousins once removed (aka second cousins, which is incorrect). 3 of them are about my age...give or take a few years. Confused yet?

When I go down to visit i usually stay with my second cousin, we'll call him Illgauskas (yes, like the Cavs #11). He's super cool, knows everyone and doesn't fail at showing me an awesome time. Example: Last year Me, Illgauskas, PB&J and a friend rolled into 4th Street Live in a cop car...3 in the back and PB&J in the front!!! It was awesome! And this year was no different! $10 per person for a limo ride!This post was going to highlight some of the events going on during Derby week but I'd much rather talk about my awesome weekend. (if you really want info, let me know)

Let me back track a second. PB&J and I arrived around 5pm Friday evening. Got ready at Illgauskas's and headed to my cousins annual "Unstable Clown Party" on Speed Ave. Unstable Clown comes from Barnstable Brown, which is the party all the famous people go to. Speed Ave is the back road that all the limo's and hummers drive down to drop off all the famous people.

After that fabulous soiree we headed to a house party and made a ton of new friends from Louisville, Chicago and Indiana. That's when we got the limo to 4th Street. Me and PB&J drank the night away at The Sports and Social Club. I got a ton of autographs on my cast. Including a third string for the Jets...I think I was suppose to relay a message to Mangini...

Our awesome new friends decided to leave, but PB&J and I were anything but. They texted me their address (which might've been the best decission in my life).

We stay out till 4ish (bars are open till 6am Derby weekend) and took a taxi that had GPS (thank god), and made it back to our new friends house...I was ready to go to bed but not untill i heard I'm On A Boat a million more times. As annoyed as I was it will forever remind me of Derby 09.

We slept till 9ish, went back to Illgauskas's get ready for Derby and arrive at Churchill Downs by 2ish...

Derby Day Pointers:

Don't drink till 5am the night before
Keep tabs on the weather (70% chance of rain in Louisville is not the same in Cleveland, its better)
$40 for infield access + $9 mint julipes + $7 beer = bring lots of cash (the last thing you want to do is try to find an ATM)
Girls: make or buy a Derby hat, you'll appreciate the other hats. Guys: white shoes/belts, aviators and seersucker pants (ladies, you can wear them too) will make you feel right at home.
Take as many pictures as you can. even of the random girl pissing on herself and then falling into her own puddle...those make for great stories.
Place a bet. Especially on the Derby race. Its more fun to watch an the minimum is $2.
Make sure to grab/bring toilet paper when there is an opportunity (and hand sanitizer)

My best pointer, especially if you're driving the 5+ hours, would be to go with someone you get along with, someone that you can spend 48+ hours in a row with...someone like PB&J!

Derby #2 + PB&J = WIN!

Have any of you been to Derby? What are your experiences? Win? Fail?

PS. Go Cavs and congrats to LeBron James and team for the MVP!!!
PSS. Special thanks to all my Louisville family and friends for showing us Cleveland girls some good southern hospitality!!!

Casting Call...

2009-04-28T08:34:00.000-07:00

Fans don't boo nobodies.
- Reggie Jackson

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So it's been a while and I apologize to the few people that follow my blog. Something happened to me that has never happened before...sort of...

...I broke my left hand.
Actually i fractured my fifth metacarpal (aka the pinky finger bone in my hand, lame visual but you get the idea). Anyways, it happened over a week ago while playing football (at least we won). But i didn't see a doctor till last Wednesday...This is where i shoot myself...I find out i have to get a cast...barf.

I laughed in Mr. Doctors face because at that exact moment my friend/co-worker (who sits 10 feet from me) was in surgery getting 14 pins and plates in her right arm. Obvi way more serious then my tiny little fracture.

I knew as soon as I went back to work all the jokes would start about how I wanted to one-up her, or how between the two of us equaled a full designer, yadda, yadda, yadda. And i was right.

Back at the clinic, (i picked Cleveland clinic sports health cause they're pretty good and it was a sports related injury) Mr. Doctor told me that since it was a clean fracture it should only take 3 weeks to heal, plus some good ol' occupational therapy. Double barf!

So in the mean time i have to type, shower, make/eat lunch, WORK, drive, everything with one hand + 3 fingers. However, i feel super popular with all the signatures i got on my neon pink cast. did i mention it was my first cast...ever.

Another positive, i've had some funny conversations...
Guy in line at Dave's: "man, how'd you hurt it?"
Me: "playing football"
Guy: "oh man, i mean oh man...it looks really bad"
Me: **shrug**
Guy: "you know I'm not even gonna ask"
Me: (thinking: dumbass, you already asked)

But the funniest convo i've had, multiple times:
Random: "are you left handed?"
Me: "Nope, right"
Random: "at least it's not your designing hand"
Me: "i design with my head, my hands are just tools"

I guess when i type out that story it's not as funny. Which you'll come to realize i am a bad teller.

So since this post has taken me most of my lunch hour and some after work time i'm gonna go.
but before i do...What bones have you broken? Funny stories? Good RX drugs for your pain?

PS. i didn't get any drugs, triple barf.
PSS. would anyone like to sign up to be my assistant? or maybe if i fad a monkey follow me around...i'll pay with my grandma's crepe's and cookies!

Back in the Day.

2009-04-20T10:29:00.001-07:00

College is the best time of your life. When else are your parents going to spend several thousand dollars a year just for you to go to a strange town and get drunk every night?
– David Wood

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As I've read in other blogs Monday's are usually used to recap the weekend. Who really wants to actually blog on the weekend.

This weekend was filled with a ton of adventure and excitement. Dodgeball, Football, Bike Polo, Cavs Basketball and drinking. But none more than visiting my college stomping ground on a Sunday evening. Two of my friends (both from Miami of Ohio) and I went back to Kent State University to catch the Flight of the Concords show at the MAC Center. Last time I was in that building was for graduation.

Once we got close to campus I took my friends on a quick mini tour of my college life. Old apartment on University (lawn was covered in garbage and a couch was hanging off the front stoop, standard). My old dorm room (Terrace Hall, which is now a parking lot, sad face). The Taco Bell/Long John Silvers (only the taco bell existed when i was there).

Then off to one of my favorites, Euro Gyro! It was the most delicious meal ever. And for a gyro, fried mushrooms and Dortmunder it was $9.50 (the beer was more than my gyro). God I miss college prices...

After a very filling meal and sending some PIX to some out of state college friends we headed over to Mugs. And I must say that the bars in Kent have picked it up a notch. Since the no smoking ban almost every bar has an outdoor patio, or multi-level decks...if only I were still in college. I got a pitcher of Coors light (we had to compromise, I'm a miller girl, they're bud lights) $6 which gave us about two glasses each...Score!

After all the reminiscing of house parties, debauchery and picking up college co-eds we went over the the MAC. The show was awesome and the crowd was hilarious! But not very many college students...the crowd was more closer to my age (sigh).

With all the awesome songs from last night I'm in the mood to talk music. This was one of my favorite college songs along with this one. But if I had to pick one for now...or if I was still in college, this would be my new go-to song.

So, what are some of your more memorable songs? The stories behind them?

*PS as I get more accustomed to blogging expect more pictures, videos and links for me to tell my stories.

**Update: i just found out Asher is playing Lollapooza!**
Are any of you planning on going?

Spring is in the air.

2009-04-15T08:58:00.001-07:00

Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!"
-Robin Williams

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So this is my first real life blog. I've been following some bloggers for a while now and decided I have my own two cents to add.

As I came to this decision I thought...is it because of spring I want to start a Blog?
Those who know me know I like to start projects...I do my best to finish them, but some are way over my head and I'm just too stubborn to accept defeat. I'm competitive that way.

Examples:
1.IronMan. The reason I ran the Cleveland Marathon last year was because I wanted to participate in a Full Iron Man (Distance: 2.4 mi. swim, 112 mi. bike, 26.2 mi. run)
My logic: I was on my neighborhood swim team for 10 years, I've participated in Pedal to the Point (fund raiser for MS) but I had never ran farther than the Hermes 10 miler...do a marathon and you'll be ready to do a 1/2 Iron Man (required before you can sign up for a full)
Realization: never gonna happen...unless I quit my job and hire someone to make me stop drinking and take all the fun out of my life.

2. Screen Play writing. I love the Dark Tower series by Steven King. I love it so much that I'm on my third round of reading them (all 7 books). If it were to be turned into a movie it would be epic, like Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter or even Twilight (all of which I have never read or watched).
My Logic: I love all the characters and i know the story, the outcome. I should be able to put it all together and write a screen play.
Realization: too much love...when i read it i forget all about the movie...except the one going on in my head.

3. Homeowner. Two years ago, when i was living with my mom, I decided to find a house to buy. So i did all my research and started applying for loans and such.
My Logic: I'm 20-something and should be making some sort of commitment, if not toward a relationship then owning property.
Realization: bad credit...thanks college.

What have you attempted? fail? or succeeded? was because spring was in the air?

with the weather turning for the better here in NEO go out and party.
but read my blog first.