A Picture's Worth A Thousand Words

Island Girl tagged me in a picture tag! Here are the rules:

1. Go to your Picture Folder on your computer or wherever you store your pictures.

2. Go to the 6th Folder and then pick the 6th Picture.

3. Post it on your bloggy and tell the story that goes with the picture.

4. Tag 5 other glorious peoples to do the same thing and leave a comment on their bloggy tellin’ about it.

This picture was taken during our company Christmas party last year. And when I say "Christmas party" I really mean a gathering of less than 1/2 of the people that work with us in the Holiday Inn a mile from our work. Its the one time a year that all of the guys wives let them out...so they are on the prowl. They all get rooms and set up a "bar" as well as go dancing in teh actual hotel bar. This particular year is the reason I no longer take shots...enough said.

I'm tagging:

Barefoot in the Park
Kristin Leigh
Krystyna Lizabeth
Mrs. Smith
Mrs. Cup

Not sure if any of you have done this...but you're IT if you want it!

Jesus Answers a Rich Man

I thought I would pass along to my fellow bloggers something I was given today by one of my co-workers. It really touched me...and I hope it does the same for you!

JESUS ANSWERS A RICH MAN

As Jesus started to leave, a man ran to him and fell on his knees before Jesus. The man asked, "Good teacher, what must I do to have life forever?"

Jesus answered, "Why do you call me good? Only God is good. You know the commands: 'You must not murder anyone. You must not be guilty of adultery. You must not steal. You must not tell lies about your neighbor. You must not cheat. Honor your father and mother.' "

The man said, "Teacher, I have obeyed all of these things since I was a boy."

Jesus, looking at the man, loved him and said, "There is one more thing you need to do. Go and sell everything you have, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me."

Mark 10:17-21


All your life you've been rewarded according to your performance. You get grades according to your study. You get commendations according to your success. You get money in response to your work.

That's why the rich young ruler thought heaven was just a payment away. It only made sense. You work hand, you pay your dues, and "zap"--your account is credited as paid in full. Jesus said, "No way." What you want costs far more than what you can pay. You don't need a system, you need a Savior. You don't need a resume, you need a Redeemer.
Mark it down. God does not save us because of what we've done. Only a puny god could be bought with tithes. Only an egotistical god would be impressed with our pain. Only a temperamental god could be satisfied by sacrifices. Only a heartless god would sell salvation to the highest bidders.
And only a great God does for his children what they can't do for themselves.

The Applause of Heaven, Max Lucado

Whoa...blew me away...

I bolded MY favorite lines. What do you think??

Early Morning Chuckle

When I got to work this morning, I received this e-mail...

"ASSOCIATE

I HAVE AN EARLY MORNING DOCTORS APPOINTMENT AND WILL BE COMING IN TO WORK AS SOON AS I CAN.

THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENTS"

Patients?? Really?? Are you trying to be funny or do you just not know that the correct word is patience? Honestly, I'm not sure!

Happy Friday!

Nashville!

I just received my "Save the Date" from one of my very favorite cousins yesterday. She is getting married to a fabulous guy (okay, okay...I've only met him once...but his name is Matt...so why wouldn't he be fabulous??) in August in Nashville, TN. If you can believe it, I have never been there! I think we should have a day to spend in the city so I'm looking for suggestions. I'm a huge country music fan so I have a feeling this will be the city for me!

She's getting married at the Riverwood Mansion. Check out their website...it is gorgeous! I can't wait!! I absolutely adore going to weddings! It's such a great time to reconnect with family. My mama had 6 brothers and sisters so my family is on the "huge" side! I love that we are all getting married so we can get together more often than Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Here's a picture of the happy couple! So excited for you guys and can't wait to see you!

Ash Wednesday

I felt inspired to write about Ash Wednesday and the upcoming season of Lent by one of my very favorite bloggers. Go check out her blog (First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage)...it rocks! She had such wonderful things to say about this time of year and what it means to her. It was such a great read as I prepare myself for my own season of repentance.

In one of my many solemn attempts to be a good Catholic girl, I am heading off to church tonight all by my lonesome for Ash Wednesday. My hubs is not Catholic (and not really fond of the fact that he will not be getting meat tonight...or on Fridays!) so I'm on my own for this one. I think it's just one of those hurdles you have to deal with when you marry someone of a different religion.

So what am I giving up for Lent this year you ask?? Well, I have decided to give up drinking. Although I am no lush...I have a tendency to get suckered into happy hours. I've also been known to polish off a few glasses of wine when I'm around my family. I never feel "great" the next day and I can always tell I have been drinking. How I have not perfected the art of not getting a hangover yet...I will never know. But nonetheless....as of today....no drinking for me!

I also thought this would be a good choice for another reason. I want to have my babies soon...so it's good practice! I want to be as healthy as I can be before we decide to start trying...and there's no time like the present to start that!

What are you giving up for Lent??

OCD or Working with Children??

My job: I am currently working as a lab technician for a company just south of Cleveland. Our particular branch specializes in making parts for military jet engines (this sounds way more important than it actually is!). My role is testing these parts before they are shipped to our customers in order to make sure they meet the specifications. Everyday, parts are submitted to the lab by placing them in a yellow bin outside the door.

One day, as I was walking through the shop to grab some ice from the freezer, I stopped off to close a door that had a sign on it reading, "This door must remain closed." I do this daily. I don't get irritated by the fact that I have to do it everyday, it's just something that I notice so I close the door. With me, everything has to have it's place. I realize that other people are not like that so I try not to let it bother me, I just move things to where I think they should be.

Well, this guy saw me close this door and we got to talking about my small case of OCD. Apparently this is now my "thing." Everyone in the lab has a thing...Kevin tells bad jokes....Andre is a germaphobe...and now...I'm OCD. I happened to mention (wishing this very second that I didn't open my huge, big mouth) that I especially hate when the yellow bin outside the lab is not straight. I like it a certain way so I can see through the door if there is something in it without having to actually go outside. Well, let me tell you...I think everyone in the whole plant knows this now and moves it every chance they get. Today I moved it back, and 5 minutes later it was moved again. I'm starting to get annoyed.

Overreacting....or working with morons who actually think this is funny?? I know what I think....

Soaps & Noah Update!

So I'm sure you are all wondering how my Soap Opera Mania event went on Saturday!?! Well, if I'm being totally honest...it was kind of lame :( But also kind of cool :) Here's what went down...


The doors opened at 10 am so Matt and I got there around 10:15. I'm not sure what I expected, but it was definitely not what I saw. They put all of us in one of those ballrooms in the hotels where they had chairs all set up surrounding this stage. The stage had about 10 chairs or so on it for the actors/actresses to sit. I bet there was only about 100 people total there. For some reason, I expected way more. Oh well...because of this we got great seats. Here's Matt before it started...playing games on his phone! The nerve! Notice all of the empty seats?? What were they expecting when the tickets were $95!?!


They began by showing this short video clip of each individual actor and then that person would come out. (By the way..the sounds was AWFUL and you could hardly understand what the clip was even saying!...even so EJ was looking SO good!) Here he is talking with Cameron right after he was announced. FYI...lighting=horrible...


They followed this up with some Q & A time which took about an hour. Here's Austin and EJ fielding questions from the audience to the actors.




It was around this point that I started to feel uncomfortable being there. Now, I thought I was a soap fan...and I will completely admit that I watch Days everyday...and perhaps I get a weekly newsletter...and sometimes I go to websites to get spoiler update (hush!) BUT I have nothing on these women. They watched ALL the soaps, knew everyone's real names, and probably the names of their pets too. I was starting to get the creepy fan vibe and I didn't want to be associated with that!

Matt bet me a dollar before the questions started that someone would ask something of the actors as if they were really the people they play on tv. I took the bet...even though I was confident I would lose...and I did...but I was surprised at how quickly I lost. One woman asked EJ when he was going to find out about Nicole's baby not really being hers and when he was going to get back with Sami. It was funny to watch him react...but he was polite about it. They all were really...and they had great senses of humor during the time we were there.

Then came time for the meet and greet. This was by far the best part! Here were my scores...

Nope...he's not bending down to reach me...he's just that short

Don't we make a cute couple??!!

They had to break for lunch and had some other stuff scheduled after that...but we decided to bolt. I got what I came for (see above)!

So onto my Noah update! Did anyone watch ER?? I finally watched it on Sunday and it was truly fantastic to see him on the show again. It really has never been the same without him...perhaps I'm biased...but I don't care. He's simply fabulous!

Well the show was going quite well...they had just offerred him a position back at the hospital (future episodes!!!) becasue he was going to be in the Chicago area. He wasn't really clear about why he was back or how long he would be in the city...but what do I care! It's the final season and he's back! So...the last minute of the show...they start off in a room with these people hooked up to machines...and I'm not sure but it looks like the machines Dr. Greene was hooked up to when he was on chemo. Maybe it's dialysis...I don't know...but it's not good. I started to get a bad feeling when they began panning down the row of patients. I actually said out loud, "Please don't be John, please don't be John." And then, my heart fell to the floor when I saw Dr. Carter hooked up to one of the machines. I started to freak! Matt came running into the room because he thought something was wrong with me! I had tears rolling down my face...actual tears! I can't believe they brought him back to the show to kill him right in front of me! I already had to live through his stabbing....wondering if he was alive for a whole summer...and now this! And...I can't even boycot the show if they kill him because it's the last season! As you can tell, I'm completely devestated, and hooked for the rest of the season. Well done NBC, well done.

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things!

A Few of my Favorite things Tag!

I was just tagged by Southern Bride to list a few of my favorite things! It's my very first tag...I'm stoked!

Once you are tagged, list 10 of your favorite things! Then tag five of your friends to do the same!

These are just a few of the little things that brighten my days...

1. My Electric Blanket


This is the kind I have...but in navy blue! I have this one on my bed and then we keep one on the couch. I am ALWAYS freezing....so I literally sit under the electric blanket from the time I get home until we go to bed (always on high!) and then I sleep with one. I sit under it in the morning while I'm eating as well. I truly don't think I could survive without it! Perhaps this is why our electric bill was so high...hmm??


2. Weight Watchers Yogurt w/ Fruit


Everyday for my mid-morning snack I bring a WW yogurt mixed with some sort of fruit. My favorite flavor is Strawberry Banana. I usually mix with raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, or bananas! It is just about my favorite thing I eat all day! It's like ice cream to me.


3. Purdue University


Purdue is where I got all of my degrees from (undergrad in West Lafayette, masters in Indianapolis). This is a pic of my favorite area of campus...the fountain! It's so beautiful all lit up at night.

Purdue is such a beautiful campus, and it is where I made the most wonderful friends. I had some of the best times of my life there and I love to go back for football games and bar hopping (although I think this must end...I felt really old the last time I did this and that was two years ago!).

Some of my favorite people from my job at Harry's Chocolate Shop!

4. My Family

My family and I have always been very close. I lived with my mom and dad, sister and brother for 18 years until I went to Purdue. My sister and brother also went to Purdue so we were all there at the same time for my senior year. They're both awesome and hilarious and I love them so much! Mook (yeah I know it's weird) lives in Colorado now and Jessi's in Chicago so we don't see each other nearly as much as I would like...but we make due. Visits are a must!

Mook and Jessi at Christmas time

Now, I'm a Daddy's Girl to the core. My dad is super hilarious and very easy going, a great balance for my mom who is crazy uptight :) He's always around to lighten the mood in any situation. I love my papa!

Dad and me at the Indy 500

Here's my sister, Mom and me

My poor Mama has Bells Palsy so the whole left side of her face doesn't move. It's gotten WAY better...but her smile is always a little off. :)

5. The Bible

So I just started reading from the beginning...have finished Genesis...and I am loving it! Who knew there was so much going on! I actually can't wait to read more. I'm reading about the plagues now...can you imagine!?!


6. Chicago Sports

Ah, if only I actually lived in the city where I enjoyed watching the teams play :) Here's a tribute to the Bears...


And my White Sox...


7. My 2 Bestest Friends

My two best friends are actually from high school. Now, I think there are two types of people...the people who stay friends with mostly high school friends and those who branch off and get college friends. Well, I am definitely a college friend kind of girl. My high school was very small...typical small town stuff...couldn't wait to get out kind of thing. These guys are just about the only people I talk to from high school...but I love them to death. They still live in Speedway so our 5 hour driving distance really sucks...but we make it work. Who knew three people could get along so well??

Jill, AJ, and me before the Tim McGraw concert in Cleveland

Instead of doing gifts for Christmas, every year we go out to a super fancy dinner just the three of us. It's way fun and no significant others are allowed! It's our alone time and I totally love it. It's pretty much my favorite event of the holiday season.

Christmas 2008

8. Days of Our Lives

I've been watching Days since I was a little girl in elementary school. I used to come home for lunch when it was on at 11am just so I could see some of it. I'm in love with my DVR now so I can watch it when I get home from work. It's my down time.


It's a super crazy soap opera...and I can almost always predict what is going to happen way in advance...but I still can't get enough! All those months of watching crap are totally worth it for that one great show where you finally find out who the killer is....or who your father really is...or someone gets their memories back!


9. Cold Stone's Peanut Butter Cup Perfection

I don't get this very often, especially not in the winter time...but the only thing I ever get at Cold Stone is their Signature Creation of Peanut Butter Cup Perfection. It is just that! I'm a sucker for PB and chocolate...and it is chocolate ice cream, actual pb, fudge, and pb cups crushed up in there. I can't even explain to you how much I want this right now. I always think about getting something else...but I just never can bring myself to turn this down!




10. My hubby!

Of course I had to write a little something about the love of my life! He is truly the most caring, sensitive, affectionate man I have ever known. He inspires me daily to be a better person and he is so much fun! Did I mention he's super cute and really smart?!?

Doesn't he look just dashing!

Tag...you're it!

Learning to be a Wife
First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage
Not Perfect, But Worth It
P.S. I Love You
The View From The New Year's Baby

SOAP OPERA MANIA!!!

So earlier this week, I received an e-mail from a radio station here in Cleveland that I listen to on a regular basis. I'm a Q-Club member as they call it (not sure how I became one!) but I get weekly updates about giveaways, music, concerts...etc. So...on this week's e-mail, there was a section called Soap Opera Mania. Well, I've got to confess, I am absolutely obsessed with Days of Our Lives. I know, I know...it's ridiculous...and crazy...but I love it! I've been watching it since I can remember, literally...elementary school.


So you can guess my excitement when I saw they were coming to Cleveland! Well, as I started investigating the website more, I realized that tickets were $95! Ha...sorry EJ, I love you, but I don't $95 a ticket love you. I did happen to catch a glimpse of a little blurb on the bottom on the e-mail where you could enter to win free tickets. Well.....I WON!!! Tomorrow afternoon, Matt and I (he is so pumped!) will be going to Soap Opera Mania!! There will be 3 guys there from Days and Cameron Mathison (who I know from Dancing with the Stars). I am so ridiculously excited!!! And...I looked at the other places they are going, and we totally have the best people coming here.

Austin (no longer on the show)

EJ

Shawn D (no longer on show)

Cameron

So when I e-mailed Matt the news, here was the response I got:

Matt: "Well, I'm glad EJ will be there. I have to tell him all about how Nicole has secretly been concocting this whole baby thing. He's going to be mad!"

You see, Nicole and EJ were going to have a child, she lost the baby but didn't tell him, pretended to be pregnant, ended up finding this girl Mia to give her a baby, but switched the baby with Sami's baby (unbeknownst to Sami) which is actually EJ's baby as well! Whoa!

I'll post pics soon!!

Noah...AKA Dr. Carter...AKA...The Original McDreamy

Don't get me wrong, I love Dr. Shepard just as much as the next girl, but my very 1st celebrity crush was on Mr. Noah Wyle from ER. Now I'm not going to claim to have watched ER from the beginning....I mean it's been on FOREVER...but I was a fairly religious watcher for many, many years. I will admit, Noah was the reason I started watching the show...and if I'm being totally honest...the reason I kept watching it for so long. The day he left the show was the day I stopped watching. Seriously...I'm just that in love!


Now, he has made small cameos in several episodes since his departure....and you best believe I have caught every single one of those! Well, since this is the final season for ER, I just knew he would be making an appearance...and I was right...and IT'S TONIGHT!!!! And according to this article, he will be in SEVERAL episodes! As you can tell, I'm ridiculously excited about this. My husband and I are big losers and go to bed at 10 though...so my love affair will have to wait until Friday after work...so Dr. Carter...I will be dreaming of your gorgeous face until then...

A Huge Scare!

So my hubby, some of his co-workers, and I were e-mailing back and forth during the day today trying to plan a time to get together next week. Well next thing I know I get this really weird e-mail from Matt saying that "some things are going down" and we'd talk later. Needless to say, I started to freak! As you may have guessed...my attorney husband is the breadwinner of our little family. My lab technician salary is minimal to say the least and I started to worry that the tough economy had finally slapped us right in the face.

They had a company wide meeting and it was announced that 12 attorneys, 9 paralegals, and 29 staff were being let go. Luckily, Matt was not one of these people...thank God! I feel so bad for those people that were fired today. I just can't imagine how they feel. I actually knew one of the girls...she's so sweet...and she just got married...it's just awful!

Now, if that didn't suck enough, they also announced that every associates' pay would be cut by a crazy amount a month! I don't want to reveal the exact amount, but I will say that it is about 12% of his salary. Yikes!! There is definitely some cutting back in order for us!

It's been a rough day to say the least. Has the economy hit anyone else in blogworld??

Friends, Food, and Fun!

As promised, here are the blue and yellow cake balls that I made for our Daytona 500 part on Sunday. Matt took the extras to work Monday and they were a hit! They are Bakerella's red velvet cake balls covered in blue and yellow candy melts (especially for Jimmy Johnson!) and then sprinkled with white sprinkles! They were super easy and really good! I totally recommend Bakerella's webiste. All of her ideas are fantastic! She is so creative!


I ran out of colored candy melts and I still had cake balls! So....I used some Baker's semi-sweet chocolate squares for the rest of them and then added a little red to the top. They were my post-Valentine's Day treat for my co-workers. Here's the platter that I took in.



I had so many requests for recipes it was ridiculous! I think it went over pretty well!

At the party, we played this board game called Things. Has anyone heard of this?? My sister brought it home over Christmas and we played...so Matt and I were familiar with it. It is really fun...but you have to play with fairly large groups of people to enjoy it the most. It's starts out with a "reader" who reads this card that will say something like, "Things you should never say to your teacher." Then everyone has a sheet of paper that they write their answers on...which as I'm sure you've guessed, can get a little raunchy! Then you go around in a circle taking turns guessing who wrote what. It definitely is a game that delivers a lot of laughs! Especially when my dear husband answered that question with, "Do you want to earn an apple the hard way?" Oh my goodness...I was shocked! I couldn't believe he wrote that!

The Letter Game!

If you want to play, leave a comment on this post letting me know, and I'll assign you a letter. You post ten things you love that begin with your assigned letter. When people comment on your list, you give them a letter, and the chain continues on and on. I got the letter A from my friend Mojito Maven at Make Mine a Mojito.

1. Alpacas!


I have a deep love for these animals and would really LOVE to own one...well...I really just want one to be called mine so I can visit whenever I want...pet it...walk it around...and feed it. I don't want to really take care of it or anything...just play!


We took these when we visited an alpaca farm near our house. What a fun day!


2. Adam Scott


Adam is my very favorite golfer. I'm sure you can tell by the picture why I love him so....he's gorgeous! He's also very good and just my age! Hey...Matt had to get me interested in the sport somehow right?!? Yummy!


3. Anne Murray

I know this sounds strange coming from someone who is 25 years old...and not 55...but I have my reasons. My mom and my grandma used to listen to this same cassette over and over when I was little when I would ride in the car with them. My sister and I knew all of the words and would beg to hear Anne Murray! We loved her...and still do to this day. All of the girls went to see her in concert too! It's all about the memories for me with her songs. And they're so fun to sing!

4. Amazon.com
I LOVE Amazon! I do about 80% of my Christmas shopping online...and I'd say about 75% of that is from Amazon. I don't buy books anywhere else...ever! They have great prices and super fast shipping. And...I love that all of my information is saved so I don't have to type in my credit card info every time...very smart on their part...less time for me to think, "should I really be buying this??"


5. Attorneys
You always hear really bad things about attorneys...but I think they are fabulous! I know one in particular that I am absolutely head over heels in love with....who you ask?? Oh yeah...it's my husband!

At my sister's wedding

6. Anniversaries
Matt and I have only celebrated one anniversary since we have only been married for 1 year, but it was so much fun. We went to Amish Country a couple hours southeast of Cleveland and it was actually super fun! We came back with so much cheese (and a little fudge too!). It was really neat to get out and see areas of Ohio that I didn't even know existed...let alone were so close!

I was trying to be very sneaky and get the Amish in the background...I was a little too slow!

7. Amino Acids


Ha! This one comes from my love of biology! I have my masters degree in biology and had to memorize all 20 amino acids and their chemical structures for a biochem class I took in college. Don't ask me to do that now...but I could for one whole semester! Ah...memories!


8. Appliances
I really mentioned this because of my Christmas gift this year from Matt. I got a new Kitchenaid mixer! We already had one...but this one is the "Professional." It has a ginormous 6 qt. bowl with a crank on it. Oh my goodness...I am in love. I'm pretty sure I linked to the one I have...but if not...it's pretty close! With all of the baking I do...it sure does come in handy!

I would also like a double oven someday....maybe when I actually own the house I'm living in....


9. Almonds


Funny, but I just recently discovered that I liked these! I always used to say, "no nuts....I don't like nuts." But I actually got off my wimpy "I'm not going to try new things" butt and ate some...and they rock! I have some smoked ones now in a dish by the couch...not a good spot for them!


10. Aerobics
I definitely don't love all aerobics...and I have to be in the mood to do it...but if I am...I love the aerobics classes offered at my gym. I especially love Zumba (see this post!).

Wow...that was harder than I thought!!

Valentine's Day Update!

So Matt and I had decided to not really do gifts this year for Valentine's Day. I'm usually a super big planner when it comes to the holidays...but I didn't really think about it until about two weeks ago...and then I felt rushed! I think Thanksgiving and Christmas wore me out! We did exchange cards...which I absolutely love doing. I especially love the writing inside that Matt always does. It means so much to me that he actually takes the time to write something about how he feels about me. Hey...that's about as romantic as my man gets :)

After my Zumba class, we did our usual grocery shopping routine...Walmart, Costco, Heinens...it's a huge ordeal for us to go grocery shopping. Anyway....we got some crab legs, lobster, and potatoes at the store and whipped them up for dinner. Matt took all of the meat out of the legs before we sat down so we wouldn't have to do that (not to mention that I don't know how!).


We set the table all nice, had candles burning and the fire going, and loves songs playing in the background. It was really just relaxing and wonderful. I even got him to do a little dancing in the living room by the fire. It's was super sweet.



Today we are going to a Nascar party for Daytona. I'm not what you would call a race fan, but my dad used to be obsessed....and I lived in Speedway, IN..racing capital of the world...for practically my whole life so I'm pretty well versed when it comes to the sport. I made these cupcakes last night to take with us. They are Cherry Limeade cupcakes based off the drink from Sonic! It's Matt's favorite so I thought I'd give it a try. The icing is so good...there aren't even words....


I got the recipe from Annie's Eats. Her blog is really cute! This is the first recipe I have made from her..and it will definitely not be the last.

I'm also making some of Bakerella's Red Velvet Cake Balls with the chocolate in colors of yellow and blue for Jimmy Johnson. Our host for the Daytona party is a huge fan...so I thought I would surprise her with these. I will post pictures soon!

Hope everyone has a great Sunday!

Bible Blocker!

I'm a Christian woman, have been since 7th grade. I joined an organization called Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) at my junior high school and was saved at one of the camps. Coming from a family that rarely went to church and had parents of different religions, FCA was literally a savior for me. The leaders showed me how to develop a relationship with Christ, to pray, and to study the Word.

My husband and I come from different religious backgrounds. His parents are devout Southern Baptists and I am Catholic along with my mother. Because of this, Matt and I attend a non-denominational church. We were both uncomfortable in the other's surroundings so this works best for us. Our church has a fantastic pastor and teaches directly from the Bible, which we both love.

This year I have committed to reading the entire Bible. I am ashamed to say I have never done this and because I didn't grow up in church there are a lot of stories I should be familiar with that I just flat out don't know. I want to know!! I'm really excited about this and I started last week. I don't have a lot of time to read at home, so my primary place is at work during my two 15 minute breaks a day. I am finding this to be quite difficult to say the least! I don't know if this happens at other places of employment...but check this out. So...I'm sitting there at a table by myself (my usual during breaks) reading the Bible (a very recognizable book) and this lady says I'm sitting at her table (was unaware there were assinged tables during breaks???) so she was going to sit with me. I politely said I would rather sit by myself so I could read and that I would move (to the plenty of other tables available!). She was apparently offended so she moved herself. Then another lady came and sat with me as well! I just got up and left.

This sort of thing happens all the time! Everyone who walks into the break room is always trying to talk to me while I'm reading. Can't they see I'm reading!!! And the Bible!! One would need to really concentrate to absorb all this book has to offer! I'm getting really annoyed. I'm going to have to find a secret hiding place or something! People....

Happy Weekend!

Dogs Rule

Every year since I first met my husband...which has been about 6 years now (wow...that long!)...we have watched the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show together. Before I met him, I really didn't even know this existed. Well, I had probably heard of it, but didn't realize just how big of a deal it was until I started watching it. I got hooked instantly. I'm a sucker for dogs...having one myself for 10 years...and I just think they are the sweetest, most loving animals of all time.

Here's my sweet baby Sandy...she's an Australian Cattle Dog

The show was on this Monday and Tuesday. We had to tape some on Tuesday because it ran until 11pm and our bedtime is 10pm (sad...I know...but I have to get up at 4:45am!) It highlights the rounds where the judges select the winners of the 7 different groups and then the winner of best in show. I do admit, it can run a little long, but I really don't get bored. All of the dogs have something unique about them. It's also a chance to see loads of dogs I have never even heard of. Here are some pics from Westminster's website of my favorite dogs that are a little out there...

Komondor


Pekingese

Puli

Some of my personal favorites are the Pug, the St. Bernard, and the Australian Cattle Dog...of course! This was an extra sentimental year for me personally, seeing as we had to put my precious Sandy down late last year. It was really hard on my whole family and I still struggle with the idea of her not being around. She lived with my parents in Indianapolis so I hadn't been living in the same house with her for a couple of years, but it has still been a difficult transition for me. Unfortunately...my honey bunny is allergic so my hopes of getting a huge, fluffy dog have been crushed. Matt actually has a love of dogs himself...so I think he is a little sad that we can't get one of our own. He had a really strong connection with his landlord's dog when he was attending law school in Virginia. She was a Cavalier King Charles named Cassie. He still talks about her from time to time...it's pretty cute. Here's one at the show....

We have considered getting a hypoallergenic dog. Here is my FAVORITE!

It's a West Highland White Terrier. She would be perfect for us because she's small so we could take her places when we travel...she can be alone for an extended period of time (because we both work), and the most important thing...she's cute! I don't think I have Matt convinced just yet...and a dog is a huge responsibility...but maybe someday soon!

And finally, without further ado, I introduce to you..Stump..the winner of Best in Show!!

The 10 year old sussex spaniel

Apparently he almost died in the early 2000's...was saved by a miracle from God...and this is his first year back in five years! Pretty impressive! That'll do Stump, that'll do.