Living Outside the Corridor

Two days ago, I got tagged by Fiddley Gomme to write about "Living Outside the Corridor." I had a huge deadline at work on Friday, so this assignment was postponed (by me). This is one of those assignments that requires thought, considering that I haven't even visited the Mormon Corridor since my cousin's wedding in 1998. Unfortunately, I can't give it the attention it requires only some quick thoughts.

This week, living outside of the corridor meant that Christmas shopping for my co-workers was easy mostly because they all wanted alcohol. In fact, I walked 2 blocks to Walgreen's Liquor store and got everyone in the office exactly what they wanted. The men got Johnny Walker and the women got Belvedere Vodka with chocolate martini mixes. How much easier could it be? This kind of shopping is something that definitely wouldn't happen in the corridor. Besides the fact that most co-workers don't drink, liquor stores (alcohol in general) are not that easy to come by. I am not a drinker, so it wouldn't affect me other than buying it for gifts, which I enjoy doing. I think I must love cool bottles and the whole idea of mixing drinks (forbidden fruit from my youth).

Life way outside the corridor means that I don't know or interact with Mormons. They make up a VERY small portion of the population in Miami. I don't even know any active Mormons here. I am sure that I would if I actually went to church.  I have one FOMO (former Mormon) friend that moved here last year. My husband also works with a FOMO. Of course, I read Sofi's blog, who lives in my neighborhood. That is as close as I get to Mormon culture here.

I realize that I don't have time today to give this topic justice. Besides living outside the corridor, living in Miami is a topic all its own. Perhaps another day...I am off to catch a plane to spend Christmas with my family of TBMs (true believing Mormons). The more I think about this the more possible spin off topics there are. Like, what life was like living in the Corridor....hmm much to ponder for later.

Feliz Navidad

Annual Christmas Speech

Like clockwork in November, my mother would start her annual Christmas Speech. Most kids get the "Santa's Watching You, So You Better Behave" speech. Ours was quite different. She would start off with Santa has had a tough year. Then, she would go on to explain that Santa has a lot of kids to buy presents for, so we shouldn't expect much. We quickly learned that the number of presents had nothing to do with what kind of year "Santa" had. It was solely based on the amount of shopping my mom was in the mood for. Usually, she ended up buying way more than she had anticipated. Without doing inventory, she would continually feel like she hadn't bought enough. I am not saying that we were lavished in gifts, just that the "tough year" we had been hearing about never manifest itself on Christmas day. I have been thinking about this tradition and laughing about the idea of her giving us the speech this year when arrive in California. I think this may be one of those traditions that has fallen by the wayside.

Giving Your Man What He Wants

On the radio yesterday morning, the DJs left a little teaser before going to commercials. They said, "Up next, we'll tell you what men secretly want for Christmas." Naturally, my mind started mulling that over. I started thinking about a magazine article that had tips on this issue. It said women should dress up in sexy little Miss Santa outfits to really please their lovers. Another one said that single men prefer kisses that taste like alcohol, while married men prefer peppermint. I always find these tid bits of information amusing, so I wondered what the DJs had come up with. Finally, they announced that 70% of men are secretly hoping their significant other will get them tickets to a sporting event. I couldn't help but chuckle, because that is so true.

I toyed with the idea of getting Steve tickets to a game for a second, but my Christmas shopping is finished and he is well taken care of. I went about my normal day, until my boss offered me his tickets to the Heat game. Lucky Steve got his secret Christmas desire last night. I even invited one of my friends, so he was with 3 chics. Now, that is the perfect Christmas gift.

Tags: Heat Game, Perfect Guy Gift

Company Christmas Parties

This weekend was all about company Christmas (ok "Holiday") parties. Friday night, Steve & I went to his party, which was at Seminole Hardrock Casino. While the party was fun, I really just wanted to hang out in their amazing pool. It has caves, water falls, a bar in the middle, tiki huts with flat screen tvs, and everything. I also spent the night missing Lexi. After a whole day of work, Steve picked her up from daycare & took her right to my friend's house. I didn't get to see her until 11pm. This was only our 2nd time out without her. Fortunately, my company's holiday party was a family lunch at Buca di Beppo. I know a lot of people enjoy a night out without all the kids, but I prefer having kids around.

Tags: company christmas parties, seminole hardrock casino, buca de beppo

Explaining Santa to Parents

On Monday, while Lexi and I were sitting in the waiting room at the doctor's office, I heard a little girl (7 years old) explaining how she was basically going to manipulate Santa. She told her mom that she is going to ask Santa for a lot of REALLY expensive things because it is free for him. Apparently, (she explained) he gets everything for free. Her cocky attitude about how she was kind enough to spare her mom the expense made it hard for me not to snicker. When I saw the worried look in her mom's eyes, I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes. I wanted to say, "Just tell your brat the truth about Santa" or "Naughty kids only get a lump of coal." Good thing Lexi is too little to pick up on to this girl's philosophies.

Tags: Santa Clause, Brats, Manipulating Parents

Alphabet Tag

I've been tagged by the very clever Ms. ReformattingMyBrain. She saved me since I have been running on empty as far as posts are concerned.

A- Available or single? Nope
B- Best Friend? Hubby
C- Cake or Pie? pies, lots of kinds
D- Drink of Choice? Hot Chocolate
E- Essential Item? mascara
F- Favorite Color? For clothes, lately brown
G- Gummi Bears or Worms? Cinnamon bears
H- Hometown? I consider Katy, Texas
I- Indulgence? Where do I start? - practically all carbs
J- January or February? January
K- Kids and names? Lexi
L- Life is incomplete without? See K
M- Marriage Date? May 17
N- Number of Siblings? 4 - 3 brothers & 1 sister
O- Oranges or apples? Oranges
P- Phobias/Fears? Being stuck in Miami for the rest of my life
Q- Favorite Quote? If you want to be heard, speak up. If you want to be seen, stand up. If you want to be appreciated, shut up. (my grandma had this in her kitchen)
R- Reason to Smile? Vacation time
S- Season? Depends where I live. While in Miami Bch, I'll go with non-hurricane season
T- Tag three people! WizeUp, The Princess, & Anna
U- Unknown Fact about Me! Can't think of anything
V- Vegetable you hate? Lima Beans
W- Worst habit? Talking on the cell phone while driving
X- X-Rays you've had? Can't remember
Y- Your favorite food? Mom's homemade rolls
Z- Zodiac? Aquarius

Tags: Alphabet tag

Blogger Comments

The blogger comments hates me today. It will not let me sign into anyone's blog (ok, only 1). Maybe it is a good day for everyone to switch to haloscan, except for Pegs. First, I must tell you that there are a few advantages to blogger comments.

**By the way Pegs, I'll work with your code if you copy & paste it into an e-mail to me.

Don't Know What I Want

My husband asked me for ideas of what I want for Christmas. Some years, that is an easy task. This year, it isn't. I can think of a pretty good list of things I want out of life or even a few big items that I want in the next few years, but nothing comes to mind for Christmas. It is hard enough to come up with ideas for other people. I am open to suggestions... Does anyone know of anything amazing that is a must have or even an interesting thing to consider? Or, tell me what you want and that might spark some ideas.

Funny Photo Friday

Today, I realized that it has been a long time since I posted a photo for funny photo Friday. I decided to post this one because Lexi looks like a little devil. Hmm...I hope this isn't a sign of things to come (except during the inevitable terrible twos and the teenage years).

By the way, I got that cute little bow from Lizzie. She makes them to sell and now Lexi has quite a few in many different colors. Besides adding an element of cuteness to her outfits, the bows have helped in a way I hadn't considered. Finally, the people of Miami can tell that Lexi is a girl (the girly clothes weren't enough since she doesn't have her ears pierced).

Tag Team

Before a couple has a baby, the wife automatically thinks that her husband and her will have a parenting partnership. While that is true, nobody bothers to warn her that her husband will form a tag team with the baby that will be stronger than their partnership.

The other night, I was talking on the phone with a good friend who has a 5 month old baby. As she was finishing up feeding the baby, her husband walked in and asked what was for dinner. I laughed and said, "If it is not one, it is the other."

It is amazing how true that is. When one is done with you, they tag off so the other one can take a turn. Since Lexi has been ill, a good night's sleep has been non-existent for me. She showed great improvement yesterday, so I was looking forward to an uninterrupted night of snoozing. Alas, it was not meant to be. Although she slept peacefully, Steve woke up at 3:00 am with a horrible hacking cough attack. See... if it is not one, it is the other. I just know that they are out to get me.

Tags: tag team, dads and babies

San Diego-ite vs San Dieg-ON

Last week, I complained (prematurely) about everyone in my family gathering at my mom's house in San Diego for Christmas. I pouted about my husband and I having no time off to go. The more I thought about the trip, the more I wanted to go. When I really set my mind on something, I start to go INSANE if I don't get what I want. I decided to ask if I had any time off.

That was when the first Christmas Miracle happened... I have 4 vacation days & 2.5 personal days. I was completely shocked. They were carried over from the year before. Then, I started NAGGING my husband to ask if he could get one day. He was very resistant because he thought there was no way. Then, the second (and more amazing) Christmas Miracle happened. He actually has 5.5 days of vacation time. Now, let me tell you that it is simply impossible. He has only been there 7 months and had to take off LOTS of time. Apparently, they have many grieving days and didn't count some days when they told him to go home early.

We have plane tickets and a plan to go to San Diego for over a week. Yippee!

Unfortunately, I need one more Christmas miracle. Miss Lexi has not been doing well. As soon as her antibiotics were finished on Friday, she started running a fever. By Sunday, we had to take her to Urgent Care. Her fever was 104 degrees and she had double ear infections. They prescribed a different antibiotic. Yesterday, she had an allergic reaction to it and I had to take her to the hospital. She is doing much better now, but I am taking her to an ENT in hopes that she'll be feeling wonderful for the holidays.

Tags: Christmas miracles, San Diego, family time, ear infections

One Year Ago

One year ago today, I got a call from my sister letting me know that my father had just passed away from terminal brain cancer at the age of 56. As I thought about things I could write today, I considered describing him. Unfortunately, that isn't an easy task in a post considering the fact that he was a complex individual. Sure I could say he was borderline fanatic about religion, he had a genius IQ and fantastic memory, he had no mechanical skills, he had a horrible temper that later mellowed, he had an extremely dry sense of humor, he loved to run and play basketball, he always ate like he had been starving for years, he was too thin, and I could go on and on, but does that really paint a picture of who he was? No.

I also thought about ways that death has probably changed him. I would like to believe that death enables individuals to have an open mind beyond what they are capable of in life. Perhaps, he has been able to chill out a bit. I hope he is no longer overly obsessed with his kind of self improvement and constant internal evaluations. I also want to believe that he finally understands our relationship in a way he never could. I had worked through my issues with him several years ago. While I will never experience those warm fuzzy daddy feelings, I know that I understand him in a way that nobody else does.

Tags: death of a parent

Naughty or Nice

Most parents use Santa Clause as a threat during the holidays. We all have heard many times that Santa will not give presents to naughty kids. As a result, believing kids shape up during the end of the year. Sometimes they need a few reminders along the way, but for the most part it is all about getting rewarded. After many years of hearing these tactics, you would figure that people would automatically step in line at the end of the year. Right?

The Santa Clause threat still exists for quite a few adults in the corporate world. Some companies believe in rewarding good employees for being responsible, praiseworthy, and hardworking (possibly brown-nosing the best) with a Christmas Bonus. We are near the end of the year when they decide how large the bonuses will be, so as a logical person you would expect everyone to be on their best behavior, right? WRONG! Yesterday, there was major drama and tizzy fits in the office. Thank goodness, I am not in HR and know none of the details (grapevine gossip will probably get us all up to speed in a matter of days). My point is THIS IS NOT THE TIME to act insane!

Forget karma, doing good for the sake of being a good person, wanting to make it into heaven, etc., this time of year is all about the Christmas Bonus. So...all I am saying is watch your p's & q's and smile pretty for the camera (oh, & keep me out of it).

Tags: Christmas bonuses, naughty or nice, good behavior

Christmas Cards & Blogging

December is quickly approaching and I am busy designing Christmas blog templates and working on Christmas cards. With a hectic life and blogging, I have decided to take it easy on the Christmas cards this year. I am still sending out cards, but have ditched the personal message. I think the personal message is a nice touch. Perhaps, I should do a Family Christmas letter, but time is ticking and I want them done already.

It is strange how blogging has changed my life. Christmas cards used to be a big deal to me. I used to spend time making them, printing out matching envelopes, doing personalized letters, and all that. That changed when I started blogging. Last year and this year, I bought cards with a slot for photos. I slip in the photo, print out the envelopes & mail them out. I did take the time last year to write personalized messages. This year, it is just "Merry Christmas & Happy New Year" or something similar. I think by sharing so much of my life on the internet, I am not that inclined to do a letter. On the other hand, I also design & mail out 500 cards for work. That could be a major damper on the Christmas card fun.

Tags: Christmas Cards, Blogging at Christmas

More Flights and Family Time

As we were walking through the door carrying suit cases and Lexi on Sunday, my phone rang. On the caller ID, I could see that it was my mom. She asked how our Thanksgiving trip went and then proceeded to tell me that all of my siblings and their entourages will be visiting her in San Diego for Christmas. That made me a little sad that we wouldn't be going. Then, she stabbed the sad dagger in my chest. She offered to buy our plane tickets. She already checked the flights and we could go Wednesday to Wednesday. Unfortunately, this isn't a matter of paying for the tickets.

We have 2 issues keeping us from going. One (main reason): we both have negative hours of vacation and sick time. This has never happened to me before. I usually get money back at the end of the year for not taking all of my time. This year, however, we had to take many days off for Steve's mom (death bed, funeral, and burial). Given the fact that we can't take time off, flights to California are just too long to only spend a short time there. Two: Steve's dad should NOT be left home alone for his first Christmas without his wife. This isn't such a big deal, because my mom said he could come along. I am guessing he would also have problem getting the time off because of issue #1. Of course, those days off were put to good use, but now I want extra days. We deserve that right? When you have a difficult year because of parents dieing, companies should double the amount of time off they give you. Just a thought. My company would probably let me, but Steve hasn't even been at his job for a year yet.

It looks like we'll be stuck in Miami knowing that we are missing out on an amazing Christmas.

Tags: Christmas Trips, Family Time, Vacation

Amazing Thanksgiving

We had an amazing Thanksgiving thanks to everyone in the photo above. Everything seemed to flow so smoothly from the flights (Lexi took long naps both there & back) to the details like feeding the army of relatives. Even shopping on Black Friday was fun (people were much more courteous there than on any regular shopping day in Miami). We had such a wonderful time that we didn't want to come back.

This trip has made me realize just how thankful I am for blogging. I had only met Steve's cousins (Jennifer, Elizabeth, and Emily) and their families once (several years ago) at a family reunion. We have been reading each others blogs for about two years though. By getting to know each other that way, there wasn't any awkwardness. It was like being with long time friends.

I experienced a similar thing when Shokufeh came to meet us. Reading about each other and seeing pictures has made me feel like we really knew each other and meeting was just a formality. Actually, she is even friendlier and cuter in person if that sounds possible.

There are many things I am thankful for this year, but this trip has made me fully realize that being addicted to blogging is actually a great thing.

Tags: Thanksgiving Trip, Blogging Addict, Meeting Bloggers, Family Reunions

Weird Things Tag

I've been tagged by Dayngr Girl and here are the rules:

Each player of this game starts with the "6 weird things about you." People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says "you are tagged" in their comments and tell them to read your blog.

Here's my 6 weird things:
1. My tongue is long enough that it can touch the tip of my nose.
2. I never fail to lose my grocery list between the car and the front of the store.
3. I was a complete movie buff until 1997. I seem to get more out of touch each year, but I still LOVE movies.
4. I always have a headache. When I was 7, I was amazed to find out that most people don't. I have learned to ignore the pain for the most part.
5. When I was pregnant, I dialated to 5 cm without feeling one contraction.
6. I simply can't remember embarrassing moments. I am not sure whether I laugh them off too fast or use mental blocks.

Here's who I'm tagging: WizeUp, 30 & Flirty, Christy, Reformatting My Brain, Pegs, and Rachel.

Memories of Last Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time when you look back over the last year and fondly remember all the things you are thankful for. Steve and I have been discussing this subject quite a lot lately. Perhaps it is because last year, we took our Thanksgiving trip to Houston to see my father on his death bed. I don't think of last year as a horribly depressing Thanksgiving. We enjoyed being around my family and there was (as usual) lots of laughter. Of course, it was a bitter sweet Thanksgiving and will probably be one of the most memorable holidays I will ever have. This year, we are thankful for new babies, healthy family and loved ones, happy memories, our plans for a fun Thanksgiving, and our recently acquired guardian angles.

Tags: Thanksgiving memories, last year, being thankful

Vacation Mode

With our trip quickly approaching and hearing that others have already started the fun, my mind is slipping away into vacation mode. I am so excited about the trip that I can hardly let 2 little downers keep me from looking forward to it. The first (and most serious) is the descent into Dulles. With a baby that just started taking antibiotics yesterday for an earache, this could be a near hellish experience. I have Tylenol and will definitely have the pacifier ready, but I'm praying that she will not end up with a popped eardrum. This is one of those times when you just don't know how it will go. Perhaps, everything will kick in and the landing will be uneventful (crossing fingers). On the other hand, 15 minutes of screeching out in pain and terror would be hell and make us hated on the plane. Last night, we warned her Granddad that he might want to sit far away from us. One great thing about Southwest is that he has that option.

The other downer has to do with my lack of preparation. Remember last week when I mentioned the lists? Well, some of them were created. All those ones pertaining to Lexi were created. This morning with the temperature dip (into the 50s), I went into my closet to get dressed. I couldn't find my cute little gloves (only mega warm ones for skiing). I also realized that I am terribly lacking in realistic cold weather shoes. I have a few pairs of tennis shoes and a pair of cutesy boots, but no real shoes. All I have are slip-ons, sandals, and flops. It looks like I'll be wearing tennis shoes or slip-ons quite often. Oh well...the trip is still going to be AMAZING!

Tags: ear aches, planes, lack of winter shoes

Thanksgiving Recipes

I am dealing with a sick baby again. I tried to get an appointment with the doctor, but he wants me to take her to the Emergency Room. He always overreacts. I guess it is better for him to be too cautious, but it makes life more difficult sometimes. I'm just going to take her to Urgent Care this evening. I also think I need to contact an Ear, Nose, & Throat Specialist, because she is having too many problems.

Anyway because of all this and the fact that I still have work deadlines, I'm going to make this easy today. Here are my Thanksgiving recipes that seem to be most popular (people are always asking me for them/to bring them). The best thing is that they are very easy.

Tags: Thanksgiving Recipes, Rolls, Green Bean Casserole

TGIF

I am glad it is Friday even though this weekend will be all about preparing for next week. Besides our trip, I have two pot luck work luncheons to cook for and Lexi's daycare party. Every year, my office designates me to bring a green bean casserole and homemade rolls. That luncheon will be on Monday. A project office is having a pot luck on Tuesday. Fortunately, I'll just be making just the green bean casserole for that one. Lexi's daycare party is Wednesday. Knowing that I will be want something easy by then, I was smart enough to sign up to provide the paper products. I am sure the kids in her class don't really enjoy the Thanksgiving party like the older ones do.

So, it looks like while Steve is at work tomorrow, I'll be doing laundry, running errands, grocery shopping, and basically cramming in the fun. Sunday will be a designated mostly for fun/rest for Steve. He spoiled me several times this week by getting off on time to do the grocery shopping, cleaning, and cooking. I am came home to a nice surprise Tuesday & Thursday. What a sweetie, right? On top of all the hours he puts in at work, I know he is getting worn out. Anyway....BIG TGIF to everyone!

Wickedly Hot

One of my favorite things to do when chilly weather sets in is to grab a cup of hot chocolate from Starbucks and walk around. As you can imagine, my standards for chilly have had to change drastically since I moved to Miami or I would never get to enjoy this wintertime ritual. For the past few years, I have been dragging my husband to the Falls (an open courtyard mall). We hit Starbucks and walk around. This year, I am especially excited about this ritual because there are 2 great locations on the beach for it. First (and the closest) is Ocean Drive. There are even Starbucks near both ends of the street. This place is perfect for the ritual. Besides the ocean breezes, there are few places in the US where people watching is better. The second place is Lincoln Road. With all the amazing shops, this one will be great for the Christmas shopping atmosphere.

While I was in Bath & Body Works last weekend, I went to their little Christmas display and discovered their new scent that has now become my favorite. It is called Wickedly Hot Chocolate. I bought the bubble bath/body wash and the lotiony glistener. Now, every time I use it I hope that the temperature will drop to at least the low 70s. That will be my new standard of chilly, so we can experience this ritual several times this year.

Tags: Hot Chocolate, Bath & Body Works, Lincoln Road Mall, the Falls Mall, Wickedly Hot Chocolate, Starbucks

Holiday Panic Attack & Super Excitement

Someone pulled out a calendar in a meeting yesterday and started discussing timelines. At that moment, I realized that Thanksgiving is NEXT WEEK. Right after the meeting, I called Steve to warn him (I usually start giving him a heads up about things way in advance). I am still in complete shock. I haven't even started thinking about packing for our trip or making my designated dishes for the company pot luck lunch. I honestly feel like it is November 1st or 2nd. Where has this month gone? You would think with the Thanksgiving themed blog, I'd be aware that the holiday was approaching, but No. I blinked my eyes and the month is half over. For heaven sakes, it is already time to put the Christmas card list together. I feel totally unprepared. Ok, not that I would have done something by now, but mentally I should be more ready.

On the other hand, I am so excited for Thanksgiving I can hardly stand it. It has always been my favorite holiday. This year will be even better. We are going to Virginia to see Steve's relatives, including The Boss, Elizabeth, and The Princess. We haven't seen them in over 2 years. Between seeing how much the kids have grown and latest additions, I know it will be amazing.

It also seems likely that we'll get to meet Shokufeh, who has a blog that I have been reading for a year and a half. I have never met someone from the blog world before. You really can develop a relationship through reading posts and seeing pictures. She is such a great person and I can't wait to meet her.

The realization that this trip (that I have been waiting for) is actually approaching must be finally sinking in, because I feel the excitement building as I type. Must go, I have lists to make...

Tags: holiday prep, trip to Virginia, cousins, family

Wonderful Weather

This weekend, we just had to take advantage of the wonderful weather (lower 80s). Can you think of a better way to enjoy it than walking to the beach? I can't. We even waded in the water, but it is getting a bit cold for the local wimps (including me). We'll leave swimming to the tourists from up north.

Not an Adult

No matter how old I get, I feel young. Of course, chronologically I am an adult and I have a lot of responsibilities, but none of the phases have made me feel so mature. There were all the obvious signs of adulthood.

It could have happened when I went away to college, or got my first credit card, or graduated from college, or got my first career job, or used only my credit to buy a car, but nope. I still felt young. How about turning 30, getting married, or having a baby? No, I am young! People my parents' age are adults. People in my age range are young. People 10 years or younger are kids.

I am beginning to wonder when the shift will take place in my mind. Will it happen when my parents are the oldest generation alive, when I become a grandmother, or when I am on my deathbed? Hard to say really.

Tags: adulthood, kids, being young

Momma Bear

Yesterday, I went to a luncheon that focused on a topic that has been on my mind a lot lately. The panel discussed the importance of surrounding yourself with good people. I believe it is vital for business and life.

Looking back on my life, I realize that I have been completely fortunate to have a family that has strong values. I guess that was deeply instilled within me because all of my friends have been amazing people too. Teenagers often experiment and try to find independence through partying, but I didn't. My group of friends in Texas was so fun and about the only "wild" thing we did was stay out late. It is not like we were the nerds of the school; two of the guys were stars of the basketball team. We were always together having fun playing volleyball, watching movies, playing video games, swimming, camping, and basically hanging out. We all just came from good families. (I should note that my dad was very anti- friend camping. He was very conservative & couldn't handle boys & girls camping together. Too much worrying on his part, because nothing EVER happened. We were all FRIENDS.) I think that is how the teenage years should be.

With Lexi in my life, I feel an overpowering need to only surround her with positive people. I want her to have the best influences, great experiences, and fun friends. I hope Steve and I can instill only wonderful values in her so that later she makes wise decisions about friends and her life.

I believe something crazy and amazing happens to parents, but especially women when they have a baby/child. Nice girls become exactly like momma bears. They are fiercely protective of their cubs and quite weary of others. We all know how momma bears react when they are trying to protect their young. It is just part of the love that comes from being a parent.

Tags: momma bear, protective, great friends

Lucky for Me

I have had so much crap on my mind lately, that posting has become rather difficult. Thank goodness the oh so kind and wonderful Princess has tagged me today. Here is a fun meme.

1. Explain what ended your last relationship.
We simply were not meant to be. After 4 years of fighting and COMPLETELY different plans for the future, we finally went our separate ways when he moved back to the Middle East.

2. When was the last time you shaved?
This morning. I am wearing a skirt today, plus I hate stubble & shave often.

3. What were you doing this morning at 8 a.m.?
8 am means I have been at work for 15 minutes. At that time, I am still checking millions of e-mails.

4. What were you doing 15 minutes ago?
Wishing it was 5pm, so I could be wrapping up work & heading home.

5. Are you any good at math?
I was great until I hit calculus in college & then realized I hated it. Now, math only involves spreadsheets & I can't function without them.

6. Your prom night?
I graduated early & was gone by the time prom came around.

7. Do you have any famous ancestors?
Do you mean infamous? My mom's side dates back to the royals of England. Actually, King Henry the Eighth's Grandfather. Later on, quite a few were sent on the Mayflower because they were a pain in the butt to the royal family. One ended up being the first pilgrim executed for murder. Yeah!

8. Have you had to take a loan out for school?
I worked through school & my parents were fairly generous, but I had a few loans. Fortunately, I paid them off rather quickly. I should have kept them & paid of my credit card though...dumb.

9. Do you know the words to the song on your Myspace profile?
I am way too old for MySpace.

10. Last thing received in the mail?
For some reason the post office has yet to forward any of our mail (did the form online over a month ago), so we mainly get pizza coupons.

11. How many different beverages have you had today?
two: diet coke & water

12. Do you ever leave messages on people's answering machine?
Sometimes

13. Whom did you lose your CONCERT virginity to?
Hall & Oats (sounds extra kinky with 2)

14. Do you draw your name in the sand when you go to the beach?
No. If I didn't see the beach very often, maybe I would.

15. What was the most painful dental procedure you have had?
Got my 13 year old molars removed.

16. What is out your back door?
Our back door leads to the same hallway as our front door.

17. Any plans for Friday night?
No specific plans, but we usually stick Lexi in the stroller & walk to a nearby cafe for dinner.

18. Do you like what the ocean does to your hair?
No, makes it look like messy dread locks.

19. Have you ever received one of those big tins of 3 different popcorns?
Only at work & I left it for the office to share.

20. Have you ever been to a planetarium?
Twice in Houston & twice in Salt Lake City, but only for laser light shows. Seemed like there was a time when guys liked to plan that for first dates.

21. Do you re-use towels after you shower?
Yep.

22. Some things you are excited about?
Thanksgiving Baby!

23. What is your favorite flavor of JELLO?
I don't eat jello.

24. Describe your keychain(s).
A pewter key chain with a moose on it that says New Hampshire. Sometimes, it gets my purse searched at airports.

25. Where do you keep your change?
In my car for parking meters.

26. What kind of winter coat do you own?
hmm..it has been so long since I have used one. When I go on trips in the winter, I usually take rain coat and warm clothes. I have a nice ski jacket somewhere in storage.

27. What was the weather like on your graduation day?
I didn't attend my high school or college graduation. For high school, I graduated the beginning of my senior year & by May, I was so over high school. I finished my last classes of college in June. By the August graduation ceremony, I was living in the Middle East.

28. Do you sleep with the door to your room open or closed?
B.S. (before Steve) I slept with it closed. He prefers open and it isn't a big deal to me.

I tag WizeUp, Anna, & anyone else interested (let me know & I'll tag you next time).

Election Day Countdown

For over a month, I have anxiously been counting down to today. My anticipation for Election Day has nothing to do with being excited to vote or in finding out which party will dominate. I am looking forward to the end of campaigning. Honestly, all the money that is thrown into ridiculous commercials, banners, flyers, etc is a complete waste. I am not trying to down play the importance of democracy, just empty campaigns.

What are they all really telling us?

After every commercial, I find myself saying so what???    Ok, every opponent sucks and this candidate will work to reduce property taxes and home owners' insurance. Blah, blah, blah every candidate says the same crap. If they are going to pay for publicity, can't they at least come up with entertaining commercials? PLEASE STOP HIRING ALL THE SAME CAMPAIGN MANAGERS!  I have a great suggestion for the candidates ~ Hire ad executives!!!


That would be the perfect solution.  Ad executives know all about being creative, skewing ideals and images to fit the masses, and entertaining the pop culture audience. Candidates that have oodles of money can hire the same executives that do the Superbowl commercials.  For less fortunate candidates, may I suggest interns? There are thousands of creative students who would jump at the chance to work on these types of projects. Florida candidates can try any of the major schools or even the Miami Ad School.

All I am saying is that for the money, candidates could do A LOT BETTER!   Either hire better people or give the money to needy people.

Tags: election day, campaign ads, ad executives

Too Much and Not Enough

Have you ever sat down to write a post for your blog and realized that you have too much swirling around in your brain to come up with an idea? That is me today. There is so much garbage to deal with and freaky bits of this and that, so I end up with nothing. Do I go on a tirade about a certain person that isn't living up to his end of the "we paid you off to get out of there bargain," or do I think about my crazy workload, or the relatively boring weekend I had while Lexi recovers from being sick, or blahblah blah? Maybe I should just day dream about what I would like or things I am looking forward to like Thanksgiving. All in all there is just too much and not enough going on in my blonde head today.

Sharing the Celebrity Sightings

Going along with yesterday's topic, I decided to mention the celebrity sightings I've had. They absolutely don't compare to Steve's football legends, but here goes. Well, the ones that come to mind this morning anyway.

First and most famous was Robert Redford. Early spring of 1995, I was hiking in the mountains (of Utah) and walked down into the middle of the Sundance Resort. I was looking around at the scenery, but was aware of a few men nearby. When I got closer to the men, I glanced up and locked eyes with Robert Redford. We both smiled and I went on my way. He was directing the guys on future construction at the resort. I must say that I was a bit surprised by how short he was and how old his skin looked. Film makers do wonders.

Second and less well known was Thomas Mikal Ford, who played Tommy Strong on Martin Lawrence's sitcom. He is the tall bald guy. This sighting was about 6 years ago. At the time, I was dating a guy who was simply addicted to that sitcom. While on a lunch break at the Dadeland Target of all places, there he was with his family (& very high maintenance wife). I wasn't expecting to see him. The cashier that ringing up my stuff looked like she belonged on the show so I told her that Tommy was standing over there. She got excited and informed me that he lives around here and comes in every once in a while. When I left, I saw a bunch of young guys run up to him for an autograph.

The third one is very bizarre. In fact, I just went to google to type in these words: female tv evangelist pink hair. I guess only one person fits that description because there she was, Jan Crouch. I saw her at Paradise Island in the Bahamas during Christmas of 2001. At that time, I was working in the Bahamas and decided to use my Christmas break to experience Junkanoo. My old connections got me a cheap rate on Paradise Island. I saw her several times in the Atlantis Resort and she was wearing her big pink wig and fake eyelashes. Other wise, I would not have recognized her one bit.

Those are the celebrity sightings that I can remember today. Odd...I know. Hope everyone enjoys the fact that it is Friday. I'm dealing with a very sick baby today, which means I have to cancel and important lunch meeting with an executive client. I also have to try to battle a crazy workload while taking her to the doc & trying to keep her happy all day. If today wasn't Friday, I'd say just shoot me now!

Tags: celebrity sightings, Robert Redford, Thomas Mikal Ford, Jan Crouch

Steve's Ideal Day of Work

Steve's company is hosting a huge training seminar at Shula's 2. During the lunch break, he decided to peek his head into the restaurant. He had no idea that he would experience a fantastic fanatic fan moment. At a table, he saw Don Shula, Dan Marino, "Mad Dog" Jim Mandich, Joe Rose, and one other old time Dolphin player that I have never heard of. Basically, yesterday was probably be best day of work he has ever had.

What I want to know is when am I going to see some completely amazing celebrity in person while working? Perhaps, I need to talk my boss into moving our office to the Beach. Plus, I can't even think of a celebrity that turns me into a crazy fan like Steve is with these guys. I guess I'd settle for the hilarious celebrities like Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, or Jackie Chan.

Happy to Be Featured

Eric from A New Eric has a weekly feature called Know Your Blogger. He sent me an e-mail a few weeks ago asking me if I would answer the questions & then I'd be featured. Fun, right? I feel honored to be selected for this week's interview. As an added note, I am working on a new blog design with an even cheesier freckle face girl cartoon. I am just having a few problems with the code, so it may take a few days to get it up and running.

Lincoln Road Halloween Extravaganza

Matching Tinker Bells

Mr. Cat Woman
Bumble Bee Family

We went to Lincoln Road last night for Halloween Festivities. The place was CRAZY packed. From 5 - 7pm, the festivities were geared toward kids. Tons of kids were everywhere running from store to store to get their precious sugar fixes. It was fun seeing all of them. From 8 - midnight, the party was centered on adults. That was the plan anyway, but people will still coming with babies and kids when we left.

Lexi and I got there at 6pm and Steve joined us at 7pm. We walked around and grabbed a quick bite at Pasha's. Mostly, we were there for people watching. Let me tell you, that there were definitely interesting characters. If I was bolder and the batteries on my camera weren't dieing, I would have better pictures for you. Plus, we left at 8:30 just as more fascinating partiers were arriving like the gay bondage couple (one with a whip & the other in chains), plenty of authentically flamboyant drag queens, a hooker rainbow bright, etc. The typical trick-or-treat crowd you see in any US neighborhood, right?

Happy Halloween (for Real)

Guess what goofy girl forgot to bring the camera on to the MetroBoo outing??? Yep - me. It was in Steve's truck & he went to a work golf tournament that morning. Fortunately, my friend who went with Lexi and me to the zoo brought her camera. She hasn't had a chance to e-mail me yet. I only have these photos from when Steve was able to join us. The zoo was packed, but most of the kids were hovering around the candy passing out stands so they didn't interfere with our fun. We really enjoyed seeing all the different costumes as well as the animals. Lexi is going to be Halloweened out soon. She has a party at daycare today. Then tonight (weather permitting), we'll be enjoying the festivities on the beach. I guess overkill is pretty good for her first Halloween.

Tags: Happy Halloween, kid costumes

The Joy of the Friday Before Halloween

It is Friday today and I am really looking forward to the weekend. We are planning to take Lexi to MetroBoo (the Halloweenized MetroZoo). It will be fun to dress her in the costume (pictured above) and see all the little animals & wild kids there. Halloween is always a fun time, especially with a little one around.

As I look back on the week, I realize that I have learned a lesson. Basically, it is true that you can throw money at a problem and it will go away, especially if that problem is a person. I paid a beggar at the Heat game $1 and he stopped pestering us. In fact, he began giving us praises as he walked away. That same day, for considerably more money, we got a messed up relative to move out of my father-in-law's house. This particular problem was once our houseguest for about a month. Since I was ready to strangle him in that short time, I have felt sorry for my father-in-law for this entire year that he lasted there. I know it has been difficult, but it is going to be much better. Now, the sun is coming back out and none of us will be responsible for him and he KNOWS that. I am so optimistic about this situation that I have convinced myself that we will not have to spend the next few holidays with him. I will still keep my fingers crossed though.

For now, it is Friday & I feel Happy Happy Joy Joy!

Tags: Halloween at MetroBoo, paying off relatives

Let's Go Heat!

Still busy - thank goodness pictures speak a 1000 words. As you can see, we went to the Heat pre-season game last night. We only stayed until half time/Lexi's bedtime, but we made it on the jumbotron twice (too bad the picture didn't come out well).

Tags: Miami Heat, Heat game, baby's first sporting event, AAA

Ripping Out the Hair

Don't ya just hate it when you have so many freaky deadlines that you feel like ripping out your hair? Then, you realize that less hair would cut down on your morning prep time and therefore might not be such a bad thing. Plus, Halloween is coming & the strange new look could add to whatever costume I might end up wearing. Right? Basically, I have to keep this short...like my hair is going to be.

Tags: stress, ripping out hair

Miami's First Chill in Time for Halloween

We have our first cold front for Fall. ...burrrrrr.... Ok, more like put away the tank tops for the day. The low is a chilly 60 and the high for today is 75. Tomorrow, the high will be 80. Then, I think we are going to be enjoying the mid 80s for a while. For those of you up north, big deal right? It has been in the 90s lately, so this is GREAT! Lexi and I can take our evening walks in decent weather.

Tags: Miami cold front

Daddy's Daughter

In Miami, as far as my husband is concerned, we have 2 seasons - football & non-football. He likes all sports (and basically ANYTHING on ESPN), but nothing compares to footy, footy, football. Anyone who knows him, knows that he is a complete sports freak. I like sports too, but will never be able to compare to the fanatic I married. As you can see, Lexi is well on her way to learning the importance this time of year has for her Dadda.

Tags: Miami Dolphins, Sports Fanatic, Next Generation

Finally Friday

Today, I am relieved that it is finally Friday. Even though I had a big presentation to clients rather early this morning as was not able to wear casual Friday attire (you know how I HATE that). My week has been full of deadlines with proposals and presentations galore. This time of year is always busy, busy, busy for me.

Unfortunately, we had a bit of a crazy night that is making today more blah than usual. Lexi was on one of her whimper and cry every hour schedules. It doesn't happen very often, but it is not a surprise. She does this when she is feeling particularly bad from one of her daycare diseases (being dramatic). She started at 11:55pm. She did it again at 12:55am and 1:50am. I just have to hold her for about 5 minutes before she falls back to sleep, but it really breaks up my night.

If that wasn't bad enough, at 2:50am the fire alarm for the building went off. Let me tell you that it is LOUD! Would you believe that Lexi slept through it??? The girl wakes up at the slightest sound or light and managed to sleep through this.

The alarm happened to go off last Saturday at 7pm, so we are aware that it drives all of the tenants out to sit on the porch. If we stayed inside, we would either go deaf or insane. As you can guess, I was annoyed & Steve was EXTREMELY annoyed. He wanted to bust the alarm or put tape on it. I just went to my closet to find slippers. As I was carefully picking up the sleeping baby, the alarm shut off. We were too tired to be mad at that point and were probably back snoozing in minutes. ...so yeah for Friday and the hopes of a great weekend!

Dinner?

Hubby: "Thanks for dinner!"

Me: big smile & snickers (thinking dinner? - we had tuna fish sandwiches)

Hubby: "What!?! It was good."

Me: It was just tuna fish, but I'm glad you liked it.

Steve was supposed to work late last night so I was either going to skip dinner or just make a sandwich. When he called to say he was getting off, I told him we would be eating tuna for dinner. I hate to admit this, but since we moved to SOBE I have only made one real dinner. The local joints are just too tempting.

Striking Deals

Sometimes in life when you pay extra it is just a waste of money. Other times there are benefits beyond your wildest dreams. Just south of South Beach, there is an exclusive island called Fisher Island. The only way to get there is by ferry. I have heard that Oprah, Tom Cruise, and numerous other stars have condos or houses there. Like many in Miami, I know someone that knows someone that lives there, but no direct links. Basically, the place is pretty much a mystery to me.

Last week, I started enjoying my commute home from work. I drive opposite of traffic through the Gables, hit a small stretch of US-1 and I-95 and then I am on the famous Macarthur Causeway. I get to see the Carnival Center for the Performing Arts, the Port of Miami, Parrot Jungle, Star Island, the Marina and even Fisher Island before hitting the Beach. I have gotten use to taking in the beautiful scenery.

Twice last week (Tuesday & Thursday), all of Miami was covered with clouds. Tuesday, I noticed that there was only one area glowing from the sun and wouldn't you know that it was Fisher Island. I laughed and thought, so that is what they pay for. Thursday, I guess I shouldn't have been surprised that once again everywhere else was gloomy from the cloud cover, but this time Fisher Island had half of a rainbow that looked like it ended on top of them. I am beginning to wonder just what kinds of deals are being struck over there.

Tags: macarthur causeway, fisher island, star island, miami beach

Stroller Scenes of SOBE

Pancake Girl Marries Non-Pancake Boy

My family is big into breakfast. Every Saturday morning, my mom used to make a huge breakfast that included pancakes or waffles. We like them so much, that she often would make pancakes for dinner one night a week. I guess we are just carb-loving bread eaters and this is the breakfast version. How can you not love a flap jack covered with butter and syrup? Thinking about it makes me hungry right now.

Unfortunately, my hubby is not so much of a pancake lover. In fact, he is only mildly interested in them once in a while and definitely NEVER for dinner. He prefers eggs and hash browns for Saturday's breakfast. Sometimes, I can talk him into homemade breakfast burritos with those ingredients and salsa in a tortilla. I can even get him to agree to wanting French Toast, but pancakes and waffles are usually a no. What? How could anyone not love pancakes? My solution: I just have to stop asking him what he is in the mood for & make what I want. Now that I think about it ...pumpkin pancakes sound delish!

Tags: pancakes, waffles, breakfast lover

Too Many or Never Enough?

Somehow I have convinced myself that there are a few things you just can't have too many of. Apparently, I have fooled myself into believing this to the point that I have pushed the limit on buying these items. I am sure the list could be long, but recently I have noticed that we have enough flashlights and fingernail clippers to stock every room in a large hotel. I can blame my father for the fingernail clipper thing. For my entire childhood, I remember that once a week he would go off on a tirade that there were never any fingernail clippers around and that we should all learn to put things back where they belong. He became like a broken record. Every time he went off, I couldn't help but think to myself that they are really cheap so he should buy 100 pairs and stash them all over. That way, he would surely find one whenever he needed it. As an adult, I have bought and stashed them all over and we NEVER have that problem.

Going overboard on purchasing flashlights happened when I moved to Miami. Every year right before hurricane season begins, the hype about buying supplies starts. Now, I admit that I don't rush out to stock up, which ads to the problem. All the stores move the flashlights near the registers. When I am in line at Target, I remember that I should get a few things. I don't want to go back through the store, but hey look at this nifty pack of flashlights. Surely, the power will go out at least once this year and they will come in handy. My old ones could be burned out or broken and they don't have these great new colors or features. Basically, I realize that we may not have water, gas, or snack foods, but there will be enough light for us to cut our fingernails.

Tags: fingernail clippers, flashlights, shopping extremes

3 Things Meme

I've been tagged by the notorious Wizeup.

3 Smells I love:
1. baby lotion
2. fresh baked bread
3. pumpkin pie

3 Smells I hate:
1. stinky alleys
2. burnt coffee
3. fish heated up in the microwave at work

3 Jobs that I have had in my life:
1. Marketing Manager
2. Media/Marketing Specialist
3. Project Controls Specialist

3 Movies I could watch over and over:
1. Our wedding video to tease Steve about how nervous he looked
2. Much Ado About Nothing
3. Christmas Vacation

3 Fond Memories
1. Falling in love with Lexi at the hospital
2. Steve completely surprising me with the marriage proposal
3. Family get togethers

3 Jobs I would love to have:
1. Foreign Service
2. Travel Journalist
3. SAHM

3 Places I have lived
1. Katy, Texas
2. Melbourne, Florida
3. Doha, Qatar

3 Things I like to do:
1. play with Lexi
2. blog
3. walk on the beach with Steve & Lexi

3 Of my favorite foods
1. almost anything with ranch dressing on it
2. pasta
3. fresh baked bread (sucker for carbs)

3 Places I would like to be right now
1. on a Caribbean Island
2. Europe
3. basically on vacation almost anywhere

3 Websites I visit daily:
1. the blogs listed on the right under connecting with
2. bank of america
3. hotmail

3 Things that make me cry
1. difficult deaths
2. stories about people hurting kids
3. crappy parallel parking spots (just not much for crying)

See Paige, you had no faith in me, but the day is far from over...

Unpacking? - Never!

Yesterday, we did the final clean up and removal of the rest of our junk from the house. Steve felt a little sentimental because that was our first home and the first place Lexi ever lived. I was just glad that we were done moving. I guess I was also annoyed because the title company said we had an open permit, which we supposedly had taken care of back in June. I had to call the county to have them fix their records, which turned into explaining the whole story several times to each person I was transferred to. I am ready for that all to be over with.

When we got home last night, I was still not in the mood to unpack the kitchen supplies and I realized that it is a good excuse to check out another fine eating establishment in our area. I must thank Amy for recommending Fratelli La Bufala. Steve had pizza and I had calzone and they both were amazing. Who wants to unpack and cook when there are so many local places to eat? Perhaps, I can stretch out this avoidance of unpacking until the weekend or more. Amy has also recommended Clarke's and so we must try it. It is only right to explore the area and become a local rather quickly, right? Surely, I can come up with at least 365 of these reasons/excuses. Like today, we are closing on the house & should celebrate that.

Tags: Unpacking, eating out, SOBE

Rainy Mishaps

Last night when I got home from work, we decided to head out for dinner at the Big Pink. For some reason, we have never been there, but have seen it many times on tv. They are one of the few places for SOBE residents and reporters to hang out during hurricanes. They also make deliveries in pink Volkswagen Bugs. It is a place that you just can't miss.

As we were crossing the street to go in, we felt a few rain drops so we decided to sit inside. I wondered for a second if we should just head home now because the weather might get worse and we were several blocks from home. Since our food and kitchen items are still packed, we stayed. The food was surprisingly great, much better than the crappy TGI Fridays we had the night before (I'm still not sure why we even went there).

About 10 minutes before we were ready to go, Lexi fell asleep in my arms and I noticed the rain had subsided. We quickly paid, packed up everything (baby stuff & left-overs), and headed out. The rain was light at first, but got worse with each block. By the time we got a block away from the apartment, it was pouring. We were all wet.

We finally got under the cover of the front stoop and Steve began searching for the keys. They weren't in his pocket, they weren't in the diaper bag, they weren't in the stroller, and I didn't have them. He started to get really frustrated and ticked off. Right then, a guy came out of the building and we were able to go into the lobby. I handed Lexi to Steve and looked through the bag and stroller again. I looked at Steve and could tell that he was having nightmarish visions about what we were going to do and how we were going to spend the night (he got the extra potent worry gene from his mom).

It was one of those rare moments when neither of us brought our cell phones or we would have called the restaurant to see if the keys were there. There was no other option, but to go back out in the rain. I told him I would go look in my car because we had them when we got Lexi's stroller out. No luck. I came back and told him I was going to run to the restaurant since I was already dripping wet. During the walk there, I wasn't as nervous as I probably should have been. I walked in and a group of guys were sitting at our table. I asked the waitress, but she hadn't seen them. I walked over to where we had parked the stroller & saw them sitting on the floor where nobody would have looked. I realized right then, that if we had our cell phones we would have been told the keys weren't there. We would have given up on that idea. So, this was a little bit of good luck on a bad luck night.

I ran back to the apartment to find Steve nervously waiting on the front porch with Lexi. I held up the keys like we had won the lottery.

Tags: lost keys, rainy night, SOBE, Big Pink