Many things...

Sorry I've been sort of MIA. I've been traveling - and I'm tired. This weekend, I hope to do nothing but be at home. After six weekends of straight travel, I need a break. K. and I plan to do little but catch up on the DVR, play with the Wii and nap. Maybe a movie if we're feeling feisty.

• What's with all the red velvet cupcakes? I mean I love red velvet cake as much as the next girl - after all, rv cake is my go to cake choice for pity parties (don't ask), but I've had four separate conversations with very different people about red velvet cupcakes. Is there something I'm missing?
  
• I have nails. Now before you roll your eyes at the obviousness of that statement, let me explain that I bite my nails. A lot. A lot a lot. And I have nails. And they're strong and lovely and feminine. I am amazed at myself. Am I finally calm? Is this what happiness is - the ability to get a manicure without the woman clucking at my bad habits? Fantastic, I tell you.
  
• Stalking every Wal-Mart, Target and Best Buy between here and Charleston was totally worth it. We are the proud owners of Wii Rock Band. And I am kickin' K.'s ass.
  
• Jeopardy! is having online qualifying quizzes on Tuesday, Jan 27th. Fingers crossed and prayers said, K. will actually go through with it. I think I need to tempt him with this payoff.
  
• Love, love, love Mrs. O and everything she wore. I am so excited to have a First Lady that I can not only respect (I did respect Mrs. Bush), but aspire to.
  
• I have many thoughts about the inauguration. I'm working on figuring out how to express them.
  

That's it for now. Y'all have a good weekend. Ahhh, I will!

She must get me.

I don't know this blogger - I only subscribe to her lovely blog, Bakerella. You probably should as well.

Even though we've never met, I can't help but think she'd get me.

Who pays?

Man, that is one set of cohones. The gov isn't sure if he's going to the inauguration, but more importantly, he's not sure who will pay. (link here)

Really?

That's what you're worried about? Have you been invited Mr. RINO? Because I'm pretty sure, that while Florida was a key victory for the Obama campaign, you had nothing to do with it. How about stop taking free trips on Florida's dime (lest we forget the Europe debacle), and instead do something to help the failing schools and crumbling roads in Florida. Perhaps - dare I ask - make sure there's money to match SCHIP when Florida's authorization expires in March? Hmmmm.....

Never, just never.

I will never watch Momma's Boys. It is ridiculous.
Done.

gism, weekend wrap up

Ladies & Gents - this has been a jam-packed few weeks. Christmas, NYE, my birthday... and next weekend we get ready to celebrate a new administration and a newly challenged leader. It's too good to be true!

I feel like I spent this past weekend driving - we headed south for a wedding. I think weddings are romantic. After meeting my husband at a wedding, it seems as though the cheesy-factor goes through the roof. I love seeing two people who are well matched entering into this covenant. This wedding was gorgeous -- the bride was all glow-y and the groom had the best poker face I have ever seen. I got to hang out with old (and new friends) and thoroughly enjoyed watching The Tambourine. JFC, I will come down for a Saturday. Or hook up the Wii for a double date (and I feel a little silly writing that out. Holla.).

Also, this whole grace in small things thing... I feel silly making a list every day. Mainly because, weaving through this whole blog thing, are little elements of where I find grace. In my husband who brings me a diet coke for a Friday surprise. In the relief of being appropriately dressed for a wedding (can you believe someone wore WHITE?). In a new dog toy that is stuffing free. In the card my parents-in-law gave me, the one that makes me feel like a real part of the family. In the sweetness of three birthday cakes. In the strength of surviving another year - growing in my faith, growing as a person and getting past that which holds me back.

I see grace in so many ways - okay, so a list is a definite way of making a point of the whole thing. Pausing to take notice. etc. I might not do it every day, but in case you were wondering, I've never had to do something every day for it to be real.

ps. Would you ever ever wear white to a wedding? One that wasn't your own?

Signs on the side of 19

(and man, I wish I'd taken a picture).

TRUCK
PARK'N

KNIVES

And when we came up to the spot with truck parking - well, it was a treat. Not only could you purchase knives there, but also laying hens. Obviously the two things go hand in hand. Obv.

practice makes perfect

It's true - practice takes perfecting. Or um, practice makes perfect. I'm not what you would call laid back. I doubt one would even say that I tilt. So this whole laissez-faire thing I got going? It is shockingly lovely.

The fact that K. is getting this whole birthday thing so right? Only took three years. Imagine what next year will be like. People, I had Birthday Bunny with a South Beach Egg Souffle cup (sparkly candle and all).

I'm incredibly happy to have been alive for twenty-eight years. And I am stoked to start this next one. I've been writing at M&MD for three years now. Can't believe the change my life has taken since then.

Thank you and thank God.

Birthday Cake

I'm pretty much a psychological bully. Poor K., he doesn't know where to turn about this whole birthday thing. I want a cake; I don't want a cake. I want it to be white cake with plum flowers; I want a chocolate cake with raspberry filling. The poor guy.

Knowing that he sort of fell short of expectation in the birthday department the last two years, the bar was set high. And I'll admit, I think birthdays are really important. Like, as in my favorite day of the year.

Today, when I realized that I had royally confused K., I took matters in my own hands. And not because I was angry or upset or sad or disappointed. I did it because I know that my husband, as a heterosexual Republican male, probably cannot differentiate between lavender and plum (and yes, I threw in the Republican barb just for laughs). And you know what, that's okay. SHOCKING.

So he'll pick it up (honey - Publix on Friday) and I'll be happy. He makes life easy for me all the time, why not return the favor?

gism #4

1. Finding the exact code I need and the ability to implement it. Ahhh, geekdom.
2. Ordering my own birthday cake without feeling like a controlling bitch or a woe-is-me Debbie Downer.
3. Figuring out that the dress for this weekend's wedding is already hanging in my closet.
4. Looking at the dark chocolate leftover Christmas candy and moving on - quickly.
5. The feeling of excitement about tomorrow - fear is at a minimum.

I wonder if this whole grace thing isn't some elaborate ploy to develop a daily blogging habit. Hence why I wish I could figure out a way to keep it on the side nav. Regardless, I had a wonderful thing happen to me: around 1 pm when I swung by McD's to purchase my first diet coke of the day (large, light ice) I realized how grateful I was in all the elements that made it possible - a short line, money, a car (you can't walk through the drive thru), the gift of literacy and sight and a body that can handle the intake of one diet coke a day. Yes, I'm down to ONE.

I'm glad I had that moment - and not just at night when I try to write this list. Yeah! Already the habit is rubbing off...
1. Beating K. at Wii Bowling. Still have a lot to learn about boxing.
2. Living in a place where flip flops are not just tolerated, but encouraged.
3. Refund checks that appear out of the blue.
4. New OPI for Sephora (metro chic) nail polish, sort of cross between gray flannel and lavender.
5. Pictures from NYE where I look fantastic instead of fat (and I don't feel bad about saying that, as I am only a few days away from getting closer to thirty, sort of).

gism

Hi. Hopefully the return to the real world after your holiday was easier than mine. I am exhausted and am contemplating heading to bed and letting the DVR do the heavy lifting tonight. Also, if any of you brilliant people out there could help me out... I like this whole grace in small things thing, but I wish I could keep it on the side bar, instead of having to post it every day in the main content section. Yes, me = weird. Any thoughts?

Small Things, January 5, 2009
- a sweet husband who scurries to get a cold diet coke in the morning
- a day without carbs (almost made it 24 hours!)
- my bargain Goodwill-found ottoman
- dwindling countdown till seeing my aunts at the beach
- mail: three cards that didn't make me pause and five thick glossy catalogs that did

Excited about television.

Yes, yes I am. Especially since the DVR is now in my life and I have perfected the fast forward x 4... So here's my short list:

Big Love (HBO) - it's back after a looooooong hiatus.
Burn Notice (USA) returns for its first winter season.
Lipstick Jungle (NBC) - don't laugh, it's actually not bad.
Trust Me (TNT) - a new show that looks to modernize Mad Men. Can't wait.
Secret Diary of a Call Girl (SHO) - Billie Piper is awesome.
How I Met Your Mother (CBS), Life (NBC), Chuck (NBC) and The Mentalist (CBS)

And let us not forget the trainwreck Real Housewives of the OC - I love it!

Happiness, pt 2

The night I met my husband, we had to sign a large bowl in the manner of celebrating the next day's marriage ceremony. While my husband scrawled "Live long and prosper," I wished the happy couple many happinesses. However, I misspelled (in the irony of ironies) the word happiness. (Yes, it was hapiness and yes, I was embarrassed).

Driving home yesterday evening, we were talking about how lucky we are. I have high hopes for this year and am hoping for two major life events to fall in the next twelve months. I would accept more major life events, but there are two I'm particularly looking forward to. So where am I going with all this vagueness?

I am happy. I feel like shouting it from the rooftops. Some of my family thought it was funny that I was keeping a running chart of consecutive days of happiness. But I am, and I have been happy for more than two months. I am relaxing more often and - dare I say it - with ease. This is huge for me people, HUGE.

So, when Whoorl started this whole daily Grace in Small Things I thought it sounded interesting, if a little tedious. I read Schmutzie's post about the idea in general and similar feelings of Oprah-like cheesiness. But last night a post slid by on my Google Reader and I thought - you know what, I would really like to try that. My 2009 goals are to stop drinking caffeine and get a new puppy. Perhaps a little something more substantial is in line?




So, here goes - Grace in small things...
1. Cold Diet Coke in the morning.
2. Long car drives when I get to spend time with my husband.
3. Proper packing crates for Christmas ornaments.
4. Ordering Wii Rock Band as a birthday present to myself.
5. Being home, in my home, after two weeks.

1.1.09

I love the start of a new year. It's like a brand new blank journal - unlimited possibilities. Also like a new pair of shoes, needing breaking in.

Christmas was lovely. K. got a Wii (which I was almost successful in keeping a secret). It was very low key, which I'm getting used to. I even fully accepted the south Florida weather and embraced shorts on Christmas Day.

It was a really interesting year. I made it past my first year of marriage. I often said that I was really glad we were married because if we weren't, we'd probably break up. Seeing as how our relationship moved so quickly, I consider our first year of marriage to be the equivalent of the seventh year of marriage. Think dog years.

But we made it, and as we turned the page on May, things just got better. Could be because I took a calmer job and had more time to spend on him and myself. Could be because my husband stopped drinking. Could be because we just needed some time to get used to the whole marriage thing. Whatever, it's totally working for us now.

What else happened? Oh yes - my first trips to NYC and Disney World. Football, football and football. Lots of hair color. It was a great year. I don't think I'd change a thing. Really. And as far as 2009? I am psyched.

I have a good feeling about this year - a feeling that has everything to do with how I rallied this morning and nothing to do with how Carolina played against Iowa. I'm hopeful and excited and thinking about all the REALLY BIG THINGS WE HAVE PLANNED. And by we and I do really mean me.