On my davenport, feet on a hassock.

I just want to let Jill (since she asked) and anyone else who cares, that I don't like birds. They freak me out.
I blame my aunt Becky.

I was fine, didn't mind birds in the least, didn't give them a second thought, until one day, we went to Panama City to visit Grandma and Grandpa L., and Aunt Becky was there.
She said "hey, lets go feed these stale donuts to the seagulls; won't that be fun??

I liked animals, it sounded fun.

Yeah, I was wrong. Have you seen the movie "The Birds?"
Imagine that, but on the beach with seagulls, dive-bombing your head for a scrap of a donut!!
Very traumatic.

So, no, I don't like birds.

Unbelieveable, but true!

First things first: The Solstice is back in the driveway. New steering wheel, no explanation of the 'malfunction'. I figure it's some don't ask/don't tell policy of the GM mafia.

All time favorite movie is on TV tonight: Dirty Dancing! Nobody puts Baby in a corner. Man, that Johnny can dance!!! (Funny little piece of info about this movie: I watched it for the first time at my friend Valerie's house- when I wasn't supposed to- when it first came out on video...and I just plain didn't get it. Watched it again in college and thought "ooohhh....that's what they mean by getting Penny in trouble"...I just thought it was a fun dance movie and Penny had the flu!!)

And- saving the best for last-
You'll never guess what we're getting soon.....
*******
(I feel like this is pretty cool so it should have some building up here...)
****
drumroll goes here
*****
dum dum dum.....
*****

A
BIRD
LOVESEAT!

No kidding! Apparently, the previous owner of the bird couch also had a matching love seat, and has since passed away and we are now the rightful owner of another avairy situpon!
(Go Dad! Nice find!)

WOO HOO!!!

(p.s.- situpon is a Davisism, much like mustgo and using Benny)

Who'd-a thunk??

Who would have thought a side ponytail would spur so much conversation??

It's got me thinking more about this 80's flashback style. Leggings, in particular.
I know I recently said I'd never again wear leggings, but then again, about 8 years ago I swore I'd never wear capri pants. (I currently have nearly 12 pair of capris in various colors and styles!) So I guess I ate my words there.



So basically, I can't be held accountable for any future fashion actions. I just may show up to work next week in leg warmers!!

After all, I was the one who laughed at last years trend of tucking jeans into boots and then wore it myself a few weeks later.
Oh well. Guess I'm fashion fickle.

Gloomy Sunday

Where is the sun? It's still August, last I checked. Don't get me wrong, I love fall, and I can't wait for it, but if it's going to be 88 degrees, maybe there should be a little sunshine w/ it so a girl can soak up some end-of-season cancer rays, right?
I've got to keep up what little tan I have until November when I go to St. Thomas!
It's a great day...bagel an coffee with a Lifetime Movie for breakfast. Good stuff.

A few random photos out of my collection:

1.Joe and I in Pittsburgh, in January
2. Joe and Rylee at Easter
3. Deb, scrapbooking at our house (Amy, Kara, and I were there too but most likely we were taking a food break...aren't we messy???)








Oh, and another thing: I should add that I did have my own clothes growing up, it's just that the memories of them are shaded by those of hand-me-downs. :)

Why do the pages of Vogue look vaguely similar to a trashbag full of hand-me-downs from Aunt Jenni?

So, I'm sitting here thinking about Brenda's side ponytail, and contemplating all the 80's fashion don'ts that are now dos;

Side ponytail? OK. Cute.
Headbands? Again, cute.
Denim jackets? We've all got one, so it had better be cute!
Neon colors...eh...haven't decided yet. I think a teen could pull it off.
Denim miniskirts? Love 'em.
Black and white striped off-shoulder v-neck tee? Want one, haven't gotten one yet.
Printed tights? Bought my first pair of the season yesterday. (Brown argyle, in case you're wondering.)
Leggings under skirts? Cute for teens, I'm too old.
Flats/ballet slippers (a.k.a. Sam & Libby's!)? Finding myself wanting them more each day!
Big hair? Check! I dug out my hot rollers the other day; bought a new curling iron day. Haven't used the flat iron in a while.
Big earrings? Got 'em.

But two things I just can NOT bring myself to wear:
1. Skinny Ankle Jeans
2. Leg warmers.

I saw both at Target the other day. I guess you need the skinny jeans so the leg warmers can fit over the ankles?
Ew.

Oh, and speaking of the 80's, let's talk movies.
I still hate the Breakfast Club. But I did watch Pretty in Pink the other night- and I thought "here we go, another Molly Ringwald trainwreck". But, it wasn't too bad. I won't give it a "good" rating, but definitely not horrible.

But can Blane be any uglier?
Why's Molly got to have a sped boyfriend??

Put Your Thinking Caps ON.

Yes, school's back in session. Not that it really makes any difference to me, since I work year round, but to all of you teachers out there, my sympathies are extended. (As long as you're feeling bad for me when I'm waking up to go to work on Saturday mornings and you are all sleeping in and watching cartoons~ oh wait, most of you aren't 8....)

Anyway, I've somehow become a planner of my high school 10-year reunion. I know, I know, but I'm in that position now, and it's too late not to be.
So, the part I need help with is this:
We've got no money. The money we're collecting per person will cover the dinner and the room reservation. Other than that, no planning funds.

What possible entertainment can we offer for these people, that will cost little to no money? Any ideas?? Anything??? I'm out.

I'd rather be Rachel, not Martha.

I just cooked the most amazing dinner. And I cooked it in under 30 minutes, a la Rachel Ray. Yeah, I'm bragging about it, but it's so good! It's just stir fry pork w/ broccoli, and fried rice w/ eggs and onion, but this time I used this Asian stir fry sauce from Rothschilds (remember the sample we had, mom and Jessica?) and cooked the pork and broccoli in that. I'm eating my plate of food while Joe is checking in w/ the moth supervisor; he may have to eat peanut butter and jelly when he gets back at 10 (yes, we eat that late!) because I just might eat it all.

No, stir fry isn't the most exciting thing I did today, just the most recent, so it's fresh on my brain

Other, more exciting, things I've done this weekend:
1. Photographed a wedding.
2. Ate at the Gypsy Cafe
3. Went to Grandma's 85th b-day party.
All very fun!!!

By the way, the Gypsy Cafe has no affiliation w/ the Gypsy Moth.

Want to know what I think?

This is what I think about the whole JonBenet Ramsey case:

I don't think that this guy they're charging with the murders is guilty.
I definitley think he's some kind of stalker/whack-job/freak show, but I don't think he killed her.
I find if every interesting that they had no leads for years and suddenly a month after Patsy Ramsey dies, they find someone to accuse.

It's so obvious that her mother killed her.

It's also obvious that this guy needs to be taken off the streets. And since momma is dead, can't convict her now, might as well let some other psycho go to prison in her place.

It's just too twisted, really....think about it. This guy most likely didn't kill her, (I don't know his name, and I refuse to even look his name up, because that's what he wants from all of this) he just wants to take the "credit" for it. Because he's a freak, that's why. It's his way of being "famous".
And now that the likely killer is dead, he can feel free to take the blame.
And the press is so trigger-happy (heheh no pun intended there) to convict someone, they'll jump at the chance to put a name on this whole weird thing.

That's just my "expert" opinion on the whole thing. (Because, as you know, I have a cosmetology license, and that's almost equal to a psychology degree.)

Solstice Update

No update.
They haven't even looked into it yet.
ARRRRRGHHHHHHHH.

Babwa, Wednesday, and Sam Walton

I really can't stand Barbara Walters. I'm hanging out here, tails on the bird couch (mine and Cissi's!) watching the View, enjoying my day off; just sitting here not liking Barbara.
First of all, I don't even like the View, I'm just too lazy to change the channel today. It's a horrible show, almost as bad as Oprah, and the only good thing about it is Joy. In my opinion it should be the Joy show.
Ever since Star "left", it's really been apparent to me what a big ol' bully Barbara really is and I just want to reach into the tv and snatch that great big flower right off her ill-fitting blazer!

Enough about her though. It's Wednesday, so that means day off for me (one of three, you know...) and so far I'm enjoying it. I did do a little bit of work, wrote some paychecks, did some accounting paperwork, but now I'm done and it's on to more important things: finishing my coffee and seeing if there's any good Lifetime movies on today! Also on the agenda for the day: Give myself a pedicure, blowdry my hair, read some more of my latest James Patterson novel, and later on, ride my bike to the park to check out 4 year old soccer practice. (My friend's daughter is a new soccer player). I love Wednesdays!

OH! And most importantly.....dum dum dum....(there's so much to write about today~) today is the day that THE NEW SUPER WALMART OPENS!!!!!
Oh. My. Gosh.
If you live in U-town, you know what a big deal this is, but for those of you who don't live here, it's pretty much the second coming of Christ. Maybe even bigger. They've got the high school band, the cheerleaders, majorettes, all in full uniform and glory (and probably sweat, today) to welcome in the best of the worst of the Wal Mart shoppers.
It's bigger than the fair!
I, personally, won't be checking out the new digs, I don't much care. Although, I did notice a new SHOE store in the strip mall, and that I'll definitely be checking out, to add to my ever-growing collection of boots...but I think I'll wait for all the hoopla to die down.
Happy b-day Super Wal Mart! Welcome the demise of the downtown businesses....

Eveyone loves a survey!

Cheesey, yes, but admit it, you love to read them! So here's the latest I've seen- "Me from A to Z"

A is for Age: 28

B is for favorite Beverage: Tab energy, diet Citrus Green Tea

C is for Career: hairstylist

D is for Dog: one, Cissi, pug/chihuahua mix, age 13

E is for Essential everyday item: coffee

F is for favorite Food: chocolate or bread

G is for favorite Game: pool

H is for How many of these surveys have you filled out in a lifetime? probably 14973

I is for Ice Cream: Yes, love it, just about any flavor. Right now Ben & Jerry's Neopolitan Dynamite is pretty good.

J is for Juice: on it's own, orange. Mixed together, cranberry & pineapple.

K is for whose butt you'd like to Kick: Either someone at GM, or maybe Chuck Norris, just to say that I did it!!

L is for Last food you ate: a drumstick (the ice cream, not the chicken)

M is for Marriage: yes, almost 5 years. Love it!

N is for Nickname: Lola

O is for favorite Outdoor activity: swimming in the summer, walking in the fall

P is for famous People you've met: Hootie & the Blowfish, Justin Chambers (from Grey's Anatomy)

Q is for Quote: "What is is"

R is for Regrets: I kind of wish I hadn't bought 2 CD's on Monday, because i really only like one of them.

S is for Shopping: Yes, love it! But clearance racks only. Best purchase this week, a new "party dress" for $5.36.

T is for favorite TV show: Grey's Anatomy. And 7th Heaven, haha.

U is for Uptown? or Downtown? Probably uptown. Sounds fancier.

V is for Vision: glasses, contacts, or none? Have 3 pair of glasses, but I wear contacts every day.

W is for Worst movie you've seen: aside from the the Breakfast Club? I'd have to say, this week, Kinsey. It started out OK, and then it just bombed.

X is for X-tra piece of info: I ate a raw salmon sandwich for lunch Monday.

Y is for Your favorite talk show host; Either Tony Danza, Roger Lodge (Blind Date), or the guy from The Soup

Z is for your Zodiac sign: Cancer

W.W.C.N.D.?

I got some great advice from my aunt today- She said I should call Chuck Norris, because he would have had my car fixed yesterday. Good thinking Jenni!!!

the Bird Couch (and Cissi)

Allright, so the birds on the couch are definitely overpowered by the flowers, but "big ugly flower couch" just doesn't have the same ring to it as "bird couch", does it?
No one loves the bird couch more than Cissi, so it's only fair that she's in the photo too. Other than Joe pillow, and a sunbeam on the carpet, the bird couch is one of her top picks of places to hang out.
I know, the couch totally clashes with the wall color; but is there really any wall color (other than burnt sienna or raw umber) that would look good up against that??

True Story

The following story is true. A friend of mine overheard this conversation while waiting in line in the drive thru at White Castle. It took place between the driver of the car in front of him, and the White Castle Employee.

WC Emp: Welcome to White Castle. Can I take your order?

Man: Yes. (proceeds to place order)

WC Emp: Anything else?

Man: Yes, I have a coupon.

WC Emp: And what is the coupon for?

Man: Uh, White Castle! Duh.

(Got to love Springfield!!!)

Airbag story, take two.

Apparently, fixing a mutant airbag is easier said than done. We dropped the car off at the dealership yesterday, and I drove home in my loaner ride (a G6, which is nice, but white, and I hate white cars). They said they'd get it fixed ASAP and call me today w/ an update.
So Anne from the dealership calls me today and said that the engineers told her to stop touching the car, they'd "done too much already" and I need to call this number to speak to the Allegation Department before anyone was allowed to touch my car.

I now refer to GM as General Mafia, because they are acting all secretive like that.

SO- I call this "Valerie" woman who says I have to fill out an Allegation Report, because basically they don't believe my story. They're sure I must have hit something, even though I tell them I didn't, and I have a witness and a police report to prove it. Arrgh.

The point of all this is that I had the most mind-numbing conversation with Valerie today, so that we could recount the details of my "accident". It went something like this:

Valerie: So you're saying you were just driving along, and your airbag deployed.

Me: Yes.

Valerie: Where is the car now?

Me: At the dealership.

Valerie: Do you plan to take it in for service?

Me: hm...yeah. It's already there.

Valerie: Oh, so it's at the dealership already?

Me: Yes.

Valerie: Which dealership?

Me: Isn't that already in your records?

Valerie: Oh yeah. Right.

Me: MmmHmm.

Valerie: So, You were just driiiving along and boom? Airbag?

Me: Yes.

Valerie: How many people were in the car?

Me: Just myself.

Valerie: And where were you sitting?

Me: Um, in the drivers seat.

Valerie: And the car was in motion when this happened?

Me: Yes.

Valerie: How fast were you going?

Me: About 5 m.p.h.

Valerie: And who was driving?

Me: ME!

Valerie: And you were just driiiiiving along and the airbag deployed?

Me: YES!

Valerie: Was anyone hurt?

Me: Yes, I was, on my-

Valerie: I'll get those details later. Was anyone else hurt?

Me: Uh...no.

Valerie: Was there anyone else in the car with you?

Me: (?) NO.

Valerie: And you were driving, correct?

Me: Yes. I was alone. Driving my car. In the driver's seat.

Valerie: Were you wearing your seatbelt?

Me: Yes.

Valerie: How were the road conditions? Was there any ice or snow?

Me: Uh, no, it happened last Friday. August 4. No snow.

Valerie: And where is the car now?

Me: At the dealership!

I think you get the idea. This went on for thirty minutes. So now she sends this report to "them" (the mafia?) and I wait. Until....?????

Witty poncho title goes here.

This is us at Niagara Falls on the 4th of July, on the Maid of the Mist. It was definitely misty, but worth it. It's harder than you might think to get into a hooded trashbag in the wind and mist. Don't we look luuuvly??

Let's Play Pyramid!

Ahh....the game show network. I love it! I'm a big Pyramid fan, myself, so here's a category called "Things I've Broken". I'll be the celebrity, you guess what I'm explaining. Everything in this category falls under the description of things I have broken in the past five days.

1. It's black, fast, it's a means of transportation, it used to have an airbag....?

2. OK, you might use these to take a piece of toast out of the toaster, if you don't want to use your hands, or stick a knife down in the slot. Made of bamboo, from Pampered Chef---?

3. On a laptop computer, you type on the ____. This is the one that you push to make the page scroll down.

4. If you were trying to fix something you broke, you might try to stick it back together permanently with ______. This is the strongest type of it, and can stick your fingers together if you're not careful...or you just might break the whole top of the tube in half, like I did.

5. You wear this around a toe for decoration, and it will definitely break if you drop a cell phone on it.

6. This is what you use to change the channel, and if you (or maybe the dog??) sit on it just right, it's rendered useless. However, if you're lucky and have a husband who can reprogram it, it's no biggie. :)

Of course, there's the usual broken hearts and broken laws I leave in a trail behind me, but that's nothing new.

Yes, there really is a bird couch.

The bird couch is a hand-me-down, obviously. I'd never actually buy a piece of furniture with a bird (or any animal) on it, but it was free, and we needed something to sit on, so here it is. It's uglier than sin, and at first we put a slipcover on it, but that got to be a pain, so now we just embrace the ugliness that is the bird couch. One of these days I'll get a photo of it on here.

Airbags. Hah! Ouch.

I got beat up by an airbag today. I was driving along (in my new Solstice, p.s.) at a speed of about 4 m.p.h. (I was still in 1st gear, if that tells you how "fast" I was going) and the car horn started to honk on its own. Strange, yes? So I started to pull over and check it out, and then out of nowhere, the airbag blew up on me! Luckily my arm was up, because I was turning the wheel, so it hit my arm (rather than my face!).
And then the car horn wouldn't stop honking, and neigbors started coming outside, and airbag "fluff" was smoking out of the steering wheel; someone called the police (I'm not really sure why?) and 2 police cars showed up, started taking photos....it was really a fiasco.
And now my arm hurts. It's my 'round-brushing' arm, too (that's my right arm, for those of you not familiar w/ hair-speak~). I have a feeling it'll be bruised up in the morning.

I'm still pretty baffled by the whole incident.

Photo, shmoto!

So, I tried to upload a couple of photos of our recent trip to Canada. But, no, my feisty, overworked laptop wasn't apparently in the uploading mood tonight, so no photos. BLOGGIT! Oh well, maybe tomorrow.
In the mean time, I'm headed Kroger to stock my pathetically empty fridge with the essentials: milk, bread, pepperjack cheese, and Neopolitan Dynamite Ben&Jerry's ice cream! Oh, and Tab Energy. Good stuff.

I don't get it.

Here's a list of things I just don't understand:

1. Wearing pajama pants and/or slippers to the store.
2. The show "Pants off Dance off"
3. Crocs (the shoes, not the animal)
4. The Breakfast Club (admit it, it's really not that good of a movie!)
5. Why "it's hot outside!" is the top news story. It's summer! Of course it's hot!!
6. Spandex pants
7. Man-capris
8. Hollywood's fascination of combining couples' names (ex: "Bennifer")
9. Reality TV
10. Where is Suri Cruise?? Why haven't we seen her???

...and then I found five dollars!

Just a little trinket of advice: If you're ever telling a story and it's completely bombing, (you'll know it is by the glazed-over eyes of the person pretending to still be listening to you!) wrap it up and add "and then I found five dollars!" to the end. I promise, it will revive any dying story!