Happy Arbor Day!

In celebration of Arbor Day, enjoy these pretty pictures

of the redbud tree in my yard.

We're Famous!

For some reason, last year at graduation an Etown photographer took a picture of me, KT, and Jason looking like happy graduates.

Fast forward to this year and Etown's online graduation announcement... featuring yours truly, KT, and Jason!

By far the coolest thing that's happened to me all week.

Fourteen Reasons Why I Can't Wait to Have Kids

Working at a kids clothing store does really horrible things to my internal clock. Here's a very small sample of what makes it tick way faster than it should...

Our pet stump bunny

It's a stump that looks like a bunny! He says, "have a good day," as I pass him on my way out of our driveway.

Today he's saying, "Happy Earth Day!"

Feeling Flush

There are very few things that I really like about my body. Fortunately, there are even fewer things that I really hate... mostly I'm just ambivalent.

I hate Braden. He's my stomach parasite. Jason named him about four years ago. Well, he's not really a parasite (at least I hope not) he's just just a good excuse to make me feel better about my stomach hating me and making me feel nauseous every once and a while for no known reasons. Love him!

I hate my ears. Not the outside part, I'm ok with that. I hate their insides, the part that aches real bad when it's cold and windy, the part that kills whenever I lie down on my side for large amounts of time, the part that feels all clogged and uncomfortable whenever I run.

And I hate my joints for constantly making me feel like I'm about 105 years old.

But, more than my joints, my ears, and even more than Braden, I hate my propensity to blush.

I do it all the time. Even worse, I often can't exactly figure out why. I blush when I'm embarrassed or see an attractive guy or am put on the spot like any other normal person. But, I blush other more awkwardly normal times, too.

I can blush when I'm talking to someone I've known for years about something as mundane as socks. I blush when I'm talking to the girls in my ballet class about college (and not because I'm talking about all of my many scandalous exploits... not like I have any). I blush when I talk about my future.

I actually really enjoy public speaking, although I'm sure many of you (all 5 of you) would be surprised to know that. But I am often attacked with a burst of red when I'm doing that too.

And I'm not just talking about face getting red blushing here. When I blush my core temperature rises about 10 degrees higher and my palms and pits start to feel dewy (sorry... thats probs TMI) and I can feel the redness spread across my face. Which, of course, just makes it worse, because then I do get embarrassed about how it looks like I'm getting embarrassed and it just perpetuates the vicious cycle. GAH!

I guess it's just another piece of my silly dysfunctional body that I'll have to learn to accept...

maybe I'll name my flushed state Rose.

Views From My Car Window

On my way to work today the sun was starting to set and it looked really pretty. So I stuck my camera out the window (camera strap firmly secured to my wrist thankyouverymuch) and just started snapping pictures. I think I got some very pretty shots!

Vampires and Werewolves and Pathetic People.. OH MY!

Have you ever read a book gets stuck in your head? It doesn't even have to be a good book exactly, in fact, it could be an awful, horrible book but it's a book all the same and it just sticks there.

This unfortunate situation is happening to me with an unexpectedly and, quite frankly, embarrassingly unwelcome force with a book, well series actually, that I recently started perusing. Maybe you've heard of it...

It's a classic story. Girl falls in love with vampire, girl almost gets killed/turned into a vampire, vampire gets sad and goes away, girl gets super depressed, girl meets werewolf, girl gets a little undepressed thanks to said werewolf, werewolf hates vampire, bad things happen.

Sound familiar?

Yep. That's right. I'm reading Twilight. Start judging. I am.

Honestly, I hate myself a little bit for kinda liking it. The story is silly, the writing is not all that amazing, and the characters are way over the top. But I can't help myself. I'm sucked in (get it... sucked.. like a vampire sucks blood... ok lame. sorry I won't do it again.)

I never wanted to read these books. They seemed silly (which they are) and I can be a bit of a book snob at times, so I found it a little hard to take seriously a book that has its name plastered all over the walls of Walmart and Target and has its own little section in Barnes and Noble and comes complete with an entourage of screaming girls and obsessed middle-aged ladies who wear "I heart Edward" and "I'm with Jacob" T-shirts. It's like Harry Potter (which I did enjoy) on steroids. I mean really, with all this baggage who could possibly take themselves seriously when they read these books.

But, curiosity is a bitch sometimes and I'm ashamed to say that it overwhelmed me, mostly because my mother decided that it would be a good idea to watch the first movie. (It wasn't bad, but it wasn't all that great either by the way.) So I got the book and for about the first half I was basically aghast by the writing and the lack of creativity. Then, to my chagrin, I started getting sucked in.

I still don't know why. The main character Bella is depressingly obsessed with Edward (the vampire) and he is equally possessive and creepy. I was really quite disturbed by the way that he often hopped in her window at night just to steal a peak at her sleeping and listen to what she had to say in her midnight rambles... mostly she just talked about how obsessed she was with him. And then in the next book, after Edward deserts her, Bella befriends Jacob who is pretty much obsessed with her and the cycle continues with Bella in the middle making me feel a little nauseous with her hole in her middle from Edward's absence and her selfish desire to gain Jake's friendship, even when she knows he wants more.

But for some reason, I became attached. And now, I just want to know what happens. I've reached the middle of the second book... I started reading it yesterday on the day of the New Moon (I thought that was kinda poetic, considering the name of the book) and I'm already (sort of eagerly) anticipating the next two. I'd recommend that you read them too but then I'd feel bad about subjecting you to the personal torment I feel whenever I have to check out the next book in the series from the libs and I am paranoid that the checkout man is judging me.

It's pathetic and I'm sorry. Please feel free to mock me.

Smoking

I've never been a big fan smoke.

Well, let me clarify that, I've never been a big fan of cigarette smoke.

My grandfather smoked a pipe for almost the entirety of my childhood and I always loved the way it smelled. To this day, when I smell pipe smoke it reminds me of summer vacation and great times spent at my grandparents house in Vermont. In short, it makes me happy.

Sometimes I don't mind people who smoke. My other grandfather smoked his entire life and it took me about 16 years to realize. He always sort of did it in private, hiding his cigarettes and lighter from my brother and me. His ashtray always sat on the bookshelf by the door, but it was crown shaped so I always just thought it was a neat decoration. I guess you could say I was naive or ignorant, but I think it was just that he was a conscientious smoker. I have a friend who is the same way, he smokes like a chimney but it never interferes with our lives. Even when we are driving, he manages to smoke without making the car smell bad or fill with smoke... it's like magic!

But there are other people who just don't do it the classy way. Take several other people I know for instance. They are all super nice and I like them a lot, but they go on smoke breaks like every 30 minutes or something and come back smelling like, well, smoke. And it's not the usual cigarette smell, because honestly that smell doesn't bother me all that much any more. It's a nasty mentholated orangy mess that makes me feel sick to my stomach. And then I have to talk with them and smell them and try to keep the sudden raging headache and nausea at bay, so as not to let them realize that I want to kill myself at that moment... or them. Even worse is the person who dips. And then proceeds to spit into his cup while he is giving me my assignment or telling me how to properly write something. Or when I have to man his desk and use his computer and type on his dirty keyboard, all the while looking at the can or cup of dip spit that is sitting right next to the screen. Gross!

So, I guess what I'm trying to rant and rage about is really just this, people who insist on smoking cigarettes (and I'm not trying to tell them not to, although it is very bad for their health) really need to learn how to do it the right way, the polite way. And preferably pick a cigarette that doesn't smell like something rancid.

Spinach Pasta

Homemade spinach pasta is one of my most favorite meals ever.
Doesn't it just look amazing?

One Sad Sad Story

BERLIN (Reuters) – A German woman arrested on suspicion of trying to smuggle a corpse onto a plane says her husband was still alive when they reached Liverpool airport.

Gitta Jarant told Bild newspaper on Friday she hopes to get the remains of her husband Willi from Britain as soon as possible to have him cremated -- and then return to Berlin.

Jarant and her daughter were arrested at Liverpool's John Lennon airport on Saturday suspected of failing to give notice of Willi's death. She told the paper the 91-year-old former pilot had died at the airport just before the flight.

"I'm not a smuggler," Jarant, 66, told Bild. "My Willi only died at the airport. He suddenly looked so lifeless, like a wax figure. His fingernails turned blue all of a sudden. At home he was still warm -- I swear!"

The retired pilot was pushed in a wheelchair through the airport wearing sunglasses before check-in staff became suspicious and he was prevented from boarding the plane.

"I want to have Willi cremated and then fly home to Berlin with his ashes," Jarant said. They live in Berlin but spent several months each year in England with her daughter, she said.

(Reporting by Erik Kirschbaum; editing by Paul Casciato; published on April 9)

Wise Words to Live By

Congrats Dawn!

The Piano Tribute Conservatory

Yesterday in ballet our teacher played this version of Fireflies in class and I loved it. I actually liked it more than the original. It's definitely making its way into my nap mix. Enjoy!

Fireflies. Piano Tribute to Owl Eyes by the Piano Tribute Conservatory

Vanilla Twilight. Piano Tribute to Owl Eyes by the Piano Tribute Conservatory

Happy Confederate History Month!

On Tuesday, our wonderful Governor McDonnell declared April to be Confederate History Month in Virginia.

Cool. Love it when we show our southern pride.

Apparently he did it because he wanted to promote Virginia's role in the Civil War (or the War Between the States). And who wouldn't? Virginia has more Civil War battlefields and more confederate cemeteries than any other state in the country. In fourth grade when we took Virginia history, we studied the Civil War for like two weeks. And then there's the fact that Richmond, our current capital, was the capital of the Confederate States for quite a while. Oh and you can't forget the Confederate heroes like General Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson who were from our lovely state.

So, I guess that I just can't figure out why McDonnell has been catching so much flack for his decision. I mean it's not like this is anything new or weird or offensive or anything.

April was Confederate History Month under our last two Republican governors, although the last time we had one of those was eight years ago.

Next thing you know, we'll be reinstating our old holiday, Lee-Jackson-King Day, (it was split into Lee-Jackson Day and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in 2000). There really is nothing better than a holiday that celebrates both civil war confederate heroes and a civil rights god, especially when the alphabet conveniently puts the confederate guys first!

Never fear. The South WILL rise again.

Feelin Hot, Hot, Hot

It's days like today and tomorrow, when it's 92 degrees in April, that make me think that global warming might actually exist....

Fun fact of the day - this week last year it was 80ish on Monday and Tuesday, 30ish on Wednesday, snowed 1.5 inches on Thursday, and was nice again (70s and 80s) on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday... that's springtime in the Valley for you.

Did That Just Happen??

Ok so normally I don't really get in to sports drama.

I could care less about how many people Tiger slept with. I feel bummed about those dogs that Mike Vick was involved with, but at least he seems to be trying to be a better person. I think its kinda funny how silly old Brett Farve keeps undulating between retired and not.

But this "breaking news story" is more than I can handle. McNabb is no longer an Eagle.

Worse. He is a Redskin.

My world has been shattered. Officially.

McNabb is a legend. He's 45% of the reason that the Eagles are one of my favorite football teams. When I think of the Eagles, I think of him... and possibly Westbrook (who has also been released).

The Redskins on the other hand, are one of my least favorite teams. Sort of. It's not that I don't like them, it's just that I associate them with things I don't like, like Starter Jackets.... see my previous post on the weird feelings I associate with random teams for an explanation here.

What will I do come September? I've never liked the Redskins, but a guy who's arguably my favorite football player out there will now, most likely, be "the man" on their team. Do I change my opinions? Do I start to root for a team that I've essentially hoped would die every Sunday or Monday night? Will I find that I don't like the Eagles as much without their familiar leading man?

I only wish this was an April Fools joke... 3 days late.