3 Old Friends, Together Again

It's not very often that I have friends or family from the good ol' Midwest come all the way to SC to visit me. When I found out that my old college roomies/dear friends/bridesmaids, Jade & Mulder (Ashley, but we all call her by her maiden, last name), were talking about coming down to visit, I about did a backflip. Yaay! Friends!!! It was so exciting to count down the days for them to arrive, and now their visit has come and gone. I miss my friends already..

Back in 2004 - An "eventful" Spring Break in Galveston, TX

They flew in on Friday and we spent the day doing some shopping and relaxing. We made yummy, home-made pizzas and watched a part of The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. Ya know.. the movie Heath Ledger was making before he died (also with Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law). What a trippy movie! (I ended up watching it again before returning it, and like it way better the second time). Anyways, Justin left for the weekend as well, to go visit his brother (Levi) up in VA, so we had the place all to ourselves like the good old days!

Saturday, it was pretty overcast so laying by the pool was a no-go. We decided to head Downtown Greenville for lunch at The Lazy Goat and walk around a Reedy. I was excited to take them there because I love The Goat! I didn't realize that going for lunch would mean a different menu (we've only been for dinner), and so it was a bummer I couldn't introduce them to some of my favorite things there. Oh well. Despite how hot it was, we sat outside to catch any sun we could. I felt a tiny bit bad for our bumbly waiter, cuz I think it was one of his first days, but he really had NO clue what he was doing. We could barely hear him, as he whispered the lunch specials to us. Another bummer, as I had been saying such great things about this place. Long story short, our newbie waiter was completely clueless about everything and poor Mulder's order was messed up (twice). After lunch, we stopped by Spill the Beans for some drinks, and walked around some more. It was so nice to bum around town with my friends - something I never get to do.

After we got back home, we relaxed a little and layed by the pool before getting ready for dinner and Sex and the City 2. Jade was on a mission to get there atleast 1 hour early, assuming there would be masses of women and people waiting to get in. We planned everything accordingly... We picked up our tickets early and headed to PF Chang's before heading back for the movie. Dinner was delish, and we made our way back to the theater to get in the big, long line.

I gotta say, it was pretty funny to give Jade a hard time for rushing to get there.. There was no line before us or after us, as we waited for the showtime before ours to finish. Crowds are totally different in the Twin Cities.. Oh well, we had a good laugh!

Jade, fighting the big crowds and long lines

Shortly after we settled into our seats, a group of older women came to sit in front of us and they reaked like liquor.. Halfway through the movie, Mulder and I giggled that the woman in front of her was totally passed out.. Wow.

Waiting for the movie to start

Sunday, we relaxed, watched Friends until the clouds went away, layed by the pool, went shopping and had dinner at Copper River Grill.

After dinner, we drank wine and played card games. Of course, Mulder warned me she'd whoop my butt in Memory, and she sure did! Real goood.. Reeeal good now.

Theeerrre it is.

Jade sure LOVED Romeo!

It was really wonderful to catch up with my friends and it felt like no time had really passed since I moved down here. It stinks that the few times I make it up to MN for a visit, I barely get a couple hours to see old friends or catch up. Not to mention, we all really needed this weekend for a little vacation together. Oh, Jader and Mulder.. Come back soon??


xo

Aging Doesn't Scare Me

I have never been one to hate my birthday because I'm getting older. Yeah, I miss things about when I was little.. When I was in high school.. When I was in college.. But aging doesn't really bother me. I wouldn't say it's a "tough subject" for me. I've met others around my age (give or take) that are extra sensitive about another year tacked on - which is understandable. Especially working in the cosmetic business with all kinds of skincare (which I use as well) and constant goals to prevent and restore and fix and repair.. Most people really hate aging. Of course I want to prevent wrinkles, etc., but I don't know why turning another year older never really phased me. I guess I see each year as what it is - What can I do about it? Nothing.. So might as well make the most of being 26, and 27 and 28.. If anything, I find it more fascinating than scary. How in the world did I become 26 years old, anyway? I swear I just turned 8 and lived it up at my Crazy-Eight's dress up party. Time flies.

I wanted to blog about this, because I got an e-mail FW from my Mom that I thought was pretty cool. I find myself really relating to it, but some things I haven't quite experienced. I don't even really feel old.. Just wanted to share.

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, or my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend.. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM or sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60 & 70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ... I will. I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set. They, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver. As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day (if I feel like it).

What I'm listening to:

Kings of Leon - Closer

xo

It's My Own Fault, I'm Phoneless

How in the world did I get by without a cell phone in high school? I don't even know how I made it through most of my freshmen year with only borrowing my mom's phone - and I only wanted it just to feel cool (Thanks again, Mom!). Obviously back then, phones were not what they are now - Not only were they big and clunky, with black & white screens (remember Nokia? Everyone had those stinkin' things!!) but of course they didn't have the convenient features like we have today, like internet, texting, apps, etc. They were purely just to make calls. I never realize how much I rely on my cell phone until I don't have it.


Yesterday afternoon, I was cleaning up, doing laundry, and trying to get things done around the house before hanging out with friends for the evening. Of course my Blackberry never leaves my side. Never. I was texting while doing dishes yesterday when it happened. I dropped my innocent, precious Berry in a pot of soaking, bubbly water. Did that just happen?! I screamed and grabbed it out, but it was too late. I just stood there, with a lifeless phone, with the screen filled with water, knowing fullwell that it wasn't going the work again. How could I have been so careless?! Poor little phone did everything I needed her for.. helped me navigate, took pictures and vids, checked my facebook and delivered my emails to my fingertips. I have been air-drying her all of last night and today and she's dunzo. I can't believe after all these years of near phone-death experiences and times of almost dropping it in the in the toilet (I have heard of so many friends doing that!) I have somehow managed to keep from drowning my phone until now. Augh. My friend, Misty, told me the craziest story about a time she had knocked her phone off her bed and it just happened to land in a cup of tea. WHAT are the chances of something like that happening?!

To go through to process of getting a new phone is a nightmare. It's almost pointless that we're paying for insurance, because the deductable is $100.00 for a replacement - and in my luck, it would be a refurbished one with problems. The other downer, is my blackberry was already a year old, so replacing my year-old model with the same model isn't exactly exciting. When I found out how much I'd have to pay to replace it, I wanted to think about it, seeing as Justin and I both got our Blackberries for FREE with even bigger rebates (so we actually made made money on them!). We decided to go into the Sprint store to talk to a person and check if there were any other options before going with the insurance replacement. Either way, I'm dying without my Berry. I need a phone asap for my job as well.

After waiting in line forever at the store, I found some pretty sweet news. It was actually a good thing I dropped my phone in a pot full of soapy water, otherwise I would have never known I was eligible for an upgrade. I have to bear the rest of this month with my old phone and June 1st, I will be able to upgrade to the newest blackberry for free! I'm really glad I didn't just pay the insurance lady on the phone, thinking I had no other choice. Although it's a pretty crummy situation being phoneless for right now, hopefully it will all go smooth come June 1st!




xo

2 Gyros From a Priest

Every year, I get so excited for our city's Greekfest -- The food! The energy! The dancing people and those accents and big personalities.. Opaaa! I've been pumped for this weekend to come, prepping myself to wait in long lines for the yummiest gyros and fries.. baklava and overpriced drinks. It's all worth it. It started today and runs through Sunday; However! The weather for this weekend is supposed to be pretty stormy. Whatta bummer! During my emotional session I had with my client all afternoon, I was thinking how fun it would be to go inhale a gyro and walk around with Justin.. especially if there's a chance we might not get to go tomorrow (like we've been planning) if it rains.

I ended up going with my friend Michelle. We drove around a little before finding a prime spot, which I was proud to parallel-parked with much success. As we walked in, we noticed no one was manning the entrance and there weren't many people inside. We just looked at eachother and shrugged, assuming Thursday was probably less busy or something. We both began looking around and noticed that nothing was open or running.. No food, no drinks.. nothing. A few people were walking around and off in the distance I saw the GYRO TENT with 4 people in line. Michelle and I couldn't figure out if Greekfest was just starting for the night, or closing for the night.. It was only 8 o'clock! I remember other years, it was booming and people everywhere late! Nothing made sense.

Michelle says, "Well you can get your gyro!!" So we shuffled our way into the little gyro line and confusingly began to watch the greek, gyro-making workers talk big to a priest who was standing to the side of me. All of the gyro-maker guys in the tent were greek and kept shouting out things and throwing their hands in the air.. A few times, I thought they said "We're out! Oaa!" and the priest was talking about gyros, and the gyro guys were talking about gyros, and then they handed the priest 2 gyros in a bag. It was kind of like watching an SNL skit.. Oh, it was all so very confusing. Michelle and I kept looking at eachother, back at the priest, then at the greek gyro-makers talking big, hands in the air, "Opaa!". With the priest still standing there, the gyro-making man looks at me and says, "Whattya need?" I asked him if they were just opening or closing.. and told him I really wanted a gyro. The gyro man looks at me and says, "All gone." and points to the priest who stood there innocently holding the last two gyros of the night. All I could think, is "oh dear priest, please don't give me those gyros.. I will feel so guilty!" What does the gyro priest do? Of course he insisted I take the gyros he just got.. the last two gyros of the night. I kept telling him no, but he kept insisting. Oh. My word. I took 2 gyros from a priest.

I honestly felt so bad.. I paid the greek gyro-making men and they kept assuring me that the little priest will get gyros every night this weekend.. but how could I have deprived him of his gyros for tonight!? Maybe I can go back tomorrow, even if it rains and track down the priest and give him a little "thank you" card. Oh man.


xo

Peach Milkshake Massacre

It was 84 degrees today.. Pretty schweaty hot. On my way home from what felt like world's-longest day of work, I decided to stop at Chick-fil-A to get Justin our favorite peach milkshake (assuming I could have a little of it before I got it home, of course.). As I pulled into Chick-fil-A, I even got a little giddy because their peach milkshakes are simply the best. Augh, I don't know what it is about them.. Maybe because they only have them for a "limited time", or maybe because I would have one everyday if it wouldn't make me sick.. Either way, it's like summer in a straw.

So I pulled up to the drive-thru and ordered, and whattya know?? The guy asked if I wanted a free shake, since they were doing a buy-one-get-one thing for some reason. Suhweeet!! Things like that are not occurrances I'm used to, so you can imagine was pretty pumped. All because of a silly milkshake. I squeeled into the speaker, "yyeahh, baby!" and pulled ahead.

I swear, all because of that one free shake, my world had turned brighter, my music seemed clearer and I'm sure I could hear birds singing my name. What in the world is wrong with me? I paid the window-lady, and before she handed me the two shakes, I quickly made room in my cupholders. Window-lady asked if I wanted one of those 4-cup holder tray things, and I just said, "No thanks! I made room! (I might have even clapped a few times, in excitement.. Just kidding.). She handed me the shakes and I tried squeezing them into the holders. Of course they both didn't fit nice and simple (Thank you, Acura for my insufficient cupholders on a glorious day as this!). Before I could tell window-lady that I guess I did want a 4-cup holder thing, I notice the guy behind me was revving his engine and inching forward like I was committing crime if I didn't get a move on. No worries... As gracefully as I could, with a shake in each hand, I moved forward.. steering with my elbow and shifting at the same time.

What happened next was either the result of : I was doing a circus act in order to prevent an angry situation with rev-engine man behind me, or the lid on peach milkshake #1 wasn't on all the way. Obviously when they fill those shakes, they fill them to the brim.. then fill the lid with whipped cream.. then cherries. All in slow-motion.. I saw the crack between the lid and the cup, I dont know exactly how to describe the erruption of peach milkshake and chaos that began at that very second. I remember the strangest sound coming out of me - a sort of cry for help and desperation - at the same time acknowleging that the shake meant business and the overflow was NOT gonna stop. Oh yes. A pool of milkshake all over my car, between my seats, all over my shifter and all over my arms and hands.. I quick set the overflowing shake on the passenger side of the floor while trying to inch forward even more so rev-engine guy wouldn't beat me up. As I carefully rolled forward, peach milkshake #2 flipped out of its cupholder and began rolling unreachably, all over the floor, pouring shake and peaches and cherries strategically all over the carpet that hadn't been touched yet (are you kidding me right now?!). I think I just looked at the shake massacre that had just happened and literally had no thoughts or words.

Ok. I sat there dumbfounded, just staring as it continued to explode everywhere, and I remember thinking, DO SOMETHING! So, I yanked my e-brake and flew out the door to the other side of the car, so I could stop the madness. Of course, my passanger door was locked, so as the shake continued to roll around, exploding on the carpet, I am now laughing out loud as I ran back to the driver's side to unlock the passenger door. Auughh!!!!! By now, anyone inside Chick-fil-A or anyone sitting in the drive-thru must be watching this insanity, as I appeared to be running a chinese-fire drill around my car - arms and hands flailing - covered in my glorious, peach milkshakes. I got exploding milkshake #1 OUT of the car, like it was a bomb ready to go off. I began to frantically look for napkins, thinking mayyybe I could redeem rolling milkshake #2. My gosh. I found a 1/2 a napkin and it was worthless.

I finally went back into Chick-fil-A to find wet wipes or something to clean the annihilation... And better, the girl offered to let me use a wet rag to clean up what I needed to. They even gave me another milkshake (which I thought was pretty nice, seeing as one of mine was free and all..). 15 minutes later, my car was halfway sticky/halfway back to normal, and you better believe I went back inside to get a dang 4-cup holder thing before trying my FAIL cupholders again. Good grief. Spills always seem to happen in slow motion.. In this case, cups were flipping, peaches and cherries spraying everywhere and it was raining milkshake.

So, Justin was pretty excited when I made it home with a little surprise for him. Plus, I gladly finished what was left of my milkshake..after all I just went through for it. I told him the story, and we had a good laugh. So typical.

I'd like to say "I can't believe that happened!" but I can totally believe it.. A free milkshake for me, I guess is never free!

xo

The Man With the Six-Fingered Hand..

Two weeks ago, on a Sunday...

Justin's Facebook status read "Sunday Bloody Sunday". I noticed this, and thought, "Well, jeez! That's gruesome!" Little did I know, It's actually a U2 song (and clearly I'm not a big U2 fan..). We were actually having a really nice, relaxing Sunday, so I thought it was only appropriate to respond. It went like this:


Justin -- Sunday bloody Sunday
[April 25 at 3:35pm • Comment • Like/Unlike]

Alanna - Gross! I thought we were having fun!
[April 25 at 3:40pm • Comment • Like/Unlike]

Two minutes later, he responds..

Justin - blue floating vehicles on the overpass?? [April 25 at 3:42pm]

I guess that's when it all started.. It didn't make any sense at all, but it didn't have to. It was ON. Totalling with 56 comments of back-and-forth randomness. It got so silly, that we were to the point of responding withing minutes of eachother, each giggling on our own laptops. So, without any explanation, here are 56 silly reasons why I love my husband...

Alanna - All the horses in the land.. [April 25 at 3:47pm]

Justin - ..the man with the six-fingered hand.. [April 25 at 3:49pm]

Alanna - What would Croshta do in a situation as difficult as choosing between 2 kites? [April 25 at 3:58pm]

Justin - So that the gang of outcast scarecrows could play laser tag with torches.. [April 25 at 4:00pm]

Alanna - Little dots on the people-pleasers! Even though they said not to.. [April 25 at 4:03pm]

Justin - and the wax scorpions danced the night away to the techno-beats of DJ venom hands. [April 25 at 4:06pm]

Alanna - 35 ways to make a balloon animal after dusk [April 25 at 4:16pm]

Justin - musky ointment accidentally oozed into my oatmeal.. [April 25 at 4:20pm]

Alanna - But little did you know, Mr. Quinn tripped into a puddle of syrup, soiling his new bowtie [April 25 at 4:23pm]

Justin - pulling parsnips from over-used ear canals, the lad with two left eyes cried onion juice.. [April 25 at 4:26pm]

Alanna - That wrinkle in time made me forget to catch the marshmallow train to Kopenhagen [April 25 at 4:27pm]

Justin - dancing in the television trance, second glance causing vomit.. [April 25 at 4:29pm]

Alanna - My duty to forgive the toothbrush-salesmen who forgot my birthday [April 25 at 4:30pm]

Justin - meanwhile, 3 eager earwigs played hop-scotch on my pancreas. . [April 25 at 4:39pm]

Alanna - The sound of a baby's hiccups after a hefty jumprope tournament. [April 25 at 8:02pm]

Justin - dead furry dandelions dangled from her tingling tonsils.. [April 25 at 11:02pm]

Alanna - The dusty extension chord participated in a 5-course meal. [April 25 at 11:12pm]

Justin - it's because he was born with ten thumbs in place of toes.. [April 25 at 11:24pm]

Alanna - The cab-driver was fully equipped with an abundance of hair gel. [April 26 at 2:01am]

Justin - Lil lizzard lips kissing their hips.. [April 26 at 9:44am]

Alanna - Follow the salt and pepper to the next level. [April 26 at 10:13am]

Justin - what?? ..The catfish canoe down by the wharf? [April 26 at 3:45pm]

Alanna - Sharon Windowski claimed it never drifted for the beancake. [April 26 at 5:56pm]

Justin - garage door drive thru, one salted sofa, please... [April 26 at 6:00pm]

Alanna - The pancakes fell one by one, ranking the style of an average lunar eclipse. [April 26 at 6:03pm]

Justin - oh, Wendel the miniature puppet? He's at Target in the toilet paper repair shop [April 26 at 6:08pm]

Alanna - Swift jabs at the rectangular basketball hoops. Never again. [April 26 at 6:12pm]

Justin - always again! said Big Bird sternly, adorned in slushy antlers of all kinds.. [April 26 at 6:17pm]

Alanna - Jumbo sheets of glass collecting donations for the cause. [April 26 at 8:05pm]

Justin - What culinary cause? Bee-cause? Stings ink jelly grape.. [April 26 at 8:10pm]


Alanna - Reject those frosted flakes like a 6-year old napkin. [April 26 at 9:20pm]

Justin - google me those mexican jumping jack tater tots.. [April 26 at 9:24pm]

Alanna - Don't follow Patrick to the donut shop, he always folds his loose-leaf paper in disrespectful ways. [April 26 at 10:27pm]

Justin - you mean Patrick from scottsdale? he once put a dirty football in my mouth...dirty! [April 26 at 10:43pm]

Alanna - Vertical slip n' slide, forever blink with one eye. [April 26 at 11:07pm]

Justin - pink eye, noodle nose blower.. [April 26 at 11:13pm]

Alanna - A receipt from the sauna transaction may offer potential to every other sailboat captain. [April 27 at 9:34pm]

Justin - sack o' potatoes packed tightly the striped whales' blowhole.. [April 27 at 9:46pm]

Alanna - Scrape off the butter grass from the church programs..We can't afford to lose another heatlamp. [April 27 at 9:50pm]

Justin - flossing with an iron chain. oops. it still was and wasn't Miles Standish. [April 27 at 9:53pm]

Alanna - The 3-foot bridge made of jello was auctioned off to a fluffy lad. [April 27 at 9:56pm]

Justin - Freud walked or boated towards russia island place in order that, so to lead more astray into big cole slaw boots. [April 27 at 10:00pm]

Alanna - Ronald shook hands with Don Shelby by way of sealing the helium host from seeking further questions. [April 27 at 10:04pm]

Justin - Is that because his lips are smoothed out of stop signs and cork board materials? [April 27 at 10:07pm]

Alanna - No.. he just insisted on re-wiring the concession stand after forging his ugly signature. [April 27 at 10:13pm]

Justin - clark? you told me that you were out of wheat twizzlers! liars are not pot-luck luncheons. :( [April 27 at 10:15pm]

Alanna - The goat screamed when we didn't have her size. [April 27 at 10:30pm]

Justin - years later.. cheese bubble gum tasted good as old watering can, cheerios without budget updates. [April 27 at 10:37pm]

Alanna - Read the basket from the soy-soaked leaflet. It does NOT work that way, Sean. [April 27 at 10:49pm]

Justin - Ingrid TOLD me to get in that hippo's gullet! Next time slippery toe rings fall to the top. [April 27 at 10:55pm]

Alanna - The triangular-shaped waffle refused to bend at the sound of Jerry Seinfeld. [April 29 at 10:49am]


Justin - 17 grams of pickled rice krispies, then fold in the q-tips.. [April 29 at 7:12pm]

Alanna - The grizzly denied extra salt as suggested by his neighbor. [April 29 at 11:04pm]




I can't believe we kept it up as long as we did! Laughing with him is one of my favorite things in this world. Plus, I think I won. :)


xo