So this week's weather has been crazy....we were at low forties two days ago, and today it hit 80 and was pretty humid. What the smack?
I had lots of stuff to do: laundry (which I loathe to do, bc I have to schlep it down the stairs, to the laundromat, then back up the stairs, then away...BOO!), some grocery shopping, cleaning and homework.
All I've done is my laundry, plus a trip to Target and grocery store, and in the words of my mother, I'm pooped. I have to start drinking more water. But what did I just gulp down? A beer. A Pabst Blue Ribbon, to be exact, bc that's what was in my fridge. And I'm ashamed to say that it tasted ridiculously good. I may have another. I'm so Missouri, it's not even funny. =)
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
GRANDMA'S HANDS
Grandma, some ninety plus years, sat feebly on the patio bench.
She didn't move, just sat with her head down staring at her hands. When
I sat down beside her she didn't acknowledge my presence and the longer
I sat I wondered if she was OK.
Finally, not really wanting to disturb her but wanting to check
on her at the same time, I asked her if she was OK. She raised her head
and looked at me and smiled. "Yes, I'm fine, thank you for asking," she
said in a clear voice strong.
"I didn't mean to disturb you, grandma, but you were just
sitting here staring at your hands and I wanted to make sure you were
OK," I explained to her. "Have you ever looked at your hands," she
asked. "I mean really looked at your hands?"
I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them. I turned them
over, palms up and then palms down. No, I guess I had never really
looked at my hands as I tried to figure out the point she was making.
Grandma smiled and related this story:
"Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have, how they
have served you well throughout your years. These hands, though
wrinkled, shriveled and weak have been the tools I have used all my
life to reach out and grab and embrace life.
"They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler I crashed upon
the floor. They put food in my m outh and clothes on my back. As a child
my mother taught me to fold them in prayer. They tied my shoes and
pulled on my boots. They held my husband and wiped my tears when he
went off to war.
"They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and bent. They
were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son. Decorated
with my wedding band they showed the world that I was married and loved
someone special. They wrote my letters to him and trembled and shook
when I buried my parents and spouse.
"They have held my children and grandchildren, consoled
neighbors, and shook in fists of anger when I didn't understand.
"They have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and
cleansed the rest of my body. They have been stick y and wet, bent and
broken, dried and raw. And to this day when not much of anything else
of me works real well these hands hold me up, lay me down, and again
continue to fold in prayer.
"These hands are the mark of where I've been and the ruggedness
of life. But more importantly it will be these hands that God will
reach out and take when he leads me home. And with my hands He will lift me
to His side and there I will use these hands to touch the face of Christ."
I will never look at my hands the same again. But I remember God
reached out and took my grandma's hands and led her home.
When my hands are hurt or sore or when I stroke the face of my
children and husband I think of grandma. I know she has been stroked
and caressed and held by the hands of God.
I, too, want to touch the face of God and feel His hands upon my
face.
-- Author Unknown
She didn't move, just sat with her head down staring at her hands. When
I sat down beside her she didn't acknowledge my presence and the longer
I sat I wondered if she was OK.
Finally, not really wanting to disturb her but wanting to check
on her at the same time, I asked her if she was OK. She raised her head
and looked at me and smiled. "Yes, I'm fine, thank you for asking," she
said in a clear voice strong.
"I didn't mean to disturb you, grandma, but you were just
sitting here staring at your hands and I wanted to make sure you were
OK," I explained to her. "Have you ever looked at your hands," she
asked. "I mean really looked at your hands?"
I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them. I turned them
over, palms up and then palms down. No, I guess I had never really
looked at my hands as I tried to figure out the point she was making.
Grandma smiled and related this story:
"Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have, how they
have served you well throughout your years. These hands, though
wrinkled, shriveled and weak have been the tools I have used all my
life to reach out and grab and embrace life.
"They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler I crashed upon
the floor. They put food in my m outh and clothes on my back. As a child
my mother taught me to fold them in prayer. They tied my shoes and
pulled on my boots. They held my husband and wiped my tears when he
went off to war.
"They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and bent. They
were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son. Decorated
with my wedding band they showed the world that I was married and loved
someone special. They wrote my letters to him and trembled and shook
when I buried my parents and spouse.
"They have held my children and grandchildren, consoled
neighbors, and shook in fists of anger when I didn't understand.
"They have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and
cleansed the rest of my body. They have been stick y and wet, bent and
broken, dried and raw. And to this day when not much of anything else
of me works real well these hands hold me up, lay me down, and again
continue to fold in prayer.
"These hands are the mark of where I've been and the ruggedness
of life. But more importantly it will be these hands that God will
reach out and take when he leads me home. And with my hands He will lift me
to His side and there I will use these hands to touch the face of Christ."
I will never look at my hands the same again. But I remember God
reached out and took my grandma's hands and led her home.
When my hands are hurt or sore or when I stroke the face of my
children and husband I think of grandma. I know she has been stroked
and caressed and held by the hands of God.
I, too, want to touch the face of God and feel His hands upon my
face.
-- Author Unknown
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Story of My Dating Life
The best part of my day with Kate and Jenn (aside with quality time with two friends I care about and don't see that often) is that Jenn gave me a book call, "Be Honest, You're Not That Into Him, Either."
I read the first page of the forward and burst out laughing. The forward is written by a woman, who tells a story of a past relationship. She says that they had been dating for a couple of months, and he calls her on her cell at work and asks her to meet him for drinks after he gets off work, around 8 or something. At 10:45 that night, after he hadn't shown up, she was still at said bar, waiting, and having drinks by herself. The questioning and doubts began to set it: she began asking herself, "Did I hear him right? Maybe he said he MIGHT come after work, not that he WOULD." Variations of the same thing were the thoughts that went through her mind all night as she reflected on it.
I literally made Jenn and Kate read it, laughed at the horrified slash knowing looks on their faces, and said, "Yeah...that's the story of my dating life in the last year. Men who can't follow through."
But to salvage some of my pride, I'll tell you (honestly) that I'd have left after no more than 30 minutes...if I hadn't heard from him that it was traffic that was holding him up.
I read the first page of the forward and burst out laughing. The forward is written by a woman, who tells a story of a past relationship. She says that they had been dating for a couple of months, and he calls her on her cell at work and asks her to meet him for drinks after he gets off work, around 8 or something. At 10:45 that night, after he hadn't shown up, she was still at said bar, waiting, and having drinks by herself. The questioning and doubts began to set it: she began asking herself, "Did I hear him right? Maybe he said he MIGHT come after work, not that he WOULD." Variations of the same thing were the thoughts that went through her mind all night as she reflected on it.
I literally made Jenn and Kate read it, laughed at the horrified slash knowing looks on their faces, and said, "Yeah...that's the story of my dating life in the last year. Men who can't follow through."
But to salvage some of my pride, I'll tell you (honestly) that I'd have left after no more than 30 minutes...if I hadn't heard from him that it was traffic that was holding him up.
The Brown Elephant
I love a good resale shop.
My friend Erin swears by one in Andersonville, The Brown Elephant. So Jenn and I checked it out, yest, before we met up with Kate at Ann Sathers. MMMM...Ann Sathers cinnamon rolls and fresh fruit are AMAZING!
I was in HEAVEN at the brown elephant! They have shelves and shelves of mildly used books for $1, lots and lots of decent furniture (I love antique, real-wood pieces that need some refinishing and therefore are affordable), and beautiful glass decor pieces. They also have a lot of clothes (some nice, nearly new stuff, too) although I did not buy any.
I went a little nuts: got some unopened Mary Kay product I like, four glass apothecary bottles that match our dining room decor, the prequel to Secrets of the Divine Ya-Ya Sisterhood, an adorable pink hair sash, and a brand new off-white (and very trendy) leather work bag.
And the icing on the cake? The proceeds from The Brown Elephant go to fund a GLBT health care center.
My friend Erin swears by one in Andersonville, The Brown Elephant. So Jenn and I checked it out, yest, before we met up with Kate at Ann Sathers. MMMM...Ann Sathers cinnamon rolls and fresh fruit are AMAZING!
I was in HEAVEN at the brown elephant! They have shelves and shelves of mildly used books for $1, lots and lots of decent furniture (I love antique, real-wood pieces that need some refinishing and therefore are affordable), and beautiful glass decor pieces. They also have a lot of clothes (some nice, nearly new stuff, too) although I did not buy any.
I went a little nuts: got some unopened Mary Kay product I like, four glass apothecary bottles that match our dining room decor, the prequel to Secrets of the Divine Ya-Ya Sisterhood, an adorable pink hair sash, and a brand new off-white (and very trendy) leather work bag.
And the icing on the cake? The proceeds from The Brown Elephant go to fund a GLBT health care center.
In The Name Of Beauty...
I had a day of fun and beauty on Saturday with some girlfriends. I definitely stepped out of my comfort zone and had some hair removal done via threading.
Has anyone else experienced this? Two of my friends swear by it, it's cheaper than waxing, and they say you can last about three weeks. So I go to the place in Andersonville that Maegen recommended, Sonia's Salon. The woman was so nice, and took very good care of me.
Here's what we discovered - I have sensitive skin. =) I had my eyebrows, lips and chin threaded. My eybrows 'smarted,' my upper lip hurt enough to bring tears (most sensitive place on my face), but my chin hurt like a BITCH!!! I today I still have bumps and little 'burn' lines from the threads on the bottom of my chin. She told me my hair, there, was very difficult and hard to pull out. I concur - plucking is difficult. Friends have told me that it gets much easier with multiple threadings.
Anyway, the jury's still out. =) I'll definitely go back and try it at least two more times before I decide it's not for me.
I also got my hair cut. I like my new hairdresser, but she cuts off way more than I ask her to. So I adjusted how much I told her I wanted cut off...and told her between 1/4 and 1/2 inch, thinking it might be around an inch. Yeah, I'd say she took about an an inch and a half off my length. lolol I'm not mad, bc in a week it'll be adorable and I'll love it. Right now, it's a bit short. =)
Has anyone else experienced this? Two of my friends swear by it, it's cheaper than waxing, and they say you can last about three weeks. So I go to the place in Andersonville that Maegen recommended, Sonia's Salon. The woman was so nice, and took very good care of me.
Here's what we discovered - I have sensitive skin. =) I had my eyebrows, lips and chin threaded. My eybrows 'smarted,' my upper lip hurt enough to bring tears (most sensitive place on my face), but my chin hurt like a BITCH!!! I today I still have bumps and little 'burn' lines from the threads on the bottom of my chin. She told me my hair, there, was very difficult and hard to pull out. I concur - plucking is difficult. Friends have told me that it gets much easier with multiple threadings.
Anyway, the jury's still out. =) I'll definitely go back and try it at least two more times before I decide it's not for me.
I also got my hair cut. I like my new hairdresser, but she cuts off way more than I ask her to. So I adjusted how much I told her I wanted cut off...and told her between 1/4 and 1/2 inch, thinking it might be around an inch. Yeah, I'd say she took about an an inch and a half off my length. lolol I'm not mad, bc in a week it'll be adorable and I'll love it. Right now, it's a bit short. =)
Friday, April 20, 2007
A Good Workday...
Ever have one of those work days where you worked your booty off, stayed an hour later than normal, and still felt like you had a ton left to do...but that it was a good day's work?
I had one of those days, today...
It was good.
Monday, April 16, 2007
My Accident-Prone-ness Strikes, AGAIN...
Seriously....
I don't hurt myself doing normal things.
I was coming home from the grocery store, and noticed two police cars parked in the middle of my street, blocking traffic, with flashing lights. Two police officers were standing on the porch of the neighbor across the street. I go into my house, and start up the stairs. I'm no busybody...I'm keeping to myself.
Those of you who know me are going, "What the smack? Alison didn't peek out the window and try to figure out what's going on?"
That's right, my curiousity got the better of me, and I went back down the stairs, hands full of groceries. I think I'm on the bottom foyer, and take a step forward. WRONG...I'm on the last step, and step out onto thin air. I land ON my ankle, my foot twisted so hard. I'm now propped up, with ice packs on my already swelling ankle. I'm pretty sure I just sprained it, but am in for some pain tonight, no doubt. Grrr!!!
I don't hurt myself doing normal things.
I was coming home from the grocery store, and noticed two police cars parked in the middle of my street, blocking traffic, with flashing lights. Two police officers were standing on the porch of the neighbor across the street. I go into my house, and start up the stairs. I'm no busybody...I'm keeping to myself.
Those of you who know me are going, "What the smack? Alison didn't peek out the window and try to figure out what's going on?"
That's right, my curiousity got the better of me, and I went back down the stairs, hands full of groceries. I think I'm on the bottom foyer, and take a step forward. WRONG...I'm on the last step, and step out onto thin air. I land ON my ankle, my foot twisted so hard. I'm now propped up, with ice packs on my already swelling ankle. I'm pretty sure I just sprained it, but am in for some pain tonight, no doubt. Grrr!!!
Sunday, April 15, 2007
In the company of Vaughniston...
Aug 6, 2006 9:55 pm US/Central from http://wfrv.com/topstories/local_story_217115703.html
Japanese Man Wins Brat Eating Contest In Sheboygan
(AP) SHEBOYGAN, Wis. Takeru Kobayashi grinded through a record 58 brats at the Johnsonville World Bratwurst Eating Championship on Saturday, easily winning another tasty title and slicing through the record of 34 1/2 set last year by Sonya Thomas.
"They're good," Kobayashi said through translator Robert Ikeda. "I want to take some home."
Kobayashi earned $8,000 for his effort. There was no extra charge for the 16,820 calories, 1,450 grams of fat and 19 days worth of the recommended amount of sodium he consumed in besting Joey Chestnut and Thomas in front of a crowd of some 3,500 people attending Sheboygan Jaycees Brat Days.
The 160-pound Kobayashi, of Nagano, Japan, is a seasoned veteran at 27 and by far the world's best competitive eater. But he narrowly beat 22-year-old Joey Chestnut of San Jose, Calif., in this year's Nathan's Hot Dog eating contest on the Fourth of July in New York.
At Saturday's Showdown in Sheboygan, competitors had 10 minutes to eat as many brats as possible with no buns. The Fourth of July contest is 12 minutes and competitors must eat the buns.
"Brats are a little bit harder to eat," Kobayashi said. "With hot dogs, it's more volume. You're actually dipping the buns in water."
Chestnut finished a distant second with 45 brats and said his performance couldn't have been wurst. "I wasn't able to prepare for this contest like the Fourth of July," he said. "I know I could have done better, that's what hurts the most."
Patrick Bertoletti finished third with 39, Bob Shoudt had 38 1/2 and Tim Janus finished with 37. Thomas couldn't even match her record of last year, with just 34 brats.
The pace was quick early -- Kobayashi ate 23 in 3 minutes, compared to Chestnut's 21. At the 4:57 mark, Kobayashi passed the previous record. He hit 50 brats with 1:40 to go while Chestnut lagged behind with 41.
Thomas said the pace affected her. "Eaters were five ahead of me (early) and I was like, 'gosh,"' she said. "Maybe that's why I slowed down."
After the end of the contest, Kobayashi flexed his arm and pulled up his shirt to reveal his brat-filled stomach. He said he was going for 50, and plans to come back next year to break another barrier. "I want to do 60," he said.
Bertoletti said he fared surprisingly well by using a secret, shunned weapon -- ketchup. "I'm kind of ashamed because you're not supposed to eat brats with ketchup," he said. "I tried to hide it so no one could see."
But the spectacle celebrating overindulgence was equaled by the colorful crowd.
Fans held up signs in both English and Japanese in honor of Kobayashi. One sign read: "Eat Sausage and Puke? Never."
Jake Virant, 19, of Sheboygan, was at the competition to see Janus and had his face painted like him but was also wearing a colored styrofoam brat as a hat, reminiscent of the Cheeseheads that invade at Lambeau Field for every Green Bay Packers game. "It looks like a lot of fun," Virant said.
Janus, a day trader in New York with ambitions of owning a pizzeria, said he never expected to have fans. He said he got into the gluttonous sport because he wanted to spice up his days off. "I like food, the flavor and I have a high tolerance for pain," he said.
Jordy Maass, of Sheboygan, said he wanted to join the amateur contest but got there too late so he had to settle to "watch how poorly these guys do." Nathan Jackson, of Sheboygan, won that contest with 17 brats in 10 minutes.
Maass' main reason to show up? Kobayashi. "He's amazing," he said.
George Shea, chairman of the International Federation of Competitive Eating, said that he sees the future of competitive eating developing like an extreme sport. "The crowd loves it," he said. "What they see, it's not what they expect."
By COLIN FLY
(© 2006 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed
Amy and I love to watch this stuff - I also watched the hot dog eating competition it refers to in this article. I'm in good company - apparently Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn were hosting a party at Vaughn's Beverly Hills pad to watch said competition. They sent a note to "Eater X" (who, sadly, didn't even make it in the top three) to encourage him bc he's their favorite competitive eater. Which famous actor turned the other onto competitive eating? Guesses? I'll bet you're wrong...it was JENNIFER ANISTON who turned Vince onto it. LOVE IT!!!
Japanese Man Wins Brat Eating Contest In Sheboygan
(AP) SHEBOYGAN, Wis. Takeru Kobayashi grinded through a record 58 brats at the Johnsonville World Bratwurst Eating Championship on Saturday, easily winning another tasty title and slicing through the record of 34 1/2 set last year by Sonya Thomas.
"They're good," Kobayashi said through translator Robert Ikeda. "I want to take some home."
Kobayashi earned $8,000 for his effort. There was no extra charge for the 16,820 calories, 1,450 grams of fat and 19 days worth of the recommended amount of sodium he consumed in besting Joey Chestnut and Thomas in front of a crowd of some 3,500 people attending Sheboygan Jaycees Brat Days.
The 160-pound Kobayashi, of Nagano, Japan, is a seasoned veteran at 27 and by far the world's best competitive eater. But he narrowly beat 22-year-old Joey Chestnut of San Jose, Calif., in this year's Nathan's Hot Dog eating contest on the Fourth of July in New York.
At Saturday's Showdown in Sheboygan, competitors had 10 minutes to eat as many brats as possible with no buns. The Fourth of July contest is 12 minutes and competitors must eat the buns.
"Brats are a little bit harder to eat," Kobayashi said. "With hot dogs, it's more volume. You're actually dipping the buns in water."
Chestnut finished a distant second with 45 brats and said his performance couldn't have been wurst. "I wasn't able to prepare for this contest like the Fourth of July," he said. "I know I could have done better, that's what hurts the most."
Patrick Bertoletti finished third with 39, Bob Shoudt had 38 1/2 and Tim Janus finished with 37. Thomas couldn't even match her record of last year, with just 34 brats.
The pace was quick early -- Kobayashi ate 23 in 3 minutes, compared to Chestnut's 21. At the 4:57 mark, Kobayashi passed the previous record. He hit 50 brats with 1:40 to go while Chestnut lagged behind with 41.
Thomas said the pace affected her. "Eaters were five ahead of me (early) and I was like, 'gosh,"' she said. "Maybe that's why I slowed down."
After the end of the contest, Kobayashi flexed his arm and pulled up his shirt to reveal his brat-filled stomach. He said he was going for 50, and plans to come back next year to break another barrier. "I want to do 60," he said.
Bertoletti said he fared surprisingly well by using a secret, shunned weapon -- ketchup. "I'm kind of ashamed because you're not supposed to eat brats with ketchup," he said. "I tried to hide it so no one could see."
But the spectacle celebrating overindulgence was equaled by the colorful crowd.
Fans held up signs in both English and Japanese in honor of Kobayashi. One sign read: "Eat Sausage and Puke? Never."
Jake Virant, 19, of Sheboygan, was at the competition to see Janus and had his face painted like him but was also wearing a colored styrofoam brat as a hat, reminiscent of the Cheeseheads that invade at Lambeau Field for every Green Bay Packers game. "It looks like a lot of fun," Virant said.
Janus, a day trader in New York with ambitions of owning a pizzeria, said he never expected to have fans. He said he got into the gluttonous sport because he wanted to spice up his days off. "I like food, the flavor and I have a high tolerance for pain," he said.
Jordy Maass, of Sheboygan, said he wanted to join the amateur contest but got there too late so he had to settle to "watch how poorly these guys do." Nathan Jackson, of Sheboygan, won that contest with 17 brats in 10 minutes.
Maass' main reason to show up? Kobayashi. "He's amazing," he said.
George Shea, chairman of the International Federation of Competitive Eating, said that he sees the future of competitive eating developing like an extreme sport. "The crowd loves it," he said. "What they see, it's not what they expect."
By COLIN FLY
(© 2006 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed
Amy and I love to watch this stuff - I also watched the hot dog eating competition it refers to in this article. I'm in good company - apparently Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn were hosting a party at Vaughn's Beverly Hills pad to watch said competition. They sent a note to "Eater X" (who, sadly, didn't even make it in the top three) to encourage him bc he's their favorite competitive eater. Which famous actor turned the other onto competitive eating? Guesses? I'll bet you're wrong...it was JENNIFER ANISTON who turned Vince onto it. LOVE IT!!!
Friday, April 6, 2007
The...King...Of...Blues...
Be aware that I'm sitting down as I tell you this...
but I'm going to see BB King tonight at House of Blues.
I have dreamt of being in the presence of this musical genius probably since I was about 10 years old. I predict that I will spend tonight in a trance (with eyes open, of course, because I can't miss a second of watching him on stage), swaying to and fro, and wishing my man were with me.
Aversion to Laundry Day
So I have an aversion to doing laundry. It's mostly revolved around my dislike of schlepping my laundry up and down two flights of stairs, into my truck, and having to drive to a laundromat.
I'm avoiding it right now...
I'm avoiding it right now...
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Bored?
http://www.miniusa.com/#/play/Games/jumpGame-m
A highly addictive way to kill a couple of minutes.
A highly addictive way to kill a couple of minutes.
Monday, April 2, 2007
Everybody Needs a Little Down Time..
So my long-awaited post on my time in the Wisconsin Dells is here!! =) I have been playing catchup on my classwork and other things since I returned home, so I have been putting this off.
How this all came about is that I realized, in February, that I was going to need some quality Alison-time come March. I usually take all of my vacation August, bc it makes most sense, but always endup going, "aaahhhh!!!!!" in March due to needing some sort of break from winter slash work slash church slash everything else. So I mentioned to a very good pastor friend of mine that I wanted a cabin in the woods, preferably free. This wonderful/fantastic/amazing friend of mine produced a fabulous cabin in the woods for me, and I spent a week up there. Some friends from church joined me later in the week for a retreat.
How this all came about is that I realized, in February, that I was going to need some quality Alison-time come March. I usually take all of my vacation August, bc it makes most sense, but always endup going, "aaahhhh!!!!!" in March due to needing some sort of break from winter slash work slash church slash everything else. So I mentioned to a very good pastor friend of mine that I wanted a cabin in the woods, preferably free. This wonderful/fantastic/amazing friend of mine produced a fabulous cabin in the woods for me, and I spent a week up there. Some friends from church joined me later in the week for a retreat.
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