Even though the strike is dunzo, viewing has still been pretty slow. I recommend "Miss Guided". Totally funny, you've got to love Judy Greer. And, it's only 1/2 hour so it doesn't take up that much space on your DVR.
Also, in case you missed Chris Matthews' awkward dance/grope with Ellen, you've got to watch.
My friend Heidi was nice enough to accompany me to Portland last weekend for a wedding/weekend getaway. We had the best time. My friend Michelle was a beautiful bride.
We also went on a mini road trip along the PCH. The Oregon coast is seriously so beautiful.
This is Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach. Heidi was stoked because she thinks that maybe her all time fave movie Goonies was filmed here. Incidentally, it was on TV when we got back to the hotel. 
We also caught brunch with Nick and Taren on Easter. I didn't take a pic, but here is when they came to visit a few weeks ago. 
Such a fun trip! Thanks Heidi for making it fun and so I didn't have to go to the wedding alone...
I've been hearing about Vampire Weekend for awhile. So...I finally checked them out. Like the song and the video is super cool. They met at Columbia.
Sorry that my blogging is punctuated by major time lapses. It could be that we have been super busy. It could also be that we have nothing exciting going on. Either way, I need something new on here. So...the only thing happening is that I just finished an awesome book.
It is hard to wrap your head around at first, but it gets better. The concept is so interesting. It is one of those books that you think about for a long time after you finish it. And bonus...the movie is coming out in November starring Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams. So you probably better read it.
I also bought a hilarious book this week. Seriously so funny. If you need a good gift for a friend, go here and check these out. You can preview a couple of pages. There is one just for women and one for new moms.
In order for you to understand how far I've come, I have to first set the stage a little bit. I was very shy when I was younger, and for the most part have gotten over it. But that doesn't change the fact that I have always kind of hated certain social events. Ones where I specifically know that I will probably be uncomfortable. Obviously, if you know that beforehand, your instinct would be to avoid that situation at all costs, right? The best example that I can think of to illustrate how far I would go to avoid these situations would be in 7th grade.
Picture, if you will, first dance of the year, during school hours. Most kids would be stoked to get out of class for an hour and just hang out in the gym. Um...not me! I was dreading this event. All I could picture was standing around, feeling awkward, having no one ask me to dance, etc. Whether this would have been the case or not is completely beside the point. There were two choices: go to the dance, or go to study hall. I chose study hall. And let's see...I think there were maybe three other kids in there as well. Pretty dorky, right? My list of insecure stories could go on and on.I won't bore you with the gory details. Thankfully, I can look back now and laugh at the patheticness of it all. The point is, last week I realized that I had reached a critical milestone.
I was at a concert with my friend Heidi, when she got sick and had to leave. Again, I was faced with some choices: leave with Heidi, or stay? The concert was amazing and I was totally having a great time. So I stayed. There I was, standing in the middle of a sea of random people, totally alone and totally loving it. Thoughts of 7th grade study hall flashed in my brain and I had to just smile and congratulate myself. Could it be, 15+ years later, that I am finally secure with myself? That statement may be jumping the gun just a bit, but I have come a long way. And for that, I am grateful.
Somewhere out there, the coolest person ever exists. Case in point: this person made this sign and hung it up on a telephone pole.
I pass this sign every day on my way home from work. Some days I drive a particular way just to make sure I see it. It always makes me feel good. I'm guessing that it probably has that effect on most people. Whoever you are, you're freaking awesome.
So last Saturday we celebrated Peter's grandparents 70th wedding anniversary. Yes, 70th. Pretty amazing. Both sides of his family enjoy major longevity. Let's just say I'm hoping to reach my 70th birthday, let alone anniversary!
Here is our cute niece Olivia and her bro Miles. He is enjoying one of the cupcakes that I made. He's looking a little shocked that I'm taking a picture of him stuffing his face like this. I guess I'm kind of a mean Aunt to embarass him this way.
Today we celebrated the Babe's 12th B-Day at Flowrider. I still have technical difficulties rotating my photos when using the Mac. Someday people, someday.
And the best news of all is that I think we may have reached a crucial crossroads in our marriage. I'm not entirely positive, but I think Peter may have figured out that when in doubt as far as gifts go, he should just buy shoes. Here is the sweet pair I got for Valentine's Day.
Rome Dog hasn't been making many appearances as of late. Here she is enjoying her favorite pastime of laying on her back and having someone scratch her belly. She would let someone do this all day long if they wanted to. 
Maybe I'm the last person to see it, but I kind of loved Across the Universe. It helps to be a Beatles fan, but I wouldn't say it's necessary. Watching this movie without any prior Beatles knowledge would be like going to a concert and not knowing any of the songs; and yet, it's still possible to totally enjoy it.
Since being married to Peter, I've become indoctrinated to his belief that the Beatles are the best band of all time. It also helps that the main leads in this movie are super cute. Who doesn't like a skinny, hippie guy with a British accent? The choreography is really cool and the quality of the singing is great, plus the singing is an extension of all of the dialogue. It's not like most musicals where all of the sudden the characters burst into these over-the-top theatrical musical numbers.
I will say that some of the psychadelic stuff gets to be a little much, but the bottom line is, you should see it. Tonight. Here's one of my faves.
Due to being confined to the couch the last few days for unspecified reasons, I came to realize a few essential truths; the least of which being that I miss looking at other people's blogs. Furthermore, here are a few other things that I discovered:
1. Rob & Big is a seriously funny show. (I had watched before, but not, say, upwards of 3 episodes at once)
2. There are a serious lack of good, new DVD releases right now...Sydney White anyone?
3. Showering every day is certainly not necessary and definitely over-rated. (I know Melissa would agree with me on this one)
4. Reading for pleasure is more of an indulgence when you don't have very much time...as opposed to when you have nothing BUT time.
5. Dogs really are man's best friend.
6. Humans are a close 2nd. No joke... I was literally home alone, laying on the couch thinking of how much I wanted a brownie shake when the phone rang and my friend Heidi was driving to Hires and wanted to know if she could get me anything. Divine intervention!
7. And lastly, while my husband is certainly willing to wait on me hand and foot, my sweet Mom actually makes it seem like she is enjoying every second of it and that there is no place that she would rather be. That is a feat in and of itself!
I have some new stuff to put on here, but haven't had time. Maybe I will soon. Here is the title song from the New Pornographers newest album. I really like this song. Have a listen.
I haven't decided yet, but in the meantime, here are some pics. By the way...I am obviously having difficulty on this computer flipping my pictures which could contribute to my lack of blogging as of late. I'm just going to try to pretend the pictures are the right way, because otherwise it annoys the you know what out of me!
I just got back from NYC. Melissa already posted all of the pics, so you can check them out here.
I ran into school today to see the kids dressed up for the parade. My favorite costume had to be this 1st grader. I told him my husband loved watching him play golf and asked if I could take his picture.
This little sumo girl was a close second.
And now we will get to the part about cruel and unusual punishment. Sorry, it is just funny to dress up your pets. Here is little Frankenstein.
At the first opportunity, (i.e. the second I set her on the ground), Romey got out of her costume and tried to rip it into shreds.
And last, but certainly not least, what would a birthday be without a delicious meal? (The answer is: a crappy one). In this case, Peter took me to Cucina Toscana. SO good...
Our computer has a virus and so lately I haven't been on at all. We still have the macbook, which I am using right now, but I just haven't been feeling it lately. For some reason, I have been listening to this song all day. Gotta love The Shins.
I think it might be because it was raining/snowing and it reminded me of the scene in Garden State. I am so happy that Fall is here. This is my favorite time of year hands down. Here are a few reasons why I love the Fall:
So..we braved the crowds and decided to do the quintessential end-of-summer activity and hit the biggest waste of money, (otherwise known as the State Fair), this weekend. Our niece Olivia was having a sleepover so it seemed like the perfect time. I won't go into ALL of the gory details of the State Fair being the mother of all money pits, but let me give you a few highlights: $6 entrance fee per person with a discounted ticket, $6 funnel cake, $6 for a 3 minute jumpy thing, $20 for a handful of ride tickets. Now that I've gotten my complaining out of the way, let me show you all the wonderful ways that we had fun.
I had some really cool pics, but most were taken vertically and for some reason I can't turn them so I only put a couple on here. Here is one of my favorite reasons to go to the fair: the fun slide. The name alone dares one to resist.
Here is the afore mentioned jumpy thing. Three minutes of pure jumping enjoyment with the help of a harness and bungees.
One of the major highlights...(and free, might I add), was petting the newborn kids. (As in, baby goats). They were so cute...just learning how to stand and eat from their mamas.
Olivia and Owen really hit it off. Even though there is a 2 year age difference here, Owen's fearlessness was really good for Olivia and they bonded on the rides.
End of the night. Out of tickets and out of money, so it was time to go home. We almost felt like a little family here, but I'm pretty sure no one would ever believe Olivia was my child.
p.s. In order to save and avoid the $5 parking fee, we parked a couple of blocks around the corner in the total ghetto. On the way in, we only passed one pit bull and one person in a wife beater carrying a 12-pack into their home. It helps to have a gangsta (Peter) around to feel safe. I'm pretty sure that's how they get people to pay for parking because you are taking your life into your hands if you park elsewhere.
My Aunt Jen and her cute fiancee Roger tied the knot yesterday at La Caille. Everything was amazing and turned out perfect. Here's Jen and my grandpa making her entrance.
Babe was the ringbearer and my cousin Maddie was the flower girl.
Jen and Roger make a great couple
In a moment of weakness, Peter agreed to dance to one song.
Jen looked beautiful. Her dress was really pretty!!
All of the cousins are never together in one place, so this seemed like an opportune time to get a group photo.
Cute cake.
We got back in to town just in time for a little Ben Kweller action. Actually, we had to sit through a rapper named P.O.S. for an hour first. In my opinion, the acronym is dead on. 
We were dead in the front this time. Ben put on a great show. Unfortunately, I didn't get to meet him this time.
Here is a short vid I took of him singing part of "Believer"
Last week we headed up to the old stomping grounds to go to the game. The stadium was super nice and the weather was great. On the plane to Portland, a Ute football players' family was on our flight. You should have seen the look on Peter's face when the Dad of that football player told a fellow passenger that the Utes were playing the Ducks. (He was wrong, they were playing the Beavers). Peter was totally disgusted. How could someone make a mistake like that? Seriously...
We had an extra day to just hang out, so we took a drive to the coast and stopped by the infamous Tillamook Cheese Factory. Best grilled cheese and ice cream!
We also went out to dinner with some friends. We love Oregon!!
That's right folks. Last weekend, the big reunion came and went. All things considered, I think it went well. Let's just say I am glad it is over. Now I can relax for 10 more years. Here's a pic of the swanky new school. Of course, it looked nothing like this back in the day.
Heidi, me, Bri, and Chelsea
Here is the best little helper in the whole world. Honestly, I was impressed. He even wore brown to the dinner.
More old friend pics.
John & Ster...good times.
I've been listening to this song a lot lately. I'm jealous that Melissa gets to go see these guys! The video isn't great, but the sound is.
Well..I know none of you feel sorry for me (after having the entire summer off), but I am back to work baby. It wouldn't be so bad if there was some freaking air conditioning, but the fact is that there isn't. So pretty much I am one big sweaty mess every single second of the day.
Here are some pictures from last week. The usual...out to dinner and cute kids. We were so excited that Em & Trent were in town at the same time and that we were able to have a night out with the Kilgore's at TRIO.
I also was able to go visit Em & Mandy in So Cal. After coming back to this horrible heat wave, I'm trying to convince Peter to make the move. We'll see.
Here Em & Mandy are indulging my desire to not be the tallest in the picture for once. What great friends.
Everyone should recognize the cutest baby in the world by now...Luke! If he wasn't one of my best friend's children, I probably would have kidnapped him.
We barbequed home-made pizzas at Em & Mike's. So much fun. I just got home two days ago and I think I might already be planning my next trip out!
Here is the bane of my existence at the moment. I am working on decorations for the big 10 year reunion coming up. If anyone wants to help, give me a call!
