Snapshots

A boy and the only creature on Earth that can almost sort of rival his energy level. Mojo might run faster, but Tristan runs for much, much longer.

Quote Of The Day

Grandma ‘Nee: “Where was I where their dessert was chocolate to die by?”

Me: “You mean death by chocolate? That's everywhere.”

Grandma 'Nee: “No, I think it’s only made in Houlihan's.”

Snapshot

Isn't snow just gorgeous? It lays on branches and creates an honest to G-d wonderland. For a week. Then it becomes slightly more than a hassle. Now it has trapped me in my house, ruined plans- and shoes- and is the sole cause of multiple calls from my mother checking in my whereabouts. She knows more about my physical locality throughout the day now than she did when I was fifteen, or five! I just checked the weather, finding out when this torrential snow that started at 6 am today will let up. Today is Thursday, by the way. The snow will not cease until supposedly SATURDAY at 3pm. Cool. Frigid. If only I didn't live in Minnesota. Oh, yeah, I meant, if only people in the 80's didn't use so much hairspray to tear through a tempestuous outer atmosphere.

Quote Of The Day

In reference to someone's physically unattractive wife, in a matter of purely personal opinion:

Alex: "There's low light and then there's no light... What's the deal in that bedroom?"

Snapshot

I found THE Deal of the Century!! A new box of place settings for $16.99, or a beat up box missing pieces (beggars can't be choosers) for $16.97. TWO CENTS! Do you know what you can do with two cents? Because I can't think of a thing.

Quote Of The Day

Julia: “My pastor told me to ‘Smile with your eyes’ once. He said I was never truly happy.”

Snapshot

This is the face I wake up to every morning. She always has a "Really? You're going to get up and force me to follow you so that I can eat breakfast" look. Eye roll capture complete.

Quote Of The Day

While discussing Patricia driving her kids to school under time constraints:

Carrie: “I can totally imagine Pat whipping it out in the middle of the street.”

Snapshot

Is it abnormal for your dog to prefer sleeping on memory foam pillows?

Mojo's neck is always properly supported, as I am forced to rest on the night table.

Looking left is overrated.

Quote Of The Day

Me: “It looks expensive and it’s actually kinda cheap.”

Adam: “That’s just like Aaron.”

Me: “Aww, that was almost nice of you!”

Snapshot

Here, Sage reaches for the stars, or more accurately-

the stars are reaching for her.

Quote Of The Day

Me: "I'm kind of nervous about how rocky the ship will be across the Atlantic for my cruise..."

Dad: "Don't worry, just bring bovine with you."

Me: "Great idea! I can see it now, trying to get on the ship with a small suitcase and a large cow saying 'Please let us on, I hold on to the cow when I get motion sick!'"

Snapshot

Do you ever just feel like

?

Quote Of The Day

Alex: "I'm surprised flowers are not growing all around you with all that horse sh**."

Snapshot

With Wye River Seasoning. WHYYYYY???

Quote Of The Day

Alex: “You’ve got some thinking to do.”

Me: “You’ve got some realization to do.”

Snapshots

This was my only reprieve from being stuck inside in Edgewater ALL DAY LONG. Did I have food and water? Yes. Heat? Yes. Did that matter at all? Forced to stay inside, and the one time I did brave the storm with the dogs, my comforter became trash. Will explain more later.

Quote Of The Day

Mom: “My muffins overflowed, so I have to cut them down and I’ll give you the pieces.”

Jordan: “Top of the muffin to ya!”

Snapshot

My mother on the right, her best friend on the left. I just found this picture of their cruise last month and I thought it was adorable. Now, I am on the hunt for much older photos... Since I'm snowed in, that shouldn't be too difficult.

Quote Of The Day

Maureen: "Did you brush your hair this morning like I asked?"

Tristan: "Yup."

Maureen: "Really? It doesn't look like you did."

Tristan: "Well, it's not what you would suspect. I brushed with.... my fingers!"

Snapshot

In Penny Lane the barber shaves another customer
We see the banker sitting waiting for a trim
Then the fireman rushes in
From the pouring rain...
Very strange

Quote Of The Day

Me: “I watched the Superbowl tonight... The whole thing, from start to finish.”

Jordan: “Wow. Who forced you?”

Me: “My friend Shaun who was very patient and explained everything to me so it wasn’t painful. A few runs were, dare I say, exciting?”

Jordan: “Pathetic. Three year-old girls with an abnormal upbringing know the basic rules of football. How you go 36 years without knowing is beyond me. You’re almost human now.”

Snapshot

To those of you who don't know me, or more specifically, my dogs, this photo might seems disgustingly sweet. Two adoring dogs, gazing gently at me. I have decided to de-shrowd any misconceptions right here and right now: Both Marley and Mojo are wildy obsessed with lip gloss. While other puppies might chew on wires or sneakers or chocolate bars, both of my dogs at different times sought out chapsticks (flavored or not), lipstick, lip gloss, vaseline and anything else that was waxy and toying the line between edible and not. Price didn't matter. They consumed $14 dollar lipstick tubes as wholeheartedly as they embraced $0.69 containers of cocoa butter. A personal concession has been skipping the lip fringe. And when I forget, they remind me. Above, I am smiling, but right below the frame, I am grasping them both and holding them away from my lips. It's not worth the shine.

Quote Of The Day

Lauren: “The browner the better, um, for my bananas.”

Through The Kaleidoscope

I have been so busy doing everything and nothing. Feeling accomplished and unproductive and exhausted and exuberant. I feel like I had this vision of my life, and it was pretty. Sunlight would come in and change the appearance slightly, and then shadows would creep in, adding new dimensions. But then someone came by and pushed the tip of this imaginary kaleidoscope spinning end thingamajig and that pretty little picture is forever shattered.

It's okay, things change and you are to embrace the moment and appreciate the beauty in all things. I'm at a point now that I can, and I really am. It's just that I keep spinning the end of this tube of mirrors, and no matter how many times it goes around, that original image is gone. Thankfully, there are days that look even better, to counter the days that I don't want to look through the looking glass. There are days that the sunlight pours into. So here I am, embracing forced change, joining too many people in this country that are currently looking for work. And I am spinning this kaleidoscope even when I don't want to. Even when the beads are perfectly aligned and breathtaking, I am shaking things up. Because if I can learn to rely on the constant of change, then I can keep letting the light in.

Snapshot

Blended or chopped?

Quote Of The Day

Maury: “Smart people learn from their own mistakes... Geniuses learn from others' mistakes.”

Snapshot

And nosebleeds.

Quote Of The Day

Julia: “She’s annoying. I wanna meet her, and then kick her in the baby maker.”

Snapshot

This looks like as safe a garage as any to park in, right? RIGHT?!

Quote Of The Day

Alex: "What did you do last night? I was hanging out with syphilis and gonorrhea, and it got out of control. There were also some crabs there, too."

Me: "Ah, the joys of a strip club. Glad you had fun, now don't come near me, please."