Chicago rocks my socks.

This weekend was soooooo fun! We celebrated our 2 year anniversary this weekend (even tho it's not till the 9th). We took the train from Kenosha into downtown Chicago. Definitely the way to go to avoid traffic and the muy expensivo parking rates. We hailed a cab to the Hyatt Regency, where we stayed, at a cheapo rate, thanks to Mr. Cheapo himself, Skyler. We said it was our honeymoon when we booked it, but apparently they could have cared less--no special perks at all. Unless you count double bed, constant tapping sound, and weak water pressure in the shower. The decor of the room was really cool, but I was sorta disappointed at everything else. But it's all good--we had a pretty cool view to make up for it. See?



By then we were pretty hungry, so we decided to go eat. Where else, but The Cheesecake Factory!



The weather was so nice out, so we ate on the patio. I got shrimp scampi, which I thoroughly enjoyed. See, I hardly ever get to eat shrimp since my shrimp of a hubby will swell up and die if we eats any shellfish at all. Just like he says he's allergic to poison ivy. Isn't everyone?? He swears tho, that even if he knows someone in the same vicinity, say, Wisconsin, has been camping and encountered poison ivy, he will invariably catch it as well. He will start to itch. And scratch. And hunt for the calomine, "just in case". But I digress. The shrimp. Yummy. He decided on Orange Chicken, but Spicy Cashew Chicken was a close second, and only lost out b/c we knew we could always taste it when Scott comes to visit. :)

Saturday morning we got up and got ready for Wicked. We had lunch in Marshall Fields, which is amazingly huge, and beautiful. Tiffany ceilings, 9 floors, you could spend a whole DAY in there!



Then it was off to the show!! It was fantastic!! I was a little skeptical about it, after seeing the previews online. They seemed kinda cheesy. But it was great!! And sooo interesting. We had watched The Wizard of Oz on Thursday night to get ready for it. Turns out dear old Derrick had never in his life seen the movie. We're at the beginning and Dorothy starts to sing "Somewhere over the rainbow", and he looks at me and goes, "This song is from this?" I nearly fell off the couch. Who doesn't know that???? Anyway, it's so interesting to see the backstory they came up with, how everyone gets to be who they are and so on. Great costumes, songs, the theater is so ornate too. It was a blast!



By then we were hungry again. Imagine that. So we made our way up the Mag Mile and just happened upon Lawry's. So we ate there. It was soooo yummy. And I ate EVERYTHING. I think I even ate more than Derrick, which really is cause for notifying the news, or something.


We spend the rest of the evening walking around, and went to Navy Pier to watch fireworks and huge yachts cruise by. Plus, I love to see all the sailors in their uniforms.

It was such a fun relaxing weekend, and it felt like we were so far away. It went by way to fast, but it was great. Oh, and I ran into the other love of my life:
NEMO!

We saw this crazy exhibit outside the Museum of Contemporary Art too. And it's weird, b/c I had just read about it, but had no idea it was in Chicago.



How random!

Sigh. Back to the real world. How boring.

Random thought

Not entirely sure why I thought of this today, but you have Pacman, and then you have Mrs. Pacman. Well, shouldn't Mrs. Pacman really be called Pacwoman?

Weird.

I think this just means I need to play me some video games tonite. Sweet.

64!!!

For some reason, it's really chilly today. It's 64, which I guess isn't THAT cold, but still, it feels like it's freezing outside. I kinda like it, and I kinda don't. I would like it better if I were wearing warmer clothes. But it IS inspiring me to want to knit winter wear. I was conjuring up the idea of designing something and submitting it to Knitty. But I think it will take longer than I have time before the deadline. I still want to do it....it's adorable. But, I have another idea that I'm working on. Something smaller, more manageable. I've never designed anything in my life, so it's kinda daunting. But I would feel sooooo cool if something I created was published somewhere! I would actually feel like I've made it as a knitter!

This week is going by way to slow for me. This weekend Derrick and I are going to Chicago for the weekend to celebrate our 2 year anniversary. Ok, so it's a little early. But it was cheaper than our actual anniversary! We're gonna stay at the Hyatt downtown and see Wicked on Saturday. I'm sooo excited! I've heard it's incredible. Oohhh, which reminds me...we need to watch the Wizard of Oz before then to brush up. Well, mainly for Derrick. I don't think he's ever seen the movie before! Blasphemous! I'm sure he'll fall asleep....like always...but at least we'll try. Maybe tonite. Well, we're having company for dinner tonite....and tomorrow I have a meeting...sheesh. Too busy to be a bum!!

FOs!

This weekend was great for getting some knitting in. I finished the baby sweater and the tie. I am SOOO in love with the sweater. My first successful attempt seaming using the mattress stitch, and I must say it looks pretty darn good. I sewed on the buttons tonite, and put a flower button on the right chest. Love it love it love it. It would be hard to part with it if Nomin, the recipient, weren't so darn cute. We both have hairy arms, so we're already BFF, and she's only a month old! Ok, here's the sweater:



And a close up:


Sigh. I adore it. I also finished a tie for a friend:


Modeled by the husband:


And now I am left project-less once again. Any ideas? It's sort of sick, but I'm looking forward to it being chilly again so I can make hats and gloves and stuff. I want to make a cool fair isle hat. And an afghan to cuddle up with in the winter.

Nauvoo was awesome. AWESOME. Tooks tons of pictures, but here are my 2 favorites:

I tinked around with photoshop and did some effects with this one. I like it a lot.



I like this one too. They are my feeble attempts at taking artsy shots. Even tho I don't have one artsy bone in my body.

Overall, it was a fun trip. It was very englightening and very spiritual, and I came away very affected. I'm surprised I'm not dead of dehydration, I cried and sweat so much!

There is much more to say, but that will have to wait for now. Gotta pick up some friends from the airport!

Hooray for road trips!

We're leaving for Nauvoo in a few hours--should be fun. Hopefully I can finish the baby sweater. And the necktie. Not sure if I'm gonna finish them both and I should take something to start or not....

Anyway, hope everyone has a great weekend--see you Sunday. Or Monday if I'm lazy.

A night of knitting

I worked on Daisy all last night, as soon as I got home. I didn't feel like cooking, or doing anything. So we had pancakes. I watched "So you think you can dance", which was really lame. I don't think it'll be as good as American Idol. Plus, it's something you have to actually watch, which is hard if you're working on a complicated pattern. Then I watched Spanglish, which was a decent movie. Too much of a chick flick for Derrick, who usually doesn't mind chick flicks. He was out in 20 minutes. But I finished the whole body of the sweater, and am proud to say it looks pretty darn good. Started the sleeve last night, about an inch in. I'm hoping to finish it this weekend during the trip to Nauvoo. I'll see if I can post WIP pics tonite. I need to find cute pink buttons for it. It's a light green sweater. I'm thinking of making a little felted pink flower to put on it too. Man, baby girl clothes are so freaking cute. I hope I have girls!!

Silly Google

Google is so funny sometimes. It's been...**counting on fingers** 36 years today that we walked on the moon. Cool! Man, Google really is on top of things!

Another warm Christmas

Well, I just got word that Mom doesn't want us home for Christmas. So, looks like it's Christmas in California again for the 3rd year in a row. Not that I'm complaining, it's always fun at Derrick's house, with all the nieces and nephews. And warm. There's In-n-Out. And did I mention it's warm???

One day we'll be welcome at my house...

But wait there's more! And I quote: If you were to ask me if I love
you, well I don't have an answer for that. Gee, how heart-warming. What mother says something like that?

How am I going to convice my Dad and Morgan to come visit me? Maybe we can meet halfway in Erie.

Oh, and she didn't mention one thing about the magnets I sent her. Hmph.

~the orphan

Grumpygills

I'm grumpy today. I don't know why. I need to get over it.

Today President Bush nominated John Roberts to replace Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court. I'm not really a big political person, but I figured this might be pretty important so I'll mention it, and then when I look back at old entries I think, wow, I was really into current events!

I think I'm grumpy b/c the flavor at Culver's was Chocolate Eclair today and I didn't get to go. My favorite flavor custard ever, which they hardly ever do, and I didn't go. Sad. But I did have a root beer float instead, which is slightly compensatory. But you know what? I think I may be lactose intolerant, b/c every time I eat ice cream or dairy or whatever, I get killer gas. lol. Derrick can attest to that.


Nastiness aside, I went to the mall today to return some stuff, and stopped in at the Apple store and fondled an ipod for awhile. Ahhh...one day.

"Exercise is a dirty word. If I say it, I have to wash my mouth out with chocolate"

Meme time

10 Years Ago – My family just moved to Florida. I didn't know anyone, but I went to bandcamp anyway and loved it. I was scared to start high school.
5 Years Ago – I was living in Provo, working and going to school. And having one of the best summers ever.
One Year Ago – We were in the process of packing up our house to move to Milwaukee. It was sad to leave.
Yesterday – I made the yummiest pot roast.
Today – I had the yummiest pot roast leftovers for lunch.
Tomorrow – I will be sick of pot roast.
Five snacks I enjoy – Famous Amos Chocolate Chip cookies, cherry twizzler nibs, cheddar goldfish crackers, flavored pretzel chunks, white cheddar popcorn
Five bands I know the lyrics to most of their songs – The Beatles, Cake, Blink 182, Keane, Eve 6
Five things I’d do with $100,000,000 –buy an ipod, buy a house, buy a Honda Pilot, travel the world, buy yarn. But save it? Noooooo......
Five locations I’d like to runaway to –Hawaii, Tokyo, Florida, Puerto Rico, Venice
Five things I like doing Knitting, sleeping, cooking, reading, traveling
Five things I wish I could wear – halters, hats, funky rings, miniskirts, neck scarves
Five TV shows I like – Grey's Anatomy, North Shore, The Amazing Race, The Real World, 30 Days
Five Movies – Jurassic Park, Troy, Moulin Rouge, Finding Nemo, Elf
Five Famous people I’d like to meet – Brad Pitt, Kate Hudson, Josh Duhamel, George Bush, Michael Jackson
Five biggest joys at the moment – Chicago, Summer, custard, otter pops, festival food
Five favorite toys - my denise's, palm pilot, bread machine, flat iron, portable dvd player (ok, really, i don't have any cool toys. so these are just the things i use a lot. i know, lame.)

Magnets for my mom

They are pictures of antique appliances. And a chicken and a cat. You likey?

The Neverending Post--Not to be confused with The Neverending Story, or The Neverending Story 2 which starred the late Jonathan Brandis, who I loved.

So, I'm thinking this post should have lots of pictures. Because, that's really what makes a blog interesting, don't you think? Who wants to look at words all the time? Personally, if all I see are words, I just skim over it. Even if I know it's really well written, I'm just too darn impatient to read each and every word. I think that really annoys Derrick sometimes. Like, he'll give me something to read, and I'll read it, and then he'll quiz me to see if I really read it. Like, ask me eensy weensy details from the article. And then I won't know, and he'sll say, "your're too pimpatient--(ha, pimpatitent!!what a great typo!) IMpatient, just slow down, no wonder you don't remember stuff!" even though I think I have a pretty good memory. It's his that sucks. :) But I digress. Pictures. We did a lot today. Well, it seems like we did at least.

Today was HK's company picnic at the zoo. It was scorching hot, well, ovenly hot. And we sweat buckets. We could have grown rice on our bodies. (Nasty image, eh?) Milwaukee has a decent zoo, better than some, not as good as others'.



My favorite part was of these teeny tiny monkeys that were grooming each other. The are speedy little buggers, too. With little people-like faces. And Maybe the hippo. That was pretty sweet too.

The picnic itself was pretty good, too. I was surprised. It was completely catered, and there was cotton candy, and ice cream, and sno cones, and all sorts of free goodies. And we won a sports blanket, so that was cool.
In case you can't tell, that's cotton candy shaped like an elephant. I thought it was pretty cool.

After the zoo, we went downtown the the air show. We continued to sweat. But, the air show was neat-o. Tons of people there. Here is just a random sampling of photos to give you a taste of the demographics here.

Ok, so that last picture is of a lady that was sitting next to us, and you can sorta tell, but she had THE BIGGEST patch of butt sweat on her pants--it was HUGE! I'm sure if I hadn't been wearing jeans, mine would have looked the same!!

We saw the Blue Angels, which was awesome. And, of course, as soon as they came out and were being announced, I start to cry. Baby. But the show was sweet.


And this is what totally made my day. The "Coolest Kid Ever Award" for today:
This kid was awesome. I don't know who he is, but I hope my kids are as rad as he is!

And if you've made it all the way to the end of my exciting day, I leave you with this:

Camping advice--Courtesty of Grant

Aren't Fridays supposed to be good days? So far this one is turning out to be very, very bad.

The waiting game begins

True to form, I turned in my nursing application one day before they are due. It's always scary turning it in, especially here at UWM, where it's just this dinky form you fill out and your one-page personal statement. Of which mine is chock full of cheesiness and a few exaggerations. Hopefully the like it! It's actually not a bad paper, D helped me revise it like a gabillion times last night. He's much more meticulous about stuff like that. Which is good. I just skim stuff. Too impatient. I don't even think they review the applications until like October, which totally sucks. That's a long time to wait to find out if I get in!

It has been a busy busy week. I have my first biochem exam tomorrow. I don't know whether I should stress about it or just review notes and reactions and stuff. I hate the first exam of the semester. I think I'll be okay tho. I'd hope so, since this is the 3rd time I've learned what an aldehyde is!!! It's later that I lose focus.....

I sent my mom some glass magnets that I made awhile ago. (pics soon) She should get them today or tomorrow. I'm almost positive she won't even acknowledge that she got them, let alone like them. Oh well. I've already accepted that. Hopefully she'll notice that I'm trying to reach out and bridge the Grand Canyon-sized gap that has come between us. I wonder if she even thinks about this gap. I doubt it. They have young friends, read=my age, that they always have over. These friends have kids that my mom buys stuff for all the time. You'd think they were HER grandkids. So basically, I've been replaced. With a 24 year old girl presence in your home all the time, do you even remember that you have your OWN daughter out there? Who hasn't found ANYONE to replace her mom? Yeah, if you can't tell, I'm pretty bitter about it. Especially since our 2 year anniversary is coming up. That means 2 years she hasn't wanted anything to do with me. Actually, more than that. Like 2 1/2 years. I thought we were close to getting over it last Thanksgiving but then things went back to normal after we went back home.

My dad called me today at work. I love my dad. If it weren't for him, I'd have no family. So I asked, again, about their Christmas plans. I haven't been home for Christmas in 2 years and thought it might be my turn to go home. So I asked Pops what they were doing and he made some lame joke about celebrating the birth of Jesus. No, dad, what I'm asking, is can we come? Except I didn't say that. So then he says that it's still far off and they haven't made plans, and I say well we need to buy tickets if you want us to come and blah blah blah. He says he'll ask Mom what her plans are, but I can hear in his voice it's not something he's looking forward to. It just makes me want to cry. I didn't want to ask b/c I don't want to hear that the answer is no, we're not welcome yet another year. Not that we're not welcome, but that it would just be uber uncomfortable the whole time. Sigh. This is why I never think about it. It just depresses me. Honestly, I don't think there is anything else I can do on my part. It's up to her. But knowing that, it could take DECADES before she finally decided that she'd gotten enough payback at me. It's all a stupid game with her, really.

Well, I didn't plan on spilling my guts today, but I guess there you have it! Drama with my Mamma! ha!

In happier news, I had Thai food for lunch, and I'm eating custard tonite! Hooray!

Can you tell I don't like the cold??

Google No More

Blingo!

The triple crown of nerdiness

MIT, surveys, and blogging. That sums it all up right there!

It never ceases to amaze me how fast weekends fly by, and how slooooow the work week creeps on. I dread Sunday nights.

Last night we went to Summerfest. What a zoo.

Price of a funnel cake: $3
Price of a weak "old fashioned lemonade": $2.50
Number of bands we saw: 2
Number of drunk people: countless
Seeing 2 people urinating in public and completely clueless about it: priceless

It is definitely an experience, this Summerfest.

Collective Soul was collectively disappointing. Probably one of the most boring concerts I've ever been to. And so what that i just ended that sentence in a preposition. Wisconsinites get orgasmic over a band called O.A.R. So we checked them out. I, for one, am not a fan. Too Peter Breinholt-y for me. Which, to say, is too much like every other band that tried to make it big in Utah. DMB wannabies. Plus, there were like 10 people in the band. What's up with that?

I love people watching tho. You see all kinds at a place like that. And I love to eavesdrop on others conversations. I did laugh for a really long time when we were making our way to another stage. Everyone was going North to South, in a huge stream. Well, 2 guys were trying to cut across everyone, like East to West, while holding their beers, no less. And the one guy goes, "I feel like f*&$in' FROGGER, man!" It was pretty funny. If you're not laughing, it was one of those "had to be there" moments.

Other perks this weekend---went out to dinner with a friend to a restaurant near our place that's we've wanted to try forever but just never have. Conversation was really good, which is why I guess we didn't notice that it had beenliek 45 minutes since we'd placed our order! It finally came, and if tasted and felt like it had been sitting under a heat lamp for ages. So....we talked to the manager, Virginie, from like, Austria, and she said she took care of our drinks. Big freakin' whoop. We got VIRGIN margaritas. Ice and flavor. I wasn't havin' it. So I told our genital euphemism that we weren't paying for our quasi-food. She left for a minute then came back and told us our bill was taken care of. I wasn't mean or rude at all-I was very proud of myself. I think our friend was probably embarassed, but hey--free dinner!

Speaking of free....SIGN UP FOR MY IPOD!!! So far only Scott has signed up for me---he's a TRUE friend. Either that, or he just wants the spice cashew chicken from Cheesecake Factory that I proised him....

and speaking of the Cheesecake Factory....sweet dreams!

I heart my secret pal

With all the depressing news about the explosions and terrorism in London, it was soooo nice to get a package from my secret pal today! Work was such a pain in the @$$ today, it was so great to finally leave. Especially knowing i had a package waiting! So i made it home safely without crashing into anything and ran upstairs and opened my big box:



I could smell it all before I even saw anything--lavender! My new goodies include:
Pursonalities book, with cuuuuute bags in it. love it!
The cutest wind chime, made of wire and cool lime marbles. Perfect for my porch to keep the herbs company!
A pedicure set--awesome! My secret pal knows exactly what to get me! She's so great! Or he i guess, but i'm almost positive it's a she. :)
A palm tree shaped nail file keychain--perfect for my keys.
The lavender sachets. yum!
and the big bluish green thing?? Awesome knitting bag!! Just what I've needed! My old one is simply unchic. This one will make me a much more fashionable knitting. ha. it's has butterflies on it and now it smells good from the lavender! It's really beautiful. I wonder if my SP made it herself---if she did, I will be floor at her talents!

So yeah! Honestly, you rock, secret pal! You have sent me the coolest stuff-I've loved everything! It's like you've known me forever!

Which reminds me i need to start putting another package together for MY secret pal...

My sweater!

So I finally took pictures of me wearing my sweater. Which I adore. I finished it on the plane going to California. And then I wore it. So great! There was a moment of intense frustration and despair when i was working on attaching the sleeves, and the angle was sooooo tight on the needles it was sooooo hard to do. And then *SNAP!* the tip of my denises broke off. Like, the end part of the cord that goes into the needle. So that was sad that my cord broke, but even worse, that i lost like 30 stitches that i had to go back and pick up. And on top of THAT, i had just switched colors, so i had to deal with THAT too!! But it all worked out in the end.

And here I am!!!



Don't you just love it?? I do! Can you guess what I named it? It was my inspiration----Rainbow Sherbert!! It's what I was eating when I decided I wanted to make a sweater!

Store Wars!

Watch it, you must.

Chemists have better solutions

Ha!

So i finally had my first day of chemistry classes. my professor is carazy, and he looks like Joey Fatone from NSync. Joey FatOne. i don't think he knows his stuff very well. discussion was even worse. my ta is clueless, and when i tried to ask a question on something i know for a FACT she was doing wrong, she insisted her way was the right way. and when i looked it up in the book, i was right. so.....too bad for everyone else in the class who is going to do it wrong! i thought lab would be better, but i walked in, and i have the same ta for lab! ugh! at least she is super anxious to get outta there so she walks around telling us exactly what to do and what to look for and basically all the answers. i paired up with this seemingly intelligent guy and we each did half of the lab. afterwards, we exchanged our answers and did part of the write up. that's when his intelligence flew out the window. i sat there forever explaining things to him, hoping to get out and catch the bus so i could get to work. but no, he's tortoise-esque. I finally get outta there to see the bus cruise on by. so i wait for 30 minutes until the next one comes. AUGH!!!!

I think tomorrow i shall try and find a spot close to campus. or just shell out the 70 cents to park for an hour.

not much knitting content these days. it's too nice outside to stay inside and knit, plus, i have chem to study like every spare minute. oh, and finish my nursing application which is due in like 9 days. yikes!

time to get focused!!

Obsession

Ok, so I really want an iPod. Bad. I'm gonna try with www.freeipods.com. PLEASE!! EVERYONE!! All 3 people who I think read this!! Help me out!!!

---->CLICK ME!!!!<----

then do the eFax offer. It's a 30 day trial, but you can cancel after like a week. Do it!!!

I think I'll but an auction on eBay for this. I'll offer like 5 bucks to people who sign up under me. Once I see their name pop up under my account--BAM!--I'll send em 5 bones. Wonder if it'll work??

Summerfest was pretty cool last night. Not a drop of rain. Nice summer night weather. We checked out John Waite, then decided to head over to where Ben Folds was playing to try and get a good position. What. a. joke. There were already tons of people there, already standing on the benches and tables. It was sooo depressing. And frustrating. But we finally managed to get on a table in the back, where we could just see his head. Sigh. But he was awesome in concert, and played for a really long time. Played all the songs I wanted him to play. We went and checked out Brett Michaels (from Poison) too. It was sooo funny, seeing all these rockers emerge from the woodworks to see him. He did a pretty good job tho. Ain't lookin' for nothin but a good time!

Today was back to work. And back to school. Except the prof didn't show up so it was the biggest freaking waste of my time ever. Back to the bus to take me to my car to drive to work. Ugh. I could have SLEPT IN!!

Work was no better. Piles of paper on my chair, 75 emails to weed through, meetings and more meetings. Lots to do tomorrow, and i don't get in till 2!! I wish the FRAs and RFQs and especially Mr. P would just go away.

Taught a knitting class tonite. I think it went pretty well. I always feel good when I can correctly diagnose a problem. This lady said she had given up knitting b/c she always got these long strings in between her stitches and she hated it so she quit. Turns out, she was casting on the lazy way, just twisting it around the needle. What's that called anyway? backward loop? hmmm. Anyway, taught them all the long-tail cast on and they all loved it. Even the British lady who knits continental and tried to get us all to do it too and said her knitted cast on was easier. She converted! Hooray!

Well, I guess I should get some sleep. Still not caught up yet. But if you are, help me get an ipod!! I'll give you some monies!!!

Hooray for Independence!

Just wanted to say Happy 4th of July. It's probably my most favorite holiday ever. I love fireworks, barbecues, and hot summer days. And I love America.

We're finally home from Cali, after 12 hours of traveling and trying to sleep on airplanes and on the floor of airports. We came home and started laundry then slept for like 4 hours straight. It's rainy and cloudy and an overall pretty crappy day for the Fourth, but oh well.

We're still gonna brave going to Summerfest. I mean, that's the whole reason we came back so early, to see Ben Folds. Hope it's not rained out, and hope it's good!

Have a safe and happy holiday, and I'll try not to cry TOO hard when I head any sort of patriotic song today.