Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Proud of My Country?

Michelle Obama is getting raked over the coals because she said, "for the first time in my adult life, I'm proud of my country," or something similar. And I can't figure out WHY folks are getting all up in arms about this. It's been a damn long time since I've been PROUD of my country. I've always been proud that I'm American, that our country stands for freedom. But being proud of my country? Not lately. I'm with Michelle - I'm proud to see a new generation get excited about politics, about hope. I've been worn out by eight years of incompetence and dishonesty, and I need to be proud of my country again. I need to live in a country where, if there's a question as to whether a practice is torture, we rise above and don't let it happen. We're supposed to be the best country in the world. I'm hoping we'll start acting like it again soon.

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Hoping for Clear Skies

Whee! Tonight there's going to be a total lunar eclipse! I hope the sky will clear up so we can watch it - it stinks when you can't see the sky (that's one more nice thing about Bend - the sky here is SO CLEAR and we don't get any city light to distort the night sky. I missed the stars when we lived in SoCal). The eclipse should start around 7 PST, so Zippy will still be up - I'm really looking forward to watching this tonight!
When I was a little girl, my dad used to take me outside at night to look at the stars with him. He really loved Astronomy, and while I've never had the patience to memorize the stars and constellations like he did, a few have always stuck with me (Cassiopia being particularly special for some reason), and remembering him showing me the night sky makes me smile. I sure miss him. I hope I can give a little piece of him to my family tonight while we watch the eclipse together.

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Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Shallow Television

Burger isn't feeling well tonight, so she's been hanging out watching television like a lump on the couch. Which means that I'm being subject to a show called "The Millionaire Matchmaker". Can I just say OMG. There are all these women who are so insanely shallow on this show, and I can't even believe this crap is on television. Even more so, I can't believe that I'm being subjected to it. And that I haven't left the room.
I'm going to need a long shower after this, because it's just skanky.

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Sunday, February 17, 2008

Not-Quite Sick

Last weekend, I was sick. It started on Thursday (the 7th. by "last weekend" I mean the last complete weekend we had. I know it's Sunday night, but right now it's still "this weekend". Tomorrow morning "this weekend" will turn into "last weekend", but for the intent of this blog posting, "last weekend" is specifically February 9 and 10, 2008. Aren't you glad I clarified all of that?) when I felt tired and worn down. Friday, my brain didn't work (and I missed my breakfast with Shannon and Jen, which I'd really looked forward to. Sigh). Saturday and Sunday I was fairly useless, and I actually slept until 2 pm one of the days. I have no idea which at this point, but I do know that I desperately needed the rest. By Monday, I was fairly human and have remained so. EXCEPT FOR ONE THING. My eyes hurt. They feel like I've been in an overchlorinated pool all day. Like I looked directly at the sun. Like I rubbed sand into them. Like someone made me cry for days. THEY HURT. And that makes me sad and angry, but mostly it just sucks because nobody gets sympathy because their stupid eyes just hurt. And I'm a girl that loves a little sympathy. Not that I ever get any.

Oh yeah, Mr. LT is sick with whatever it is that I had last weekend. Poor guy. I don't think he's gotten out of his recliner more than three times all weekend. I feel badly that he has what I had. I hope his eyes won't hurt for a week. If they do, I'll try to at least be sympathetic. Or something.

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Friday, February 15, 2008

How I Met My Husband

Jumping on the bandwagon, following Jen and Shannon's leads...

1. Where/how did you meet?

I'd gone to Hawaii to visit a friend living there who was moving back home. She'd known Mr. LT for a while when she'd lived in Honolulu (she'd subsequently moved to Maui). The day I flew into Hawaii, Mr. LT happened to call her, because the Coast Guard boat he was stationed on was doing exercises off the coast of Maui, he had the night off, and he thought she might want to come hang out with him and his friends in Lahaina. She told him I was coming to town, and that we'd see them at Moose McGuillicuddy's later that night. So I met him the first night I was in Hawaii.

2. How long have you known each other?

Fifteen years, 7 months, 16 days.

3. How long after you met did you start dating?

Pretty much immediately.

4. How long did you date before you were engaged?

3 months. Kind of. By this time, we'd already started making wedding plans for a January, 1993 wedding, but the rest of the world thought we were crazy, and we had decided to postpone the January wedding and wait a while. But then, well, honestly, I got knocked up with Burger, and we hated being apart, and it just seemed right to get married after all. So we'll say three months.

5. How long was your engagement?

6 weeks.

6. How long have you been married?

15 years, 2 months, and something like 24 days.

7. What is your anniversary?

November 21, 1992

8. How many people came to your wedding reception?

About 40.

9. What kind of cake did you serve?

White cake with cream cheese and raspberry filling.

10. Where was your wedding?

We were married in the house where I grew up.

11. What did you serve for the meal?

We had all sorts of finger foods - a cocktail reception. I just remember fabulous beef tenderlion slices and stuffed endives. The rest is a blur, although I know my mom and I spent a considerable amount of time and energy figuring out what we wanted the caterer to do.

12. How many people were in your bridal party?

None, formally. My friends Bernadette, Lisa, and Erin were there and I felt like they were my bridal party.

13. Are you still friends with them all?

Bernadette and Lisa are still amazingly precious to me. Erin I talk to once or twice a year, but we're not close. I do thank her for introducing me to Mr. LT (she was the friend in Hawaii).

14. Did your spouse cry during the ceremony?

Mr. LT does not cry. There might have been a small tear at the corner of his eye, but I am sure he would say there'd been something caught in his eye.

15. Most special moment of your wedding day?

Just walking to where Mr. LT was standing waiting for me. My mom walked me down the "aisle", and I just remember it all feeling magical.

16. Any funny moments?

um.... I forgot about shoes and Berna and I lied to a guy in a shoe store (I think this was actually the day before the wedding, but it's fuzzy) and told him that my dog ate my shoes (which was actually entirely possible, because my dog at the time, as wonderful as she was, ate way too much of my stuff) and he took pity on me and had a pair dyed super quickly. Also, when Berna and I went to get my wedding cake, they'd put these crazy column pedestals between the levels when I'd specifically wanted the tiers resting on one another. They'd also "touched up" the ivory basket weave frosting with white frosting for some unknown reason. I freaked out and made them fix it. I guess those aren't really funny, but that's all I've got.

17. Any big disasters?

Big? No. We were supposed to use my parents' wedding rings for our rings, but one of the rings couldn't be found, so Mr. LT ended up spending our wedding day (or was it the day before? Sigh) searching for rings. Good thing we had an evening ceremony.

18. Where did you go on your honeymoon?

We drove from coast to coast - I'm from the east coast, we moved to the west coast (Alameda, California). We never had a "real" honeymoon.

19. How long were you gone?

Once we left, we stayed gone.

20. If you were to do your wedding over, what would you change?

The saddest thing about my wedding day is that Mr. LT didn't have anyone there for him - his parents and friends couldn't make it east. If I could do it again, I'd have found a way to get them there for the wedding. We did have a second reception at his parents' house in California once we made it west, but it would have been better had he had someone at the actual wedding itself.

21. What side of the bed do you sleep on?

The right side. But we do switch off every couple years.

22. What size is your bed?

King size. We're both big spread-out sleepers and would kill one another in anything smaller.

23. Greatest strength as a couple?

We are in this together, and forever. We both want to be here.

24. Greatest challenge as a couple?

Jen says that she and Mr. liw(asai) are the most stubborn people, but we might have them beat. We're both stubborn, pig-headed, and quick to anger. Sigh.

25. Who literally pays the bills?

I do.

26. What is your song?

"Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton

27. What did you dance your first dance to?

"Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton

28. Describe your wedding dress.

Ivory. Long sleeves. Cocktail length.

29. What kind of flowers did you have at your wedding?

I have no idea. I know there were roses. I forgot about flowers (hey, I had six weeks to plan this thing. I know I forgot stuff.), so my mom ended up going out on our wedding day to Behnke's Nursery and getting a couple lovely arrangements and a gorgeous bouquet. I love Behnke's and wish they were nation-wide.

30. Are your wedding bands engraved?

No.

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Monday, February 11, 2008

Getting Political

Maryland, where I grew up, votes tomorrow. Oregon doesn't hold our primaries until May 20 - very late in the game. I am hoping that the "Potomac Primaries" will follow recent trends and give Obama the majority of votes, because I really think that he's the better candidate.

So, if you're able to vote tomorrow and can't decide, just vote Obama. For me.

Yes we can!!!

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Bend Bloggers Unite!

Since I moved to Bend, I've been lucky enough to get to know a few local bloggers pretty well, to meet a few others that I hope to get to know better, and to exchange e-mail messages with several others.

A new opportunity - one that will allow me to meet many of the folks I've been wanting to meet (while also allowing me to see several of the folks I've already met IRL) - has come up! Bend Bloggers (and spouses - I haven't asked Mr. LT if he wants to go yet, but I suspect he'll only come if Mr. liw(asai) comes) are going to be getting together - hope to see you there!

Details:

When: 5:30-ish, Thursday, February 21, 2008

Location: Blacksmith Restaurant

211 NW Greenwood Ave.

(541) 318-0588

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Where I've Been

I can't believe it's been over a month since I had a substantial post. I suck. My excuses:

1) Christmas. I had to do all this shopping and shipping and wrapping and planning and cooking. My mother-in-law came to visit and we had a wonderful holiday, non-secular as we are.

2) Vacation. My (ex)company shuts down operations the week between Christmas and the new year -- which means forced vacation for most peons. For some reason, the family wasn't thrilled when I touched my computer during this time.

3) New job! I started a new job on the first of the year, and there was a lot of administrative-type stuff that had to happen - switching computers, paperwork, a trip up to Redmond, WA (where the company is based) to do a meet-and-greet of the folks I hadn't met before (I used to work for this same company, and it's been a very nice homecoming thus far).

4) Hesitation. My entire family reads my blog, and I'm almost afraid to say "shit" here. Which is odd, because, really, I'm a trucker at heart and cuss constantly. Bad LT. But here's the thing.. family, you know I love you all. If I offend you or make you cringe, please just pretend I'm there in person, because you know how crass I am at times. I've decided that I'm just going to be me and not worry about what you all think. Because it's silly for me to worry in virtuality when I've never spent much time worrying in person. xoxo and all that. Mom, just let me know if you're cutting me out of the will. Eric, no gloating if she does so.

So that's it. I'm back now, and I've missed being here. MWAH! (<--that's a kissing sound)

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Monday, February 4, 2008

Still Here

I'm still here - it's been a crazy month or so! I don't have time for a catch-up post right now, but I'll do so soon. On a side note, I'm oddly pleased that the Giants (who I hate) beat the Patriots (who I'm ambivalent about) in the Super Bowl yesterday. I guess I love the underdog more than I know. Thanks to Jen & Mr. liw(asai) for hosting us yesterday and putting up with us! We had a great time!

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