Baby Giraffes

Ah... Monday morning.  I'm preparing myself for a busy couple of weeks.  It's about Spring Break time, which means lots of people at the office are out of town.  This gives me a perfect opportunity to not go out of town and spread my little engineer wings.  When people call in and find that half of the office is unavailable, they will be directed to me.  I am sure they will be thrilled.

In preparation for some busy time at the office, I wanted to make sure our house was spic and span.  Okay that is an exaggeration.  But I did get the house un-messy and manage to wash, fold, AND PUT AWAY all of our laundry.  That hasn't happened since... I can't remember.  I usually get the wash and fold part done, but not the putting it away part.  Other crazy things happened as well, like cleaning out the fridge, washing bottles, and filing paperwork.

What can I say?  I am cray-zay.

We did manage to slip in a little fun.

Since the weather was actually nice and not threatening rain, we took Henry up to the zoo.  This wasn't his first time at the zoo, since we did go for Zoo Lights.  However, it was his first time in the daylight.  And with slightly fewer annoying people.  He did a little more people watching than animal watching but I think he had a good time.  Some of the zoo highlights included seeing a sea otter service himself and having a grown man shove past me as I was trying to get Henry and I away from the window looking at the lion cubs.

Have I mentioned I dislike large groups of people?

One of the best parts of the zoo, however, happened when we were over at the gazelle area.  There were probably 5 gazelles, roaming.  One was standing on a tree, trying to reach some leaves.  All around the area were signs talking about the gazelles.  How the gazelles stand on trees.  What the gazelles eat.  Gazelles.  Gazelles.  Gazelles.

And then a woman walks up and says, "Look kids!  A baby giraffe!!"

...

Nope.

But I know a certain someone who had fun:

Seriously... It is almost painful to look at him sometimes, he is so cute.

Grey's Anatomy and Dr. 90210

I love Grey's Anatomy.  I always have.  A couple of friends introduced it to me when I lived in England.  We were get together about once a week to have dinner and watch an episode on her laptop.  From there, I was hooked.

But once Izzy got skin cancer, I had a real problem with the show.  I turned into a total hypochondriac.  I was constantly afraid that I had a brain tumor or something was wrong with me.  And this lasted for quite a while.  It scared me into have skin checks (which is probably a really good thing since I have such fair skin) and into making sure all of my physicals were done as soon as possible (which also turned out to be a REALLY good thing).

When I found out I had thyroid nodules, I immediately had to STOP watching Grey's.  Even though I had seen all of the episodes and knew how it all turned out, mentally I couldn't handle it.  And it got even worse when the nodules turned out to be cancer and I knew I had to have a surgery.

I was so petrified of having surgery, it probably sent me into crying attacks daily.  Despite the fact that I knew it was fiction.  I knew the types of cases they had on that show were SUPER rare and that most surgeries went off without a hitch.  Otherwise, no one would ever have surgery.

So in order to prepare myself for having surgery, I started watching Dr. 90210.  I figured, if those people were CHOOSING to have surgery, then it really couldn't be that bad.  And I really didn't have a choice.  I NEEDED the surgery.  I even watched at least 3 or 4 episodes of it the day before my surgery, to really DRIVE it home.  In a really weird way, watching Dr. 90210 completely worked.  I watched person after person have surgery and come out totally fine.

After my first surgery, I found out that I actually performed REALLY well under anesthesia, which was the main part I was afraid of (well that and having the surgeon accidentally cut a major artery in my neck which, again, was always INCREDIBLY unlikely).  The fact that I had done SO WELL during my first surgery made it so I hardly worried about the second surgery.  I just wanted to have it over with.

Since putting cancer behind me, I have decided I can start watching Grey's Anatomy again.  I skip certain episodes though (since some of the story lines still get me).  It helps that things have gotten so ridiculous on that show that it is almost laughable.

But what it really tells me is that I am not nearly as irrational/crazy as I used to be.

I figure that's always a good thing.

PS - But I do sometimes wonder if something weird happened during my surgeries, like they always show on TV.  I'll probably never know (and that is totally fine with me).

Why?

I'm over at The Coffeehouse today, showing off my new level of crazy.  You'll understand what I mean when you look at the picture below:

Yup.  I made a dog coat for Cotton.

Hop over to Tiffany's blog and I'll explain why.

At least read it before you have me committed.

I'm kind of obsessed with Cotton.

Proof I'm going CRAZY

I think stress may be getting the best of me.  I'm starting to react in very strange ways.  Let me know what you think.

-  Yesterday while driving home, I began talking to "traffic".  As if "traffic" were an actual person, in my car that could hear me.  "Oh traffic, that wasn't nearly as bad as I thought you would be."

-  My new favorite thing to do with Cotton is to make him dance while singing old rap songs and/or making up my own songs.  I'd film it and share it with you, but I tend to do this with a (even more) high pitched voice and I really don't want to be on Rob Dyrdek's new show.

-  Phil and I got into a "fake fight" last night.  We have those every once in a while.  Where we kind of yell stupid, non-fight things to each other in an angry voice and then break into laughter.  It's a lot like this commercial:

This is because we hardly ever fight.  The highlight of last night's fake fight was when I told Phil I would "poke him with his own foot."  He then looked at me like I was nuts so I said, "If I can get your foot to poke you, then I will do it and you can't stop me."  I'm an adult.

I may need a vacation.  Probably.

Hunger Games Riot

A couple of weeks ago (exactly), my husband and I went to see The Hunger Games.  Yes... we are CRAZY and went opening night.  I wanted something to take my mind off how little food I could eat.

I kind of HATE going to regular movie theaters.  The ridiculous portions of popcorn and soda kind of make me want to vomit.  Not to mention the fact that people who open candy wrappers during movies make me want to commit a felony.  I've yet to do that (go me!).  Because of this, we opted to go to the theater pub, for a later showing, to avoid as many people as possible (man I am really playing into the engineer socially awkward stereotype here).

We showed up about an hour early.  The plan was to grab a drink and wait in line.  The theater had the movie on 3 screens.  Our show was in one of the smaller theaters right next to the other little theater (also playing The Hunger Games at the exact same theater time).  In an effort to clear up the confusion for the lines, they had placed colored duct tape on the ground.  The line we were in kind of snaked around the door.

Because we are awesome (totally not losers), we got there in plenty of time and were probably 10th in line to get into the theater.  Behind us was a group of young couples (about our age) who were probably all a part of the same church bible group or something.  This is just a guess, since I went to high school with one of them who also happened to be VERY involved in church and happened to marry pretty young.  Not an important detail right now, but just keep it in mind...

The staff cleaned the theater and we were super close to getting in, when Phil made the observation that it looked like the back of the line (the part that snaked around and was close to the front of the line) were not facing the right direction.  Rather than facing the front of the line, they were angled toward the door of the theater.

Big trouble.

The doors open...

And just like my brilliant husband predicted, the douches people in the back of the line CUT and rushed the doors.

The rest of us in the line were outraged.  My husband, who is normally extremely reserved (he is southern, after all) kind of YELLED at them.

The Christian couples behind me started yelling.

We all get in the theater and the jerks people who had cut in line took the row in the back of the theater.  By the time everyone got inside and sat down, there were still a bunch of seats open.

Why was it so important that they cut in line?  The theater wasn't full.

And why the back row?  My years in high school and every teen sitcom/movie has taught me that you only sit in the back row of the theater if you are going to make-out the entire time.  But why would you go to the opening night of the movie just to make-out?

I'm pretty sure karma will return the favor to the jackasses people who cut in line.  Flat tire in the rain or something.  I'm not too concerned about it.

However, if that had been a Harry Potter movie, my wine would have probably ended up in one of their faces if you catch my drift.
The movie was great, by the way.  Best book to movie adaptation I have seen in a while.

Today I am linking up with Hollie for Follow Friday!

Camry Dance Party

Yesterday, I left my office to run an errand quickly before an evening meeting.  I hopped into my car and a truly amazing song came on:

Yes... I purchased this song. I'm not proud of it. My husband is probably ashamed to be associated with me now.  It's ok.  Won't be the last time I am sure.  :)  In my own defense, I find it is a good song to run to. As is this song:

Cause it kind of makes you feel like you are in the movie and running for your life.

But I digress...

So "Sexy and I Know It" comes on and I'm trying to manuever my way through some traffic.  I am neck and neck with another car.  And suddenly I have a huge urge to roll down my windows, turn up the music and start rockin' out.

My hope would be that I could start a little dance party in the middle of the traffic, where everyone rolls down their windows and starts bustin' a move while we wait for the traffic light to turn green.

But I didn't do it.

I need to break out of my shell.

Hair Salon Harrassment

Since the holidays are rapidly approaching and because we will be in Virginia around the holidays, I decided I needed to head to the salon for a little hairstyle maintenance. There is a high liklihood that I will be meeting quite a few people from Phil's past and I want to look my best. Not to mention, I haven't had my hair done since before the wedding in May (that's seven months people), so it was definitely due.

I lucked out and my hair stylist had an opening for today so I snatched it up. The stylist works in a little shop with just a few other technicians. When my appointment started, the two other stylists were free but their appointments came in during my appointment. So there I am sitting, having a delightful conversation with my stylist about our dogs, when a women getting her hair done (we will call her Crazy Lady for the purposes of this story) starts talking about the Oregon Ducks.

Disclaimer #1:
I am usually not a huge fan of Duck fans. My days on the OSU dance team and encounters with Duck fans has left me with a bit of distain for Duck fans.

Being that I was in public and not sure about the feelings of those around me, I decided to not say anything about Crazy Lady's loud boistering about the Ducks. That is, until she mentioned that she lives in Corvallis and then began talking about how rude Beaver fans and those from Oregon State are.

Disclaimer #2:
I believe when you are discussing your Alma Mater, you have the right to be protective. I have very little problem with Duck fans who actually attended the University of Oregon because you should be proud of the school that you have put money into and from which you received an education. Because I have a bachelors and a masters from Oregon State and since my husband is getting his doctorate from Oregon State, I feel I am justified in my protection of OSU.

Once she began talking about how rude people who go/went to Oregon State are and which is the better school, blah, blah, blah, I decided to speak up. Here's how the conversation went:

Me: "Did you actually go to U of O?"

Crazy Lady: "No, but my son did."

Me: "Just so you know, I have 2 degrees from Oregon State and my husband is attends OSU."

(Without skipping a beat)
Crazy Lady: "I bet you're a Republican too."

Me: Bewildered... "Yes I am."

Crazy Lady: "I knew it! I can tell just by looking at you."


I then changed the subject and continued talking with my stylist. She continued by bashing all Republicans and blaming them (me) for the current state of the nation. Last time I checked, Crazy Lady, we have a DEMOCRAT for a president AND because of the Electoral College and the fact that I live in Oregon, my individual Republican vote has not accomplished anything since I have been able to vote. Pretty sure the Govenor, the President, both Senators, and all the Representatives from Oregon are DEMOCRATS. So absolutely NONE of the nation's current problems are my fault.

I am not sure if it is because I am wearing red today or what but apparently, I SCREAM Republican. I didn't realize it was so obvious. I tried to shove my piles of money back into my pockets but I most of forgot a few bills.

I meant to tell her before she left that I hated the environment and loved guns or something before she left, but I didn't have the opportunity. She snuck out while I was under the dryer.

The salon staff and I all had a laugh after she left. The U of O stuff wasn't such a big deal. The Republican comment was kind of strange. The whole thing made for an interesting morning at the salon.

My hair looks great. :)

Love, Mrs. Janney