Wedding anniversary

So this is what a happy couple looks like...

On September 18, 2004 Britney and Kevin finally said, "I do."

Since then, they have created 2 children and become a national symbol for proponents of gay marriage... I mean, if these people can legally marry and procreate(?) even as they publicly endanger their children (quite possibly ALL children) and the very INSTITUTION OF MARRIAGE... Shouldn't we all get a shot at the federal benefits of marriage?!?

Even more than "the gays," Britney and Kevin make everything so confusing... It's got to make even the most devout political-bible-banger throw back a wide gulp of Wild Turkey before he can hold a straight face throughout his "sanctity of marriage" speech...
You know what I mean?

Happy wedding day, Boo. i love you!

Please poke this chopstick through my eye

Kt and I went out for some yum yum and chow fun tonight. Her fortune cookie was intact, but the tiny slip of paper inside was 95% torn. We wondered bemused about the symbolism of a practically shredded forturne while I dismantled my cookie. After I read this:

I smiled, knowing that she would agree my fortune sucked more than hers- For the next round of Chinese fortune-cookie demotivators, will a small weapon be included right inside the dessert for self mutilation purposes?!?

Boozin' Babies

These children are NOT wards of the state!
Seriously cute kids, huh? They have some powerfully attractive genes.
Mac seems a little startled trying to handle her first root beer. But it looks like her older cousin, Mason can help her learn to hold her lemonade! 

Look ma, I'm famous

Apparently, snappy answers are not what certain orlops are looking for... Dave has put me on his list for commenting on his gnocchi post.

I'll take that as a compliment!

I've heard this many many many times: "I know you from somewhere....", followed by a consternating look for a few minutes. Then the person usually yells out "Nancy Kerrigan!", or "Nurse Hathaway!", or "that girl from Much Ado About Nothing!" as if they had just found the solution to world peace and were yelling "Eureka!".

This week at work I got a new version of "Eureka!" and I liked it far better than any of the others. One of my dear sweet geriatric patients said to me (as I was attempting to determine the extent of the cellulitis on his leg), "You know, ever since you came in that first day I was here, I've been trying to figure out who you look like.... And I finally figured it out." Oh god, I thought, who am I today? "SUE BIRD!", he yelled, as I looked up and realized that his T-shirt was from the Connecticut Sun. (The elderly in this state are truly fanatic women's basketball fans)

I think it had more to do with my curly ponytail than actual looks, and I'm pretty sure my patient is unaware of my Sue Bird-esque basketball skills*, but I think I'll take it as my favorite comparison to date. I mean, I have always wanted to be Sue Bird!


*When I say I have "Sue Bird-esque basketball skills", what I mean is, I could probably keep up with her while running down the court. If I didn't have the ball. And neither did she. I guess what I really mean is that when I'm playing basketball I like to pretend that I could be Sue Bird. If Sue Bird were in high school still. Ok, junior high. Or maybe even 4th grade.

Back & Black & Blog

So much time has passed that I feel I have to expend some energy integrating back into the blog. A little blog foreplay... some wine and candle-light so the gin-soaked olive knows that I'm not just a user- landing here for a few minutes of instant gratification after weeks away...

Despite some truly lovely vacation time and visits from family and friends, life has been hectic and irksome. I've been swamped at work (which is kind of good as I like to be challenged) but the headaches -literally, not figuratively- have been brutal. When i was younger, my stress would always be in my gut: nausea, stomach pain, etc. But now, for some reason it has moved all into my head. I can be in the middle of a frustrating conversation and I will get searing pain through my skull. This does a few things to/for me: 1) It officially connects my headaches to mood, aggravation, and stress and therefore eliminates (or decreases) the time i spend thinking, "Maybe i ate something funny, maybe I'm dehydrated, maybe it's allergies," etc. 2) Makes me feel a little pathetic- GET OUT OF YOUR HEAD, M#THER-F#CKER!!! Life is too short!!! G*D-D#MN!!!#%&! Get a grip!!! ***This type of self-disapproval and reproach does little to improve the painful symptoms, by the way... 3) Makes me contemplate the word "Aneurysm" more than i ever did before. The thought "ANEURYSM" blazing in my brain is usually followed by the image of Red Foxx clutching his chest every day and shouting, "This is the big one, Elizabeth, I'm coming to join you." Luckily, the sitcom is part of my lexicon only as reinforcement that no one likes an overly dramatic complainer, i try to keep my concerns related to an ANEURYSM unspoken... Don't want the wife to hurt herself rolling her eyes at me every day. Yesterday, we were watching Gray's Anatomy with the fam and one of the lines of the interns was: "Why do I keep hitting myself in the head with a hammer? Because it feels so good when I stop." Web was like, "huh?" Kt and I looked at eachother and said, "hmmm... interesting point...i don'tknowwhowouldbehavelikethat, that'ssocrazy ....hmmm"

Gotta chill out.

Which in some ways means, gotta get back to the silly journaling associated with the blog.

To those of you who have let me know you miss my posts, especially those of you on the west coast... thanks for the encouragement, i love you more than you know!

And to the rest of you, there's some great stuff to follow: Vacation recap(s), photos of children who appear to be drinking beer, other random rambings, political rants, and unsolicited opinions... Don't worry, Mike, I've got some great new pics of Mac'adoodle... groan if you want- i know you can't look away :)

And a good time was had by all...

This is what it looks like after the "Orlops" get together. (don't ask about the name - it only proves what kind of dorks we are) We had a great weekend with our dear friends - two of my friends from Smith and their husbands. It's now an annual get-together made easier by our friends at Southwest Airlines.

KFH: you're awesome. You never cease to amaze me, from being a great NICU NP to running a half marathon, you are a kick-ass woman!

AH: thanks for all the help in the kitchen and with the computer this weekend, couldn't have done it without you!

MRL: I'm so impressed with all you know just from one year of nursing school - I think you are going to be a great RN and NP. Thanks, too, for the leadership to get us into the bathrooms at the Smith Art Museum sans entry fee.

DL: Our relationship with sTiVo is in a whole new era thanks to you. I do love google and all the programs it provides us, however, I have to say they would mean nothing to me without you!

Can't wait for the next meeting, hopefully the third time will be the charm with no snow, and no Ernesto. MRL and DL are up next!