cubical relief

Well Hello There!

2007-07-27T22:02:00.000-05:00

I figured out my password today, so I thought I would say hello. Someday I will come back to the world of blogging, but now is not the time. Till then, catch me on myspace at http://www.myspace.com/ogbunniehop.

Snow Day

2007-03-02T15:56:00.000-06:00

While I was inside working, Matt, Bradley, and Michael were enjoying their day off.
Michael Digging Cave #1
Bradley and Michael By Cave #1
Bradley in the Cave
Bradley in the Tunnel
The Finished Product

10 Random Things About Me

2007-03-02T13:07:00.000-06:00

1. I have never pumped my own gas.
2. I am half Filipino and half Swedish.
3. I have no cavities.
4. I love grilled cheese sandwiches with grape jelly on top.
5. I am not a good shopper. I find it overwhelming.
6. I was a camp counselor every summer all through high school.
7. I am a good swimmer.
8. I have lived in Omaha all of my life.
9. I can't text message. If you text me, I can't text back.
10. I have the Anderson record for the most stitches.

Reese Rule: Number 1

2007-03-01T21:10:00.000-06:00

Never leave your drink or food unattended. If I can get to it, it is mine!

Hello Little One

2007-02-27T20:25:00.000-06:00

On February 12th, our friends Lyndsay and Nick had their first little one named Lukas. They came over for a visit, and Bradley, who is so good with babies, held him the longest out of everyone. He can't wait for his dad and I to have a baby, but it doesn't seem to be happening.

The number one question seems to be: "When are you guys going to have a baby?" The other week, Matt's Papa told him how difficult it was to have their first little one. Then, he went on to explain in detail some things that they tried to get pregnant. Matt said that there are some things about your grandparents that you just don't want to know.

To answer everyone's question, no, we are not pregnant. Yes, we are trying. When it happens, it happens. Hopefully, it will be sooner than later. Until then, Reese is our baby in training. She's a handful!

Reckless Skaters

2007-02-26T11:44:00.000-06:00

A few months ago, I brought Bradley and my nephew Collin to Skateland. Bradley hadn't gone skating in years, and it was Collin's first time on skates. It was so entertaining to watch. Collin skated so slow that it looked like he was skating in place, and I think Bradley was on his butt more than on his skates. It's now one of my favorite places to bring them when we are looking for things to do.

(I apologize for the dark video. If you can see it, it's quite funny.)

Quote of the Day

2007-02-15T19:04:00.000-06:00

"My stomach's upset. Do you want Taco Bell for dinner?" - Matt
Unfortunately, he didn't follow the advice on the sauce packet.

Flashback to Valentine's Day 2002

2007-02-14T12:00:00.000-06:00

Five years ago, Matt gave me this monster size Valentine. It's funny because for one, the card is not me, and secondly, I think he was in a hurry at the store and this one screamed Valentine's Day. I guess we aren't good at this Valentine's Day thing, but at least we are good at loving each other.

Reese's New Dance

2007-02-13T21:28:00.000-06:00

I don't know what Reese's deal is lately, but everytime her friend Husker comes over, she has the urge to jump on top of him and do the funky monkey. I did some research on the Internet, and it says that her actions have nothing to do with sex. She is just showing dominance. It could also be a way for her to lash out for all of those times I put her mouse friend on top of her. Either way, she doesn't like being the underdog.

My Husband: The Romantic

2007-02-12T19:05:00.000-06:00

Halfway through our meal at Chili's, my husband looked up at me and said, "It's a good thing that we decided to have Valentine's dinner on a Monday instead of Wednesday. That way we really beat the crowds." I looked at him and said, "What? If I knew this was my Valentine's dinner, I wouldn't have ordered soup!"

Six Signs of Intoxication

2007-02-11T16:24:00.000-06:00

1. My tongue is unleashed.
2. I embarrass myself.
3. I show my guns.
4. I stick utensils in my invisible cleavage.
5. I take pictures with strangers.
6. I make thrusting motions to my husband.

Elementary School Romance

2007-02-08T19:08:00.000-06:00

Over dinner, Bradley announced to the family that a girl named Paige has a crush on him. Apparently, she gave him a note during class that said, "Be Mine." Brad replied on the back of the note with a, "Sure, I'll be yours." They have been going steady for two days now.

Today, she asked him if he would like to join her for lunch with the principal. Their first date will be on Monday in the principal's office. He said that when she asked him to lunch that was a sign that she loved him.

While cleaning his room, I found a green piece of paper folded in his pocket. A big "I love you Paige" was written on it. They sure are moving quickly for second graders.

I asked Bradley what he would do if she dumped him. He said that he would be sad, and that he won't dump her even if she gets really annoying. My only advice is that he better get her something good for Valentine's Day, or else next week could be rocky.

Elementary school romances... You gotta love em.

Bloggers Unite

2007-02-07T20:02:00.000-06:00

Without Jimmy, will the Bloggers Unite? The other day, I started to wonder what will become of our monthly gatherings. Jimmy was the glue that brought us all together!

Whatever happens, I'm glad that I had the opportunity to meet all of you, and I'm happy that you got the chance to meet the coolest wheelchair chick in town. It's not too often that this happens you know. I hope that Jimmy's departure isn't the end. Until we meet again, here are some pictures from the last couple of months.

Back Row: I'm a Maniac, What The Funk?, Just Keep Swimming
Middle Row: enough IS enough, Operation Peter Pan, Beautiful Pride, The Red Portfolio

Back Row: Exciting Coquette, Natalie the Ex Blogger, Filipino with an American Name
Middle Row: Me, Just Keep Swimming, Operation Peter Pan, The Red Portfolio, Beautiful Pride

Just Keep Swimming, Operation Peter Pan, Filipino with an American Name, The Red Portfolio, Me

Operation Peter Pan, Eye Write, Me

March Please

2007-01-31T11:42:00.000-06:00

I have had no desire to write in my blog. I decided not to say that I was on hiatus because I'd probably post 2 days later. As I reflect on this past month, I have concluded that January has been a very shitty start to the new year. I say let's just skip February and jump to March! I'm looking forward to this month because Matt and I will be taking a trip to Seattle.

Last week, I was e-mailing my cousin Heather back and forth. She is the next in our family to get married, and she has been under a lot of stress. She had to change her wedding date from the end of April to the beginning of March because her fiance is in the Army, and he has to go to Iraq earlier than expected. She e-mailed and asked if I'd be able to make it out to Seattle for the new wedding date. I told her that I would be there because I was the designated guestbook girl. We started e-mailing back and forth about the wedding, and she said that she needed to find a new maid of honor because her friend would be overseas and would not be home in time for the wedding. Within a matter of e-mails, I went from the guestbook girl to matron of honor, which is exciting. Luckily I am the same size as her friend, so I don't have to order a dress, and I've already started thinking about my toast and how I'm going to wear my hair.... and Molly, you will have to give me suggestions for makeup.

Finally..... something to look forward to!

Happy Birthday

2007-01-12T16:24:00.000-06:00

Every year, it is with great honor that I am able to share my birthday with some of the most talented people in show business.

Happy Birthday to Rob Zombie, Rush Limbaugh, Howard Stern, and Kirstie Alley!

Resolutions for 2007

2006-12-30T20:12:00.000-06:00

Travel! In 2006, the only trip that I made out of Nebraska was to Corley, Iowa to pick up Reese....I take this back. We also went to Kansas City for the TOOL concert.
Spend more time with my dad.
Get more than 10 good pictures taken with Matt. We only had a handful of pictures taken together this year. Mr. Picture Hater will have to suck it up and smile.
Buy a new car. I've been driving the same car since high school, and that was um.... 10 years ago.
Wear glasses when I need to. I'll have to buy a cute pair first.

Merry Christmas!

2006-12-25T00:56:00.000-06:00

xoxo,
the squirrel and the bear

All I Want for Christmas...

2006-12-22T11:11:00.000-06:00

There are three days until Christmas, and I'm still sick! I have had the worst case of the liquid number twos since Sunday. I've been laying around my house thinking about all of the things that I'm missing out on and all of the things I still need to do.

Last night, I called Matt's best friend who is a pharmacist. He had me page my doctor. Then, he created a concoction that my doctor likes to call the Green Monster GI Prep. When taking it, it reminds me of taking a shot of Jager... It doesn't taste great, but it does the job.

This year all I really want for Christmas is to feel better, so that I can spend time with the ones I love.

For My Lovelies

2006-12-15T07:30:00.000-06:00

Happy Birthday Mr. Kernan!

2006-12-14T13:52:00.000-06:00

To My Norman.....
Jimmy
Happy Birthday Baby.
You make a beautiful birthday boy ...
Have fun blowing out 24 candles...

Hope you have a wonderful day!

Good Reads

2006-12-14T12:04:00.000-06:00

If anyone has any good book suggestions, please send them my cousin's way!

My Top 10

2006-12-13T15:55:00.000-06:00

I've finally created my "Before Matt Gets Old" list. However... after looking it over, it looks like I have just compiled my "Things I Want To Do in the Next 5 Years" list.

- Go tubing or sledding.
- Go whitewater river rafting in the Grand Canyon.
- Visit Chicago.
- Accompany Matt on a cruise.
- Go to Cedar Point Amusement Park.
- Attend a pro sporting event.
- Take Amtrak.
- Check out Mall of America.
- Try deep sea fishing.
- Visit the Philippines or meet one of my filipino relatives in the states.

The Original JoJo

2006-12-13T12:37:00.000-06:00

When I was growing up, we had no pets unless you wanted to count our beta fish a pet. My dad refused to let us have any dogs, cats, gerbals, coyotes, etc.

One day when my mom was at work, the Humane Society brought a bunch of dogs to the mall to sell. A dog named JoJo, part pomerianian/part mystery dog, was the last dog left. He was up for doggy death row, and my mom felt sad for him. She wanted to save his life, so she called my dad and asked him if she could bring him home. He said, "No!" She didn't listen and brought him home anyway.

We had 9 wonderful years with JoJo. Our furry friend died last November ('05). We miss you little guy!

See... Dreams Really Do Come True

2006-12-13T10:15:00.000-06:00

Meet the Crippendales.

Reese's Pieces

2006-12-12T21:11:00.000-06:00

Our Reese may be cute, but she is one dirty dog.

Last weekend, it was really nice outside, so I thought that it would be a good day to pick up all of Reese's pieces (a nice way of saying dog shit). Reese was enjoying the rays, while Bradley was scavenging the yard for poop for me to scoop. Fun times. What a great way to bond!

Reese was watching us for a good 30 minutes when she decided that she wanted to get in on the action. She walked up to us, wagging her tail, looking as cute as can be. She had something up her sleeve.... can you use that saying for a dog? I had a big turd on the shovel, and I was just about to dump it when all of a sudden Reese swipes the turd off of the shovel, puts it in her mouth, and runs off like there is no tomorrow. Talk about disgusting!!! Bradley was chasing after her while I was freaking out! What does Reese do during all of the commotion? She goes to the furthest corner in the yard and starts chomping away.

She was finally captured and sent inside. She certainly gave doggy kisses a new meaning, and this my friend is the end my hiatus.

Class of 2006

2006-11-26T19:34:00.000-06:00

Reese graduated today from Puppy Training 101.

A Bradley Milestone

2006-11-21T16:45:00.000-06:00

Bradley lost his first tooth today at school! He is no longer "that second grader" with no missing teeth.

Tonight, he plans on proving that the Tooth Fairy is real. He wrote her a note and is expecting a note in return. If she writes back, he will have his proof.

The Best to You Each Morning

2006-11-20T16:09:00.000-06:00

In eighth grade, I dated a kid named Sean. Our relationship consisted of talking on the phone every night until my ear was sweaty. One night, I asked him where he lived. He said, "Near Kellogg's. I can smell the Cornflakes in the morning." I never believed him.

On my way to work, I pass by Kellogg's on the interstate, and more times than none, I can smell something delicious in the air. Today, I thought of that conversation we had many years ago, and it made me smile.

Happy 6th Months Reese!

2006-11-16T08:51:00.000-06:00

I can't believe you are 6 months old already. It seems like just yesterday we were picking out your name. Your daddy and I love you very much! You are the cutest pup ever...even if you chewed a hole in the carpet and in the rug in a matter of 2 days. Those things can be replaced, but you, little pup, are one of a kind!

Matt's Number One

2006-11-15T21:06:00.000-06:00

I am still compiling my "Before Matt Gets Old" list, and the other day, I asked Matt what was number 1 on his list. He said, "Go on a cruise." I thought that it was funny because I always think of either honeymooners or retired folks when I think of cruises.

Mashed Potatoes 101

2006-11-09T21:14:00.000-06:00

Matt's aunt called this evening about Thanksgiving. She told me that my one and only duty this year is to bring the mashed potatoes. I told her that it would not be a problem! It's a piece of cake. While in my head, I was telling myself that I'm 27 years old, and of course, I know how to make them. Then, I got off the phone and started to panic. I've made mashed potatoes several times, but they have always come in a box.

I called my Grandma Lil for support. Her mashed potatoes are the best. This is how our conversation went:

Me: Grandma, can you tell me how to make mashed potatoes?
G Lil: Sure! Do you own a mixer?
Me: No.
G Lil: Do you own a potato masher?
Me: No.
G Lil: Do you know what a potato masher looks like?
Me: Yes Grandma. I'm not that pathetic.
G Lil: Well you better buy one or the other, or you are going to have problems!

I'm going to her house on Sunday to discuss.

When I got off of the phone, Matt said, "Nance, just make the boxed ones! No one will know!" Who wants boxed mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving? Not me! Last year, I traded Matt's sister my mashed potatoes duty with green bean casserole. This year, I will figure this out!

P.S. If anyone wants to take a cooking class with me, let me know!

First Loose Tooth

2006-11-06T17:19:00.000-06:00

Bradley is a second grader, and he is the last person in his class to lose any teeth. A few days ago, his bottom front tooth began to wiggle. He has been wiggling it like crazy every since.

Last night, he had a dream that all of his teeth fell out including his gums. He said that the only thing left in his mouth was his tongue.

Today, he decided that when his tooth comes out that he is going to write the Tooth Fairy a letter since he has had to wait so long. He is going to ask her to please give him more than 50 cents since this is his first tooth.

I wonder what the Tooth Fairy pays out these days. Does anyone know?

Bloggers Unite

2006-11-06T14:27:00.000-06:00

When I started this blog up again last spring, I never thought that I would meet the writers of the blogs that inspired me. It looks like I only have one more person to meet.

I'm a Maniac

~~Beautiful Pride~~

~~Just Keep Swimming~~

~~The Red Portfolio~~

~~Operation Peter Pan~~

I Love This Man

2006-11-04T20:09:00.000-06:00

This picture was taken at the Owen/Scoville wedding where he was the bestman. I found it while I was surfing the net, and I decided it was too good not to steal.

The "Before Matt Gets Old" List

2006-11-03T10:24:00.000-06:00

I just finished reading my brave cousin Kari’s post on rock climbing. She said that rock climbing was one of the things that was on her list of things she wanted to do before she died, and it took me back to a conversation that Matt and I had last week.

We were lying in bed, flipping threw the channels, when we stopped on the show Little People, Big World. It was the episode where the Roloff family is in Hawaii for a family vacation. The family goes on a number of adventures including a zip line tour. I was watching these people zip through the jungle, and I looked over at Matt and said, “I want to try that! I bet I could that. You would just have to carry me. There are too many stairs.” He looked at me and said, “Nancy, I think that you need to start making a list of top 10 things that you would like to do before we get old. In 20 years, I don’t think that I will be able to carry you all over the place.” I calculated that in 20 years Brad will be 27, and he will be able to carry me. Matt doubts that Brad will want to still go on vacations with us.

Nevertheless, I have not written my "Before Matt Gets Old" list, but it just makes me wonder..... Do you have a list of things that you would like to do while you are still young? What are they? I might have to add them to my list.

Happy Halloween

2006-10-31T18:30:00.000-06:00

Pumpkin Carved by Nancy and Bradley

It's a Filipino Thang

2006-10-22T10:30:00.000-05:00

It seems like I've been going to a lot of Filipino gatherings lately, and lechon (roasted pig) is a must at each event. Since there were no pictures at my mom's party, I took some at Dori's 50th birthday bash.

Years ago, I used to eat the cut up pig skin like potato chips, but these days, I'm no longer fond of pork. I never eat the lechon, but if you would like to try it, there will be a pig at Michael's graduation party.

N is for Nancy

2006-10-21T22:09:00.000-05:00

For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to sit in the letters of the American National Bank sign on 90th and Maple.

I told my brother about this when we drove by. We stopped, and my dream came true.

Look What I Can Do

2006-10-21T14:57:00.000-05:00

Obstacle accomplished. Reese learned how to get onto the trampoline.

Back to Basics Tour

2006-10-19T23:57:00.000-05:00

Christina is coming to Omaha with the Pussycat Dolls and Danity Kane, and I'm going in February!

Scaredy Cat

2006-10-19T18:10:00.000-05:00

When I was a growing up and my mom was home alone, she would turn on every single light in the house. That was a sign for the ghosts to stay away, and it also let all of the neighbors know that she was by herself. I remember coming home as a kid and the TV would be on in the basement, the radio would be on upstairs, and she would be cleaning and talking on the phone at the same time. I used to think that she was silly until last night. I realized that I am a scaredy cat just like her.

Matt went to Vegas for a few days, and yesterday was my first night by myself. I have a hard time falling asleep if Matt isn't around. My head starts thinking too much. At first, I thought that Reese would keep me company and sleep in my bed. She was being just awful, so I had to send her to the kennel. I considered having my brother camp out on my floor, but um.... that's just weird. I ended up watching TV until I could barely keep my eyes open. Then, I went under all of my covers, and I left a big enough hole for my nose and mouth to get air. This sounds ridiculous, but it's the truth. I need help.

My First Video - Reese and the Papasan Chair Incident

2006-10-11T21:17:00.000-05:00

This video is 1 second long. Seriously. Video Synopsis: The papasan chair was the first piece of furniture that I let Reese go on. My dog JoJo (the pomeranian) used to lay on it all the time, but he was way smaller than Reese is now. I really regret ever letting her sit on the chair because she falls over at least once a week, and it has scratched up the wall a great deal.

Lil' Nance

2006-10-11T19:40:00.000-05:00

Jimmy wrote me an e-mail today, and in it he wrote "you should make a rap album." What he doesn't know is that I have my first single written. I wrote it in sixth grade for my D.A.R.E. graduation. It goes a little something like this....

Hi my name is Nancy.
Hi my name is Kae.
We hate drugs in a major way.
You fly high in a swing set.
High in a plane.
High on drugs, but it'll ruin your brain.
You can sell them in the rain
And also on a train
You will lose all your money
And go insane.
Your eyes will turn red.
Then, you'll be dead.
So now you better think ahead!

Peace..........

LOST Night

2006-10-11T17:50:00.000-05:00

Last spring, Wednesdays were my favorite. Matt and I would order in, have people over, and watch LOST. It was like the Super Bowl, but it was every Wednesday. Tonight is the second week of the new season, and I'm ordering in La Casas and having people over for the show. I have a feeling that this season is going to be better than ever. Wednesday might be my favorite day again.

Why I Need a New Alarm Clock

2006-10-11T17:21:00.000-05:00

When I opened my eyes this morning, I realized that it was 8 o’clock in the morning, and I had totally slept in. The morning started with me wheeling quickly into Brad’s room, getting him dressed, and then telling him that he was going to have to eat breakfast at school. Before we left though, he had to help me find the sprinkler heads in the front yard because the yard was going to get aerated.

We only had 15 minutes, and we were going all over the yard. We could only find 4 of the sprinkler heads, so I had to try to figure out the sprinkler system. I had never done this before. I was pressing all kinds of buttons and turning knobs, and I finally got the sprinklers going. Bradley was trying to get the heads flagged while dodging the sprinklers. Well, I don’t know how to run the system very well, and I accidentally turned on some heads and got Bradley soaked! He looked at me and yelled, “NANCE, I’M FREEZING, AND I’M WET!” Whoops!

Bradley ran inside and changed his clothes, and I put his coat in the dryer. Then, we (including Reese) got into the car, and we were off to school. We were halfway there when I looked in the mirror and saw that Brad didn’t have his coat, so we had to drive back home. He made it to school in time to eat breakfast.

You’d think that my morning of chaos was over, but no. When Reese and I got home, I let her out of the car. The first thing that she did was run into the yard and started pulling the flags up. I was yelling and chasing her around the yard with my polka dot pajamas and messed up hair in the freezing cold. I gave up, and I went inside to get a bunch of treats to lure her in. Treats and puppies go together, and that seemed to work. What a morning!

I've Learned to Just Say No

2006-10-11T10:50:00.000-05:00

Since my accident*, I have had a number of unusual encounters with strangers. Once, when I was going to get my hair done at Garbos in Oakview, an early morning mall walker with huge, black grandma sunglasses stopped me and asked me if she could pray for me. I said yes not knowing what the consequences were. She raised one hand towards the heavens and placed the other on my head while praying for my recovery.

You would think that I would have learned my lesson the first time, but the same situation happened to me in a restaurant. Matt, Bradley, and I were just about to leave when a man approached me and asked if he could pray for me. Again, I said sure. Then, he told me to close my eyes while he placed his hand on my shoulder and started praying. When he was done, I opened my eyes to find that Bradley and Matt were no longer next to me. I found them in the parking lot. I asked them why they left, and Matt said that it was just too weird. Now, if people ask to pray for me, I tell them that they can, but not now.

Besides praying for me, I have had people try to fix me. The situation over the summer was probably the weirdest "I can fix you" encounter that I have ever had. I have had numerous people try to convince me to play sports. I was horrible at sports when I was able bodied, why would I start now. I have had guys ask me to join a workout group for disabilities. I just don’t want to be the only girl.

Yesterday, when I was at Wal-Mart, I noticed that a girl with really bad make-up was following me up and down the aisle. I stopped to grab something. When I turned around, she was right behind me. She said, “Excuse me. You are going to think that this is strange, but you are really beautiful. By the way, I work for Mary-Kay. I was wondering if you want a free make-over, so that I can add you to my portfolio. I know how much girls like to get pampered.” I looked her over. Then, I said, "Thanks for considering me, but no thanks!" If she can’t do her make-up right, why would I volunteer to be her guinea pig? Besides, this weekend, I’m having a makeover at the Chanel counter. : )

=================================

*I’ve been paralyzed for a little over 11 years now. When I was 16, I was involved in a car accident. I was riding in the backseat of a car with a lap belt on. The driver lost control and drove into a tree. On impact, I broke my back, stretched my spinal cord, severed several nerves, and ruptured my intestine. I consider myself lucky, not only because I am alive, but also because my break was very low. I feel that I have greater mobility and an easier life physically than most paraplegics that I know.

Happy 50th Birthday Mom!

2006-10-10T07:04:00.000-05:00

If anyone has any good birthday present suggestions, please let me know! I keep asking her what she wants, and she says Victoria Secret lotion. That's what she gets every year.

In Britney's Shoes

2006-10-08T19:23:00.000-05:00

Several photos that were taken on Sunday showed Matt Berg driving his Honda Civic in Omaha, with puppy, Reese, on his lap, rather than the backseat. Matt said he did it because of a "horrifying, frightful encounter with the puparazzi."

The photos show Matt holding the wheel of the car with one hand, and his 5-month-old puppy in the other.

First Dance

2006-10-07T20:03:00.000-05:00

My aunt sent this picture to me. My cousin that I babysat every Saturday morning when I was in junior high is now going to homecoming! Man do I feel old!

Any Takers?

2006-10-01T20:32:00.000-05:00

My Wedding Friend

2006-09-30T23:35:00.000-05:00

Sandra – She’s crazy, cool, and fun, and half Asian, just like me, and whenever we get together (which is usually at a wedding), we are two peas in a pod. I love this girl.

Come Knock on My Door

2006-09-29T10:48:00.000-05:00

The longer that I’m with Matt, the more I keep finding little similarities that he has with my dad. It’s not the obvious things like how they watch sports, drink a lot of soda, smoke cigarettes and watch Law and Order that make them alike. It’s the strange little things.

For instance, the other day, I came home to see the Book of Mormon on the end table. We probably have six copies around the house, and we aren’t Mormon. Usually when those door-to-door religious people ring the doorbell, I sit quietly and pretend that I’m not home. If Matt’s home, he will greet the missionaries with open arms. He will listen as they promote their religion, and then he will ask them 1 million questions. In return, they give him the Book of Mormon, and that explains why we have so many copies. When I was growing up, my dad would do the same thing, but his choice was the Jehovah Witnesses. He would give them money for their pamphlet and talk to them, and because he didn’t slam the door on their face, they would come back every couple of months or so.

It’s a very odd comparison, yet I think that’s why I love Matt so much. He has a lot of the qualities and quirks that I find in my dad.

The Office

2006-09-21T13:48:00.000-05:00

Last week, I bought season 1 and season 2 of The Office. For the last 2 seasons, Matt has been ranting and raving about how great the show was. He could probably watch the show on mute and still laugh hysterically. Over the summer, I caught a few episodes and realized what I had been missing, so now I have to catch up. The season premiere is tonight. I can't wait to see what will happen with Jim and Pam.

Junior’s Last Day

2006-09-21T10:48:00.000-05:00

Junior will be leaving us today. He is probably one of the most interesting people that I have ever worked with, and I’ve had the pleasure of sitting next to him for the last couple of years. Here are some things that I have observed throughout the years.

He has an immense love for Canada. For instance, he listens to a Canadian radio station on his computer, visits the country at least once a year, drinks Canadian beer, and wears at least one item of Canadian sports apparel each day.
He is the only non-Canadian that I know that celebrates Canada Day. You always know that it’s this day because he wears red Canada garb, and he changes his e-mail signature logo to a red image instead of blue.
You always know when it is hockey season or baseball season by what he is wearing. During hockey season, he wears Toronto Maple Leafs apparel, and during baseball season, he wears Toronto Blue Jays apparel.
He likes diet sodas and often eats microwavable meals for lunch.
He often wears a baseball cap to work, and he wears shorts even when it is freezing out.
When writing his name, do not forget to put the Jr. after his last name. He will correct you. Besides, he would rather be called Junior instead of his first name anyway.

In a few weeks, we will probably have someone new. Hopefully, the new person will be obsessed with baking rather than a country because I love cookies especially homemade ones.

Dear Nancy

2006-09-19T17:58:00.000-05:00

I received a postcard in the mail a few days ago. It was addressed to a Nancy with my maiden name. Since it seems like most people with my name have been in retirement for some time, I often get calls from people looking for their old friend.

Here's what was written:

Nancy:

I hope you are the Nancy who loved the Greek Garden's food, who lost her mother and dad ten years ago. I apologize for not being a better friend then and wish you well now.

DG.

How sad. I'm kind of glad that there wasn't a return address though because I think the person would have been sad not knowing it didn't get to the correct recipient. Then again, maybe the sender will be sad if they don't get a reply. Either way, I wish I knew who this really belonged to.

Tool - 10,000 Days Tour

2006-09-17T17:57:00.000-05:00

The show was absolutely amazing, and although I'm not a huge TOOL fan like my husband, it was probably the best show that I have ever gone to. Sorry Tori. You're a close second.

Saturday Night Warnings

2006-09-16T22:39:00.000-05:00

I was supposed to go out to Clancy's tonight and meet my brother, but after a series of events, I decided that I better go home.

On my way to the bar, I had to make a stop at Target. I was driving about 55 in a 35 when I looked in my rearview mirror and noticed that I had a cop riding my ass. I slowed down to 35, and I kept looking in the mirror to see if the officer was going to pull me over. I get to a red light, and the cop switches lanes. I look over, and he rolls down the window and says, “Miss, do you realize that you were going 55 in a 35?” I looked over, smiled, and said, “Yes.” He said, "I appreciate your honesty. Consider this a warning.” Then he did an illegal U-turn at the red light, to pull over a guy in a truck.

Then, at Target, I was halfway done with my shopping when the sirens went off. We were under a tornado warning. A pimple-faced teenager approached me and told me that I could either go home or go to the dressing rooms to take shelter. I would have liked to go home, but then I had a visual of a tornado coming, me getting out of my car quickly and then scooting my ass into the nearest ditch to take cover. I decided to go to the dressing rooms.

When I finally got out of Target, I was ready to go home. I had enough warnings for one night.

Saving Money and Getting Rich

2006-09-15T09:01:00.000-05:00

Usually I’m the one in the house that is always saying ridiculous things. For instance, until Matt informed me, I thought that the song “Dude Looks Like a Lady” was really “Do the Funky Lady.” Don’t ask where that came from, but until then, I had been singing the song wrong for years.

Yesterday, Matt came inside from talking to the neighbor. We have had an ongoing problem with our backyards. There is a bunch of water going along the fence and part of it looks like a small moat. We have called the city, the plumber, the sprinkler guy, and everyone says that it is spring water. Our neighbor has an idea on how to fix the problem. Matt told the neighbor that he would like to find out how much water is running underneath our yard because he would like to put in a well to pump it out and run it to our house. That way we wouldn’t have a water bill. He is totally serious. Our neighbor probably thinks that he is weird. I’ve already come to the decision that we are not going to do that.

Then, when we were eating a dinner, he told me that I should make him a web site that takes $1 donations. At first, I thought that it was for his fantasy football league, but then, he said that it would be just for him. He said that he would just have his picture on there, and a link to make a donation. He thinks that will make him a bunch of money. He’s very strange, but again, he was totally serious.

I think that I’m starting to rub off on him.

One last thing... I just remembered this. Matt and Michael have decided to have a goatee growing contest. Maybe they are planning on going as ZZ Top for Halloween, and they are using the goatee contest as a cover up.

Meet Mia

2006-09-14T21:49:00.000-05:00

I always thought that I wanted a small dog until Mia came over to visit. She is so small and quick, that I was scared that I would accidentally wheel her over. Matt said that holding Mia was like holding an infant. She is super cute, but not the dog for me.

Mia is a Papillon, and she belongs to my good friend Tom and his girlfriend Emily. We tried to get Reese to play with Mia, but it didn't work out. Reese didn't know if she was playing with a dog or a squirrel, and Mia was overwhelmed by Reese's height that she would start nipping at Reese like a parana. That caused Reese to start barking and Mia to nip even more. After about an hour, we had to separate the two.

It will probably never work out... them being friends. I think they come from totally different dog worlds.

Are We There Yet?

2006-09-11T22:06:00.000-05:00

This weekend, Matt and I are going to take a short trip to Kansas City to see his favorite band, Tool. We are notorious for getting lost every time we go on vacation when driving is involved. We have all of our venues mapquested and our trip timed out to give us enough leeway if we get lost.

The first time that we went to Kansas City, we had been dating for a good month. When we were driving home, we thought that we were making really good time. We had been too busy talking, that we didn’t realize that we were driving the wrong way. Matt decided to stop at a rest area to look at the map to see how close we were to Omaha. He came running out to the car and asked me if I wanted to go to Adventureland. I was a bit confused, but when I got out of the car, I realized that we were in the middle of freaking Iowa. This marked the very beginning of our getting lost adventures.

The other day, Matt said that we would leave Kansas City really early the next morning. He said, “Nancy, don’t worry. I’ll wake you up, and you can sleep in the car. When you wake up though, don’t be surprised if we are in Illinois.” It sounds very funny, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that happened.

Hiatus

2006-09-07T23:46:00.000-05:00

College football has started. Fantasy football drafts are complete, and tonight Pro football has begun. It's officially time for Matt to lock himself in the basement until February. This happens every year. At first, I just couldn't understand how someone could sit in front of the TV and watch the sport from Saturday until Monday, but as the years go by, I have slowly started to understand that he simply loves the sport.

Putt-Putt Champion

2006-09-04T21:49:00.000-05:00

He may be sick, but my dad kicked all of our asses at Putt-Putt Golf this afternoon. He was on Jane's and my team, and he got either a hole in one or a 2 on every hole! He made us look bad.

On the other hand, Bradley got last place, but out of all of us, he probably had the most fun.

Fashionably Fun

2006-09-03T21:01:00.000-05:00

When I pulled up to my Grandma's house, I saw my 14-year-old cousin standing there with a bunch of graffiti all over her pants. She had written all over a pair of old jeans with Sharpies. At first I looked at her and said, "Please tell me that you do not wear those to school!" When she said no, I was glad because I didn't want her going to high school with the words "Marching Band!" going into her butt. When she asked me if I wanted to help decorate them, I didn't back down. It took me back to the days when I used to wear a white t-shirt on the last day of school for everyone to sign.

Congrats Emily!

2006-09-03T20:43:00.000-05:00

My cousin Emily ran for the Student Council, and her class voted her in! I'm so proud! The picture above is her reading the speech that she gave to her class. It was impressive and much better than anything I ever wrote in elementary school.

Top 3 Reasons that I Hate Rain

2006-09-02T22:06:00.000-05:00

Whenever it rains, my left leg tends to hurt badly. I have shooting pains that don’t seem to quit. If you ever see me looking like Michael J Fox or doing a ridiculous dance, don't worry. That's just me trying to control the pain.
Rain causes the worms to come out. They are all over the sidewalk, parking lot, etc. Smashed worm guts on my wheels is not fun. Smashed worm guts on my hands is absolutely disgusting.
I can’t hold an umbrella. If I held an umbrella with one hand and wheeled with the other, I would be wheeling in circles. There are a ton of sites on the Internet that have solutions for my umbrella issue. Just do a search on wheelchair rain gear. Below are a few of my options. I just can’t see myself making a purchase anytime soon. What do you think? : ) If you had to pick, which one of the options would you pick below? Jimmy, you don't have to answer. We already know that you'd pick the cape!

The Wheelchair Canopy:

The Wheelchair Cape:

The Wheelchair Poncho:

The Wheelchair Umbrella:

Tiny Dancer

2006-08-29T18:39:00.000-05:00

Everything in the universe has rhythm. Everything dances.
— Maya Angelou

Finders Keepers

2006-08-28T20:57:00.000-05:00

Tonight at the laundry mat, Matt found me those killer shades pictured above. Someone is probably missing them terribly.

P.S. This is only a joke. We left them at the mat.

Dog Farts and Cigarettes

2006-08-27T10:57:00.000-05:00

I'm not going to name any names, but someone called me "strict" when it came to Reese sleeping in our bedroom. :) After thinking it over, I decided to give it another shot.

Last night, I was home alone. I got ditched after dinner for ultimate fighting, so I went to Hollywood Video and rented Shopgirl and Transamerica. It's much better watching movies when you have company, so I invited Reese. She wasn't interested in either of the movies, but she was interested in sleeping in our bedroom.

She did fine until around 11:30. That's when Reese started letting off the nastiest gas ever. Never did I think that cute, little Reese would be capable of such a thing. Matt got home around that time, so he decided to mask the smell with his disgusting habit which personally made everything worse. Besides the stench, Reese did exceptionally well. She now has a new place to crash at night.

Sleepless in Millard

2006-08-25T09:26:00.000-05:00

As some of you already know, Reese got spayed a few days ago. I kept telling people that she got spaded, and until last night, that’s what I thought it was called. So every time that I would say that, I would picture the spade symbol in my head.

Since we got Reese from the vet, she has been whimpering constantly. Last night, Matt put her in the kennel, and she was crying really loud. Matt gave me this sad look, so I knew that he wanted her to sleep in our room. Ever since we got Reese, he has wanted her to sleep in our bed, but I have been totally against the idea. I finally gave in last night and told him to go get her.

It turns out that Reese is a bed hog and a restless sleeper. She took up Matt’s entire side, so he was forced to sleep at the foot of the bed. She likes to pace around and change positions constantly, and during the night, she fell off of the bed twice. The second time that she fell off, I left her on the floor, but then, all night, I had a dreams of her peeing all over the carpet. In my last dream, I hired carpet cleaners to clean up the mess, but they were unable to get the pee stains out.

Needless to say, tonight Reese is going to sleep in her own bed.

My Father's Cancer

2006-08-24T13:08:00.000-05:00

My father’s cancer is probably the hardest thing that I have had to deal with since my car accident 11 years ago and my parent’s divorce 4 years ago. Two years ago, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. When he was diagnosed, I just brushed it off. I ignored the fact that he was sick. I thought that the cancer would go away, and that everything would be fine. My long engagement and wedding planning kept my mind off of what was really going on with my father. As the months went by, he had been getting worse. His cancer had spread to the bones in his legs and his lower back.

Everyone has an opinion on how my father is doing physically. A few weeks ago, someone spread a rumor that if the chemo treatment that he had been waiting for didn’t work, that he could die within the next year. My body broke down emotionally, and I couldn’t stop crying. I have a hard time dealing with change and an extremely hard time dealing with death, and the thought of losing my father just saddens me. My father told me to stop listening to rumors, and that he would start sending out a weekly update on how he was doing. Before, if you asked him how he was feeling, he would say that he was fine.

Well the latest update is that he has started chemo, but the cancer may have spread to the canal around his spine. We will find out the results next week. Now all we can do is hope for the best.

My Weekend - Far from Blue

2006-08-20T10:41:00.000-05:00

It’s funny how running into someone at your local drug store can change your entire weekend. Yesterday, I ran into Amy. She’s the girl that I met at a girl’s night out a few months ago. We really hit it off, but I never got her number. She was a friend, of a friend, of a friend, and I really didn’t think that I would ever see her again. Anyway, I was really surprised to see her behind me in line. She invited me to her friend’s birthday party at Blue, so I went.

Blue was so much fun. Amy says that she loves the ambiance of the place. I totally agree. I had a lot of firsts that night. I drank my first martini. I spilled 1/3 of my first one though. I guess it takes practice holding those glasses. I ate sushi without gagging. It was actually pretty good. I took my first shot of sake. That was totally disgusting. I ordered shrimp that didn't look like shrimp. It was tasty, but it wasn't what I was expecting. I hung out with good people (which wasn't a first). We will have to hang out again soon.

Hottie

2006-08-18T17:16:00.000-05:00

Our air conditioning broke yesterday. Last night it felt like an oven. It was 90 degrees in our house. This morning, everyone was eagerly waiting for it to be repaired especially Reese.

Thank You, But No Thank You

2006-08-17T19:56:00.000-05:00

Here is some advice about my mother. She doesn’t like to take “No” for an answer! If you are not hungry and she is trying to feed you, take the food anyway. If she offers you a loaf of banana bread and you already have 2 other loaves in your frig, share it with your co-workers. If you tell her that you like some jewelry at her store, she will call you until you come and buy it. If she surprises you with a really bad fake Louis Vuitton purse, give it back, and run away when she is not looking.

Money Maker

2006-08-15T12:40:00.000-05:00

I got this story from Brad’s mom. I thought it was cute.

My sister had a housewarming party last Saturday, so I suggested to Brad that he have a lemonade stand. He’s wanted to have one all summer, but we have been so busy. He had one and made over $10. He gave $1 to his older cousin Spencer to work “security”. He was actually soliciting neighbors as they walked by. At one point, some people drove by and bought a cup. They asked him what he was going to do with the money. He replied, “I’m saving it for college!”

Cousins Minus Five

2006-08-14T21:22:00.000-05:00

The Outsider

2006-08-14T20:26:00.000-05:00

If my Uncle Doug were a juvenile today, he would probably be in jail or in a home for boys. He was wild in his day. He was the tough guy that got the girl. He rode a motorcycle, got kicked out of numerous schools, and hitched hiked to places like New York. He got homemade tattoos, was thrown into jail more than once, got into fights, and partied hard.

Whenever the family gets together, he likes to gather around the nieces and nephews and tell us stories of when he was young. It doesn’t matter how many times we have heard them, they get better and better each time. I love how my grandma laughs along with us. She’s probably hearing many of the things in detail for the first time. I also love how my cousins look up at him in amazement. He always reassures us that there is no way we could get away with the things he did today.

He has made a good life for himself. He is honest, genuine, funny, and the best storyteller, and I love and respect him for that.

Happy 30th Ronnie!

2006-08-13T21:35:00.000-05:00

Ronnie, last night you were a great date and a great dance partner. However, next time we go out, we need to coordinate the outfits a little better.

Just When You Think You've Seen It All...

2006-08-12T23:18:00.000-05:00

You attend a wedding that has a belly dance performance!

Real World: Key West

2006-08-10T11:57:00.000-05:00

Is it just me or does anyone else think that this season of the Real World seems to be the longest season ever? I don't like any of the cast members, and none of the stories are good. I keep thinking that maybe I'm just getting old, and I should stop watching this shit. Nah, this season just sucks. Oh and to top it off, Paula is such an idiot. If your boyfriend beat the crap out of you and sent you to the hospital before the show, why are you with him after the show? Augh. Some people's kids. At least, she attacked him this time.

The Three Ps

2006-08-09T20:44:00.000-05:00

Hooray for Reese! She hasn't pooped, peed, or puked in the house in over a week. She has picked up a few other bad habits though. She learned how to open our bedroom door, and she has a new found love for our chair and ottoman. She tests us by first putting her head on the ottoman. Then, she props up half of her body like pictured above, and finally, when we aren’t looking, she jumps up and makes herself comfortable. She is too smart for her own good. Whenever I try to get her off, she starts acting like a crazy pup by chewing on the pillows, barking like crazy, and getting puppy slobber everywhere. I need to find my inner anger. Thank god that I have Matt. All he has to do is stand up and yell Reese, and she gets down and puts herself in the corner.

Brad's Lingo

2006-08-04T20:04:00.000-05:00

Brad: We had a new kid at daycare today.

Me and Matt: Really? What's his name?

Brad: His name is Avery.

Me and Matt: How old is he?

Brad: I don't know, but he is a schoolager.

Me and Matt: What's that?

Brad: You know. He's a kid in elementary school.

Shoeless in Aisle 5

2006-08-01T19:38:00.000-05:00

I was shoeless twice today. The first time, I went to leave my cubical when I looked down and noticed that my shoe was missing. I looked around my cube frantically, and I was relieved when I found it way under my desk. The second time was at the grocery store. A lady came up to me and said, "Miss, I think this is your shoe." She had picked it up a couple of aisles over. I looked up at her quite embarrassed and said thanks. Then, I placed the shoe on my lap.

You are probably wondering how I didn’t know that I was missing a shoe. Well, the answer to that question is that I have no feeling in my feet. Therefore, it is very difficult for me to find shoes that will stay on, and it makes shoe shopping very frustrating. I always find cute shoes, but it always seems like they are the kind of shoes that slide on. I’ve bought them before just to experiment. I have tried rubber banding them to my feet, taping them on with double stick tape, and I even tried using sticky Velcro. None of my ideas worked. If you can think of an idea, then let me know. If it works, then you are a genius. Otherwise, this weekend, I will be out and about looking for a shoe that fits, stays on, and has a buckle.

Tooth Fairy

2006-07-31T21:53:00.000-05:00

Every since Brad entered elementary school, I have been longing for the day to play the Tooth Fairy. Well Brad is entering second grade in a few weeks, and he hasn’t lost a tooth yet. Leave it to my youngest, Reese, to lose a tooth first. Although she is only a pup, the Tooth Fairy will still be coming to my house. : )

Stranger in My Basement

2006-07-24T19:19:00.000-05:00

The sprinkler guy came by today to help us get rid of Reese’s mini mud swamp. He asked if he could turn on the water. I said sure and told him how to get to the valves downstairs. He came back upstairs with a surprised look on his face. He said, "Does someone else live here?" I said, "My brother lived in the basement until yesterday. Why?" He replied, "I've partied here before when you weren't home." "Oh, really!" I said. It just proves that what happens in the basement, stays in the basement, and I have no clue what's going on.

It's Been 3 Weeks

2006-07-23T19:31:00.000-05:00

It's hard to believe that it has been 3 weeks since we got Reese. This puppy has changed my life completely. It's funny how our plans go completely around when the dog has to relieve herself and when she has to eat. The other day when we were looking at the movie listings, I made sure that the movie would be done in time for her dinner! I have also become a morning person. She likes to wake me up between 5:30 and 6:30 in the morning. Her constant barking is the ultimate alarm clock!

She has developed quite a personality. When we first got her, she was shy, calm, and cuddly. Now, she is a sassy little ankle biter, but at night, when she is all worn out, she is the sweetest little thing. She is extremely cute and smart, and she is getting bigger and bigger each day. I wish that she would stay at her current size forever, but I think she is going to be a beast. Matt thinks that I am trying to stunt her growth since I only give her 2 cups of food a day. I’m just going by what the bag says.

Reese’s favorite things to do are play in the mud, dig in the dirt, chew on sticks, play tug of war, and bark at unknown objects. She recently made friends with a dog named Husker, but I think that she annoys him more than anything. Bradley is finally no longer scared of her. He now shows some authority, so Reese can no longer boss him around. They have bonded a lot more over the weekend, which is a big relief to me, since Reese has someone else that she can play with.

Thank god that the Christopher Knight/Adrianne Curry wedding will be on in a few minutes otherwise I would write way more. I’m sure that there will be plenty of puppy stories to come in the near future. Stay tuned!

The Annual Neighborhood Party

2006-07-23T01:13:00.000-05:00

During the day, it's a family affair.
At night, it's "Neighbors Gone Wild."

Brent Brings the Party

2006-07-19T14:23:00.000-05:00

Brent was in town last weekend, and whenever he comes to Omaha, there is a guaranteed get together. He works in the music business, so he always entertains me with stories about the famous. This time, however, he just mocked me while I was trying to watch Cheyenne on MTV. He was trying to tell me that she was a fake. Whatever Brent! I don't believe you, but you still rule anyway! (In case you are wondering, I'm not naked in this picture. It's a strapless shirt dammit!)

Sailing Grace

2006-07-17T08:56:00.000-05:00

My cousin Kari started a blog! (And, yes... She is my cousin by blood. I'm half swedish and half filipino.) I'm so proud of her since her My Space site went nowhere. Her blog is called Sailing Grace.

Kari and I are less than a year apart, so we are the closest cousins. Therefore, we have the greatest stories to tell including the time when I hit her in the eye with the croquet mallet, and I cried harder than she did (which is not surprising). I swear that I thought that she was going to have to wear a pirate patch for the rest of her life. Since she no longer lives in the Midwest and I don't get to see her as often, it will be exciting to read about her adventures in Seattle. Kari - You made my Monday!

Nacho Typical Post

2006-07-11T20:40:00.000-05:00

I've been sooo busy with the puppy lately that I haven't had any time to post. In the meantime, here is one of my favorite nacho dip recipes. It's killer and sure to please your friends and family.

Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Ready In: 10 Minutes

INGREDIENTS:
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons taco seasoning mix
3/4 cup salsa
3/4 cup shredded lettuce
3/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

DIRECTIONS:
Combine the softened cream cheese, sour cream and taco seasoning on a large plate or in a pie plate. Spread the salsa on top of the cream cheese-sour cream mixture. Top with lettuce and cheddar cheese.

Combine the softened cream cheese, sour cream and taco seasoning on a large plate or in a pie plate. Spread the salsa on top of the cream cheese-sour cream mixture. Top with lettuce and cheddar cheese.

Laugh Until It Hurts

2006-07-06T07:30:00.000-05:00

The other day, while at my mom’s Fourth of July get together, Jamie said, “Filipinos laugh about everything!!!” This girl speaks the truth.

Yesterday, on the way to Kona Grill, I had to make a stop at an ATM. Instead of making a smooth break, I ran my car right into one of those First National barrier posts. Most would have immediately jumped out of the car to assess the damage. Onlookers stared as my brother and I sat in the car and laughed hysterically. Not much damage was done to my already cracked bumper, just a little green paint to remind me that poles do not move.

Happy Belated Fourth!

2006-07-05T15:17:00.000-05:00

I wish it was Friday and the beginning of the long weekend again. It was so much fun, but it went way too fast. Thank god for short work weeks! Family, friends, a new furry friend, baseball, fireworks, get togethers, strange filipinos (in the pool and outta the pool), a wheelchair belly flop, good food and Jager.... That's what this long weekend was all about.

Our Little Firecracker

2006-07-04T16:49:00.000-05:00

Meet Reese. She is our latest addition. As you can see, I've gone a bit picture crazy. I think I have over a hundred pictures of her, and it has only been a few days. She is the cutest thing ever. She can be a big pain in the butt sometimes, but I'm totally glad that we have her. She definately makes life a little bit more interesting!

He's Moving On

2006-06-28T16:46:00.000-05:00

My brother announced to me on Sunday, while I was half way a sleep on the couch, that he will be moving out of my house in a couple of weeks. I knew that it was coming soon, but I had no idea it was going to be that soon. I am happy for him, but I’m also sad. Really sad. I understand his position though. He’s had enough. It must be rough living directly below your sister and brother-in-law’s bedroom.

A Camping Story: Oh Shit!

2006-06-21T10:44:00.000-05:00

On our last night, Matt took Bradley and I out on a trail. I hadn’t gone on a hiking trail in years, and Matt had found one that I would be able to go on. While we were walking a long, a deer stopped on the trail right in front of us. Brad thought that was pretty cool, and we were hoping that we would see the deer again. On our way back, Bradley and I were looking at spiders on the ground when Matt told us that we needed to stop looking at the ground and start looking for the deer. As soon as he said that, I felt something weird on my tire. I thought that it was a big chunk of mud, but when Matt grabbed the chunk of “mud” off of my tire, he realized it was shit (perhaps from the deer)! Now that is love!

I Heart Burnt Marshmellows

2006-06-20T20:59:00.000-05:00

For our Second Annual Camping Trip, I decided to rent a cabin at Platte River State Park for a few days. Last years camping in a tent experience didn't work out to well with the kids. When it was time for bed, the little ones were too scared of bugs, noises, and monsters. Besides the rain on day one, the trip was a success. The days were filled with swimming, paddle boating, fishing, a little archery, hiking, crafts, campfires, and three hyperactive kids that totally wore me out!

Happy Birthday Michael!

2006-06-20T10:49:00.000-05:00

My brother is 23 today!

My Car Got Hurt

2006-06-16T16:34:00.000-05:00

I think that I need to be more like Molly and start carrying my camera everywhere I go. Yesterday, the security guard found me and told me that a tree limb had fallen onto my car. At first, I thought that he was joking, but when I followed him outside, I saw that my poor car had been hit. The limb did some damage. It put a big dent above the driver’s side back window and scratched my car up a bit. This would have been a great picture opportunity. Things like this don’t happen everyday.

Say a Prayer for Kaylie

2006-06-15T22:49:00.000-05:00

Almost 3 weeks ago, Kaylie, my friend's five year old daughter, fell out of her second story bedroom window. She landed directly on her head. Since then, her and her family have gone through so much. Some days are good while others are not so good. Her mom is so strong. I don't know how she does it.

Since the accident, Kaylie has had a number of complications. Her brain is really swollen. To relieve some of the pressure, they had to remove part of her skull. She has had a number of blood clots in both her brain and in her leg. At one point, they were considering amputating her entire right leg. Thankfully, things are looking better, and it hasn't come to that. She has come out of her induced coma. They didn't know if she would be able to come out of it. I was there when she woke up, and it was truly a miracle. Right now she just seems really scared because she doesn't know what is going on, and she isn't able to talk. She has a breathing tube in her throat to help her breath, and she is hooked up to a number of machines. I'm not good with medical terminology, but I know that her and her family need your help.

On June 18th, the Fazoli's on Cass street is having a fundraiser from 4-8 PM. Fifteen percent of the proceeds will be donated to the Kailey Pollert fund at Great Western Bank. It would be great if you could make it! If not, please keep Kaylie in your prayers!

Say What?

2006-06-14T17:07:00.000-05:00

I got a strange e-mail this morning from Bradley's mother. She wrote how Bradley is really excited to go camping, and how he can't wait to use his tent with his own porta-potty. WTF?!?!?! I had no idea what his mother was talking about.

When Bradley got here, I asked him about it. He went into his closet and pointed to his camping set that he got for Christmas, and the inflatable chair pictured above was what he thought was his own personal toilet! Kids think the craziest things sometimes!

I Give The Break-Up Two Flat Tires

2006-06-12T20:03:00.000-05:00

On Saturday, Matt and I had a date night. We went to see The Break-Up. Matt summed it up when he said "I think that I laughed harder during the previews." Don't waste your time with this one.