tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74766979644382825212024-03-05T08:28:11.169-06:00Mrs. The PantsSandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438319017572703156noreply@blogger.comBlogger237125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7476697964438282521.post-79493474369975567932012-05-23T20:26:00.002-05:002012-05-23T20:26:53.138-05:00This Blog Has Moved...Thanks for visiting! I have moved my blog to www.MrsThePants.com. If you are not redirected within 10 seconds, please <a href="http://www.mrsthepants.com">click here</a>.Sandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438319017572703156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7476697964438282521.post-80272179307488133442012-05-23T13:43:00.002-05:002012-05-23T13:48:48.791-05:00Radio StarI did something so great this morning.<br />
I called a radio station and requested a song.<br />
When was the last time you did that? Junior high? Probably.<br />
<br />
So, <a href="http://www.mix947.com/pages/5873684.php">my favorite morning show</a> has started to do this thing, between 9 and 10, where it's basically a free for all. ANYONE can call and request ANYTHING they want.<br />
Except not if you want them to play "Sunday Morning" by No Doubt.<br />
THEY DON'T HAVE IT.<br />
If you want that particular song, you'll have to settle for "Spiderwebs" instead.<br />
I called and the guy answered the phone and he said "Hey blabbity blah blah what's your request?"<b> (I'm paraphrasing)</b> and I said "Sunday Morning by No Doubt!" and he said "That's a great song!" and I said "I KNOW!"<b> (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0t66HekgFMo">kind of like Monica</a>)</b> and then he put me on hold.<br />
Then he came back on the phone and said "Um I don't have Sunday Morning, but I have..." and then he listed off a bunch of No Doubt songs that I like but aren't my favorite. <a href="http://mrsthepants.blogspot.com/2011/07/you-came-up-in-with-breeze-on-sunday.html">We've discussed previously</a> that "Sunday Morning" is my favorite No Doubt song. So I said "UGH! Okay...Spiderwebs" and he said "That's a great one too!" and I said "Yeeeeeah" except I said it in that disappointed, I'm only getting my second choice, kind of way.<br />
And then 20 minutes later, I heard it! Have you heard yourself on the radio? I have, twice before this. Once to win tickets to "Nightmare Before Christmas" in 3D<b> (I took Old Holly on a date to that one)</b> and then once to request "All I Want For Christmas Is You." So this was kind of new because it was my first non-Christmas related hearing of my voice on the radio. Except when I won the tickets it was Halloween time. That's what's so great about "Nightmare Before Christmas." It's versatile.<br />
I texted Mike after hearing myself:<br />
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Me: I requested a song on the radio and they played it :)<br />
Mike: What song?<br />
Me: Well I WANTED sunday morning by no doubt, but i had to settle for spiderwebs<br />
Mike: Ahhhh don't you own that song?<br />
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I obviously have a lot to teach Mike about what is and isn't exciting.<br />
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Speaking of Mike. Remember how I'm kind of trying to pass the PT test? Well he's been running my little tail off for the past couple weeks. And then on Saturday, as we were driving home from the Spartan Race, he makes some sort of declaration about me and him running a 5k together before he leaves for his deployment <b>(I know a 5k isn't much, but at this point, it would be like I'm running a marathon)</b>. I smiled and nodded and thought to myself "Hee hee hee, the joke is on him. We won't have time to run a 5k before he leaves and where are we going to find one anyways?" Never mind the fact that we live in Austin and there's a 5k being run somewhere every 15 minutes <b>(that statistic may be a little false)</b>.<br />
Well, then we go to church on Sunday. One of the first announcements over the pulpit was something along the lines of "Don't forget about our annual Memorial Day breakfast and 3 mile fun run!" How could I have forgotten!?!? Oh yeah, because we've never been because up until this point in my life I didn't run races.<br />
We got in the car after church, and as we pull out of the parking lot Mike glances over at me and says "So..." and I said "I already know what you're going to say, and you don't have to say it!" He started to laugh and said "What am I going to say?" to which I replied "It's convenient and it's FREE! I know what you're planning."<br />
As it turns out, I'll be running something like a 5k this coming Monday. How did I get to this point?<br />
<br />
Oh ALSO! Bonus on the rundown of the Flogging Molly concert. I can't even believe I forgot to tell all of you about two of the strangest/most interesting/drunk things that happened:<br />
the opening act and the "Irish dancing" guy.<br />
So the opening act was this band called <a href="http://brothersofbrazil.uol.com.br/eng/">The Brothers of Brazil</a>. I'm still not sure if they were actual brothers or not, but I will tell you what I'm definitely sure they were. It looked like a member of the Wonders <b>(you know, "That Thing You Do," the Oneders?)</b> and Billy Idol started a 2 man band together. The Wonders guy looked like he could've been the newest member of the Wiggles with the kind of facial expressions he was making. And the Billy Idol guy....well he was wearing some sort of kilt contraption that he had made out of a bunch of different flags, rain boots, and a Frankenstein head belt buckle. And some Indian shaman's amulet around his neck. He also had on leopard print underwear, but I really don't want to go into why I know that. He was very much wasted and even tripped over/dropped his microphone at one point. It was very exciting.<br />
Then there was the "Irish dancing" guy. I use the term "Irish dancing" very loosely.<br />
As soon as Flogging Molly came on stage, there was this kid to my left <b>(terribly drunk)</b> who kept trying to talk to Dave <b>(that's the lead singer)</b>. He kept saying "HEY! I'M AN ---" and then he'd get cut off by the rest of us screaming because, you know, we were there to listen to music, not have a chat. About halfway through the concert, we finally hear the kid say <b>(to the band, mind you)</b> "HEY! I'M AN IRISH DANCER!!! WATCH!!!" <b>(I don't think the band quite caught it, so fortunate for them)</b> and I was thinking "Oh brother, here we go..." This "Irish dancing" wonder then proceeded to hold onto his belt buckle and dance like Frodo did at Bilbo's birthday party.<br />
Something like this:<br />
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I don't know what school he's been taking lessons at, but the <a href="http://cass-academy.com/">Cass Academy</a> teaches very different steps. Better ones.<br />
Maybe he was a little too intoxicated to remember his jigs properly?<br />
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Now, in closing, could someone answer a question for me?<br />
The kids on "The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That" are brother and sister, right?<br />
So....one or both are adopted?<br />
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I'm just curious.</div>
<br />Sandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438319017572703156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7476697964438282521.post-20878670817394831022012-05-21T08:11:00.005-05:002012-05-21T08:11:42.348-05:00Have A Great Monday, Fourth InstallmentSo, I get the idea this has been around awhile, but it's new to me.<br />
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On a completely different note, the wind of change will be blowing through here real soon. WooooooooOOOOOOOOO!!!! <b>(that's me making ghost noises) </b>Get excited!</div>
<br />Sandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438319017572703156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7476697964438282521.post-91560150162979770322012-05-20T16:18:00.001-05:002012-05-20T16:31:32.902-05:00A Long, Bizarre Weekend Means A Long, Bizarre PostI don't even know where to begin on this weekend. If I had to use one word to describe it, it would be bizarre. If I had to use two words to describe it, they would be bizarre and exhausting. If I had to use THREE words to describe it, they would be bizarre, exhausting, and AWESOME.<br />
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I had Friday off, so Mike decided to have Friday off too.<br />
Thursday night, it was really laid back and boring around here and I was thinking "Man I just want to DO something! ANYTHING!" Now that hindsight is 20/20, I'm glad I had at least one evening to relax over the course of the weekend.<br />
Let's start on Friday, shall we?<br />
Wait, let's go back to Wednesday.<br />
I started getting these random red spots on my legs.<br />
On Thursday they started to itch.<br />
On Friday, as Mike was trying to snuggle Pete in bed and failing miserably because Pete wouldn't stop scratching himself, Mike says "I'm pretty sure he has fleas" and I think about the itchy, red spots on my legs and I thought "That guy may be on to something..." So I google what flea bites look like on humans.<br />
Lo and behold.<br />
We had fleas.<br />
This was bad timing. This was very bad timing.<br />
<br />
The following were the plans for Friday:<br />
Be in Kyle<b> (a good hour drive or so)</b> to discuss financial planning with a really nice lady<br />
Pick up tickets for concert<br />
Go to Camp Mabry and figure out what's up with our Tricare<br />
Have the entire afternoon to relax before Darius and New Holly arrive <b>(let me explain who New Holly is. Remember how I have a sister named Holly? Well Darius has taken it upon himself to also date a girl named Holly. You can imagine how confusing it gets. As my boss Sam said "Yeah that would be weird if he was talking about making out with Holly and you were like WHAT?!?!" So I refer to my sister as Old Holly and Darius' girlfriend as New Holly. Moving on)</b><br />
Darius and Holly arrive<br />
Go see Flogging Molly<br />
Proceed to eat doughnuts<br />
<br />
So, basically, everything happened as it was supposed to except the morning's activities took FOREVER and we got to stop by Mike's parents house where his mom was kind enough to give us some stuff to put on Pete for the fleas and had also picked up a NINETEEN DOLLAR can of flea cleaning stuff for the apartment. Those people who invent ways to get rid of fleas really think a lot of themselves, charging that much. I guess I can't complain since the fleas are gone now, as far as we know.<br />
At this point, I feel I should tell you that I had worked myself up to feeling like this flea invasion was something like unto a lice invasion. <b>(I'm so ready for kids. I have cleaned up explosive vomiting, explosive diarrhea, and now an unsanitary bug invasion, all because of my dog child. Bring it)</b> I was feeling very stressed, so when we got home at 2 <b>(about 2 hours later than I thought we would)</b> and Darius and New Holly were supposed to be here at 3:30, I was flipping out.<br />
Mike and I <b>(but mostly Mike)</b> proceeded to rearrange the entire apartment, room by room, vacuum the floors and furniture, spray everything with the flea cleaner, let it dry, and vacuum it all again. Also anything and everything that could have had fleas in it went into the washer on the "Hot" setting.<br />
At THIS point, I feel I should tell you I was trying to get too much washed at once, and the last load that I ran was way too much for the washer, so it of course overflowed. So fun. Also a couple of throw pillows became shredded. But whatever. It's just less to pack when it goes into storage, right?<br />
Luckily! Darius and New Holly got stuck in traffic so they were about an hour behind. And even more luckily, Mike and I were amazing and somehow de-flead the entire apartment AND our dog in 2 hours. We were done by 4 and showered and ready to go by the time they showed up at 4:30.<br />
WHEW! I'm exhausted just remembering this.<br />
Just wait, there's more.<br />
So we go downtown to see Flogging Molly right? It was AMAZING. They are so fantastic live. They sound just as good as they do on their albums.<br />
We're having a good time, minus the girls who give New Holly the stink eye when she sits down on the floor to rest between the opening act and the real act, and the show starts. Everything's great until the drunk guy starts pushing Mike around.<br />
Holy cuh-rap. Getting into a fight is not something I've ever really pictured myself doing, and Mike SAYS I tried to swing at someone but I think he's lying or misinterpreted my actions. So this guy starts pulling on Mike, trying to break through and get to the front <b>(we were literally at the front. The only thing separating us from Flogging Molly was a security guard, a railing, and one row of people. It was fantastic)</b>. Mike tries to get the guy to leave him alone when it starts to get ugly and that's when I turned around <b>(Mike was behind me the whole time)</b> and start screaming at the dude and his friends. The guy finally stops and his friends look at Mike and are like "Dude what's your problem!" which is when Mike realized the guy was carrying a stick.<br />
People.<br />
He was blind.<br />
BLIND.<br />
What kind of friends let their blind friend not only get drunk but start shoving people around at a concert?<br />
We weren't the only victims. He made his way down to our left and proceeded to harass the people over there too. I think he was eventually thrown out. Blind or not, he was drunk and being very rude.<br />
Anyways, despite that, we had fun and we stayed in the same spot the whole time. We were pretty proud of that. Thanks to the railing in front of us. Darius spent most of the concert with his arm pushed up against it, blocking New Holly from the people shoving themselves around behind us, and I held onto his arm to anchor myself down. Mike continued to just be tall and hold his ground.<br />
Afterwards, we stuck around and got to meet a couple of the band members and they were just nicer than you can even imagine. So. NICE.<br />
Then we went to Gourdough's and taught New Holly and Darius just how awesome food trailers and doughnuts can be. Then THEY drove back to Tyler. At midnight. In case you're keeping count, that's a 4 hour drive.<br />
<br />
So that was Friday.<br />
Here comes the next exhausting leg of the weekend.<br />
<br />
Mike and I rolled into bed at 1 AM. I was planning on spending the day with Darius and New Holly, but she had to be back to work which is why they left after the show. This opened up my Saturday, which meant Mike wanted me to go with him to his Spartan Race to take pictures.<br />
This closed up my Saturday.<br />
Are you familiar with a Spartan Race? Basically you run a bunch of miles and have the crap beat out of you with obstacles and then you get a medal and a shower. I know. It's all of your wildest dreams coming true.<br />
A few months ago, our friend Ben talked Mike into signing up, so he did. It just happened to be yesterday, so after getting 5 hours of sleep, we were up at 6 to head out to the middle of nowhere for this race, an hour away.<br />
We took Pete with us because their website said we could, as long as he stayed on a leash, and because he'd spent most of Friday in his crate we were ready to have some fun and let him stretch his legs. Ben's brother and his wife also brought along their dog, and when we got to the ranch and were about to walk down to the shuttle that would take us to the race, this lady tells us they aren't allowing dogs.<br />
Julie<b> (Ben's sister in law)</b> and I look at each other as if to say "WHAT THE FREAK!!!"<br />
We told everyone to go on ahead since they were late checking in, and that we'd figure out what to do.<br />
There we were, miles and hours away from home, husbands about to run a ginormous race, and our dogs are just wagging their tails, wondering when the fun was going to start.<br />
Pete, my Petey Pie, my little baby baby, he had to wait in the car.<br />
We were parked by trees so it was shaded, we left them lots of water, and the two of us ran to catch up with everyone else, praying that our fur babies would be okay <b>(did I mention Julie is 7 months pregnant too? It was exciting)</b>.<br />
I then spent the morning getting sun burned and mostly waiting for Mike to finally show up in this clearing where he proceeded to do all kinds of fun things like jump over fire, throw a javelin and climb through lots of mud and barbed wire. Don't even worry. There are pictures at the end of the post.<br />
Mike finally finished, he got <b>(most of)</b> the mud washed off, and we all headed back to the cars as fast as we could.<br />
There were Petey Pie and Tucker <b>(that was Julie's dog)</b>, sitting there wagging their tails and so happy to see people they knew.<br />
We let them out to run around for a bit, drink even more water, and then headed on our way home.<br />
Here's where the last really bizarre thing happened.<br />
As we're driving home, I get a call from my mom. It sounded like she was crying and excited and honestly I thought she was telling me that someone was hurt or dead, I couldn't figure out what she was saying at first.<br />
Then I realized that she was telling me that Darius had bought tickets to see Celtic Thunder on November 10th. This followed:<br />
<br />
Me: So...he got tickets so he and Holly <b>(the new one)</b> could go with us?<br />
Mom: What? NO! He got them for US!<br />
Me: Mom. I already GOT tickets for US to see Celtic Thunder on November 10th.<br />
Mom: WHAT??? I thought you were just SAYING we were going to see them!<br />
Me: NO! I texted you and said "We're going to see Celtic Thunder!" because I actually bought tickets for us to SEE Celtic Thunder! <b>(this was like a month ago by the way)</b><br />
<br />
At this point she was crying not because Darius was so sweet, but because she was laughing so hard.<br />
The moral of this story is, Angie and Old Holly will most likely be going to see Celtic Thunder with us in November. It'll be a mom/daughters weekend! Woo hoo!<br />
<br />
When we finally got home yesterday, Mike showered, and we just crashed for a couple of hours. Once I woke up from the nap, I set out running all of the errands that should have been run on Friday but weren't because of flea cleaning, then we went out to eat, followed by coming home and finished cleaning up the aftermath of the Great Flea Epidemic Of 2012.<br />
And then crashed again.<br />
<br />
And that was the story of my bizarre weekend. Oh, the phone conversation wasn't the last really bizarre thing that happened.<br />
I dreamt last night that Mike and I went to the premier of "The Nanny, The Movie" you know like Fran Drescher's old TV show <b>(I LOVE "The Nanny)</b> and we sat in front of her for the show. I asked her if we could take a picture together and she said yes, only when I looked at the picture after we took it, her face turned into Ellen Degeneres sticking her tongue out. I remember thinking "Wow, she's really good at making faces."<br />
If any part of this post doesn't make sense, I can't be held accountable. My brain is fried.
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Are y'all exhausted from reading this? I am.<br />
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Ahhh. It was so fun. SO. FUN.</div>
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Here's Dennis. Attacking his guitar.</div>
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You had me at 'bodhran.'</div>
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Hey! That's us and Bob Schmidt! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheS8E3t6kH__B7ccd0SYfeFQS-UC7faOPWToubCBhbw8ehyphenhyphenGW_iuBBvgeD7BJIU_f742wu4UwyzWpoE-2f6G_8cnyquhvAf0K_DB1h8h_pIoaQcEztshGUQrKPkZcr8WZdJmtdj9FR5v4/s1600/415196_655340791669_202801327_32176421_1160440246_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheS8E3t6kH__B7ccd0SYfeFQS-UC7faOPWToubCBhbw8ehyphenhyphenGW_iuBBvgeD7BJIU_f742wu4UwyzWpoE-2f6G_8cnyquhvAf0K_DB1h8h_pIoaQcEztshGUQrKPkZcr8WZdJmtdj9FR5v4/s400/415196_655340791669_202801327_32176421_1160440246_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And Matt Hensley! He's probably Darius' favorite pro skater of all time <b>(that's skateboarding, people. Skateboarding)</b>. See how he KIND OF looks like it's Christmas morning?</div>
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Seriously, they were the nicest people to meet EVER.</div>
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AND! They threw bottles of water at the end and New Holly and I both got one! Except Darius was really hoping for one of the cans of Guinness. Oh but THEN some guy at the door was all "Sorry you can't take drinks out of here" and New Holly and I were all "BUT THEY GAVE THEM TO US!" and he was all "Who gave them to you?" and we're all "Flogging Molly! Who do you think!" and then Darius and Mike chugged them really fast because who wants to waste water. But not before we got this picture!</div>
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Also, New Holly. Love. Her. That girl is a riot and insane. So perfect for Darius.</div>
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Moving on to the Spartan Race. </div>
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I like this picture because Mike is puffing up his chest to yell and Ben is squinting funny and clapping his hands.</div>
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That's Mike in the gray. On a rope. Climbing.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7DfngJnRdFsyCzUHj4Y5aNNWtXJuYi-nZ5k6uMw07yvPWEZ1b3ciUCctrMwqCSsGf6S_9dm-aM_mNcieCSeNI9LCc80Mrh-7vOq6DMEghUfW8Q2gj0xbSbuMWnojK-F6YAlV972xWG-o/s1600/P1030486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7DfngJnRdFsyCzUHj4Y5aNNWtXJuYi-nZ5k6uMw07yvPWEZ1b3ciUCctrMwqCSsGf6S_9dm-aM_mNcieCSeNI9LCc80Mrh-7vOq6DMEghUfW8Q2gj0xbSbuMWnojK-F6YAlV972xWG-o/s400/P1030486.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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And there he is jumping over fire.</div>
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And throwing a javelin <b>(it may LOOK like there are people completely naked, taking showers behind the fence, but they were clothed from the waist down)</b>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgUupaUK5W4sb2NbsHY_OZV-tqortx1A7nitklEwhNNDBi2DHu9lMVMOmzDM4jnMjCPdH6kaAcYUh6Sqx654zkaeJYmlN1DdPM_1apQrKLiwOd0YSefxX5jFSbv6kVdpd0QEY09JXljP0/s1600/P1030511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgUupaUK5W4sb2NbsHY_OZV-tqortx1A7nitklEwhNNDBi2DHu9lMVMOmzDM4jnMjCPdH6kaAcYUh6Sqx654zkaeJYmlN1DdPM_1apQrKLiwOd0YSefxX5jFSbv6kVdpd0QEY09JXljP0/s400/P1030511.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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And reliving basic training.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCxIHN55pjG0_YImO2X4ACqSG9Gc8QjNACX2tnxh_0x64TBblwlkYIAYFGWC_XGCG_2Q3ApGYcnaxhbpZ2PQwI78VLR0T0sX18fFEMaxJ9fDJq3AV6BW4O58j4UDDqkH96A5z4s2RBwJ8/s1600/P1030517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCxIHN55pjG0_YImO2X4ACqSG9Gc8QjNACX2tnxh_0x64TBblwlkYIAYFGWC_XGCG_2Q3ApGYcnaxhbpZ2PQwI78VLR0T0sX18fFEMaxJ9fDJq3AV6BW4O58j4UDDqkH96A5z4s2RBwJ8/s400/P1030517.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Aaaaaaaaaaaaand DONE!</div>
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The following is my favorite picture of the weekend. We had to search high and low for it. A woman was walking around taking pictures and posting them to Facebook. We didn't know who the heck she represented <b>(turns out it was ACL Live)</b>, but what cracked me up is when she told the girls in front of us <b>(the ones giving Holly the stink eye)</b> to pose for a picture, both Holly and I were thinking "PHOTO BOMB!" and we both moved in to crash their picture. It turns out Mike and Darius were thinking the same thing. </div>
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I tried real hard to keep a serious face, but it was difficult not to laugh.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDzVa3AgzdkGEY8JdU1TJ_Lu3PCDON7mKiQiEXGbf81y_TDqZWhBUbJVcLN3_3DUKkYvV0PPEUfycFgar2KTH4sED_2LcmA0qOxasi-fucIEXA-L4k5foHaAlHMSOVtIF_lqSduvenGY/s1600/579558_10151752263270385_545565384_24168347_910738152_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDzVa3AgzdkGEY8JdU1TJ_Lu3PCDON7mKiQiEXGbf81y_TDqZWhBUbJVcLN3_3DUKkYvV0PPEUfycFgar2KTH4sED_2LcmA0qOxasi-fucIEXA-L4k5foHaAlHMSOVtIF_lqSduvenGY/s400/579558_10151752263270385_545565384_24168347_910738152_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />Sandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438319017572703156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7476697964438282521.post-8597272842931832432012-05-16T11:32:00.003-05:002012-05-16T14:12:16.379-05:00Redwood Forest, '86<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is Mike and his mom back in the day.</div>
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If I gave birth to something that chubby and blonde, all of my wildest dreams would come true. </div>
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Also, doesn't his mom's hair look like she could've been the 5th member of ABBA during the 80's?</div>Sandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438319017572703156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7476697964438282521.post-89648331992167101922012-05-15T14:58:00.001-05:002012-05-15T15:02:11.073-05:00Ohana Means Family<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I made a ginormous mistake last week. </div>
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First of all, I read <a href="http://nutsinanutshell.blogspot.com/2012/05/support-your-soldier-pass-pft.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FeqCyQ+%284+Nuts+in+a+Nutshell%29">this</a>, and then I started thinking "Yeah...YEAH! I could pass the PT test too!"</div>
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That wasn't the ginormous mistake part.</div>
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The ginormous mistake part was when I actually voiced those thoughts to Mike. I was kind of hoping for the same reaction as the woman who wrote that blog post. In my mind, Mike thought that was totally hot and would think it was a turn on. </div>
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In REALITY, he said "Oh okay" and immediately began figuring out how many push ups and sit ups I'd have to do in 2 minutes and the time I'd have to be under for a 2 mile run, and then proceeded to start figuring out a strategy.</div>
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I. Married. A. Nerd.</div>
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So, twice in the past week, I have done a 2 mile run. It probably would've been more, but there's been rain. You know.</div>
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Twice in the past week, I have surpassed my mind in running distance. My mind was still sitting at the .75 mile marker when I ran back past it to finish up 2 miles. </div>
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It feels amazing and awful all at the same time. </div>
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That's the longest I've ever been able to run in one sitting. In one sitting? That's the longest I've ever been able to run in one running? This is turning weird...</div>
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Mike has been so patient with me. I know he could take off and probably finish the run about 10 minutes quicker than I could, but he sticks right with me and gives me encouragement when I need it most. Last night, when we were just one hill away from the last marker which would end the run, I kicked it into gear and gave it everything I had. I probably looked something like a lunatic running uphill. He said "Oh going faster are you?" He then kicked it up a couple of notches and continued to jog along leisurely... His legs are about 10 times longer than mine so...yeah.</div>
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Also, I've been revisiting my Zumba on the Wii over the past couple of weeks, instead of doing my usual 4 mile run/jog. I thought maybe changing up my cardio routine would be good.</div>
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People.</div>
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THE SCALE IS MOVING. </div>
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In a good direction this time. It was a joyous occasion this morning for my weekly Tuesday weighing.</div>
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Oh! AND! Last night while we were running, we passed the ugliest little pug I've ever seen. I just wanted to hug and kiss it. It looked just like Stitch.</div>
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See?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgTVkRxiFhIqh0Ht3tEun-FZbCR5JoIE_PzN66cp0nyuHaSifS0NxMDq9NAWJ7uAXNxWfaQ8XAfgnfTWrxn180h2rXrcAOYtsNvNmQSvHEwXJ_qBuKI_G1m41R5AU7waBRIFuJKMZ1Jk/s1600/200px-Stitch.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgTVkRxiFhIqh0Ht3tEun-FZbCR5JoIE_PzN66cp0nyuHaSifS0NxMDq9NAWJ7uAXNxWfaQ8XAfgnfTWrxn180h2rXrcAOYtsNvNmQSvHEwXJ_qBuKI_G1m41R5AU7waBRIFuJKMZ1Jk/s1600/200px-Stitch.png" /></a></div>
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Just like that, except really dark brown, with the worst sort of caramel colored spots all over. Hideous!</div>
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It was so adorable.</div>
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At this time, I really need to get something off of my chest. I'm not going to apologize for it either.</div>
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Do you know what really bugs me?</div>
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When people organize their books according to color.</div>
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For example:</div>
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How the DEVIL are you supposed to find anything? I've organized my books alphabetically by author, by title, and then alphabetically by author in their respective genres. I can't ever keep it one way for long, because I like reorganizing them. </div>
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I'm crazy, I know, but how can you stand to separate books like that when organizing by color? "The Hunger Games" would be off in one corner with all of the scary, black books while "Mockingjay" would be somewhere in the midst of the sky blues! HOW IS THAT CONVENIENT! I don't even want to know what would have to be done to my paperback Harry Potter's that have the diamond design in multiple colors on their spines. </div>
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What then, huh? What. THEN.</div>
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Speaking of books, I found a good use for my collection of Ikea bags. I've filled both of them <b>(2 can count as a collection, right?)</b> with all of the books I'll be taking to Tyler. I am so dang proud of myself because it's really only about 1/4 of my books that I'm taking.</div>
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Anyways, Mike walked into the office today and saw the two bags full, I mean just FULL to over flowing, of books and said "Are those the books you're going to sell?" <b>(in the process of deciding what goes with me and what sleeps in storage, I've also cleaned out books that I have never read or will never read again, and those will be taking a trip to the magical land known as Half Priced Books)</b> and I said "NOOOO! Those are the ones going to Tyler!" I then proceeded to point to the small stack of about 12 books all by themselves and said "Those are the ones I'm selling..." </div>
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He laughed at me. That husband. He's always laughing. Usually at me. Or something witty that I said.</div>
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I'm just so witty.</div>
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Oh and can we talk about something else completely different without a segue into it?</div>
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I work for the best people. The BEST. </div>
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Sunday afternoon, we spent a good chunk of time with Mike's family, and then went home to chill for the rest of the night. I got a text from Sam that said "Will you be home around 7:20? Maggie has something for you."</div>
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I thought that was random but okay I like getting things so of course I told him I'd be home.</div>
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Look what I got!</div>
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That's a BIG bowl full of baking chips, a really most excellent bar of chocolate, and wonderful bottle of vanilla. </div>
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Do Annette and Sam know me well or what? And of course Maggie. I'm told she picked out mostly everything in the bowl. </div>
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I can't even wait to use the vanilla and the milk chocolate chips to make Oreo pudding cookies this week.</div>
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I wish I could give thoughtful gifts like this! I am awful at thinking of gifts. </div>
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If I could choose a super power, it would be something like being the best at thinking of thoughtful gifts. Or healing powers. One of those two. Or maybe controlling the weather. Or flying.</div>Sandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438319017572703156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7476697964438282521.post-82747031599890102152012-05-14T08:04:00.000-05:002012-05-14T08:04:01.569-05:00Have A Great Monday 3I forgot to mention, in my assessment of "The Avengers," that I had a hard time taking Cobie Smulders seriously. Every time she was on screen, the mall song kept popping into my head.<br />
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If you watch this, you won't be soar-ee that the 80's didn't hit Canada until the 90's.<br />
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And it turns out my friend Becca's sense of humor is just as sad and twisted as mine is. She wanted me to share this one with all of you, to start off your Monday:<br />
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She's right though! Who the heck has time for bronchitis?Sandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438319017572703156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7476697964438282521.post-46345545263390472812012-05-13T15:13:00.001-05:002012-05-13T15:13:59.296-05:00Meryl And Moms And...MispachaThis weekend has been one of those weekends that I can usually only dream about. <div>
Take yesterday, for instance.</div>
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I got up, got my scriptures read, got some cleaning done, got my Zumba done, and went with Mike and Pete to play at the park in the midst of all of that.</div>
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That was all just before one o'clock.</div>
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THEN I finally sat down and watched "Doubt" because it's been staring at me from the top of my DVD player all week, ever since Netflix was kind enough to send it to me.</div>
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I have a firm testimony that every new movie that I see Meryl Streep in, just makes me love her even more. Can anyone even come close to acting the way that woman does?</div>
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THEN Mike declared it to be date night, so I went to go spiffy myself up. And when I came back out to the living room, Pete was all harnessed up, ready to go, so I knew it would be exciting. And it was. Because a picnic at Zilker Park, where you eat P. Terry's burgers and watch your newly cleaned dog wallow around in mud is always exciting.</div>
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THEN we got home and still had time to fit in a pirate movie and a batch of cupcake baking.</div>
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Seriously. How often does a Saturday that is so complete happen? </div>
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SO. COMPLETE.</div>
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In even more exciting news, the first watermelon of the year has been purchased and already halfway eaten. </div>
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I feel like the first watermelon of the year is always kind of a spiritual event. </div>
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It is, at least to me, a symbol of summer and the kind of food that has years and years of memories encased inside of it. That's why the rind is so thick. There are so many people that have happy, summer memories associated with watermelon, it wouldn't be able to hold all of them in otherwise.</div>
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Right?</div>
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Also, I can eat tons of it and not feel too terribly guilty about it.</div>
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In case anyone has forgotten, it's Mother's Day. If you HAVE forgotten, I would suggest you get to steppin' because the day is more than halfway over and you need to do something to show appreciation to the woman who carried you for nine long, cruel months and then proceeded in on the real trial of raising you.</div>
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In my family, Mother's Day was never a huge deal. My mom's not the biggest fan of it, and I don't think I will be either. It really is something of a Hallmark holiday, and moms deserve much more appreciation than just once a year, which I'm afraid is all some of them get.</div>
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Anyways, I'm not going into that.</div>
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I did what I usually do for my mom. I called her up and sang "Mother Dear I Love You So" in the most angelic, operatic voice I could muster and she proceeded to cry and tell me that it was the worst gift she's ever gotten. She was crying because she was laughing so hard, by the way, not because it was such a beautiful rendition.</div>
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I could go on and on about me mum, but I already have before, so please go <a href="http://mrsthepants.blogspot.com/2012/04/many-many-happy-returns-of-day.html">here</a>, <a href="http://mrsthepants.blogspot.com/2012/04/one-of-my-personal-favorite-stories.html">here</a>, <a href="http://mrsthepants.blogspot.com/2012/03/discussion-on-lightness-of-foot.html">here</a>, and <a href="http://mrsthepants.blogspot.com/2012/03/dam-problems.html">here</a> to read more about that.</div>
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I will close by sharing my favorite moment from church today.</div>
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In relief society, we were talking about prayer. One of the women was sharing an experience that happened shortly after her and her husband got married. </div>
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Everyone was getting pregnant. Her friends, her family, everyone. She wanted to be pregnant too and it was very frustrating. Her husband suggested they go to the temple and pray about it so she did, grudgingly. </div>
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While she was there, she got the very distinct impression that the Lord wanted them to wait until her husband had graduated from college to have children.</div>
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This was, of course, not what she wanted to hear, but they followed the Lord's counsel and 9 months after he graduated, they had their first baby.</div>
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I just loved hearing that story. I can relate to that. I know how it feels to want that so badly and to pray for it and to try for it and to let your whole heart and mind wrap around it, but it just isn't the right time. </div>
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I know how it feels to think that this is the most righteous desire I've ever had in my life, so why am I not getting it?? And the Lord says "Not right now. Just trust me. I'm much smarter than you are."</div>
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<b> (He doesn't really say that, but it's true. He's very smart)</b></div>
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As I look back on the past few months, I'm amazed and so grateful that the Lord knows what's ahead of me and knows what's best for me. If I had had a baby instead of a miscarriage, my little baby and I would be sending my husband off to a combat zone.</div>
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That makes my stomach turn.</div>
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I really would like Mike to be on the whole grand adventure of parenting with me.</div>
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Thank goodness for a loving Heavenly Father who has a plan for me. <b>(and you too!)</b></div>Sandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438319017572703156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7476697964438282521.post-9645626797204845102012-05-12T12:20:00.000-05:002012-05-12T12:20:02.676-05:00Thanks GriegIf the world was full of moments like this, there would be much less contention.<br />
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It's okay if you cry a little. I did too.Sandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438319017572703156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7476697964438282521.post-388633639818573822012-05-10T13:12:00.000-05:002012-05-10T13:13:41.560-05:00Things That Make You Go OySo I replaced the black printer cartridge this morning.<br />
<br />
Twice I tried printing off the recipe for strawberries and cream pie. Twice I got nothing but blank paper.<br />
"What have I done to upset the printer cartridge gods?!" I asked myself desperately.<br />
<br />
Let me tell you something.<br />
Just a little piece of sage advice, from one person who suffers from blonde/Sandi moments, to another.<br />
When installing new printer cartridges, pull off the little tab that blocks the ink from coming out BEFORE putting it into the printer.<br />
You're going to get your best printing results this way.<br />
I can almost 99% guarantee it.<br />
<br />
In other "Sandi Moments Action News," my gate opener, punchy button thing, that I got from the apartment complex, is dead.<br />
I played a big part in its death.<br />
The other night, Monday night to be exact, we had a gargantuan storm come through. I really can't attest to how gargantuan it was because it hit hardest whilst the tall man I'm married to and I were in a theater watching "The Avengers." I'm told it was great though. The storm, not the movie. I saw the movie myself so I don't need someone else to tell me it's great. Which it is.<br />
Moving on, Monday morning, I parked under covered parking outside of our apartment building. I knew rain was coming at some point, so I wanted to be prepared. At that point in the week, it was still relatively warm <b>(the temperatures have dropped considerably and it's been an awesome week, weather-wise, I mean as awesome as it can be for being Texas in May)</b>, and I thought "Hey, I'll crack these here windows so my car doesn't get way hot, and I'm SURE I'll drive it again sometime BEFORE the rain hits."<br />
You would think my confidence, combined with parking under cover would ensure that no rain got into my car.<br />
Well, I happened to park my car at the end of the covered parking and also my confidence was false.<br />
I didn't drive my car again until Wednesday.<br />
By that time, there was a weird spot on the front seat of my car, where I could tell rain got on the steering wheel and dripped down onto my seat. I can't even begin to tell you how fun it was to actually put my hands on the steering wheel after that.<br />
I thought that was the extent of my stupidity.<br />
Not so.<br />
Get excited.<br />
I'm leaving the complex this morning, for to get some milk and contact solution<b> (and some Sally Hansen nail polish that was on sale and I saw someone wearing it at church on Sunday and wanted to get it... it's "Gray by Gray" by the way and it's lovely)</b>, and my punchy button, gate opener thing wasn't working. I start thinking to my brain "Why isn't my punchy button working?" but then my brain turns all logical and says to me "Isn't a better question, why is your punchy button swimming in a cup holder of water?" because that's about the time I realized the punchy button was almost completely submerged in water.<br />
The thing that truly baffles me about all of this is that I can find water residue in only two spots in my car: my seat and the cup holder.<br />
How did the rest of my car escape any of the carnage? And how/why did it zero in on this cup holder???<br />
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35 bucks and a new punchy button later, I will not be cracking my windows ever again if there is rain on the horizon.<br />
No matter what my pride tells me.<br />
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So, the moral of the story is, my car is getting a huge bath, inside and out, this weekend.<br />
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This concludes this afternoon's edition of "Sandi Moments Action News."<br />
Tune in at 5 when we discuss what a bad idea making sorbet without an ice cream maker is.<br />
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And did you know that <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/london-torch-lit-ancient-olympia-091618257--spt.html">the lighting of the Olympic torch </a>started as Nazi propaganda? Neither did I. Something to tell your kids before they go to sleep tonight.Sandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438319017572703156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7476697964438282521.post-44531423626144055462012-05-09T13:00:00.002-05:002012-05-09T13:01:23.877-05:00Deep Breath, And AhhhhhhhhIt was one of those glorious afternoons.<br />
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You know the kind.<br />
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Towels tumbling through the dryer, kid snoozing through a nap, dog snoozing through a nap that was occasionally interrupted by an appearance of the <a href="http://mrsthepants.blogspot.com/2012/05/cerberus.html">demon dog</a>, and the soundtrack to all of it was classical music mixed with the gentle patter of rain by the open window. Gloomy, with a hint of a chill in the air. And by hint of a chill, I mean 80 degrees.<br />
<b>(who even could have suspected the A/C would be off and the windows would be open again before October?)</b><br />
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Add the <a href="http://www.sprinklebakes.com/p/labels.html">discovery of a new dessert blog</a> to the mix, and it made for one glorious afternoon.<br />
Yes sirree. It was glorious.<br />
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p.s. I cannot tell you enough how amazing this place smells when I've got<b><a href="http://www.jasonandshawnda.com/foodiebride/archives/1104"> this </a></b>in the crockpot. I've made it thrice, and thrice we have loved it.<br />
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<br />Sandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438319017572703156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7476697964438282521.post-16817072027374249182012-05-08T10:07:00.002-05:002012-05-08T10:11:35.912-05:00A Book For FacesSo, I'm taking a break from the Facebook.<br />
<br />
I had an epiphany of sorts yesterday morning.<br />
Why have I trained myself to check Facebook every morning to see what happened while I was sleeping last night? And then again at noon?<br />
Why do I need to know that <b>(these are meant to be no one and nothing in particular)</b> Bob couldn't fall asleep until 4 am?? Why do I need to know that Susie thinks potato chips are awesome???<br />
<br />
I was sitting there, scrolling through my news feed, reading all of these status updates and pictures that had been posted and all of a sudden I thought "Why is this important to me?"<br />
Don't get me wrong. My friends are important to me. I like to know what's going on in their lives, <b>(which is why I'm not quitting it entirely, just the occasional check in from now on)</b> but I feel like more and more lately it's not so much finding out exciting life events as it is finding out that someone just stepped on a spider and is drinking a coke.<br />
Also, I'll just be blunt here, the more friends I have having kids, the less I actually hear about my friends. It's like their kids have taken over their Facebook accounts <b>(my friend Brandi is one of the exceptions to this, she's a good combination of posting fun things about her kids, and fun things about herself. Oh also, newborns. I love seeing new parents and new babies! I realize my opinion on this is all over the map here, but that's how my brain works. It's all over the map)</b>. Now, I know some of you just read that and are probably getting irritated and thinking "She doesn't even have kids" and you're right. I don't have kids. And this is in no way me being jealous of other people having kids either. Seriously. I realize that kids become, well they become life, and I love hearing about them and seeing pictures of them.<br />
I just...would like to know about what's going on with my friends themselves more often.<br />
I'm going to move on from this particular subject because I can already feel it getting touchy.<br />
In the defense of my friends that are parents, it's not just kids that are being shown off. I'm sick of seeing posts about new cars, trips to some place, or some delicious whatever that is being eaten, followed up by something along the lines of "You can be jealous." Or usually it's just "Jealous?"<br />
That one drives me up the wall.<br />
Do you have any, ANY, idea how rude and self-centered you look when you tell people to be jealous of you?<b> (I'm not innocent here, I'm pretty sure I probably posted that a time or two until I realized how bad it made me look)</b><br />
I also become increasingly annoyed at how hard it is to post one's opinion on Facebook and just let it be. It's becoming much harder to do that without a bunch of different people jumping down your throat or telling you how wrong you are<b> (this goes back to why I don't discuss politics, and why I have posted NOTHING concerning the upcoming election on Facebook)</b>. It kind of reminds me of this thing I read one time about drivers. Have you ever noticed that everyone who drives slower than you is an idiot and everyone who drives faster than you is a lunatic? Kind of applies to sharing thoughts on Facebook. I think? You get the idea.<br />
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So, anyways. Facebook. Yeah.<br />
Don't worry, I'm still going to be blogging. If you followed me through my links I posted on Facebook, you'll just have to take the initiative and check back here every so often yourself :)<br />
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Moving on to much more exciting things, we saw "The Avengers" last night.<br />
As I was getting ready, I was thinking "Oh my gosh. We're THOSE people now. OLD PEOPLE. We don't go see movies on the weekend anymore because that's when all of the kids are there. Before you know it, we'll be hitting up the very first showing on Saturday mornings because it's the cheapest and we won't care that it's 9 am. What has become of us??"<br />
That's what was going through my mind.<br />
It's a pretty good movie. I won't lie to you, about 5 minutes into it my brain started saying to me "I TOLD you we should've re-watched all of those ones you saw last summer" because we went and saw "Thor" and "Captain America" last year <b>(probably on the weekend, because we were still young and cool back then)</b> and for the life of me I could not remember what happened in those. I remember Natalie Portman and possessed Nazis, and something about a glowing, blue box but that was it.<br />
Turns out that glowing, blue box is pretty important to the plot and I scratched my head more than once trying to remember the logistics of it.<br />
If you go see it, at least re-watch those two first. I don't think Iron Man or the last Hulk movie had as much info pertaining to "The Avengers" plot. <b>(But I could be wrong?) </b><br />
Speaking of the Hulk, I have been greatly underestimating his abilities for the better part of my entire life. He's the Hulk and he can lay the smack down, but he can REALLY lay the smack down.<br />
I mean REALLY.<br />
Mike and I discussed the finer points of comic book movies on the way home from our hot date. We threw Batman into the mix because we saw the preview for "The Dark Knight Rises" before the movie <b>(I was a little underwhelmed by it actually. I told Mike I think that any villain is going to have a hard time following Heath Ledger's Joker. It was just SO. GOOD. I had nightmares about him. Seriously! Nightmares! It was fantastic)</b>. I asked Mike which superhero, of any, he would want to have the abilities of. He said it would be cool to be Tony Stark for a day <b>(he said it WASN'T because I have a crush on Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, but I suspect differently... Is that odd? I don't so much have a crush on Robert Downey Jr. or on Tony Stark, but on Robert Downey Jr. AS Tony Stark. So cocky and dreamy.... That Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts is one lucky woman)</b>. I decided, after last night's movie, that I would like to have Thor's hammer. It would be kind of cool to be fighting someone and you're just standing there holding your right hand out, and your opponent probably thinks you're crazy when all of a sudden some hammer from the gods flies out of nowhere, into your hand, and there goes their head. Or something.<br />
So I had a brilliant idea after the movie last night, and I knew it was especially brilliant because of how hard Mike rolled his eyes. He rolls his eyes hardest at my most brilliant ideas. So what if the Avengers are fighting some bad guy, and all of a sudden the X-Men show up to fight the same bad guy <b>(maybe Magneto is taking a break and so they use their powers to fight other evil?)</b>. And there's this awkward pause where everyone is wondering who the heck everyone else is, and then they join forces and are AWESOME!<br />
They would be called.... The Avex-Men.<br />
Right?<br />
<br />
<br />
RIP Maurice<br />
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<br />Sandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438319017572703156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7476697964438282521.post-65889287850356189422012-05-07T13:24:00.000-05:002012-05-07T13:24:12.737-05:00Have A Great Monday iiSince<a href="http://mrsthepants.blogspot.com/2012/04/have-great-monday.html"><b> last Monday's post</b></a> was awesome, I've decided it is my obligation, nay, civic duty, to start your week off with something magnificent. So please be expecting these. <b>(as long as I remember...)</b><br />
<br />
If you ever needed advice on how to write really good love poems, here it is:<br />
<br />
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<b>(my favorite hint is the apostrophe one)</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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And since this past weekend was exceptionally exhausting for everyone living in my apartment <b>(4 day drill weekend starting on Thursday combined with ridiculous amounts of driving around like maniacs)</b>, and we could use more of a boost to get us through the week, a little extra:</div>
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<br /></div>Sandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438319017572703156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7476697964438282521.post-55083391675317572012012-05-05T15:33:00.000-05:002012-05-05T15:33:00.427-05:00Derby Day<br />
I love, love, LOVE the Kentucky Derby. I like to watch all of the races for the Triple Crown, but the Kentucky Derby is my favorite.<br />
<br />
I blame it partially on my friend Jessica who leant me ridiculous amounts of books, throughout 5th and 6th grade, about horses. I read<b><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/thoroughbred-series-by-joanna-campbell/thoroughbred-series-by-joanna-campbell/thoroughbred-series-by-joanna-campbell?store=ALLPRODUCTS&keyword=thoroughbred+series+by+joanna+campbell"> those books </a></b>and I dreamed. Dreamed of a world where when I asked my mom if I could ride horses she wouldn't say things like "You'll get bored with it" or "You're already in ballet" or "We don't like you so we don't like to give you what you want."<br />
She didn't really say that last part.<br />
But mostly, I just love horses and so I love to watch the races and learn about the horses themselves.<br />
<br />
It's definitely on my bucket list to attend the Kentucky Derby someday.<br />
I want to get a ridiculously gaudy and majestic hat to wear when I go, and drink mint juleps.<br />
Or just a bottle of water is fine.<br />
<br />
And what about those horses' names!!<br />
Horses get the <span style="font-size: x-large;">BEST. NAMES.</span><br />
Daddy Nose Best? Daddy Long Legs?<b> (what's with the daddy theme?)</b> Take Charge Indy? Went The Day Well???<br />
These names are awesome!<br />
<br />
If I had a race horse I would name it something like... Needs Supervision, or Swing By The Grocery Store, or... no I would definitely name it Get Irish Or Get Out.<br />
<br />
So, please, if you have time around 5:20pm <b>(that's 5:20 Texas time)</b>, then you should pause and take a moment to revel in the adrenaline of two of the most exciting minutes in the year.<br />
<br />
Look just do it, or Union Rags may bite you.<br />
<br />
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<br />Sandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438319017572703156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7476697964438282521.post-90547461422217445432012-05-03T13:00:00.001-05:002012-05-03T13:00:49.805-05:00PurgingI'm purging today.<br />
Not the vomiting kind. Pete did that the other night though <b>(he's okay)</b>.<br />
<br />
Something magical <b>(again, shouldn't there be a font that is distinctly recognized as sarcasm?)</b> will be happening this summer. A small part of my possessions will make a trip up to Tyler where they will live for a year, and the rest will make a trip to a storage unit where THEY will live for a year.<br />
I've been putting off getting ready for this deployment, not because I dread the deployment itself, but because I hate all of the "fun" things I <strike>have</strike> get to do leading up to it. Like, do you think we'd be able to sell my car within the first week of July? That's about the window we're looking at right now for that particular task.<br />
Anyways.<br />
<br />
This isn't my first rodeo.<br />
I told myself that as soon as May began<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>(I know, I laughed really hard when I saw that too)</b><br />
I would begin working on everything that needs to be done before Mike leaves.<br />
The foremost task in my mind has been deciding what goes with me, what goes into storage, and what falls into the category of "why do we even have that lever?"<br />
Last time I moved back home, when Mike was doing all of his initial training, I took way too much stuff.<br />
My entire collection of books??? I can't think of any situation that would've come up that would require me to reference the many assassination attempts on Adolf Hitler <b>(although....)</b> or needing the complete works of Jane Austen which MY MOM HAS THE EXACT SAME COPY OF <b>(the same can also be said for my Harry Potter and Fablehaven books. Mom's a real nice person, I'm ALMOST positive she'll let me read her books if I really want to)</b>.<br />
And why did I take my favorite cookie spatula when my mom has a plethora of perfectly fine spatulas? <b>(And let's not even start on her wooden spoon collection. Although the size of her wooden spoon collection isn't her fault. Grandma gives them to her nearly every Christmas.)</b><br />
I was so naive.<br />
I'm not making the same mistake twice.<br />
I am a pro at packing and thinking "Oh but what if this situation comes up? I'll need at least 3 of these yellow shirts." Or whatever. I'm not allowing myself to do that this time.<br />
Also, there was a lot we put into storage that I honestly have not even used or looked at since moving it back out of storage last February <b>(as in February 2011...over a year ago...)</b>.<br />
So, I'm purging today.<br />
Starting with the extra room's closet. This is the place in our home where things go to die. Things like 2 blue Ikea bags.<br />
"Where do I put these? I don't know. How about that closet over there where I can close the door and no one ever has to know? Brilliant!"<br />
Not everything goes in this closet to die though.<br />
Some things go in there to hibernate for eleven months out of the year.<br />
Some of my most favorite things in the world.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: red;">CHRISTMAS </span><span style="color: #38761d;">DECORATIONS!!</span></span></b><br />
<br />
Okay but look, I've been trying to approach Christmas with a "less is more" type attitude as of late, so I turned Pandora to "Christmas" and started the reaping of the Christmas decorations before lunch.<br />
Our first year of marriage we bought a giant tree <b>(fake, I'd be sneezing otherwise)</b>. With it being our first year of marriage, we didn't have many ornaments with which to cover said giant tree, so we went and bought some of those sets of unbreakable <b>(i.e. cheap crap)</b> ornaments at Wal-Mart and Garden Ridge. Since then, however, we've acquired quite an array of ornaments. I am of the belief that a tree doesn't need to have a theme and the more random the BETTER. Because of that philosophy, we have got some raaaaandooooom ornaments.<br />
If they aren't appealing to me and I can't remember who gave them to us or how we got them, they are going to Goodwill dang it <b>(Andy Pants, if you're reading this, I still have the ornament you painted for me in 2006 with the<a href="http://www.hiberniaschool.com/Hibernia_School_of_Irish_Dance/Welcome.html"> Hibernia</a> logo. It's a favorite. Whoever gave us the creepy elf ornament though, you are out of luck...)</b>. With the exception of a bird wearing a scarf and a hat. I have no idea where that ornament came from, and it's not even that cute, but it's a bird that thinks it's a person because it's wearing people clothes so it gets to stay.<br />
Needless to say, the vast majority of the "unbreakable" ornaments are going to Goodwill as well. Except some of the ones that look like disco balls....<br />
This is very bittersweet, sorting through our food storage, memory boxes, Christmas decorations, and Ikea bag collection.<br />
As I was wrapping up my favorite ballerinas, which don our tree every year, Michael Buble started singing "I'll Be Home for Christmas" and I started to tear up. Look I know they're inanimate objects, but these ornaments won't see Christmas for another year and a half. And then I started thinking about why they won't be seeing Christmas for another year and a half and I remembered that this will be the first Christmas Mike and I won't be spending together<b> (that thought has somehow kept itself shoved into the back, darkest corner of my mind since finding out about the deployment)</b> and that was the real reason I teared up. He'll be in the desert and I'll be in polar bear pants <b>(pajama pants with polar bears ON them, they're not made OUT of polar bear...what kind of a monster do you think I am?)</b> hugging Pete and most likely crying. Mom will probably cry too. And then we'll watch "Scrooge" and cry even more because that was what her and Dad used to watch every Christmas Eve<b> (I don't think I need to tell you how much we loved and cried over <a href="http://www.lds.org/ensign/2007/05/i-know-that-my-redeemer-lives?lang=eng">THIS</a> talk President Monson gave a few years ago)</b>.<br />
<br />
MAN! THIS POST IS GETTING DEPRESSING!!!!<br />
<br />
Here you go, something to boost your Christmas spirit:<br />
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And don't even WORRY. <a href="http://mrsthepants.blogspot.com/2011/12/some-people.html"><b>My army of nutcrackers</b></a> is going to Tyler with me. </div>
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They look quite lovely on my mom's mantle.</div>
<br />Sandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438319017572703156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7476697964438282521.post-77228728427205614542012-05-02T09:16:00.000-05:002012-05-02T09:16:46.982-05:00"It's Time To Do A Wretched Thing Or Two"Yesterday I got a text from my mom.<br />
<br />
It said:<br />
"It's the lusty month of may...time to go blissfully astray. Except then comes the not so blissful repentance..."<br />
<br />
There goes Mom. Taking something magical and making it weird. I know what you're thinking and you're right, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.<br />
<br />
In case you have no idea what my mother is referring to, watch this:<br />
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<br />
Let's take a moment and remember that for at least 2 of the Harry Potter movies, there was a decent Dumbledore. May Richard Harris rest in peace.<br />
<br />
Also, I know what you're thinking and you're right again, I guess this is the week for posts involving either my dog or random videos.Sandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438319017572703156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7476697964438282521.post-89209588249032051002012-05-01T08:01:00.000-05:002012-05-01T08:01:02.193-05:00CerberusCan we talk about Petey Pie some more today?<br />
Of course we can!<br />
<br />
There is an evil dog that lives upstairs.<br />
<br />
His apartment is upstairs and over one from ours so, because our balconies are angled, we can see each other just fine when he's wandering out on his balcony. Which he's been doing a lot lately.<br />
<br />
Why is this dog evil?<br />
<br />
Nothing but an evil dog could cause my 40 pound ball of crazy to tremble with fear, whine ceaselessly, and become a frightened lump of cuteness.<br />
I'm almost sure of it.<br />
Not only does Pete do all of those things, but he also shoves himself between my feet, beneath the desk, when that evil dog comes around.<br />
<br />
See?<br />
<br />
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<br />
I know, it's adorable. But he could man up a little.<br />
<br />
Although, who can blame him.<br />
Get a load of the evil dog that lives upstairs:<br />
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That's him glaring at me with his death ray eyes.<br />
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<br />
He's even scarier when he moves closer, isn't he?<br />
I mean, he must have at LEAST 30 pounds on Pete. You know, 30 pounds LESS than Pete...<br />
<br />
It's a good thing I'm moving back in with my mom when Mike deploys. I have a feeling anyone that would try to break in, would be BFF with Pete after about 5 minutes. Or he would run in terror from them.<br />
It could go either way, though I'm not keen to find out which.Sandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438319017572703156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7476697964438282521.post-36384703978422227392012-04-30T11:14:00.001-05:002012-04-30T11:14:30.960-05:00Have A Great Monday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I'm not going to say you're welcome because I'm not sure you're going to say thank you <b>(if you want to thank anyone, then thank Norway)</b>.</div>
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And please, for the love of everything, hold tightly to your furry vests.</div>Sandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438319017572703156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7476697964438282521.post-76743003572903802292012-04-29T21:41:00.000-05:002012-04-29T21:42:45.977-05:00My Magical CanineClearly, Pete has magical powers.<br />
I think he thinks he does anyways.<br />
Something happens every time the three of us get into Mike's car. It's always Mike's car because if we're going somewhere together he always drives so it makes sense to take his car. Sometimes I'm amazed at how logical we are.<br />
Anyways, we'll drive along for a few minutes and after awhile,<br />
<br />
there he is.<br />
<br />
Right behind me.<br />
<br />
Head shoved against the window and the part of the car that's between his door and mine.<br />
<br />
His eyes stare intently into that corner where the side of the window and the car meet, like he's going to drill a hole through it with his gaze.<br />
<br />
When THAT doesn't bring him the result he wants, he begins pawing at the window.<br />
When THAT doesn't bring him the result he wants, he begins pawing at the window, alternating between both front paws.<br />
<br />
And then Mike, usually laughing, appeases him and rolls down the window so he can stick his head out.<br />
The thing about this, though, is that BOTH back windows have to be rolled down. You know how it is inside of a car when only one window is unrolled. You get that weird sound/feeling in your ears. Typically, once Pete sticks his head back inside <b>(after a whopping 5 seconds)</b>, he'll go back to the middle of the seat. But sometimes, he tries to make it to the window on the other side and has almost lost his nose a couple of times while Mike was rolling it up.<br />
One time, while driving at a particularly upbeat pace, Mike didn't have the windows locked, and all of a sudden I hear what I think is Niagara Falls. Luckily it wasn't Niagara Falls, but it was Pete sticking his head out the window. I was about to tell Mike that he was a ridiculous, crazy person for unrolling the window while we were going so fast, but before I could, he said "PETE! That dog unrolled the window himself!!"<br />
So now, when we get in the car with Pete, the doors and windows get locked before much else happens. Because one time he pawed at the handle and would have opened it had it not been locked.<br />
Thank goodness.<br />
<br />
That dog.<br />
Maybe it's not magical powers, but fine motor skills.<br />
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I met a bear yesterday.<br />
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Here we are. Looking out into the world. Wondering what it would be like to have an apple covered in all kinds of deliciousness. But then we turned around and remembered we were in the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and there was a ridiculous amount of apples, covered in ridiculous amounts of awesomeness, behind us the whole time.</div>
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Also, did you REALLY think I would forget?</div>
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<b>(The Camilla and Harry look-a-likes are the best)</b></div>
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And if you watch this one, it's the coverage of the whole thing all over again! Just what you wanted! </div>
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Happy Day William and Kate the Great <3</div>
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<br />Sandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438319017572703156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7476697964438282521.post-86736259370169114772012-04-27T14:13:00.000-05:002012-04-27T14:19:08.437-05:00The Rantings Of A Mad, White Woman (Not Much Different Than The Ramblings)So, I'm frustrated with the scale currently. Now, I understand that I am not horribly over weight, and I'm very blessed to have lost the weight that I have, but this is still getting aggravating.<br />
I have been<br />
kicking.<br />
my.<br />
butt.<br />
for the better part of 2 months, running/walking 4 miles <b>(give or take)</b> 4 to 6 days a week, trying to make a dent in these 10 pounds that I gained because of the miscarriage.<br />
TWO POUNDS.<br />
I have GAINED two pounds.<br />
<b>(when I saw that on the scale, in one VERY brief moment, I thought "I could totally see why some people are anorexic." Don't even worry, that moment passed and then I remembered how much I love bread.)</b><br />
I'm truly baffled by this.<br />
So I came to the conclusion, last weekend, that it's time to go back to counting calories.<br />
<br />
I. Hate. Counting. Calories.<br />
<br />
I have done it a couple of times before, and it DID help me lose 5 or so pounds. For the most part, however, I lost the weight that I did before, because I used portion and self control.<br />
<br />
I think my self control is the problem here.<br />
Also, my mind <b>(those are kind of the same thing though, right? my mind and my self control?)</b>.<br />
I hate the saying "mind over matter." When it comes to exercising and eating right, my MIND is the problem. When I'm out running, I could be one minute, only one!, into the run and my mind is already saying "Ugh. Seriously. This again? You know I don't like this."<br />
I'm convinced that my mind didn't start losing weight when my body did 5 years ago. It still thinks it's holding onto the 30ish pounds <b>(getting closer to 20ish now..)</b> that are gone, and is in no condition to go 4 miles a day, so it tries not to.<br />
9.8 times out of 10, though, my body says otherwise and my mind gets shoved back into the car where it sits and waits for my body to get back from running. It's hard for my mind to be yelling at my brain when Kanye is doing it at the same time <b>(look, I can't stand him either. But he's got a couple of songs that are great for running)</b>.<br />
Also, when it comes to food, my mind thinks way further ahead than my stomach does. My stomach says "Whoa! Hold on there little camper! Let me digest this chicken breast properly and THEN we'll see about those cookies." Whereas my mind says "You just had dinner/lunch/inhaled/talked on the phone, you need dessert. NOW. YESTERDAY."<br />
It probably doesn't help that all of my favorite foods involve carbs and sugar <b>(are those the same thing?)</b>.<br />
<br />
I just want to go ahead and thank everyone for making this rant possible and letting me get it off of my chest. I got all fired up about it when I was reading an article about "simple" ways to lose weight. I don't know why I read it, I hate those things. One of the first things they always say is "Cut out cokes and going out to eat and you'll drop 2 sizes in no time flat!" Okay seriously, what about those of us who don't go out to eat that often or haven't drunk<b> (drank? drinked? drunken?)</b> an entire coke in YEARS? Literally years. Sometimes I have a sip of Mike's Dr. Pepper, but I just never drink cokes <b>(for those of you not from Texas, cokes in this sense refers to all carbonated beverages, as well it should)</b>. The carbonation makes me feel fat and blah.<br />
I think the people who write these "simple" ways to lose weight articles also write the "simple" ways to save money articles.<br />
Again, one of the first things is always "Stop going out to eat" or "Stop using a credit card." I DON'T DO EITHER OF THOSE THINGS!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!<br />
<b>(this is the part where I go running out the door, screaming)</b><br />
<br />
<b>(this is the part where I walk back through the door, looking slightly more subdued. But only slightly)</b><br />
I guess I'm gonna have to do what I always do, eventually, in every kick-in-the-pants situation:<br />
go cry to the Lord for mercy and strength and pray that my body will have more of a say than my mind does.<br />
<br />
In more informative news, did you know that egg roll wrappers are in the PRODUCE section?? Who knew?! I did not, which is why I spent the better part of 15 minutes walking up and down the "international food" aisle at the HEB and wondering where the heck I was going to find egg roll wrappers.<br />
Also they have to be refrigerated which makes sense, now that hindsight is 20/20. They ARE made with eggs after all. So is it like raw eggs? Is that why they're refrigerated? Clearly, I have much to learn when it comes to making my own Asian food.<br />
I can't begin to tell you how excited Mike was to see egg roll wrappers in the fridge. It was ALMOST like Christmas.<br />
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p.s. Can we please not forget that this happened nearly a year ago <b>(on Sunday)</b>?<br />
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This was about the moment that I started to cry. YES I CRIED. </div>
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Have you not learned yet that I am an emotional basket case <b>(I blame my mother, not for making me an emotional basket case, but...well she cries so I cry. You know?)</b>? And that I am in love with Kate the Great??</div>
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Also, it was like 3 o'clock in the morning on this side of the pond! I was sleepy and elated and hungry! </div>
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HUNGRY!</div>
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p.s. again. In all seriousness, I have two dear friends, Aundrea and Paul, who would love very much to be having a child in their life. If you know of anyone who is expecting and considering adoption, please pass on the info for Aundrea and Paul's blog. You can find it <a href="http://apeekattheparkers.blogspot.com/"><b>HERE</b></a>. Or their LDS Family Services profile <a href="https://itsaboutlove.org/ial/profiles/25384937/ourMessage.jsf" style="font-weight: bold;">HERE</a>.<br />
These two would be amazing, and I mean AMAZING, parents.Sandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438319017572703156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7476697964438282521.post-60948529082778277752012-04-25T11:04:00.002-05:002012-04-25T11:20:28.753-05:00How I (And The Taliban And/Or Al Qaeda) Have Something In Common With A LionI have a billion things running through my head today and I could blog about all of them.<br />
But there is such a jumble. And I keep coming back around to what I fell asleep thinking about and what I woke up thinking about.<br />
Mike's cousin is in Afghanistan right now and we found out yesterday his humvee got hit a few days ago. He survived <b>(although we don't know what condition he's in, I'm praying constantly that it's a good one)</b>, but the guy sitting next to him didn't. It had Mike pretty shook up last night.<br />
For some bizarre reason this hasn't phased me concerning Mike's upcoming deployment. <b>(Maybe I'm crazy or maybe I've just accepted the fact that Mike is going in the direction the Lord wants him to go, so having faith in the plan is my only option.)</b><br />
<br />
Let's talk about cowards.<br />
<br />
I was in the fifth grade when I had my first crush. I can remember his first name but not his last. I can also remember that as we went through the rest of school, he became an ugly jock. I'm just being honest here.<br />
I had numerous other crushes throughout school, but I never EVER told anyone about them. I was so terrified of what would happen if the person I liked actually found out that I liked them. And I was terrified of what other people would think of me liking whoever I liked<b> (I like to think I've come along way, since then, in terms of caring about what other people think of me...) </b><br />
So I was a coward about boys.<br />
<br />
I'm also a coward about high things. Roller coasters, those I love <b>(although since my neck has decided to crap out on me, those are a thing of the past...)</b>. Flying in airplanes, it's awesome and convenient.<br />
Standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon...nope. No thank you. Looking down from a window in a tall building makes my legs go all jelly-like.<br />
Oh gosh, one time I was at my friend Donny's house, with Darius and Chelsea Rose. We were spending a leisurely afternoon hanging out and swimming, when Darius<b> (or Donny) (or BOTH...)</b> got the splendid idea of going upstairs to Donny's sister's room, climbing through the window, and jumping off of the roof into the pool. Somehow Chelsea and I also thought this was a good idea, so we went for it. Donny and Darius jumped off immediately. Chelsea and I took about 20 minutes. 20 minutes of walking to the edge and walking back to the window<b> (which Donny had made sure to close in such a way that the only way off the roof was by air)</b> and back and forth. I think Darius and Donny were about ready to just go inside and leave us up there when Chelsea finally went for it. Unfortunately for her, a wasp decided to sting her just as she hit the edge of the roof, and she did this weird hop thing right before her big jump, which meant less power went into her big jump, and at that moment my stomach went into my feet because I was pretty sure my best friend was about to break something on the sidewalk <b>(I can still see it happening in my mind and it still makes me shudder)</b>. She made it into the pool though, just barely <b>(and then had meat tenderizer applied to the sting, because that's what you do in a pinch)</b>, and so I took off and jumped after her. It was fun, after the fact, but something I won't be repeating ever.<br />
Again, coward about high things over here.<br />
<br />
And then I'm a coward about discussing politics. Don't get me wrong, I have opinions. Strong ones. Ones that you definitely agree with and ones that I know you definitely don't agree with. Like this upcoming presidential election. But I'm not going there. I value my friendships enough that I don't want to think ill of my friends because they tried to tell me I was wrong :)<br />
I'm a coward about politics because while I know some things, I don't know all things <b>(like anyone does?)</b> and I clam up so as not to look stupid or be called stupid in a round about way. It is for these reasons that I only discuss politics with Aleece. Because we disagree on a lot of things <b>(not just politics; things like Sybill's choice of husband on "Downton Abbey"...coward commie...)</b> but we agree on a lot of things too and whether it's one or the other, it's a great, friendly discussion where neither of us leaves feeling like killing the other.<br />
I'm digressing here.<br />
<br />
So Mike was shook up last night. I assumed it was mostly concern for his cousin and partly concern for the fact that he is about to go into a combat zone as well <b>(and he IS concerned for his cousin, we're anxious to get more info on how he's doing)</b>. But he told me that what was really bothering him was that two good men died in that humvee because a group of people aren't man enough to fight face to face. They hide their attacks, in the form of IEDs, so that the enemy <b>(that's us) </b>gets hurt, but they are as far away as possible. They escape any chance of pain.<br />
<br />
I would jump off of a roof, discussing politics with every boy I ever had a crush on, if it meant serving my country or my family. I would get over all of my fears if it would serve what I believe to be a worthy cause.<br />
<br />
What they do over there, though, that's just cowardly.<br />
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<b>(p.s. On a completely different note! Christmas is 8 months from today. Let's give thanks we live in a country with ridiculous amounts of Christmas trees and candy.)</b>Sandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438319017572703156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7476697964438282521.post-74756171358295410652012-04-24T14:15:00.001-05:002012-04-24T14:16:19.933-05:00Please Forgive MeI left the best picture off of my bluebonnet post.<br />
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Look, his paws were soaking wet from running around everywhere. Okay?</div>
<br />Sandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438319017572703156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7476697964438282521.post-79842775810171518202012-04-23T11:14:00.001-05:002012-04-23T11:16:01.610-05:00HistoryWell that was a weekend!<br />
<br />
On Thursday, Mike and I skipped out of life and work early, packed up the Petey Pie and the car and headed up to my mom's house. My grandparents are visiting and I hadn't seen them since I got married <b>(that was over 4 years ago)</b> and also Grandma has been sewing 2 dresses for me <b>(they're AWESOME)</b>, so it was necessary to visit.<br />
Friday morning I was sitting at the table eating something, chatting with Grandpa and Grandma, and somehow Switzerland came up? I don't remember, but it turns out one of my great grandparents was born there which was completely new news to me. I thought it was all Germans and British people on my mom's side.<br />
<br />
I like learning about my family's history. I like learning about history in general. I don't think that's properly conveyed on here, but <b>(when I'm actually taking classes...)</b> it's my major in school. My dream job would be for someone to pay me to study World War II. I understand that that is not a realistic job, so I'm content to read over <b>(and over and over and over) </b>my books about it. A whole chunk of my bookshelves is devoted to historical books, most of them being WWII related. Someone complimented Mike on his selection of history books one time and he said "Those aren't mine, those belong to HER."<br />
It's just fascinating, and if we don't study it <b>(history, in general)</b> and learn from it, then mistakes get made all over again.<br />
But also wasn't going off to war more noble back then?<br />
<br />
I'm digressing here.<br />
<br />
I like learning about my family's history. I learned, this weekend, that my grandpa had a pet lamb that was treated more like the family dog. His dad brought it home for him to take care of. He was allowed to bring it in the house and it even slept with him. And then, please go get your Kleenex because this is my least favorite part of the story of Grandpa and the Lamb, while he was at school one day, the lamb was sold to be butchered. And Grandpa didn't even get the money! After he finished the story he said "You love Pete, well that's how I loved that lamb."<br />
Seriously. SERIOUSLY. I know. Poor Grandpa.<br />
This is as bad as the time my dad told me he saw his dog Duke get hit by a car and die.<br />
UGH.<br />
Can I please hug all of these animals in the next life??<br />
<br />
Speaking of family members and animals, I had a great uncle who stole a bear cub from Yellowstone Park. True story. He put it in the trunk of his car.<br />
He also tried to bring a horse into the house.<br />
And he ran away from a hospital in nothing but his gown.<br />
I'm pretty sure he drank a lot...<br />
<br />
I have yet to do anything so entertaining in my life. Although I saw Donny Osmond at a gas station once.<br />
There WAS this one time my brother was on Jerry Springer though. That is a story for another time. <br />
<br />
My family, both sides of it, is endlessly entertaining to me. I was admiring some old, family pictures at my friend's house and she was telling me all of these sordid and sad and wonderful stories about the people in them, and it really made me want to find pictures of my ancestors and learn stories about them.<br />
Because I don't think I've paid them enough attention.<br />
And there's got to be a lot more fun and tragedy going on back there in time.<br />
Except that was about a month ago, so I should really jump on that. Right?<br />
<br />
<br />
Anyways, what's up with "Vampire Diaries?" Look, I only wanted to watch the first episode, on Netflix, just to see if it's interesting. Fast forward to me choosing to watch it instead of getting sleep.<br />
And Mike teases me about it.<br />
"Are you going to watch your teenage vampire show?" he says in a mocking voice.<br />
BUT! the other night, I was watching it <b>(duh) </b>and Mike went to the gym and when he came back from the gym I was still watching it <b>(duh)</b>, and he said "So...what's going on now?" in a nonchalant voice, because HE wanted to be caught up on it but not sound like he wanted to be caught up on it.<br />
Look, I can quit anytime I want. I just don't want to. And also, I like Damon more than Stefan because he is funny and much more entertaining. <br />
<br />
The best thing I've discovered today was the title of one of those smutty, grocery store romance books at...the grocery store.<br />
It was called "His Favorite Nurse."<br />
WHAT? If that doesn't seep romance, seduction, and desire, I don't know what does.<br />
Now, I didn't pick up the book to read the back and see what it was about, but I drew my own conclusions and here's the plot of that book according to me:<br />
He was injured in a mining accident, and he's paralyzed from the waist down, but that doesn't stop him from being perfectly muscular all over. And he has nurses come in to help him on a daily basis. Except, he has a favorite one. And because of her tender loving care and her smoking hot body, he's able to walk again and also have his way with her.<br />
Isn't that a sweet story?Sandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438319017572703156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7476697964438282521.post-10839768868781023302012-04-19T12:50:00.000-05:002012-04-19T12:50:56.761-05:00Wind Swept LovelinessAbout a month ago, the women in my church got together and did a service auction. A service auction is where you offer a service <b>(food, personal training, make-up tutorial, babysitting, etc.)</b> and people get to bid on them with fake money. Now, you're wondering how much fake money everyone gets. I can feel it. Well I will tell you.<br />
At the beginning of the auction, we all filled out a questionnaire about service or church related things we might have done recently. We got points for each one that we had done and that equaled our dineros para <b>(por? para? this is far from being correct in Spanish anyways)</b> the evening.<br />
<br />
One of the very first items that was up for bid, was someone painting a landscape. I kept my hand up the whole time until I divided and conquered and I won that painting dang it. I love paintings! After I was declared highest bidder, the painter pulled me aside and told me to just email her a picture of some place I'd visited or a favorite landscape.<br />
My brain's first thought was "Giant's Causeway." Really, that was my brain's only thought on the matter.<br />
<br />
So, I present to you, my painting. Which I just got yesterday.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm in love with it. She captured it quite splendidly. Especially the basalt columns.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And in case you were wondering, I too brought service to the auction. I baked loaves of challah for my bishop's family. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">HOLLA!!</div>Sandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438319017572703156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7476697964438282521.post-9648349242059510012012-04-18T15:08:00.002-05:002012-04-20T13:38:39.241-05:00Gadding About Through Flowers And Combat ZonesHere they are.<br />
As promised.<br />
<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is when Pete got in trouble for running over to that guy and bothering him.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My favorite part about the picture above, is that there was no planning involved.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sometimes you love someone so much that a regular smile just doesn't suffice.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He just doesn't humor me like he used to...</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here it is. The last scene of "Jurassic Park." </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As Pete lurks patiently in the back.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Favorite!</div><br />
<br />
<br />
So, life changing type news.<br />
<br />
Did you think I was pregnant? I'm not. I'm planning a musical production to announce that to the world.<br />
<br />
It would appear that I will be earning some stripes as an Army wife. I don't feel like I've earned ANY at this point. It's been a breeze thus far. However, when the tall army man I'm married to goes gallivanting off to somewhere before the year is up, it will probably feel more like a blustery wind than a breeze.<br />
The big D word is happening. Mike's going on his first <b>(and only? please let it be the only...)</b> deployment.<br />
While we're here, let's go ahead and give it up for the families that have sent soldiers/sailors <b>(seamen...tee hee)</b>/marines/etc. off on repeated deployments. Kudos people, you've got great strength.<br />
It's kind of a good and exciting thing actually. And we've been kind of praying for it actually. And sometimes what you want and what the Lord wants for you are kind of the same thing actually.<br />
Although once I heard that he was approved and going, my stomach dropped and I thought "What have I done?!?"<br />
<br />
There's no official date set yet. Up until a couple of months ago<b> (before he even volunteered for this deployment)</b> I was dead set on staying rooted in this here apartment until he came home and life went on again. But then the Spirit said to me one day, "If Mike leaves for a long time again, you should go back home." So I am. I'm leaving Austin for a year, and moving back in with my mama.<br />
Hello Tyler, Texas.<br />
This is actually very exciting to me as my mom is not a psychotic woman and living with her is quite pleasant. She also encourages my desire to find endless kinds of recipes, so there's going to be a lot of good food experimenting going on. And lots of money saving. LOTS. Tender mercy of the Lord.<br />
<br />
So, as of right now, I'm good. I've never had pregnant brain, but I'm learning that pre-deployment brain is kind of like it. It's in my mind all of the time so I've found myself zoning out on a lot of things recently and being a flake more often than is normal for me. Actually it didn't really register in my brain until the other day when I was talking to Maggie's parents about it, and I told them when it was and Annette said "Whoa!" And I thought "Yeah....There's not a lot of time to get things done!" There's a lot to be taken care of between now and then.<br />
<br />
Honestly, my biggest concern, at the moment, is that leaving for the deployment doesn't interfere with my viewing of the Olympics...<br />
I don't know if this makes me shallow or if it means I'm just being calm about the whole deployment ordeal. Or if I'm suppressing my freaking out until the last minute.<br />
<br />
Let's take a poll.<br />
Is Sandi being:<br />
A)Shallow<br />
B)Calm<br />
C)Awesome<br />
D)Ridiculous<br />
E)All of the above<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">100 DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYS!!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ZDLQ6YSo2cc7NtFRVLrkpz5vTcrHvoprnTphZmAiXB_bY4k5aD9vOIAI1bMyGx2o11aVtytQv94lzNDkS1mP6Ki0rjog3zfyG_Z4TiiDgME4FvwavjSuIxoIuoGYbvuq44919YNiOMI/s1600/600px-All_London_2012_logos.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="86" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ZDLQ6YSo2cc7NtFRVLrkpz5vTcrHvoprnTphZmAiXB_bY4k5aD9vOIAI1bMyGx2o11aVtytQv94lzNDkS1mP6Ki0rjog3zfyG_Z4TiiDgME4FvwavjSuIxoIuoGYbvuq44919YNiOMI/s400/600px-All_London_2012_logos.svg.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is very exciting. I grew up watching the Olympics religiously and I haven't missed any of it ever. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One time I left a mostly uneaten meal at a restaurant and sped home so I wouldn't miss Michael Phelps swim in a final <b>(the swimming is the BEST PART. Also beach volleyball)</b>. I'm only slightly insane.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Update: After some kind guidance from a dear friend who has been a deployment wife, what seems like, a million times over, I've re-written information that I put in about Mike's deployment. I'm still new to all of this and I don't need the government banging down my door because I violated <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opsec">OPSEC</a> :) </div>Sandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438319017572703156noreply@blogger.com