Noodley Goodness

My husband first lived in China before we had ever met. He lived in Northern China, Xi'an (pronounced She-On) .



It is the town that is home to the terracotta warriors. 



In northern China, they tend to live more on noodle dishes than rice dishes. How is that for an interesting fact for you? There was a little noodle shop in his neighborhood, that he often frequented with his roommates. Before we ever moved to China together, all I ever heard about were those damn noodles. Finally, we were able to make the trip to Xi'an together.. along with Mario, Crystal and our friend Randall. I was excited to finally see what all the hub-bub was about.


The whole gang, minus Brandon (someone had to take the picture!) - Randall, Yours Truly, Crystal, Mario.

The noodle shop was really just a tiny little whole in the wall place, with a giant wok on top of a large open flame - boiling water for noodles.


taken by Mario


taken by Mario

The restaurant was not in the Muslim Quarter, but was owned by a Hui family. Like most noodle restaurants in China, the noodles were handmade.

Almost a year after my first taste of the noodles, Brandon and I went to Xi'an again. We, of course, headed to the Muslim noodles shop asap only to find that it, along with almost an entire block of buildings, had been leveled.

Out of curiosity, we ran across the street to a shabby dry cleaning place and asked the owner if he knew if the restaurant had moved.... it had. Score! He jotted down the directions and off we were. We hiked around Xi'an for the better part of an hour before finally stumbling across the new home for those glorious Xi'an Muslim noodles.

The new establishment was much more Western friendly...

They were still run by the same family and were still hand making their noodles.

I don't know if you can tell, and you may already be familiar with this, but the man in that picture is taking the long strands of dough and pulling, swinging, and thwaping it around in the air and on the table. This is actually a common site among the streets and restaurants in Northern China. Oh, and do you see that basket of green stuff? Coriander .. or Cilantro. Whatever you want to call it.

The noodle ingredients were pretty basic: noodles, cauliflower, potato, fried tofu, black fungus and carrots. Always with cilantro on the top! Mmmm.


Please excuse the blurriness.

The flavor comes from all of the spices. I'm sure there is something in the broth they used to cook the vegetables in, but the majority of the spice comes from what you add after your helping has been dished.







I've slowly learned how to recreate this dish for my husband. Of course, I have no noodle-thwapping skills, so I just make egg noodles and cut the strips out. I have a pasta maker, but it doesn't make them as thick as they should be.

I made this dish the other night. I like to think it is one of the reasons he still keeps me around.

Getting My Noodle-Groove on, in our hobbit-sized kitchen in China, 2005

----

After searching through my old Chinese photos, I came across some lameo ones I took with a point and shoot, because I oh-so-desperately wanted engagement picture. And OMG look at my hair! LOVE it. Why can't it be like that now? (insert whiny 4 year old voice, foot stomp and door slam here)


Spring 2005

Operation Fix Hair Every Day

...starts Monday.

All week, I've worn nothing but ponytails. Now, I know ponytails can look cute - if you style them, fluff them, whatever. I haven't been doing that. I've just been pulling my hair back and securing it with a hair tie ... usually after only partially drying it. No hairspray. No fun braids. Just a boring ponytail.

I'm trying to grow my bangs out, and my hair out. But man has this been a long process. Apparently, not cutting your hair from October to August is not a good idea. Just when you think you have the length thing happening... wham. You loose 2-3" in split ends at your first trim. As I sift through almost a year's worth of dail me pictures on my flickr site, I start to get frustrated with the fact my hair hasn't gotten much longer.

Wait... I lied. I just found this picture, taken on November 9, 2007...

BTW, Today, I'm actually wearing this same shirt. Boy do I need help.

Today my hair is more like ...

photo courtesy of the lovely Ashley Forrette

So maybe it has grown out a bit ... I still want more!

And since it is obvious how hot Ashley makes me look I look when I fix my hair, I have decided that next week will be Operation Fix My Hair Every Day week. I wonder if I can do it.

Fresh Air

(or, The One Where I Do Not Mention the Election)

A few pictures from a trip to Mammoth Lakes, CA we took a little while back. We lived there in 2005-2006 and I must say, it was so nice to go back. Seeing as we are only three hours away, we really should make it down there more often.

P.S. This little 5-mile jaunt just wore out my dogs!

You might not notice it, but there is a waterfall in the background. Finny was so interested in the noise, he propped his little paws up and kept looking at it, like a real life tourist! Then, I called his name and click click!

I was looking back through my older pictures from another time walking this same trail, and I noticed that I took the same freaking Devil's Postpile picture and that Brandon was wearing the same shirt. I really need to spend some time in the "wilderness" taking pictures. Apparently, I lack creativity there...

(From October 2005)

P.S.

I quit NaBloPoMo. I have way too much back log ... photos to edit and get out to clients and the downtime with the hubs and friends that is much needed and too far down on my schedule. So, I'm not making any promises.

Happy Election Day.

Silly Teenage Girl, Stalking is for Crazies

I'm jumping out of the crazy closet to share a few of the less respectable details of my boy-crazy youth with you. After talking to Colleen, I realized I might not be completely alone in these periods of craziness. Maybe you've done some equally obnoxious things as well? God I hope so... or else you are really going to think I'm a nut job after this post.

I've done some crazy things to get guys' attentions or "make them like me". Looking back, most of these things should have just made these guys run and file a police report.

My sophomore year in high school, I was "going out with" this guy named Adam. All "going out with" really meant was that we went to football games together and walked around the halls holding hands before class. Adam had a strict wardrobe schedule. He would wear the same shirt on the same day of each week. It didn't take long to figure this out. When I did, I got the BRIGHT idea to accidentally show up to school one day wearing semi-matching outfits. I planned it out perfectly. I knew he was going to show up wearing a blue button down shirt, much like this one...



untucked with jeans, and this pair of doc martens....



A little before I decided to do all of this matchy-matchy ... I actually ended up buying that exact same pair of doc martens with my hard-earned Mc Donald's cash.

So I wore my matching Doc's and my female-version of the dress shirt .. in the same shade of blue, except fitted and with white cuffs folded back.

I think it is safe to say that poor Adam refused to be seen next to me that day, and shortly there after ... our relationship was over and he left me for some lanky cheerleader who, no doubt, didn't try to show up to school accidentally wearing matchy-matchy outfits on purpose.

Another great moment in my life, also happened during those McDonald's years. I was a junior/senior in high school and had the hots for my crew manager who was just a few years older than I was. Let me give you a visual of what I looked like:



5'11", about 110 pounds, geeky hair, and braces. Haw-awt, let me tell you! Now imagine me in a McDonald's uniform... through the eyes of very mature, 20 year old guy.

I had it all worked out so that I would work the early morning, opening shift on Sundays (think, 5am) every week. I only did this because He was also working that shift. I really enjoyed watching him bend over to pick up the stack of newspapers sitting outside the locked doors before we went inside to start the day - just him, myself, and a cook. Somehow, some part of my crazy brain thought that in that hour before we opened, while setting up fryers, counting register drawers and carrying boxes of syrup up the stairs, he'd see just how truly awesome I was, despite my awkward, gangley limbs and metal-mouth.

In my deranged attempts to keep this poor guy in my sights, I even drove by his house on Friday and Saturday nights. I wanted to see if his car was there, or if he'd left for the evening. I don't know what I was going to do with that information ... I just got in the habit of checking on him.

But wait, I get crazier.

His name was Kenny, and so I purchased a South Park, Kenny doll...

which I left in the backseat of my car .. which was in clear view in the parking lot when I parked next to Real Life Kenny. None of my friends really knew why I kept this doll in my backseat, nor did my Mom. Again, I'm not EXACTLY sure what the purpose of that was... but who said crazy made sense?

There was also that one time I wrote a poem for Kenny. I poured my little heart out on paper and proudly showed it off to a co-worker, who, of course, shared it with my crush. I was embarrassed at first, but later upset that the poem failed to change his mind.

A few times, Kenny had to drive me home after our shift. This was earlier on... before I had my own wheels. There I'd sit, in the passenger seat of his Ford ZX2 (which later became my "dream car" and I almost purchased one a few years down the road.. because of my obsession with this guy), thinking I was just the coolest thing around. He'd turn on the CD player and Rob Zombie would be playing. I don't think I'd ever heard Rob Zombie before ... but before I knew it, I owne a Rob Zombie CD and was memorizing all of the words.

Later, I found myself driving through the drive-thru on my days off, while Kenny was working. I'd pull up to the speaker with Rob Zombie blaring, hoping to catch his attention through his headset. When I pulled up to the window, surely word would spread that it was someone everyone knew in the drive-thru, and people would come to the window to say hello... see me in civilian clothes, and then see the Kenny doll in my back seat.. my own little ode to Real Life Kenny.

Looking back, it is pretty freaking obvious I had a huge crush. But I swear, I thought I was being subtle.

Funny, now that I think about it, I was still slightly crazy when I was trying to get my husband's attention too. Hmmm.
-----------

Please tell me I'm not the only one that was this crazy in my teen years ....

The Big "D", and I Don't Mean Dallas

We had just had a wonderful summer vacation visiting family in Missouri when our parents offered my brother and me the chance to hang out for a few more weeks, while they returned to work in Texas. And so, we would finish out our summer vacation snapping and canning green beans, munching on sweet corn, and romping around on a few acres in the country. My brother and I couldn't have been happier.

One night during that extended vacation, my aunt was on the phone with mom for what seemed like an unusually long time. I didn't hear much of what they were saying, but I did here my aunt try and reassure my mom by saying, "Life is too short." Her tone was serious enough for me to get a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach, yet ambiguous enough for me to not know if I should be worried.

Soon, our parents drove back to pick us up. The day we left, I remember looking out the patio window and seeing the adults gathered around in circle, have a serious discussion. Then, I saw the tears. The women were crying and the men were somber looking. The feeling in the pit of my stomach from earlier that summer came back. Before I knew it, we were saying goodbye to the family members we had grown so close to that summer. Family members we had previously only seen for a few days at a time, once a year. While I was sad to say goodbye, I wasn't expecting the sobbing and bear hugs that we were in receipt of those last few moments.

The long journey home was unusually quiet, but otherwise normal. I remember listening to the radio in the back seat of the van, Tim McGraw's Don't Take the Girl was playing and it was the first time I had cried while listening to a song. Little did I know, I would later cry at any song, commercial or movie that had even one iota of emotion in it... just like my older, female family members.

We returned home early enough for me to be able to run upstairs and call my BFF - whom I'd just spent an incredible amount of time away from .. the first time in our almost 6 years as friends. I couldn't wait to tell her all about my summer in the country - about the stack of Playboys my brother and I discovered in the basement. Not five minutes into the conversation, my little brother barged into my room and, in the most annoying way possible, informed me that our parents wanted to talk to us downstairs.

Ugh. I couldn't understand WHAT was so important. We hadn't been home for fifteen minutes, and already we were in trouble?

Downstairs, we sat around our green couch, and watermelon tapestry chair. Completely clueless to the news we were about to be dealt... news that would forever change our lives as we knew it.

I don't remember who said what first, but I remember they didn't dilly-dally. They cut straight to the point, and told us they were getting a divorce. While we were in Missouri, they had taken their time alone to go to counseling and see if they could work things out. Things didn't get worked out. Dad was taking the dogs, the van and the organ. Mom was taking us and the car. They were selling the house. Dad would get an apartment in Texas. Mom, my brother and I would move to Missouri to be closer to both her family and my dad's.

After the conversation, I wanted nothing to do with either of them. All I wanted to do, was go upstairs, call my best friend, and pretend like the last hour hadn't happened. Like my heart hadn't just broken. But that couldn't happen. I couldn't forget about this.

My parents returned to work the next day, and being the latch key children that we were... we woke up to an empty house. Just my brother and myself. I plopped down on the sofa to turn the TV on, and glanced at the coffee table in front of me. There was a pictures of our "family" .. happily posed in a park, taken around a year prior. I was angry at that happy image, that facade. I slammed the picture face down and ran up to my room crying.

The rest of the summer and the start of that school year are a blur. My next memory is of our move to Kansas City - mom and I in the car, my little brother and my dad in the U-Haul. My father helped us move in, then turned back around drove back to Texas.

That was the end of my happy family.



Here is where invite you to join me... did your parents divorce? When/How did they tell you? Leave out the "why" details ... but I challenge you to dig up those memories and put them into words... or link to the post where you already have. I don't want be alone here. ;)

P.S.
Thankfully, I've been lucky enough to not have to experience divorce again. My mom has been happily married for 8 years now, and my father for 11.

A Post About Nothing

Ooooh, bullet points, I love you.

• I have another wedding this weekend. This time I'm photographing this lovely couple for their wedding in Genoa. Should be fun.
  
• I finally got all of my pictures edited from the last wedding, and now I want to reedit them. Heh.
  
• I'm anxious for Sunday... hopefully on Sunday, I wont be too anxious to edit all those photos just yet.
  
• Will my craziness ever end? I used to have a relatively free schedule all of the time. I had loads of time to sit around on my butt and watch movies, but now, now I feel like every weekend it is something.. and then we spend the rest of the week catching up. It gets tiring after a while.
  
• I'm really not as bitter as my last post makes me out to be. My actually feelings towards the holidays in general are more, "eh, whatever". I just elaborated on that a wee bit.
• Lately, I haven't been able to get enough smooshy time with my puppies... or cuddle time with my husband - being snotty-nosed does that to you. Hopefully, life will settle down in the next few weeks.
  
• Did I mention I feel like I'm running around like a crazy person?
• I'm dying to get out and take pictures I want to take. Does that make sense? I could really use a drive around the Carson Valley, looking at foliage. Maybe a walk around Carson City or Genoa where I'll be on Saturday. One day .....
  

It's a Wonderful Day in the Neighborhood

(minus all the recent graffiti, what is up with that?)

A big ol' tumbleweed on the trail

The boys, looking a tad bit frightened.










This trail has been mentioned here, here , here and here

PS... We had non-destructive day yesterday!

Roller Derby

This evening, I begged my sweet hubby to head (back) downtown with me (but really, it is 2 minutes away) so that I could watch my first roller derby ... match? Game? Event? ... What do you call it? It was Reno's own, Battle Born Derby Demons v. Lava City Roller Dolls from Oregon.

Um, can I just say these girls kick ass!? OMG, I was left with a yearning to skate, push girls aside, fly through the air, and basically just be as cool as they are. But, seeing as I don't think I know how to roller skate and the idea of falling on my knees, getting elbowed or breaking some teeth kind of scares the crappola out of me.... I'll stick to photography. 

After tonight, I developed a whole new sense of respect for sport photographers. So different from weddings! Yowzers. I still managed to have fun taking some shots... 

Today

Currently, I'm enjoying this...

While doing this... 

Before heading out with this bad boy.... 

To do some of this.... 

 

Around here.... 

Picture from RealDivasRide.com 

Hope you have a fabulous Saturday as well. 

Exhausted. Pooped. Beat.

I had a busy weekend, and as it is winding down, I find myself thinking ... where did it go?

I haven't even touched the wedding pictures yet, but here are a few from today's family session in San Francisco I've managed to find time to play around with. I couldn't go to sleep with out posting something...

Ribtacular!

Attended the 20th Annual Rib Cook Off in Sparks this evening. It was actually the first time Brandon and I have been able to go in our three summers here! Although we had some mighty fine ribs, I was sad there weren't any stalls from Kansas City - even though Kansas City Barbecue Society was a sponsor in this whole shindig. I also managed to find sun tea, but no sweet tea. Damn it ya'll ... don't you know if there is going to be a BBQ Rib contest there needs to be a participant from Kansas City making some kick-ass KC style BBQ ..... and there needs to be some sweet tea. Sheesh Nevada... get it right.*

We got to see Joey Chestnut kick some serious tail in a rib eating contest ... that was pretty awesome. The dude at 9.8 lbs of rib meat in 12 minutes!

** all of these shots were taken using my Canon 50mm f/1.4**

We did some eating ourselves...













.. and a few other random pictures ...

*I could very well be wrong, and just happened to miss the Kansas City rib stall & sweet tea completely, but I'm fairly certain there wasn't anything like that there.

Is Summer Over Yet?

You may have noticed a trend with me this summer... excuse after excuse for why I'm not posting. Heck, Exposaroonie is even going through some rough times. We have plans for Exposaroonie, we just need some time to work on them. Back when it was just PhotoPie... I didn't feel the "obligation" to post the challenge like I do now. I don't want it to be an obligation. Unfortunately, I'm like that kid that doesn't like to be told what to do. Now that the challenge is more formal, I'm finding a harder time making the time to participate and create new challenges. I don't want to feel this way... so I need to come up with a way to make it more enjoyable for me. And truth be told, the lack of submissions (mine included) in the last challenge, didn't help with the lack of motivation. Don't read into this. I still love the idea of Exposaroonie... and I still want to keep at it, along with Ashley... I just need to get out of this summer funk. 

 

The summer has also brought activities, like camping, weekend trips out of town, and just being busy. I've also realized how miserable I was and fixed it by changing some things. It was a big deal for me, something I stressed about for quite some time. The stress was so much, I lost 9.2 lbs in two weeks... and I don't loose weight .. I maintain. I was a big ball of emotions... but I'm now over it, and in a better place. 

Now, I'm actually looking forward to getting up, showering and heading to work. I'm not counting down the days until the weekend... I'm actually counting down the hours until my next outfit change for work! I know it is only week one, but I'm enjoying this change. This also means that I'm happier at home. I'm enjoying hanging out with my husband and kicking back and just enjoying the olympics.

Jamie summed it all up quite well over here. Go read her post so I don't have to try and change her words into my own or get busted for plagiarizing ;) I swear she read my mind when she typed that. 

With that being said, regular scheduled programming will resume in the fall (for EmilyPie, that is). Until then, I'll still hit you with pictures here and there... but don't expect anything more than that. 

and because pictures of puppies make EVERYTHING better... 

You Have My In-Laws to Thank for This

Untitled from Emily Pie on Vimeo.

This funny little video was taken about 2.5 years ago. We were in Houston, to see my brother before he shipped out for Afghanistan. We stayed at Brandon's Dad's house and when I say I have NO problems kicking back and having fun with my in-laws, I mean it. This video is proof of that. Funny thing, when I watch this video, the only thought that goes through my head is, "Damn. I want long hair again!" ... I'm pretty sure a normal person's reaction would be more along the lines, "OMG What the hell was I doing!? There is no way this is going on the internet!"

A little story behind the "dance" I did in this video... my brother and I actually "choreographed" it together when we were younger. We also made one up for Tim McGraw's Indian Outlaw. And, when doing the dishes together, we have been known to sing a fabulous rendition of Can You Feel the Love Tonight from The Lion King .. complete with character conversation as an intro.
















Contrary to what the previous description may have led you to believe, my brother is now married to a gorgeous woman, with a beautiful son... and is currently deployed in Iraq.

This last one is of my brother and his wife.

Drawing a Line

I made my Twitter account private... thought I'd let you guys know. I also took it down from my blog. I don't know of everyone who reads my blog, so I don't post anything here that I wouldn't mind other people reading (lame, I know.). However, I've recently found myself ranting away on Twitter. Some things are just best left between me and those I've chosen to read it. 

So, don't take offense to my making my twitter account private. If you still want to read my twitters... as enthralling as I know you guys find them... create a twitter account, and follow me. 

http://twitter.com/emilypie 

Not Quite a Woman

Confesstion: I'm not a shopper. OK, so I am really  torn between hating it and loving it. I think I like the idea of shopping more so than the actual event itself. I will go several months with out buying something, anything,  other than food, coffee and booze. 

I can go half a year with out setting foot into a mall. Hell, I can go an Entire. Month. without going to Target. Even worse, I can go into to Target after said month, and leave with nothing. Nada. Zilch. 

My wardrobe consists of like, seven items I wear - a lot.  My shoe collection  is laughable.   I could list all of my wearable shoes on one hand. My tennis shoes were purchased in 2005. And one pair of shoes... I have had since 1998! For real. They actually just crapped out on me this evening. I was so bummed too. It means a shopping trip in the near future to replace them. 

Shopping isn't the only "girly" gene I lack. For my wedding, I didn't get a manicure or pedicure. Though there was that waxing incident ... 

My eyebrows.... I don't touch them. In high school I tried waxing them once or twice, but they always came out crooked and I could never bother with keeping them up. Plucking? Fuhgetaboutit. I think I plucked my eyebrows for the first time ever... oh a few months ago. But haven't touched the tweezers since. 

I haven't had a hair cut since October. Yikes. That is just unhealthy for my locks, I know. I get that. But I hate having to keep up with it! (Never mind the fact that I have the tendency to make irrational decisions after waiting for 30 minutes and flipping through crazy hairstyle book after crazy hairstyle book) My typical routine is to shower, blow-dry half of it (the top half) and then shove it into a pony tail. I do this about 90% of the time. 

Sometimes I rock the Oompah-Loompah look.

Last but not least, there is my make-up routine. It takes all of three minutes ... tops. It doesn't matter if I am going to the store or to a club, or if I am wearing only mascara and gloss (oh, I use Chapstick brand chap stick and not lip gloss, let alone lipstick), or a "full" face .. three minutes, tops! I also never reapply my make-up. Never. Not even after I cried my eyes out during our wedding ceremony ... you know... before our pictures. 

My Going Out look.... isn't very exciting, is it?

How I typically look.

I have just come to accept the fact that that stuff isn't for me.  And you know what? It is a good thing I am not that person, because if I were, I think my husband would hate me. 

I Can't Get No...

I had a craving for something other than my standard, leftover, grilled chicken and veggies for lunch today. I decided to hit up the drive-thru (shudder. I know) and grab me one of those tasty (looking) new Southern Style chicken sandwiches from McDonald's. I ordered and pulled ahead with my debit card out ready to be swiped. 

Nope. Sorry. Not going to happen. 

Their credit card machine was down, did I have any cash on me? Ha. In this day in age? I save my cash for tipping the bartender! So, I pulled out of line and headed home to let the dogs out. 

The craving stayed with me, and not be able to have it made it worse. So, I headed to the ATM to pull out $20 and back in the drive-thru line I went. This time, I ordered and had a crisp bill in hand to pay for my sustenance. The McDonald's employee and I exchanged goods. I drove to a shady spot and opened my sack, pulled out a (surprisingly light) box... only to find a box of chicken tenders. Not curiously non-chicken-like-nuggets.. but real, chicken tenders. Blah. Who wants that? 

That meant I had to get out of my car and head back inside and explain that my order was wrong. I finally got my southern style chicken sandwich and dashed for the car. I couldn't wait to devour it! 

Guess what? That sandwich wasn't very good. There's nothing on it but two pickles! Ugh. I think the fried-crispy-goodness gods must have been trying to warn me. I should have paid attention. 

Monking Around

Some of you remember the friend of my husband's who decided to become a Buddhist Monk in Thailand. Some of you have even asked how he's doing. So, I thought I'd give a little update...


But first....


My husband, Crystal's husband, the Buddhist Monk, and (as you all like to call him) Will Ferrel have all been BFFs since they were .. oh two or three. They all grew up in Bakersfield together, and most of them went to high school together. They were in boy scouts and play groups with each other. When college came, they all went their separate ways (from UCLA to Cornell).

Left to Right: Andrew (aka Will Ferrell), Mario (Crystal's hubby), Brandon (mine!), Sean (the now, Buddhist Monk). 

When Brandon and I first started dating and I learned of these friendships, I was a might bit intimidated. I had had boyfriends who worshiped their friends to the point that no girl ever stood a chance. Even before I got a chance to meet these guys, I knew right away that .. oh my gosh.. not only do they have an incredibly special friendship... they have healthy relationships with each other AND others. These guys are fabulous role models for what friendship should be.

Yesterday, we got some pictures in the mail from Sean's ordination ceremony. He also sent an email telling us that after the ceremony, they travelled to northern Thailand for a retreat. Here are his words telling about the trip back to the temple: 

On the last day of the one month program, we boarded another double-decker touring bus to return to Bangkok. Our driver was in a hurry, so he sped through the windy mountain turns dangerously, narrowly escaping cliffs that dropped hundreds of meters down into a river. But the last turn proved too twisty for our driver, so our bus fell off of the road and began to roll down the mountain. I thought we were done for. We all did. Fortunately, a big tree at the edge of the final precipice stopped our momentum. If the tree wasn't there, I would not be alive right now.

After a few days in the hospital, he's now back at the temple and we were able to talk to him last night.  He seems quite happy with his decision, and plans on remaining at the temple for a while. 

Here are a few pictures of the ordination ceremony... 

Now, I don't know if Monk's are allowed to blog, but Sean... if you are, I highly suggest you start! ... Congratulations! (Is that what one says to another after they are ordained?) 

Changes

Like I mentioned before, I was in a funk last week. The truth can come out now, I was a little stressed. I was actually in the process of interviewing for a job I really wanted.

Long story short... I got the job. Today, I gave my two weeks notice to my current job. It was something I had stressed out about all weekend.

Changing jobs is a good thing for me, for many reasons. Though it is always hard to leave something you are familiar and comfortable with and start a new job and have to learn all over again, to be familiar and comfortable. I am up for the task. 

....All of that being said, I've been sort of in and out for a while because that is all I have really been consumed with recently and I couldn't quite discuss it on my blog. I actually prefer not to discuss anything about work on my blog, but figured this was benign enough yet still allowed for you to get a glimpse at what I've been doing lately. 

I start the new job in the middle of August... right after a short weekend camping trip with our friends! Woohoo. I really need the camping trip ... and I really need some s'mores. 

**PS... we aren't going camping until August 15-17.

The Cop-Out Post

I have a few blog ideas and even a few drafts right now. I've just been in a bit of a funk. I know I should write about my funk here, pour my soul out and all that jazz, but really, the funk is merely a bad case of womeness. If ya know what I mean. What I really want to do, go camping. Sarah is camping and in one of my favorite places ... Yosemite. Oh how I love this part of the country! Don't hate me, but I'd take Yosemite over Tahoe ANY DAY. OK.. only if you minus about several hundred thousand tourists! My camping trip will come one day... and that is keeping me focused! I can't wait to spend time with our long lost friends, our four crazie pups, and some tasty camp food! 

Until then, I'm going to steel a questionarie from another Sarah.... (both of whom I've actually had the pleasure of meeting in person... high five!)

Photographic Proof? Yeah, Iz Gots It! 

Taken by Sarah at Sensibly Sassy at Blogher 08

This is Sarah at Sarah Said's picture .. taken during Tacoroonie 08!

and now for my questions .... 

What will you improve on next week?

Next week, I'm going to fix my hair more often. Ha. That sounds so shallow, but hey, you and I both know I don't like to discuss things that are too personal on here... so you get fix my hair. Normally, I pull it back in a pony tail ... blah. Lately, I've rediscovered how little time it actually takes to straighten my hair if I wash it at night, go to bed with wet hair, and wake up with dry but poofy hair that takes 15 minutes to straighten!  

What was my biggest accomplishment this week?
Keeping the front of our house clean ALL week. All week folks! The dishes have been done, put away and the living room picked up! 

What have I done this week to get you closer to you life's goals?
My husband bought be new earbuds for my iPod, so I have a new incentive to head to the gym and ... I can't believe I'm mentioning this here............. RUN. 

        

    Crap. 

The cat is out of the bag now and I blame these two fearless females for their inspirational-shminspirational posts about just how good running makes them feel .. blah blah blah. 

What was hard for me this week and why?
I had PMS.... 'nuff said. 

What was my biggest waste of time this week?

Nothing really .... I actually enjoyed and benefitted from everything I did this week. If it would have been another week now ..... I may have had a different answer! 

What did I do that made me ashamed?
I acted like a funkity-funkity, woe-is-me person on Wednesday night at a friend's function. I wish I could take that back. 

What did I do this week that made me feel happy?

Last night,  after making dinner together and eating dinner together, my husband and I went and got dairy queen before plopping in front of the TV (yeah, I'm going to start running, Queen Couch Potato.... post to follow, post to follow....) and watching [insert swooning sigh] Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations on DVR. It was some much needed quality time. 

....tada! That was my week in a nutshell. How about yours?