Great weekend

This weekend was so great! We are so busy in February that it was nice to have some chill activities and time set aside to just hang out.

Friday started off right with employees from our office building management company handing me this:

I'm not a big Valentine's fan, but I'm not going to look the Oreo-cookie-dipped-in-chocolate gift horse in the mouth! In addition, my work discourages personal mail or deliveries being sent to our office, as I think our office administration staff is relatively small for the size of the company. So unlike other offices where there are a ton of flower deliveries, I didn't see any. It was kind of nice. I don't know that I've ever gotten flowers delivered to work - since I was hardly ever at the PwC office, it didn't really make sense.

After work, I ran home to get the condo ready for dinner. Andy and Michelle have a little baby due in about a month and we haven't hung out with them forever so we wanted to try and do dinner before little PBR makes her appearance! It was so fun just hanging out with them... Michelle brought her famous pudding recipe chocolate chip cookies and I made pulled pork, macaroni and cheese, and sweet potato fries. I overcooked the macaroni a bit, but it was allright. I would be interested to see if it would be better with way less cooking. It was such a nice, laidback evening.... just what I was looking for! They are fun people :)

I DID bug Hubs all week to get me "a flower" for Saturday. I don't dig big expensive arrangements, but it's nice to know that I deserve a trip to Club Jewel now and again. Plus we have all these nice vases that we never use :)

So this is what Mike got for me - some flowers and the World's Largest Balloon. I asked him why the balloon and he shrugged and said something to the effect that they were everywhere at Jewel and that he likes balloons. The thing cracked me up, it was so massive. He said that Milly howled at it all morning while I was gone at my Horizons for Youth group outing. By the time I got home, she had downgraded the "Beagle Threat Level" to Sunshine Yellow from Magenta, and was only growling at it now and again (as an aside... so much fun to shake a mylar balloon and watch the beagle run AWAY FAST).

I took a three hour nap, and then ran a few errands to gather the rest of the stuff for dinner. Once I got home, Mike and I went about putting together our fondue dinner. Fondue sounds fancy but it's so easy:

• Step one: Buy cheese in a box
• Step two: Take that cheese out of the box
• Step three Heat up that cheese
• Step four: Eat that cheese.

Similarly, the entree portion is easy too... you just pour the oil in the fondue pot, set it to go and then get to frying up dinner. I get even lazier on the dessert portion of the meal, buying meltable chocolate in an easy-mac-like cup and just dipping the strawberries, pound cake, and bananas in there.

After dinner, we watched Burn After Reading Mike thought it was hilarious, I thought it was funny with alot of Good Sheperd-ish moments.... like what is going on here? Brad Pitt was freaking funny in it! But the pic below basically depicts the evening, imagine the boy in the space between the beagle and the couch arm.... Milly was super cuddly and fun.

On Sunday I ran about a bazillion boring errands and tried to de-dog-hair the condo. Milly has been shedding a ton with the slightly warmer weather, so that has been fun! Oh and I finished the scarf! SCORE! It is super warm, I've already tried it out. I am rather proud of myself.

I have today off too, and already took Milly to the vet to get spayed today. We've been teasing her all week, telling her she's getting fixed and that means she must be broken. But despite the laughs I almost cried dropping the poor beagle off. She has no idea what is coming :( I'm doing lunch with my friend Andy and then heading up to see my friend Tracy and her little one Soraya. I'm sure a ton of Soraya pics will be uploaded to flickr soon! I am so excited to see that little baby - the last time I was there I had a cold and couldn't hold her!

Milly

Today Milly is getting f-i-x-ed. I am freaking out just a bit.... I feel so bad for her that I had to take away her rawhides and she doesn't get her cheesy treat for doing her morning business. Poor puppy!

My poor furbaby is having surgery today! I hope she does OK and they give her good pain meds ;)

Right now, she is growling at the balloon Mike got me for vday.... so hilarious. Nice little comic relief.

Updated: I just dropped her off and almost cried! SUCH a softie! And now I'm home and it's super quiet. What did I do with all this quiet before we had a dog?

Whew

The last template I used for this blog was awesome but I completely back-doored and ghetto-photoshopped a BUNCH of stuff and it was bothering me mightily. Hoo boy, it was bothering me. So I just had to change it!

One more BOCA thing

Here are the pictures from the BOCA event, forgot to include them in last post.

As an aside, is it possible to have reverse anorexia? You know how "they" (I have no idea who they ever is) say that anorexics look in the mirror and instead of super skinny person they actually see a fat person in the mirror? I look in the mirror and don't think I look too bad then see myself in pictures like this and think OMGWTFNEEDDIETandGYMNOW!!

Maybe I'm sucking it in when looking in the mirror?

BOCA spa night

On Tuesday I had the privilege of getting to attend an awesome spa night sponsored by the BOCA Balanced Living Website at Spa Soak. I first heard about the event on Linda's website, but she ended up going to the DC event. Then Miss Zoot wrote that she was going to be attending the Chicago event. I was so pumped! I've probably read her blog for almost 2 years, and she seems (from her website) to be so nice. Plus she's southern, I feel like I can relate a bit from my Southern Indiana roots!

I was excited to attend the event all day on Tuesday. First of all, I got to meet Miss Zoot and other ladies in the area who blog. Like I've said before, I wanted to go to Blogher a couple years ago when it was here in Chicago but was way too shy to go. It's funny... in a group that I know, or even around one person I know I am loud and outgoing. But in a group of all people I don't know - quiet people-watcher! So having an opportunity to meet other bloggers in a smaller settings seemed promising. Secondly, I was looking forward to some free spa services, food, and cocktails. That's the Grandpa Curley (my mom's dad) in me; I LOVE free stuff. Who doesn't?

I took the Blue Line up to Bucktown after work. As always, the city knew that someone I was hanging out with was in from out of town (Miss Zoot is from Huntsville, AL), and the crazies were out. A woman tried to put her foot in the El door just as it was closing to make it the last minute and ended up wiping out, falling on the platform, and thumping against the train doors. She screamed super loud, and everyone just acted like it didn't happen. Typical! And she was still laying there on the platform when the conductor throttled the train and screamed out of the station. The blue line, it is FAST! Also, it means business! :)

Once I got up to the Damen stop, I headed north on Milwaukee to Spa Soak. The Bucktown area has gotten super chi-chi in the past year or so, but that cosmopolitan vibe hasn't extended to Milwaukee north of North Avenue. It still seemed every bit as sketchy as I remembered it from living just west of there on Western and St. Paul a few years ago. Regardless of the surroundings the spa was super nice. They had a super cute and sophisticated little waiting area, all set up with some good-looking food. As per usual, I was the first person to arrive. I am nothing if not punctual! So I got a glass of bubbly (Cava) and sat down to observe the surroundings.

Hmmmm, let's see how this new camera works in low light.
Wait. This spa also sells.... stationery? Wha?

People started filtering in and and I started to meet and chat with some ladies. Miss Zoot was super nice, and I met Jessica, Jenn, Amy, Blagica and Veronica, among others. Everyone was so nice and friendly! I very much enjoyed meeting everyone and chatting - it seemed like everyone was so down to earth and laidback, with a vibe of knowing-each-other enough to be comfortable but not clique-y at all. It was so fun to meet these ladies! After some tasty boca burgers (with fresh basil aioli, YUM) and some lentil and feta salad, Miss Zoot, Jenn and I went with a Yoga/Pilates instructor Lindsay to learn some stress-relief techniques. I still need to email Lindsay for the details, but she was super sweet and taught us some very useful breathing, stretching, and centering techniques.

After meditating, I was ready for some spa services. First I hit up the massage area for a chair massage. The masseuse, Blake, was so great that I got his card. I've been trying to find a great masseuse in Chicago to no avail - the only halfway decent guy I've found TALKED THE WHOLE MASSAGE. Ugh, pet peeve... shut up already, Chatty McCathy.

After that I pretty much just stood around and chatted with the people I'd met and waited for a pedicure. By the time I finished the pedicure the event was over and everyone was pretty much dispersing. I had so much fun that the three hours whizzed right by! On the way out they gave me a couple gift bags - one for me and one for one of my readers!

Here is the loot (disclaimer, picture taken on Mike's "Man Chair" with point and shoot... so, not great!):

The gift bag includes a yoga mat with carrying bag, a reusable shopping bag (ah! so excited to finally score an Envirosax!), a day planner (this one is super cool, has monthly and daily calendars and task lists, all color coded... super handy), a relaxation CD, and a coupon for one free BOCA product.

I won't use the dayplanner in my bag because of my love affair with my iPhone, so an extra dayplanner is up for grabs as well.

So, dear internets (all 5 of you who read my blog), leave me a comment about what YOU do live a balanced life - anything from giving yourself some much-needed couch time to hitting up spinning class. Also let me know whether you want the whole shebang or just the dayplanner so I can divvy them up.

In addition, BOCA is having a contest for $5,000 at their Balanced Living website. All you have to do is write up to 250 words describing the change you would like to make in your life and how BOCA can help you achieve that balance (with the prize money). This contest ends on February 27th. Good luck if you enter!!

Bah Humbug

Chicago is the 3rd most miserable city in the U.S according to Forbes? I gotta say, they must not know the city that I know! That's poppycock.

Milly shots

Another shot of that crazy beagle hanging out on top of her crate. Looking more like Snoopy every day?

Last weekend we opened the blinds, which we almost never do. Our windows are huge and make us feel a bit like we're living in a fishbowl. They were broken for a couple months once and we really got to know the neighbors across the way. For instance, the girl in front of us likes to sit in front of her window and drink some brown liquor on the rocks, smoke, and talk on her cell phone. Another guy across the way likes to dance for his toddler. Super cute. Anyways, we're right on Lincoln Avenue so the people-watching is pretty good. Here are some pics of Milly taking up a new people-watching pasttime.

What? I'm being an angel! I'm not chewing on nothin', Mom!

Boy Birthday Gift

So Mike turns 30 next week, and has been evading the question of birthday gifts for some time. At first, I thought I should get him a pair of nice jeans. You know, Sevens or Citizens or the like. Something he would never think to buy himself. But every time I mentioned it the Boy was pretty amibivalent. So I figured maybe that wasn't the best idea? I mean, I like my expensive jeans but I'm pretty sure the $27 Old Navy special suits Mike just fine. Plus he looks good in them. So whatever!

My boss and I had lunch last week with a guy in another group at work who had a netbook on his desk. We exclaimed how cool it was, and he then proceeded to show us that he'd hacked it to put the Mac OS Leopard on it. DOUBLE cool. The boss became immediately intrigued with how to do this and set about trying to make a "Hackintosh"

Boss brings his in yesterday and it's super cool. 10 inches wide, weighs two pounds... because of the Mac OS the thing is SLICK. I mean, just really cool (This is the part where my IT geekiness comes out). I knew I wanted one and started thinking of all the things we could use it for: Mike's computer is slowly dying a very awful death, we could tote it around Italy in May to look up maps, train schedules, activities and such... a lightbulb went on in my head.... "I wonder if Mike would like this for his bday?"

Turns out he did! So now we have a Wind U100 en route. I am super hype to play with it (after I make the Boss hack it, of course), and am glad that we'll have a laptop to take with us without much fuss to Italy. It will come in super handy and was sooo much cheaper than replacing Mike's straining behemoth of a laptop with a full-on classic laptop.

In other recent Amazon purchases, my point and shoot camera arrived yesterday, so hopefully I will be able to include more pictures here soon. Looking at all the entries on this blog from 2007 inspired me to workout more (can't really work out LESS, Bob!) and to post more pics, as well as made me more hopeful for warm weather. The pics from the April-May time period that year are so sunny and look like SUCH good weather. Maybe there is some hope for Chicago and the winter ending at some point after all.

Our snoopy act-alike

This is kinda a bad picture but oh well. Here is Milly sitting on her crate. This is a new phenomenon, she totally didn't do this with her old crate! But regardless it is super cute and funny.
That dog is crazy!

St Patty's Day shirt

Very important... which shirt should I get for St Patty's day?

Option #1

Option #2

These shirts are from Palmer Cash. They have another one that is SWEET, and has two pieces of tofu with faces on them that says "Everyone was Tofu Fighting" but don't have it in my size! BOO. I'm gonna put a poll up on the right side of the blarg, vote! I need input!

Kirkwood

So we're at Kirkwood on Saturday, and there is this big group of guys sitting right behind us. One of the guys has on this tshirt that has a vintage style, and said "Indiana, 1976 champions, 32-0 on it" (I think...)

We kept talking about it, and so finally I pulled a pad of post-it's out of my purse and wrote a note on one that said "Where did you get your tshirt?" and asked his buddy to pass it down to him. I don't know, I though it was kind of funny.

Immediately is buddy responds "He is married!" We were all like "uh, OK. whatever."

The whole table becomes abuzz and they look like they're going through UN negotiations or something. They gather at the far end of the table and discuss animatedly.

Finally the guy comes down and goes "My wife got it for me. I don't know where."

I was cracking up. I mean, if the guy had said "My wife, I have a wife, not available, I have a wife!" it wouldn't have been more obvious that he wasn't available. We were cracking up... it was so funny.

So to Random Dude... get over yourself. We just really actually wanted to know where you got your shirt, we weren't hitting on you.

Weekend fun

This weekend looks like it will be alot of fun!

Tonight we're celebrating my friend Jaci's bday at Via Carducci La Sorella. Is it bad that I already have what I want to get picked out? Penne with fresh basil pesto and goat cheese. YUM.

Tomorrow we're attending my brother's girlfriend Kim's bday celebration. Hairbanger's Ball at Joe's!

Sunday I'm hoping to work on the name frame website and get paint to work on painting the trim at our condo. Baby steps toward a better place!

Resolution update

#4 Resolution Done. I have purchased a shredder! Exciting, I know.

So you know, if you have anything to shred, come on over.

Open letter to retailers

Your recent sales are in a slump. May I offer a suggestion as to why?

The high for today is 26 degrees. This morning the cold wind brought tears to my eyes and made me feel like my Northface winter hat did not exist. Or if it did exist, it must be made of see-through material and not wool lined with fleece. And you are selling this crap:
Tshirts, polo shirts, and swimsuits, Old Navy! I don't know about most people, but when I buy new clothes I want to wear them POST HASTE, not in 4 months. So, yeah. I don't feel all that sorry for you. Why don't you sell something I can wear now instead of all kinds of jaunty tissue-weight tshirts?

Convos around the condo

Me: I'm glad that dog is not any bigger
Mike: Me too. Right now she's just meddlesome. If she was bigger she would be downright destructive!!

I find rotten orange in fruit bowl & take it over to trash.... Milly is doing acrobatics trying to get at it..
Me: You don't want this.
Mike: I think you consistently underestimate what she doesn't want.

Me: I tried to get a picture of her sitting on her crate like Snoopy on his house.
Mike: Did you?
Me: No. Once she saw the camera she went butt-crazy and was flinging herself against the baby gate.
Mike: Figures.

Puppy play time

DSC_0408.JPG, originally uploaded by agstratt.

At the beginning of every puppy class we let the puppies play together for five minutes. This is Milly with her friends (from left) Juno, Cubby, and Marty.

Milly at her last SuperPuppy Class

DSC_0393.JPG, originally uploaded by agstratt.

That silly beagle did her trick (jumping over her old crate) and graduated! I'm so proud!

Weekend recap

So I'm not going to lie. I wasn't looking forward to last weekend. But it ended up being SO MUCH more fun and productive and relaxing than I thought it would be!

Friday we left work just a bit early and I thought I would use that time to wash one of the cars and take a nap before Chad got into town and we went for drinks. I took Milly out for a walk, and cleaned out the Corolla. I tossed Milly into the Corolla for the short ride up the street to the car wash place.... they told me it would only take 20 minutes so I thought... I'll just take Milly home and feed her and then head back and pick up the car. But when I got home with the dog, I realized that I had left my condo keys with the car wash guys and the Corolla. DOH! At that point, I knew the nap wasn't going to happen so I let myself into the garage with the opener remote and then took the Rav over for a car wash. Man, that really confused them. They were like "Wait, what car did you have? The corolla? But that isn't an SUV?" All the while I'm explaining that I have two cars, and would like them BOTH washed I'm trying to make Milly maintain her sitting, which is like trying to tame a wild hog, especially in a new place that sells all kinds of snack foods, with bags of peanuts at snout-level. Oy, the dog, she needs some major work in the obedience area. (as a random aside, our trainer told us that dogs learn contextually, so they learn to sit in place A and place B and once they've learned it in ALOT of places only THEN do they have it down. This makes sense because Milly is OK at Sit at home and at the trainer's place but sucks at it outside or anywhere else. So yeah, it needs to get warm outside so we can practice outside in lots of places!)

I got just a few minutes to close my eyes before needing to go pick up Mike at the train and letting Chad in. Then we all headed off to Durkin's for a lovely evening of $15 all-you-can-drink-and-eat beer and Domino's Pizza. The place is a little collegiate but holy crap what a deal. I think the only way we'll ever stop going there is if they stop offering that deal; I'm more fiscally responsible now than when I was 23! Usually we are definitely the oldest people there, but this time it didn't seem that way. Maybe the recession is forcing people to go to cheaper happy hours? Regardless it was super fun and I was home between 10:30-11 which was awesome. I would so rather not be out super late anymore, I am getting old!

Saturday I had to go to the grocery to get hoagie rolls and a few things I accidentally forgot for the meatballs. Once there I realized that Jewel was having a massive sale on meat. This made my day and I totally stocked up. At first I was going to pass it up but was like "No! Can't! Chicken only $1.50 a pound!" It was awesome. Plus it was the morning so Club Jewel was busy, but not as ridiculous as it normally is, especially on superbowl weekend.

I then spent the rest of the day making meatballs & queso and getting ready for the next day (we hosted a few people for a superbowl party). That night we hit up Fogo de Chao for dinner... YUM. I love that place. Meghan introduced me to this Green Goddess salad dressing that I would have never tried, ever, if she hadn't said how good it was. And I ate my weight in parmesan scraped straight from the inside of a massive wheel of parmegiano reggiano (sp?). I want my own wheel of parm. Would that be too much? I can see it now: Hey, wine and cheese party at my place, just knock off your own piece of parm! haha....

Sunday the guys played football out at Diversey fields and Meghan and I took Milly to watch. Milly was having a grand old time digging big holes in the snow (I can just hear the doggy thoughts "Every hole I dig has GRASS in the bottom! SWEET!") and watching the boys play. I just felt bad b.c I couldn't let her run free.... the field was only divided from Lakeshore Drive by one of those metal guardrails and not an actual fence. I couldn't be sure she wouldn't bolt for the highway, so had to keep her on the flexi-leash. Poor pup!

A little bit later, everyone came over to watch the SuperBowl at our place. We got a new keg in the kegerator and I had the meatballs and queso, and had also made peanut butter blossom cookies (my specialty). Writt and his girlfriend Kelly brought this AWESOME cheesy artichoke dip and this really good guacamole with tortilla chips. Carl and his girlfriend Emily brought tiny bite-size calzone-like meat pocket things that were great. Rogus and Lindsay brought some chips, french onion dip (I could eat that stuff until I am sick), tater tots and waffle fries. Amy brought this awesome garlic-y cilantro shrimp.... other people brought various chips, dips, and cookies. So basically we had a metric ton of junk food. It was soooo good and I think I grazed almost all night. The game was somewhat interesting, the commercials were good and it was a generally calm and fun party. It was fun to have everyone over and I enjoyed it!

So anyways, lots of stuff going on and that is our weekend. I have pictures of NONE of it because my point and shoot camera got broken on new year's eve.... so I finally caved and bought a new one last night. I can't stand not having any pictures of anything. And I'd like to start taking and posting more pictures on the blog. I don't know if I'll go back to project 365 (take and post a picture a day) or if I'll just try to post pics from 3-4 things a week. We shall see!

Resolutions!

Here is where I'm at so far...

1. Journal: I have been writing in it, at least every other day
2. Another photo class: This is a fall '09 resolution!
3. No caffeine: Being good. Found three cherry diet cokes in the back of the hall closet (where we keep extra beverages) and let myself have one on Sunday (and THEN had five solid hours of productivity... ), so that was my once a month. Other than that, been completely off it! It was a little rough-going this morning when I was super tired and smelled someone else's French Vanilla Dunkin' Donuts though.
4. Buy a paper shredder: I forgot both times I went to Target this month. doh!
5. Website and cart for name frames: I figured out the cart stuff on paypal, and downloaded some templates for the actual website.
6. Quit candy: Going strong
7. Finish purple scarf: Finished knitting a whole skein of yarn! Just one more to go.

25 random things about me

I keep getting tagged in this "25 things about me" meme on Facebook, so I thought I would post it here instead of Facebook. Posting stuff like this on facebook bothers me for some reason.

1. It's very rare that I get through a day without putting my hair into a ponytail at some point. I will take it down and put it up a million times throughout the day. Once a friend sat behind me in a college class and told me after class "I mean, no offense. Don't get me wrong, it's nice hair. But you play with it more than ANYONE I have EVER seen."
2. I really really really want to go to BlogHer this year to meet a bunch of people whose blogs I read. But I will probably chicken out and not go. Because I don't actually know those people. And I feel kind of like a moron fangirl by going up to people whose blogs I read.
3. I quit caffeine a couple months ago because of my acid reflux, and really miss a warm cup of joe and a diet coke every now and again.
4. I love to read, and do so very fast.
5. I flip the bird to Worm's Way everytime we drive past it on the way to and from Bloomington. I did a group project for them once and it was the most awful ridiculous thing I ever did in college and I got a bad grade (for me, a low B).
6. I know an absurdly ridiculous amount of stuff about baby gear for someone who doesn't have a kid. It's all those blogs I read! At least it benefits my sister and friends sometimes.
7. I remember almost anything for a very long time if I see it in writing. In college I took copious notes but almost never referenced them. I do the same thing at work now.
8. I am really bad about calling people on the phone, unless it's for a specific reason (ie asking if someone is coming to event or making arrangements to meet up).
9. I know the caloric content of almost anything.
10. I have only had one traffic ticket my entire life: a moving violation for going the wrong way on a one-way street.
11. When my husband first saw me, I was wearing a red coat. I save that coat for special occasions and now just wear it on fancy date nights.
12. I thought my husband was a weirdo the first time I talked to him.
13. My nose runs ALL the time, almost. Especially when I run. Then it runs alot.
14. I worry about almost everything, and then try to plan obscenely far in advance to mitigate that worry.
15. I have a deep, mad love for Pequod's pizza and chicken/tofu pad thai
16. I am a pastor's kid.
17. I obsess over losing things (I look in my seat when I leave places and check that I have my wallet over and over), although I hardly ever lose/misplace anything for any period of time
18. I love hanging out with my family and look forward to any time I get with them.
19. I never wanted to get married or have kids until I met Hubs. I just thought that would never happen for me.
20. I bought a Wii fit and never did use it.
21. I feel like the housework and to-do lists just never end and wonder how everyone keeps up with it all. There is always something I feel like I missed no matter how much I do.
22. I have run two half marathons at the breakneck pace of 12 minute miles. Despite that, I am decidedly not a runner.
23. I think alot about my grandmother who passed away this summer, and what she would think of certain things.
24. I once had a bedroom that was cotton candy pink. Like, when I was 24 and lived with 3 friends from college. Pink is still my favorite color.
25. I am a compulsive putter-awayer. I will put my cell phone in my purse without realizing it, even if I meant to leave it out to keep an eye on it.

And then we almost got arrested...

Well, it's been a kind of crappy week in the Knowles household, and it started off on Monday night.

On the way home from puppy class, a light turned yellow and Mike started to throw on the brakes to stop, then realized that throwing on the brakes would slam Milly into the back of the seat (she was wet and dirty from prancing around in the snow, so we put her in the very back of the SUV). So he sped up to make the light. Only because he had slowed down before, the light was red when we went through it. Immediately, red and blue flashing lights lit up the night, and Mike sighed and said "Great. I don't have my ID on me either." I don't take my purse to puppy class, because I hate leaving it in the car (asking for a breakin!) and hate leaving it sitting out on the sidelines (I am just way too paranoid). So we had no ID on us at all. Then for some reason our insurance card was missing! So the police officer asked us to follow him to the station. AWESOME.

Once we got there, we were convinced our car would get towed and the officer already told us we would have to post bond. I didn't have my purse or phone and Mike has a new phone with almost no numbers in it, so I was convinced I was going to have to call my parents to get my brother's phone number to come bail us out (I have three numbers memorized: my dad's cell, my parent's home, and mike's cell). We didn't know how long we would be in the station so we took Milly in with us. And I think she saved us! The officer wrote us the two tickets he could have written out on the street and another notice that said basically we would have to pay $1K if Mike doesn't show up in court. Then they let us go home! We were there for less than a half hour which was awesome.

Obviously, we were really nice and polite and I'm sure they don't see that alot. The officer was laughing that night too, saying that some guy was getting arrested for threatening to blow up a bar after he got kicked out for being way too drunk. We saw the guy, too, and it looked like he had had better days.

So anyways, moral of the story: Dog gets us into trouble, Dog gets us out of trouble. The End

Hugs

DSC_0081.JPG, originally uploaded by agstratt.

Gracie loves hugs from Grandpa S

More Fort Wayne

DSC_0088.JPG, originally uploaded by agstratt.

Gracie and Grandpa Stratton make an important call. Grandpas are soooooo much fun!

Visit to Fort Wayne

DSC_0255.JPG, originally uploaded by agstratt.

Gracie loves her Grandpa Curley. He makes funny noises and tickles her!

Milly went to doggie daycare today and is very tired. She is super cute and cuddly!

Uh, anyone need an IT Auditor in Florida?

Yikes, dude! Yesterday the high was like 7 and Dog laid down in the alley and refused to walk. Mike said "She would have died there if I hadn't picked her up and carried her back to the condo!"

Yum

A good little recipe for acorn squash!

http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=226448&package_id=238154

Milly

Jan 4, 2009, originally uploaded by agstratt.

Dog is sure making it hard to type on that laptop

Hair pretties

Jan 7, 2009, originally uploaded by agstratt.

Ahhh, my new pasttime, making little hair pretties for my niece and friends who have baby girls!

Statcounter troubles

So I logged onto StatCounter this morning to see my blog traffic and it said I had NO visitors since mid October... I was a bit confused, especially since at least Michelle commented on an entry or two and then realized I didn't insert the StatCounter code into my new design. Oops! I mean, it's not like I get a whole heck of a lot of traffic anyways, but it was weird to see NO visitors. At first, I was like "well, if no one is visiting, then I can start the Brutal Honesty portion of our show"... but then realized it had to be a mistake.

The mistake was mine, a technical miss on my part. At least I figured it out. Shows how often I log into StatCounter!

On a totally different subject, did anyone see this? I have been eagerly anticipating a Slingplayer client for my iPhone since I purchased it and am super freaking pumped. Hopefully it works well, and isn't super slow. Who knows, though? I guess the app would only be as good as your connection, so there would be limitations. But at least I could watch some shows on the iPhone through our Slingbox rather than buying anything I want to watch on itunes. That would save some bank. Each show is only 1.99 but that adds up.

More 2008 recap....

I am totally stealing this from Michelle... a summary of our 2008 travels.

January and February
Nowhere.... blessed nowhere

March
April went to Sydney, Australia for work

April
April went to London for work, and Mike tagged along
April went to visit Katie in Indy to help register for baby Gracie

May
To Evansille for April's sister Katie's graduation and baby shower
Logansport to visit Mike's family

June
Pokagan State Park in northern Indiana for Stratton Family Reunion
April's Evansville high school girlfriends all came to Chicago for big reunion!
Lake cottage with Underhills in Northern Indiana

July
Coldwater, Michigan for annual Duff lake weekend
Fort Wayne, Indiana for Grandmother's funeral
April visited Katie, Drew, and Gracie for a weekend


August
Wedding anniversary trip to Saugatuck, Michigan
Visit to Indy to see Katie, Drew, Gracie and observe Hot Box Pizza operations
Charleston to visit Dixon


September
Hilton Head for Peter and Kira's wedding
Merrillville for Justin and Kimmo's wedding
Evansville for April's high school reunion
April visited Dora at Cornell in Ithaca, NY

October
GACRT/Iowa game at IU (both Mike and April)
Homecoming at IU (only April)


November
Purdue for Old Oaken Bucket game
Evansville for Thanksgiving

December
April went to Vegas to run mini marathon
Mike went to Logansport to visit family
Then Indiana tour 2008 for Christmas: stops in Evansville, Indianapolis, Terre Haute, and Logansport

One more thing

on the resolution list.

I'd like to finish that purple scarf I've been knitting for two years!

Resolutions

I have been kicking around resolutions today. I want them to be important yet measureable...

1. My brother and his girlfriend got me this awesome journal, and I want to make sure I write in it each day. So that is the first resolution.
2. I would like to take the Digital 2 class at Chicago Photography Center (I took Digital one last year). I see this happening in the fall or late summer for me.
3. I want to keep up with my quitting caffeine and carbonation thing. I cheated a little over the holiday and my throat is paying for it. My one exception to this would be champagne, maybe once a month, and maybe one diet coke a month. But I am going to try and go without it totally.
4. Buy a paper shredder. I keep putting it off because it's SO not a fun purchase... this should be an easy one to check off the list.
5. Start the website and checkout abilities for the name frame business. I want to have this up and running by April.
6. Quit candy with Michelle. I would also like to lose some lbs and fit into my clothes a little better, but doubt putting that on the resolutions listing would do anything but make me feel bad. If it's measurable (lose 10 lbs), I don't think it's a good fitness goal. And if it's a good fitness goal (be stronger, pants fit better) then it's not measurable. Candy is a big weakness of mine and one reason why my pants don't fit well, so I'll make that a resolution and hope that helps the weight-loss effort.

Seriously, Tazo?

Tazo Tea instructions:

1. Bring some fresh, filtered water to a boil
2. For hot tea, place one Tazo filterbag in your cup, mug, or gourd
3. Pour 8 fl oz of water over the filterbag
4. Steep for 3 minutes while contemplating your favorite eternal mysteries.

Who writes this stuff?

Dog found her Howler

Dog found her Howler
Originally uploaded by agstratt

Check out Milly's new skillz

2009

This is the year that my husband and I both turn 30. How crazy is it that across the blogsophere I see people saying they can't believe they are 30, and only have one kid. They are onlly 30 and haven't done x.

Well, I am 30 and haven't done much of anything! surprising, I know!

I would like to count myself blessed though, because I love my life and those that are in it. I wonder what the future holds for us, and I think it'll be interesting.

Hello 2009 questionnaire

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? Used my passport!
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I think I curse less. I certainly didn't go to the gym at least once a week but it probably evened out to at least that, because I trained and finished another mini-marathon
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes, my friend Tracy and sister Katie both had beautiful little girls
4. Did anyone close to you die? Yes, my beautiful and wonderful grandmother, Diana Stratton. I am glad that I got to tell her that we would name a little girl after her before she died. My life will never be the same after her passing.
5. What countries did you visit? Australia and London, UK
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? I wish I had visited Portugal with Mike... I would also like much more satisfaction with myself in total than 2008
7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? August 11, 2008... our wedding anniversary and the babydog's birthday!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Held my tongue WAY MORE than I thought possible
9. What was your biggest failure? Being a bad big sib to my mentee Gracie... I just have way too much to do
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Nope
11. What was the best thing you bought? Air conditioner, August 2008... Dog, November 2008
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? As always, my mom and dad
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Family not named to protect the not-so-innocent
14. Where did most of your money go? Various costs to be a grownup
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Many random roadtrips
16. What song will always remind you of 2008? Beyonce - Single Girls ...If you like it then you shoulda put a ring on it.. My sister sang this to make my niece laugh and it cracked me up
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:a) happier or sadder? happier
b) thinner or fatter? oy, fatter fo sho
c) richer or poorer? richer, very very slightly
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? working out
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? worrying about the election
20. How did you spend Christmas? With my husband's family
21. Did you fall in love in 2008? yes, with my baby dog, Milly. I LOVE THAT DOG.
22. What was your favorite TV program? How I Met Your Mother
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? Yup. Can't say who
24. What was the best book you read? Twilight books
25. What was your greatest musical discovery? Straight No Chaser and Chipmunks Christmas CDs
26. What did you want and get? Chef's knife and new vacuum
27. What did you want and not get? new carpet
28. What was your favorite film of this year? Zach and Miri make a Porno (HILARIOUS) and Twilight
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? 29... and spent the day writhing in pain with sore tooth (later needed a root canal) in so much pain I cried myself to sleep and couldn't think straight.. Excellent birthday!!! At least I can say I had Chipotle for dinner that night. I love that place.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Dog not crapping on the bathroom floor
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? Expensive Jeans and Cheap Tops
32. What kept you sane? Hubs
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Hmmm, Justin Timberlake, again
34. What political issue stirred you the most? The election
35. Who did you miss? My grandmother. I can't believe she's gone. I miss her so much.
36. Who was the best new person you met? My niece, Gracie. She is the best little booboohead I have ever met!
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008. To shut up and mock from afar.... I need to refine this even more in 2009, as I still don't shut up as much as I should!
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

Baseball season's underway
Better get ready for a brand new day...
Hey Chicago what do you say?
Cubs are gonna win today...

They're saying, "Go Cubs go, go Cubs go,
hey Chicago what do you say
Cubs are gonna win today"

Well, until at least the Cubs doo-dood the bed and got swept in the playoffs!!

Baby Gracie

DSC_0304.JPG, originally uploaded by agstratt.

Mike and I babysat for Baby Gracie yesterday. She was a doll, we had a great time. Check out her new little hairbow... and her eyes are so blue! The only downside was that I thought my arm was going to fall off after holding her/standing and rocking her to sleep.... I have a new respect for my sister's arm strength!

I love this dog!

DSC_0237.JPG, originally uploaded by agstratt.

We have found that Dog only howls when there is Great Unfairness in the world: largely, when you are eating some kind of cheesy salty meat and she is not. Pequod's pizza and McDonald's breakfast samiches have elicited The Howl this week, which cracks us up. We don't feed her much (if any) people food, so I'm thinking the breeder probably let the puppies lick their plates clean or something. Her nose just starts sniffing and sticks straight up in the air and pretty soon... ARRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

The Math

Sunday roundup

Dog is equal parts awesome and frustrating. On the awesome list: this look, her obsession with bacon, and her exuberance for playing fetch with a pink tennis ball. On the frustrating list: peeing on the floor right after a walk (YOU. JUST. WENT.), whining, and silent-but-deadly gas.

My friend Tracy and her husband Tojy had a baby this morning, Soraya Ruth. She is VERY cute and VERY tiny. I had a no-good very bad day yesterday and today is shaping up to be MUCH better. I broke my iphone, and today Apple replaced it for free! score! I also got pulled over for semi-kind-of running a red light (it was yellow! totally yellow!) and luckily the police officer had much better things to do and didn't give me a ticket. And, oh yeah, it took me 3 hours to go to Target and Jo-Ann fabrics. I am not going back to the fabric store until the holiday season is waaaaaay over, I almost went insane in there. JOANN FABRICS is a soul-suck. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Hello from the Knowles Household

We got our babydog, Milly, and she is the best puppy ever!

• She has seriously awesome ears.
• She has the saddest face ever when we put her in her area and close the babygate, or when it's night-night time and she has to go in the crate. So cute!
• Everyone at the vet's office loved her! She didn't even whimper when she got a vaccination on Tuesday
• There have been a few accidents, but not many. Many less than I expected for a brand-new puppy
• She loves hanging on the couch and playing with toys or just chilling out and watching TV. She has a mad love for the couch, just like I do.
  

Puppy!

Mike and I have purchased a puppy and are SUPER geeked about it. The breeder is shipping her to Evansville the Friday of Thanksgiving. Yay, puppy!!
Her name is Milly, and she'll be 13 weeks when we get her. She is a beagle!

YES WE DID

An email from a friend, Kyle, who was on the Obama speechwriting team:

Hey guys -

Thanks to all of you for your texts/emails. I'm really not sure what to say except that last night was an experience that I will remember for the rest of my life. Right now I'm beyond exhausted, and this entire office is hung over, but the last 24 hours have been incredible.

We all watched the results come in from the press area here at headquarters. Personally, I felt like I was going to throw up waiting for the networks to call VA/PA/OH, but whenever one state came in, the whole place would break out in cheers. Spike Lee was watching the returns with us, and he stood up and took a bow when they called New York for Obama (he had voted in Brooklyn that morning). It's a testament to how surreal this campaign has been that this didn't seem weird at all.

Earlier in the day, I had used my staff pass to go down and take a look at the rally site in the daylight (and before the whole city of Chicago descended on it). I just kept flashing my badge until I was right up next to the podium. It really felt like I was in the middle of a war zone - helicopters overhead, batallions of police and secret service, bomb-sniffing dogs, bullet-proof glass, miles of police barracades and lots and lots of guns. Even though the gates wouldn't be opening for another 5 hours and Obama wouldn't be speaking for 9, there were already thousands of people lined up outside the gates, and the street vendors were making a killing with Obama paraphenalia.

Back at Headquarters, I decided to wait with the communications staff until it was pretty clear the race was in hand. The speechwriting team had two speeches ready to go - a victory and a concession. At the end of the victory speech was a story about a 106-year old woman named Ann Nixon Cooper - the daughter of a former slave who lived long enough to vote for an African American for President. Once the networks had called Ohio, and it was clear we would be hearing the victory speech, my boss, Jon Favreau, called Mrs. Cooper at home and told her to watch the speech. It was one of the most memorable moments of a very memorable campaign. She was still awake (pretty surprising in itself) and said she was very excited. She asked which channel the speech would be on, and Favreau told her it would be on every channel.

At that point, I walked down to the rally. Again, we went through about 15 layers of security before being ushered into the fenced-in grassy area right in front of the podium - looking out on a sea of 125,000 screaming, crying, flag-waving people. I have never seen anything like it in my life, and the view gave me goosebumps that lasted all night. Oprah was in the house, and we got word that Brad Pitt had just come through the metal detectors - prompting the girls I was with to go on an unsuccessful 'Pitt-hunt.' CNN was being broadcast on huge screens, and when they projected that Obama would be the next President, the crowd erupted - and didn't really stop erupting until he walked onto the stage.

I watched the speech about 40 ft. from Obama. It made me feel really, really small knowing that the scene I was looking at was being watched by the entire world from Alabama to Australia. After the speech was over, we caught up with the staff and walked back uptown in the middle of Michigan Avenue. Probably the last time I'll ever do that without inviting certain death.

This morning, Barack did a conference call with all the staff to sort of wrap this thing up. He thanked everyone - especially our campaign manager David Plouffe, who flew back to DC at 7am this morning because his wife is having a baby girl. He said that there aren't too many opportunities in life to make the world a little more hopeful place, and that's what this campaign has done.

As for me, it's time to pack up and head home. My future is up in the air - the speechwriters are fantastic, and I'd love to keep working with them in some capacity. But the transition is just beginning, and nobody knows much about anything. So I'll head back to VA and wait for the call, but no matter what happens, it's been a wild ride.Hope to see all of you soon.

Kyle

Hi there...

This week of mini-marathon training is rough-going. I spent last night and Monday night getting the condo tidy (note that I did not say clean, just tidy) and re-doing the blarg. Tonight I ran my 4 miles and I was totally fine with it, but I was ready to be OUTTA there after the run. I should have lifted, but did not.

So glad the presidential race is almost over. I am just ready to be DONE with this already.

Maybe I should put some money in rupees now just in case our whole country goes up in flames soon?

This weekend in Bloomington was so much fun! I had Pizza Express TWICE, got some candy-stripe pants I have been eyeing since undergrad, and got to know a bunch of fun people. I have to also give the two pregnant chicas a shout-out... ya'll were WAY more understanding around LOUD, rambunctious drinking people than I think I will ever be when it's my turn! And my first foray into the actual stadium since undergrad made for some great pics

Holy cow

If you have looked at this website in the past day or so, you've seen many trainwrecks and iterations... hopefully you like the final product! I definitely needed to update, and now I feel like posting a bit more since it's prettier ;c)

found a good place to nap

found a good place to nap, originally uploaded by agstratt.

I know I say this everytime, but how is it possible to miss the snuggles already?

Tuesday!

• I am about 4 weeks deep in mini-marathon training and starting to feel like I'm hitting my stride. While I am no spring chick, I am no longer sounding like a box of rice krispies rolling down the sidewalk (snap! crackle! pop! get it?)
• I think the debates so far have been largely boring, but what is with McCain? In the first debate he wouldn't make eye contact with Obama (even when they were shaking hands!) and in this debate referring to Obama as "This one"? What? I mean, can we have a little respect... I think McCain is probably a really great guy, but he seems really angry that Obama is even running. I mean, it's no disrespect that someone is running against him, that's kind of the point of the whole race, no? I like Obama, and I do think that he and Biden ALWAYS saying "McCain is a good man" is a bit too much, always trying to act the good guy, but at the same time... can't we keep races clean and respectful anymore? As illustrated by all the random ads that are aired by every candidate EVER at every election opportunity, obviously not! I just wish we could all just get along!?!?
• I am so annoyed by this whole financial crisis. I feel like there are so many people in this country living SO FAR beyond their means and take really stupid chances, and the people who play it safe and save money and live prudently are getting punished. I mean, at this point I could have NOT contributed to my 401k for the first two years of my career and be in the same position.
• On that vein, you know what else annoys me? WaMu's commercials lately. You know the "The same things you loved about WaMu are still here, but now backed with the resources of JPMorgan" You know what I liked about you WaMu? My SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY. You suck!
• Whew, that's great to get out of my system. haha... it could be worse, I didn't have that much in WaMu
• Going to IU this weekend, and stopping to see Baby Gracie, My sis, and her dude on the way home. Life doesn't get much better than tailgating, Sink the Biz, and Gracie snuggles all in one weekend!!

This guy is my hero!

from http://www.boingboing.net/2008/03/05/man-creates-vigilant.html
Red highlight shows the awesomest part.

Man creates vigilante robot to battle drug dealers
Atlanta bar owner Rufus Terrill has built an armor plated remote control robot to video tape and chase away drug dealers and other unsavory characters who are causing problems in the neighborhood.

Late at night several times a week, Terrill powers up the 4-foot-tall, 300 pound device and reaches for a remote control packed with two joysticks and various knobs and switches. Standing on a nearby corner, he maneuvers the machine down the block, often to a daycare center where it accosts what Terrill says are drug dealers, vagrants and others who shouldn't be there.

He flashes the robot's spotlight and grabs a walkie-talkie, which he uses to boom his disembodied voice over the robot's sound system.

"I tell them they are trespassing, it's private property, and they have to leave," he said. "They throw bottles and cans at it. That's when I shoot the water cannon. They just scatter like roaches."

Random roundup

• If you have to get a root canal done and you have a choice of which tooth to get it done on (like you ever would get a choice!) I would HIGHLY recommend a front tooth. Only one nerve as opposed to 3-4 nerves! I was in and out of there in under an hour. And I argued my way down on the bill thanks to the dental coverage printout I took in there (on the phone these jokers from Cigna totally tell my dentist office the WRONG coverage). AND THEN the parking lot machine wasn't working so the guy let me out for free. So, let's just say it was the best root canal EVER.
• My 10 year high school reunion was this weekend. There was a dismal turnout (like 30 people, most of whom I keep in touch with by some means)... but it was VERY fun. It was so fun to see everyone and I feel like I know what is going on in people's lives via their blogs and myspace/facebook. So we just had fun catching up on other random stuff instead of the basics and had fun together. I made Jay and Kim go with us to the bar to meet up too, since he hung out with guys from my senior class a ton. And I was so glad he was there - I think the guys enjoyed seeing him :c)
• Saturday, Kim and I went shopping. And I bought a super-cute red cocktail dress. My weight-loss goal was to fit in the red BCBG dress I already own, but this dress may be an even greater option ;c)
• While we were shopping, my dad took Mike out to see our oil well

Who's the cute boy by the oil well? My cute boy!

• Clay Aiken confirmed he is gay today? Is this NEWS to anyone?!
• I am in week 3 of mini-marathon training. Some days it's kicking my butt, some days I'm kicking it's butt. At least I feel like I'm kicking butt part-time, no?
• My friend Amy closes on her new condo on Friday. CONGRATS, AMY!!!!

Jay....

DSC_0032.JPG, originally uploaded by agstratt.

.... thinking Deep Thoughts.

Hypothetical Situation...

so let's say that you have a teeth cleaning.

and then your front tooth starts hurting.

also, last year you spent like, a whole paycheck having this tooth redone. veneer, baby!

then let's say that you get an infection, that expensive tooth dies, and you need a root canal.

is is just a friendly little co-inky dink that this all started the week that the cleaning happened? Because the dentist would like to think so. I mean, in the hypothetical situation and all.



As a side note, dentists out there, don't talk to almost-30-year-olds like they are 5. It's insulting. "You see, then the bacteria get in there and they just push right out!" I get it. Thanks, you want to draw it with a crayon?

Babies are so cute!

DSC_0019.JPG, originally uploaded by agstratt.

I am still loving these photos I took of little Grace last weekend. I am missing my Gracie snuggles already.

Daddy Dearest

so a couple days ago (Sept 9th to be exact) was my Dad's birthday. For my dear old pops, I thought I would pull out the "10 things I like" format, since I have yet to send him a birthday card and am an awful daughter.

1. His laugh. When my dad really cracks up, he rocks back and forth and scrunches up his face, just laughing really hard. It is funny, it's like his whole being is laughing
2. He knows how to do everything. I swear to you, he does. I can call my Dad and ask him anything from investment questions to how to anchor some mason screws in a concrete wall. I am not saying this in the typical little girl "My Dad can do anything" way. He really can. Go ahead, ask him!
3. He also knows everything. Closely related to #2. But seriously, it blows my mind how much this one person can cram into his brain. He knows everything from which little old ladies at the church need their walks shoveled during a snowstorm to how to whip anyone at bags (ahem, Calbert Cheny, ahem).
4. He is super sporty. My Dad can pick up almost any sport and win at it. It makes me feel hopeful that my athletic non-prowess is a dominant gene, and somewhere there is a recessive gene for athletic ability that my kids may someday inherit.
5. He more gets along with Mike. I have never had a problem with the typical "Girl marries someone like her Dad" stereotype because mine is so great, but it really delights me that they look forward to seeing each other.
6. His committment to my mom and our family. We've been through rough times but I have never once doubted that we wouldn't get through those times as a family. He has set such a great example for my life and my marriage.
7. He's not afraid of anything. He'll jump up and defend me in the middle of Kilroy's when some 6'5" chick threatens me. And he'll order a shipment of stone crocks from China to start a new business.
8. He helps so many people. Whether he's going to Mississippi to rebuild or evacuate a town, heading the relief efforts after a tornado, or just visiting people in the hospital, he is constantly leaving a real imprint on this world in a positive way.
9. He supports everything I do. He may play the devil's advocate with me sometimes, but he is proud of me and supports everything I do in life. It's amazing to really know, deep down in my soul, that kind of support.
10. His big heart. He cares about everyone and everything, and loves me and the rest of our family so fiercely that I cannot even describe.

For all these reasons and more, I love my Dad so much! I am a total Daddy's girl, it is no lie. My hope is to spend many more happy and healthy birthdays (maybe where I also actually send a card) with my Dad.

Here's to you, Dad!

flirting

DSC_0060.JPG, originally uploaded by agstratt.

they say that babies and animals know really good people when they see them, right? Maybe that's why baby Gracie loved Mike so much. Seems that I've picked out a good one, and i just loved how enamored he was with Gracie and how much she loved being held by him. I already knew he would be a good Dad whenever we get around to having kids, but that was just another great confirmation of that fact.

I am in love...

DSC_0211.JPG, originally uploaded by agstratt.

with my new little niece!

Daily Show welcomes RNC to Minneapolis

This made me laugh....

RANDOM SATURDAY

Must recommend: Vantage point (the movie)



Conversation earlier, watching Vantage Point:
Hubs: You are TOO squirmy.
Me: I can't HELP it. The President of the United States is involved! He might need me to cheer for him! I mean, JACK from LOST is in this!! IF ONLY for JACK!! (Jack from LOST=Matthew Fox=I love him).


From the chica who has never cheered for President, ever. Sorry to give my democrat-ness away..... but, tell yo mama, I'm for OBAMA!!!

Open letter to the CTA

1. You suck
2. If I wanted my daily commute to last an hour, I would move to the suburbs, save a hojillion dollars on housing, and have a yard.