So I'm not going to blog much today as I am currently stalking around the plant. Warren Buffett, Bill and Melinda Gates, and a few other important people are here today looking at NPP. So I've found tons of reasons to do filing in odd places. Hopefully I will get to meet them or at least walk by them! I've already seen them, they came in helicopters. Its pretty exciting around here today!
I'll fill you in on the happenings, if any, on Monday!
Don't forget-painting party Saturday, give me a call if you are showing up!
Have a great weekend everyone!
Love (to hallway stalk famous people)
Carrie
Friday, February 27, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
No man is exempt from saying silly things; the mischief is to say them deliberately.
This week will not end people. I woke up happy it was Thursday because it kind of snuck up on me, but now this day is feeling incredulously long. Arg.
Many thanks to Karie who helped me figure out the Howie Day concert on 98.5. I hope I get to get in because it’s free Qudoba, but it’s only for like 50 people, and I’m sure they won’t let me bring Seth. Did I mention Qudoba? I used to eat that with Annie at TEKsystems all the time, and I’m feeling serious withdrawls. Mmmm…Howie Day and 4 cheese nachos. I’m digging it.
Basically I’ll eat black beans and cheese on anything. Heck I’ll eat pinto beans and cheese on anything. I’m pro bean.
And now I’m rambling. It’s been a while since we’ve had a list here at Carrie-on Baggage. Let’s do that. Yay!
Things I’m excited for this weekend:
Sleeping in
Getting the house painting finished (minus the hallway and possibly entryway, it depends how many people show up)
Seth taking a day off on Friday (although this is iffy now because he his having an uber bad day at work…)
Getting my hair done!! I have no idea what I’m going to do, but that is usually how it goes, I totally freeball it, I just hope I get a good cool hip hair college student who doesn’t look like she’s about to have a baby or is going to stab me with the scissors. *a digression* I started going to hair colleges about a bajillon years ago and I love mine here in town (I have horror stories about other out of town ones I have been to-like the time I got a spiral perm with hair down to my butt and it took 3 girls and about 8 hours). I like the young innovative kids who if you tell them, I need something new-they don’t give you the Rachel with bangs or just give you layers. I like that they are open when I say, “I want mahogany stripes in my hair” and because I have the mental capacity of a 12 year old, I like when they snark with me about random things. Plus! Bonus! It usually only costs me that of a real salon. And I know everyone is like, yeah but how can you trust them? Their instructors are standing there the hole time and frequently come over and check on their progress to ensure you aren’t going to have your hair fall out. The only drawback is with my hair, a trip to the salon is usually a four hour adventure (I have a lot of it) and it’s a personality crapshoot on the type of girl you are going to get. But it’s worth it because I would say, at least for the first month or so, my hair is pretty awesome (then I neglect to go back for 6 months, but that is a different digression I won’t take you on…) *end digression*
Eating pizza!
Not having to drive to work!
Wearing sweatpants for at least 55% of the weekend!
Watching DVR shows
Okay I’m done…
Jesus Mary and Joseph! I just checked our bank account and almost crapped myself. Earlier this morning my bank was having issues and was telling me I had no accounts, but apparently the US government depositing our federal refund caused a complete meltdown of my bank and me, because I was like WHAT DO YOU MEAN I HAVE NO ACTIVE ACCOUNTS!??! How can there be too many calls to take my call? I’ll sit here on hold, that’s fine, because apparently I have NOTHING BETTER TO DO SINCE I HAVE NO MONEY. It’s all fine now, but thank you federal government-WHEW. I’m sad that all of that money is going to other accounts so it can make more money. But for right now I’m thinking of buying a jet and going to Italy for the rest of the winter-anyone want to join me?
I’m tentatively thinking about my Vegas extravaganza. I’m not sure when the best time of year to go is (read: cheapest). But that’s when I would want to go. And I want to stay on the strip, and I want it just to be a quick weekend thing. Like Fri-Sun or something. Anyway, pipe dream, I know.
Alright well I’m out of witty things to write, I’m hoping this afternoon goes by faster than the morning did, but that’s not looking good as my email seems to have died, Seth is having a bad day, and my trainer just left me with a big audit. Boo.
Love (the federal government tax return and pizza!),
Carrie
Many thanks to Karie who helped me figure out the Howie Day concert on 98.5. I hope I get to get in because it’s free Qudoba, but it’s only for like 50 people, and I’m sure they won’t let me bring Seth. Did I mention Qudoba? I used to eat that with Annie at TEKsystems all the time, and I’m feeling serious withdrawls. Mmmm…Howie Day and 4 cheese nachos. I’m digging it.
Basically I’ll eat black beans and cheese on anything. Heck I’ll eat pinto beans and cheese on anything. I’m pro bean.
And now I’m rambling. It’s been a while since we’ve had a list here at Carrie-on Baggage. Let’s do that. Yay!
Things I’m excited for this weekend:
Sleeping in
Getting the house painting finished (minus the hallway and possibly entryway, it depends how many people show up)
Seth taking a day off on Friday (although this is iffy now because he his having an uber bad day at work…)
Getting my hair done!! I have no idea what I’m going to do, but that is usually how it goes, I totally freeball it, I just hope I get a good cool hip hair college student who doesn’t look like she’s about to have a baby or is going to stab me with the scissors. *a digression* I started going to hair colleges about a bajillon years ago and I love mine here in town (I have horror stories about other out of town ones I have been to-like the time I got a spiral perm with hair down to my butt and it took 3 girls and about 8 hours). I like the young innovative kids who if you tell them, I need something new-they don’t give you the Rachel with bangs or just give you layers. I like that they are open when I say, “I want mahogany stripes in my hair” and because I have the mental capacity of a 12 year old, I like when they snark with me about random things. Plus! Bonus! It usually only costs me that of a real salon. And I know everyone is like, yeah but how can you trust them? Their instructors are standing there the hole time and frequently come over and check on their progress to ensure you aren’t going to have your hair fall out. The only drawback is with my hair, a trip to the salon is usually a four hour adventure (I have a lot of it) and it’s a personality crapshoot on the type of girl you are going to get. But it’s worth it because I would say, at least for the first month or so, my hair is pretty awesome (then I neglect to go back for 6 months, but that is a different digression I won’t take you on…) *end digression*
Eating pizza!
Not having to drive to work!
Wearing sweatpants for at least 55% of the weekend!
Watching DVR shows
Okay I’m done…
Jesus Mary and Joseph! I just checked our bank account and almost crapped myself. Earlier this morning my bank was having issues and was telling me I had no accounts, but apparently the US government depositing our federal refund caused a complete meltdown of my bank and me, because I was like WHAT DO YOU MEAN I HAVE NO ACTIVE ACCOUNTS!??! How can there be too many calls to take my call? I’ll sit here on hold, that’s fine, because apparently I have NOTHING BETTER TO DO SINCE I HAVE NO MONEY. It’s all fine now, but thank you federal government-WHEW. I’m sad that all of that money is going to other accounts so it can make more money. But for right now I’m thinking of buying a jet and going to Italy for the rest of the winter-anyone want to join me?
I’m tentatively thinking about my Vegas extravaganza. I’m not sure when the best time of year to go is (read: cheapest). But that’s when I would want to go. And I want to stay on the strip, and I want it just to be a quick weekend thing. Like Fri-Sun or something. Anyway, pipe dream, I know.
Alright well I’m out of witty things to write, I’m hoping this afternoon goes by faster than the morning did, but that’s not looking good as my email seems to have died, Seth is having a bad day, and my trainer just left me with a big audit. Boo.
Love (the federal government tax return and pizza!),
Carrie
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
It matters not whether you win or lose; what matters is whether I win or lose.
I wish my work didn’t have any clocks. I think it would help my day go by faster. If I didn’t know that I had been sitting for an hour watching someone write an email, I think it would be MUCH easier to tolerate the constant backspacing and sitting and thinking it took that person to write a three sentence email.
It is supposed to be AMAZING out today. And today only, of course it supposed to snow right when I’m going to get my hair done on Saturday.
I just discovered that Amazon has a “warehouse” website where they have refurbished or slightly damaged or return items. I could be in BIG trouble here people!
Someone just came to look at the new pictures that I put up in my cube and some were from my wedding, and I started talking about my wedding to her, which I haven’t done in forever. And I got all squishy about it again. Just describing my dress and how I found it and my bridesmaid colors. *swoon* Good times, good times…
I’ve sucked it up and started listening to 94.1 at work really low. I just can’t stand what they play on 98.5 anymore. Plus if I have to jump to turn of Nickleback or Pink one more time I might just throw my radio over the cube instead. *shudders* I hate them…I just have to remember to keep my radio low and to turn it off when I leave my cube. I can’t get 104.5 or 101.9 to come in to save my life and those are the kosher stations around here. Although I did hear on 98.5 yesterday that they are hosting a Howie Day concert and I practically FELL OVER but I can’t find anything on the web about it, or even about him touring. LOVE Howie Day, LOVE.
Speaking of other artists-Leona Lewis…I really like her songs, but I swear I flash back to the early 90’s every time I hear them. She is so early 90’s Mariah Carey and Celine Dion it’s unreal-even the videos. I mean I love her-but can a girl get a beat? The only song that is tolerable is “Bleeding Love” and that’s because they used it in So You Think You Can Dance (which means an automatic A+ in my book) and Ryan Tedder of One Republic (LOVE HIM) and Jesse McCartney produced and wrote it (respectively). If you would like to hear me expound on how much I love Ryan Tedder-just let me know. Basically it involves being Timbaland’s wingman for years and producing some of the greatest songs you probably never knew he produced. Wait until Chris Cornell’s new album comes out that they both worked on, you will pretty much die from the awesomeness. That is if you are crazy into music like me anyway…
I totally didn’t know that the whole Fat Tuesday, Ash Wednesday, Lent season was upon us until my mom asked me to come to church with her tonite. I wish I had time and the desire, Seth’s mom made a good point, that once we have kids, it will be easier to get back into church and that’s when most people do it. And we have always said that it is important to us to have our kids be involved in church like we are, but right now, we just can’t get into it. Its not that I don’t believe in God or Jesus or anything like that, I am very spiritual-but at this point in my life, I’m of the mindset that I think the whole church thing is more about fellowship and I rarely find when I do go, that I listen to the sermons and they affect me on some level, like I feel they should. So I feel like I’m wasting my time just to appease my mom. My relationship with God happens on my own terms, in my own words, on my own time. And right now I really don’t feel like I need church to facilitate that. But I know I will when I have kids, because I know I don’t have all the answers or all the knowledge to give my kids when it comes to religion, plus some of the greatest times I had where in church related activities as a youth, and one of my best friends (Kathy) grew out of a church relationship. So I’m not totally against church, I’m just not finding it useful in my life right now. But I know it will be again when I have kids, so I’m not too worried about it or about finding a church family. And I hate going to church just to appease my mom, because that feels SO wrong I can’t even begin to tell you. Anyway this was a horrible digression to say I learned something interesting about Lent today from an article called the Truth about Lent:
Q: Where do those ubiquitous ashes come from?
A: For centuries, Ash Wednesday ashes were created by burning the palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday Mass. But now, in a nod to modern efficiency and neatness, most churches simply buy prepackaged ashes, either online or from a religious goods supplier.
Who knew??
Let’s see what else??? We have been trying to get ready for painting on Saturday-that’s been fun, Seth fell of a chair last night and came down hard. Yikes. That was scary, I was brushing my teeth when it happened and I came RUNNING and tried to help him in my towel-which means I was not helpful at all.
Alright I’m off to try and find the Obama speech from last night since I totally missed it because I was taking off trim…
Love (of Jesus and my Mom)
Carrie
It is supposed to be AMAZING out today. And today only, of course it supposed to snow right when I’m going to get my hair done on Saturday.
I just discovered that Amazon has a “warehouse” website where they have refurbished or slightly damaged or return items. I could be in BIG trouble here people!
Someone just came to look at the new pictures that I put up in my cube and some were from my wedding, and I started talking about my wedding to her, which I haven’t done in forever. And I got all squishy about it again. Just describing my dress and how I found it and my bridesmaid colors. *swoon* Good times, good times…
I’ve sucked it up and started listening to 94.1 at work really low. I just can’t stand what they play on 98.5 anymore. Plus if I have to jump to turn of Nickleback or Pink one more time I might just throw my radio over the cube instead. *shudders* I hate them…I just have to remember to keep my radio low and to turn it off when I leave my cube. I can’t get 104.5 or 101.9 to come in to save my life and those are the kosher stations around here. Although I did hear on 98.5 yesterday that they are hosting a Howie Day concert and I practically FELL OVER but I can’t find anything on the web about it, or even about him touring. LOVE Howie Day, LOVE.
Speaking of other artists-Leona Lewis…I really like her songs, but I swear I flash back to the early 90’s every time I hear them. She is so early 90’s Mariah Carey and Celine Dion it’s unreal-even the videos. I mean I love her-but can a girl get a beat? The only song that is tolerable is “Bleeding Love” and that’s because they used it in So You Think You Can Dance (which means an automatic A+ in my book) and Ryan Tedder of One Republic (LOVE HIM) and Jesse McCartney produced and wrote it (respectively). If you would like to hear me expound on how much I love Ryan Tedder-just let me know. Basically it involves being Timbaland’s wingman for years and producing some of the greatest songs you probably never knew he produced. Wait until Chris Cornell’s new album comes out that they both worked on, you will pretty much die from the awesomeness. That is if you are crazy into music like me anyway…
I totally didn’t know that the whole Fat Tuesday, Ash Wednesday, Lent season was upon us until my mom asked me to come to church with her tonite. I wish I had time and the desire, Seth’s mom made a good point, that once we have kids, it will be easier to get back into church and that’s when most people do it. And we have always said that it is important to us to have our kids be involved in church like we are, but right now, we just can’t get into it. Its not that I don’t believe in God or Jesus or anything like that, I am very spiritual-but at this point in my life, I’m of the mindset that I think the whole church thing is more about fellowship and I rarely find when I do go, that I listen to the sermons and they affect me on some level, like I feel they should. So I feel like I’m wasting my time just to appease my mom. My relationship with God happens on my own terms, in my own words, on my own time. And right now I really don’t feel like I need church to facilitate that. But I know I will when I have kids, because I know I don’t have all the answers or all the knowledge to give my kids when it comes to religion, plus some of the greatest times I had where in church related activities as a youth, and one of my best friends (Kathy) grew out of a church relationship. So I’m not totally against church, I’m just not finding it useful in my life right now. But I know it will be again when I have kids, so I’m not too worried about it or about finding a church family. And I hate going to church just to appease my mom, because that feels SO wrong I can’t even begin to tell you. Anyway this was a horrible digression to say I learned something interesting about Lent today from an article called the Truth about Lent:
Q: Where do those ubiquitous ashes come from?
A: For centuries, Ash Wednesday ashes were created by burning the palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday Mass. But now, in a nod to modern efficiency and neatness, most churches simply buy prepackaged ashes, either online or from a religious goods supplier.
Who knew??
Let’s see what else??? We have been trying to get ready for painting on Saturday-that’s been fun, Seth fell of a chair last night and came down hard. Yikes. That was scary, I was brushing my teeth when it happened and I came RUNNING and tried to help him in my towel-which means I was not helpful at all.
Alright I’m off to try and find the Obama speech from last night since I totally missed it because I was taking off trim…
Love (of Jesus and my Mom)
Carrie
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
In real life, I assure you, there is no such thing as algebra.
I have nothing exciting to report today...
I am currently embroiled in a new blog-
http://smartypants.diaryland.com
Hands down one of the funniest blogs I've read. She's been blogging for about 10 years, so I have tons of archives.
Also L'ara gave me the book Twilight and now I have been sucked into that world. Thank God she has all the other books because I would be so embarrassed to go buy them. But I love the book so far, it's my new guilty pleasure. We are also planning a lovely movie day for when the movie comes out on DVD because there's NO WAY I'd go to a theater to see it, in love or not. I'd probably get arrested for the dirty things that happen when I read about Edward.
Why are Vampires so sexy? Case in point, they are more like leeches, to be quite frank...and leeches aren't sexy...
Okay I'm rambling, is this week over yet?
Love (Vampires named Edward),
Carrie
I am currently embroiled in a new blog-
http://smartypants.diaryland.com
Hands down one of the funniest blogs I've read. She's been blogging for about 10 years, so I have tons of archives.
Also L'ara gave me the book Twilight and now I have been sucked into that world. Thank God she has all the other books because I would be so embarrassed to go buy them. But I love the book so far, it's my new guilty pleasure. We are also planning a lovely movie day for when the movie comes out on DVD because there's NO WAY I'd go to a theater to see it, in love or not. I'd probably get arrested for the dirty things that happen when I read about Edward.
Why are Vampires so sexy? Case in point, they are more like leeches, to be quite frank...and leeches aren't sexy...
Okay I'm rambling, is this week over yet?
Love (Vampires named Edward),
Carrie
Monday, February 23, 2009
I'm old-lets face it
So I just opened up my new rolling stone when I got home and this is the picture I'm faced with-
Ew! Does anyone wanna tell me how exactly this sells clothes? I have so many questions, what are they on? Did the guy on the floor eat that girls top and that's why he's passed out and not getting any action? Is this a new Heimlich maneuver/mouth to mouth operation? HOW OLD ARE THESE KIDS?
HOW OLD AM I?
Old enough to get ding dong ditched, as happened yesterday at my house.
I'm going to go sulk in my oldness now and plan my thirtieth birthday party in Vegas-which in my head-goes something like this ad-not really, but Cool Carrie seems to think it would be cool....
*stomps off to sulk*
Love, (not to have high school porn in her rolling stone)
Carrie
Ew! Does anyone wanna tell me how exactly this sells clothes? I have so many questions, what are they on? Did the guy on the floor eat that girls top and that's why he's passed out and not getting any action? Is this a new Heimlich maneuver/mouth to mouth operation? HOW OLD ARE THESE KIDS?
HOW OLD AM I?
Old enough to get ding dong ditched, as happened yesterday at my house.
I'm going to go sulk in my oldness now and plan my thirtieth birthday party in Vegas-which in my head-goes something like this ad-not really, but Cool Carrie seems to think it would be cool....
*stomps off to sulk*
Love, (not to have high school porn in her rolling stone)
Carrie
The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they're going to have some pretty annoying virtues.
Welcome to Monday everyone.
My Dad’s surgery went really well, thank you everyone for all your good juju in his general direction. Hopefully he will have a quick recovery! Surgery in your abdomen is one of the worst because you don’t realize how much you use it! (or at least so I hear, I’ve only every had surgery on my face…)
We had a pretty productive weekend. It was REALLY busy. Because I’m lazy I’m just going to cut and paste from my morning emails to people of exactly HOW busy we were this weekend:
Friday I had to go see my Dad in the hospital. It was the worst thing ever. Those beds are so big and he looked so small. I fell apart when we left. Dad’s are supposed to be indestructible! It made me feel really old, like I should have been grown up and be able to handle it but it was like I wanted him to get out of bed and take care of me and my sadness for him. He did a good job though, he kept telling me not to worry-he knows me too well! I decided I hate everything about hospitals, but especially the smell. I know that’s cliché but it does smell so uncomfortable. They worked really hard to make that place all shiny and not hospitalish-can’t they do something about the SMELL?? Get some glade plug-in’s or something, I’m sure the aromatherapy would help patients
.
Saturday we woke up early and started rushing around the house to get things ready for accent wall painting and the arrival of the new TV! Mom called on her way home from the hospital with dad-he wanted tomato soup from scratch, and my brother is usually the guy who makes that, but my brother was to busy being in his friends movie that day so I volunteered to do it. And since we were going to be over on 72nd street anyway, I also stopped to pick up the painting stuff from Jesse so he wouldn’t have to drive it across town. We waited in the WORLD'S LONGEST LINE to pick up or TV (which is so nice!!), so on our way home we had to stop and get all the stuff for soup and get the painting stuff from Jesse. Jesse gave me a new DVD case for my movies to match the one Seth’s parents got me for Christmas and I was so EXCITED. It was like a little secret gift that you didn’t know you were going to get that makes your day. Like when my mom picks me up a bubble bath when she gets some from Bath and Body Works, she probably doesn’t know how much that makes my day when she decides to do it.
Anyway, I made the soup and cinnamon rolls. While we were waiting for that we painted the red wall and then went to have dinner with Dad. Seth sat with him while I took my mom over to Kohl's to get him comfy sleep pants and get him some Advil. We had dinner and left around 9. We put another coat of red on the wall and then went to bed pretty much.
Sunday Seth let me sleep in and we taped off and painted the brown walls (which I LOVE, they look like giant candy bars in my living room).. I completely forgot we told Cheeto and Whit we would celebrate their birthdays with them on Sunday. Oops. So they called at 5 and wondered what we were going to do. And I was like, oh WORST FRIEND EVER, in my defense though, I gave them their presents last week, so it completely slipped my mind that their birthdays were this week. We ended up having them over for pizza and watching a movie. It was fun. When the boys went to get the pizza Whit and I just caught up and it was nice to do girl talk this weekend.
I also did laundry, made a chowder of cauliflower, potato, corn and cheese soup-its strange and missing something but it's a good filler soup. And I made Seth pulled BBQ pork this week for dinner.
The kittens were alternately lovely and awful when it came to painting. We had one incident in the red paint (Willow) and one incident with the drop clothes (Bagheera/Willow, we don't know who the culprit was). When they were getting too close or gave a wet paint wall some love they got locked in the spare room where they SCREAMED and HOWLED and CRIED until they fell asleep or we let them out. Bags did NOT like being locked in the spare room and was a HOPELESS cuddle monster when we let him out, like were were locking him in a gulaug or something and he was just SO thankful he was out, he loved on us in hopes we wouldn't send him back. The cutest part was when Seth was sitting on the stairs painstakingly painting and trying not to get paint on the carpet and Bagheera climbed right into his lap because he thought Seth was sitting on the floor for cuddles. I have pictures, one day I might remember to post them.
My DVR is screaming under the weight of all the shows I didn't watch this weekend.
We have a lot ahead this week. We have to tape off all the walls for when we have people over to paint, Seth has to pull all the trim off those walls. He is trying to sand the trim as he goes, so that then when we get another free weekend we can just stain until we are blue in the face (or pass out from fumes). There is a TON of stuff on the DVR, even though I did wake up early to watch a lot of it. And I’m getting my hair done this weekend, which is very exciting.
Well that’s all from Hellbusch central!Hope you all have had a pleasant start to you week!
Love, (my new chocolate walls)
Carrie
My Dad’s surgery went really well, thank you everyone for all your good juju in his general direction. Hopefully he will have a quick recovery! Surgery in your abdomen is one of the worst because you don’t realize how much you use it! (or at least so I hear, I’ve only every had surgery on my face…)
We had a pretty productive weekend. It was REALLY busy. Because I’m lazy I’m just going to cut and paste from my morning emails to people of exactly HOW busy we were this weekend:
Friday I had to go see my Dad in the hospital. It was the worst thing ever. Those beds are so big and he looked so small. I fell apart when we left. Dad’s are supposed to be indestructible! It made me feel really old, like I should have been grown up and be able to handle it but it was like I wanted him to get out of bed and take care of me and my sadness for him. He did a good job though, he kept telling me not to worry-he knows me too well! I decided I hate everything about hospitals, but especially the smell. I know that’s cliché but it does smell so uncomfortable. They worked really hard to make that place all shiny and not hospitalish-can’t they do something about the SMELL?? Get some glade plug-in’s or something, I’m sure the aromatherapy would help patients
.
Saturday we woke up early and started rushing around the house to get things ready for accent wall painting and the arrival of the new TV! Mom called on her way home from the hospital with dad-he wanted tomato soup from scratch, and my brother is usually the guy who makes that, but my brother was to busy being in his friends movie that day so I volunteered to do it. And since we were going to be over on 72nd street anyway, I also stopped to pick up the painting stuff from Jesse so he wouldn’t have to drive it across town. We waited in the WORLD'S LONGEST LINE to pick up or TV (which is so nice!!), so on our way home we had to stop and get all the stuff for soup and get the painting stuff from Jesse. Jesse gave me a new DVD case for my movies to match the one Seth’s parents got me for Christmas and I was so EXCITED. It was like a little secret gift that you didn’t know you were going to get that makes your day. Like when my mom picks me up a bubble bath when she gets some from Bath and Body Works, she probably doesn’t know how much that makes my day when she decides to do it.
Anyway, I made the soup and cinnamon rolls. While we were waiting for that we painted the red wall and then went to have dinner with Dad. Seth sat with him while I took my mom over to Kohl's to get him comfy sleep pants and get him some Advil. We had dinner and left around 9. We put another coat of red on the wall and then went to bed pretty much.
Sunday Seth let me sleep in and we taped off and painted the brown walls (which I LOVE, they look like giant candy bars in my living room).. I completely forgot we told Cheeto and Whit we would celebrate their birthdays with them on Sunday. Oops. So they called at 5 and wondered what we were going to do. And I was like, oh WORST FRIEND EVER, in my defense though, I gave them their presents last week, so it completely slipped my mind that their birthdays were this week. We ended up having them over for pizza and watching a movie. It was fun. When the boys went to get the pizza Whit and I just caught up and it was nice to do girl talk this weekend.
I also did laundry, made a chowder of cauliflower, potato, corn and cheese soup-its strange and missing something but it's a good filler soup. And I made Seth pulled BBQ pork this week for dinner.
The kittens were alternately lovely and awful when it came to painting. We had one incident in the red paint (Willow) and one incident with the drop clothes (Bagheera/Willow, we don't know who the culprit was). When they were getting too close or gave a wet paint wall some love they got locked in the spare room where they SCREAMED and HOWLED and CRIED until they fell asleep or we let them out. Bags did NOT like being locked in the spare room and was a HOPELESS cuddle monster when we let him out, like were were locking him in a gulaug or something and he was just SO thankful he was out, he loved on us in hopes we wouldn't send him back. The cutest part was when Seth was sitting on the stairs painstakingly painting and trying not to get paint on the carpet and Bagheera climbed right into his lap because he thought Seth was sitting on the floor for cuddles. I have pictures, one day I might remember to post them.
My DVR is screaming under the weight of all the shows I didn't watch this weekend.
We have a lot ahead this week. We have to tape off all the walls for when we have people over to paint, Seth has to pull all the trim off those walls. He is trying to sand the trim as he goes, so that then when we get another free weekend we can just stain until we are blue in the face (or pass out from fumes). There is a TON of stuff on the DVR, even though I did wake up early to watch a lot of it. And I’m getting my hair done this weekend, which is very exciting.
Well that’s all from Hellbusch central!Hope you all have had a pleasant start to you week!
Love, (my new chocolate walls)
Carrie
Friday, February 20, 2009
Listening, not imitation, may be the sincerest form of flattery.
Happy Friday everyone!
I hope it’s a happy Friday for you! And you have a great weekend ahead planned!
So I lied-today is not my 6 month wedding anniversary-there were numbers involved people, I got flustered, it is actually my 5 month a versary. But we are still going to celebrate. I’m currently trying to find something fantastic to cook for dinner. I know I want asparagus, and a fantastic potato dish. Also I want to use my new immersion blender to make a great soup. Maybe cheesy cauliflower? And to cap it off I am going to make cinnamon rolls with a disgusting amount frosting.
Also this week Seth will be dining on pulled pork a la this recipie from my favorite cooking blog: http://ashleescooking.blogspot.com/2009/02/pulled-pork-and-lowfat-no-mayo-coleslaw.html
But the BIG thing this weekend will be the arrival of the NEW TV!! Hooray!! And also the painting-but yesterday I quit the painting team, but I think I might come back tonite after I get the cooking out of my system.
Today is Dad’s surgery, in fact it could be happening now, I’m not sure, but either way I’m in a very quiet place right now radiating happy thoughts.
I ordered more pictures last night (thanks “X number of free digital prints” w ebsites!) for my cube, and it took forever to decided what I wanted, we have TONS of pictures. Like an obscene amount. I need to get the digital photo frame Cody got me for Christmas set up, or at least I need to get Seth to do it.
I’m secretly planning that trip to Vegas in my head. So far my bridesmaids are there and their husbands, except their husbands do boring things like gamble and watch sports and hang out and we do fun things like go dancing and party it up and try to figure out if wearing the cute high heels that match our dresses and WALKING (because you walk everywhere in Vegas-its just what you do) and DANCING all night in them is a good idea. In my head it is a VERY fun trip where there are lots of magical moments pictures that we always look back on fondly and smile. I secretly think it is because I’m rapidly approaching 30. YIKES. Let’s not talk about that, let’s talk about other things like Grey’s last night.
It was pretty good. I thoroughly enjoyed it myself. That fight scene was pretty great and I am still fawning over Own Hunt. The writer’s blog today had me up in arms because they threw out all these stupid teasers about Meredith and Derek and Izzie and Bailey, but I’m ignoring them. Did anyone else watch?
I officially closed the door on “Trust Me” this week. I just couldn’t get into it. The characters were terrible and not easy to like and the pacing was TOO SLOW, the storyline wasn’t developing at all. And I kept comparing it to “Mad Men” in my head. Dude when is THAT show coming back? What a great show. I should see how much they are on DVD…anyway so “Trust Me” is out, but “Lie to Me” is still in. That show is getting better and better. I love learning about all the microemotions that people have. And I spend a lot of time now staring directly at people when they talk. Yay TV where you learn things!
Speaking of TV-I’m obsessed with watching the house hunting shows on HGTV, like House Hunters and Property Virgins. And I don’t know WHY I watch them, because I usually HATE the people buying the house because they are OH SO STUPID and think things like the color of the paint is a reason NOT to buy a house. Or the dude who is trying to act like he knows stuff and in EVERY ROOM has to ask the Realtor what said cabinet, floor, beam, door, or tile is made out of. And as if to cement his awesomeness he has to throw in a suggestion of what it COULD be which is usually WAY off base, like “Gary, what kind of cabinetry is this? Is it fruitwood?” and Gary’s like “Uh no, that is MDF, but it’s so realistic it COULD be fruitwood, couldn’t it??” And usually Gary is using the most car salesmen like approach to selling a house. Maybe we just had a bad agent or something but our sales lady could have given a flying hoot if we cared about the house or not, she was just there to unlock the door. In retrospect, our sales lady sucked. When we buy again, we won’t be going back to her. I’m going to like NP Dodge or something where they are JACKALS. But anyway the guy last night, they were in Hawaii-first off was flamboyantly gay-which I’m fine with, but he kept using inappropriate words to describe things in the house. Like he kept saying “Isn’t this bathroom delicious you all? It’s just DELISH!” Ick-can you tell me what exactly in a bathroom is delicious? I don’t normally find myself in a bathroom wanting to EAT anything.
The ones I hate most of all though are the people who are buying retirement/vacation homes in other countries like Mexico or Jamaica or something. I hate those people, mostly out of jealousy. I want to have a summer home on the beach. Also, the furniture is always included in these homes, which I’m not sure I’m okay with. I know people who get drunk and pee on their couches. How many rich dudes passed out on that couch and peed? No thanks, you can take your pee couch with you. The furniture is mostly old balls anyway. It probably smells like old people and salt. But they have these beautiful open concept houses with like 3000 square feet and when they do the “Three Months Later” part of the show, they are like eating fresh fruit and veggies they got from the market down the street and drinking fantastic drinks and they look younger and happier and I hate them for it, purely out of jealousy. It’s plain as day green jealousy for sure and I’m not ashamed to admit it. I’m secretly starting a campaign to make my parents want to get a summer house in Mexico so that I can come visit and pretend I live that life.
My FAVORITE one of these was this couple from Oklahoma who built houses and decided to move to Nicaragua forever. So they start the interview and they keep pronouncing it NIGGER-agua. Over and over. It is almost like the producers are rubbing it in your face that not only do you not have this kind of money, but they have SO much money they can offensively pronounce the name of the country and get away with it. Because the real estate agent is just like 10% commission on a million dollar house? Lips Zipped. I couldn’t believe it, but THEN, but THEN the old guy starts ribbing the lady about how it was SUCH a big house she wouldn’t be able to clean it and she goes-I kid you not- “Well I’ll just get one of them NIGGER-auguans to clean it for me, they are cheap out here”. And then I fell over and died. My brain exploded I could not take it. Seth and I were like did she SERIOUSLY just say that!?!? House Hunters! *sigh* I love you. I could spend DAYS telling you about the House Hunters that was in FRANCE…
Alright I’ve rambled enough for today. I hope you all have a super fantastic weekend and lots of good things happen for you.
Thanks to everyone for keeping my Pops in your thoughts and prayers.
Love (my life),
Carrie
I hope it’s a happy Friday for you! And you have a great weekend ahead planned!
So I lied-today is not my 6 month wedding anniversary-there were numbers involved people, I got flustered, it is actually my 5 month a versary. But we are still going to celebrate. I’m currently trying to find something fantastic to cook for dinner. I know I want asparagus, and a fantastic potato dish. Also I want to use my new immersion blender to make a great soup. Maybe cheesy cauliflower? And to cap it off I am going to make cinnamon rolls with a disgusting amount frosting.
Also this week Seth will be dining on pulled pork a la this recipie from my favorite cooking blog: http://ashleescooking.blogspot.com/2009/02/pulled-pork-and-lowfat-no-mayo-coleslaw.html
But the BIG thing this weekend will be the arrival of the NEW TV!! Hooray!! And also the painting-but yesterday I quit the painting team, but I think I might come back tonite after I get the cooking out of my system.
Today is Dad’s surgery, in fact it could be happening now, I’m not sure, but either way I’m in a very quiet place right now radiating happy thoughts.
I ordered more pictures last night (thanks “X number of free digital prints” w ebsites!) for my cube, and it took forever to decided what I wanted, we have TONS of pictures. Like an obscene amount. I need to get the digital photo frame Cody got me for Christmas set up, or at least I need to get Seth to do it.
I’m secretly planning that trip to Vegas in my head. So far my bridesmaids are there and their husbands, except their husbands do boring things like gamble and watch sports and hang out and we do fun things like go dancing and party it up and try to figure out if wearing the cute high heels that match our dresses and WALKING (because you walk everywhere in Vegas-its just what you do) and DANCING all night in them is a good idea. In my head it is a VERY fun trip where there are lots of magical moments pictures that we always look back on fondly and smile. I secretly think it is because I’m rapidly approaching 30. YIKES. Let’s not talk about that, let’s talk about other things like Grey’s last night.
It was pretty good. I thoroughly enjoyed it myself. That fight scene was pretty great and I am still fawning over Own Hunt. The writer’s blog today had me up in arms because they threw out all these stupid teasers about Meredith and Derek and Izzie and Bailey, but I’m ignoring them. Did anyone else watch?
I officially closed the door on “Trust Me” this week. I just couldn’t get into it. The characters were terrible and not easy to like and the pacing was TOO SLOW, the storyline wasn’t developing at all. And I kept comparing it to “Mad Men” in my head. Dude when is THAT show coming back? What a great show. I should see how much they are on DVD…anyway so “Trust Me” is out, but “Lie to Me” is still in. That show is getting better and better. I love learning about all the microemotions that people have. And I spend a lot of time now staring directly at people when they talk. Yay TV where you learn things!
Speaking of TV-I’m obsessed with watching the house hunting shows on HGTV, like House Hunters and Property Virgins. And I don’t know WHY I watch them, because I usually HATE the people buying the house because they are OH SO STUPID and think things like the color of the paint is a reason NOT to buy a house. Or the dude who is trying to act like he knows stuff and in EVERY ROOM has to ask the Realtor what said cabinet, floor, beam, door, or tile is made out of. And as if to cement his awesomeness he has to throw in a suggestion of what it COULD be which is usually WAY off base, like “Gary, what kind of cabinetry is this? Is it fruitwood?” and Gary’s like “Uh no, that is MDF, but it’s so realistic it COULD be fruitwood, couldn’t it??” And usually Gary is using the most car salesmen like approach to selling a house. Maybe we just had a bad agent or something but our sales lady could have given a flying hoot if we cared about the house or not, she was just there to unlock the door. In retrospect, our sales lady sucked. When we buy again, we won’t be going back to her. I’m going to like NP Dodge or something where they are JACKALS. But anyway the guy last night, they were in Hawaii-first off was flamboyantly gay-which I’m fine with, but he kept using inappropriate words to describe things in the house. Like he kept saying “Isn’t this bathroom delicious you all? It’s just DELISH!” Ick-can you tell me what exactly in a bathroom is delicious? I don’t normally find myself in a bathroom wanting to EAT anything.
The ones I hate most of all though are the people who are buying retirement/vacation homes in other countries like Mexico or Jamaica or something. I hate those people, mostly out of jealousy. I want to have a summer home on the beach. Also, the furniture is always included in these homes, which I’m not sure I’m okay with. I know people who get drunk and pee on their couches. How many rich dudes passed out on that couch and peed? No thanks, you can take your pee couch with you. The furniture is mostly old balls anyway. It probably smells like old people and salt. But they have these beautiful open concept houses with like 3000 square feet and when they do the “Three Months Later” part of the show, they are like eating fresh fruit and veggies they got from the market down the street and drinking fantastic drinks and they look younger and happier and I hate them for it, purely out of jealousy. It’s plain as day green jealousy for sure and I’m not ashamed to admit it. I’m secretly starting a campaign to make my parents want to get a summer house in Mexico so that I can come visit and pretend I live that life.
My FAVORITE one of these was this couple from Oklahoma who built houses and decided to move to Nicaragua forever. So they start the interview and they keep pronouncing it NIGGER-agua. Over and over. It is almost like the producers are rubbing it in your face that not only do you not have this kind of money, but they have SO much money they can offensively pronounce the name of the country and get away with it. Because the real estate agent is just like 10% commission on a million dollar house? Lips Zipped. I couldn’t believe it, but THEN, but THEN the old guy starts ribbing the lady about how it was SUCH a big house she wouldn’t be able to clean it and she goes-I kid you not- “Well I’ll just get one of them NIGGER-auguans to clean it for me, they are cheap out here”. And then I fell over and died. My brain exploded I could not take it. Seth and I were like did she SERIOUSLY just say that!?!? House Hunters! *sigh* I love you. I could spend DAYS telling you about the House Hunters that was in FRANCE…
Alright I’ve rambled enough for today. I hope you all have a super fantastic weekend and lots of good things happen for you.
Thanks to everyone for keeping my Pops in your thoughts and prayers.
Love (my life),
Carrie
Thursday, February 19, 2009
To err is human--and to blame it on a computer is even more so.
Happy Thursday All! It’s Grey Day and the last day of the Grey’s Anatomy/Private Practice cross over. Thank goodness! My DVR was struggling! Let’s hope it’s a good episode tonite!
Wait is it Thursday? Yeah, yeah it is because tomorrow is my 6 month wedding anniversary. I can’t believe it’s been six months! So much has changed since my wedding it feels like AGES ago. I should plan a nice dinner. Maybe that’s what I’ll troll the net for today…
Painting update-we tried the grey paint suggestion and I think its going to work, albeit that it’s going to be a ROYAL pain. It will still take two coats, but it really worked. It was like night and day. Thanks for the suggestions everyone! I’ll make sure to take pictures this weekend to show everyone how the accent walls and bathroom turned out. I think we will bed doing that tomorrow night and Saturday. I’m going to sucker Jesse into helping when he stops by to help us install the TV.
The TV!! I’m so excited. I haven’t really thought about it because we don’t have it right now. Seth took down the TV in the bedroom in anticipation of the new one (mostly because Cody was there to help him take down that mammoth beast) and I’ve really missed being able to catch the news at night before we go to bed. I think our first official movie on it will be Madagascar 2, since we bought that ages ago and haven’t watched it yet. Also we have Weeds Season 1 to watch, which reminds me I need to ask Jesse if he has the rest of those. I am so excited to have a fancy new tv in there-with all my books, I may never leave!
Speaking again of books-L’ara dropped off “The Reader” last night, and since she is crazy busy at work, she probably won’t post a review, but I’ve just moved it to the top of my list, so hopefully I will be able to review it all for you soon!
Also my dear friend Jenny-who used to work with me at NPP and is now at UNMC wonders where one disposes of old books they don’t want anymore, like old Danielle Steel books (seriously, that doesn’t comprehend with me at ALL who WANTS to give books away!?!? J) So if any of you out there want to do a book trade or knows where to donate stacks of books, hit the comments section!
So today my Pops has another CAT scan to look at his chest, and if all goes well his surgery is tomorrow. So lets all keep him in your respective happy places!
I am so hungry I wish it was lunch time already, I started looking at food for Friday and about ate my screen. I have the WORST desire to make a totally dripping with fat mac and cheese. I made a really good one a couple months ago out of my southern cook book that had djion mustard in the sauce and it was lip smacking good. *sigh*
So thankfully on AI last night they didn’t put thru Tatiana-THANK YOU JESUS. She made a big scene and the camera kept cutting back to her like she was going to wig out or something but she just randomly started crying on whoever was closest. By the way AI producers-WORST wrap up show ever. I literally watched all of 6 minutes of it, four of those minutes were watching Carly and Michael Johns from last year sing. Thank the HEAVENS for DVR. I am hating this new format with such a vengeance. I mean who really sat thru all 12 of the results? If you did, I can give you a list of shows my arm long you should have been watching instead.
One of those is Chuck. Great show. Great writing-great actors. If you aren’t watching it you are missing one of the cleverest shows on tv today. Or any of the Law and Order’s, SVU was particularly twisty this week. It was all about this transgendered kid, did you even know there WERE transgendered kids? Whose parents let them change their sex at age like 10? And take hormones and blockers in hopes that when they are old enough they can have reassignment surgery? There is a whole support group and world of them out there! Who knew? That must be so hard in school. I can’t imagine anything like that flying in the Midwest. We haven’t come THAT far yet-Intervention is still blaming that shot putter’s drug addiction on “The torrent drug and Gay/Lesbian scene in Omaha” I was like really? Where? I went to a gay club to go dancing (L’ara you remember that?) here once and got licked on my back. That was about as torrent as it got. And they had really tiny scary bathrooms and free ice water and I thought that was WORLDS better than Guitars and Cadillac’s. I’ve just dated myself for all of you youngn’s out there reading this.
I’m on a hunt for blogs to read at work, I’m nearing the end of my Joshilyn Jackson archives over at Faster than Kudzu, so I’m open to suggestions. If you have got them, throw them in the comments below! I’ve taken to just hitting the “next blog” button at the top of the page in search of one, but I keep coming up with ones that are not in English, although they have fun pictures. Anyone have any idea how to search and find blogs besides typing “blogs” into google?
Oh speaking of the page, I added some fun for you. I’m playing with gadgets, to the right and the bottom of the page I’ve added some things. I spent a couple minutes playing hangman this morning. Yay for gadgets!
Hope that you all are having a great day!!
Love (of decaf green tea),
Carrie
Wait is it Thursday? Yeah, yeah it is because tomorrow is my 6 month wedding anniversary. I can’t believe it’s been six months! So much has changed since my wedding it feels like AGES ago. I should plan a nice dinner. Maybe that’s what I’ll troll the net for today…
Painting update-we tried the grey paint suggestion and I think its going to work, albeit that it’s going to be a ROYAL pain. It will still take two coats, but it really worked. It was like night and day. Thanks for the suggestions everyone! I’ll make sure to take pictures this weekend to show everyone how the accent walls and bathroom turned out. I think we will bed doing that tomorrow night and Saturday. I’m going to sucker Jesse into helping when he stops by to help us install the TV.
The TV!! I’m so excited. I haven’t really thought about it because we don’t have it right now. Seth took down the TV in the bedroom in anticipation of the new one (mostly because Cody was there to help him take down that mammoth beast) and I’ve really missed being able to catch the news at night before we go to bed. I think our first official movie on it will be Madagascar 2, since we bought that ages ago and haven’t watched it yet. Also we have Weeds Season 1 to watch, which reminds me I need to ask Jesse if he has the rest of those. I am so excited to have a fancy new tv in there-with all my books, I may never leave!
Speaking again of books-L’ara dropped off “The Reader” last night, and since she is crazy busy at work, she probably won’t post a review, but I’ve just moved it to the top of my list, so hopefully I will be able to review it all for you soon!
Also my dear friend Jenny-who used to work with me at NPP and is now at UNMC wonders where one disposes of old books they don’t want anymore, like old Danielle Steel books (seriously, that doesn’t comprehend with me at ALL who WANTS to give books away!?!? J) So if any of you out there want to do a book trade or knows where to donate stacks of books, hit the comments section!
So today my Pops has another CAT scan to look at his chest, and if all goes well his surgery is tomorrow. So lets all keep him in your respective happy places!
I am so hungry I wish it was lunch time already, I started looking at food for Friday and about ate my screen. I have the WORST desire to make a totally dripping with fat mac and cheese. I made a really good one a couple months ago out of my southern cook book that had djion mustard in the sauce and it was lip smacking good. *sigh*
So thankfully on AI last night they didn’t put thru Tatiana-THANK YOU JESUS. She made a big scene and the camera kept cutting back to her like she was going to wig out or something but she just randomly started crying on whoever was closest. By the way AI producers-WORST wrap up show ever. I literally watched all of 6 minutes of it, four of those minutes were watching Carly and Michael Johns from last year sing. Thank the HEAVENS for DVR. I am hating this new format with such a vengeance. I mean who really sat thru all 12 of the results? If you did, I can give you a list of shows my arm long you should have been watching instead.
One of those is Chuck. Great show. Great writing-great actors. If you aren’t watching it you are missing one of the cleverest shows on tv today. Or any of the Law and Order’s, SVU was particularly twisty this week. It was all about this transgendered kid, did you even know there WERE transgendered kids? Whose parents let them change their sex at age like 10? And take hormones and blockers in hopes that when they are old enough they can have reassignment surgery? There is a whole support group and world of them out there! Who knew? That must be so hard in school. I can’t imagine anything like that flying in the Midwest. We haven’t come THAT far yet-Intervention is still blaming that shot putter’s drug addiction on “The torrent drug and Gay/Lesbian scene in Omaha” I was like really? Where? I went to a gay club to go dancing (L’ara you remember that?) here once and got licked on my back. That was about as torrent as it got. And they had really tiny scary bathrooms and free ice water and I thought that was WORLDS better than Guitars and Cadillac’s. I’ve just dated myself for all of you youngn’s out there reading this.
I’m on a hunt for blogs to read at work, I’m nearing the end of my Joshilyn Jackson archives over at Faster than Kudzu, so I’m open to suggestions. If you have got them, throw them in the comments below! I’ve taken to just hitting the “next blog” button at the top of the page in search of one, but I keep coming up with ones that are not in English, although they have fun pictures. Anyone have any idea how to search and find blogs besides typing “blogs” into google?
Oh speaking of the page, I added some fun for you. I’m playing with gadgets, to the right and the bottom of the page I’ve added some things. I spent a couple minutes playing hangman this morning. Yay for gadgets!
Hope that you all are having a great day!!
Love (of decaf green tea),
Carrie
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Books! Books! Books! or why I need more bookshelves...
Hi All!
I’m back again because I’m bored and a LOVELY reader has asked me my opinion on books- *preen* and SHE COMMENTED. I am so very excited. Hi Jess! *waves*
So to answer the big question-what books I like to read.
First off a note about how I approach bookstores-
When I go into a large book store (by the way Book-a-million on L is my favorite at the moment) I stick strictly to the clearance section, because those books are WAY overpriced, and unless there is an author I ADORE (JK Rowling, Joshilyn Jackson, Gregory Maguire, Kate Mosse) I won’t pay full price for a book. So I stick to the clearance section because usually you can get good books there for under five dollars, and if you are willing to wait a couple months, the bookstores usually put their overstock of bestsellers there for under 6 bucks. Anyway that is how I approach bookstores. Once I get to the clearance aisle, I usually try to find books that the covers and first couple pages appeal to me.
That being said, I mostly read historical fiction. It’s kind of like great stories based loosely on fact. Some of the best movies are made from historical fiction. The Godfather movies are based on a historical fiction book.
Mostly I try to move regions, right now I am in “France” meaning I’ve been reading books that take place in France. I have a stack of books waiting to be read that take place entirely in Latin America (which when I read this region, I always want it to be summer REALLY bad). Normally though, you will find me in Europe, since I used to live there and all, it feels like home when I read there.
My “fun” books, meaning my books that I read in the bathroom or the tub or the car or at lunch at work are short chapter books that are sappy and usually are about some family that looks perfectly normal and is perfectly screwed up, and they offer TONS on insight on dealing with that perfectly screwed up. They are usually pretty damn funny too.
I also have a soft spot for Mauve Binchy who writes lovely stories about people in Ireland, which I love because my grandma took me on a trip there as a present when I graduated from high school and I secretly want to live there forever. The woman has written a TON of books and they are sappy and perfectly Irish. So I never run out of books. Seriously she has written a TON (I hyperlinked that for you because it’s seriously a list of Maeve Binchy books).
I’ve only ever read one self help enlightenment book and it’s the only one I ever want to read. It’s called Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. It changed the way I thought about EVERYTHING.
So what am I reading right now? Well from what I can remember from work here is what I’m reading-
Sepulchre by Kate Mosse- wonderful book. I’m thisclose to finishing it. It’s one of those time jumper books where a character from the past is affecting a character from the future. This is the one that takes place in France.
The Miss America Family by Julianna Baggott-this is my fun one, its pretty frank. I’d tell you what just happened where I am at in the book, but I’d be ruining it for you. I’m reading it in the bathtub.
The Saffron Kitchen by Yasmin Crowther- I’m two pages into this, I can’t really tell you much about it, but its about a mother who is Iranian and her daughter while the struggle to live in England and learn how to adapt and change.
That reminds me of another type of book I like, I think, because of my background as a Army Brat, I like to read books about people adapting and changing to different living situations. Lately most of the books you will find on this subject are Middle Eastern peoples trying to adapt to American or English life. It’s interesting for me to see an outsider’s perspective on America and Americans. The struggle to adapt and fit in and become productive in a society where you hardly speak the language intrigues me. It also helps me to understand that people do that everyday and sometimes the little things you do for a person can make their whole lives. I remember this one book I read recently “Even after all this time” and in the book and American family invites the girl in the book to their house for dinner and that simple act endured her to this family and being American. So I like reading books like this.
Here are some others from my Valentine’s Day shopping adventure I got and can tell you nothing about:
Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin (historical fiction)
The Collectors by David Baldacci
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Used World by Haven Kimmel
Scarlet Feather by Maeve Binchy
Here are some other books I’ve read that I’ve LOVED:
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
The Rapture of Canaan by Sheri Reynolds (anything by this woman-she is GREAT)
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
Anything by Ken Follett
Melissa Banks books, she writes a good “I’m screwy because of my family” book
Labyrinth by Kate Mosse
Anything by Homer Hickam
We could be here for days…
I hope this helps! I will try to write down my book stacks when I get home tonite for you all, or at least take a picture so you know the kind of crazy Seth has to live with!!
Love (of books),
Carrie
I’m back again because I’m bored and a LOVELY reader has asked me my opinion on books- *preen* and SHE COMMENTED. I am so very excited. Hi Jess! *waves*
So to answer the big question-what books I like to read.
First off a note about how I approach bookstores-
When I go into a large book store (by the way Book-a-million on L is my favorite at the moment) I stick strictly to the clearance section, because those books are WAY overpriced, and unless there is an author I ADORE (JK Rowling, Joshilyn Jackson, Gregory Maguire, Kate Mosse) I won’t pay full price for a book. So I stick to the clearance section because usually you can get good books there for under five dollars, and if you are willing to wait a couple months, the bookstores usually put their overstock of bestsellers there for under 6 bucks. Anyway that is how I approach bookstores. Once I get to the clearance aisle, I usually try to find books that the covers and first couple pages appeal to me.
That being said, I mostly read historical fiction. It’s kind of like great stories based loosely on fact. Some of the best movies are made from historical fiction. The Godfather movies are based on a historical fiction book.
Mostly I try to move regions, right now I am in “France” meaning I’ve been reading books that take place in France. I have a stack of books waiting to be read that take place entirely in Latin America (which when I read this region, I always want it to be summer REALLY bad). Normally though, you will find me in Europe, since I used to live there and all, it feels like home when I read there.
My “fun” books, meaning my books that I read in the bathroom or the tub or the car or at lunch at work are short chapter books that are sappy and usually are about some family that looks perfectly normal and is perfectly screwed up, and they offer TONS on insight on dealing with that perfectly screwed up. They are usually pretty damn funny too.
I also have a soft spot for Mauve Binchy who writes lovely stories about people in Ireland, which I love because my grandma took me on a trip there as a present when I graduated from high school and I secretly want to live there forever. The woman has written a TON of books and they are sappy and perfectly Irish. So I never run out of books. Seriously she has written a TON (I hyperlinked that for you because it’s seriously a list of Maeve Binchy books).
I’ve only ever read one self help enlightenment book and it’s the only one I ever want to read. It’s called Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. It changed the way I thought about EVERYTHING.
So what am I reading right now? Well from what I can remember from work here is what I’m reading-
Sepulchre by Kate Mosse- wonderful book. I’m thisclose to finishing it. It’s one of those time jumper books where a character from the past is affecting a character from the future. This is the one that takes place in France.
The Miss America Family by Julianna Baggott-this is my fun one, its pretty frank. I’d tell you what just happened where I am at in the book, but I’d be ruining it for you. I’m reading it in the bathtub.
The Saffron Kitchen by Yasmin Crowther- I’m two pages into this, I can’t really tell you much about it, but its about a mother who is Iranian and her daughter while the struggle to live in England and learn how to adapt and change.
That reminds me of another type of book I like, I think, because of my background as a Army Brat, I like to read books about people adapting and changing to different living situations. Lately most of the books you will find on this subject are Middle Eastern peoples trying to adapt to American or English life. It’s interesting for me to see an outsider’s perspective on America and Americans. The struggle to adapt and fit in and become productive in a society where you hardly speak the language intrigues me. It also helps me to understand that people do that everyday and sometimes the little things you do for a person can make their whole lives. I remember this one book I read recently “Even after all this time” and in the book and American family invites the girl in the book to their house for dinner and that simple act endured her to this family and being American. So I like reading books like this.
Here are some others from my Valentine’s Day shopping adventure I got and can tell you nothing about:
Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin (historical fiction)
The Collectors by David Baldacci
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Used World by Haven Kimmel
Scarlet Feather by Maeve Binchy
Here are some other books I’ve read that I’ve LOVED:
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
The Rapture of Canaan by Sheri Reynolds (anything by this woman-she is GREAT)
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
Anything by Ken Follett
Melissa Banks books, she writes a good “I’m screwy because of my family” book
Labyrinth by Kate Mosse
Anything by Homer Hickam
We could be here for days…
I hope this helps! I will try to write down my book stacks when I get home tonite for you all, or at least take a picture so you know the kind of crazy Seth has to live with!!
Love (of books),
Carrie
A Hump Day blog
Happy Hump Day everyone!
Thanks to everyone who emailed or commented about that stupid tax law. I’ve come to the conclusion that we are being railroaded, but what can you expect, someone has to pay, right? Guess it will be the Hellbusch’s.
So let’s talk about American Idol. We have finally moved into the rounds where people start caring about people. So what did Idol producers do? They went and screwed with the format! What is up with that?? There are some people there that deserve a second chance and there were some people that stood out hard. (Danny Gokey) But this new format makes NO sense. People have off nights, they are nervous, that’s why the format is you vote for the worst two and pick off the scab slowly. They need to be able to take the advice of the judges and use it. And by the way, I’m sure it’s pretty nerve wracking to sing live for the first time. So “Dear Idol Producers, go back, this sucks”. Because you know what? That crazy loon Tatiana is going to get thru and then I’m going to have to pull my hair out and stuff it in my ears, and I won’t look good bald and I’ll be that angry bald girl with hair in her ears. No one wants that. By the way, who gave Tatiana downers? Not that I miss the crazy, but I hate the fake “no really, I’m not crazy, *whispers* a psychic told me I would win wheee!” that she’s putting out right now. Ugh, Idol *spits* why do I watch this show?? Just give it to Danny Gokey so I can get back to my crime dramas and not feel like I’ve wasted years of my life willing people to be better and listening to them destroy perfectly good songs.
I think next year they should have an Idol off where they bring back all the like top 2 idols from every year and make them sing so we can crown David Cook the most awesomest of all. The end.
So what else? Oh, I need tips for painting a small wall dark red. My test swatches are coming out streaky and requiring like 400 coats of paint. Not that I don’t have the paint since I have a gallon and it’s a small wall, but I don’t have the patience to keep painting that wall without getting mad. I’ve tried a brush, a roller with ½ nap and a roller with 3/8 inch nap. We are using Behr latex paint in eggshell. So anyone that has worked with red paint before and knows some secrets, I would LOVE to hear your suggestions before my red wall becomes a Jackson Pollack.
We are going to try and paint the accent walls and bathroom this weekend so we don’t have to get 50 different trays and brushes for people who show up to help on the 28th. I haven’t heard if anyone is stopping by, so let me know if you are. We are just going to do the pecan on the 28th. Plus I’m going to be getting my hair done from like 10:30 to 1 so don’t show up until later if you don’t really want to work or if you want to see me! But if you really want to help Seth, you can show up anytime from 10:30 to 1. Hahaha.
I haven’t forgotten about the Cooking with Bob blog, but I’m waiting to get the pictures from my mom. Just in case you thought I forgot about ya’ll.
I just found myself wishing my desk had a secret door where I could hide and take a nap. That was weird.
That’s how bored I am today-for real.
Earlier I found myself wishing I could keep driving to Vegas and meet all my fun friends there and go dancing at a club all night and crash early in the morning and wake up and eat at a lunch buffet looking like I had the time of my life the night before-maybe in the same clothes.
You guys are so excited to read my random thoughts aren’t you?
In case any of you have ever wondered, I have a series book problem. I just got 10 books for Valentine’s Day (BEST HUSBAND EVER-be jealous, you totally should be, he does math and taxes and bills and lets me stare at him blankly and sing rhyming songs in my head when he tries to explain it to me. Last night he finally gave up and told me he’s going to write my parents a letter explaining how and why he is doing things so that if he dies and I refuse to get out of bed and hold the cats hostage with me, someone will know how to pay the bills and where all of our secret money is. He’s so smart.) and I had a stack of about 6 books waiting to be read, plus 2 my grandma gave me before I got the 10 books. So I have books to read, for sure. But I about CROWED with happiness when my dear friend L’ara (baggage blogger!) emailed me today to tell me she was going to stop by and lend me some books we have been talking about. Which because I am the BEST book borrower ever, I will put them at the top of my pile and return them to her promptly, because I am not a book hostage holder and I will tell her what I think of them in grand detail, because in my head, that’s how book lending works. I’m trying to get Seth to build me a long bookshelf for along the staircase in our living room, but I’m having trouble getting the image out of my head for him and on to paper, I’ve spent countless hours trying to tell him what I want. Because really I want like 20 things. I can’t decided if I want it open in the back, how deep I want the shelves, if I want little doors on the shelves (probably not, I’m a notorious book bragger-look at all my shiny pretty books!!) So I am at a loss. I seriously just want a whole room of built ins around a window with a little ladder that I can ride around the room, but I don’t think that will work in our house *sigh* dreams…PS I’ve decided that building furniture is about the sexiest thing a guy could do. Now I just need Seth to prove that he can do it, instead of trying to get me to draw him a plan…
Alright I’ve rambled sufficiently for today!
Hope you all have a happy hump day!
Love (for this week to be over already)
Carrie
Thanks to everyone who emailed or commented about that stupid tax law. I’ve come to the conclusion that we are being railroaded, but what can you expect, someone has to pay, right? Guess it will be the Hellbusch’s.
So let’s talk about American Idol. We have finally moved into the rounds where people start caring about people. So what did Idol producers do? They went and screwed with the format! What is up with that?? There are some people there that deserve a second chance and there were some people that stood out hard. (Danny Gokey) But this new format makes NO sense. People have off nights, they are nervous, that’s why the format is you vote for the worst two and pick off the scab slowly. They need to be able to take the advice of the judges and use it. And by the way, I’m sure it’s pretty nerve wracking to sing live for the first time. So “Dear Idol Producers, go back, this sucks”. Because you know what? That crazy loon Tatiana is going to get thru and then I’m going to have to pull my hair out and stuff it in my ears, and I won’t look good bald and I’ll be that angry bald girl with hair in her ears. No one wants that. By the way, who gave Tatiana downers? Not that I miss the crazy, but I hate the fake “no really, I’m not crazy, *whispers* a psychic told me I would win wheee!” that she’s putting out right now. Ugh, Idol *spits* why do I watch this show?? Just give it to Danny Gokey so I can get back to my crime dramas and not feel like I’ve wasted years of my life willing people to be better and listening to them destroy perfectly good songs.
I think next year they should have an Idol off where they bring back all the like top 2 idols from every year and make them sing so we can crown David Cook the most awesomest of all. The end.
So what else? Oh, I need tips for painting a small wall dark red. My test swatches are coming out streaky and requiring like 400 coats of paint. Not that I don’t have the paint since I have a gallon and it’s a small wall, but I don’t have the patience to keep painting that wall without getting mad. I’ve tried a brush, a roller with ½ nap and a roller with 3/8 inch nap. We are using Behr latex paint in eggshell. So anyone that has worked with red paint before and knows some secrets, I would LOVE to hear your suggestions before my red wall becomes a Jackson Pollack.
We are going to try and paint the accent walls and bathroom this weekend so we don’t have to get 50 different trays and brushes for people who show up to help on the 28th. I haven’t heard if anyone is stopping by, so let me know if you are. We are just going to do the pecan on the 28th. Plus I’m going to be getting my hair done from like 10:30 to 1 so don’t show up until later if you don’t really want to work or if you want to see me! But if you really want to help Seth, you can show up anytime from 10:30 to 1. Hahaha.
I haven’t forgotten about the Cooking with Bob blog, but I’m waiting to get the pictures from my mom. Just in case you thought I forgot about ya’ll.
I just found myself wishing my desk had a secret door where I could hide and take a nap. That was weird.
That’s how bored I am today-for real.
Earlier I found myself wishing I could keep driving to Vegas and meet all my fun friends there and go dancing at a club all night and crash early in the morning and wake up and eat at a lunch buffet looking like I had the time of my life the night before-maybe in the same clothes.
You guys are so excited to read my random thoughts aren’t you?
In case any of you have ever wondered, I have a series book problem. I just got 10 books for Valentine’s Day (BEST HUSBAND EVER-be jealous, you totally should be, he does math and taxes and bills and lets me stare at him blankly and sing rhyming songs in my head when he tries to explain it to me. Last night he finally gave up and told me he’s going to write my parents a letter explaining how and why he is doing things so that if he dies and I refuse to get out of bed and hold the cats hostage with me, someone will know how to pay the bills and where all of our secret money is. He’s so smart.) and I had a stack of about 6 books waiting to be read, plus 2 my grandma gave me before I got the 10 books. So I have books to read, for sure. But I about CROWED with happiness when my dear friend L’ara (baggage blogger!) emailed me today to tell me she was going to stop by and lend me some books we have been talking about. Which because I am the BEST book borrower ever, I will put them at the top of my pile and return them to her promptly, because I am not a book hostage holder and I will tell her what I think of them in grand detail, because in my head, that’s how book lending works. I’m trying to get Seth to build me a long bookshelf for along the staircase in our living room, but I’m having trouble getting the image out of my head for him and on to paper, I’ve spent countless hours trying to tell him what I want. Because really I want like 20 things. I can’t decided if I want it open in the back, how deep I want the shelves, if I want little doors on the shelves (probably not, I’m a notorious book bragger-look at all my shiny pretty books!!) So I am at a loss. I seriously just want a whole room of built ins around a window with a little ladder that I can ride around the room, but I don’t think that will work in our house *sigh* dreams…PS I’ve decided that building furniture is about the sexiest thing a guy could do. Now I just need Seth to prove that he can do it, instead of trying to get me to draw him a plan…
Alright I’ve rambled sufficiently for today!
Hope you all have a happy hump day!
Love (for this week to be over already)
Carrie
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