Here's something to think about: How come you never see a headline like 'Psychic Wins Lottery'?

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Come to Ireland with the Nebraska Retired Teachers Association-I did!
In 2000 I went to Ireland for my high school graduation gift from my Grandma Lashely. (Thanks Gram!) We went for 10 days and did a bus tour. I LOVED it. I wanted to move there and live there forever in a little house with a thatched roof overlooking the Cliffs of Moor. It was a very good time, and I even met a woman whose company rented all of the china to Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston’s wedding. I think my favorite place was the Waterford Crystal Factory where I got to see how glass is made, and I got to see my favorite modern artist’s workshop, Dale Chihuly.
The place I was most disappointed in was the Blarney Stone. So here is my story about my Blarney Stone experience in honor of St. Patty’s Day today.
First off, you should know the Blarney Stone is on the top of some castle watchtower, what feels to be about 8,000 feet in the air. It is actually part of a castle, Blarney Castle. Here is a picture of the castle:

And the stone is way up at the top of that parapet.

So first you wait in this really long winding line that goes all the way up the top of said parapet. Then you get to the top of the stone and you’re like okay where is it? IT’S ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE FREAKIN’ CASTLE. I’m so not kidding. Here is a picture of the stone from the ground:

Then to make you even more comfortable with the fact you are attempting death to put your lips on something EVERY KNOWN GROSS PERSON YOU CAN IMAGINE has put their lips on, they tell you THIS is what you have to do to get to the stone:

And the person who is going to be holding your legs as you shimmy out along those iron bars over the SIDE OF THE CASTLE? The world’s oldest man. Mine looked a lot like the guy pictured here-


So I shimmy out and it is singly the most terrifying five seconds of my life. I’m gripping with all my might and ole Angus is back there loosely holding onto my legs and flirting with my grandma. I remember the stone seemed slimey. And I tried to think about other famous people whose lip juice I was sharing with, instead of the old guy that was holding my legs.
Then my grandma did it, I think I have that on video-everyone who shimmies out there has no idea just how far up they are or how much their own life really is in their hands. Then we walked down (I don’t remember that at all) and we went into the Blarney Woolen Mills and I bought my Claddah ring and my grandma bought a watch and we had some soup. The end.

Fun facts about Ireland!

Also in honor of St. Patty’s Day, here are 10 things you didn’t know about Ireland, courtesy of ABC News-

More Guinness Is Sold in Nigeria Than in Ireland (Wow, shock, they must corner the market on Guinness exporting)
Playboy Was Banned in Ireland Until 1995 (Weird-but they are mostly Catholic there, I think)
In the Summer of 2007, It Rained in Ireland for 40 Days Straight (*swoons* that is my DREAM land)
Ireland Has the Fourth Largest Stadium in Europe (Well, soccer is a lot bigger then America cares to recognize around the world)
A Hospital in Belfast Is a World Leader in Kneecap Reconstruction (Again, Soccer-you need those kneecaps to run and kick…and play hacky sack, I don't know...)
Up Until Around the Early 1990s, Ireland Had a Low Per Capita Consumption of Alcohol (And then apparently Ireland got rich and people started boozing, per the article)
The Street on Which You Will Find the British Embassy in Tehran Is Named After an Irishman (Boy they are stretching it here, huh?)
Only 2 Members of U2 Were Born in Ireland (One of those SHOCKINGLY is BONO, the other is not The Edge. Haha, you can’t have another reason to hate Bono, he is NOT a liar-The Edge however….)
An Irishman Founded the Argentinean Navy (Like you do…)

Alright! Everyone have a great day, don’t enjoy too much green beer like I did that one time with Kathy-and three seconds later the entire college knew all about it. Dana High School!

Love (to be living in Ireland),

Carrie

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

Ch ch ch Changes! And too much cheesy broccoli rice...

Hi everyone!
It’s been a while since I have done an update blog-so here I go!

We have some scheduling changes to bring to your attention.

The painting party has been moved to February 28th now. Paint is on sale this week at Menards for a really good price and Seth may have to go to Baltimore the first two weeks in March, and since he is the A team in the whole painting operation, we kind of need him there. So if you are open-let us know! That way we can get a pizza and beer count. Plus it’s on a Saturday now, so we can start a little earlier, say noon? Hope to see you all there!!!

Also there is an Orlando vacation update!! We are now going May 8th thru the 11th. I am taking an extra day (Tuesday the 12th) off work because we don’t get in until 10:30 on Monday. I am SO excited! I’m going to have to dig out the bathing suit tub and the BIG suitcase since they are charging you for them now!! I think that Mom can get us a discount pass thru the military for Disneyworld, now we just have to decide on what day to go! I’ve heard you need to get there early! I’m so friggin excited I don’t even have words for it.

The kittens are doing great-we took them out for a walk yesterday since it’s probably going to be the last nice day until the spring. Someone at the meeting this morning said it’s supposed to snow 7 inches on Friday. Good LORD! These past couple of nice days have been really great though, I’ve actually gotten out to run TWICE. And I hacked up my left lung like a 70 year old chronic smoker afterwards. I’m clearly out of shape.

But the babies LOVE it outside. We put their harnesses on and let Bagheera run free, Willow stays on the leash, but she has a pretty long leash, she just likes to sneak up on Bags and pounce him. The best part of yesterday was when a flock of birds flew low overhead and Bags just about crapped himself, he had no idea what they were! Too cute!

Cooking lessons are still on for Sunday! I’m pretty pumped, I was starting to stress about what I was going to cook this weekend for next week’s dinner and then I remembered that I am going to have CALZONES and RAVIOLI!! Yay!

Well its pot luck day at work, and I accidently made a METRIC TON of cheesy broccoli rice. (I seriously need to tattoo the instructions on how to cook rice in the rice cooker on my arm-3 cups of dry rice apparently equals 10 cooked rice cups!) and I’m pretty sure it’s not going to fit in the microwave to be heated up. Nice.

Hope you all have a great day!
Love (without reservations),
Carrie

I promise never to crochet this...

I crochet, but I have one stitch. That's all in my bag of tricks. I make blankets. Long huge, practiaclly ridicouls blankets.

I just ran across this site and it made me laugh out loud: http://whatnottocrochet.wordpress.com/

Here are a few of my favorites, most of them are the 70's pictures...

Ahoy kiddies!

Sadly, this group never made it as big as thier crochet skills:


Carrie in the future when Seth dies-I LOVE CATS and YARN!

I love the kids outfit, he looks WARM...

Men's fashions, things to think about for Seth:

YOU WILL READ YOUR BIBLE MARY SUE! OR MOMMY WILL CROCHET YOU A NOOSE!

For the woman who loves giant balls:

And finally, my swimsuit choices for Orlando-vote in the comments section:

The Internet rocks...

A blog in which I try to plan random things...

Happy Tuesday everyone!
I seriously cannot believe that it is only Tuesday. It feels like it should be Wednesday at the very least. Like I said, I’m sure this week is going to last FOREVER for me.
Our “Band of Brothers” came yesterday-Hooray! We got a nasty MUD bill *angry fist shake at raising natural gas prices* so I left it for Seth to open so he would feel better.
One of the first things I want to talk today is a question for our usual party crowd-Pam and I have the winter blah’s and was wondering if anyone would like to get together on March 13th (it’s Friday the 13th.) We feel that we need something to look forward too since there isn’t really a holiday for the next couple of months. We were thinking of either a scary movie viewing party, where we watch two or three scary movies and have like pizza or something (it’s less scary to watch them in groups I think) or a game night where we have lots of dipping snacks so people can get up and snack quick and get back to the game. What do you guys have more interest in? Any better ideas? Let me know what you think in the comments section below…
Speaking of parties, I have begrudgingly been forced into a STUPID bowl party. But I’m throwing this out there to everyone who is coming now-after the end you gotsa to home. I’ve got to be at work bright and early and if I am not in bed by 10 o’clock I get NASTY and could possibly crash on my way to work, and Seth and my family will blame you for keeping me up too late. No really, they will. Judge-y stares will happen at my funeral or hospital visitation. SO if you come, you must go home before 10. FYI. So far I know I will be serving a Greek dip from the parade section of the paper with toasted flat bread and sausages with fixings. BYOB. Seth is very excited. I’m very happy to feed people.
Let me know if you plan on coming AND LEAVING AT TEN!!! We would love to see you (and tell you goodbye at 10).
Let’s see what else? We had a LOVELY dinner with Pam and Jason last night at Ruby Tuesday’s, but we spent the first 10 minutes trying to find the “all you can eat fries” on the menu, which it was not, so Jason asked for me and they do have it!! But they do not advertise it! SNEAKY!!! In fact, I’m pretty sure if we had any other server they would have told me I was full of it. So anyway I got all you can eat fries and immediately regretted it on my third plate. And what’s with the tiny servings of ketchup? Why can’t you just give me a bottle? I’m pretty sure I’m over Ruby Tuesday’s for a really long time. It was REALLY expensive and they are sneaky ketchup withholding people. Plus Seth says he’s had better steak that he has paid less for. BUT! BUT! The company was great. We heard all about Pam and Jason’s vacation to Hawaii and they brought us PRESENTS!! So sweet. I’ve decided that they must be very fun on vacation because they do really cool stuff like climb mountains and go to arcades. And they take the BEST vacation pictures. I suspect that has something to do with Jason’s art background…I’ve decided that when Seth gets around to planning my secret vacation to Atlantis in the Bahamas (where he will send ahead my wedding dress and a tux and invite the entire wedding party for a 15 year reunion where THEY will bring their wedding attire) that Jason should take some of my wedding pictures renewal. It’s like a wedding vow renewal-but for the pictures, because I’m jealous of everyone’s tropical wedding pictures. So I want some of my own, and come on, when am I EVER going to get to wear my dress again? I think this is the PERFECT excuse to wear it again, go on vacation, and take lots of beautiful pictures that I really want. But Seth has to set it up in secret, so he will need Pam to be there anyway so she can take me on a beauty day and sneak in my crown and veil and tell the people how my hair has to look. She’s key in this. As is Jason now for his picture taking skills. Seth are you reading this and remembering!??! Better log this one away because this single handedly would make you the BEST husband ever. Just FYI.

So I found out that Kathy and Dan are not eating out for one month, I told you about this right? Well I found out more information from Dan that at the END of one month, they will have SAVED ENOUGH MONEY FOR A NEW FLAT SCREEN TV. I’m officially in. Starting February I think Seth and I are going to try and not eat out for a month. (Minus Valentine’s Day-where Seth is doing something romatical) and then at the end buy a TV for the bedroom, since officially our left speaker (my side) is out, and our TV on DVD that we get from Showtime is like anti-deaf people or something and refuses to caption their shows. Seriously Showtime? Seriously? Do you know how hard it is to understand mush mouth Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Henry the Eighth sometimes? I feel sorry for people who actually have to USE closed captioning, The Tudors is lost on them, which is sad because it’s a great show.
So anyway, back to the no eating out for TV-that is going to be SO hard. BUT-my cooking skills are improving and I’m confident that we can do it, as long as we plan ahead and make a lot of freezable meals. (Like lasagna or enchi’s or pot roast) I can eat a bean burrito everyday for the rest of my life and be perfectly happy. Seth on the other hand needs meat and variety. So I’ll let you know how we do with that!

In crazy cat lady news-Willow has officially become a Bengal. Seth called this morning to tell me she clean jumped onto the shower door and pulled herself up and commenced with helping him shower. Apparently she played with the water stream and chatted with him while he showered. I imagine the noise of our 13+ pound kitten jumping onto the shower door scared the crap out of him. It would me. Seth had to help her down, in typical cat fashion, she can get up but she can’t get down. This new skill comes on the heels of the drawer opening skills which are DRIVING ME CRAZY as Willow is a notorious hair tie thief and Bagheera is a notorious hair tie DESTORYER. They work in tandem. It’s like the Italian Job up in my house or something. You see them plotting and planning together in the hall and then Willow comes dashing into the room and lays on the bed. Then Bagheera distracts you with the rare cuteness/loveiness that he rarely displays. Willow commences with working her paws around the seam where the drawer and the stand meet and uses all of her body weight to swing it open. She jumps up quickly and grabs as many hair ties as she can out of the drawer and runs. Bagheera sees the plan has worked and chases her down the hall. Before you know it there is a sad little graveyard of eaten hair ties in the living room. I wish they would start eating something of Seth’s so he would CARE that they can open drawers now instead of thinking it was the coolest thing ever. Willow is currently perfecting her door opening skills by pulling on whatever we might have hanging from the door in hopes that it didn’t latch all the way. If she doesn’t get it open, she has successfully shredded whatever towel was on the back of the door.

Speaking of doors-I’ve been thinking of the doors in our house. Seth wants to redo the trim since it is this beat up ghastly blond wood color. Dad suggested painting it instead of buying all new (it’s not really worth the investment since hopefully we will be out of the house in 2-2.5 years) and I know when my Dad did that to his house he repainted a lot of the doors, which I want to do since they are looking a little rough, but I don’t know what color. White seems to clean for our house and won’t match all of our colors well. Maybe a darker brown stain? We have to make sure it covers the scratches and shoe bumps and furniture dents. Hopefully we get a nice refund back from the taxes and can afford to do the painting that we want. But I’m not sure about the trim and doors. I’ll have to talk to my Dad about that…
Well I’ve successfully rambled enough this morning. Remember to let me know what you think about the March 13th party and if you will be coming to the STUPID bowl party (and leaving at 10!) that we are throwing on Sunday.
Its drill day here at work which means you can only eat, drink, and use the bathrooms at designated times in the drill (the bathroom thing is KILLING me). So I’d better get ready for lunch!
Have a great day everyone!!

More lists, weekend plans, a shout out to Kitty, and I'm going to DISNEYWORLD in JUNE!!

I’m going to Disneyworld!!!
In June-when it will be hot and crowded I have been informed.
My parents are taking the family to Disneyworld and I am SO VERY EXCITED. I just don’t know what to do! Besides start saving! :-) I have never been to Disneyworld-so any helpful suggestions or insider tips are greatly appreciated! We are looking at June 14th to go. And Ellyn will finally be legal and 21 for a vacation so we will have a GRAND time for sure! Hooray for family vacations-I can't TELL you how excited I am-especially since I have been whining to Seth about how everyone but us goes on vacation and how much fun we had at the Cancun family vacation two years ago!! Hooray!!
What else? We had a GREAT time at dinner last night with L’ara and JJ! Thanks guys! *waves* We had a fantastic meal, I learned they make DIPPING OIL for bread at Baker’s, so I have to go get some of THAT now. And I learned L’ara is a FANTASTIC painter and will be sweetly wooed into my next painting party FOR SURE.
So Seth caught up with the blog last night and he says that I don’t talk enough about our cats or him. So here is my list of 100 things I love about Seth and our cats. (50 each) because I’m totally into listing things right now.
Top 50 things I love about my husband:
1) He married me.
2) He accepts that I am crazy and loves it.
3) He is passionate about his work.
4) He loves our cats like children and talks to them that way too.
5) He loves to sleep as much as I do.
6) He works really hard.
7) He has great morals.
8) He treats me like a lady.
9) He still opens doors and pulls out chairs and puts my coat on for me.
10) He is really, really, really smart.
11) He does all the budgeting and bills.
12) When we go to the grocery store, he does all the “which is the better value” stuff.
13) He used to work at a grocery store so he knows the sale cycle of things.
14) He used to work at a Taco John’s so he makes the BEST burritos.
15) He used to work at a moving company so we can get a lot of stuff into a TINY van.
16) He likes to work out, even when I whine about it.
17) He likes to cook for me.
18) He can fix the computer when I break it.
19) He can pretty much fix anything when I break it.
20) He carries my bags in the airport.
21) He carries my bags when we go shopping.
22) He still holds my hand when we sleep at night.
23) He lets me have 1 million pillows on the bed and 5 duvets and two cats.
24) He indulges my obsessions and idiosyncrasies.
25) None of my 100 weird things about me list surprised him.
26) He’s trying to help me follow my passion.
27) He loves food as much as I do.
28) He watches hours of TV for me.
29) He plays video games still and picks the ones he knows I will like to watch him play.
30) He loves my family like his own.
31) He lets me listen to my rap music and my R&B but just not as loud as I usually do.
32) He loves punk music and heavy metal and it opens me up to a whole new world of music.
33) He encouraged me change jobs on a leap of faith when I was miserable at my perfectly good job.
34) He would do anything for his family.
35) Even when he is grumpy, he is tolerable.
36) He lets me whine CONSTANTLY if I need too.
37) He lets me cry if I need to.
38) He knows if I’m having a bad day and usually makes me dinner.
39) He likes to help clean the house so it isn’t all my job.
40)He likes to cuddle as long as my hair isn’t wet.
41) He gets me water every night before we go to bed.
42) He always gives me three kisses (past, present, and future) before we go to bed and when we leave each other and says I love you too.
43) He tells me he loves me, randomly and a lot.
44)He makes me laugh.
45) He loves to learn and try new things.
46)He will have lazy days with me.
47) He doesn’t mind that I don’t wear make up or wash my hair on the weekends, as long as I bathe and don’t wear the pirate shirts (THEY ARE FRENCH CHIC SETH!).
48)He knows that I don’t like to go anywhere alone and will go anywhere with me.
49)He forgives me and loves me when I’m crabby and wrong.
50) He wants to have babies with me.

Top 50 things I love about my Bengal Cats
1) Their names are Bagheera and Willow
2) We never ever call them those names unless they are in trouble. Normally they are “Bags” and “Willowby”.
3) They are so unique.
4) Bags is HandiCAT and doesn’t let anyone put him in his place.
5) Willowby has a toy mousey that is her FAVORITE even though Bags ate the face off and she carries it around the house.
6) Bags destroys every cat toy we have eventually, except the football shaped hackeysack L’ara gave Seth. So I guess technically it doesn’t count as a cat toy.
7) They miss us when we are gone.
8) They talk to us, like have whole conversations with meow inflection tone changes.
9) They are eating us out of our home.
10) Bags is a cuddle MONSTER in the morning, but only in the morning-its like he missed your ugly face so he’s decided to show he needs you.
11) Willow does this thing called pretty kitty where she rubs her head on the ground and rolls over on her tummy when she is in trouble and it is SO HARD TO YELL AT HER.
12) They cuddle together when we sleep at night.
13) They sleep at the foot of the bed with us.
14) They are too smart for their own good-they’ve just learned how to open drawers-we are SCREWED.
15) They HAVE to be in the same room as you-no matter what and they cry if you lock them out.
16) They always come running and greet us at the door when we come home-even if we are gone five minutes.
17) They actually play with their cat toys.
18) They love Seth best of all and when they cuddle with him it’s the CUTEST THING EVER.
19) Because they love Seth best of all it means that they aren’t always under my feet and in my lap so I can love them when I want-on my terms.
20) Willow loves to sit on the edge of the bathtub and talk to me when I’m in the bath and she yells at Seth if he comes in.
21) Bags peeks his head over the edge of the tub and cries because all he can see is my floating head.
22) They are learning to drink out of the toilet.
23) We make them say please for their food or treats and sometimes they actually do it.
24) They like to have their picture taken.
25) Last weekend Willow sat on top of the tv and attacked the Arizona Cardinals every time they threw the ball. I think it helped the Steelers win.
26) They are getting to be BIG cats.
27) Bags has a rug we call the Bagheera rug that looks just like him and he likes to lay in the sun and sleep on it.
28) They are so pretty.
29) They have big ole ears.
30) They play fetch
31) When they play chase me catch me around the house it sounds like a herd of elephants.
32) They are curious like you wouldn’t believe.
33) They have ATTITUDE.
34) My friends treat them like our children and love them to death.
35) They have caused me to be a crazy cat lady and I don’t even care.
36) My parents call them the “grandkitties” and sometimes stop by just to see them and play wit them.
37) I miss them during the day.
38) Bags is like a grumpy teenager most of the time.
39) Willow is like a need prima donna most of the time.
40)They love to lay in laps.
41) They don’t shy away from strangers.
42) Willow thinks she is a parrot and Seth is a pirate.
43) I once had the vet yell at me for letting Willow chew on Bag’s man parts.
44)When Bags had his man parts fixed he hated Willow for like a WEEK. Wouldn’t let her come near her or anything. I guess he associated that pain with her.
45) They are NAUGHTY and we love it even though cleaning up 100 spilled toothpicks is no one’s idea of a good time.
46)They are sweet when they want to be.
47) They love to sleep as much as I do.
48)They are learning how to walk on leashes.
49)They make me feel better when I am sad.
50) They give each other hugs.

So there are my lists for the day.
I’d like to take this opportunity, in the spirit of loving your pets, to take a moment to remember Kathy’s cat Kitty, who passed away today. My heart is with you Kathy! Know that Kitty was one LOVED cat and she had a great life. She was lucky to have you. :-) Make sure you give Kirby and extra tight squeeze for me.

Also I have decided to go on a cooking RAMPAGE this weekend, on Saturday. Here is the list of things I will possibly be cooking: Chicken and Cheese Enchi’s, Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole, Mexican Meatloaf Muffins (new recipe to try), Chocolate Chip Cookies, and maybe lasagna since I was inspired last night by L’ara.

I hope you all have a great day!
Much love!
Carrie