Lazy Life

Rambling thoughts

2012-01-14T10:59:00.000-05:00

Last year, Tom had to do a lot of traveling for work. I live very close to both the airport and his office so he would stay at my house most nights when his sons weren't with him. One week he had a trip to California with a very early morning flight. It wasn't actually until the next day that I saw the note he'd left me on the fridge. So sweet. He loved me so much. The feeling was mutual.

I have this framed and hanging in my room now. It makes me smile and remember all the good times we shared. So much laughter. He understood me like no one ever has. Sometimes I still can't believe I'll never see him again.

We never even got to have a big fight. Not that I wanted to fight but he made me laugh when he told me he was going to make me yell. I don't come from a family of yellers. We're descendent from English/German quiet people. Tom came from a big loud Italian family. I mean that with love. I've met them and they are great. I was really looking forward to being part of their family.

So I'm trying to get on with my life but I can't even remember what I did with my free time before meeting Tom. I know I used to read but I can't really concentrate enough to do that now. Hence the stacks of magazines I haven't read since the middle of September.

I don't cry as much anymore, although writing this has made cry. When I do cry it's usually on the way home from work, when a song that makes me think of Tom (which is just about every song) comes on the radio, or when I'm going to bed. But I am perpetually sad. I was the happiest I've ever been and now I'm the saddest. And it sucks.

Perhaps...

2012-01-06T20:47:00.001-05:00

I should go to the grocery store? Last night I cleaned out the fridge and got rid of all the expired bottles of half used salad dressing, random jars of pickles and mustards.

The to go box has left overs from dinner tonight (edamame and 3 pieces of a hurricane roll). And I've already finished up the last of that 2 liter of Diet Coke. Two of those bottles of wine (well one is Proseco) are left over from NYE 2010. I never opened them and they've been there ever since. The third bottle was an impulse buy at Trader Joe's before Christmas. Who knows when I'll drink any of them. I've been on a Jack & Coke kick for a while, plus wine gives me the worst acid reflux and hangover these days.

So long 2011

2012-01-01T00:47:00.000-05:00

If you had asked me before September, I would have said that 2011 had been a pretty great year. Too bad it didn't end that way. I have a feeling the first part of 2012 isn't going to be much better but I am hopeful that eventually that will change.

90 days of suck

2011-12-14T07:54:00.000-05:00

It's been 90 days since Tom died. Every day something reminds me of him. It might be a song, or a memory, or something I see online that I know he would love and crack up over. It's getting easier yet harder at the same time, if that make any sense. But I feel so very alone, even when I surrounded by people. I don't want to die but living like this, without him, really sucks.

Cute puppies

2011-12-04T09:57:00.000-05:00

My friend has a new puppy, Zoey. Zoey is so adorable that I just want to snuggle her all the time, which I did, before we went to the hockey game. Who's a cute little puppy?

Also, can I just say wow, no wonder I got carded at the game! I do not look 38 in this picture.

Sometimes good things happen

2011-12-04T09:52:00.000-05:00

Earlier this week I got an email from the local Nissan dealership telling me that I had won a pair of tickets to tonight's hockey game. The seats were very good, just 2 rows from the ice, and free parking! I was so excited and then I remembered that Tom wouldn't be able to go with me. So I took my friend instead and even though the 'Canes lost it was fun.

Thanksgiving Week

2011-11-22T20:05:00.000-05:00

Is anyone else really glad this is a short work week?

I wish I could write a meaningful post but I keep typing and deleting sentences. So I'll just say that I hope everyone has a good Thanksgiving.

FrankenThumb Update

2011-11-16T07:57:00.002-05:00

It's looking pretty good. My coworker had some samples of Mederma so I've used that a few times and it's making a big difference. Scarring isn't really an issue to me, so I'm not about to go spend $20 on a tiny tube of the stuff but if someone gives me samples for free I'm all over it.

Easily Amused

2011-11-12T11:03:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago I bought myself an iPad. Retail therapy. It amuses me. I'd been wanting one for ages but Tom had given me a laptop so I didn't really think I needed one. Obviously, my mind changed. Do you know, other than my mattress, the iPad is the MOST expensive thing I have ever purchased at one time? That freaked me out. Also, it is kind of a sad commentary on my life. What that says, I don't know, but it says something.

Anyway, I really like the photo apps but the camera is not as good as the iPhone. So I take the pictures with my iPhone and then the cloud lets me play with them on the iPad. Man that cloud is cool.

At least I wasn't last

2011-11-06T19:51:00.000-05:00

My time was atrocious but I was expecting that. I had a good start and was doing well until around mile four when my body realized what I was doing to it and was all WTF!?! Then around mile six we actually went right by the parking lot where my car was. It took everything I had not to get in it and drive away.

I wasn't the last half marathoner to finish.... I was second to last. WOoOo.

Hopefully, I'll be able to walk in the morning. Tonight I'm hobbling like an old old woman.

Rough road ahead

2011-11-05T16:45:00.000-04:00

So tomorrow is the City of Oaks half marathon. Even before Tom died, my training was half hearted at best. But at least I was getting out there once or twice a week and putting the miles in. Since the middle of September, all I've done is walk Lulu. You've seen her legs, that's no endurance workout.

At first I wasn't going to do to the race. But I knew that if I didn't I would regret it, even if it took longer than my first half marathon or made my body hurt more than ever before. Tom was so proud of my "running". One of his coworkers said that he talked about it so much that she got kind of sick of hearing about it. So if I didn't do it, it would be like I was letting him down. But at the same time something that is already pretty emotional (I cried when I crossed the finish last at Virginia Beach last year) is going to be even more so now. Three plus hours (told you I was slow) is a long time to be rattling around in my head, over thinking everything. There isn't a loud enough, angry enough song to drown out my thoughts. Believe me, I've tried.

I went to pick up my race bib this morning and got another painful reminder that life will never be the same. When I filled out the race entry several months ago I had put Tom as my emergency contact. I remember joking with him that we were a super official couple now, even more than being Facebook official. His name and number are printed on the bib. Now I have to scratch through that and write in a new person.

Yeah, I'm really excited to do this race.

And I wonder why Lulu doesn't love me anymore

2011-11-05T16:19:00.000-04:00

FrankenThumb

2011-10-27T23:59:00.000-04:00

The giant bandage has come off and now I just wear a regular bandaid. I'm going with no news is good news since I haven't heard anything from the doctor on the pathology. My follow up appointment and stitches removal is next week so they will probably tell me then.

I did have something to say

2011-10-23T11:50:00.000-04:00

Last night, as I was falling asleep, I was mentally composing a blog post but of course I've forgotten it now. So you'll just have to deal with my ramblings. I have a cold and I'm sneezing all over the place. It's a miracle my eyeballs haven't popped out yet.

So earlier this week I had surgery on my thumb. About a year ago I did something to my left thumb that created a tiny bump that would occasionally hurt if I moved it the wrong way. Well, as the months went on it grew larger and would hurt more often. It freaked Tom out.

So in August I finally went to see a doctor about it. I was so nervous when I was in the waiting room, because I just knew the doctor was going to amputate or something that very day, that I texted Tom to tell him about it. Shortly thereafter he showed up just to sit with me. Because that's how awesome he was. Anyway, long story short, that doctor sent me to hand surgeon and that's why I had surgery this past Thursday.

The first doctor ordered an ultrasound of the bump, so Tom and I started calling the thing my thumb babies. Dumb, I know, but that's how we roll. Turns out there were not sea monkeys in there but some kind of orange chewed up gum looking mass. A tumor (it's not a tumor). Most likely benign so I'm not freaked out.

Although, as they were prepping my hand and then numbing me up I did start to cry. Not because it hurt. I mean really. I've had migraines that made me want to kill myself so I can stand a few seconds of pain. No, I was crying because I wanted Tom to be there. But he wasn't so I had to suck it up and deal.

And now I have this giant bandaged thumb, beneath which are a bunch of stitches.

It's a bit ridic,don't you think?

It's been a long month

2011-10-12T07:36:00.001-04:00

4 weeks today. It still doesn't seem real. Obviously, I know Tom is dead. I saw him in the coffin. I brushed his hair and touched his cold, waxy skin. I saw the death certificate. But in my heart I want him to come back.

On the outside I seem pretty okay. I am functioning, doing my job (not my best work, but it will do), joking with coworkers, etc, but I feel numb. I read part of a book about grief, so this must be the denial portion. Not really sure as I couldn't finish reading the book. It made me sob for hours and that's not really good when I have to go to work the next day. It doesn't help that the book is written from the view point that you've shared a lifetime with your loved one. That just made me sadder when I realized all the things Tom and I never got to do together. We never got to celebrate Christmas together. We never got to meet each other's family. Meeting his family because he died is not exactly what I had in mind.

Tomorrow I leave for Texas. On the trip Tom was supposed to take with me. There will be a stranger sitting next to me on the plane. That is going to suck so bad.

How I'm feeling

2011-10-02T12:36:00.000-04:00

Source: leloveimage.blogspot.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

Almost every hour there is something that makes me want to talk to Tom. I have even picked up a phone to send a text before I remember that, oh wait, he won't be able to read it.

Yesterday was my birthday. My sister is here with me, so that is helping, but damn I miss Tom.

Three Words

2011-09-26T20:49:00.000-04:00

Last summer, after running the three half marathons, I wanted to get a tattoo to remind me of what I had achieved. So a little over a month ago, Tom and I found ourselves with some time to kill before going to see a movie. We went to the tattoo shop and I had this phrase, do your best, inked on the inside of my right wrist. It's a phrase my dad used to say to me every morning when I left for school and something I try to do every day.

But now these three words have a different meaning.

Do your best...

So I'm doing my best to get up and go to work each morning, to pay attention to Lulu, to eat, to not think beyond tomorrow.

Lulu has a sad

2011-09-24T12:00:00.000-04:00

Lulu knows something is wrong. She's not being herself. Yes, she's a lazy dog but she's been even lazier. Looking even sadder. Laying on the sofa, looking straight at the front door as if she's waiting for Tom to walk in the door. If you ask her where Tom is she knits her brows together and looks around. I know she misses him too. Because honestly, I'm pretty sure she loved him more than me.

Stages of Grief

2011-09-23T19:16:00.000-04:00

There are 5 stages of grief. Denial Anger Bargaining Depression and Acceptance.

I know this because I bought a book. But I've yet to do more than flip through it. But I can tell you that I've got some denial and depression going on for sure. There is a part of me that can not believe Tom is really gone. I'll never get another good morning text from him or hear him call me babe or tell me I'm amazing and that he loves me. Surely this is just a really really bad dream.

I'm still here

2011-09-19T00:40:00.000-04:00

It's been a rough couple of days. My parents flew up to be with me and I'm so grateful for that. There's so much I want to say but as much as I've posted over the years there are just some things I don't want to put on the internet.

But I will say this...I loved Tom more than I've ever loved anyone. He made me feel safe and beautiful and like I was the smartest, funniest woman. We had so little time together. I feel robbed. And it makes me angry. Angry and sad. Not just for me, but for his sons and his family and his friends. I've heard from so many people about what a great friend he was to them. Tom touched so many lives.

If you've found this post because you were googling Tom, I would love to hear from you. Please tell me how you knew him. Share a story with me.

Heartbroken

2011-09-15T08:43:00.001-04:00

I am devastated.
Yesterday, Tom, The Boyfriend, collapsed in his home and died unexpectedly.
He made me so very happy and we were looking forward to building a life together.

Thomas M Piscitello Jr
September 13, 1974-September 14, 2011

O Hai

2011-08-07T10:50:00.000-04:00

Did you think I forgot about you, random blog readers? I could lie and say that life has been busy, but it hasn't. What have I been doing? Trying not to melt, as it's been crazy hot-as-Texas here in North Carolina, and watching too much television. Every time The Boyfriend calls he asks what I'm doing. Maybe he expects a different answer but it's always the same "nothing, watching tv". Because that's how I roll.

Anyway, I am very excited that I will be visiting my family in Texas in October and The Boyfriend is coming with me! Now I can take him to all my favorite eating places and prove to him that indeed, Freebirds is way better than Moe's.

99 Problems...

2011-07-03T16:56:00.000-04:00

Source: geekfill.com via Heath on Pinterest

I may or may not relate to some of these....

I swear....

2011-06-05T18:24:00.000-04:00


Source: www.postsecret.com

I really am in training.

Racing to Save Lives....again

2011-05-31T21:49:00.000-04:00

I've started up with Team in Training (TNT) again to train for another half marathon this fall. If you aren't familiar with TNT it is a fundraising program for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Each participant raises funds as they train for some kind of athletic event. The event I'm doing is Raleigh's City of Oaks. I would love to do a race in another city, last year I went to San Diego, but there just isn't enough vacation time. So I'm staying local. You can help me meet my fundraising goal by donating via the link over there on the sidebar.

Found on Pinterest

2011-05-19T20:02:00.000-04:00

I've had to quit watching The Office, because it pained me to see Michael Scott act like such an idiot, but I thought this was great.

Source: i-am-bored.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

And here's the original, Seurat's Sunday Afternoon on the Island of Grande Jatte

Lulu fought a Fat Man

2011-05-01T11:22:00.000-04:00

While The Boyfriend and I were on our cruise, Lulu stayed with my friend and her crew of 2 cats and a dog. One of the cats, Fat Man, doesn't really like dogs. Apparently, he and Lulu got into it yesterday morning. Guess who won? With a name like Fat Man, do you have any doubts? It wasn't Lulu.

One Week

2011-04-16T18:03:00.000-04:00

In one week, The Boyfriend and I will be cruising to the Bahamas. I can not wait. The Boyfriend has a fear of sharks, due to seeing Jaws at a very impressionable age. I hope that will not keep him from enjoying the trip. Strangely enough I keep running across shark pictures on Pinterest so I just had to post them for you all. Some of them crack me up.

Home is wherever I'm with you

2011-04-05T23:57:00.001-04:00

The whistling at the beginning made Lulu wake up and look around. Very cute.

Here is a little bit about the man and his daughter.

This is the funniest thing I've seen all day

2011-04-03T22:53:00.002-04:00

Seriously, I was laughing so hard that I have tears.

Latest Obsession

2011-04-03T12:08:00.000-04:00

What is the latest thing that keeps me up late at night, surfing the interwebs? Pinterest!

You know how you'll be cruising the web, find something you like and then either bookmark it for save the photo to your computer only to never see it again? Well now you can pin it to your boards and see what other people are pinning. I love it.

Interactive Art

2011-03-27T16:22:00.000-04:00

This is so cool. Artist Candy Chang, who lives in New Orleans, painted an abandoned house in her neighborhood with chalkboard paint and a stencil that says "before I die I want to" so that people could write down their dreams.

Spring is here (or I Love Green)

2011-03-22T22:07:00.000-04:00

Le Crueset has come out with a new color, a green called Fennel, that can only be found at Sur La Table. Green is my favorite color. But I really love the turquoise blue too. Would I get tired of a color after a while? Le Crueset is a big investment that it would be awful to start buying it in a color that I started to hate after a few years.

Speaking of green things, over the weekend I tried to finally do something about my lack of coffee table situation by purchasing 2 little end tables at Target. This is what happens when you aren't really paying attention.

I also went on a hunt for a dress to wear on my cruise and tried on this cute Calvin Klein number that I found at TJ Maxx. In the end I decided not to buy it though. The diagonal lines made me feel a bit like a mummy.

Wow, could I be any whiter? I better stock up on some SPF before I get on that boat and maybe I should use some spray tan so my shipmates don't think that they are cruising with Casper!

New favorite things

2011-03-14T21:53:00.000-04:00

I have some new favorite things in my life.

1. The tv show Being Human on Syfy. If you haven't heard of this channel, it's about a werewolf, a vampire and a ghost that all live together. I know, it sounds like the beginning of a bad joke but really the show is AWESOME! None of that Twilight pansy-ass romance bullshit either. It's very dark and angsty.

2. Cinnamon Sugar kettlecorn. This stuff is delicious. So what if I polished off a bag over the weekend. Popcorn is good for you, right?

3. Adele's new album, 21. I bought it a couple of weeks ago and have been listening to it in my car non-stop. Her voice is amazing! You must watch her live performances on YouTube. She gives me chills.

Yes

2011-03-09T07:02:00.002-05:00

A hug from me to you

2011-03-07T21:31:00.000-05:00

I like hugs. Hugs are good and there are some days when I really need one. Thanks for sending me this video, Mom.

Canes Game

2011-03-04T20:20:00.000-05:00

Last night, The Boyfriend and I went to another hockey game and saw the Canes play the Sabres. The tickets were my Valentine's day gift to The Boyfriend. The seats were awesome and the game was very exciting. The Canes won in a 26 second overtime.

I have a new camera

2011-02-27T20:39:00.000-05:00

and I'm not afraid to use it!

So True

2011-02-27T10:59:00.000-05:00

If my mail didn't keep getting stolen I would totally buy this card for The Boyfriend.

Who's hungry?

2011-02-26T12:34:00.000-05:00

Baxter is one of my very favorite Dachshunds. His mom is always taking adorable photos of him and she makes very cool harnesses for Dachshunds too. Check out her Dapper Doxie Duds that she sells on Etsy (under the name Kalyxcraftopia). Someday I will have her make one for Lulu.

Video by Kalyxcornucopia

It's a good thing she's cute...

2011-02-24T22:28:00.000-05:00

because my dog is driving me crazy! For the past two nights she has whined constantly to go outside and it's about to make me lose my mind.

These pictures are from our walk the other night. It was crazy windy.

My digital camera has sort of bit the dust so I've been using my iPhone for the last couple of months. It does an okay job but I'm going to need to get a new camera before the cruise. Any recommendations for a good little camera? Nothing too fancy.

Counting down the weeks

2011-02-22T22:15:00.000-05:00

In 8 weeks The Boyfriend and I will be leaving for an awesome vacation...a 7 night cruise to the Bahamas. I can not wait! Every night, as I'm shivering in bed, I think about lying in the hot tropical sun being very lazy and it makes me happy.

I am not alone

2011-02-20T09:04:00.000-05:00

This morning on Postsecret

Who loves ya baby?

2011-02-15T23:19:00.000-05:00

The Boyfriend sent me flowers for Valentine's Day. Aren't they pretty? You can't see it in this photo, but the vase is a very cool mercury glass sort of thing. or, if you prefer, a giant mint julep cup. Maybe it depends on how your work day is going. Since I spend more time at the office than I do at home I'm keeping the flowers there this week.

It's not like this at my house

2011-02-13T10:36:00.000-05:00

This is not how bath time for Lulu goes at our house. That would be why she only got one bath in the last year. Of course, after she got skunked at my parents' house she got like 10 baths in very quick succession so that sort of makes up for it.

I love how the puppy bites the water. So cute. It almost makes me want another puppy. Almost.

Ta-da!

2011-02-06T13:11:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago it occurred to me that my triple crown medal had never arrived in the mail. I guess it got lost but after some emailing back and forth I was able to have another one sent to me. Now my medal collection is complete. Perhaps I need to find a better display method than to have them all hanging from the edge of metal shelving?

Don't fence me in

2011-02-06T12:58:00.000-05:00

My apartment complex recently built a dog park. This makes me happy. The dog park, in Raleigh, that I have taken Lulu to a few times is about 30 minutes from my house. Lulu is good for about 10 minutes there before she is begging to leave so it's not really worth the drive. Now it's a two minute walk and we can go for just a few minutes if she's not feeling social. Mostly she just likes to wander around and sniff everything but the other night there was another dog that she actually played with. It was quite fun to watch. I am hoping that when the weather warms up we can spend more time there and she will remember how to play with other dogs.

Chirp Chirp

2011-02-06T09:52:00.000-05:00

A couple of weekends ago I was at one of my favorite stores, Homegoods, when I spied some fabulous dishes. There were 4 of the blue rimmed dinner plates in the Chirp pattern by Lennox. I love them. I need them like I need a hole in the head. Realize that I do not even have a dinner table. In fact, I do not even have a coffee table. Yes, I'm 37 years old and I eat my meals on the sofa, using a pot holder to hold my plate or bowl so it doesn't burn my hand.

But aren't they really pretty? Maybe someday I will be a grown up with an actual dining room and sit down to actual meals that I've actually cooked.

Not having a lovefest

2011-02-04T18:53:00.000-05:00

So I'm not having a lovefest with the state of North Carolina right now. I just finished doing my taxes and while I'm getting a federal refund (wooooo, tropical vacation!) I owe the state of North Carolina money. Twelve dollars. $12. Tah-well-vah. To quote The Boyfriend "that's redonkulous". Needless to say I let TurboTax go right ahead and e-file the federal and I put off filing the state for another day. I will just fill them out myself and mail in a check the old fashion way. And I'll do it on April 14th. Dammit.

The other reason I'm sort of hating NC right now is because my car did not pass inspection. Why? Because my back window is too dark. But I bought it that way from the car dealership! There should be a pass for that. But apparently in Texas your back window can be as dark as night. It certainly didn't seem to bother the state trooper that gave me a speeding ticket over Thanksgiving, but whatevs North Carolina!

So now that I've taken a survey around my office of just which shady (hahah, totally no pun intended) inspection center I can take my car to in order to have the tint pass I have to drive across town to get that done tomorrow. And if that doesn't work then I might just have to contemplate insurance fraud. Surely that rock didn't mean to go through my window? Right? JUST KIDDING. I would never break the law. Like that anyway. I love USAA and would not commit fraud against them in any manner.

Maybe I'll just buy a new car instead. My registration and inspection are good until the 15th so I better get right on it.

Why I really need to quit biting my nails

2011-02-03T22:30:00.000-05:00

Photo by Alizarineclaws

Isn't this color totally awesome? It's called Austin-tatious Turquoise and is part of OPI's new line of Texas themed colors. I think it will be perfect for when I go on a tropical vacation later this year.

Happy Groundhog Dog

2011-02-02T07:00:00.000-05:00

Today is Groundhog Day and I'm really crossing my fingers that Puxsutawney Phil does NOT see his shadow. I'm ready for some warmer weather. Although, while the rest of the country is getting a blizzard, it's 62 degrees here this morning (before 7am) and is supposed to be a high of 70. That's how it was this past Sunday and I was loving it. I do predict that my office will still be like a freezer so I have to dress accordingly. Guess that means no flip flops just yet. Too bad. My toes are ready to be free.

Yeah, so

2011-01-19T20:58:00.000-05:00

Here's the deal....

I'm working a lot and when I'm not working I'm either being lazy in front of the tv, multi-tasking by playing Bejeweled on the iphone, or hanging out with The Boyfriend.

Today I worked 12 hours. It's 9pm and I haven't had dinner yet. I'm not really hungry but am thinking I should eat something anyway.

Wow. Aren't you glad you read this?

This is where I would like to be. Wouldn't you rather be there too?

Discovery!

2011-01-03T19:13:00.000-05:00

The Boyfriend gave me a blue-ray player that streams the internets for Christmas. So the other night we were watching YouTube videos, of Maru the cat and Lulu, who had been chilling out on the sofa, suddenly realized that the television existed. She started growling then jumped off the couch and began to bark at the cat on the screen. It was hysterical. When Maru went off screen she even tried to look behind the television for him.

Happy New Year Ya'll

2011-01-01T11:30:00.000-05:00

Hope everyone had a safe and fun evening last night. I did. Although this morning I'm not so sure that jello shots and Jim Beam are a good mixture.

I got nothin'

2010-12-21T20:01:00.000-05:00

My apologies for a very boring blog of late. Work has been insane for the past couple of months and I just haven't had the time to troll about the internets to come up with witty things to write.

So I'm leaving for Texas in less than 48 hours and I'm not ready. The Christmas shopping is not done. Too much still needs to be done at work. By the end of the day 3 unexpected projects landed in my lap and they all need to be done by the 28th. Guess when I'm back in the office? The 28th. Fabulous.

And....I just forgot what I was going to type next so I think I'll just stop now.

Wait. I just remembered....the thought that I might get the extra body pat down at the airport on Thursday is totally freaking me out.

At least it's supposed to be warmer in Texas this year so hopefully I won't freeze in my sister's house like I did last year.

It's 8am...

2010-12-16T08:02:00.000-05:00

Schools are canceled due to snow/sleet so it's okay for me to be late to work...right?

Well that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

My new favorite Christmas songs

2010-12-15T23:53:00.000-05:00

All I want for Christmas

2010-12-13T18:42:00.000-05:00

No, not a hippopotamus. People have been asking what I want for Christmas and unfortunately, the things I want are not things they can be easily purchased. Here's a sample of things I want:

To never hear Taylor Swift on the radio again
To be warm at work (today I work a long sleeve shirt, a long sleeve sweater and a cardigan with a scarf. Also my pink puffy coat and gloves for half the day)
For my hair to never ever be frizzy again and to always look awesome
Long, dark eyelashes
A one story house that is self cleaning, with a fenced in year that is self raking

When?

2010-12-11T20:03:00.002-05:00

When did The Office turn into a show that is uncomfortable to watch? I know I know, fictional characters and all but Michael Scott is just so socially stunted that I'm embarrassed for him.

Baby it's cold outside

2010-12-08T07:46:00.000-05:00

The Boyfriend is probably shaking his head at me right now. He's from Ohio, so this cold weather is like nothing to him. But as you all know, I'm freezing. As I leave for work this morning, I'm wearing tights under my pants and an extra shirt under my sweater. I feel a bit like a stuffed sausage. Or like Randy, from A Christmas Story, when he goes outside in he snow suit. However, if it keeps me warm it's worth it.

The iPhone is dirty dirty!

2010-11-28T21:51:00.000-05:00

Have you heard of this new blog, Damn You Auto Correct? Be prepared to laugh like a fool in front of your computer. The predictive text and auto correcting on the iPhone can make for some pretty funny texts.

Personally, I haven't sent anything crazy (at least I don't think I have). Mostly just bad typos.

How bad could it be?

2010-11-27T19:46:00.000-05:00

This afternoon I got my first speeding ticket in North Carolina. I knew better. It's a holiday weekend. But you know me, Leadfoot Lizzy. Anyway, I do not understand this whole "points" thing they have here because I never heard of any points when I was in Texas.

In Texas, when you get a ticket, you suffer through Defense Driving and then the ticket doesn't go on your insurance. From what I can tell, that is not an option here. The State Trooper told me that if my driving record was clean (it is, at least in NC. My last ticket in Texas was in 2007) I could go to court on an appointed date in January and ask for leniency. Who knows what that really means.

But really, how bad could it be for the ticket to go on my record? When I ran over that guy in the parking lot* my rates barely went up.

*Relax, he was fine. I backed into him when he walked behind my car.

PS...I was not going 167. If I had been I would be posting from inside the Wake County jail.

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-25T23:24:00.002-05:00

I'm skating in just under the wire here to make this still be a Thanksgiving day post. I hope you all had a very delicious day. The Boyfriend and I had a low key meal of turkey pot pies, stove top stuffing, corn bread casserole, roasted Brussel sprouts and, of course, pumpkin pie.

This has been a great year and I have much to be thankful for.

Getting crazy up in here

2010-11-21T11:56:00.001-05:00

Have you heard about Four Loko? Several states have already banned it and North Carolina is working on it. The FDA is also trying to ban this malt liquor caffienated energy drink nationwide. Why? Because people are stupid and must be saved from themselves. What's next? Nike shoes because they make you run too fast? ANYway. It's been all over the news here, because there is nothing the Raleigh news likes better than to overhype a story, so you know it made me want to try it.

First, let me preface this by saying, I am not a big drinker. If Four Loko had been around during my college days this could have gone a whole 'nother way though. I can definitely see how this would have been a big hit.

So last night The Boyfriend and I found a gas station that still had some of the drink on their shelves. We bought a couple of cans. He got blueberry and I got cranberry lemonade. Sounds delicious, right? Yeah, no. There is a reason the kids are chugging these....they taste like ass. I could only drink about half of mine. I didn't feel drunk, exactly, but I sure didn't feel good. Me and malt liquor don't mix. This morning I'm feeling a bit rough. I'll stick to my Jack and Coke, thanks.

Googling for links to put in this post led me to this blog. It's pretty funny. You should read it.

Almost time to decorate for Christmas!

2010-11-21T09:34:00.000-05:00

And you know what that means! Time to add to my dachshund ornament collection. Yes, I'm *that* person. But how cute are these little guys from Crate & Barrel?

Kids these days...

2010-11-20T09:21:00.000-05:00

Last night, The Boyfriend and I went to see the new Harry Potter movie. I've read all the books but The Boyfriend has only seen the movies so he didn't know how the story was going to go. I'm sort of bummed for him that his enjoyment of the film might have been disturbed by all the idiots in the theater.

I wish I could say it was just the junior high girls, with their giggling at a shirtless Harry, or crying over Dobby (really, over a house elf? come on), or pointing at the screen. But no, the adult couple sitting next to him were texting away on their iphones. At least dim the screen, people.

At one point during the film, The Boyfriend did lean over and ask the junior high girls next to me to be quiet. He said it much nicer than I would have, which is probably why I just kept my mouth shut. By the time the movie was over I was seething. After the movie, the girls ended up behind me in line for the bathroom but since I'm an adult I decided to be the bigger person and not give them swirlies.

Brrrr

2010-11-20T01:13:00.000-05:00

Maybe I should get on with my knitting.

I've been informed

2010-11-13T17:58:00.001-05:00

Recently I was informed that I need to do more things so that I have something to blog about. I suppose eating a Blizzard for dinner while sitting on the sofa watching The Biggest Loser doesn't make very interesting reading. Nor does telling you how I went to Panera for a late lunch and then sat there for a while and read on my Nook some. On the way home there was a stop at the hardware store. Then Dairy Queen for the Blizzard and now here we are.

Rock you like a hurricane

2010-11-09T20:30:00.000-05:00

This past weekend The Boyfriend and I went to watch the Carolina Hurricanes play some hockey. It was my first time at a professional sporting event and I had a great time. Of course, it helped that the 'Canes won.

During the intermission between the 2nd and 3rd periods my company sponsored the entertainment, which was a contest of musical chairs.

Decked out in appropriate fanwear

Perhaps I've mentioned....

2010-11-08T18:15:00.002-05:00

Starbucks vs the Old Spice Guy

2010-11-07T09:06:00.000-05:00

It's Wrong

2010-11-06T12:09:00.000-04:00

Wrong wrongity wrong. It's the first weekend in November and one of the local malls already has Santa visiting so you can line up for photo ops with your kids. I'm all for cute holiday photos with kids (and pets too!) but come on! Can we at least have Thanksgiving first?

However, my outrage is not going to stop me from going to Home Depot this weekend to pick up a new 6 1/2 foot pre-lit Christmas tree that's on sale. It will be staying in the box until the Friday after Thanksgiving though. That is the first official day it's Okay to put up Christmas decor.

I have a new addiction

2010-11-04T07:53:00.000-04:00

I used to play Bejeweled, years ago, but moved on to other internet pursuits. But then The Boyfriend kept talking about this Bejeweled thing on Facebook and curiosity got the better of me. The fact that I can play it on my iphone does not help at all. I spent all last weekend trying to beat his high score only to have the contest start over again right after I did. Currently, he's ahead of me again. Two nights in a row I've had dreams about the game where I had awesome amazing wins. Sad. It's a sad sad life I lead.

Ok Go

2010-11-01T22:36:00.002-04:00

Ok Go always has the best videos.

Lunch

2010-10-30T17:16:00.000-04:00

Today I went to lunch at La Farm Bakery, in Cary. They were recently mentioned in the October issue of Cooking Light magazine and I've had things from there before, when someone brought treats into the office, so I thought it was time I actually made a visit. It's a cute little place, decorated to look like what I imagine a French bakery must look like (although I wouldn't know would I, since I've never been to France). Their menu is quite varied and I was pretty hungry so I had a hard time deciding what to try. Finally,the chicken salad croissant won out.

I wish the chicken had been shredded or chopped finer, instead of in chunks, but it was very good. Also, they served it with a side of homemade potato chips with buttermilk ranch dip.

A+. Would dine again.

My new career

2010-10-24T14:49:00.000-04:00

The other night we went to the state fair and while there went to the demolition derby. Ladies and Gentlemen, I have found my new career! Demolition Derby Driver. It was totally awesome to watch those guys drive their cars into each other, on purpose even.

These are the V-6s. They were my favorites. The wheel even came off one car but the driver kept going!

The loudest cheering was always when there was a big hit or smoke started pouring out of the car.

We went to the mountains

2010-10-23T19:28:00.000-04:00

Last weekend I met my parents in the mountains of North Carolina and we stayed at a cute little cabin. It's all fun and games until you fall down the stairs in the dark taking the dog for a walk. My leg hurts and looks like I got in a fight with a bat.

On Monday we took a drive to Blowing Rock.

I had to go back to work but later in the week my parents went to check out Grandfather Mountain. My dad took these photos. Wish I could have been there too!

We're gonna need a bigger boat!

2010-10-21T18:58:00.000-04:00

Last Friday, The Boyfriend and I went to dinner at Thai's Noodles, a new-ish place near my house/our offices. It was delicious.

Oh yeah, there were 3 other people eating with us...so don't think we ate all that sushi by ourselves!

Today I was craving sushi so we went there for lunch. Delicious again! I had the hurricane and volcano rolls, bringing half home for dinner (which I'm enjoying now as I type this). What can I say, I like foods named after natural disasters. But let me tell you something...these are way spicier tonight than they were this afternoon. I need some tums and a giant glass of milk now!

It's ten o'clock, do you know where your parents are?

2010-10-14T22:48:00.001-04:00

Mine are on their way to see me (and Lulu too) in North Carolina. We're meeting at a cabin in the mountains on Sunday where they'll be spending the next week. Unfortunately, Lulu and I can only stay for a couple of nights. Still I am very much looking forward to it!

There is no other word for it...

2010-10-12T07:46:00.000-04:00

The NC State fair is starting later this week so I was looking up some info about it and ran across the lists of new foods that would be available. I was excited to see deep fried frito pie since my sister had that at the Texas state fair and said it was delicious. But what has me blogging this morning is the Krispy Kreme burger.

A hamburger between 2 Krispy Kreme donuts. Gross! Even my most PMS driven cravings would not make me want that.

Get the cheese!

2010-10-08T20:30:00.000-04:00

Oh go on! I like my cheese but these people REALLY like their cheese. The description of this video is as follows:
Gloucestershire Cheese Rolling 2009 video highlights from http://www.soglos.com - filmed on Monday 25 May 2009. Every year daring competitors throw themselves down a death-defyingly steep hill in Gloucestershire, England, in a bid to win a coveted Double Gloucester cheese, and this year's event was no different - with a number of competitors incurring injuries. Local cheese rolling legend Chris Anderson won 2 of the 5 races on the day, and can be seen in the video sporting his usual bright green top and flying past the camera.

Ramen....it's what's for dinner

2010-10-08T20:12:00.000-04:00

Yay!

2010-10-08T07:29:00.000-04:00

Baaaaa

2010-10-02T16:56:00.001-04:00

like a sheep following the rest of the herd I think I need to get into this Silly Bandz craze. It's all my aunt's fault. She posted on Facebook how she wanted some Texas shaped ones and someone posted a link....

which then led me to find NCAA licensed (what won't they license to get our money?) Silly Bandz for Texas Tech:

and Ohio State. I do wonder exactly what is that green leaf supposed to be. It looks suspiciously like a marijuana leaf to me.

And I found some Texas A&M ones:

Lastly, of course I couldn't leave out the local schools:

Duke Blue Devils

UNC Tarheels

NC State Wolfpack

This may be one of the most juvenile blog posts I've ever written.

oh yeah, they had university of texas ones too but you know my thoughts on that. So you can Google them up yourself if you really want them. All images courtesy of Amazon.com.

I jump in it

2010-10-01T22:31:00.000-04:00

My sister clued me into this commercial

Opulence.
I has it.

Now where's my tiny giraffe? I think Lulu needs a playmate.

Inspiring

2010-09-28T06:51:00.002-04:00

I really need to get back to running. Twice in one month does not a runner make.

Oh yeah, this is post 1000. wooooo!

Look what I got in the mail today

2010-09-23T18:55:00.000-04:00

My medal for doing two 1/2 marathons!

ps: this my 999th post! Maybe I should do something fancy for post 1000?

My birthday is coming...

2010-09-19T11:19:00.000-04:00

and I think I'm going to celebrate by getting a new tattoo. For sometime now I've been wanting a new one and for a while I was thinking of something dachshund related. That will probably still happen, eventually. But for now I've decided to get one commemorating the running of three 1/2 marathons.

Originally I was thinking a crown, for the triple crown, but I couldn't find a good example of one so I moved on from that idea and decided on stars. Three stars. One for each race. So this morning I spent a couple of hours googling up star images and looking at tattoo web sites. Stars are pretty basic but I was hoping for inspiration. So what did I find? A crown.

See, this is why I can't have nice things. I can never make up my mind.

Guns Up

2010-09-17T19:46:00.000-04:00

It's that time of year again, when I just have to say:

Texas Tech plays UT at 8pm EST tomorrow.

I think you know where my loyalties lie.

Ticket prices explained

2010-09-15T21:13:00.001-04:00

I'm trying to book my flight back to Texas for Christmas and it's killing me that it's going to cost me nearly $500. At least now I know why!

From cracked.com

Edit: Yay for Southwest Airlines! I was able to book a ticket for under $400 and my bags get to fly for free.

Austin peeps, mark your calendars now if you want to have dinner on 12/23 (preferably at Rudy's or Chuy's).

Lulu has a new love

2010-09-14T07:07:00.002-04:00

and when he's around it's like I don't exist.

So bored

2010-09-12T13:27:00.000-04:00

and so unmotivated to do anything today. So far I have watched 3 episodes of Weeds using the Netflix app on my iPhone, finished reading a book on my Nook, and taken Lulu for a long walk. Now I don't know what to do. I don't want to go shopping, I'm tired of reading and nothing on tv is holding my attention.

I supposed I could start knitting again...

I bought shoes!

2010-09-10T22:10:00.000-04:00

They had some time on their hands

2010-09-09T07:41:00.000-04:00

The Race

2010-09-06T16:54:00.000-04:00

So continuing my fine tradition, yesterday's race was run on 3 1/2 hours sleep and with killer heartburn. Apparently, I am not meant to have a pre-race dinner of a pasta with red sauce. Next time I'll stick with mac & cheese. The heartburn lasted the entire race and didn't go away until I hobbled across the street to buy overpriced antacids at a beach souvenir shop.

Still, even with all that, I kicked ass on my race. I shaved 4 minutes off my Seattle time and I even stopped to pee (and that took like 3 minutes because my running pants are so tight). However, I did want to die a little when I was done.

No more half marathons for me. Now I'm going to concentrate on getting my 5k time down and actually be able to run for more than 3 minutes at a time.

And I'm off like a herd of turtles

2010-09-03T12:59:00.002-04:00

on my way to Virginia Beach. Which was spared by Hurricane Earl. Yay.

They did not teach me this in dance class

2010-09-02T23:49:00.000-04:00

About 10 years ago I got this wild idea that I should take tap dancing classes. And so I did, through the University of Texas (and no, that does not make me a longhorn, bite your tongue). Anyway, I did not have enough rhythm and coordination to do even the basic steps, much less dance like this.

One Month

2010-09-01T07:18:00.000-04:00

A lot can happen in a month. You can lose 5 pounds, you can win the lottery, you can follow your favorite band across the country or you can start to fall in love. I've only done one of these things in the last month.

In one month I will be 37.
Seriously, how does that happen?

Race music

2010-08-31T20:42:00.000-04:00

I'm being optimistic that Hurricane Earl is going to take a turn and pass Virginia Beach by. Also that my sinus infection thing will clear up in the next couple of days, because running with clogged ears will be a bitch. Plus I'll have to turn my ipod up to eleven!!11.

So I'm working on crafting the perfect playlist and thought I'd share some with you. Some are new to me and some are just faves. No judging.

Bruno Mars- Just the Way You Are. Watch more top selected videos about: Just the way you are, Just the Way You Are

<a href="http://gramrabbit.bandcamp.com/track/bloody-bunnies-superficiality">Bloody Bunnies(Superficiality) by Gram Rabbit</a>

There's also a whole lot of Britney (in her trashy phase), 80s and early 90s one hit wonders and twangy you-broke-my-heart-so-now-I'm-gonna-kilt-yer-dawg type country. Don't judge my music until you've run 13.1 miles in a hurricane.

Why?!

2010-08-31T07:19:00.000-04:00

What is it with me and hurricanes? Argh. Despite my best intentions I haven't made it to the beach all summer and I just want to spend Friday and Saturday laying on the beach working on my tan and reading trashy books.

Hurricane Earl is threatening to ruin my Labor Day vacation. I know I haven't trained for this 1/2 marathon as well as I should have but I swear I didn't pray for a hurricane to wipe things out.