Fat Tuesday it is.

Today's the day we're supposed to gorge ourselves on food and drink before a long period of "fasting." What a great holiday. One where debauchery is encouraged (and after this, vegetarianism!). Too bad that I am officially old and pretty much broke. We'll see how things turn out tonight... I plan to go to the River Market to watch the parade and Ben and Brian from Lucero. That's the plan, at least. There hasn't been too much debauchery going on lately, so I doubt that things will get too "fat," if you will. Or if you won't. I'm still open for suggestions on something to give up for Lent. Maybe I'll give up on hanging out with Chandle. That should be easy. Love you, Chandle.
Click on this link to see a live feed of action from Bourbon Street. (You'll go to the CNN site then click a link from there...). I watched it for a while and didn't see anything scandalous. Although, it is currently only 12:30. Costumes are pretty funny though.
Well, friends, have a good Fat Tuesday. Try to do something crazy and report back. Let's not let ourselves become old and boring. Ha, ha. :)

Being an adult means I hate Mondays

Here comes another week, I suppose. I just get so attached to the weekends, it's a shame. Jeremy is gone to New Orleans once again. It's quite a coincidence that it's right smack in the middle of Mardi Gras week. I think it's a ruse. He even gets Fat Tuesday off. Niiiice. Watch out down there, Jerm. Don't step in the gutters. Ever.
Speaking of Fat Tuesday, my Ben Nichols from Lucero is playing at the Flying Sacuer in honor of the holiday. You can win a New Belgium cruiser, and NB pints are just $2.50. Mmm... Fat Tire. If you want to go, let me know. It will be a good time. Virginia and I once went to the Sacuer for Fat Tuesday. She accidentally caused a bit of trouble and JR had to defend her honor. We barely even knew him then... what a sweet guy. :)
Weekend=good. Went to Jeremy's house Friday, then drove to Memphis and back on Satuday to take Colin to the airport. This trip was much more pleasant. Caught up with people I have been missing: Megan Pangle-Page was in town Saturday, I talked to Chandle for a while, Virginia called and is coming to visit next weekend, Christy came to LR Sunday, and Leah emerged from her books for a moment (I ran into her at the B-Grill, and she came over to watch Grey's Anatomy). Good to see everyone and/or talk to you!
PS- Jeremy wins the prize for the last post... it was the music from Kill Bill when she's about to go ballistic on people. Good job. But he doesn't like to post comments.
Question for the day: What are you giving up for Lent?

Mix Master Mike, whatcha got to say?

Last night I went to Melissa's house to eat some shells and cheese and fake corndogs. While there, she let me watch this episode of David Letterman with the Beastie Boys (click on the green there, watch it) she had taped. It is amazing. How much cooler can they get, seriously?
Bonus points to the first one who can tell me what Mix Master Mike has sampled in after Mike D says...
Y'All suckers write me checks and then they bounce, so I reach in my pocket for the fresh amount. See I'm the long leaner victor the cleaner I'm the illest (mother what??) from here to gardena.
Hint: It's from a movie... Come on... you can do it...! Listen to what they mix in... Bonus BONUS points to the first fantastic friend who downloads this version of the song and puts it on a SWEET cd for me. :)

I can't believe I forgot about this...

... My day started off AWESOME today, and I can't believe I forgot about it till just now. Please, oh please, tell me you heard about the man who tried to smuggle a sheep out of the Little Rock Zoo in a trash can.
First he said he worked there, and he was merely taking the sheep to the doctor. Then he said he thought it was his mama...
Baa. I'm crazy.

I could have daaaaanced all niiight...

Today:
*I am going to Lutheran High in a minute here to watch their majestic production of "My Fair Lady." There's really nothing quite like watching high schoolers sing and dance (mid-puberty, no less). It is going to be amazing.
*I had the social studies classes in computer today. The 7th graders were allowed to play the Yukon Trail. It's very, nostalgically, perfectly similar to our dear ol' Oregon Trail from days of yore. Ohhhh the good days. Sigh... Do you cross the river? Do you fight the Injuns? Do you dare make the oxen try to climb the mountains??
*Tonight the networks have put me in a difficult position. Both "American Idol" AND "Survivor" are on at the exact same times. I don't know why they chose to torture me, but what's done is done. This is what I get for being a freak and watching every reality TV show possible.

To my "Grey's Anatomy" hommies... be sure to check out their explanation for why Meredith did what she did... Good stuff.

How to spend a Friday and Saturday picking up a Canadian at the airport

1. Arrive in Memphis around 6 p.m. You will think everything is completely normal. Deny the fact that an ice strom is coming your way.
2. Eat at Huey's... enjoy a burger.
3. When cousin's flight is delayed in Chicago just as you're about to pick him up, go out to amuse yourself for a few hours. Be sure to find some sort of place with a whole floor devoted to video games (Ms. Pac Man and air hockey) that has a fully stocked bar. Yeah... that will work.
4. Finally pick Canadian cousin up at airport around midnight after many delays. Head straight to Beale Street.
5. Take many cute photos, where you're smiling and completely unaware of the adventure that lay ahead...

6. Make boyfriend and cousin scrape about 4 inches of ice off your car as freezing rain pelts you in the face and you cheer them on. Be sure to let the Canadian in the car drive.

7. When it dawns on you that traffic is being stopped and diverted north because two semi trucks are laid across the interstate, the first thing to do is curse a lot. Then laugh, cause really, what can you do? Drive around it? The thought DID cross our minds as we looked at the grass.

8. When traffic gets completely stopped for hours on end because people are scared of the ice, amuse yourself by stating the obvious. Be sure to pick a good CD or satellite radio station. Also, thumb wrestling can pass the time.

9. To amuse oneself, get out of car on interstate, run and slide around on the ice. When that gets old, hang on to the back of the car and get pulled for about 20 feet or so. We call it carsledding. The thrill intense, and it will entertain all those around you.

10. Find a mat they put on your floorboards when your car gets detailed. Use said mat to sled down hill on side of interstate while people watch in awe.

11. FINALLY.. make it home in one piece after 7 blissful hours for a trip that should take two. Completely crash that night after eating some much-needed pizza.

One more thing...

A HUGE happy birthday to Lil' Kim, the Queen Bee, AKA Kimmy P!!!!! She doesn't EVER update her blog, and she probably doesn't look at this one, but I love her anyway. Truly. Madly. Deeply.
Hope you have a good day, Kimmy. We miss you.

Gee... it's almost pretty, isn't it?

Apparently, the meteorologists in this town want us to think the Apocolypse 2006 is coming. We have nothing but crap weather to look forward to till Tuesday or so. Snow! Ice! No power! Go get your bread and milk now or you'll starve!
That's all great... but we're supposed to leave after school today to go pick up Colin, my cuz from Canada, who's coming to town. He's flying in to Memphis. We had this whole great evening planned to go to Beale St. and spend the night. Now I'm just not sure what we're going to do. The ice is supposed to hit around midnight tonight. And it's not really supposed to let up till Sunday. Or Monday. I cannot get stuck in Memphis, but the forcast says "light" sleet and ice on Saturday afternoon, when we'd be driving back. Plus, my cousin lives in freaking Canada, where he probably drives in crap weather all the time!
What do you think, friends? Should I chance it, or should we make trip just to turn right back around and get home at like 1 or 2 a.m.?? Let's remember that Arkansas weatherpeople are OFTEN wrong. Thoughts?

I have been waiting for this day since I was born.

At long last... my time has come. My time to shine. My time to (dare I say it??) win $100,000 to be split three ways??
Cody has discovered that the fabulous VH1 and Entertainment Weekly have produced a love child that comes in the form of a pop culture game show. It is called the World Series of Pop Culture Trivia. It's possible that's not the official name of it... but that's what it is.
So there's a casting call in Dallas in March. We have decided to combine the incredible brain power and wealth of useless knowledge that is held by myself, Cody, and Annie.
We are going to be an UNSTOPPABLE power. A force to reckoned with. We will crush our opponents. I scoff at those who are weaker than I. Which is everyone. Whaaaa haaaa haaa.

Now you're all gonna die.

You know how just moments ago I had these warm fuzzy feelings about the kids being nice to each other and Valentine love? Yeah... that was before they induced about 12 pounds of sugar. Then I witnessed the MEANEST, most intense game of dodgeball I have ever seen in my life. They were throwing the balls at each other's faces and yelling at each other. "YOU'RE OUT! I GOT YOUR LEG!!!" "SIT DOWN!!!!!!" "NUH-UH, IT DIDN'T TOUCH ME!!"
Now that's Valentine's love.

Tribute to Hallmark and Godiva

I readily admit that I am one of those who people who tries to hate Valentine's Day. Hallmark and Godiva and what-not. As I've gotten older, I realize that it's really not all about that hooplah blah blah blah. It's about having an excuse to tell people you appreciate them, and it gives you a chance to be extra nice. True, we should be doing those things every day. But we don't, right? My favorite Valentine's Day is when my college friends decided we were going to boycott the holiday and throw a big party. Jessica and Angeline (who lived next door to me and Chandle in the oh-so fabulous Mansard Apts.) hosted, and almost everyone I knew came. Whether they had a boyfriend/girlfriend or not. It was a blast. It was one of the first times that Melissa really hung out with me and my group of friends, and Kristen came up. It was fun.
School's a-buzz today with cuteness. People are leaving valentines on each other's lockers, and people are gorging themselves on candy. We'll have a party this afternoon where the kids will gorge more and do the "Cha Cha" line dance inevitably.
Anyway, it is yet to be determined how I feel about the holiday. I'm still forming an opinion. I have historically been a bit of a pessimist when it comes to matters of the heart. I'm working on it. But here's part of an e-mail we girls got from Kimmy P. two years ago:
What’s more important today than getting stuff is knowing we have each other to share those moments of recognition that happen between good friends all the time. You all know what I’m talking about, and that’s why I love you all so much.

Word.

Weekend update

I had a fabulous weekend. Friday, it snowed for about 3 hours (it didn't stick too much, as evidenced by the picture, but it was still pretty). If it had been colder, we would have gotten 4-6 inches. Would have. We closed school early, but we had to wait for all the kids to get picked up, so I ended up leaving at the same time.
Cody came to see me on Saturday and we went out to eat. He's a good boo again. Saturday night I went to the Faded Rose, and Jeremy came home early that night. It was a very nice surprise. I kind of missed him. :) Sunday, I went to the Community Bakery with Jeremy for lunch, hung out all day, and I made him watch "Grey's Anatomy" with me that night. Did everyone see it?? It made me happy. Thoughts?

Mullet extravaganza

I'm pretty happy today, I must say. Today is the 7th graders' first experience of one of the best school videos ever made... "Sweet 15" about a Mexican-American girl's quinceanera. Oh my gosh, I love it. I watched it in high school, and I bought it to share with the children of today. It is mullet-riffic. Check out the beauty of it all. He's an older boy from the "wrong side of the tracks" from Puerto Rico who can dance. Dreamy.
They're being absolutely silent. It's fabuloso.

What has HAPPENED to me??

Something very strange is happening to me this week. I think I am officially losing it. I am DONE with yearbook now. THANK GOODNESS. We stayed until after 9:00 Wednesday. There's just nothin' in the world like working 14 hours a day, right? I love it. We are finally finished though. I will let you all see the final product when it comes out. I think it will be April or something.
Look at my desk. Grades are cut off this week for interims, hence the enormous pile of papers, the open grade book, the stuff people turn in LATE in a panic. It's ridiculous. I am so very happy it's Friday. This week is about to kill me. I've worked late every day this week, and I'm starting to lose my head. I locked myself out of the house yesterday morning. I locked the door, and just walked out without my keys. Can't very well drive to work without the keys. Duh. I had to call Annie from the carport and wake her up to come rescue me. Whoops. My whole week has been like that. Scattered. I leave stuff behind that I need, and I forget what I needed to do. I forgot to pay rent. RENT! What the heck is wrong with me?? My head is seriously not right. I might end up forgetting to get dressed or something soon. Watch out. I need a break. And Jeremy comes home Sunday night. Hooray! Have a good weekend everyone. Don't get arrested.

Taaaake ooon meee (take on me). Take me ON!

Amuse yourself at work idea #548:
Take a picture of your friends and turn it into a cartoon using various photo editors.
To me, it's a little pop art-y. Yes? Maybe a little A-ha "Take on Me" ? Now that song will be stuck in your head too. Ideas for comic book characters and/or superheroes in plain clothing are welcome in the comments section.

Meet ya at the Rose...

Saturday I met Kristen, Kat, Karl, Melissa, and Matty P at the Faded Rose because JR was bartending. It seems to be quickly becoming our Saturday evening ritual. Saturday afternoon was my aunt's funeral, which was really nice. I had a TON of family members in town (both sides of my family are absolutely enormous). I have cousins and other family members I don't even really know because there are so many of them. There is no way I could ever sit down and name them all. Anyway, thanks to everyone for being so supportive.
Here are some fun pictures from Saturday. I did nothing for the Super Bowl. I watched a girl movie while it was on. I had a blast, I tell you. Ummm... did everyone see "Grey's Anatomy??" It was incredible.

Check out the good lookin' fella behind the bar.

Nooooo! Don't leave us, Kristen. We tried to peer pressure her into hanging out longer, but she remained strong. Good job. Don't give in to peer pressure, kids. We only allowed her to go because she promised us a girls' night this week.

My reasons...

Reason #1: Obviously, it's Friday. Thank goodness. That is always VERY good.
Reason #2: We had Survivor night last night, and the show was freaking awesome. I cannot believe how much happiness reality TV gives me. Lay off. :) It's going to be a riveting season in Panama.
Reason #3: Audra made us birthday folk cookies with our names (or initials, my name is a bit long for a cookie) on them. However, Leah ate hers before we could take a picture to commemorate the event, so she had to use a stand-in cookie. A prop, if you will.
Reason #4: Mama cooked a breakfast with no hog. Oh, wait- that's Ice Cube's reason. Ummm... looks like we're going to have actual winter weather this weekend. Finally. It's about dang time.
There's one more- read on...

Reason #5: Mmmmm... cake. Leah made us an awesome cake last night in celebration of our (me, Kristen, JR, and herself) birthdays. I am pretty sure that it was at least 18 layers. I am also fairly certain I went into some sort of cake coma. Delish. Good food at Survivor night, everyone.