Marriage and Computers

Last week my computer, 'Roxie', officially turned 6 years old.  Her name is such because when I got her she was shiny, silver, and precocious just Roxie from the musical CHICAGO.  Now she is very much like a aged Broadway star.  You can still see the gleam in her eye suggesting a passion for performance, but she is no longer and fast or as flexible as she was in her hayday.  She also takes longer to learn her dance steps than she once did.

Chuck and I used to share Roxie, but this summer he got to buy a new computer for work.  His computer is fast, full of amazing applications both pratical and frivolous, and even has wings with which to fly.  It also has the  audacity to steal the internet from Roxie whenever it can.  (Sibling Rivalry?)  His computer does not, however have nearly as much personality as Roxie.

A few nights ago I pointed out, "Chuck, if you still had to use Roxie on a regular basis, we would have gotten a new computer months ago."  What happened next is a bit blurry to me, but I think that it consisted of him trying (and miserably failing) to keep a straight face, giggling at how accurate my statement was and then coming over to console me with a hug after I accused him of keeping me in the computer stoneage with our out-dated computer.

"I feel your pain more acutely than my own" he comforted.

Does this mean I get a new computer?

Marriage and Instant Messaging

me: time preference?

chuck: for leaving?

me: oops! wrong person.

chuck: !?!

as I am typing the explanation that I meant to IM a co-worker about setting up a meeting

chuck: are you wearing underwear?

chuck: oops! wrong person.

100 Life Experiences

1. Started your own blog – you are here!

2. Slept under the stars -  I recommend it.

3. Played in a band – Highlands School, Lincoln Junior High and Naperville Central Concert Band and Honor Band  - I am hard core.

4. Visited Hawai’i - nope, but I have eaten pineapple someone brought home from Hawai'i

5. Watched a meteor shower  -  Perseid Meteor Shower as seen from the Oregon Coast

6. Given more than you can afford to charity -  I want to do this, but it is scary.  To me at least.

7. Been to Disneyland – well Disney World.  Third grade with Meg and my Cabbage Patch Kids.  We camped.

8. Climbed a mountain – not serious hiking just good fun church youth group shenanigans in the Rocky Mountains.

9. Held a praying mantis - we had a baby one in our apartment.  Sadly he did not survive.  I still have him in a tiny lab beaker.  Is that wierd?

10. Sang a solo - 5th grade musical. "If you're careless how you snack.  Germs are ready to attack.  If you want to keep decay away, then rush to brush us everyday!"  Also, I was the baker in the Eagles Wings rendition of Joseph.

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris – does the one in Vegas Count?

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea – have seen them near the ocean at least.  Watching a storm roll in near the ocean is fantastic.  Once in Cape Cod and once in Cape May, New Jersey.

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch – piano, kind of. Then I married Chuck and he took over the musical responsibilites.

15. Adopted a child - none, other than those adopted from Xavier Roberts.

16. Had food poisoning - thank goodness

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty - Sadly, no.

18. Grown your own vegetables - we has to grow bean plants in 4th grade science class with Mrs. Thompson.  I have grown herbs, too.

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train – Chicago to Winter Park 2 times and Chicago to Portland, OR once.  The first trip was in a sleeping car - which is the way to do it.

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitchhiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset  - one of my favorite memories is watching the sunrise in Estes Park Colorado with OSLC youth group.

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise - Spirit of Chicago dinner cruise?

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors -  If you count Oregon.

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone SCUBA diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen - Hell's Kitchen, New York City

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies - I was a high seller for many years in a row thanks to the students at North Central College.  My mom would make me write thank you notes on post-its to my customers.

62. Gone whale watching - not on purpose, but I have seen them.  Quite large, whales.

63. Got flowers for no reason -  thank you. :*

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving.

66. Visited a Nazi concentration camp – Auschwitz-Birkenau.  

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy -  Molly Bear and others, but Molly is the most important.

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial  - and heard a grandpa tell his gandson that if he didn't want to read the Gettysburd Address he could wait until they got home because they have it hanging in the bathroom.

71. Eaten caviar - Jan Randall's house for Winter dance dinner sophomore year.  Stag party!

72. Pieced a quilt -  I pieced pillow cases for my Anchomates in college.

73. Stood in Times Square -  yes.  Surreal.

74. Toured the Everglades - no, but I have been to the Okeefenokee Swamp in Georgia.

75. Been fired from a job - I was temping for a company when my dad had a stroke.  I let them know I was gong to be out of town, but that I would be working from there. (I worked from home anyway).  A day or so later someone who I had never spoken to e-mailed and was like, "Can you give me all your contacts and update me on this process because I will be taking over. "  Rude.  They also wanted me to give them access to my e-mail.  I don't THINK so!

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone – left pinky; very tramatic.  Bungee cords are nasty!  Covered by workman's comp. :)

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle - will never ever ride on one.

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person – want to go again

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car -  2008 Huyndai Elantra.  Soooo pretty.

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper - not as much as Craolyn Finzer, though.

85. Read the entire Bible

86. Visited the White House – only the outside of it

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating - ew gross.

88. Had chickenpox -  and how.

89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury – never will.  My sad fate as a lawyer.

91. Met someone famous -  famous is a very relative term.

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one

94. Had a baby - much to my mother's chagrin. ;) Just kidding mom! 

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee - last time was many years ago.  I stepped on one and my foot was swollen like you would not believe for DAYS.

100. Read an entire book in one day -  it takes more than one day to read a book?

 53 Completed so far!  That seems about right.  I have done some cool things so far and have some things to look forward too.

Home for the Holidays

Walking with my mom down a snowy Chicago street.

"It is SO slippery out here," my mom declares while taking delicate and s l o w steps besides me.

"I think that it might be your shoes."

"No, I don't think so.  It feels like I could skate out here."  Skate skate skate.  We continue in the snow. "Aren't you slipping?"

"No."

"Well, it must be because of your shoes."

"Like I said...."

A True Election Night 2008 Story

At 11:45 on election night I started the following text conversation with a perfect stranger.

Unknown phone number: Barak Obama elected our president of the USA.

ME: Who is this?

Unk: Sorry wrong number.

ME: Still Exciting news! Gobama!

Unk: Yes and Amen

Ouch

We had a meet and greet skating session for the Esprit Teams on Wednesday night.  I paired off with a nice woman to work on spins.  During the exchange of the requisite pleasantries we each spoke of our jobs.  After telling her I was an attorney she said that she was surprised that I could make the time in my busy schedule to commit to skating on the team.  After I explained that I worked in legal services and have a fairly reasonable schedule she commented, "Yeah, I guess the make the young lawyers work the long hours."

They've got Personality + a new goal

I have recently taken note of what I consider to be a disturbing trend: Sanitary products are developing personalities. If you doubt what I have just extolled please visit Iris, the super sassy nurse, who will answer all your "girl" questions; or Have a Happy Period with Always on-line games. 'Nuff Said.
Because I need a new goal to not achieve I am focusing on shorter commentaries with the hope that it means more frequent posts.