Weekend at Grandma and Rocky's

My grandparents are pretty much the cutest people ever. They square dance. And play tennis, and win, with people 30 years younger than them. And love their Prius. And are frustrated with technology, but adapting heroically. And, like any self-respecting grandparents, they are master keepers of stuff--not only do they keep lots and lots of stuff, they keep it in mint condition.

I went to visit them for the 4th of July, and Gram pulled out this:

This is the dress my great-grandmother wore to my grandparents' wedding! It's 56 years old and counting.

My grandparents are also amazing socialites, so everywhere we went I got introduced to dozens of cute old people who were just tickled to see me all grown up. I think they enjoyed showing me off. Gram even made sure I was outfitted in red-white-and-blue for the festivities:

Sigh. Families are great. I just wish we all lived closer.

Please

Can my kids be as cute as this someday?

Paradise Island

Reason #4,519 why I love being married to Chris...

The week of my birthday, my grandfather passed away and Chris had final exams. Needless to say, I wasn't making, or expecting, any special plans. Driving home on my birthday on Friday afternoon, I figured Chris and I would just spend a quiet evening watching a movie or something boring but comfy. So imagine my excitement and surprise when I found a note taped to the apartment door:

"Put on this blindfold [rolled up t-shirt hanging from nail on door] before you knock".

I obeyed. And knocked. And was rewarded with Paradise Island!





The pictures don't do it justice, but Chris had "beach ambiance" sounds playing complete with seagulls and waves. He made a smoothie, a Caribbean curry dinner, had decorated the whole apartment, and was decked out in beach gear. He also had a put candles in a dish of Boston Market macaroni and cheese (my FAV!) for me to make my birthday wishes. Who couldn't love this man?

Funny subplot--I was so excited during the "island party" that I forgot to take pictures. So I recreated the scene the next day for photo documentation.

Patriotism...and presents

Thanks to my wonderfully crafty SIL Brooke, my apartment is now prepared to celebrate Independence Day in style!



So, to carry on the traditions on which our nation was founded--namely creativity, glitter, and blogging--here goes...The first three people to leave a comment on this post will receive something made by me. However, there are some limitations:

1. I make no guarantee that you will like what I make.
2. What I create will be just for you.
3. It will be done this year.
4. You have no clue what it is going to be - cards, bows, a bag, frame or a little invention of my own. I may bake something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you that’s for sure!
5. I reserve the right to do something extremely strange. It may blow your mind!

Here’s the catch, if you choose to do this. You must post this on your blog and be ready to make something for three people too. This will be fun! When you receive the fabulous item I make you, you must post a picture of it on your blog. Now time to comment and start thinking about what you will be making for someone else!

**Additional note: I reserve the right to make something less cute than Brooke :)

And out of control

So remember the cats? They're taking over. This afternoon when I got home, I heard a very mournful call in the stairwell. That's weird, I thought. When I opened my apartment door to let in my friend Heather, a cat was rubbing up against her leg and then dashed into my apartment! It freaked me out so much that I screamed and tried to kick it. Heather did not seem to understand my distress...it was a little embarrassing. I'm just not a cat person, and so having it run in my house was like a squirrel stealing my food out of my hands. Not cool. Plus, Chris and I are both allergic. So more like a squirrel spitting pollen in my face and then stealing food out of my hands.

Out in public

I am cheap. Not about everything traveling.running shoes.produce but about some things electronics.hair products.jewelry. So when we discovered how outrageously expensive internet is out here (since you have to buy a package including cable and a landline...seriously, who buys a landline these days? So 90's.), I was adamantly against paying for it. I decided I would just use the public library to do my online class. It's close, it's free. What's not to like, right?

Well, I've learned over the last 10 months that you definitely get what you pay for. Free internet actually means...

Biggest crusty I've ever seen from a mean old lady

Listening to the most annoying internet games ever. EVER. Good thing there's a time limit on computer usage. Oh wait, but that's actually not good for me.

Really smelly folks

Creepers not a few viewing slightly questionable material

Overhearing intimate phone conversations that are extremely awkward

Slimy keyboards that have almost certainly never been cleaned


The free internet at the student family housing is starting to look more and more charming...but until then, I'll just chalk it up to really great people watching. After all, it could be worse.

to pet or not to pet

Last Friday, our rock-out neighbors moved, and they asked us to keep their hamster, Mario, for them "over night". Which turned into a one-week stay. Some people see hamsters as pets. I am not one of them. Hamsters are rodents, and rodents indoors should be caught in traps. That's just how I was raised I guess. As a cruel, cruel rodent trapper.



You may think they are cute. I can even admit that they can be cute. I just think they are much cuter in the wild that in my living room. Especially when they fling wood chips everywhere and have that annoying propensity to be nocturnal.

Our neighbors never called, so we finally drove over to drop Mario off. So he is now back where he belongs...sort of.

Rice to the rescue...almost

Approximately 3 weeks ago, my phone went through the washer. Regular cycle. My resourceful and ever so helpful mother-in-law suggested that I take out the battery and put it in a bag of (uncooked) rice to dry it out. I was skeptical, but I tried it anyway.

After 48 hours in the rice, I put the battery back in the phone and...it turned on! I was converted.

Then, about 3 days later, I discovered that suddenly my phone only worked when plugged into its charger; it instantaneously turned off when unplugged. I also discovered that half of my voicemail messages are now complete, aggravating silence. I was disillusioned.

My cell phone became a landline. I am in the process of deciding how to replace it. Meanwhile, I effectively crawled back to my pre-cell phone cave. Only it wasn't as dark and inconvenient as I thought. I became harder to get a hold of, but I was been less tempted to answer it when driving, less glued to my phone. I was liberated.

Then my phone started doing more weird things. Like not working at all. Back to disillusioned.

Thanks but no thanks, rice. But it was still a good idea, Mom.

Spontaneous

Last week on Friday at 9 p.m., my friend convinced me to run a half marathon with her on Saturday at 7 a.m.

Is it bad that no small part of my motivation was rationalizing all of the cake I wanted to eat on Friday night?

p.s. I paid the price--my knee hurts. A lot. But the cake was so, so good.

Opinions on a dismal affair

Summer time means one very unfortunate thing for me this year: I need a new bathing suit. The strap on my current, tube top-style suit has lost its ability to prevent me from flashing unsuspecting children at the beach. Thus, I must undertake that most odious of activities for women in search of modest swimwear.

Since I would like to avoid the actual shopping at all costs, I've been looking online...



Any thoughts?