One more before sleepy sleepy hopefully

I just saw that my last post in layout and it was AWFULLY long. No photos to break it up. No one will read all that. I think I'd be pushing my luck for even Lin to make it through. But I've decided, it's better to think of my blog as an online diary that one day I can look back on. Because I suck at actual writing in diaries. So anyway, point is, while I was updating the web site, I found some pictures of Lin and I when we went to the ISA show in Orlando and celebrated her bday in Disney World. Here you go.


Me and Mickey


Me and the boys


Me with blond eyebrows (not a good look!) and lin on her birthday

Ponderings at 4 am

So it's nearly 4:30 am and I can't sleep. I went to bed around 10: 30 but woke up from one of the dogs jumping on my bladder around 3 am. Been on the couch web surfing ever since. I've sent emails to see2photography clients, letting them know about our holiday specials, updated the web site, checked work email, yada yada. I'm not quite sure what's wrong but it does indeed suck as I found out last night that my absentee ballot had been rejected for some form error, and I must go to Fairfax Voter registration at 8 am in the morning---3.5 hours from now---to vote. I'll be in San Diego with my two best friends for the actual election, so that's a bright spot. But in the meantime, I am finding myself stressed with one of those "I'm anxious about everything but nothing in particular" feelings.

I'm worried about the economy and how much worse it's going to get. I'm worried about being EXHAUSTED tomorrow all day. I signed up for a Strategic Planning and PR course at the UVA extension campus and it runs 7 to 930. My first class is tomorrow night. I hope I don't fall asleep! I'm worried the holidays are just around the corner and I'm not the least bit ready. I'm worried that my exercise plan is never actually going to get off the ground and my running days are a thing of the past. Anyway, enough with my worrying. I was on myspace as part of my insomnia and came across a blog I wrote a while ago. As i'm now a facebook girl, and my body still ain't letting me rest, I thought i'd excerpt it here (with a few revisions):

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My life goals. Simple really.
Originally Dated January 15, 2008
A 6 Month Review

I just emailed my sister a list of my life goals, and thought i would share them with all of you as well. Plus I am waiting for a teleconference and lord knows I have nothing better to do. Actually I have a lot of things to do, but better things? This is arguable. Here goes:

* Pay off all my debts by the time I turn 32. This is possible. I've still got a year and half, anyway.

* Have four little girls named annie, mollie, yvie, kate. Alternates: sophie, autumn, Rachael, anya, this list goes on and myspace does not allow for the length it would take to name them all. i do know that one will indeed by a profesional acrobatist and one will be backup singer for Steve Winwood, although he may be in a wheelchair by the time she's of age. Oh, this is definitely happening. Although I've added some names. I really like Garrett for a girl. And Spencer for a girl too. Then again, i DESPISE Spencer Pratt, so maybe not.

*Quit job and become a famous industrial collage photographer who wears funky eyeglasses and a size 2. okay reality, size 8, but It'll look smaller because I'm taller. Oh who am I kidding? It'll look smaller because it's like 10 sizes smaller than I am now! At the moment, I am feeling like I'll be this size forever. And I'm wearing contacts these days. But it's still a goal. I was going to exercise in the AM but as that's now, I don't see that happening.

*Run marathons every few years pushing a baby carriage and running with my husky Vladimir (ick will ride in the carriage). Well I do have a place in the NYC Marathon. In 2009. Motivating myself to do something so that when another year passes, I still want to, umm. We'll see. And it's hurley now. No huskies because James has banned any further dog additions.

*Go on vacation twice a year, one time to someplace tropic, the other someplace exotic like India. Call it "going on holiday" to sound cooler. I'll start this goal in 2015, when I finish paying off the last trip.

*Have a beach house, a mountain house and rent a tiny 2 bedroom in dc somewhere to afford other places. This is a 2020 goal. Although the way the economy is going, it may be more like 2040.

*Own a scooter (and not leave it at the West Falls Church metro which is a rampant area of crime) Possible 31st bday to self?

* Own a respectable collection of cowl necks sweaters. This is the best goal I have on here. And most likely to be reached.

* Kiss on my sis sis at least once a week. Let her cook for me at least twice a week. The kisses are happening, the cooking is not. But she does cook for me like once a month. That's decent progress, I would say.

* Always have a full container of hummus in my refridgerator. I had one last night, before I ate it all...does that count? Damn hummus. You are so tasty!!

*Subscribe to Life & Style magazine so as to obtain issues before available on newsstands. Yah for Mom's bday present! Check!

* And most importantly, have acrylic nails. When I can afford regular manicures, I'll consider this. Maybe. I go back and forth between beautiful and tacky. Mostly because I have oompa loompa hands and fake nails look HUGE on my fingers.

I'm a simple girl, with simple dreams, don't you think?

(as I thought about this more , more goals came to mind, so here is an addendum, if you will):

* I would like to weigh what my driver's license says I weigh at least before it expires. See above comments on weight.

* I want to be known as a great listener, not as "what up interrupt." I'm trying!

* After studying spanish for like a gazillion years and still not getting it, I have lowered my expectations on foreign languages. I would like to have a friend who is fluent in spanish. I've gotten to aquaintance, but not yet to friend. Work in progress

* I would like to find the exercise video that Molly and I did for PE class one year and laugh at what dorks we were. Techi's drug store too. And Pelo Facil. Buy a videocamera and remind myself I have not become all that less dorkier than I was then. I do own a video camera! Check 2! I do not know where the hey hey those videos are.

* I will live all by myself for 6 months before ever getting married. At age 29, i have never lived on my own and I think it's about time. Not with the rent in this state!

* I want to embrace 30 (YIKES 4 months from today!!) with grace and style and not cry to much over the sun damage i'm spotting near my eyes. Came and went. I don't know if the style and grace portion did, but I'm 30 and proud. And wearing more sun screen.

* I will live in the present at least once a week. Ummmm, maybe?

* Say more prayers. Not just before dinner when I'm over at the fams and Dad expects me to or when I'm taking off in a plane and get all nervous about dying, but at random times. for the random blessings i have. I'm working on this one.

* Take Katy Bennett on an all expenses paid trip and not have her pay for anything. Katy Bennett keeps upping the ante by flying out to visit me for wedding dress shopping, surprising me with Emily on engagement weekends. GIVE ME A CHANCE FOR CRYING OUT LOUD. This will probably also be a 2040 endeavor.

More to come with future teleconferences....
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Off to bed, I hope!

i wish i was doing this instead

Drinking and harrassing the dog on the couch. Well maybe I could hold off on the drinking till at least noon. One of my dad's cappucinos would do. Sighness. We were both up so late watching the debates, and then the commentators analyzing the debates, that I didn't get my needed 12 hours of beauty sleep. I never do, which is why I am usually a walking zombie. But on a day like today, where I have SO much to do, it makes it particularly difficult. Which is why I'd rather be on the couch.

Reminiscing...

So I brought my ipod to work today. I haven't listened to it in forever, preferring lately to read on the metro than listen to music. I forgot how much I loved it! I love how songs bring back such specific memories. Then on top of my reminscining, I see a high school friend has posted pics from high school. How the hey hey was that like 12 years ago? So i've posted a few pics, many which include friends I still keep in touch with via facebook, and listed a few of my favorite songs I forgot about. For being one of like 3 people working on a federal holiday, it's not a bad day...

Favorite Songs I Forgot I Had:
Brian Wilson, Barenaked Ladies
Against all Odds, Phil Collins
Cast No Shadow, Oasis
Caught a Lite Sneeze, Tori Amos
Desperately Wanting, Better than Ezra
Easier, Glen Phillips

it goes on and on and on. I miss Sally Sinor. She's such a great compiler of mix tapes.

And here's some photos I forgot I was ever in:

She's got my vote!

Courtesy of Photographer Extraordinaire, Emily Johnston!

My sister the Domestic Diva & My Fantastic Father!

So Lin had us all over for dinner in celebration of Dad's birthday last night. I am SO proud, and slightly jealous, of how fabulous she is in the kitchen. Where as I learned how to make fajitas when the kids were in town, she's whipping up things like stuffed mediterranean chicken. It was SOOOOO good. And her house of course was all beautiful with candles and crate & barrel plates. HOW DID I MISS THIS GENE? I really have got to commit to taking a class or something! I don't necessarily believe the woman's role is in the kitchen--actually i don't believe that at all--but I do think there is something to be said about being an excellent host. So my new goal for the remainder of 2008 is to either take some sort of cooking class, or convince my sister to teach me herself. I don't need to make my own ice cream. (hello Emily Johnston, the world's most talented and crafty best friend in the whole world. Talk about feeling incompetent next to this woman, she has herbs in her house that I have never even heard of. Even her dog eats gourmet raw pet speciality food.) But I would like to make something that didn't come in a box with microwave instructions.

And if that wasn't great enough, the meal that is, she went and made the coolest book for Dad of our trip. Where does your talent end?

I'm surrounded by geniuses!!

Finally, I end this post with a toast: TO THE MOST WONDERFUL FATHER ON THE ENTIRE PLANET! HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!

Bum, Bum, BUM

after a week straight of being glued to the television watching presidential and VP debates, talking heads fighting it out about exactly HOW BAD it all is, and reading articles about how it's only going to get much, much worse, it's no wonder i'm feeling a little depressed. i know there's not much positive going on, but does everything have to be SUCH a downer according to the media? I mean there's gotta be SOMETHING good going on.


But then I discovered this awesome site, GoodNews Network. All they print is good news! Headlines include things like "Man Returns Stolen Plaque after 50 Years" and "Hundreds of New Marine Species discovered by Australian Scientists." I'm thrilled, how great a concept is this? So I scroll down to read more and am directed to an area to enter my credit card. Good News ain't free.

Bum, Bum, BUM!