Gee, Thanks

Dec 02, 2008
Categories: family, life

It’s been a rough few days, but i haven’t blogged in a while, so here are some photos from Thanksgiving.

The Dinner Table

We had dinner at Grandpa’s, as usual. But this year we decided to actually eat at the table and put the food on the buffet, so i tackled the job of cleaning off the buffet with Jamie’s help. It was no easy task, but i’d say it was pretty rewarding. First Grandpa’s jungle of plants had to be moved to the bedroom, and then all the junk had to be removed from the buffet and dusted and put back after the windows and the buffet itself had been cleaned. Whew! The meal was delicious (thanks Mom!), and we got to enjoy it comfortably.

Centerpiece
I found this guy while cleaning, and he became the centerpiece.

Joey
Aunt Mary Kaye brought her little dog Joey

Family Gathering
Mom, Mary Kaye, Lindsey, John, Chuck, Tim & Jamie

Not pictured is Grandpa, and of course myself. It was a somewhat morose dinner, as the family isn’t feeling particularly thankful this year. We still have each other though, as Mom pointed out, and that’s certainly something to be grateful for. I’m grateful for my job and my wonderful boyfriend, and for the friends i’ve made and re-made this year.

It’s all snowy right now in Iowa, but that’s not what’s got me feeling down. I’m trying to dislodge my foot from between my jaws and i’m pretty bad at that. With the dual-bad-excuse of alcohol and the internet, i’ve said a lot of stupid things lately, and i’m sorry. I went to the dermatologist yesterday and he says i have hyperlinear palms.

too many lines on my hands
and too many words in my mouth.

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Amazon Wish List

Nov 26, 2008
Categories: shopping

For the couple of you who are scratching your heads about what to get me for Christmas, here is a list of ideas that i had fun compiling on Amazon and in no way expect to be fulfilled (because i’ll be grateful for anything/everything i’m offered, even if it’s merely the grace of your presence):

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Weekend in Iowa City

Nov 24, 2008
Categories: road trips

First of all, i’m very excited to finally have a somewhat decent photo of me and Nathan to post on the blog. We went ice skating on Friday and met up briefly with two different groups of friends of mine. I’d never been ice skating outdoors before, and although the rink was a little bit small and crowded i thought it was nice not to be tripping over little kids the whole time. I didn’t fall once!

Awww!

Go cameraphone! I’m feeling a little more comfortable with my electronic gadgets lately, since i’ve figured out how to make the iPod shuffle, and the cameraphone flash. I can’t get the G1 for less than $400 because i’m one of a few people T-Mobile doesn’t feel they need to impress, so i’m thinking of switching providers for a while to show them…

Back to the story. We headed to Iowa City on Saturday so that Nathan could show me what his college life was like. He took me around the parts of campus that weren’t damaged by the flood, including the Natural History Museum, the old capitol building and the library. Then my feet started to hurt, because i didn’t happen to have the foresight to wear or bring shoes that i can walk in for more than an hour. We went to get lunch and the first two places Nathan tried to take me to were not there anymore, so we settled for pizza-by-the-slice and were both feeling rather grumpy.

We decided the best thing to do was head back to Coral Ridge mall and get me some new shoes. I bought running shoes, since that was the only comfortable shoe i could sorta chalk up to need. They’re ugly, but functional. Then we went to Nina & Karl’s place. We got to see their apartment all pretty and clean before it got flooded on Sunday, but i’m getting ahead of myself. The four of us visited for a while and then headed to the Vine downtown, where i remembered that a restaurant’s appeal is sometimes not its atmosphere. Hawkeye fans apparently CLAP at football games on TV… i thought that was odd. The burgers were fantastic and the beer got us sufficiently tipsy, but it was only seven when we finished and so we headed to one more bar. Nathan showed me the proper Iowa way to push and kick and swing on things whilst running from one location to the next. Nina and Karl drove.

Sunday morning Nathan and i had breakfast at Hamburg Inn, where apparently a lot of U.S. Presidents have dined. We finished up the tour of downtown Iowa City and headed back to Des Moines. All in all, i think Iowa State’s campus is prettier, but Iowa City is a much cooler town than Ames. It was great to see Nina and Karl and their place, and to get a taste of what life is like for Hawkeyes. I’m not a traitor, i promise - i’m just getting to know the other side a little better.

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Too Many Puppies

Nov 19, 2008
Categories: puppies

By now probably everyone has seen this since it made national news and all, but for the record i want to say that i thought Shiba Inu puppies were particularly adorable before the Puppy Cam came along.

I want a puppy!!!

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Untimely

Nov 10, 2008
Categories: life

I learned today that my ex-boyfriend’s father passed away this weekend. He was (not even?) 50 years old. Apparently it was either carbon monoxide poisoning or a heart attack. Either way, it was untimely and unfortunate, and i am so sorry for Dan and the rest of his family.

Death is something i never had to really deal with until about a year ago. I remember people in my stepfather’s family dying when my mother was married to him, and occasionally a friend’s grandmother would pass away or a kid i’d known in school would commit suicide, but never anyone i was really close to. Then Joel died. And then Jason. Then Grandma. And now Joe. If these deaths haven’t affected me directly, they’ve completely upturned the lives of people i am or until recently was extremely close to. This is a new feeling for me. I always knew it was coming, but i never imagined that it would just suddenly begin and not stop, and i didn’t have any way of anticipating how it would really feel.

I guess it makes you think about the people who are still in your life and how important they are to you, more than anything. I’m so grateful for all of my friends and family. Take care of yourselves! And take every opportunity to tell people that you love them while you still can.

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