It's All About the Mochaface

Time

2012-01-27T07:39:00.007-06:00

Life has been a quick succession of busy nothings.

Time slips by seeping into the ether carrying me forward regardless of what I want. Like a creek carrying a paper sail boat towards deeper water.

It's a funny thing Time. How it rushes and crawls all at once. Like the hare and the tortoise combined into a hybrid that is both fast and slow.

Over the past few months, Life has thrown down some challenges. And in response to these challenges, I have grown. I have learned to assert myself. To make declarations. To grab what I want.

I have been fooled by that wily Time. Fooled into thinking I could control It. But It has a way of taking you in a direction you didn't intend to go. You don't always have an idea of which direction you're actually headed. You just know you can't control it. That you must allow the current to take you where It must.

So I've surrendered to It and feel directionless in my writing, and thus, I have not written.

But I'm still here. My heart still beats. My body still moves.

And I haven't forgotten about you.

Hump Day Humor: Tit for Tat

2012-01-25T07:44:00.004-06:00

ANSWER - Tuesday Trivia: Presidents

2012-01-25T07:22:00.005-06:00

How many last names were shared by U.S. presidents?

Five - Adams (father and son John and John Quincy); Harrison (grandfather and grandson William H. and Benjamin); Johnson (non-relatives Andrew and Lyndon); Roosevelt (distant cousins Theodore and Franklin D.); and Bush (father and son George H.W. and George W.)

Congratulations to La for being the first - and only - to get the correct answer.

Tuesday Trivia: Presidents

2012-01-24T07:21:00.004-06:00

Tuesday Trivia is a weekly post of interesting trivia questions. Leave a comment with your answer - or best guess - and come back tomorrow to see if you were right. Happy guessing!

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How many last names were shared by U.S. presidents?

Prime Rib

2012-01-22T20:36:00.000-06:00

You guys. Yesterday I completed one of my goals for January. I made prime rib.

Turns out, prime rib is not that hard to make. (It's much harder to actually find it. My regular grocery store didn't have it. My favorite foodie store didn't have it. Meat market was the winner.)

It's like roast chicken. You just season and stick it in the oven until it's properly cooked.

So I made prime rib. And it was good.

At least brain farts don't smell

2012-01-20T07:01:00.048-06:00

Sometimes when I stare at a word for too long or I use it too much in quick succession, the word starts to look misspelled. Even though I know it's not misspelled.

I mean, sure, sometimes the spellcheck in Word (or as I like to affectionately call it: Bill Gates) thinks I've misspelled a word when in fact I have not. That's more a matter of Bill Gates not updating his dictionary to reflect modern slang. But in the case of long-established vocabulary, you can trust if Bill Gates hasn't put a red squiggly line under it, you're good to go.

Yesterday, it was cloud. But I've also had this problem with words such as learn, weird and rhythm. Of course rhythm is an awkward word to spell to begin with.

But it reminded me of when I was a wee little Mochaface in sixth grade. When I had the biggest spelling brain fart and forgot how to spell mine.

I don't know what it was, but for some reason I just couldn't spell the word mine in sixth grade. For pretty much the whole year, rather than spell it wrong in some paper and get points deducted (GASP. NEVER.), I would reword my sentences so I could avoid using it.

And then one day, I remembered.

At the time I wasn't giving a career any brain cells for thought, but I think if I had paid attention, it would have been clear that I was meant to work with words.

Grinds My Gears

2012-01-19T07:40:00.030-06:00

You know what really grinds my gears?

- When people say two thousand and twelve, instead of twenty twelve

- Traffic

- American Idol and The Bachelor

- When my yard fills with leaves just hours after I raked it

- The T-Mobile girl's arms (they're freakishly long)

- Gum and the smacking and popping thereof

- The non-word anyways

- Unnecessary quotation marks

- Crocs

- Vanity plates

- The bouncing/twitching/shaking/tapping of feet and legs

Hump Day Hump: Sh*t Nobody Says

2012-01-18T07:41:00.004-06:00

You may have seen this already. Either way, you're welcome.

My favorites:

Yay! Buffering!

Twilight deserves an Oscar

Could you please keep smacking your gum?

ANSWER - Tuesday Trivia: Morse Code

2012-01-18T07:20:00.006-06:00

In Morse code, the number five is represented by five dots. What number is represented by five dashes?

Zero

Congratulations to Jeremy M for being the first - and only - to get the correct answer!

Tuesday Trivia: Morse Code

2012-01-17T07:29:00.008-06:00

Tuesday Trivia is a weekly post of interesting trivia questions. Leave a comment with your answer - or best guess - and come back tomorrow to see if you were right. Happy guessing!

<><><>

In Morse code, the number five is represented by five dots. What number is represented by five dashes?

The Reluctant Planner

2012-01-13T07:40:00.000-06:00

For the past couple months, my sister and I have had tentative plans to send our husbands golfing while we do something silly and girly... paint pottery.

Due to the Groupon I have to the pottery place expiring in February, we knew we would have to carry out these plans sometime during the winter months. December never worked out due to the busyness of the holidays. So at Christmas we had agreed that we all had several weekends open in January and we'd go the first Saturday the weather was decent. Which is this Saturday.

Somehow it fell to me to work out the details for the two outings. As much I like planning and being in charge (because I do), trying to coordinate the schedules of eight adults for two separate activities was not something I particularly enjoyed this week.

In fact it was driving me nuts.

I guess I can only handle making so many decisions in a week, and I had reached my limit for this week.

Thankfully my brother-in-law confirmed what I was thinking, and thus plans were made and men will be golfing and women painting pottery come Saturday.

Just don't ask me to make another decision for a couple days at least.

Hump Day Humor: I Like You Better on Facebook

2012-01-11T07:35:00.009-06:00

The unitards are hilarious.

Hat tip Brittany

ANSWER - Tuesday Trivia: Word Origins

2012-01-11T07:18:00.000-06:00

Where did the term "scapegoat" originate?

In the Old Testament (Leviticus 16:10), which recounts how Aaron, following God's direction, was to confess the sins of the people over the head of a live goat and then send it out into the wilderness in symbolic atonement for those sins. In the Jewish religion, Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement.

Tuesday Trivia: Word Origins

2012-01-10T07:46:00.009-06:00

Tuesday Trivia is a weekly post of interesting trivia questions. Leave a comment with your answer - or best guess - and come back tomorrow to see if you were right. Happy guessing!

<><><>

Where did the term scapegoat originate?

Twenty Twelve

2012-01-06T07:41:00.045-06:00

If The Year I Got My Groove Back taught me anything, it most definitely taught me that while having a big goal is a good thing, it is by far better - and certainly more attainable - when that big goal is broken up into smaller bits and when the path for reaching that first small bit is outlined.

A couple years ago, I started identifying a single word or phrase - rather than resolutions - to live by for the year. (2010 was Serenity. 2011 was Live Passionately.) This word is meant to be a beacon for the year. To remind me of how I want to live my life. I like to put the word in various places so I'm always reminded of what I'm striving for.

For 2012, my word is Purpose.

Last month I made the decision for our bathroom tile rather quickly. With purpose, if you'd rather. And I liked it.

I want to continue that this year. There are a lot of things we want to accomplish. And rather than make a long list of everything that would only end up encouraging me to procrastinate, I'm going to break it up into bits by month. So they're easier to tackle. With purpose.

For January:

- Paint the trim and cabinets in the master bathroom.

- Finish a knitting project.

- Make a prime rib.

Do you make resolutions? What are yours?

Book Review: Major Pettigrew's Last Stand

2012-01-05T07:23:00.000-06:00

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

This book is centered around a retired British major and the Pakistani shopkeeper he strikes up a friendship and then a romance with.

It was refreshing to read a love story about an older couple for once instead of hormonal teenagers. The obstacles they faced to be together were no less real or dramatic, but they handled the situation with grace and maturity that only comes from people of a certain age.

There was only one part of the book where the drama felt contrived and didn't fit with the rest of the story. For being her first book, Simonson did a great job at developing the characters so that they appeared in my mind as sharp images and not caricatures and describing the scenery in a way that made me feel like I was actually in England.

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand is a very sweet story that is simple and straightforward and easy to read. There's not much else you can ask of a book you read during the holidays.

Disclosure: No one paid me in any way, form or fashion for this review.

Next month - The Women by T.C. Boyle

Hump Day Humor: Stephen Colbert Breaks Character

2012-01-04T07:37:00.003-06:00

I couldn't figure out how to embed this video. But trust me when I say it's worth clicking through.

Stephen Colbert can't help but break character.

ANSWER - Tuesday Trivia: Capitals

2012-01-04T07:15:00.005-06:00

How many state capitals have the word "city" in their names?

Four - Carson City, Nevada; Jefferson City, Missouri; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and Salt Lake City, Utah.

Congratulations to Steve Lovelace for being the first - and only - to get the correct answer!

Tuesday Trivia: Capitals

2012-01-03T07:42:00.006-06:00

Tuesday Trivia is a weekly post of interesting trivia questions. Leave a comment with your answer - or best guess - and come back tomorrow to see if you were right. Happy guessing!

<><><>

How many state capitals have the word "city" in their names?

The Best of a Good Year

2011-12-30T07:43:00.100-06:00

I didn't put together a video of pictures for this year. I'd list some excuse such as I was busy volunteering my time at an orphanage or something as equally heart-wrenching to avoid the guilt, but really I was just lazy.

But here are some of my favorite posts from 2011. I somehow lost a bunch of comments so if you feel moved to comment on a post (or several), please do so. I love to read your comments. Plus I need the validation. (Kidding.) (Only a little.)

Lately I haven't really been feeling the blogging. As you can probably tell by my lack of it. But in putting this post together and looking back over what I've written this year, I realized I've written some good shit. So here's hoping the writing comes back in 2012.

I couldn't limit myself to only 10 as I think that is the rule this time of year. But I did group according to topic.

Home Improvement

But the wait has been worth it. Because now my kitchen is so full of sparkles and teh awesome that it brings all the boys to the yard.

I liked to call it poopy brown. Because I found it so gross.

But hey, surprise! We're doing a bathroom reno.

I Turned Old

It was only a matter of time before I was going to be adding the adjective four-eyed in front of the noun nerd as both my parents wear glasses. And I think I read somewhere that this kind of stuff is hereditary.

I listen to talk radio. Willingly.

The time we spent together is full of big accomplishments, great memories, happy moments (and some sad ones too), much laughter, tears and a few mistakes.

It's All About the Mochaface

I went to church, Jesus's house, with my ass hanging out. I don't think I need to say this next sentence, but I'm going to anyway: I did not take that sweater off. At. All.

I must have been concentrating really hard on what I was doing because my tongue was sticking out the side of my mouth. And he said to me, "Wow, you have a really long tongue."

In college, I always sat in the front row. And rarely skipped class. Even on Fridays.

For a vaginal sonogram, they stick the probe - that's what the doctor called it, a probe, never mind what kind of images that conjured - up your lady bits and you see grainy pictures of your insides.

John

You may have noticed I started referring to John as John and not DH anymore.

His eyes left me spellbound. Dark brown with a glint that told of a playful, mischievous spirit that was also solid and supporting, which I found to be extremely attractive... Did I know that night four years ago that I had met my future?

One Year Married

That intimacy is more than sex. It's opening yourself up in ways that are hard to do because we avoid it with everyone else. But with each other, it creates a deeper, more fulfilling relationship.

While it is sad, and the timing hilarious since this happened just two days before our anniversary, it doesn't mean that we didn't get married. And it doesn't mean we won't stay married. It was just an accident. I can recognize that.

Family

Please excuse me if this is incoherent rubbish. I've been up since 5:30 Thursday morning. That's, well, it's more than, er, screw the maths. It's a fucking long time is what it is.

To strangers in restaurants and the people with the unlucky fate of being in the next hotel room or condo, they're known as that group of loud, obnoxious people who can't stop talking and laughing and throwing people into pools.

I haven't seen her in over six years. I've thought about her. But I can't remember her once showing up in my dreams in the last six years.

Only this little girl had other plans for me.

Life Questions

It must be some law of the ancients that states as soon as a couple weds, you must start asking about when, if or some combination of when/if they're going to start popping out that great tax deduction also known as kids.

Most of the time it's not a big deal. Because it's just me in my head. But occasionally someone else will ask a harmless question or tease me on the exact subject I'm currently obsessing over and it takes every ounce of will power I have to bite my tongue and not blow up.

The End of the Flood of 2011

2011-12-29T07:17:00.018-06:00

Well, the Flood of 2011 has finally come to an end.

The repairs are done. We've got a (mostly) brand new bathroom and brand new floor in the office.

Happy is not a strong enough adjective to describe how I feel to be back living in our bedroom and using our bathroom.

Here's the tile we picked out (it's slate):

Here's a picture of the old laminate that was in the office (don't mind Cooper's butt):

Here's the new laminate. It's hard to tell in this picture but it's a darker brown and a wider and longer plank.

LOVE. IT.

Hump Day Humor: 2011, Buh-Bye

2011-12-28T07:35:00.004-06:00

This year's recap of notable events of the year by Jib Jab isn't as funny as some years past. But it still brings a chuckle.

ANSWER - Tuesday Trivia: Movies

2011-12-28T07:19:00.007-06:00

In what movie did Matt Damon make his screen debut, uttering the line, "Mom, do you want my green stuff"?

Mystic Pizza, in 1988. He spoke the line while eating a lobster.

Congratulations to Martha @brilliant_biz for being the first - and only - to get the correct answer!

Tuesday Trivia: Movies

2011-12-27T07:17:00.004-06:00

Tuesday Trivia is a weekly post of interesting trivia questions. Leave a comment with your answer - or best guess - and come back tomorrow to see if you were right. Happy guessing!

<><><>

In what movie did Matt Damon make his screen debut, uttering the line, "Mom, do you want my green stuff"?

Hump Day Humor: Drunk History Christmas

2011-12-21T07:24:00.004-06:00

Slightly NSFW due to some language.

Drunk History Christmas with Ryan Gosling, Jim Carrey and Eva Mendes from Ryan Gosling

Special bonus video:

Drunk History Christmas from Drunk History

ANSWER - Tuesday Trivia: Christmas

2011-12-21T07:15:00.005-06:00

What early 19^th-century American writer created the image of Santa soaring over rooftops in a sleigh, using chimneys to deliver gifts to children?

Washington Irving, in 1809, in A History of New York, which he wrote under the pseudonym Diedrich Knickerbocker.

Tuesday Trivia: Christmas

2011-12-20T07:14:00.006-06:00

Tuesday Trivia is a weekly post of interesting trivia questions. Leave a comment with your answer - or best guess - and come back tomorrow to see if you were right. Happy guessing!

<><><>

What early 19^th-century American writer created the image of Santa soaring over rooftops in a sleigh, using chimneys to deliver gifts to children?

Bathroom Part II

2011-12-15T07:42:00.039-06:00

Last week on It's All About the Mochaface...

My house was in shambles thanks to a leak in the drain pipe from our bathtub. The leak was fixed but the bathroom was still ripped up, stuff shoved into unused corners of the house, fans constantly going to dry out the walls and floor and John and I had been relegated to the guest bedroom and bathroom.

And this week, nothing has changed. Well, that's not entirely true. The fans are gone as the house is dry.

But the bathroom is still ripped up. Stuff is still shoved into corners. And John and I are still living out of the guest bedroom and bathroom.

Pics from the demo:

The new tub was installed a couple weeks ago.

The hole under my desk cut out to dry the wall between the office and our bathroom.

Today though. Today our bathroom will start getting put back together.

Insurance is covering at least part of the repairs. Can someone explain to me why insurance will cover fixing the damage but will not cover fixing the problem that caused the damage? Still I'm grateful we have it because these repairs would be a lot harder to swallow without it.

Last weekend we went to look at some tile. In what is sure to be record time for me, it took me less than an hour to decide on the tile I wanted in the bathroom. I normally take weeks to make a decision on what color to paint a room. But for some reason, this decision I did not hesitate in making.

I guess the living out of a room that is not ours was motivating enough to spur me to quick decision making.

Hump Day Humor: Weekend Update with Captain Steve Rogers

2011-12-14T07:28:00.005-06:00

ANSWER - Tuesday Trivia: Food

2011-12-14T07:13:00.005-06:00

What day of the year ranks second only to Thanksgiving when it comes to highest food consumption in the U.S.?

Super Bowl Sunday

Some good guesses but no winner this week.

Tuesday Trivia: Food

2011-12-13T07:21:00.006-06:00

Tuesday Trivia is a weekly post of interesting trivia questions. Leave a comment with your answer - or best guess - and come back tomorrow to see if you were right. Happy guessing!

<><><>

What day of the year ranks second only to Thanksgiving when it comes to highest food consumption in the U.S.?

Hung By the Chimney With Care

2011-12-12T07:35:00.021-06:00

I get so excited about Christmas. The decorating, the baking, the shopping, the wrapping, the parties. I love all of it.

And this year I've stepped up my game a little bit.

I used to just hang stockings on the mantle and considered that ~~down~~ done. But this year I actually decorated our mantle. And I love it.

I used pre-lit garland as the base, added red tealight holders and red votive holders and placed Christmas trees at the ends. I love love love the reds and the glow of the lights at night.

Even my wrapping has gotten so much better this year. Dare I say, it even it even looks like something I saw on Pinterest.

Book Review: Puppy Chow is Better Than Prozac

2011-12-09T07:29:00.041-06:00

Puppy Chow is Better Than Prozac by Bruce Goldstein

This is the true story of a man who has manic depression and is barely hanging onto his life. He tries therapy and medication to fix his severe mood swings and hallucinations. But it's not until he adopts a dog that he starts to improve. He credits the dog for saving his life.

Puppy Chow was not enjoyable as Goldstein seemed only able to write in cliches, which was kind of funny at first but very quickly got very old and very annoying.

The ups and downs of the book matched his mood swings and made it hard to read. The timeline was not fluid so I couldn't follow it at times.

Goldstein repeated himself. A lot and unnecessarily. There are much better books about dogs and their impact on our lives. I cannot recommend this one.

Disclosure - No one paid me in any way, form or fashion to do this review.

Next month - Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

Hump Day Humor: Christmas Day

2011-12-07T07:32:00.011-06:00

A parody of the movie New Years Eve and the trend for movies that are large on casts but short on plots.

Christmas Day (New Years Eve Parody) - watch more funny videos

ANSWER - Tuesday Trivia: States

2011-12-07T07:10:00.007-06:00

Which state has the largest Amish population in the U.S.?

Ohio - followed by Pennsylvania and Indiana.

Couple of you were close. But no winner this week.

Tuesday Trivia: States

2011-12-06T07:39:00.007-06:00

Tuesday Trivia is a weekly post of interesting trivia questions. Leave a comment with your answer - or best guess - and come back tomorrow to see if you were right. Happy guessing!

<><><>

Which state has the largest Amish population in the U.S.?

Water, Water Everywhere

2011-12-05T07:32:00.030-06:00

A couple weeks ago, we noticed a random wet spot on the floor in our bedroom right in front of the door to our bathroom. The ceiling was dry and while we didn't think we spilled anything, we decided we must have not noticed that we spilled some water. When the spot reappeared a few days or so later, again after a rain, we knew it wasn't from a random spill. Given the foundation problems we obviously have and the rain, we were beginning to think there was a crack in the foundation.

It wasn't until another few days later when the spot was wet again but it hadn't rained that we suspected a leak. So John called some plumbers last Thursday to figure out what was happening.

Sure enough, the drain pipe from our bathtub had been leaking.

No idea for how long the water had been going into the walls and under the floors. But the two-by-fours in the wall were soaked.

Before I knew it, they were ripping out the old tub and tile, ripping up the floor in the bathroom and under my desk, and pulling back carpet. Fans were set up in the bathroom, bedroom and hall closets to dry everything out. They're still going. We have to almost yell to hear each other above the noise from the fans.

By the time I got home Thursday evening, the bathroom was completely ripped up and the new tub was installed.

It all happened so fast. But hey, surprise! We're doing a bathroom reno.

Hump Day Humor: Catnap

2011-11-30T07:30:00.002-06:00

ANSWER - Tuesday Trivia: Cereal

2011-11-30T07:16:00.008-06:00

In a box of Grape-Nuts cereal, what percentage of the contents are grapes and what percentage are nuts?

Zero, for both.The name was made up by cereal manufacturer C.W. Post. Maltose, one of the original ingredients, was known as grape sugar in 1898 when the cereal was first marketed; and it's believed that "nuts" referred to the cereal's flavor and/or crunch.

Tuesday Trivia: Cereal

2011-11-29T07:23:00.000-06:00

Tuesday Trivia is a weekly post of interesting trivia questions. Leave a comment with your answer - or best guess - and come back tomorrow to see if you were right. Happy guessing!

<><><>

In a box of Grape-Nuts cereal, what percentage of the contents are grapes and what percentage are nuts?

One Last Time

2011-11-24T08:05:00.063-06:00

It's hard to talk about Texas A&M football without talking about our long-standing rivalry with the University of Texas. The two schools have been playing each other for almost as long as they've existed.

We've always had a burning desire to beat the Longhorns. Hell, our War Hymn (aka fight song) has two verses, and we sing the one verse about Texas twice. Many current and former students don't even know the words to the other verse - this former student included.

It doesn't matter who we're playing. We always sing those words.

Goodbye to texas university.
So long to the orange and white.

13 years ago I attended my very first Texas A&M football game. I was a senior in high school and was visiting the school as a potential student. I still remember the goose bumps I got as I watched Kyle Field move as the students - both current and former - swayed together singing the War Hymn and sawing Varsity's horns (aka t.u.) off.

It's an incredible sight to see a football stadium of nearly 90,000 people move. Thrilling is only one way I can think of to describe it. It gives me chills every time.

Our histories are intertwined. I've heard countless stories about pranks, jokes, etc pulled on each school by the other. Once, an Aggie prank even resulted in how the Longhorn mascot got his name Bevo (some Aggies had branded him with the score of the football game the Aggies won: 13-0. Texas turned the numbers into Bevo.) (Memorable games and historical moments that shaped the Texas A&M/University of Texas rivalry)

But it goes beyond the football field and the pranks. Despite the rivalry and the intense desire to beat each other, there is a certain amount of respect for each other. Support when the other school needs it. I don't think many rivalries have that.

And today is the last day for the foreseeable future that A&M and Texas will play the Thanksgiving football game as next year we'll be in the SEC and Texas' non-conference schedule is set for the next 7 years.

Many many many words have been written about the end of this long-standing rivalry. A rivalry that has not only defined the two schools but also the state of Texas. Sports Illustrated. The New York Times. But my favorite - and I hate to say this considering how much they tend to favor the University of Texas - might just be Texas Monthly. They've captured the rivalry from both perspectives in a way I think few have articulated.

It's hard to imagine one school without the other. I know A&M will find her own way in the SEC. But Thanksgiving will never be the same.

BEAT THE HELL OUTTA t.u.!!

Hump Day Humor: Leave Siri Out of It

2011-11-23T07:33:00.006-06:00

See all the CollegeHumor Original Videos here.

ANSWER - Tuesday Trivia: Numbers

2011-11-23T07:14:00.005-06:00

What is the total when you add up all the numbers from 1 to 100?

5,050.

Congratulations to Catizhere for being the first - and only - to get the correct answer.

Tuesday Trivia: Numbers

2011-11-22T07:13:00.001-06:00

Tuesday Trivia is a weekly post of interesting trivia questions. Leave a comment with your answer - or best guess - and come back tomorrow to see if you were right. Happy guessing!

<><><>

What is the total when you add up all the numbers from 1 to 100?

Meeting My Future

2011-11-17T07:49:00.055-06:00

I was excited but a little nervous as I drove to the restaurant. My outfit was carefully selected. My make up meticulously applied. My hair painstakingly fixed. I wanted to make a good impression.

Thanks to traffic I was a little late so he was already there. He stood as I walked up. We might have shaken hands as we officially met in person. Truthfully, I don't remember. I do remember what I ate (avocado enchiladas).

And I do remember thinking - and being relieved - that he was really cute. The best kind of cute. The kind of cute that never gets old.

Our conversation during dinner was the usual getting to know each other topics. And yet I was so captivated I failed to notice a single person around us.

His smile drew me in. It made me feel comfortable. Like I could be me without pretense. Without my armor of sarcasm.

His eyes left me spellbound. Dark brown with a glint that told of a playful, mischievous spirit that was also solid and supporting, which I found to be extremely attractive. Those eyes told me something else that I wouldn't even realize until much later reflecting back on that night... I was home; I was where I was supposed to be.

After dinner when he asked about going to a movie, I didn't hesitate to spend more time in his company. And at the end of the night after we said goodbye and I was back in my car headed home, I was mortified when I realized I didn't thank him and tell him how much I fun I had. As soon as I could, I texted him so he would know I enjoyed the evening.

Did I know that night four years ago that I had met my future?

It's hard to say. But I knew that there was something different about him. Especially when the next night a six-sentence email from him floored me so much that I hardly slept more than a couple hours because I couldn't stop thinking about him.

Hump Day Humor: Quiet Ryan

2011-11-16T07:39:00.003-06:00

Quiet Ryan - watch more funny videos

ANSWER - Tuesday Trivia: Movies

2011-11-16T07:12:00.004-06:00

In the 1993 film comedy Groundhog Day, what song is playing morning after morning when Bill Murray, as TV newsman Phil Connors, is awakened by a radio alarm clock?

"I Got You Babe," sung by Sonny and Cher.

Congratulations to David Y for being the first - and only - to get the correct answer!

Tuesday Trivia: Movies

2011-11-15T07:10:00.006-06:00

Tuesday Trivia is a weekly post of interesting trivia questions. Leave a comment with your answer - or best guess - and come back tomorrow to see if you were right. Happy guessing!

<><><>

In the 1993 film comedy Groundhog Day, what song is playing morning after morning when Bill Murray, as TV newsman Phil Connors, is awakened by a radio alarm clock?

War and Peace

2011-11-14T07:42:00.036-06:00

Holy crap you guys. I did it. There were many times I doubted. But I did it. I finished War and Peace.

I know. I'm insane for even thinking to attempt to read this Russian magnum opus. And I am. But Tolstoy has been on my bucket list of reading for as long as I can remember.

About 8 years ago, I picked up Anna Karenina and after a few months, I finished. It was good, but it took so much out of me to read it that I knew I couldn't pick up Tolstoy's other famous work for a while afterward.

Finally, in February of this year, I decided I was ready. And this weekend I finished it. Almost 9 months later. Granted I was also reading a book every month for book club so I would have to put War and Peace down for a week or so. Which is one reason why it took me so much longer to read it compared to Anna Karenina.

Plus the parts of the book that were about the war or the philosophy of war were so dry and hard for me to get through. Especially as the last 30-40 pages were all philosophy.

But I'm proud of myself for finishing. And I actually remember the characters and what happened to them. Wish I could say the same thing about Anna Karenina.

I don't think I'll be tackling Crime and Punishment. I'm done with Russian literature.

Friday Love

2011-11-11T07:33:00.033-06:00

Full moons

Starbucks red cups

Sugar free peppermint mocha coffee creamer

Riding boots

Oversized sweaters with leggings

Playing in leaves

Oktoberfest beer

Christmas crafts

The morning chill

Fresh apple pie

When my nose gets chilly and I stick it in John's neck to warm it up

New TV drama Once Upon a Time

Fun nail polish colors

Deathly Hallows Part 2 on DVD

11/11/11

Veterans (Happy Veterans' Day!)

Dream Come True

2011-11-10T07:16:00.048-06:00

Long before there was Edward. And vampires who... cringe... sparkle. There was another vampire who could teach a master's class on brooding. Who made teenage girls swoon with one sinister look. Well, this teenage girl anyway.

Angel.

I had a massive, massive crush on David Boreanaz and his smoldering looks. Tall, dark and handsome. YES PLEASE. I was 110%, positively convinced that I was meant to end up with a man like that.

Over the years since the Angel spin off went off the air, my crush has waned. (Though I still think he is one mighty fine man.) But apparently my tastes have not.

I didn't realize it until someone pointed it out to me recently, but John bears a resemblance to my old crush.

I guess I did end up with a tall, dark and handsome man. Some dreams do come true.

Hump Day Humor: Holding Hands

2011-11-09T07:49:00.015-06:00

(hat tip Cary)

ANSWER - Tuesday Trivia: Geography

2011-11-09T07:09:00.003-06:00

What island is the largest in the Caribbean?

Cuba, the main island in the Republic of Cuba.

Tuesday Trivia: Geography

2011-11-08T07:07:00.008-06:00

Tuesday Trivia is a weekly post of interesting trivia questions. Leave a comment with your answer - or best guess - and come back tomorrow to see if you were right. Happy guessing!

<><><>

What island is the largest in the Caribbean?

An Apple a Day

2011-11-04T07:31:00.098-05:00

Health is important. Without it, we'd be, well, dead. I always make sure to visit my doctors at least once a year for a physical just to make sure nothing changed drastically over the last 12 months.

When I turned 18, in addition to my annual physical with my general practitioner, I started going to a lady doctor to get my lady bits checked annually.

A few weeks ago, I went to see my doctor for one of those yearly pap smears - or as my insurance company likes to call it... woman wellness exam. Because apparently we don't use the words pap smear in polite company. It's a good thing this ole blog here isn't polite company.

During my appointment, I chattered away with my doctor to keep my mind off what was going on with my lady bits. And as I lay there gushing about how awesome bikram yoga, we had reached the part of the exam where the doc has her hand poking around inside your vagina.

She suddenly got quiet as she prodded my abdomen. "Is that tender there?"

You mean that spot that you're poking from both inside and outside my body? Yeah. That's tender.

Apparently what she was feeling was a fullness on the right side. She couldn't tell if it was ovarian or bowel or something else. She smiled as if there wasn't much to be concerned about as she told me to book a follow up appointment in a couple weeks.

And since she seemed not too worried, I booked my appointment and then promptly forgot about it.

Until I went back earlier this week. After she once again stuck her hand up my lady bits and still felt the fullness, she announced she wanted me to get a sonogram to get a better look so she could tell whether it was ovarian, bowel or something else.

A vaginal sonogram.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the vaginal sonogram - like I was up until a few days ago - it's not like what you see in the movies where they squirt cold jelly on your belly and move the wand around and you see grainy pictures of your insides.

While I sat on the exam table naked from the waist down waiting for the tech to come get me for the sonogram, my imagination ran away, desperately trying to think of anyone anyone who had a similar experience.

I freaked out.

In those 15-20 minutes while I waited, I couldn't help but think of every possible negative scenario.

Finally the tech came in. It took every ounce of will power during the sonogram not to hysterically ask what she was seeing.

Luckily I didn't have to wait long to find out everything was fine. Just a little bigger on the right side due to what was probably a cyst that ruptured. All completely normal.

After which news my whole body unclenched and relaxed.

This is why people don't like going to the doctor.

Book Review: Moloka'i

2011-11-03T07:38:00.000-05:00

Book Review - Moloka'i by Alan Brennert

Moloka'i is a historical fiction novel about the quarantined leprosy settlement in Kalaupapa on the Hawaiian island of Moloka'i. The story centers on a young, 7-year-old girl named Rachel who develops the disease and is sent to the settlement. Instead of her life ending, Rachel builds a life for herself on the island surrounded by friends.

This book was very interesting from a historical point of view as I knew nothing about how people in Hawaii with leprosy were taken from their families and quarantined on a separate island.

Not the strongest story ever, the characters were beautifully and vividly drawn. It was slow getting into it but by the end I was enjoying the book and picking it up every chance I could because I wanted to see what happened to Rachel.

Disclosure: No one paid me in any way, form or fashion for this review.

Next month - Puppy Chow is Better Than Prozac by Bruce Goldstein

Hump Day Humor: Ghost Human Centipede

2011-11-02T07:29:00.000-05:00

ANSWER - Tuesday Trivia: Actresses

2011-11-02T07:20:00.010-05:00

What initials are shared by the winners of the Best Supporting Actress Oscar from 1978 to 1981?

M.S. In chronological order, the winners were Maggie Smith (California Suite); Meryl Streep (Kramer vs. Kramer); Mary Steenburgen (Melvin and Howard); and Maureen Stapleton (Reds).

Tuesday Trivia: Actresses

2011-11-01T07:48:00.000-05:00

Tuesday Trivia is a weekly post of interesting trivia questions. Leave a comment with your answer - or best guess - and come back tomorrow to see if you were correct. Happy guessing!

<><><>

What initials are shared by the winners of the Best Supporting Actress Oscar from 1978 to 1981?

Tripping

2011-10-27T06:37:00.000-05:00

Last week I got up when I normally do - before even the butt crack of dawn - so I could get my usual morning run in before getting ready for work. A lot of the time, when I start my morning run, I'm still half asleep on my feet until I get a few minutes into the run, and my body wakes up.

Unfortunately, on this particular morning, it took a lot longer for that to happen. And since I wasn't picking up my feet enough, the sidewalk decided to jump out and wake me up.

Down I went. I tried to fall so I would land in the grass, but it didn't work out like I had hoped and I scraped my knee. As I limped back home, blood streaming down my leg, I thought about how at least no one saw me go down. Although I'm surprised the people whose yard I was lying in for 5 minutes didn't come out because I definitely did not go down quietly.

I don't consider myself to be a klutz. I really don't. But then I remember the other times I've tripped and fallen during a run. Or how many times I run into a door jam. Or stub my toes, scratch my face, get bruises on my legs.

Or the time I fell over backwards during a handstand in the middle of a performance at a dance recital.

But those are all random accidents. They don't mean I'm a klutz. They don't. I'm sticking to that.

Hump Day Humor: Baby Elephant Finds Its Trunk

2011-10-26T07:27:00.004-05:00

ANSWER - Tuesday Trivia: Games

2011-10-26T07:03:00.004-05:00

How many holes are there on a standard Chinese checkerboard?

121.

Tuesday Trivia: Games

2011-10-25T07:02:00.006-05:00

Tuesday Trivia is a weekly post of interesting trivia questions. Leave a comment with your answer - or best guess - and come back tomorrow to see if you were right. Happy guessing!

<><><>

How many holes are there on a standard Chinese checkerboard?

Independent Woman

2011-10-24T07:23:00.024-05:00

Yesterday I came out of yoga to a flat tire. Thankfully it's not something that causes me anxiety as my dad made sure I knew how to change a tire before I could get my driver's license. And since then I've changed at least half a dozen flat tires.

Only I couldn't get the jack out of the cleat - or whatever it's called - that was holding it. No matter how I pulled, tugged, pushed, it wasn't coming out. So I called DH to come help me. I hated doing it. Especially since I know how to change a flat tire.

There's just something I don't like about having someone help me with a task I know perfectly well how to do and am capable of taking care of it on my own. Some might call it a streak of stubbornness.

Personally, I prefer to think of it as a streak of independence cause that's what it is.

Though I have to say, I am grateful to have a husband so willing and quick to help.

Capstone

2011-10-20T07:21:00.030-05:00

In graduate school, one of our final classes was a capstone class, where all the groups work on the same live client and compete against each other for the "business."

My group of friends took capstone a couple of semesters before me and won their class. So when I took capstone my final semester I felt like I ~~could~~ had to win it too because they did. It wasn't pressure I felt from anyone but myself. And when my team didn't win, I was upset at what I felt was a personal failure.

I go through this time and time again. Putting pressure on myself to accomplish something because I know someone who did it that way.

But I don't have to. I can do it my own way according to my own timeline. I don't know if this is a lesson that will ever fully sink in for me as I feel like I'm continually having to learn it and remind myself to STOP COMPARING myself to others.

Life is not a race. It is not a competition. It is a journey. Meant to be enjoyed as we go.

Hump Day Humor: Colbert Super PAC Ad

2011-10-19T07:30:00.002-05:00

Stephen Colbert takes on the local ABC affiliate.

The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

ANSWER - Tuesday Trivia: Movies

2011-10-19T07:17:00.006-05:00

Who played Tinkerbell in Steven Spielberg's 1991 film Hook?

Julia Roberts

Congratulations davidswinney for being the first to get the correct answer!

Tuesday Trivia: Movies

2011-10-18T07:25:00.007-05:00

Tuesday Trivia is a weekly post of interesting trivia questions. Leave a comment with your answer - or best guess - and come back tomorrow to see if you were right. Happy guessing!

<><><>

Who played Tinkerbell in Steven Spielberg's 1991 film Hook?

Dreams

2011-10-17T07:26:00.051-05:00

I haven't seen her in over six years. I've thought about her. But I can't remember her once showing up in my dreams in the last six years.

Until a couple weeks ago. I don't even remember what the dream was about. I just remember being surprised to see her and that she was smiling so big and was so happy. She kept telling me how proud she was.

I had even forgotten about that dream until Friday when someone commented on a bridal picture of me on Facebook. "A dark haired combo" of her and my mom is what she said. My heart swelled at the compliment.

My grandmother was many things. And I was only beginning to get a clearer picture of the person she was besides my grandmother when she died.

I found myself last night looking at pictures from my wedding day wondering what she would have said to me if she had been there. I like to think she would have looked like she did in my dream a couple weeks ago.

Smiling so big and so happy to see me happy. And telling me how proud she is.

Stella

2011-10-13T07:40:00.023-05:00

I had a whole post planned for Monday. Well, it was planned in my head. I was going to sit down Sunday evening to type it out.

Only this little girl had other plans for me:

Stella, my newest niece, made her presence known to the world Sunday night.

Even though I was asleep at my desk on Monday, it was worth all the caffeine I had to drink to survive the day to be there as part of her welcoming committee.

Many congratulations to my brother and his wife on their beautiful daughter. You guys did good.

Hump Day Humor: Mastiff v. Chihuahua

2011-10-12T07:32:00.002-05:00

(hat tip Jeremy)

ANSWER - Tuesday Trivia: Animals

2011-10-12T07:08:00.009-05:00

What odd-looking mammal is regularly described as a pine cone with legs?

The pangolin, or scaly anteater, of Asia and Africa. It has also been described as an artichoke with legs.

Congratulations to Laura for being the first to get the correct answer!

Tuesday Trivia: Animals

2011-10-11T07:36:00.005-05:00

Tuesday Trivia is a weekly post of interesting trivia questions. Leave a comment with your answer - or best guess - and come back tomorrow to see if you were right. Happy guessing!

<><><>

What odd-looking mammal is regularly described as a pine cone with legs?

Book Review: Welcome to the World, Baby Girl

2011-10-06T07:25:00.036-05:00

Welcome to the World, Baby Girl by Fannie Flagg

Baby Girl follows a morning news show anchorwoman in the 1970s as she deals with the stress and pressure of her job, uncovers family secrets, reconnects to small-town, Southern living and overcomes it all to find her future.

The story is hopeful, romantic and a picturesque look at small town life. The characters are heartfelt and sweet. Some border on the edge of caricature but are so funny I couldn't stop chuckling at them.

This was a book I read countless times when I was younger. I was curious to see how I would feel about it after all this time. While I noticed the writing more this time around, I still found the story as sweet and as enjoyable as ever.

A great book to read if you're looking for a sweet story that won't make you think very much.

Disclosure: No one paid me in any way, form or fashion for this review.

Next month - Moloka'i by Alan Brennert

Hump Day Humor: More Than Words (With Friends)

2011-10-05T07:26:00.006-05:00

(hat tip Shauna)

ANSWER - Tuesday Trivia: Planets

2011-10-05T07:09:00.005-05:00

Which celestial body is known as the blue planet?

Earth - because its oceans cover more than 70 percent of its surface, making it appear blue from space.

Congratulations to Jeremy McC for being the first - and only - to get the correct answer!

Tuesday Trivia: Planets

2011-10-04T07:08:00.003-05:00

Tuesday Trivia is a weekly post of interesting trivia questions. Leave a comment with your answer - or best guess - and come back tomorrow to see if you were right. Happy guessing!

<><><>

Which celestial body is known as the blue planet?

I loved that duck

2011-10-03T07:19:00.063-05:00

There is a time in life when it is extremely important to fit in. Especially for young girls. For many this manifests in having to have the right clothes, the right brands, the right accessories. If we're lucky, we grow out of it.

I was no exception when I was 12 and 13. Back then there were many items that all the cool kids carried. The one I absolutely, positively had to have, would die if I didn't, was a Dooney & Bourke purse. You remember those purses from the mid-1990s that were solid color leather with the Dooney duck logo on the side.

I had to have one. But my parents wouldn't buy me one. So I did chores and saved all my hard-earned money until I had enough. I remember going to the mall with my mom to buy my purse and how I agonized over which one to buy.

A few years later it wasn't as hard to make a decision on my second one.

This weekend John and I were waiting for a table at a restaurant that happens to be in the trendiest mall in Dallas. While waiting, I saw a young girl about 17 or so carrying a Dooney purse that was definitely from the mid-1990s. Clearly my purses are making a comeback.

I knew I kept them after all these years and through all the moves for a reason.

I guess I haven't grown out the need to fit in as much as I thought I had.

Learning to Unfollow

2011-09-29T07:13:00.056-05:00

Social media is a great thing. It has changed the way we communicate, the way we do business, the way we live in such a fundamental way in such a short time, it's hard to remember what life was like before blogging, before Facebook, before Twitter. In some ways simpler and in some ways more difficult.

I am a huge fan of social media, especially Twitter. There are so many funny, smart people to follow and learn from. When I first got started on Twitter, I would follow just about anyone. And now some of those people I follow on Twitter are my friends.

But now I have to be more selective. Because at some point, you follow too many people and you're not interacting with the people you're following, you're not building relationships. When you follow too many people, it becomes more about you than it does meeting new people and learning about them. Yes, I realize that the name of this ole blog here is It's All About the Mochaface, but if all I'm using Twitter for is to push my own agenda, if I'm not taking the time to get to know other people, then I'm just creating more noise to add to the cacophony (Can I get a fist bump for that SAT word? Hells yeah!) that is out there.

Sometime in the last year, I realized I follow a lot of people. So I've been making an effort to trim the fat. To actually unfollow. It was hard at first. But it's gotten easier. My timeline is certainly the better for it.

Like other lessons I've learned from Twitter - not every thought I have is meant to be spoken (or typed) out loud, some things are best left offline, it's okay to not be involved with everything - learning to unfollow is a lesson that can be applied to life off the Internets. It's like learning to say no. Hard at first. But your life is much simpler and less stressful when you do.

Hump Day Humor: Banned Match.com Commercial

2011-09-28T07:20:00.003-05:00

Banned Match.com Commercials: "Secret" - watch more funny videos

ANSWER - Tuesdy Trivia: Flowers

2011-09-28T07:09:00.006-05:00

How did the wildflower known as the daisy get its name?

It was originally known as day's eye because its petals, like the human eye, open in the morning and close at night. Through usage, day's eye eventually became daisy.

Tuesday Trivia: Flowers

2011-09-27T07:18:00.000-05:00

Tuesday Trivia is a weekly post of interesting trivia questions. Leave a comment with your answer - or best guess - and come back tomorrow to see if you were right. Happy guessing!

<><><>

How did the wildflower known as the daisy get its name?

Beer Snobs

2011-09-22T07:44:00.030-05:00

Last week John and I had a new experience. We went to a beer pairing dinner. Like a wine dinner where they pair a different wine with each course to maximize the flavor of the wine. Only this was with beer.

Ever since we watched Beer Wars a few months go, we've become something of a beer snob household. We stick to craft beers and microbrews as much as possible expanding the list of beers we've tried to include beers that a year ago we probably never would have tried.

So when I came across this beer pairing dinner I immediately signed us up.

Though we found out when we got there that all the beers we'd be trying were IPAs (we're not fans of an IPA, too bitter), we kept an open mind and tried everything. What we learned as a result of the dinner is that an IPA is meant to be consumed with food and that spicy food will reduce the bitterness of the beer.

This is what I love about Life. Trying new things. Because you never know what you're going to learn about life or about yourself.

And I just really love beer.

Hump Day Humor: Roast of Charlie Sheen

2011-09-21T07:24:00.003-05:00

Roast of Charlie Sheen

ANSWER - Tuesday Trivia: Geography

2011-09-21T07:04:00.001-05:00

In boot-shaped southern Italy, what region is known as the toe; what region as the heel?

The toe is Calabria; the heel is Puglia (Apulia, in English).

Tuesday Trivia: Geography

2011-09-20T08:03:00.000-05:00

Tuesday Trivia is a weekly post of interesting trivia questions. Leave a comment with your answer - or best guess - and come back tomorrow to see if you were right. Happy guessing!

<><><>

In boot-shaped southern Italy, what region is known as the toe; what region as the heel?

Baby Huffing

2011-09-19T07:34:00.051-05:00

Last week I was sick. It was just a head cold, which normally I wouldn't care much about. But I had big plans for the weekend I didn't want to have to cancel.

This weekend John and I got to babysit my niece Lily as my sister and brother-in-law went out of town for a night.

A whole day and night. I was a little nervous going into it, but she was a joy. I spent all weekend cuddling, making funny faces, noming her hands and blowing raspberries on her belly. In short, I got a lot of baby huffing in.

I was a little worried how John would feel after the weekend was over, but he was great. Of course, he didn't have that much to do as I was busy baby huffing.

Hump Day Humor: John Stamos Guide to Cuddling

2011-09-14T07:49:00.000-05:00

While watching this video, I couldn't remember Bob Saget's name. It was until later when John and I were, er, getting intimate that I remembered it suddenly and shouted it out. If there's a quicker way for ruining a mood than yelling out Bob Saget's name, I've yet to find it.

All that said, I'm still chuckling about this video a week later.

(hat tip John)

ANSWER - Tuesday Trivia: Cities

2011-09-14T07:01:00.000-05:00

What U.S. city is the largest in land area in the contiguous 48 states?

Jacksonville, Florida, which covers 758 square miles. Sitka, Alaska, which covers 2,874 square miles, is the largest in area in all 50 states.

Congratulations to Peggy Sue Brister for being the first - and only - to get the correct answer!

Tuesday Trivia: Cities

2011-09-12T21:30:00.000-05:00

Tuesday Trivia is a weekly post of interesting trivia questions. Leave a comment with your answer - or best guess - and come back tomorrow to see if you were right. Happy guessing!

<><><>

What U.S. city is the largest in land area in the contiguous 48 states?

Shifting

2011-09-12T07:32:00.033-05:00

I was sitting on the floor of the living room folding laundry when Cooper whimpered at something in the dining room and ran over to stand in the safety he must think I provide. I never did figure out what it was that freaked him out, but when I followed his gaze, I noticed something that freaked me out.

A crack in our wall going from the window down to the baseboard. A good 18 inches. It was a crack that was definitely not there before.

I immediately called John in to take a look at it with me. We both stared transfixed at this symptom to a much bigger problem.

You may have heard that Texas has had the hottest summer of the entire country. We're also experiencing the worst drought of a 12-month period ever. The heat combined with the dry conditions has led our foundation to shift. And we couldn't water enough to stay on top of it.

Our bathroom door sticks. And the front doors appears to be sticking a bit as well. And now this crack.

I'm still hopeful that when we finally get some rain, it might reverse some of these symptoms.

Of course I realize this is probably just denial, a step before I accept the inevitable several thousand dollar fix it'll take to right our foundation again.

When they talk about how owning a home is hard and can suck, this is what they're talking about. I know that now.

Sigh.

Book Review: Room

2011-09-08T07:07:00.043-05:00

Room by Emma Donoghue

In Room, five-year-old Jack lives with his Ma in a 11 x 11 room. It is his world. He knows nothing about the outside world. It's his home. But what he doesn't know is that Room is more a prison than a home. It's where he and Ma are held captive, where his Ma has been kept for seven years.

Before I read this book, I saw many reviews of it that described the story as dark. And it is dark. But it's not as dark as I expected. And that has a lot to do with the story being told from Jack's perspective. Telling a kidnapping/rape tale from the point of view of a five year old makes the story more hopeful and positive. And even a little bit uplifting due to the tight, tight bond between mother and son.

It is a very creative book. I've never read anything like it as Donoghue tells a story from a completely unexpected perspective. And she does it very convincingly. I never once felt the story wasn't Jack's.

Definitely one of the better books I've read recently.

Disclosure: No one paid me in any way, form or fashion for this review.

Next month - Welcome to the World, Baby Girl by Fannie Flagg

Hump Day Humor: A&M Ruins Hitler's Plans

2011-09-07T07:39:00.002-05:00

If you're a fan of college football, you've probably heard the news that A&M is leaving the Big 12 Conference. And if the rumors and talk are to be believed, we're headed for the SEC.

Regardless of the hatred and mean comments I've seen spewed over this announcement - some of it from people I like - I remain hopeful that this move proves to be good for my beloved school.

And videos like this make me giggle.

ANSWER - Tuesday Trivia: Movies

2011-09-07T07:18:00.002-05:00

In Spaceballs, Mel Brooks' spoof of the Star Wars trilogy, what is the name of the character parodying Jabba the Hutt?

Pizza the Hut.

Tuesday Trivia: Movies

2011-09-06T07:27:00.002-05:00

Tuesday Trivia is a weekly post of interesting trivia questions. Leave a comment with your answer - or best guess - and come back tomorrow to see if you were right. Happy guessing!

<><><>

In Spaceballs, Mel Brooks' spoof of the Star Wars trilogy, what is the name of the character parodying Jabba the Hutt?

Knit & Wish

2011-09-01T07:33:00.003-05:00

Last year I learned to knit. And in one year, I've knitted one washcloth, one scarf and one and a half baby blankets. The first one was for my first niece (my sister's daughter). The second one will be for my second niece (my brother's daughter). (I'll be incredibly lucky if I finish this second one before she arrives.)
I started knitting to keep alive a tradition my grandmother had started but was no longer here to do herself. A tradition that every new baby in the family gets a hand-made blanket.

As I knit, I like to think of my grandmother. We called her Omi (Oh-mee). It's German for grandmother.

Sometimes I wonder what she would say about me carrying on the tradition. I like to think she'd be pleased and touched.

Sometimes I wish I had thought to ask her to teach me, and I become teary thinking about the missed opportunities to make memories with her.

Sometimes I dream about explaining the tradition to my own children while telling them about Omi and maybe teaching them how to knit.

Even though I don't have the memories of her teaching me to knit, she gave me the inspiration to learn a new hobby. One I enjoy. One I enjoy so much I have a bag of yarn sitting in a closet begging for projects other than baby blankets.

Thank you for that Omi.

Baby blanket in progress... about 50% complete:

Hump Day Humor: Back to School Fail

2011-08-31T07:34:00.001-05:00

(hat tip Cary)

ANSWER - Tuesday Trivia: Geography

2011-08-31T07:15:00.001-05:00

Where on earth are you if you're at 0 degrees latitude and 0 degrees longitude?

At the spot where the equator intersects with the prime meridian - in the Atlantic (in the Gulf of Guinea), off the coast of Africa, about 380 miles south of Ghana.

While David partially got the right answer, I have to give the win to Krista who knew it was near Ghana. Congratulations Krista!

Tuesday Trivia: Geography

2011-08-30T07:24:00.002-05:00

Tuesday Trivia is a weekly post of interesting trivia questions. Leave a comment with your answer - or best guess - and come back tomorrow to see if you were right. Happy guessing!

<><><>

Where on earth are you if you're at 0 degrees latitude and 0 degrees longitude?

Like Nowhere Else

2011-08-25T07:32:00.011-05:00

Last week we ran away from 100+ temperatures. All the way to Wisconsin.

I know what you're thinking. Wisconsin? WTH?

John's family has owned a cottage in Door County, Wisconsin on Lake Michigan since the 60s. It was our first time up there since we've been together.

The town is an amazing small town that you could walk around to everything. And the neighboring towns are only a few miles away when you want a different restaurant or attraction.

For being such a small town, we had no trouble filling our days.

Sailing

Hiking

The lighthouse in the state park where we hiked:

Wine tasting

I don't think I need to say this next part, but I'm going to anyway... the weather was perfect.