The Andersons

2011-12-12T18:57:00.000-08:00

Weekend Projects

We seem to be constantly doing something to our humble abode. In a 147 year-old house there is always something that needs fixing or tweaking or redone. It was a race to the finish to get outdoor projects done before the snow flew and it got too cold. After 30 plus bags, we got all the leaves out of the yard and the sticks picked up. Jeff was even able to put foam in our lowest set of gutters so hopefully that will help keep our basement dry in the spring.

We are attempting to take a breather before we tackle the kitchen this winter but over the weekend Jeff discovered by our kitchen just wasn't heating up as it should. The air duct wasn't attached to a vent - rather, it was blowing air out and under our sink.

Jeff ripped up the rotted, swayed, old bottom cabinetry to find this. He couldn't find any specially made ducts or ducts pre-built in sections so he had to make his own. He ran to Menards and paid about $15 for duct work and special insulated duct tape and voila! The vent has air coming out of it. The cats love it and we're warm when we cook a meal so all is right with the world.

2011-12-07T18:38:00.000-08:00

Tis the Season!

Christmas time is so magical. This year more than previous years, will be a really great season. We've got an advent calendar and Ewan helped us set up our tree. Santa will visit and even though we've already had one unsuccessful trip to see the big man in red, we'll give it another go. Being a parent makes the season that much more meaningful.

We've had a big fall and are zooming into winter. Ewan turned two and Jeff and I also had birthdays (which are totally insignificant). We also celebrated eight years of marriage by ordering in pizza. Yahoo!

We also went full steam ahead with all sorts of house projects. It took just over 30 bags to get all the leaves off our yard and Jeff spent a lot of time working on wiring and putting lights in the basement. I finished painting some trim on the exterior of the house and Jeff got our gutters taken care of. Doesn't sound like much but when you have a needy toddler, your work time is limited to when he naps so we end up doing things in a hurry.

I'm hoping to post more about the projects we do. We'll be tackling the kitchen this winter so stay tuned for some tips and updates. Merry Christmas!

2011-11-02T12:28:00.000-07:00

One in a Million

Actually it's now one in 7 billion. This week the world's population hit 7 billion. To me, that is just amazing. It's a lot to take in. Here's an article with some relatable information. As population continues to rise, it leads me to questions a whole host of things. Most of the world's population is concentrated in India, a third-world county full of problems. I'm sure their problems will grow exponentially. What about China - a country with an already huge population - and their role on the world stage? What about our environment? The biggest take-away is that God is awesome. Creating this diverse planet with so much richness and light. I could expound on that for pages but I am very thankful for my role as one in 7 billion.

2011-08-12T07:28:00.000-07:00

Great Idea

IDs for kids who run off. I know I'm not alone when I say that I hate those kiddie leashes. You've seen them before - those silly monkey backpacks with a leash attached to them so parents can keep a hold on their child. I understand the practicality of it but feel it is wrong to treat your child like a dog. Having an energetic toddler is wonderful and worrisome. Ewan runs off quite a bit when we go places. We are usually able to closely follow him and haven't run into any dangerous crowds, but I dread the day that he slips away or gets lost in the grocery store. I just found something that will probably give me a little more piece of mind, the Safetytat. This lick-on tattoo can be written on and customized. They even have smart phone capabilities with QRs. I'm going to order them today!! Check it out here.

2011-07-13T09:38:00.000-07:00

Is This for Real?

Yup, it is. Lip tattoos!!! Violent Lips is selling the multicolored lip art. Kind of cool for 4th of July, but they also sell all sorts of different patterns. I'm not brave enough to wear it but I also think it would annoy me. It lasts for 6-8 hours and I'm sure after that it starts to peel and look awful. Someone please try them and report back.

2011-06-15T13:26:00.000-07:00

Peregrine Falcon at the Capitol

As I went to lunch yesterday, I came out of the Capitol and notices a bird fall from the building. I thought it was a pigeon. There are plenty of pigeons around here that the residents falcons like to munch on. The peregrine falcons that live at the Capitol can be seen chasing the poor birds and devouring them. I look closer to see that it was, in fact, a falcon that fell from the Capitol. I was pretty surprised because I know these birds are very fast and adept at flying around the building. The bird got up and shook it off and started wandering around the lawn, going up to the visitor's entrance. I didn't dare get too close. They can rip an animal apart with their claws and beak.

Two years ago I attended a lecture/celebration/press conference on the Capitol lawn for the falcon's reintroduction into the wild. The bird was on the brink of extinction thanks to DDT. The farming chemical was ingested by the birds through the bugs they ate and prevented their eggs from forming hard enough shells, hence, killing off much of the population. It was a similar story for bald eagles in Iowa. At the lecture, the Iowa DNR brought binoculars and telescopes to see the bird's next, which is perched at the top of the east side of the building. Each spring they have babies who learn to fly.

One of those babies was probably the same one that fell yesterday. It looked fully grown, but could have been confused. It took a bit but later flew off. A DNR specialist was seen combing the grounds yesterday for the bird and I saw him again today sitting on the lawn with his little telescope, no doubt watching their nest.

This is what the bird looked like:

It was very cool to see so close. Here is more info on the bird in Iowa.

2011-05-31T09:29:00.000-07:00

Better Late Than Never

It's been quite a while since I have posted anything on this blog. The stresses and business of life sometimes just catch up to you. I had to take a break in order to focus on other things. Well hopefully I am back in action and will be able to post here on a more regular basis. I've always felt that social media and blogs are a great tool as long as it is used consistently.

Memorial Day Weekend

Our long weekend got off to a slow start thanks to all the rain we had. We had been planning to get a lot of yard work done over the weekend and got quite a bit done, but not as much as we'd hoped. Jeff was finally able to mow, pick up a 2 year old brush pile and lay down some paving bricks by the driveway. I was able to kill the first round of poison ivy and poison oak and plant some hastas. I a

lso picked the first flowers of the year. Purple iris and Russian iris that have already died. Not a long shelf life for those puppies.

Grandma and Grandpa Anderzhon visited and we all went to Living History Farms and had a blast. Ewan loved all the barnyard animals. At one point, Jeff pointed out the cows and Ewan said, "yummy." A boy just like his daddy who loves burgers.... We went to Machine Shed for lunch yesterday and sat on the giant pig there. It wasn't too exciting, but cute. And last night Grandma and Grandpa watched Ewan while Jeff and I went over to friends' house and cooked out and played games. A good time was had by all.

2011-01-17T14:04:00.000-08:00

And We're Off!!

So the family photo you see isn't our best, but it's the most recent. Complete with sleeping cat in the background - it's very typical at our house. We had a great Christmas and uneventful New Year. Now we are off and running into 2011. I'm pretty busy now with the 2011 Legislative Session in full swing. Working late nights, early mornings will be my routine for the next 110 days. I can't complain because it gives me the rest of the year to enjoy my family and friends. I'm still working on painting that darn back bedroom in our house. I'm amazed at what I don't get done with Ewan around. It's OK because I'd rather spend time with him than paint, but it's taken me 6 months to paint this room. I just need to work on the touch ups and we can put the room back together.

We're deciding on a vacation this year. One where babies are not allowed. I think we're leaning towards Vegas for an extended weekend so stay tuned for results on the matter.

And who knows what we'll discover as far as house things go. The dishwasher handle just broke and we ordered a $75 handle that may or may not be discontinued. We're not sure yet. But brand new, stainless steel models only run $275. Sheesh. It's always something with this old house. Adventure surely awaits us in 2011!!!!

2010-12-17T13:26:00.001-08:00

Scooting Away

Well, we have a walker on our hands. Ewan has taken off. He's more confident in walking around on his own. And he's finding that it is just as fast to walk somewhere as to crawl there. He is SO proud of himself, too. Even if he stumbles and falls, he does it with a smile. I have yet to capture these moments on film. Babies never perform on command but I do have the video camera handy. I'll catch it soon since he's walking more consistently.

2010-12-01T09:07:00.001-08:00

Time Flies

My baby is now one. I can't believe it. His birthday party and baptism went on without a hitch - but Ewan was so very cranky. His lunch and nap were delayed so he was not a happy camper opening his gifts and having cake. Here's proof of that.

He enjoyed the cake, but didn't want anyone getting close to it and he really didn't like the clean up process.

We also had a really nice Thanksgiving. Jeff's cousin, Ryan and his girlfriend, April came over and we all enjoyed a nice dinner and afterwards, Jeff and Ryan got the snow blower up and running. Yay! Ironic because all last winter the thing wasn't running and we had TONS of snow. We're set now, though. Bring it, Old Man Winter.

2010-11-11T13:56:00.000-08:00

Home Improvements

Jeff and I have been working very hard to get as much as possible done to the house before the snow flies. I've finally has some time to sit down and post pictures of our progress. We painted the front and back porches and changed the color. The wood would have rotted through the winter without the coat of paint and the bright blue we painted it adds some punch to the house. We plan on painting all the gray trim to this blue.I posted an entry earlier about how we got the wrong color at the paint store for the downstairs bathroom and it looked like Kermit the Frog threw up in it. Well, here is the correct color and Jeff hung new wall sconces by the mirrors to improve the lighting.
I've painted all these awful white air vent returns with a copper spray paint to match the copper outlet plate covers. That tiny task makes a huge difference. Now we just have to finish raking the gazillion leaves our oak trees just dropped. I bagged 10 bags today and am only halfway done! Ugh.

2010-11-08T09:02:00.000-08:00

Another Year Older

I had another birthday yesterday and enjoyed a wonderful fall day. The weather was wonderful and we were able to take a neighborhood family walk. I didn't want the day to end. I was hoping to sleep in a bit but Ewan had other plans, which I didn't mind. He and his dad took me to Drake Diner for breakfast. I just love their potato pancakes and the service is always really good. I was worried that Ewan would get restless and cut our meal short, but he didn't, thanks to paper and crayons which he really enjoyed.

The rest of the day was completely relaxing. No house work and construction of any and all kinds on the house ceased and we all just enjoyed the day. We made it to 5 p.m. church and I couldn't believe how docile Ewan was to sit through it all and play nicely on his dad's lap. A success if I do say so myself.

2010-11-05T11:59:00.000-07:00

Books

Now that I'm a mother, I've had far less time to do something I love: devour a good book. And finding a decent read or at least something that holds my attention has been a long time coming. Well, yesterday I finished a book so amazing that I just couldn't keep it to myself. The Passage by Justin Cronin was an amazing read. This 765 page book took me twice as long to get through, but it was worth it. I just didn't want the story to end. It's a post-apocalyptic look at the world where futuristic vampire-like creatures rule America and humans are few and far between and live in fear. But the fate of all seems to lie in the hands of a young girl. (I won't say more than that, because the details are too good!) But ultimately the book takes a hard look at humanity. You think it is a story about survival, but the undertones are much deeper than that. The author spins a tale with many characters, but you don't feel like it's too complex and the pace is very fast and fierce. As I finished the book, there were so many unanswered questions and loose ends and in doing some research I found out this is the first of a trilogy of books. AND the movie rights for all three books have already been purchased and some movie studio is working on a script for the first book. I can't wait!

2010-11-03T09:56:00.000-07:00

Busy Bodies

Boy, the last few weeks have been a blur. We have been pretty busy. Jeff's busy season is in full swing so his hours are late and hectic. Ewan got a visit from his Grandma Di, he had his first hair cut, family pictures, his first Halloween and now that elections are over, my job is picking up at the Capitol.

Here are the highlights from the haircut. He was such a good boy. He had his first sucker, which basically distracted him enough to cut the hair. The only time he cried was when he dropped his sucker. Here are the before and after shots. His hair was so long and I was surprised at how different he looked afterward.

2010-10-25T08:34:00.000-07:00

Fall Fall Fall

The weather we've been having in Iowa has been unbelievable. Unseasonably warm and sunny - not that I'm complaining. The picture is from the Iowa Orchard. We went there and picked up two pumpkins and some cider and an apple pie. Boy was it all yummy. This was two weekends ago. This past weekend we poured our all into the house working to winterize it as Jeff caulked the old windows and put a coat of paint on the back door. I was dealing with a cranky baby who decided not to nap at all on Saturday. But Grandma Di & Grandpa Rich came into town on Sunday and boy did Ewan LUV playing with Grandma. He especially loved her glasses and pulling her hair. We all went out to eat for dinner and he was such a good baby - he always is - and so happy. We just got a video camera and once I figure out how to use it, I'll post some of Ewan's favorite faces. He's lately been getting a big laugh out of himself and the funny faces he makes.

2010-10-05T10:11:00.001-07:00

Fall Ball

I'm not talking football. I'm talking golf. I was lucky enough to golf twice this year. Not bad considering I didn't golf once last year due to my extremely pregnant state. I golfed last Thursday at Echo Valley in Des Moines and it was a beautiful day on a beautiful course. The trees have all turned to the bright fall shades of red, yellow and orange and the weather was a sunny, crisp treat. I didn't golf well at all. In fact, I think our team finished dead last but it was yet another good opportunity for me to practice my game and get out of the office. I've only been golfing the past six years.

Disgusted by TV

Sunday night Jeff and I watched the show Sister Wives on TLC and turned the TV off in disgust. TLC has strayed very far from it's true "learning" roots. We've joked that the channel has become known for breaking up marriages thanks to their reality programing. Anyway......this show is about polygamy and "a man trying to juggle three wives while trying to keep it a secret from the rest of the world." First of all, it isn't secret if it's on TV, stupid. Second, it's illegal in America but I'm sure this family has skirted that issue by the guy not legally marrying all three. The man in all this is in the process of bringing in a fourth wife and her three children to the mix. The show tries to portray their lives as normal and not cult-ish like some fundamentalist Mormons who have been in the news recently but they just come off as insecure, idiotic, and self-entitled. The wives play off each others' insecurities and jealousy and seem to have no backbone when it comes to their own lives. And the husband seems like a playboy using a twisted religious card to extremes to not be faithful to one woman. Freedom of religion is a great thing that we have in this country and everyone should be able to practice their faith without feeling persecuted in America. This family is a living example of that, but I simply question people's motives when it comes to religion, especially when there is a reality TV show involved that helps breed misinformation.

2010-09-29T11:08:00.001-07:00

Renovations

The Anderson house is in chaos right now with some minor renovations going on. We're painting fools. Jeff painted the living room a few weekends ago and I've been working on painting a guest bedroom and last weekend Jeff painted our downstairs bathroom. But he painted it the wrong color - thanks Sherwin Williams for that goof. I complained to them but that didn't do any good. Here is our bathroom with the yucky Kermit the Frog color.

I'll post more pictures once the bathroom is finished with the correct paint color. We ran out of paint for both projects before we could put a second coat on.

2010-09-13T14:46:00.001-07:00

Iowans Are SO Proud of This Soldier

Here is a little something I wrote for for work that is worth repeating: http://tinyurl.com/36eye35

2010-09-09T06:13:00.001-07:00

On the Move

That's right, we're fully mobile. Ewan has been scooting around in his little rolling chair for months and having us hold his arms while he toddles around so we thought for sure he'd skip crawling. Wrong. just over two weeks ago, he got frustrated and finally put two and two together and launched off in crawl mode. Now there is no stopping him. Watch out cats!!!!

2010-09-07T13:05:00.000-07:00

Things I Learned This Week

I just spent a full week being a stay-at-home mom. It was a busy week that was rewarding, exhausting, and just plain fun. I'm glad I was able to spend the week at home with Ewan because before we know it he'll be off to school or too cool to hang out with his mom.

Now that I am a mom, I feel comfortable recognizing a whole slew of things like hunger, sleepiness, crankiness, etc. I feel like this week really helped me bond with Ewan - like we have this new, inside joke that is hilarious only to the two of us. Part of it is that we were able to learn so much about each other.

Here's the list of what I learned this week:

Ewan loves hair. He has a ton of his own hair and was born with quite a coif of the silky blond stuff. I'm sure I'll be upset when it comes time to cut it so I'm going to put that off as long as possible. But he loves yanking my hair, running his fingers through it and putting it in his mouth. He also loves putting his hands in his own hair.
Simple toys keep him entertained the longest. Especially kitchen items. He figured out how to pull a drawer open and pull out these colorful silicone muffin cups and I still haven't found them all. They are all over the house.
Self-examination is fun. Ewan is trying to wave and he carfully examines his hand, as if in deep thought, and then waves at himself. This happened all week. I did some self-examination as well as I thought about the kind of mom I want to be. We went to lunch with a friend last Monday and, of course, toys were being thrown on the floor. No one minded except me so letting go of some hang-ups is in order.
No matter how hard I try, not everything will get done and such is life. I have projects and hobbies and Jeff and I were able to get our living room painted and I started painting a bedroom and I'm working on a sewing project. But it is way more fun to go to the zoo with Ewan. So we did. He loved the giraffes and the water in the penguin area. Stopping to smell the roses is a must.
Expect the unexpected. My son keeps surprising me in good and bad ways. He's now crawling faster and faster, chasing the cats, getting scratched, trying to stand on his own, babbling like a fool, getting into things he shouldn't and on and on. Good and bad but always interesting.

2010-08-31T04:54:00.000-07:00

Week of Fun

The picture above is Ewan playing with his new toy - a box. I'm amazed at what he finds interesting. It's usually the simplest things: a whisk, his spoon, rolling pin, magazine. He has plenty of great toys that aid in his brain development and that are full of bright colors and gadgets that move, make noise, talk and have interesting textures, but it is the simple things that entertain him the most. He really loves to play peek-a-boo and we could do that for hours.

I am home all this week since our daycare gal is taking a much-needed vacation. I don't have any grand plans of getting house projects done. Instead I'm focusing on spending quality time with my growing-like-a-weed-son. Painting the living room and cleaning need to be done in our house, but it is way more fun to play with my baby. We do have a paint color picked out for the living room: Copper Pot. Last night I painted a test area. Pictures to follow. We're going to go with it. Don't know how long it will take but we'll eventually get it done. I'm just happy our bats are gone. Small victories, small victories.

2010-08-12T11:02:00.000-07:00

Distractions

So much has been going on with the Andersons. More bats, bringing the total of dead flying rodents to five. Our poor cat has a rotten tooth that needs to be removed - not because he chomped a bat. And the poison oak on my leg is driving me bonkers.

Lets start with last week. My BFF, Paige called me last Tuesday at 2:30 asking me to drive down and to go the Lady Gaga concert with her. I said no because I was so sleep deprived. What was I thinking?! I called her back and decided to go. I raced home from work, packed an overnight bag and went straight to Kansas City. We went to the concert where we were SO close to the stage. We got all dolled up, wore fun feathers and wire in our hair and were actually under dressed. There were so many guys in drag, ladies wearing Lady Gaga costumes and just all-around weird get-ups. The concert was great. Talk about a true show. She has amazing dancers and back-up singers and her sets were very ellaborate. My only issue with the concert was that she got a little preachy about the GLTB lifestyle and being accepting of it. I don't care about the issue itself, but when I'm at a concert, I want to hear the music, not the lecture.

Paige and I had an amazing time and were out till 2:30 in the morning and my first night away from my baby boy went smoothly. Now it is time for the Iowa State Fair. As usual, we will take our interesting Fair photos and share them. Can't wait to see all the wackiness that is the Iowa State Fair!

2010-08-03T10:55:00.000-07:00

Bats. Seriously.

Anyone who knows me knows that I really hate bats but they seem to like me. They keep turning up in our house. First our little rental house in Des Moines and now our big, old historic home. I'm resigned to the fact that bats will end up inside a really old house at one time or another but this past weekend was ridiculous. And for a person with a phobia of bats like me, it was rough.

I woke up to the sound of something in our bedroom very early on Saturday morning and didn't find anything out of place so I rolled over to go back to sleep only to see the flying rodent dive-bomb the cat. I woke Jeff up with a punch to the gut - a total accident, honestly. I was freaked! He got the thing outside after I high-tailed it to the bathroom, closing Ewan's door on the way. The next day, Jeff finds another bat just hanging out on our dining room wall at 7am. That little disease factory bit the dust thanks to a broom handle.

Fast forward to Sunday night and again, we are awakend to the cat chasing a screetching bat. No joke, the thing was screetching. I retreated to the bathroom while Jeff killed it. We combed the entire house in the middle of the night and Jeff found TWO more of them in the basement. Got one and one got away.

We called a professional and sealed off the basement. The exterminator can't set his little traps for two whole weeks. He's booked solid. I will be a wreck for two weeks. No incidents last night, but maybe Jeff killed the whole bat family. It sounds silly but I feel gross in my own home. I cleaned up bat poop in our bedroom and am now cautiously looking up and hesitating before entering rooms around the house. Yuck.

2010-07-19T08:05:00.001-07:00

The Foods of Summer

I picked our first tomato of the year from our huge tomato plant on Friday and we enjoyed BLT sandwiches on Saturday.

This was a small one and we're getting a few others on the vine but they're still too green to pick. Having the BLT sandwiches got me thinking about how summer has some very distinct flavors. Well, for me anyway. There are just some things I can't live without during the summer. Even just thinking about summer gets me thinking about food. (OK, it doesn't take much to get me thinking of any food) Here is my list of summer must-haves:

-BLT sandwiches

-Sun-brewed iced tea

-Ice cream from Snookie's in Beaverdale

-Pasta salad of any kind

-Chili cheese brats from Forbes Meat Locker

-Homemade ranch buffalo burgers on the grill; with cheese, of course

2010-07-12T10:50:00.000-07:00

Great Weekend

We had a really full weekend and it was great. We started out by going to the Des Moines Farmers Market to listen to our friend's band play, hit up the Gap buy-one-get-one free sale (hard to pass up), attended a friend and co-worker's wedding reception, picked rhubarb from my garden and had a great visit with my high school friend, Allison. It was just perfect, although I wish Allison could have stayed longer. I was even able to work on my hasta garden a bit. Weekends like this one make me thankful that I live in Des Moines. It's small enough where you can walk down the street and talk to and know your neighbors but big enough that you can get lost in the massive crowd at Farmers Market.

2010-07-09T13:42:00.001-07:00

The Latest Project

This morning, right before work, Jeff got a wild hair and ripped the nasty carpet off our back stairs. Not too pretty and apparently the last owner was shoddy with the paint. I don't know what we're going to do with the stairs, other than clean it up and maybe make the color uniform. But right now, it is like an echo chamber. I just hope that cleaning up the mess doesn't lead to a bigger mess with this old house.

2010-07-07T13:26:00.000-07:00

We survived our very first family vacation. We packed up and traveled to Lake Okoboji for a week. Of course, we eneded up with more going home than arriving so it was a miracle that we were able to fit Ewan and his car seat into the back seat. We swam a lot, enjoyed fellowship with friends and family and were able to relax a lot. We stayed at Village West and they now have two outdoor pools, an indoor pool and a nice beach. We didn't get in the lake water since the bacteria levels were so high but the pools were great.

Here are some of my favorite photos from the trip.

Here is Ewan and Jeff right outside Arnolds Park Amusement Park. I don't think Jeff was happy that I asked him to pose three time to get the shot. Ewan is clowning around at The Ritz during dinner.

This is a shot of Shell Brewery root beer, from the keg in a glass. (There is just something about drinking root beer in a glass or mug rather than a paper or plastic cup) The glass on the right has a melting scoop of ice cream in it. WOW, was this yummy. We atteneded the birthday/July 4 celebration picnic at a family friend's house where they had this.

2010-06-23T07:58:00.001-07:00

Triumphant First

Ewan completed Water Babies at the YMCA last night and never have I been more proud and happy to have a single piece of paper hanging on my fridge. It's simply a certificate saying Ewan completed the course but it is like a gold medal to this mama. He started the class sort of being indifferent about being in the water and he ended it last night by splashing and kicking like crazy in the water. Pool time will be so much fun with the U-man now!

2010-06-18T12:32:00.000-07:00

Count Your Blessings

I'm feeling sentimental lately and am so thankful for all that I have been blessed with in life. God has been good to the Andersons. And sometimes it's just nice to reinforce how blessed you are in life so here it is. I am so thankful for:

My family and friends
Having a healthy, beautiful baby boy
A roof over my head
Food on my table
A job and career I enjoy
People that keep me grounded in my life
Being comfortable and confident with my faith
A sense of humor
A husband that loves me unconditionally
Love in my heart

2010-06-16T08:57:00.000-07:00

Full Bloom

I really enjoy having a garden. I don't know much about growing flowers or plants but I'm learning. This is ironic because I've never been a big flower person. I've just never seen the point in spending money on bouquets of flowers that will just die in a few days. To me, that's money down the drain. But having a garden full of flowers is different. They come back year after year and the fulfillment of picking your own flowers that you've worked to grow is rewarding. It makes them that much prettier.

Peonies are my favorite flower and they bloomed a little early this year so I really only got two bunches of them. Jeff and I worked hard last fall to plants hundreds of bulbs and our reward were these beautiful tulips in front of our house.

Right now, we have what seems like hundreds of lillies in full bloom. The previous ownders of our house planted lillies and roses in all varities. They are beautiful. Here's a picture of the flower beds from last year. I took this right after all the lily and rose petals had fallen but you get the idea.

2010-06-15T13:15:00.000-07:00

Lazy Weekend

Sometimes you just gotta have 'em. We didn't do any work on the house this weekend, didn't plan any activities other than to sleep in and do laundry. Mission accomplished! We ended up going to the Iowa Historical Society so Ewan could see the wooley mamoth which I don't really think he cared about, but we got him a cute mamoth stuffed toy which he liked, so that worked out.

Our baby is growing so fast we just had to slow down this weekend and stop and smell the roses. I still can't believe he is seven months old. Everyone says that new parents should really enjoy the time they have with their babies while they are young and boy are they right. He'll be driving before we know it!

2010-06-10T11:15:00.000-07:00

Throne

This is a chair from the Estherville, Iowa, Oddfellows hall that was torn down. Jeff's dad aquired it many years ago and this week, it made the trek down to Des Moines to our house along with all of Jeff's dad's huge power tools. As you can see, the throne is being put to good use by our shy cat, Angus McSwirly Cat.

2010-06-08T05:47:00.000-07:00

Movin' Right Along
U-Man has a brand new toy. The exersaucer/walker is a huge hit. He can be upright like he loves and play with his toys at the same time. I think he'll be walking before he crawls.

We all have new bikes and have been on two family rides. Ewan sits in his little kid cart, but the motion makes him sleepy and then he slumps over, causing the shoulder straps to cut into his neck. I tried putting a towel behind his back to sort of prop him up but that didn't work. Sunday night he somehow managed to be asleep on his side in the cart with the straps on. It looked completely uncomfortable. Luckily it didn't cut his neck. Jeff and I voted to wait a few months when he's bigger, fits in the cart better and it's cooler outside, before we ride as a family.

Tonight it's Waterbabies at the YMCA. It will be a lot of splashing around getting Ewan used to the water, but it will be FUN. I think we'll sing goofy songs which is perfect because Ewan loves my goofy songs so that makes me happy.

2010-06-07T13:29:00.001-07:00

Seen Today

At the Capitol: a man wearing a t-shirt that read, "I love my wife" and pieces of a pigeon on the Capitol lawn that were prey to a falcon.

2010-06-02T12:29:00.000-07:00

Weekends

Gotta love them. Our first Memorial Day weekend as a family was pretty jam-packed. We went for a bike ride, went to the downtown farmers market, got some wonderful Mexican food at Mi Mexico where Ewan behaved wondefully in a high chair and even visited Living History Farms. We somehow managed to squeeze in quite a lot of yard work, too. Jeff used dug out awful mulberry stumps and used his sawzaw to cut them down as much as he could. Unfortunately, he threw out his back, so we wont' be doing on another family bike ride for a while. I was even able to work on one of my sewing projects. Here is my tired little model, showing off what I made him. I admit, that it is a little formal for him just going to daycare, but it is so cute that I couldn't resist dressing him in it on Tuesday.

2010-05-26T08:45:00.000-07:00

Flying Rodents

Bats are back at our house. Last year we had one in our living room but it didn't stay long as Jeff just opened our front door and the critter flew out. Two nights ago we turned on the air conditioning and must have flushed a bat out of our ducts because the thing was flying around the bedroom at the back of our house. Jeff contained it and grabbed the broom and when he brought the broom back, he saw our youngest cat, Bobby Love, leap into the air and snatch the bat - Matrix style. The rodent was stunned and Jeff swept the thing out the back door.

More drama last night as we were woken up twice to the sound of screetching above our heads. We flip on all the lights but find nothing so the bat is either in the walls or in the attic of our house. It's probably the same bat. I know that they are good for killing bugs but boy I hate them - they freak me out and I wish the cat - or Jeff - would've killed the sucker.

Here's Bobby Love Cat just hanging out after crawling up my back. He earned his keep taking out the bat.

Bobby is hilarious. We find him sleeping in different places around the house. He really likes Ewan's car seat but he'll opt for the rocking chair, inside our overnight bag, under the covers by our legs in bed at night, in boxes that are too small for him, the list goes on and on.

2010-05-18T14:19:00.001-07:00

Overheard

I see a lot of things working at the state Capitol. This telephone booth is right outside my office on the ground floor of the Capitol. I only ever see it used twice: when lobbyists go into it, shut the door and talk on their cell phones in order to have some privacy since private areas are few and far between and when high school kids cram themselves into it and have their friends take pictures of the relic. I'm always amazed that kids think phone booths are an anomoly. I already feel old but no one ever uses pay phones anymore and I remember when people used to do that - in the movies, at gas stations, at the airport. Having a cell phone was quite a luxury. And it was big, clunky and plugged into your cigarette lighter.

I'm also amazed at the grade school kids who use the Capitol bathroom. Every day, I hear a little girl walk into the women's bathroom and declare, "Wow, what a fancy bathroom." Bathrooms are generally universal and I can only determine that what makes the Capitol women's room different is the gold-plated faucets. They sparkle and look antique. Isn't it funny what amuses kids?

2010-05-11T13:53:00.001-07:00

More Firsts!

We got a high chair this weekend for the little man and it seems like a big hit. Jeff accidentally pinched his little finger under the tray putting him into the chair, causing major wails and tears - from both guys. Just kidding. Jeff did feel pretty bad. I'm sure it won't be the last time we pinch his skin in something, though.

Ewan made his first trip out of state last week. We all went to Kansas City and saw Auntie Paige, stayed in a hotel and visited the Harry Truman Presidential Library. The trip home wasn't good because he was so fussy, but otherwise a success.

Finally, Ewan had his first MAJOR blowout. I'm talking so bad we had to dip him (and his clothes) in the bathtub. I can't believe it has taken this long to happen. He's six months old this week! He's starting to eat veggies and I'm sure that has something to do with it.

I had a first as well. I solved my first Transportation issue at work. I've taken on a new role in the Iowa Senate Republican Caucus Staff. That of Transportation Analyst. This is in addition to my Communications Director position. I'm very excited to be tackling this role. I'm by no means an expert but am enjoying learning all about transportation in Iowa. Come this time next year, I'll be able to tell you all about the pros and cons of high speed rail and the RUTF formula. :)

2010-04-30T12:16:00.000-07:00

Tiptoe Through the Tulips

My tulips are blooming! I was a little worried that we had planted them too late in the fall. Jeff moved some ugly bushes from the front of the house and we then worked really hard calculating how far the rows of tulips needed to be apart from each other and how many bulbs needed to be in each row for the space in front of our house. We ordered over 100 bulbs from Pella and Michigan and got the things in the ground the day before Ewan was born. It was cold and just under the wire. They look great! Next up: getting grass seed down in our brown spots on the lawn.

2010-04-28T12:50:00.001-07:00

Home Improvements: Dining Room

Slowly but surely we're tackling improving our 147 year-old home. After a crazy summer and having a baby, we took a bit of an improvement break. Over the winter we did have more insulation blown into the attic and had new storm doors put onto the front of the house, which really helped with the draftiness. (after which, we found out our brand new thermostat that goes w/our new, efficient furnace was installed wrong and only running at half-capacity. Mickle Electric SUCKS) We thought an easy project this spring would be painting the dining room. There isn't much wall space thanks to four large windows and three doors. And, of course, the job proved more challenging than we anticipated. We had to carefully tape off all our woodwork and tear down the awful crown molding - which turned out to be caulked to the ceiling, tearing the plaster off when it came down. So Jeff patched, sanded and patched and sanded again. Two coats later, the paint looks great and now we just have to find new crown molding.

Before

During

After

2010-04-26T09:18:00.000-07:00

Firsts

This weekend was a first for our little man. He took a long car ride for a weekend trip to see Grandma Diane in Estherville. He's just over five months old and his eating schedule now allows for very few, if any stops. We waited so long to travel with him because we had such a bad, snowy winter. He did amazingly well and didn't sleep much at all. He was pretty exhausted afterward, though. He barely napped while at Grandma Di's house. There was just too much to take in and too many people to see. It's a good thing that the trip went well because we are headed to KC next week to see Auntie Paige and in a few weeks to Nebraska City for Uncle Kris' wedding.

Another first was taking Ewan to a baseball game. We took in a few innings at an afternoon Iowa Cubs game. There will be many more as Jeff and I are big baseball fans. I can't wait for his other firsts like his first birthday, first steps, first tooth.........ah, how time flies.

2010-04-07T09:03:00.000-07:00

Sharing

Sharing is something we all learn as a kid and it is something that Jeff and I are trying to instill in Ewan. As he gets older, he'll understand about sharing his toys with his day care friends and sharing his love with Mom and Dad. Well, ever since Ewan was born, sharing has other meanings for us, as I'm sure it does for all parents.

Ewan has his first ear infection topped off with a case of RSV. He hasn't been to day care in over a week. We're guessing that the Easter Bunny "shared" these germs with him when Grandma Di was in town last week watching him. We know we can't isolate him from germs and he's recovering just fine, but I'm amazed at what is shared between people. More than just stuff. Grandma Diane came to town to share her expertise and grandmotherly love with our little man. He loved having her here and Jeff and I were able to get out for a couple hours and attend a political fundraiser at a friend's house. Not having relatives in town makes you appreciate them even more when they come to visit. We don't mind sharing our little bundle of joy with them. Ewan loves sharing his joy and love with others.

2010-03-18T11:53:00.000-07:00

Sign of Things to Come?

Our baby boy is so very lucky. He is one well-dressed pup thanks to his grandmas. The other day, I got him ready for day care and dressed him in a cute little shirt that said "Little Republican." Jeff and I are both proud Republicans and I work for 18 Iowa Republican Senators so its fitting for Ewan to wear this shirt. Not five minutes after putting him in his clothes, Ewan starts to grunt and laugh and then I hear the explosion. His morning doody crept up his back, messing his Republican shirt so I had to change him.

It makes me wonder if this was his first statement against his parents. Sort of a mini rebellion. My aunt says that kids always choose the opposite political party of their parents so we'll see how our little guy turns out.

2010-03-02T13:11:00.000-08:00

I Am That Mom

This picture is too adorable not to share. Ewan is not quite 4 months old and SO strong. He loves sitting up and having tummy time. He sits up a lot at day care and practices his baby push-ups. Last night he let out his first real laugh. He's been trying to laugh for a while now, but instead of exing, he's been inhaling, sounding like he's losing his breath. It's been pretty funny. I can't wait to see what he does next to amaze me and Jeff.

2010-02-09T19:02:00.000-08:00

Time Flies

I've neglected this blog and you would too if you were taking care of a 2 and-a-half month old as well as working 13 hour days at the office. I have gone back to work and it's been a bit rough. Moreso on me than on Ewan. Although, after his first week of day care, he picked up a cold and consequently passed it on to me. I was so sick that I stayed home from work. That hasn't happened in over a year. Ewan is better and I'm on the mend, too. The picture to the left is Ewan at 2 months exactly. That's his sleepy face. He's almost 3 months now and I can't believe it. My mom has always said, "Time flies when you're having fun." She's right. I would've laughed if you would've told me a year ago that I'd prefer to come straight home after work and sit down with my baby boy and just rock him. Or that I'd be so tired from just being a mom that I couldn't think straight. (I seriously understand now how sleep deprivation can be considered torture). I also would've said you were insane if you told me that I couldn't fit into my skinny jeans - and I loved it. Things change when you become a parent. And you love it. Jeff will tell you the same thing. He loves it and is a great dad. He's even changed more than his promised one diaper. A lot happens in a year - for the better.

2009-12-31T11:13:00.000-08:00

Out With the Old, In With the New

The new year is only hours away and it is hard to imagine that 2010 could be any better than 2009. We had a very blessed year with purchasing a house, having a wonderful, healthy baby boy and making room for another kitten. We were able to see and spend time with our family, near and far and took a vacation. We've been spared the hard times even though the economy isn't so great and a year better than 2009 seems next to impossible. We're starting a new decade which is fun and exciting and thinking about all the technology of this past decade - I can't imagine where things could go. I hope they finally come up with that hoverpack so I can jet down to Kansas City in no time flat. Here's hoping............

2009-11-26T11:28:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving!!

We have so much to be thankful for this year. Our beautiful boy arrived 11 days early on November 16 at 3:04 a.m. and weighed in at 8.6 lbs and 19 3/4 inches long. We couldn't be happier. He is healthy, happy and adorable. This will be one of many wonderful Thanksgivings.

2009-11-04T15:21:00.000-08:00

New Stuff

I held my first formal dinner in our new house last week. It was so much fun. Four of my P.E.O. sisters came over and brought the best food and I made hot cider and shepherd's pie. I love comfort food, more than Jeff does, and I had a lot of shepherd's pie left over and have been eating it all week. I love the stuff, though, so it was fine by me. I got out my grandma Cunningham's china and fine silver. The clean-up is annoying, but worth it for the look. Here are some pictures.

Yesterday was election day for Des Moines City Council, so I did my civic duty (I also had a friend running for a seat and wanted to vote for him) and turned out to our new polling place - which is in a strange apartment building's all-purpose room. The place smelled like adult diapers and the TV in the all-purpose room was turned to Oprah while two people were putting together jigsaw puzzles. The VERY old lady working the station seemed confused and I finally told her, "Hi, I'm here to vote." After she finally found my name, she gave me a ballot but after I voted the machine wouldn't accept it. After getting fed up, I turned to the old lady's fellow polling volunteer and he looked at the ballot and yelled at the lady, "This is a sample ballot - you shouldn't even have them out - throw them away." And he tossed my ballot into a pile where every voter could see my selections and handed me a real ballot. I just wanted out of there so I voted again and left, but my sample ballot was still in plain view when I left. I'm just not used to such unprofessional voting behavior. Working in politics, I'm a staunch voter and take it seriously so this polling place was a real surprise to me. Hope it goes better next time.

Here is a shot of our furry babies. Bobby was trying to be nice to Bear, but ultimately, he wanted the couch all to himself so he proceeded to spread out.

2009-10-26T16:48:00.001-07:00

Our Furry Baby

I went to a huge consignment sale at the State Fairgrounds on Friday for the sole purpose of finding an infant car seat. The sale didn't disappoint as I found a new, never been used infant seat with base. I brought it home and set it down and not two seconds later, Bobby Love jumped into it and settled down. Car seat: cat tested and approved.

2009-10-19T13:39:00.000-07:00

New Discoveries

This past weekend, Jeff and I traveled to Estherville for a baby shower where we got great gifts and several hand made items that are just adorable. Baby Anderson will love them. At the shower there was cinnamon swirl bread with orange frosting on it so I put some on my plate hoping to bite into some pumpkin frosting. I was mistaken as it was Cheez Whiz spread. What a combo! I never would have thought to put those two things together. And I have to say I will never have that combo myself. It wasn't for me. I just wish Jeff would have warned me what it was before I took it. He had a run-in with the cinnamon Whiz bread as a kid that he neglected to tell me about. (The incident ended with him consuming too much of the bread at a funeral and vomitting all over a hearse)

I also discovered that sitting in a car for over three hours in my current state is like torture. I've never been so uncomfortable. And I have comfy car seats and tried putting a pillow in every possible position. Ugh.

Finally, I have a pregnant friend who just told me she has Swine Flu. Terrible news and she is in our prayers. I urge every person who is sick or thinks they are sick to STAY HOME. It always amazes me that people work out, shop or go to work sick thinking they can just trudge through it. But they are so inconsiderate - they potentially infect everyone they come in contact with.

2009-10-05T12:13:00.000-07:00

Observations

Here are some observations that I've picked up recently. I don't know if I'm noticing things more since I feel like my senses are heightened due to pregnancy or if I'm becoming a wise old sage now that I'm almost 31.

-When you give two girls the day off from work, this is what they do (as well as haul a crib from Babies 'R' Us and hotly engage the management there till you get what you want). Cheap thrills:

-Oreo cookies are among the best inventions of all time.

-When you are pregnant, people offer you way too much unsolicited advice and have strong opinions about the strangest things.

-Too many people don't question things enough like what they put into their body or what they feed their family. Don't you want to know what's in that Oreo?

-Grey is an awesome color for nail polish.

-Sleep and rest are never overrated.

-Any food tastes better when you make it yourself.

-You have a greater appreciation and love for your husband when he offers to carry your heavy purse because your back hurts from carrying around his unborn child.

-God is truly great.

2009-09-15T12:21:00.000-07:00

Oh the Pain

It has begun - the back pain that is. I've put on 22lbs so far during pregnancy and it is all belly. This whole weight distrobution thing is seriously throwing me off. When I walk, sit, sleep and relax. Baby kicks like mad which is a great thing. He also likes to rest on my spine. I bought a pair of uber comfy shoes so hopefully that will help. I feel like there are still miles to go. It seems like my due date is forever away so I better learn to deal with it.

2009-08-28T12:14:00.000-07:00

Potluck

Last week Jeff and I were thrilled that our cat, Angus, came home to us after seven weeks of being "on the run." We had only been living in our house for a month when the booger snuck out the back door to check out the neighborhood. We couldn't reign him in and after a month of him being gone, we were just resigned to the fact that he, being an outdoor cat from the beginning, just didn't want to live with us anymore. Well, we think his stomach got the best of him and last Saturday night we saw him in our bushes, lured him out with food and propped the back door open and waited. He walked right in the house and up the back stairs like nothing ever happened. He's been a bit timid this week getting back in the swing of things. He lost at least 5lbs while out. But his coat is thick and really soft now. Hopefully he got his adventurous streak out and will be a committed house cat from here on out.

...............................................................

I keep saying that my world now revolves around food, and it is true. I've always loved sweets and feel my appetite isn't completely satiated until I have a sweet for desert to conclude my meal. Well, now that I'm pregnant, my sweet tooth is kicked into hyper drive. Below is some of the best ice cream I've had in a long time. A peppermint ice cream sandwich at the Iowa State Fair. Oreo cookie crust and as big as your fist. It was to die for!

2009-08-19T15:32:00.000-07:00

Fair Time!

That time of year again and we braved the Iowa State Fair on a Sunday afternoon that started as a cloudy day - which was wonderful and the perfect temperature and ended up being steaming hot by the time we left.

Since food is what is driving me lately, I really wanted to experience all the terrible-for-me food that the Fair has to offer. We started out on the right foot and went immediately to a new booth. Tom Thumb Donuts. Here is Jeff demonstrating. They were divine, warm and sugary pieces of heaven. We had our usual cajun chicken on a stick and threw in a trip to the Bauder's Pharmacy ice cream stand. For those of you in the Des Moines area, I highly recommend you make the trip to Bauder's. Their homemade ice cream reminds you of being a kid and is fantastic.

We saw some interesting things like this bear show and a local band play.

But the people watching this year was great. As always, it was second to none. We saw all sorts of people. As my grandma would've said, "It takes all sorts of people to make the world go 'round." And she was right, but boy is it fun to observe them. Check out this lady. She loves tie dye so much that she purchased tie dye earrings.

And I couldn't resist snapping a picture of this mullet. We're always on the watch for a good mullet. And I should note, that his shirt sleeves were not torn off. He purchased it like that - sleeves made to look frayed. I couldn't get over how many people we saw with no teeth. No joke. Most of them were smoking, too. I don't know if there is a connection there or not.

One thing we can always count on: the Iowa State Fair is always interesting.

2009-08-11T08:17:00.000-07:00

Never Say Never

I am officially a big pregnant lady. My "innie" belly button is now an "outtie." I never thought I would see the inside of that elusive body part. This got me thinking about the things that I never thought would happen in my life. Like the fact that growing up, I said I would never have kids of my own. "Life is too fun to be tied down w/kids." Here are some other things I never thought would come to fruition:

1. I never thought I'd like mustard - until I went to college and couldn't get enough of the stuff.

2. I never thought I'd buy an old house - I thought my dad would design my dream house. (which he still may, you never know - I may be holding the winning lottery ticket)

3. I never thought my parents would move away from me and my brother, but that we'd move far away from them.

4. I never thought I'd enjoy talk radio. It was for old people, but I guess I'm old now.

5. I never thought I'd be a Republican (albeit a liberal Republican). My friends and family are still baffled by that one.

Funny how life changes. Just goes to show you, never say never.

Just for fun, here is a picture from last night of Bobby Love laying on the couch with me. His head is propped on my calf. He didn't want to miss out on any action.

2009-08-03T16:14:00.000-07:00

Everything in Bloom

I finally decided to cut some flowers this evening from our fabulous garden. Many of the flowers are already out of season but I was able to cut these beauties: some dahlias, roses, and sprigs of purple butterfly flowers. We have tons of purple cone flowers that I just love, but they're so big and look best left in the garden. I can't wait till next spring. I'm planting a ton of tulips this fall and hope they look good. I also got some interesting seeds from Monticello when we were in Virginia. I'll plant them in the spring. They're straight of Jefferson's farm and I hope they deliver, too. By the way, that is Pepper laying next to the flowers. She's on our rolling butcher block. I had to make a slip cover for it because the cats laid on it so much and scratched it up. Right outside the window is the bird feeder so this is their new favorite spot.

In other news: below is the newest member of our family, Bobby Love Cat. We adopted him this weekend from the ARL. We're still hoping Angus comes home but we couldn't resist Bobbby. When you come over and meet him, you'll see why Love is his middle name. He just can't get enough of people. He's missing part of his ear and had to have a tooth removed but he's such a baby. We love him already!

2009-07-30T13:10:00.000-07:00

The Things That Make Me Laugh

I saw this hilarious mock-up shirt on cuteoverload.com today. I laughed out loud.

It's a spoof on the inset 3 wolves howling at the moon shirt that was hilariously reviewed on Amazon.com. What makes it really funny to me is that the shirt is also spoofing a YouTube video of a cat playing the keyboard after strange/funny mishaps. It makes absolutely no sense but I think it is just about the funniest thing. Yeah, my sense of humor is weird.

2009-07-28T11:07:00.000-07:00

Home Ownership

We've been living in our new house for two months now. We love our 146 year-old house and have yet to see any ghosts. We are finding out the hard way that this house will truly be a labor of love. One small alteration or adjustment can potentially create hours of work in an old house. Take putting up a ceiling fan. We got a beautiful, contemporary new fan for our bedroom to replace the flowered 1970s fan. But when Jeff took the old fan down and put the new one up, there were extra wires and the switches don't work the traditional way. The fan went up and down several times in every possible wiring combination and the fan works, but not with the lights on. So I guess it is time to call in an expert. Jeff is so good with fixing things around the house that I doubt we'll have to make too many phone calls.

We're still putting things in their proper place and hauling things to the attic, but things are falling into place. We did find out the hard way that our first floor shower is leaking into the wall and down to the basement so we'll have to tear a wall out to fix it. All the fixtures in that bathroom are pink and I really hate that pink shower. We just hadn't anticipated remodeling the bathroom for another year. Such is the life of a homeowner, I guess.

Here are some house pictures:

This is our front staircase view when you walk in the front door.

This is the back staircase leading to the back door. We just tore the awful flowered wallpaper off, and the walls look filmy because the paper didn't fully come off. Never wallpaper!!!

This is our second fireplace, in the dining room. This one is fully functional - unlike the fireplace in our living room.

This is our front door from the front stairway. Notice the flowered light fixture. It matched the ceiling fan in our bedroom. Jeff has replaced the light with a great looking Mission-style bowl fixture.

And this is the lovely garden. I don't have to do much to it. It's full of roses, lilies and purple cone flowers.

2009-07-22T13:31:00.000-07:00

Baby Anderson

It's a boy! We found out the good news yesterday. Knowing the gender of our bundle of joy helps put an identity to him. Now we can start on the nursery and looking for certain baby things.

We were able to have a 4-D ultrasound which just blew us away. Baby Anderson was moving like crazy, but we were able to capture a yawn and see him stick his tongue out. It was great. Technology is amazing. I couldn't beleive the clarity and detail we were able to see on the ultrasound. The chambers of the heart pumping, the little spine and kidneys. By all accounts, we have a very healthy boy on our hands. What a blessing.

Here is a picture of the little guy and he may look like a little blob - he's our little blob. He's got his hand up to his face.

2009-07-08T13:52:00.000-07:00

Let the Foodfest Begin

The Iowa State Fair announced the new foods that will be featured on a stick this year in August. The foods on a stick are big deal at the Fair and its safe to say that is what the Iowa State Fair is known for. They put everything on a stick and usually, it is repulsive. They have salad on a stick, deep fried Twinkies and pork chops to name a few things. Well, the new foods this year sounds SO good. Frozen s'mores, marshmallows dipped in chocolate and chocolate and peanut butter rounds. Just the mention of chocolate perks me up but these are items that will definitely be on my menu this year. That and the Pickle Dawg. My co-worker told me about the Fair food. It's a whole pickle, wrapped in cream cheese and then wrapped in ham/corned beef. Just like those little appetizers you eat at cookouts. I must find it. And yes, it is also safe to say that my pregnant lady cravings are officially out of control.

2009-07-01T13:32:00.000-07:00

Oh the Frustration

During pregnancy, it seems that everything is heightened. My fuse is shorter, I have a super-human sense of smell, when I get tired it is like a huge wave coming over me, when I sleep I'm completely out for the count. Monday night was a perfect example of these pregnancy frustrations.

Jeff and I went to Grey's Lake to walk after work and I only made it one lap before I was too tired. We headed home to make dinner: Swedish pancakes. I had been craving this for a week and was really looking forward to it. Well, I couldn't get the pancakes to cook. They kept turning out to be an unedible, gooey mess. So I scrapped them and made a second batch. Same thing. By this time it was 7pm. I was tired, EXTREMELY hungry and grouchy. We have barely anything else in the fridge. I settle on some soup because I'm ready to eat Jeff's arm off and we have some in the cupboard. It's 82 degrees out and I have soup. Jeff settles on cheese and crackers. As he's carrying his cheese into the other room, he spills crumbs on the floor and bends over to clean them up, setting his bowl 'o' cheese on the floor momentarily. This is the moment that our cat, Pepper, has been waiting for. She silently swoops in and procedes to lick all the cheese while we don't notice. At this point, we just have to laugh. Jeff got himself some new cheese and I had my soup and was roasting the rest of the night but at least we ate.

2009-06-23T09:37:00.000-07:00

Smart Money

I just read this article today on MSNBC. It was written from the perspective of showing sympathy for all those poor victims who have credit card debt and casting a terrible shadow on the big, mean credit card companies. It was the opposite effect for me, though. I have close to zero in sympathy for people who knowingly buy things beyond their means. Yes, credit card companies are buckling down and raising rates right now. They make money off people and their spending habits - that's their job. Too many people make stupid decisions and buy things to make them feel better with a carefree attitude that they deserve it and they'll just pay it off later. Well, later becomes stressful as 20% interest rates creep up. Life is full of decisions and most people know what is right and wrong so GIMME A BREAK!

No one ever taught me about debt or credit cards. I learned it on my own and from my husband and boy am I glad I took the time to learn. I fell into the trap that most college kids are familiar with: sign up for a credit card at the Student Union and instantly get a free shirt, water bottle, whatever! It's free money right at your finger tips. Yeah, I opened cards even if I didn't use them for the free stuff and it was cool to do something grown up like that. I opened cards at stores to get immediate discounts on clothes. I had several cards in my name with no balance that I simply forgot about. Well, Jeff reminded me and when we got married, he made me clean up OUR credit by talking to all these card companies and closing accounts. We made a commitment to pay off all our cards in an effort to live debt free and be able to afford to buy a great house and get a great loan for that house. I think we've done a great job and now have outstanding credit, one credit card for emergencies only. And you better believe we're going to teach our kid about debt.

Fifty years ago it was embarassing and disgraceful to have debt, but today it is commonplace. What's with this country?

2009-05-28T11:08:00.000-07:00

The In-Between Time

I'm talking about maternity clothes. Last week I shopped for some clothes to get me through the hot months of summer as I grow to the size of a boat carrying Baby Anderson. I was so disappointed in the maternity wear selection out there. No one wants to spend an arm and a leg on clothing they'll only wear a few months, but I don't want to buy something that will make me look awful or that I won't feel good in. Such a dilmea. I ended up buying a little black dress with empire waist in the regular dress area and a shirt one size larger. It was slim pickings and right now I'm utilizing safety pins for my pants and shorts. Elastic is my friend. I plan on sewing some things once we get moved into our new house. I just can't believe that maternity clothes can be so ugly and so expensive. Thanksfully, baggy shirt and empire waists are in style right. I can wear regular clothes longer.

2009-05-20T13:10:00.000-07:00

Overdoing It

I love to exorcise, being outdoors and just being active. I play a lot of racquetball and love that it is so fast-paced. The last three months have been really hard for me being pregnant. I've found that I just don't have the energy I'm used to. I'm frequently tired and climbing the stairs will wind me sometimes. I'm hoping that since I'm getting into my second trimester that my energy level will pick back up. That is what many women have told me about the second trimester, at least.

Last night I was feeling good and knew I needed some exorcise so I decided to help Jeff out, who was working late, by mowing our small lawn. We have an awesome walking mower with a auto-drive handle you can push if you don't want to force the mower up hills. I used it a lot last night and after the 40 minutes of mowing, I was dead tired. So tired that I went up to bed at 8pm. (I didn't actually go to sleep till 9:30, so I'm not a total geezer). Tonight I'll attempt a neighborhood walk. The weather is too nice to stay cooped up inside. Hopefully I'll stay awake till 10pm.

2009-05-14T13:32:00.000-07:00

To Sleep To Dream

I'm a gal who needs a minimum of eight hours of sleep per night. I never pulled an all-nighter in college, was always one of the first ones to fall asleep at slumber parties and I really enjoy an afternoon nap.

A few weeks ago as the Iowa Legislature was wrapping up the session on a Friday and Saturday night, I was stuck at my office in the Capitol until the fall of the gavel. Well, Friday night business didn't break until 2am and everyone was called back at 10am on Saturday and continued until 6am on Sunday. I had the worst sleep of my life (coupled with terrible morning sickness) as I caught some shut-eye leaning over my desk and finally gave up and slept on the floor under my desk. I was so tired I got a good four hours in with my computer bag as my pillow. I think I passed out from exhaustion.

Things are better for me now, but this little baby is sucking me dry. I'm so tired most days. I had to leave work early yesterday because I just couldn't keep my eyes open. I'm sleeping slightly later now, hoping the extra half hour will give me a tiny energy boost during the day. I hear it gets a little better and then gets worse. Oh the fun this is!!!

2009-05-12T12:01:00.000-07:00

Sorely Neglected

This poor blog has been neglected long enough. It is time for an overhaul and as you can see, it looks different and from here on out, the content will be a little different. Seeing as the Anderson clan is quickly growing, you'll be hearing a bit (not too much, don't worry) about pregnancy and babies. So brace yourself for cheesy pictures and rants about how great salt and vinegar chips are. And they are pretty darn great.
Here we go! The Andersons Part II.

2009-02-16T18:41:00.001-08:00

Do You Want to Grow Up to be President?

Over the last few months and through the crazy elections, I got to thinking. Why would anyone want to be President of the USA? And don't say, "To make the world a better place." That is bull. I really think you have to have a deficiency if you want to be the leader of the free world. Why put your family through the scrutiny? The headaches? The invasion of privacy alone would drive me mad. To be a politician you have to have a healthy ego. Nothing wrong with that but to have this altruistic view of changing the world or making it a better place is such a limited view. I guess I'm cynical since I work in politics. I guess someone has to do it.

2009-01-13T19:03:00.001-08:00

Seriously

No more snow! Four inches tonight on top of about four inches of snow and ice pack from this weekend and Monday morning. Below zero today and tomorrow and winter has just begun. I wish humans hibernated.

2008-12-22T11:01:00.000-08:00

Iowa's Capitol

Working at the Capitol in Des Moines is pretty darn cool. The building is nearly 100 years old and so steeped in history that it oozes pomp and circumstance. There are gold statues, well-articulated murals, golf leaf inspirational sayings and huge windows to take in the amazing scenery of Des Moines, sitting in the valley below. I try to imagine what the city looked liked all those decades ago and it is hard to imagine dirt roads, shoddy bridges and clapboard, whitewashed houses dotting the landscape.

Because of the great position of the Capitol, I was able to get a good view of all the flooding in Des Moines this summer. It is also a great place to see the snow fall. The building will soon get very busy with the 83rd General Assembly convening in January and the population inside the building will triple, but it only adds to the exciting atmophere. Coming to work under the Golden Dome everyday is a great experience.

2008-11-17T12:10:00.000-08:00

The Season Has Begun

Christmas shopping season officialy began at midnight on November 1 and at only 17 days into the month, shoppers have plenty of time to get the latest "it" item. Why then, are so many people franticly frequenting every conceivable shopping area? Either shoppers have become more annoying than ever or I'm becoming a Scrooge. (maybe both) Jeff and I ran our regular errands this weekend and there were twice as many people everywhere we went. Twice as much traffic, twice as many cars with terrible drivers. When you live in a semi-rural state, the country-dwellers are bound to come to the city some time. I'm sure Christmas shopping is the perfect reason to come to the city. And, granted, city driving takes some getting used to if you have never done it before. It really grates on my nerves, though. I am going to do my shopping online or over my lunch hour. I can't let those crazy shoppers get to me!

2008-10-30T07:40:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-20T11:51:00.000-07:00

Chili Time

That time of year again. The leaves have turned color and the wind picked up. Even with the sun shining, it is still brisk outside. Fall is fantastic. I especially love this time of year because it means tailgating, wearing fuzzy socks to bed and making lots of chili. Last night Jeff made his famous chili. Famous because everyone knows that his chili is the spiciest around. He's won contests. So spicy it will make you sweat. You can't eat it without also drinking milk to cool your tastebuds. He always makes a tamer version for me since I can't handle the constant burning sensation in my mouth and throat. I could only handle one bowl last night and I even picked out all the jalepenos w/seeds he threw in. It tastes so good going down but will keep you up at night. I love Fall.

2008-09-24T11:43:00.000-07:00

Batter Up!

I have been lucky enough to participate in something awesome happening in Des Moines. The Miracle League baseball field is going up right across the street from Principal Park just South of downtown Des Moines. As a member of the 2007-2008 Des Moines Leadership Institute, we decided to partner with the Des Moines Kiwanis Club to build the field. Well, this week the ball field is opening. There is still a lot of work to be done to make the field absolutely perfect, but it will be ready for it's first game on Sunday.

For those not familiar with the concept, Miracle League fields are going up all across the country. The fields are made of special materials that make it possible for handicapped kids to easily get around them. No bumps and the bases are flat so wheelchairs can easily roll around. Being part of this project has been great and I can't wait to see kids playing ball there.

Baseball is just about the greatest sport ever and everyone should have a chance to play and just be a kid. Check out the web site for our progress on the project: http://www.kiwanismiracleleague.org/

2008-09-15T13:16:00.000-07:00

Will there ever be a viable third party?
My favorite Presidential candidate, Ron Paul thinks so. Click here to read.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/10/paul.endorsement/?iref=mpstoryview
When every politician belief is only a slight veriation on each from each other and you can only tell them apart from the suits they wear, you start to wonder about the System and were this country is really heading.

2008-09-08T17:38:00.000-07:00

Cubs Fix

We got it Labor Day weekend as we saw three games of a four game series, Cubs v Phillies. They won two and lost one while we were there. I even got to experience the bleachers on a very hot day with SPF 50 and too many Old Styles. Ahhh to be at Wrigley Field in the summer.

2008-09-08T17:16:00.000-07:00

Back to Nature

Jeff and I had a great afternoon yesterday. We decided to pack a picnic lunch and head West to the Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge (http://www.tallgrass.org/) in Prairie City. We walked the two mile loop of prairie land (got scared by a snake) and then took the driving tour and saw some buffalo. We'd hoped to see some elk, but they were all hiding. They have a great learning center and gift shop at the Refuge. Of course it's geared toward little kids, but I still enjoyed it. We found a great book about hiking all around Iowa and have made a personal commitment to hike all the trails in the state. We hit up Ledges State Park in Boone a few weeks ago so we're two down and a lot to go!

2008-08-12T17:30:00.000-07:00

It's That Time of Year Again!

Mullets and carnies and Crocs - oh my! The Iowa State Fair is taking place right now and Jeff and I had the good fortune of attending yet again. As most everyone knows, I don't enjoy the Iowa State Fair. I go because I love my husband he likes to go. What I do enjoy doing is finding the rareties in life. Oddities or quirks, if you will. I like pointing them out and marveling in their obsurdity. The Iowa State Fair, arguably the biggest and best in the country, is the place to find the obsurd. Last year Jeff and I were able to find many, many specimens. Every year we go to the Fair, I choose a subject and snap away on my digital camera. Last year it was people who were using motorized wheelchairs who clearly didn't need them. I was amazed at the people who would walk beside their little Hoverround and then have a seat in it like they were walking their dog.

This year, my subject was mullets and serious fashion faux pas. Something you usually see a lot of at the State Fair, but I have to admit that I was a little disappointed in you, Iowa. There weren't nearly enough mullets and apparently everyone is catching up on their fashion sensibilities like it was 2000 instead of 1997. Who'd have thunk it!?

This guy in the yellow shirt had his mullet permed and his shirt read, "Keep drinking till I look better."

This balding man has what I would call a skullet.

Mmmmm, hardboiled eggs on a stick with some Lawry's Seasoned Salt for an added pinch of flavor. Um, yum?

I didn't even want to know what those really were. Thank you, Diane, for bringing them to my attention.

You know you want to buy one.......

And we'll end on a high note. Yee haw!

2008-08-11T11:42:00.000-07:00

Let's Hear it for Public Transportation

I rode the bus to work this morning for the first time in a very long time. When I lived in an apartment in West Des Moines, the bus would stop at my complex since there were 3 other complexes with morning commuters. I took it several times and would have Jeff pick me up after work. Since we moved closer to downtown, I haven't bothered with the bus. It only takes me eight minutes to get to work. But recently, Des Moines Area Transit has been promoting a program encouraging people to rest their cars. They started a trolley/shuttle service that is free and runs every 10 minutes around the heart of downtown. I love it because the little trolley swings right around the Capitol and I take it to meet friends downtown for lunch. And anyone who has parked downtown for lunch knows that it is a pain in the behind. A convenient trolley that is also pretty quick is painless. I love it. Well, the State of Iowa worked out a deal with DART so all of their employees can ride all the busses for free on weekdays. The nearest DART stop is only four blocks from my house. How could I pass that up?! Yes, it is a bit inconvenient in the fact that it is slow and doesn't drop me off right in front of my house. But extending that $40 of gas I just put in my car is so worth taking the bus.

2008-07-29T10:49:00.000-07:00

If I Could Rule the World..........

.....What kind of ruler would I be? A kind and gentle leader, intent on advancing my people through knowledge? Maybe a ruthless dictator who crushes others with the click of a button? Maybe both! I have had the wonderful fortune of re-discovering the game that is Civilization. I played as a kid on our computer and this is a glimpse at what it looked like as I built up cities, armies, people and plotted strategy on how to rule the world.

Now the game has become high tech with all sorts of cool graphics and options. You can play as different historic world leaders like Catherine the Great, Abe Lincoln, Chaka Zulu. We found a demo of this new game (Civilization Revolution, see pic below) on the Playstation 3 the other night and I played it two times for a couple hours. Now, that's time I will never get back, but that's OK, because it was so fun. You're literally the puppet-master of the world and I have to admit - it feels good. Mwhahahaha!

2008-07-07T09:11:00.000-07:00

Get the Lip Out

Jeff and I had a fantastic 4th of July weekend. We had the perfect combination of relaxation, getting things done, and having fun. We attended two music festivals and they were so very different from each other. The first event we went to was the 80/35 Music Festival in downtown Des Moines. We were able to walk to it and heard Andrew Bird and the fantastic Flaming Lips. They played a shorter set than usual, but were still fantastic. Their concert is quite an experience as they make sure the audience gets their money's worth. They have lots of audience participation and encourage people to dress in costume. They shower the crowd with confetti and balloons and even break out a huge, human hamster ball that their lead singer crawls into to crowd surf. It's quite a circus that's worth witnessing. On Friday, they had audience members dress as Tellitubbies and come on stage as well as some naked women covered in body paint.

The second festival we went to was on Saturday at the Indianola Balloon Field. Lazerfest was different to say the least. Jeff and I were totally out of place. The doors to this event opened at 9am and we got there at 7pm. And I think they had free shuttles to and from all the local trailer parks; the people there were creepy. And the place was seriously trashed - we couldn't walk one foot without stepping on garbage. We spotted one trash can. I'm assuming they didn't have many cans because the audience might get rowdy and throw them at each other. There were not a lot of teeth and plenty of mullets. I was particularly fascinated by the two tattoo booths situated close to the stage. As the ground shook from the loud music, I'm sure people getting tattoos had great results......We saw Stone Temple Pilots and they were great. I had forgotten how good they were. Even though they haven't made any new music in ten years, they were great.

And just for the heck of it, here is a great song by the Flaming Lips:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tRXO9Q8LkY

2008-05-09T13:37:00.000-07:00

Populating the Earth

Today, the Duggar family announced they will be having their 18th child in 9 months. If you haven't heard of this family, look them up. They live in Arkansas and feel compelled to pop out kids as long as God calls them to do so. Now, I'm all about freedoms in this wonderful country, but I think this is just wrong. It would be different if it was 1850 and the parents ran a large farm operation and needed the field help. But it isn't. They have every right to have these children, but I think it is completely unfair to these kids to mass procreate. There are so many children in this family that they are raising each other rather than their parents raising them. Privacy and individuality are out the window in their family. Small, special things are overlooked for the betterment of the whole clan.

This family seems to live comfortably and well within their means. They have a large, comfortable house and don't seem to depend on government programs to get by. All too often, people abuse the system or others' good nature in order to get by. I hope these kids grow up to thrive in the real world.

And one last thought: after having all those pups, wouldn't your lady-parts be all sorts of outta whack?! Seriously, do something for yourself lady and take a breather. She's been pregnant for 11 years of her life. Stop the insanity!!!

2008-03-10T08:30:00.000-07:00

Peep Show!

I got this picture from a co-worker and thought it was funny.

2008-03-03T14:00:00.000-08:00

Baconfest a Success

That's right, Jeff and I attended the first annual Baconfest this weekend at El Bait Shop in Des Moines. A whole afternoon full of all the bacon you can eat, cheap Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer and a seven course meal of bacon-inspired foods. There were some pretty fantastic dishes including candied bacon. There were also some pretty disgusting foods like bacon cheesecake.

A good time was had by all, as you can see from the pictures below. Props to Manni as he was the winner of the bacon eating contest. He scarfed down 3lbs of bacon in 5 minutes. He is now looked up to by everyone of the male persuassion in Iowa. Oh, and thanks to Seth for the pictures.

2008-01-03T14:25:00.000-08:00

Iowa Has a Huge Caucus

OK, so we won't know if the above statement is true until later this evening, but the Iowa Caucuses are a pretty big deal. Iowans have been innundated with radio, TV and newspaper ads for months. I could recite them for you by heart. We're pretty darn sick of it all and this is just the beginning point for the presidency! But since Iowa is first in the nation to caucus, that means big things for us here. A big boost to our economy, lost of celebrities here from Chuck Norris to Oprah and lots of great conversation.

I will be caucussing for the first time this evening, (For Ron Paul, thank you) and I'm sure it'll be a bit of a let-down. It is, however, my civic duty to participate! The Republicans caucus differently than the Democrats do. It's a straw poll vote where as the Dems stand in a room and negotiate on a site winner with everyone else at the polling site.

I will be glad when the frenzy is over. My office is located in the Hotel Ft. Des Moines and Camp Hillary has set up shop here. Ole Bill Clinton was in the lobby this morning with throngs of media behind him. In fact, all the major media outlets are here and you have to practically step over their equipment to get to the ladies room.
One thing is certain: Iowa sure is interesting right now.

2007-12-17T12:02:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Tis the season. Are you celebrating our Savior's birth? Are you truly celebrating or are you giving gifts because it's the thing to do? Think about what you're giving and what you're recieving today.

What would Jesus buy?

2007-10-26T07:19:00.001-07:00

Cool Websites

I have found two new websites that are pretty cool. The first is www.cuteoverload.com. This site proves that I am not only a big geek but a softy. I could spend hours looking at all the furry woodland creatures on display here. Something about tiny bunnies and cats in funny positions just makes me giggle.

The second site is www.popularitydialer.com. Where was this site when I was on some pretty bad dates back in the day? You can go to the site and set up fake phone calls at any time you want. If you know your date will be lame, set up an inportant call to get out of it. They have different scenarios to choose from so it isn't just for daters. You can have work calls to get out of meetings or just "make yourself feel popular" calls.

2007-10-22T13:03:00.000-07:00

Our Newest Neighbors!

Yesterday morning Jeff and I woke up to find two big woodchucks digging up all the nuts that the squirrels had burried in our back yard. We dutifully named the pair Wallace and Wilma. They hung around all day eating and snuck away sometime late in the afternoon. We thought about domesticating them, but realized that the three furry beasts we already have are handful enough.

2007-08-30T10:11:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again! State Fair time. Actually, the Iowa State Fair ended a week ago, but as you can see, I've been delinquent on my posts.

Prompted by a college friend in California, this year, I took pictures of people in motorized scooters who don't really need them. I feel that this is proof that Americans are becoming more and more lazy.

This lady got up from her scooter so this lady could get on.

This is a scooter convention and I think these people really need them.

And finally, I leave you with this fashion delight. If you were to see the front of this shirt, you'd see an Indian maiden holding a wolf. Gotta love the Fair!

2007-08-07T08:37:00.000-07:00

Today's Forecast

PM T-Storms
High89°F Precip40%
Wind:WSW 5 mph
Max. Humidity:71%
UV Index: 8 Very High
Sunrise:6:15 AM CT
Avg. High: 85°F
Record High:100°F (1988)
Isolated T-Storms
Overnight Low72°F Precip30%
Wind:ESE 6 mph
Max. Humidity: 81%

Seriously, it's like a rain forest outside. I can't wait for fall to get here.

2007-08-03T12:49:00.000-07:00

Lord help us! Kirsten has a web cam!!!!!!!!

2007-07-31T13:26:00.000-07:00

How can you not love this face? How about when he yowls like coyote at 5am because he simply wants to go outside.....or when he fights with another beastly cat in the middle of the night while laying on you in bed.......what about when he sprays inside the house just to get attention......ugh.

2007-07-25T14:09:00.000-07:00

Are You Hot Enough?
The local weekly "alternative" newspaper in Des Moines is having a contest: vote on the hottest male and female in the Metro Area. Seriously. What a joke.
http://www.dmjuice.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070718/JUICE08/70717030
I can't figure out if the paper wants to improve Des Moines' image or if the readers are that stupid that they only care about pictures of people at bars and what the latest lunch special is around town. Can we get some real articles on real issues in Iowa please?

2007-07-17T10:03:00.000-07:00

Boredom

From Wikipedia:

Boredom is a condition
characterized by perception of one's environment as dull, tedious, and lacking in stimulation. This can result from leisure and a lack of aesthetic interests. Labor, however, and even art may be alienated and passive, or immersed in tedium (see Marxism); however, boredom must be distinguished from squalor, in which tedium, though present, is overshadowed by suffering. There is an inherent anxiety in boredom; people will expend considerable effort to prevent or remedy it, yet in many circumstances, it is accepted as suffering to be endured. Common passive
ways to escape boredom are to sleep or to think creative thoughts (daydream). Typical active solutions consist in an intentional activity of some sort, often something new, as familiarity and repetition lead to the tedious.

This would be my mood right about now for this entire summer. I've even caught up on all the happenings is my old favorite soap opera, All My Children, on www.abc.com. And I haven't missed a thing! Even the characters are all alive and kicking. Their children have gone from toddlers to grown ups in the span of 4 years, though. (only in soap operas, right?) And they are all still making boat loads of cash by doing nothing. Pretty sweet, huh? I need some life purpose in and out of work. *Yawn* I better get back to surfing the web and babysitting my phone.....

2007-07-10T12:49:00.000-07:00

So Clever!

Jeff and I have been shopping for houses. We put in an offer for a great house with a big lot backing onto a creek. We didn't get it, and since then, the owner brought their price down. We're not interested anymore. We're realizing all the potential problems with the place and it's turned us off. The last few weeks, I've learned so much about houses: the good, the bad and the ugly. We went through some real dumps with our realtor. The door knob even fell off of one house as we left. It really is a buyers market right now, but in Des Moines, we're not really happy with what we're seeing. There's a very obvious cut-off in quality in the 100k-200k range compared to the 200k-300k range houses. I thought for sure we'd quickly find a great little fixer-upper with nice yard and loads of potential. Not the case. A bit disappointing to say the least. Being picky is good when it comes to purchasing a home so we won't rush things and I know the right house is out there for us.

I found a really encouraging house story today on the internet. A couple in Blencoe, Iowa, is selling their house for a mere $5.00 and a 200 word essay. Too bad Blencoe is nowhere near Des Moines. They simply ask that you submit your essay on why the house would be a blessing to you with the $5 fee. They'll even pay the closing costs! It's a pretty cute house, too. What a great thing to do.

2007-07-04T04:22:00.001-07:00

Sleep deprivation sucks. Enough said.

2007-06-19T07:00:00.001-07:00

Ben Folds Rox My Sox Off!

Last night Jeff and I went to Wells Fargo Arena and saw Ben Folds open for John Mayer. Now I've seen Ben Folds in a much smaller, intimate and fantastic venue in Lawrence, KS. He completely rocked the house playing for two hours. Last night he played for not quite an hour. Yes, he was the opening act and he still wowed the crowd, leading them in acapella renditions of his songs and singing an original tune about Iowa - that he made up that day. He played the synthasizer like it was a new-age tool that belonged in todays music world. It was simply great.
Then John Mayer took to the stage. One word: BORING. Mayer is an extremely gifted guitarist that is obviously trying to branch out from the pop world. But you can only hear the same blues riff so many times in one show. It was just so canned. http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070619/ENT04/706190393/1046/ENT I really hope Ben Folds comes to the area again soon - and that he is by himself. Maybe then he'll play "Bitches Ain't Shit" - his cover of the Dr. Dre rap song. If you haven't heard it, look it up on iTunes. You'll laugh your patooty off.

2007-06-18T11:41:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, I love useless information. It makes me sound either really clever or really crazy at parties. I get daily e-mails of useless info and here is the info from today's message. I think I will start using some of these words.

REAL (BUT OBSOLETE) WORDS
Hobberdehoy: A youth entering manhood
Collieshangie: A noisy or confused fight
Twiddlepoop: An effeminate-looking man
Bridelope: When a new bride is physically swept off via horseback and taken to her husband’s home
Xystus: An indoor porch for exercising in winter
Jumentous: Having a strong animal smell
Wem: A stain, flaw, or scar

2007-06-15T09:48:00.000-07:00

World Traveling

My parents are in Italy right now. Dad is speaking at a convention in Malta next week so they decided to jet off to the birthplace of democracy, pizza and high fashion. They're currently in Rome and they called me from their computer. This got me thinking about how amazing technology is. Think about what a trip to Europe would've been like 50 years ago. No cell phones, computers, digital cameras. It would also mean fewer distractions and probably more relaxation. Today, I can go to Africa on my computer. You can even hunt wild game in real-time by clicking your mouse(www.live-shot.com). Crazy!

Nothing is as good as seeing and experiencing the real thing, but I'm thankful for having all the technilogical advances that come with a developed society. I went to Spain and still logged on to the web to e-mail to everyone what I was seeing and experiencing. A more novel thing to do would've been send a postcard, but that's too slow! We want things instantly, darnit. I've become better at seperating work from vacation and not checking my work e-mail when I'm not in the office. But the next time I travel, I don't think I could give up the technology so expect an e-mail from me the next time I go on vacation.

2007-06-13T12:36:00.000-07:00

What a crazy two weeks we've had here. I was in Chicago, Clermont, IA, and back to the DsM. I took a little girly vacation during the week to see my BFF, Paige and her sis Meredith in Chicago. We had some R & R, went to the beach, ate copious amounts of refried bean nachos, and had our favorite sangria at Cafe BeBop-a-Reeba. Ok, the cafe is really called Be Ba Reeba and it is in the Lincoln Park area. But saying it the other way is more fun.

Here we are with the Blues Brothers; me at the beach - even though it was pretty cold; All of us giving ourselves a "professional" mask.

I ended up coming home from Chicago early because our house got robbed. The guy was so sneaky, that Jeff didn't even notice until the next day. He cut our screen and headed in through the window. He only took some of Jeff's clothes, his baseball cards and a watch. Luckily we got it all back because the jerk was caught. He was on the Des Moines 10 Most Wanted list, so hopefully he'll be off the streets. He hit the whole neighborhood and our neighbor had his credit cards stollen and then used, so we were pretty lucky. I can't shake the uneasy feeling of invasion in our house. As though someone is watching us or waiting till we're sleeping to rob from us again or hurt us. It's very creepy.

This weekend we headed up to Clermont, IA for our friend's wedding. Mike and Nickie has a beautiful wedding and that part of the state is just gorgeous with the rolling hills and lush countryside. A good time was had by all. I won't post some of the pictures because they could incriminate some. But here is the happy couple.

2007-05-24T18:56:00.000-07:00

Kirsten loves the WWE. Don't let her previous post fool any of you.