Favorite Things IV

Youtube gives us The Hoff. This music video makes me laugh every time. Without fail. See how many strange things you can spot in one go. An unrelated video that I like is baby panda. I reacted just like the mother the first time. And of course this kid.

A Cake wreck is "any cake that is unintentionally sad, silly, creepy, inappropriate - you name it. A Wreck is not necessarily a poorly-made cake; it's simply one I find funny, for any of a number of reasons." And the commentary isn't half bad either. And I'm so glad / relieved that our wedding cake didn't turn out like this:

(here)

There are lots of cakes like this:

(here)

Really, just explore the fan favorites and classics on the right. You can thank me later because there will be much laughter. This one was made for a baby shower:

How can you cut into and eat that?!

This is the cake that started it all:

(here)

"...And underneath that, write 'We will miss you'. Got it?"

Oh yeah, they got it.

Oh, and they are not all cake wrecks. On Sunday the cakes are "sweets" or amazing cakes that defy words:

And yes that R2D2 is a life size cake:

(here)

Y'know, just doing my civic duty providing valuable time wasters.

Song 1

I have so many songs that are associated with memories of specific people.

When ever I hear the Foo Fighters "Learn to Fly" I think of my brother J and his friend A. I think of our old neighbors whenever I hear The Proclaimers "500 miles." Ace of Base "I Saw the Sign" makes me think of A's fourth grade birthday party because we sang that song a million times. And "All Star" by SmashMouth makes me think of being in the tepee and playing Tabloid Teasers with the N.O. cousins.

Every time I hear "Jessie's Girl" by Rick Springfield I think of T.



Freshman year T, P, and I went on a road trip (our first of many together) from Southern California to Utah over President's Day / Valentine's Day weekend. We were in T's little white hatchback. We taught P how to drive a stick shift. Okay, we didn't so much teach him. It was more of a "it's your turn to drive - it'll be fine, it's mostly freeway" kind of thing.

T actually had a pretty good sound system in that little car and we listened to his ipod the whole way. During this trip we found out that "Jessie's Girl" was on T's Top 25 Most Played list. T claimed that he had no idea how it got on his top 25. We made a lot of jokes about it - was T Jessie? Or the guy singing the song? And who exactly was the girl?

It was a running joke for the freshman family all freshman year. I mentioned it pretty much every time I wrote to T while he was in South America (I only wrote him about 8 times in two years - but it's okay because we weren't dating then). I teased him about it when he came back from South America.

I don't tease him about it anymore and "Jessie's Girl" is on my Top 25 Most Played. Every time I hear that song, I giggle and think of T.

Not So Fabulous Friday

I'm not feelin anything fabulous about Southern California this week.

Last night T and I were falling asleep when we heard four gunshots in a quick row.  They were loud and would have woken us up if we were sleeping.  Two minutes later there were all kinds of sirens around our apartment.  T shut and locked the patio door (it's still warm here).  Seven minutes later the ghetto birds (police choppers) were out right above our apartment.  We could hear the choppers very close to our apartment for 15 to 20 minutes. 

It's one of those situations where you want to see what's going on, but you are not going to turn on the lights or look out the window or anything.  We realized that we don't have anything in the house to protect ourselves with except the mace in my purse and the steak knives in the kitchen. 

I had a hard time falling asleep last night.  I'm thinking that we should invest in a baseball bat to keep under the bed...

Tonight I tried to pull into our apartment's garage, but there were teenage boys blocking the key card access point.  I wanted to honk or roll down the window and ask them to leave except I was scared they would shoot me (last night and our not so nice neighborhood make me think things like this).  I went around the block and waited for them to leave so I could get into the garage.

I got into the building and found that someone had roped the door (that you need a card key to open) to the lobby wide open.  This door faces a main street.  It made me feel very unsafe especially considering last night and our not so nice neighborhood.  I tried to undo the rope, but it was wrapped several times with lots of knots and I couldn't get it.  Plus it was getting dark outside and I'm a big scaredy cat.

I told the apartment manager about the door and he said he was the one who had roped it open because the intercom system wasn't working.  I told him that it made me feel very unsafe and he said too bad, it would remain open until the intercom was fixed.  His reasoning was that the door was open because potential residents couldn't get in without the intercom.  Plus he said the open door was fine because he could watch on the surveillence camera to make sure no one got in who wasn't supposed to.

Except the manager's office is on a different floor than the lobby.  And it was 5:30 and the apartment office closes at 6 and it was very unlikely that someone would come in the next half hour.  And the manager's office phone number is listed next to the front door if someone did come.  Couldn't potential residents just call to be let in instead of using the intercom?  Or couldn't he leave the door shut and watch the camera to see if potential residents were trying to get in?  These options sound better to me than just leaving the door wide open so anyone can get in. 

Except the apartment manager didn't think any of my points were valid.  He said if he shut the door he would inconvience a lot of people and the only person the open door was inconviencing was me.

I asked when the intercom system would be fixed.  He said "soon."  I asked if it would be done tonight and he said "soon."  I asked if it would be done tomorrow and he said "soon."  I asked if he would close the door for the night and he said "it will be fixed soon."  Apparently, the apartment manager doesn't feel believe that "safety comes first."

And thus, my friends, Southern California is not so fabulous.

confessions

I want to go to break the fast because I think there will be candy corn there.

I like Gaston better than The Beast.

Sometimes I put almost empty beverages back in the fridge.

I like "Twilight."


These are the kinds of things I feel compelled to whisper to T as we fall asleep.

Fabulous Friday

California has In N Out. That's a very good thing. I think you know what I'm talkin' 'bout. If you don't, you better find out quick. You're missing out. The burgers are delish (and not expensive). Way better than a big, expensive burger you buy at a sit down restaurant. Plus, seeing the size ginormous safety pins on the aprons always makes me smile.

My favorite thing on the (super small) menu is a cheeseburger animal style. There are two In N Outs within five minutes of our house. I know you're jealous. Now that's some good stuff, California.

A Wedding! - Not ours!

I'm sure you're sick of our wedding so here is cousin B's!

The wedding was at the Mesa, Arizona temple.

Shoes. Wedding shoes are very important.

The wedding was at 9 a.m. Which sounds crazy but was actually good. We got pictures done before it was too hot, and we weren't rushed on the 3 hour drive to the city where the reception was.

J looking very natural holding a purse.

Waiting for the couple to come out.

Uncle R, the bride's dad.

cousins K and C (if they only had a baby named F)

Apparently purses were popular with the men at this wedding. They are just like old ladies getting their chat on. Just Kidding! We heart you V and R.

They realize they are caught and try to cover it up with some posing for B's photographer...

The view looking out from the temple.

B's sisters and photographer waiting.

Ta-Da!

Okay, so this isn't such a great photo of B and B, but you can see all the beautiful detailed lace on B's dress.

Everyone following the bride. Sort of. People wrangling is hard work.

T was working it.

The bride's parents.

Looks like B is getting felt up by someone other than the groom...

The drive from the wedding to the reception.

We were behind this RV for a long time. The horses look like a folder I had in third grade.  Why would you do that to your RV?!

Decorating the car - my favorite part.

I free-handed this sign an hour before the reception. Ta-Da.

I thought we did a good job. The truck looked like a dalmatian. It was my idea so if B and B are mad, it's my fault. Sorry. Just a bit of wedding fun.

Bouquet toss

T and V played bellhop all night.

J and B getting their dance on.

Even the aunts got their boogie on.

Just remember that I am not the half of this marriage that went to film school...

B's dress was great for twirling.





Check out these mad skillz.

It was a pretty fantastic day.  We are so happy for you, B and B! 

Five!

We have been married five months! It was a great anniversary because we got to go cousin B's wedding. Her wedding was lovely and we had a lovely time. Just being at a wedding made me think of our wedding and how much I love T. Really, going to a wedding is the best way to celebrate an anniversary because it brings back all the memories and feelings without having to plan anything!

So, for your viewing pleasure, balloon shots: