st. paddy's yay!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

For the last 6 years, I’ve loved St. Patrick’s Day? Why?

Happy Birthday Shanester!!!

What a fun fun fun day to have a birthday. So, it’s a great day. My plan so far (and assorted commentary):

Food

I made him cupcakes to take to work. In years’ past I’ve made brownies with green cream cheese marble swirls and last year I made frosted shamrock sugar cookies.

I think when we were newlyweds (awww) I made green eggs and ham. It was such fun! He said in his foggy recollection of birthdays’ past, he only thinks one person has made green eggs and ham for him, and that was one of his mission companions! Well, I’m his eternal companion (for better or worse) so I did, too, and it was awesome! This morning he just had cereal. Sorry ‘bout that, babe.

Then today, we’re going out to dinner. Macaroni Grill! I have a coupon. It seems like we never go anywhere unless I have a coupon. Unless it’s the La Palmera because that place is already pretty cheap and SO GOOD. (Plus they have palm tree Christmas lights. How cool is that?)

Presents

Then, we have presents. I finally bought them all on Saturday. Let’s just say most of the presents I bought him also make my life easier. Isn’t that how men usually do it? Buy their wives vacuum cleaners and table saws? (Or we could talk about my brother who bought our mother a toilet bowl brush from the Dollar Tree for Christmas one year…) Well, I guess we’re just practical in the Gottula home.

Goofy Card

I didn’t get the goofy card done. I think I’ll write him a goofy e-mail. Maybe make a goofy e-card or something.

So basically, birthdays are awesome. Especially on St. Patrick’s Day when you’re married to ME!

And now, to take this opportunity to reflect on how awesome the O’Husband is and celebrate:

• I love it how he makes me laugh, either with his funny demeanor or his escapades tormenting the cat or his brilliant social commentary


• I’m so grateful we have the “cooks don’t clean” rule in our home, because of his dedication


• I appreciate how hard he works, even when it isn’t always fun


• I’m so glad he is so patient with lil ole imperfect me

OK enough with the sappiness. Happy Green Day everyone!

mad mad mad

OK, totally mad at the auto loan people right now.

I'm such a good organizer, putting our bills in order and paying them off as the time comes. But for some reason the auto loan (due TOMORROW, on a SUNDAY) got stuffed in the back and ignored. And we happen upon it today and need to pay it. All the mail places are closed, so maybe we can pay by phone or online.

We go through the hassle of creating an online account... I hate creating online accounts, because it's just another place that has your info and another password to remember. And they tell us the fee is $10. Whatever, we need to pay it. I go through the whole process, typing in my account numbers, etc., to pay the bill, and the system is unavailable. What does that mean?? I do it again. No dice. I do it a THIRD time, STILL UNAVAILABLE.

I try calling customer service. Their hours are only until 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, so no one is there. They're all merrily enjoying the evening with their families and friends, probably ordering dessert at the Olive Garden and planning their St. Patrick's Day parties. And I'm super stressed trying to pay my stupid bill.

Fine, I call the automated PHONE system and try to pay there, where the fee is an even heftier $14. I'm desperate. I go through the huge hassle there, listening to the automated menu patiently, hitting "1" then hitting "2" then trying not to swear, as THEIR SYSTEM IS UNAVAILABLE, TOO.

So the point is, there is no way, no how, no conceivable option for me to pay this bill today, on time. A part of me suspects the powers-that-be "shut off" their system every weekend, or whenever they feel like it, just so finance charges accrue on customers' accounts and our credit scores go down. I am completely powerless right now.

Here's praying the bills never get jumbled again. I need to lay down.

lights, camera, action!

Juicy Seattle gossip!!! Someone I work with today told me that they are filming a movie in downtown Seattle. I am so excited! Maybe I'll wander down to the set tomorrow. Anyway, the movie is called "Traveling" and it stars Aaron Eckhart (whom I love!), Jennifer Aniston, and Martin Sheen.

Word on the street is that Aaron Eckhart is in town (coooool) but Jennifer Aniston isn't and they are using a "body double" for her parts. Whatev-a. Anyway, they are filming in Pioneer Square and at Post Alley at Pike Place Market. The guy at work said they had like "irrigation" systems set up or something in Pioneer Square since they wanted it to rain in the scene and lo-and-behold, it currently is not raining in Seattle. (What, does everyone think it rains here all the time??)

Very cool.

When me and the Shanester lived in Simi Valley, California (very cool surburbia), I had to go to Santa Monica for something and it was our first time, so of course we had to check out the pier, you know, the "famous pier" with the ferris wheel that is in all the movies. It was seriously 6 in the morning, because we didn't know how bad traffic would be and my appointment was at 8 a.m. So, 6 in the morning, we want to walk the pier -- and a movie is being filmed!

They have people posted all around the perimeter for inquiring minds, so some gal about 26 or 27 told us all about the movie and the stars (probably the same story for my friend who happened upon the star scene today). It was "Cellular" with Kim Basinger and William H. Macy. (Note: we did rent the movie after it came on DVD and it was OK... nothing to write home about. Moving on.) We saw no stars; it was a beach scene with "extras." But, it was pretty interesting. People just stood in spot -- the ENTIRE thing was choreographed -- and then when someone yelled "action," they all walked in a predetermined line for oh, a minute, then the same someone yelled "cut," and they went back to where they started. Every once in awhile they'd let us passers by walk through to wherever it was we needed to go.

That was about it. From my perspective, shooting a movie was kind of boring. I remember a couple years ago, John Corbett, the groom in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," announced he was retiring from acting because it was so boring. He said you'd shoot for 5 minutes, sit around for 5 minutes while the director decided what color some actor's shirt should be, then shoot for 5 more minutes, then sit around more. I thought it was fascinating, but I saw it for myself!

But alas, Hollywood, fascinates us. If I could catch a glimpse of Aaron Eckhart, how cool would THAT BE!

Also, he's Mormon. Maybe not active, but he is. Wikipedia says so... and I believe EVERYTHING I read on Wikipedia.

my husky can beat up your terrapin

Just want everyone to be aware I am planning on filling out March Madness brackets this year, using the sole criteria of which mascot could wreak more havoc on the other mascot. I'm truly looking forward to it. Wouldn't it be hilarious if I picked many, many winners?

I'll keep you posted.

sporting equipment getting a second life

I am so proud of myself, I just got finished mopping the bathrooms. I hate it. I try to do it every 3 months and I whine and complain the entire time.

HOWEVER, today was different. Well, I still pretty much hated it, but today I had a brilliant idea and it made life so much better!! In mopping the bathrooms, I first get on my hands and knees (ugh) and go around the baseboards with a bristle brush and toothbrush to clean them as best I can. Then I finish with the regular mopping and rinising and I breathe a sigh of relief for the next 3 months.

Well, I was a volleyball player in high school, and still have my knee pads. Yeah, 10 years later I still have the same knee pads from when I was off-setter #10. I thought, why not put these babies to good use? I pulled on my kneepads and scrubbed away! It was brilliant! With my iPod and no husband home and the acoustics of the bathroom (great mental picture of me, remember I am 5 months pregnant), it was quite pleasant!

I got to thinking of how useful it is to give used sporting equipment another shot at greatness. (Sidenote: of course, I could still use the kneepads... if anyone was brave enough to invite me to be on their volleyball team and I didn't have a baby in my belly...)

Here's a brainstorm:

• My father-in-law plays handball and is planning to win the world championships when he's in the 80-year-old-and-above age bracket. Good for him. His used handball gloves, and balls I believe, have become dog chew toys for their loveable mutt Toby.
• My super awesome new white marshmallow coat has down in it (or maybe fake down, I don't know), but the label specifically says to put it in the dryer with a tennis ball. Viola! A new use for a beat-to-smithereens tennis ball!
• I think when my husband solders he puts on his racquetball goggles. I fully support him protecting his peepers.
• Some people use a wooden rod as a spacer on their sliding glass doors and windows, so an unwelcome intruder can't sneak in. We use a baseball bat.
• I've always thought cleats would be good aerators for a lawn. I've got to get myself a lawn to try it out. If anyone wants me to come over and aerate their lawn, let me know. I think it would be fun. Maybe I'd put on my iPod and start singing for you.

That's all for now! Happy reusing! (My, we're sustainable in Seattle; I love it!)

reality tv

I think I figured out today why I like reality television. Let me preface this with not ALL reality TV falls into the acceptable realm of reality TV. More on that later. Basically, here it is: these people, these real people, are out there doing something, and they don't mind letting us watch. Let me further explain.

Sometimes it's nice to come home from work, make dinner, post to your blog, lounge around, then catch some Z's. But, to me, that is a pretty boring life. Life is about doing stuff, having fun while doing it, learning some lessons, becoming better, getting great stories to tell later on. Going to the park, scoping out a museum, joining a Scrabble club, getting away for the weekend: these are all fine examples of doing stuff.

Reality TV people go out of their comfort zones to do something interesting, and we get to go along for the ride. They learn to dance (Dancing with the Stars), they work on their singing skills (American Idol), they eat bugs in Fiji (Survivor), they venture to lose hundreds of pounds (The Biggest Loser), they move to New York and try out a new career (America's Next Top Model), and on and on. I mean, wow. If I tried to do all this stuff in my life, how exciting it would be! Honestly, I admire them. They're trying something new in front of America.

This is where the disclaimer comes in that "all reality TV shows need not apply." If you live in a house and let cameras in your house to watch your every move, this is lame. Britney, Jessica and Nick, Travis and Shannon, I'm talking to you. You can see how their lives all turned out. (In case you've been living under a rock, Jessica and Nick AND Travis and Shannon are both divorced. Maybe they should have gone on Survivor instead.)

If only we could all be so brave as to venture and do something with our lives. Last year I made a resolution to plan one exciting date every month with my hubby. We went snowmobiling one month, snowshoeing in another; we saw a play and had dinner at a fancy place downtown; we went to the Museum of Flight; we went to this cool man-made island in Everett on a gorgeous day and watched kite surfers. It was awesome. I never want to stop getting off my duff and trying something new, enjoying where I am, living it up.

Now on camera, ha, that may not be for me.

life lessons, installment 1?

Thought I'd share some lessons I've learned. Feel free to comment and add your own.

• Tuesdays are the busiest day at the gym at 6 a.m. in the morning. Everyone who slept in on Monday feels guilty and wants to get their week started right with exercise. So they come on Tuesday. Sometimes Wednesday is just as busy, but by Friday it's dead. Friday is the best day to try to get a lane in the pool.
• No matter how prepared I think I am, people's birthdays will always creep up on me. Did I make them brownies? Send a card? Remember to call? Maybe half the time.
• As soon as I put my headphones in at work, someone will call or my boss will call my name and I won't hear her. Then she'll feel stupid and I'll kind of look stupid, too.
• If I think I'm running late, I can run to the end of my condo complex's driveway and look down the street, and I can see if the bus is coming. If I see it, I high-tail it to the bus stop. If not, I've got time.
• If I check my Facebook page on my lunch break, an hour will fly by.
• If I bring up the subject of baby boy names, my husband will suggest a rock star, either dead or living (e.g., Ozzy Osbourne, Bob Marley, etc.) before considering anything else.
• If I drink a glass of milk before dinner, I don't eat so much and feel fuller, yet better about myself. I guess rules like this go out the window when one is pregnant.
• If I nuke my lunch at work for 2 minutes, I've got time to run to the bathroom and get back before it's done and the next person in line is glaring at me for hogging the microwave.
• If the hub runs out of La Victoria HOT salsa, it won't be on sale. When I finally have a stash of 3 jars in storage, it'll be a fabulous price and I'll need to buy 3 more.

That's all for now. Happy life lessons to you all!