Getting Back On It

This morning on my way to work I kept thinking about the quote that says something about getting back on the horse that threw you off.

Today was the first time back on the scooter after the tire had been repaired. Now don't get me wrong, I never actually fell on the scooter, I was just really freaked out (I think if I would have had to go any further I might have stopped to cry on the side of the road). The back end was fishtailing (now all I know is what it felt like, not how much was actually noticeable from other drivers), I couldn't turn, etc. Because of the slight freak-out the last 2 times I had ridden it, I was a little hesitant about getting back on it. I still think I went slower than normal to and from work today. Also, I took turns a lot slower than I had in the past. I was just nervous that it wouldn't actually hold me on the turns (like it had felt those last two times when the tire was flat). Thankfully I don't work TOO far away from home (I think the route that I take right now is about 10.5 miles each way) and I allot extra time for the travel.

I know, I am probably being Miss. Drama Queen, but it really freaked me out the last time I rode it. But I figured if we would have just sold it and I didn't get back on it I probably wouldn't want a scooter again in the future (just because I would have had a bad taste in my mouth), but since I have GOTTEN BACK ON THE "HORSE" I think the future very well may hold another scoot-scoot for me :)

Cherry Blossom Festival

The first time we went here I thought "I would LOVE to get married here". I actually tried to get it for our wedding, but the date wouldn't work out. Oh yeah, and it is UBER expensive, but BEAUTIFUL nonetheless!!

Cherry Blossom Festival In Balboa Park

Despite a few uncharacteristically dreary San Diego days, the cherry trees are beginning to burst with pink and white blooms at the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park. The Garden is home to more than 150 cherry trees and other flowering plants that will be blossoming through March, when the Garden’s fifth annual Cherry Blossom Festival will be held. During the festival, public visitors will also be able to view the progress of the Garden’s multi-year project to expand to eleven acres from its current 2.5-acre area.

This year’s festival will be on Saturday, March 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. At the price of regular garden admission ($4 general, $3 seniors, military, and students) the event includes guided docent tours of the cherry trees throughout the existing site and expansion site, as well as Japanese food, arts and crafts, and cultural demonstrations. As part of Science Family Day, entrance will be free for children 17 and under with a paid adult.

The rest of the article here.

Car Buying Ideas?!

Any ideas of places to look for cars? Ryan and I have been looking on Craigslist and AutoTrader, but nothing is really popping out for us. I know hitting the pavement and looking at dealerships is always an option, but I like being able to research them online (their Kelley Blue Book value, etc) before having to actually deal with the used car salesmen... I figured I'd throw the question out there to see if there are places Ryan or I haven't thought to check out yet come up.

Haiti Tees

As most of you know, I went down to Haiti this summer for a couple weeks with Outside The Bowl. While we were there, we met some awesome people. One of whom is Alex. He sent out a message a few days ago and I wanted to post it for my friends and family to read:

---

Hey guys,

At the risk of looking like a random chain message I would like to ask for your help. Through the connections that I have made at Northwest Haiti Christian Mission I was afforded the opportunity to help support a cause that I found honorable in a way that is sustainable and won't die out over the years.

I met the owner of the professional soccer team in St. Louis du Nord, Haiti through Grant and the NWHCM. He and I began talking and his love for the Lord and his desire to share that love as well as opportunity with young soccer players really gripped me. We continued talking when I got home and he and I decided to partner to help make the future brighter for his soccer team, his players, their families and the community of St. Louis du Nord.

I have been given incredible opportunity here in America where I don't have to worry about money. I agreed to support his dream for sharing the gospel through his team and through soccer camps for children in Haiti. I have started selling merchandise with all of the proceeds going to pay his players meager salaries as well as to provide soccer camps in St. Louis du Nord with the intention of selling the gospel. I am humbled to be working with such a great man.

All that I ask of you is that you look up www.haititees.org and read the story of the team and see if it is something that you would be willing to buy a (pretty cool) t-shirt to support. T-shirts are 15 dollars and every penny of the proceeds goes straight to Haiti.

Thank you!
Alex

ABC's of ME

Age: 26

Bed size: Queen which is actually recent in the last 6 months. Before then we were rockin' the Full :)

Chore you hate: Cleaning the bathrooms

Dogs: None yet. Ryan has puppy fever... so we can see how long I can hold him off

Essential start of your day: Checking my emails and blogs

Fav color: I love all bright colors

Gold or silver: Silver

Height: 5’4″

Instruments I play: I played the flute in elementary

Job title: 'Consultant'

Kids: No thanks (we are okay being the fun aunt and uncle)

Live: North County San Diego, CA

Mom’s name: Madre, Suzie Q, Soomoe, Hey You, oh yeah, and Sue :)

Nicknames: Car, C Dawg, Sally, Sally Bear, Peter, Mole, and I'm sure there are plenty of others

Overnight hospital stays: Nope

Pet peeve: Hmmm... so many to pick from - Eating with your mouth open, scrapping your teeth on your fork, not using your turn signal, etc...

Quote from a movie: "OH THERE YOU ARE PETER" - Hook

Right or left handed: Right

Siblings: 1 younger brother.

Time you wake up: Weekdays – 6:30am is my alarm, but I normally am up anywhere from 5-30 minutes before it goes off, Weekends – as long as I can sleep

Underwear: None-of-ya-business

Veg you dislike: Cucumbers

What makes you run late: My husband. Although he is awesome, he often UNDER estimates the time it takes to get somewhere

X-rays you have had done: Teeth, arms (broken them both), and an array of tests while they were trying to diagnose all of my syndromes and disorders (PET Scan, MRIs, Ultrasounds of kidneys, Endoscopy, Colonoscopy, and the list goes on).

Yummy food you make: Baked Pasta, Fake Tacos, Funfetti Cupcakes

Zoo, favorite animal: I would have to say Polar BEars, just because that is where we end up spending most of our time...

THANKS MEGAN FOR THE IDEA.

Cars Ride

Walt Disney Imagineer, Kathy Mangum, gives you a peek at the vehicle testing for Radiator Springs Racers. This thrilling new attraction is set to open in 2012 with the debut of Cars Land at Disney California Adventure Park.
If you're looking for more details about what's coming to Disney California Adventure Park, check out http://www.DisneysCaliforniaAdventure... or visit the Blue Sky Cellar in the park.

Steamboat Willie

Ryan loves him some Steamboat Willie. Just about every time we go to Disney we have to go into the little theater and watch the movie over and over again :). He came across this updated poster and LOVED it. It is sold out, but maybe in the future we will get a copy :)

Steamboat Willie

Poster by Tom Whalen. 18" x 24" screen print with metallic inks. Hand Numbered. Edition of 200.

Limit 1 per person/ household/ etc.

$40.00 - Sold Out!

Rip Drama?!

Hamilton at center of Pistons’ turmoil

About a week prior to his banishment to the Detroit Pistons’ bench in January, Richard Hamilton(notes) berated coach John Kuester in a jarring and expletive-filled diatribe on the practice court, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

As stunned coaches and teammates watched, Hamilton bellowed at Kuester that he had been a failure in his two seasons in Detroit, blown the opportunity the franchise afforded him and was nothing more than a career assistant coach, sources said. Despite Hamilton yelling within inches of him, Kuester didn’t respond.

Several of the team’s younger players were mortified watching it and privately told agents and associates they wished they had the courage to stand up, confront Hamilton and try to take control back from the disgruntled veteran. Nevertheless, Hamilton influences a powerful lobby in the Pistons’ locker room, including veteran leaders Tayshaun Prince(notes) and Ben Wallace(notes).

The early January incident was the second time Hamilton had initiated a confrontation with Kuester this season, sources said, and it ultimately spurred the benching that led to such public acrimony. Once a cornerstone of an NBA championship and six straight trips to the Eastern Conference finals, Hamilton helped orchestrate a player protest on Friday morning by skipping the team’s morning shootaround in Philadelphia.

The rest of the article here.

Updates

So I have been trying to do a few blog updates, if you haven't noticed. I have updated the web address, the layout slightly (meaning changing the widths of the columns), changed the fonts, colors, etc. My dad called me out today because I had mentioned that I wanted to make the blog description (the 'be the change' stuff) appear OVER the little dandelion picture. I have tried and tried and can't figure out how to fix it. So I hope making the color darker you are now able to read the full description :)

Thanks for calling me out dad and teaching me to let my yeses be yes and my noes be no.

Costa Rica

Ryan and I got a reimbursement check today for our Costa Rica trip (they ended up charging our credit card at the hotel for a few nights, instead of using it just to authorize any additional charges). Anyway, we sat down and actually looked at it, and it looks like we paid less than $150 for the trip :)

$50 Parking at the San Diego Airport
$35 CD of Ziplining Photos (we didn't need to get this, but since we didn't pay for the actual ziplining we thought we would)
$30 Food at the airport on the way there and on the way back
$15 Snacks
$20 Souveiniers (Ryan bought some coffee and we got a few dollars in coins and a post card)

HOW AWESOME, huh?! Especially for only having to enter our email address online to win the trip in the first place :)

Tim Burton in LA

Tim Burton Retrospective Will Roll Out in Los Angeles

If you're starting to think about spring travel and are a Tim Burton fan, a trip to Los Angeles may be in order.

In May, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art will roll out a major retrospective, "Tim Burton," exploring the director's well-known animated and live-action film career as well as work he has done as an artist, illustrator, photographer, and writer.

Over 700 works will be on display for the show, including drawings, paintings photographs, storyboards, moving-image works, puppets, costumes, and more.

"Tim Burton" debuted at New York's Museum of Modern Art in 2009. The New York Times called the show "illuminating" and says it is "a must for film buffs and Burton fans."

The exhibition has since been at the Australian Center for the Moving Image. It's currently at Toronto's Bell Light Box until April 17.

Specifically for the LA museum, Burton will transform the Resnick Pavillion into a "Burtonesque" environment by installing two large-scale outdoor artworks. The show runs in LA from May 29 through October 31, 2011. Admission is $20.

Tickets for "Tim Burton" go on sale to the general public on May 2; for museum members on Mar. 30.

Born in Burbank in 1958, Burton worked as animator at Walt Disney Studios before breaking out on his own. He is famous for his quirky films featuring dark, offbeat characters such as Beetle Juice, Edward Scissorhands, and Jack Skellington in "The Nightmare Before Christmas." Recently, he directed "Alice in Wonderland."

Peace

It's where it's at :)

Snow in SoCal?!

You think you have it bad in Michigan... IT IS SUPPOSED TO SNOW IN MALIBU THIS WEEKEND!!

Unusual California Snow

After bringing snow to the Pacific Northwest Wednesday into Thursday, a very cold storm originating from Alaska will continue southward along the coast of California.

Snow will fall to elevations as low as 1,000 feet in the San Francisco Bay Area on Friday. By Friday night into Saturday morning, it's not out of the question that some flakes may fall as low as sea level in the Bay Area. This is all dependent on how much moisture is leftover as the coldest air arrives.

According to the National Weather Service, it has not snowed in downtown San Francisco since February of 1976. This gives an idea of the rarity of snow in San Francisco thanks to the marine influence of the Pacific Ocean.

According to the National Weather Service in Los Angeles, temperatures around 18,000 feet up in atmosphere could hit levels only seen one other time in the area since 1977. Just another example of how cold and unusual this storm is.

Snow in Southern California could fall to elevations as low as 1000 to 2000 feet in Ventura and Los Angeles Counties Friday night into Saturday. Light snow could fall in elevated valley locations of these counties, including the Santa Clarita Valley. Portions of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties could see some flakes fall as low as 500 feet.

The rest of the article here.

Banksy in OSIDE!

Banksy Tags San Diego Taco Shop

Acclaimed street artist and Academy Award nominee Banksy continued his onslaught of Southern California streets when he “modified” the side of Bull Taco in Oceanside the evening of Thursday, February 24. The all-black exterior wall now depicts a giant rat flying a kite with the all-too-familiar highway sign illustrating a small family of illegal immigrants running towards safety.

The signs are a common site around the Camp Pendleton area where numerous accidents have occurred involving illegal immigrants trying to enter the country by running across the interstate. There have been multiple immigrant road sign pieces popping up all over the streets of Los Angeles in the past few weeks, as Banksy has been reported to be in Southern California where his 2010 documentary Exit Through The Gift Shop is speculated to win Best Documentary this Sunday night at the Academy Awards.

The precautionary sign is a symbol for drivers of Interstate 5, but Banksy has transformed the image into a sign of hope, by adding a kite to the father’s hand. Instead of a migrant family running towards safety, they're now a family enjoying a day in Southern California while flying a kite. Banksy has visited San Diego before when he was part of the MCAS group show Viva la Revolucion just last year. The authenticity of the piece is still up for debate, but word on the street is this is indeed the work of Banksy. Bull Taco in Oceanside is located at 1815 South Coast Highway.

The original article here.

Snowman

It looks like this was probably the last snowman of the year, and it looks like we used all of the snow from the yard, hehe. I would have to guess I am 4 in the picture because we were still living in Ida. Love the pudge... Don't they say snowsuits add 20 pounds?! :)



And yes, it does look like we used one of my dad's welding "hats" and gloves to decorate Mr. Frosty :)

Zazzle Store

I LOVE KELLI'S ART! IT IS JUST AWESOME TO ME! She just posted about her new 'store':

I’ve just opened my ZAZZLE store in association with ArtProjekt, founded by artist Andy Howell! ARTSPROJEKT is a curated platform that empowers emerging and established artists and brands to connect, collaborate, and showcase original art, designs and ideas with fans and consumers. This store has allowed me to make my art available in other product categories such as iPhone and iPad cases, mouse pads, buttons and more. I just updated 6 new MOUSE PADS to my ZAZZLE store!! Hope you like them….and thanks for all the support! You guys are the BEST!

xoxo -Kelli

Video Chatting

I was teaching mom to video chat tonight :)



Then she left the room and I tried talking to one of her dogs :)

Paul

Nope, not my dad... A new movie :)

The Wolfpack is Back

30 Things You Didn't Know About Disneyland

30 things you didn't know about Disneyland

Disneyland has been such a dream destination and a treasured cultural icon to people worldwide for more than half a century that almost everyone thinks they know quite a lot about Walt Disney's original theme park. But there is more to the "Happiest Place on Earth" than meets the eye.

Here are 30 secrets, fun facts and bits of trivia about Disneyland Resort that may surprise you:

1. Disneyland opened July 17, 1955, with 18 major attractions. Today, there are more than 60 adventures and attractions.

2. When Disneyland opened, Anaheim, Calif., had five hotels and two motels with a total of 87 rooms, and there were 34 restaurants in the city. Today, Anaheim boasts approximately 150 hotels and motels with more than 18,000 rooms, and well over 450 restaurants.

3. From groundbreaking to opening day, Disneyland was built in just 365 days.

4. Disneyland Park welcomes as many as 65,000 guests in a single day and between 10 million and 12 million each year. Well over 500 million guests have passed through the gates of Disneyland since opening day, including seven U.S. presidents and many other prominent 20th century dignitaries and celebrities.

5. Having fun is hungry and thirsty work. Every year, guests at Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park consume an estimated 3 million hamburgers, 2 million hot dogs, 6.5 million orders of french fries, 1.6 million servings of popcorn, 3.2 million servings of ice cream, 1.9 million gallons of soft drinks and 2.8 million churros.

The rest of the article here.

Less Plastic

Our buddy Jack Johnson and his non-profit organization, the Kokua Hawaii Foundation want YOU to become plastic free! Watch this awesome video of Jack singing about ways to reduce your personal waste by using reusable water bottles and bringing your own reusable bags when you head to the grocery store!

Surfing Commandments

There is a statue in Encinitas. People tend to dress him up.

The statue, created by artist Matthew Antichevich, has been a favorite target of pranks since it was erected in 2007. Some local surfers have been critical, saying the artwork portrays an inexperienced surfer. It has earned the nickname the "Cardiff Kook."

I LOVE it! Check out this article where they made him look like he was being bitten by a shark :)

Anyway, today there were new pictures of him as Moses with the 10 Surfing Commandments:

Fastpass to Meet Mickey

Fastpass to Meet Mickey at Walt Disney World

Mickey Mouse is joining the ranks of Fastpass attractions at Magic Kingdom such as Space Mountain. For the first time this spring, Walt Disney World Resort in Florida is going to let guests use a timed pass to meet the iconic mouse.

The change will happen when Mickey moves into a new permanent meet-and-greet location in Town Square. Disney did not disclose an exact date.

Magic Kingdom guests will be able to obtain a Disney Fastpass ticket specifying a one-hour window when they can meet Mickey for hugs, photos and autographs.

Disney says it's the first time it has made the computerized Fastpass service available for a character meet-and-greet at any Disney theme park.

Currently, guests can do the highly popular visit with Mickey Mouse in Tomorrowland, to the right of Space Mountain. Mickey's Toontown Fair, where the character previously met with fans, closed last week to make way for an expansion of Fantasyland.

The rest of the article here.

PS RYAN WAS WONDERING IF HE COULD SPEND THE WHOLE HOUR HUGGING MICKEY!?

Car > Scooter

I think today sealed the deal for me. Now NOTHING against scooters - I LOVE THEM - but I think we will be selling ours sooner rather than later.

On Thursday the scooter was riding a little funny. We had a lot going on (working, growth group, etc) and I forgot to mention it to Ryan.

Friday morning when I went to the garage the back tire was a little low. I figured it was fine and rode it to work. It was getting lower on the ride in and getting more and more wobbly (when the back tire goes out on a scooter, you are really just relying on the front tire - which causes the scooter to fishtail, or at least feel like it is). When I got into work I texted Ryan to let him know that the tire was flat. When 2pm rolled around on Friday I thought I would need to try to make it home. The storms were rolling in (supposed to start around 3pm) and if I didn't get it home then it would have been out in the weather all weekend. I drove fairly slow (the speed limit is 55mph on most of the roads and I think I was going in the 40-45mph range). It was super windy (because the storms were coming) and it started raining, which made the ride even sketchier. I made it home safe and sound (just a little wet and pretty freaked out). I told Ryan about it when he got home and he decided he would try and fix it once the rains stopped.

Sunday he was able to pump up the tire (our bike pump actually works on the scooter tires), ride it down to get gas, and everything appeared to be fine. We checked on the pressure throughout the day and it seemed to be fine (but then again it was up on the stand so the tire wasn't touching the ground and putting any pressure on the wheel.

This morning I went out to the garage to leave for work and everything looked fine. I sat on the scooter and the tire held up perfectly normal. I left for work thinking that Ryan had fixed it totally. About 5 minutes away from the house the scooter started acting funny again (not really being able to turn very well, feeling as though the back end was fishtailing, etc). It was riding okay, just annoying for the next 10 minutes or so. About half way to my office though, it started being real silly. I could feel that the tire was probably 90% flat. I could barely turn (it felt like if I were to lean the back tire would just slide out from underneath me) and if I went over about 25pmh the back end was waving back and forth pretty badly. I was able to ride in the bike lane at about 20mph till I got to work. I called Ryan to let him know. He came over at lunch with the bike pump, some goo to fill the tire, and lunch. The pump worked, but once you put the weight on the tire it goes out. The goo didn't work, because it seems as though the VALVE is where the issue is, so once Ryan put the goo into the tire, it would just come out the valve.

Tomorrow Ryan and Mike are planning on coming over to the office to put the scooter in Mike's truck so that they can at least get it back to our garage. We have a few calls into local scooter repair shops to see how much it would cost to fix the tire (I think the more expensive part will be the labor because you have to remove about half the bike to get the back tire off). We will decide when we get an estimate whether or not we will fix it before we sell it or not.

At least my scooter skills have kicked in and kept me safe :) Now Ryan and I will just be doing a little carpooling till we either fix the scooter or get another car.

The Unique Language

Quite an unique language.....

1) The bandage was wound around the wound.
2) The farm was used to produce produce.
3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
4) We must polish the Polish furniture.
5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.
6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.
8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
10) I did not object to the object.
11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
13) They were too close to the door to close it.
14) The buck does funny things when the does are present.
15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
17) The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
18) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
19) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
20) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?

Let's face it - English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant, nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren't invented in England or French fries in France. Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat.

We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth, beeth? You have one goose, 2 geese; so one moose, 2 meese? One index, 2 indices?

Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?

If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?

Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital? Ship by truck and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell?

How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which, an alarm goes off by going on.

English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all. That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible.

PS. - Why doesn't 'Buick' rhyme with 'quick' or quick rhyme with Buick?

New Web Address

COMING SOON! I am planning on changing my web address soon! The main reason for this is because I want it to be a little bit more anonymous. I have been doing a little 'spring cleaning' of the information out there on the world wide web of myself. I don't think that I like when you google my name my blog pops up first since it has my name in the web address. I am not sure how many people out there have this website bookmarked, but just in case there are more people than just my parents (HI PADRES) I thought I would give a general heads up.

The website that I am planning on changing it to is: cmcdot.blogspot.com (granted that is still available at the end of the week).

I am planning on changing the site over this week, but I thought I would put the notice out there for a few days before I totally switch it so that I don't lose my followers :). Make sure you update your bookmarks everyone!! I don't want to lose any of the precious few people I have reading my blabbers!!

Autos

Oh no. I think the time may have come.

'For what?' you ask.

To sell the scooter.

I KNOW! What a sad day, huh? But it might be about that time.

'Why? you ask.

Well it has mostly to do with the elements and distance to my new job. I know, we live in Southern California, so 'what elements?' you ask. It actually does rain here (although if you saw what was considered "rain" or "weather" here you would probably laugh so hard you wet yourself). Also, I was riding about 3 miles to work at my last job - which was just about perfect scooter distance. It took about 10 minutes or so and I was there. Now my job is a little over 10 miles away, which takes me closer to 25 minutes (with all of the lights). The roads that I have to take are bigger, which means I am now riding faster, which tends to be a little COLDER.

Anyway, nothing is set in stone yet. We still have the scooter and will for a while I'm sure, but we have at least both discussed that we would be okay (but very sad) about having to sell it for an enclosed vehicle.

With that being said, we are starting to look for cars to buy. We have been looking at the Ford Focus (which I have had before) or the Chevy Aveo. I think it will mostly come down to what sort of family discount we can get on the Aveo if we go for that one or not.

I know... what a depressing post... but I guess it might be good news for you, since the scoot-scoot will be on the market and could soon be YOURS :)

Scanner

Last night Ryan and I had to scan some paperwork over to our friends at Dole. Since we had the scanner out I mentioned that Ryan might want to scan some funny faces.




At least it wasn't a butt, right? :)

Always You

I think this will be my next print.



I LOVE IT!! Kelli Murray is AWESOME!!

Cookie-Stuffed Cookies

Yummy. Sugar overload, huh?!

Oreo-Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

These cookies are a little bit ... INTENSE. If you think about it, each one is basically a THREE-COOKIE MASHUP. As my friend Helen Rosner said when I blabbed about these on Facebook, "We made some last week and basically immediately acquired diabetes and died." Have a shot of insulin at the ready.

Yes, these cookies are a load of fun. But they're a stunt. They're a conversation-starter, so they'd be great to take to a potluck party or a cookie swap — just don't dish out any spoilers as to what's inside.



Check out the site here. They even have Nutter Butter–Stuffed Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies! or Girl Scout Cookie–Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies. What a fun idea!!

Kev's Show

Oh my goodness. Our freshman year at UofM I met Kevin. We quickly became great friends. Anyway, with that being said, he was in a punk rock band and I went to a couple of their shows. It seems like they stopped playing shows (or maybe I just stopped getting invited, hehe). Kevin has transitioned out of his punk rock days into more of a folk style - but AWESOME nonetheless. He is now living up in Santa Cruz (WE MISS YOU IN SOCAL SIR) and has started playing shows again. Right now we just have to catch the videos online, but hopefully his tour will reach Oceanside soon (or we will just have to take the trip up I guess). The videos below are from his most recent show at The Abbey!

9 Crimes
‎(Damien Rice cover)
The Abbey | Santa Cruz, CA
February 12, 2011

Video by Josh Wilbur



Get Movin' On
The Abbey | Santa Cruz, CA
February 12, 2011

Video by Josh Wilbur

New Adele

"‘Rolling in the Deep’ I really enjoy because it takes me back to when I was really angry and quite pissed off. My first record there was nothing like that really. Maybe a tiny little bit in ‘Cold Shoulder,’ but ‘Rolling in the Deep’ is like full-on pissed off, so I like singing that one, it’s fun."

Save Cass

Diana Ross and Jack White's Detroit High School Set for Demolition

With a rundown Detroit high school set for a date with a wrecking ball, members of a lengthy list of prominent alumni are trying to save it.

The old Cass Technical High School building closed six years ago when its replacement opened next door. Over the years the now-abandoned building housed students including Diana Ross, Jack White and a veritable who's-who list of jazz musicians, including Alice Coltrane, Ron Carter, Kenny Burrell, Paul Chambers, Geri Allen, Ali Jackson, Billy Mitchell and Donald Byrd. Other famous Cass alumni include actors Lily Tomlin, David Allen Grier, Della Reese and Ellen Burstyn.

The school system, citing concerns over safety -- the building has been victim to regular trespassing and vandalizing since it closed -- plans to demolish it. Opponents say it's an easy way out of dealing with a historic building that could be converted to any number of uses, including an arts center, artist lofts or high-density housing.

According to Steve Wasko, a spokesperson for the Detroit school district, the fight to save the school is over -- because it never began in the first place.

The rest of the article here.

Where is Hope?

Where is Hope? from NWHCM on Vimeo.

An overview of the diverse ministries of Northwest Haiti Christian Mission

PUBLIC TOILET

I got this in an email from my dad and thought they were humorous enough to post :)

This is a picture of a public toilet in Houston from the outside:



Now that you have seen the outside view, take a look at the inside view...



It is made entirely of one-way glass! No one can see you from the outside, but when you are inside its like sitting in a clear glass box! Now would you... COULD YOU....???

-------------------------------------

NEXT --
A PAINTED BATHROOM FLOOR!!! Tenth floor of a hi-rise building...

IMAGINE YOU ARE AT A PARTY... AND THEN YOU HAVE TO VISIT THE BATHROOM.... You open the door.... NOW, REMEMBER THE FLOOR IS JUST A PAINTED FLOOR !



IT TAKES YOUR BREATH AWAY...... DOESN'T IT? Would this mess up your mind??? Would you be able to walk into this bathroom???

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FINALLY --
THIS IS A CEILING MURAL IN A SMOKER'S LOUNGE.



Please share with friends with a sense of humor

Go Sea Shepherd!!

Japan suspends annual whale hunt

Japan has suspended its annual Antarctic whale hunt because an anti-whaling group is tailing its ship, a government official said Wednesday.

Hirosh Kawamura, an official at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, said the hunt has been "temporarily suspended" since February 10 due to the actions of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

"We have experienced the dangerous attacks from them, it might take the life of crews," he said. "Considering the safety as the first priority, we decided to halt the whaling temporarily."

Sea Shepherd regularly dogs Japanese whaling vessels during their hunts to make their task more difficult and to lower the number of whales harvested.

Japan annually hunts whales in the Antarctic, despite a worldwide moratorium on whaling, under the loophole that a country may legally do so if its purpose is scientific research.

Sea Shepherd has said the science argument is a sham, noting that the whale meat is sold in Japan and served in restaurants.

The original article here.

Happy 2.5 / 3 / A long time

Today is somewhat of an anniversary for Ryan and I.

3 years ago today we got engaged.





2.5 years ago today we got married.





And then let's see... okay, it is too early to figure this out, but we started dating September 1st, 2003.

(can only find one picture right now of 2003)...

Extras at U of M

George Clooney needs thousands of extras for University of Michigan scene next month

According to AnnArbor.com, George Clooney’s Ides of March is looking for thousands of volunteer extras for a scene that will be shot at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI during the week of March 14.

Anyone interested and able to commit to being on the set of the movie for a minimum of 12 hours (on a weekday) is asked to e-mail their name, age, height, weight, phone number, and a recent picture or two to IoMExtras@gmail.com, with “March Volunteer” in the subject line. Ryan Hill Casting is handling extras for the Michigan portion of filming.

The film, which is currently filming in Cincinnati, stars Clooney, as well as Ryan Gosling, Paul Giamatti, Marisa Tomei, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Evan Rachel Wood.

The original article here.

Zip Line Videos

Ryan zip lining through the Costa Rican cloud forest:



Me zip lining through the Costa Rican cloud forest:



One of the guides went on one of the lines with the camera - so you can see what we saw :)



Ryan zip lining through the Costa Rican cloud forest (this was the end of the last line - about 5 times longer than the other ones):



Me zip lining through the Costa Rican cloud forest (this was the end of the last line - about 5 times longer than the other ones):

Another Oldie

Hehehehe. I love all of our faces. Man, don't we look excited?!



PS From left to right (top row first) - it is my mom (Sue), my aunt (Sharon), my cousin (Jennifer), my grandma (Marion), then my brother (Kyle), my cousin (Casey) and me.

Veggie Stuff

Every once in a while I will actually click on the ads that appear on the side of my Facebook page. Today I clicked on the Vegetarian Gifts ad from Cafe Press. I liked quite a few of them, but figured I would try not to get on my soap box too loudly, so found some that would be 'PC' to share.