Thursday, November 29, 2007
High Society Snobs
You know what happens when socialites get their hands on champagne, riiiight?
Those pinkies flip up in the air as they grab their drinks...
...they take a sip of the magical elixir...
...they get all snooty...
...and then they start trying to burn all their money and eat snooty food like thawed out cocktail shrimp!
Crazy freaks!
Those pinkies flip up in the air as they grab their drinks...
...they take a sip of the magical elixir...
...they get all snooty...
...and then they start trying to burn all their money and eat snooty food like thawed out cocktail shrimp!
Crazy freaks!
Dancing fiends
While in NY for Thanksgiving, we learned Emma and Sarah are child prodigies, and they definitely have a musical future ahead of them...
Here's Emma show Emily and Jen (next door to my parents) how to play the piano.
Now that Emily and Jen know how to play the piano, Emma and Sarah decided to put on a performance like you've never seen...
That wasn't the only dancing going on! Jen and Emily talked us into playing some DDR (Dance Dance Revolution for those of you not cool enough to know!). I even talked dad into giving it a try. Somehow there were no pics of me doing it (I guess I was taking most of the pics!) - dad, Brett and I pretty much stayed on beginner, and we still sucked. We all seemed to keep our hands in our pockets, and then wondered why we were repeatedly losing our balance and almost falling over. Our scores? Typically a D or F!
Emily showed us how it's really done - taking on expert mode and flying all over the DDR game pad. She was amazing!
Here's Emma show Emily and Jen (next door to my parents) how to play the piano.
Now that Emily and Jen know how to play the piano, Emma and Sarah decided to put on a performance like you've never seen...
That wasn't the only dancing going on! Jen and Emily talked us into playing some DDR (Dance Dance Revolution for those of you not cool enough to know!). I even talked dad into giving it a try. Somehow there were no pics of me doing it (I guess I was taking most of the pics!) - dad, Brett and I pretty much stayed on beginner, and we still sucked. We all seemed to keep our hands in our pockets, and then wondered why we were repeatedly losing our balance and almost falling over. Our scores? Typically a D or F!
Emily showed us how it's really done - taking on expert mode and flying all over the DDR game pad. She was amazing!
Misc cat pics
Sorry Peter - but I've got a ton of cat pictures just begging to be posted, and zero pics of food!
Here's what it looked like just before we left for Thanksgiving in NY! That was PLENTY of food (I actually measured out their usual amount, times the number of days we'd be gone, and then added a little extra - just in case). Wow, they sure eat a lot of food! Actually, I don't know if it's because they didn't hear the sprinkling of fresh food twice a day enticing them to eat, or if they were rationing themselves in case we didn't come back, but there was still enough food to last them a few days when we got back. (Just so you don't think we deprive our beasts, fresh bowls of water were around the corner, PLUS they have their filtered water fountain recycling water in the laundry room)
Nap time!
And Moxie loved the lower shelf of the book case so much that I set her up with her own little spot. She loves it!
Here's what it looked like just before we left for Thanksgiving in NY! That was PLENTY of food (I actually measured out their usual amount, times the number of days we'd be gone, and then added a little extra - just in case). Wow, they sure eat a lot of food! Actually, I don't know if it's because they didn't hear the sprinkling of fresh food twice a day enticing them to eat, or if they were rationing themselves in case we didn't come back, but there was still enough food to last them a few days when we got back. (Just so you don't think we deprive our beasts, fresh bowls of water were around the corner, PLUS they have their filtered water fountain recycling water in the laundry room)
Nap time!
And Moxie loved the lower shelf of the book case so much that I set her up with her own little spot. She loves it!
While working from home...
Took these pictures while working from home the other day. You can see what source of heat we'll be using if we find we can't afford our gas bill (now that we have gas for the first time). Granted, I think the puss-cats are thinking of US as a source of heat...does this work both ways?
The enemy has returned
Check out who was roaming around in the backyards the other day! I got a good video of him too - maybe that'll get posted later. Six points - Andy, you interested in driving down to get a snack? Maybe a little deer jerky? (Actually, I don't know for certain that THIS guy was the one who ate one of my strawberry plants...)
And while this picture was taken around the same time, no, they're not playing guard cats and scaring off the deer. They were more focused on the birds at the feeders! (They sure look sinister though, don't they?!)
And while this picture was taken around the same time, no, they're not playing guard cats and scaring off the deer. They were more focused on the birds at the feeders! (They sure look sinister though, don't they?!)
Hallelujah
LOL Peter sent this - it's great!
So, is everyone listening to their favorite Christmas music now? Sure, it's not even December yet, but Thanksgiving is just a tasty memory at this point...
So, is everyone listening to their favorite Christmas music now? Sure, it's not even December yet, but Thanksgiving is just a tasty memory at this point...
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Tis the Season
If this doesn't start getting you in the holiday spirit...
...maybe this will...
Yeah yeah, I know - you hate me! ;-)
...maybe this will...
Yeah yeah, I know - you hate me! ;-)
Video Games
Sharon and Andy came over recently for video game night. First we had a great dinner of marinated/grilled pork tenderloin sliced thin and served on the flatbread wraps, along with grilled red peppers, romaine lettuce, and peppercorn ranch dressing. I was shocked the four of us ate almost ALL of the TWO tenderloins I grilled - I figured I'd just grill both as a safety net, and that we'd have quite a bit leftover. Whew - good thing I did both! I don't even remember what else we had for dinner at this point - it's been a busy week. OH! And a HUGE bowl of homemade peanut butter cookies for dessert - mmmm!
And then it was time to get our game on! First we played two incredibly long games of Carcassonne - we'd never played four-ways before, which REALLY drags the game out. Sharon and Andy have a lot more practice act Carcassonne, and both had much higher scores than Brett and I.
While NONE of us are particularly SKILLED at Dead or Alive, it seems to get a lot of play time just for the high energy and shout-at-your-friends/loved-ones appeal. Here's Sharon and Brett taking turns kicking Andy's and my asses...
I believe that's Brett in the blue and white kicking my ass (I'm the leather chick with white hair) - I didn't realize it was switching back to my turn and I was still taking pics. Oops. One thing about this game - you almost ALWAYS have big, bouncy boobs while playing! In addition to the violence, it's no wonder straight guys love the game so much!
Here's Andy and me at one point during the game - he was the flamboyantly colored Jamaican-looking fighter in shiny green shorts, and I was the big, tough looking leather biker daddy. We got our asses handed to us - probably because we were each so out of character!? LOL
After dinner, games and a little TV time, Andy and Sharon decided it was time to head home...
I don't play Carcassonne by myself as much as Sharon and Andy do together, but I can still easily get wrapped up in a few games in an evening. Brett jokes about how the X-Box 360 Elite is just an expensive Carcassonne machine. I only just recently learned there was an Expert mode (doh - I always stopped at Hard!). Here's pics from two particularly interesting games of me vs the computer. In this first one, I had a HUUUUUGE castle in the lower right part of the map - I know Andy said he thought his biggest castle had scored 36 points - well this one was 38! Woo hoo!
And check out this game - I didn't realize what was going on til the very end... Turns out the computer scored ZERO points by the end of the game (pictured below)!! Only when the additional points started getting added up after the end of taking turns did she get more points (but no where near enough to beat me!). Booyah!
And then it was time to get our game on! First we played two incredibly long games of Carcassonne - we'd never played four-ways before, which REALLY drags the game out. Sharon and Andy have a lot more practice act Carcassonne, and both had much higher scores than Brett and I.
While NONE of us are particularly SKILLED at Dead or Alive, it seems to get a lot of play time just for the high energy and shout-at-your-friends/loved-ones appeal. Here's Sharon and Brett taking turns kicking Andy's and my asses...
I believe that's Brett in the blue and white kicking my ass (I'm the leather chick with white hair) - I didn't realize it was switching back to my turn and I was still taking pics. Oops. One thing about this game - you almost ALWAYS have big, bouncy boobs while playing! In addition to the violence, it's no wonder straight guys love the game so much!
Here's Andy and me at one point during the game - he was the flamboyantly colored Jamaican-looking fighter in shiny green shorts, and I was the big, tough looking leather biker daddy. We got our asses handed to us - probably because we were each so out of character!? LOL
After dinner, games and a little TV time, Andy and Sharon decided it was time to head home...
I don't play Carcassonne by myself as much as Sharon and Andy do together, but I can still easily get wrapped up in a few games in an evening. Brett jokes about how the X-Box 360 Elite is just an expensive Carcassonne machine. I only just recently learned there was an Expert mode (doh - I always stopped at Hard!). Here's pics from two particularly interesting games of me vs the computer. In this first one, I had a HUUUUUGE castle in the lower right part of the map - I know Andy said he thought his biggest castle had scored 36 points - well this one was 38! Woo hoo!
And check out this game - I didn't realize what was going on til the very end... Turns out the computer scored ZERO points by the end of the game (pictured below)!! Only when the additional points started getting added up after the end of taking turns did she get more points (but no where near enough to beat me!). Booyah!
Deck Work
Unfortunately our deck isn't done yet. Weather and supplies haven't quite cooperated, plus there was a holiday. We're not worried about getting it done right away - it's so late in the season now that it's not like we're hurting to use it (sure, it'd be nice to have easy access to the back yard from the back door, but it's not a big deal going around the house).
As you can see in these pictures, Mother Nature hasn't been very cooperative:
Here's the samples of Trex we had to consider - with limitations. The lumber company our deck builder got the initial (really low) quotes from was no longer stocking the color we wanted most - Saddle (the tan one on the left in the following picture). We definitely ruled out the gray - Brett hated it. The other option was Madeira (the reddish color). At the last minute Todd also had a sample of Woodtone to show us - the really dark one on the left. While we liked that color, it turns out it's also not one he can get from the supplier (they're phasing out Trex apparently - so he can only get what they've still got in stock at the prices we were quoted). Oh well - we found we like the Madeira as well - a bit more reddish than we initially THOUGHT we would like, but it looks like it'll actually go with the colors of the house really well (I think moreso than the Saddle, which we initially wanted).
More work on the deck - this was last Wednesday morning before we left for New York for Thanksgiving. Todd (white ballcap) and his worker got the joist boards installed plenty quick.
Annnnd this is from yesterday afternoon - nothing new. We were hoping the Trex would arrive early this week and then be installed promptly after, and today's weather was good for working outside, but nothing new. I think Brett's planning to call tomorrow just to check in...
As you can see in these pictures, Mother Nature hasn't been very cooperative:
Here's the samples of Trex we had to consider - with limitations. The lumber company our deck builder got the initial (really low) quotes from was no longer stocking the color we wanted most - Saddle (the tan one on the left in the following picture). We definitely ruled out the gray - Brett hated it. The other option was Madeira (the reddish color). At the last minute Todd also had a sample of Woodtone to show us - the really dark one on the left. While we liked that color, it turns out it's also not one he can get from the supplier (they're phasing out Trex apparently - so he can only get what they've still got in stock at the prices we were quoted). Oh well - we found we like the Madeira as well - a bit more reddish than we initially THOUGHT we would like, but it looks like it'll actually go with the colors of the house really well (I think moreso than the Saddle, which we initially wanted).
More work on the deck - this was last Wednesday morning before we left for New York for Thanksgiving. Todd (white ballcap) and his worker got the joist boards installed plenty quick.
Annnnd this is from yesterday afternoon - nothing new. We were hoping the Trex would arrive early this week and then be installed promptly after, and today's weather was good for working outside, but nothing new. I think Brett's planning to call tomorrow just to check in...
Monday, November 26, 2007
Tonite's Heroes
Tonite's episode of Heroes was great! It feels like things are really starting to pick up some steam on the show, and like some of the plot threads are starting to merge, which is always fun.SPOILERS BELOW!!! So don't read on if you haven't watched tonite's episode yet!
I felt really bad for Monica when she got taken by the gang members - I hadn't cared too much for her up til now...maybe her acting is just a little flat? Seriously, that girl needs to watch some kung-fu movies! Do we know how long her absorbed abilities last? I was half expecting Micah to run over and tell the van he didn't want it to drive away... AND I figured Nikki was gonna show up on the spot and save the day. Wonder how this is going to go down!?
Peter vs Hiro? This should get interesting! If the battle actually starts up, it'd be nice to see Hiro use his teleporting ability to pop in and out around Peter's lightning blasts, a la Nightcrawler of the X-Men, but let's be honest, we don't really want to see these two fighting! They're both good guys!
The flashback to 1977 was a bit corny - especially the red wig!
How on Earth did Sylar get to Molly already!? Did they really trek across the U.S. that fast? Poor Alejandro - I totally didn't see that coming! Maybe he's not really dead?! Did he have a special ability to calm Maya, or was it just that she didn't want to kill her brother? If it was ability-based, could he be yet ANOTHER healer? (Like we need anymore of those on the show!)
So next week is the "Heroes finale" - but I thought they were planning to add in some "Heroes Origins" episodes, fleshing out some of the characters. Anyone hear anything new about this? Did this get canceled because of the impending (at the time) writer's guild strike?
FOLLOW UP NOTE: Aw bummer...
Buuuuusted!
While at my parents' neighbors for Thanksgiving dinner, it looks like Sarah was busted with her snacks and martini!! (Actually, I'm pretty certain that was someone else's drink) Sarah really plowed through the Fritos though! Between that, and then the fresh pineapple she scarfed up the next day, I'm surprised she didn't explode!
Blast from the past
Going through more of the pics of Thanksgiving from before we arrived, it looks like mom tried to get Emma and Sarah to pose with the creepy painting of Sean and I from when we were kids. The original photo wasn't creepy, but this replica she had made while we lived in Korea has always given me the willies! Hm. Looks like Sean and I was more cooperative about having our photo taken than Emma and Sarah!
Splish Splash Girls
My brother and sister-in-law arrived at my parents' the day before us, and it looks like the girls got to go out adventuring. It looks like Sarah's (2) going to be the more adventurous one, and that maybe Emma (4) is starting to get a bit more girly and less likely to stop in a puddle.
Jeph, Brett, Sarah, Emma
We went to the George Eastman House (yes, the guy who made Kodak) in Rochester on Friday so the girls could see the gingerbread house display (you'll see how this influenced our entertainment later). Near the coat check was a photobooth, and I couldn't resist the opportunity to have fun with the nieces, Brett and I got the girls in the booth with us and started posing. I'm clearly nowhere near as photogenic as Brett, and Emma looks like she was born to model! Emma seemed a little stunned by the bright flash - a bit surprising seeing how that's all she sees when around me or mom!
How far would YOU drive for Chick-Fil-A!?
Would you drive THIS far!?
As you can see, we put a lot of miles on the car before getting our fast food last Wednesday, but in reality, we were driving up to my parents' in Penfield (near Rochester), NY, and saw a new Chick-Fil-A in Erie. We couldn't pass THAT up!
MMMM - tasty good! And would you believe we stopped and got the same on the return trip? (So, technically, we drove 175 miles before getting Chick-Fil-A on Saturday!) There's a new Chick-Fil-A opening in Chapel Hill - just across the street from the Chipotles that opened up the DAY AFTER we moved from the condo (which is about 5 minutes from both Chipotles and the upcoming Chick-Fil-A) - how unfair is that!
Had we known the new Chick-Fil-A was going in, would we have moved? Hmm....
As you can see, we put a lot of miles on the car before getting our fast food last Wednesday, but in reality, we were driving up to my parents' in Penfield (near Rochester), NY, and saw a new Chick-Fil-A in Erie. We couldn't pass THAT up!
MMMM - tasty good! And would you believe we stopped and got the same on the return trip? (So, technically, we drove 175 miles before getting Chick-Fil-A on Saturday!) There's a new Chick-Fil-A opening in Chapel Hill - just across the street from the Chipotles that opened up the DAY AFTER we moved from the condo (which is about 5 minutes from both Chipotles and the upcoming Chick-Fil-A) - how unfair is that!
Had we known the new Chick-Fil-A was going in, would we have moved? Hmm....
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