Be Careful What You Wish For...or Ask For

In a seemingly neverending blog-drought, I put out a request for blog topics. While I only did this a short time before writing this blog, I got an idea I couldn't pass up. Okay, so it's probably not exactly what the suggester had in mind, but it's my blog, my idea!!

This is for my niece Janna. I wish I had all of my pictures scanned into my computer because I would have some great pictures of her! But alas, I only have some from the last few years.

I was 13 when Janna was born, she makes me feel old daily as she is now a University student; I used to babysit her!! Now I think she might actually be a little bit taller than I am.

She wants to be an anthropologist and loves all things Egypt (well she did last time I saw her, maybe it's changed now). She loves Chancers (our old Chocolate Lab that my parents adopted when we moved to NYC). She has been a vegetarian of sorts for most of her life. One of the funniest things I remember about her was one Sunday night, everyone was over for dinner, we were having some sort of beef product that Janna didn't want to eat. This was at the very beginning of her no meat days so she was around 10. I asked her if she would just take one bite and if she didn't like it, she didn't have to eat it. She screwed up her face, looked right at me and said, "Auntie Mel, how would you like it if I cut out your eyeball and ate it??" Oh, it still makes me laugh today. I don't get to see her a lot anymore since I have moved away from home, but every now and again she will type me a hello on Facebook..she used to think I was cool once upon a time. She wanted this blog to be about how she is the awesomest niece ever, and she would be...if she were my only niece! But she is the most awesome 18 (almost 19) year old nice I have. Although, once she sees this and the pictures that follow, she'll probably hate me (just be glad I don't have your baby pictures on here!!).

Many moons ago, one Christmas Eve (she's the tallest one).

Being a sullen faced teenager.

She has the cutest, best smile of anyone I know!

Showing off her moves in the dance recital.

Growing up so fast!!

Being silly...she is the best silly girl ever!

Reading to her cousin...T sure loves Janna! She can't wait to see her at Christmas time!

Janna, you know I love you and you are awesome!! You'll always be my favourite, awesomest, oldest niece I have! And don't worry, I won't tell Auntie Lisa that I am your favourite Aunt!

You better be home a lot when we come up for Christmas Janna Banana! None of this hanging out with your boyfriend instead! Love you!!

Happy Thoughts

First there was this:

(Dawson's Creek, for those not in the know)

Then came:

(The Skulls....Walker and Jackson, could it be a bad movie??)

And now:

(Fringe)

For every stage of my life, Joshua Jackson is always there...could I ask for anything more? :o) How do you mark the stages in your life?

Does this face look 29?

10.11.1978

Well it is!!
Mark turns the ripe old age of 29 today and here are some of the faces only a mother could love!

Happy Birthday Mark!! I hope your day is great and that you get everything you wish for - even a mid afternoon Zinger and Coke Zero snack!
Hope you all enjoy the montage of Mark pictures (sadly I don't have the guts to put up the really good ones).

Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!!
You look like a Monkey,
and you act like one too!

Happy Birthday, Love you!!! :o)

Fondue, Fun and Friends!

So, in the quest for discovering the perfect blog topic to rocket me into blogosphere celebrity, I have discovered that I am stumped. Not sure any of my topics would interest more than the handful of folks who peruse these ramblings every now and again.

With that in mind, here are the events of the last few weeks.

For our anniversary, Mark sent me a beautiful arrangement of roses and calla lillies (thank you!) and then we went to see The Simpsons movie for our anniversary... I know, I know ROMANTIC, you're all jealous. But we did have THE most fabulous dinner EVER.

Words can not describe the joy of a night filled with cheese, oil and chocolate fondue. Raspberry Chocolate fondue no less. We stuffed ourselves silly, and then Mark asked for some more bananas to scoop up the remaining chocolate - you can't let it go to waste no matter how much you feel like your stomach is about to explode! A good night all around.

Then bright and early Monday morning, I was off for a few days of girls only fun! I met up with my most awesomest friend Dana in San Francisco. My flight was only a little delayed, so once I got in, we met up and off we went for 4 days of fun, shopping, eating, and more shopping of course! Neither of us had been to San Fran before and we hadn't had a great girls trip since the infamous Winnipeg to Jacksonville Girls Trip of 2000, so this was long overdue! We were able to score a sweet hotel (too bad our room didn't portray that sweetness - I'll leave the sordid details out, but all I need to say is "thin walls") in a great location, so once we got checked in we were off... to the Cheesecake Factory for lunch!! How much better does it get than having a CF on top of a Macy's? So naturally, after eating, we shopped and shopped and shopped. Too bad we never went back to the hotel with any bags!

The next morning we narrowly made our boat out to Alcatraz (Dana and I are debating entering the next Speed Walkers Olympics!), and enjoyed a day on "The Rock", after which we wandered around the Wharf, ate some sourdough bread, Ghiradelli's hot fudge sundaes, watched the Sea Lions, and ripped every muscle in our calves from walking up and down cliff sized streets. A little old lady pushing a stroller passed by us as we rested our sorry butts on some stairs!! I don't know if I have ever seen a steeper street than on the way up to see the crooked part of Lombard Street (and I have climbed Bear's Hump!! You Canadians know what I mean!).

We saw the Golden Gate Bridge, walked part way across it (we didn't know what we would find on the other side!) encountered a man with diarrhea on the bus (NOT fun), killed the battery on my camera, shopped more, found this great little Italian place in North Beach with a hot waiter, and just had a ton o' fun! I highly recommend girl's only trips!

Since then it has been back to the grind, just working and shopping for appliances and furniture; Which I am happy to say, WE ARE DONE!! Well we need to get some curtains, but I think I know what I want. We've probably spent every weekend for the last month and a half going out every Saturday to "shop" for appliances, a table and a couch.

We are excited though, only a week and a half until we close and can get out of apartment living. The last nail in the coffin occurred Monday morning. Mark left for work about 6:45 and shortly after, he called to tell me to take the elevator down, not the stairs. Apparently two residence-challenged folk were camped out on our stairs. Not a huge deal, right? It is when they are sleeping INSIDE your interior staircase that does not open from the outside!! Mark had to step over both of them to get down the stairs. A little freaky, and you just hope no one wakes up as you are lifting your leg up over them!!

We are more than ready for all that comes with being a homeowner!

So, I guess my search for the blog topic to make me a household name continues -I'll take some suggestions if anyone has some.

And that brings you up to speed with the Smith's!

5+4+3=6

5 homes: Quincy Ave, 250 South, Seaman Avenue, River Road, and 8th Street + 4 cities: Ogden, Washington Terrace, New York, and Minneapolis + 3 States: Utah, New York, and Minnesota = 6 years and counting!

What a great six years it has been. I am so lucky to have married my best friend, someone who makes me laugh, supports me, offers me the first bite of his pomegranite ice cream bar and lets me listen to Mr. Roboto at full blast anytime it comes on.
People (mainly us) might question how in the world we wound up together, but I don't think there could be a more perfect match.
Thank you for everything you have done, and everything you will do for me.
I look forward to the next six years and everything that comes with it. I love you Mark, Happy Anniversary!

8.10.2001