tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254200342024-03-13T16:08:44.251-04:00fuschiafoot.Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04262871516977143645noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25420034.post-44727178643295503672008-10-27T23:12:00.001-04:002008-10-27T23:12:48.286-04:00over here!<a href="http://fuschiafoot.tumblr.com">Tumblr.</a>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04262871516977143645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25420034.post-22644646349730023692008-04-03T17:40:00.002-04:002008-04-03T17:41:56.269-04:00ha.I never ever update here. I've never put enough time into Blogger to even really know how it works! :) It's not very user-friendly to me. <br /><br />You can, however, keep up with me here: <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fuschia_foot">Flickr</a>.<br /><a href="http://www.twitter.com/fuschiafoot">Twitter</a>.Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04262871516977143645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25420034.post-55028602347684821972007-05-09T00:44:00.000-04:002007-05-09T00:45:50.351-04:00123 & upLife has been CUHRAZY busy lately. Before my life revolved around OD, and I created a life for myself online. Now I'd rather that my life be played out IRL, and just document it here. It wasn't always like that, and I'm glad it's like that now. I'm just upset that I don't have more time to write! On with the pictures...<br /><br />123/365, at BW3's as a going away for a coworker, Kate. It was almost awkward because pretty much no one showed up:<br /><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/185/483520823_1c30c400ef.jpg?v=0" alt="" /><br /><br />124/365, scrubbing shelves in the cafe; there was NOTHING to do Friday, Saturday or Sunday, so I made up jobs for myself. <br /><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/221/487740585_48b444a378.jpg?v=0" alt="" /><br /><br />125/365, I picked this for my 365. I thought it was appropriate and captured the day:<br /><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/220/487699202_e129a88475.jpg?v=0" alt="" /><br /><br />126/365, Adam and I went to watch a softball game on Sunday. A bunch of people from my job are on a team and it was fun to watch, although I did dub it (affectionally) a clusterfuck. But it's just for fun and therefore amusing to watch. Afterwards we went with some people to Pepe's and chatted and snacked. It was a good time and the sky was soooo beautiful:<br /><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/199/490676846_45ce3011b9.jpg?v=0" alt="" /><br /><br />These are bananas that got sent over to the cafe. We get fruit on Mondays. HELLO, these are greener than GREEN. Cathy said "The bananas are green!" But I had no idea how green they were, and then I HAD to take a picture. They're in a bag ripening up now.<br /><br /><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/205/490692181_c185b7b9f8.jpg?v=0" alt="" /><br /><br />127/365, I actually washed the Fusion yesterday. It was hot outside and the car was filthy, so I dragged out the hose, threw on my bikini top and went to work:<br /><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/189/490676940_db0354a8a4.jpg?v=0" alt="" /><br /><br />Rejects: <br /><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/199/490677680_4c6182bb1b.jpg?v=0" alt="" /><br /><br /><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/231/490691459_a43edca597.jpg?v=0" alt="" /><br /><br />Adam seeded some parts of our ghetto lawn, so he has to water it now: <br /><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/176/490680998_a64e19a1ac.jpg?v=0" alt="" /><br /><br />After yummy Panera and some errand running (baseball supplies), we topped at a little car lot where they were working on tricking out this Monte: <br /><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/193/490694399_2ebe7e4450.jpg?v=0" alt="" /><br /><br />While I was sitting in the car and Adam was checking out a car on the lot, this was quickly approaching all shady-like, so I locked the doors using my foot and snapped this pic: <br /><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/213/490696205_856e3a2756.jpg?v=0" alt="" /><br /><br />We went to the Cingular store today where I caved and just got a frickin' free phone already. Check out my sweet old phone on the right: <br /><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/226/490682856_a30445c45a.jpg?v=0" alt="" /><br /><br />128/365, sitting in the car waiting for Adam:<br /><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/194/490677958_eef420b490.jpg?v=0" alt="" /><br /><br />To round off the evening, here's a reject: we played catch in the front yard for awhile. I have a tendency to try to hide from the ball. Great! in this pic I was just posing with my glove, but Adam rolled the baseball into the frame just as it snapped the pic (see by my foot):<br /><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/230/490690581_3718597297_b.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br />And that's about it for now! Except: currently obsessed with Timbaland in general, but "The Way I Are" specifically.Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04262871516977143645noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25420034.post-1396845382012198992007-05-07T01:22:00.000-04:002007-05-07T01:23:45.732-04:0024 Hours of FlickrCheck out my <a href="http://www.flickr.com/gp/89665467@N00/984qC3">24 Hours of Flickr</a> photoset! Over 20,000 people participated in this event around the world. I still need to pick one photo to submit to the group, so your input is appreciated!Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04262871516977143645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25420034.post-91920365391405716812007-04-30T23:26:00.000-04:002007-04-30T23:44:24.729-04:00fantasylandI've had these certain fantasies or ideals throughout my life. I'm not sure where they came from, but through talks with my sister I've discovered she has some of the same. It must have been through a series of events in our childhood that made us kindred in this way. Or maybe it's just genetics because we're sisters.<p>In any case, I've always had this fantasy... (I'm pretty sure it stems from watching Dirty Dancing and the like.) When we have kids I dream of being the type of people to have a vacation home on a lake... it doesn't have to be anything extravagant; in fact, the cheaper and more quaint the better. Rustic, even. I want to have somewhere that, during the summer months, I pack up the kids and the dogs and we live at the lake house and Adam comes up on the weekends and joins us (because somebody has to bring home the bacon while I take care of the kids, duh!). During the week we build sandcastles and swim and tan and read books and do puzzles and play Monopoly and grill out and sleep on the enclosed screen porch and climb trees and take hikes and ride bikes and go out on paddle boats and listen to music and make new friends and I sit out on the porch drinking iced tea and crocheting something or reading a book while I'm nursing the youngest baby and watch them play in the dirt and make mudpies and I don't care how dirty they are because they're having <i>so much fun</i>.<p>It's been on my mind a lot lately. I guess because that's something I wish I could have done growing up and something I really would have enjoyed and I think anybody would enjoy. I don't even have kids yet and I'm already worried about them having a <i>real</i> childhood. I want my kids to be <i>kids</i>. Anyway, enough fantasyland! I can picture the cabin in my head already. :) <p>120/365:<p><img src=http://farm1.static.flickr.com/176/479335856_387f9f2f98.jpg?v=0>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04262871516977143645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25420034.post-2075541897808077152007-04-30T01:02:00.000-04:002007-04-30T01:09:10.644-04:00Sunday busy SundayRight now Adam and I are zipping along the Kennedy expressway doing 70mph. It's only three minutes to the circle, but that's not really a surprise as it's 9:15 on a Sunday evening. It’s kind of a freaky sensation to feel the car lurching and floating and accelerating while I’m busy focusing on this bright computer screen. <p><br />I took the laptop with me because I thought I could work on my 365 pictures and videos while we were driving and kill two birds with one stone. That way, when I get home, I only have to upload the pictures and I’m done. That sort of worked; editing the photos isn’t working as well because of the jerking around, and I can’t really tell what color things are on this screen when it jitters. It will have to wait until I get home. <p><br />Adam just informed me, “I kind of got stuck in this lane. I have no idea where it’s going!” The Dan Ryan construction is different every time we go into the city, so I could only shrug. I don’t really care; we’ll get home when we get home. He just groaned “UGH, do you smell that White Castle?!” I had to inform him it’s not White Castle, it’s Chicago’s famous Maxwell Street Polish. The aroma of mustard and grilled onions hangs over the expressway like a fog when you come out of the circle. It’s either mouth-watering or nauseating; today it does kind of smell delicious.<p><br />118/365, at the baseball game:<p><img src=http://farm1.static.flickr.com/195/477887972_f4d6e800e1.jpg?v=0><p><br />I got to finish my book, Fire Along the Sky by Sara Donati while I was at the game yesterday. I love, love, LOVE her as an author. It really feels like I’m THERE with the characters, like I’m another person living in Paradise with them, dealing with the things they deal with. She’s just really a master at what she does. There’s another book after that one in the Wilderness series, but I’m not sure if it’s done yet. I have horrible fears of “Oh my God. What if she was to DIE before finishing the series?! Could I even handle that!?” I feel like the characters actually existed. I told Adam so many of the characters are so wise and always know exactly the right thing to say/do (of course) but then it dawned on me that the author is also that wise—because she’s the one writing what they say. It makes me jealous. And also makes me want to move to the middle of frickin’ nowhere.<img src=http://farm1.static.flickr.com/210/477890662_6bf6abcf73.jpg?v=0><p><br />This morning, now that Adam had to sit out a game, we got up late (AGAIN) and then worked in the yard. It was supposed to be warm, so I wore a bikini top and a pair of my favorite workout shorts and a bandana and we finally got a lot of our railroad tie project done. FINALLY. We bought the supplies (mulch, weed paper, railroad ties, nails, etc) back in the fall. I didn’t want to see all of it sit around for months, but sit it did. We’ve had piles of bags of mulch in the backyard since September or something silly like that. Finally today we got some of the railroad tie beds done and then I put down the mulch.<p>119/365, posing with a truck I spied for Adam's dad:<p><img src=http://farm1.static.flickr.com/196/477909427_7fd1423edc.jpg?v=0><p>Before:<p><img src=http://farm1.static.flickr.com/209/477916735_505fc81b3c.jpg?v=0><p>After:<p><img src=http://farm1.static.flickr.com/192/477912761_300739b3eb.jpg?v=0><p><br />OMG. Listening to this “Home Again” pet recovery system on the radio is just obnoxious, especially with the “Reunited and it feels so good” song at the end. I mean, it’s great your pet is back. But… seriously? Now it has adam singing it out loud. GREAT! <p>More YouTube:<object width="530" height="370"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/p/F545EE21736CFB56"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/p/F545EE21736CFB56" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="530" height="370"></embed></object>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04262871516977143645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25420034.post-22850910450216227382007-04-27T23:47:00.000-04:002007-04-27T23:58:55.109-04:00neglectedI've seriously been neglecting this blog! I wish I could say I've been keeping up with my other blogs, but I haven't. I've been so busy that I haven't been doing much online outside of checking the people I read and doing my 365s.<p>I'm still doing my 365 photo project over at Flickr. You can find all of my pictures <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fuschia_foot/sets/72157594455592922/">here</a>. I can't believe I'm already up to day 117!</p><p>I've decided to try a new project using YouTube. I'm mimicking the 365 Flickr project in that I'm going to be taking a short video clip of myself every day. I'm not planning on it being anything exciting and instead very much Day In The Life. I'm working my way toward being a web celeb, gosh! :) You can check out my videos (all two of them!) below:</p><p><object height="370" width="530"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/p/F545EE21736CFB56"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/p/F545EE21736CFB56" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="370" width="530"></embed></object></p>There's not a whole lot of new things to report about in my life. I got Adam to join a baseball league, so most of our summer weekends are going to be taken up with that (I hope!). I haven't been able to attend any more births as a doula--I've been on call a few times, but have mostly been too busy/unable to be on call. We're down to 1 car and it's going to be extra hard to volunteer now. <p>Enough of this boring post!Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04262871516977143645noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25420034.post-79145167365354766692007-02-20T22:37:00.000-05:002007-02-20T22:38:26.308-05:0051/365<img src=http://farm1.static.flickr.com/129/397194032_ee0acc9654.jpg?v=0><p>I's all about the hat here: the other day the dogs ate my Puma hat. I was pretty upset, as this only left me with a pink Notre Dame hat to wear to work. It gets old quickly. Adam yesterday surprised me and said "I got you a Puma hat!" and presented me with this. I immediately thought the green Puma logo looked a bit jewel-toned... and Adam said "I Sharpied the Puma!!"<br /><br />Yeah; he couldn't find me a green Puma hat, so he Sharpied--no, dry-erase-markered--the Puma on the hat, just for me. :) When I told people this at work they all thought it was ADORABLE and said I have the cutest husband EVER.<br /><br />Pretty much.Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04262871516977143645noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25420034.post-33723024110947846182007-02-19T19:06:00.000-05:002007-02-19T19:11:30.431-05:00my mom :)Not my favorite picture of her, but I can't find any scans and I'm too lazy to scan one in... :) This is me as a baby, freshly born in a hospital! :) The story of my birth is pretty typical--my mom's water broke, and my dad insisted she couldn't possibly be right and made her call HIS mom to confirm that her water had, in fact, broke. They drove to the hospital and had me with NO DRUGS. My mom didn't have any sort of drugs for any of us that I'm aware of. (Sidebar: my youngest sister was breech and they "let" my mom birth her vaginally, which I think is awesome, considering.) <p><img src=http://images1.snapfish.com/3494%3B656%3B%7Ffp46%3Dot%3E232%3C%3D938%3D%3C4%3A%3DXROQDF%3E2323549%3B9%3A973ot1lsi><p>Just for kicks, the new parents with ME, their first born! (You can really see "me" in this pic.) <p><img src=http://images1.snapfish.com/3494%3B656%3B%7Ffp46%3Dot%3E232%3C%3D938%3D%3C4%3A%3DXROQDF%3E2323549%3B9%3B748ot1lsi>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04262871516977143645noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25420034.post-72989046272591631612007-01-13T22:00:00.000-05:002007-01-13T22:01:07.515-05:00the great bedroom remodel!Well, we finally remodeled our bedroom. I created a <a href="http://www.flickr.com/gp/89665467@N00/o3Y784">Flickr photoset</a> to show the whole process!!Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04262871516977143645noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25420034.post-18860097496828772072007-01-12T17:15:00.000-05:002007-01-12T17:16:14.940-05:00envy.This is my 11/365 picture. I'm doing 'the seven deadly sins' this week, and yesterday was envy. GREEN with envy. <p><img src=http://farm1.static.flickr.com/127/354243361_95a2a5aa24.jpg?v=0>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04262871516977143645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25420034.post-10209295791495662722007-01-07T11:59:00.000-05:002007-01-07T12:06:54.160-05:00365I decided to rise to the challenge of 365 self portraits in 2007. So far:<p>1/365:<p><img src=http://farm1.static.flickr.com/155/343345105_0a3adeb392.jpg?v=0><p>2/365:<p><img src=http://farm1.static.flickr.com/156/343345225_29a2a44c03.jpg?v=0><p>3/365:<p><img src=http://farm1.static.flickr.com/138/344675915_7c225958ee.jpg?v=0><p>4/365<p><img src=http://farm1.static.flickr.com/146/345970102_fc2c828663.jpg?v=0><p>5/365<p><img src=http://farm1.static.flickr.com/163/347197286_2c7defa6a0.jpg?v=0><p>6/365<p><img src=http://farm1.static.flickr.com/134/348301127_f3194ef472.jpg?v=0><p>7/365<p><img src=http://farm1.static.flickr.com/160/349139753_066fef92ed.jpg?v=0><p>And you can always check it out daily on my Flickr, along with everyone else who is contributing (including my good friends and sister!): http://www.flickr.com/photos/fuschia_foot/Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04262871516977143645noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25420034.post-31644428207904209642006-12-26T18:19:00.000-05:002006-12-26T18:20:38.999-05:00B rocksB said she got me something really cool for Christmas. I almost didn't believe her, but she she whipped this out!<br /><br /><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/159/332556658_e446437e13.jpg?v=0" />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04262871516977143645noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25420034.post-61734276595466115422006-12-15T20:51:00.000-05:002006-12-15T21:16:42.728-05:0050, aka Ferrari, F-50<span style="font-size:85%;">1. Height? 5'3. It's really like 5'3 1/2, but I always leave off the 1/2, I'm not that type of person.<br /><br />2. Have you ever smoked heroin? No.<br /><br />3. Do you own a gun? A few.<br /><br />4. Do you have a b/f, g/f? I have a husband. Sidebar: I don't know if I've ever really referred to Adam as my boyfriend, even when we were sort of dating or whatever. It was always weird; and he was always just 'Adam', which was nice. Boyfriend always sounded so middle school. ;)<br /><br />5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? No. I don't go to the doctor that much.<br /><br />6. What do you think of hot dogs? Well, here's the thing. I could so easily be a vegetarian (if it weren't for the occasional steak craving) and a lot of meat really grosses me out. But GOD I love a good hot dog!!! I think my brain just blocks out the possibilities of the hot dog's contents and instead just focuses on "Mmmm, it's so bad for you, but it tastes so good!"<br /><br />7. What's your favorite Christmas song? I have one, and the lyrics and title of it eludes me. It's a hymn, and I can't think of it for the life of me. I hate when it's just on the edge of conciousness and I can't grasp it.<br /><br />8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Water.<br /><br />9. Can you do push-ups? If it were life or death, maybe. Otherwise, not so much.<br /><br />10. Is your bathroom clean? It's not dirty. It's not tidy either.<br /><br />11. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? My engagement ring, of course. (It's vintage and the epitome of what I always wanted in a ring.)<br /><br />12. Do you like painkillers? Nowadays I prefer the all natural route. In the past I would lunge for my ibuprofen (600mg minimum, please).<br /><br />13. What is your secret weapon to lure in the opposite sex? My curls or my hips.<br /><br />14. Do you have A.D.D.? No, but sometimes I act like I do.<br /><br />16. Middle Name? MarthaMarie. (Still can't believe my parents dared to combine the first names of both of my grandmothers into one name with multiple capitals. If you knew my parents... you would understand.)<br /><br />17. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment? I love how the dogs are flipping out yet ADAM HAS THE GLOCK, oh wait I have a Doberman, but he's the spazziest Doberman ever and probably wouldn't even attack!!!<br /><br />18. Name the last 3 things you have bought? Gas, a candy cane smoothie, Jamba Juice.<br /><br />19. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? Water, water, and water.<br /><br />22. Current worry? Not getting the bedroom completed in 2006.<br /><br />23. Current hate? This is fabulous: none!!! In the past I could have given you a frickin laundry list. But that was my old life!<br /><br />24. Favorite place to be? Before it was always "home, asleep" but now it's like "work, home, car, playing doula..." see previous paragraph, "But that was my old life!"<br /><br />26. Where would you like to go? Everywhere!! I really want to go out of the country soon.<br /><br />27. Do you own slippers? I probably have some lurking in the basement, but they're not my footsies right now, no (and actually I woud love some for Christmas).<br /><br />28. What shirt are you wearing? A magenta longer length Old Navy ribbed tank with a brown vintage super thin long sleeved chocolate brown henley over it.<br /><br />29. Do you burn or tan? I used to tan, even on bc, but now I sort of burn first. And then tan. But it's weird to get pink.<br /><br />30. Favorite color(s)? If you know me... you know it's green. All the time.<br /><br />31. Would you be a pirate? Pirates are super fun this year and I think I could make a sexy pirate, so yes.<br /><br />33. What songs do you sing in the shower? Lately it's been Nelly Furtado "Maneater". I play the CD when Im' getting ready in the morning.<br /><br />34. What did you fear was going to get you at night as a child? Stuff under my bed, shadows under the door. I used to visualize hands coming up over the sides of my bed looking for me. Pretty morbid stuff.<br /><br />35. What's in your pockets right now? I have no p ockets. I'm in my pjs that I've had for ages!<br /><br />36. Last thing that made you laugh? Oh gosh... I stayed at work an hour later today off the clock laughing my butt off because work is fun!<br /><br />37. Best bed sheets as a child? Oma's ladybug sheets.<br /><br />38. Worst injury you've ever had? Getting hit by that bike and the 7 stitches that followed. I'm still not over it, 9 years later.<br /><br />40. How many TVs do you have in your house? I think two. There might be one in the basement.<br /><br />41. Who is your loudest friend? I wouldn't use that term to describe any of them really.<br /><br />42. Who is your most silent friend? Again... wouldn't use that term to describe any of them really. Well, maybe Kelly; but she's more of a plotter when silent I think.<br /><br />43. Does someone have a crush on you? I'd hope Adam does.<br /><br />44. Do you wish on shooting stars? I've never seen a shooting star!<br /><br />45. What is your favorite book? I'll list my favorite author: Anita Shreve. I have so many favorite books...<br /><br />46. What is your favorite candy? CHOCOLATE. Anything, just gimme!<br /><br />47. What song do/did you want played at your wedding? I was going to have Sunflower River Blues playing as my wedding party went down the aisle and then we didn't have a wedding, so that's that.<br /><br />48. What song do you want played at your funeral? Probably Coldplay, "Kingdom Come" and other assorted tunes.<br /><br />49. What were you doing 12 AM last night? Sleeping!<br /><br />50. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up this morning? "Is Adam leaving already?" and then when I woke up the next time "What was that?!!?!" (baby gate crashing from the cats jumping on it" and then when I woke up the next time "UGH, do I REALLY have to get up and pee now!? I just want to sleep!" </span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04262871516977143645noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25420034.post-925194507069548012006-12-07T20:55:00.000-05:002006-12-07T21:01:44.655-05:00yanked from Stephanie<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 100%; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong>A</strong> - Available or Single? Hrm. I'm married!<br /><br /><strong>B</strong> - Best Friend? Adam, B, and Anna. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><a href="http://newmamasnest.blogspot.com/"></a><br /><br /><strong>C</strong> - Cake or Pie? I love cake! I also make a delicious cake. I don't like pie!<br /><br /><strong>D </strong>- Drink of Choice? Water, mostly.<br /><br /><strong>E</strong> - Essential Item you use every day? MOUSSE! I don't want no 'fro, yo.<br /><br /><strong>F</strong> - Favorite Color(s)? Green. If you know me IRL, you know this.<br /><br /><strong>G</strong> - Gummy Bears or Worms? I haven't had anything gross like that in a long time.<br /><br /><strong>H</strong> - Hometown? Chicago! (South Side!)<br /><br /><strong>I </strong>- Indulgence? Chocolate. All the time.<br /><br /><strong>J </strong>- January or February? I guess January. I got married in January. (I not-so-secretly hate that I got married in January. It's just such a crappy month. I forget my anniversary all the time. Or, I did. I have it memorized now.)<br /><br /><strong>K</strong> - Kids and Names? None yet, but lots some day soon. :)<br /><br /><strong>L</strong> - Life is Incomplete Without? Adam.<br /><br /><strong>M </strong>- Marriage Date? January 21st, 2005<br /><br /><strong>N</strong> - Number of Siblings? Two younger sisters, Rebekah and Anamarie.<br /><br /><strong>O</strong> - Oranges or Apples? Orange. Clementines!<br /><br /><strong>P</strong> - Phobias or Fears? Nothing too major; pretty run of the mill.<br /><br /><strong>Q </strong>- Fave Quote? "Stop thinking about it so much."<br /><br /><strong>R </strong>- Reason to Smile? Life is just good. <---I hear ya, Stephanie!!<br /><br /><strong>S</strong> - Season? SUMMER. I'm the flip flop queen.<br /><br /><strong>T</strong> - Tag Three people... I have nobody to tag.<br /><br /><strong>U </strong>- Unknown fact about me? I think everyone pretty much knows everything there is to know about me. Um... I have a birthmark on my butt! There's one that might be new.<br /><br /><strong>V</strong> - Vegetable you don't like? Brussel sprouts... I don't like cabbage either. (I'm a bad Serbian/German.)<br /><br /><strong>W</strong> - Worst Habit? Staying up late when work starts at 6:45 (and lookie here: I'm going out to BW3s tonight. Ha! I'm trying to act 21.)<br /><br /><strong>X</strong> - Xtremely BIG Husker Fan? Do I LOOK like I'm from Nebraska?<br /><br /><strong>Y </strong>- Your fave food? MEXICAN, MEXICAN, MEXICAN.<br /><br /><strong>Z</strong> - Zodiac Sign? Capricorn, and I fit the bill. </span><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04262871516977143645noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25420034.post-1165293258788896722006-12-04T23:28:00.000-05:002006-12-04T23:35:26.920-05:00my first birth!!Saturday I ran around like crazy, including to the gym for an hour and a half workout. When I was at PetsMart (haha, mispelled it 'pestmart' first) my mentor called me--she had a woman in labor requesting a doula!<br /><br />So, I rushed home, changed my shirt, and went to the hospital. My mentor and I went in together. I was happy that we made it there around the same time--since it was my first birth I didn't want to go in alone. I could do it if necessary but I wasn't exactly looking forward to it.<br /><br />The parents were really, really friendly and had a doula with their first child. They were funny and liked to joke a lot. We were even laughing through contractions. She even had a page from her job at one point during labor and CALLED SOMEONE ABOUT IT during a contraction. Literally huffing and puffing "I'm in labor! Please take care of this!" Hilarious. My mentor led me through some things but after about an hour she was only in the room occasionally and was seeing if I needed anything to drink/eat, etc.<br /><br />She was stuck at 3cm for a long time so we walked the halls, did lunges with the birth ball, did rolling exercises on the birth ball to open her hips and eventually used Pitocin, which of coursed kicked up her contractions considerably. We then made good use of the birth tub. She claimed she was still in the same amount of pain but outwardly she was handling the contractions much better, even if she didn't realize it.<br /><br />The doctor had to be pulled from a Christmas party and everyone was freezing on the floor so the doctor was sitting on a birth ball wrapped in a blanket in the corner of the bathroom while mom was in the birth tub and we were all sitting around chatting. It was really neat--and as I told Adam, not at all uncomfortable for me to be around a totally naked woman in labor. It felt completely natural.<br /><br />After the tub we got back in bed and she had eventually progressed to 5cm but stalled out there. Pitocin made everything worse so she eventually wanted Stadol for the pain, she had used it before and liked it. Her husband had to massage her back through every contraction, otherwise she flipped out--touch can be so important in labor. The whole time I would be stroking her arm and guiding her through breathing, as she had a tendency to tense up. I would hold her hands and tell her to relax her fingers--she wanted to make fists but that creates tension in your body, so I tried to keep her loose.<br /><br />Eventually she said Stadol did nothing for her (although outwardly I could see her contractions had less of a peak) so she requested an epidural. I had wanted her to change positions but she wasn't having any of that. Luckily a nurse told her she had to pee before they came to administer the epidural, so gravity was on our side there. When she moved the nurse said "Wait! You have a lot of bloody show, let me check you!" and suddenly she was 6-7. The woman came in to do the epidural and the nurse said "Let me check her one more time." This is about five minutes after the last check, and now she's 8-9! With the next contraction we told her to push and the head was RIGHT THERE, so we said "Epidural is pointless! Let's try doing this without!"<br /><br />My mentor and I held her legs for her (unfortunately, she was in the 'stranded beetle' position) while she pushed. Ten minutes and three pushes later we had a healthy baby boy! It was really amazing to be so close to a live birth, my first ever. I don't think it will ever get old. I still can't believe that's REALLY how we get babies! Totally mind-blowing. The dad had my mentor and I take a picture with her and we said "You don't have to!" and the mom says (like a minute after birth!!) "No, we HAVE to have a picture of YOU, of all people!!!" my mentor and I stayed over an hour afterward to help establish breastfeeding. He was pretty cranky/weird about latching but eventually got the hang of it and nursed for over 20 minutes on one side. Mom repeatedly said she couldn't have done it without me and that the massage I did was awesome. The doctor attending thanked me several times. My mentor even came in mid-labor to tell me that the doctor had said she really liked me, which is a REALLY good thing.<br /><br />Afterward my mentor asked me what I felt was the hardest thing, and I said I wouldn't classify anything that happened as 'hard'. I felt like maybe I could have been a little more supportive vocally but that will come with time. It was somewhat awkward saying "You're doing such a great job. PERFECT breathing" over and over, and there was a time when mom just didn't need any more vocal praise and I could sense that and didn't say anything to her except to guide her through her contractions. I told my mentor I think my biggest hurdle will be supporting breastfeeding, I feel totally unprepared for that, although I did notice mom trying to bring herself to the baby when the cardinal rule of latching/feeding is always bring baby to breast, not vice versa. I also told my mentor I would feel comfortable going into a birth alone--i.e., if I get there before her next time I'm fine introducing myself/getting started.<br /><br />I left the hospital at 3am, got home around 3:30 and went to bed around 4. Long night! I was with her for ten hours, pretty much nonstop, aside from one bathroom break and one trip to get some chocolate from the breakroom to keep me going. Today I ran over to my mom's and got a bib/receiving blanket set to give as a token gift and then went to do my postpartum visit, where they totally *insisted* that I hold the baby saying "If anyone should hold him, it's you!" We relived some parts of the birth, and I told her she did an AMAZING job--and she did, she went from 5cm to complete in an hour!! She went from 7 to 10 in about 15 minutes or so. And then only push for 10 minutes--she really was working hard and it showed.<br /><br />Overall, a really pleasant birth experience, especially considering the hospital setting. I couldn't have asked for a better mom my first time either--she was very willing to do whatever we suggested, which really helped her out a lot overall. I can't wait until I get called to another birth! I'm on call every weekend but not next weekend, I have a lot of things going on. Exciting!! I feel like I can really say I'm a doula now, even though it was just one birth. :)<br /><br />Today we had our monthly doula meeting and as I finished sharing this story with the other volunteer doulas, my mentor left the table and came up behind me with this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/103/314605309_c7d3ef17f1.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/103/314605309_c7d3ef17f1.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/108/314605409_2b6a81febe.jpg?v=0"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/108/314605409_2b6a81febe.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The family totally got me a gift basket!! I was blown away, and so touched. It couldn't have been a better first birth experience!!Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04262871516977143645noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25420034.post-1162743004984154142006-11-05T11:09:00.000-05:002006-11-05T11:10:05.003-05:00vacation recap, installment three<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Tuesday, October 17th</span><br />Up at a decent hour, ate maple doughnuts and peeled an orange with my bare hands. I managed to seperate my nail from my finger. That HURTS, and it smarted for the rest of the day. Of course Opa followed this up with a story of a woman he knew who got a terrible, hospital-stay-inducing infection from peeling an orange with her fingers. Lovely! <br /><br />We headed out and called every Enterprise in Spokane. NO CARS. Finally I told Adam to call the regional office, this was just ridiculous! So, he did, and the regional office lit a fire under the branche's asses to get them moving on securing a new car for us. <br /><br />We used a REAL MAP the entire time we were in Spokane. It was fun--normally I rely on MapQuest to get me places, but they inevitably let me down. I felt like a grownup using a real map to figure out where we were going! We went to Bowl & Pitcher. It's at a pretty park in Spokane. <br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoa%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0lGnGlqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoa%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoa%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0lGnGeqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoa%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0lGnlPqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br />We walked on the swinging bridge, which I remember vividly from childhood vacations.<br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0lGnloqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0lGnllqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoa%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0lGnePqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoa%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoa%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0lGnaoqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoa%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br />The planks on the bridge are not very close together. You couldn't ride a bike on it or wear any sort of heeled shoe there (like my favorite boots). You get to watch the water rushing under your feet if you glance down, and that's pretty creepy, especially since I'm not a fan of water. Adam (of course) had to shake and jump on the bridge to make us rock and jump all over the place. OF COURSE. <br /><br />While we were there we got a call from Enterprise saying they had a car for us, thank GOD. We went to "Francois Ave"--the Enterprise list had it listed as that but it was really Francis Ave. Francois doesn't really fit the Spokane image, so we were puzzled as to how to get there. When we got there, they traded us for a 2007 Dodge Caliber with something like 1800 miles. Now that's more like it!! <br /><br />We were hungry, so we headed in the general direction of Mt. Spokane and ate at Cinola's in Mead. We had really yummy calzones. I'm craving one now; it was made out of phyllo dough or something similar and very flaky and cheesy and delicious. Mmmm. It was a clear day, so we went to Mt. Spokane. Growing up we always drove to the top of the mountain but we always went in July/August. I've never been out west in the fall, and the road was closed halfway up the mountain!! We parked the car and got out and walked. I had brought my walking shoes so I changed into those. <br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0lGna0qpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br />(our rental car from a ways up)<br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoa%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0lGnaaqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoa%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoa%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0lGnanqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoa%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0elJn0qpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0elGQPqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0elGQeqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br />A ski path/route/whatever you call it. I can't imagine skiing down this slope! Yikes. <br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoa%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0elGPlqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoa%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br />We live in the wrong region. <br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoa%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0elGo0qpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoa%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br />While we were trekking up the mountain we encountered two Church of Latterday Saints elders in suits (one was wearing a name tag that said "Elder Winters") and we took their pictures for them and they took one of us. <br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0elG0JqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br />We all shook hands and wished each other a good day. It was really odd. I mean, we were the only people on the side of a mountain.<br /><br />We kept trekking along. Finally I said "Two hundred steps more, and then we stop!" Well, we both counted silently and here's where Adam stopped in relation to where I stopped. It's funny: <br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoa%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0elG0eqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoa%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br />Why the road was closed: <br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoa%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0elGJPqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoa%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0elGJlqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br />We tried to walk all the way to the top, but once we encountered snow and huge paw prints we turned back! This is ADAM'S foot for size comparison (size 13 extra wide):<br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoa%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0elGGJqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoa%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br /> We walked for about an hour up the road on the mountain, but then decided to walk down the SIDE of the mountain on the way back. This was because we could see our rental car quite clearly from where we were on the road, so it must be pretty close, right? Well, it was, time-wise; it took us about 15 minutes to walk down the side of the mountain back to the car. BUT I was slipping and sliding and avoiding boulders left and right. It's tall mountain grass covered in snow, for heaven's sake. STUPID. A view up about 1/4 of the way down: <br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoa%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0elGGGqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoa%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br />Adam trekking down the mountain: <br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0elGGlqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br />It was much steeper than it looks. I got muddy but it was worth it. I fell asleep on the way home (of course). <br /><br />We chatted with Mala and Opa and then went to Tony Roma's. The waitress recognized Mala from her being a teacher. That was pretty neat and random. She hasn't taught since the 70s. We had maple bars at home for dessert and then we sat around watching the World Series and chatting. <br /><br />Mala:<br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0elGlPqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br />Opa:<br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0elGlQqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br /><br />Adam read a book about Mayans. :) <br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0elGl0qpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br />Mala makes baby hats just like my mom does: <br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoa%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0elGllqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoa%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0elGeQqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br />Can you tell Mala's favorite color is blue? The exterior of their house is blue as well. I told Adam he's lucky I don't take my love of green to this extreme.Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04262871516977143645noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25420034.post-1162609242705663622006-11-03T21:57:00.000-05:002006-11-03T22:03:51.596-05:00Ashlee requested it! :)Cross-post from my OD. I'm not online much these days and I'm doing this now:<p> <img src="http://www.nanowrimo.org/NanowrimoUtils/LiveParticipant/173361.png" /><p>you know, just to torture myself, and give myself a good excuse not to do my chores. ;)Saturday, October 14th<br /></span></span>Mom and B took us to the airport. My mom actually had the audacity to suggest we take the BUS to the airport. When I said "FINE, I'll have someone else take us if it's that big of a problem!!" she back pedaled. THEN wouldn't even take her own car--she made us drive ours there and she drove it home... and then they proceeded to drive only our G6 for the rest of the week, then tried saying they didn't. Um... you put 500 miles on it. I know, because we had to check the mileage that day. I'm not stupid! <br /><br />Got to the airport early, of course. Two hours is more than enough and I won't do that again. I was reading "Rosie Dunne" by Cecilia Ahern while we were waiting to board. A woman complimented me on my hair. Right before the trip I had Mimi hack it off; shortest it's been in YEARS. I felt her make a mistake and instead of admitting it she just kept cutting it. A guy tried to cut us in the A line (of course) but I was having none of that. Adam was like "Um, Rachel..." because he kept trying to cut and then the guy said "Oh, sorry!" and Adam pushed on by. Whatever! Yes, I'm one of those people. Get in the C line! Not my fault you didn't print your boarding pass on time. (This is on Southwest with open seating.) <br /><br />We got situated (over the wing AS USUAL--we always pick over the wing, and never on purpose) and then pulled away from the gate. Then we had to go back because fo an "annunciator light" or something. It was out. Adam started demanding to get off the plane but I told him "If the pilot thought he was going to die he WOULDN'T BE FLYING!" so we stayed on the plane. Maintenance came on, changed the power box, the lights went off/flickered, and then we were on our way and we didn't lose much time. <br /><br />Watched episode #2 of season 3 of Lost together on my iPod. Finished "Rosie Dunne". I liked it but wished they weren't in their 60s at the end of the book (it started when they were 6). Browsed through SkyMall mag, some interesting stuff in there. I actually got up on the flight to use the bathroom (I normally hold it and never get out of my seat) and the pilot was in the rear of the plane yawning. HE asked ME "When do you think we're going to land?" I just smiled and said "Shouldn't YOU be telling ME?" and he laughed. Then he pulled out a flight schedule from his pocket and was rubbing his eyes and flipping through it and I said "Do you even know what flight you're on?" and he thoguht that was funny. When I was in the bathroom I realized I looked really pretty that day, and I went back over his demeanor/words and realized he was flirting with me. That made me feel cute. <br /><br />Landed at 9:30 at SeaTac. Got our luggage and went to the Enterprise desk to get our car. The guy there was not too bright. We managed to get there right as their systemwide computer system shut off, so he had to fill out the report long hand. *eye roll* We took a shuttle to Enterprise. The Fat Guy who helped us inside thought he was ohsoimportant. He was tapping our credit card on the counter to emphasize his words and it annoyed me. A girl behind the counter complimented me on my hair and told me it looked beautiful and said it really looked great with my face shape. Then Fat Guy CUT HER OFF, talked over her, and made himself look like even more of an asshole. <br /><br />We got "upgraded" to a Neon from an Aveo. The Neon had 40k miles on it. That made us leery but whatever. It seemed rickety when we left but we just kept going to Seattle. It was rainy there, of course! :) We stayed at the Day's Inn downtown. They tried to charge us $5/day to park in THEIR PARKING LOT. Puhlease. Adam schmoozed with the front desk girl and got the pass without paying for it. <br /><br />The light in the room was flickery and couldn't stay on. You get what you pay for! Ate across the street at the Hurricane Cafe, which (despite the exterior) was funky and yummy. Good waffle fries and an interesting crowd. I think it was also some Gay and Lesbian film fest that weekend. <br /><br />The TV remote doesn't work in the hotel. Adam is watching "Wacked Out Sports" and keeps trying to get me to look up but I won't. Saw some weird commercial for Proactiv where P. Diddy was saying "It moisturizes my situation... it enhances my sexy." <br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Sunday, October 15th</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></span></span></span>It was raining again (of course). Found the Argosy dock pretty easily. It was free parking on Sundays so that was nice! Got some souvenirs and a GREEN umbrella to get us through the day. <br /><br />Adam in front of the ship.<br /><br /><img src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0aJQl0nPqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" alt="" /><br /><br />We thought we missed the boarding but got on too soon with the band! They were like "Um, pretty sure only the band should be on now..." The signage/direction was really lacking. Went back inside and waited around with the rest of the passengers, then boarded to the 2nd deck with a window seat! <br /><br /><img src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoa%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0GoPJPqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoa%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" alt="" /><br /><br />Mimicking Adam...<br /><img src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0GoPGQqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" alt="" /><br /><br /><img src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0GoPlJqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" alt="" /><br /><br />I ordered an Emerald City Mojito and Adam got a Seattle Dockside (some amazing Malibu concoction). <br /><img src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoa%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0GoPe0qpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoa%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" alt="" /><br /><br />I've decided Mojitos are "my drink". Seriously. <br /><img src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6lQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0GoPenqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6aQQ%7C/of=50,332,442" alt="" /><br /><br />My Mojito, my green jacket, my new green replacement purse, my new green umbrella (and the chair is green.)<br /><img src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0GoPeoqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" alt="" /><br /><br />The buffet was yummy until our 2nd plate when Adam found a BUG in the potatoes! We were done anyway, so we just ignored it. I got a Seattle Dockside as my 2nd drink and he got a Captain and Coke. <br /><br /><img src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0GoPaJqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" alt="" /><br /><br />We went to the outside deck (when we finally found it) for some pics but it quickly got too cold. <br /><br /><img src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0GoPaaqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" alt="" /><br /><br />Adam spotted a bald eagle in the wild, though! <br /><img src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0GoPanqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" alt="" /><br /><br />Some nice people also took our picture for us. <br /><br /><img src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoa%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0Genn0qpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoa%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" alt="" /><br /><br />We cruised through Elliot Bay and Puget Sound on the cruise. It had stopped raining but it was still overcast. <br /><br /><img src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoa%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0GennnqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoa%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" alt="" /><br /><br />After the cruise we passed on our cruise picture (not very flattering) and went to Pike Place Market. <br /><br /><img src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0GaQQGqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" alt="" /><br /><br />Adam was being silly on the way over and kept flicking my umbrella and using it as a weapon (or miming that). So I got a picture of the sinister umbrella flick:<br /><br /><img src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6lQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0GaQQlqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6aQQ%7C/of=50,332,442" alt="" /><br /><br />Lots of junk shops but I did see the fish market! <br /><img src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0GaQPnqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" alt="" /><br /><br />Beautifulf lowers for really cheap there--I wanted to get some but couldn't justify fresh flowers when I would be travelling and had nowhere to put them really. <br /><br /><img src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoa%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0GaQPoqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoa%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" alt="" /><br /><br /><img src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0GaQoQqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" alt="" /><br /><br />Next stop was the Underground Tour. On the way over we went through an alley and I saw someone making a music video, and had to get a pic:<br /><br /><img src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoa%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0GaQoeqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoa%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" alt="" /><br /><br />The alley we were in:<br /><img src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0GaQonqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" alt="" /><br /><br />Statue on the way:<br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoa%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0GaQ00qpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoa%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br />Adam<br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6lQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoa%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0GaQ0JqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoa%7CRup6aQQ%7C/of=50,332,442" /><br /><br />Browsed the antique shop (lots of gorgeous Bakelite!) and Adam talked about having sex in the bathroom there. Um, no! Instead I actually used the bathroom at the tour, and there was a loud roaring sound in the bathroom that finally prompted me to say "What IS that!?" but nobody waiting in line could tell me. It was like standing by an airplane engine or something. There were a TON of people on the Underground Tour; didn't know what to expect but 3 groups of 45 definitely wasn't it. We went underground in three seperate places. Had Bruce as our tour guide (he also gave us the rundown before leaving). Lots of STUPID bathroom humor about crappers. Tour wasn't what we expected but fun all the same. The premise is Seattle has an underground city, where when they rebuilt the buildings are still down there.<br /><br />In a nutshell: they had a fire, then flooded. They rebuilt out of stone before raising the city. When they raised the city they raised the roads first 8-35 feet. So you had a TALL road in the center and you were looking in the 2nd and 3rd floor windows of buildings and the sidewalks were down below. It was obviously a hazard so they built the sidewalks level with the street, and eventually connected the buildings to the new roads, leaving the first floor of the buildings under ground. It's weird/dumb/odd/whatever. To give the shoppers underground light 100 years ago, they put skylights in the sidewalk. You can see it throughout Seattle. View from below: <br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoa%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0GaQ0GqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoa%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0GaQ0aqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br />View from above<br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoa%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0GaQJnqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoa%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br />So anywhere you see these, you know there are walkways/passages under your feet! We were under them as people were walking above.<br /><br />Adam and I during the tour: <br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoa%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0GaQGeqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoa%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br />At the end of the tour everyone puts their tour stickers ont he overherad pipes. I noted each sticker represented $11. Passed on that tour photo as well; my hair looked like CRAP from the rain/climate!!<br /><br />Headed back to our car, went to the hotel and started walking to the Space Needle. We walked quite a ways with no sign of the needle until I turned around and clearly saw it BEHIND US. Ugh! Totally went in the wrong direction! <br /><br />This is what I saw when I glanced over my shoulder: <br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6lQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0GaQeJqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6aQQ%7C/of=50,332,442" /><br /><br />This is especially embarassing since when we checked in the night before we were all "Look! You can see the Space Needle so clearly from here!! Awesome!" And totally forgot that you could see it from the hotel as we were walking!! Ended up going back to the hotel on our way back and changing our clothes. <br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoa%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0GaQelqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoa%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br />Tried to race each other in seperate elevators to get down to the 1st floor to go back to the Space Needle but I got hung up on the 3rd floor by boarding passengers. It was 2 guys and they were chattering away to each other and then mid-sentence one says "I'm really digging on your glasses!!!"<br /><br />Successfully walked to the Space Needle. Smelled some yummy Zeke's pizza en route. Took pics of some weird art thing of grass in plastic suitcased on a pallet at a fork in the road.<br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0GaQenqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0GaQaQqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0GaQaoqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6lQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoa%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0GaQaJqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoa%7CRup6aQQ%7C/of=50,332,442" /><br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0GaQnQqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6lQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoa%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0lGanoqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoa%7CRup6aQQ%7C/of=50,332,442" /><br /><br />Adam was upset he didn't know Seattle had a Science Fiction Museum. Paid for tickets for the Needle and went up to the O-Deck. Neat views! <br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoa%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0lGanJqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoa%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br />Pretty windy up there but not as bad as I was expecting. Didn't take long to walk around the deck at all--surprisingly short. Kissed on a bench for awhile--I said "Let's make out!" But Adam wasn't too into it. Boo. Went inside and read all of the facts about the Space Needle. The neatest thing that stuck out in my head is that the restaurant rotates and it's so efficient and rotates so smoothly it only takes a 1.5 horsepower engine to do it!<br /><br />My favorite part about the Space Needle was shaking my head at LED lights to see the rainfall amount. Not sure how to quite explain that. Passed on the Space Needle photo too! Asked the guy taking us down in the elevator about a good seafood place--he said "Cutters!"<br /><br />Trying to squish his head:<br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0lGaneqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br />Went back for the car and then to the waterfront again. Got pissy because Adam was driving slowly but we finally found Cutters right when we gave up.<br /><br />Waiter there was fun and kept reminding me of Mark Wahlberg with his mannerisms, not quite sure why. Started with coconut shrimp (yum) and a raspberry Mojito. YUMYUM. I've definitely found my drink!! Fish and chips for dinner for both of us... it was really good. Tipped nicely and then when I left I was a bit tipsy... we were walking on concrete pavement and right to the left of the exit there were concrete steps leading down to some shops and they're not MARKED, and I almost fell down them!!! Adam's arm shot out for me but I noticed my near-error just in time. Phew!!<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Monday, October 16th</span><br /><br />Up and out of Seattle by 6:45; light traffic on the roads. Grabbed breakfast on the run at BK instead of going somewhere cute. Stupid rental car started to shimmy at anything over 30mph. Not comfy at ALL! We started calling the shit out of Enterprise to find out where we could swap the car out. EVERY SINGLE STORE we called had NO CARS. It was infuriating. Nobody could accomodate us. One store in Mount Vernon, WA said "Hold on" and Adam was on hold for 15 minutes. He called back and the guy who was helping him was outside renting out a car. ARGH. It was so annoying. <br /><br />We decided to just chance it--after all, they'd have to come and tow us no matter where we were--so we kept going. We made it to the North Cascades... it was foggy and rainy but still beautiful. <br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoa%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0lGnQQqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoa%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoa%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0lGnQJqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoa%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0lGnQGqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br />Took some pictures at a scenic overlook and saw my first slug! <br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6lQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0lGnPQqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6aQQ%7C/of=50,332,442" /><br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0lGnPeqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br />Token "in the car picture"... like my crazy curl!? <br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoa%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0lGnoQqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoa%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br />We popped into the visitor's center but didn't learn a whole lot there. Continued on through the North Cascades and the further up we got we saw snow!! It was really exciting to be in the middle of a snow "storm" in the mountains. It was quite the winter wonderland. <br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0lGnoGqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoa%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0lGnolqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoa%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6lQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0lGnonqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6aQQ%7C/of=50,332,442" /><br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoa%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0lGn0QqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoa%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br />We came out of the Cascades and then went to get gas and they had S.L.O.W. pumps. We had to pee and get snacks, so we decided to leave it and go inside. Well, bad idea--the pumps were going so slowly they couldn't sense when the tank was full, and it freaking overflowed (this was like 15 minutes later as I was standing there). I of course got gas on my cute green Champions. OF COURSE. <br /><br />Back on the road and the stupid Neon started shifting badly. I mean surging, lurching, not wanting to shift, etc. It was horrifying. We call Enterprise AGAIN and they won't meet us halfway with a car. They won't tow a new car to us and then tow the piece of shit back. They wanted US to drive to freaking WENATCHEE, which was 88 miles away, and OUT OF OUR WAY! So we said screw it again and just kept driving it. (This is why you never buy a car that was previously a rental. It's been BEAT, people. BEAT.) After this whole thing every time I saw a sign for Wenatchee (which was frequently) I would say "Fucking WENATCHEE!" <br /><br />We went to Grand Coulee Dam. I grew up going there. Coulee was awesome... fun visitor's center with a lot of neat things in it, like a simulated jackhammer from when they built Coulee. <br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0lGn0nqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0lGnJPqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br />(you can see my shoes here)<br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoa%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0lGnJnqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoa%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br />Rental car!<br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoe%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0lGnGPqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoe%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br />We got back onto the road toward Spokane. Made good time there and got to Mala and Opa's! When we got there we had lots of hugs and then they were on the phone for a bit with my uncle Steve, who's driving long haul right now. I pulled Adam to the back window to have him look at their willow tree only to discover... it's GONE!!! The willow tree was cut down this summer and nobody told me! I spent my summer vacations fashioning the branches into tiaras, hula skirts, bracelets and necklaces galore and it's GONE. <br /><br />Everything smelled and looked the same at my grandparent's. Just like home! Memories definitely came flooding back. We had chicken enchiladas from Schwans for dinner, along with fresh carrots, tomatoes and cucumbers from Opa's garden. It was really yummy. We chatted and then went to bed at 9pm--we were beat! I did finish "First Lady" By Susan Elizabeth Phillips that night. <br /><br />Adam taking a pic of the light in my grandparent's basement:<br /><img alt="" src="http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXPoa%3F87KR6xqpxQQQnxlPGxnoexv8uOc5xQQQoa0a0lGnGGqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPoa%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" /><br /><br />I forgot to write this for the previous entry--the Underground tour was filled with AWFUL jokes, so the whole Spokane trip was filled with them. Such as: <br /><br />What do you call a deer with no eyes? No-eye-deer.<br />What lights did Noah use? Floodlights.<br />Why does a chicken coop only have two doors? Because otherwise it would be a sedan! <br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://www.nanowrimo.org/NanowrimoUtils/LiveParticipant/173361.png" />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04262871516977143645noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25420034.post-1159316494260589752006-09-26T20:17:00.000-04:002006-09-26T20:21:34.273-04:00marooned on the rocksSince I have a new, fabulous schedule--at least for now--I dropped by B's with my latest thrift store find and this happened: <br /><br />Pretty much my signature look.<br><br /><img src=http://static.flickr.com/83/253653410_1b1289630d.jpg?v=0><br><img src=http://static.flickr.com/63/253653024_cd461a4b78.jpg?v=0><br>I love how fake my dress looks here, like it's a painting:<br><img src=http://static.flickr.com/111/253652130_0e3c986dcf.jpg?v=0><br>My favorite:<br><img src=http://static.flickr.com/115/253651813_2a5308d986.jpg?v=0>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04262871516977143645noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25420034.post-1158548327965108122006-09-17T22:31:00.000-04:002006-09-17T23:12:32.216-04:00sunspotsLook, I'm still alive:<br><img src=http://static.flickr.com/92/246062379_b2d5560c22_m.jpg><br>My internet presence has been nil lately. It was a busy weekend. Saturday I got up even earlier than normal and went into the city to work 5 hours of OT training my replacement. Then I tried to take the drug test for my new job but the clinic was GROSS so I left. Then I went home and got all domestic. First I had to clean up after Ruger--he apparently thinks his dog bed is a tasty treat. <br><img src=http://static.flickr.com/91/246062440_e669db5b1a_m.jpg><br>Then I had to tackle laundry. It always gets washed around this place but never quite put away. So I sorted it all out on our bed.<br><img src=http://static.flickr.com/94/246062532_0b13fdb2a5_m.jpg><br>When I walked through the kitchen I caught Baby sunning herself...<br><img src=http://static.flickr.com/85/246062603_6b6a4c841f_m.jpg><br>When I went back into the bedroom I found Fat Boy amusing himself under the coffee table/stereo stand...<br><img src=http://static.flickr.com/83/246062681_c4f0ee9de2_m.jpg><br>I took a break from folding clothes to snap a pic of my yard--I mowed it by myself for the first time ever on Thursday and had a BLAST. I made up my own special Rachel pattern and I have a new appreciation for what Adam goes through every week.<br><img src=http://static.flickr.com/87/246062790_9f38ad3a3a_m.jpg><br>Next it was time to feed the doggies.<br><img src=http://static.flickr.com/89/246062866_f78a516441_m.jpg><br>Arai looks like a Bull Terrier here.<br><img src=http://static.flickr.com/88/246063024_3fecd4e592_m.jpg><br>Ruger is ravenous (always). At least he looks good--I brushed out his coat yesterday!<br><img src=http://static.flickr.com/89/246063180_fa581d8407_m.jpg><br>Back to the laundry. Adam loves his new socks with the skulls on them.<br><img src=http://static.flickr.com/96/246063316_953811f9e5_m.jpg><br>I like folding towels.<br><img src=http://static.flickr.com/89/246063419_a4dd98d283_m.jpg><br>I can't stop listening to Nine Inch Nails lately.<br><img src=http://static.flickr.com/90/246063519_bfaa26f78e_m.jpg><br>Para was enjoying snacking on our new houseplants yesterday. This was during a break...<br><img src=http://static.flickr.com/98/246063640_d522f091c2_m.jpg><br>After all that, we had to go to a wake. We weren't there long, and afterward went to Cracker Barrel for dinner. I haven't eaten there in years and it was YUMMY and we got TONS of food and it was CHEAP. That's my kind of meal. We then decided to catch the 10:20 showing of Crank. I mean... HELLO, JASON STATHAM. The movie was not what I expected AT ALL but I enjoyed it. We woke up this morning with one thing to tackle: the driveway. We're getting it resurfaced tomorrow so it was all about prepping it today. <br>Before: <img src=http://static.flickr.com/87/246063766_4c449c4d6a_m.jpg><img src=http://static.flickr.com/79/246064043_c1fcad2118_m.jpg><br>After: <img src=http://static.flickr.com/93/246064767_1be93aa974_m.jpg><br>Also on the agenda for today was getting the Camaro ready to store at a friend's garage for the winter. We don't have any more funds to keep working on it so I had to wash and detail it.<br><img src=http://static.flickr.com/85/246064156_fd23124697_m.jpg><img src=http://static.flickr.com/94/246064239_3a1d307c45_m.jpg><br>Adam moved a bunch of firewood away from the side of the garage and got it super clean in that area thanks to a pressure washer:<br><img src=http://static.flickr.com/87/246064495_68ad4d07fe_m.jpg><br>But look where he put all of the wood! Right next to HER! (I say that when we get my Camaro functional, we should get personalized plates; his will say "HIS 81" and mine will say "HER 81" and it will be sickeningly cute.) And hello, how hillbilly Indiana is it that we have our firewood stacked outside of the parts car for our Camaro!? <br><img src=http://static.flickr.com/92/246064644_3897924bcb_m.jpg><br>Adam got SUPER DIRTY today.<br><img src=http://static.flickr.com/90/246064890_cadeed6abf_m.jpg><img src=http://static.flickr.com/88/246065050_8c14e56f30_m.jpg><br><img src=http://static.flickr.com/87/246065152_f192045c08_m.jpg><br>I got to move around a lot of cars today. We had SEVEN CARS on our property--our Malibu (for sale), our G6, our two Camaros, Adam's Malibu demo, our Monte (for sale) and Bret's Jeep (for sale). OUTRAGEOUS. I drove/moved every single one of them today except for the parts car. It was CRAZY. Then we drove the Camaro to its winter home and put it to sleep...<br><img src=http://static.flickr.com/98/246065481_2b45461919_m.jpg><img src=http://static.flickr.com/95/246065634_4f61f59496_m.jpg><br>Adam looking retarded at WalMart...<br><img src=http://static.flickr.com/83/246065697_4b4b298519_m.jpg><br>When we got home B was nice enough to bring the dogs back home--she babysat them today. Then we ransacked the house for the title to the Monte, which we CAN NOT FIND. We got a huge response for it today so I hope to have it sold, just as soon as we can secure a viable title for it. *eye roll* Then we grilled some burgers on the Foreman and Adam is visiting his mom while I sit here, bumming around online when I said I wouldn't. Typical.Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04262871516977143645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25420034.post-1158239331331638502006-09-14T09:06:00.000-04:002006-09-14T09:10:23.116-04:00I love babysitting<a href="http://static.flickr.com/98/239975105_c12b73809d.jpg?v=0"></a><br />I love babysitting. Sometimes they clean my house for me...<br /><br /><p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://static.flickr.com/98/238614458_d659b9ce6c.jpg?v=0" border="0" /><br />...and they always humor my need for wearing them around the house. :) </p><p> <p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://static.flickr.com/98/239975105_c12b73809d.jpg?v=0" border="0" /></p><p><br /> </p>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04262871516977143645noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25420034.post-1157992929377836472006-09-11T12:39:00.000-04:002006-09-11T12:42:09.396-04:009/11/06The following is copied from an entry I wrote at my other diary site on September 11, 2001. It is my reaction the day of the attack. I was 16. In some ways, it feels like yesterday. In other ways, it feels like years ago. A big part of me can't remember what the world was like BEFORE 9/11; it just feels like it's always been hanging over us as a nation. (and yes, the Adam I refer to is my current husband; it's also sad that I mention Peter Jennings, who has since passed away... my diary can be such a poignant time capsule)<br /><br /><br />My mother woke me up about 8:15 this morning saying something about a plane crashing into a building. I didn't pay her much attention, and she wasn't very persistent, so I fell back asleep. I figured I'd find out what she was talking about a little later.<br />I fell asleep and had weird dreams that Anna and I were at some cheap carnival and wanted to ride on a Ferris wheel. It was at Navy Pier, except there were cheap rides there... it was just strange. We went to get tickets for the Ferris wheel, and they said you needed FIVE tickets for the ride. I said it was ridiculous, especially since tickets were $5 apiece.<br />Then I started dreaming that we had to hurry to get on because planes were crashing everywhere and we had to evacuate. That's when my mom woke me up yelling, "They bombed the Pentagon!!"<br />This, of course, got me jumping out of bed and running to the TV. Of course, it wasn't bombed, it was crashed into, but what's the difference really? It's still a freaking attack. My first thought was, "They better find who fucking did this and kill them."<br />In a way, I really, really hope its someone from our country who did this. Simply because that way, we wouldn't have to go to war with some country. I just can't believe someone was stupid enough to do this. Do they really think they can get away with it? Nooo, they're going to die.<br />We watched and watched and watched. Watched the 2nd tower fall. Gasped along with everyone else on TV, heard the false reports about car bombs... and then my cell phone rang and I rushed to get it. It was Adam, and he was really freaked out. He called me back and said he had something weird to tell me, and would just walk over.<br />I washed my hair, brushed my teeth, and went outside with him and B. Basically, he's really afraid of dying. I really don't have a fear like that. He thinks this is the start of another depression. If he could get away, he would go to Kentucky. He said I could go with him. I don't see the need quite yet.<br />While we were outside on my porch, I noticed there weren't people outside. The whole time we were out there, I saw maybe 10 people. No cars. No sirens. No planes, of course. No paleta men, no loud music. One dog barking.<br />Normally we have a siren that goes off every Tuesday around 10, but it didn't go off today. Adam said that was probably because it would have caused widespread panic. Then again, people rarely hear it anyway.<br />Adam went through the list and how he wants to get away from Chicago, since he feels Chicago would be next. He said they'd attack New York first (which they did), and then a capitol building (Pentagon), which they did, and then Chicago, then North and South Carolina, and he just went through the list. He got me all fidgety and I kept pacing.<br />He said he had a dream the other night that there was a civil war between blacks and whites, and he was on top of the Empire State building and suddenly black people were scaling the walls like monkies... until a plane crashed into the side of the Empire State building and it blew up.<br />That's what freaked him out. It'd freak me out too.<br />It's funny, because my father and Adam had the same thought... find who did this, publicly kill them brutally, screw censorship. Mom goes "isn't it funny how their barbaric sides come out in times like these?"<br />It's nearly 1:15 now, so people are starting to make noise outside, which is reassuring in a way. I don't know HOW people are going to get home from downtown, considering they've evacuated so many buildings. I'm sure my father is going to have a *great* time picking up Mimi and making their way home. Ha!<br />Hm. Adam just called and I didn't know it was him. Mom kept talking to him, and then started preaching at him. Really, we're not afraid to die cause we know where we're going, whereas Adam doesn't know, or just think he's going to die and that's it. Nothing else. End of Adam.<br />He was saying, "Rachel. Get an atlas. Draw a line from where that one plane took off, and then crashed. It was heading STRAIGHT for Chicago." I was like "Adam. Please. Calm down." He goes "I don't believe you're calm. I believe you're freaking out inside."<br />Truly, I'm not. If I die, I die. If I don't, then I don't. If they come here and destroy Chicago, damn them all to hell and I hope they get theirs... but really. Otherwise I'm calm.<br />Adam kept saying to draw the line, and I said "What, just so I can show up on your doorstep sobbing that I'm going to die?" and he goes "You're not afraid to die." and I said "Exactly. Not going to happen."<br />My mother told Adam on the phone she likes him, and he apparently said "I don't think Milenko likes me" and mom goes "it's not YOU, he doesn't want his daughter growing up, that's all!" Hm, some reassurance for him, unless it totally just freaked him out more. We'll see.<br />And now for something completely different (as Monty Python would say):<br />Somehow we've ended up with call waiting! Mom has talked about strange beeps while she's been on the phone, and I said it was just her imagination. So B called the upstairs phone from Mimis, and then mom called our phone from my cell. Sure enough, beeps! I clicked over and there was mom. Hilarious!<br />She called to cancel the repeat dialing feature on our phone a week or two ago, and somehow we've ended up with call waiting. It's a mere $2 extra, I think it would be cool, but no. *hmph* She's canceling it. Such is life.<br />I don't know what else to say. It's 1:30 now... this is just unbelievable, the events of the day. I'm not worried about a depression. Adam's already hoarding water.<br />1:33, and I'm already back. There was a PLANE flying just now. B goes "don't worry, it's just military". Thank God, they were just 2 military helicopters.<br />So, after watching all of these news programs, I just love Peter Jennings and have taken to referring to him as "Peter". There's just something about his voice, I like his reporting. Him and Diane Sawyer.<br />It was so scary to see the streets of New York looking like some third world country. Scary indeed.Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04262871516977143645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25420034.post-1156952536157186572006-08-30T11:36:00.000-04:002006-08-30T11:42:16.246-04:00six yearsI keep forgetting about this blog!! I know, it's terrible. CBS 2 called Adam yesterday to see if he wanted to be interviewed because of our "sniper" attack on Cline last week. No and no, thanks. He said he would send them pictures if they wanted. I don't want anything to do with TV interviews!!<br /><br />Yesterday I called my grandmother in Spokane. I haven't talked to her in over a year or more and I haven't seen my grandparents in SIX YEARS.<br /><br />S.I.X. Y.E.A.R.S.<br /><br />I told myself I wasn't taking ONE MORE TRIP until I went to Spokane to see them. So, Adam and I are going to Spokane in October!! I am ELATED. We need a vacation together in the worst way and what better vacation than to see my grandparents?? This also means they've never met Adam. Sheesh!<br /><br />We're leaving Saturday, October 14 in the evening and flying to Seattle. On Sunday the 15th we're hoping to do a brunch cruise around Seattle to take in the sights and also do the Space Needle (I never got around to doing that in all my trips to Washington). Then on Monday the 16th we'll do the [incredibly scenic] drive to Spokane from Seattle. We'll spend Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday with my grandparents in Spokane. On Thursday the 19th we'll need to drive back to Seattle to catch our next flight to... Los Angeles! We'll spend the night in LA at Dan's apartment and then Friday the 20th Anna, Dan, Adam and I will pile into Dan's Civic and drive from California to... LAS VEGAS!<br /><br />We'll be in Vegas Friday, Saturday, and part of Sunday. We'll make the trek back to LA on Sunday, spend the night at Dan's Sunday, and leave for Chicago Monday morning.<br /><br />PHEW!<br /><br />I already made an elaborate Excel spreadsheet for this trip. It has the price of attractions we want to see and everything.Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04262871516977143645noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25420034.post-1156215025204572002006-08-21T22:50:00.000-04:002006-08-21T22:50:25.216-04:00ONLY MEOn the way home tonight B dropped me off at my favorite Mexican restaurant so I could meet Adam there for dinner. Roach and Jen are in Vegas (Roach won a trip playing pool) and Roach gave us his Cavalier so Adam could take it to the shop to get it worked on. He has to go take it to get a new windshield tomorrow, too; it's had a crack in it. Adam was in that, so B just took the G6 home (her first solo car trip since getting her license!) and I stayed with Adam to eat.<br /><br />The service was TERRIBLE--it has been lately, but since it's our favorite, we tend to overlook it. Then afterward we went to the bank to get $2500 out to pay Adam's dad off for the taxes and the Monte (we want to hang onto it for awhile). We took out an extra $100 and went to scope out our next purchase, a twinkie Camaro. Some guy Adam knows is selling his 1981 hardtop Z28 Camaro for $100. We wanted it for parts. I thought it was going to be a hunk of SHIT the way Adam was talking about it, but it ended up being really nice!!! That is, considering it's $100. So now I have grand dreams of having my very own 1981 Camaro. Wouldn't we be so cute--in matching Camaros?? Well, mine would be a hardtop, but still. It'd be freaking SWEET.<br /><br />Then we were on our way home. As you might know, we've had "sniper" shootings in the area on Cline Ave. It's actually a highway and I travel it every day--to and from work. Statistically the odds of me getting hit by the sniper are pretty freaking good. Since it's never happened Scott and Robert at work joke that I'M the Cline Ave sniper... I always seem to be there right before/after a hit but I never get hit!<br /><br />WELL, that all changed.<br /><br />Adam and I are on Cline in ROACH'S CAR merging onto the 80/94 entrance ramp when Adam makes this noise--kind of a mumbling stutter surprise sound--and next thing I know I hear this huge CRACKSMASH and I'm COVERED in GLASS SHARDS.<br /><br />You know how they always say that you never know you've been shot right away? I was in such SHOCK from being splattered with glass... I could hardly bring myself to look down, I was seriously scared I was going to have a bullet hole in my chest and not even realize it. When I finally got the balls to look down I saw that I was just glittery with glass shards all over my body. There was no blood.<br /><br />Adam said "It was a rock! It was a rock!" I said "IT WAS THE FUCKING SNIPER! IT WAS THE SNIPER!" We pulled over and I was like "WHAT THE FUCK!!!" Adam was pissed and on the phone to the cops. Someone had THROWN a rock at our car--Adam saw it coming at us and that's why he made that sound right before we got hit. It was a huge rock, he said about 6" in diameter. HUGE. Not something a truck could kick up... especially since it came OVER THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY from a grassy area!!<br /><br />It took FOREVER for a cop to show up. In the meantime I got out of the car and shook off all the glass and tried to get it off of my arms. I had little pin pricks of blood all over my arms from where the shards were in it. Adam called Roach to tell him part of his windshield was smashed. He just asked if we were okay. Since he was getting it replaced tomorrow anyway I don't think he much cared. I told Adam "We're going to be on TV!" I asked him how it felt to look over and see me covered in glass. He said he was really scared.<br /><br />When a cop finally showed up he was SKINNY like a beanpole and dressed in a brown uniform. We told him what happened and he said that his buddy (aka another officer) had caught a guy RUNNING ACROSS CLINE from where the rock was thrown. He hadn't known about the windshield so the other officer just stopped him, got his info, and let him run along. They're pretty positive it was him. I'm pretty positive too. The guy who showed up first was a K9 unit, so he went off to search the grassy area with the dog and told us to hang tight when his cop buddy showed up. Supposedly Lake County was going to come out and take crime scene pictures.<br /><br />The first beanpole dude (when we joked about the sniper) said "Sniper? Psh. Fucking BB-gun bandit is what that is." No shit. I thought so. Media, media. The next guy rolled his eyes about his boss (the sheriff) and how he has a special task force, etc. They agree it's out of control and that they're sick of all the bullshit happening on Cline. The second cop had to wait with us forever and so we were chatting it up. He kind of gave Adam a look and then started telling me to go home and take a cool shower (this after he heard I was covered in glass). He said if you have shards you shouldn't shower with hot water. Then (with another glance to Adam) told me if I thought it was a good idea, to shower WITH my underwear on first, and then without my underwear on. I don't know why this is, but he knows more about glass than I do. So I might be getting in a cool shower with my undies on. Or he might be laughing at the visual of me getting into a cool shower with my underwear on.<br /><br />And it's funny, because both cops who saw it agreed it's the WORST incident they've seen since the "sniper shootings"!! Funny how that happens. I'm pretty pissed because I had leftover Mexican food, I was so looking forward to eating it, but it was in the front seat of the car and I'm sure there's glass in it and I had to toss it.<br /><br />I had B go to my house to let the dogs out. Eventually we had three squads by us and they told us to go on home. I rode home in the back seat, the front seat was covered in glass. I had B take some pictures. I look like an idiot but at least I can laugh about it.<br /><br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/76/221593289_05f081672b.jpg?v=0" _fcksavedurl="http://static.flickr.com/76/221593289_05f081672b.jpg?v=0" alt="" /><br /><br />Adam... looking like a dork...<br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/79/221593212_9eb65f199d.jpg?v=0" _fcksavedurl="http://static.flickr.com/79/221593212_9eb65f199d.jpg?v=0" alt="" /><br /><br />Had it hit a little lower, I think it wouldh ave gone THROUGH the windshield. I was sitting RIGHT THERE... I would be needing plastic surgery if that were the case...<br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/58/221593185_d20c62c6cf.jpg?v=0" _fcksavedurl="http://static.flickr.com/58/221593185_d20c62c6cf.jpg?v=0" alt="" /><br /><br />Me.<br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/75/221593076_08d44c6e19.jpg?v=0" _fcksavedurl="http://static.flickr.com/75/221593076_08d44c6e19.jpg?v=0" alt="" />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04262871516977143645noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25420034.post-1155928126048301482006-08-18T14:59:00.000-04:002006-08-18T15:08:46.060-04:00yes! no. yes! no. okay, yes. no, definitely no.We were back and forth on the house thing (see below) these past few days. We had the inspection--worse than I wanted and better than I hoped. We weren't going to do it. Then we decided we were. Then we mutually agreed we WEREN'T after I finally got a gut feeling. Normally I have a really good direction in life but I just could not get a "read" on this house for the life of me. I finally decided that no gut feeling meant a bad gut feeling, and Adam and I discussed it and decided NO. Then he calls me an hour later with "That was your decision earlier! You coerced me! I really want to do it!"<br /><br />Yeah. I'm being serious.<br /><br />I tell him I'm fine either way. Do what you want. Just let me know what you need me to do. So he calls the realtor and says "Changed my mind, we ARE going through with it..." and then calls me on my way home to tell me the house is "unlendable"!! Great! Apparently the issues with the inspection are issues that render it impossible to finance. Would've been nice to know before!<br /><br />So, no second house for us. That's okay though. This now means we can plan a trip to see my grandparents (who I haven't seen in SIX YEARS, and who have never met Adam) and also go to Vegas for Anna's 21st birthday in October. I need a vacation!!!<br /><br />Last night we went to Gary Airport to watch the air show planes practice. It was AWESOME. Check out pics <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/hand-nor-glove/sets/72157594241555871/">here</a> at B's photoset.<br /><br />What else... B did her first wedding photography gig over the weekend. It was pretty fun, I hope to do more with her in the future! Tomorrow I have my childbirth class at St. Anthony's. YAY! That much closer to my doula training...Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04262871516977143645noreply@blogger.com1