In Memory of...

My father called me a couple days ago to give me the sad news that a 27 year old female soldier from my hometown was killed in Iraq. I didn't know her but I graduated, and later worked with, her older sister. There are no words to tell how I'm feeling right now. I was home at my parents' today and all over towns are signs, "We love you, Trista" and "We'll miss you, Trista." There was even one with a photo at the vet's office where I took Norton for his shots today. When is this war going to end? It breaks my heart that so many soldiers are losing their lives out there...

Here's a link to a story...

A Great Weekend

It really was a perfect weekend. I think the best part of it was knowing that I wouldn't have to wake up at 6am for work this morning!

Friday evening was spent in--at my parents' home, relaxing, and enjoying some quality time with Norton, Pumpkin and Mom. My dad had an overnight visit at the Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia, but this was for a good reason! He finally was able to get his tracheotomy out and he's doing wonderfully!

Saturday afternoon, after paying a visit to the Hong Kong Supermarket (for Sunday cooking essentials), I had lunch with my family at Cafe Colore, a delicious Italian restaurant in South Brunswick.

Then a visit to the A & P for whatever essentials I couldn't buy at the Asian market.

I already mentioned that I brought Norton here for good this weekend. Once I got him settled on Saturday, Karen and I met Katie and Mike in Princeton for dinner. (Eric was enjoying a boys' night out.) We ate at the Triumph Brewery. Yummy! And, of course, enjoyed some beer, as well! Next to Ricky's for ice cream and candy and a walk around the Princeton campus.

Sunday was a nice day spent with Eric. We took Norton to Duke Island Park for a walk and a swim, ran a couple errands and spent the rest of the afternoon cleaning and doing work around the house.

Sunday dinner was home-cooked Thai cuisine--Tom Yum Soup, pineapple fried rice and Eggplant with mint and chilies.

Eric kicked my butt at Battle of the Sexes (the board game), then we watched Bridget Jones' Diary, which he actually enjoyed!

Summer!!!!

Summer started at 2:30 pm on Friday for me...not a day earlier, even though Thursday was the official first day of summer. Summer began on Friday when I walked out of school--and I do not plan on returning until sometime at the end of August. Yippee!!!

There are a lot of reasons for me to be happy and stressed right now. Here's one of them.

I'm at Eric's, where I have basically been living. At my feet is my Norton. With the exception of the occasional overnight visit, I wanted to leave Norton with my parents until the summer. This way, I'd have time to spend with Norton so he can actually get used to his new digs. Pumpkin will have to come later...so today, I packed up Norton's food and his pills and his leash and his toy box, etc. He's happy now. I am pretty sure of it. And so am I to have my boy with me!

Tuesday, Tuesday

Sitting here on the futon, Eric's laptop on my lap. Eyes are growing sleepy as the rain pours down. The thunder and lightning...

This post was intended to be posted on Tuesday...but I fell asleep and my Tuesday, Tuesday post will have to be published on Wednesday, Wednesday.

Driving to work yesterday morning, I made a smart and quick decision which may very well have saved me hundreds of dollars. And made me five minutes late for work. But it was well worth it.

I was driving my daily commute and going the speed of traffic when I zoooommmmmed past a cop going 80 mph. By the time I saw him and stepped on my brake, it was too late. Heart pounding, I moved into the right lane. I didn't see him pull out of his hiding place and maybe he had no plans to come after me. But I wasn't taking a chance. I got off the highway at the next exit...took a long way to get back to the highway. This way, if the cop was looking for me, I stumped him.

Smartmunkee.

Wild about Wild West City

Somewhere in dusty albums of long ago and in basement boxes, there are pictures of my parents and my brother and I. It was in the days before my sister came along and it was at a place called Wild West City. In the pictures, my cheeks are rosy pink and I'm pig-tailed while my brother, Ryan has one of those bowl hair cuts. Eighties all the way. (I'll have to hunt up some pictures and try to add to the post.)

I'm not sure how many times I'd been to Wild West City as a kid but I've always had fond memories of it. In fact, I dragged a boyfriend there when I was 18 or so just go to back. What more could you ask for out of a day outing? You can ride a stagecoach or train and get held up. You can witness a gun fight. You can tour the old west and a petting zoo too!

A couple years ago, there was a mishap and during one of the "staged" gun fights, somebody was really shot. There were real bullets in the gun. There were supposed to be blanks!

I haven't been back to this place for several years, probably ten or so. I'm hoping to share some slightly relevant but exciting news in a couple days. I'll keep y'all posted.

Look What We Made!

Eric and I saved the bottle of wine we drank the night of our engagement. Then we made sand art so we can display it forever!

More Wedding Goodness

All things wedding, I know you're either intrigued by it all or nauseated. I love The Knot. All weddings, all the time. Check out our wedding page on the Knot. I'll be adding a picture to it very soon and more registry stuff when we get to it (because gifts will graciously be accepted)!

Happy Anniversary Sgt. Pepper!

Today is the 40th anniversary of the day that The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was released in the UK. (It was released in the US on June 2nd, 1967, the very next day.) I listened to an interesting radio program today on WFUV--all about Sgt. Pepper's. Did you know that Sgt. Pepper's was the first concept album? First album of its kind that you might listen to from beginning to end! First album that included lyrics! I'm almost embarrassed to say that I actually don't own this Beatles album, though my mother has the original record!

On a side note, I just got The Beatles Love a few days ago. It's great, it really is. (And so are the new Travis and Feist albums just in case you were wondering!)