crap, that's an ugly mug

Well crap and a half, I got an email today that just about knocked my socks off. As I've mentioned previously, I got the best friends in the world. They are my family and I love them dearly. And apparently because they are nutters, they are running their balls off in my honor and raising money for LFA.

My friends at LFA found out and decided to feature them in their foundation newsletter. I agreed to this thinking that we would be one line near the bottom of the damn thing after people had already stopped scrolling through it. Turns out we were right on top and they stole our picture!!! FOR CHRIST SAKE....my ugly mug got emailed around to hundreds of people in the DC metro area today. Crap. My white, sweaty (due to massive amounts of football practice on the National Mall) and looked HUGE!!! God damnit.

Here is what they said:

• "Friends of LFA-DMV, In addition to providing you information on our upcoming events and programs, we want to highlight interesting efforts of other members/supporters. Jilly Bean and Brian are running in the Marine Corps Marathon in October and they are raising money online in support of their friend LL.LL is an active member of the Alexandria Support Group and her friends are using their FirstGiving page to honor her, further her efforts with LFA-DMV and bring lupus awareness to a larger audience. Check out their FirstGiving website. FirstGiving is an online giving site that individuals can use to collect donations for non-profit organizations like us. You can turn any event into an awareness and fundraising opportunity!"
  

Want to the pic that was sent around???? Check out this older post and scroll to the one of Jilly Bean, Brian and I. YIKES, scary huh? Fine for the privacy of my own site but I'm not sure I was prepared for it to be mailed to everyone related to Lupus in the tri-state area......

I hope it got us some donations.....remember you can donate the pennies in your couch here!

music of the moment

I had the pleasure to watch the Zac Brown band on Friday night open for DMB and they rocked the house out. No kidding. They did a rendition of The Devil Went Down to Georgia and then ended with Rage Against the Machine's Killing in the Name. It was a pretty sexy ending when the entire stadium is chanting "f-you, I won't do what you tell me."

Anyways, I didn't realize this song was from the Zac Brown band. I've liked it and totally thought they were covering it. Listen to this and make sure to raise a frosty one on a Friday night:

I have the best friends

I seriously have the best friends in the world. They are truly the most amazing people ever. In a show of solidarity against Lupus, my friends have decided to run a marathon in my honor. They are raising money to run 26 million miles with a bunch of hot Marines. That is truly amazing for a number of reasons:

1. Anything over 3 miles is like a marathon to me. What? You are running a 5K, yep sounds like a marathon/triathlon to me.
   
2. I only run downhill, occasionally on level ground, and NEVER uphill.
   
3. I only run when being chased....no, no, no, I only run when being chased and NOT wanting to be caught.
   

So I do like myself a good parade or running event. I like events where people are putting their hearts into training and/or waving from a gigantic raspberry float. I get a little too excited and tend to shout inappropriate things like:

• "Pull it out!"
• "You can do it!" (and that is only now dirty because of Rob S.)
  
• "I love raspberries!"
  

So a tip of my hat to my Jilly Bean and Brian.....and perhaps Helga and T who may be convinced to run parts of it along side of them. I, on the other hand, will be fully clothed cheering from the sidelines with my mug'o'coffee with a little Bailey's creamer. Here's hoping that big ball of death in the sky stays hidden and you run like Forrest Gump....

Apparently there are other Lupie supporters running during this marathon too, so LFA is going to highlight them in the next foundation newsletter. Bitchin, huh?

sweaty balls

Seriously, I had salt sweat marks all over myself this weekend. You know when you sweat your balls off and you not only have sweat marks but white lines of body detoxification. I'm definitely not posting the pictures from Dave (DMB) because I look grossss. Seriously, McNasty. I can't imagine what I looked like when we went for brunch the next morning without showers.

But here is a good one at the ballpark yesterday. Sexy!

quote of the day

I spent most of this weekend sweating my balls off at the DMB concert in DC and then at the Twins game in Baltimore. I probably sat outside in 100 degree weather for about 10 hours this weekend. It is like a natural detoxification. During these times, we drank lots of beer and water, and M had the quotation of the weekend:

• "If you haven't passed out or peed, you're doing fine"

Amen brother. Words to live by. Don't break the seal and don't nod off.

radio rockstar

Soooo for those that do not know, I've become a radio rockstar. Well maybe not "rockstar" but I've officially started a radio news gig. We will see how long this business lasts because 1) it might be more work than I initially anticipated, 2) I might not pick the "right" type of news or may accidentally drop the f-bomb causing them to fire my ass, and 3) I'm not sure I fit the radio stereotypes. Yep, it's almost true, video may have killed the radiostar.

I'm not sure what I was thinking signing up for this because, as many of you know, I am not known as a linguist. I barely speak the English language correctly and generally try to play it off on an element of my "coolness." Hehehe, if there is such a thing. I just keep saying "It sounds the same to me."

So this week, I was reporting on the new Supreme Court Justice nominee Elena Kagan. Her name isn't particularly difficult to pronounce compared to names from Iraq or other foreign lands. BUT in normal LL-ism fashion, I massacred it. I think I got the first name right, but I pronounced her last name as Kegel. As in Kegel exercises that women sometimes do to....well let's just leave it at that.

So if you want to hear me rock out, tune into WNRN's live radio feed every Wednesday morning from 6-8:30 AM EST. I think you will be able to hear my sexy voice read the news and mispronounce all the important things. It should be a good time.

I heart ricki

I really love me some Ricki Gervais. This man is a comedic genius. He was involved in the original Office in England, which the US later stole. Ricki has free podcasts, which are available on iTunes, and they are fantastic. Mostly it is conversations with a bunch of his British buddies but sometimes there are videos as well. Warning, you may wet yourself with laughter.

He makes me so happy. When I hear him laugh, it just makes me smile. His laugh is absolutely infectious:

some lbs

Sooo I've never really noticed that my initials sort of stand for the word 'pounds.' Like I weight 400 pounds or 400 lbs. I heard someone the other day say "I dropped some major lbs" and I was asking myself if they were talking about me. Then I was thinking maybe I am just behind on my slang again...you know, like "my record drops next week" or something. But then I realized that they were just referring to pounds and weight.

I like the fact that my initials have hidden meanings. Another fun LL-fact-of-life is that you can spell my first name on a calculator, and half of my last for that matter. Yeah bitches, try it out right now....yep, right now.....find yourself a calculator or pull it up on your computer....now type in 317537 and turn it up-side-down. AMAZING!!! Right? I know.

I'll give you some lbs...

mustache inspiration

Please accept my apologies for my absence from the blog-o-sphere. I've got a number of things loaded up, so just hang on to your butts and stayed tuned.

First of all we need a little mustache update. I've spent some time the last couple weeks slowly preparing for a mustache extravaganza. It is going to be amazing. We have people flying in from MN, and people driving in from Maryland and the District. There has even been talk of a jello slip-n-slide and roasting an entire pig (underground!). These things are SURE to get me evicted and sounds like good ideas all around....

So are you needing some mustache inspiration???? OK well I got some possibilities for you. I was offered a full white trash facial explosion for $100, for which I responded "I ain't paying you to grow a stache/beard!!! Maybe $20 for something that is flesh colored and douchey. " But for the next couple weeks I got some ideas to get your inspired:

Remember that a full mustache does this:



And for all the guys out there considering growing something (although I'm not advocating this) I have some strong possibilities for you. This is in addition to some of my previous ideas. Perhaps you can make a boat out of your stache/beard...and if you did I know I can get some of my girlfriends to give you a little action:



Well this stache design has won awards, yep that is right folks, you can win awards from growing some wicked mustaches and join clubs....I've got to try to grow one myself because I seriously want to drink some Whiskey and hang out with this guy:



And now we are venturing into some of the southern white trash designs, which I will place no judgment on. I will be thoroughly amazed if you show up with this (although I can't guarantee any action for this one...creeps me out a little):



OK so in all seriousness folks, you don't have to grow a stache or come with any facial hair. I will welcome you with opening arms if you just stop in, have a drink with me, and amuse my bouche (remember we are eating some finger food too). No mustache required, although you will be some major LL-love-points if you have accessorized with one of the following:

• Bowtie
• Pirate eye patch
• Mullet
• Pipe
• Facial braid

PS, let's try to avoid this look or just this person!

still falling

Well Mel Gibson has been making our lives much more colorful that last couple years....giving us the term "sugartits" and making us realize what a doucheball he is. Perhaps he had turned his life around when he remarried and looked to be making a run at a normal life again. Nope, that didn't last and the man is still falling....

Mel is turning out to be just as bad as Christen Bale and his rants. I like the dance mixes to these records. Here is the mashup for both:

too much energy

Well we all know how much I like sassy fun old people. I think you just get saucier and more worldly the older we get. OK I'll admit some people get mean and kranky, but I don't think this guy is one of them. He appears to have more energy than I do right now, and some odd mixing skills (with a personal whistle interlude). There is a good chance this dude is on some "good" drugs:

my favorite WA lady

Well my favorite Pullman, WA old lady writes a weekly column for the local newspaper. Jean and I used to swear and eat pizza and paint her house. I love her! And this weeks' column cracked me up:

"It has been hard for me to understand the popularity of the “Twilight” series of books. I mean they are about vampires and werewolves. Let’s get real here. It’s the 21st century. I have had a hard time keeping Edward and Jacob apart.

Then I did a little Wikipedia research. It was I, who was misinformed. Werewolves and Vampires are part of the mythological or folkloric legends of every culture. One historian, Brian Frost believes that “belief in blood sucking creatures is as old as man himself.” Here I thought that Bram Stoker had invented them with his Dracula, the “quintessential vampire novel” until now. Poor Count Vad is not unique. Nor apparently are castles in Transylvania.

I had forgot that Herodotus in his Histories wrote about the Neuri tribe, living somewhere northeast of Scythia, who transform into wolves every 9 years. A vase was found in ancient Persia showing a man fight with a wolfish looking figure. I could go on and on about all the historical references to “blood sucking” creatures but I won’t bore you.

Stephenie Meyer has certainly tapped into the culture memory with her Twilight series. Every one I know who has read the books assures me they are very well written. That’s what young men used to say about Playboy when it first came out. Actually they were right, I read some of the articles in my late husband’s copies. I loved their interviews. Based on this personal experience, without doing further research into this by reading a novel or two, I am reasonably sure these books are also well written.

These novels that have captured the popular imagination are just the latest in a series of fantasy books. Mostly the Twilight series are read by young women of any age. They have replaced the Harry Potter books. Children a soon as they were at the proper reading level had their heads buried in the Potter books.

For those few of you not familiar with the books they are fictionally placed in Forks, WA. Our Forks WA! In our celebrity culture, Forks has become a cult tourist site. Further there are two male heroes. First is Edward Cullen, the Vampire and second Jacob Black, the werewolf. Mr. Black is a member of the Qiuleute tribe. Apparently Native American’s have all kinds of legends about werewolves. Now in the stories Edward is the cold aloof one and Jacob is the “hottie.” There are Edward people and Jacob people.

Are these books any different than the Lord of the Rings trilogy? Maybe in that movies adapted from them have appeared on the screen while they were still being written. My husband and I read to our son every night before he went to bed, a down time from television. As he grew the books got bigger and longer. When he was in the sixth grade we started with The Hobbit and read through to the Restoration of the King. He read every third chapter. Then so that he would understand the cultural memory that they came from, we read Beowulf. He claimed that Tolkien had stolen the story line. Try arguing with a thirteen year old, Tolkien stole the story line! One more time Beowulf lost.

All of these popular series show is that in our tech-driven society there is greater and greater need for fantasy. Where “real” isn’t hard wired. We have a greater need for play. J. K. Rowling and Stephenie Meyer have certainly filled a need for us. "

burning the roof

For months now I've been singing the new La Roux song wrong. I knew this, but I prefer the way I sing the lyrics. Every time it comes on the radio I raise my hands in the air and yell "BURNING THE ROOF" as a play off of raise the roof. This happened for an entire 3 days of fun in DC a couple weeks ago, and Brianne kind of wanted to kill me...

I mean the song just sounds better if you say "This time, bbbbaby, I'll be burning the roof" when in reality it is supposed to be "this time baby, I'll be bulletproof." I'd rather raise the roof and then light it on fire. So today I looked up the lyrics and found this:

La Roux - Bullet Proof from serkan söğüt on Vimeo.

And thought to myself....wow that video is like a Jamiroquai video circa the 80's with a European techno / gender-confused Ron Wesley feel to it. No? No? Anyone else get that feeling. I'm just saying. OK OK, the cheese stands alone....If I still went to gay techno clubs regularly they would definitely be playing this song! Next time I'm in Minney? OK, it's a date.

music of the moment

Here is the new Eminem and Rihanna song, which I really like. It isn't really out yet and no video, but I'm digging her high voice and of course you gotta love Em:


Eminem Ft. Rihanna - Love The Way You Lie with Lyrics - For more funny videos, click here

laugh of the day

This video always makes me laugh:

bedbugs taking over chain stores

Sooo apparently bedbug infestations are on the rise in uber-popular tweeny stores of brand name clothing. That is some nasty business. These infestations have even resulted in a number of Hollister and Abercrombie stories having to shut down! Well holy balls, that must be some crazy bug problem if entire stores are clothing.

It's a good thing I've never shopped at those stories in my life, well maybe I bought some tall jeans there once in the mid-90s...I wonder if the bugs are in boxes of clothing or hanging out on the rakes. Gross! I wonder if their competitors put them there...I hear Old Navy can be super sneaky!

Note to self, always wash your clothes before wearing them, even if you don't buy them at the Goodwill!

I want this

A friend sent me some information about a laptop case which looks like a book. I want it, except it's a million dollars. Check it out:

Woot, woot!!! I like it, a laptop disguise. I could put my laptop in that bad boy and look exponentially s-m-r-ter. It is like I'm carrying around a big old book of important stuff. You could just stack it with your other books and no one would think about stealing it. Ha! I wonder if they come in a Bible version???

And perhaps this would be helpful when I get pulled over by the po po again. Not sure I mentioned this, but over memorial day weekend I got pulled over (for speeding, of course, bane of my freakin existence getting speeding tickets on holiday weekends throughout my short life) going to campus to return my library books. The cop didn't believe me that I was going to library so I started handing me the 10+ books on school violence and communities that care programs through the window. His eyes widened and I could see him thinking "OK, OK crazy, just a warning then." I didn't even have to flash the girls!

BUT, I digress...if I had this laptop cover it could just be another book that gets me out of trouble (books and the girls).....who know it was going to come down to those two things.

shoes are women's weakness

Sooo we all know that "shoes are women's one major weakness" and that most men don't understand this. I was listening to a good friend today describe how the only scary thing related to the big couple move in is the shoes. M, have you not ever seen SITC? Where men are disposable and shoes stay in rooms of their own. Let's ask D about this as well, I'm sure he could comment on the entire room that is devoted to his wife's clothing and shoes (love you T).

Well anyways, I read today that on average women are spending over $24,000 a lifetime on shoes. HOLY balls, that is alot of money! I know teachers who don't even make that much a year. I guess there are lots of different types of shoes the average women has...heels, boots, boots/heels, flippy floppies (yes, please!), tennis shoes, pumps, dress flats....and the list continues. And I would like to point out, because I've learned this the hard way, that shoes for one occasion are not always acceptable for other occasions. Plus, most women's shoes are not cheap either. Case and point these new shoes:

The architecturally demanding shoe:

The 2010 update to wooden Dutch-ish shoe:

Don't worry, each of these will cost you an arm and a leg, plus your partner's leg as well. I'm sure it will be worth it though when we are all broke but have amazing footwear!

I heart those brit's hats

Well you all know I have a slight addiction to the Brits, and general fashion....and I missed making commentary on the annual Royal Ascot last month. This is a royal horse race where all the rich and powerful male Brits wear top hats and suits, and the females have amazingly over-the-top hats. When I lived in London there was a hat shop just down the road and I got to meet the owner. I love these funky hats and the events where everyone has to sport them:



And did you know there are royal rules to attend this event? Yeppers, the Queen herself has rules for how people have to look at this event. In case you can't read, the Royal Ascot website had some visual photos you can refer to. Her Majesty wants you to cross your ankles and not your legs....well damn!

I would attend this event in a heart beat and I'd work really really hard not to be a 6 foot tall, swearing like a pirate, American. Yes please. I like big hats.

music of the moment

I kept hearing this song last weekend and decided I really liked it. From Mz. Lambert who usually rocks out to songs about lighting your ex on fire! I like the lyrics:

pictorial evidence of alaska

Alright folks, here are the AK/AL money shots. Although I hear people do appreciate my running commentary and the colorful LLish anecdotes, I know you all are waiting with baited breath for the pictorial evidence of my Alaskan adventure. If you are interested in a crazy girl's ramblings, check out this update 1, 2, 3, and the final. If you want more details you'll have to buy me some steamed mussels and a fruity martini....

Well let's start with my favorite picture of the trip which has already been posted on my desktop. We took this when walking on the ice glacier, and it includes the snowy mountains, the green/cooper mountains, the glacier, the dirty rocks which apparently come with all glaciers, a not-as-cloudy sky, and some beautiful wild flowers. All Alaskan goodness wrapped up in one photo:



And of course, the big ball of death in the sky was out this say so I was full clothed and trying to remain pale :) But whilst hiking on the big block of ice, I let my uni-bomber hood down long enough to soak up a little vitamin D. Dirty blue ice is soooo hot, I'd do push ups and cut up my hands/knees all day to drink that glacier water filtered in dirty rocks:



We also had an opportunity to ride a sky tram into the Alaskan sky. It was a ride about 2000 feet (or something "God-like" coming from the person who has no sense of measurement) into the heavens to overlook more of the frozen tundra. I like this picture because it looks like I can literally reach out into the clouds and you can see all the brilliant shades of snow-topped green (reminding me of Ireland, and that Irish song of 120 colors of green....Momma B knows it):



On one of our day trips we went to Wittitttittter which populates about 120 people. I loved it. I ate Reindeer and pooped in a hole. This city is right on the ocean so I could get my toeys wet. I spend some high quality time on one of their rocky beaches while waiting for a train to become unstuck from the 2 1/2 mile one-lane tunnel of death. Anyways, Bridawg, Coopster and I did a little posing in the beautiful wilderness:



I also really like this picture because it is cloudy, it has some of those "Charlie Brown-like Christmas trees," glaciers, snowy mountains, and that picturesque crystal blue ocean water:



I also became an adapted Aunt as Cooper (my pooper) bonded for a good 5 days. In this pictorial evidence of our budding relationship, I have his cameo 1-year old self on my 6 foot tall shoulders. We had many a dance parties with me singing, and both of us shaking our booties while flaring our limbs about as if independent of our bodies. In this picture we are entertaining all the other cars waiting to get through the tunnel of death (and he may have been drooling on my head):



As I mentioned before, I was planning on shooting a moose, or Sarah Palin, or a moose/palin from an airplane whilst in Alaska (or drinking some smoked salmon vodka, which we didn't find...damnit). Unfortunately, Ryan wouldn't let me touch his guns (teheheh) but I did get a little wild moose visual hunting in. This is the money shot of the male bull moose we saw which I termed "Bullwinkle" (original, I know). He was just going about his business, eating grass, and not trying to mount/hump me! So I got these amazing pictures of him in his natural green environment:



Also as a final Alaskan observation, I think those Alaskan navies have dog ears. Either Bridawg, Rhino or I would be whispering to each other about something and some Alaskan would hear us. It literally happened everyday no matter where we were. I couldn't believe the sensitive hearing those Alaskans have, even when I'm making rude observations....

Want more pictures? Email me bitches!

final alaskan update

Well I made back to the big VA this afternoon! I had to run my ass through the Houston airport at like 6 AM to make my connection, whilst thinking "god damnit I'm a Lupie and can't take this shit, I need some fruit and a bloody mary." Then I taxied it throughout DC and drove the plastic pinto back to Cville. Overall, the way home seemed much easier than the way there. I just think I do better going west to east. Left to right. Wrong to right. Time zones screw me every which way no matter where I'm at in the world. Never fails.

But I digress, let's work backwards to my last couple days in the great northern region of the United States. On Monday, we loaded up the truck to go visit a real Glacier. I've seen glaciers in Montana but they pale in comparison to those in the frozen tundra. We saw some on our drive the previous day, but this time we were going to a "private" one where once you sign your life away (and unborn children) you can walk onto the big chuck of icy death. This rocked my socks off. The best part was when I was convinced to drink running and bubbling glacier water on my hands and knees, despite my previous reservations about moose poop and dirt filters. I'll admit, it was pretty delicious and refreshing especially when it came back up through my nose whilst laughing when Rhino started dry humping me from behind....LOOK OUT FOR STINK HOLES!!! People have died in this icy stank holes, apparently.

Throughout this vacay it felt like home: MN men were driving me around in big trucks (cough cough Brian), whilst playing country music, and with my feet sometimes hanging out the window. There was lots of swearing which included ending every statement with "bitches" or "cheese dick" or finding the word "asshole" somewhere in every conversation. There were many times where I laughed till I may have wet myself a little, and in my thick book that is a good sign of an amazing vacation. I came home with a suitcase of clean clothes, and a backpack of seasoning and hops which I swear probably look like pot and drugs in the TSA x-rays.

Thanks Bridawg, Rhino and Coopster my little poopster for an amazing vacay!!! Love you all very much. Now move your sexy bitch asses back to MN so I visit you there more often.

the onion's twi-spin

Al-Qaeda Calls Off Attack On Nation's Capitol To Spare Life Of 'Twilight' Author

an alaskan update part 3

Today we drove the most beautiful scenic drive that closely rivals some of my other favorite drive in WA, Udaho, and cheddarland in the fall. There were mountains, snow, sand, water, and a little baby crying (though I could do without the latter). It was very very pretty. We drove until the longest tunnel in North America. It is about 2 1/2 miles and one lane. Every half an hour one side gets to go through it, and I went one way with my head out the window the entire time! It was great.

We made it through the tunnel to the great city of Wittier, AK, which was having a 4th of July festival with all 150 of it's towns-people. I had homemade clam chouder and a reindeer dog. The dog was pretty damn good and I got to write "Happy 4th of July, bitches" on the sidewalk in chalk...OK only kidding I wrote "Happy 4th of July, LL from VA" but really thought about the first. On the way back through the tunnel a train got stuck so it took an extra 2 hours, where I had to entertain Cooper the pooper by giving him rides on my shoulders and butt dancing for everyone lined up in their vehicles.

On the way home we stopped in Girdwood (gird your loins!!!) which was having a "Hippie Festival." Thanksfully we made it through the town without Ryan running anyone over and stealing their pot, to get to the Girdwood Tram! Now this is something I can get excited about. We ride up a tram over 2000 feet into the freezing cold atmosphere that has the best views of all of Alaska. It was pretty cool and the pictures were amazing! More to come on this business later...

More of LL's observations during some alaskan adventures:

• I saw 3 bald eagles today! They were flying around and sitting some shit on the beach. Go America.
• I learned, from the AK license plate, that Alaska only became a state like 50 years ago. Well shit they might as well be illegal, probably don't even have their green card yet. And too boot, apparently most American children think Alaska is by Hawaii on a map...
• I learned today that Alaska's state initials are AK even thought I've been sending things up here for years with AL. But luckily my stuff hasn't been going to Alabamamama! Those postal workers are real s-m-r-t and apparently understand Leslie-isms.
• Today I saddled Cooper onto my back and finally pulled my weight with my vacation family. I could only handle it for about 20 minutes till I thought my spine was going to snap!
• I thought I saw a mountain goat, but apparently it was a black and white hairy human. Another animal mirage...
• Apparently mountain water is fresher than normal water because it's been filtered through dirt and moose poop. Yeah. That's believable.
• I got to stick my toesy in the Pacific Ocean in the Prince William Sound today. It was totally hot until a big bunch of seaweed washed up.
• The four of us celebrated 4th of July this afternoon by rolling around in the yard with exploding snaps and party popers. My ass could explode an entire packet of snaps! Now that is talent.

an alaskan update part 2

**No pictures until I get back to the lower 48s because I decided not to bring my laptop last minute, but I'm still getting some good pics**

Well it is official. I saw a moose or two yesterday. And apparently I saw a male bull moose because it had horns/antlers that were big and fuzzy. I called him bullwinkle. Brian texted me wanting to know if I petted it and I replied, I didn't want to get that close because I was afraid it would mount me!!! Bridawg has had moose chase after her. Ryan called me a moose papazzi because I was taking pictures like no one's business, and jumping out of the car, and runnin across the road....

Next I need to find Levi....I heard he has a place in Anchorage now....

The little pooper had a great birthday party yesterday. There was this other little child that I was secretly inCLASS coding through the afternoon, and after everyone left I exclaimed "that kid was a little shit." Seriously low on Peer Sociability, no Peer Assertiveness, and my little Cooper had great Behavior Control when that shit kept hitting him over his Buzzlight toy. The best birthday gift was from this guy who brought a big box, which was painted with bingo dobers and filled with old tubberware. It was a hit when all the kids started stacking them and planning with them. Best gift ever. Boxes and used tupperware. The kid is only 1 and doesn' t know what is going on anyways...

Yesterday we also went to an Alaskan farmers/juke market downtown where I buy all kind of local business. I got gifts and stufff for me and made friends with some Alaskans granola eating naives. We went looking for salmon at some low tide place but ended up just having a dance party with Cooper my little pooper. He is a really good dancer and loves it when I sing to him in public! We also randomally pulled over at some lake and did a little impromptu swimming. Ryan and I convinced Bri to let Cooper go in the water fully clothed and diapered. It was the best birthday after as he played in the water and sand with me!

More observations from Alaska:

• All the Alaskan neighborhoods have houses that are a three way cross between MN northern cabins, FL beach cottages, and army housing. They are typically longer, 2-story split level, with the garage in front, and odd placed decks and windows. I like them but I can't put my finger on if they are preparing for a flood or for lots of snow, or both!
• The pine trees here are like Charile Brown christmas trees alittle. They are tall, skinny, and don't always have alot of needles on them. This is stark contrast to the Pacific NW trees I'm used to...
• I parked in the Anchorage Mayors spot last night. Still hoping to get arrested before I leave this great state....
• They call public buses "people movers" here....yep it is painted right on the side of the big b-u-s. I guess that too is an accurate name. People mover. Hmmmm.
• Speaking of odd names, they also call snowmobiles, snow-machines. The trail signs says "no snow-machining"
• Apparently I'm turning into my Grandpa S. (nice tits) and momma B, because Ryan called me a human GPS yesterday. I didn't realize that I was naming off everything we were driving by. I guess I was giving a running commentary of what was going through my head, and it was cracking everyone up. I almost wet my pants laughing when I realized this.
• I was reading off the trail signs the other day when we were hiking and it said "no humping" and I shouted "WHAT, I can't hump when in the woods!!!" Ohhh, Ok I bet that just said no dumping. My bad, I don't have my glasses on. My mistake :) Happens to me all the time, as my mind is more dirrty than the averager persons!
• In a previous life I may have been one of those weight guessing carnies at a county fair because yesterday Ryan bet me I couldn't get with $5 of our bill of beer and food at a restaurant, and I got within $0.89!!! Take that bitches!

an alaskan update part 1

Well I safely made it to Anchorage on Thursday afternoon/evening after a grueling 13 hours plane ride. Yep I was literally on airplanes, and not necassarily on layovers in airports, for what seemed like ever. I almost took a bump which would have caused me to get into AL like 8 hours later, and that might have pushed me over the edge. I am not made (all 6 plus feet of me) to sit in tiny airplane seats for that long of a time.

I made it safely and got to start hanging out with my little cooper, the pooper, Bri and Ryan's one year old son. He is super cute and amazing calm, patience, and fun for a 1 year old. Today is his 1 year old birthday party and they are throwing a big BBQ. The only job I got was to cut up the strawberries but I did buy him a really too big t-shirt that says "someone loves you in Cville". I'm amazing, I know.

Well here are some of my beginning observations of Alaska:

• Yeah well they ain't kidding about that "it's light out for 21 hours a day" thing. That is for real. It might not be sunny out, been mostly cloudy, but is it light enough to read outside until 2 AM in the morning. Crazy business.
• Bri says Ambien is the most filled prescription during the summer, yeah I bet.
• I saw my first moose yesterday and by the time Ryan quick flipped a bitch in the road to go back to see it more up close, it was gone. So it may have been possible that I saw a moose mirage, but I'm sticking with my story.
• We went to a home brew store yesterday and to a brewery. I loved it and got some gifts. Surprisingly there are alot of breweries up here, drinking is in style.
• People refer to me from "the lower 48." Yep, this is an attitude sort of like I have for the Carolinas or the Dakotas, where I tend to lump states together, well up here they lump all 48 of us together!
• I went for my first hike yesterday and apparently most people hike with guns here because of the bears and some rabit mooseseses. I just brought my captain and tennile, but Ryan had holster a gun whilst Bri holster Cooper whilst I took pictures of the landscape. I was really pulling my weight.
• Bri and Ryan are doing well and are happy and amazing and still loads of fun.