Life happens

Isn’t it amazing how we get so busy in our lives that time seems to go by so quickly? My friend, Barb took me to lunch today and reminded me that it’s been an entire year since we’ve seen each other. Really? Has it really been that long? We only live 30 minutes apart yet I distinctly remember the last time we saw each other was last summer for lunch at the same place. It’s really been an entire year? In life, friends get busy and often we go too long without seeing or talking to each other. It’s sad but a true fact of life. The one thing that I love about those close to you whom you don’t see regularly is that when you do see them time stands still. You know what I’m talking about. It’s not seeing someone for weeks, months or years and then you get together and it feels like you only saw them yesterday. You’re so close in heart that you’re able to pick up exactly where you left off and I think that’s when you know you have a great friendship. Tomorrow I’ll be in Chicago with Joe, someone I don’t get to see often enough but am so grateful to have a long weekend together. And Barb, thanks for taking me to lunch today. It was so good to see you!! I hope it’s not another year before we do it again.

Baby shower fun!

Sunday was Cathy's baby shower. She got so much stuff!! Seriously this little girl is going to have to change her clothes five times a day just to wear everything.

Stacy, Cathy's good friend and shower co-hostess, Cathy and I.
Aren't these cookies cute? Couresty of The Upper Crust.
All of the presents! This little girl is already spoiled.

Cathy opening her "I heart my auntie" onesie.

My aching back

Seriously, I feel like I'm about 90 years old today. Okay, so technically, I don't know what it feels like to be that old but I have a pretty good guess. My back gave out on Friday morning for no apparent reason, so the past three days I've not been able to do much but lie flat and grunt whenever I move. This made for a very difficult trip home for Cathy's baby shower. I spent the day moving like a turtle. I have an appointment with a doctor this afternoon and if I can just get some drugs to make the spasms stop, I'll be in good shape.

Redheads extinct? Say it isn't so!

Scientists are predicting that redheads might become extinct by the year 2100. Check out the article here from The Seattle Times. Much thanks to my fellow redheaded friend and partner-in-crime, Kim for passing this one along.

Baby update

My sister's baby is due October 10. She had another ultrasound yesterday and they estimate that my niece is already approximately 5 and a half pounds!!

You decide

I was tipped off by Jan to a great quiz that helps determine which presidential candidates you agree and disagree with most depending on the issues that are most important to you. Thought it was too good to not pass along and share. More information is also listed here.

Fun with Nat

Out on the town with Natalie and Mozow.

I spent a little less than 24 hours in St. Louis over the weekend. It was a short trip but I had a great time seeing Natalie. We haven't hung out together in quite some time - I love that girl!

Friday's Feast

Appetizer
Describe your laundry routine. Do you have a certain day when you do it all, or do you just wash whatever you need for the next day?
Me, have a laundry routine? I wish. I wait until I no longer have a single pair of clean underwear and then I wash all of my dirty laundry, darks and whites seperately of course.

Soup
In your opinion, what age will you be when you’ll consider yourself to truly be old?
I think age is relative. I remember being in elementary school thinking high schoolers or college kids were really old. I find that the older I get, the less old other people actually seem.

Salad
What is one of your goals? Is it short-term, long-term, or both?
Save money. This is a short-term and long-term goal. Why is this so hard?

Main Course
Name something unbelievable you’ve seen or read lately.
Mary-Kate Olsen (21) will kiss Ben Kingsley (63) in an upcoming film.

Dessert
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how happy are you today?
Well my day just started and I've only been awake for a couple of hours. So far, I'm pretty content. I'm giving myself an 8.

Really?

How's this for late-breaking? And contrary to popular belief, I'm not hating. Nope.

Two

Two. I love this song and I can't stop listening to it. I'm a little bummed out that I'll be out of town during Ryan Adams Oct 5 concert in St. Louis. He's the guy that I've always tried to see in concert. Once I bought tickets and the show got cancelled. Another time, I didn't get my ticket soon enough and it sold out. Go figure.

Fridays Feast

Appetizer
What is your favorite kind of pie?
Pumpkin

Soup
Name something that made you smile this week.
Seeing Taina yesterday after three long weeks!

Salad
What do you do to cool off when the weather is hot and humid?
Eat frozen custard. Wait, I do that even when it's not hot and humid. Hmm...

Main Course
You receive $1,000 in the mail with a letter that says you can only use the money to redecorate one room in your home. Which room do you pick, and what do you buy to spruce it up?
In the last year, I bought all the new furniture I need (bed, mattresses, chair, ottoman, coffee table). However, since I'm not in the business of turning down free, imaginary money, I guess I could use this for my living room and buy a new couch, too.

Dessert
Fill in the blank: My boyfriend says reality tv will rot my mind, but I disagree.

Notice

Dear Friends,
Should any of you fall into some money within the foreseeable future, please keep this in mind.

Your friend,
Amy

Kitten-obsessed

It's time for true confessions. I love kittens. They are so fuzzy, playful and sweet. There's almost nothing better. A very long time ago, I got hooked on Daily Kitten and now I'm compelled to check it every day. I've since told fellow kitten-lovers about the site and have several friends who check it regularly, too. My friend, Kim emailed me the other day asking if I've checked out Kitten War. I told her that I hadn't and I found that going to one kitten site per day was time consuming enough. I didn't stand my ground for very long. Against my better judgment, I checked it out. I'm afraid I might be kitten-obsessed.

Name that crush

I have not been watching Age of Love but I did see the last five minutes last night. Enough to know that the 30-something bachelor, Mark Philioppoussis picked the 20-something bachelorette over the 40-something bachelorette. Big surprise, right? I would have been shocked had he have actually chosen the older woman and maybe there's not necessarily anything wrong with the choice he made (after all, I didn't watch the show) but I started thinking about mismatched couples. For instance, Demi and Ashton. And remember Julia and Lyle? This leads me to my next question - What unexpected person do you have a crush on? Everyone knows I like guys who play guitar but I have to admit that I have a slight crush on Jay Leno. I can't explain it. All I know is that I like funny guys and after watching him for so many years, I've developed a certain fondness.

Changes

I've become a recent addict of Diet Mountain Dew. It seems I can't get enough of this yummy goodness.

I've started going to twice weekly pilates classes with Meagan and I really love it.

I'm going to jazzercise once a week with Monica because I need to stop sitting on my couch so much. And let's face it, I could use some practice in coordination.

I've been trying to bring my lunch to work so that I can stop spending so much money. Guess what? I forgot my lunch today at home.

I don't think I've watched MTV for weeks...months?

After a trip to the dentist yesterday, I'm contemplating getting all of my wisdom teeth removed for preventative measures.

Birthdays are fun!

Happy Birthday, Meera! I'm so glad I've gotten to know you over the past few months.

Monica, Meera, Meggan and I at Meera's party. Meggan shows off her cheerleader skills with pizzazz.