The Hubs and I have turned into political junkies on a new level in the last year. And I am pretty much going crazy over this picture.

I think no matter where you fall on the political spectrum, you must admit this photo is amazing. These little boys are falling over themselves with excitement in meeting Barack Obama. To think these boys could grow up in a world where a black man being President seems like a normal thing.

The joy in their faces and those of the older men in this photo really embraces the amazing moment in history we may be witnessing.

Progress: 101 Things List

Good progress continues on my list. Of course, you can follow it on the right, but here's what I've been working on:

12. Buy at least five new interesting pieces of jewelry (1/5)
58. Bring digital camera to more friends/family events (buy new digital camera if needed)

Easter Fun

The Hubs and I had a lovely weekend, including hanging out with my parents. We had a great time, had some great food and ate way too many egg-shaped malted milk balls.

We also got a new camera and are LOVING it. We got a Canon A470, which is a new model and is really quite swell.

We've been practicing a new camera skills on our favorite furball. See below: (I think he looks VERY mischevious in the first picture)

Rainy and Mopey Monday

Today in mid-MO land the rain doesn't want to stop. It just keeps pouring and pouring and pouring. My students are coming in to see me looking disheveled and dripping.

Apparently this is basically the weather plan for the next bazillion days. I suppose I should be thankful we aren't getting sleet and snow like our northern neighbors.

101 Things in 1001 Days

This has been a great exercise of list-making I have found online that I thought I would join. Here is my list:

101 Things in 1001 days

Personal

1. Find a night cream
2. Find an eye cream that works for me
3. Pluck eyebrows at least once a week (0/143)
4. Work out on average of three times a week for at least 20 minutes (0/429)
5. Do light weight exercises at home at least twice a week (0/286)
6. Do yoga at least once every fortnight (0/72)
7. Ride to work at least an average of twice a month (0/66)
8. Learn to use my GPS and geocache at least 20 times (0/20)
9. Get pregnant
10. Successfully overcome my fear of childbirth in whatever way feels best at the time
11. Work on developing a more consistent professional style
12. Buy at least five new interesting pieces of jewelry (0/5)
13. Diffuse hair an average of at least once a week (0/143)
14. Color hair at least once, even if semi-permanent
15. Give self a pedicure (or get one) at least every other month (0/17)
16. Lose 20 pounds (+- 0 pounds)

House

17. Finish kitchen cabinets
18. Get new main light fixture in kitchen
19. Add auxiliary lighting in kitchen
20. Redo kitchen floor
21. Get new kitchen counter tops
22. Paint all trim in house white
23. Redo wood floors
24. Paint chairs on porch
25. Paint bedroom
26. Paint foyer
27. Paint hallway
28. Paint main room
29. Paint bathroom
30. Seal cracks in basement
31. Fix siding damage on house
32. Add shutters to house
33. Make gutters work better
34. Buy at least two pieces of original art (0/2)
35. Paint headboard
36. Paint bedroom armoire
37. Buy a nice desk with file cabinet
38. Successfully complete cleaning list at least half the time (0/36)

Yard

39. Plan and plant front landscaping
40. Create at least one rain garden
41. Regularly use compost bin
42. Continue to plant yearly vegetable garden (0/3)

Food

43. Eat at least two vegetables a day for at least half of all weeks (0/72)
44. Try ten new fruits and veggies (0/10)
45. Find at least ten new favorite recipes (0/10)
46. Try five new ice cream recipes (0/5)
47. Plant windowsill herb garden
48. Make kneaded bread from scratch
49. Make gnocchi
50. Make a flan or creme brulee

Organizing

51. Go through and clean out all of upstairs bedroom
52. Set up yoga space in upstairs bedroom
53. Clean out and organize garage

Personal Development/Hobbies

54. Begin a list of birthdays and anniversaries of friends and family
55. Send at least fifty letters or cards (0/50)
56. Write to Grandma at least four times a year (0/11)
57. Start taking artistic pictures again and frame and hang at least two (0/2)
58. Bring digital camera to more friends/family events (buy new digital camera if needed)
59. Create at least one piece of art for house
60. Read at least 15 non-fiction books not for book club (0/15)
61. Read at least 15 fiction books not for book club (0/15)
62. Read at least 15 classic books not for book club (0/15)
63. Read at least the first Harry Potter (to see if I think they are any good)
64. Watch the following recent Best Oscar films that I've never seen (No Country for Old Men, The Departed, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Chicago, A Beautiful Mind, Shakespeare in Love, Schindler's List, Unforgiven, The Silence of the Lambs, Driving Miss Daisy)
65. Watch at least one documentary per month (0/33)
66. Get sewing machine working or get new machine
67. Knit scarf
68. Knit or crochet something besides a scarf
69. Journal at least once a week on average (0/143)
70. Write on blog at least twice a month (0/66)
71. Add a photo to blog at least once a month (0/33)

Social

72. Have people over at least every other month (0/17)
73. Go on couple dates with at least five new couples (0/5)
74. Have at least three game nights (0/3)
75. Have at least three documentary nights (0/3)
76. Rent a house at the lake to get together with friends

Community

77. Eat at least 10 new restaurants in town (0/10)
78. Go to at least on symphony performance
79. Go to see live music at least five times (0/5)
80. Attend local theatre production
81. Volunteer at least five times for local food bank (0/5)

Relationship

82. Go on date at least once a month (0/33)
83. Make out more
84. Surprise J at least five times in creative ways (0/5)
85. Go on at least two romantic getaways each year (0/6)
86. Stay at least three bed and breakfasts or small inns (0/3)

Family

87. Call my brother at least once a month (0/33)
88. Call my sister at least once a month (0/33)
89. Visit J's brother and sister-in-law in Korea
90. Go on at least weekend vacation with J and E
91. Go on international vacation with Mom and Dad

Travel

92. Go with J to Italy or Greece
93. Go to St. Louis at least four times a year (0/11)
94. Ride entire Katy trail with J

Professional

95. Run for office in an organization
96. Go to national conference
97. Even while happy in job, check for new professional opportunities at least once a month (1/33)

Financial

98. Refinance mortgage
99. Save additional $10,000 to allow for the potential of being a one-income family for one year.
100. Invest in a Kiva loan
101. Set up higher interest savings account

Keep checking for updates on HOW I am doing!

Back . . .

Wow. I have neglected this poor little blog. Enough of that -- time to get back to blogging away about life.

Not much new too report here in the lives of me and the Hubs. We had some losses this year in our family and also some great celebrations. The Hubs and I each lost a dear grandparent -- so sad. But, we also had time to celebrate as well -- as my brother got hitched to a very cool woman who we all think is super swell.

I survived my first summer in Missouri. And, let me tell you, it was HOT. Good God it was hot. I think we are finally past any fear of any REALLY hot weather to return. Today it was nearly chilly. So lovely.

Folks here tell me it was worse than usual -- I hope they are right. My garden wasn't so hot, but I felt slightly better when a seasoned local gardener told me she got so frustrated that she tore hers up. At least I felt like I didn't do something wrong, but that it was a rough year. I am still planning to get a fall garden in.

Blogging Again

Have I really not blogged since September? Horrible.

Not a lot has changed here since Fall. I haven't painted any rooms or the kitchen cabinets, like I had planned. I haven't organized the house, like I had planned. Yes, it's been a lazy winter by many accounts.

But one very, very swell thing has happened in our house. We have a new little buddy:


His names is Clawdius Frixy. We love him like crazy. Except when he tried to sit on our heads at 5 a.m. But, his cuteness, desire to be RIGHTNEXTTOYOU and his general love-ability make him a wonderful addition to our family.

In some ways it's been a rough winter for me, but guess what? The clouds seem to be parting and the sun is shining in. Thank goodness.

In reality, we are having a day of rain here. Lots and lots of rain. But, my parents in Minnesota are getting a blizzard. We'll take rain -- thanks.

Food Review: Shakespeare's

When it's been a while since I've had Shakespeare's I start to think "Is it REALLY that good?". Then I eat it again. And, yes, it REALLY IS THAT GOOD.

Shakespeares is a local pizza restaurant that pretty much just makes pizza. They have a couple of salads, that are nice to try with your pizza from time to time -- but I think it is safe to say that no one goes to Shakespeare's for the salad. Plus, they have a great little website and man they make a great little pizza.

All of their ingredients are made fresh on site, they slice their own pepperoni, all fresh veggies and great provolone cheese. Yum, yum.

I recommend the wheat crust and all of their ingredients are yummy and plentiful. We usually go with a 1/2 pepperoni and 1/2 mushroom.

OH, and if this deal couldn't get BETTER -- they have a coupon on their website that gives you a FREE frozen 12-inch pizza with the purchase of a 16-inch pizza. So, for 15-ish dollars you get a great pizza there and one to take home for the freezer! What more could you want?!?

Needless to say, there is a reason this place is a Columbia institution.