Friday, September 30, 2011

Friday Confessions

Below, an oldie but goodie.  I wrote this "confessions" almost exactly a year ago today, on the eve of The World's Largest Garage Sale.  And because now this is the eve of The World's Largest Garage Sale I cannot be expected to come up with an original post.  My garage sale strategy must come first.

You understand.

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1. Growing up, my family designated "favorite movies" based on the amount, duration, and intensity of fart scenes.

2. I may or may not have taught my innocent, 13-year-old cousin what the phrase "breaking the seal" means.

3. I attended a luncheon on behalf of my boss where I sat at the head table with the Assemblywoman and the Chancellor of the New York State University school system. I had a visible booger in my nose the entire time.

4. I also dribbled sauce down my chin oh-so eloquently.

5. And then I ran out of the building.

6. The World's Largest Garage Sale starts this weekend. I purchased this old lady cart to store my treasures...and snacks.


7. Corey and I had an anniversary a few weekends ago. I spent the day with my family that was visiting from all over the country then the night baking my mom's birthday cake. We both passed out on the couch dinnerless and wedding-cakeless.

8. As this year has felt like no fewer than five, we were ok with it.

9. Marriage is hard, people.

10. After reading yesterday's post, my mom said our life is like a reality show. Let me tell you: we would be the dumbest show on the planet, second only to The Hills. Aside from our occasional misadventures, this is our nightly routine: come home, Corey walks dog, talk about dinner, eat cheese and crackers, forget to eat dinner, eat dessert, Stacie watches Matlock and plays with felt, Corey checks stats online then watches game, Stacie goes to bed, Corey watches game and falls asleep on couch.

Bo-ring.

But I would definitely entertain any and all offers. Just sayin'.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Dog Fights and Downpours

Oliver has had a rough week.

His life is one big routine of walk, eat, drink, watch me get ready for work, eat, sit, lie, walk, lie, eat, sleep.

Starting last Friday we've thrown in medication two times a day, constant digging through his ears, checking is gums, staring at his eyeballs.  We roll him over every other minute to check his rash; is it spreading?  is it getting better?  why is he wet?  ohmigosh is that pee?

Then last night the poor guy was attacked.

By a Boston Terrier.


Corey let Oliver out to do his business while I waited inside. 

No big deal.  They do this every night.

But this night I hear a blood curddling scream come from outside.  It was definitely a dog.  But what dog??

Oh Christmas candy, that dog has finally killed something.

I seriously thought my dog, who has aggression issues toward most dogs, had finally done damage to some poor, innocent creature.

The shame...the anguish.....the vet bills!!

I ran out the door, so did my neighbor.

"Was that your dog??"

The rest of our building was already outside.  Including one of the neighbors holding his little -4 lb Boston Terrier.  He was upset.  Corey was upset.

Oliver was confused.

I was confused.

It wasn't until we were back upstairs and Corey had texted our vet before I found out what happened: the teeny little dog was also outside doing her business when O-dog came down.  Being super excited to see who he thought was his friend, her brother, he rain toward her.  She, being not entirely pleased, lunged at him, grabbed ahold of his neck and did not let go.

Enter dog screaming.

Corey and another neighbor were able to seperate them.

I checked for damages and judging by the seriously awful sound of his screaming I was looking for missing chunks of skin, maybe a tooth.

Nothing.  Just some redness, a little bruising, and one littttle tooth hole that produced half a drop of blood.

Fine.  Everyone was just fine.

Except Corey.  And the neighbor who owned the dog.

But boys will be worriers.

...

This morning was the icing on the cake.  Out for our morning walk I noticed dark clouds rolling in.

After everything that's happened, wouldn't it be just great if it rained on us?!

Famous last thoughts.  It did rain.  And it was not great.

Oliver and I were stuck in a downpour a little less than a mile from our apartment.

Do I wait it out under a tree?

(rains harder)

Do I run all the way home?

(rains even harder)

I ran with my glasses in my hand, Oliver shaking off every 10 feet, water in my eyes, cars driving by most likely commenting on how dedicated an athlete I am.

Corey was waiting for us on the porch with a few towels.

...

Great way to start the day!  Possibly a hint of what's to come for the weekend?  Let's hope not.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

We Want To Know: what you eat!

Spoiler alert: in the following post I mention pancakes.

Thanks to Mamarazzi and Queso for making me so hungry so early in the day!


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{1} What is one thing (food or drink) that you MUST have everyday?
Currently, I'm not stuck on anything.  But I have had my seasons of English Muffins with peanut butter or rice with everything.  Right now I'm in transition: from ding dongs and wontons to salads and veggies.

My pants don't fit.


{2} What is your "go to" food when you don't feel well/need comfort?
Pancakes.  I love pancakes more than life itself.  Sprinkle them with chocolate chips and add a smiley face?  We'd be friends for-ev-er.  I'm not even joking.

{3} Is there a dish you make that people request when they visit your home/a family favorite?
No.  I think people still assume I haven't yet moved from newlywed to homemaker.

Which I haven't.  So people please continue to feed us.

Otherwise, I make a mean chicken spaghetti that Corey requests whenever he gets sick of cooking all. our. meals.

{4} What are 3 foods you have TRIED, do not like and will NEVER eat again?
The only food I can think of is mushrooms.  I gave 'em a shot, was not impressed, so I'd rather avoid them at all cost.

I'm not very adventurous when it comes to food.  Especially if it's slimy.

and our final question comes from Dee@ HomesickCajun

{5} What's one thing that you love to eat that most people would think is weird and/or gross??
Pancake batter and pie crust dough.  I've eaten some weird things in my day, but this is the one that has stuck for as long as I can remember.
Don't judge.

...

Visit Mama and Queso to join in!

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

My Thoughts, Exactly: Sandals

The opinions below are 110% my own, no one has paid me to say all kinds of nice things about these sandals, they were on my feet at the time, I realized how much I enjoyed them, and I thought I would share.

I don't often splurge on...anything.

I'm a "thrifter" as Corey called me this morning.  I live for hand-me-downs, garage sale finds and consignment stores.

However, every now and then I do come across some items that are worth spending a little extra on.

Like these:


Patagonia Bandha Sling sandals in Dried Vanilla.  Also known as my birthday present this year.

I realize it is a tad late to be talking about sandals, now that we've officially moved on to fall, but I anticipate a sale (you're welcome), plus, not all of us are blessed with four feet of snow by Thanksgiving and can get away with sandals all stinkin' year.

I hate you.

But I don't.

I came across these beauts at a downtown outdoorsy store early this past summer and by looks alone I was head over heels:
  • They're simple.  90% of the time I wear simple outfits and need a shoe to compliment.  The other 10% a slipper will do.
  • The leather and skinny design of the straps classes 'em up.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not above a flip-flop, just the opposite; these babies take me where no regular flip-flop can.  Like work meetings.
  • Back strap.  Something different, something functional.  Because now that I'm kissing my twenties goodbye I should add some rationality into my decisions.
The only hesitation I had when buying them (clarify: when Corey bought them) was the price.  For $90 I could by 180 paperback books at the next book sale, I could go on a date with hubs, I could pay one half of my last driving-on-cell ticket.  But, I reeeeeally like them, and thought they might be worth the risk.  So on my feet they went.  And I've worn them almost every other day since July.

My feet have thanked me.

Just so you know.

Monday, September 26, 2011

Birthday Wishes

Thursday, September 22 was my mom's birthday but I just did not have the time to paste her age all over the Internets...and I feel terrible!!

My family did, however, throw her a low-key party for which she cooked the entire meal.

(But the dessert was ruined so my dad and I threw together a last minute chocolate cake because in our household a birthday is not a birthday without a cake.  Just like a Friday is not a Friday without cinnamon rolls, and a Wednesday is not a Wednesday without chocolate chip cookies...but I digress.)

We're a small family, five Dina's plus two significant others, and when we all get together you can almost hear the neighbors shoving earplugs, cotton balls, fingers, toes, cat tails, hot dogs, and whatever else into their ears.

"It's those Dinas again.  Jeez Louise do they have a volume other than Earth Shattering?!?"

No, not usually....

Unfortunately, my parents do not keep a supply of candles in the house, so we had to settle for the "2" and "3" candles that were meant for Kimberlie's birthday in March for my mom's cake.

Which is actually appropriate: if you add the two numbers you get the first number in her new age, and then if you subtract the two you'd get the second number, that is, unless you subtract the 3 from the two giving you -1, which would make her 49, and if the first number is a 5 that just wouldn't work out....

She's 51 years old, for cryin' out loud.

51 and lookin' goooooood!

So happy belated blog birthday wishes mom!!

Weekend Wrap Up: Happy to see Monday

Sweet mother of pearl am I glad this past weekend is ov-er.

Corey probably is too, but for different reasons.

Allow me to elaborate.

As you might remember, I've done a lot of work with our local soup kitchen to plan two of their major fundraisers that fall within a month and a half of each other.  The first was the festival in the park in August, the second a huge breakfast served to thousands of attendees of a balloon festival held this past weekend.

The planning that went into the two events was exhausting enough, but the actual events themselves were both equally physically exhausting.

Starting at 3:30am my dad and I started the days prepping food and working with the 80+ volunteers; we had an hour to fill 8 chaffing dishes with scrambled eggs, French toast, pancakes and sausage.  Then four tables had to be lined with OJ, coffee, hot water, milk and every kind of condiment you would ever need.

Minus mini Tabasco bottles.  But we have to have something to shoot for.



The weather was terrible and none of the balloons lifted off.  But on Sunday, at least, they were blown up.




Which means there were still plenty of people lining up at 5am for an all-you-can eat feast.

Which means there was lots of scrambling of more than just the eggs.

Which means I was exhausted.

Needless to say, several naps were in order.

By 1pm on Saturday I had already worked six hours and napped for two.

...

And on Corey's end, he was in charge of monitoring Oliver-dog 24 hours each day for bruising in his ears, eyes, or gums that would immediately send us all to the doggy ER.

"I had to google what a Golden Retriever's ears are supposed to look like just to be sure."

"And?"

"He's fine."

For some reason, Oliver develops this weird rash on his undercarriage that lasts for several weeks and then disappears.  Corey took him to the vet on Friday just to finally find out what it could be and was surprised when the vet thought he had a serious blood disorder.

Corey left the office with several hundred dollars in vet bills, a 3x per day medication and a special shampoo to be used that day.

For a guy who has never owned a dog in his life, let alone bathed one, the whole process took a lot out of him and I came home Friday night to towels strewn across the floor, dog hair in the drain and a wet dog running wild, sliding all over the wood floors in our apartment.

Corey also had instructions to monitor Oliver closely and keep him calm and confined until his blood work comes back this week.  If anything about him even slightly changed Corey was told to take him to the ER immediately.

Confined, yes.  Calm, no.

But I guess it's a good sign he still has the same amount of energy.

...

So now here we are, Monday...again.  But this week we have a weekend of leaf peeping, granny visiting and a world's largest garage sale to look forward too.

Happy Ending.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Color Confusion

"Um hi, this is Stacie Lucas.  I called about an hour ago for hats, I needed nine of them..."

"Yes, I have nine hats in a Columbian blue."

"Ok, so what color is that?"

"Well, it's Columbian blue..."

Is this a color I should know?

Cape Cod getaway

Happy anniversary Mr. and Mrs. Lucas!

Two years we've been married.

Two whole years last Sunday.

So to celebrate we decided to take a trip.  And if you follow any of my obnoxious tweets you know we rounded Cape Cod and settled for a long weekend near the tip, in North Truro.

Our hotel was right there on the beach, and at night at high tide you could just about spit right into the ocean.



Corey could have.  I, being a proper lady, am not proficient in spitting.

It.  Was.  Magical.

Not the spitting.  The weekend, it was lovely.

First, the entire elf shoe that is the cape is just one awesome, sandy beach chunk of land that has the feel of vacation and relaxation the second you cross the Bourne Bridge.

We stopped in Sandwich, Corey's least favorite place on the cape and I could see why: it was my favorite.  Antique stores and museums as far as the eye could see.  Then there was this gem:



Hello Captain Scott, your crabcake sandwich was absolutely deeee-vine.  And Corey says thanks for the memories....of some rockin' fried shrimp.

We stayed in North Truro through Sunday, our anniversary, where we consumed large amounts of fried seafood, cooked seafood, seafood mixed with other seafood and chocolate.

Oh the chocolate.

I ate cake at 10:30 in the morning. And ice cream. And candy.

Because I can. I'm an adult.

We walked the beach in the mornings; one morning witnessing a particularly hungry seagull shake the living daylights out of its breakfast, a good sized crab.

"It's the circle of life."

Indeed. But that circle is terribly violent, for goodness sake.

But I digress.

Corey loves, loves, loves taking pictures. I usually have no time behind the lens, unless I'm directed to snap a picture of Corey on the beach, Corey on the balcony, Corey in the vineyard, Corey doing his goofy dance in his underwear and socks, etc.

He's really good at it.


This was our view across the bay toward Provincetown.

"Ooooooo...."

We spent a few hours each day in Provincetown, an iddy biddy little village at the very end of the cape.  I would say it rivals Saratoga in cuteness, but don't tell my precious home that.  However, what we saw and who we met could alone fill its own post.



If you don't already know why a couple-a kids from small towns like Corey and me would have a hard time just knowing where it was safe to look, then your mommies and daddies probably don't want you to know.

I found myself in a few situations in the art galleries where I was face to face with things I don't see in my day to day routines.

Unless my day to day routines involved touring local strip joints.

TMI?

I had to fight the urge to giggle and run from the buildings.

Remember, adult.

Safe places: the taffy shop, the ice cream shop, and that home furnishing store that had three Golden Retrievers sitting outside.

Although most of our actual anniversary was spent laying around the hotel room watching football while Corey fought a terrible headache, Sunday was my favorite day.  Large breakfast in the hotel's cafe, antique/craft fair/bake sale in N. Truro and a jazz festival at the vineyard down the street from our room.

First, I'm a sucker for breakfast.  I like food and I like mornings, a good breakfast literally makes my day.

Second, I'm a sucker for arts and crafts, and antiques, and bake sales.  This was all wrapped up into one large event.  Yes, Corey did have to drag me away from the beautiful Polish dishware, but just having the opportunity to look was a dream come true.

Obviously it does not take much for me...

And Third:


I love vineyards.



I love jazz.



And I love this guy.  And this guy was having a good time.

We left early on Monday.  It was time.  After a full three days of being on the go we were tired.  And Corey missed his dog.

I'm not going to say the first two years of our marriage have been candies and roses. 

Unless you count actual make-up candy and roses.  In that case, I've ingested my weight in chocolate.

I'd imagine anyone thrown into a share-everything-including-life's-biggest-decisions-and-a-bathroom situation is going to struggle at the beginning.

But things are starting to shape up.

Corey and I went on a vacation together and had a really good time.  We love each other.  We enjoy being together.  And we genuinely wanted to celebrate being together.

Despite anything that happened in our first two years, I think our future looks good.




...as long as there is still some chocolate.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Ten on Tuesday: A through Z



We have fun here on Tuesdays.  And today we change things up a bit.  Yay...I like change.  So much.  It's my favorite thing ever.

A. Age: 29.  As in the real 29, not the I'm-actually-turning-35-but-I'll-continue-to-say-I'm-29-until-I-die 29.


B. Bed Size: Queen.

C. Chore that you hate: dishes.  And folding laundry.

D. Dogs: Oliver, Golden Retriever.



E. Essential start to your day: Breakfast.  Most important meal of the day.  Also a shower.

F. Favorite Color: All of 'em.

G. Gold or Silver: Silver.  My skin tone does not make gold look good.

H. Height: 5'7 3/4", although I'm convinced with the right amount of stretching I'd be back to 5'8".

I. Instruments you play: Trombone.  Not what you expected?

J. Job Title: Legislative Assistant, but with absolutely no legislative work involved.

K. Kids: None.  One dog and one active husband is all I can take right now.

L. Live: Saratoga Springs, New York.  My favorite place this side of the mighty Mississip.

M. Mother’s Name: Debbie.

N. Nicknames: Beetle.

O. Overnight hospital stays: One, right after I was born.  None since.

P. Pet peeve: Where do I begin...people who talk to loud, Massachusetts drivers, squeaky doors...

Q. Quote from a movie: "Did we just become best friends?!"  "Yup!"

R. Right or left handed: Right.

S. Siblings: Two younger sisters.  I love them to friggin' pieces.

T. Time you wake up: 6:30am.

U. Underwear: Yes.

V. Vegetable you hate: Beets.

W. What makes you run late: Good Morning America and that darn Robin Roberts.

X. X-Rays you’ve had: Teeth, at the dentist.

Y. Yummy food that you make: I think I make a mean chocolate chip cookie, and my brownies were tied for first in a bake off.  But I don't like to brag...

Z. Zoo Animal: Bears and monkeys, my favorites.

...

Happy Tuesday!  On deck for tomorrow: wrap-up of the best Cape Cod vacation ev-er.

Friday, September 16, 2011

Friday Confessions

1.  When people ask me how I'm doing I say "good", not "well".  I feel like saying "well" makes me sound like one of those people who use "can" and "may" correctly.

2.  Not that there's anything wrong with being correct, it just feels funny coming outta me.  It would be like using a British accent.  Does.  Not.  Fit.

3.  Squeaky doors are my nails on a chalkboard.

4.  I once started a post that began with my amazing ability to hold in my pee for large amounts of time.

5.  These Friday things get written throughout the week, as situations arise.  Number five: Wednesday.  Mood: near meltdown.  Prediction: when you read this all the drama will be over and I will be on my way to a relaxing mini-holiday on the cape.

6.  I said "mini-holiday" in my head with a snooty British accent.  Sometime words deserve special treatment; in this case it does not feel out of place.

7.  Please try to keep up.

8.  This is where I left my rings Tuesday night.


On my note pad, on my desk, in my office.

Text to my friend Jill that night: "Ok, so I'm not 100% sure where my wedding rings are..."

Corey was less than thrilled.

9.  Another prediction: both my mother and my mother-in-law will call and scold me upon reading this.  And in my defense I will turn them on Corey because he leaves his rings all. over. the. house.

Sorry Corey, but I told you you should keep the danged thing on your finger.

10.  I've mentioned before about how I hate to waste.  Here is an exception: the last few post-its.  There's only five left?  Toss 'em and start a new one!!

...

Happy Friday!  Enjoy your weekend!

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Chef Corey

This season of our marriage is all about food.

We cook it (and I say "we" very loosely), we eat it, and now we watch it.

Before Corey I'd never watched a single minute of the Food Network in. my. life.

I never cared how it got made, just so long as it did and went into my belly.

BFF: "Ohmigosh!  It's Bobby Flay!!!"

Me: "Who??"

Now I'll see the guy walking ten feet away and I practically have to pick myself up off the floor.

Why?

Because FN is all we watch.

Corey is especially enthralled with the cooking competitions.  It's fast paced and frenzied, something I think he can identify with clearly; Iron Chef just happens to be on every single night as he makes our dinner* and often will talk to me as if we are part of the competition, he being the contestand and I am the judge.

"What I've done here is marinated the chicken in a creamy sauce then served over a bed of crisp greens..."

Tuesday night he cooked for me a full three course meal, each presented with a Japanese accent (imitating Iron Chef Morimoto, of course).

The first course: a blend of cheeses with a dash of cayenne pepper grilled between two flour tortillas with a garnish of hot sauce on the side.  (Quesadillas)

The second course: a grilled bread topped with a tomato sauce, a blend of cheeses and pepperoni chunks, cut into four pieces.  (A frozen Celeste pizza)

And finally, the third course, which really was a masterpiece:



An ice cream Snickers bar with whipped cream and sprinkles on top of a homemade raspberry sauce with crushed walnuts.

It was pretty darn tasty.

Although a little out-of-the-box, which is what those shows are meant to be anyway.

Watch for Corey's own show in the future.  He's just the kind of food nut they love!

...

*Corey makes our meals because 1) he enjoys it and 2) I have only enough time to pop a hot pocket into the microwave.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

We Want To Know: Road Trip!

Round two (for me) of We Want To Know Wednesday.  Thanks to Mamarazzi and her friend Queso for another week of digging for my dirt!

And, of course, by dirt I mean more info about me.  Because you didn't already have enough.




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{1} What are 3 must haves for a long road trip?
A pillow, a blanket and a driving buddy that doesn't mind me sleeping the entire way to save myself from motion sickness.  Also, said buddy will have to be ok with stopping every three hours so I can stretch my buns.

{2} What was the destination of your most recent road trip?
Corey and I caravaned with my parents and sister to Washington DC and then Virginia.  We both had different versions of the Garmin so we ended up going in different directions, meeting up somewhere in Maryland after Corey and I waited in traffic for-ev-er and my parents stopped at an IHOP for breakfast.

{3} What do you miss most about home when on a trip?
My bed, my dog, my stuff.  Although, I do love, love, love staying in hotel rooms.  There's just something about not having to clean up after myself...

{4} What is the furthest you have traveled on a road trip?
When we moved from California to Indiana we drove.  And we took the biggest detour ever through Mississippi.  It took us two weeks, but that was with three kids under eleven, a dog, and two cars with no air conditioning.

I remember one particular hotel that was infested with fleas.  That may or may not have led my mom to search for bugs on the walls while still asleep.

Then there was that trip from Washington to Southern California, and from way far east New York to Northern Indiana.

{5} Will you "stop for the largest ball of twine, etc" or are you a "hurry and get there" road tripper?
It depends on the trip.  I very much enjoy stopping to see the sights along the way, but sometimes you just want to get where you're going already.

Vague much?

...

Enjoy the rest of your Wednesday...I'm laughing already about the Corey story I want to tell tomorrow.


hehe...silly Corey.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

A desperate plea

Dear Corey,

For goodness sake, please let me sleep. 

I realize it is soooo hilarious to wake me up five times in the middle of the night to listen to my awkward ramblings, I'd wake myself up if I knew I'd hear me yammering on about crackers and beluga whales (you know how sleep talking stories affect me), but this girlfriend needs her full eight hours of uninterrupted sleep.

I need to be able to keep my eyes open when I iron my pants, drive to work, talk to constituents, eat my lunch, use the facilities, play scrabble with Jill on my phone, and drive home again.  And I'm sure you'd prefer me to be awake during our special time.

You know, when we watch taped episodes of Restaurant Impossible.

Also worth mentioning: I'm downright grumpy and throw pillows at your face.

So, if you don't mind, leave me to my sleep.  And only interrupt if the house is on fire or the dog is doing that gaaarrummph thing before he pukes.

Thank you,
Stacie

Monday, September 12, 2011

Overheard...

In the grocery store:

"...so he burned his butthole."

These are my neighbors, people.

I wonder how the rest of the conversation went...

Weekend Wrap Up: Wine tasting and birthdays

We saw the sun this weekend.

WooHoo!

Also there was some flooding, alpacas, eccentric artists in coat tails and a top hat, a roasted pig, leopard print, a birthday girl, white caps and felt balls.

Put all that together and you get one crazy party. 

A 98-year-old nana in leopard print?!

No, we spread the fun out into two very long days.

Early Saturday morning I dragged Corey with me to an artist community for Harvest Fest; an all day open house featuring animals, art, food, and demonstrations.  People in the northeast reeeeally embrace the fall, and I embrace people who embrace fall.  And Corey embraces me as I embrace people who...you get the idea.

We met puppies from the local animal shelter.  I picked out ten of my favorite ten.  And then I told them I loved them as Corey ushered me by.  We pet alpacas and baby cows, walked around the grounds, ate hot dogs, I bought eight ounces of alpaca wool and then we left.

Lunch was a fabulous mess of all kinds of slop thrown into a container and labeled the "trash can" platter at a nearby drive in.  Fortunately, I digested enough to still be able to enjoy the sampling of food at the local performing arts center's wine and food festival Saturday night.

There was meat, and pasta, and bread, and more meat, and shrimp, and some kind of green veggies, and more meat, and cheese, and cookies.



And then there was wine that sparkled, wine that didn't, wine that was sweet, wine that was really whiskey with maple syrup, and a funny liquor that tasted just like cough syrup with a hint of pistachio.

I may or may not have sampled my share and beyond of everything.

I also may or may not have forced Corey to smuggle out the etched wine glass under his coat.

Good times.

Then there was family time.  Sunday we drove up to Corey's hometown for his grandmother's 98th birthday party.




We took pictures and cooked hamburgers.  And it's a three family affair so there were plenty of stories.

Oliver played with his cousin Reuben, a one-and-a-half year old Springer Spaniel before passing out on the ride home.

I spent the rest of the day felting to a Matlock movie marathon and Corey watched whatever games were on; football, baseball, horse racing, badminton, bass fishing, literally whatever.

And then we slept the sleep of two very sleepy sleeps.

The end.

...

Try reeeeally hard friends, have a happy Monday!

Friday, September 9, 2011

Friday Confessions

1.  I make up song lyrics based on what I hear.  For example, Lady Gaga's Bad Romance became, "...caught in a pair of pants, whoooaaaooo."

2.  I also smack butts.  But only butts I know, although sometimes I have to remind myself that certain butts are inappropriate.  Like work butts, or stranger butts, or distant relative butts.

3.  Same with passing gas.  It's as natural a bodily function as breathing, but I have to make a conscious effort to not let this natural function occur in some places.  Home, ok.  Outside, ok.  Car, ok.  Office, not ok.  Clothing store, not ok.  In front of friends, sometimes ok.

4.  I over share.

5.  On our daily walks I allow Oliver to have conversations with other dogs in the neighborhood (read: pee on stuff), and I've discovered were he a person he would be the guy that never shuts up.

6.  I am pleased as punch that Corey is extremely bothered by dishes in the sink, because I am extremely bothered by doing dishes in the sink.

7.  He sent me an itinerary for our day trip up north to see his grandmother.  It included returning home for take out and bedtime by 4:30pm.

8.  His grandmother turns 98.  Not only does she still have her wits about her, she still lives in her own home.

9.  Corey is going to outlive me.  It's in his genes.

10.  In my genes: old lady meanness.

...

Happy Friday friends!!

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Nighttime Shenanigans

Whoopsie doodles!  I fully intended this morning to tell you about my sleepy time rambles but the time just walked away from me.

Tuesday night I guess I had a doosy.  I warned Corey to watch out for the fruits and vegetables and then swore that I really was awake. 

I started to actually wake up because I remember the look on his face.  He was thrilled!  Corey loves it when I talk in my sleep, and swears he needs to set up a recorder.  "They're priceless!"

So after I started to wake up he ran out of the bedroom.

He ran out.

To write down what I said.

Unfortunately, after he read it to me and we had a good laugh he threw his note away.

Awwww.

Next time....  Then we can all have a good laugh.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Much Needed Getaway

The deed is done.

Corey and I are officially flying back and forth across the country this fall for a two-in-one vacation.

Flying.

Did I mention we would be...flying?

Hello anxiety.

We have a wedding in Indiana; my old high school friend and college roommate is getting married (yay!) and I finally have a chance to get Corey in close proximity to my hometown.

By close I mean two and a half hours away.  But we will be in the same state.  And in the town of my alma mater, Purdue University!

Did you know that both the first man (Neil Armstrong) and the last man (Eugene Cernan) on the moon both attended Purdue?

But I digress.

Very soon after the wedding we get back on a plane....a plane....and head down to Mississippi to see my granddaddy.

I say this about most people I meet, but Glenn Errington really is one of my favorite people.


Corey and I will probably take a spin in the rowboat around his catfish pond, maybe pluck a few for dinner, and drive around town to see the sights: Southern Miss, the Walmarts, Brett Favre's house, etc.

There also may or may not be several buffet dinners in our future.

They're best of the South, you know!

Unfortunately, we can't stay longer than a few days.  Budgets and jobs and adult responsibilities are keeping us from making a month of it. 

Dag-blasted adult responsibilities!

But we're able to get some special-people time in, and I'm happy about that.

Even if we have to fly to get there.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Google, you kill me

Today, and today only you get a little treat from Google, a cartoon music video of Queen's Don't Stop Me Now.

It's cute, and clever and a fitting tribute to the best singer of all time.

I'm a fan.  Maybe I didn't make that clear.

Ten on Tuesday



1. What temperature do you keep your thermostat on during the day?
Depends on who leaves last.  I like to conserve energy during the hours that we're not around and set it at 72-74.  Corey likes to come home to a chill in the air and has been known to set the 'stat at 64.

"Sorry Beetle, I didn't know I set it that low..."

Mmmhmmm.

2. What temperature do you keep your thermostat on at night?
Same as above, but at least now that it is much cooler at night we can agree to leave the windows open.

3. In a canister of mixed nuts, do you pick out certain varieties and leave the others?
I'm not a big fan of nuts.  If I'm forced to eat a nut I'd prefer a cashew or almond.  Walnuts, please, on my salads and in my oatmeal, an no peanuts anywhere around me....unless finely chopped in a McDonald's sundae.

4. What is your favorite kind of M&M?
Peanut...HAHAHAHA!!

I'm not consistent.

5. How do you buy books? (Amazon, bookstore, new, used, electronic, etc)
Our library has a book sale three times a year where I buy paperbacks for 50 cents and hard covers for $1.  I crawl under, over and through sweaty stink-pots for last year's new releases and it is soooo worth it.  But sometimes I do miss being able to browse without holding my sweatshirt sleeve to my nose...

6. How do you like your eggs cooked?
Over medium.  With a side of hash.

7. Can you whistle?
Yes, but I still cannot do the fingers-in-mouth-eardrum-piercing kind.  Mine comes out as a raspberry with extra spittle.

8. What common word do you always misspell?
Ridiculous, it has more to do with how I pronounce it: reeee-diculous.  Also, sheriff and squirrel. 

Which letter is doubled, again?!

9. Are you afraid of flying?
Oh mama's corn fritters, yes.  Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.  And I have a trip coming up...oh boy, I have a trip coming up.  We fly from Albany to Indiana, from Indiana to Mississippi, from Mississippi back to Albany, with about a dozen layovers in between.  I'm feeling tingly already...

10. How often do you go shopping?
For groceries: once a week.  For Stacie things: not nearly as much as I'd like.  Although I do sense a pair of shoes in my future.

...

Happy Tuesday!  Or Monday if you're like me and get completely thrown off by three-day-weekends.

Monday, September 5, 2011

Wrap Up: Hurricane Irene

You may have already noticed Corey and I made it through Hurricane Irene.  She wasn't as angry by the time she made her way aaaaallll the way up here, but there was still plenty of damage to speak of.

Luckily, there was no significant damage in our area.


Trees fell but managed to miss most of the power lines near us.  We were only without power for about three hours.

Three very long hours for Corey.  While I fired up a Youtube episode of Matlock, the poor guy could only pace back and forth, looking out windows and every now and then shouting "Hey did you see that?!"



My parents had some damage to clean up.  A dying birch tree they already wanted to take down did actually blow over.

Into their pool.

But I think they're still putting a check in the win column.

Unfortunately, though, the counties surrounding us are having some serious flooding.


Not our county.

Reporting live, this is Stacie Lucas with Channel 3 News.

Friday, September 2, 2011

Yancy Pants

"Hey Beetle, how's it going."

"Fine.  We've been pretty busy today"

"Sorry...I'm just walking the dog."

"All these angry people decided to call and..."

"...hang on, there's a car with a Georgia license plate here.  Three-six-eight-Adam-David-Yancy..."

"Did you just say 'Yancy'??"

Friday Confessions

1.  On Wednesday I checked my blog stats, I was specifically interested in how people find Corey & Stacie.  The following search engine keywords have led people here:
  • look busy at work
  • midget land palm springs
  • corey in poo letters
  • inner elbow crease
2.  Let's see what happens when I mention dog farts in every post!

3.  I had an iced coffee from Rock Hill Bakehouse twice this week.  It only comes in one size: 50 gallon drum.  Not only was I not able to sit still for two days, I could not stop peeing.

4.  I should not be allowed to drink coffee.

5.  My grandma's name is Irene.  Poor grandma.

6.  Jimmer Fredette is from the town in which I work.  Back in June his dad agreed to take some items to him to sign for my boss and some of her colleagues in the senate.  While on the phone with Mr. Fredette I shamelessly begged him to have Jimmer come to the office to sign everything.

"Um, well, I don't know what his schedule is..."

"Oh I was joking!"

Awk-ward...

7.  A google search yesterday on "hermaphrodite" was work-related.

8.  Corey's new favorite prank is startling me while in the shower.  He thought it was funny the first time he popped his head in the bathroom when I wasn't expecting him to even be home and I screamed as if my eyebrows were on fire.

9.  He also likes to tease me that we're doing a whale watch when we're in Cape Cod later this month. (see post below...)

10.  I vomit all the contents in my stomach, your stomach and your mom's stomach on whale watches.  Gross, I know.

...

All vomit aside, have a happy Labor Day weekend!!
Its almost time to head to the Cape now that racing season is coming to an end....and what better way to get things started upon arrival...a WHALE WATCH!





There are only 4 days left of racing at the 2011 Saratoga Meet. How did 36 days go by that fast? It seems like just yesterday we were sitting inside Siro's on opening day toasting the meet. Wait...Keeneland is just around the corner, oh, everything is ok I guess.....and with the end of the meet also comes the beginning of football season....one of Stacie's favorites. She has even showed an interest in fantasy football this year....a giant step in the right direction!

In just 14 short days, its off to Cape Cod...a nice relaxing ocean vacation to unwind.....the last 40 days of racing, and all the antics that came with it took its toll. Lobster, shrimp....mmm, I can taste it now....Moby Dick's...here we come!

So we go...Saratoga, to Cape Cod, to Keeneland....(in a later blog)

and then Mississippi....what??? Heck, bring on the Catfish





















Thursday, September 1, 2011

Sneakers are too chewy anyway

Corey and I have been seriously neglecting our pantry.

It's bare.

I mean, there's stuff there.  Like sugar, and spices, and a waffle maker.

But there isn't any foooooooood.  Like the kind I can eat for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

I don't think I need to tell you (for the half a billionth time) that I was up-to-my-eyeballs busy this summer, and Corey has his track commitments (and I say "commitment" very loosely) every hour of the weekend.  So any time we might have had to shop for groceries has been taken by passing out exhausted on the couch/bed/toilet.

This morning after looking through the fridge, freezer, and pantry for the sixth time I realized I would have to utilize my back-up's back-up for breakfast: Dunkin' Donuts.

My regular back-up is a bagel with maple walnut cream cheese.

Yum, right?

I had that yesterday, and I just wasn't feeling it today.

Plan B: double chocolate donut from DDs.

People, don't get me wrong.  I love me some chocolate donuts on. special. occasions.

Like Saturdays.

But regular days I need good food.  The kind loaded with fiber and antioxidants.  The nutritional value of a donut is about the same as if I had eaten a sneaker.

Don't get me started on lunch.

We don't have any of that either.

I'm currently wondering what will go best with one of those 100 calorie packs of Cheezits (thanks to the office snack stash) I already have in me.

Iced coffee?

Or a large gulp of air...?

Coffee wins.  This time.