Reason #26 We Should Probably Go On a Date.

GcQ: Hey, when is our anniversary?

HcQ: Is this a trick question?

GcQ: No, seriously. I had to get a new bank card today, and the banker guy suggested I use my anniversary as a pin code.

HcQ: And you couldn't remember it.

GcQ: Mmyeah. But I didn't want the banker guy to know I forgot, so I just wrote down July 22, 2004. But that's not the right day is it.

HcQ: At least you got the right year.

GcQ: (now looking at the framed wedding invitation) Well. Actually, no. Upon further inspection, it seems that we were married in 2003.

HcQ: No, I think it was 2004.

GcQ: The invitation says 2003.

HcQ: We should probably talk more.

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This little ditty attempts to answer the question, "You know you need a date with your husband when...(neither of you can guess your wedding date within 370 days.) sponsored by eHarmony Marriage and Parent Bloggers Network. Big prizes, big bucks, no whammies. Find out more about it here.

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And on a completely unrelated note, stop by on Monday.

Big announcement.

On Monday.

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Edited to add...Yes, this is a true story. We both forgot the date and the year that we were married. However, it is not true that we don't talk. In fact, we talk all the time. And that's probably another post entirely. And no, I won't admit exactly how often we do go out because (a.) you'd probably hate me and (b.) I would no longer be qualified for the prize giveaway, which was the point of writing this to begin with. So, I'll just leave it at that.
Happy weekend.

That’s it. News is officially crap.

Will you kick me if I say I don’t watch American Idol?

Because I don’t.

However, I am living on this planet, so I do know who the players are. Even if I'm typically a bit apathetic about the whole brouhaha. But then last week, my brilliant sister-in-law sent me this, I became a bit more interested, and I suddenly started rooting for Jordin Sparks.

Check it.

I mean, maybe it’s my TV or something, but when I look at Jordin, I do not see diabetes, I do not see heart disease, I do not see cholesterol. I see a really talented 17 year old.

And more importantly, this report further proves that completely anyone can be an expert source on a news program. So, I'd like to recommend these two crazy drunk guys I pass on my way to work each morning. Because they’d be fantastic expert guests to speak on a variety of topics. And frankly, their points would make a lot more sense.

Ode to the first day of summer. From a working stiff.

Cue the lemonade, sprinklers and fireflies because it’s finally here! Ah summer. Carefree days of swimming pools, cookouts, beach trips, parks, and lazy hazy smatterings of outdoor fun. Or. Days when it’s absolutely even more stifling to put on a business suit. Days of client presentations on summer event series concepts. With media and liquor sponsors. In a board room. Inside. Ah. Summer.

Please tell me your summer days are lazier and hazier than mine.

Happy Memorial Day!

Seven Deadly Sins Minus Four

I'm so sick and tired. Of nothing in particular. Just sick and tired. But mainly sick. Since I've been sleeping every possible minute that I'm not moaning in pain. Because having 102 fever does a serious number on my joints. Not that kind of joints. The ones all over my body. And it's annoying. And I'd honestly love to go on and on about something much more interesting. Because, really, who wants to read about someone whining about being sick.

Especially because whining is the number one deadly sin in my rulebook.

This was definitely so in the house I was raised. And it seems I have adopted this mantra as well. And this might be my mom's proudest moment.

So the Queso three go like this:

1. Don't whine.
2. Don't pee on the carpet.
3. Don't be mean to anyone.

So far we're completely rocking on numbers two and three. However, the Hurricane is quickly approaching the ripe-old-age of two in more ways than one. And whining is his current weapon.

And I'll be the first to admit, it makes me crazy.

Lucky for us, my patience is longish and my iTunes play list is longer. And someone has wisely suggested earplugs. We haven't gotten to that point yet, but I'm thinking we still have a few months to go before he realizes how ineffective this whining medium is. It's a really good thing he's so freaking cute and loved. Because seriously.So what are the deadly sins according to you? Or to ask a more theologically accurate question (yes, Cambridgians, I get the difference), what are your house rules? What are your no-nos? What makes your crazy? In life? In dating? In traffic? What?

Discuss amoungst yourselves. I'm sick.

Overheard In My Office.

Expanding on the "overheard" series... I overheard this bit of goodness in my office only a few hours ago.

"Hey. I just heard they’re building a new grain building over there."

"What? Like a silo?"

"No, like environmental."

"Green?"

"Yeah, grain."

Did I mention I work in Texas?

Boys Are Dangerous.

I'm hanging around boys a lot these days. Probably more than ever before.

I mean, I live with two of them now. I sleep with one of them. And the other one, well, I spend most of my freetime with him on a slide at the park after work. That's right. The Hurricane's new favorite hobby is going on the slide with mommy. Over. And over. And over. And over. And over. At least 147 times a day. Despite its frequency, this is tricky task that involves a few steps.

1. We both climb up the cool, giant, log structure at the park. I climb by stepping up slightly. The Hurricane climbs by hoisting his entire tiny frame up to each new level all by himself, do not touch him or even think to try and help him, thank you very much.
2. We get to the top. Sit side by side on the big slide.
3. Hold hands.
4. Say 1,2,3 (in my case). Or Han, Who, He (in his case).
5. Look at each other.
6. And go.

And I have to admit, it's now my favorite hobby too.

But in a meeting yesteday, I looked down to discover I had ripped my favorite fancy suit pants. Because they're also really good sliding pants.

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It's true that everyday I'm learning more about the dangers of living with boys. Because the Hurricane is definitely all boy. He's athletic, he's adventurous, he's mechanical, he's outdoorsy, all of it. And I'm the opposite. Plus, I'm downright bookish. So thank the goodness there's a book to help me. It's the most fantastic book I've run across in a while. And you can read more on what I thought about it at Cool Stuff.

Giveaway Alert: Also, leave a comment there and you're registered to win it. Comments will be open until 10 p.m. PST on Monday. Good Luck!

UPDATED: Now there's yet another giveway. A Vector 22 Two-Man Tent from The North Face! Check it.

Overheard in the Grocery Line

So I'm in the line at the grocery store. Standing behind two twenty-something guys. They were cute, professional, maybe in IT or some other kind of consulting. And I was dropping eaves.

Guy 1: You know what I miss? Jingles. Why don't they make jingles anymore?

Guy 2: Like on commercials?

Guy 1: Yeah, like, (singing) Coast, opens your eyes...

Guy 2: I don't know. Because they have cavemen on commercials.

Guy 1: Well, yeah, but that has the cool song too. The melodies are good on commercials. They need more of that.

Guy 2: Yeah, that's true. Melodies sell. And humor. Sex doesn't sell anymore. You can get it anywhere.

Guy 1: It's boring now.

Guy 2: Exactly.

And I'm 99% sure they were completely serious. Fascinating. As someone who works in advertising, I find the viewpoint interesting. But really, you can get sex anywhere now, so it's boring? It's so saturated into everything that even young, cute guys are bored with it?

What do you think?

Discuss.

Two Things I’m Looking Forward To.

1. Seeing Eagle Vs Shark. I laughed out loud eight times in the preview that just so happens to feature “This is the One”. Could it get any better? Check it.

2. Buying a Hybrid Car. More on that here.

Then Comes the Mother's Day

In honor of Mother's Day, Parent Bloggers Network and Light Iris are sponsoring a blog blast, an invitation to moms everywhere to answer the question, "What Makes You a Mother?"

And here I am coming up on my second Mother's Day as a mom, and I have no idea how to answer this question.

Because obviously there isn't an answer.

At least if there is, I don't completely understand it.

After all, it's not about being pregnant and having a baby. Because of course, you don't need to do these two things to be a mother. That said, I've been pregnant three times. I have one beautiful son. And even as I type this, I'm literally shedding tears for the other two babies I lost. Because I was their mother. And I celebrate them too this weekend.

It's also not about doing anything. Because there are a million ways to do everything, and I'm guessing at least 96% of the options are completely valid, good, and right.

So I guess being a mother is mainly about the being. And, as they say, being is mainly about being present in any given moment. But in this moment, as I sit here two days before my second Mother's Day, my precious little boy is spending two days with his grandmother and grandfather, and the HcQ and I are having our first ever childless vacation at home. Which means I'm not presently being in any moment with my child. It also means I slept in past 7:30 a.m. for the first time in 19 months. I woke up on my own, without my Hurricane alarm clock. And I made coffee before I changed a diaper. It's been an incredibly lazy morning, just the kind I like.

However, as I sit here drinking that coffee (and typing), I swear I keep thinking I hear the little whimpers my beautiful little son makes when he wakes from a sleepy nap. And then, I realize he's not here right now, and I have that oh darn feeling, like when you wake up from a great dream and realize you aren't really George Clooney's girlfriend. That's what I'm experiencing.

See, even though I can do whatever I want today, I keep thinking about what he's doing. In fact, I'm seriously resisting the urge to call my mom and see what they're doing right now. And I can't wait to see him tomorrow.

Because my thoughts are always with him. And even though my life doesn't revolve around and through him (because that's pressure he doesn't need), his is a very cherished room in our incredibly way full busy, beloved, and blessed house.

And even though on any given day, I would and will daydream for a day like this and remember my open-schedule days of yesteryear with blissful longing and a rose-colored sigh...here I am.

Enjoying the eye of the storm, but really missing the Hurricane.

Because I'm no longer that person of yesteryear. My heart has added an extra room.

And whether I completely understand it or not, I'm changed.

And that's what makes me a mother.

First Comes Love

Then Comes Marriage.

Happy Wedding Day, Mir!

Blonde Ambition

I've never actually colored my hair. Mainly because I'm lazy, but also because my hair is so freaking black that it's too black to be anything else except for maybe purple. And that's not pretty. But I'll admit it. I've thought, hm, what WOULD I look like with a blonde do?

And now I know.

Because Jenny from Mama Drama, my Blogher roomie, is stalking me with her fancy makeover software. And it's not just me. In fact, just the other day she worked all night at the hospital, giving nightshift nurses virtual makeovers for National Nurses Week. Because she's a giver. And now she's going to use these mad 24/7 virtual skillz to makeover 10 others as well. Check her out. And check me out as a blonde.

I Spent $3.36 This Morning at Starbucks.

If you know me, you know that I love my morning drug. Love it. In fact, I'm not sure I can function without it. In even more fact, I think I could help fund a small country with the money I spend on it. And then I realize, well yes, actually, I can.

Here's the deal. Last night I got an email from Karen Rani that she has friends going to Swaziland at the end of May to volunteer a month of their time, and as many supplies as they can muster to the small town of Manzini. They will be working in the very crowded local hospital and orphanage. Why are these places so crowded? Here are the facts:

• Swaziland has the worlds highest HIV/AIDS infection rate (38.8%) life expectancy : male: 31.84 years female: 32.62 years. (So, if we lived there, very potentially, the HcQ and I would be dead and the Hurricane would be an orphan.)
• 70% of the country earns less than $1 American per day.

Want to know more? Want to donate five bucks to help out? Go here.

And here's what I'm thinking. For the rest of the month, every time I feel the urge to head to Starbucks, I'm giving to Manzini.

I can't think of a better way to start the day.

Blogs Have Benefits

I'll be honest, sometimes I can't remember why I blog. However, right about the time this happens, I end up having coffee with someone, and I remember times 57 billion.

This happened again just the other day.

On Friday night, I decided to clean out my bookmarks on my computer. And while doing so, I found that approximately nine months ago (about one day after I first read any blog that wasn’t written by the Padrino), I bookmarked one of the most beautiful sites I’d ever seen. A site called Chookooloonks, written by a woman living in Trinidad.

It's interesting, because only a few hours earlier that Friday morning …. long, meandering story short … I met this talented woman for coffee. At my favorite place to go for coffee. Right down the street from my house.

Because as things happen, Karen lives here now. And lucky for us, she's developed a beautiful site that features one gorgeous photograph a day. It's fantastic. (The Visitors Bureau should seriously pay her.) Plus, she's an incredible person. And I'm so thrilled to have a new friend in town.

So blogging. It's amazing that something with such a silly name can bring two people across the globe together for coffee.

*The above photo was taken by Karen and completely stolen from Chookooloonks. I also stole a bite or two of that biscotti. Amazing.

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And here's another reason why I think the blogging is great: Gabrielle slash Design Mom. She's giving something away everyday this week. Check it out.

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And finally, just in case you need another reason to dig it. If you have a blog; and if you've ever had a mom and/or if you happen to be a mom; and, taking from that experience, you write about what it means to be a real mom sometime before 5/11, then you can potentially win enormous prizes. Follow that? No? Well, you can get the details here.

If you don't have a blog, you can just go there and kill some time reading other hilarious, touching, heartwarming, etc. real mom truths.

It's fun this blogging thing.

Holy Cow, It's National Barbecue Month!

Partically because I'm from the Barbecue Capitol of Texas, and partially because the HcQ grills up a mean cow, but mainly because it's National Barbecue month, we're celebrating. And to all my vegetarian friends, I'm sorry. But to everyone else, happy carnivores month on the grill.

Barbecued Orange Chicken

2 1/2 lbs chicken breasts

BBQ Sauce:
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup frozen orange juice concentrate
1/2 cup white wine vinegar
(or citris champagne vinegar works great too)
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 orange zest, removed with grater, orange slices reserved for salad

Salad:
1 large, ripe tomato
1 orange, sectioned (without rind, see above)
2 scallions, chopped
1 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 Tbsp white wine vinegar
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper

Prepare grill; heat coals. In medium bowl, mix together all BBQ sauce ingredients until smooth. Place chicken on grill away from center heat, skin-side-down; cook 15 minutes. Turn chicken and grill for 10 additional minutes. Brush chicken pieces with sauce and turn occasionally; cooking for additional 10 minutes.

Cut tomato into wedges and place in medium bowl. Use sharp paring knife to cut out white pith off orange. Remove orange sections and add them to tomato. Sprinkle with oil, vinegar and scallions; toss. Season with salt and pepper and toss again. Serve chicken with salad on the side.
Provided by: National Broiler Council at Recipe Amercia

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Or. If you'd rather just order in, I highly recommended it. And I'd advise you to go straight to Kreuz (pronounced like Crites) Market. And you can believe me. Because I was the 1988 Chisholm Trail Roundup Queen. And I'm not even kidding.

Or you could order the book, featured above, from here. It looks like it has serious potential.

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Also, if you're celebrating Cinco de Mayo today (Happy Cinco de Mayo!), serve it up with a batch or two of beergaritas in these 70s-inspired glasses at CScQ.

Y'all won't be disappointed.

May Resolutions.

I'm a slow moving train. Meaning, for instance, I may shake my fist in the air and make solid New Year's resolutions; but it may take me about 194 days to actually get around to doing any of them. (They're called May Resolutions because they May get done by October, right?)

So when I said I was making our dining room into something else. I was serious. I just haven't figured out what yet.

Although this photo got me thinking...

This photo is from West Elm.
I was initially digging the cubes featured on Cool Stuff con Queso.

The problem is the 1930s chandelier in our dining room. It's a nice retro piece. And it will be a pain in the arse to move. Oh and also, I'm exceptionally lazy, and I don't want to mess with it. So. Is it weird to have a chandelier in the middle of your office/reading/personal space? I think it probably will be. Hm.

Any designers out there with any ideas?

(And before you suggest it, Super Zoe, I've already thought of a disco ball...again, too much work. When you're idea-ing, please consider my massive amounts of laziness.)