mrtl

IRL with Kranki

This morning mister mrtl and I met Kranki for breakfast, after which mister mrtl ventured off for big adventures in Oil-change and Golf land. So what did Kranki and I do?

First stop: Why, to her place to torment play dress up with Yoshi, of course. First there was the Mary Tyler Moore beret...

... then the Viking hat...

... and then the Hawaiian lei lion's mane...

We also spent some time galavanting around Vancouver and seeing all the wonderful sites. Kranki is a top-notch tour guide! You'd think my camera would be filled with wonderful pictures of all the main Vancouver attractions. Besides a bunch of critter pictures for the girls, this is what I have to share:

Thank you for your hospitality, Kranki! It was such a pleasure!

What's Better Than Pie?

Last night AM and I had a pie-themed playdate. She, having recently adopted a food processor (named it yet, girlfriend?), was having fits over making dough. She made a scrumptious chicken pot pie, and delegated dessert to me. Not having time, we swang by Village Inn to pick up something fruity on our way over.

The manager was manning the register and struck up a conversation while the girls and I pondered which pie was most worthy. Every pie we mentioned, he would note whose favorite it was (his, his nephew's, etc.). So many choices! We ultimately settled on apple, and after he had boxed it up I held out my credit card. He waved it off, saying this one was on the house. Huhwha? "Really??" He said, "I'm allowed to do promotions. Happy Fur Rondy!"

::tangent about the Rondy::
The Fur Rondy is one of those crazy Alaskan events that I haven't been able to embrace. Running a carnival in freezing temperatures? Insane, you ask me. Still, I'm all for Fur Rondy when it means free pie. Happy Fur Rondy to you, too, dude!
::end tangent about the Rondy::

He also mentioned that it was obvious that we were regulars. hahaha

My first thought was, "FREE PIE!! WOOO! I should still buy one and then I'd have TWO!" but the inclination was subdued. Having two when only one was called for is a lesson I've tried to take to heart recently, one that I've given a loved one a particularly hard time about. I thanked the kind, kind man, and we headed over to AM's for Pie Night, where I posed her the question, "What's better than pie?" The look of confusion on her face was priceless. She thought it a trick. Not at all. The answer: "Free pie."

Later that evening, after the girls had finally gone to bed (late from their overstimulation while playing with Boog and Junior), I had a little online time with mister mrtl. It wasn't long before he bested free pie with a comment about his day.

"we leave here tonight"

And suddenly breathing was that much easier. He may even be out of Baghdad by now.

The joy of the thought of having him back so soon has enabled me to endure more than I thought myself capable. Take, for instance, the poo dropping incident today. (How's that for a segue?)

Jem and her stinky butt were on the changing table. When I lifted the diaper from under her, the mass of poo rolled right out. Instinctively I tried to catch it, and contrary to the norm I caught it... before it rolled off my hand and onto the edge of the changing table. UGH UGH UGH UGH! !!!!11 Jem found my reaction quite amusing, anyway.

No, that's not better than pie.

When Staying Home Is Better...

...than going out with a fun group of friends who are all prepared to wear matching "My Drinking Team Has a Hockey Problem" t-shirts.

After bath tonight, Jem squirmed about getting in her towel. She broke loose and ran to the little potty, sitting on it. Then she peed. So NOT ONLY did she pee in the potty, she peed in the potty without prompting AND she peed in the potty rather than in the tub.

How freakin' awesome is that??

SQUEEEE!!!!

This morning the daycare mentioned they had an absence that day; short notice but would I like to leave Jem?

Maybe I alarmed them by my maniacal glee at the implication and my rush to get home to gather her necessities.

It's still sinking in that I am child-free today. ALL day ::knock on wood that Jem doesn't have another great fall::

Now if only my hair man would call me back. I may have to go out and stalk him.

Another beauty of my day is that I've discovered a new drug: the green smoothie. I shall shout it from the mountain tops: this is the secret elixir. It's making me a bit giddy, overly energized. I've big plans for today and I know they'll be completed. I can hardly sit still.

Go on, try one. They sound gaggingly disgusting but are really good. REALLY good. Be warned, though, to not drink one if you plan to sleep (or have to sit still -- which I'll have to remember for our flight next week) within eight hours of drinking it.

Green Smoothie

Blend together the following. Switch out fruits and add other veggies as desired to taste.

a pear (or an apple, some pineapple, whatev - something sweet)
a banana
juice from a fresh lemon
a carrot
a thumbsize piece of fresh ginger
a handful or two of fresh spinach leaves
ice if desired
water to mix

Frozen blueberries instead of ice make the concoction a beautiful shade of aubergine (I love that word), rather than the ate-a-lot-of-seafood shit green. TMI. Sorry. I'm going to try adding plain yogurt next run, too.

Seriously, I could live off these.

Now I go.

One Tequila, Two Tequila, Three Tequila, Floor

'Twas the night after KTOG
And down by the sink
AM and mrtl were stirring,
In a big bowl, a drink.

The ladies had converged that night, taking care
That all necessary ingredients would surely be there.

Once Bug, Boog, Jem and Junior were tucked in and asleep,
All tired out from playing, not making a peep,
AM and mrtl to the kitchen did dash,
Standing over the bowl, with a squirt and a splash.
When the concoction was ready, they dipped in a spoon,
And tasting it, both took a moment to swoon.
They'd done it! High five! They grabbed for the ice.
The Perfect Margarita was so worth its price.

Makes four servings (or two quite large servings)

Combine:
2 cups Horny Toes
1 cup Cointreau
1/4 cup Torani orgeat syrup (more or less, to taste)
Juice from 2+ fresh limes
Kosher salt (for glass rim, optional)

Enjoy!

it wasn't even my idea

Today I had lunch with a coworker of mister mrtl's. We've gone out once before, but it's been a while; I think mister mrtl encouraged her to contact me. He may regret that.

I don't think he knows that this woman has confessed to having TWO stomachs. We had planned to go to ::heavenly angels begin to sing:: The Chocolate Lounge ::end heavenly angels singing:: for dessert, but decided to look at the dessert menu at Clair d'Loon (or however it's spelled) anyway. As one can expect for a lady with two stomachs, she suggested we get two desserts. You know, one for each stomach.

Creme brulee with chambord (again with the spelling - I'm a little too high right now to look it up), followed by a couple truffles and a mocha at ::heavenly angels begin to sing:: The Chocolate Lounge ::end heavenly angels singing:: -- I left in such a state of bliss I questioned sobriety. I drove away belting Dinah Washington at the top of my lungs. At the commissary afterwards, not only did I run into one other shopping cart and a display, but I drunk dialed AM as well as my mother.

Chocodrunk is the new drunk.

Happy Birthday to Me

Massage.

Friends and pastries.

Haircut.

Mail (check around neck).

Family and cake. (Bug did the sprinkles all by herself.)

Even mister mrtl celebrated. hee

Early to bed, early to rise.

Mah Girls

(Drawing a blank on what to write, so I post pictures of the kids. Yes?)

September 14, 2007
File this under "Why We Must Get a Dog Someday." At the Denali Sled Dog Kennel, the ranger let the eight husky pups -- OH THE CUTENESS! -- run free. Bug had fun running around with them and trying to feed them leaves. Unfortunately Jem was fast asleep in the stroller.

August 31, 2007
The Alaska State Fair ROCKS!

September 4, 2007
Jem found an abandoned skateboard and knew just what to do. It is important to note that she had never before this day encountered a skateboard. Later at the playdate, she was mesmerized by the skaters at the nearby ramps; I had to retrieve her several times when she tottered over towards them.

August 30, 2007
Bucket o' Bugs

Thanks, Kalki

For introducing me to Flight of the Conchords. I've been watching their HBO show, which really isn't that good -- nowhere near the wet pants hysteria brought about from watching their videos on YouTube, -- but it's always the same line in "Business Time" that has me snorting:

When you're with me you only need two minutes 'cause I'm so intense.

Definitely needing the laughs today. Trying to get too much done in a short period of time, and ended up not following my routine last night. It clearly states: Lip stuff to endstand. (In the morning I put lip stuff in my pocket so I have moist lips all day long. Clever, right?) Today I washed those pants, along with many new shirts. I almost cried when I started pulling piece after spotty piece out of the dryer. No crying though. I threw everything back in the washer with hot water, hoped for the best, and took the kids down to the fair for some good food and fun(nel cake for dessert).

Buy hey, my horny toes awaits. Speaking of which, I was hoping I had a picture I could caption "Amber-ass," but there's only a couple that don't do the fun justice. The other night Amber came over for DDR and margaritas with horny toes (that Hornitos tequila), but there aren't any truly hideous shots of her. Of course, there were a couple of me.

thank you mister mrtl

... for offering to buy and drink CANNED beer (egad!) in support of my urge to learn to crochet a hat.