What's Going On?

One week and no post! I'm slipping back into old ways - need to step it up!

Not much has been happening with us - it's been pretty quiet. I've been working lots to get ready for a conference in two weeks, which I'm looking forward to. It's a local event in DC, so not much travel - yay!

Rob and I have been trying to do a little bit of exercise each day... walking on the treadmill or walking outside on the weekends. It's easier for him than me! Or maybe it's just that I need it more?! ;)

We went to a fancy dinner last week for Restaurant Week in D.C. Basically, a bunch of restaurants do dinner (three courses) for $30.08 -- a great deal! We usually try to go somewhere swanky that we wouldn't normally pay for at regular price, and this year we chose 1789, a Georgetown favorite. It did not disappoint!

Now I'm trying to plan us a vacation.... England or Ireland or maybe somewhere warm. Any suggestions? I'm ready to go!

Snowing!

Big flakes are falling from the sky outside my office window. The trees are covered and it looks beautiful!

We are supposed to get 2-4 inches, and then maybe some freezing rain. This should make for an interesting drive home. :)

What's Been Going On....

It's been a few days since I've blogged. Not because I'm too busy or anything, but just because I haven't felt like it. As I've referenced before, I write for a living, and sometimes I just don't feel like writing off the clock. But today I do!

Last night I was treated to a night on my own, thanks to my father-in-law and sweet hubby going to the University of MD basketball game. I headed to the mall after work with the intention of returning a pair of pants to Macy's. I bought them on sale a few weeks ago (a good sale - they are Liz Claiborne and were 40% off, which never happens), but they were too long and I just couldn't see paying another $12 to have them hemmed (I don't have a machine).

I was browsing around before I made the return and saw the same pants - now 65% off. What?!? I found my size and decided to swap them at the register and save another $20, which would justify having them hemmed.

Anywho, in the meantime I decided to try on a few things. I had decided to purchase a purple cashmere tee (also 65% off!) while I was browsing some more, and finally headed to the register. That's when I realized that I didn't have my purse. I panicked! I ran back to the dressing room, and there it sat on the bench. Wallet there. Keys there. Cell phone there. I nearly passed out.

After my near-disaster with losing my purse (I had one stolen three years ago and it's no fun!), I headed to Eddie Bauer. There I found a cute scarf and a cardigan - both for $30. Awesome! Next was Talbots big sale (who isn't having a sale?), where I got a terrific black crepe suit and a shirt, all 70% off. That $400 suit was mine for a little over $100 - excellent deal! The suit jacket is actually coming from another store (the one they had was a hair too small), but I'm pumped! I can always use a suit, and Talbots is such nice quality.

It was almost 7 p.m. by this time, so I decided I'd spent enough (Rob agreed!) and moved to head home. Grabbed a salad from Corner Bakery (not cooking for one!) and made it home in time to watch Access Hollywood.

I enjoyed my shopping and my quiet evening at home, but it did make me realize how quiet it is without Rob around and how much I appreciate his companionship. I was glad to hear his key in the door!

It's Snowing in Baghdad!

This morning, my family and I had a jubilant e-mail from my brother that it was snowing in Baghdad! He was excited to see some signs of home, I think.

(In case you don't know, my brother is in Iraq until late spring, working with the Iraqis to help set up a judicial system. He's a Navy JAG working directly with counterparts in Iraq.)

Here's an excerpt from an article on yahoo news:

After weathering nearly five years of war, Baghdad residents thought they'd pretty much seen it all. But Friday morning, as muezzins were calling the faithful to prayer, the people here awoke to something certifiably new.

For the first time in memory, snow fell across Baghdad.

Although the white flakes quickly dissolved into gray puddles, they brought an emotion rarely expressed in this desert capital snarled by army checkpoints, divided by concrete walls and ravaged by sectarian killings — delight.

For a couple of hours anyway, a city where mortar shells routinely zoom across to the Green Zone became united as one big White Zone. As of late afternoon, there were no reports of violence. The snow showed no favoritism as it fell faintly on neighborhoods Shiite and Sunni alike, and (with apologies to James Joyce) upon all the living and the dead.

Dang this TV Writers' Strike!

Listen - I empathize with the writers of TV shows. It only makes sense that the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers share the revenue produced by DVD sales and the downloading of programs and movies.

I also feel for all of the "backstage" people who have been out of work for the past eight weeks, due to no fault of their own. This includes the camera men, lighting and audio teams, food service, etc. ... everyone down to the security guards on sets. These people have families to feel and homes to pay for, and they've been dragged into an unfair situation.

Come on, people. It's enough. Give the writers some money. Save whatever can be salvaged from this year, and don't put the fall season in jeopardy (which is what's next - if no pilots for the fall can be written, no advertising can be sold and no shows will be produced). End this thing.

I saw a list on tvguide.com that outlines how many episodes are left. Here's what I can expect from my favorite shows:

• 30 Rock: Ten episodes will be produced. Nine episodes have aired, so there is one left.
  
  
• Criminal Minds: Roughly twelve episodes will be produced. Eleven episodes have aired, so there is roughly one left.
  
  
• Desperate Housewives: Ten episodes will be produced. Ten episodes have aired, so there are zero left.
  
  
• ER: Thirteen episodes will be produced. Ten episodes have aired, so there are three left.
  
  
• Friday Night Lights: Fifteen episodes will be produced. Ten episodes have aired, so there are five left.
  
  
• Grey's Anatomy: Eleven episodes will be produced. Ten episodes have aired, so there is one left.
  
  
• Lost: Eight episodes will be produced. None have aired yet, so there are eight episodes left.
  
  
• Medium: Nine episodes will be produced. One episode has aired, so there are eight left.
  
  
• My Name is Earl: Thirteen episodes will be produced (that includes two one-hour eps, which count double). Twelve episodes have aired, so there is one left.
  
  
• Numbers: Twelve episodes will be produced. Ten have aired, so there are two left.
  
  
• The Office: Twelve half-hour episodes will be produced. Twelve half-hour episodes have aired, so there are zero half-hour episodes left.
  

Hmmmm... maybe I'm watching too much tv. :)

I'm blue.

Pork Roast Recipe

Tonight, Rob and I are having one of my most favorite (and easiest!) pork recipes. I actually got this from a former co-worker, and I've shared it with many. So easy!

Ingredients:
2.5-3 lb. pork roast
olive oil
salt and pepper (or any other seasonings you like)
bbq sauce

Rub the roast with olive oil, salt and pepper (I usually do it the night before for good marinating). Pop it in the crockpot in the morning, and cook on low for 8 hours or so. After it's cooked, add one bottle of bbq sauce (we like Sweet Baby Ray's) and heat for another 30 minutes or so. Serve on buns with coleslaw, sauteed onions or other toppings of your choice.

(This size roast serves us for two dinners, and maybe a couple of lunches. You can use a smaller roast, but beware that it will cook faster!)

Enjoy!

Lazy Saturday

We've had a pretty easy day - which is great! This morning I did run out to get a baby shower gift, pick up dry cleaning, etc., but the rest of the day we've been home. I even snuck in a nap this afternoon. :)

My good girlfriend from home and her boyfriend are coming down Monday. They'll meet us after work, we'll go to dinner, and then they are staying the night and heading up to Baltimore on Tuesday. Fun!

Right now we are watching the Redskins lose. I really wanted them to win this first playoff game, but no such luck. It's 28-14, with only four minutes left in the last quarter.

Have a great weekend!

Back to the Grind...

Today is our first day back at work following the extra-long Christmas holiday. With Christmas day, new year's day and the weekends, we enjoyed a total of 11 days off! It was so nice to sleep in!

When my alarm rang at 6:05 a.m. today, it was too early for me. I actually was having a dream that I was moving my co-worker's car, and in my dream I thought her car alarm was going off. Too bad it was my alarm clock in real life!

Tonight we are getting Chipotle burritos for dinner (um, I'm not sure that goes with the healthy living resolution) and watching the WVU Mountaineers! Go WVU!!