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!!

Squirrel vs. Cat

I am not making this up!

I am sitting in our living room, and our cat A.J. was sitting on my lap snoozing. We have four floor-to-ceiling glass windows/door that look out onto our patio, and a squirrel came up to them and stood on his hind legs with his paws on our window. He moved from window to window... and then... and I promise I'm not making this up... I swear he knocked on the window.

Kitty snapped open her eyes and flew off my lap to the window. Next thing I knew, that squirrel flung himself against the window again and kitty did the same from the inside. This happened a couple of times, and then the squirrel took off.

A.J. obviously knew that that goofy squirrel was "knocking" on the window, and he must know that A.J. lives in here! I wonder how often that squirrel has been taunting poor A.J. from the outside???

New Year's Eve Eve

Today has been a great day! We just wrapped up a yummy dinner of cheese fondue (with granny smith apples, rosemary bread and sauteed mushrooms) and roasted red potatoes, and now we are watching the Redskins wrap up a 27-6 victory over Dallas. Hooray!

And - my favorite! - I had a loooong nap this afternoon after we got home from church. Rob made us lunch, and I crashed on the couch. He was downstairs playing his Xbox, so it was nice and quiet for me. :)

On Friday night, Rob's dad called to say that they all planned to come down to his cousin Alicen's basketball game on Saturday, so we got to see all of his family again yesterday. Carrie and Matt stayed the night with us and left this morning. Alicen's team won, and she played great! After the game, we all went to Red Robin for burgers and fries.

Only two more days of vacation for us... tomorrow night we are headed out for NYE dinner and will be home early to avoid all of the crazies on the road. Happy new year!

Back Home!

We came back home yesterday after five days up in western Maryland. We had a great Christmas and had fun seeing everyone. I was able to see a girlfriend who I haven't been able to catch up with for awhile, and Rob and I had lunch on Christmas Eve with one of my oldest friends and her boyfriend. We also got to see my best girlfriend, her hubby and their adorable little girl. Good times!

We ended up not doing presents with Rob's family until the day after Christmas - we just ran out of time that day! I LOVE everything I gave and received ... especially the green iPod Nano that Rob surprised me with on Christmas morning!

Last night we went to a yummy dinner at Rustico in Alexandria and some good friends. Interesting food choices - Rob and I ended up sharing a sausage and caramelized onion pizza, and I had cheddar ale soup. Yum.

Today was going to the market, unpacking and putting away gifts and organizing our pantry. Tomorrow is laundry, and maybe going to Rob's cousin's basketball tournament. Off to make dinner!

Home for the holidays

Rob and I headed west today to visit both of our parents. Since they live so close, it's MUCH easier! We are staying with my family, but I am writing this blog from Rob's parents' house!

We have gifts galore, all wrapped and ready to open! It will be a little different at my parents' this year - my brother is usually the gift giver (he sits next to the tree and passes the gifts), but since he is in Iraq this holiday we might put Rob up to the job.

Oh - it's getting heated in here! Rob and his dad are watching the Redskins game and there is a challenge on on something-or-another. Voices and blood pressures are raised!

Merry Christmas to all!

A Snowy (Icey?) Weekend?

We are supposed to get our first measurable snow of the season this weekend. I usually love those kinds of weekends - we can spend it inside curled up on the couch and watching the snow fall.

However, the weather is famous around here for not doing what is predicted. Last week we had a terribly messy morning that wasn't predicted to start until after the rush hour. Other times they'll call for six inches of snow and we'll get two. Or vice versa.

So I'm curious to see what we'll really get!

'Till Death Do Us Part

It wasn't but 17 months ago that Rob and I stood under a tent in front of our family and friends and said a vow to each other. You know how it goes... "for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in heath; in good times and bad."

We both meant those words we said. We are serious about it and weren't just repeating the minister like a couple of monkeys. We'd both thought about it and were making a commitment to be a team, for better and for worse.

Not that everything is perfect. The cups didn't miraculously start putting themselves in the dishwasher starting July 29, 2006. Socks don't find the way to the laundry basket themselves, and there are times I wish I were an Xbox so Rob stare at me adoringly (kidding!), but I couldn't ask for more in a partner, and I hope Rob feels the same.

Last week, we learned that a couple we know is splitting up after close to 10 years of marriage. It's really thrown me for a loop. I know that nobody knows what happens behind closed doors, but I would have placed money on a bet that these two would be together for the long haul. I would have lost.

This isn't the first couple we've known who haven't made it, and I know it won't be the last. But every time, it makes me think about our marriage and making sure that those tiny cracks don't get bigger.

Some guys have all the luck

My co-worker's son is on an airplane, in first class, sitting next to ... Patrick Dempsey. He's sending us updates about all sorts of stuff... what he's said to people, how he's acting, etc.

The latest... "Appear smaller yes - but avg height...wearing a baseball cap and I would not recognized him, if the rep at the counter in the Crown Rm had not said "I love your show."

Oh, to be there! It would be crazy and fun to be seated next to someone famous on a flight. Lucky guy!

Xmas Shopping!

We've been working fast and furious to wrap up all of our Christmas shopping. I think we are doing pretty good - about 80% is wrapped and ready to go, with only a few things left to be bought.

Rob's been bugging me about what I would like... and I don't really have a good answer! Goodness knows I don't really need anything at all, so I've been trying to think of some stuff I would like to have, since he's going to end up getting me something.

So far, I've said I'd like a watch (check! We picked it up last week.) and some Lock-and-Locks (like tupperware, but better). Last night I said I'd like an iPod Nano, which I was serious about but I don't think Rob thought I was! I love the little green ones, or red.

For Rob, I have a pretty good collection of stuff. The only thing he knows about is a suit, which of course he had to pick out and try on. The rest of the goodies should be surprises for him.

I love this time of year!

First Snowfall of the Winter Season!

We woke up this morning to snow falling... despite Al Roker's prediction that it wouldn't start until after 8 a.m. So needless to say, the roads were a mess on the way to work! My 15 minute commute took about 45, which was crazy. I was just glad to get there!

It snowed most all day - sometimes heavy, sometimes really fine. All in all, I think we ended up with between 2-3 inches. After dinner, we went outside to shovel/sweep and put de-icer on the sidewalk. Hopefully it won't freeze solid tonight!

I love snow, so I was glad to see this! The trees, bushes and branches are covered and everything is so pretty. I bet that it's all slushy by tomorrow afternoon. :(

Elf Yourself!

Have you seen "Elf Yourself"? Upload your family and friend photos and have fun!

Here we are with Carrie and Matt. Watch us boogie!

Finally.... an update!

I don't know that anyone reads this anymore anyway, but I thought I'd finally get around to adding a post. It's been too long!

This fall has been busy. I traveled for the last two weeks of October (for work) and now we are gearing up for the holidays. I can't believe how fast this year has gone!

Big updates... my brother left for Iraq on the Friday after Thanksgiving. He'll be there until May/June helping the Iraqis set up their judicial system (he's part of a group of military lawyers on a team). It's been really hard on my Mom especially, but we are making it through.

Thanksgiving was fun. We went to MD and were able to see both families quite a bit. On Friday night, we attended the annual city tree lighting on the downtown mall and it was COLD! I did enjoy singing Xmas carols and seeing the lights, though, despite the chill.

Maybe I should make a new year's resolution to be a better blogger? :)

What is it with Survivor?

Rob and I are sitting here watching Survivor, and I must say that I've never seen so many fuzzed out body parts than as are on this show. When they dropped the contestants off in China (the setting of this year's competition), Jeff Probst pulled the old trick of sending them off with only the clothes on their backs. No backpacks or suitcases or anything. I think that would stink, but here's my problem with the whole situation.

This is not the first time this has happened. So wouldn't you think some of the cast would suspect that it could happen again and come properly attired?? Why wear skimpy underwear or lacy bras when you know that you could be sent out into the wild with nothing that you'd carefully packed?

My word to next year's Survivor contestants? Please, buy some underwear that doesn't show your business. Wear layers of clothes on the first day. Don't wear high heels or short dresses. Have some sense.