omg

Now Britney is playing Is It a Shirt or Is It a Dress!

It's Britney, Bitch

While watching Britney: For the Record, I realized Brit Brit and I are really just going through the same thing.

She's slowly finding that place where she does not need to make everybody happy, she needs to make herself happy.
- Andre Fuentes, Britney's choreographer

More to come

There's been a ton that has gone on over the last week - Thanksgiving fun, including an awesome pie contest - but eh. I'm tired. I've been trying to figure out how to pack for a week on the road for work that will culminate with a weekend in DC with Mr. Perfect. So yeah, work clothes, casual clothes, oh, and throw in a cocktail dress for a party next weekend, no biggie.

And this guy left me at 7:40 a.m. today.

Brilliant.

So simple, and so beautiful.

huh??

it's... snowing??

I wasn't ready for this.

Macy's Day Parade awesomeness

Go 'CUSE!

I went to the KU game last night with Mr. Perfect. He's a big KU fan. *sigh* A big fan, but he did inadvertently wear orange. Syracuse colors. I had a blessed moment when, waiting in line at a concession stand, a Syracuse fan stopped, pointed at Mr. Perfect, and yelled, "YEAH! WOOOHOOO! GO 'CUSE!!! YEAH!!!!"

He took the orange shirt off shortly after. But the moment last the night for me.

Prince Charming! Thriller! Thriller Prince Charming!

Yesterday, while Mush showed Mr. Perfect her Cinderella toys, Mr. Perfect pointed out something amazing.

Cinderella is doing Thriller.

In Which I Take My Man on a Fancy Lunch Date

Feels so good to be home, doesn't it Mr. Perfect?

In Which My Brother Makes the Obvious Joke and It's Still Funny

Coworker[1:37 PM]: hey, \my \keyboard \xs8,crewed \up \after \ope7mnimn7g req \pro
how \do \i \fix \it?‎‎

K-Did [1:38 PM]: What's wrong with it?‎‎

Coworker [1:38 PM]: 8,ca7mn't \you \te.l.l i \,c8a7mn't \type \8,corre8,ct.ly‎‎

K-Did [1:38 PM]: What?‎‎

Coworker[1:38 PM]: there \are \,c8ertaumn7 \.letterxs \that \get \ja8,cked \up 7mnow‎‎

K-Did [1:39 PM]: You're typing jibberish.

You Shook Me All Night Long: A Love Story - 10

Chapter 1 - I'm Not Wearing Any Pants! Or, Drinking and Dressing
Chapter 2 - Where's Luppy?
Chapter 3 - Charming
Chapter 4 - Snow Angeling
Chapter 5 - AC/DC is Romantic in the AM
Chapter 6 - Call me!
Chapter 7 - IMs
Chapter 8 - Blessings
Chapter 9 - Lovesick


Chapter 10 - Signs

The date of the big trip was getting closer. I was pretty nervous - I think this e-mail I sent Tab and Erin sums it up quite well:

And... just an update. I think ... I don't know. I think I'm losing my mind and perhaps my heart in the process. We talk every night. For at least two hours. I changed my flight home to Monday night. I'm one sick puppy.

Yes, I changed my flight to stay another day - four whole days with this guy - it better work out!
My trip to see Dr. John had paid off, I was feeling healthy. I figured out all my outfits and packed. I was ready. I hoped.

My flight was early, 7:45a.m. departure, arrive in DC at 11:00a.m.

The flight went well, whatever bits of it I can remember. I was a nervous wreck. What if this guy doesn't like me? Or what if I don't like him? Ugh.

And I know this is really silly, but I couldn't stop worrying about the airport pick up. I, of course, had this ridiculously dramatic scene in my head that was the result of a lifetime of watching Hallmark Hall of Fame made for TV movies, Disney cartoons, and '80's flicks.

Cue music, girl looks up through hair falling softly across her face, grins. Guy looks at her joyously, leaps up, runs to her, lifts her up, they spin around in an embrace as the camera slowly pans out.

You know, something like that.

I was really stuck on one thing - do I run to him or not?

If I don't, then I have to walk down a really long hallway while we're just staring at each other and smiling.

If I do, chances are I'm going to trip and fall. Also, quite positive I look like Phoebe from Friends while running.

I tried to practice running to Luppy in my apartment, but it's too small and the whole scene was just so fake.

Wow. I really just told you that I practiced running. I should consider more self-censoring...

Before the plane began its decent, I went to the bathroom and fixed my hair and makeup, and started furiously chomping on some gum.

I came back to my seat, taking deep, hopefully calming breaths. I'm sure I looked like a novice flyer. I didn't care.

The plane landed.
omgomgomgomgomgomg.
The plane landed.
That means I have to get off the plane.

We were taxing.

In a total and complete nervous panic, I called my best friend since high school, Heather.

I frantically told her I was freaking out, she told me it was going to be ok, and before I knew it we were at the gate and the seat belt sign was off. I promised to text her updates and started gathering my stuff.

Eh, who am I kidding? "Gathering my stuff?" It was all sitting in my lap in a death grip. That, along with my rigid posture and tapping legs must have been a calming site to my fellow travelers.

I got off the plane and started walking.

There was a long hallway, with security check-ins on my left and a curved wall on my right. Directly in front of me were two of the slowest moving older women I've ever seen.

I didn't want to furiously scan the crowds, but I couldn't help it.

Where is he? Where is he? WHERE IS HE?

There he was.

Standing against the wall, looking amazing, smiling calmly at me.

And holding a sign.

swoon

I immediately started maneuvering around the slow women. It felt like they were never going to get out of my way, but the path opened up a bit, and I finally broke free. Without thought or the slightest hesitation, started running to him.

And he switched his sign.


I laughed out loud and kept running - carefully - to him.

Seconds before reaching him, he changed his sign one last time.


And I did.

-- Keep reading - Chapter 11--

I'm Lucky

Thanks T. Hart for passing it along.

Also, um, Mr. Perfect?

All the news that's fit to print, and then this

Also, best headline ever:


World's greatest dad turns out to be just OK
Written by Ray Weikal
Thursday, 23 October 2008 12:24

A Gladstone man given top marks for fatherhood may have slipped up one too many times.
Perry Lucas recently had his designation as the "World's Greatest Dad" revoked by his three children, Asiah, 9, Ezekial, 12, and Ashleigh-Anne, 15.

Lucas, 49, failed to uphold the terms of his title during Ashleigh-Anne's Oct. 9, Miley Cyrus-themed birthday, according to family members.

The teen recieved a 2008 calendar with pictures of unicorns. Lucas' ex-wife, Terri, later learned that the calender had in fact been a "well done" prize that Perry Lucas got from co-workers for bringing Krispy Kreme donuts to his office at E-Z HVAC Repair Service.

"I was really disappointed when I heard about that," Ashleigh-Anne Lucas said. "I mean, my mom got me a Wii."


I couldn't see the photo, but I certainly loved the caption: "Bad dad Perry Lucas shortly after being busted for being cheap."

Business Cas

I think these qualify.

Love Fest '08

Just got out of an amazing appraisal.

At the end of it, my boss asked if there was anything within the paperwork he had completed that I wanted to talk about.

"Let me check real quick," I said, "Yup, got a 5 on appearance again this year, so no, I think I'm good!"

"Well, you know Erin, it was the fascinator that did it, that pushed you over into a 5 this year."

I about died laughing.
I absolutely love working with my boss.


Fyi, fascinator is the fashion term for wearing ridiculousness in your hair. And yeah, I totally made my boss try it on. He rocked it.

A Thanksgiving Tip

Brought to you by Mush:

T is for turkey which is really good for you...yum...but not the beak!

The girl I wish I was

I am a 12 year old space cowboy that can fit in mail bins and pretends to follow baseball season. To pass the time I write fairy tale fan fiction, in which princesses join cults and witches are photographed by Wendy Bevan. My favorite foods are raspberries and hipsters, and my #1 pet peeve is Comic Sans. Magic wandery is my prime method for self defense, along with some karate I picked up in fourth grade and excellent insults I spontaneously come up with on the spot. Your mom.

-Tavi

I'm obsessed with her.

My friend had this to say about her, "This girl makes me feel kind of like a pedophile but also kind of like a gay older brother."

Seriously. She makes me feel like I'm failing at life.

Also, would love to consult with her parents on how to raise the most awesome kid, ever.

You Shook Me All Night Long: A Love Story - 9

Chapter 1 - I'm Not Wearing Any Pants! Or, Drinking and Dressing
Chapter 2 - Where's Luppy?
Chapter 3 - Charming
Chapter 4 - Snow Angeling
Chapter 5 - AC/DC is Romantic in the AM
Chapter 6 - Call me!
Chapter 7 - IMs
Chapter 8 - Blessings

Chapter 9 - Lovesick

We met December 28th.
He left the morning of December 29th.
And January 3rd, I bought a ticket to go see him.

And he said, "I can't believe you just did that."

I freaked out.

Should... I... not... have... done... that??

So I yelled at him to get excited, then forwarded Luppy an e-mail from Mark, stating that he should meet or exceed Mark's excitement.

Stat.

He did.

And so did his roommate, who told me, "This will be the greatest weekend ever and that is probably an understatement."

After buying that ticket, I started getting nervous. What if he wasn't really that great? What if we only have chemistry from afar? What if he doesn't look/act/talk how I remember? It was only one night! What if, 15 minutes into my four-day visit, we both realize... eh, no thanks?

We continued to talk and talk and talk on the phone. Mostly late at night. Our bedtimes both started to move back, until we got to the point where we were on the phone until 1 a.m. (2 a.m. for him). We were reluctant to hang up.

I snow angeled via phone.
Many times.
He did once.

I told him I was scared.
He told me it was ok.


We talked about what it was going to be like to finally see each other. He told me he could picture me running towards him in the airport and jumping into his arms.

I told him I could picture me running towards him in the airport, then tripping, falling, knocking out my fake teeth and getting a bloody nose.
He told me it was ok.

I cut and colored my hair, got my nails did, went shopping for new clothes, and meticulously planned outfits.

Then I got sick.
My head was hurting, my throat was sore, and I started coughing up some very nasty things.

Great. So my entire four-day weekend with the man of my snow angely dreams is going to be ruined by snotty nose and cough?

I went to my doctor and had an awesome exchange with him. So I did what any normal girl would do. I wrote about it on my blog. That Luppy knew about and read. And his friends read. And my family read.

And can I just say that I did not tell him about the blog (GDSean did... GDitSean!) and I thought that he didn't know about it, but then one day he mentioned it and I kinda felt like vomiting because I literally just wrote a post called 7 Weird Things About Me (Thanks so much XO!), but at the same time it was great because now I could take the "I have a blog and will write an uncomfortable, irrational and illogical amount on there about you, me and us and omg we haven't even had the are we an us talk yet" talk off the list of awkward talks to have.

Now that I've cleared up that little point... on to the doctor's office - here it is, in all it's super excited, slightly sick glory:


Now, I don't really like going to the doctor.

I love it.

I feel like it's my mission to make the doctor's day a little more exciting and fun by giving myself bizarre diagnoses and just being pretty typical Erin-goofy. And once again, I was totally successful.

This was probably the best doctors office visit, uh, ever.

So I explained to the doctor my symptoms - sore throat, coughing, clearing my throat, headaches. And then I laid it on the table.

"I'm going to see a boy this weekend. You MUST heal me!"

The doc was like, "Wait, he lives in another city? Erin! This is a recipe for disaster!"

At which point I yelled at him - "Nooooo! Don't say that! No way! Come on! What is this? Dr. John or Dr. Phil!?"

It got pretty hilarious when I busted him out - part of his argument against the situation was "long distance dating doesn't work"- which he followed up with, "I dated my wife long-distance for three years."

"Uhh, Dr. John what are you trying to tell me??"

Hilarious.

He then fumbled out an explanation of how they lived in the same city first blar blar blar. Pretty cute.

We then had a lengthy conversation about what the boy does for a living and the chances of him moving to KC. It took a hot minute, but I sold Dr. John on the situation.

Then we mapped out a plan for the next 3-5 years together.

Umm, I'm not joking, Dr. John really like, prescribed my next moves in life.

So once he was sold on relationship that was really yet to be, he was on a mission to heal. He started asking me if I was having any trouble sleeping due to coughing, I told him I thought I'd be good with an antibiotic and didn't need to treat the symptoms yet. "Ohhhh no," he said, "We're going at this full force! You're going to be better by Friday!"

I loved it.

Then I remembered that last night my eye started twitching and watering and it was doing it again this morning - so I told him about that. And that folks, that is when he took this doctors visit for a little stroll into the Doctor's Office Visit Hall of Fame.

"Erin... are you really stressed out?"
"I... don't... think so?"
"Because, all of these symptoms aren't from you being sick. (big pause) You are too excited about this guy. You like him too much."


At which point I screamed, "WHAT!?!? Are you telling me I'm love sick? That I'm geeking out so hard on this boy that I've developed a physical symptom? A twitch??"


"Yes"


"Well!!!! Are you a love doctor!??! What do I do now!?!?"


I really wish I could have seen what the nurses were doing, because I really was yelling at him. And laughing.
And coughing.

Anyway, he went on to tell me that he could see how excited I was, even sick, and that he was concerned about how excited I would be if I wasn't sick. I agreed with him that he would not want to be around me if I wasn't sick. I would be annoying as all hell.

He also said he was worried about me getting supremely disappointed since I was so excited. I think he relaxed though when my immediate reply was, "I know, right, like totally!!"

So it's like, yeah at least I know this is a slice of dangerous pie that I'm about ready to dig into.
But Dr. John was down with my excitement level.

I explained that it's my goal every time that I go to see him to be the most entertaining patient of the day.
He told me I won.
Hands down.

He said it was great to be helping me get better because, "all these other people come in and they want to get better so they can do lame things, like go to work. This is different, you have a purpose."

Hell f'ing yeah I do Dr. John.

This is like my life you are changing here!

So by the end of the visit he gave his blessing on the guy, prescribed me some stuff to make me better by Friday (so cute, he kept saying, we have time! We have time to beat this! It kinda felt like I was Cinderella and he was a mouse helping sew my dress for the ball), and I invited him to the wedding.

Oh, and he also told me to play it cool with the guy. Not to show him my excitement/extreme geeking out something.

Dang.

Too late?

Yes. Probably. Most likely. Um, ok, totally too late.

But do I have the best doctor in KC? Hell yeah I do.

I actually got a diagnosis of love sick.


freaking love it.

--Keep Reading - Chapter 10--

Hint, Hint

One of my girl friends just told me about a gift she got from another girl friend.
It's from last Christmas, and she just got it.
It's a year late to the party.
And it's a cookbook.
A dieting cookbook.
A dieting cookbook called Skinny Bitch.
Ok, so it's got a sassy title but, wait, what...does...that...say...under the title...

"Kick-ass recipes for hungry girls that want to stop cooking crap (and start looking hot!)"

I cannot make a gift this condescending and rude up.

Here's some shopping and gift giving advice folks. If your friend hasn't mentioned this book, let alone ask for it or any other dieting cookbook, you probably shouldn't get it for her. Especially since it insinuates (on the freaking cover) that you're an out of control pathetic mess of a woman, surrounded by empty candy wrappers while consuming an entire carton of ice cream, alone. Oh, and you're not hot. But hey! At least she knows you want to start looking hot!

If you chose to ignore my advice regarding gifting this book, I suggest going for gold by pairing it with "He's Just Not That Into You," so you can fully crush your friend's self esteem and self worth while pointing out any real or perceived flaws or problems, all with one gift!

You Shook Me All Night Long: A Love Story - 8

Chapter 1 - I'm Not Wearing Any Pants! Or, Drinking and Dressing
Chapter 2 - Where's Luppy?
Chapter 3 - Charming
Chapter 4 - Snow Angeling
Chapter 5 - AC/DC is Romantic in the AM
Chapter 6 - Call me!
Chapter 7 - IMs


Chapter 8 - Blessings

I had bought a ticket to see Luppy, but there was a little matter I needed to tend to. My brother. Hmph.

When we last saw GDSean, he was running away from me as I begged him to relinquish his bestie, Luppy's, phone number.

How was I going to tell him that I not only have been talking to this man non-stop, am visiting him in two weeks, and oh, yeah, I think I'm going to marry him? Dang it.

So I called GDSean. He was leaving KC and driving back to Denver.

"Hey Sean! What are you doing for Martin Luther King weekend?"
"I don't know? What are you doing for Arbor Day? What the fuck?"
"I'm going to DC! You should come to! Wouldn't it be fun?"
"Yeah! That would be awesome! Hey....wait a minute... why are you going to DC?? YOU'RE GOING TO SEE MY FRIEND??"

"Yeah?"

"WHAT!?!?"
"Well, we've been talking every day and he's completely awesome and I am going to see him."

GDSean told me he would call me back later. I think his head was ready to explode as his worlds collided.

I called Luppy to tell him the news - we had been talking for a while about which one of us was going to tell Sean about our torrid phone-based love affair.

So he called to ask for GDSean's blessing.
"I just wanted to make sure that, it was, you know, ok."
GDSean's eloquent blessing went something like, "I'd rather her date someone I like rather than some random asshole."

Hours later, as he pulled into Denver, my phone rang.

"Hi Sean...."
"I have decided I fully approve of an Erin-Luppy union."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah, I figure why should my sister date some jerk I don't know when she can date one of my best friends and a really awesome guy."
"Yeah! No joke!"
"This is going to be so awesome, I'm always going to have someone to play Risk with at the holidays!"

"I'm happy for you Sean."

--Keep Reading - Chapter 9--

Ugly Sweater Party

I just bought my ticket to the 4th Annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Party, and so did my friends. It should be a blast, and you should go too!

When: Friday, Dec. 12, 7:30-midnight open bar

Where: Tower Tavern, Martini Corner

Why: Um, duh, it's an Ugly Sweater Party! Also, it's a benefit for Operation Breakthrough - a great KC charity that currently has more than 640 kids enrolled in programs. Wow.
(Also, remember you can adopt a family for the holidays through Operation Breakthrough - something you might want to talk about at Thanksgiving with your family. My family went through O.B. last year and it was great.)

How Much: $40, which includes an open bar (beer & house liquor) and some snacks.

Another, creepier, reason to attend: You can stalk at least two KC bloggers at once! Ramsey is one of the founding fathers (knitters?) of the party.

Go get your tickets!

Girliest Night Ever

Watching Oprah, baking and eating cookies, dying my hair, drinking mudslides with Mom.

Ahhhh....

Categories

Mr. Perfect & I just decided everything in my (decidedly shallow) life falls into two categories:
1) Love it
2) Ew

love it

Day Man

I just watched this three times in a row. It makes me ridiculously happy.

"You're a master of karate, and friendship... for everyone."

You should really watch the full episode.

ahhh-ahhh-ahhhhhhh!

SexyBack to SNL

Justin Timberlake was on SNL and totally rocked the house. I wish I could have found the clip of him dancing with Beyonce (dance biscuits), but this was just plain impressive.

My new mantra

I'm a motherfucking headliner bitch, you don't even know it.
- Wicked Wisdom, Of Montreal

I mean, it's true.

Also, please note the fanny pack.

Ninjas, Buddhas, Resurrections. You know, normal stuff.

I had been waiting for Saturday for months.
Of Montreal was in Lawrence.
And it was awesome.

Here are some of my favorite songs off their latest album, Skeletal Lamping, for you to sample while reading.

1. For Our Elegant Caste, has gotten stuck in my head several times at work. Ummm... it's not good to be humming, "we can do it soft core if you want, but you should know that I go both ways," at work. Not good at all.
2. Id Engager is just as catchy and the lyrics are just as inappropriate to sing at work, "he's just a slutty little girl," or, "I can't help it if it's true, I don't wanna be your man, just wanna play with you."
3. Nonpareil of Favor is what I would consider a classic Of Montreal song with a dash of Prince. "Thank you!"
4. Gallery Piece. Here's a word of advice about Gallery Piece. When listening to it with two youngsters, say 6 and 3, know that they will start repeating lines like, "I wanna show you off, I wanna tell you lies," and then they'll start asking questions about what the lines mean, you might want to consider changing the song (or telling them to stop listening to the lyrics and just DANCE like we did) before the um, more ... interesting lines.

SeeqPod - Playable Search

On to the show!

Of Montreal never disappoints. Their show was like an explosion of color, sound, dance and happiness.

Their wasn't an opening act, so we just sat around and made fun of people from about 8:30 until they went on at 9:15.

Like this guy. Excuse me, sir? If you feel the need to wear a knee-length wool coat, perhaps you should reconsider your choice in footwear.

And ma'am? MA'AM??? Are those boots made out of ... jeans?!?!?

OMFG there are pockets on your boots. Those are beyond fugly. My eyes are watering, my soul is crying, and I am suppressing vomit.

Burn.

Them.

Now.

I would say thank goodness the show started, preventing me from being busted taking pictures/making fun of people, but Shell and I were totally busted mocking dance moves. So eh, whatevies.

I'd love to explain to you the awesomeness that is an Of Montreal show, but it's really impossible. MTV did a pretty swell job of attempting to capture the awesomeness of the show by comparing it to Madonna's tour - OM won btw.

Of course they did! There were ninjas. A suicide and a resurrection. Buddhas. A lot of people wearing body suits and animal masks - mostly pigs and a tiger. And there was Kevin Barnes. Oh sweet Cheesus was there Kevin Barnes. He's incredible.

The venue, Liberty Hall in Lawrence, was great, but I couldn't believe so many people stayed in the balcony, in their seats, during the show. Of Montreal plays some of the most infectious music ever. I could never just sit and listen during their show. Lame.

I wish I had more pictures or video, but at the same time I don't at all. I'm too busy enjoying the show to take pictures. Plus, the interwebs always come through with better quality photos and videos than I would have taken on my own (although I do wish I had taken of photo of Kevin's massive pink fanny pack). Like this video of one of my favorite songs - and one I like to play for boys as a warning - She's a Rejector.

Their encore was fabulous and consisted of about 4 or 5 songs. At one point you could tell the band was wondering if it was their last song and Kevin said, "I don't care, I just want to keep playing music!" They did a great and fun cover to Teen Spirit. Everyone was jumping. Look at all the madness onstage. Love it.

The best part of the show, by far, was sharing it with Shell. We had so much fun dancing and singing and evading the creepiest creepster ever together. Yeah, guys, here's a tip. If you want to dance with us, dance. Don't creep up behind us and stand within inches. Also, don't stare at us more than the stage. Kthnxbai!

Not really that Shocking

Oh boy. Perez has a photo up of W and a bunch of what looks like interns all (including our President) doing the shocker.

Not a W.

The shocker.

Awkward Mr. President.

Just awkward.

Amen

"I think they are starting to realize that if they are involved with me in any way, I will probably write a song about them. You know what- if they don’t want me to write bad songs about them, they shouldn’t do bad things."

Taylor Swift on relationships and songwriting.
This pretty much sums up how I feel about blogging.
It may also be why I’m still single. - Shea

A little slip

A guy just said to me, "So, how'd the birds, I mean boots! work out?"

I don't know why he would have said that...

Alligators, PacMan and Birdies

At lunch today, K-diddy and I got into a discussion about < > symbols.

The content of the discussion isn't as interesting/is more embarrassing than the pictures that were used during the discussion.

First, I drew my version of the alligator eating the greater number. K-diddy asked if it was a snake. Yes. One with legs and a tail. That's basically what an alligator is anyway! Then he drew an alligator.

Oh... so... you don't need to draw the entire body?

And teeth help... Dang it!

I decided alligators were stupid anyway and why wasn't it normal to just teach to draw something easy? Something like... birds!

K-diddy said it looked like a wind-up PacMan.

:(

So then I drew a Greater Than PacMan eating cherries, but my cherries look like a messed up penis. (K-did's cherries are in blue)

Both my math and drawing skills suffered at lunch today/every day.

True

“I’m not really a people person. I’m more of a make-fun-of-people person.” - Allyson

With feathers in my hair...

Comments from coworkers forthcoming.

Two so far:
Man walks by, stops, walks ten paces backwards, leans around, peers at my head and says with a bit of a surprised tone in his voice, "It looks good."

Avid duck hunter said, "It's dangerous to wear feathers around here..."

Agreed to switch feathers to aisle-side of head for cube-friend's enjoyment/to encourage comments and commentpliments.

Betting on minimum of nine comments by COB.

You Shook Me All Night Long: A Love Story - 7

Chapter 1 - I'm Not Wearing Any Pants! Or, Drinking and Dressing
Chapter 2 - Where's Luppy?
Chapter 3 - Charming
Chapter 4 - Snow Angeling
Chapter 5 - AC/DC is Romantic in the AM
Chapter 6 - Call me!


Chapter 7 - IMs

Luppy and I continued to talk on the phone every day for hours.

We told stories.

We asked important questions like, "So, why is your nickname Luppy? Wait, your dog's nickname was Luppy? You're nicknamed after your puppy's nickname? Luppy the Puppy? Hmm."

Yeah. He still won't tell me how Rascal got the nickname Luppy. I'm ok with it though, hearing GDSean's spot-on impersonation of Sean Connery in Indiana Jones say, "We named the dog Indiana" makes it all worthwhile.

We reminisced about the night we met, "You did sing Mr. Big to me, right? I'm not making that up, am I?"

I wasn't.

And it was amazing. The sun was coming up and I don't know why, but Mr. Big came up as well. Then he sang "To Be With You." My inner 6th grader melted. Oh hell, who am I joking? My outter 24 year old melted too!

So the days went by like that, talking and texting. New Years came and went. It was ... ok. We talked and texted all night, shouting above the parties and noise behind us.

And then we went back to work. It was strange - nothing had been normal or like real life since I met this amazing man. It felt odd to go back to the most normal and real life place ever - a cubicle.

So bright and early on January 2nd, we started instant messaging.
Reading back through our early IM's, I can't help but laugh and shudder. This sampling of our first conversations online says so many things about me, him, and our relationship in general.

Jan. 2, 2008, 9:25 AM

Luppy: morning tiger
me: homeslice!

me: ok, I just got a wee bit depressed changing my background on my computer back to normal

Luppy: why what was it?

me: oh, it was the most incredible thing you've ever seen at the holidays

Luppy: yes?

me: I just sent it to you

(Yes, the first e-mail I sent to him was a picture of the Hoff.)

Luppy: wow

me: yeah
and what?

Luppy: i'm not going to be able to concentrate the rest of the day

me: I know
no worries
and quit acting like you'd be able to anyway - you know as long as I'm online you're done-zo)

(twenty minutes later he replies)
Luppy: god dammit
that's so effing true

me: for a minute I thought you broke up with me.

Luppy: why would you think that?
that's crazy talk

me: I know
I have an amazing gift for you btw
but I'm thinking of saving it for our anniversary
(friday)

Luppy: i don't get it i really should not be turned on by your creepiness

(Yes. I was referring to our one-week anniversary of meeting. Then, later...)

me: in case you're wondering there are only 85 days until prom
aka my birthday

Luppy: i've already got an 85 day calendar set up to X off each day until then

me: is that what you've been working on this a.m.?

Luppy: absolutely

In between me being creepy, I also started really dumb conversations that exposed my general ridiculousness and propensity to draw odd and faulty conclusions based on made-up facts.

me: I just had a conversation about Clementines in which I declared them the bananas of citrus - as far as ease of eating
Jeremy and I have decided there are not any other easy to eat/peel citri

Luppy: that might not be false

me: unless your grandma cuts your grapefruit for you
we just decided an order
pineapple, grapefruit, oranges, clementines
Shooooot

Luppy: what about kumquats?

me: we got worried that grapes were citrus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citrus#List_of_citrus_fruits
but they aren't
no one eats kumquats

Luppy: i eat kumquats

me: hmmm, so would you categorize olives & grapes as the same type of fruit? B/c we don't know what to call them
no you don't. Quit lying.

Luppy: no olives and grapes aren't the same

me: Clementines also win b/c they don't have seeds. Best Clementine quote: "Yeah! I don't need seeds! I'm not trying to grow them!" - my coworker Jeremy
Umm, why aren't they the same. Jeremy & I say they are. They're fruit. They're on trees. They're small & roundish. They grow in Italy.

Luppy: grapes don't grow on trees

me: umm, I just realized that
I lose.
But we just decided, judges met and declared trees & vines are basically the same thing
They both ...

Luppy: grow?

me: "climb upwards, have leaves"
Jeremy just said, "vines have leaves, right?"
lol
They both produce oxygen.
or O2 as we like to call it

Luppy: the o2 line kind of made me laugh outloud

me: omg
this is the best conversation I've ever had at work
ok, so Jeremy just said if you want to get technical, vines grow on trees, grapes grow on vines, so actually grapes grow on tress.
*trees
take that!
as if that wasn't enough proof, check out this photos. Duh. They're trees-ish
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&q=wild+grape+vines&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi

fyi - grapevines also grow on wedding cakes
http://gourmettouchbakery.com/gallery/albums/wedding/Wild_Grape_Vine_5_Tier.jpg

Luppy: they grow on cakes?
really?

me: I think I should move to DC & work in a think tank. Obviously. I'm solving the mysteries of the world.

Luppy: doesn't the frosting kill them?

me: lol
I just snorted. At work.

(An hour or two later...)

me: oh, btw, we decided at lunch that cherries = olives a bit more than grapes = olives. I should probably be using greater than signs, but they always confuse me. I have to draw a little alligator head eating the bigger number to double check my work.

Luppy: agreed on the cherry front

me: and the 'gator head front?

Luppy: i totally used to do that in 3rd grade

me: ...and....still do?

Luppy: so...the chili was just ok?

me: It was pretty good.
I totally f'd it up though
got my chili/frito ratio waaaaay off at the end

Luppy: you like my smooth transition there?

me: It kinda hurt my feelings b/c I knew you were embarrassed for me about my poor < > skills

Luppy: no i'm not
truthfully i just say it inside my head, i don't actually have to draw it

me: hmm.
I'm just cuter than that. Who doesn't want a report w/ little gators on it?

Luppy: kind of like when i use a wrench, i don't say righty tighty, lefty loosey outloud...
i just think it

me: right right right
I just don't trust the gators until they're on paper

Luppy: i rarely trust gators
and never robots

me: ninjas?
:-
(I think that's a ninjaish face)

Luppy: almost always ninjas
they at least live by a code

me: totally
http://askaninja.com/omnipresent

Luppy: ninjas are glorious
they're better than cajun turkey and sleeping in on sundays
though possibly below pirates
tbd

me: you kinda want this...
http://www.ninjatown.com/
or....
http://shop.shawnimals.com/product/son-of-moustachio

Luppy: wow
i really want a ninja
do they hang on your rear view mirror like dice?

me: I think they are meant to hang from your belt loops.

Luppy: what if i'm wearing sweatpants?

me: on the string

me: is the better option a panic attack or vomiting?
both?

Luppy: doesn't the string go on the inside?

me: not w/ a ninja on it

Luppy: what if i want the string with the ninja to go on the inside?
you know, because ninjas like being hidden

me: you best have roomy sweats

Luppy: i mean, how big are these ninjas exactly?

me: wee = 4 inches
other = 9
omg - I just looked at their website (which, wtf, I'm so swamped, what am I doing!?!?) and saw this:
"You asked for it, and you got it. Ninjatown micro plush with loops attached so you can hang em from wherever you want (like from your belt loop). "
I thought I was being silly when I said belt loops.

Luppy: you're like a ninja plush Nostradamus

me: totally

(I'd like the record to show he never asked why I asked if the better option is vomiting or passing out. Although I think that really was a good sign that he could deal with my hysterics.)

The next night, January 3, Luppy and I were on the phone (of course).

I asked him when he was going to come back to KC again and see me.

He said, "Well, why don't you come out here?"

I ... hadn't thought about that. I don't know why, but I really hadn't. While we were still on the phone, I looked up flights. And then, I bought a ticket.

When I told Hurricane, she had the best response, "Erin! Did you tell him before you bought the ticket??"

--Keep Reading - Chapter 8 --

Huge Disappointment

After the corn shucking contest, the local radio station recapped the action. I wish I could embed it here, but I'm really lazy.

The highlights:
- The Dad can outshuck all those boys with his hand tied behind his back. Tie both his hands behind his back.
- I hear Kevin needs a little work.
- If I was Sean I wouldn't be walking around with a corncob in my shirttail.

But the best comment really was:
- Boy, that Kevin sure is a disgrace to his family.

Probably the best quote ever. I wish it was my ringtone when he called me.

Anywho, at the corn shucking award dinner, K-diddy received his very appropriate award.





Nothing but love.

Ennui

*sigh*

You Shook Me All Night Long: A Love Story - 6

Chapter 1 - I'm Not Wearing Any Pants! Or, Drinking and Dressing
Chapter 2 - Where's Luppy?
Chapter 3 - Charming
Chapter 4 - Snow Angeling
Chapter 5 - AC/DC is Romantic in the AM

Chapter 6 - Call me!

After Erin and Tab pack up and head home, and GDSean refuses to wake up, I laid down on the couch still jittery with excitement from my night. I was also sick to my stomach with frustration. I can't believe he just left. I can't believe he didn't ask for my number. And I really can't believe I just sang "You Shook Me All Night Long" to him. Oye.

So... this is it?

One night with this perfect guy... and that's it?

This is crap.

I briefly fall asleep before my regular Saturday/Sunday morning call from Shell. She's going to Costco do I want to go? Duh. Wandering around hung over staring at massive people and massive quantities of everything I could never need but curiously want. Standing in line at a sample stand waiting for a Hot Pocket to come out of the toaster oven so I can get my square-inch chunk on a toothpick before moving down an aisle for a shot of an energy drink? Hell yeah. It's our weekend ritual. She picks me up, I regale her with stories of debauchery, we shop, and I feed my hang over. It's glorious.

And it's perfect, GDSean needs a ride to get his place. We can drop him off on the way to shopping heaven/hell.

In the car, I randomly mention making out with GDSean's friend. Shell is instantly and physically repulsed. GDSean's FRIEND? EWWW!

GDSean is shuddering in the back seat, shaking his head, occasionally yelling, "Why MY friends!?!?"

I unload the entire story on Shell - she is just as shocked and appalled as I am (and the rest of the rational world is) about the singing. Oh, the singing. There will never be an explanation for the singing.

We pull up to GDSean's place. I turn around in my seat and ask for Luppy's number. GDSean leaps out of the car and runs inside yelling, "NO! GO AWAY! HE'S MY FRIEND!"

Great.

As we pull away, I text another friend of GDSean's and ask for Luppy's number. I don't even know or care if this is awkward. I'm all in at this point. I mean. Wow. I'm beyond all in. I'm snowangeling and AC/DCing. There's really nothing holding me back now.

I wandered around Costco, eating a mega slice of pizza and drinking an equally ridiculously sized soda. Waiting. No reply. And I have no patience. Which really doesn't make sense considering Luppy is on a plane right now.

But this story has never been about making sense.

So I call leave a message - please call me back.

We finish up at Costco. I'm pleasantly full on samples, pizza and soda. I've purchased enough canned tuna to get me through the next 10 or so years. But still, no phone number.

Shell drops me off at home and I head for the computer. Time to look this character up.

Google.

Myspace.

Facebook.

You know, all the normal stuff.

Mid-searching I finally get a call back and I get the phone number!

Shit.

Now what!?!?

By this time I had made myself relatively presentable to the world and had headed down to the Plaza to run some errands.

I thought he would still be in the air, I texted him and asked how his Dad took my text messages that morning.

Then my phone rang.

Omgomgomgomgomgomg it's him!

We talked for the next hour and a half. I was the girl pacing around the make-up counter at Hall's, then sitting outside on a bench, then walking back and forth in front of Starbucks, then sitting on the bench again. In like, 20 degree weather.

And it so didn't matter.

I don't know why the conversation ended, but I know I didn't want it to.

I ran straight to Hurricane's store and told her my tragic, horrible story.

I met the man of my dreams last night. We stayed up all night. It was awesome. It was perfect. And then he flew home.

But, I went home and talked to Luppy again. For another hour.

And then the next day.

And the next day.

I was a smitten kitten.

--Keep Reading - Chapter 7 --

Happy Birthday Luci!

Happy Birthday Luci!

Such a cutie. We all agreed she was the most entertaining/cute/fun first birthday cake eater. I only regret I didn't snap a shot of her going at the cake hands free and mouth open.

Aww, our two broken bone babies. Sad. They're troopers though.

Kate!

Mom gave me the best gift ever. Full sleeves. This is your permission and blessing to get real ones, right Ma?

I think Shell actually rocked them better. Regardless I loved the sleeves because they proved my propensity to give... nontraditional gifts is, in fact, genetic. While we were trying on tattoos, the girls were trying on cucumbers.

Tricky

I have this trick I do on Sunday nights.
I stay up really late and act like I don't have to work the next day.

It's kinda the worst trick ever.

From Mr. Perfect

What I think when I read your blog

How novel!

An MTV with ... music!

MTV has launched a new website that houses music videos. That's it. Just music videos. Like the good ol' days.

Just found Fatboy Slim's Weapon of Choice vid - I remember watching it and loving it in high school. Because yeah, they still (occasionally) played music videos then.

Fatboy Slim MTV Music

Found on Daily Candy.

A final thought

In an e-mail I got today -

While we were all disappointed in the outcome on election night, I truly
believe we waged an important campaign because we gave Kansans a choice.

Without a choice, elections are meaningless.

Amen.

Signs of Sickness

In the words of Mush, I think a hurty bug crawled in my throat. Today, it traveled throughout my entire body. Signs of my sickness and necessary items while illin'.

For goodness sakes I'm wearing a cut-off sweatshirt!

PJ Party!

Saturday the crew gathered to road trip it up to Manhappiness. Shell & P let us take their van, so it was an especially awesome trip. Well, for the kids in the back it was. Mr. Perfect and I were kinda like the adult sponsors of the trip.

Typhoon had decided some time last week that she wanted to host a PJ party at her house on Saturday. So the plan was to load up from the Halloween debauchery the night before and hit the road in pajamas. Mr. Perfect and I decided to veto the PJ part. Instead, we walked in our pj's (including Mr. P in a robe) to Shell's house for breakfast. Then we put on regular clothing.
Luckily, no one else was lame like we were.
Hurricane models the latest Vicky's catalogue while showcasing her pj's.
Mr. Perfect and I were watching TV (well, he was watching football, I was reading US Weekly), when a girl knocked, then came in the back door. She had a startled look on her face and asked for Typhoon. "Did you know there are guys in your yard?? Do you know them??" she said, in a panicked voice. "Oh, yeah. It's cool."

Turns out she lives in the apartment below Typhoon.

She had returned home to find this in her yard: Yes. Those are full pj's, with feet, on a grown(ish) man.

wow.

classy!

And then... the PJ paparazzi showed up!!

Our PJ crew was hungry, so we headed to Aggieville for a little food crawl.

Oh, and did I mention GDSean was wearing a Jesus robe? His name was Jesus Christ Sean for the day. Has a nice ring to it. GDSean...JCSean... hmmm

Somehow, while walking around Aggieville in the middle of the day, I kinda forgot Eye of the Tiger* was wearing a robe.

With ruffles.

My favorite story of the food crawl - Typhoon and I lost the group after stopping in a store to do some quick shopping. As we walked around the corner in an alley, I heard a voice from above yell down, "Hey! What are you guys doing?" I replied, "Looking for Jesus! Have you seen him?" The guy was a little confused, but took it in stride. He was a kindred spirit, wearing his own bizarre day-after-Halloween-random-afternoon-costume. A bit later we met up with the boys. The group headed on to Coco Bolos to eat while Mr. Perfect and I checked out Sisters of Sound. Mr. Perfect and I went back through the alley to meet the group at Coco Bolos. Suddenly, I hear Jesus.

Coming from above...

Apparently that guy took my search up, because he found Jesus.

Of course GDSean would, in less than 5 minutes, get himself invited to a random party.

Of course.

Turns out he even knew the guy who yelled down at me, and recognized him immediately because the costume he was wearing was the same as the costume he's wearing in his Facebook profile picture.

Odd world we live in.

After annoying everyone in Aggieville and confusing children as to why a grown man was wearing pj's with footies, we headed home and got cleaned up for a night out.

My girls.

Erins!!!

I was so glad that Erin & Nick met us out. We had a blast. Although I'm totally blaming the food poisoning on them. We went to IHop - I ordered eggs over medium. Erin & Nick proceeded to go on for about 5 minutes about how you should always get scrambled eggs in a restaurant, how gross and dangerous it was to get anything less cooked, blar blar blar, but I'm sure you'll be fine Erin!! Yeah. I'm blaming their negative energy for my vomiting.

But... I can't stay mad at Erin long. Because she pointed out the most glorious thing of all thing glorious. At first I was so blinded by the bling that I only noticed the horrid shirt this odd man was wearing. It wasn't until Erin pointed out the belt buckle that I was able to comprehend the extreme level of douchery this man had reached.

We spent the next half-hour waxing poetically on what the A stood for. I think the most common answer was Asshole.

And nice work Erin - capturing me in the photo adds one more to the list for Nick!

Aww, Mr. Perfect! Manhattan suits you well.

*We were going to call Hurricane's bf Eye of the Storm, but that just made us think of Eye of the Tiger and someone said that Eye of the Storm was too long and even though Eye of the Tiger is just as long, it stuck. Also, it was decided every time his name is mentioned, we must hear the song. I don't know how long that will last. I'll probably either never do it or just stop referring to the Eye.