javajanie

Things on Tuesday

nobody@vox.com(java janie) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:27:37 -0400

Things I'm lovin'

Steak Stir Fry for dinner (Had a plethora of steak leftover from the weekend)
Kids happy and playing in the pool
Good books (I started A Great and Terrible Beauty and it's good so far. Thanks Kelly!)
Weekend visits from Vox friends
Whole Foods Organic Caramel Truffles (seriously, you must go buy some, like now, right now)
Stacy's Parmesan Garlic and Herb Pita Chips (I'm addicted. Should've sent them home with Hannah.)
Dinner and a movie in Alexandria with Steve and the 3 kids that are home (Irish food and Wall-E)
Weezer's most recent album (Still enjoying the heck out of it!)
Life being close to normal after weeks as a kidless couple
My husband (He turned to me and smiled last night at the movies and I swear I felt all giddy like a school girl. We still sleep all cuddled up at night too. After 4 years. It's crazy. And he's perfect.)

Things I'm loathin'

Nothing much right now. I've decided I'm not going to stress about the upcoming school year and all the supplies and crap I need to do til August. So the rest of July is going to be stress-free!

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We went to Ben's Chili Bowl and a baseball game broke out

nobody@vox.com(java janie) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 23:48:43 -0400

I have a confession to make. I went to a baseball game tonight, not because I am a National's fan, but because I love baseball stadium food. Seriously, a Ben's Chili Bowl half smoke with chili, cheese, mustard and onion totally worth having to watch a baseball game. Gary went with us, but I don't post pictures of people with out their written consent. I'm nice like that.

Ben's Chili Bowl at Nat's Stadium

Me, Steve, and my same old haircolor

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It Pays To Complain...Sometimes

nobody@vox.com(java janie) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:26:16 -0400

While we were in Tampa last month, we had a bad experience at PF Changs. It seemed they had reduced portion size while keeping prices the same. Like I've said before, I'm fine with paying more at this point. I expect it. However I'm not happy when I order what I think is enough food to feed my family, only to come up short. So Steve e-mailed them, pretty much saying the same thing in a nice manner. Today, a gift card for $40 came in the mail from PF Changs. Woohoo!

In other news, after last week's horrendous accidental chicken jerky, I've decided to make my version of Alice Springs Chicken for "TV Thursday" dinner. I've yet to mess this one up. I'm also making olive oil, parmesan and roasted garlic potatoes and some mukimame. I can't wait.

I've started to read Wicked. It wasn't exactly what I expected. Definetely not for the kiddies, but good. I also picked up the new David Sedaris book. I'm reading a bit here and there when I need a good laugh, savoring it like a fine wine. Oh, and I bought Wuthering Heights out of curiousity thanks to Twilight. I finished The Host. Very, very good. I highly recommend it. Meanwhile, War and Peace is peacefully sitting on my bookshelf gathering dust. The "peace" parts were good, but I was having a hard time getting into the "war".

Last night, Steve and I went into Georgetown. I ended up with new shoes and got to eat at La Madeleine. We've also had Thai food and cheesesteaks this week. And I wonder why I've gained 3 pounds since coming back from Tampa.

I am bummed however that Children of Men came in the mail from Netflix instead of Redneck Zombies. Seriously. I was really looking forward to watching it this weekend. It was filmed in Delmar, MD on a video camera. All the reviews said it was wonderfully bad. Oh well.

Better hop off here. I've got about 2 hours before Rob, Kirsten (formerly known at "the new girl"), and Gary arrive.

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I like Tampa, I really do

nobody@vox.com(java janie) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 23:54:03 -0400

I was just looking at my blog and realized I haven't actually posted anything in awhile. Moblogging is so easy, I just forget to post real stuff sometimes.

Tampa has been awesome. I must confess, I wasn't too impressed when Steve and I came down in May. Granted, we only had 1 day to really explore the area. Now that I've had the last couple of weeks to explore the area, I really like it. Honestly, there is more stuff I'd like to see, but we're leaving tomorrow.

I got my beach fix. Growing up going to Ocean City in Maryland makes me yearn for days on the beach, arcades, and miniature golf. I love the smell of the beach, sunscreen mixed with the ocean. I love the sound of the seagulls overhead, well, as long as they aren't stealing the food from our hands.

The food has been ridiculous. I love eating, I really do. We've had Hawaiian fusion, good old Southern cooking, Polish, and seafood. There are still places I haven't had a chance to try yet. There's a place that has Kobe Beef sliders that I've been wanting to go to, but we just don't have the time. Hopefully, Steve will get to come back in a week or two and I'll get to try it out. We'd love to go out and get some more pierogies too. It makes me sad to think this could possibly be my last time here.

Now Steve and I are enjoying watching Vh-1's top 100 songs of the 80s. Such sweet memories. I don't know that Steve is enjoying me bursting into song everytime they play a new song, but I'm enjoying it. And really, isn't that what matters?

Pink lizard

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Gah

nobody@vox.com(java janie) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:10:57 -0400

I just had a 7 paragraph blog post about everything that we've done in the past week and lost it. Grrrr. Maybe I'll try again tomorrow. But for now, I'm in Tampa, without kids this week. And Steve bought me my own Flip video camera since the kids don't like to share. Maybe I'll post a video of me talking about the past week, but who knows. Ugh.

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At Least We Didn't Break Down Right?

nobody@vox.com(java janie) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 00:44:09 -0400

Two nights ago I was in New York City. Now I'm in Tampa. And we drove to both places. I'm too lazy to figure out how many miles I've traveled this weekend, but I can assure you it was a lot.

Steve had planned on taking the entire family to Tampa for his business trip, but then they told him they didn't need him to go. So he planned an impromptu trip to NYC to see "Phantom of the Opera". The girls are currently obsessed with it, and the boys like it too. What's not to like about a phantom right? Sure there's kissing and love, but there is a murderous phantom. He made the reservations, bought the tickets, went to work on Friday where they told him Tampa was back on. Heh.

So 4 hours up to NYC on Friday. I never imagined my kids would be excited to get dressed up and go to the theatre. American Girl store, dinner and the theatre crammed in. Saturday morning, Toys R Us and some random souvenir shops to find Phantom stuff for Victoria. Saturday afternoon, 4 hours back to Maryland. Then frenzied clothes washing, house cleaning, and pool prepping. Sunday, back on the road and in Tampa by 11pm. Craziness. We even crammed in dinner at Cracker Barrel.

Tomorrow it's Ashley's 10th birthday. We'll spend most of the day at the beach on the gorgeous white sand. I'll have to track down a cake at some point.

I'll leave it up to Steve to post the pictures from New York City. I'm tired and it's way past my bedtime.

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These Are The Times That Try Men's Souls

nobody@vox.com(java janie) — Fri, 02 May 2008 12:26:52 -0400

After a particularly difficult week (which felt more like a month or two), I'm getting a break. Tuesday, Steve has business in Tampa and I get to tag along again! I've never been on the Gulf Coast side of Florida. I'm pretty excited. I even get to fly on a plane and I do love flying. I'm so thankful my mom is willing to come and play chaffeur and nanny to the kids while I get a mini-getaway with my best friend. Woohoo!

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It's the little things

nobody@vox.com(java janie) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:30:33 -0400

Ok, so I missed things on Tuesday, but I'm going to make a list of all the little things I love. I'm not even going to bother with the things I loathe. I need to accentuate the positive today. Too much negative lately.

Things I love

New red glasses. Who cares if they don't match with every outfit I have. I love them and I am going to wear them anyway. Seriously, I don't think I'll ever get lasik. I love wearing glasses.
$5 rotisserie chickens at the Wholesale Club. I so didn't feel like cooking dinner.
Breakfast at McKays.
Coffee and breakfast with my sister in law. I am so blessed to have her. (Yes, I ate breakfast twice today.)
A husband that will clean out the icky icky drain pump in the washer so it doesn't take 3 hours to wash a load of clothes.
Breakfast platters at Chick Fil A (that was on Monday, but it was delicious so I feel the need to mention it)
Good Charlotte (Don't laugh at me. I love them and they make me feel better when I'm sad.)
Enteman's Ultimate Crumb Cake
Did I mention my new red glasses?

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Things On Tuesday

nobody@vox.com(java janie) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 22:09:13 -0400

Things I loathe

Waking up late and having to take a cold shower due to poor shower scheduling
Messy kitchens
Homework time after school
Laundry
Reading Treasure Island outloud for hours (and summarizing) because of inadequate teaching
People who talk the talk, but don't walk the walk
Spending 5 1/2 hours of my Saturday in a car dealership

Things I love

A husband that keeps himself in shape for me
Breakfast and coffee with friends
My new shiny black minivan (I got to pick this one out all by myself!)
Naming my new shiny black minivan (Victoria gave it the best name a minivan has ever had)
87% dark chocolate
Breakfast by the pound at McKay's, a small local grocery store (french toast and scrapple for $.84, mmmmm)
My special mix CD Steve made, each song handpicked for me
Handwritten notes
Egg salad sandwiches
Clean kitchens
Seeing my teenagers studying together for an upcoming test
Driving with the moonroof open and my windows down
Baseball caps and ponytails when you don't have time to do your hair
Baby bunnies and baby cockatiels (not mine, but I got to look at them)
Reading funny cards and laughing with Victoria
Kids that not only can behave in a restaurant, but in a car dealership for 5 1/2 hours (Seriously, they deserve an award.)

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Lunch in Chapel Hill

nobody@vox.com(java janie) — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 18:36:27 -0400

Thanks for the suggestion Jen!

McAlister's Chapel Hill NC

McAlister's Sweet Tea

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