This is such a cute story.

People seem to forget all the good that goes on in the world. Yes, even Americans sometimes do right.

As for the commenter who said the Bush administration was neo-nazi-ism ... way to reveal your ignorance.

See me trying to get better at blogging?? Here's the latest:

Lately there have been a lot of babies around. Really amazingly beautiful and cute babies! Usually they kind of scare me when they're first born - they look like pruny little old men. Heck, even I looked pretty pruny and red (funny how some things don't change)!

The past few days have been good shopping days for me. And yes, I know, the semester is over in just a month and I have quite a bit of work to do. But yesterday, exhausted as I was, I managed to get from across the street:

• two pairs of shoes from Payless that I've had my eye on all summer, and on clearance!
• a little gift for a certain someone's birthday coming up quite soon
  
• jewelry findings for my someday, hopefully, bridesmaids, as well as the grand designs I have for my own necklace

Today after work, I purchased:

• a pair of jeans that fit comfortably, without me wishing those last 10 pounds were off, from Old Navy of all places. You have to understand, this is monumental. Their pants haven't fit me in years.
  
• a free pound of See's candy with a certificate I've had for over two years
• Japanese food galore: buckwheat soba and short grain rice. I miss Japanese food.
  

Which, by the way, made for a nice bland little chicken and rice dinner for my delicate tummy. I even used one of Martha's daily dinner recommendations and put a little lemon and rosemary on it. Five emails a day, one good suggestion.

Andy has been getting the wedding website up, and so far it's looking great! Meanwhile, I've been still plodding toward securing our photographer, and thinking of things to do when my parents visit. I wonder if we can get some engagement photos done by then ... ? Although, it's not like ordering save the date materials off the internet is anything ceremonious.

All said, I'll leave you with this reminder: be kind to your IT folks. Chances are good that while you're thinking they're a useless idiot, they're thinking they same of you. I'll try if you do!

I saw this article on my favorite internet news (who got rid of their entertainment blogs ... ugh!) about how Walmart is profiting off your misery. Way to feed the fire, guys.

Anyway, there's a long list of things that are offensive about this article. Well, maybe only to me, as I've been too poor to snub Walmart my whole adult life.

1. First we have the "it's too embarrassing/humiliating to shop at Walmart!!" I do it all the time. You will get over it.
   
2. The amazement that it's cheaper. I mean, really, can you not read the prices from your high horse?? They have affordable eye exams and glasses/contact lenses, too ...
   
3. Product quality. OK, I'll concede that one ... partially. I won't buy their clothes any more, nor would I buy electronics or furniture there. But Walmart is for staples! Toothpaste! Shampoo! They even have an amazing store-brand daytime and nighttime cold medication that costs $3. You can shop around for the other stuff. Correction: you should shop around for the other stuff.
   
4. It's not a pleasant shopping experience. This, I'll agree with also. But then again, I don't find shopping for boring stuff pleasant anyway. I'm agoraphobic (OK not really, but internet shopping will do that to you). I shop at odd times, like right after work. Never on weekends. And don't even get me started on the "with such a large store, she said it can seem like a workout to get from the shampoo aisle to the milk case."

Sure, you could work really hard at finding things cheaper elsewhere. Gas prices are pretty much negating all the shopping around you might be doing. Unless you can walk to these stores, in which case I am supremely jealous. And no, they aren't really kind and gentle toward their employees. I'll be the first to admit, though, that I'm pampered by my benefits package. But, with so much turnover and who they're hiring, I can't imagine the headache that causes - it's beyond me. So, consider that before you judge. For some people, saving $10 ends up being a lot of money ... maybe you could use it, too.

Oh, what a cute, cute movie.



I'd give it 8-9 stars, but I was put off by the preachiness so I can only give it 6-7 stars. I mean, we walked to the theater, didn't buy anything but a ticket, and made microwave popcorn afterward at home (about 1/100th of the calories, cost, waste ...).

Ah, well. I still love my little guy.

{edit: Oh yeah. This was after the commercial where the family going on a road trip to the St. Louis arch, apparently located in wester Missouri about where you'd find Kansas City, waxed their car and got 7% better mileage. I always heard that was an urban legend, but now I can't find it! Argh!}

I think I can officially say that I spend every living minute awake in motion. I'm hardly ever home, and when I'm home, I'm doing something, working on something, or getting ready to go.

A little on my two summer classes: yes, I realize now, that traditionally people take one class over the summer. Consumer Behavior is a nice, fluffy class, but it makes me feel awful. I don't shop at "TJ's," don't have a TV and haven't seen a lot of commercials, I don't drive a luxury car nor spend $800 in gas every month. It's like being in an alternate universe. And yet, these are the people who are going to be marketing products and services to YOU. I have one case writeup and one final project to go. My Financial Statement Analysis class is more financial analyst soapbox than accounting (it's listed as an accounting class). The weekly homework assignments are epic.

Plus, the schedule is 6-10, Monday & Tuesday. Talk about tired! Six weeks to go.

When I'm not in class or at work, we spend a lot of time looking at houses (condos). We have the most amazing realtor, and we're very fortunate in that respect, but I'm coming to hate looking at real estate. The house that we loved (albeit out of our price range) is off the market, the dealbreaker elements kept piling up on our second choice, and everything else is just … OK. I'd hate to buy a place just to be done, but it's looking really tempting. The whole thing is somehow much easier, and yet much harder, than I expected. It appears, though, that like the wedding, I've set my expectations way too high.

Speaking of, the wedding planning has been on hold for the schoolwork and house hunting. I have a living things-to-do Google document that, oddly enough, I'm glad to see grow - that means progress! I can also say that I've crossed off a few things, like picking up my veil (I knew about the groom not seeing the dress, but I didn't know about not seeing the veil!), and finalizing with this fantastic photographer that we got hooked up with through the six-degrees game.

What about work, you say? That place you spend 50 hours a week? It's going well. I seem to be doing a good job, making people happy, etc. And of course, I trade funny IT support stories with my neighbor. I know I said I'd be a bigger person than that … but people are really funny sometimes. It's a good job for me, and I'm bummed I'll be leaving next year, but then it's always onward & upward.

This will make you smile.

Happy birthday to me!

Here's to the year when everything happens.