It's official. I can't fall for that forced fun anymore. I'm just not so good at pretending now that I've been paired with a man who has no reservations when it comes to saying, "This sucks and is stupid," even as I'm trying to push rays of sunshine out of my eyes with all the focusing on the positive I'm doing.
Labor Day weekend is when my fun-o-meter had its first significant calibration. After packing a crafty lunch and a cooler of beer, loaded down with good intentions for spending one of my four paid holidays a year with friends, Mack and I spent two hours crawling 30 miles through traffic to go to a beach that was halfway covered with a tarp. Anytime Mack and I spend two hours cramped in 10 square feet of space, our love erupts into molten hot lava and we leave each other blistered and dark. Anytime we spend two hours cramped in 10 square feet of space and arrive at a tarp covered beach when we could have walked seven blocks and arrived at an enormous expanse of open beach, well, he wants to kill me and I can't pretend it's fun anymore.
Last night, my fun-o-meter was squashed to smithereens. Halloween is my favorite holiday of the year, and last Halloween, me, Mack and Ruble went to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios. It took two hours to get there (did I mention it's about 20 miles away?), but we were able to park quickly and get in in a reasonable amount of time. My fun-o-meter was sort of in limbo as to whether it would be fun, but when I turned to look at Ruble and saw the face of Norman Bates' mother between us and went screaming down the studio street, my fun-o-meter soared to new heights. Halloween Horror Nights had redeemed itself.
Since last year ended up being more fun than work, I thought this year we'd try the Knott's Scary Farm (at Knott's Berry Farm) Halloween event. With my smile strapped to my face and a ukulele strapped to Mack to keep him from realizing how long it was taking us to get there, we headed out on yet another two hour journey to go 30 miles.
When we finally arrived, the fun-o-meter was teetering. We pulled into the parking lot and pulled through the parking lot and pulled out of the parking lot and pulled onto the street in front of Knott's Berry Farm and pulled onto a street five blocks from Knott's Berry Farm and pulled back into the traffic to get into Knott's Berry Farm and pulled into the parking lot and pulled through the parking lot and pulled out of the parking lot and pulled to the other street bordering Knott's Berry Farm and pulled around the block and pulled past ten full parking lots and pulled our hair out and pulled back onto the interstate for a 45 minute trip back home.
No more will I go to an event that requires 2 hours to go 30 miles. No more will I bother with anything that is going to attract more than 5,000 people (unless it's a sporting event, an outdoor event, or something that has public transportation that will drop me off in front). No more am I going to kid myself that I don't mind crowds and that spending 80% of my time in lines is worth riding a roller coaster in the dark. The fun-o-meter will no longer fall for fake fun.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Monday, October 15, 2007
Trust Me: You Do Not Want to Read This
You have been warned. If you scroll any further, it is at your own discretion. If you have a big browser window, it's probably too late. I hope you weren't eating.
So Mack calls me at work as he's walking into the door of our house after school, at about 4:30. We're all on the phone, howsyourdaying it, when all of the sudden he says, "Oh no. Shiiiiiiit."
Apparently he'd stepped in a couple piles of it that Venus had left on the rug in the kitchen, which is brownish, so it's no wonder a detail-blind Mack didn't notice it before he stomped it into the sole of his Gap flip flops. Which were like $40.
"I've gotta go," he says.
"Aw, shucks, I'm so sorry I can't be there right now to clean up this mess. I'm just so swamped at my insanely busy job looking at these interesting carpet tiles that apparently clean up with a baby wipe doing research to take this kind of responsibility for my dog," I said, sort of. It probably came out like, "Sucks to be you."
A few minutes later, I see him on Google chat and decide to lighten up the brown, muddy situation. I'll let Google chat fill you in on this part.
me: stop eating the poop, mister.
So Mack calls me at work as he's walking into the door of our house after school, at about 4:30. We're all on the phone, howsyourdaying it, when all of the sudden he says, "Oh no. Shiiiiiiit."
Apparently he'd stepped in a couple piles of it that Venus had left on the rug in the kitchen, which is brownish, so it's no wonder a detail-blind Mack didn't notice it before he stomped it into the sole of his Gap flip flops. Which were like $40.
"I've gotta go," he says.
"Aw, shucks, I'm so sorry I can't be there right now to clean up this mess. I'm just so swamped at my insanely busy job looking at these interesting carpet tiles that apparently clean up with a baby wipe doing research to take this kind of responsibility for my dog," I said, sort of. It probably came out like, "Sucks to be you."
A few minutes later, I see him on Google chat and decide to lighten up the brown, muddy situation. I'll let Google chat fill you in on this part.
me: stop eating the poop, mister.
4:35 PM Mack: im about to man-cry
kitty keeps trying to show me the poop
me: no man crying! that is too sad.
4:36 PM tell kitty to shut the fuck up or we're putting her in a meat grinder!
Mack: wood-chipper honey wood-chipper
check your Gee-mailme: i want to put her in a meat grinder. and make kitty tacos.
Mack: i just searched for "painless way to poison a dog"
4:37 PM i'm checking it. heart the titles.
[Enjoy this snapshot of aforementioned titles.]
Mack: i just searched for "painless way to poison a dog" me: streaky poop kind of looks like bacon
[Enjoy this snapshot of streaky poop. I added roses to try to make it
i puked in my throat a little.
Mack: they are big... notice my sandals to indicate the scale
me: nice work honey. you must be a poop scientist.
[This is actually very funny because once Mack was being confronted by the neighbor about some poop in the yard and he said, "How do you know it's my dog's poop? Are you a poop scientist?"]
[Enjoy this snapshot of the poop with sandal for scale. Again, the butterflies are an attempt to make this situation more delightful.]
me: nice work honey. you must be a poop scientist.[This is actually very funny because once Mack was being confronted by the neighbor about some poop in the yard and he said, "How do you know it's my dog's poop? Are you a poop scientist?"]
4:39 PM Mack: i want to eat something but it smells so bad in there i could puke
me: ugh. i can't get the slime out of my mind and it makes me want to barf.
Mack: this life sucks
the slime on wet poop is nastier in real life than it looks on camera - the smell greatly enhances its nastiness
4:40 PM me: what is up with you and dogs pooping while you're gone and you having to clean it up?
[Enjoy this snapshot of wet poop. Hopefully the rainbows make it superdeeduperfied.]
4:40 PM me: what is up with you and dogs pooping while you're gone and you having to clean it up?[The day after Shannon's wedding another dog left a ribbon of barf and shit all throughout our house, and Mack was the only one in town to deal with it. He still smiles about that to this day. And he loves Shannon's Aunt Tiffany 4-ever.]
Mack: i'm going to put the dog and cat into the bath and throw your hair straightener into the water
if the lights go dark at zizo you know why
me: no!!!! that straightener is more than $100!!!
4:41 PM Mack: then i will find a cheaper appliance to use
me: the air pop popcorn maker was like $15. But I really like it.
4:42 PM Mack: am i a bad person for wanting to kill them?
me: am i? Mack: did you know that "Die dog, die!" means "The dog, the!" in German?
4:47 PM
Mack: YES KITTY I KNOW THERE IS POOP OVER THERE
4:51 PM
we could mail venus to your friend dave without him knowing
FedEX WILL DELIVER PETS
And so begins Venus' reunion with the long, lost love of her life... Dave. If I can just get Lisa to sign for the package...
And so begins Venus' reunion with the long, lost love of her life... Dave. If I can just get Lisa to sign for the package...
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Our Tangled Web Tree

Shannon posted on her blog a knitting project she just completed. It's basically a fabric bucket for toys, but the colors are pretty and it's bigger than all the knitting projects I've done combined. The "Shannon forced to model even though she's not feeling like it" pose on her blog is hilarious, and it actually reminded me of another knitting project she did that she modeled before washing it and shrinking it. So, because I can't get enough of Shannon, I wanted to share something from my collection of "Shannon forced to model even when she doesn't feel like it."
Saturday, September 29, 2007
A Q&A with SPAM
Dear Josephine Z. Griggs,
I've been getting a ton of email from your company lately, and I assume you keep contacting me because you're desperate for a response. I appreciate very much you bringing your product to my attention and for reaching out to me so frequently each day. I hope that by answering all of your questions in this forum, you will see that, while I'm sure your offer will change many lives, I do not have a need for it at this time. I'm also good on my Cialis supply, so you can quit sending me those notices as well.
Tired of being ashamed of your penis size?
-- No, not really. In fact, I've never in my life felt ashamed of my penis size.
Does your penis size ruin your life?
-- I think if it was any bigger it would, but in its current state, no it doesn't. Gosh, thanks for asking.
Have you ever heard this, "No way! Your penis is so small!"?
-- I doubt any person ever has. I know I've never said it, and I can't imagine any woman I know ever saying it.
Didn't you feel like a loser?
-- Because even after 10 pancakes I still couldn't get the hang of how to flip them? Yes. Because my penis isn't visible to the naked eye? No.
Don't let ladies prefer vibrator to you!
-- Vibrators can't give foot rubs, so men will always have a place.
Megadik will bring you to your sexual dreams! You must believe in this excellent preparation!
-- If Megadik is the answer to my sexual dreams, I am entirely devoid of any imagination. And I won't believe in "this excellent preparation" because that just sounds too weird to believe.
"Wow! Your penis is impressive!" Isn't that what you just love to hear?
-- I would freak out if someone said that to me. Especially if it came from my husband.
Soon you'll be the only one they will desire!
-- Goody. When? Will I have to dress up?
Megadik is your magic weapon!
-- And here I was thinking it was my guacamole recipe.
No more lonely nights! The new era of big penis begins!
-- It gets it own era?!! Then it should come with a museum, a board of directors and a slate of investors.
NOTHING compares to the feeling of having a larger penis.
-- I'm thinking the feeling of eating a good dessert probably comes close.
New size for Men especially for new feelings of women at once!
-- So much simultaneous newness.
You can increase the time of your sexual act.
-- Fine, as long as it doesn't run into prime time.
For every men of different ages unique decision!
-- Poor men. I *heart* my privates.
Hope that clears up any confusion. Thanks for taking me off your list, and good luck with your massive endeavor!
Love,
Amber
I've been getting a ton of email from your company lately, and I assume you keep contacting me because you're desperate for a response. I appreciate very much you bringing your product to my attention and for reaching out to me so frequently each day. I hope that by answering all of your questions in this forum, you will see that, while I'm sure your offer will change many lives, I do not have a need for it at this time. I'm also good on my Cialis supply, so you can quit sending me those notices as well.
Tired of being ashamed of your penis size?
-- No, not really. In fact, I've never in my life felt ashamed of my penis size.
Does your penis size ruin your life?
-- I think if it was any bigger it would, but in its current state, no it doesn't. Gosh, thanks for asking.
Have you ever heard this, "No way! Your penis is so small!"?
-- I doubt any person ever has. I know I've never said it, and I can't imagine any woman I know ever saying it.
Didn't you feel like a loser?
-- Because even after 10 pancakes I still couldn't get the hang of how to flip them? Yes. Because my penis isn't visible to the naked eye? No.
Don't let ladies prefer vibrator to you!
-- Vibrators can't give foot rubs, so men will always have a place.
Megadik will bring you to your sexual dreams! You must believe in this excellent preparation!
-- If Megadik is the answer to my sexual dreams, I am entirely devoid of any imagination. And I won't believe in "this excellent preparation" because that just sounds too weird to believe.
"Wow! Your penis is impressive!" Isn't that what you just love to hear?
-- I would freak out if someone said that to me. Especially if it came from my husband.
Soon you'll be the only one they will desire!
-- Goody. When? Will I have to dress up?
Megadik is your magic weapon!
-- And here I was thinking it was my guacamole recipe.
No more lonely nights! The new era of big penis begins!
-- It gets it own era?!! Then it should come with a museum, a board of directors and a slate of investors.
NOTHING compares to the feeling of having a larger penis.
-- I'm thinking the feeling of eating a good dessert probably comes close.
New size for Men especially for new feelings of women at once!
-- So much simultaneous newness.
You can increase the time of your sexual act.
-- Fine, as long as it doesn't run into prime time.
For every men of different ages unique decision!
-- Poor men. I *heart* my privates.
Hope that clears up any confusion. Thanks for taking me off your list, and good luck with your massive endeavor!
Love,
Amber
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
The Endorsement Series (Part 8 in a Series)
I've got big boobs and I cannot lie
My own Mother can't deny
That when I walk in wearing my work shirt
with buttons on alert
they're almost sprung, wanna pop right off
'Cause the shirt shrunk in the wash
Crammed in the top I'm wearing
Too poor to do repairing
But ladies, I found the answer
Privacy Strips for all non-dancers
I found them on the web
So with the boobs I got I'm not a schleb.
My own Mother can't deny
That when I walk in wearing my work shirt
with buttons on alert
they're almost sprung, wanna pop right off
'Cause the shirt shrunk in the wash
Crammed in the top I'm wearing
Too poor to do repairing
But ladies, I found the answer
Privacy Strips for all non-dancers
I found them on the web
So with the boobs I got I'm not a schleb.

That's my endorsement rap for Privacy Strips. Top boob is known as cleavage, but accidental middle boob with bra is known as shirt is too tight in that spot, even though it wasn't when you tried it on in the dressing room. With your other bra. Before you got your period and they swelled to grandmotherly proportions. Now the shirt you bought can fit you "there" as well as everywhere else. And you don't even have to pay a tailor. Just press this little double sized, get-the-job-done tape between buttons and seal your shirt shut. I did this at 8 am. I showed it off to a lady friend at work. It was still holding strong at 7 pm. It could have gone all night, but 7 pm is when I put on my pajamas so...
Ten strips are, brace yourself, $2.99 for 10. If you buy five packs you don't have to pay shipping for the others. Most of my nice work shirts (read: shirts I paid $49.50 or more for) have this mysterious bulge in the bosom, and I've actually given up on some and thrown them away. If only I knew about Privacy Strips then.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
THINGS I LEARNED AT THE CREATION MUSEUM
1. There is an entire race of people who still wear bonnets. They are cute and seem very young. And they make me want homemade butter.
2. Adam is responsible for all the evil in the world, not Eve, like I thought. So it should be called Adamil, not Evil.
3. When Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden, they were totally comfortable being naked, but Eve's boobs were conveniently always covered up by her long, billowy hair.
4. As for their privates, those were conveniently always covered by lush gardens. Unless they were in water, in which case Adam and Eve didn't have legs or privates.


5. Before Adam's big screw up, kids played with dinosaurs like they play with dogs today. Even though the dinosaurs had big teeth suited for eating kids, they only used those big teeth to eat grass. It seems they were considered "cuddly."

6. It's not funny when men with scraggly beards whisper, "It's gonna gitcha," in your ear when you're staring at an automated dinosaur. Not. Funny.
7. God loves variety. Variety that billions of years of changing topography and atmosphere couldn't accomplish, but variety that six days of hard work and one day of rest could.

8. Humans use reason. God uses words. That makes sense.

9. Satan assumed the form of a snake that went on to get a lead role in "Snakes on a Plane." Maybe you've heard of the species "pretend," which boasts horns where its ears would go if it had ears.

10. If you're scared, either of the Devil or of Jesus coming back, a lot of locks will keep you safe.

11. After Adam ruined the world, poison went into poison arrow frogs (before that they didn't have poison in them), dinosaurs started using their teeth to eat flesh, and weeds started to grow, which basically turned everything to crap.

12. When the Modern World abandoned the Bible there was a horrible outbreak of... graffiti artists!

13. Adam and Eve had to skin animals and leave them on a rock to get a loving God to forgive them for eating that fruit when they were first going out.

14. You don't learn this kind of stuff in school. Probably because it's not part of God's plan.

15. A huge boat held two of each animal on the earth, even though there was already venom in the animals and dinosaurs had become aggressive. All the animals were very orderly and lined up in twos to board. They were also very happy in their little cubbies before, during and a little after the flood. The captain of the boat, Noah, was sometimes white and sometimes Indian, which goes back to that point about God liking variety.
16. All the extra animals that didn't go on the boat, including people, were buried in a layer of mud when the flood came. That's how we got fossils.
17. Thou shalt not... touch!
2. Adam is responsible for all the evil in the world, not Eve, like I thought. So it should be called Adamil, not Evil.
3. When Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden, they were totally comfortable being naked, but Eve's boobs were conveniently always covered up by her long, billowy hair.
4. As for their privates, those were conveniently always covered by lush gardens. Unless they were in water, in which case Adam and Eve didn't have legs or privates.
5. Before Adam's big screw up, kids played with dinosaurs like they play with dogs today. Even though the dinosaurs had big teeth suited for eating kids, they only used those big teeth to eat grass. It seems they were considered "cuddly."
6. It's not funny when men with scraggly beards whisper, "It's gonna gitcha," in your ear when you're staring at an automated dinosaur. Not. Funny.
7. God loves variety. Variety that billions of years of changing topography and atmosphere couldn't accomplish, but variety that six days of hard work and one day of rest could.
8. Humans use reason. God uses words. That makes sense.
9. Satan assumed the form of a snake that went on to get a lead role in "Snakes on a Plane." Maybe you've heard of the species "pretend," which boasts horns where its ears would go if it had ears.
10. If you're scared, either of the Devil or of Jesus coming back, a lot of locks will keep you safe.
11. After Adam ruined the world, poison went into poison arrow frogs (before that they didn't have poison in them), dinosaurs started using their teeth to eat flesh, and weeds started to grow, which basically turned everything to crap.
12. When the Modern World abandoned the Bible there was a horrible outbreak of... graffiti artists!
13. Adam and Eve had to skin animals and leave them on a rock to get a loving God to forgive them for eating that fruit when they were first going out.
14. You don't learn this kind of stuff in school. Probably because it's not part of God's plan.
15. A huge boat held two of each animal on the earth, even though there was already venom in the animals and dinosaurs had become aggressive. All the animals were very orderly and lined up in twos to board. They were also very happy in their little cubbies before, during and a little after the flood. The captain of the boat, Noah, was sometimes white and sometimes Indian, which goes back to that point about God liking variety.
16. All the extra animals that didn't go on the boat, including people, were buried in a layer of mud when the flood came. That's how we got fossils.
17. Thou shalt not... touch!
Monday, September 17, 2007
Rain?! In Los Angeles?!!
Sunday, September 16, 2007
My Old Kentucky Home
I just got home from 9 days of lovelies bliss. I spent time with so many people I love I ended up feeling more homesick than I felt before my vacation. It went by way too fast, but here are a few snippets of the whirlwind love tornado express.
Here's the main reason I went home.
Ben was turning ONE YEAR OLD, and since he's so cute they should turn him into candy and sprinkle him on cupcakes, his Auntie Am and Uncle Mack had to go 2000 miles to watch him hit this milestone.
Since little BAM BAM usually comes attached to one of my other lovelies, I also got to see them. And they are so cute they should be turned into red glittery paper and made into Valentines.

It just so happened that Jen was also leading a Light the Night team for a walk to raise money for leukemia/lymphoma research while I was home. I only got to spend time near her while we wandered through the streets of downtown Lexington, and mostly I spent that time admiring her from afar. I'm glad I got to be there to support her, and I'm even more glad that I didn't have to wear an "In Memory" shirt with her name on it thanks to all the money raised for research. Donate here.

We went to Rincon to drink margaritas, and Mack and Ben had one too many... laughs! They were cracking each other up. Ben loved pointing at Mack's teeth and then cracking up like I've never heard him crack up. I feel like a hero when I get him to smile by stealing his binkie (a joke I learned from his mom), so I was floored (and impressed) that Mack was able to get him to cackle.
We also got to see lovelies Ruble & Steve and Beth, who I haven't seen in almost a year. The food sucked, but the company was the best helping of good times I've had in a long time. Delicious people with delicious faces and delicious personalities make up for bad fajitas any day.
And, then, it was our last day... the big event day... Ben's birthday. He was so good. He had a little nap before his UK party got started, which is good because the UK vs. U of L game that was on after his party was exhausting (for you losers who missed the game, the final two minutes were some of the best in UK football ever... like the LSU game a few years ago only without the devastating ending). He got lots of presents, including a great laptop from his AA and UM and an interesting insect book from his Dude. I also like the "I listen to Led Zeppelin with my Dad" t-shirt and his Dude socks that he got. He's a lucky little boy. And I'm a lucky little aunt/daughter/friend/sister.
Here's the main reason I went home.
Since little BAM BAM usually comes attached to one of my other lovelies, I also got to see them. And they are so cute they should be turned into red glittery paper and made into Valentines.
We went to Rincon to drink margaritas, and Mack and Ben had one too many... laughs! They were cracking each other up. Ben loved pointing at Mack's teeth and then cracking up like I've never heard him crack up. I feel like a hero when I get him to smile by stealing his binkie (a joke I learned from his mom), so I was floored (and impressed) that Mack was able to get him to cackle.
We also got to see lovelies Ruble & Steve and Beth, who I haven't seen in almost a year. The food sucked, but the company was the best helping of good times I've had in a long time. Delicious people with delicious faces and delicious personalities make up for bad fajitas any day.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Warming the House
Because they are the best, most generous parents in the world, my mom and dad hooked us up with a housewarming gift of our choice. Since we recently upgraded our television to ridiculous proportions and moved to a place that actually allowed for a coffee table, we were left sans tv stand until they came to our rescue. Because they are awesome. Here's a little Before & After since you are obviously DYING for a visual manifestation of how parents make life better.
BEFORE, when it seemed like a fine idea for the DVR to dangle dangerously on the edge
AFTER, when we have actual spare space for more crap
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Bad Things Happen in Threes
1. Venus starts peeing blood because I happened to have an as yet unallocated $300, which won't even begin to actually treat her.
2. Mack dislocates his foot during judo practice because there's no time like a couple weeks before vacation to get on crutches.



3. Communication breakdown with wedding coordinator creates question as to time of wedding and a bit of panic.
Today I wanted to punch life in the face.
2. Mack dislocates his foot during judo practice because there's no time like a couple weeks before vacation to get on crutches.
3. Communication breakdown with wedding coordinator creates question as to time of wedding and a bit of panic.
Today I wanted to punch life in the face.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Wedding Bellz
I knew Will was a catch for Kristin long before Mack discovered them making out in the backyard four years ago. I had the sense that he was just a downright good guy, an easy going, smooth smoothy the first time I met him, but my gut feelings were confirmed during one ski trip when members of Hot Tub Talk voted him Best Boyfriend. I think it's only fair that Will is Best Boyfriend since Kristin is easily Sweetest, Funnest, Prettiest, Most Entertaining Girlfriend Ever.
Well, this weekend one of my favorite duos became the Slatontons. And this will go down in my elephantine memory as one of the best weddings ever. Everything from the little fans for the ladies to the food was courtesy of Kristin's admirable attention to detail. And apparently I like to dance a lot more than I ever thought I did, making sandwiches out of everyone from Julio to my toddler lover Conner. I usually hate to dance, so if a wedding gets me out there to cut a rug for more than one song, things are going better than anyone expected. At this wedding I was out there the ENTIRE NIGHT, spinning Sarah in circles, grabbing Ryan's necktie and even starting a train! I don't start trains. I don't even really know how to start trains.
I can't detail it as well as the photos, so here we go.
I had a blast with everyone I spent time with, especially Sarah, Ruble, Steve, Jen, Mike and even Kristin. Most importantly, I had a great time meeting Will's family, seeing one of my best friends start down the path to happily ever after, and finally, after almost a decade, meeting Granny Stapleton.
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