Feeling Frayed

I went to The Fray concert last night (they are the one's who sing "Save a Life") with my siblings. My 23 year old, super cool, and highly popular (the younger kids idolize her) sister decided to make it a family event and bought tickets for all the kids except the youngest (poor kid got to stay home with Alexander).

Anyway, the concert was held at the USANA Amphitheatre and I have decided that they have the worst traffic situation of any concert venue I have been to. By the time we got to our seats it was already 8:30 and some crap band dressed in what my 16 year old brother called "girl pants" was playing crap music and the lead singer was dancing like he had to go to the bathroom really bad. At 8:3o I was already exhausted.

This crap band played until 9:00 and then FINALLY left the stage (my brother yelled, "Yay they're done!" and clapped really loud, I thought I was going to split my sides laughing). I got my hopes up thinking that the "real" band would be starting soon, but alas, I still had a half hour to wait in my seat and twiddle my thumbs. By the time The Fray finally got on stage I was ready for bed. I was shocked at myself. Never before had I been such a party-pooper at a concert. I usually get all excited and pumped up, dancing and stuff, but I was just too old. I could only bob my head in rhythm and wonder how long this was going to take. When the encore came, however, I was psyched! I was all my young college self again with tons of energy. Do you know why? It was because I knew they were only going to sing 3 more songs. Yup, it was only 10 more minutes and so I decided that I could have fun for the last 10 minutes. It's like when you are hiking up a tall mountain but you can finally see the end in sight so you keep going even though you feel like you might die. Well, the last song seemed to last FOREVER with the audience sing alongs, but I could handle it because it was the last song.

I made it through traffic (it was a miracle!) and got home at almost 1:00 a.m. My great husband was waiting up for me (okay, we all know he doesn't go to bed until 2:30, but I can pretend it was a sweet gesture).

After not quite 5 hours of sleep, I am trying to make it though the day, but feeling rather manhandled and frayed. Who knew you could grow old so quickly? Only 2 years ago I would have been the super cool, highly popular, and crazily energetic one. Oh well, here's to those times when we try in vain to feel young and cool and fall slightly short.

Spoiled Rotten

On Monday I turned the big 24 and I was expecting it to be just like every other day. However, my husband made sure to take advantage of this double points day* and he went all out. Usually because he works at home he is still asleep when I leave for work at 7:45, but on Monday he was out of bed before I was. As soon as the alarm went off he gave me a lovely card (women love cards), a novel, and a ruby necklace/earrings set. I was stunned! Alexander can't keep secrets so I never get surprises, but this was a total surprise. He had done such a good job getting the gifts and I didn't even give him any hints or help.

Later that morning while I was toiling away at work (okay, between you and me I wasn't really working that hard but don't tell my boss that) I got a huge bouquet of flowers delivered to me. Another surprise! I had never received flowers at work before and I was thrilled. This boy was definitely doing a good job. Everyone at work went out to lunch and my boss bought my food so that was cool. When I got home from work Alexander took me shopping for new clothes, which he doesn't really like to do, but was willing to do anyway. We found some cute clothes that were on sale and only spent 15 minutes shopping, it was my lucky day (Alexander thought it was his lucky day too)!

On top of all that my parents made me a whale cake and my favorite meal of bacon and tomato sandwiches. I was sure that I was the most spoiled rotten I had ever been. I was wrong.

Today I got a brand new 2007 Hyundai Elantra, regetta blue with grey interior. It drives like a dream and has air conditioning (which my old car did not)!! I can't believe I am driving a new car! Now I know that I really am spoiled rotten. What a week!

*Double Points Days include birthdays, anniversaries, & holidays because 1) he remembered and 2) he got you a gift

Independence Day?

So yesterday was Independence Day. Being a history major, I have spent a large portion of my adult life studying U.S. History. Since there is only about 250 years of "official" U.S. history, I have focused a lot of my studying on the founding of our nation and all the little details surrounding it. Well, upon watching "A More Perfect Union" for about the 100th time, I decided that this whole celebration of our independence on July 4, 1776 is a rather silly thing. We should call the 4th of July "The Date on the Top of 'The Declaration of Independence' Day" or "The Day Two Days After Congress Voted To Declare Independence." We could even name it "That Random Day in July That We Don't Want To Work." Yeah, those would all be more accurate than "Independence Day" and I will give you some reasons why:

- Declaring that you are independent does not mean that you are actually independent. For example, when I was a teenager I said lots of things like, "You can't boss me around!" and "I'll come home whenever I feel like it!" Simply uttering these declarations of my independence did not make them true, because in reality my parents owned the bedroom and house I lived in and the car I drove, and thus they COULD tell me when to clean my room and when to come home. So Britain didn't care that America told them to take a hike, because they "owned" the land the Americans lived on. Just because the Americans wanted to be independent didn't make it so. It was the same way with the Confederates in the Civil War.

- The American Revolutionary War, which began in 1775, effectively ended in 1781 after the Battle of Yorktown, (though the war didn't officially end until 1783,) five years after the country declared its independence. Apparently Britain still thought America was theirs and so clearly we weren't really independent yet.

- Britain did not recognize America as its own nation until the war officially ended in 1783 at the Treaty of Paris (this was seven years after we said we were independent).

- America didn't "elect" (technically America appointed) its first president, George Washington, until 1789 (that's a LONG time after 1776).

So what's the deal? Apparently there is nothing we can do about it because the first Independence Day celebration was held on July 4, 1777. Our founding fathers may have done well setting up this new and unique government, but they sure didn't name their holidays very appropriately.

HAPPY NATIONAL FIREWORKS DAY!!

Too Late to Think Straight

I'm always more prone to reflection when it gets dark outside. I think it's because I talk all day long at work and when I get home I talk to my husband and by the end of the day I'm all talked out. In fact, Alexander can't get me to talk sometimes. It's like the effort of opening my mouth and forming words is just too great for me to even attempt. Now, I know Alisyn is reading this thinking, "Why can't she be like this for the 5 hours I have to be with her every day?" Well, Alisyn, I apologize, I just have no control over these kinds of issues.

Earlier today, my hubby and I played our favorite game of Civ together and spent a lot of our time focusing on espionage. We did some delightfully sneaky things to our neighboring countries. So, tonight I've been reflecting on the interesting secret lives of my friends. You know, those things you don't tell me? I've been wondering about all of those things that people do but don't tell anyone about and think that no one knows. I've decided that the people around you know more about you than you want them to know. I certainly know more about everyone than they think I do (I'm not bragging, just confessing). I am wondering what people know about me? Or worse, what do people think they know about me?

Honestly, I'm not giving up what I know about all of you (that would make me lose my edge) ;) so I'm not expecting any confessions from the rest of you. Still, it would be interesting...

Tiger Sharks and Sea Lions and Polar Bears!

Today was all about the marine life at Sea World! We had a blast seeing all the incredible animals. My favorite exhibit was the Wild Arctic where they showcased three Polar Bears, a crowd loving Walrus, and three Beluga Whales. It was great! The walrus was my favorite because he put on a show for those of us staring at him through the glass. Blowing water and kisses and offering his half-chewed fishy bits to the adoring and slightly grossed-out crowd put him near and dear to my heart. I had to go back a second time because he was so attractive.



Of course we also were enthralled with Sea World's mascot, the marvelous Shamu. We were so impressed with the tricks that were done and how willingly the three Orca did them.



We were able to hit up all the great shows, Shamu's show, the Dolphin (and Pilot Whale) Show, and the comedy starring Clyde and Seamore, the precocious Sea Lions, and Opie the Sea Otter (you should have seen how hard Alexander laughed at the Sea Lions' tricks).





We had a swell time, but if we thought we got burnt yesterday, you should see us today. We are so crispy that even potato chips have nothing on us. Sadly, that also means that Alexander has taken to calling me his little cherry-flavored gummy bear. I'm not sure what is worse, the nickname or the pain. Just kidding, I'd take the nickname over the pain any day. ;)

Tigers and Lions and Bears!

Today I am in beautiful San Diego! The weather is perfect and the sky is clear blue. Alexander and I were able to go to the San Diego Zoo today. We had so much fun looking at all the animals. At the end of the day we are now lounging in our hotel room with sore feet, red bodies, and happy memories. I will post some of my award winning photography of the animals now.

This guy looked so much like a stuffed animal that I couldn't believe it. San Diego has the second largest exhibit of koalas in the world (Australia's zoo being the largest of course).

This hippo was huge! There were a bunch of kids standing around us and they kept staring at the immense size of this guy.

Of course I couldn't resist the Giant Panda. She was so adorable and incredibly photogenic!

And of course, there's my husband who is the cutest animal, and as a bonus I get to take him home.

Tomorrow we head off to Sea World where we will surely make our burns worse and have a blast doing it. :)

A Revelation

My husband, Alexander, loves to play on his computer. Sadly for him, ever since we started dating I have wanted him to spend his play time with me which means sacrificing his computer time. For a wedding present he bought me my very own laptop. It is a beautiful machine and I just got it back from the repair shop (after 3 months, but that's a whole different story). He was so kind in setting it all up for me again and installing my favorite game, Civilization IV. Last night I was just gushing about how nice he was to do it for me.

I have always known that Alexander is smart, but I just realized today that he is very sneaky as well. I had just wasted nearly 3 hours playing Civ IV as happy as a clam when it hit me like a ton of bricks. ALEXANDER TRICKED ME! He introduced me to a game he knew I would love, bought me a computer, and tucked me away in the comfy chair to play while he got to play his game with absolutely no nagging from me! I am overcome with the ingenuity of the whole thing! I never knew he was so good at working the system! I now look in awe at my husband, whom I had thought was so naive and innocent, and wonder what else he is duping me on.

Men everywhere should take note of this and follow in Alexander's steps. The miracle and wonder of it is not what he did exactly, but that he did it, got caught, and will still be allowed to continue doing it because he already has me hooked. I bow down to the genius of my husband.