New blog
I launched a new blog. Check it out.
52 by 52
Four years ago, I blogged the 52 things I want to do before I am 52. I thought it would be nice to revisit it and highlight the ones I’ve accomplished.
1. Compete in agility on a national level. With a Chihuahua. (Ha!)
2. Write a book that is actually carried in bookstores.
3. Act in a community theater play.
4. Keep a record of every book I read.
5. Take belly dance lessons.
6. Take a Split Rock Arts Program class.
7. Visit the fjords in Norway.
8. Travel to a Caribbean country.
9. Go to Alaska.
10. Live in a small town.
11. Train a pet therapy dog to go to nursing homes.
12. Go to seminary.
13. Swim 3 times a week.
14. Write articles on a freelance basis.
15. Be able to afford working only 32 hours a week. — Hmmm… I can AFFORD it … I just don’t do it. Does that count?
16. Learn how to ballroom dance.
17. Take adult ballet lessons.
18. Always own a Mac.
19. Keep a dream journal.
20. Get together more regularly with friends.
21. Travel the U.S. in an RV.
22. Audition for a reality television show.
23. Buy a #4 ponytail Barbie.
24. Buy a Bob Mackie Barbie.
25. Wear sunscreen every single day.
26. Try acupuncture.
27. Learn a martial art.
28. Teach dog training.
29. Always own two Chihuahuas.
30. Landscape the backyard.
31. Become fluent in Spanish.
32. Visit a Spanish-speaking country (or Puerto Rico) to prove it.
33. Join a book club.
34. See Dave become an independent film maker.
35. Swim in a shark cage.
36. Go on a whale-spotting cruise.
37. Get highlights instead of talking about getting highlights.
38. Learn how to paint.
39. Keep up with my scrapbook.
40. Complete a NaNoWriMo.
41. Own a racehorse.
42. Never wear mascara.
43. Own a hybrid car.
44. Listen to more classical music.
45. Design a dress.
46. Watch a lamb being born.
47. Go to the mountains.
48. Kayak.
49. Swim with dolphins.
50. Adopt a rescue Chihuahua.
51. Sleep in a lighthouse.
52. Learn Greek.
The Latest from the Gub Factory
The Gub Factory has unveiled two new Gubs: Bonsai Bunny and Ondine the Owl.
Vodka Collinses aren’t pink
Went out for New Years Eve this year after many years of just chilling at home or at friends’ houses. Had two Vodka Collins at the first place we went… delish. At the second bar, I ORDERED a Vodka Collins but I got some sort of Sweettart-tasting pink beverage instead. Nothing in a Vodka Collins is pink. Weird.
Der: Why I was convinced a random in high school couldn’t be crushing on me.
When I was a junior in high school, this guy called me. He said he’d seen me in the science resource center and thought I was cute, so he asked someone my name and then started calling all the people with that last name in the phone book and asked for me.
I was convinced that he had the wrong Jaime. I kept trying to tell him he actually wanted a Jamie whose last name sounded nothing like mine (let’s say Leopold). He kept saying that he meant me and described me, but I remained 100 percent positive UNTIL TODAY that he meant Jamie Leopold. I so didn’t think I was cute enough for a random guy to hunt me down. We talked for quite a while, but because I was so convinced he meant Jamie Leopold, I didn’t agree to meet him…
Today I was looking through my class on Facebook and hit the “Jamies” section. There were a lot of Jamies and Jaimes and Jaimies and Jaimees born in the 70s. As I scrolled through them, I thought “At least we all had really different last names …” And then I literally froze as I realized there was NO WAY Travis would have thought Leopold and and my maiden name sounded anything alike. I also realized that I hung out in the science resource center every morning (because one of my friends had a crush on a guy that ALSO hung out in the science resource center) and let’s just say that Jamie Leopold wasn’t exactly a study buddy.
I was an idiot with low self-esteem.
Observations
1.) Why do we bother? All the progress we made with Dave’s family over the past 10 years that made Christmas actually bearable was completely undone when we moved to Oshkosh and they decided they would actually pray for us to be miserable and not be able to sell our house. We are back to awkward and unpleasant, thanks to them hating me for taking Dave away and me disliking them for actually PRAYING for me to be miserable.
2.) Some presents … not that exciting. There is something kind of boring about watching my sisters open package after package of household items, such as bakeware and dishes. It was like we were at a double wedding shower!
3.) Wii Fit = hilarity. While I look like a special needs child while playing Wii Fit on the hula hoop level, Michelle looks like she’s having a seizure.
4.) A week off of work makes me wish I were an heiress.
