The House of Merth

The Classics

2010-10-15T15:50:00.002-04:00

I've been thinking a lot lately about the "classics"...those books that you "should" have read, but never actually got around to. As an English major, I read a lot in school (although, oddly, I think I read more of the classics in high school than I did in college), but in a lot ways, I've always been more drawn to the current best sellers than the tried-and-true cannon.

I decided to research what books I "should" have read. One Google search later, I discovered the "100 Books That Everyone Should Read at Lease Once"...at least according to the "experts" at goodreads.com. Their list is an interesting blend of modern and old school literature. Of the list, I've read about 45 or so (though some of those I think were abridged versions), and I have some type of connection to a handful of others (that is, I've read excerpts, I own, etc.).

I've listed below some of the ones that I haven't read (or, at least, I don't think I've read them). Maybe I'll add these (or some of them!) to my reading list....

The Catcher in the Rye
Fahrenheit 451
Jane Eyre
The Giver
The Kite Runner
Wuthering Heights
Brave New World
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Color Purple
Crime and Punishment
Catch-22
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
One Hundred Years of Solitude
A Tale of Two Cities
Memoirs of a Geisha
Anna Karenina
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
The Hiding Place
War and Peace

What do you think? Any good ones on that list? Any that should be added?

Under the sea...

2010-09-24T16:33:00.003-04:00

For my niece's recent birthday (she just turned 6!), she requested new clothes for her doll, Ariel. Ariel is Makayla's favorite Disney princess, and the doll is one of Mak's most prized possessions. (The picture to the left is from the year that Mak first got the doll from her Uncle Keith. I think she was 4.)

My SIL passed along Mak's request for new clothes, along with some crucial measurements, and I got to work on a design. I still had some fabric left over from the Ariel apron I made for Makayla earlier in the year (do you seem a theme here?), and I thought that would make a perfect dress!

I made the dress in two sections, plus the straps at the top. I designed it as a smock-type dress with a snap closure at the back. (I wasn't sure how big Ariel's' head was, so I figured it was better to make something that didn't have to pulled over her head.) Even though I found out later that my measurements were a little off (apparently Ariel is a little more "gifted" in the "fin" region, so the top fit, but the bottom of the dress didn't cover as much as it should have), I think it was a good learning experience. I'm planning on making a new-and-improved version of the dress soon...hopefully one that will cover everything!

Roller Tube

2010-09-10T15:48:00.001-04:00

Over Labor Day weekend, Dave and I spent the weekend with his family at Carowinds in Charlotte. On our trip, I discovered that YouTube has a lot of front seat POV videos for roller coasters across the world. It's not quite the same as riding them, but I think the videos are pretty cool.

This video is for the newest coaster at Carowinds -- The Intimidator. I rode the ride, but I had my eyes shut for most of the trip, so it's fun to see what I missed!

Rubber Ducky, You're the One...

2010-08-20T16:06:00.003-04:00

A few weeks ago, my sister-in-law asked if I would make a cake for a baby shower that she was throwing for a family friend. I wanted to create something cute and more exciting than a flat sheet cake, so I started looking at designs online. I found several cute ideas -- onesies decorated with Teddy Grahams, a clothesline of paper scrapbook baby clothes, and little cakes shaped and stacked like building blocks. They all sounded (and looked) great, but the one I liked best was the barrel of ducks.

I ordered a package of rubber ducks from Amazon (they have a ton of varieties!) and got to work.

Amazingly, I think this was the first layer cake that I've ever made, but it was super easy to put together, so I'm sure I'll try it again.

Once the frosting was in place, I started adding the sides to the barrel. I used two canisters of Pepperidge Farm piroutte sticks, held in place by the frosting. Ducky ribbon from A.C. Moore added a little flair and helped reinforce the piroutte sticks.

Add a few ducks and voila...the rubber ducky cake is complete!

Princess Party

2010-08-16T11:16:00.003-04:00

My mom's family gets together twice a year to visit and catch up. During our summer gathering last month, my aunt decided that the little girls should have a princess party....which meant the big girls got invited too. The big girls didn't get princess dresses, but we had fun just the same.

One-Yard Wonders....Take 1

2010-07-22T16:48:00.006-04:00

For my birthday, my dear friend Diana gave me a fabulous sewing book called One-Yard Wonders: 101 Sewing Fabric Projects; Look How Much You Can Make with Just One Yard of Fabric! It's a great book with project ideas for creating things with, you guessed it, one yard of fabric.

A few weeks ago, I decided to try my first project from the book. I selected the folklore bag, which looked absolutely adorable in the picture! I've always had a weakness for cute bags, so I figured it was a good place to start.

I set off for the fabric store, ready to pick out my "home decor" weight fabric and get everything else I needed. After a lengthy conversation with the fabric cutter as to why my bill was estimated much higher than I expected it to be (reason: I had mistakenly told her that I wanted the entire rest of the bolt instead of just one yard. Yeah. Go me!), I felt I was ready to begin my adventure.

I suspect that my fabric store faux pas should have been my first indication that I might be getting a little ahead of sewing skills, but I decided to press on and give it a try. I soon encountered scary sewing words. Words like pattern. And interfacing. And bent needle (note to self: that home decor weight fabric I picked out requires a stronger needle).

In the end, I'm not thrilled with the results, but I think it was good practice. The bag was supposed to have a top panel all around the top. The top panel was part of what I really liked about the picture, but once I got to it, I wasn't sure how it was going to look with the bag I created (and, to be honest, I couldn't quite work out how I was going to attach it). So, this is what I ended up with. At the very least, the bag is functional and I do like the fabric. And, if all else fails, there's a lot more projects in my book that I want to try.

Les Miserables

2010-07-01T15:39:00.005-04:00

During my high school and college years, I was very involved/interested in the world of theatre and musical theatre. With the help of the traveling Broadway series that frequented Charlotte through the years and my semester abroad in London, I managed to see a number of musicals throughout the years - Phantom of the Opera, Fiddler on the Roof, Grease, Cats, Chicago, Lion King, etc.

My favorite, however, has always been Les Miserables. I've lost official count, but I'm certain that I have seen Les Mis at least four times, if not more.

BUT, it's been awhile. In the hustle and bustle of life, I have gotten away from my musical theatre roots. My iPod has few Broadway tunes, and I had nearly forgotten how fun some of these shows can be.

I have to give credit to the writers of Glee for a resurrection of long-ago delights. While listening to the Glee soundtrack a few weeks ago, I realized that it had been years since I had listened to the actual music of Les Miserables. I pulled the CD out of the closet, dusted it off, plugged it into my car CD player, and got...

CHILLS.

Actual goosebumps. Silly me: I had forgotten how beautifully haunting the music from Les Mis was...the heart (and heartache), the emotion, the tragedy. With the music filling my brain, I have thought about the storyline much more over the past few days than I have over the past few years. I suspect that I will reread Victor Hugo's novel in the near future (it was required reading in the 10th grade, but I haven't touched it much since then), and I may even have to go see it again the next time it's in town....

To make a house a home...

2010-06-24T16:16:00.005-04:00

It takes hands to build a house, but only hearts can build a home. ~Author Unknown

A little over two years ago, we moved into a lovely rental house in Fuquay. It was a brand new house that seemed just perfect for us.

Two years later, it still is. While things are not quite so new as they once were, we have settled in and made it our home.

The cool thing is that, by this time next week, it will really be OUR home. We have worked out a deal to buy our house from our landlord, so as of next Thursday morning, Dave and I will be happy home owners! (And we don't even have to move!)

And then it was June...

2010-06-04T13:16:00.003-04:00

Did you see the speeding bullet that just plowed through here? I only got a glimpse, but I'm pretty sure that was May. Happy (belated) Memorial Day!

Dave and I had a very nice mini-vacation. It started with my 30th birthday. A very big thank you to all who made my birthday extra special!

Before we left, I tested out my new sewing machine by making an Eeyore apron for my sister-in-law and a Little Mermaid half apron for my niece. But you'll just have to image their beauty since I forgot to take pictures! I'm looking forward to spending some more time with my new machine!

After dropping Sadie off at my parents' house, Dave and I set off for Atlanta to visit my brother, sister-in-law, and niece. We had fun checking out some of the sites (especially the behind the scenes tour of CNN) and just generally hanging out with the fam.

30!

2010-05-24T10:07:00.003-04:00

I think I’ll take a moment, celebrate my age
The ending of an era and the turning of a page
Now it’s time to focus in on where I go from here
Lord have mercy on my next thirty years

In a couple of days, I'll be the big 3-0! I don't really mind turning 30, but it's still weird to think my days of being a "20-something" are over. The past decade has been an amazing adventure -- college graduation, Bolivia, my first career, my second career, getting married. I'm not sure that they'll be as many "big life" events over the next decade, but I'm sure we'll find ourselves into some excitement just the same.

Coming soon...

2010-05-21T17:18:00.006-04:00

Oops. I'm desperately in need of an update. Update coming soon to a blog near you....

In the meantime, happy Friday!

Feeding an Army

2010-05-07T14:06:00.006-04:00

The problem I have with a lot of art forms is what to do with the final product. I enjoy the creative process and making pretty (or yummy!) things, but I hate to do so without having a definite purpose in mind -- a definite need in my house, a specific person to give the thing to, etc.

Unfortunately, that same hesitation applies to baking. For the most part, I enjoy baking and trying new recipes. Some of the blogs I read are full of brownies, bars, cakes, and cookies that look absolutely decadent...and that serve 16.

Sometimes I feel like I need to find an army or a soccer team to cook for. But only when I feel like it. You know...I don't want an official position with responsibility or anything crazy like that. I just enjoy baking for other people when I have the time and finances to do so. With two people in our house, that can be tough sometimes. Dave and I both have a sweet tooth, but really, do we need to eat a dozen cupcakes each? Tempting, but no.

Oh well. C'est la vie and let them eat cake. There should be more than enough to go around.

Because it makes me laugh...

2010-04-16T15:11:00.000-04:00

4

2010-04-08T09:54:00.004-04:00

"A successful marriage requires falling in love many times,
always with the same person." -- Mignon McLaughlin

Four years ago today, I walked down the aisle and married my best friend. It's been a great and wonderful adventure so far, and I'm looking forward to many more years of the same.

I ♥ you, Dave (more!)! Happy anniversary!

Memory Playlist

2010-03-31T14:50:00.002-04:00

“Music and rhythm find their way into the secret places of the soul.” -- Plato

I love music. As I get older, I am beginning to appreciate bits of silence every now and then, but for the most part, I think music makes pretty much everything better. Long commute? Check out the local radio station! Have to clean the house? Time Warner gives us music stations for a reason! Stuck on the treadmill? Hello, iPod!

Lately, I’ve been thinking about the songs that have touched my life in some way. In most cases, these are the songs that put a smile on my face as soon as they come on the radio. Almost all are attached to some funny or touching memory in the reaches of my mind. Since no one likes to travel down memory lane by themselves, I thought I would share with you the top 10 hits on my memory list.

1. Let’s Get Physical by Olivia Newton-John
Laugh if you want, but Let’s Get Physical was one of my first “favorite” songs. I’m sure my mom could only shake her head at the 3-year-old who used to sing it around the house. Granted, I thought Olivia really was singing about exercise.

2. Mountain Music by Alabama
This was a family favorite growing up and featured in nearly all of our family road trips. Some families have 100 Bottles of Beer...the Canady’s had Mountain Music.

3. Flood by Jars of Clay
I will never forget the first time I heard this song. I was at missions camp the summer after my freshman year in high school, and the camp staff wanted to introduce us to this new, cool group – Jars of Clay. I loved Flood from the first moment I heard it. The song became even more appropriate when we had to be temporarily evacuated inland for a hurricane warning. The hurricane did next-to-no damage and there was no flooding, but the song always reminds me of what an awesome trip that was.

4. Time of My Life by Green Day
Time of My Life always reminds me of senior year and high school graduation.
For what it's worth/it was worth all the while.
It's something unpredictable/but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.
Nice.

5. Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison
I spent the spring semester of my sophomore year (in college) studying abroad in London. I quickly learned that sometimes weird things happen in Europe. Case in point, some of my friends and I went to check out an Irish pub one night. We hadn’t been in the restaurant for more than 5 minutes when a random guy asked me to dance (to Brown Eyed Girl). I think he was from New Zealand. From what I remember, we were about the only ones dancing. It was a little embarrassing, but a lot of fun.

6. Must Be the Money by Nelly
College memories of friends, dancing, and parties at the Pi Kappa Phi house.

7. Lauryn Hill (any song) / Aserajé by Las Ketchup
I know that there are multiple songs here, but it’s my list, so I get to make the rules. :-)

Both Aserajé and Lauryn Hill remind me of the year I spent in Bolivia. Aserajé is a pop-y, fad hit with a Macarena-style dance to accompany it. It was very popular the year I was in Bolivia, and we heard it playing everywhere. A couple of years ago, I finally found it on the South American version of iTunes. Love it!

For some reason, we also listened to a lot of Lauryn Hill while I was in Bolivia...but it always came as a surprise. It became a running joke that inevitably, someone would walk into a room, pause, and say, “Hey, is that Lauryn Hill?” I now have the same thought every time I hear a Lauryn Hill song on the radio.

8. Bless the Broken Road by Rascal Flatts
The first song Dave and I danced to as husband and wife. I love the song in general, but the words seem so appropriate. (I guess everything thinks that about “their” song?)

9. How Great is Our God by Chris Tomlin
An awesomely powerful worship song. We sing this song fairly often at church; more importantly, we sang this song the first time we visited Hope. We could tell from the spirit of the song that this was a congregation that we wanted to be a part of.

10. Sitting on the Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding
This is the only song on my list that doesn’t have a specific memory attached, but it’s one of my favorite songs, so I wanted to include it. At any given point, I can name some song or two from the recent Top 40 claim as my new “favorite” song, but those are usually fleeting moments of favoritism. Sitting on the Dock of the Bay has been around for longer than I have, but it never gets old.

As I sit and think about it, there are so many more than I could include – songs that remind me of road trips and travels, boyfriends and friends, laughter and sorrow – but I said that I would make a list of 10, so that’s the list I’m going with.

What’s the soundtrack of your memories?

Mascot Love

2010-03-22T15:45:00.003-04:00

If you've followed my blog for long, you know that I ♥ Stormy of the Carolina Hurricanes. Not only do I have a Stormy doll and a Stormy bobblehead, but my jersey to wear to games also has Stormy's name and number.

Every year, one of the spring Canes games becomes a celebration of Stormy's birthday. For Stormy's birthday, other mascots from around the state (and the NHL) come to Raleigh to help the Ice Pig celebrate in style.

Dave and I weren't able to make it the game this year, but we discovered that they were hosting a separate event prior to the game that we could attend -- the mascot competition. Stormy and his buddies competed against each other in American Gladiator-type events. It was lots of fun! (I think Dave and I may have enjoyed it even more than some of the kids!)

Variations on a Theme: New projects, familiar look

2010-03-08T15:07:00.002-05:00

As time allows, I’ve been trying to keep up with my sewing. I am definitely still in the learning stage, though, and I sometimes have trouble figuring out whether my mistakes/difficulties are the result of inexperience, an old machine, or pure user error. I suspect it’s a blend of all of the above.

Difficulties aside, I’ve completed two new projects in the past couple of months. I had quite a bit of fabric left over from the first apron I made, so I’ve been using it for my new projects (it’s a good thing I like the colors!).

The first thing I made was a coaster for my bedside table. Dave has been using a coaster we got as a wedding favor, but I had largely been using whatever piece of heavy paper I could find laying around. It seemed like time to find something a little more permanent.

The coaster came together quickly. I think I made it from start to finish in a single morning. I pieced together the top and then sewed three of the edges to a bottom piece. I added a very thin layer of fluff filling (left over from my “LOVE” pillow) between the layers, sewed up the bottom, and “quilted” the filling in place. Quick and easy!

My most recent project was to create another apron. Even though I really liked the first apron I made, I decided to play around with another design for apron #2. I knew I wanted a full apron, but I struggled for awhile with how to incorporate both fabrics. In the end, I was inspired by a wall hanging that my friend Erica made. For her wall hanging, Erica used a pretty color fabric to make her own binding around the edge. It gave the outline of her picture such a pretty finish. I thought the same look might look nice on my apron.

I’m fairly happy with how the apron turned out, though the edge binding did make it a little more awkward when it came time to attach the ties.

I’ve never been much into wearing aprons (perhaps because I’ve never had a good one to wear?), but I’m looking forward to doing some baking in mine. We’ll see how well the apron holds up to the wear and tear of kitchen life!

Slacker

2010-03-02T10:25:00.004-05:00

My husband told me last week that I needed to update my blog more often.

He's right, of course (but don't tell him I said that!).

Off to look for inspiration...

Ready for Spring

2010-02-24T16:04:00.003-05:00

Is it spring yet?

Don't get me wrong. I love snow and sweaters as much as the next girl, but this winter has been cold (well, by North Carolina standards anyways!). The pretty weather this past weekend was just enough to remind me how glorious the weather can be in this part of the country. Just in time for the threat of more winter weather. Boo.

Best Wishes

2010-02-08T14:40:00.003-05:00

I'm sending out best wishes to my big brother today. Today is his first day at his new job at CNN! My parents and I helped move my brother, his wife, and their daughter to Atlanta over the weekend. It was a rocky adventure (no heat in February = no fun), but I think they'll do well once they get settled. Good luck, Benjamin!

The Sidewalk Fairy

2010-01-25T16:06:00.003-05:00

For a number of reasons, we use the back door of our house instead of the front door. For the most part, this works well and is more convenient...except when it's wet. Unfortunately, the driveway doesn't quite meet the back patio, creating a muddy gulf that has to be crossed when it's raining.

But not anymore!

A couple of weeks before Christmas, I was visited by the sidewalk fairy! No more muddy gulf for me!

Thanks, Dave! I love it!

Project #2

2010-01-15T09:25:00.003-05:00

For my second sewing project, I wanted to make something special for my friend's birthday. I thought about making another pillow, but I really wanted to try something different. When I stumbled upon this apron tutorial, I knew I had my project!

The apron came together fairly quickly, and while I wouldn't look too closely at some of the seams, I'm happy with how it turned it. I might just have to make one for myself!

Enrichment To-Do's...Did they get done?

2010-01-06T09:46:00.002-05:00

Last January, I created an "Enrichment To-Do List" of things that I wanted to accomplish in 2009. Now that it's January 2010 (2010?!?), let's see how I did....

1. Read some books.

Successfully completed. I read 26 books in 2009 (17 actual books, 8 audio books, and 1 short story). That averages out to be a little over 2 books a month.

2. Scrapbook.

Decently completed. I finally finished our engagement scrapbook. Maybe I'll actually get the wedding photos scrapbooked sometime this decade! :-)

3. Figure out the sewing machine.

Successfully completed. I'm still learning, but so far, I've made a pillow and an apron. I'm happy with that. (And currently trying to decide what my next project will be....)

4. Cross-stitch.

Nope. Still sitting untouched. I'll add my cross-stitch projects to that new decade list.

So, there you go. Three out of four projects completed in 2009. All things considered, I think that's pretty good. I enjoyed working on all of them, and I am excited to get things underway in 2010!

Happy new year!

Michigan!

2009-12-21T09:43:00.004-05:00

A few weeks ago, I got the opportunity to visit my friend Beth in Michigan. I got there Thursday night, just in time for a major snow storm to hit the area! The ride home from the airport was a bit of a white-knuckle trip, but the snow day on Friday was superb!

Here are some pictures from my trip. One of Beth's friends has new puppies, so we got to go see the tiny Golden Retrievers. So cute!

Playoffs!

2009-12-08T13:03:00.005-05:00

For the past four years, I've been playing fantasy football with some of my friends. For those who have never played, fantasy football involves creating your "dream team" from the roster of available NFL players and competing against others in your league. If the players you choose do well in a particular game (in real life), you get points for your fantasy team. I've had a blast over the past four years, but I've always fallen a little short of the playoffs.

Until now.

For the first time, my team has made the playoffs! Yea!

(And yes, my team name is "Your Momma's Revenge.")

Sewing Up Love

2009-12-01T10:30:00.002-05:00

It's official. The camera cord appears to be kaput. Sigh. Oh well, at least the camera still works. I'll get a replacement cord soon enough and be up and running again. In the meantime, it's the camera phone to the rescue!

Since I started sewing (you know, a month or two ago), I've had a particular project in mind. There are several things I'm interested in making, but one project in particular that served as the major motivation to get moving. I won't go into details here (I'll save that for another post), but the project involves making some quilt-block letters. I found patterns that I liked, but I thought I better get a little practice first. So, I made smaller versions of some of the letters.

I started with the "L" (with the help on one of my friends) and then proceeded to make the "O" as well. Since I like to have a "purpose" for my crafts, I decided to make my letters into something useful.

Ta-da!!!

My love pillow.

It's not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but I'm pretty pleased with it. Not bad for my first real sewing project since 7th grade home ec!

Now, what should I make next?

Checking In

2009-11-30T13:13:00.003-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving (even if it is a few days late)! Over the much-needed holiday, I managed to finish my first sewing project. Yea! Unfortunately, I am having problems transferring my pictures to the computer. SO...stay tuned!

"Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence." --Erma Bombeck

E-L-O-N, Elon, Elon, Elon!

2009-11-13T15:31:00.005-05:00

I grew up in a family of serious NC State fans. From the day I was born, I knew my blood ran Wolfpack red. It always has, and it always will.

But, unlike the rest of my family, I'm not an NC State alum. My college adventure took me to a different place -- the luscious grounds of Elon.

As a Fightin' Christian/Phoenix fan, we didn't always have a whole lot to cheer for. Not that our team wasn't decent, but we just didn't quite have the hype of the larger ESPN Game Day type schools. For the first year or two of my college career, going to Elon football games included a trip to the local high school for use of their field.

Over the past decade (decade?!?), however, the Elon football program has been steadily building and growing. Elon now has it's own football stadium and is preparing for one of the biggest games in Elon history -- playing Appalachian State for the Southern Conference championship.

Go Elon!

Check out the "Redemption" video here: Video

Fall already?

2009-11-04T14:59:00.004-05:00

A couple of weeks ago as I was driving home from work, I suddenly realized that the trees had changed colors. Then, we saw more beautiful trees as we drove through the WV mountains on our way to Pittsburgh this past weekend.

Halloween came and went while we were occupied at the nursing home in PA. Now, we're talking about Thanksgiving and Christmas.

When did that happen?

Progress

2009-10-28T10:59:00.003-04:00

Sew Much Fun?

2009-10-21T11:22:00.003-04:00

I've blogged before about the old sewing machine lurking in my guest room closet. The machine is a hand-me-down from my mother-in-law and has been sitting in said closet for many months.... While my lofty dreams of creativity sparked the acquisition of the machine in the first place, my fear of the unknown kept it in hiding.

Until now.

About a month or so ago, a bit of furniture reorganization opened up a corner of our home office. It suddenly occurred to me that that corner would be the perfect place for a craft table. A short trip to Craigslist later, I now have a craft table and a place to actually put the sewing machine.

Now for the real test. Can I figure out how to use it? It would appear that the jury is still out on that question. I mean, I've used a sewing machine before. I was in Girl Scouts, and I took home ec. and tech theatre....how hard could it be? Famous last words. It took a couple of Google searches and a visit to my friend Erica just to get the bobbin threaded.

I'd love to be able to show you the impressive fruits of my labor...but if you're expecting that, you're just going to have to wait longer. So far, this is all I've got.

Impressive, huh?

No worries. I'll keep at it. My grandmother, aunt, and cousin are all excellent seamstresses...some of that's got to be genetic, right? Right?!?

I'll keep you posted!

"I catnap now and then, but I think while I nap, so

it's not a waste of time." -- Martha Stewart

Team Jeanine

2009-10-06T16:39:00.003-04:00

This past Saturday, a handful of us from work participated in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in Raleigh. We walked to support Jeanine, the sister-in-law of one of our co-workers. Jeanine was diagnosed with breast cancer several months ago and is currently battling through chemo treatments.

We had a lot of fun, and Team Jeanine raised several thousand dollars for breat cancer research. Go team!

The Return of Stormy

2009-10-02T10:24:00.010-04:00

Tonight's the night you've all been waiting for -- Stormy's back in action! Click here to see Stormy's Best of 09.

Yea for Stormy!

(Oh yeah...and there might be a hockey game tonight too! :-) Go Canes!)

It Seems Like Just Yesterday...

2009-09-25T15:41:00.008-04:00

This past weekend, Dave and I went to a local park to celebrate my niece's 5th birthday. I can't believe that she's already 5 years old! It seems like just yesterday that we were huddled into a hospital room, welcoming her to the world.
Since then, Makayla has changed so much. She has grown from our "Baby Mak" into a sweet, smart, and energetic 5-year-old who has started home school kindergarten and gymnastics and loves princesses, ponies, and most anything pink (I'm so proud!).

Happy birthday, Mak!

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

2009-09-14T17:05:00.002-04:00

You've got to hand it to Dave. With steadfast determination, he sticks to his teams...no matter what. Case in point, the Pittsburgh Pirates have recently made history by (nearly) completing their 17th consecutive losing season. Although they had some good runs in the '90s, the Pirates haven't won a World Series since the year Dave was born.

Nevertheless, Dave is still a big fan, and a night at the ballpark is always fun. During our Labor Day weekend trip to Pittsburgh, we caught the Saturday night game with our friends Mike & Matt. The Pirates actually played a decent game. Unfortunately, the marvel that is Albert Pujols swooped down in the 10th inning to hit one out of the park, and the Cardinals won the game. Oh well, we still had a good time!

The Fun Committee Strikes Again

2009-09-08T11:46:00.004-04:00

Yikes! Where does the time go? Dave and I have just returned from a long weekend trek to Pittsburgh, and I have pictures to share from our night at the Pirates game....but those will have to wait until I have time to unload the pics from my camera.

In the meantime, here are some pictures from my company's fun committee-sponsored bowling trip a few weeks ago. We've gone bowling a few times, and it always ends up being one of my favorite outings. There's nothing like an afternoon off of work and the spirit of competition to bring out the more outgoing side of people. While I was disappointed that I didn't bowl quite as well as I do on wii bowling, I did manage to break 100 on my final game (which may not be much, but for me, that's pretty good!)!

Even Pearce went bowling. He was excited to meet up with his buddy Smoochacha at the bowling alley.

Anatomy of a Diaper Cake

2009-08-21T14:00:00.002-04:00

As part of our decor for Erica's baby shower, I thought it would be fun to make a diaper cake. I had seen several before, but I had never made my own. After checking out a handful of Web sites and talking to some people who had experience with diaper cake making, I set out to give it a shot. Making the cake was fun and easier than I thought it would be. In the end, I was very pleased with how it turned out.

Step 1: Gather materials.

Step 2: Assemble the base. I ended up using a (wrapped up) pizza pan for the base and a canister of wipes for the core. I've also heard of using a large baby bottle in the center.

Step 3: Roll diapers and start placing them around the core. I secured the rolled diapers with rubber bands in the hopes that the diapers can be preserved for later use.

Step 4: Repeat step 3 until the cake takes shape. I had originally planned on creating a 2-tier cake, but once I got those layers in place, the third tier seemed to fit perfectly.

Step 5: Adorn with ribbon. This was actually one of the hardest parts of putting together the cake. Let's just say that the glue gun came in handy!

Step 6: Ribbon #2 for a little extra pop.

Step 7: Ta-da! The finished product.

The Baby Train

2009-08-17T14:36:00.003-04:00

I am a firm believer that every bride- and mother-to-be should have a shower and the opportunity to be lavished with well wishes and gifts. (It's not very often in a girl's life that she gets to play princess, so I feel that we should make the most out of every opportunity!)

Not long after Dave and I joined our new small group at church, we discovered that our leaders were pregnant. (I'm not sure exactly when it happened, but I seem to have transitioned from having lots of friends who are getting married to having lots of friends who are having babies!) Let the ~~plotting~~ er, planning begin!

To celebrate Erica and Dan's baby-to-be, Brie and I set out to throw Erica a train-themed baby shower. We had so much fun putting it together!

Life Lessons from Dr. Seuss

2009-08-07T09:55:00.003-04:00

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself, any direction you choose.

Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you.

From there to here, and here to there, funny things are everywhere.

Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So... get on your way.

If you never did, you should. These things are fun, and fun is good.

So the writer who breeds more words than he needs, is making a chore for the reader who reads.

Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.

Happy Meal Happiness

2009-07-28T11:18:00.002-04:00

“I went into a McDonald's yesterday and said, "I'd like some fries." The girl at the counter said, "Would you like some fries with that?"” -- Jay Leno

Because of my ever-evolving quest for portion (and self!) control, I LOVE McDonald's happy meals. A little taste of this and a little taste of that without blowing the food budget is always a good thing.

When we went to McDonald's on Saturday night after church, I realized that the happy meals just got a little bit happier...

Happy meals are apparently back to their "original" packaging (although they now open differently -- I had a slight moment of panic as I reached for the side tabs that weren't there!)! Hello, nostalgia!

Sometimes it takes so little to make me happy. :-)

Thankful

2009-07-10T13:09:00.003-04:00

I know it’s a little bit late, but I hope you had a pleasant 4th of July. Ours was nice and low key – we hung out with friends, saw some fireworks, and ate a few hot dogs. You really can’t ask for much more than that.

Over the past week, the holiday has also seemed to be a time to reflect on the joys and opportunities that we have. While the 4th of July isn’t quite the same as...well, Thanksgiving, I still think it’s a good time to think about and be thankful for the things that we do have, especially the freedoms that we are provided.

That theme was continued in our small group this week. We have just started a summer study on the book of Philippians, and our group discussion focused on the joy that Paul exuded despite his situation (i.e., being imprisoned). While we just spent an entire day celebrating freedom, Paul’s example reminds us that freedom is not a precursor to joy, contentment, and thankfulness.

11I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Philippians 4:11-12

We came away from small group with a challenge to focus on what we are thankful for and to not take the small things for granted. Someone even suggested that we come up with something to be thankful for according to each letter of the alphabet. Below is my list. Some of the things may be silly, but I’ve tried to think about the things that I am truly thankful for.

What are you thankful for this week?

A = AP Stylebook (quick reference for editors...it’s a good thing!), Air conditioning
B = Bible (having God’s Word easily accessible), Books
C = Coupons (ways to save money)
D = Dave
E = E-mail (to stay in touch), Experiences to grow from/through (even the tough ones!)
F = Family, Friends, Freedom
G = God
H = Health, Hope (church)
I = Ice cream
J = Job, Jazzercise
K = Kleenex
L = Laughter, Love, Library (see B...free books are even better!)
M = Modern conveniences
N = Nieces and nephews
O = Open minds and hearts
P = Peanut butter
Q = the ‘Quay (I know, I’m reaching...but Q is hard!), Quiet spirit, Questions
R = Radio (in general, but especially the encouragement from Christian radio)
S = Salvation, Sadie
T = Truth, Teachers
U = Unconditional love
V = Vacations (a nice break from the daily grind...a time to relax and restore)
W = Weight Watchers (a method for getting healthier)
X = X chromosomes (they help make me who I am – did you know that the “X” section of the dictionary is less than one page long?!?)
Y = You!, Yucca (but only if it’s fried...that stuff is tasty!)
Z = Zinc oxide (you know, the stuff in sunscreen...I hate putting it on, but I’m extremely thankful that it keeps me from getting burned!)

Decor on a Dime

2009-07-01T13:00:00.003-04:00

Over the past month or so, we've been making a few changes to the house. Nothing drastic, but a few things here and there. (I blame it on the repeated episodes of "House Hunters" -- what else are you going to watch during summer reruns?)

First we reorganized the furniture in the living room. When we lived in the apartment, Dave rearranged the living room furniture every other month. I'm surprised that it took him so long to do it at the house! I don't have a good picture of the new configuration, but I did manage to capture Sadie's new favorite spot.

Next, Dave surprised me with a new comforter when I went away to visit a friend one weekend. We had looked at the comforter in the store and decided that we liked it -- it was so nice to come home to a "new" room. (Dave even hung matching curtains!) Our old bedspread had a lot of neutral colors, but the new one really seems to make the room "pop."

Finally, Dave picked out a new shower curtain to complete the transformation of our "master suite." He picked it out himself, and I think he did a great job!

SwagBucks

2009-06-17T10:52:00.003-04:00

SO...I'm usually not too interested in things like this, but from what I can tell, this seems to be a pretty good deal. As such, I thought I would share what I've found out, especially since it can benefit both you AND me. :-)

I recently registered on a site called SwagBucks. It's a search engine (like Google) that rewards you for using it. As you search for things on the Internet, you are occasionally rewarded with swag bucks (usually 1-2 at a time) that you can accumulate and use toward buying things from the Swag Store. To me it seems like the tickets you win in arcades that you can trade-in for goodies. The Swag Store actually has some pretty cool things -- game systems, gift cards, airline miles, etc.

There a few different ways to earn swag bucks. One is by using the search engine for your normal stuff. Other ways are to find swag codes (I'm still working on trying to figure that one out) or trade in old cell phones. You can also earn bucks by referring others. As best I can tell, if you refer someone else, both you and that person get credit for bucks that they earn.

If you are interested, check it out and set up your own account. You can use this link, which will set you up as someone I referred: http://swagbucks.com/refer/merth2erth.

Just tell 'em that Meredith sent you. :-)

Introducing...

2009-06-09T14:33:00.002-04:00

Pearce Hovenkamp!

For my birthday, my friend Diana got me my own Travel Kitty to travel with. I've taken several trips with her kitty Smoochacha and always had a blast (see here and here). Now, Smoochacha has a friend to hang out and swap stories with.

Pearce and I have already had some fun together.

Check out his section of my flickr page for more pics....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/merth2erth/sets/72157619355549019/

Catching Up

2009-06-02T10:53:00.005-04:00

Whew! What a crazy week it's been! This week....

I turned 29,

I finally finished organizing my coupons,

(Before & After)

I dragged Dave to the ballet,

(He was a really good sport about it, but I suspect that it may have been Dave's first AND last trip to the ballet!)

And we opened up "Spa Sadie."

I Want to be a Moon

2009-05-26T13:40:00.005-04:00

A few days ago, I heard something on the radio that really made me stop and think. The radio host was talking about an encounter she had had with Mac Powell of Third Day. She asked him what his life was like as a superstar. Mac Powell replied that in the realm of Christianity, there is only one star (the Son) and the rest of us are moons, reflecting the sun/son's light.

Consider some facts that I found about the moon...

The Moon is not a light source; it does not make its own light.
The Moon reflects light from the Sun.
We can see the Moon because light from the Sun bounces off it back to the Earth.
If the Sun wasn't there, we wouldn't be able to see it.
The Moon appears to change shape but what we are actually seeing is the Moon lit up by the light from the Sun in different ways on different days.

What an awesome illustration of what it means to be a reflection of God's light!

Missing in Action

2009-05-13T15:09:00.005-04:00

Time for a new post...except for I feel completely void of new ideas. Sorry. I know that doesn't make for very exciting reading, but c'est la vie.

Let's see...what have we been up to? Watching hockey. A lot of hockey. And I've been cutting coupons. I got a new binder for organizing my coupons (the accordian-style folder was getting a little crowded), and it feels like it's taking FOR-EV-ER. Oh well, it will be nice when it's all finished and ready to go.

Oh yeah, I also found a new recipe. Easy and really yummy! If you like cinnamon rolls, you've got to try it!

Now, off to search for my muse....

Police Station Pizza

2009-05-01T15:19:00.003-04:00

“There's a pizza place near where I live that sells only slices. In the back you can see a guy tossing a triangle in the air.” - Stephen Wright, comedian

Ever since I started hanging out with my in-laws and making trips to Pittsburgh, I've been hearing about Police Station Pizza. Police Station Pizza is, without a doubt, my FIL's favorite pizza in the whole world. Whenever he goes back home to Pittsburgh, he brings back an unbaked pie to enjoy in NC.

During our last trip to Pittsburgh, I finally got to try Police Station Pizza for myself.

Dubbed Police Station Pizza because it used to be next to the Ambridge police station (go figure!), the pizzeria is actually named the Pizza House. But no one calls it that.

Police Station Pizza is a unique place with a unique product. It's a take-out only place that is generally packed with people. When we went to pick up our order, there were about 15 other people waiting as well. (Dave said that was a light day.) You order pizza by the slice (or tray), and they cook every tray of pizza exactly the same (just cheese), adding the toppings after the pizza is cooked. We ordered 30 slices of pepperoni and extra cheese (just for the record, we were feeding a whole group of people!). At first, I didn't know what to think about the handful of cheese that they dumped on top, but by the time we got to our eating destination, the extra cheese had melted nicely.

I don't know if the pizza was the absolute best that I've ever had, but it WAS really good. I would definitely eat it again...especially now that I know how to order it like a local.

Just stopping by...

2009-04-28T11:27:00.001-04:00

Let's Go Canes!

2009-04-20T16:32:00.004-04:00

It's official. Playoff hockey has taken over our house. No really...I'll have to take pictures. Dave "redecorated" our living room the other night with every bit of Hurricanes paraphernalia that we own.

When the Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup in 2006, I was just beginning to watch hockey (at least, just beginning to watch it on a regular basis). Dave and I had only been a married for a few months, but I think that was my first introduction to how much he really liked hockey.

Fast forward three years. The Hurricanes have finally made it into the playoffs for the first time since their '06 victory. And this time, I know what I'm watching: Dave and I have been following the standings since October.

It looks like the Hurricanes are going to continue to have a tough battle with the New Jersey Devils, but we're still cheering for the home team.

Let's go Canes!

I Hate Making Decisions

2009-04-13T13:49:00.005-04:00

"I used to be indecisive, but now I'm not sure."

-- T-shirt slogan from Jack Astor's restaurant

One of my favorite movies to quote (though there are several!) is "You've Got Mail" from the late '90s. This morning, while sitting in the examination chair at the eye doctor's office, all I could think about was one of the lines from that movie:

The whole purpose of places like Starbucks is for
people with no decision-making ability whatsoever to make six decisions just to buy one cup of coffee. Short, tall, light, dark, caf, decaf, low-fat, non-fat, etc. So people who don't know what the hell they're doing or who on earth they are can, for only $2.95, get not just a cup of coffee but an absolutely defining sense of self: Tall. Decaf. Cappuccino.

For some reason, that's how I felt about my eye exam this morning. Is 1 better? Or two? How about now? 1? 2? 1? 2?

Uh...can you show me again?

For someone who doesn't like to make decisions, that's a lot to figure out at once (at 8:00 in the morning, no less!). Thankfully, my contacts prescription really hasn't changed much over the past 3-5 years, so I guess I passed the "test." Yea for being able to see for another year!

Duck, Duck, Goose

2009-04-08T12:06:00.007-04:00

"Have you found the goose yet?"

My mother-in-law has been asking us this for the past 2 or 3 months. It's kind of torturous to know that the goose was in our house but not know where to find it. Though I guess that's part of the fun. :-)

Dave and I knew we'd find it eventually. And we finally did. While Dave was cleaning the office before our company arrived last week, he noticed that his commemorative Jeff Gordon lunch pail was heavier than it was supposed to be.

Ta-da. The mystery has been solved.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some plotting to do....

Adventures in Frugality

2009-03-23T14:35:00.006-04:00

I noticed the other day that my posting (both blogs and pictures) has slowed down to a trickle. I just don't seem to have much inspiration as of late for new and exciting things. I wonder why that is?

Oh yeah...it's because we haven't been anywhere!

Actually, that's not entirely true, but with the "economic downturn," we've definitely had our share of nights at home lately. And while that's not altogether a bad thing -- Dave and I have had downtime to hang out, watch hockey, relax, read -- it doesn't provide much in the realm of blog fodder.

And so here we are. In the void of other interesting topics, here are some of the things that we have been trying to do to cut back a little:
1. Eat more at home
2. Switch to energy-saving light bulbs
3. Cut coupons (I am always amazed at those people who claim that they can shop for a family of 8 with $20. I suppose that with a little more time and effort, I might be able to do more than I am, but so far, about $10 off with coupons is about the best I've managed to do. The quest continues....)
4. Utilize cheaper "alternatives" (Red Box, store brands, the library, etc.)

What tips for saving do you have?

One year down, many more to go

2009-03-16T17:23:00.004-04:00

Last week, I celebrated an important milestone -- I successfully completed my first year of goal weight maintenance. While there have certainly been ups and downs over the past year, I am proud to say that I have kept the weight off for a year now.

To celebrate, Dave bought me flowers (and ice cream, but we won't talk about that!).

He's a good man.

In contemplating the past year, I decided to come up with a list of musings...sort of the 25 random things about being on maintenance a la Facebook style. So, in no particular order, my thoughts on a year of maintenance (and nearly 2 1/4 years on Weight Watchers):

1. I still have “fat” days when I feel bigger than I am.
2. I went from not being able to find clothes because everything was too small to not being able to find clothes because everything is too big. You think I would have had the sense to stop somewhere in the middle.
3. Yes, I still eat. A lot.
4. Yes, I still eat pizza. And cookies.
5. I feel hypocritical when people praise my “self control.” I often feel like I have none.
6. It amazes me that the new people I meet have no idea what I used to look like. I often have to suppress the urge to bear my past and confess everything.
7. I’m still a foodie. Given the choice between veggies and fries, I still want the fries....though I try to pick the veggies on occasion to keep everyone guessing.
8. Maintenance is a range.
9. After a year of maintenance, I’m about 5 pounds lighter than I was on the day I hit goal. Even still, I’m closer to the top of my comfort range (see #8) than I have been in the past 6 months or so. This makes me nervous.
10. I still think that my thighs are fat. But I can live with it. (I promise that I’m not complaining!)
11. I have very few t-shirts that fit me properly. The one that fits best was purchased in the kids’ section.
12. For the past two years, Valerie Bertinelli has been in a commercial for a weight loss system (Nutrisystem, maybe?) where she says that for the first (and second) time, she won’t be making a New Year’s resolution to lose weight. I like that commercial.
13. There’s a person in my life who has confessed that they weren’t sure they liked me when they first met me because I was fat. Because of who it is, I don’t take it personally, but I’m still not sure how to respond to that.
14. I splurge on a lot of things, but I just can’t justify eating an omelet biscuit from Hardee’s (even though they are SO tasty!). Seriously, have you seen the stats on that thing?
15. I know the “points” values of a LOT of foods.
16. I still write down everything I eat. Well, almost. I try to, anyways!
17. Replacing an entire wardrobe is tough...but fun.
18. I don’t know why this list sounds so negative. I really do like being thin!!!!
19. I apparently have a really bony butt. Who knew?
20. Fat is a good insulator. I don’t think I realized that until this winter.
21. I lost approximately the weight of an Irish setter and a house cat put together. I like to think that I’ve lost a 5th grader.
22. Going to the doctor for my physical this year was funny. It had been a few years since I had been there, and the nurse had to come back in my room to verify who I was. She looked at the existing vitals in the computer and thought it was a case of mistaken identity.
23. I know that I’m going to have to be mindful of what I eat for the rest of my life. I’m okay with this most of the time.
24. I hate that I didn’t lose the weight before I got married. My wedding pictures look like they belong to someone else.
25. My advice? If you lose weight, wait until you are completely finished before having your rings resized. Otherwise, you’re going to have to have it done again.

My Favorite Quilt

2009-03-04T12:44:00.006-05:00

Those who sleep under a quilt, sleep under a blanket of love. ~Author Unknown

During these cold winter months, Dave and I have developed a love for blankets. (With an added bonus of keeping the electric bill reasonable!) As I was looking at this picture of Dave all bundled up, I realized that the picture also features one of my favorite quilts.

The quilt was made by my mom and my aunt when I was young...probably late elementary school or middle school. It's a "t-shirt quilt" that's made up of my favorite t-shirts that I couldn't bear to part with. Years later, it's kind of funny to see which shirts made the cut...and even funnier to see that there are not one, but two(!), Pittsburgh shirts on the quilt. If I had known then what I know now...

To make up the quilt, the t-shirts were sewn onto a denim background, and the quilt has a flowered baking. This is not the most beautiful quilt that I own, but it's definitely the most versatile. And that's why I love it. I have a lovely green quilt that was made by some Bolivian ladies, but I'm almost afraid to use it for fear of spills and dog hair. Not so with my t-shirt quilt. It's great for EVERYTHING -- picnics, outdoor concerts, snuggling with the dog, whatever. Pop that sucker into the washer, and you are good to go.

That's my kind of quilt.

Size-o-Matic

2009-02-24T14:04:00.007-05:00

My very sweet husband occasionally likes to pick out things for me when he's out shopping (usually killing time between appointments). Every now and then, I get a phone call from him asking what size I wear in some type of clothing. As most girls know, this can be a tricky question to answer. Every store and manufacturer seems to have their own idea about what a size x looks like (and never mind the variance of small, medium, and large!).

Dave hates that I can't always give a solid answer.

Putting our heads together, my friend Diana and I decided that we should try to put an end to Dave's shopping woes. Enter the "Meredith Size-o-Matic"! Now Dave can just take "me" with him to the store and try things on. We're just hoping he doesn't get arrested in the process....

A Case of the Mondays...

2009-02-23T12:05:00.003-05:00

Don't mind me...I'm just popping by to say hello.

I was trying to think of something new to post, but so far, I'm coming up empty, so this will have to do for now.

We had a good/restful weekend. I finished the book I was reading ("How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls" by Zoey Dean), went to a girls' movie night on Saturday ("Mamma Mia!" -- a little cheesy, but cute), and had Sunday lunch with some friends. We should have more weekends like that!

Happy Monday!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2009-02-14T11:55:00.001-05:00

New Year, New Foods (Take 2)

2009-02-12T13:32:00.005-05:00

Since New Year's, I have been trying to make some changes to our daily diets. Falling into the lure of convenience, our diet pre-New Year's consisted of a lot of packaged food. And while I haven't gotten completely away from that, I have tried to make some marked improvements to the quality of food that Dave and I consume on a weekly basis.

Now, mind you, this is no easy task. Between certain dietary guidelines (low fat, low cholesterol), a busy schedule, and a ~~picky~~ selective husband to feed, I often feel like I don't have many options. So, determined to make it work, I decided that I needed some new recipes.

I checked out several cookbooks from the library (yea, libraries!) and commenced a recipe search online. I'm still poring through the recipe books, but we've managed to try a few things that I found online.

Dave will likely be the first to tell you that I haven't always had the best luck with recipes. The older I get, the more I realize that I'm just not that great a cook. My mom is. My brother is. Me? I can make a mean pan of brownies, and I have a few other specialties here and there, but overall, apparently not so much. There was a particularly disastrous attempt at a ravioli/Alfredo lasagna when we were engaged, and I think Dave's been a little scared ever since.

Needless to say, the past month and a half have been somewhat interesting. There's been the good (breakfast pizza and oven potato "chips"), the bad (those doughnut muffins sounded so good in theory!), and the ugly (*sniff* I was really excited about the Parmesan oven fries I tried to make last night. I followed the directions and everything...who knew that they would burn so quickly?).

I guess I'll have to just keep trying. They say practice makes perfect, right? Wish me luck!

Sigh

2009-02-10T15:11:00.003-05:00

I had a new post all ready. I was posting from Flickr. It was almost ready to go. I pushed Publish. And POOF....

It was gone.

Sigh.

Survey of Life Events

2009-02-02T15:43:00.004-05:00

I thought this was a neat list. Thanks for the idea, Karen!

Just boldface the items that you HAVE done, and leave the rest normal….
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (marching band counts, right?)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower (tried to at least!)
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort (I don't remember)
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29 Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33 Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (I've been to the country of my ancestors....)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris (as far as you can go)
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets, or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible (I'd like to hope that I have over time, but I don't think I've ever intentionally read it cover to cover.)
86. Visited the White House (just seen it from the outside)
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee (I think...)

My 2009 "Enrichment" To-Do List

2009-01-30T15:54:00.002-05:00

1. Read some books. So far, the only book I've read in 2009 is Night of the Twisters (a fine read, but a young adult novel that I first read in late elementary school). It's nearly February, and my list of books that I want to read is only getting longer.

2. Scrapbook. I'm still working on a scrapbook that I started before Dave and I got married. We'll be celebrating our 3-year anniversary in April. Hmmm.

3. Figure out how to work the sewing machine that I got from my mother-in-law. You know, the machine that I got several months ago. The one that is taunting me from inside the closet. The one that I have no idea what to do with.

4. Work on my ongoing cross-stitch project. I wanted to make a big picture for Dave, but I thought that I should start on something small first (you know, for the practice). That was two years ago. Apparently, I'm still practicing.

You know, I think I see a pattern forming here... :-)

Smoochacha Patchko Goes to Pittsburgh, Part Deux

2009-01-26T16:09:00.003-05:00

You may remember my little friend Smoochacha Patchko. Smoochacha went with Dave and I to Pittsburgh when we went last August. He had such a good time that he decided to go back.

This trip to Pittsburgh was much colder than last time. I thought poor Smoocha was going to freeze to death, but he managed to make it through. He even made some new friends in the snow!

When he wasn't playing in the snow, Smoochacha was busy with other fun activities. He even learned about fire safety from Fireman Dave (and got to "ride" on a real fire truck!)

I think Smoochacha had fun on his trip to Pittsburgh. To see more pictures of his exploits (or a few of mine and Dave's!), check out my Flickr page.

Pittsburgh Bound

2009-01-15T13:20:00.004-05:00

Pittsburgh skyline from PNC Park

Tomorrow morning we head up to Pittsburgh -- our home away from home (well, for Dave, I guess it's technically just "home"). We try to go up at least once a year to visit Dave's grandparents and our other friends, though this visit comes a little sooner than that.

The weather report is calling for COLD temperatures. While I'm not excited about the mercury numbers, I am hoping that we'll get to see (and maybe play in!) some snow. A true southerner at heart, I'm always excited to see snow...especially since we don't get it very often. Dave and I are also hoping to take part in some winter activities -- mainly ice skating and snow tubing. I'm really just hoping to not get frostbite in the process. :-)

Stay tuned for pictures and posts from our trip!

Library Love

2009-01-12T10:29:00.004-05:00

I have a confession to make...I love going to the library. I know that probably makes me a dork, but I'm okay with that.

I am forever astounded at the amount of information and the resources that are available to us for FREE at the local library. In high school, our local library was a great place to do research for school papers, but it also had a large collection of VHS tapes (you know, pre-DVD days) and CDs available for check-out. Who needs to pay $3.99 at Blockbuster for a movie that you check out for free at the library?

In college, the library was "social central," as our three-story library was one of the main hubs of campus. The first floor of the library was a great place to find people you were looking for and catch up on the latest news. Thankfully, the upper two floors were quieter and more conducive to studying, paper writing, and napping (I took more than one nap on the cushy third-floor sofas!).

Now that I'm an adult (and paying my own bills!), I think I love the library even more. I love to read, but I hate to spend money on something that I'm going to read once and then leave on the shelf to collect dust. So I go to the library, where a wealth of knowledge (and some unexpected resources) are there waiting for me.

"It is impossible to enter a large library... without feeling an inward sensation of reverence, and without catching some sparks of noble emulation, from the mass of mind which is scattered around you."- James Crossley

Something new...

2009-01-08T10:36:00.004-05:00

Sigh. Time goes fast when you're having fun...or something like that. I feel like this week has been a whirlwind of activity. But then, compared to last week when I mainly hung out on the couch and got caught up on TV, I guess it has been busy!

Last Sunday, our pastor started a new series called "Be the Change." The series is based around us being the change that we want to see in others and starting the new year out right. While I don't really believe in making New Year's resolutions (they're just asking to be broken!), I think it's a good reminder to stop and take stock of where your priorities are.

I think my biggest "priority change" for 2009 is to be more deliberate (and consistent!) with my time spent with God. It has been my experience that when that's in place, the rest of life sort of sorts itself out.

"Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right." ~Oprah Winfrey

Angels Among Us

2008-12-30T13:04:00.006-05:00

The world got just a little darker this week as one of the brightest stars was laid to rest. Without a doubt, Rosa Mae Morgan Canady, my grandmother, was one of the sweetest individuals that I have ever met and likely ever will. Her life was far from perfect, but she delighted in even the smallest things -- visits from her many friends, crocheting blankets for a new born baby, spending time with her family. I suspect that my love of all things pink and all things chocolate came directly from her.

The baby of the family and the only granddaughter in the midst of seven grandchildren, I enjoyed the time that I got to spend with Grandmother. My visits with her as a child include memories of sleeping on "palettes" on the floor at the bottom of her bed, going to the get the mail from her little box (she would always lift me up so that I could be the one to get it...and I learned the hard way to always check my pocket for her keys BEFORE we left to go home!), wonderful food and treats, and countless colorful expressions that often found themselves merged into the daily lexicon of my family ("Lord, Randy...you know not!" and "oh, foot!" being among the favorites).

We learned many things from Grandmother -- that going out with a "wet head" was a horrible thing and that walking around with your hair in your face was nearly as bad. And did you know that an "eggshell and a half" of milk could make the sweet chocolate chess pie? Most of all, though, I think we learned what living life as a woman of God was all about. Grandmother's life, disposition, and faith were a living reminder of what we were put on Earth for -- to serve God and to love others.

For all the sadness that my family has felt this week, I know that there is great rejoicing in heaven -- one of the faithful has returned home.

We love you, Grandmother...and we always will.

Rosa Mae Morgan Canady
1911 - 2008

Merry Christmas (and Happy New Year)!

2008-12-30T12:44:00.005-05:00

Hope you and yours had a good Christmas. Ours was a good time spent with family -- Christmas Eve with Dave's side of the family and Christmas Day with my side.

Check out more Christmas pics at http://www.flickr.com/photos/merth2erth.

Deck the halls with boughs of holly

2008-12-17T13:34:00.004-05:00

A few of my favorite Christmas decorations...

Our old apartment had a bar/counter where we could hang up our stockings. I wasn't sure where we were going to hang them in our house (no fireplace = no mantel), but I've decided that the piano makes a perfect location! (The little stocking is Sadie's!)

Our Christmas tree in its decorated glory. Dave always makes me "fluff" out the tree, but then he helps put the ornaments on. Our ornaments are a blend of things we each got as children and a few items that we've gotten since we've been together. As much as I like the pretty and polished trees that some people have where everything matches and is color coordinated, I've always really liked the homey feel of a mix-matched tree of memories.

A few other pictures of our holiday decor...

Introducing...

2008-12-08T14:16:00.007-05:00

My brother and I have a long history of naming our cars. I'm not exactly sure why we insist on our cars having names, but we do.

To name just a few, we've had Christine (a fire-engine red Chevy Nova that was originally the color of blue-green rust), Quince (named for the number of miles that the car had when bought), Helga (an old German name for an old German car), and Corolla de Ville (which always inspired a certain catchy Disney song).

Now, there's a new car to add to the list -- meet Fiona, our "new" (read: new to us) Suzuki Forenza.

Tis the Season

2008-12-03T13:13:00.006-05:00

"Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children,
they are all 30 feet tall." --Larry Wilde

It would appear that Christmas time has arrived. Dave and I decorated our house last Friday, but the pictures are still on my camera, so this will have to do for now.

This is the (slightly sad looking) stuffed Christmas tree that adorns my desk at work. I've had the tree for a very long time -- I think I received it in a gift exchange in high school or possibly even middle school. Though certainly not the most beautiful decoration that I've ever owned, it is easily portable and virtually indestructible and has served as my own personal dose of Christmas cheer no matter where I have found myself around Christmas.

The Christmas that I spent in Bolivia, the little tree was the only Christmas tree that I had. I wrapped my gifts, stacked them in a pile, and placed the tree on top (you know, because presents are supposed to be under the tree!). My brother laughed when I packed the tree in my luggage that July, but come December, I was glad that I had it!

Vacation time...

2008-11-21T16:23:00.004-05:00

Thanksgiving break in T minus 3, 2, 1.....

Tales from Long Ago

2008-11-12T15:21:00.008-05:00

That is a good book which is opened with expectation and
closed in profit.~ Amos Bronson Alcott ~

A truly great book should be read in youth, again in maturity and once more in old age, as a fine building should be seen by morning light, at noon and by moonlight. ~ Robertson Davies ~

I don't remember exactly when I picked up that copy of As the Waltz Was Ending by Emma Macalik Butterworth, but I'm pretty sure that it was somewhere around the 4th or 5th grade. The autobiographical story of a young ballerina in pre-WWII Vienna gripped me from the beginning. I had likely chosen the book from the library shelves because, as a young dancer myself, I enjoyed reading books about dance. Little did I know, however, that the book would end up being one of those stories that sticks with you for life.

If I remember correctly, the autobiography is divided into two parts. Part 1 primarily details Emma's daily life and her beginnings with the corps de ballet in Vienna. Slowly, in the midst of the color and grace of the dancing world, you begin to see the influence of the Nazi regime as they push into Austria. Part 2 follows the shattering results of the Russian occupancy of Vienna.

I can't be certain what it was about the story that drew me in so completely, but as Emma vividly described the air raids over Vienna, I found myself listening for raid sirens in the background. For the next several years after reading As the Waltz Was Ending, I was fascinated with the World War II time period.

A few months ago, I found a used copy of the book on Amazon (it's currently out of print). It's been sitting on my book shelf ever since, but I've been hesitant to open its pages...afraid that the experience of reading it won't live up to the one in my memory. It's taken awhile, but I think I'm finally ready....

Grace in Motion

2008-11-10T13:41:00.006-05:00

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. --Ephesians 2:8-9 (New American Standard Bible)

Last December, Dave and I got the opportunity to hear Josh Hamilton and his wife Katie speak at our church. Now a household name to many, that Sunday was the first time I had heard Josh's story. It's an amazing tale of God's grace and faithfulness.

Since then, it seems like Josh has been everywhere -- breaking records at the home run derby, signing books at our local Barnes & Noble (it probably helps that we live in his hometown!), and appearing on a host of news and TV shows. I have yet to hear him speak when he hasn't first and foremost given glory to God for where he is and where he's going.

Josh is speaking at our church again this coming week, and I'm looking forward to hearing what he says. God has given him an incredible opportunity to reach the thousands (millions?) of people that he comes in contact with, and I'm reminded that we are each given that same opportunity -- to be a mirror of God's love and mercy to those around us.

The half-time fireworks were nice....

2008-11-05T14:07:00.004-05:00

"Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I don't like that attitude. I can assure them it is much more serious than that."- Bill Shankly

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T10:34:00.002-04:00

Hold on, man. We don't go anywhere with "scary," "spooky," "haunted," or "forbidden" in the title. ~From Scooby-Doo

Have you?

2008-10-27T14:01:00.002-04:00

I have to admit that I'm about one of the least politically-minded people out there. I mean, I know enough about the political realm to have some idea of what's going, and yes, I did attend Bush's inauguration in 2001 (I happened to be in D.C. and decided it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity), but that's about as far as it goes. Right or wrong, I'm probably more interested in watching The American President than, well...the American president.

But I still think it's important to vote.

I went to an early voting location on Thursday and completed my civic duty. And, you know what? I felt really good about it. Not because I'm campaigning for anyone in particular or because I love the candidates that I voted for, but because I know that I did my part.

And that's cooler than any movie could be...

A Beautiful Day

2008-10-22T10:47:00.003-04:00

An intimate portrait
Originally uploaded by merth2erth

There are three things that last: faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is love.
- I Corinthians 13:13

Tommy and Leanna's wedding was absolutely beautiful this past weekend. Dave and I were thrilled and honored to be a part of their special day. Leanna was positively radiant, and I've never seen Tommy look so happy in my life!

Congratulations!

(Check out my flickr page for more pics from the wedding...)

The Mina Project

2008-10-15T13:11:00.005-04:00

One of the things that Dave and I like about the church we go to is their commitment to "Global Hope" -- helping people beyond the four walls of our church. The church has monthly food drives, opens the doors as an overnight shelter during cold winter nights, and sends teams all over the world to help those who are physically, emotionally, and spiritually in need.

In my opinion, however, one of the coolest things that Hope has done is The Mina Project. Based on Jesus' parable of the mina (John 19), the project began last fall when the church passed out $35,000 to its members. In sealed envelopes that were passed out during service one weekend, members of the church were given varying amounts and told to multiply it and disperse it as they saw fit to those in need. In total, the $35,000 produced about $200,000 in gifts around the community and the world.

About a month ago, Hope decided to try the project again. This time, they gave out $50,000 with instructions to multiply the mina and return the money in late October. The ultimate goal is to raise enough money to build a hospital in Haiti (working through the Hope4Haiti Foundation), with the remaining funds going to various organizations and ministries in the Triangle.

For my mina project, I am partnering with a friend of mine to sell Hope for Haiti note cards. My friend is a fantastic artist, and she designed three unique card fronts for the packs. We are selling them for $6 for a pack of 3 cards (1 of each design) until Friday, Oct. 24. Let me know if you're interested in checking them out!

I Heart Stormy

2008-10-10T13:48:00.003-04:00

Summer is over, and hockey begins tonight. Let's go 'Canes!

(And just for the record, Stormy is... THE. BEST. MASCOT. EVER!)

Team Spirit

2008-10-01T14:14:00.006-04:00

"Sports are the reason I am out of shape. I watch them all on TV." - Thomas Sowell

It seems like everyone has that one type of show or a certain channel that they watch the most. My dad has joked before that our family is like that. He and my mom watch a lot of HGTV, my brother and sister-in-law watch the Food Network, and Dave and I...well, we watch a lot of sports.

I know some girls (and even some guys) who would run screaming from that prospect, but I actually don't mind. (Although I will say that I'm thankful Dave isn't interested in watching EVERY game of EVERY sport that's shown on TV!)

I learned a long time ago that one of the best ways to spend time with my dad was to curl up on the couch on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon and watch the game with him. I learned quite a bit from watching sports with him, and I'm glad that I did. I may not be able to give you a solid description of how an "offside" in football is different from an "offside" in hockey, but at least I have some idea of what I'm watching!

Like my dad, Dave enjoys having someone to watch with, and I'm glad he considers me a worthy companion. Go team!

Happy National Punctuation Day!

2008-09-24T13:23:00.003-04:00

http://www.nationalpunctuationday.com/

Procrastination

2008-09-23T10:40:00.006-04:00

I know, I know....it's been awhile. It's not that I haven't wanted to post something. I have! It's just that I've been a little busy. Not too busy for writing. I mean, I can do that ~~at work~~...er, in my free time. But it's that crazy desire to want to post pictures with my blogs. And where are my pictures, you ask? Still sitting on my camera of course! Where else would they be?

"Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday." ~Don Marquis

Mother Goose

2008-09-11T14:35:00.006-04:00

Update: She found the goose. I'm sure it will be showing up again at my house soon....

The goose has returned....

For over a year now, my mother-in-law and I have been swapping a tuxedo-clad ceramic goose. Because neither of us actually wants it, we keep trying to give the goose to each other. The goose has been hidden, mailed, held for ransom, and involved in a number of other escapades.

Recently, however, the goose has been dormant. After a particularly disastrous attempt at delivering the goose to my mother-in-law in a vat of jell-o (Don't ask. It wasn't pretty.), the goose ended up going into hibernation for a few months. It sat lurking in my kitchen cabinets, waiting for the right opportunity to make its re-emergence.

The time has finally come. The goose made an appearance a little over a week ago and has been lying in wait to be discovered. I'm sure it's only a matter of time before his jungle hiding place is uncovered.

But until then, don't tell my mother-in-law.... ;-)

Inspiration

2008-09-03T14:38:00.004-04:00

"Be brave enough to live creatively. The creative is the place where no one else has ever been. You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. You can't get there by bus, only by hard work, risking, and by not quite knowing what you're doing. What you'll discover will be wonderful: yourself."--Alan Alda

Today I got this very cute purse (a belated birthday present) from my friend Amanda, an elementary-school friend who re-appeared in my life about 15 years later. Cute on its own, I think the purse is even more special because Amanda made it. Passionate about recycling and saving the earth, Amanda has come up with a great way to re-create what would otherwise be just an ordinary placemat. I think it's pretty cool!

Such creativeness really inspires me. I am continuously awe-struck by the creative endeavors I see around me -- scrapbooking, sewing, painting, baking. And while there are people who have more creative juice in their pinkie finger (read: the Martha Stewart types) than I do in my whole body, there is a part of me that longs to be crafty and creative.

So maybe I'll finally get around to those projects that keep lurking about -- the wedding scrapbook, the half-completed cross-stitch picture (never mind the unstarted one in the closet!) -- or maybe I'll get really bold and figure out what I'm going to do with my newly acquired sewing machine. After all, a girl can dream, can't she?

Smoochacha Patchko Goes to Pittsburgh

2008-08-22T15:13:00.004-04:00

Meet Smoochacha Patchko. Smoochacha is my friend Diana's travel kitty (TK). TKs are kind of like traveling gnomes. A woman in New York makes the TKs and sells them to people around the world. Those people then take pictures of all of the places that their travel kitty visits. (Learn more about the Travel Kitty Project here.) At any rate, Diana thought it might be fun if Smoochacha went with Dave and I on our vacation to Pittsburgh. We had a blast showing Smoochacha around the city (even if we did get a few funny looks in doing so!).

Boogety, boogety, boogety...let's go racing, boys!

2008-08-06T11:46:00.003-04:00

As dorky as it may seem, one of the things that I really like about where I work is that we have a "Fun Committee" -- a group of people who try to schedule group events every few months. Our company started the committee several years ago as a way to encourage employee bonding and cross-departmental unity.

On your marks, get set...
Originally uploaded by merth2erth

While I learned during my year-long stint on the committee that the events themselves are more fun than planning them, I'm glad that we have people who are willing to put the time and effort into our activities. In the 3+ years that I've been here, we have had pot-lucks and cookouts, bowling outings and holiday parties, craft times and movie days.

This year's committee has done a really good job of mixing things up a bit. Case in point, we had the first annual CASTLE pinebox derby race last week. I remember my brother participating in the Boy Scout derbys when I was little, so I thought it would be fun to participate. Then I got my bag of materials. Hmm.

Refusing to give in to the I'm-in-over-my-head feeling, I set out to design my pinebox car entry. With a little help from my FIL, MIL, and Dave, I created a truck for racing. It was meant to be modeled after the NASCAR Craftsman racing trucks, but it ended up looking a little more like a supped-up pick-up. Oh well. It was fun!

The beginnings....

The finished product...

In the end, my truck tied for 3rd place in the racing division.

Here are some of the other entries...there was a racing division and a creative division.

Playing with Pictures

2008-07-24T11:57:00.002-04:00

On one of the blogs that I read, the author mentioned that she had recently found the program Smilebox. It allows you to create photo albums for your blog (complete templates -- all you have to add are the pictures). I thought that sounded kind of cool, so I've been playing around with it some.

Here is my experiment...

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Family Portraits

2008-07-21T14:39:00.004-04:00

In celebration of my grandmother's 85th birthday this week, my extended family gathered in the great metropolis of Raleigh to celebrate, but of course, no Wilkins/Garrard family gathering is complete without a few family portraits. This year, we went all out, even requiring immediate family groups to color-coordinate. The Canady clan wore red. The photo "session" was hot, but the pictures turned out pretty great.

The grandkids and great grandkids. I think this picture turned out great! Our moms/aunts usually make us take this kind of picture on a staircase (a tradition that started LONG ago!), but I think this one looks just as good...especially since there are so many of us now!

The Canady clan.

Three generations of Wilkins/Garrard women. Grandmother with her three daughters and three granddaughters.

Me and Dave. I feel like we're posing for prom pictures. :-)

My new favorite picture of us.

And, finally...playing in the gazebo!

Conviction

2008-07-15T10:46:00.003-04:00

So, it's no secret that I've lost quite a bit of weight. In many ways, following the Weight Watchers plan has changed my life. My body has changed dramatically over the past year and a half, but really, the journey has just begun. One of the big pulls of Weight Watchers is that it is a lifestyle change, not a diet. And I've embraced that whole-heartedly. I know that I am going to have to track what I eat for the rest of my life. Sometimes that seems like a lot to deal with, but then I think about the benefits of sticking with it, and I realize that it's completely worth it. Weight Watchers has become a part of my life -- I think about the plan, I read message boards from others involved, I take time to plan out my meals, I talk to others about it. Just this morning, I was talking with a co-worker who was discouraged about her weight and encouraging her that it is absolutely possible to do something about it.

As I was thinking about that exchange, a thought struck me. If I'm this passionate about something as silly as weight loss, shouldn't I be even more passionate about my faith? Following Weight Watchers has helped me improve my health and fit into smaller clothes, but following Christ has saved me from eternal damnation and blessed me beyond belief. I mean, it's not even a comparison, is it?

And yet, it seems so hard to live that way sometimes. But I want to. I really want to. I'm reminded of the story of the child who reasoned that if God was bigger than everything and He lived inside of us, then shouldn't He stick out? So, that's my prayer today: that God would be so big inside of me that He sticks out...no matter what size my body is.

Independence Day

2008-07-07T19:19:00.004-04:00

Hope you and yours had a lovely 4th of July. Ours was nice -- family, good food, and a little kids parade. The little kids in my parent's neighborhood decorated their bikes and hot wheels and power wheels (the hummer was my favorite!) and paraded down the neighborhood streets. The parade was short, but it was cute.

The best part about the parade was that it reminded me of my childhood -- the neighborhood I lived in in elementary school used to do the same thing. My friends and I would spend days decorating our bikes with streamers and balloons, planning out our most patriotic outfits, and painting our fingernails red, white, and blue (alternating, of course!).

Since that time, the way I celebrate the 4th has changed a little. While I hated fireworks as a kid (WAY too loud), I love them now. One of the best displays I've ever seen was in Richmond one summer when I was in college. That was the first time I had ever seen fireworks in the shape of a smiley face. Very cool.

Other years have been a little tougher to celebrate. In both 2000 and 2003, the 4th holiday arrived not long after I returned to the U.S. from living in another country. Reverse culture shock can really mess with your head.

These days, I'm glad to be in the good 'ole U.S. of A. We have so much to be thankful for and so many brave men and women to be thankful to.

This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave. ~Elmer Davis

You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism. ~Erma Bombeck

Happy Dog

2008-06-30T16:09:00.004-04:00

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. ~Roger Caras

Some of my favorite things about Sadie:
1. She answers to the name "Poopy."
2. She is so terrified of the vacuum cleaner that she alternately barks at it and then runs away...and won't touch her toys when they wind up anywhere near the vacuum.
3. When given a treat, she runs full-force into our bedroom and jumps on the bed before eating it.
4. She'll chase a ball for hours inside, but she won't look twice at one outside (too busy chasing birds!).
5. Even though she weighs 30 lbs, she thinks she fits perfectly in your lap. (Ever been THISCLOSE to a lab/golden mix?)

She may be a spaz, but we love her!

CHiPs

2008-06-24T12:10:00.003-04:00

Then...
Originally uploaded by merth2erth

Once upon a time, in a faraway land known at Pittsburgh, a young boy grew up with a love for cop-related television. Near the core of this obsession was a little TV show known simply as "CHiPs." The young boy's heart soared as he watched Ponch and Jon race up and down Hollywood Blvd. and catch the bad guys as members of the California Highway Patrol.

As the young boy grew, CHiPs faded into the distance as new shows (like Cops and Party Heat) took over the television waves. Thankfully, however, through modern-day technology, the boy no longer had to be separated from his first love.

Fast forward to the summer of 2007 and the release of CHiPs season 1 on DVD. Set out to introduce the world of early '80s cop drama to his beautiful bride (who somehow had missed watching CHiPs in its hey-day and only knew of Erik Estrada from his stint on the very brief-lived show "Armed and Famous"), the now grown man was soon basking in the glory of days gone by.

Long live Ponch and Jon!

The Dark Side

2008-06-20T13:27:00.007-04:00

Well, here I am. I've finally crossed over to the world of blogging.

Maybe.

We'll see how it goes. The truth is, I'm more a "blog lurker" than a blog writer, but I guess there's a first time for everything.

Welcome to The House of Merth. I hope you enjoy your stay. :-)