Family Fun Weekend

After running around for wedding festivities last weekend, I declared this weekend Family Fun Weekend. Which, in so many words, meant basically we were making no plans and wearing minimal makeup.

All in all, the weekend was a total success. We ran (me), played basketball (him), cleaned, bought groceries, did some garage organization, randomly and most likely incorrectly, clipped hedges with my new hedge clippers, killed the black widow spiders in the backyard (I DIE) and cut the grass.

Lest you think we had no fun, we also watched hours of Scandal, ate Papa Johns pizza and a half gallon of cookies n' cream ice cream. Did I mention I ran?

We also had a little chore by the name of Namath's yearly vet visit to get out of the way. I've been hesitant to take him for his visit since last year's surgery. Tearing the ACL is usually a bilateral condition, which means we'll probably be in that same camp again at some point, and I couldn't bear the news. So, like an adult, I've procrastinated. Because that changes the diagnoses...I digress.

It was past time for shots, so we loaded up and headed in. This one thinks he belongs in the real chairs in the exam room, not on the table.

They took him back for his fecal sample and he came back ill as a hornet. "Well, we were going to take the fecal sample, but before we could, he pooped all over the table. And then on the floor all the way back to the exam room." Much like Frank Sinatra, Grizz does it his way.

He was very pleased with himself.

Besides the fecal incident and 'having trouble finding heartbeat because of agitation and loud breathing' he got a glowing report. Including a smiley face for his weight loss. Good work, Grizz. We are proud?

MIA

There has been a lack of blogging. Mainly because there has been a lack of things to blog about.

We've hosted two showers in the past 8 days, so there's been a lot of vacuuming of the fur.

MS was out of town for work for a week, so there was a lot of watching of the Lifetime and Netflix. Specifically season 3 of Private Practice. Which led to wondering why I can't dress more like Addison Montgomery. Sigh. Also, gratefulness that she's not my ob/gyn, because...how. depressing.

Lest we not beat this dead horse - the ROYAL BABY. I've been on front row watch and am nothing short of obsessed with all things Kate, William and nameless babe. The blue polka dot dress? The rolled up sleeves on the blue button up? Will driving the Range Rover himself? I tip my hat to their stylist and publicist. Well played.

We love the royal family around here.

And this English Bulldog was proud of the motherland this week.

I think that about catches us up.

How to Sell a House

I have several friends with houses on the market - and I've been there before - when it just won't seem to budge.

Cue St. Joseph. 

Joe for short.

Order your St. Joseph home selling kit from Amazon, or the like. Hey, it's 2013. He's pretty small, and looks nice against the Cajun Shrimp nail polish.

Dig a hole. With a screwdriver, if you gave away your shovel. Hypothetically.

St. Joe will wait patiently while you dig.

So will MS. With a refreshment.

While you're waiting, read over the prayer. Yes, there's a small ceremony invovled.

Conduct said ceremony. Full instructions included. Bring your own passion for the reading.

 Bury St. Joe head down, facing the front of the house. The instructions are detailed.

Take pictures before eating cookie cake to celebrate the surefire sale of your home.

Clearly this is all in fun, but it worked for me. Just saying....

Thursday Ramblings

You know you were drawn in by that post title. A few things to share, because sharing is caring.

1. I don't know if I've mentioned this, and it almost deserves a blog post of its own, but we were PICKED TO BE A NIELSEN FAMILY. I hold this as an esteemed honor. Justification for the embarrassing amount of TV, mostly bad TV, I watch. MS almost threw the packet away and didn't even know what it was. My mind cannot comprehend. I mean, so far we've made $12 off the deal. What's not to be excited about? Lest you worry, I've been logging some good TV. You know there's an app for that.

2. That $12 could not have come at a better time. After handing over my paycheck and my keys to the repair shop mere weeks ago, some substance (oil? fluid?) is leaking so I bit the bullet and dropped it off again this morning. Is there anything worse than waiting on the phone call? Is there anything else that makes me feel dumber? "What? I need a new tork compression rotator? It's $834? Well, I guess I do need compressed torks. And it's important they rotate. Sounds good." I DON'T KNOW. I need a mechanic friend. And a vet friend. I digress.

3. We turned the fire on Sunday night. In May. Just thought that was worth mentioning.

See that gap of missing rocks? Those would be the one's Namath has eaten/hid away to eat later. He's quite the scholar.

4. It was donut day at work Monday. Also worth mentioning. Fresh made from the fry daddy, with a homemade orange glaze.

In Celebration of Progress

 Friday night, we headed out to the ballgame. Last year, MS was throwing the first pitch, but this year, we just got to hang out and enjoy the game with his co-workers.

In the spirit of keeping traditions alive, we stopped by Wine Loft on the way home for a drink. No cheese pizza this year. I covered that during innings 3 and 5.

 What is MS looking at??

We headed home, decided Namath needed some rooftop play time, and a beer. Everyone needs to cheat on their diet sometimes.

 Alas, the Magic City.

We went out looking for furniture Saturday, and decided to swing by the lot. What can make two grown adults squeal like girls? Workers on your lot. Doing actual work.

They probably wanted to scream like girls when we both pulled out our phones and started snapping pictures.

We decided a small celebration was in order, with a view where we could maybe see them working. Kidding. But, still a good view nonetheless.

What better way to celebrate others doing work than with beer and carbs? Gotta keep our strength up.

Which was also the thought behind this decision.

At some point in the next month, you might see actual wood and sheetrock. In which case I might need to switch to stretchy pants.

Assistant

On Tuesday's, MS gets the luxury of working from home. I get the luxuries of pictures of our hard working animal, slowly chipping away at his tab.

Manning the phones. I think there is a blue tooth in that turtleneck of skin.


If you're jealous of MS' work phone, I bet he'll trade you.
 

Key Gaps: sleeping on the job, dexterity and bad attitude.

 I don't think he's up for a promotion any time soon.
 

Reaching for the Stars

Hello!

Aren't you glad my sweaty face is here to greet you on a Monday? This is what happens when my niece gets my iPhone.

 MS was way out of town last week (or the week before last, I'm way behind), so most of my runs took place after work, so as not to star in Running from Danger: The Erin Searson Story on Lifetime. Safety first.

While I ate cheese and crackers for dinner and watched the LifeSaver helicopters fly above the apartment every night, MS was eating reindeer sausage and watching the Northern Lights. Seems fair.

While MS was out of town, I headed to the races. See the last car go through? McDreamy. My goal for the weekend was to catch a glimpse. It hurts not accomplishing your goals.

Target car. Reminds me, I need a new swim suit.

My Honda Civic in high school didn't drive quite like this one....

MS came back just in time to see the actual race and my actual humidity induced hairdo.

After running around for two weeks, we crashed last night.

And getting up this morning was pretty rough.

But we are gearing up for another busy week...and a rewarding weekend!

Over the Weekend

 Spring has sprung. Which means the  return of happy hours on the roof,

 and Saturdays by the pool.

 Just when the weekend was going my way, we headed to a 'spring break' theme crawfish party. I thought the problem would be finding something to wear. Turns out the problem was no one else found something to wear. Yep, we stood alone in our airbrushed outfits.

 Oh well, can't win 'em all. Thank God Eufaula loves me.

*not shown: MS' denim cutoff shorts.

 Sunday we made the weekly trip to the lot.

A big machine...signs of work?? The only time I'm happy to see a cat. What? I'm allergic.

We are officially two weeks behind, thanks to the retaining wall that has to be built. I'm so grateful this is getting done up front, and we don't wake up one day to Namath drowning in knee high water. He can't swim, after all.

We are now scheduled to close mid-June...pending very good weather. Our lease ends June 30 - not much wiggle room there.

First steps to building a wall.

Sunday night was the premiere of Mad Men. Nothing goes with racism and the degradation of women like turkey pepperoni and goat cheese, am I right?

Just like that, we are back in 3.5 gray cube walls, wondering why I picked gray for my 4 new house walls.

Points to ponder...

Catching Up

  We've been staying busy this week. Babysitting and taking makeup-less pictures at the hands of my nieces. Well, for me. MS's pictures are almost always makeup-less.

 The littlest one walked all around in MS's shoes in her favorite outfit.

 We ventured out with the beast and some contraband  homemade green beer to the park for a picnic and photo shoot. He's sexy and he knows it.

And a little sweet. At least when he's burning hot.

Some of us have squeezed into some tight spaces.

Acted really precious. Then someone knocked over and shattered a lamp. Someone might have cried about it. But I won't name any names.

We've eaten my most favorite meal...

and some really good cupcakes.

Of course March wouldn't be complete without some basketball watching.

I think that's about where we stand.