Gilmore Girls SPOILER ALERT AHEAD!! (The series is like 8 years old - so if you don't know this already, I'm not feeling very bad about it.)

(Blue Fuzzies (n.) - what you have when you are feeling sad and happy at the same time.  Synonyms: bittersweet.)

Everytime I watch The Gilmore Girls episode where Lorelai starts liking Logan, I get warm fuzzies inside. 

And then when Rory (SPOILER ALERT!!!) decides that as much as she loves Logan, that he's just not right for her...I get blue fuzzies.

The Triumph of Birthday Day

Birthday Month has triumphed! 

Despite the poo-pooing of many, and the negative actions of a few, the funsies, contentment and smiles promised by Birthday Month was delivered in spades!

Case in point #1: The Monster, Mr. Murry.

All of my fears about adding a kitten to our one cat house and becoming a Cat Lady who smells vaguely like ammonia, have proven to be unfounded. I love my Monster Murry. I also worried that Joe Lewis might not take to kindly to this orange intruder, but clearly these concerns were unbiased as well. 

Score one for Birthday Month.

Score two for Birthday Month you ask?  Birthday Day. 

Despite talking to my bestie (hi Ashleigh!) all the way to work and partaking in my favorite of cakes (thanks for the rum cake Nurse Leslie!) I found myself in in an evening funk.  I know right, there's just no excuse for being funky on one's birthday.  So I drank a glass of wine and watched a rerun of Gilmore Girls.  There was still some funk.  So I drank another glass of wine in the bathtub with the newest US Magazine.  Funk begone, enter drinks and dinner with Wes (alias: Wonderful Boyfriend) and a Birthday-Friend Kristin.

                                         

Birthday Month continued on the night of the 21st, officially known as Asheligh's Birthday.  One limo, lots of great friends, some sushi and a few glasses of wine and you've got a solid, double birthday party. 

                                             

                                  

Meredith came, I got to wear a sparkly shirt, nobody once made fun of me for having a few chardonnays (what of it!) and I got to spend my evening with Wes and friends who I love.  If that isn't a stellar birthday celebration then I don't know what is. 

                                   

Birthday Month witnessed the raising of over fifteen thousand dollars for Breast Cancer Research.  My mom (Hi Mom!), Erica, Javariah along with over 1000 others walked 60 miles around Minneapolis St. Paul over the course of 3 days to raise money and awareness for Breast Cancer.  They rock my face off.  That is all.

                                          

And then there were....wait for it....wait for it...MATCHING SPICE JARS!!!  My ever fabulous sister gifted me a fantastical set of beautiful, sleek and shiny spice jars.  With labels!!! 

                                    

We wrapped it all up last night with Fight Night. I myself don't watch the fights but there's just nothing quite like homoerotic MMA fighting, beer, sparring and waffle fries to ring out Birthday Month with a bang.

                                            

                                         

                                            

                                      

The Bastardization of Birthday Month

Let's start with the facts.  I love birthdays.  I think that birthdays are a fantastic opportunity to gather the people you love around you, whether in person or in spirit and just celebrate life.  While I also believe that should be more than a good enough reason to maximize the fun, I also believe that getting older is a gift and worth recognizing with gratitude.  At the risk of being that annoying girl who works with cancer patients and persists in waxing sentimental about life and the meaning therein, I also love that it's another year.  I had friends who did not make it to twenty-seven and I refuse to feign depression over adding another year to my count.  I will celebrate and I will do it alone or with anyone who wants to come with me. 

For reasons that I cannot understand, the reasonable nature of this philosophy is lost on many.  The almost automatic assumption of most people is that Birthday Month is meant to suck the life out of one's friends and families (much like weddings, if you want to believe what you see on TLC.)  Last year, I combated this campaign of misinformation and misunderstanding with a guest blog by the founder of Birthday Month herself, La Presidenta del Club de Divertida, Ashleigh.  Rather than try to improve upon her Birthday Month = Dessert metaphor, I will simply remind you of her infinite wisdom:

"Birthday month is not about other people doing things for you. Don't misunderstand - birthday month welcomes all who wish to join in the celebration. But birthday month isn't about the party so much as it is about person. It is about stopping to find out what you'd truly like - and using the month of your birth as a fine excuse for getting it or trying it or doing it or not doing anything." 

Quote of the Day

"It made me feel slightly uncomfortable that I'm the person making all the decisions about my life."

Hyperbole and a Half

Quote of the Day

"Sometimes the one who seems the strongest is the person most in need of a hug."

Quote of the Day

"When faced with uncertainty, I don't feel excitement or a vast sense of possibility. I am a nail biter, a list maker, a middle of the night worrier. But when the idea of change nags at you, you should listen."
-- Frances de Pontes Peebles

The Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos, they're like a frat, just with better funding:

Introducing Murry

At approximately 10 AM on Saturday morning I recieved the following picture on my phone from Leslie:

I should have known right then and there that we were doomed. Doomed to the unbearable cuteness of a bopping, playing, cuddle monster of an orange and white kitty cat. 

Apparenlty I'm very bad at choosing a new pet.  Once I have them I love them madly but actually deciding to get them?  Not so gouda. 

Going to Gainesville Pet Rescue not only made me itch but I swear I could feel my blood pressure sky rocketing the longer I stood surrounded by purring, demurring kittens.  It doesn't seem like something that would be stressful but it occurred to me yesterday afternoon that I've never actually gone and purchased/adopted/procured my own pet.  Granted I haven't had a lot of pets, but those that I have had just sorta...showed up one day.  This is left me utterly unprepared for making the decision to take home a pet.  Thankfully Wes suffers from no such issues and 3 hours later Murry was installed as an inhabitant of the Kingdom of Ashton. 

HE'S SO FLUFFY I'M GONNA DIE!!

This is why Michele and I are friends...

Me: I ate a Nutella Panini for dinner last night.

Michele: Calling it a panini makes it completely okay. Slice up a banana, press it with the Nutella and you could call it healthy.

mmmmm custard

I remember when being sick meant that my mom took the day off of work to stay home and coddle me into being better.  Sick with a fever generally meant a sleeping bag or nest of blankies on the couch, along with movies that not only did I not have to go get but I also didn't even have to put in the VCR, because lets be real, we're not talking DVDs were talking VHS.  Depending on the severity of said sickness, it usually meant clean sheets mirculously appearing on my bed and homemade custard in little, single serving glass bowls with maple syrup in the bottom.

At the moment I'm thinking that being an adult is feeling seriously overrated. Thought now that I write this, I suppose what I should be thinking (and will be as soon as the antibiotics kick in) is how fantastic my Mom is.

Wanted: Cat Companion for Lonesome Only Pet

Wes and I went and looked kittens today at the very ridiculously named Haile's Angels Pet Rescue.  I never thought that I'd have one cat, much less LIKE said cat or, even more far fetched, start looking for a second kitty. I always figured that having cat allergies would, you know, kinda rule all these things out. I was so wrong.

About thirty seconds after we got Joe Lewis, he had weaseled his way into my heart and I never wanted to let him go.  Approximately 2 seconds after that Wes decided that he (Joe Lewis) needed a friend.  Apparently Joe's incessant whining and aggressive cuddling technique are indicative, not of crippling codependence but rather of loneliness.  He stuck to this story for a while but I knew, I KNEW that there was something more and I was right.

There's this point in all relationships (especially the romantical ones) where you have to let go of the illusions that you created in the beginning. Sex and the City called it "SSB: Secret Single Behavior."  It's the stuff that we do when we're alone that you wouldn't necessarily want other people to see or know about.  All SSB falls eventually - it's only a matter of time before someone smells your stinky poo or catches you picking that stubborn booger that just won't blow.  A year ago I may have believed that Wes' lobbying for a kitten friend for JL was benevolent but after 11 months of one SSB after the other biting the dust, I know better.  I know this because of a not very well kept SSB that Wes lives for soft, cuddly animals that want nothing more than to snuggle and submit adoringly to his attentions. The only thing better than one soft, cuddly, snugly (albeit rather vocal) kitty is TWO soft, cuddly, snugly kittens.

When Wes claims that Joe Lewis is lonesome and in need of a playmate, what he really means is that a second cat opens up the possibility that two snugly, cuddly, adoring cats will vie for his affections and potentially smother him with snuggles.  I am SO not kidding about this.

My mom didn't know this.  Not being me, she wasn't privy to Wes' weakness and she fell for the Benevolent Pet Owner shtick.  She fell fast and she fell hard.  She went down like Frazier.  In three short days my "my mom will flip if we bring another animal into this house" argument was dead in the water, Wes had Mama on his side and I was done for. 

This is how I found myself where I was today, interviewing kitty's in need of homes.  It was a rough job and while many were quite attractive, none of the applicants met the requirements and we had to leave empty handed.  I have a strong feeling that there won't be any giving up until the position is filled.

Damn You Tannins, Damn you

Around 730 last night I remember thinking "red wine is so delicious! why don't I drink it more often!?"

Around 645 this morning I remembered why. 

That Darn Constitution

My friend Kate has a blog. She writes this blog, not because she likes to bitch and moan like I do, but because she wanted to hold herself accountable for the 26 things she planned to do during her 26th year. I think this is fantastic and with my 27th birthday just around the corner I started thinking what would be on my list of 27 things would if I made such a list. In true nerd fashion, re-learning the Constitution and its Amendments is actually on this list. I attribute this need to remember my Government ABC’s to a.) the current contentious political climate, b.) personal shame in being certified by the state of Florida to teach history yet unable to remember any of the Amendments past the nineteenth and c.) watching too many re-runs of The West Wing.


It never fails that the minute I focus on something I end up seeing it everywhere. I read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and suddenly I started seeing disinterest in or ignorance of the importance of informed consent everywhere. Now, as bizarre as it sounds to be voluntarily studying up on one’s constitutionally given rights, now that I’ve begun I see its pertinence everywhere. Mostly, I’m seeing it in the rhetoric surrounding the building of mosques, both near where the World Trade Center Towers once stood and elsewhere across the country.

I get that the debate surrounding the so called “World Trade Center Mosque” is being waged on two separate levels, emotional and legal. I understand that for thousands of New Yorkers, Ground Zero holds memories of terror, sorrow and loss that I just cannot imagine. To that end it is difficult to classify all those who oppose the building of this mosque under the auspice of being closed minded bigots and xenophobes. Yet it seems that it is not the Lower Manhattan community that is leading the mob against the so-called “Ground Zero Mosque.” New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has come out adamantly in support of the mosque. Representative Jerrold Nadler, the Congressman who represents the district housing both Ground Zero and the future site of Cordoba House also supports its construction, calling those who single out Muslim-Americans because of their faith “shameful and divisive.” The New York City Landmarks Preservation Committee had the opportunity to block the building by designating the site one of historical significance yet chose (unanimously) not to do so. So if the elected officials (who theoretically represent the people therein) and community boards governing this area are not opposed, who exactly is lighting this fire?

Arguments for the symbolism of the area and the need for sensitivity to the situation are not unreasonable nor have they fallen on deaf ears. Any and all actions and words of the organizers of Cordoba House (and many Muslim-Americans for that matter) to show compassion, unity and solidarity have been dashed as “not enough.” It seems that nothing short of renouncing the Muslim faith would be enough for this crowd.

It seems to me that the debate of whether they should build is one of emotion, while the question of whether they may is based in law. A law that clearly, adamantly and without question mandates that you cannot discriminate based upon religion. In other words you can’t prohibit someone from building a house of worship on public property that has been legally procured. I’ve heard the argument of “anywhere but here” but we can’t pick and choose where we defend religious freedom and where we don’t. In my mind if we do we will become exactly what Al Qaeda believes us to be: pompous, hypocritical and immoral.

Beyond the grey fog that on second thought is simply obfuscating a rather black and white issue, I am struck by the shocking amount of misinformation that is available under the auspices of “news.” After hearing that President Obama is a Fascist AND a Socialist nothing should suprise me, but darned if it do.  I can’t help but think though that when we talk about issues as important as this we should tell the truth, if for no other reason than its hard enough even without having to dispel rumors and correct outright lies. I’ve read that this mosque will be built “on the site” where the Twin Towers once stood and that is not the truth. The future site of the Cordoba House is within 2 city blocks of the World Trade Center but it is also within one block of a Jewish community center and within 3 blocks of a Catholic church. Should we ask these other religious institutions to close their doors because of their proximity to the where the Towers once stood? More disturbingly even than that, which I attribute to the fear-mongering dramatic sensibility of the media, is the description of Islam as a “political movement that’s taking over America.” Accusations like this are terrifying to me because there are people who believe them.

I am not saying that the feelings of survivors and victims of these terrorist attacks should be disregarded, kindness is never wasted. What I’m saying that the 1st Amendment to the United States Constitution applies just as well below 14th Street as it does above. I’m saying that the Terrorists who flew those planes in to the Twin Towers killed those in them indiscriminately, Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Atheist alike. I’m repeating Michael Bloomberg and remembering that the thousands of first responders held out their hands to help and never once asked who the victims prayed to. We can’t fight hatred with discrimination and an inability to differentiate between extremism and faith. This is a test of our mettle and we really need to get this right.

See? This is what happens when one reads the Constitution. You start to take what it says seriously.

Quote of the Day

"There's no question about it, it's definitely porn, but the costumes are AMAZING!"
                                                                                                   -- Josh

Quote of the Day

"The problem with living outside the law is that you no longer have the protection of it."

-- Truman Capote

Sometimes the heart wants what it wants...and sometimes it wins

About a month ago Wes' decided that he MUST have a Jeep.  While he's casually been talking about Jeeps since we first met met, sometime in the last month the intensity has been dialed up from a mild want into a burning, all consuming, mind-numbing, one way track to Robot Hell where we'll all drive Jeeps.  Next stop, Jeep town...and guess what, YOU'RE NEVER LEAVING!

All day long: Jeep, Jeep, Jeep, Jeep,  Jeep, Jeep,  Jeep, Jeep,  Jeep, Jeep,  Jeep, Jeep,  Jeep, Jeep,  Jeep, Jeep,  Jeep, Jeep,  Jeep, Jeep,  Jeep, Jeep,  Jeep, Jeep.

Before dinner: Jeep, Jeep.

During dinner: words, words, words, Jeep, Jeep,  words, words.

At bedtime: JEEP!!!

You may detect some mild irritation in my typing today but really, I do understand this burning like you're turning into a vampire kind of want.  I understand this, you see because a few months back I was struck by an inexplicable need for matching spice jars.  I know right? Since I didn't warn you to hold them on, your nipples probably just fell off with the excitement!! I didn't just want matching spice jars, I NEEDED matching spice jars.  I needed them like an OCD kid needs the tassels on the carpet straightened and the vacuum marks in perfect parallel lines.

I NEED these spice jars, 'cause see, they're all uniform and pretty.  They stack neatly and you can see the tasty, spiciness contained inside through the clear tops.  They come with labels that can be printed on a computer with matching font and type face.  I needed them.  I searched on line, in catalogs and in every kitchen store and town but I couldn't find the exact ones I wanted.  And so I suffered.  I lost sleep due to nightmares about disorganized kitchen cabinets and dinners botched due to spice confusion.  Every time I opened my spice cabinet at home I would shudder and throw up in my mouth a little bit.  It was awful.

I took my time though in search of the perfect matching spice jar set because I knew full well the heart wrenching disappointment that would ensue if I blew my load and bought a less than ideal set of jars.  And slowly....veery veeery slowly the unrelenting need began to abate.  Slowly but surely my rational mind returned and my want for matching spice jars became tolerable again.  I continue to search for the perfect spice jar that will function ideally within the pre-set structure of the kitchen and cabinetry.

So you see - I UNDERSTAND this crazy stage he's in.  I completely understand where he's coming from and so I sit back, amidst the piles of Jeep magazines (yep, those exist) and listen to my boyfriend.  It helps if I imagine him as a five year old explaining to me how INSANELY AWESOME his new tonka truck is. 

All this to say: our driveway now sports a new, ninja Jeep Wrangler:  And this Jeep?  It has a snorkel.  That's right, I said a snorkel.

Cinnamon Rolls?

I'm not sure EXACTLY what went down in my gym bag yesterday but when I got to the gym my work out clothes and sweat towel all smelled like Cinnamon Rolls.