Tired tiredness...

Just finished our One Day pledge drive for the public radio station...whew! I've been up since 3 am and working since 5:40, but the WOUB listeners really stepped up and raised $35,000+ in one day. I'm still amazed...and also tired ;) John's conked out on the couch right next to me...he's been up since midnight and got so much stuff done today...including a 6:30 am grocery store trip (wow!!). I'm thinking that he's out for the night...I'm actually going to a friend's house to climb (well...really, I'm just going to hang out while everyone else climbs...not exerting any more effort than I have to this evening ;) )

Another word contest...

Edit: Looking for "another word for contest?"

How about...competition, game, match, meet, tournament, trial, challenge, event, bout, or row? Or you can check out a thesaurus for more ideas.

Now, back to the actual blog post...

http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/11494

So yep, this is pretty much what I've been doing all evening (and paying no mind to the mountain of dishes and the mountain of laundry)...I'm hoping that I'll win. I've somehow gotten myself into a t-shirt shortage, and I think the "easy as 3.1415..." shirt is adorable.

Anyway, not a whole lot of news here. I went on a Big Lots shopping spree this morning (where I go when I feel like shopping but don't want to spend much money at all)...so an hour and $10 later, I ended up with the cutest rug for my kitchen, a valance for one of our many bare windows (well, they have blinds but no curtains...I haven't decided yet which window it's going on) and two boxes of granola bars...went to the climbing wall with friends after that...came home and gave the dog a bath...really need to do a lot of house cleaning but I'm putting it off...

Or something like that...

Okay, turns out I don't have enough friends/readers/anyone who has a blog and wants some cool homemade type stuff...so, no worries about the blog thing...the next two people to comment can get some sweet homemade thing from me (Brenna's already commented so she's already on the list)...ready, set, go comment!

Hmm...what else is going on....my knitting projects are at a stand still. I divided wrong when I figured how long my dad's scarf was...actually it's about 7 1/2 feet so I still have some to go on it...I read The Goose Girl this week and liked it a lot (enough to not stop reading at midnight like I told myself I would, and stay up until 1:30 when I finished it...which led to general crankiness the next day ;) ). I got the idea to read it from Christina and from my sister, Erin...good picking ladies! ;) Next on my list is Stardust, and then I'm going to track down the Sisters Grimm books that Erin suggested.

I've been climbing again, too (yay!). I finally got a student center membership and have been 4 times already, with another trip planned for tomorrow (after I sleep in, of course....sleeping in three days in a row is my big plan for the weekend ;) )

Pay it forward...

I got this from my friend Christina's blog...I think it'll be really fun...and I hope some of you have blogs and can play, too!

So here's how it works. "I will send a handmade gift, treat, etc. to the first three (3) people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange." The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog. **So, you must have a blog to participate.**

To join, just cut and paste this on your blog and comment away. So get posting!

Yay!

Not a whole lot new is going on with me...On Monday, I got a student fitness center membership this quarter. So, I've already been climbing twice (!!) and am doing better than I thought I would (and will be doing great if I keep going a couple times a week).

I'm still knitting on my Dad's scarf (a Christmas present)...it wasn't quite done on Christmas so I asked him how long he'd like it to be...he says, "Have you ever seen Dr. Who?" I actually haven't but apparently, it meant that he wanted a SUPER long scarf...I told him he'd have to settle for 9-10 feet. I think I'm around the 9 ft range now...I'll post a picture when I decide I'm done (10 ft? maybe?). I'm also still working on my first pair of adult-sized socks...all I have left is the toe on the second sock and then they'll be done and up on my blog, too...and then, I think I'm making wristwarmers next....or maybe some toddler socks again...hmm...

=)

Heck yeah!

A few weeks ago, I entered Lisa Yee's 2nd Annual Bodacious Book Title Contest (a contest that involved changing one word in a book title to a rhyming word and then writing a sentence about the resulting book).

I entered a ton of different titles, and I found out today that one of my submissions was named a highly commended title!!!!!!

Unfortunately, I don't win anything, but it is the most exciting thing that's happened ALL year (way more exciting than feeding the dog, letting her outside, and making tea).

You can read the winning titles and my commended title here, and if you'd like to read all of my non-commended titles (I'm partial to the one about the lepers), they're in the comment section of this post (on pages 3 and 4).

So, I'm having a pretty happy year so far! Hope that you are, too!

From the air...

Taken during the flight from Minneapolis to Columbus

And 2007 is almost over...

We're back from our Christmas in South Dakota, which was wonderful, cold and white (with the perfect snowflakes falling outside the windows while we opened presents). There's lots to tell, so I'll get right to it...

We had some excitement getting there, with our flight being canceled on the 23rd (which, unfortunately I didn't check before we drove to the airport...hope I've learned my lesson on that one). We left for the airport the next morning at 4 am, get there in plenty of time, the flight is not canceled, the plane is there...and then we board the plane, there's brake maintenance that needs done (1 hour), we fly to Minneapolis and there's another plane already at our gate so we have to wait (12 minutes).

Our next flight is leaving in about 5 minutes (so we start running...from Concourse F to concourse A...and believe me, John and I are not in the kind of shape that distance requires). Luckily once we get to concourse A, our flight has been delayed (What a relief! We will make it home!).

We are ten minutes from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, but there is fog and only 1/4 mile visibility, so we'll be circling for 20 minutes to see if it gets better (needs to be 1/2 mile) and if it doesn't, we'll have to fly to Sioux City, Iowa (70 miles South) to refuel and try it again (UGH!!!!). So I spend the next fifteen minutes staring at the clouds/fog willing them to thin out, trying to figure out if they look any thinner, and I guess it does get thinner (it actually never looked any different to me) because we start our descent and land in Sioux Falls. My Dad is there (yay!) but our luggage is not (booo!!)

Long story short (or, long story a little less long) we went back and checked that afternoon, but still no luggage. It actually showed up Christmas morning--the airline had delivered it to my parents' next door neighbor's and they brought it over, complete with about an inch of powdery snow on top...I was going to include a picture of me bringing my snowy luggage into the house (grinning from ear to ear) but it turns out that one was on my Dad's camera (oops!)so....anyway

Christmas was wonderful...had the big surprise of finding a Nintendo Wii next to our stockings...John and I had totally given up on getting one for Christmas (who knew they'd be so hard to find??) but there it was! It turns out my parents (er...I mean, Santa) can do anything! Everyone enjoyed playing it for the rest of our visit...I'm an especially big fan of the fishing game and the one where you're riding a cow and trying to knock over scarecrows. There were lots of other nice gifts, too...cooking stuff for John, Fiestaware, a really warm robe, and DVDs for me. Then John helped my Mom finish up Christmas dinner (using his new food mill to mash/mill the potatoes)




The other big news (on top of getting our luggage AND a Nintendo Wii) is...

I got my wedding dress!!!

I, of course, can't post pictures or describe it because John reads my blog...but it's beautiful! I found it at a place in Sioux Falls, and I'll pick it up in May when I got back for my Mom and sister's graduations. My sister has about 45 pictures of it on her camera though, so I'll be glad to email out pictures of it once she sends them to me.

I also wanted to include the link that has pictures of the location...it'll be at a park outside of Lancaster, which has a little lake and a lodge looking over it next to a forest...it's so pretty...you can see pictures of the park and building here...

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree...

We got our tree up on Sunday, after a marathon shopping trip to Lancaster and dinner with friends (so, I think we actually finished putting it up early Monday morning). Anyway, it's really cute, and I love it.

I'm especially loving the tree topper...which is the one from John's family's tree when he was a kid. John brought it up from the basement when we stopped to borrow the tree. I thought it was adorable, but unfortunately, it didn't work...

However, after buying a new set of lights (and a glue gun), carefully dismantling the topper, and hot gluing all the new lights in place one by one...it's back to it's former, blinking glory! And before you think, "wow...Abbie did a lot of work to fix that," you should know that John was the one who did it all. What can I say, he sports a mean glue gun. ;)

So, I love the topper...and the fact that John went to so much trouble to fix it and that he insisted that it blinked because that's what it did when he was little.

I'm also getting a kick out of all his boy ornaments. I mean, I grew up in a house with all girls, so it never even crossed my mind that boys might have totally different ornaments...now in addition to the snowflakes, bears, dolls, etc. etc...we have Joe Montana throwing a pass...Jean Luc Picard standing in a transporter...and a Darth Vader with his glowing red light-saber rasping, "You are not a Jedi yet.." whenever I turn on the tree. How fun is that??

=)

Busy...

Hi everyone,
Yep, I'm still here...been crazy busy and I'll just make that my excuse for not bloggin g more. The TV pledge drive just started at work, and I'm still scrambling around trying to get all that stuff finished. If you live in SE Ohio, you'll be able to see me on WOUB TV on the 16th pitching the Daniel O'Donnell Rock and Roll Show (crossing my fingers that I do a good job and choose an outfit that looks good on camera ;) ). If you don't live in SE Ohio and want to see some of my handiwork,you can go to the Support page on WOUB.org and check out ALL the premiums that are listed there...Nope, it's not really all that exciting but it DID take an awfully long time to get together and put online.

Thankfully, it's the weekend, and I've got plans to go to knitting group at the library (which I usually sleep through but here I am, awake at 8:20 in the morning on a Saturday), the Farmers Market, and a Holiday Craft Show at the Dairy Barn Arts Center. Then, it's time to DECORATE and start doing some Christmas shopping and watch Christmas movies and bake and knit and drink hot chocolate ...

=)

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Saturday.

More fall...

More pictures from today...

Fall Colors

After thinking about it for the past month (or more...), I finally went outside this morning and took pictures of the fall leaves. It was a lot of fun (I also didn't try to bring the dog this time...callie and photography don't mix well).

I'm also excited because I just ordered a new camera battery and it should be here next week (mine has been wussing out for the past year...it'll be nice to have one that will hold a charge!) Anyway...to the pictures...




Probably more to come...

Shooting

Sorry, I've been such a bad poster...but I'll make up for it ;)

Last weekend, I went with John to the shooting range and tried out his new 9mm...



Don't I look tough?? ;)

Actually, I didn't really like shooting it and spent the rest of the time shooting his 22...but it made for some sweet pictures

(Also, check out my new highlighted hair - yay!)

Avast me hardies, yo ho!

Check the Skull-and-crossbones bandannas...





YARRRR! Pirate kisses!!



ARRR! More pirate kisses!


So we're at Joann fabrics...John's waiting for me to pick some stuff out when he finds the pirate fabric (!!). First, he asks whether I can make him a chef's hat...ummmm, yeah I can probably do that...need a pattern though. So we pick out the perfect skull-and-crossbones fabric and head for the pattern books. No luck finding a chef hat pattern...

...but then, he asks if I could make it into a bandanna. Let's see...square? involves sewing only straight lines? I can DEFINITELY make a bandanna...Make one for Callie? Yep, I can do that, too.



=)

Basket-o-gourds...

Taken at the Pawpaw Festival...seems like I probably should post a picture of pawpaws...but, oh well ;) I'm excited about it being almost fall and hoping that the weather will cool down some.

Things have been pretty normal here. I've been busy making toddler socks (but after this last one I should be finished for awhile). The next project? Socks for me, I think. I've been to two different knitting groups here. One that meets at the library once a month and another that meets at the Spinning Turtle in Nelsonville (about 15 minutes away) every Thursday. Had a good time at both, and I'm hoping they'll inspire me to get out of my knitting rut (=toddler socks).

Awww...too much cuteness

Back from ND

A picture of North Dakota from the air...

I just spent the last week in Fargo, ND getting some software training for work. It was a really good trip for a bunch of reasons, like 1) my parents only live 3 hours from there so they came up and I got to spend last Sunday with them, 2) I'd never been to North Dakota before so it's another state to add to my "States I've Been to" list, and 3) it was a really good training--I have pages and pages and pages of notes AND I feel much more confident about the program (yay! No more feeling like I want to kick my computer down the hall!)

Anyway, it's really good to be back. The weather's cooled off here which is wooooonderfullll...yesterday was beautiful, this morning's been beautiful AND we haven't had to run our air conditioner (hooray!). Yesterday, after I got home we took a quick hike in Selles Park, which is here in Athens and WAY WAY bigger than I ever knew. I'm also really excited because today we're going to the Paw Paw Festival...you can read all about it here. Pretty much, it's a festival that's all about the Paw Paw fruit...it's green, it's called "poor man's banana" and grows wild around here...we'll be able to try all sorts of foods that are made with Paw Paws, listen to bands, and be outside enjoying the weather =)

All about the new jobs...

Yep I'm still here...figured it was time for an update. Things are still busy here but calming down a bit...

I just finished my third week at WOUB where I'm the Membership Coordinator. So when someone wants to become a member of WOUB public radio or public television, I take care of putting their information in, mailing them their thank you gift, mailing invoices and bill notices, etc. It's been really great because everyone there has been so nice, and I love public radio and television, and I walk down the halls and see and talk to people that I hear on the radio (this still blows my mind...my clock radio wakes me up with WOUB and I'll be in bed listening and think, "oh, that's so-and-so") I also have a tv in my office...my own tv...which also blows my mind a little...I usually have it on WOUB kids...so throughout the day, I'll have Reading Rainbow, Between the Lions, Sesame Street, etc. playing in my office (muted if I'm busy or listening to the radio--which is usually the WOUB AM "adult alternative" station which I can stream off their website...which I highly recommend). It's pretty fun.

John also got a new job!! He'll be working at Lui-Lui's , which is an awesome restaurant that's also really close to our house...He's got to work his way up to it, but by Fall, he'll be making oven-fired pizzas and sushi! I'm hoping he can bring some leftovers home for me ;)

=)

Love the new place! Love being back in Athens! Love the new job!

Sorry so long since the last post...I've been really busy with new job, unpacking (still) and doing tons of fun stuff. Things are really good here...I've been riding my bike to work and whew, turns out I'm a little out of shape...who knew? ;) but it's fun and makes me feel like a total bad ass (and saves me from having to park far away and walk up a TON of stairs to get to the office).

With John here, I've eaten better than I have in years (and it's nice to be able to see him all the time, instead of every three weeks). It's also fun having Callie around...taking her on walks, going to the dog park (so fun!), and just watching her hop around in the backyard.

=)

Puppy Play Date

Callie had too much fun playing with Rogue while Brenna and Robin visited!

Moving Pictures: Installment #1

What a mess! This is my apartment when it was almost all packed up.



Half of the amazing moving team...Peter and John take a break once the truck is packed with all my stuff (whew!). Not pictured is John's Mom who also did a bunch of packing, cleaning, and dog wrangling (Callie wasn't so happy when we put her in her crate so we could move all my stuff out).



Me, John, and Callie all ready to go! More pictures to come...

I'm here!!

So I'm all moved into my house in Athens and it is wooooonderfuuuullll! =) I'll post some pictures soon...but right now most of the rooms are messy and full of boxes ;)

I'm also so excited because Brenna and Robin are visiting on their way to New Jersey...and Callie (John's dog) and Rogue (Bren and Robin's dog) are best puppy pals...they've been playing and playing and playing all day long (and now they're conked out on the couches ;) ) I'm going to have to get a picture of them together because it is too, too cute.

=D