Keeping a Low Profile

I was typing in a label for a recent post and one of the little autofill ideas the computer gave me was Bromance. That got me a little nostalgic for the days where I could watch MTV whenever I wanted and think about Brody Jenner and the lucky man who would be his new best friend. It got me wondering/missing him. What is he up to now?
The answer is a little disappointing. My investigative journalism skills uncovered him keeping a mostly low profile. It looks like he is surfing and hanging around with his lady friend Avril Lavigne. Not that exciting. Oh well, at least Audrina and her fam are going to have a new reality show. I have never been more thankful for the lack of cable.

Music in My Future

My music taste is something one might call eclectic. I listen to only top 40 and the college rap station in Spokane. Luckily the internet and some billboards have reminded me of other types of music I used to enjoy.

This billboard has recently replaced the Chippendale's billboard I had grown accustomed to seeing on my route home. I think the reason they took it down was because the show had been sold out for quite some time. There was a sold out sign placed on it after a a week, two tops. This made me want to a) sing end of the road and b) go to a concert. The tickets to this show were 50 dollars per person, too expensive.

Then I found out the Old 97s were playing in Spokane. These tickets were in my price range and despite the fact that it is a Tuesday/school night I am going to see them at the Bing Crosby theater. This genre of music is perfect for me. A little country, a little rock, a little acoustic guitar. I can't wait.

Once I started thinking about concerts and planning ahead I couldn't stop. I was thinking about how much fun Warren and I had a Sasquatch last year (even though we were the oldest people there.) I made Warren interested by telling him that Guided by Voices would be there. The tickets are already sold out for this years but I had a great time looking at the website which plays musical previews of bands and introduced me to Jenny and Johnny.

I truly love Rilo Kiley and also enjoy Jenny Lewis' solo/Watson Twins music. (Basically I just love Jenny Lewis.) I was so excited to find out that she was making music again. It has been about a year's worth of music but in my defense Warren is the person who would tell me about something like this and he has been kind of busy. I started listening to Jenny and Johnny and reading more about them. It looks like they have been around on Late Night tv (too late/no cable)) and Warren said "Oh yeah, I saw them. I just didn't think they were that good." Well, despite his opinion I like it.

Stay tuned. I am looking for an outdoor music opportunity. We will see.

My Crush

I went to a happy hour on Friday after work with some girl friends. We started talking about celebrities that may induce tears. (We were talking about the kind of celebrity you love so much you might cry if you happened upon them in your daily life.) Now everyone knows how I feel about Nick Lachey(We would just be great friends) but I don't know that I have a celeb that I would cry upon meeting, no Justin Beiber if you will.

I totally loved/still enjoy Dave Matthews but at the height of my love for him when I saw him in the Barnes and Noble in Seattle. I just followed him around and looked at him. I didn't have the guts to talk to him and I certainly didn't cry when I saw him. That is not what Seattle people do. We ignore our celebrities and that is why they like it there.

My current celebrity crush is Dax. I know he is not ruggedly handsome and seems kind of goofy but that is what I like about him. Warren knows/supports how much I love him. He even told me about an Adam Corolla podcast with him (I highly recommend both him and the Adam Corolla podcast).
Get to know Dax. Did you know?
He is on one of my current favorite tv shows, Parenthood. It usually can bring tears to my eyes, sappy I know but I like it.
He is a engaged to Kristen Bell ( I love her too!)
He is a motorcycle rider.
He got his start as, and I am quoting Wikipedia here, Ashton Kutcher's minion and a vomiter.

Who is your celeb crush?

Getting Political

The letter that I sent to my state reps, senator, and the governor. Will it do any good? Who knows but I tried my best (just like in Kindergarten) to do something. I sort of believe in the political process.

Here is the gist of my letter:

"I understand the realities of the state budget and know that some tough decisions must be made this year. As a teacher who is helping to support my husband as he goes back to school I would like to see the salary schedule remain unfrozen, the National Board stipend remain intact, and my healthcare benefits not be run by a more costly state run system because these things will make my life more difficult. But I am not choosing to write to you about those things today. I am choosing to write you about class size. If you want to do what is best for students then class size should be something that you fight to protect. I believe that a continued investment in education today will have long term payoff for all in the future because kids will be getting what they need and teachers will be able to help guide them towards success. I urge you to consider keeping class sizes low and at the top of the list of your priorities. Do not suspend I-728."


Washington state public education is in a dire situation. Write to your local representatives about education or about anything. I have gotten a few responses before.

The pessimist

This week was excruciatingly long and busy. After a particularly tough Monday at work I went up North to Babies R Us. This was a trip that I totally dreaded but a necessity for me as I had a baby shower to attend. On the way home I decided to treat myself to a Costplus World Market Trip ( I love that store.) After spotting some Adirondak chairs that I am keeping in mind for the summer and buying some cute cards, a teacup with built in diffuser, and a pretty orange trivet, I stumbled upon this. The Pessimist Cabernet Sauvignon seemed to fit my mood quite nicely. "Once opened and poured, the "half empty" sensation begins." I have this feeling that once I drink the bottle I can be a optimist again. I don't know about that but I am finally starting to feel like I am in less of a funk. This can be attributed to the happy hour I just enjoyed, girl scout cookies, sweats, wine and the fact that I did survive, even just barely, this week at school.

I Want This

I love the new LL Bean Signature Clothing. I love this shirt and about a hundred other things in this line.

A Blast From the Past

Did you ever read the Sweet Valley High books? They were an important part of my childhood and they are back. I read this article in the New York Times about the return of Jessica and Elizabeth in Sweet Valley Confidential and how they are all grown up. They are ingeniously marketing these books towards the 20/30 somethings who read them as kids. I don't usually like to read smut (yes, I said smut) but who doesn't want a chance to satisfy that childhood curiosity and see what happened to some of their favorite characters as they grew up. It sounds like there are some folks who are disappointed about the way the girls turned out. Whose life didn't turn out differently than they thought it would when they were 15 or 16? Mine certainly did. The real mind blowing detail in all of this is that while looking for a picture to put with this blog post I stumbled upon photos from a television show. I am sad that I didn't know about that when I was in high school. I might end up buying the book or checking it out from the library. That would definitely complete my trip down memory lane.