Other Happenings

John got home on-time and safely last Friday from California. It is nice to have him home, although I've spent more time cleaning in the last two days than I did the entire three weeks he was gone. Guys are amazing--they have absolutely no idea how to pick up after themselves.

We did our Valentine's celebration Friday night at Steak and Ale--our old standby favorite. Then, we rented a movie and couldn't get through it without falling asleep. Guess John was tired from getting up at 5 a.m. and flying all day--he was asleep by 8:30 that night!

Saturday we bummed around, then headed to Norman for Tara and Nathan's housewarming party. All my friends are growing up--buying houses, getting married, having babies. Is it strange that we're all grown ups, yet I know for a fact no one feels like a grown up? Does it change when you have kids?

And I will have ALL of you know that Edmond Church of Christ was one of the only ones in town that had service on Sunday morning. And John and I went. Yes, we braved the icy streets with about 400 other Edmond CofC members. Very proud.

Not much else. Interestingly enough, Faith hasn't stolen a thing since John's been home. Think she was taking advantage of a single caregiver? I think so...

New Neighbors

We're getting new neighbors. Well, technically they are about 5 miles away. In the Village. So, not really neighbors in the next door sense. But we are so excited because Jason and Kristen are moving up north!!! We've been recruiting them and pushing them hard (as we've done with all our Norman friends) and it's official--they're moving!

Jason and Kristen have been a breath of fresh air for us for several years now. I met them during my wonderful college days at OU through the Outreach Center. Jason might be the smartest person I know and he doesn't even have to try. Kristen (also very smart!) is a fellow OU Gaylord Jaymac graduate. She also has entered the desperate, penniless world of advertising, so we get to share horror stories with each other. She's the only one who can laugh at my stories of crazy sales reps and slow creative departments.

Jason is also John's dentist. He is in dental school at OUHSC right now, and John has been his guinea pig.

They are moving the the Village next weekend, which will provide John and Jason with much more time to play X-Box into the wee hours of the morning. Congrats to Kristen, also, she's moving AND got a new job with Monarch Media.

Anyway--as you can tell, we're pumped. Norman doesn't seem that far away until you're driving there after a long, tired week at work. Now if we can just get the other Norman stragglers (ahem--Laura) to move North as well....

Be My Valentine (since I didn't have one this year!)

Well, the thief is still on the loose. Obviously I did not lock her up for long enough because she's a repeat offender. She continues to steal things. She stole a memory stick (USB drive for the computer) the other day. Just picked it right up out of my work pile and ran away with it. She also continues to steal the same sweater out of my closet. She is trouble.

So, how many people watch Gray's Anatomy? If you don't--start watching it. It is SO good. I know I say that about Lost. And Gilmore Girls. But seriously--it might be the best hour of television each week. The past two weeks have been SOOO good, although I have a few "realistic" questions for the writers about that bomb squad in the hospital.

Last night was Valentine's Day, and I was husband-less. Not that is matters, since Valentine's isn't that big of a deal. But I did have a "sweetie"--my sister Julia spent the evening with me. We actually went to dinner and Matt, Robin, boys, and Nina. We tried to go to Outback, without reservations. I know, I know stupid idea. At 5:30 there was already an hour and 45 minute wait. So guess where we went--Mackie McNear's (formerly Western Sizzlin). There was no wait and it's all-you-can-eat. I can't think of a better way to spend Valentine's! Julia and I then did some shopping and caught up on CSI: from the past few weeks. Thanks, Family, for being my valentine.

Guess what? John comes home on Friday!! I can't wait. I am ready for him to come home. I think we're going to go out to dinner for Valentine's/Welcome Home that night, then John wants to sleep in his own bed all day on Saturday. As I'm sure you can imagine, he's pretty ready to come home as well!

Of all the things in Reagan's museum, you can imagine how excited John got over the golf clubs. I mean, after all, Ronald Reagan liked golf. John likes golf. Draw your own conclusion, but it must mean John's destined to be President, right? So many similarities...

:)

Look at that view! Can you believe John's been able to spend 3 weeks looking at that view? Te Reagan Library and Museum is in Simi Valley, just across the street from John's hotel. I've never been to California, but from what I can see it's beautiful!

He also saw the presidential helicopter. What is that called? Not sure....here it is!

John went to the Reagan Library and Museum on Sunday. He got to see some pretty cool things, including a retired Air Force One plane. Guess who paid for the airplane hanger to hold that plane? Boone Pickens....that man has money everywhere.

Anyway, John was excited about seeing Air Force One.

Raising a Thief

So, yesterday when I was drying my hair, I noticed one of my velcro curlers was missing. I didn't think much of it, I figured it was somewhere in the bathroom so I decided to look for it later.

Then, I woke this morning to find that the foam covers on my iPod headphones were missing. Both of them--gone overnight. It made me a little suspicious, so I began to look around. Guess what I came across--a stockpile of stolen goods under my bed. Faith has been stealing my things.

I found a pile that included my missing curler, bobby pins, the foam covers from my iPod, receipts from my purse, fake flowers from a vase in the kitchen AND a sweater that she pulled off the hanger in the closet!! Now remember, Faith is a cat, and she's only about 5 pounds!

Also, when I took another sweater off today and put it on the couch, I turned around for a split second and she had it in her mouth and was dragging it to the bedroom. I am not even kidding.

To add insult to injury, she woke me up this morning at 6:30 a.m. trying to climb the curtains in the bedroom.

She is a very bad girl, and has spent the day in her room while I'm gone. She was also fighting with Max for no reason. I'm thinking 6 months in cat years must equal the terrible twos.

In any case, she's a thief and obviously nothing is safe from her.

These are the crazies John has been hanging out with, Darin and Shane.

Can you imagine wandering around Malibu Beach in boots, jeans, and a belt buckle the size of a human fist?

They look a little out of place, huh?! Should have gone to the Grammy's...but they're having fun!

Malibu Beach....must be cold since not many people are there!

Malibu

John did not take my advice and go to the Grammy's last night. Sigh...I would have! No matter how bad the traffic was, you could at least say you TRIED.

But, he did not. They went to Malibu Beach and Pacific Coast Highway instead. Here are some great pics he took!

The Weekend

Well, John and I both had pretty successful weekends. As you can see form the barrage of photos, John hit Hollywood pretty hard on Saturday and saw a lot. He walked along the Walk of Fame and saw the Hollywood sign, plus ate at the Hard Rock and people-watched. He watched the Superbowl last night with several Seattle fans, so I think that was a bit of a damper on the mood! But he really is having a good time in California and has a whole list of things he wants to see over the next 2 weeks.

I came back from Phoenix and didn't have much of a chance to slow down. I spent most of Friday with Julia, since she got her wisdom teeth pulled. Also watched a movie over there that has made my top 5 worst movies--Monster-in-Law. Don't even bother watching it, it's horrible. Jane Fonda was great, but Jennifer Lopez and Michael Vartan were so bad that it brought the whole thing down!

Saturday I went to my friend, Jana's wedding. Now most of you have heard my story about the best man speech at the wedding. But, alas, I shall tell it again because it was hilarious. Obviously, the best manhad not put much thought into what he was going to say at the toast. He got up there and rambled about some 8th grade stuff he and the groom had done, and some annoying habits he knew the groom had. Then, he dropped the bomb--literally. With 400 people raising their champagne glasses in the ballroom of the fanciest country club in Oklahoma City, the best man said "Yeah, and Jay really likes to brag about the size of his stools".

Oh yes, he did. He said it. Everyone gasped and tried to laugh....then he goes "Huh, I guess I shouldn't have said that one out loud".

It was great! Like something out of a movie! I'm sure Jana was mortified, but it will serve for lots of laughs to come in the future. And it sure made my day!

Then it was off to Incredible Pizza for Mason's birthday party. Mason is 5 years old today! He got all kinds of cool instruments and Nerf guns. Very cool.

Last night was the Superbowl. I went to a party at the Foster's house from church and it was so much fun. I'm not sure how many people the fit in their house, but it was a lot! It was nice to be among friends again, as I've been so busy with work lately. I had great food, watched great commercials, and visited with a lot of great friends.

So, all-in-all John and I both had great weekends, even apart. We'll see how the week goes!

John is a really great people watcher, so you can imagine his fascination with the things he's seeing on the West Coast. This is what he calls his "Pimp of the Year". I'm sure there will be many pictures like this to come....things he's never seen before!

John met his first celebrity out in California--Mr. Incredible!!

John also went to the Kodak Theatre, where the Oscars are hosted every year. Not too much later and he would have caught the red carpet spread....

John's Weekend in Hollywood

John spent the weekend exploring Hollywood. Look closely through the smog and you can see the Hollywood sign!