Recap

The reason I haven't updated the blog is because my arms have been too sore to type. I'm just kidding....but I am pretty sore from the 3 times I've gone to the gym. I guess that happens when you've never worked out before. You get sore very easily!

We had a great weekend. Friday we helped my friend Brooke celebrate her new job by going out to dinner at Cheeseburger in Paradise. Nothing like mini cheeseburgers to celebrate any occasion. Then we went to her house and played the BEST game....called Karaoke Revolution. It's a Playstation game that's like Dance, Dance Revolution except it's Karaoke! It is so much fun, and they have very recent songs (for example--I sang an Ashlee Simpson song. And it was much better than her SNL performance!). Our friend Nate was so bad that when he sang, the crowd booed him off the stage, the game cut off in the middle of the song, and he got zero points! John keeps saying it was not fun, but he's just trying to be cool. He was great at it, as I'm sure you can imagine.

Saturday was a very busy day. We had a picnic with friends from church at Mitch Park. It was a gorgeous day, and I think John found a new calling in the game of croquet. Then we headed off to Matt and Robin's to try out a borrowed chocolate fountain. Many dips later, John had to roll me out to the car!

Sunday we ended up having a cookout with our neighbors. We have a lot of fun with them. Their girls, Jordan and Jesika LOVE John. They are always coming over to play.

Anyway--it was an awesome weekend of friends, fellowship, and fun. Doesn't get much better than that!

Let's Get Physical....

Well, John and I joined a gym. We'd been talking about it for a while, and on Monday we finally did it. As many of you know, I turned 25 on Monday and suddenly feel very aware that my metabolism won't last forever. And, literally, it's all "downhill" from here if I don't make an effort. So, in an effort to put off aging (humor me) for a little longer I'm going to try working out.

I have never belonged to a gym. Never really participated in sports (I was a choir/drama/newspaper nerd). So, I am extremely confused, intimidated, overwhelmed at the new gym. It's called Transformation Fitness and I know there are lots of locals who are members there. If any of you would like to "take on" an intimidated non-exerciser and show her the way I would appreciate it! I'd like to join a class (pilates, etc.) but do you know how scary that thought is? All those people already know what they're doing! How does a beginner begin a class like that? Sigh....I have my first of two complimentary sessions with a personal trainer tonight so maybe he can give me tips on what I should be doing and how. John met with him last night and is "good sore" today!

In other news...well, there isn't much other news! We've had a very successful (if crazy) month of promotions in Tulsa with work. They are doing some really cool things with the restaurants up there and we've had a great time talking about it and developing a huge ad campaign to talk about it. However, we're worn out at the office! But we should have some good "catch up" time at the office the next couple of weeks.

My great friend and former college roomie (which makes her an even better friend because she lived with me for 2 years) has recently announced she is pregnant. She went to the doctor today and is sending pictures from her first ultrasound. So funny--she called it her peanut! I am so excited for her. My little world of expectant friends changes every day!

Well, off to get a little real work done before I call it a weekend. Wish me luck at the gym, and please let me know if you can help me get acclimated!

Having my cake and eating it too

Well, we're literally swimming in birthday cake at our house. John got my favorite cake (Ribbon cake from Raspberries n Creme!) and we had that last night; then our neighbor made me a cake, so we have that; and my sister made me cupcakes!! If you're craving cake, just stop by our house...

We had a great weekend. LTC was a lot of fun and I think we both agreed we wanted to be a little more involved next year. We were just observers this time around.

We also went to the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks with Robin and the boys. It was really a lot of fun. Kind of pricey ($15 per adult, $10 per child) and certainly not the Baltimore Aquarium or anything! But, there were a lot of cool fish and a huge shark tank you could walk around in, as well as a "touch tank" where Mason got to touch stingrays and starfish and mini-sharks.

Yesterday we had lunch at Ingrid's for Easter, which was a great idea since we had no wait and more than enough food. Then last night we did family birthday dinner at (where else?) Friday's with Mom, Bill and Julia.

Not much else to report. John got me an FM transmitter for the iPod so I'm pretty excited about that. I also got iTunes gift cards and more from mom and dad and cash from lots of people.

There are perks to having a birthday! Even though I'm a little depressed about turning 25. From now on I will officially be closer to 30 than 20, but I guess we just have to keep moving forward, right? Sigh....I'll eat lots of cake to make up for the small bout of depression!

The Golden Ticket

My friends at Citadel radio are so good to me...our account rep, Diana, gave me a bithday present today--two tickets to the REO Speedwagon and Styx concert! So, it's official--we're going to the concert! I'm a dork, I know.

I'm off work tomorrow. I had great intentions to make an appointment for my first summer pedicure, maybe a massage and get my horrible hair cut (don't worry--I'm well aware how bad it looks right now!) But, alas, I didn't make any appointments. So, I will stay at home....sleep...catch up on DVR. It will be wonderful!

John and I are headed to Tulsa this weekend. I have to work there on Saturday for a bit, and he's going to check out the LTC Puppets group. Easton is one of the puppets in the 3-6 grade group, and John and Robin wrote the script. So, he's pretty pumped. We're going to Tulsa tomorrow night.

Then, after work/Puppets performance we're going to head over to Jenks and check out the Oklahoma Aquarium! I think it will be a lot of fun, as I've never been there. Maybe I can convince John to let me do a little shopping in Utica Square, too...

Happy Easter!

I Love the 80s

My favorite song of all time (don't judge me) is "I Can't Fight This Feeling Anymore" by REO Speedwagon. I can't explain it, it just is my favorite song. I never get tired of it.

Because of this, I feel that REO Speedwagon is one of the greatest bands ever. Doesn't matter what you think--they just are!

And, I found out that REO Speedwagon is coming to OKC in a month! What?! I didn't even know they were still a band. See, I think they're great but all I really listen to is their Greatest Hits CD... And guess who is coming with them to concert?

Styx, which according to Adam Sandler, is the greatest band ever.

REO Speedwagon and Styx--together. One night.

What a great concert that will be. Add to it thousands crammed into a field at the OKC zoo with summer temperatures, lots of second-hand marijuana smoke and women who still have 80s big hair and bad dye jobs and we have ourselves a PARTY.

In all seriousness....we're going to the concert. I can't miss this one. Let me know if you'd like to go with us! It's May 12th at 7:30 p.m. at the zoo ampitheatre.

I love the 80s...

Well, it has officially been a very busy week since Wednesday!

So excited--I finally got to go to a Hornet's game Wednesday night. I'd been wanting to go all season, but it just never happened. No, not entirely John's fault despite what I said on-air on the Sports Animal. But, he was truly convinced it would be boring and he wouldn't have any fun. Boy was he wrong! John had a great time! We went with Matt and Easton, and at the last minute got two more free tickets and Jason and Kristen went with us too. Matt and Easton had been before, but I think they had a lot of fun telling the four of us "newbies" about the game and events. Easton cheered louder than anyone in the arena, I think!

Then I began my trek to Tulsa. Thursday, Friday and Saturday I drove there and back. Boy the iPod and Julia's FM transmitter came in handy! Lots of exciting things going on in Tulsa with work, so I'm glad we're going up there quite a bit.

Friday night John and I took dinner to our friend's, the Dacus'. They finally got to bring their little girl, Haley, home from the hospital after she came a little early. She's now 4 pounds, 8 ounces and about the tiniest thing I've ever seen. The only baby I've ever seen any smaller was Chloe Winton! Anyway, Haley was so cute and so tiny...we're so glad their family is complete and at home.

Saturday, after heading to Tulsa and back I began my two-day countdown to book club and began cramming in all the reading. I'd read a little less than half so Saturday afternoon was a good catch-up day. Then, we headed to the Ford Center once again that evening, this time for an OKC Yard Dawgs game! It was very interesting....it's arena football so there was that feel of football, but not the same as an OU game obviously.

In fact between the Yard Dawgs game and watching the Red-White game on ESPN I am ready for football! Guess what--only 152 days until kickoff in Norman!

Sunday I had more reading to do. I finished the book at 4:42 p.m., and Liz picked me up at 5:30! I cut it close, but finished the book and had a great night with the girls. The book we read was called "Drowning Ruth". I'm not sure how I felt about it. Everyone seemed to like it, but I wasn't all that impressed. Guess I'm still processing.

John and I are going to grill out tonight! It's that time of year...we're not in a burn ban are we?

Also--I tried out Wal-Mart's online picture center, where you can download your digital photos, order them, and pay for them online, then pick them up printed at the store. So easy! I should have been doing this all along....I have sooooo many digital photos I need to print out.

Easton and Mason came over last night to school me in Dance Dance Revolution, which wasn't hard. I've had this stupid game for 6 months now and it's too hard....and it makes me very tired...and sweaty....which probably means I should do it more often! It would be a great workout. In the meantime, Easton is really good at it (and Mason not half bad!) so maybe they can just come over and use it.

It looks better in this picture. Still not sure on the exact placement of the chair, but we think it's going to work there in the corner! I went home for a few minutes this morning and Max was sitting in the recliner. Guess he already thinks it's his throne!

Here is the red recliner....it looks a lot better in person. This is not a very good picture....but it's quite comfortable!

More gardening...

Part of my gardening frenzy on Sunday....

An early birthday present from my grandparents--Fiestaware makes kitchen canisters now! Aren't they beautiful?

It's hard to have a bad day when you're wearing hot pink pants

Yes, I am wearing my new hot pink-and-black workout pants from the Nike outlet store. So there are two good things in this situation: 1) pink pants and 2) wearing pink workout pants to work. See...benefits at the office can range beyond 401K, health insurance and that all-important salary.

Every single bone in my body aches. I mean, even my hair and nails hurt. I spent all day yesterday gardening. I woke up thinking about it, thought about it all through church (sorry, but I did), and by the time lunch rolled around I could hardly eat I was so ready. Partly because it was a beautiful day outside. No clouds, 80 degrees, it had rained the night before. It was perfect. Now I have a very colorful flower bed out front. But, as a testament to the sad shape my body is in--the beauty came at a price. My arms and legs hurt from all the shoveling and mulching and watering. I'm also pretty sure I have a nasty bruise on my elbow because it hurts like that, but I cannot manipulate my arm to check. I will post pictures, I promise.

After I went to Home Depot/Lowe's/Wal-Mart to get flowers/soil/mulch and I gardened for 3 hours, I then went to Wal-Mart and bought groceries. After that, I unloaded groceries, reorganized our pantry, cleaned the kitchen, vacuumed the whole house, cleaned both bathrooms, finished the laundry, picked up the bedroom, and finally crashed in time for Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy. I don't think the cats got fed last night....I couldn't move. I must say--I had a very productive day yesterday.

Know what John did yesterday? He golfed. Ok, ok he washed my car, too. :)

So, I dragged myself to work (late) today, but it's all ok because of my pants.

In other weekend news--we were very social. Caught up with several friends--fun! And the amazing thing--all that gardening and outside time, all that friend time, and I still managed to catch up on my DVR time! I have one show from last week left. I'll just say this--if they kill off Hurley on "Lost" I'm boycotting TV from now on. Ok, well at least until the next week. Gosh, that show is great!

Project for this week: explore weekend trips to Dallas. I've got the girls in class at church geared up and ready to head IKEA and outlet-shopping this summer, so I've got to do a little research.

I also realized I haven't talked much about John lately in the blog world. He's doing great, just adjusting to the new position at work. He's also mowing the lawn and golfing a lot. OH! I can't believe I forgot this weekend news....John had Farmer's bonus day last Friday and got a very nice bonus for all of his hard work. How does he choose to spend it? He's so good--he chose to spend it on his cute little wife by buying a big, cushy, RED recliner for the living room! It arrives on Tuesday, so we'll see how it actually looks in the house. But I applaud him for taking that leap and agreeing to a RED piece of furniture. I promise not to wear my pink pants while sitting in it, as it might clash....