Ryan and Reese

SPLIT! Is any Hollywood marriage safe anymore?

A World Series AND the Husband of the Year...what a great weekend!

What a weekend. In our house we like to call a weekend like that a "Perfect Weekend". Because not only did OU win away from home, and Dallas won their game....but the St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series!!!!!!

Does it get any better than that? Does it get any better than watching your team, the guys you watch for months, even years, the players you become emotionally invested in--does it get any better than watching them win the ultimate title? I don't think so. Gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.

John is officially "Husband of the Year" for his efforts last week. He was already scheduled to take vacation last week, and planned on using his time to golf and sleep. But John was so good to cancel his relaxing week at home, and headed to Springfield to help my grandparents.

My grandfather had a full knee-replacement surgery on Wednesday. And we knew he'd be spending some time in the hospital, obviously. But St. John's Hospital has been undergoing a lot of remodels, and the parking lot is now a very, very long way from the patient rooms. Not too bad if you're a patient, right? But it makes it awfully tough for those visiting the patient, like my Grandma.

John went up on Tuesday night and spent the next two days taking care of my Grandma, helping her run errands, and helping her maneuver the hospital maze so she could spend time with my Grandpa. He also spent several long hours at the hospital, entertaining my Grandpa and helping him get around. I know it was a huge help to the whole family, and it made the whole experience much easier on my Grandma. Luckily, Grandpa was released yesterday, just as my mom and I were packing to head home to Oklahoma. We got him settled in the recliner at the house, and I think he's going to do great. Already he's walking more than I could have imagined!

So, thanks to the best husband in the world, for giving the only time off you have for the rest of the year to help the greatest Grandparents I know. Hopefully, the Cardinals World Series win helped make up for the long week!

Also--I am going to attempt to rise to the challenge issued by Susan and Robin to post something every day during the month of November. The more I blog, the more I realize it's such a fun look at my life in this moment. Like a diary....it's becoming more personal to me, and not so much about keeping everyone up-to-date. I mean, really, our life is not that exciting. But one of these days I'll have this blog to look back on and remember a really fun time in my life.

So, look forward to pictures of the pantry and full lunch menu updates in the future, as I'm not sure I can find something totally exciting every day! Also....there might be a lot of Faith pictures, as she is really the only family member that looks great on camera!

And In Other Weekend News

We spent Sunday evening enjoying the World Series Game 2 (ok....not really enjoying it, since we lost) at Nathan and Elizabeth's house. Turns out Nathan is a lifelong Tigers fan....maybe the only one living in America today. Anyway, John and I showed up decked out in our Cardinals gear...which I am convinced is the reason we lost. This shirt is bad luck, so look now because I'm not wearing it aain.
There's Nathan, looking much calmer than he really was. He had a good night. Hopefully it's the last one for this year. I teased him all night about how the Detroit fans looked like their hats and shirts were brand new. You cannot tell me Detroit magically has 80,000 fans to fill a stadium before this year....they're all bandwagon fans, I suspect. Haven't broken in their gear quite like Nathan has!
Good friend, Pam, helped host Laura's shower this weekend. Pam and I go way back, even farther than Laura and I! I'm pretty convinced she is the reason I nearly failed sophomore year at OU. Example conversation:
Pam: Hey, want to walk to class with me?
Jess: Sure, where are you headed?
Pam: Journalism building...you?
Jess: Dale Hall
Pam: Cool....you hungry?
Jess: Starving
Pam: Want to see if Derek is hungry?
Jess: Sure....and Brooke. Maybe Cary. What's Jeremy doing?
Pam: So no class?
Jess: Nah...it's macroeconomics. I can miss.

Thus began my downward spiral to C's (okokok....1 D, but that was it).

Anyway, as you can see we both made it through college, received our degrees in journalism, and still love getting together!

Finally, I made the bed this weekend. Love the new sheets and comforter, don't you? Believe it or not, they've been sitting on the bedroom floor since John gave them to me for Christmas last year! I didn't want to put it on because I didn't want car hair all over it. You can see how well that worked.

Also, on Saturday we enjoyed a blustering attempt at the Pumpkin Patch, but it was too cold and windy. So, we settled for the next best thing: Eischen's and cinnamon rolls at the Tower Cafe in Okarchee! Nothing like the best fried chicken in Oklahoma to warm you up!

And that's it for the weekend update.

Countdown to Riley's Arrival...

Sunday I headed down to Norman for Laura's baby shower. For those of you that don't know Laura, she is a saint. We actually shared an apartment together in college--and believe it or not, we are still friends! We have been through so much together (vacations, finals, friends, boyfriends, break-ups, engagements, weddings, and even cats!). She taught me how to do laundry. She was the first person to know I was officially engaged. She helped John pass his online biology classes by taking many of his tests for him. And, she is the smartest person I know (she's in medical school, studying to be a pediatrician) and I would trust her with my life as a physician.

On November 1st she and husband Aaron will welcome Riley Ann into the world. I cannot believe 9 months has flown by so quickly. I cannot believe she is having a little girl. She hates pink and doesn't exactly enjoy girly things. So, I imagine little Riley will end up just like Laura--tomboy to the core, playing football and softball, and spending more time collecting bugs than collecting hairbows. I can't wait to meet her, and I had so much fun at the shower. Laura got A LOT of pink stuff--we are all conspiring.

Forget the frilly dresses. Laura's favorite number at the shower came in the form of a simple white onesie with an OU on the front, and an upside down Longhorn on the butt. Because even babies are smart enough to hate Texas.

Apparently we need an exorcist in our house...

John was very excited about his job as scary woods man for the 3rd-5th grade Haunted Hayride through church over the weekend. He had been planning it for a while, and even bought a new all-black wardrobe for the occasion.

As you can see...he also decided to buy a scary mask. He went to Party Warehouse with the nephews and found this mask. You can't tell from the picture, but it was attached to a black ballcap. As he's showing his sister, Robin, and I the mask here is the conversation that followed:

John: Do you like my mask? Think it's scary enough?

Robin: Ooooo...very scary. Wait a minute....what is that emblem on the ballcap?

We all move in closer to investigate...

Robin: John....is that the symbol of the antichrist?

John: What? No....I don't know. How would you even know that?

Robin: It is! It is the symbol of the antichrist! John, you're promoting Satan worshipping at the church children's fall festival!

John: No! No! I didn't know, I swear....man, I really liked the mask. Think I can just grab a Sharpie and color over the symbol?

This is why we don't send men shopping on their own for anything....

A Day in the Life of Faith

While we (ok, really it's just me) miss Max terribly, Faith has come out of her shell quite a bit the past few months. She's a lot more cuddly and social, and she eats a lot more. It's funny how much having a pet to come home to can make your day so much brighter. She loves it when we are home and spends most of the evening following us around, not letting us out of her sight.

We've taken several pictures lately as she continues to settle into her "Queen of the House" role. It's a rough life being a spoiled housecat. Lately she has had fun exploring a box of china John got from his grandmother and watching me work. Usually she's sitting on top of the keyboard, making it very difficult to type....but last night she just hung out and watched. Forgive my shiny face in that photo--it was late and I was stressed!

In other news, I'm pretty excited to be going to Dallas this week. I go on Thursday and Friday, but this time it's not just for work. I've been chatting with my cousin, Jennifer, lately (thanks MySpace) and we haven't seen each other in years. I haven't even met her husband! So, anyway, while I'm in town for work we're going to go catch up over dinner. It works great--that way I'm not alone in a hotel room, we get to see each other, and I get to meet her husband. She also told me last night that it's official--she is expecting her first baby in May so I'll be excited to talk babies with her. Thanks to ALL my friends, I have plenty of words of wisdom to pass along...

This past weekend I participated in the Komen Race for the Cure. Over 13,000 people were there and turns out I knew about half of them. It was so fun to see friends and family at the event! If you didn't get to participate this year, mark your calendars for next year because it is an incredible event. Pink everywhere!

I think I will sign off at this point. The only thing I will add is that I've promised a few friends out east I would start rooting for West Virginia to make it to the Fiesta Bowl this year. Please consider becoming a Mountaineer fan for this season...they promised if I would root for WVU, they would root for Adrian Peterson to come back to Oklahoma. We're all just a handful of dreamers, huh?

Embarrassing Moment of the Week (because there's at least one each week)

So....I hadn't been to the gym in a while. I'll be honest--it dropped of my priority list, and when that happens my true laziness begins to show. However, the mood struck me last night to go to the gym. And especially because it was Thursday night, which was Pilates night. So, I rush around after work and head over to the old stomping grounds. Because, despite it falling off the priority list, the gym did not fall off the finance list and we've been helping pay their electric bill since April.

Anyway....it had been about 3 months since I'd been. And, alas, when I arrived I found out there is no Pilates class on Thursday anymore. I thought I should go ahead and work out anyway since I was there. But then I realized I was wearing flip flops (because in Pilates you take your shoes off) and I didn't feel like running the treadmill in flip flops.

Here's where it gets bad.

I grab an October schedule of classes and I head towards the side exit door to go to my car, as I always do. I'm reading the schedule, not looking where I'm going, and I push open the side door and promptly set off the entire building alarm.

So I look up in my confusion, and see that sure enough--there are only about 4 giant signs on the door that say "DO NOT OPEN THIS DOOR". But, see, I was reading the schedule and not paying attention. So I turn around to make my embarrassing escape when I notice there is a line down the hall of people waiting for the 6:30 Boot Camp class and they are all staring at me. And the only way to get out is to walk meekly past them and say "Sorry...I was reading, my fault". I had to walk all the way through the gym to the front door, where I RAN to my car and got out of there. I could still hear the alarm going off as I drove away, I'm not kidding. There was not a soul in that building that could not hear the alarm going off.

So, I guess I won't be going back to the gym anytime soon!

The good news--I was near the T-Mobile store, and shopping is my therapy so instead of working out I got a new cell phone. And it's great, and I downloaded ring tones so that REO Speedwagon plays when John calls. It's a great way to recover from a very embarrassing moment!

Random Thoughts, week of 10/9

A few random thoughts for this Wednesday morning...

Does anyone else have a problem with the fact that the lead story on Yahoo News right now is the fact that Giant Camels died off centuries ago? Is it really that slow of a news day? There's got to be something else we can talk about. It may be a great story, but I just don't feel it deserves lead story on Yahoo news...
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Our nephew, Mason, informed us very matter-of-factly last night that it is getting cold. I was grateful for the observation. And, it is in fact almost sweater weather, and I'm quite excited. Because, let's face it, my winter clothes are a lot cuter than my summer clothes. And I think many people look better in the winter. Especially poor souls like me that don't tan--we look better all covered up!
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We watched the game this weekend with a different group of friends than normal, and it was a lot of fun. There were children there, which was actually a good thing because it made me watch my actions and language more than I would in a normal situation. Plus, I didn't want our new group not to invite us back because I acted like a fool or something....so I was more than subdued. I almost felt like I was too subdued....I was concentrating on not yelling at the TV. I liked having the kids there, because most of them are starting to talk and carry on conversations, and they provided much comic relief during a sad game.

However, I did wear my not-so-nice beat Texas shirt because it's a long-standing tradition. I've had it for 6 years now. I'm beginning to think it's not so magical anymore. I was so disappointed because I really, really thought we were going to win. They even played me up until halftime...sigh.

I still love my Sooners. Especially Garrett Hartley--I am officially a kicker groupie. He never lets me down.
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I have been on a cooking frenzy. Ok, I cooked two days. And I guess one doesn't even really count because we ended up going out. BUT, I did plan ahead two days in a row and got everything ready, used kitchen utensils and pans and everything. My dishwasher is worn out from all the use. Monday I made Garlic Lemon pork chops and rice, and last night I made Fiesta chicken quesadillas and beans and chips. That may not sound very culinary to you--but it's not Hamburger Helper so it's gourmet to me. I forgot what I had on the menu for tonight. But I'm sure it's something good. Maybe it's Pigs-N-A-Blanket and Mac-N-Cheese night. That would be great. Anyting with "-N-" in the title is usually a winner at our house!
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Finally, on the TV front....I'm thinking that Studio 60 will be the only newcomer this year to make it to my DVR list. Maybe Friday Night Lights, but I'll have to watch a few more to see. Also, I'm seriously considering eliminating Desperate Housewives. I'm just not into it. Already eliminated were "Extreme Makeover" (too sappy) and "Law and Order:CI" (too many L&O's).

And that's it on the TV homefront...
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Have a great week! And if you're not busy early Satuday morning, consider participating in the Komen Race for the Cure. It's at the Bricktown Ballpark Saturday morning. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and it's tons of fun, with lots of free pink stuff and you know your $25 is going to a great cause. And if you come, stop by my client's booth and see me...

My Feelings on the Longhorns....I hope they drown in the Red River

I cannot think of a better education on OU/TX weekend, and the importance of things like upside down Longhorns than the education provided on an old friend's blog, Discount Bananas by Cary McCall. Please check it out--read the past few days entries. Cary and I attended many a game in both Norman and Dallas in college, along with our National Championship-winning crew from the Outreach, and he gives a great look into the deep down, burning hatred we Sooners feel for the Longhorns.

In no circumstance could I ever like Texas. Ever. I didn't even root for them in the National Championship (I didn't root for USC either--but really not Texas). People say "root for the Big 12". And I do....except Texas. I hate that school and their stupid cow mascot.

Thanks, Cary, for such a great education and bringing back a lot of memories!

That's what I get for being a workaholic TV head...nothing to talk about!

I know it's been a while since I posted. Sorry about that--I'd say we're busy....but really we're just boring. Nothing too exciting going on in our neck of the woods. We decided not to paint the living room over the weekend. Too many things going on. We're thinking maybe Thanksgiving break?

I did do one exciting thing this weekend. Inspired by my "blog celeb", Susan over at Friday Play Date, I organized my closet. While Susan suggested trying on everything in your closet to make sure it fits and if it doesn't get rid of it, I have way too many clothes to do that. Way too many clothes and not enough motivation (seems to be my theme song these days). But the closet is so clean, organized, and beautiful I want to move in!

You should check out Friday Play Date every week for "Fashion Friday" where you'll get tips on various things for your closet, clothing, and what to wear. SHe should be on TLC or something...

The Cheesecake Factory is up and running here in OKC. I was able to enjoy my decadent dessert at lunch yesterday. We waited forever, but I'm pretty sure it was worth every minute. However, much like PF Chang's when it opened, I think I will wait a few weeks before trying again. The wait time is just ridiculous. For those interested, I tried the chocolate peanut butter cookie dough cheesecake and it was fabulous.

I seriously have nothing more interesting that that. So sorry....I've been working a lot because we had someone new start and we're in the process of training her. Her name is Keli and she is already a tremendous help--can't wait to see what she'll do in the next few months!

This weekend is the big game. I'm going to try and formulate an actual, educated opinion on this game in the next few days. I'll be happy to share with you a professional response when I get one but in the meantime: Texas sucks!