Ouija boards are bad

Wow...it's been a long time since I've blogged on here! I guess getting married, settling down, renovating a house, and starting a new job had not left me much time for adventures. Although getting married, settling down, renovating a house, and starting a new job is an adventure in itself for sure. Living in MA has been an experience. We ain't in GA no more! My overall impression of MA is that Boston is an amazing city, people here (for the most part) are rude and in a hurry, and I've never seen such terrible drivers. Perhaps its the fact that there are no lines in the pot hole covered roads that make them so cranky, but I've lived anywhere that its acceptable to just pull out into the road and wait for someone coming from the other direction to stop so you can pull in front of them meanwhile causing the traffic in the lane you are blocking to begin backing up. I of course NEVER let anyone get in front of me if they've done such an asinine thing. I have met some really good people and definitely think I'll have some really cool adventures while we're up here.

Have you heard of the website meetup.com? It's a way to meet people who share your same interests. I started a photography meetup and then let someone else take it over mostly because I didn't want to pay for it anymore. Or plan the events. Last fall I also joined a paranormal meetup, but didn't go to any meetings. I went to the paranormal groups website and they have openings for investigators so I applied and didn't hear anything so I kind of forgot about it. In January I got a call and went through 2 interviews and got picked to be an investigator! Last week I went to my first meeting with this group and it was really interesting! WThe meetup topics covered were ouija boards, tarot cards, and television shows. Apparently ouija boards are bad. My parents, in their infinite wisdom, bought me one when I was in middle school. I made a comment about how it was good tomorrow was garbage day, but found out that apparently you aren't just supposed to throw ouija boards away! There's some kind of ritual involved to get rid of a ouija board that may or may not involved burying it. I can tell you what there ain't no way I'm burying that thing on my property. I'll have to sneak onto my neighbors property (the ones with the dog that barks all thet time) and bury it over there. The entire drive home from my meeting I thought about this stupid ouija board! My mom does not feel I'll be able to go into a "haunted" house to investigate and Paul thinks the night may end with me peeing on myself and running out of the house screaming, but I think I can be a little braver than that. Granted we watched Paranormal Activity 3 weeks ago and I am still scared that something is going to grab my leg during the night and drag me out of the bed, but regardless. It'll be okay. The other investigators are really nice and really funny and we are having a mock investigation tonight to go over equipment, etc. I think my first real investigation is going to be in April.

Other than that I'm still fat. I've lost no weight and have actually gained weight. Recently I started changing my diet and am trying to add working out into the mix, but its the damn wine. I love the wine! I know this love is not going to aid in my weight loss. I've been tossing around the idea of calorie counting and we'll see how that goes. I just don't want to get pregnant again and weigh so much! We'll be heading off to the gym soon.

It's a damp, rainy day here in MA and I can't wait for spring to get here!

The glory that is Ikea

My husband of 2 weeks and I spent the morning at Ikea. I had never experienced the glory that is Ikea until they built one in Tampa. Driving up to Ikea is like driving up to Disney World or the chocolate factory. There are lots of directional signs for parking, receiving, the entrance. During the grand opening in Tampa there were even parking attendants directing traffic into the parking lots. When you enter into Ikea there's a greeter handing out maps. You take the elevator upstairs and you enter into a whole new world.

My eyes light up with wonder as I gaze about at all the glorious household items. Things I never even knew I needed or wanted are all present in Ikea. And much like Veruca Salt I want it all! I want a cow rug, and a couch, and a chair, and a bookshelf, and an egg timer, and a plant, and...

My favorite part of Ikea is the little decorated "houses." I feel I could comfortably live in 490 square feet if it was furnished by Ikea. The mini kitchen, the bunk bed with the desk underneath, and the tiny toilet next to the tiny shower...what more could anyone want?

And they put arrows on the floor so you don't get lost. I think Disney could learn a thing or two from Ikea on directional flow. And as you glide from one room to the next you are constantly bedazzled by all the home furnishings. Design Star here I come!

Then you walk through an opening and there's a cafeteria with the best meatballs in the world. Down the escalator into the Marketplace where you can get an incredibly well oiled shopping cart and pick and choose to your hearts content of any accessory you could imagine. Then through another opening into the shelves where all the furniture you saw is stored neatly on shelves for your own selection.

I love Ikea. I love everything about Ikea. And I love my husband of 2 weeks (15 days to be exact). This marriage is everything I'd hoped it would be and more. I feel blessed and happy every day...maybe not every minute of every day, but every day I do feel incredibly lucky and joyful to be with the person I imagined.

And tonight we're sitting in front of our newly working fireplace (1st time it's ever been used even though our house was built in 1964), eating Chinese take out and watching football (well, I'm reading a Fern Michaels book), and relaxing with our babies and I just don't think life could get any better than this. I hope everyone is having as great a Sunday as me.

Damn 5k part II

Paul has been on this big fitness kick. I was doing pretty well working out at home and doing my weight watchers until 2 friends from FL came to visit during a 2 week period and it all went to hell...a hell consisting of alcohol and fried foods. So part of Paul's fitness kick has been running this summer 5k series. The first time we went was when Melissa was here so Melissa and I walked around Lowell while Paul did the 5k. Afterwards she and I enjoyed beer and pizza while Paul sweated.

Tonight Paul forced me to run. Okay, run may be too strong a word. Let's say he forced me to participate. Oh, did I mention the theme? It was a "Bikini Run" meaning people ran in bathingsuits. I ran in pants and a t-shirt with a flying hippo on it. Here are my thoughts during the 5k:

"I f**ing hate all these women in bathingsuits. Who would run in a bathingsuit? I could never run in a bathingsuit. Ewww, she shouldn't be in a bikini. I think I'm having a heart attack. I can't do this. Why is Paul making me do this? Maybe I can make myself pass out before it starts."

Then the 5k actually started.

"Okay, I'm running. This isn't so bad. Danielle's in front of me. Hey, there's Paula. Crap, I gotta walk."

"When is it going to be a mile? I thought they said there was a water station at the 1 mile point. I haven't gone a mile yet. How can that be?"

"Sweet Jesus. One mile. Only one mile. I have a cramp. Keep moving. Keep moving."

"When is it going to be 2 miles? Where is the second damn water station? I don't want to be last again. I don't know if I can finish."

"Okay, just jog a little. A little more. I wish Emily was here. I think I'm going to throw up."

"Okay, stay in front of this lady. I think she's last and I don't want to be last. Just keep moving. Breathe, breathe, slower. You can do this."

"Hey, there's Paul. Run, run."

And then out loud "Where's the end? Where's the end?"

Of course to make it more embarrassing all of Paul's friends were waiting for my slow ass. Granted, I do feel that was very nice; however, I was so out of breath when I crossed the finish line that I couldn't really appreciate it.

My real question was this: Where is this "runner's high" people always talk about? I feel like I got screwed because I never felt a rush of endorphines. Mostly I just felt cranky and annoyed and hot. I also had some concern I may have a heart attack or throw up.

Am I ever going to a runner? Probably not. I think those days are past. Do I need to do something to lose weight? Absolutely because I just get fatter by the day. Am I going to run next week? Probably not.

I did think of my friend Emily the whole time I ran. Her voice was what kept me moving forward because we ran the last 5k together and she was the BEST coach ever! I wished she could've been here with me tonight.