Happy Birthday, Vanessa!

This is a couple days late, but I've been lazy about logging on to the computer. Nevertheless.

Happy Birthday Vanessa! You are an incredible person, and I'm glad you're my friend. I look back over our years together (we've been a couple longer than you and Robb, and me and Kevin. The guys need to respect that!), and have laughed over so many things. Cracking your back when we were new roommates, massages in Thailand, the Beach House trips, and so much more. Valentine's Day at Costco. Tortilla soup and bakery at Hof's Hut and gyros at George's. The list goes on and on. Happy, happy birthday, my friend. The world is a better place because you are in it and I am just grateful for the wonderfulness that is you. May you enjoy the last year of your 20s.

What a Man!

Let me just preface this by saying that Kevin is not a fan of musicals, and the Wizard of Oz is down towards the bottom of movies he would like to see again (as in, if he never watches it again, he will be a happy man). I, on the other hand, LOVE musicals, and have grown up watching and loving the Wizard of Oz. I enjoy it greatly. Having stated that, Kevin has been planning something for the past couple weeks, keeping me in suspense. On Friday night, all was revealed.

Kevin got tickets for us to go see Wicked in San Francisco. He is going to suffer a musical based around the Wizard of Oz, because I have mentioned that I loved the show and would love to see it again. Plus, he knows how much I like to dress up for events (fancy heels and all!). We're even in the Orchestra seating. Can I just tell you how excited I was? I was bouncing around like a two-year old. I have an incredible man. And I am a lucky, luck girl.

Childhood Dream Achieved

Friday night is date night. May I just say, I am dating a very thougtful and imaginative man. I've never been ice skating, and have always wanted to go. My whole life, practically. I must have mentioned it to someone, who mentioned it to Kevin, and the next thing I know, date night is dinner and then ice skating. So I have now realized a childhood dream and have the added bonus of dating a guy who thinks of things more than just going to a movie, or waiting until he is over here and asking what I feel like doing. I have a man who makes plans!

And ice skating is incredibly fun. I didn't fall down and it is mostly like roller blading. I can't wait to go back and try again someday.

The Mis-Adventures of Shaine, Terry, and Twinkie

I was at girl's night with Terry (name changed because that is how you know her) and Kevin's brother Twinkie (how he wishes to be known) last night, and around midnight decided it was time to go home. Pulled my keys out of my purse and realized my car key had somehow slipped off the key ring. Traced my steps with Terry and Twinkie and found my key in my car, sitting on the front passenger seat. We got a wire hanger and Twinkie tried to open it himself, and after awhile I figured we better just call AAA. By now it is 1:00 AM and, by the time AAA got there, got the car open, and I left, it was 1:30. What started as a standard night of "So You Think You Can Dance" turned into the Mis-Adventures of Shaine, Terry, and Twinkie. We were standing on the street, trying to open my car with a coat hanger, and talking and laughing. If people were awake, I'm sure they would have thought we were stoned, drunk, or something. It was an interesting night.

But I must give a shout-out to Terry and Twinkie, who helped me look for the key, tried to open it, and then waited with me in the cold, windy night until AAA arrived and I could be on my way. Thanks, guys. You are true friends.

Weird

The problem with coming home from the gym at 10:30 PM and then eating dinner is you get caught up in the stupid TV programs you have recorded. On top of that is the stupid commercials that come along with the late night TV watching; such as the "Bumpit." What is up with this thing? Does anybody really need a device that makes a person's hair higher and bigger? And really, are cheerleaders your best market? I don't understand this item? Who needs bigger hair? I spend half my time trying to get my hair to be less puffy. It has enough volume on its own. Again, I just don't get it.

Field Trip

I have a list of things that I wanted to see and do over the summer. It is hanging on my refridgerator, staring me in the face every time I walk by it. I have not crossed any of those items off my list...until today! Kevin and I went to Sacramento and played tourist. We hit the Crocker Art Museum, where they had a great exhibit of Maxfield Parrish prints, as well as their other wonderful exhibits. After that, we went to Sutter's Fort. Shockingly enough, I have not been there before and wanted to see it (my mom insists that I was there, when I was four or five years old, but I have no memory of it). I used to live in Sacramento...I was a history major...somehow the fact that this was my first trip there is kind of sacrilegious. I should have been there more often. Or at least once, while I lived in the city. But I have seen it now, and it was fun and interesting. There are people there who are a little too excited to dress up and pretend they are part of the original Sutter's Fort crew (rocking it like it's 1849!) and know a little too much about everything there. I spoke to one lady who had over 4,000 hours of volunteer duty. Who has that kind of time? What about a real life? But the whole day was fun and interesting. I enjoyed myself, thoroughly, even if it was hotter than Hades out there. I had forgotten what summer was like in Sacto. But good times, all around.

Success!

This week, my friend Terry (name changed to protect the innocent) went on another double date with Kevin and I. This time she arranged the date herself and it was a success. We went to the Alameda County fair, which was awesome. Good food, good booths, good times. The winning product at the booths for me was the nail polish pen. It has a brush on one side and a pen on the other, so you can make your own designs. I was fascinated and intrigued, but not enough to spring the $25 for one box (or three boxes for $60). I did get my deep-fried Snicker's Bar, which is a fair tradition for me. Terry's date, Joe (name changed...just because), went for the deep-fried Reese's Peanut Butter cups. They were delicious. The PB flavor just enhanced the overall experience of the treat. Overall, the fair was a great time, and I am glad that Terry experienced a positive double date with me in the group. This just re-enforces my commitment to not setting people up. She did fine, all on her own.

An Ode to the Bed

I love my bed. I love my sheets, my pillows, my blankets, and my little reading lamp next to it so I can read before I go to bed. I especially love my bed after I come home from a trip and haven't been in it for a few days. I really love my bed. It is comfort and just welcoming.

Last weekend I was in LA and the LBC, visiting family and friends, and just running all over the place. The weekend before I was in Santa Cruz for the family reunion. Kevin came with me for both trips, so that added a little pressure, since it was the first time meeting all my family. So I am looking forward to a weekend at home and just being able to lounge in my bed for awhile.

Disaster!

I took it upon myself to arrange a date for a friend of mine last week. I contacted Milton (name changed to protect the oblivious), who lives in San Jose, and asked him if he would be interested in a DATE (the reason for the caps will soon become apparant) with my friend, Terry (name changed to protect the innocent). Milton agrees, suggests we make it a DOUBLE DATE with Kevin and I, since Milton and Terry did not know each other. Sounds like a plan to me, so I set it up. Bowling with ice cream to follow. The appointed day comes, and we get to the bowling alley. Apparently, all the lanes were full, and we wouldn't be able to get in for about an hour (on a Thursday night!). So we scratch that and go to get ice cream first. At the ice cream place, Milton walks away from Terry, thereby forcing her to pay for her own ice cream. Then we go back to my house for games and chit-chat.

The next day, Milton sends me an email, "I had fun last night. Thanks for planning a fun ACTIVITY." What activity? This was suppossed to be a date!

Needless to say, the evening was a disaster and I am not too confident in my abilities to arrange things. I think I will let my friends find their own dates from now on. I am obviously not too good at setting things up.