Monday musings:

• Ashley gets cool points for being the best wife ever. She watched Wayne's World with me this weekend. Great movie. Sure, she recognized half the quotes that are in my regular lexicon, but hey -- you gots to remember your roots. I suppose I owe her a night with a chick flick now.
• I am waiting for the Wierd Al parody of the "My Humps" song. Seriously.
• So I went in to ACE hardware this weekend and it is a brand new one. Well, I was just walkign around, and in liek every aisle, they kept askign me if I needed anything. Well, after about th e10th time, I started making up items. And every time they asked again, I got more absurd. For those Back to the Future geeks, out there, I think Martin is still looking for a Flux Capacitor in the electronics aisle.
• I love technology. But not as much as you, you see. Always and forever.
• If you ladies are looking for a way to turn heads: http://www.ebaumsworld.com/videos/headturning.html
• I love spring
• In the last three weeks of crazy events, I have decided to really focus on three parts of my life. The first is my health. Nothing like two parents with heart conditions to scare you into eating better and staying in shape. The second is Asher, sinc eshe' scool like that. The third is my fingers. Looks liek I'm going to have a few projects coming up and I'd really liek to keep my fingers intact.
• No market news this week. Just the price of oil. Bummer.
• My milkshake brings ALL the boys to the yard.

I'm out.

I need to go to drug rehab.

I'm convinced that Easter candy is laced with crack. If it's not, why do I keep eating so much?

I polished off half a bag (maybe more?) of Starburst jellybeans in two days.

This afternoon I went to Shopko to pick up T.P. and shower cleaner. I walked out with another bag of Starburst beans, two packages of Peeps (pink and blue), five snack packs of Cadbury Mini Eggs (for portion control), and one bag of Brachs marshmallow bunnies and chicks.

I do this every year. Every spring, I think, "Ashley, you're going to be strong this time. You're not going to get within 10 yards of an aisle of Easter candy." Then the pretty colors, textures, shapes, and once-a-year tastes lure me in, and I cave. I'm already planning a trip to get speckled crunchy M&M's, Cadbury cream eggs and robin's eggs.

Easter candy is my favorite candy in the whole wide world. The Easter after Andy and I got engaged, Mama Washburn made me a pink Easter basket and filled it with my favorite treats. She told me I didn't have to share with her son. It was the beginning of a beautiful relationship. ;)

Gah, I have to stop. I'm on a mission to lose a few pounds because I'm becoming an obeast (obese+beast=obeast), and eating my weight in Easter candy isn't helping.

See? I really need a 12-step program.

I don't think I need to explain the rare wonderfulness of a snow day at the university. Thanks to the interstate shutting down and the kiddies not being able to drive back to Lincoln from their spring break destinations, we got another one today!

This is how yesterday went:
Read, nap, play with cat, eat a handful of Starburst jellybeans, read, talk on phone with Lindsey, read, eat jellybeans, watch Cheerleader Nation on Lifetime and eat pretzels, play with cat, eat gross leftovers, read BH&G, cat, jellybeans, shower. I hadn't felt that relaxed (and lazy!) in years, probably.

This is how today has went:
Breakfast, check work e-mail and realize my boss dropped the ball on an important project (and she's out of town for two weeks), get angry, send e-mails to mend feelings and rectify the situation, calm down, eat jellybeans, read, eat pizza, check e-mail again and realize my boss forgot several other important details before she left, send more apologetic e-mails, realize that I've become my boss's bitch (i.e., the one who does 85% of the work), watch cat cough up sock fuzz and dried funeral flowers. Don't ask. Damn cat.

I'm signing out now; it's time for more jellybeans and Cheerleader Nation.

Monday Musings:

I love my job in academia. I get snow days, just liek the kiddies, and I just saw that LPS will stay closed tomorrow which means tomorrow is optional for me. Guess who's staying hoem to watch Dawson's Creek and Saved by the Bell again!!!

Sorry for all the typos, but my back is killign me and I don't want to sit here to edit.

So what's on my mind these days? Well....

Hoping that UNL cancels classes tomorrw for two reasons. First, Asher won;t have to go to work either. And second, how much would it suck to have a snow day from work and then still have to go to class at 3:30. I know, right. Plus, if I don;t have to go to class, I may round up Cole and another and maybe start digging out Grandpa Dale -- if for no other reason to see how kick-ass his snowblower really is.

So my momma goes in for a big surgery on Thursday. A heart-cathaterization ink test for of thing for you medical types on here. BAsically, they shoot her veins full of ink and see what's blocled and where. From there, it coudl be this wicked cool angioplaity thingy with a baloon that blows open the clog, or it could be open heart surgery and a bypass on the spot. Crazy stuff. THough, old bag for my family (at least on my dad's side). Hopefully, things will all go OK and she's use this as a wake up call to make some lifestyle changes and whatnot so she can have many many happy years of enjoying grandbabies.

No -- Ash is not pregnant.

I really dig my boss. As much ass-kissing as this sounds like, I like his weather policy, I liek that he let us basically take a three hour lunch last week to watch the NCAA opening round. I liek that I get Fridays off in the summer. I like that he has no problem with employees going to baseball games in the mid-afternoon. But his whole philosophy is great. Give people time off to do the things they love, and they will work their ass off when they are in the building. I knwo I do.

I like how the domestic retial markets are coming back. Especially bood old Buckle (BKE) which has jumped 18% in 6 months. Tech is just too risky until Apple and Google start to level out, and oil -- no thanks.

My wife is addicted to some Cheerleader reality show. Sad.

I am becomming more convinced every day that I should quit my day job and open up a business that will help young people with their finances. So many people just out of school are screwed. That's not counting you doctor and pharmacy types that will be able to pay off their student loans after like a week of work and then by a mega house the second week. (I know its really not THAT great).

I smell like snowblower gas.

Ok -- back hurting. Bye.

It's hard for me to adapt to this blustery, snowy weather when I was just at the beach a mere 4 days ago. This past week I went to Texas with Cassondra, my roommate, and her cousins. It was a wonderful time of relaxation, attempts at tanning, and eating too much good food.

The area that we stayed in for the greater part of the week was near Orange, TX, which is about 12 miles west of the Texas/Lousiana border. The weather ranged from 75 to 87 degrees. Each night we'd sit outside on the back porch and it felt just like summer. Texas also had a lot of nightlife options. Every club down there is 19 and over so Cassondra and I could go have fun with her 24/25 year old cousins. Overall it was a great time and I'd love to show pictures to anyone who would like to see them!

Lastly, I have to thank my lucky stars though because a lot of the area we stayed at was still cleaning up from Hurricane Rita. Many people still don't have roofs (just bright blue tarps), many trees are still down, and people are still working on getting their lives together. It was just cool to see this all up front instead of just on CNN. But no matter how devistated their property is, everyone still has a great attitude and just deals with what they have.

So that's the overview of my Spring Break 2006! A lot of fun, food, and relaxation was just what I needed!

I'm giving Julie some serious Princess Points.

Why? Because thanks to her, I figured out that O.A.R. sings that kickass Love and Memories song. I am so hooked and can't wait to discover more.

Nebraska weather is crazy in early March. It was 60 degrees yesterday, we had thunder/lightning/hail/rain/snow this morning, and it's supposed to snow tomorrow.

The weather reminded me of one memorable birthday celebration with Grandpa Meyer. We went up to Grandpa and Grandma's house to have supper and open presents. About as soon as Grandma put away the last sliver of angel food cake, a huge, nasty thunderstorm rolled through. There were tornado warnings in the surrounding counties, and I was secretly hoping some of the excitement would come our direction (not because I wanted the house to blow down, but because I'm a screwball who loves bad weather simply because it's interesting).

The storm was powerful enough to knock out the power. Cole, Hayley and I were shrieking in the basement, so Dad came down with his flashlight and led us back upstairs. Lindsey was really little -- maybe 2? -- and she wouldn't stop crying because the thunder was scaring her. We all huddled in the living room and waited for the power to come back on. And waited. And waited some more.

Finally, Grandpa announced that he was opening his presents, electricity be damned. I can still picture him holding a flashlight in one hand and polishing off half a package of Peeps with the other. :)

It snowed the next day. (Happy birthday, Grandpa -- even if I am one day early.)

Early Monday Musings, since I'll be way slammed at work tomorrow (but that's OK).

- Still feeling good for winning my speedign ticket case. I didn't get off on a technicality, I got off on the officer's incompetance.

- This week has been an intense time of reflection. I consider myself very lucky to have such a wonderful wife, brother-in-law, and pair of sister-in-laws. Not that I don't already know you well already, but some of the conversations I had with a few of you this week were actually meaningful and had some depth to them. Good stuff.

- I really like Pastor Ed more each day.

- I now know what a Kaddish is.

- If you are bored and with an uber-high speed internet connection, check out my latest video-editing job from an event a few weeks back. I'll have another one up this week. http://www.huskeralum.com/events/redgala/video.htm IF this is too big, check out the low res link on the page. I'll be waiting for my academy award.

- Cole. No pressure, but hang on to that gal of yours. To be able to handle Uncle Jeff, Uncle Joe and the relatives in a fairly emotional time is not somethign you will find too often.

- Cole. We were sitting with some friends the other night debating on whether or not to call you up and see if the hot tub was occupiable. We may still do so some time before spring gets here. Be ready.

- Current students, after some of my other activities this week not family/funeral-related, remind me to give you all a personal finance lesson after you gaduate. There's some relatively simple stuff out there that I think you all know, but I want to be sure so you are not in the same spot as some other folks out there.

- I don't type very well.

- It's about time for me to get a new cell phone. This one is so old, Zac Morris could have used it to call Kelly or Screech at the Max.

- Don't you love how college has its spurts. Two tests and a paper all due in the same week, and then nothing for like 5 weeks. Then it all happens again. What the hell? Just Karma I guess.

Test Yourself!

http://members.iinet.net.au/~pontipak/redsquare.html

Supposedly airforce pilots can keep this up for 2 mins or more. It's very addicting :D

Bringing you some kitten cheer.

Our neighbor cat Carrot came onto the deck to invite Blue out to play.

Linzo, will you show this to Dad?

Update:

Well, I fought the law, and the law can kiss my ass. Yup, the ticket got dropped. I got to do the whole bit: opening statement, cross examination of the officer, everything. The officer admitted that it is possible he pulled the wrong vehicle over and made errors on my traffic stop. Whee.

So, I am trying to reach the Isreali-Canadian professor. Dude does not check his voice mail or e-mail. I have test scheduled for Thursday night, but would much rather be with family that evening.

Monday Musings has been posponed.

I'm currently riding a bag of mixed emotions with

- Grandma Shirley news
- Contesting the speeding ticket tomorrow morning (still angry and a touch nervous)
- A test for half my grade in a class this thursday
- And my favorite fundraiser event of the year which I created a few years back to help remember a former colleague and has been pretty successful.

But I won't leave you empty handed. Enjoy:
http://www.ebaumsworld.com/videos/regurgitater.html

I promise I won't get into the habit of downer posts, but please send your hugs to the Nebraska Andersons. Our Grandma Shirley passed away this afternoon. It's really for the best because her quality of life had degraded so much, but it's still going to be difficult, especially for Grandpa. :(

I learned a new word today, courtesy of the Washington Post: idolspize.

To “idolspize” means to admire, yet secretly despise, a person. The people we idolspize often have the same major or occupation, belong to our social circle, and lead lives as mundane as our own. Yet, because of their beauty, talent, or luck, we can’t control the green-eyed monster inside us when they’re around.

Why? Because the person you idolspize is just like you, but better.

Meet Michelle. Michelle and I are both 25 and graduated from UNL in 2002. I have a degree in journalism; she has bachelor’s degrees in English and political science. After college, I spent three years working my tail off to understand Nebraska laws and politics. She was brilliant enough to land a job in Washington, D.C., with a congressman who is a legit contender for president in 2008. After working for him, she earned a master’s degree in comparative politics from Canada’s most prestigious liberal arts school. She graduated with honors both times.

People with journalism degrees think English majors are second-rate writers. When Michelle asked to meet with me to discuss a project I was working on, I was feeling smug until I listened to her ideas. Then I was embarrassed I hadn’t thought of them myself.

Although she’s young, Michelle commands respect. She’s confident enough to tell a difficult professor, “No, we’re going to do it my way,” and they listen. I’m tall, but she’s 6’0” barefoot, and still wears 3-inch heels. She finds funky ways to wear normal clothing and manages to look like a fashion icon; I’d pay good money for a fashion coach. Her favorite book is Pride and Prejudice; I’ve started it five times and have never read beyond Chapter 3.

Could I realize my potential (i.e. be more like her) if I worked harder, got a master’s degree and read the classics instead of The Nanny Diaries?

The idolspize concept makes sense to me. I don’t know anyone who is truly jealous of a celebrity. But I every woman I know is jealous of someone in her class, her volunteer group, her church, or even one of her friends. How do we handle spending time with someone whose fabulousness reminds us of our shortcomings?

I think the answer lies somewhere between self-improvement and self-acceptance. In my case, I need to become more confident and assertive, especially at work. I need to accept that I will never have slim thighs or be the person in the room to whom everyone gravitates.

What do you think? Who do you idolspize?

Read the original article at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2006/02/21/AR2006022101862.html

OK,

I'll concede a little bit.

Coldplay had some fantastic moments. Giant yellow balloons falling from the ceiling during "Yellow. " Made it seem like a giant party.

The last minute of "Fix you" was nearly musical perfection and the only time all four of the band members were on the big screen, singing the hell out of the last chorus. I'd put that up there with one of the top mucial moments I have seen live, even if it only did last a minute.

And the song right before that -- no idea what the title was, was pretty cool. Its not every day that a performer jumps off the stage, runs to the back of the arena and jumps into the crowd while singing the last verse.

Very cool.

What was NOT very cool were the girls behind us that were so drunk that they spilled more beer on us than they were drinking. Maybe I'm a miser, or I respect the music too much. But I can't see why someone would do this.

Sure I would have a beer if the opportunity presented itself. But I'm not going to drop $5 a beer for more than one beer. And I sure as hell am not going to miss 3 or 4 songs while I stand in line to get another or wait to pee.

And I sure as hell am not going to get so hammered that I don't remember the show that I paid $75 a ticket to go see.

Stupid people.

Monday musings:

My Russian accent has been quite popular today.

NO market news. Damn Presidents and their special day. I mean, isn't it enough that they get their 6-figure salary fo rlife. Nope, they get their own holiday too. Even the crappy ones. I tell you, it will be a cold day in hell when I celebrate the presidency of Arthur or Taft.

So I am going to see Coldplay tonight. Bring on the mellow-ness. I am actually looking forward to the show somewhat, but I hope they pick up the tempo bit live.

So I found out on Saturday that the gas I pass in my sleep is powerful enough to awaken a sleeping wife. Lindzo would be so proud -- and now you have something to shoot for.

I am gettign sick. Oh well, at least it is in between work and school projects. Though I am convinced that with technological advances, I coudl work three days a week from home and actually be more productive in the process because I could focus on stuff. And then, teh other two days, I woudl go in and put out fires and have meetings. I wonder if the boss will go for that. Tuesday's dress code = pajamas.

Peace out, playaz.

Quotes of the Day

Today Hayley wore a pair of brown sweatpants and a kelly green sweatshirt. I had already given her a hard time about her outfit because her pants said "Nebraska" and her shirt said "Minnesota." So, Hayley was doubly wounded when mom blurted out, "You look like a ... tree!" Lindsey and I giggled, and Schnookums looked crestfallen, so Mom tried to smooth things over by saying, "That's okay, honey. It's found in nature." Then I said, "And we all know that things found in nature make fabulous fashion!" (By the way, she really did look cute.)

Andy and I often lament that our kids are screwed because both of us have had glasses, braces, ugliness, awkwardness, and lack of athletic talent. So, when Andy discovered this evening that we both have foot problems occasionally, he said (rather angrily, I might add), "Our kids are going to be shitting themselves when they're 20."

Now for a late addition:
"Chuck her into the audience for bigger applause!" said Andy, in an Indian accent, while watching ice dancing with me.

As you all, and the rest of the world know, yesterday was a lame ‘Hallmark-Induced’ holiday. Yes, that’s right it was Valentine’s Day. Now don’t worry I’m not going to get cynical about how love sucks and those in love should have all of the chocolate hearts and flowers thrown at them. I can’t do this because love really is a beautiful thing. And ironic enough I actually had a boyfriend this year. Don’t get mad if you didn’t know about this boyfriend because you will find out shortly that it worked out just about as well as Michael Jackson’s plastic surgery.

I began dating Andy a couple weeks ago after knowing him, or so I thought, since the beginning of this year. He’s a freshman and lives in my dorm. (Note to self: convenience and younger men don’t mix well!) I liked that he was really into baseball and that he appreciated my uniqueness.

Right after we were officially together I began to feel the pressures of this semester. My classes are tough and all of my clubs are in full swing. Matters weren’t helped when grandma landed in the hospital of course too. So perhaps when I told him “Yes I’ll date you exclusive” I was a bit unbalanced (Ashley and Lindsey should like that part) due to stress and the fact that a halfway normal guy was paying attention to more than my looks. In short, I didn’t have much time left to spend with Andy after classes, meetings, and daily visits to see grandma. Apparently that didn’t fly so well with him.

A couple nights ago I missed some of his phone calls and hadn’t been around when he came by to visit. When I finally called him back I asked if he wanted to hang out after I studied for my quiz. He responded by saying, “Maybe. We’ll see if I have time.” (Oh no he didn’t!) So just as coldly as he said that to me I said, “Find. Then I’m going to study.” When he came by later he acted like he wasn’t being an inconsiderate jerk earlier. So I told him, “Well, I know you’re pissed at me for not spending time with you but my grandma’s in the hospital, I’m trying to pass classes to get into nursing school, plan my future, and not go insane, so if you can understand that it would be great.” Okay, so maybe I was a little nicer about it, but that comment is fairly accurate. He then Facebooked me later that night and said that he totally understands and how he needs to be more considerate. So then I thought okay maybe he is more mature than I thought. WRONG! Since then he’s given me three roses (on Monday, no not Valentine’s day) another hate/mad message and no phone call on Valentine’s day. Sorry but this guy is outta here! How’s that for a little baseball terminology? Yeah, I hope he likes that.

It was good for me to give it a try in a relationship, but I think that 20 years of single life (which is something that I do NOT regret) and 20 years of watching my friends in good, but mostly bad relationships, helped me out. I know that Andy can’t handle being supportive so I’ll take my wisdom and dump the schmuck because I refuse to date someone I don’t like!

P.S. The guy that ran me into a tree is dating a girl that snuck into the picture in a very sly, sneaky way that only certain people can pull off. Oh, but I’m not bitter.

I have to get this off my chest so I can go on with my day.

I've read a lot about Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple computers. I admire him, and I prefer his business plan over the Bill Gates model. Every day I'm surrounded by computer snobs who worship the Mac, and their reasons seem valid. I want to love my pretty Mac computer ... but I don't. I want to throw it out the window. Here's why:

1) Many Web pages get messed up on Mac-supported web browsers. You should see how jacked up this blog looks on Andy's work computer.
2) Microsoft Office, which 99.9999% of Americans use, sucks rocks on a Mac. That's how I got into the mess I'm in now.
3) They really aren't that intuitive or user friendly. I love my ipod, but setting up itunes was a bitch at first. It caused the only real screaming match that Andy and I have had.
4) If Apple itself doesn't make the program, it probably will be filled with bugs and glitches and won't work properly.
5) I'm tired graphic designers claiming that desktop publishing programs work best on Macs. That is a load of crap. They work fine on both.
6) What's up with Mac keyboards having an Apple key and a control key? Instead of pressing control+C to copy something, you press Apple+C. You use the Apple key for almost every major command, so why bother having a control key?
7) Either I'm getting old and blind, or the default screen font size is unreasonably tiny. Changing the setting by just one notch makes it GIANT. I can't win.

The one good thing about Macs is that you don't have to worry about viruses. That's because the evil genius virus makers know that hardly anyone uses Macs; therefore, creating a Mac virus wouldn't be worth their time!

Follow-up.

Presentation went well and I hit a milestone tonight! I outgrew my barbell!

Last January, I decided to get into shape and brought some of my dad's old weights from home (and blew off about 25 years of dust) and bought some others at a garage sale this summer -- I mean an full bar and metal snow shovel for $5. Great deal.

Anyway, I hit 30 reps on both arms tonight. When I started a year ago, I could not do 10. I hit 30 with my right arm a few weeks back, but my left arm finally hit 30. So I'm going ot have to go with more weight, knock down the number of reps and add a set after a rest period. Yay.

It's going to be the best intramural hockey season for me ever!!!!!!