an education

A friend and I have been wanting an excuse to get together more often and spend quality time chatting, bonding, and, if it worked out, making something pretty white we were at it. We researched classes that were being offered in our area and decided upon an intro to jewelry-making class at a school near work. We envisioned meeting up every Tuesday night and mindlessly, effortlessly, second naturedly crafting stunning works, sure to elicit compliments to which we could reply, "Thanks! I made it!"

So far, I can see myself neither wearing anything I have made nor claiming it as my handiwork.

You read above that this is Intro to Jewelry, right? Intro? Lies. Everyone else in the class has taken it 3 or 4 times in previous semesters and is there for what I can identify as a few reasons: to use fancy metalsmithing jargon that has no place in everyday conversation, to wear crocs in an appropriately fashionless environment, because they have dreams of someday making this more than a once a week hobby, and to enjoy the high that goes along with showing up the newbies.

In short, we feel dumb. My friend E and I are both generally fairly type A, and we really thought we would rock this class. I don't generally like activities at which I don't excel or at least enjoy (ahem, kickball?) so I generally really don't like this! I do enjoy watching the demos, there is something very soothing about watching our teacher (whose day job is the real life version of CSI Atlanta) bend metal this way and that all while telling stories in a charming way, avoiding any real cursing by using words like unpleasant, uncomfortable and unfortunate. Love that. But this week marks class 4 and I am barely beyond the first lesson. I think this will turn into Intro to Patience, Humility and No Taking Oneself Too Seriously for me. That's cool. I already have enough jewelry.

I should mention that last week I went to happy hour right before the class and that the 3/4 of a beer I drank seemed to make the class much more fun. The teacher was so busy with the advanced students that E and I talked and walked around the halls of the school with coffees for the first 45 minutes. It really is like being in high school. Maybe even middle school if you consider the amount of self doubt and humiliation we are facing. So I am basically paying $175 to relive my youth. Well worth it.

a week of meals

Back to posting, I promise! It has been a very busy couple of weeks. My boss left the company just as my part time gig was set to start, so that threw a wrench into all my lots-of-extra-time-to-myself-and-my-freelance plans. And Brett has been out of town a lot, so cooking has been on the back burner.

So to make up for it, here is a super week's worth of meal planning. And guess what? These, and most of the other recipes I have been sharing, are Weight Watchers recipes! I have been doing this plan for a few months and I love it. I'm not going to talk numbers just yet, but I put on a pair of pants today that have been skin tight for years and they were loose! And are now one of my favorites again as they were when I was 23. Yes, 23!

SUNDAY : Ropa Vieja with Spinach Salad

MONDAY : Curried Quinoa with Chickpeas

TUESDAY : Tomato Soup with Roasted Squash

WEDNESDAY : Balsamic Chicken with Mushrooms

THURSDAY : Coconut Shrimp and Mango Salad

FRIDAY : Nutty Sweet Potato Salad

I'll post a few recipes later this week, for now I just needed to get a blog post in. xoxo

a week of meals

Here's what's cooking in our kitchen this week, a few of these things sounded really good and we already made them this weekend. Brett is gone again this week but I am determined to treat myself well and still cook. Some of our favorite recipes lately are below. Did anyone try the healthy brownies? I'd be interested to hear your opinion.

Sunday : lunch | CHICKEN + RICE SOUP with BROCCOLI and MUSHROOMS, dinner | BEEF and BROCCOLI

Monday : post swim practice burritos

Tuesday : leftovers before jewelry class

Wednesday : TUSCAN VEGETABLE CHOWDER

Thursday : CHICKEN SANDWICHES with GOAT CHEESE and SUN DRIED TOMATO SAUCE

Friday : CHIPOTLE BEAN NACHOS

Last night I made the bean nachos for an easy Saturday dinner and a movie. They were awesome and so was the movie (Invictus). Today I made the chicken and rice soup for lunch and ate it with Brett and BIL Nick while we watched the Supercross race... at least I enjoyed the soup. Tonight I'm going to make the beef and broccoli while we watch football. Hope ya'll have a great week!

STUFFED PEPPERS with MEDITERRANEAN QUINOA

These remind me of the stuffed peppers my mom made growing up. I loved them!

1 tsp olive oil

1 small onion, chopped

1 garlic clove, minced

1 14 oz. can diced tomatoes with liquid

1 cup uncooked quinoa

1 cup water

4 bell peppers

10 kalamata olives, chopped

1 cup canned chickpeas, rinsed and drained

1 1/2 tbsp pesto

1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

Preheat oven to 375°. Heat oil in a large saucepan and sauté onion for 5-7 minutes, until softened. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add tomatoes and their liquid, water and quinoa to pan, stir and bring to a boil. Then reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, until quinoa is tender.

In the meantime, cut top off peppers and clean out any ribs and seeds. Make a thin slice off the bottom so they stand easily on a baking sheet.

When quinoa is done, stir in chickpeas, olives and pesto. Taste and add salt to taste. Spoon quinoa mixture into the peppers and bake uncovered for 25 minutes. Then remove from oven, sprinkle with the feta and continue baking another 5 minutes or until feta is melted.

CHIPOTLE BEAN NACHOS

Obviously I don't have kids and hardly ever cook for kids, but I suspect kids would like these.

1 tsp olive oil

1 small onion, chopped

1 garlic clove, minced

1 14 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained

1/2 cup shredded cheese

1/2 cup salsa

1/4 cup fat free sour cream

10 kalamata olives, chopped

fresh cilantro, chopped

baked tortilla chips

spices (I used a cajun seasoning and cumin)

Preheat oven to 400°. Heat oil in a skillet and cook onion and garlic until soft, about 8 minutes. Add black beans and spices, mix in with onions. Smash them with the back of a fork, creating a paste. I added some water during this process and kept the heat on low. Spread the beans over 20 or so chips and top with cheese on a baking sheet. Bake about three minutes until cheese melts and then remove and top with salsa, sour cream and cilantro. I generally am not a huge fan of non fat dairy, but in this case where it is more about texture than taste, I used fat free sour cream and it was perfect.

Another note, I used home made chips for this recipe. It is so easy, they make any snack or dip feel fancier, look prettier and a little more wholesome. Slice fresh corn or flour tortillas into wedges. Throw them on a baking sheet, spray with some olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Bake at 425°, keep checking them and flip once. Bake til crisp.

bath time!

We have had some set backs to our bathroom remodel, so while we finally have a toilet after about 9 days, it'll soon get to relive its glory days as hunk of non functional ceramic art, beautifying our living room in a sort of Marcel Duchamp/R. Mutt tribute. In other words, it's getting ripped out because the floor needs to be redone. In the meantime, I'm focusing on the prettier side of bathrooms: (although as toilets go this one is a stunner) mirrors and other accoutrements.

Today I picked up three mirrors at Target, I'm going to try to keep this on the cheap. Option one is just a plain, frameless beveled 18" edge round, $19. I like the simplicity of it, but think it might be a little small. The second is a larger round in a metallic wood frame by Thomas O'Brien, on clearance for $56. The frame color doesn't match the other chrome finishes in there so my plan would be to paint it with the same paint I used for the new closet. I painted a teensy swatch on the bottom edge just to see how the color looks in there are I am liking it. It is sort of my whimsical option. Third is a rectangle mirror with a mirror frame, $29. It is really classic looking, I think it would let the tile and fixtures be the stars, and it will work well with the light fixture. Hoping to post more on this project soon, along with the $29 cabinet we found to add storage to the room. Yes, $29!

Above are some other style elements I will try to work in. The blue is the color of our closet and a deeper version of the color of our living room walls. I don't want to paint the bath walls this color (too much of a good thing) but I definitely envision this fitting in somewhere... This is our new light fixture, bought on clearance from Restoration Hardware, except we have fancy black shades. The LOVE sculpture I own, I bought the milk glass lotion pump today at Target (bye bye Aveeno bottle), and the artwork is something I've had my eye on. Imagine my surprise when I received a similar print from a photographer friend this Christmas! I'm loving this fabric, it is just from cheap-o Ha

ncock Fabrics but I think it is so mod. I seem to buy wire baskets every time I go antiquing. That is our new faucet! It was a splurge, but I think it will be worth it! And I just love that monogram style. Towels? Toilet paper? Kidding. I do have an idea to frame a piece of tp that I managed to salvage from the unruly (not) Weezer crowd. I mean Rivers Cuomo touched it! Hopefully it will all look as good as it does in my head.

photo by Alex Martinez

a week of meals

Somehow we got through most of this. One mishap - Brett thought I meant ground sirloin so we had burgers instead of beef and broccoli. Below is the recipe for the healthy brownies, they really are quite good! Just don't overcook.

Brett is out of town this week, so I am going to try to munch my way through any leftovers and not shop for much other than some fruit and veg for snacks. Here is my single gal meal plan for the week:

Monday: making the STUFFED PEPPERS I meant to make last week.

Tuesday: leftover pepper before jewelry class

Wednesday: ROASTED ACORN SQUASH with CINNAMON, CUMIN and maybe a few RAISINS

Thursday: EGG WHITE OMELET with CAPERS, TOMATOES, OLIVES and SPROUTED BREAD TOAST

Friday: FISH TACOS

BROWNIES

1/3 cup coconut oil

1/2 cup cocoa powder

6 eggs

1/2 cup stevia for baking (I used Truvia)

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup coconut flour, sifted

1 cup chopped walnuts

In a small saucepan, melt the coconut oil and blend in cocoa powder. Set aside to cool. In another bowl, blend together the eggs, stevia, salt and vanilla. Stir in cocoa mixture. Whisk in coconut flour and then fold in nuts. Spread in a greased 8"x8" pan and bake 30-35 minutes.

so many things to discuss...

None of them terribly important, but still... First up, this zodiac thing. I just got a text from my sister informing me that I am now a Taurus. Um, no. Sorry. Not giving up my right to exhibit dual character traits (the sugar-coated Gemini way to say moody) to be a stubborn bovine. Although, she did point out that I can now be lazy without guilt. Sweet. This deserves more research. I am not crazy into the stars, but when your reply to,"what's your sign?" has always been as such... it will be an adjustment. Can you imagine looking at Cosmo and pausing on another sign? Unthinkable.

Next, my meal plan has been derailed this week. By snow. We have been stuck at home, staying up late, sleeping in, and generally being far away from any semblance of normal. And, not really craving the healthy stuff. I made the tilapia (awesome) and did try those healthy brownies (double awesome, especially if you like coconut) but the ingredients for the stuffed peppers and sun dried tomato chicken are languishing. Perhaps I will rally tonight. Or, maybe we'll go see Black Swan, True Grit, The King's Speech or Country Strong and have a popcorn and diet coke dinner instead.

Also, my blog. More specifically, my blog's background, Little Miss Sunshine. It's no longer available, so I chose a new orangey offering. I have always felt like a huge cheater using ready made blog wallpaper anyway, I should learn how to do it myself. Maybe in 2011!

In case you're still reading, we are getting organized! Or at least our clothes are. Ever since moving to Atlanta, home to two Container Stores, I have salivated over the elfa closet system. But living the apartment life doesn't allow for anything that needs to be installed, and investing in a permanent system for a temporary home didn't make much sense. Since we'll be in the condo a while, and I noticed that the annual elfa 30% off sale was going on, we did it! I think I'll now have room for exactly 36 pairs of shoes, so I will have a real excuse to weed. That will feel good. This weekend we are painting the closet a Tiffany blue so it will be ready for the installers. I have a feeling I'm going to want to move my office in there, too. All that order...

One last thing: Barbeque Fritos make great croutons. That's all. Thank goodness it's Friday!

a week of meals

Our week 1 menu with annotated reviews by Brett

Last week was a success. I didn't make the soup, we just didn't need it but something tells me we might need a hot bowl of soup this week in Atlanta! Only one real dog: the quinoa salad. For some reason the quinoa didn't cook correctly, it had an oatmeal consistency instead of its usual fluffy quality. The best was the wheat berry waldorf salad - recipe below.

Here is this week's lineup:

Sunday night: STUFFED PEPPERS with MEDITERRANEAN QUINOA

Monday night: swim practice - eat burritos with the team.

Tuesday night: jewelry class! I'll probably grab a smoothie.

Wednesday night: PAN FRIED TILAPIA with ROASTED TOMATOES

Thursday night: BEEF + BROCCOLI

Friday night: CORNMEAL CRUSTED CHICKEN with SUNDRIED TOMATO SAUCE

I have a recipe for gluten free, healthier brownies made with coconut oil and coconut flour. Gonna give it a try! The ingredients were pricey - but something tells me spending more than 99 cents on a brownie mix and some canola oil might be the right decision anyway.

WHEATBERRY WALDORF SALAD with HAM

1 cup wheatberries (soaked overnight to soften)

little bit of ham, I used a 7 oz. prepacked ham steak from Whole Foods, diced.

1 Granny Smith apple, chopped

1/4 small red onion, minced

1 cup golden raisins

2 stalks celery, chopped

1/4 cup walnuts, chopped

1/4 cup fresh parsley, chhopped

2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

2 tbsp orange juice

1 tbsp each honey, olive oil, Dijon mustard, and freshly grated ginger*

Boil wheatberries for about an hour until very tender. Allow to cool a bit and then mix with all other chopped ingredients and raisins. Whisk together the dressing from wet ingredients and ginger and pour over the wheatberry mixture, tossing to coat. Add salt and pepper to taste.

* I thought the ginger was a bit strong with the onion and when I make this again I will probably eliminate or reduce it. Overall though, awesome and made a great next day lunch.

Any cooking success last week for you? Have a great week!

beauty and the book

When we were first engaged, I decided we should get one of those marriage preparatory books and go through some life altering questions together. I found the single volume fitting this description at Borders and B grudgingly agreed to do it with me. We started answering a question or two each night. We never finished, I can't even find the book, but one question that begged an answer was, "Do you find any of your spouse's friends attractive?"

Hmmm, intriguing question, little pink book.

I think I pointed out that one of Brett's good friends looks just like a hot ex boyfriend of mine and that I thought his boss was cute for an older guy. And then, to prevent any awkwardness, I jumped in and volunteered that yes, I do have quite a few attractive girl friends. Like, a lot. Brett murmured assent. We didn't name names.

I had sort of forgotten that conversation - until tonight. Have I ever mentioned that supermodels also excel at marketing hair accessories? We were out tonight celebrating some coworkers' birthdays, first dinner at a beloved Atlanta taqueria and then a private room at Happy Karaoke. Back in the car at the end of the night and I turned to Brett and said, "Does your spouse have any friends you find attractive?" He snickered and we left it at that.

Hope all you pretty ladies had a fabulous weekend!

Now read this...

Yay for my husband! His article is the top story today at espn.com/action. Woo hoo! Congrats, babe! No, we can't retire now...

a week of meals

No way to get started on a resolution than to just jump right in, eh? I am at home today, playing housewife (and loving it, btw). Our pantry is heavy on the dried grains so I picked recipes to help us blow through them. And use up the frozen peas that I keep buying for some reason. The other step I took to keep costs down was to choose 2 recipes with the same herb, dill. I love fresh herbs!

This week we don't have a lot going on in the evenings, except for a swim workout tonight, so we'll have time to make and eat dinner 4 nights. Saturday night we have plans, but I still want to make an effort to eat at home on the weekends. So, I am planning 4 meals that we can eat for dinner and lunch and a soup we can grab anytime. And I try to cut up tons of fruits and vegetables and bag them for lunches and snacks all week. I'm sure no one cares, I'm just talking this through for myself and making a plan :)

Tuesday night: QUINOA + SHRIMP SALAD

Wednesday night: DILL MUSTARD CHICKEN with BROCCOLI

Thursday night: WHEAT BERRY WALDORF SALAD with HAM

Friday night: FRIED RICE with CHICKEN

Soup: CREAMY TOMATO BASIL

What are some of your weeknight favorites? Have a great week!

welcome, 2011

Needless to say, I am ready to start anew. Although, 2010 was pretty great for the Smiths; we decided to become outdoorsy, got a new lease on religion, nutrition and tradition. Spent time (and sky miles) with family, did the right thing, created, celebrated and collaborated. As of today, I am self employed. Eek. Some of my hopes for the new year include meal planning to get our food budget under control, finding my way with my intentions for my design work, strengthening my friendships and making sure people I love really know it, being a support to my husband - as he is to me, figuring out my faith a little better, and creating order - thereby creating ease. I know I need to work on metrics to measure these goals, maybe tomorrow. Happy 01.01.11, everyone!

JCP

I lost my dad yesterday. It was a shock and doesn't feel real but we are dealing and we'll be ok. I wanted to share the obituary I wrote with my sister in the car this morning as we are driving to Watertown. It's not perfect, but we wanted to contribute something to his memory. I really wish I'd remembered to mention his affinity for mallow cups, Limburger cheese and peanut butter and baloney sandwiches, but i have a feeling I'll be posting about him more soon, so those tidbits won't be forgotten. No idea how this will format, it was typed on my iPhone and uploaded from the car. Anyway, please pray for my dad. I'm ok but he needs us now. xo

John C. Pike has died. He lived a too brief but adventurous and ambitious life, touching the lives and souls of many. John gave generously and compassionately, and all who felt his love were warm when he was near.  His personality was his art, much larger than his small stature, he could fill a room with his smile. He welcomed those who felt out of place, could create a poem or song on a whim, and inspired people to do great things. John was born in Watertown, NY in 1951and was blessed to have many lifelong childhood friends, from cub scouts, catholic school, football and just bombing around town, charming young and old alike. John was a member of the TKE fraternity at Eureka College, he liked to tell about sleeping in Ronald Reagan's old bed, and graduated from SUNY Brockport, not cum laude, but a gentleman and a scholar. He married Shelley Ryan in 1974 and their two daughters were born in Portland, OR, a place John loved and always called home. John was a true go-getter, no one worked harder for his family and his values. He had a long career in human resources and loved helping people in that role. He especially had a soft spot for servicemen and their families and strove to make their transitions easier. JCP's true passion was the St. Lawrence River, he spent his best days there and could always be found helping a neighbor, craftimg stories around the campfire and taking on his santa alter ego, ever the jokester. John also loved to fly, a proud event was crossing the country in a Cessna. jcpflyer was a coast guard petty officer and volunteered his time and talents protecting our borders and waterways. John was the most silly, sweet, devoted father and his daughters cherish memories of his creative games, dinner table questions and remember him as an example if character and integrity. John's bond with his daughters and sons-in-law was strong and they know he's in a better place and honor his memory. John was married to Patricia Donovan on a summer day at the River, and truly enjoyed step-grandfatherhood. John ended absolutely every phone call with God Bless; his family and friends wish the same for him.

cool blog

I just found this fun blog for girls like me who like slightly nerdy, adorably charming guys. It's called nerdboyfriend.com

enjoy.

ever evolving wish list

Is this not the cutest thing ever?

well rounded or one track mind...

Today was jam packed, as usual. Church at 7:30, after that a relaxing but quick breakfast at our favorite spot, then to storage to retrieve our bikes (we are up to a collective 5, soon to be 6), a Target stop and then home for some chores. Met up with friends at 1 for a bike ride, and it was super challenging for me, as usual. I have been wondering on and off for a while (truthfully, since I picked up this hobby) if it is worth it for me. I am just ok at this sport. I am a fairly coordinated person, fairly strong and athletic, but not really fearless. ie, I have a fear of smashing my face on a rock or ripping up my elbow, knee, or any other appendage. I think I took up this activity too late in life to ever be an accomplished mountain biker. So what has stopped me from quitting? Pride. The fact that I shelled out a lot of cash for my bike. Pride. Spending time with my husband and the fluttery feeling I get watching him do something at which he truly excels. The new friends I have made riding, whose company I enjoy. Did I mention pride? Every time I go, I get better. It takes me about half an hour on the trails to regain my confidence though, since I don't go ride too often. During that first half hour, I really doubt my abilities and repeatedly hear my inner devil voice shouting, You're crazy! Why are you doing this? And then I do something cool, like get a teeny bit of air off a "jump" or smoothly cross a narrow bridge or tackle a tricky switchback, and the angelic voice on my other shoulder smugly replies, Because she rocks.

Today I was really struggling with this. It was a hard ride. With very few fun rewards. I just thought the whole time, I am spreading myself too thin. What am I doing here? I should be home, designing something. Making something. Thinking.

News flash (for the few readers who don't know): I quit my job! And then decided to stay, kind of. I will be working as a contractor for my current company as of January 1. No benefits, no insurance and at the mercy of the budget for hours and a paycheck. So, I will have two days a week to become someone, do something, think, create, work, design, make art. Exciting. Thrilling, in fact. But scary, too. Why scary? Because I literally have no clue what I want to do/make/be. I know I could find work, brochures & annual reports aren't going out of style. But I don't think that's what I want. And right now I am so so fortunate to have the luxury of discovering exactly what it is I do want to do. I guess I just feel like I am not discovering that on a bike, or on a kickball team, running marathons or even at the jewelry class I am signed up for this winter. This stuff is starting to feel like work.

As adults, especially childless ones, is it better to never stop learning? Or to stop and focus. Not sure...

Dear Brett,

You are away this weekend and I am home alone. I cannot find the tool box, a hammer or a nail any sturdier than a thumbtack. Have you hidden these things from me on purpose? I promise to use the stud finder and only make one hole. It will not be like the time I sorta undid the lamp, and you had to turn off the power and balance precariously on a stool, carefully threading it and re-wiring. No way. And not like the time I hung those drapes and didn't really really like 'em after all the time you spent expertly installing the curtain rods... I like them now though, so we're good? And, not like the time we had to repaint the living room after a couple of months. I told you, the old color was for staging. So babe, for realz, where's the hammer?

You're not still sore about those other things, right? I think if anything, it shows that you actually are a handy husband, you've had to get me out of some real scrapes. Okay, well guess I'll just keep looking. You boys have fun out there in the woods, I'll just keep myself plenty busy. Although, if I don't find the hammer soon, I might have to go to Target and get another one and we both know what happens at Target... On second thought, maybe I'd better just go ahead and go. It's never good to waste time searching for something, total waste of time. And we could always use a back up hammer. Yeah... Target... See you tomorrow night, honey!

Love,

your T

tryin' a tri

Today was the official kick off of my Team in Training triathlon! I am so excited to be doing this, for a few reasons. I have always wanted to get into triathlons but it was just never the right time for me. Well, I've decided the time is right... now! It is going to be fabulous training the right way, with coaches and a team for motivation. Also, I have obviously done endurance events before, but never really with a big fund raising element and I figured if I'm going to do it anyway, might as well be for a great cause. I will more than likely be posting about fundraising sometime soon, and maybe a few more times til May. It is a hefty amount, feels daunting right now... So, perhaps you could think about that when you're thinking tax write offs later this year? Pretty please?

Cannot wait to get back into a pool that isn't surrounded by lounge chairs and sun worshippers; it has been twelve years since I swam a lap or did a flip turn. My god, can that even be right? I do have one swimsuit left over from those days, but I decided to start fresh and treated my self to a new one (not that they've changed much). And I needed goggles. Uh, goggles have come a long way since 1998! They didn't have any Swedish goggles like I used to use, but that is probably a good thing. I don't think the 31 year old skin of my delicate eye area needs to be subjected to hard plastic, I've done enough damage on my own and there's no night cream strong enough to smooth out the lines from those suckers. But, to seal in my feelings of middle age insecurity a little more, I found something amazing that I wish they'd had at MVP Sports circa 1994: prescription goggles! I was worried, this girl is in glasses all day and I don't tolerate contacts well. Presto, prescription goggles. Love. Totally worth the $20 price tag compared with the black foam variety at $7. And feeling like an old lady who needs her glasses at all times.

Woo hoo! Updates to come.

happy halloween!

Truly the only scary thing around here is the condition of my closet (a mess to rival the most haunted of houses). And maybe all the political ads for the two jerks running for Governor of Georgia. OK, and how many episodes of Guiliana and Bill I watched this morning. Other than that, we are having a pretty mild Halloween. I'm making this for dinner tonight, I actually have everything on hand and plan to throw in the shiitake mushrooms I've had in the fridge for a while (ok, that, too, could be scary).

No costumes for Brett and me this year, so I thought I would share some disguises donned at our family camping trip this summer. Cuz they're just fun. What? All families don't play cards wearing fake mustaches?

Donnie and Steve

Darryl and Lloyd

Merle and Adolf

Happy Halloween!

Weezer!

Tonight we headed out to relive our teenage years with an all-time fave. It was a fabulous show! So much fun; I knew all the words and so did everyone else. But there were a few instances of feeling, um, old.

• The woman who sold us our beer telling us we look "really good for the year we were born."

• Rivers Cuomo made multiple references to 1994, which of course makes sense, but still :)

• The kid in front of us was young enough to be our son but incredibly well-versed in all things Weezer.

• As we got out of the truck, a teenager pulled up in a golf cart and asked if we wanted a ride to the theatre, a whopping .25 mile (tops) walk. Admiring his entrepreneurial spirit, we obliged and I slipped him a ten spot because a mind is a terrible thing to waste.

• I cared absolutely not at all what I wore.

• They announced an upcoming show during which they will perform their first two albums in their entirety (awesome). The name of the tour? Memories. Ouch.

• The best? They threw tp rolls out into the crowd and when I snagged a piece the thought that immediately went through my head was, "I am so going to frame this and put it in my new bathroom..."

And now we're off to bed at a very reasonable, responsible hour. Say it ain't so!

let's be friends...

In an effort to make nice with at least a few of our 200+ condo neighbors, Brett and I are planning a chili cook-off. Hopefully it will be more than me, him, brother-in-law and the lady with the really barky dog, because I'm pretty sure I don't want to be her friend. Here's to building community with theme events and cash incentives! I love adulthood.