Monday, February 28, 2011

He's SSHHH'ing.


He's SSHHH'ing., originally uploaded by dumpstar_drummer.

My heart explodes.

Friday, February 25, 2011

20 months + 2 days = Best nephew and niece ever!

Sorry for all the food posts, peeps. It worked like a charm though -- I didn't eat anything I wasn't willing to show the internet.

In more interesting news, I have a niece! She's beautiful and perfect and adorable and I just want to EAT HER UP. Even better, we were worried about how my nephew would react to Grandma holding another baby and he has amazed us all with how LOVING and SWEET and WONDERFUL he is toward his baby cousin.

She's only two days old but he has had three visits with her and each time he insists on holding her and then he strokes her head and rests his head against hers and kisses her. Tonight he was even holding his finger up to his lips and telling us to "Shhhh" but he doesn't quite have the mouth formation down right so it's the most adorably spitty "Ssssssssss" I've ever heard.

This is a picture of a picture on my brother's camera but I LOVE IT SO MUCH:



When I get around to writing about my speed dating experience I'll tell you how I got a call while I was mid "date" that Sarah was getting ready to push and I HIGHTAILED it out of there and made it to the hospital no more than ten minutes before my brother came out to tell us that his baby, OUR baby, had been born.

I'm full of love for this next generation of Holts.

Slop and naan


Slop and naan, originally uploaded by dumpstar_drummer.

It's my final serving of that not-good slow cooker lasagna -- an international gourmet delight!

I need to remember to tell you about this!

Snack Options:


Snack Options:, originally uploaded by dumpstar_drummer.

On the left: A smoothie made from spinach, kale, pineapple and a banana.

On the right: A cake that mysteriously appeared on our front porch this afternoon.

I went with the smoothie. Zero points. Plus, its origins are not as mysterious.

A Weight Watchers smoothie that I probably bought 5 years ago.

0 points.

Oops


Oops, originally uploaded by dumpstar_drummer.

I forgot to document the 9 points of slow cooker lasagna, which I would not recommend unless you want to recreate something a la Chef Boyardee.

It's not the cutest picture of Baby...

...but it's the only one where he was looking at the mirror and not of himself in the phone. Look how big he's getting!!

Plus a 3 point latte


Plus a 3 point latte, originally uploaded by dumpstar_drummer.

You know how "nobody cares what you had for lunch today"?

Well too bad Internet because today you're gonna see every damn thing I eat. Yesterday was NOT a good diet day, which is a bummer because I have to face the scale at WW in like 23 and a half hours.

For the record, this is nine points.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

There are worse ways to die.

I'm going to teach her everything I know

ATTENTION INTERNET!


ATTENTION INTERNET!, originally uploaded by dumpstar_drummer.

I'm an aunt again! This sweet little girl, a 5-ish pound bundle of love, was born last night to my brother Ben and my SIL Who Does Not Wear John Deere Pajamas. She shares a birthday with her Grandpa Joe!

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

BPOTD


BPOTD, originally uploaded by dumpstar_drummer.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

5 & 6

5. The Meaning Behind My Blog Name

elizabethkindalikesbacon is an offshoot of my original public blog (which I will link to instead of name just to keep the search monkeys at bay). 100 years ago my friend Danielle and I got to talking about how [insert blog name with the bacon and the love] would be a great website name and that I should start a website for that reason alone. That never happened but when it came time to create a new blog, I went for it.

But then I was dumb and said my SIL's first name in one post and inadvertently said her last name in another (in a different context) and I was suddenly getting hits originating from searches for her name. Soooooo, since my family is the #1 most important thing to me, I ditched that blog and when I write about her on this one her name is Laverne. Everyone else has generic-enough names that I don't worry about it.

So anyway, I "downgraded the love" to only KINDA LIKING bacon.

6. A Talent I Wish I Had

I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to be the white girl who can sing like Aretha. I'm sooo not though. I'd love to be a belt-it-out kind of singer but all I can really do is sing a fairly decent lullaby.

Who needs an alarm...


Who needs an alarm..., originally uploaded by dumpstar_drummer.

...when you can wake up to the melodious sound of whatever the hell this is being hauled down the driveway at 6:15 in the morning?

Monday, February 21, 2011

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Things

1. I don't remember how it ended up on my Netflix list, but I know it was based on a comment someone made -- either in a blog I read or Facebook -- but I just watched City Island and boy howdy, I liked it.

I feel like I should probably act all offended that a subplot involved a teenage boy who is hot for fat women but I don't care so the fat police can suck it.

2. Andy Garcia is the leading actor in City Island and I was reminded of what a good looking man he is, which prompted me to Google him to see if he was within my acceptable dating age range. He's not, but he actually got crossed off my list because he's been married for like 100 years and that fact has the ability to make a man simultaneously totally desirable and totally undesirable.

But anyhooters, in my Andy Garcia research I came across this fascinating fact:

He was born with a dead conjoined twin the size of a tennis ball on his shoulder.

I texted my (twin) brothers to tell them about this and to say that I was glad that neither of them were each other's tennis ball.

3. An email from my mother indicating she is not supportive of the urea-on-the-feet thing:

I am concerned that this kind of activity is going on in my home. You are a college graduate working for an elite company who hand pick their staff and your mother is an RN for God's sake!!!!
I have to say that whatever effect you are getting from the urea on your feet (I don't want to know how much it cost), you could pee in a plastic bag and tie that on your feet for a period of time, and probably get the same result.


She also said that she loves me anyway.

4. It has taken me forever to get to #4 on that list of 30 things in 30 days but that's because it was supposed to be about the last book I read and I was thiiiiiis close to finishing a book and kept thinking that I'd wait until I finished it so I wouldn't have to report that the last book I read was chick lit.

Anyway, blah blah blah, I finally finished Lamb by Christopher Moore.

I haven't read (or seen) Wicked so I can't say for sure, but I think the concept is about the same. Lamb is the story of Jesus, but from his best friend's perspective. It's irreverent and funny but I'd also say it was pretty respectful and painted Jesus (or Josh, as he's known in the book) as a really honorable man.

The things I've seen!

I said that I'd seen seven of the 101 things NOT to see before you die (I was wrong -- I've actually seen eight) and Natalie wanted to know what they were, so here you go:

1. The Winchester Mystery House

I take offense at the author's statement that it could be effectively argued that the whole of San Jose could be on the list of places not to see (GASP!), but I agree with her that the WMH isn't anything worth detouring for. I've driven past it a thousand times but only ever went in when I had a friend visiting who'd been sucked in by the billboards they have on the road back from Big Sur.

Big Sur one day, Winchester Mystery House the next. Polar opposite ends of the California tourist spectrum, you guys.

2. Your Boss's Bedroom

As previously covered, I saw it on a tour of his house. The next time I visited he wanted to change into his jammies. I suggested we go OUT for dinner instead.

3. BART

I totally agree with the author -- it makes NO SENSE to have upholstered seats on BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit).

G-R-O-S-S

4. Any Place Whose Primary Claim to Fame is a Large Fiberglass Thing

FIRST OF ALL, the beginning of the book is about how ridiculous travel lists like 100 Best THIS or 100 Best THAT are because by targeting destinations on lists created by other people, you miss the whole point of travel and enjoying the journey and blah blah blah.

But LISTEN list haters (BUSTER, I'm looking at you even though I don't think you read this blog), it's not all about the large fiberglass things, but it's about picking something out of a hat, going there, and then using that journey as a reason to see a chunk of the world you'd never otherwise see.

This large fiberglass thing isn't Austin's primary claim to fame, but it's the large fiberglass thing I know I've taken a picture with:



5. The Amsterdam Sexmuseum


Yeah, not something I'd say OMG YOU HAVE TO SEE, but my homie DPi and I killed an afternoon there together:







Ha! Another large fiberglass thing!



6. Nevada

Nevada is so much more than Reno and Vegas. First of all, I happen to believe that the desert is an under-appreciated landscape. "Drive from Vegas to Reno" is on my list of things to do because the drive to and from my cousin's house somewhere in the middle between Vegas and Reno was BREATHTAKING.

Also, when people tell me to think of my happy place I immediately think about floating on my floatie thing off of Sand Harbor beach in Lake Tahoe and Sand Harbor just OMG happpppens to be on the Nevada side of the lake.

See? Nevada looks pretty awesome from here:



And from here:



And from here:



And from here:



Though admittedly, this one doesn't really help make my case for Team Nevada:



7. Black Rock City

That means Burning Man. I get it. It's not for everyone, and it's not for me anymore but there were many years of my life where it was for me and I loved it.

See also: Nevada is beautiful.



And this one is a gratuitous "OMG LOOK HOW PERFECT MY SKIN WAS WHEN I WAS 26!" shot:



(And how perm'y my hair looked! Even though it wasn't a perm! And I have no idea who that guy is.)

8. A Bikram Yoga Studio

Been there, done that. I even posted a post-Bikram-yoga shot to this very blog sometime last summer:



There's a dry spot near the bottom of my shirt so you can see what color the shirt is when the sweat isn't dripping off me.

-----------------------

So there you have it. There are a few more items on this list that I would actually like to see (Wall Drug, Four Corners, Mount Rushmore and the Testicle Festival), but I think they're more indicative of my desire to travel to roadside attractions to see what else I find along the way, than of my BURNING DESIRE to be in four states AT ONCE or to see some dead presidents carved into the side of a mountain.

LET'S GO, INTERNET!!

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Grandma and Baby...


Grandma and Baby..., originally uploaded by dumpstar_drummer.

...watching videos of Grandma and baby.

Totally unsafe taken-while-driving photo

I know a lot of that is cloud, but I don't think I've seen the snow that far down on the hills maybe ever? For non-Santa Clara Valley residents, the tips of the hills get snowy a handful of times each winter, but not THAT much.

(And actually, now that I think about it, I don't think I've seen the snow up there at all this year?)

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

I don't even know...

I was looking through Oktoberfest pictures and found this:



You're welcome, Internet.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Just sent this to my Honda service adviser:

Oh Cee Lo, I love you. He's like a short, squat, black Lady Gaga.

My feet are covered in urea...

...which will allegedly make them
callus-free in 20 minutes.

Sensibly Sassy Sarah, we are sisters in an addiction.

13 real ones plus two OPI for Sephora ones.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

I'm in a bathroom! SHOCKING!

Cloak & Dagger


Cloak & Dagger, originally uploaded by dumpstar_drummer.

It has gin, absinthe, blood orange and clover essence. Not recommended.

Friday, February 11, 2011

I love this picture!


I love this picture!, originally uploaded by dumpstar_drummer.

That's my SIL Who Does Not Wear John Deere Pajamas and our nephew, the red-headded Filipino.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

He takes after me.


He takes after me., originally uploaded by dumpstar_drummer.

Baby has taken to lining things up. He'll organize his toys in a very tidy way and it's probably a regular baby thing to do, but we still like to sit around and marvel at how smart he is. As seen in this text from my brother, Baby has begun organizing the dirt clods in the back yard.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Also...

The Amazing Race winner thinks I'm in my mid twenties.

I LOVE HER.

BPPOTD


BPPOTD, originally uploaded by dumpstar_drummer.

Misleadingly businessy today.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

I've seen seven of these.

Including #12, your (my) boss's bedroom. I saw it on a tour of his house and I'd say it didn't count except there was that one time he asked if I'd mind if he changed into his "jammies," so I'm counting it.

And if you were wondering, yeah, I did mind.

The World's Largest Ball of Twine seems FAR less interesting now!

I know a few of you are going to pee your pants when I tell you this so please be sure you're sitting down.

Are you ready?

So there's this chick who works for my new firm and at the same client I do. She is drop dead gorgeous and, as it turns out, totally friendly and interesting and kind -- she even started her own damn charity for girls, which I only know because they were the recipients of the holiday party raffle money.

We sit next to each other now that I'm on this new project (that is going to kill me, btw) and we got to talking and it turns out her family owns a few funeral homes in the area and I was like OMG YOU'RE TOTALLY GOING TO BE MY PHONE A FRIEND FOR MORTUARY-RELATED THINGS! She laughed and I was like "NO, FOR REALS, THAT IS FASCINATING. I can't wait to see what else you know so I can learn more interesting things!"

And then she goes "Well, I won The Amazing Race."

And then I think my head might have come clean off.

And now I'll be rewatching season 13 from start to finish.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Just scanning my voicemails to see if I owe anyone a phone call...

...and saw that Carrie left me a whole lot of messages on December 4th. That was Santa day, so I'm pretty sure they're gonna be awesome to re-listen to.

Friday, February 4, 2011

Reason #1 why I won't be visiting my Australians in their summer:

You're welcome, Jesus.


You're welcome, Jesus., originally uploaded by dumpstar_drummer.

Romance in a Cabriolet

If you click this link (I guess it's safe for work...), then I have two comments to share:

1. She has a boyfriend and I do not.

2. That's not what *I'd* wear to paint, but she's also the type to wear stockings with strappy, open-toed shoes...different strokes for different folks, I guess.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

I really hope the map is wrong.

Real Estate and Shame

1. I went to go look at a granny cottage around the corner the other night. It was adorable but definitely made for someone with about 1/3 less stuff than I have.

The owner was in her mid to late 40's and had a six or seven year old son. She kept trying to turn off the lights so I could see through the windows but the little shit kept turning them on and laughing. Even worse, he kept turning on the cieling fan, which made the cold space even colder. The mom was shivering and talking about how sorry she was that she wasn't home earlier to turn on the heater, blah blah blah.

AND THEN the kid told her to go stand directly under the fan AND SHE DID IT and he stood there and laughed at his shivering mother.

AND THEN when she moved away from the fan he told her to go back and stand there again AND THEN SHE DID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And then I OMG'd in my head and took myself home.

2. Also, worst fear came true this morning: I Shazam'd something and this was the result:



I only admit that because the same is too great to bear alone, Internet. You already know I have ringworm...I might as well share this nugget too.

(But not to worry...I will not be downloading it.)

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

I'm excited to see the St Patrick's Day theme!!

The tree in my old apartment lobby has been themed. The photo doesn't do justice to the paper leaves that have been taped to the existing (faux) leaves. There are little silver hearts GLITTERED on them. So sweet.

I am alive!


I am alive!, originally uploaded by dumpstar_drummer.

I am disappointed that my pulse is 80 because a couple times ago it was 63. I think my problem was that I was trying too hard to beat my low score.

Also: The bloodmobile has the best cookies ever.

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