here's a voltage adaptor

Last weekend we braved the ice/snow up to Junction City for Brian's cousin's wedding. We were really glad we could make it. Here's a very nicely color-coordinated family photo.











A couple of evenings ago, one of Brian's co-workers rented a Wichita Party Bus. This was my first – and, I imagine, my last – time on a party bus, but it was probably not the typical party bus scene. They decided against bringing alcohol since there were kids along. And the point of the bus was not to take us from bar to bar, but to take us on a Christmas lights tour. Which included Kirstie Alley's house. And a set from Look Who's Talking Now. The bus driver did turn on the special laser light show typically reserved for strippers. Which the kids loved.

Christmas is in four days. We've managed to move the Christmas tree from the basement to the living room, but it's not set up yet. Yesterday when we came home with a present (unwrapped, of course), I set it next to the tree box, so it's sort of like having a Christmas tree with presents under it. Other than that, this is as Christmas-y as I've gotten – gifts for my co-workers.

>>EDIT<<
Also... Last night we took a nice little jaunt on a horse-drawn carriage down Main Street. I LOVE HORSES!

And... Does anyone else think the Christmas song "The Chimney Song" is one of the most disturbing songs ever?

Merry Christmas!

sleep ruiner

My cat puked on the bed at 3:30 this morning. What's her big idea?

Not a sleep ruiner, but has anyone else ever had to close a bank account? Do all banks try to make you feel guilty for closing it?

something i did last night that's kind of gross

...finally removed the last of the polish from my toenails from my wedding.

The news last night was a total bore. All weather and steroids. Yawn.

my fans have spoken

Time for a new post.


A lot has been going on the last few weeks. Of note, my grandma turned 90, and we had many family get-togethers. Pictured here are my grandma at her cake table (isn't she cute?) and me with a favorite uncle from Alaska. Incidentally, he is also my mom's twin (can you see it?) and today is their birthday!








Last weekend, the fam went to Branson and had a great time. Another great uncle and aunt (great as in fantastic, not removed a generation) let us use their timeshare condo, which rocked. We packed quite a bit into our short time there, including touring a cave, walking through an aviary, wine tasting, wine tasting (oops, did I say that twice? that's because we did it twice. in a row. but at different places.), walking around The Landings, eating at Bass Pro, playing Scrabble, touring a fish hatchery, and waiting out terrible traffic to get a dozen free Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Pictured here are me and Mark in the cave (I should have brought in the tourist pic of everyone that my mom so kindly purchased for me) and a sweet salamander Brian spotted in the cave.

Last night we got to get together with friends Leah and John for supper and a bit of visiting at our house. I'm still kicking myself that I forgot to get out the camera...

On Sunday I started The Kite Runner, and I finished it last night. That's how I used to read books -- in a matter of days, but it had been years and years since I'd done that. Finishing books is always bittersweet; I'm so interested in how they will end and am filled with such anticipation that I find myself not even reading carefully, but then I hate when they're over. This book was very, very good though. One of those I wish I could read again for the first time.

This morning I finally made it to the Wellness Center early enough to see my dad! Success! This was the beginning to our conversation:
Dad: You're here early.
Me: You're here late!
Actually, I think he's still been on the property when I've arrived, but just in a different area.

such a fun day

Yesterday was a lot of fun. First off, I managed to get through the Social Security office line out the door in the time between 9 and 9:30 a.m., which was when I needed to head south to Sarah's parents', and I was really glad I could get that done. Now I don't have to take off a day just for that.

First we went to the bridal shop, and Sarah tried on dresses. Her two favorite looked outstanding on her, so beautiful. I love seeing my friends in wedding dresses. How fun. Ber modeled a couple of bridesmaid dresses for us, but unfortunately the shop no longer had the one they wanted. I really want to see this dress because it looks awesome in the catalog.

Then we headed over to Passage to India for lunch. I personally thought the buffet yesterday was amazing. So many delicious options.

Next on the slate was cake tasting, for which we also picked up Luke. I thought the cakes at the place were very tasty, and there were some cool designs as well. And also some not cool designs. Who is still getting those?!

My time with them was pretty much over after the cake tasting because of a family meal at my uncle's, but I had such a good time with the girls, and I'm so glad I got to go along.

ew 2.0

This post is dedicated solely to my friend Emily.

E for effort at
Matching pajama pants and shirts.
I
Like
You.

ew

Some night this weekend (in the middle of the night) the cat was running around wild in the bedroom. This is, obviously, very disruptive. I went and found her, brought her to the bed, put her on my lap, and petted her, in hopes she would calm down. She purred and sat for a while but soon wanted to be free. She immediately returned to where I had retrieved her from. As much as I could in the darkness, I watched her and she seemed to be tracking something; soon she stood riveted at the door to the bathroom. I asked her, "Nibbert, is there a mouse or something? What are you chasing?" So I talk to my cat; sue me. Brian says she's not chasing a mouse because he would have heard that. I open the door to the bathroom and turn on the light. There, right in the doorway is the nastiest cockroach ever. Ew. So gross. I hate them. I don't usually have a thing about insects. In fact, most spiders I even rescue to the outdoors. Once I tried this with a wasp in a pool, but that's another story. Cockroaches, however, I have a thing about. So I was freaking out just a little. This thing was big – I'd say two inches long and fat. Brian came and gave it a good stomp. Juice from it sprayed out onto the bathroom floor. I get tensed up just recalling this gross insect encounter. I couldn't be too upset with old Nibbert for rooting out something that I never wanted in my bedroom in the first place.