The Greatest Show On Earth

Dan and I went to see the circus last night (I've finally found a man that loves the Greatest Show On Earth as much as I do... Yay!!) and had a spectacular time. We rushed home from work and to the venue because there was an "Animal Open House" before the show and we wanted to see the elephants up close (see pic below).

Overall, the show was very good. This year Ringling Bros. ditched the 3-rings and opened everything up. Instead of having competing events going on at the same time, there was a rolling succession of large-scale events that made up the two-hour production. There was also a live brass band which definitely beat the canned cheesy pop score from the past few years.

Some Highlights: We saw a juggling corps do an amazing routing with hundreds of yellow hats. We also saw a group of men and women acrobats perform Cirque du Soleil-style on long red silk scarves... quite beautiful.

The elephants were grandiose and lovely, as always. Much to Dan's (and my) disappointment, however, there were not lions or tigers.

One of my favorite segments, the dogs, was a bit strange this time around. In the past, this circus has done some great routines with shelter dogs-turned-circus-stars. This year, the dogs were an odd mix of purebreds led by a woman called Madame Shamsheeva... and I'm not kidding, we think she was a man. She had gigantic boobs, was decked out in a long, bright red wig, crazy high-heeled boots, and a very "concealing the lower front of her body" - type sparkly dress getup. I wish I had a decent picture of her because I think you'd all agree there was something a little off there...

Overall, the show was a little light on the animals for my liking, but still the splendor that is the circus. I wolfed down my customary box of popcorn and cheered loudly for the acts and the main star of the show this year, Dan (he was the little boy that according to the story, was trying to "find his place" within the circus...). I found it oddly funny that I was at the circus with Dan cheering for Dan!















Ladies flying on silk scarves...
















Circus love!

"I Hate Golf" and Other Random Observations

It's another Tuesday at work, and there is nothing for me to do. Making worthwhile use of my college degree/dual minors sitting here by myself (the men all went golfing) to answer the phones that are not ringing. Not very happy.

It's weird, I still can't understand this whole "living in the real world" thing sometimes. You work your ass off in high school to get into the college of your choice. You work your ass off in college to get a good job after graduation. You come out of school on top of the world, ready to take on everyone and institute change with fervor. Then you get a job and find yourself being the glorified office bitch (to the tune of making coffee, copies, and answering phones for a few years). It sucks. I should've gone into the Peace Corps, seriously. There's got to be better things out there than being miserable here.

So some random observations from my otherwise pointless day in the office:


I Hate Golf.
Back to the topic of golf. When did playing golf start to constitute as doing "business"? It's bullshit. It's just another way that the "good ole' boys" manifest their power trips. 'I'm the boss... you're the worker, therefore, I golf and you take my phone messages.'

Granted, I'm not a golfer so I don't expected to be invited along on these group outings, but still - I feel serious gender discrimination in this arena. If men are granted some free golfing days to do "business", we ladies should be allowed to do the same with ice skating, shopping, visiting museums, etc., right?

PostSecret.
I know this website has been around for a while. In fact, I remember when it first started (I think I was living in D.C. at the time). Still, it never ceases to capture my attention and make my heart break. There is some gutwrenching stuff out there that we're all dealing with.

In a weird way, the issues posted are within all of us to a degree. This is a beautiful, honest place that we can go for solace... a place where we can gain perspective and comfort from fellow online posters. Interesting stuff. http://postsecret.blogspot.com/

Keith Richards.
Only a member of the Rolling Stones would be bizarre enough to have to undergo serious brain surgery after falling out of a PALM TREE. As if Keith wasn't messed up enough after all the smoking/drinking/drugs. I still love 'em though.

The Preakness.
I'm glad Dan and I decided last minute not to go to the Preakness... I would've been very upset to see Barbaro, the favorite, injure himself so seriously. And after 4 hours of extensive surgery, they're still saying he only has a 50/50 chance of successful recovery and survival.

Knitting.
I've decided my next big project is to knit a big afghan to keep in my living room. Color is either going to be ivory, sage, or dark red. Thoughts as to the fiber? Acrylic blend?

Satan Lives in New Cumberland

This may sound really strange, but I'm starting to think that Satan has a summer residence in New Cumberland. Is it possible that the devil manifests himself in human form in this day and age?

I've started seeing really weird things since I moved. At first, it was little glimpses out of the corner of my eye... quick shadows and unexplained motions and other bizarre things. This past week, however, I've seen the wispy form of people looking at me. One was in my boyfriend's kitchen, and one was on my neighbor's porch... both were instances where you look, are startled, do a double-take, and the figure is gone. Creepy.

Ghosts? Spirits? Satan? Any thoughts, anyone? Maybe I'm just losing it (except Dan has been experiencing similar unexplained things since moving).

We are... Penn State Graduates!

A big congrats to Doug (my little bro), Ben (my cousin) and all of their friends... They graduated from Penn State this weekend and are well on their ways to carving out their places in the world. We hosted a wonderful graduation celebration for the boys at Sandy and Joe's house, complete with Zerby food, a keg of Yuengling, and live music courtesy of the Good Route. So proud!














Doug at the Nittany Lion Shrine















Ben, Bryant, & Doug



















The Burlew Family
















The Good Route (Formerly known as "Penn State DAD")
















"It's Saturday Night... Whoo!" - You don't have to be at the Phyrst to sing their signature song...

















"We Built This City!" - Apparently, my mom loves this song (I was shocked... I didn't even know she knew this song!)

Skating in the Rockies

This was the video clip Apryle and Phil took of Emmy and I skating in the Rockies on the frozen pond (approximately 9,500 feet above sea level - correct me if I'm wrong, guys) back in February when we visited them. Notice the lovely waltz jump! You can really appreciate this if you realize that the temperature was about 25 degrees, the wind was blowing about 40 mph, and I was wearing layers of bulky ski clothing...

(the file is 4 MB - please have patience as it downloads. thanks!)

http://www.thisorganiclife.com/MVI_3195.AVI

Heartfelt Gratitude

Today I wanted to express heartfelt gratitude to all the people who have shown me kindness, most notably right now with my move. I am so touched at all of your generosity, both in spirit, material items, and manpower, and I appreciate you all from the bottom of my heart. I am SO lucky to have the best group of people around me to call family and friends.


Special thanks to:

Mom & Dad- The bedroom furniture helped me out a ton, guys. Mom, your Kohl's discount was amazing and allowed me to furnish the bathroom and living room the way it needed to be done. Also, your cleaning prowess was so helpful in brightening everything up. Dad, thanks for lending your brawn and your truck. You rock.

Doug - You tirelessly did my dishes and spun my tunes. You helped move heavy furniture. And you managed to overflow my toilet the first time you used it. But you are spectacular, Sweetness, and you know it.

Emmy - Thanks for scrubbing the nastiness off my tile floors with me (the lilypads!) and bringing the "gun show" for moving my couch. And a big thanks to your enlisted friend... I appreciate it SO much.

Dan Richard- Thanks for the TV & the table/chairs. A great help as I'm starting out.

Amy & Carole - Thanks for the microwave, floor lamps, and crockpot (pending). You guys are great!

Grandmas & Grandpa - Can you thank your guardian angels? I love using your things - especially the dishes. It makes me feel close to you, even though you're not here with us anymore. And I know you're laughing, Grandma, as I stumble through the kitchen doing stupid things. Thanks for your divine intervention and keeping me from catching the kitchen on fire or blowing the place up. Sending love above.

Jeremy - So sweet, as always! Thank you for your super-thoughtful housewarming gift. I can't wait to finish furnishing home sweet home! As you know, you are always welcome to stay when you're passing through.

Caitlin- How does this girl always know when I need a pick me up? We must be kindred spirits. Even from China, she knows how to time care packages with bad days... Thanks for the AWESOME name stamp. I love it. I miss you terribly, babe and can't wait until you can come hang with me at my new home. There's a tray of nachos with your name on it.

And last but certainly not least... Dan- What can I say? You helped in every capacity and were my main man! From removing the horrible bedroom border to suffering through paint shopping with me (haha), to killing spiders/bugs, to cleaning, to moving heavy stuff, to unpacking and putting the legs on my new furniture, to keeping morale up with your big smile and excellent dinners... you are the best. I love you.

Today's "Idiot Award"

"Apple Automotive - Serving York Counties Automotive Needs for 21 Years!"

Boy, nothing makes a company lose credibility in my book like bad spelling/grammar permanently painted on the back of all of its work vans! Today's Idiot Award goes to Apple Automotive. (I took this winning shot from the camera phone while I was driving to work this morning).

Now, I know that we all have our days that we make mistakes. But there should be a higher level of accountability for a business... people should be checking this stuff before making it permanent. How many folks missed this mistake as it made its way through the chain of command?

For some reason, I love seeing written mistakes on moving vehicles and other official things (ads, newspapers, etc.) Maybe it makes me feel smart that I noticed the error and they didn't? Don't know.

I'd have to say that my favorite grammar mistake that I've ever seen on a moving vehicle would have to be on the back of a landscaping truck last summer proclaiming how their company was the leader in the industry... and their slogan surely proves this (note the sarcasm). It read something like this: "Johnson's Landscaping and Maintenance - You're number one choice in professional yard maintenance!"

Weirdness on the Road (yet again!)

What kind of week would it be without me seeing weirdness on the road? Here are the four most recent...

TOWING INCIDENTS:

1. A truck towing a behind-the-truck transport trailer made from none other than another truck's bed... that's right. These people sliced a truck bed off, soldered some sort of metal to the front of it where the truck cab used to be, soldered a hitch on it, hooked it up to their full-size truck and presto! Good to go.

2. A pickup truck towing a car behind it with a ROPE attached to each vehicle's bumper. The hilarious thing was that I saw this while the getup was driving through an intersection and making a turn... there was actually a dude in the car being towed steering it. Now that's safe.


JUST PLAIN ODD INCIDENTS:

3. I saw an older car with Indian prayer flags strung from the front right window to the left rear... beautiful, yes... but how does he see out? Maybe we all should be praying for him.

4. A woman mowing a yard (with a push mower) wearing yellow rubber gloves. And the point is? I can understand maybe a face mask or earmuffs to block the sound, but gloves? The only thing i can figure is that she must be a hand model. Yeah... a York County hand model. Explain that one to me.

Today's 4 Favorites

Since it's been a slow day at work and my personal life is status quo (still in moving hell!), I found this little survey on the net today and thought I'd post for your reading pleasure. Forgive me.

4 Jobs I've Had in My Life...
1. Marketing Director (currently)
2. Bank Teller
3. Fine Art framer
4. Warehouse staff (Service Merchandise)

4 Movies I Could Watch Over and Over...
1. The Sound of Music (you are right, Paul!)
2. Some Like It Hot
3. Holiday Inn

4 Books I Can't Live Without...
1. "The Robe" - Lloyd C. Douglas
2. "The Three Musketeers" - Alexandre Dumas
3. "The Jungle" - Upton Sinclair
4. When you're an English dork and read a ton and have an extensive library, it's SO hard to choose... oh my gosh.. i just realized that my three favorites are all Classics. haha... This prompts me to stop being pompous and create a new question:

4 Popular Books I Can't Live Without...
1. Loved all the "Harry Potter" books
2. "Little House on the Prairie" Series
3. "Life of Pi" was fantastic - a modern-day classic
4. Anything by James Patterson or Sylvia Browne

4 Places I've lived...
1. Harrisburg, PA
2. State College, PA
3. Washington D.C.

4 Favorite Bands...
1. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
2. U2
3. Led Zeppelin
4. I love so many... classic rock, brit rock, folk artists... being a huge music-lover, it's like picking a favorite child! (impossible) :)

4 Best Concerts I've Ever Seen...
1. TIE - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - 3rd Row - July 1999 and Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - lawn seating but FANTASTIC show - June 2005
2. U2 - November 2001
3. I've seen about 100 more shows, so it's hard to rank them... some of particular goodness were James Taylor, Travis, Indigo Girls, Jimmy Buffett, & Paul McCartney.

4 Favorite Places I've Been on Vacation...
1. Miami/ Florida Keys
2. Mexico
3. Grand Canyon (Arizona)
4. Colorado
5. Outer Banks

4 Most Beautiful Places I've Visited...
1. Mexico
2. Southern Florida
3. Grand Canyon
4. Eldon Hazlet State Park (Southcentral Illinois) & Rocky Mountain State Park

4 Best Roadtrips...
1. Rt. 66 with the gals - PENDING... but I know it will blow everything out of the water
2. Iowa loop - Summer 2003
3. OCMD 1999
4. PSU v. Michigan trip to Ann Arbor with Curtis - Fall 2005

4 Places I'd Rather be Right Now...
1. Penn State (the best time of year to be at PSU)
2. China (traveling with Cait)
3. Sailing the Caribbean
4. Hanging out with my girls or Dan the man!

4 Places I Will Visit in the next 5 years...
1. The Bahamas
2. Cali
3. Niagara Falls
4. Italy

4 of My Favorite Foods...
1. Fresh veggies (anything fresh, really)
2. Smoothies
3. Beef Stroganoff
4. Turkey Dinner

4 of My Favorite Drinks...
1. Water
2. Coffee / Cappuccinno / Chai Tea (addicted to them all)
3. Hot Cocoa
4. Beer (Lager. Always lager.)

4 Things That Make Me Proud...
1. Helping the world/ my community in my own little ways
2. Serving as a mentor to kids in various ways
3. Balancing independence and relationships
4. I'm not afraid to be alone... in fact, sometimes I rather like it! :-)

4 Things That I'm Afraid Of...
1. Spiders
2. The dark
3. Getting my heart broken again / trusting in a relationship
4. Letting life become stagnant - losing the energy to live each day to its fullest

4 Most Memorable Dates...
1. The redneck bonfire party... let's not even go there... haha
2. 2201 - a perfect evening all around
3. Cashtown Inn
4. V-Day 2004 - there was puking involved and it wasn't me!

4 Most Thoughtful Gifts I've Received...
1. Fulton Bank Mug :-)
2. Atomic Warehouse items... :-)
3. Arby's Oven Mitt Calendar
4. Traded TP Concert that I went to / imported Traveling Wilburys CDs

Moving Right Along!

My new sofa & loveseat! (no, this is not my living room... it's the catalog pic of the furniture)

My weekend was dedicated to the new apartment. Dan and I worked really hard at cleaning and moving stuff in... (next weekend will be the official move-in date after I've cleaned everything top to bottom and have painted the bedroom).

On Friday I went to check out used stuff at my mom's friend's friend's mother's house... (try and follow that one.. haha). They're moving this lady into a retirement community and selling a lot of furniture. I bought a really nice hardwood dresser and a table chair for $35 total! A steal!

Dan and I spent Saturday morning yardsale-ing for furniture. We parted ways in the afternoon and I spent the afternoon visiting every furniture store in Harrisburg, searching for my dream living room furniture. Ninety percent of the stuff out right now is made with microfiber (which I hate). I decided to splurge on my living room furniture because I want my living room to be bright and cheerful. I ended up buying a beautiful soft red leather sofa and loveseat (above). I'll have it in 2-6 weeks.

On Sunday I took another load of stuff over and cleaned all day. Dan lined all my cupboards and I washed a bunch of the dishes, too. Can't wait to have my housewarming BBQ and dinner parties!