Wordless Wednesday - Me

An Ice Castle

An Ice Castle
Originally uploaded by peachicken.

I've finally finished uploading all of the pictures from our trip to the Adirondack Mountains. Come on by and take a look! This picture is of us at an Ice Castle near Saranac Lake. (I don't really know what the "fabulous fifties" is supposed to mean, but I was too lazy to photoshop it out.) There are more pictures to see, though. We went on a hike to see a frozen waterfall, visited the "Wild Museum" (which is completely AWESOME, by the way), went bobsledding on an Olympic track, saw the Olympic facilities in Lake Placid, and even tried our hand at curling. Those curling rocks are freakin' heavy!

Photo Friday - "Textured"

Snakes and Whiskey

(This image really exists... It's snake whiskey, for real.)

I have been reading the fourth summer of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Forever In Blue by Ann Brashares, and I stumbled upon this excellent quote by W.C. Fields (odd, I know):

"Always carry a flagon of whiskey in case of snakebite, and furthermore, always carry a small snake."

This quote is TOTALLY appropriate for the day.

Wordless Wednesday - "Adirondacks in the Adirondacks"

Whoa Nelly

As much as I LIVE for vacation, coming home after one pretty much sucks. I dread coming home. Tim and I even snip at each other when our vacation is over, especially after a really great get-away. (We don't usually fight, we just get pissy at each other for no reason. We did this on the long drive home.) I guess it is just that we know lots of work will be waiting for us both when we get back, and it was so nice to not have to think about all that jazz for a few days.

So, here I am, exhausted after only one day back, with a million and a half things to do. My house is messy, I have emails to send, I have phone calls to make (because I am a rotten long-distance friend!), laundry to do, etc. But basically, all I want to do is sit here and work on photoshopping my pictures from the weekend. Well, that and watch Ugly Betty. So, I guess my mind has to recover from my vacation, still. Wouldn't you need some recovery time after staring at this (see picture) every morning?!? (That is snowy Whiteface Mt. in the distance and the Ausable River, also covered in snow. Pretty, eh?)

Ahhh... Vacation!

We're way out here in upstate NY for the weekend, and can I just say it is AMAZING!!! I don't remember when I've seen this much snow! There is a solid blanket of at least 4 feet everywhere - some places have even more than that. I'm so thankful for Tim's truck and 4 wheel drive, yo. It's a blessing.

This picture is of us in the town of Lake Placid (that's Lake Placid behind us). It's where the Winter Olympics were held in 1932 and in 1980 (did you ever see the movie "Miracle" where the US team beat the Russians?). Well, it's a town that revels in it's Olympic heritage. Last night, Tim and I went to a 75 min. party celebrating the 75th anniversary of the 1932 Olympics. They had ice skating on the speed skating rink, curling (yes!!! I did this for the first time!!!), a make-shift luge, an ice maze, free hot chocolate, and a band. It was cool (actually REALLY COLD).

Yesterday, Tim and I had another "first." We went bobsledding!!! Um, yes. I said BOBSLEDDING! We went down the Olympic track - they only let you do the final half mile - but it was awesome! They give you a steering guy and a runner guy and sit you in the middle. Tim sat in front of me and said that I was giggling the whole way down. It was 48.66 seconds of pure fun. (More pictures of this later...)

Anyway, right now, Tim and I are hanging out in the cabin, watching the snow fall. We plan on going snow-shoeing soon and walking across a frozen lake. I'll let ya know how that goes!

N.E.E.D. V.A.C.A.T.I.O.N.

Boy, oh boy, do I need a vacation or what?!? I cannot tell you how happy I am that Presidents Day is a dang federal holiday. The words are just not there. But I can tell you about my day and maybe you will realize my pain and feel joy for me in the fact that I am going away tomorrow - far far away.

First of all, today I learned how to drive in snow. (My big sister is a pro at this, seeing as how she lives in CANADA, but I however am not a snow driver.) Today was my "Snow Driving 101." The first thing I learned was to make sure that ALL the snow is off of the roof of your car. This is very important, because not all snow is made alike. Not all snow is light and fluffy and powdery that lightly blows off your vehicle while driving. Some snow is icy and hard, and when it comes loose off of your car roof while you are slowing down to a red light, it can completely cover your windshield and make you blind to oncoming traffic. Yeah, that one I learned by experience today. I also learned that I indeed have a potty-mouth in stressful situations.

Another snow lesson I learned today is how to get your car unstuck from a snow drift. I don't want to talk about that one.

I learned a new route to work today, too. A nail salon burned down at this major intersection right before my library entrance, so I had to explore some back roads. (This doesn't sound like a big deal to you, does it reader? Well, I assure you, it was.)

I also learned to control my temper with a coworker I really don't like (well, at least for today). I call her "Stubble." She has a man beard that she bleaches (?). I once had to do the "Italian" cheek kiss thing with her and I hurt for days. Ick. Anyways, I am still dealing. Question: how do you work with someone who hates you for your youth? She is bitter, I think, in that I am further in my career than she is and that she has a daughter my age (wasn't this made into a movie?). Whatever. I worked hard to get where I am and I shouldn't have to apologize for that. Right?

So like I was saying, I am going far far away tomorrow. And I am not coming back till Monday night. So there!

Happy Valentine's Day, Ya'll

(Warning: Mushy Valentine Post Ahead!) My hunny and I have been married now for seven and a half years and I think I'm probably the luckiest girl alive. I don't usually get all mushy and stuff, but I am completely in love with my husband - I love him more every day. He is the very picture of a true gentleman. He still opens doors for me. He cooks and cleans and scrapes off my windshield when it's icy. He winks at me when we share a secret. He cuddles with me when I'm blue. He cools me down when I have the mean reds. He always tells me I'm beautiful (even when I really look awful!) and he goes out of his way to do sweet things for me. I don't think I could ask for anything more in a man, than what Tim already is. He's my lover, my companion, my best friend.

Wizard Rock Concert (Yes, for real)

I was pretty radio silent this past weekend. Want to know why? I was "Wizard" rocking. (Well, to be quite honest, I also had my in-laws for a visit so I was busy cleaning, too.) I bet you're wondering what this new phenomenon is and how you too can play a part in it, right? I'm about to tell you...

I first heard about all this through a colleague of mine at the Mount Kisco Library here in NY. She regularly has Harry Potter tribute bands (I guess I could call them that?) come play at her library and has seen some real interest in these events. I was skeptical at first (and still a bit now) but she's found some real talent! Last Friday night, I went to check them out for myself.

There is a whole freakin' community of wizard rock bands that populate Myspace - heck, they even have their own community blog/wiki deal going. So naturally, to be a true fan, you MUST check these out. The people I especially looked up were the ones I was going to see on Friday night. Here is the lineup (and their links). Go and listen (but please come back!).

Draco and the Malfoys
The Whomping Willows
The Parselmouths
The Hungarian Horntails
The Cedric Digorys / The Greybacks

Okay, so let me preface by saying that the concert was both hilarious and tedious! The whole time I was there, I really had to pee, but there weren't any accessible bathrooms (as far as I knew) around. The concert was scheduled for 5:00 but didn't get started till 5:30 and then it ran till freakin' 8:00! That's right, sports fans, I held it for 3 hours. (That is probably a world record.) As much as I enjoyed the diversity of having so many groups, I wished they had shorter sets! I wasn't expecting to hear entire repertoires.

But as for the musicians themselves, I had three faves. Draco and the Malfoys were really good - he (Draco) has these crazy eyes and really funny lyrics. He even did "99 Death Eaters" (tune of "99 Red Balloons"). Here are some of the hilarious lyrics from "My Dad is Rich..."
"My dad's always there -To open all my doors -You have to call a patronus just to catch a glimpse of yours - My mom says she loves me - When she tucks me into bed - How's your mommy doing in the Mirror of Erised? My dad is rich - And your dad is dead." THAT is some funny stuff!

Another of my favorites was the Whomping Willows. He sounded so much like the Violent Femmes or something. He was completely hilarious. Do you want to hear him? Watch this video - he is singing "I'm Made of Wands."

And finally, (I know this has been the longest post ever! another record!) the last group that I really liked was the Parselmouths. Click here to see a bizarro video of them singing "It's not that Bad." They were too cute. But not as cute as the Hungarian Horntails who were like in the third grade or something! (Yes, for real - these were some kids with no inhibitions.) Well, so there you have it. Wizard Rock Rules.

Monday Morning Humor

I had a hard time getting out of bed today and maybe you did too? So I figured it would be best for all who reads this blog to get a Monday morning giggle. So here you go, a little chuckle for the office (from The Office, in fact) to get your day going.

Photo Friday - Sky

So, in between watching downloaded episodes of "Ugly Betty" and work, I've been trying to finish up some old projects of mine - one of them being a little scrapbook of a trip to Boston. Tim took me there in May of 2005 (that sounds like so long ago!) and we had such a great time. We did everything from going to a "Blue Man Group" show to seeing the original "Cheers" bar; we even dumped tea (leaves) into the Boston Harbor. Yeah, we're dorks.

Anyway, this is one of the coolest sky pictures I could think of. It is the reflection off of this pretty skyscraper (edit: John Hancock Tower) right next to Trinity Church and the Boston Public Library (note: the FIRST free library in the country). Pretty, no?

I've still got some cutting and pasting to do on this scrapbook, but what I'd rather be doing is taking a trip and snapping some new pictures for another scrapbook I'll probably never finish! Who is up for a road trip?!?

Wordless Wednesday - My Niece

Oh My Dear Lord...

My day was completely boring compared to my bachelor brother's. Holy freakin' crap. Tim talked to Andy today and he told this story:

Yesterday when Andy got home he noticed some kind of dark stain dripping down the wall from the upstairs apartment. He didn't think much of it and went to bed, thinking he would deal with it the next day. When he woke up this morning, the liquid had run all the way down the wall and had begun to puddle on the floor behind his bike. A bubble formed on the top of the pool and his roommate wanted to pop it, but Andy suggested to leaved it alone...who knows what it could be. So, they called the landlord to inform him about the issue.

Around lunchtime today, the police showed up to inspect the upstairs apartment, as the tenant couldn't be reached. To make a long story short, the man upstairs had died about a week ago! His bodily fluids had leaked into Andy's apartment (yes, I said 'bodily fluids'). Nasty!

Needless to say, Andy will be crashing at our place for a couple of nights. I know this is one of those crazy urban legends/stories you only hear about, but of course it happens to my little brother!

Neat-O-Rama

Have you had your daily dose of Neatorama today? Here is my favorite tidbit - perfect for a yucky cold day like this one... Warning: requires a bit of imagination.

Book Fest 2007

I just drank sherry at the New York Public Library with a couple of famous children's book authors. Is this town great, or what?

Today was Book Fest at NYPL, a librarian conference that is held yearly. They always have some crazy cool keynote speaker and a panel of other authors. This year, the keynote speaker was M.T. Anderson (can I just tell you now how big of a fan I am?!?) and the panel of other authors were all graphic novel writers / illustrators. There was Jennifer and Matt Holms (Babymouse - also a fave), Misako Rocks (Biker Girl), and Siena and Mark Siegel (To Dance).

So, highlights... M.T. Anderson, he is criminally brilliant. In his address, he used words that I never knew existed. I think the man is on a higher plane or something. But he was also just so funny! I recently finished reading Feed by him, which I would totally recommend. It is like the Fahrenheit 451 for our time. I LOVED it. I got him to autograph his new book (haven't read it yet), Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, which won 2006's National Book Award. Talking with him was a real experience.

More highlights of today include chatting with Jennifer Holms about Babymouse, which is such a cute graphic novel (I gave my niece the first four for Christmas this year because I liked it so much) and also, seeing a good friend of mine that I went to school with last year. We were both getting our MLIS degrees, but after graduation, we lost touch. Melinda is the coolest girl - it was so great to see her! It was nice to be able to hang out with friendly and familiar faces, too. (I get really skiddish at events - esp. when I'm all by myself - I don't do "loner" too well.) But best of all, who else can say they had a glass of sherry at the NYPL?!? That alone was worth my Saturday!

Book Quiz

(The first time I took this, I ended up with Lolita. So I took it again.)

You're Watership Down!
by Richard Adams

Though many think of you as a bit young, even childish, you're
actually incredibly deep and complex. You show people the need to rethink their
assumptions, and confront them on everything from how they think to where they
build their houses. You might be one of the greatest people of all time. You'd
be recognized as such if you weren't always talking about talking rabbits.

Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Happy Becky Day

Happy birthday to my favorite big sister!!! What is a birthday, without a clown? Oh wait! That's Becky! (Oh snap - I'm in trouble now!)

But really, my beautiful big sis is having a birthday and I am so proud of who she is. She is a brilliant, talented, and resourceful woman who is now a new mommy. She is also a loving wife to a great hubby; and I know she has to be a great college professor, too (she's taught me stuff ALL my life!). Happy birthday, Becky! I love ya, girl!