A Bonus Sunday Blog

Note:  This is NOT censored!  

Did anyone watch the Olympic closing ceremonies?  Mitch and I watched the last hour or so together, and in true late-night (OK, after 8pm) form, here are the quotes from our viewing:

Mitch:  "This is what happens when people are locked inside due to the cold for half the year."

Mitch:  "It all went downhill once Bill Shatner took the mike."

Mitch:  "I'd like to be in that staff meeting when someone asks, 'Let's get giant inflatable beavers!  Who knows where we can get some?'"

Bob Costas:  "The always-entertaining giant inflatable beaver!"

Mitch:  "They must have been higher than a giraffe's ass when they thought of this shit."

Tina:  "Is that Michael Buble?  This just got a hell of a lot better."

Mitch:  "HE'S STANDING ON A GIANT MOUNT-ME HAT!"

Mitch:  "What was made in Canada about those maple leafs?  Those hot freaky bitches?"

Mitch:  "That graphic down there tells you that you only have to put up with this shit for five more minutes before 'The Marriage Ref' comes on."

Mitch:  "I tell ya what, if this is what Canada comes up with when you give them six years and a few million dollars, I'm not too worried about them invading us."

Working on her Brass-Playing Skillz

Her buzzing ability should make her godmother TubaLady very proud! 

What Happened to the Time?

On Tuesday Gizmo turned six months old.  Already!  I can't believe how the time has flown with her.  As a "birthday" present, we put together her jumparoo over the weekend to see if she would like it.  Turns out, it's like baby crack for her.  Enjoy the video and some new photos!

A Little "Me" Time

A few weeks ago, Mitch asked me what I wanted for my birthday.  I told him, "All I want to do is sleep in, then go shopping ALL BY MYSELF, have lunch ALL BY MYSELF, and not have to worry about rushing home to feed Gizmo, or keep her on her schedule, or worry that something else needs to be done.  I just want to be BY MYSELF."  He was happy, because that meant no shopping required to buy me a gift.  

This morning, Mitch gave me the best present - minus the sleeping in part.  (I've forgiven him, because Gizmo gave me the present of sleeping in, and so I got up with her this morning.)  After everyone was showered and Gizmo was taking her first catnap of the day, I gave Mitch a kiss and drove away, armed with gift cards from Christmas and birthday cash burning a hole in my pocket.  

I headed to the Galleria (a fancy mall next to the normal mall) for a quick browse of their cool kid's store (even though it was MY day, I couldn't help but buy Gizmo these cool monkeys in a barrel), and then I went and had a desperately-needed manicure.  Thanks again to Mitch, who gave me "straight cash, homey!" for my manicure.  

After contemplating lunch decisions (mexican?  chinese?  sushi?), I headed to Cheesecake Factory for a chicken club & avocado sandwich and a tall mojito.  (No cheesecake - I couldn't completely blow my diet today.)  Afterwards, I hit the Southdale mall, where I proceeded to browse the Macy's shoe department casually (and bought a pair of shoes), spend my gift cards to Victoria's Secret (hello, new undies!), and take advantage of the Gap's incredible sales (a pair of pants, five shirts, and a sweatshirt for under $140?  Hell yes!).  

After a stop at Babies R Us, I headed to Mitch's parent's house, where the entire family was gathered for a delicious chicken parmesean birthday dinner and red velvet cupcakes for dessert.  

It's been one of the best birthdays yet, albeit much different than birthdays of years past, where the night consisted of entirely too much booze and partying.  I'm looking forward to going to bed at a reasonable time tonight, because my day of ME is over at 5am, when Gizmo wakes up....

You Know You Live in Minnesota When....

....the temperature reaches 35 degrees and you see people in their convertibles with the tops down.  

Rollin', Rollin', Rollin', Keep That Baby Rollin'

Here is little Gizmo displaying her latest trick!

Random Conversations

Mitch and I have the most random, weird, and silly conversations after 8pm every night.  Chalk it up to the fact that we are now feeling the constant exhaustion young parents have, but we are just damn punchy by the end of the night.  Take for instance tonight's conversation:

Scene:  Mitch and Tina, sitting on the large couch that it misplaced in the living room due to home improvement projects that have stalled out.  They are sitting too close to the HDTV, watching pairs figure skating.

Mitch:  I feel that we would be incredibly good at pairs figure skating due to our impeccable ability to follow the beat, since we were good at marching band.

Tina:  Yes, we would be good.  I like their outfits.

Mitch:  Yeah, that guy doesn't look too ridiculous.  I know who I want to be my skating coach - a completely flamboyant gay man.

Tina:  Uh huh.

Mitch:  I think this group has a chance if they pull off the iron lotus.  I think we should try all of the Olympic sports.  Does anyone know where a good luge track is?

Tina:  You are crazy.  Ooh, that girl totally bit it.  She sucks.

Mitch:  You know, our timing with the music would be so good if we were pairs figure skaters.  But we wouldn't be too good on the lifts.  Or the skating.  We would need to work on the lifts and the skating.

Tina:  No kidding.  We would not be very good figure skaters.

Mitch:  What sports should we try next winter?  Cross country skiing?  Slalom skiing?  Snowboard cross?  Those guys are badass.

Tina:  We are not badass enough to snowboard.

Mitch:  "It's important to remember that he had the dove in his suit the entire time."

Tina:  I'm blogging this.

Finally!

Gizmo finally reached a milestone that we thought she never would - on Thursday night, she rolled over for the very first time.  I thought she would never do it, as she could get her upper body over, or her lower body to flop to one side, but couldn't get it coordinated together.  But, with a little help from her rings, she pulled herself over.  Mitch and I were both home to witness it, and Gizmo also rolled over for Grandma Jersey Girl today.  We are so proud of her!

I Am Addicted

I have an addictive personality. In my lifetime, I have been addicted to many things, some of which I am not proud of.  I long for the day when I become addicted to exercise.  (I hope it comes soon.)  However, right now I blame my mother for my latest addiction.

Keebler's Flip Sides crackers.

She brought a box with her once when she came to visit within the last year, and now I have to eat them every day.  I have no less than two boxes in my pantry at all times.  If you have never had them, they are a half-pretzel, half cracker creation that is pure deliciousness.  The crunchy of the pretzel with the butteriness of the cracker and the saltiness of it all just makes my mouth water.  I eat them when I am home from work.  I eat them with my salads.  I eat them with my lunches.  I eat them when I should be eating apples.  I am eating them right now.  I am addicted.

Please Lord, let me conquer this addiction so I can eat something healthier.    

Dear Mother Nature

Please bring the spring.  I've had enough snow.  

And by the way, if you are going to snow again, please just dump a foot in two hours and be done.  At least then we can have a snow day and the world can stop for a little while.  

Love, Tina

Really? Really?!?!

When Amy Poehler was on Saturday Night Life, she and Seth Myers had a segment on "Weekend Update" that I just loved - it was called "Really, Really?!?!"  They basically pointed out a bunch of stupid, annoying, or ridiculous stuff.  I now bring you my own Friday version of "Really, Really?!?!" - 

• There is a (new?) music artist called Young Money, and one of his songs includes the lyrics, "Call me Mr. Flintstone/I can make your bed rock".  Really, people listen to this shit?
• Why must it continue to snow?  I can barely see at intersections, the snow is piled up so high.  Really, snow plows, can't you push it somewhere else?
• Earlier this week my cousin The Mrs. posted/raged about the fact that children do not listen.  I am so sick of having to correct or re-teach simple behaviors that students should have learned in the first month of school.  Really, elementary kids, I'm not cut out for your slow learning.
• Let's talk about Justin Bieber.  This kid is, like, 14, and is the most annoying singer ever.  The worst is, girls LOVE him.  Really?  He needs a haircut.  Get a haircut, Justin.  And go away.
• Poor Gizmo has been sick this week.  Really, Gizmo, it's time to get better so Mommy can get a full night's sleep.  
• One of the roads that I take home from work is very curvy, and almost every day this week I have gotten behind someone going 10+ miles under the speed limit due to the minute amount of snow on the road.  Really, people, it's Minnesota.  Learn how to drive in the snow, or get off the road.  (Or at least out of my way!)

Undecided

Well, I came out of lessons tonight (AKA five hours of my life in a practice room having the life sucked out of me by children who did not practice enough) and there was snow.  A fairly significant amount - about 2 inches on my car.  It had already snowed at least an inch before I went into lessons.  

And then I couldn't decide to be angry or happy.  We've had snow on the ground for a good long time, and the roads are a mess, and it took me over a half hour to get home tonight, after I had to scrape my car and got covered in snow.  It means snowblowing the driveway for Mitch.  BUT, it did cover all of the ugly, dirty snow, and the trees look so beautiful with a soft covering.  Also, it's big, fluffy snow that is just so pretty.  And, it's so peaceful at night to watch the snow fall.....

I'll make my final decision when I wake up in the morning to find out if there's a snow day.