Hi!

Well, apparently there was nothing wrong with the blog. Just my work computer acting up. One of these days I will update the background though.

I finished reading Pillars of the Earth and I highly recommend it! I had no idea what to expect when I started it, so I was taken aback by a few things.

The story itself spans about 50 years or so and is based around the building of a cathedral in Middle Ages-England. Ken Follett does not spare his readers from the way of life in those Middle Ages. There is lots of raping and pillaging and killing to get through. At first it was a little tough, and felt kind of gratuitous at times, but then you realize that life was really like that back then. Those scenes serve their purpose by transporting you fully into the era.

It's a very long book (973 pages), but I'd definitely recommend it. Especially if you like historical fiction.

I finished that book on Wednesday night and picked up Atonement on Tuesday. I just can't do it. So far it's pretty much identical to the movie. Which I obviously realize is the movie's fault. When it comes to books adapted into movies, I like to experience both, but I also like for there to be some differences. But aside from that, the book is just so....boring. Maybe I'll pick it back up eventually, but who knows.

So up next is a book I bought earlier this summer, Water for Elephants. Even though it's been around for a few years, it seems to be enjoying a resurgence. Or maybe it's popularity never waned, I guess I don't know the answer to that one. But I've heard great things about it, and I'm excited to dive into it.

Oh, yeah! Happy Halloween!! My best friend and her roommate are having their 2nd annual Halloween party and it promises to be lots of fun! I don't have the picture available, but last year's party involved a 3 foot tall bottle of wine, with no glasses. Good times!

Question mark?

Ummm, so sitting here at my work computer, I head on over to the old blog hoping that along the way I'll be inspired to write about something. I type in the address, hit enter and the page loads. At least it says it's done loading, but there's no pretty background. Just boring white. Hmmm. Did something happen with Photobucket? Did Blogger decide they don't like me anymore? Is the world trying to tell me something?

Anyway, guess I'll have to investigate when I get home. I have no idea how long it's been like this, so I'm sorry if you came to my blog and thought it was the most boring thing in the whole world. At least this will give me the push I needed to revamp the background!

Oh, and PS--I just filled up my car with gas that was $2.38 gallon! Everywhere else I've seen still says $2.48. This is the first time I've filled up my 16 gallon tank for less than $40. Huzzah!

Word to your mother

From the JSOnline.

Don't expect as much snow this year
The relentless snowstorms that buried the Milwaukee area last year shouldn't be back for a repeat performance. In fact, forecasters are using a word that should come as a relief to those who spent last winter shoveling, heading to work, returning home and shoveling again. That word is "normal." "We're definitely looking at the likelihood of less snow. We're not expecting anything like last year," said meteorologist Penny Zabel with the National Weather Service office in Sullivan. During the winter of 2007-'08, La Nina, a cooling of ocean waters in the eastern tropical Pacific, created conditions that dumped heavy snows on the Midwest. Milwaukee received 99 inches of snow, more than four feet above the average snowfall of 52.4 inches. But this year's projections show no bias toward a La Nina pattern. There also are no signs of abnormally warm ocean temperatures, called El Nino, so it won't be drier than normal, Zabel said. The forecasters' winter outlook also calls for warmer-than-normal temperatures this winter. The winter outlook indicates there's a 50% chance southern Wisconsin temperatures will be warmer than normal, a 16% chance temperatures will be below normal. That leaves about a 34% chance temperatures will be normal.

Take that La Nina! Which we all know is Spanish for, "the snow bitch."

Hello old friend!

So things at work are kiiinda slowing down. Definitely no time to blog there. And things at home aren't much better. Nothing bad going on at either place...just busy, busy, busy.

We were able to take a breather this weekend though. For my anniversary present, Bryan whisked me away a little north of the city. He surprised me with a daytrip to Kohler-Andrae State Park (a must go/see).

We started our morning with a trip to Whole Foods to pick up the fixings for a fabulous picnic.

Here's me with all of our food (Bryan insisted he take a picture for "the blog")

And we also bought these amazing desserts.

A closeup of our food (because I know you wanted one).

And the married-for-3-years people.

Libby wants to know where her food is.

And here's the view from our picnic table.

So pretty! The trees were definitely at there peak, and many even past their peak, but it was still very lovely.

After the delicious (and very filling) picnic, we walked off all the calories here:

And here:

I love this place! Libby definitely got her exercise in too!

Look Ma! A stick!

Hee hee! Look at those ears.

Random strange driftwood log thing

After all the walking up and down the beach, we decided to drive around the area and take in the sights.

Still some pretty colors hanging around.

Very Iowa-ish, don't you think?

It was a gorgeous day weather wise and it was the perfect gift. Incorporated everything I love: surprises, nature, fooood, driving around aimlessly, my dog, and of course, my husband. Yay!

L-O-V-E

I hope you'll all forgive me for my absence (What? You were gone?). Life and work are both absolutely insane right now! But today is a very special day, and even though I should be cuddling on the couch right, I thought I'd tell you why it's so special.

Three years ago on October 15, Bryan and I officially became husband and wife. It was the best wedding day ever! Words cannot describe how I feel about Bryan, so I'll let the pictures (and lyrics from our first dance) speak for themselves.

"Forever" by Ben Harper

Not talkin' 'bout a year/no not three or four

I don't want that kind of forever/in my life anymore

forever always seems to be around when it begins

but forever never seems to be around when it ends

so give me your forever/please your forever

not a day less will do/from you

People spend so much time/every single day

runnin' 'round all over town/givin' their forever away

but no not me/I won't let my forever roam

and now I hope I can find my forever a home

so give me your forever/please your forever

not a day less will do/from you

Like a handless clock with numbers/an infinite of time

no not the forever found only in the mind

forever always seems to be around when things begin

but forever never seems to be around when things end

so give me your forever/please your forever

not a day less will do/from you

Holy Deal Batman!

Ladies, this might be of interest to you fashionable thriftsters out there! On October 15th (our 3rd wedding anniversary thankyouverymuch) a new website (www.handbagplanet.com) will launch selling designer style handbags at prices just as fashionable--$30-$80! And to celebrate the impending launch, they're giving away a free handbag every hour. Go enter!!

Funny stuff

We got a mailer the other day from a cable company that we do not currently subscribe to, letting us know we could be paying way less if we switched to them. We have no plans of switching, because we hated them when we were with them a couple years ago.

But Bryan gets it into his head to call and find out what the exact offer is, so he can use that as leverage to negotiate a lower rate with our current cable company. He's so smart and thrifty!

So he dials the first cable company to get the quote. He's in the other room, but I hear him dial and say something in the phone. Next thing I know, he comes out of the room laughing hysterically. Here's how the short conversation went:

Bryan: *dials and waits*
Operator: *mumbles something in a very thick Indian accent*
B: Uh, is this [cable company]?
O: No, this is the number for Extend.
B: What's Extend?
O: Extend is the most effective way to achieve male enhancement! May I have your name?
B: *hangs up*

Seems that the people at Extend and the people at the cable company have an identical phone number. The difference? Extend is a 1-800 number, and the cable company is a 1-888 number. I wonder how often that mix up happens?

And yes, the negotiating worked. Bryan scored a $20 discount on our monthly bill. Yay money!

Think Pink!

Just in case you weren't already aware....

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Please do anything you can to spread the word on early detection, breast cancer, and just awareness in general.

You can also go to this site and enter in the phone numbers of friends and family to receive a phone call from Ellen DeGeneres reminding them to make their breast health a priority!

So remember ladies...