tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102073319701616902024-03-12T23:06:31.529-07:00Original Thoughts of an Unoriginal ThinkerNumber Whispererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148342055826061987noreply@blogger.comBlogger157125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810207331970161690.post-5700554043660053592013-04-08T05:00:00.000-07:002013-04-08T05:00:04.012-07:00'the Heck???<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Today,
while typing away at the computer, I felt a little chilly, so I rubbed
my legs (I was wearing shorts). As I tried to warm myself up, I
noticed that my knees felt cold to the touch, which made me <span style="font-size: large;">theori<span style="font-size: large;">ze </span></span>why.
Must have something to do with the
ratio of meat to bone and the fact that bone doesn’t have all the warm
blood coursing through it like flesh does.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Which then led to this thought: </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">“One day when I die, this is probably how the rest of my body will feel.”</span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Macabre, party of one, your table is ready.</span> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhQvsRu6uFX1vr6kKHuydmmHxMoBUURXh3QiYpj6xNe6dCTtJPIL7QPX3vAbzg80MhRyb-ESOxHGdLWyG7RnNTeXejlp4wT6Z2J75gaGmstONW8Mr_e89duWgxJmLGs02RH9o03bZVTCH/s1600/Halloween+2012+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhQvsRu6uFX1vr6kKHuydmmHxMoBUURXh3QiYpj6xNe6dCTtJPIL7QPX3vAbzg80MhRyb-ESOxHGdLWyG7RnNTeXejlp4wT6Z2J75gaGmstONW8Mr_e89duWgxJmLGs02RH9o03bZVTCH/s640/Halloween+2012+003.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Number Whispererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148342055826061987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810207331970161690.post-70558971199197248772013-04-05T05:00:00.000-07:002013-04-05T05:00:00.751-07:00Random Photo Series: Cliff Dweller<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyGm05yDA4O0FvarVHovTS9fKDouq81cNbV7WOLc69CdaAwehLQHVqzgFgdFqUtDEsgPNM-l-2jNnhDxpKGM-c102hr0sjlLDFPB0F07WKTJ3OC_s_5qWGgMmodJ_P8BCg_ntRkgC19O7/s1600/CliffDweller.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyGm05yDA4O0FvarVHovTS9fKDouq81cNbV7WOLc69CdaAwehLQHVqzgFgdFqUtDEsgPNM-l-2jNnhDxpKGM-c102hr0sjlLDFPB0F07WKTJ3OC_s_5qWGgMmodJ_P8BCg_ntRkgC19O7/s640/CliffDweller.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Number Whispererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148342055826061987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810207331970161690.post-28334244294208649122013-04-01T05:00:00.000-07:002013-04-01T05:00:00.437-07:00The Downside of Pinterest<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've decided that Pinterest is the devil's playground.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I want a flat stomach.</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com/550x/68/f5/2d/68f52dcd571df40a93a4dbf2f0c48cfe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com/550x/68/f5/2d/68f52dcd571df40a93a4dbf2f0c48cfe.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After 3 kids, I know this will never be. Not without surgical intervention.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I want porcelain skin.</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache-ec3.pinterest.com/550x/cd/a8/24/cda82455689274565b94de46dc08d486.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://media-cache-ec3.pinterest.com/550x/cd/a8/24/cda82455689274565b94de46dc08d486.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Considering I'm a lovely shade of pale yellow, I doubt this will ever happen.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I want space between my thighs.</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache-is0.pinimg.com/550x/c7/e5/93/c7e593c8737e54914f764f857560a8e3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="462" src="http://media-cache-is0.pinimg.com/550x/c7/e5/93/c7e593c8737e54914f764f857560a8e3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Let me clarify. I want space between my thighs, WHILE MY ANKLES TOUCH.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I want a glorious mane.</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com/550x/a0/3e/c3/a03ec3124037d12c5e38753c5079aeff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com/550x/a0/3e/c3/a03ec3124037d12c5e38753c5079aeff.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'd even take it gray. There's dye for that kind of problem.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I want perfectly arched eyebrows.</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com/550x/2d/21/84/2d21848f40147777f41d2ea6dfffe9b0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com/550x/2d/21/84/2d21848f40147777f41d2ea6dfffe9b0.jpg" width="344" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've been blessed with a case of disappearing eyebrows.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I want an amazing wardrobe.</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com/550x/88/7f/38/887f38b8be77cc689bdcd26756a9cd3d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com/550x/88/7f/38/887f38b8be77cc689bdcd26756a9cd3d.jpg" width="194" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And not repeat for at least a month.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I want to own lots and lots of shoes.</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache-is0.pinimg.com/550x/a3/99/f9/a399f98624f3f8a7509703444158ec65.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://media-cache-is0.pinimg.com/550x/a3/99/f9/a399f98624f3f8a7509703444158ec65.jpg" width="452" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ahhh, to not have to wear the same shoes multiple times a week.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I want to have the kind of lifestyle where I would have a need for something like this.</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache-ec2.pinterest.com/550x/d0/39/42/d039422938ced8258796249a9d6b610f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://media-cache-ec2.pinterest.com/550x/d0/39/42/d039422938ced8258796249a9d6b610f.jpg" width="276" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What good is having it if you've got nowhere to wear it?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is the problem with Pinterest. It makes me WANT.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What's wrong with me the way I am? I'm healthy. Young children don't <span style="font-size: large;">run from</span> the sight of me. I have a few nice things. I'm doing ok.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But I want so much more. Does this mean that I am unappreciative of what I have? I kind of feel like it does. After all, everything that I want is material, spurred by a craving to want to be beautiful and to have beautiful things. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">To be a better person, does it mean I have to fight this feeling? I mean, what good can come from wanting all the pretty things?</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But they're all so pretty...</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">I guess I've made my mind up</span>. I'm going cold turkey<span style="font-size: large;">, deleting all my pins, and closing <span style="font-size: large;">my <span style="font-size: large;">Pinterest account tonight.<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">April Fools</span>. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEYFl2cuDrf-NVe0KBbrklApCkAHyJgAy-9UxVEvdAFBIQy50boKfKirT5c5kprQCoehdRBQmh2olL-D6aMB4_HDCZbFtutvvnmtXL5HAZkohxGiIYhNOFGlgYNtpepy5sA3kDHKef31n/s1600/Thanksgiving+2012+033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEYFl2cuDrf-NVe0KBbrklApCkAHyJgAy-9UxVEvdAFBIQy50boKfKirT5c5kprQCoehdRBQmh2olL-D6aMB4_HDCZbFtutvvnmtXL5HAZkohxGiIYhNOFGlgYNtpepy5sA3kDHKef31n/s640/Thanksgiving+2012+033.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't try to make sense of it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
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<br />Number Whispererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148342055826061987noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810207331970161690.post-75342422356130388092013-03-27T22:12:00.001-07:002013-03-28T08:40:47.684-07:00Stranger Danger<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The other night, at basketball practice, one of L's friends asked me if he could borrow my phone to call his Dad. Practice had been cancelled, and he needed a ride home. Sure, no problem, here's the phone. So he calls his dad, who tells him to call his sister. Sister gives him grief, so he tells her he'll find a ride home. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This 14 year old kid is pretty savvy, and he wasn't concerned about his lack of ride. He knew we'd give him one, if he was willing to wait an hour and a half. So we settled down on a bench, M, Sam, and me, watching L practice ball.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We shared the bench with an older man, who immediately struck up a conversation with us. He was your average grandpa type, waiting for his grandson to finish practice. Because Sam sat between the grandpa and me, he bore the brunt of the conversation with this talkative gent. I felt a little bad for the kid, but better him than me.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Turns out this old guy, who is friends with the neighborhood crossing guard, recognized Sam from his time hanging out with the crossing guard. The polite chit chat becomes more animated as Sam recognizes him too. Grandpa asks Sam his name. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Of course, from the moment the conversation began, I'm thinking to myself, "what's this weirdo doing talking to Sam? Doesn't he know that's a no-no? And now he's asking him for his name?"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I may be a little paranoid. I'm not sure.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So of course, dumb kid that he is, Sam gives him his name. Well surprise, surprise, grandpa's name is Sam too! This is great!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">At this point, I'm no longer watching L play basketball. My eyes may be directed at the court, but my ears are all on the conversation going on next to me.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">That's when I hear, "well I can give you a ride home, we're leaving right now."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Ok, thanks." says Sam.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Are you freaking kidding me? </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So now I'm on high alert, all the worst case scenarios running through my head. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Think, NW, think, I tell myself. How can I keep this from happening without totally giving it away that I'm completely freaked out. This cannot be unfolding right in front of me.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Sam, L's Dad is going to be here any minute," I interrupt. "I can take you home then." It's the best I could come up with.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But Grandpa is already heading out and says, "You coming?"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Sam gets up and begins to walk away.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">That's when I stop him and say, "Sam, are you ok with this?"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Yeah."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So I let him go.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Here are the thoughts that rolled through my head as I watched them walk the entire way across the field to the car:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Sam's fourteen years old, 5 feet tall, and sturdily built.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Grandson is with them and will probably remain with them as they drop off Sam.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Grandpa isn't exactly abducting him. I mean, I would be a key witness...</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">He's not my child. I can't force him to stay.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">What would you have done?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">After practice, I told BH about the whole incident. We are of the same mind about child safety, so he was as floored as I was at Sam's judgement (the jury's still out on MY judgement). Which, of course, made us think of P and his often questionable judgement. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">................................................................................ </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I gave myself a few days to calm down before I approached P about Sam and what happened at practice. P knew exactly who the old man was, also because of seeing him with the crossing guard. (I gotta tell you, that in itself, is kind of creepy to me). The crazy part is that P also thought Sam would be fine, because they all recognize this man. What the heck???</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">That led to a discussion about what he should do if he's ever stranded somewhere. Which then led to a talk about criminals sometimes being people you know or think you can trust. I made him promise he would never, EVER, take a ride from someone without first checking with us. Even if they say <i>we </i>said it was ok.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">P thought I was being rather ridiculous, and he started teasing me about all the different types of people he could and could not get a ride from. In the end, he agreed to the promise.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">If I survive my boys' childhoods, it will be a miracle.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
Number Whispererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148342055826061987noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810207331970161690.post-82252317443138627412013-03-25T05:00:00.000-07:002013-03-25T05:00:12.340-07:00No Post TodayI cut my finger while making dinner last night. Actually I cut 3 fingers. By the amount of blood, you'd think I had lost an arm. It's really nothing more than a little slice, but I can't type very well right now and I hane no backup posts to fill the slot.<br />
<br />
My priorities firmly in place, I braved the blood to grab my camera and get a few pictures for an upcoming post.<br />
<br />
Pray that I don't contract gangrene.Number Whispererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148342055826061987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810207331970161690.post-68434447579401810062013-03-23T09:34:00.000-07:002013-03-23T09:34:15.599-07:00Random Photo Series: A Boy and His Dog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8go1Lz-Nt0nVQk-KBMyefN81Y9noMgcQxRTln1T3781KR9VcqMBsZX5AJzoX0yvq01I9jQjrrpuOq8MxB0muNNOzvvsEqDFB2BwNbNq5pUvRIlOvnhA0K68j8jvZ2iatFPlOJJ3sPexH/s1600/BoyAndHisDog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8go1Lz-Nt0nVQk-KBMyefN81Y9noMgcQxRTln1T3781KR9VcqMBsZX5AJzoX0yvq01I9jQjrrpuOq8MxB0muNNOzvvsEqDFB2BwNbNq5pUvRIlOvnhA0K68j8jvZ2iatFPlOJJ3sPexH/s640/BoyAndHisDog.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Number Whispererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148342055826061987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810207331970161690.post-1892219792831683172013-03-18T05:00:00.000-07:002013-03-18T05:00:11.594-07:00You Call It The Thrift Store, I Call It The Weedy-Weedy<div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I like to shop. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm also a tightwad.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">These two <span style="font-size: large;">t<span style="font-size: large;">raits </span></span>of mine often leave me conflicted. </span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I can't remember the last time I paid more than $15 for a shirt or $19.99 for a pair of pants. This probably explains why my wardrobe is so....so....eclectic. My outfit choices range from downright dowdy to eyebrow raising flashy. There is no in-between when it comes to the clearance section at Marshalls.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But I luuuuv finding good deals. Something about being able to say, "Don't you love my sweater, it was only 12 bucks!" gives the the tingles. <span style="font-size: large;">T</span>his tendency<span style="font-size: large;"> to<span style="font-size: large;">wards prideful frugality <span style="font-size: large;">seems</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> to be </span></span>genetic, a trait <span style="font-size: large;">passed exclus<span style="font-size: large;">ively in</span> x<span style="font-size: large;">x</span> chromosome</span>s of my family line. <span style="font-size: large;">I</span>t has clearly skipped the men <span style="font-size: large;">of my family</span>, who think nothing of spending $15 on a single pair of tube socks (I'm talking about you, Chris, and your Thorlo's).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Not sure if it is because we grew up broke or because we grew up Mexican, but thrift stores have been a part of my life for a very long time. If you're familiar with thrift shopping, you'll know what I'm talking about when I speak of th<span style="font-size: large;">e</span> thrift shop "smell" that meets your nostrils the moment your fo<span style="font-size: large;">ot</span> crosse<span style="font-size: large;">s</span> th<span style="font-size: large;">e</span> threshold. Last week, I was met with that familiar smell, and for the first time in my life, I thought, "ahhh, the stinky smell of my childhood." It actually conjured a familiar, happy sensation.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">How gross is that?</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Anyway, last week, I decided I was going to hit the local shop and see if there were any treasures to be unearthed at the local Goodwill. And I. Hit. Pay. Dirt.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">No joke, for a mere $11.93, I brought home all these treasures.</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfF0t5EZqfKNQQaKDoSv5kGZAAZ5Lrps5I6fkzc5z4vWyBNcetOQkgSqxWzl1p0PleZVhAoj7ehot2wnM8aszM2amrodPf9WDu71nA-yBvjD6KwOu-fycutyK8dH-K0pH7HQIdK5K160qv/s1600/Hogan's+Bday+and+OTher+Stuff+086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfF0t5EZqfKNQQaKDoSv5kGZAAZ5Lrps5I6fkzc5z4vWyBNcetOQkgSqxWzl1p0PleZVhAoj7ehot2wnM8aszM2amrodPf9WDu71nA-yBvjD6KwOu-fycutyK8dH-K0pH7HQIdK5K160qv/s640/Hogan's+Bday+and+OTher+Stuff+086.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can't wait till it warms up enough to wear this.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI5mDZ5vTTRbxXNfGuSiw4LWsCePC38spGQgkDHe43yIUoVuhb5vqoPAtqth0UNJqZUABZBKMjJlbDhWHa21CXqX-gvQELTPvl-h506TUUTl6hD2d8S0x46zNWng_CSZQBRXPu6Je4CfqH/s1600/Hogan's+Bday+and+OTher+Stuff+087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI5mDZ5vTTRbxXNfGuSiw4LWsCePC38spGQgkDHe43yIUoVuhb5vqoPAtqth0UNJqZUABZBKMjJlbDhWHa21CXqX-gvQELTPvl-h506TUUTl6hD2d8S0x46zNWng_CSZQBRXPu6Je4CfqH/s640/Hogan's+Bday+and+OTher+Stuff+087.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who doesn't need a good thermal shirt?</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJ2XSrd4X3cgUZGRvoVZrKz0mD-ev-g-s2rhWrMoF0PNwrArpZBeqEkKeLFW0s_UiX7_p6bECmxy7GRLuUU7FXuboKgc7NsRICawnC_2sfjM4WWwJzLhjcHYoW4u_sQdGi3x_76L_ClOz/s1600/Hogan's+Bday+and+OTher+Stuff+088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJ2XSrd4X3cgUZGRvoVZrKz0mD-ev-g-s2rhWrMoF0PNwrArpZBeqEkKeLFW0s_UiX7_p6bECmxy7GRLuUU7FXuboKgc7NsRICawnC_2sfjM4WWwJzLhjcHYoW4u_sQdGi3x_76L_ClOz/s640/Hogan's+Bday+and+OTher+Stuff+088.JPG" width="396" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This has beach camping written all over it.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikyDHP4uX9Lt-G7X9vyZS-CHcbEeBiVWXYhCfJp5rEIX-WbkECsMlUOY0vqcsupxIvOWCg33ztf6IVRBUmNpvsjrW9Nr1TsSKd-TX4MmDFCNoR1LI23YAPT7P-eWw-4druQPXLoRDWWADY/s1600/Hogan's+Bday+and+OTher+Stuff+090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikyDHP4uX9Lt-G7X9vyZS-CHcbEeBiVWXYhCfJp5rEIX-WbkECsMlUOY0vqcsupxIvOWCg33ztf6IVRBUmNpvsjrW9Nr1TsSKd-TX4MmDFCNoR1LI23YAPT7P-eWw-4druQPXLoRDWWADY/s640/Hogan's+Bday+and+OTher+Stuff+090.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Free People shirt! For 99 cents!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSgJvjiGn1MUrD1OxP7sswUpUbrkonahc7luuBOnkTg8qz2dXI-Tn-JXiSioLy6OXxmruUyl-Y7Z7CQjKqiFutBRMd5x3E8PfCdpRJFGparK1wkRAvNmRAgugdOlcM0E9B0GBcpB4tTbLU/s1600/Hogan's+Bday+and+OTher+Stuff+091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSgJvjiGn1MUrD1OxP7sswUpUbrkonahc7luuBOnkTg8qz2dXI-Tn-JXiSioLy6OXxmruUyl-Y7Z7CQjKqiFutBRMd5x3E8PfCdpRJFGparK1wkRAvNmRAgugdOlcM0E9B0GBcpB4tTbLU/s640/Hogan's+Bday+and+OTher+Stuff+091.JPG" width="562" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can never have too many unique tees.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGrbAub54oF318eYkGFSVvXxycT1K62ly4LCvq63fxiwI-plKxIBnUse4fHq57uYDQWwyLhouhfCljrnt-gDaZ9DGx_7mYRF5jA3XIyd1fHBx8RU271ITsvTP4wavp6vSoJuI0kAajhDys/s1600/Hogan's+Bday+and+OTher+Stuff+095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGrbAub54oF318eYkGFSVvXxycT1K62ly4LCvq63fxiwI-plKxIBnUse4fHq57uYDQWwyLhouhfCljrnt-gDaZ9DGx_7mYRF5jA3XIyd1fHBx8RU271ITsvTP4wavp6vSoJuI0kAajhDys/s640/Hogan's+Bday+and+OTher+Stuff+095.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ugly on the hanger, but super cute on.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgW3a4RENnPXAigHL_438_dS6bBf1vDQnCLPTMtMweolkifp2QMcppSRFoHib5jQKH5IDWGTxLxgh3QLlLLQUxKEPlfdRa2hTX_xiRcOPYmXGll9-NrER9DyvWOPNWZcpnCnKEhEQ-H0r/s1600/Hogan's+Bday+and+OTher+Stuff+097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgW3a4RENnPXAigHL_438_dS6bBf1vDQnCLPTMtMweolkifp2QMcppSRFoHib5jQKH5IDWGTxLxgh3QLlLLQUxKEPlfdRa2hTX_xiRcOPYmXGll9-NrER9DyvWOPNWZcpnCnKEhEQ-H0r/s640/Hogan's+Bday+and+OTher+Stuff+097.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Halloween is only 8 months away. This dress screams Peter Pan.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLT_eNbV58u41Gqgvdhxs4ovEuAv_dZmFD84YOJgxe6yg7MLKBPLyj9hgHRj18pxa02aT5NDWBFrPfEPw0BGZxZi_MI9O2MM1rq7gnGZ8Hd9ob3rkj5fVgnT-JtkQIB5IxxO84tr_cztvE/s1600/tap+shoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLT_eNbV58u41Gqgvdhxs4ovEuAv_dZmFD84YOJgxe6yg7MLKBPLyj9hgHRj18pxa02aT5NDWBFrPfEPw0BGZxZi_MI9O2MM1rq7gnGZ8Hd9ob3rkj5fVgnT-JtkQIB5IxxO84tr_cztvE/s640/tap+shoes.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kids tap shoes? Remember the part about how I love to shop? Lucky for me I'm a tightwad. Only 4 bucks!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The downside of thrift store shopping is that your sense of good taste can go downhill fairly quickly. Kids' size 3 tap shoes? Who on earth am I buying these for? My 3 boys? Not really.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Take this chair for example. I love it in the same way a momma loves her ugly baby. <span style="font-size: large;">I see the beauty in<span style="font-size: large;"> it</span></span>.</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXLkvgyTsjozYla5d8BGqecGC9Z-qljfAA25Azm0o3YiJVLJkZ5xT_OW6eQvia6K5a4ro1otQISfV1fgi_e8RVSlNQrUfB5mE6IPTnKJSBQ8aqfBoatfCkcG9ekeCQTRftYlftvXr1t9Dy/s1600/Hogan's+Bday+and+OTher+Stuff+099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXLkvgyTsjozYla5d8BGqecGC9Z-qljfAA25Azm0o3YiJVLJkZ5xT_OW6eQvia6K5a4ro1otQISfV1fgi_e8RVSlNQrUfB5mE6IPTnKJSBQ8aqfBoatfCkcG9ekeCQTRftYlftvXr1t9Dy/s640/Hogan's+Bday+and+OTher+Stuff+099.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What's not to love? This chair is GORGEOUS.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I got it at a thrift store in Santa Barbara. My mom and I were taking advantage of my sister being under the knife to go hit a shop before she woke up.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Side note: mom's are notorious for getting you <span style="font-size: large;">t</span>o buy something you wouldn't normally buy for yourself.</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I fell in love with the price tag on this chair ($4) probably before I even fell in love with the chair itself. How could I resist?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Only after returning home, with a new chair in the back of the minivan, did I doubt my purchase. I think the moment hit me precisely as I was unveiling my glorious find to BH. For this is what he saw:</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv6-HGM73bmMwvg6-1XvtdNpBRo9wJUx5FqqtF100ta6AcHcmyCYNLoIJ1NsIk1FhY0qrtepcOb6IXqYOx_DWfJvYup930x-vOvWzw1kkR839XWGqXMvjG6SqWe4pvE9QjHi1Cs_DNEwPW/s1600/Hogan's+Bday+and+OTher+Stuff+098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv6-HGM73bmMwvg6-1XvtdNpBRo9wJUx5FqqtF100ta6AcHcmyCYNLoIJ1NsIk1FhY0qrtepcOb6IXqYOx_DWfJvYup930x-vOvWzw1kkR839XWGqXMvjG6SqWe4pvE9QjHi1Cs_DNEwPW/s640/Hogan's+Bday+and+OTher+Stuff+098.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vinyl covering, cheap finish, uncomfortable seat.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The look on his face said it all. I believe he might've said something about a waste of money. That's ok, I still love my chair with the good bones. And BH is now banned from sitting on my chair. Forever.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You know those people who have <span style="font-size: large;">beautiful <span style="font-size: large;">homes that are<span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: large;">tastefully decorated with <span style="font-size: large;">the perfect combination of modern <span style="font-size: large;">a<span style="font-size: large;">nd vintage<span style="font-size: large;">?<span style="font-size: large;"> Ours is not on<span style="font-size: large;">e of those homes. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">And you know th<span style="font-size: large;">ose women who are<span style="font-size: large;"> always </span>put together with amazing<span style="font-size: large;"> vintage <span style="font-size: large;">tops paired with perfectly cut trousers? I'm n<span style="font-size: large;">ot one of those women either.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ours is the house with the ugly thrift store chair I won't let go of and I am the lady at the grocery store with the thrift store tag <span style="font-size: large;">she</span> forgot to tear off. But it works me and mine. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So if you happen to also be a tightwad who likes to shop, your local thrift store (or La Segunda, if you're hispanic (or the weedy-weedy, if you're hispanic and grew up in Oxnard)) might be the past time for you. The<span style="font-size: large;">se places are</span> a delicious, acquired taste. You should get out there and try one some day. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Just stay away from mine.</span></span></div>
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<br />Number Whispererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148342055826061987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810207331970161690.post-31491490129509024102013-03-15T05:00:00.000-07:002013-03-15T05:00:14.386-07:00What's the Opposite of a Pinterest Fail?<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A Pinterest Success!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I never thought I'd see the day where a Pinterest idea actually panned out.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've had my share of pinterest fails, and my faith was fairly shaken. Hairstyles, makeup techniques, crafts, recipes...they all resulted in disaster.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But not this time.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So here's the backstory. My niece, G, and I were goofing off one day, trying on my mom's red lipstick (yes, even at 42, I still play with makeup), when I decided to go for a retro look to accompany the lipstick.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The end result on me, was horrible. I believe the term my sister used to describe it was "transvestite."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But for G, it ended up a total success. I recalled a look I had seen on Pinterest and convinced her to let me try it out on her. I can't find the pin anymore to show you what it was supposed to look like, but here's what I made of it:</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioayxJyvmCZ1ybVO7W00r2pXd9zhvMvxDjk1LR8K6hhoy_VYMo6zyRZsqtm60X72xRf3iNVEZ8ab5J78eTI6c7yS8vJZrStRJ3oYqKQG58taSAvAM0tpNCUhXp_iNBCuMK5Qh2GYIZh3Tq/s1600/Hogan's+Bday+and+OTher+Stuff+068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioayxJyvmCZ1ybVO7W00r2pXd9zhvMvxDjk1LR8K6hhoy_VYMo6zyRZsqtm60X72xRf3iNVEZ8ab5J78eTI6c7yS8vJZrStRJ3oYqKQG58taSAvAM0tpNCUhXp_iNBCuMK5Qh2GYIZh3Tq/s640/Hogan's+Bday+and+OTher+Stuff+068.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gotta love teenagers and their fingernails.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrCgDiRU5lF52HX1zJuOKm-S5rv3ISP6G1NBdMEzHEF8B7JS8DrESb2TKhZ2uqaDZehXumbX9U_kP0JzMiNuT5izaPygQHl5Kg41E9PcXw6BdL_hkj-VQ2I1TZKy9NYuC6nbq-RTLsILqs/s1600/Hogan's+Bday+and+OTher+Stuff+070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrCgDiRU5lF52HX1zJuOKm-S5rv3ISP6G1NBdMEzHEF8B7JS8DrESb2TKhZ2uqaDZehXumbX9U_kP0JzMiNuT5izaPygQHl5Kg41E9PcXw6BdL_hkj-VQ2I1TZKy9NYuC6nbq-RTLsILqs/s640/Hogan's+Bday+and+OTher+Stuff+070.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not bad for a rubber band and two bobby pins.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVRDx5FYbcWHZgOf_9tSSILut8LWxFvVIPiWA9MjpCiX953cvB0Pn3i7kRqlceDsbv6aWKbGlgIsj9EXChEe8oT2MsgSwdUNXlZlGjokxfSxoapvbbd5ZQWSBKYL4fs8R2xIVGg0t4Qs_H/s1600/Hogan's+Bday+and+OTher+Stuff+071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVRDx5FYbcWHZgOf_9tSSILut8LWxFvVIPiWA9MjpCiX953cvB0Pn3i7kRqlceDsbv6aWKbGlgIsj9EXChEe8oT2MsgSwdUNXlZlGjokxfSxoapvbbd5ZQWSBKYL4fs8R2xIVGg0t4Qs_H/s640/Hogan's+Bday+and+OTher+Stuff+071.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm available for weddings.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLqQQBDjt_yWJT9GDdwQbUlH-05G21-_1c2aULmfB-Cawy8lTZkZsRr4JblSAxnN0cBPXOc-or6gfAwjPDncaX4rtBiyFrQZoKGqeHQSUfO9Jf88ezQdPRkI0jRhVscR3n_HcDm6HGfGR9/s1600/Hogan's+Bday+and+OTher+Stuff+069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLqQQBDjt_yWJT9GDdwQbUlH-05G21-_1c2aULmfB-Cawy8lTZkZsRr4JblSAxnN0cBPXOc-or6gfAwjPDncaX4rtBiyFrQZoKGqeHQSUfO9Jf88ezQdPRkI0jRhVscR3n_HcDm6HGfGR9/s640/Hogan's+Bday+and+OTher+Stuff+069.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice photobomb, Charley.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Number Whispererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148342055826061987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810207331970161690.post-18489440951505894092013-03-11T17:53:00.000-07:002013-03-11T17:53:49.295-07:00Teaching Art Part 5: The African-American Legacy<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is one of my favorite projects with L, who was 6 at the time. It was easy for him to follow, and something about pastel crayons makes even mistakes looked great.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here's an excerpt from the handout we received:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Lois Mailou Jones was an American artist whose paintings were inspired by ancient African images. Using brilliant colors and bold shapes, she created modern art with ancient signs and symbols.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This art project was perfect for the first grade crowd. With a little
direction on the cutting, the kids were free to create their own
African-inspired motifs.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here's <span style="font-size: large;">the sample I created</span>:</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpEpObIHdEndELF8ld80wyjdheDTUslD-Z8afBVoJ819RtRIb9tVqYGllKleK5Y0tG4ks7vKz_5am4i5VwxOb3OJqq4GtidVnCUxmue1-vhHhLLhU_ZqxBHsdE8ldeE-iEM5fEaci86N_e/s1600/Q113+Baskeball+and+Art+Masters+210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpEpObIHdEndELF8ld80wyjdheDTUslD-Z8afBVoJ819RtRIb9tVqYGllKleK5Y0tG4ks7vKz_5am4i5VwxOb3OJqq4GtidVnCUxmue1-vhHhLLhU_ZqxBHsdE8ldeE-iEM5fEaci86N_e/s640/Q113+Baskeball+and+Art+Masters+210.JPG" width="484" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ho hum.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">L<span style="font-size: large;">, while </span>looking over my shoulder just now: "My picture looks better than yours."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It does.</span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYPHkjyEtCGppO5cOvdWxKv_CbKVavW9ahR2CHIUWg7aegwPZn4ZlHZe13IGoBzLSQwouWBWXyuYX6wq7FJ7uBlc2PJKFMOoXyZwQGJmFkNcehc3xF_iC-fS6Wd-TWeOn9ioUaM_ssB53J/s1600/Q113+Baskeball+and+Art+Masters+251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYPHkjyEtCGppO5cOvdWxKv_CbKVavW9ahR2CHIUWg7aegwPZn4ZlHZe13IGoBzLSQwouWBWXyuYX6wq7FJ7uBlc2PJKFMOoXyZwQGJmFkNcehc3xF_iC-fS6Wd-TWeOn9ioUaM_ssB53J/s640/Q113+Baskeball+and+Art+Masters+251.JPG" width="482" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L's masterpiece. Way better.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />Number Whispererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148342055826061987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810207331970161690.post-44784453155032431052013-03-08T05:00:00.000-08:002013-03-08T05:00:04.533-08:00Random Photo Series: Snow Angel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjArM4CW866NJD_nz9h9PWE9Z28_zZupO6pFP1UGEQ4kGCR51_EZYFHSrcDo_XAhRZGkHcPbjowlWtFSNSr4uLkxSQbnEJidM9m7KNO2cfuRqTpGlxmYA88rl6TqYL8MvliAIMvYVd-N4YQ/s1600/SnowAngel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjArM4CW866NJD_nz9h9PWE9Z28_zZupO6pFP1UGEQ4kGCR51_EZYFHSrcDo_XAhRZGkHcPbjowlWtFSNSr4uLkxSQbnEJidM9m7KNO2cfuRqTpGlxmYA88rl6TqYL8MvliAIMvYVd-N4YQ/s640/SnowAngel.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />Number Whispererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148342055826061987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810207331970161690.post-24377756126596966222013-03-04T05:00:00.000-08:002013-03-04T05:00:05.491-08:00Still Strapped, Still In Love<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Last month marked the 21 year anniversary of our first kiss.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We've officially crossed the "we've been together half our lives" mark. From this point on, we can say we've been together longer than we've been apart. That blows me away. Mostly, because I can't believe I'm that old. But also because I feel like we've only been together maybe 10 years, max.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In both cases, how I feel inside doesn't match up with the sheer volume of years that is our anniversary. I suppose for some people, twenty years may feel more like 40, but for me, it's the other way around. So we decided to piece together a timeline, from that first kiss 21 years ago, to now. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Our goal was to remember something...anything... about each year we've been together. It didn't have to be anything major, the exercise was designed to prove to ourselves that we've got 20+ years of memories together.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here's what we came up with</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1992 - First kiss at the The Cowboy Boogie. <span style="font-size: large;">Yes, t</span>his great romance has it's beginnings in a seedy country western bar.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1993 - Engaged! And shacking up.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1994 - "I do."</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKnptyv3MGRNNWfRYEiXXduTZhji42fG44BDk1a3ozwT4BnPpHEdB_kuIrU9kI1a7re34FualF_1dVxQ7ChvHwkT6t_4Eu0gKwvpU0puZgN0FiJnnBy2C2pke0FR3h62j2uVcbusYqiUGj/s1600/scan0012+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKnptyv3MGRNNWfRYEiXXduTZhji42fG44BDk1a3ozwT4BnPpHEdB_kuIrU9kI1a7re34FualF_1dVxQ7ChvHwkT6t_4Eu0gKwvpU0puZgN0FiJnnBy2C2pke0FR3h62j2uVcbusYqiUGj/s640/scan0012+-+Copy.jpg" width="462" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weak in the knees.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1995 - First career job; so excited to be making $26k.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1996 - Back to school.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1997 - BH's mom passes away.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi38ObKuknNvW7cWZReOSPCkAKCYXMeG9IQxfFcOdQI_CR2QMA6E0Bfp3DcYBkoH1LcLWcclUwfdaHdkedbiwVUMR6_D2pqxsHWr9-nSd4GIuoAgdZs1UF-8dWgZHkJLrEQy6SQasa03I9f/s1600/scan0011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi38ObKuknNvW7cWZReOSPCkAKCYXMeG9IQxfFcOdQI_CR2QMA6E0Bfp3DcYBkoH1LcLWcclUwfdaHdkedbiwVUMR6_D2pqxsHWr9-nSd4GIuoAgdZs1UF-8dWgZHkJLrEQy6SQasa03I9f/s640/scan0011.jpg" width="470" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forever grateful to this lady.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1998 - MBA.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF_GurvrqHlOzNUf3Qls8FZezSVycUQJhIDPklX7450MgrYSLhU0v10J4JZFKol8pX8n_n7sxLnE-J__OgYoJl1G_XFLYJ4FcuOb4GwazmydQS7pVIDIc4pbcS4vm_PcEszSYQiVyAjb5D/s1600/scan0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF_GurvrqHlOzNUf3Qls8FZezSVycUQJhIDPklX7450MgrYSLhU0v10J4JZFKol8pX8n_n7sxLnE-J__OgYoJl1G_XFLYJ4FcuOb4GwazmydQS7pVIDIc4pbcS4vm_PcEszSYQiVyAjb5D/s640/scan0005.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice that twinkle in his eye? See 1999.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1999 - Our first bundle of joy!</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoaeNfIE18gG-TY6Ilu0s5Z-9rT2dNq5ZfhxB_Y0fhOqB5LoUR6iMcXbrSgiiGLgcwV1NH59K2htIPhgg3jsb0DFnP3jymFJFO_ffdHlcp97SVr1t-8feHKQuk8PgKVCeDN7FiRSFw2Q6J/s1600/scan0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoaeNfIE18gG-TY6Ilu0s5Z-9rT2dNq5ZfhxB_Y0fhOqB5LoUR6iMcXbrSgiiGLgcwV1NH59K2htIPhgg3jsb0DFnP3jymFJFO_ffdHlcp97SVr1t-8feHKQuk8PgKVCeDN7FiRSFw2Q6J/s640/scan0006.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To say, "your lives will change forever" is an understatement.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2000 - <span style="font-size: large;">O</span>ur first home.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2001 - Cancer scare.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmLBEfCWOlLCX0LLikN7S-4oAeEZGxEPbEQFGVG9cm7KCbciYThW_UHw2PzB6GvSzapk_ur3ohzZNCkbrxEb7ipFUepMrcUTLcZ2vVb4lz_8q6wZmQi73Vmgr3hy3KmSyqWkqozHbJOYo/s1600/scan0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmLBEfCWOlLCX0LLikN7S-4oAeEZGxEPbEQFGVG9cm7KCbciYThW_UHw2PzB6GvSzapk_ur3ohzZNCkbrxEb7ipFUepMrcUTLcZ2vVb4lz_8q6wZmQi73Vmgr3hy3KmSyqWkqozHbJOYo/s640/scan0003.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When the doctor puts his hand on your knee, you know it's serious. Either that or he's a perv.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjlPeQCDVyvUPjz7pdZm11s0evUh055Kn4vnovpBBoqw_11gZ7jVBEvNkEyJeSobc9JYgrimcj_Z-1T1-z1ZpEaYDWbZRe41MtaiX5RvnpZ3DnIywFr2zasK8zfwHLcVRVB0otpwNigfea/s1600/scan0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjlPeQCDVyvUPjz7pdZm11s0evUh055Kn4vnovpBBoqw_11gZ7jVBEvNkEyJeSobc9JYgrimcj_Z-1T1-z1ZpEaYDWbZRe41MtaiX5RvnpZ3DnIywFr2zasK8zfwHLcVRVB0otpwNigfea/s640/scan0002.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No evidence for malignancy! All three times!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2002 - Our second bundle of joy.</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TICtRBbXMewwCAfq3KLqcXElniNCTpsQ4yjOPN49f9hXJn_lhyphenhyphenF_VnK-hHXS1NE994syAD9IG5JVrOzwi9WVFgB1IxOlM6ppttnLPRX7l9kDsVrV5zTFPMv2NlZPi4CEkc1e6k-XbP6I/s1600/scan0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TICtRBbXMewwCAfq3KLqcXElniNCTpsQ4yjOPN49f9hXJn_lhyphenhyphenF_VnK-hHXS1NE994syAD9IG5JVrOzwi9WVFgB1IxOlM6ppttnLPRX7l9kDsVrV5zTFPMv2NlZPi4CEkc1e6k-XbP6I/s640/scan0007.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hello, my little gift.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">2003 - Discover L's food allergies: milk, egg, peanut, and soy.</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxUIsRH1HaPJMGZGpvUsFmAQxwuaKgEPrDJtHxevs_HV5WM7bMMDev-ZWw5kSRiNYszcJv94bZW7z6wQGAQcAYQ3zrUvY7yZJVs_shfY0AH8lH0vJUSVfY8rA_1Bs-h8XCqPYhFoigqr-x/s1600/scan0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxUIsRH1HaPJMGZGpvUsFmAQxwuaKgEPrDJtHxevs_HV5WM7bMMDev-ZWw5kSRiNYszcJv94bZW7z6wQGAQcAYQ3zrUvY7yZJVs_shfY0AH8lH0vJUSVfY8rA_1Bs-h8XCqPYhFoigqr-x/s640/scan0008.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the last time he had a real baked treat for 6 years.</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2004 - Children's Hospital of Orange County; add asthma to the list.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2005 - <span style="font-size: large;">Guess who's not d<span style="font-size: large;">one making b<span style="font-size: large;">abies? Me!</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWpq2HsX6c_NTSGRStWLwlKjvEpybz-oO6TjUCQ-HXTD9o-tH3m9E-DyaI7e0bxAS8Jhr3PWSN_-X73olHMRlXkvvXIA6Nk1uFv3nJQ4plZTqo7cWpcH_4X-UoCc1-CVq-2rUwzS24MWs/s1600/scan0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWpq2HsX6c_NTSGRStWLwlKjvEpybz-oO6TjUCQ-HXTD9o-tH3m9E-DyaI7e0bxAS8Jhr3PWSN_-X73olHMRlXkvvXIA6Nk1uFv3nJQ4plZTqo7cWpcH_4X-UoCc1-CVq-2rUwzS24MWs/s640/scan0009.jpg" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's a bun in that oven.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2006 - Our third bundle of joy! </span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5AFTx_qvk2CPPYlT4f0xpDboatNY9QbtQLaFH_woZ9DdhstGsGsoJBvXLxvWyAw-eyi3eXSgZ50MRDHoXuCL4y6DdmQeiyn-tMcK8elKL1kcBaOa9GXpNau1KP9FKo3_j9_Z2G97ev8hC/s1600/scan0010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5AFTx_qvk2CPPYlT4f0xpDboatNY9QbtQLaFH_woZ9DdhstGsGsoJBvXLxvWyAw-eyi3eXSgZ50MRDHoXuCL4y6DdmQeiyn-tMcK8elKL1kcBaOa9GXpNau1KP9FKo3_j9_Z2G97ev8hC/s640/scan0010.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our family is complete.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2007 - New home; new schools, new community.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2008 - First family camping trip.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2009 - BH's surprise birthday party.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2010 - Charley. </span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxooJNysEH9-Lxn3V24ccQWeLFn3SGRN5xh0yHVHppCMbytE25TyVH22aoTXOmAO6GL6k8vtDFeqXMomIlgB561H4mKz11leV_gedrtG827mZlXhFi5_yVxggnxqSArQ6wPbcakvDHTsF/s1600/New+Years+2011+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxooJNysEH9-Lxn3V24ccQWeLFn3SGRN5xh0yHVHppCMbytE25TyVH22aoTXOmAO6GL6k8vtDFeqXMomIlgB561H4mKz11leV_gedrtG827mZlXhFi5_yVxggnxqSArQ6wPbcakvDHTsF/s640/New+Years+2011+013.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Let it be known that if I have a bad picture of you, it will make its way into my blog. Not even pets are safe.</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2011 - Our little friend, Thomas, loses his fight with cancer.</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiPdOoAKo55-L0gWh1sTSbwAqyTDnJtm356iRcbpThjmlchz-mjSRgsV6xxMyPUA9UmBusmYp6OatnLZDdSME_RrBiLx6T-qwIByt5oemvKJUfPKoxWxo2Y0fKK6ug76y_Le1i_BlJZvHm/s1600/Thomas+076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiPdOoAKo55-L0gWh1sTSbwAqyTDnJtm356iRcbpThjmlchz-mjSRgsV6xxMyPUA9UmBusmYp6OatnLZDdSME_RrBiLx6T-qwIByt5oemvKJUfPKoxWxo2Y0fKK6ug76y_Le1i_BlJZvHm/s640/Thomas+076.JPG" width="510" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One brave kid.</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span id="goog_1684365996"></span><span id="goog_1684365997"></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2012 - <span style="font-size: large;">Best camping spot EVER.</span></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJooY7TvN0Yb5sbnWMZr0lt5UI_eAsv6S00z0wqXLtHinaAGMjEuqXBMPhTMSLv-jJzK9c4cYLuqfvFZ3FBSj_CM2iYitOEe8TzOcOnliXZTKZks4DoCMdf2Rf3yVUggYGgHWsxAgQbKw6/s1600/San+Simeon+Contd+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJooY7TvN0Yb5sbnWMZr0lt5UI_eAsv6S00z0wqXLtHinaAGMjEuqXBMPhTMSLv-jJzK9c4cYLuqfvFZ3FBSj_CM2iYitOEe8TzOcOnliXZTKZks4DoCMdf2Rf3yVUggYGgHWsxAgQbKw6/s640/San+Simeon+Contd+016.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">San Simeon, CA</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2013 - <span style="font-size: large;">And h</span>ere we are, 21 years later.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That's it, 21 years of memories. For sure, there are way more than that, but those were the first that came to mind for each year. After going through them, BH had a moment of silence over how mundane our life appears on paper. No fancy trips, no amazing stories.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Still strapped," he said.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"And still in love," I replied.</span></span></div>
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<br />Number Whispererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148342055826061987noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810207331970161690.post-1211087307711797012013-03-01T05:00:00.000-08:002013-03-01T05:00:03.901-08:00Random Photo Series: Smouldering Log<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCy7oarHPI929lRpg_RzO-1Jh8nhNr2CzRZBRf-txAX1S4EpcQingyMdzL5b7auliFubqdBvoYvC6e1YgtgKp2hR6mWLSvouGRqn_mCGiPut5l73IRbqSM76b4c1FbKRwaBrHlsM6ehjjM/s1600/San+Simeon+Camping+092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCy7oarHPI929lRpg_RzO-1Jh8nhNr2CzRZBRf-txAX1S4EpcQingyMdzL5b7auliFubqdBvoYvC6e1YgtgKp2hR6mWLSvouGRqn_mCGiPut5l73IRbqSM76b4c1FbKRwaBrHlsM6ehjjM/s640/San+Simeon+Camping+092.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Number Whispererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148342055826061987noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810207331970161690.post-3216463927926063022013-02-25T05:00:00.000-08:002013-02-25T05:00:00.850-08:00Sometimes Family Parties Are Just More Fun<br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You might consider this post a part 2 to <a href="http://origunorig.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-trouble-with-january-birthdays.html">the birthday one I published earlier this month</a>. I can see the connection, so we'll go with it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">M had his 7th birthday last month. While we usually do something small on the actual birth <i>day</i>, we also like to celebrate with friends or family when it's convenient for everyone, ie. on the weekend. Because parties for 3 kids get expensive quickly, we employ a "one year on, one year off" party strategy. Last year was the "on" year, so he had his <a href="http://origunorig.blogspot.com/2012/02/party-on-grid-tron-style.html">Tron-themed blowout</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This year, we kept it low key with pizza and hot dogs at Grandma's. With three cousins, 2 brothers, and an aunt who is a giant kid (<a href="http://thingsiliketoeatandothernonsense.blogspot.com/">Tilte</a>, I'm talking about you), he's pretty much guaranteed a good time regardless of whether it's an "on" year or an "off" year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've already established in part 1 of this post that I failed to plan properly for his birthday this year. As a result, I had no gifts for him on his birthday and nothing planned for the weekend gathering at Grandma's. I felt like a bit of a bad momma for forgetting his presents, so I used the 2 days between his birthday and the weekend to scramble to put together his "family party", as we refer to them in the ol' Number Whisperer household.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's a good thing I did, because on Friday at child care pick up, the kindly lady who supervises the kids wished me good luck with the "family party". Apparently M had been telling everyone about his weekend plans.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had been throwing around the idea of a Minute-to-Win-it Christmas party after spotting a pin on Pinterest, so I did some quick googling, and came up with a birthday party to rival the best of them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Most of the ideas I stole from <a href="http://frugalchicliving.org/2011/06/frugal-birthday-minute-to-win-it-party/">this site</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This party ended up being one of the best ones I've had. There were no over the top themed decorations and there was no huge party budget. I think I spent about $12 total, because most of the props I was able to find around the house.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here's a photo parade of all the fun.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBPZNDyQ6iFY0uMxzLiGIOadHSD1RhYJ9fWUwie5xSc5CC-HfRdxFZfrIFp05kBs0cPFek3FgkTXKckeYGnA2xsS-ZmmsBlsAVuJ9DV9XEiDfK5X70NLj5fTW9pVt4IgSk0vMx8oOh2xtn/s1600/Picture+142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBPZNDyQ6iFY0uMxzLiGIOadHSD1RhYJ9fWUwie5xSc5CC-HfRdxFZfrIFp05kBs0cPFek3FgkTXKckeYGnA2xsS-ZmmsBlsAVuJ9DV9XEiDfK5X70NLj5fTW9pVt4IgSk0vMx8oOh2xtn/s640/Picture+142.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stick a tennis ball in some pantyhose, shove it on your head and do your best to knock down the bottles.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbv1lpJULv8kqVQF9MYLkls0SmlmbmP9ZdzmEMXyiyQ-SMwppoUW0HclIepFqBP2aM7ch0iRUihVMeDbx9cbdsGEbO_6UcgIH9KVbPfIfswieOmvxyGkdu4J8ct7fIdw667hYLhww0NOcJ/s1600/Picture+143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbv1lpJULv8kqVQF9MYLkls0SmlmbmP9ZdzmEMXyiyQ-SMwppoUW0HclIepFqBP2aM7ch0iRUihVMeDbx9cbdsGEbO_6UcgIH9KVbPfIfswieOmvxyGkdu4J8ct7fIdw667hYLhww0NOcJ/s640/Picture+143.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This game only gets funnier the more you play it.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVN0AFya5faBFRghaNTIM6SxBMIkW5Na9JdBaGlKvT3INAmG2QJ8JfDB3LB5YbJlRyV7Tu_-oh3XePQvUpE5h0gqIrDBy-hye0ZcyPWrGMOxkhPweBTRjVcOSluxSscbR2-jyDiB9fz5oP/s1600/Picture+144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVN0AFya5faBFRghaNTIM6SxBMIkW5Na9JdBaGlKvT3INAmG2QJ8JfDB3LB5YbJlRyV7Tu_-oh3XePQvUpE5h0gqIrDBy-hye0ZcyPWrGMOxkhPweBTRjVcOSluxSscbR2-jyDiB9fz5oP/s640/Picture+144.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">EVERYone wanted in on the action.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRBivtLdnFPgIMZUrXipYlPJdzmZnOuaw4pClOC141Y2cCOnPfDWttMN5P8pqpVU3BmcB_UzUuCV76AdUTXxH5Q1JLTUkoiw50d_3t2ZQ6JDZ-jJz-EHiL2SIz4cgq8uLvyUto3iBegbZ/s1600/Picture+146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRBivtLdnFPgIMZUrXipYlPJdzmZnOuaw4pClOC141Y2cCOnPfDWttMN5P8pqpVU3BmcB_UzUuCV76AdUTXxH5Q1JLTUkoiw50d_3t2ZQ6JDZ-jJz-EHiL2SIz4cgq8uLvyUto3iBegbZ/s640/Picture+146.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The adults had to knock down strategically-placed bottles.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2o3c7FA2REiEpF2mwEe_-FfsKWzHjVnezMhZmKprubE0HfwiZooxmkLFhxjNdLS3t6oVi4FplcaUQQxV0OZvzY9pYvNuqDcY9tfk4zG41Y6uziev9V12W7Ahm7ifq5BnXjpsaZDDWhPU/s1600/Picture+145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2o3c7FA2REiEpF2mwEe_-FfsKWzHjVnezMhZmKprubE0HfwiZooxmkLFhxjNdLS3t6oVi4FplcaUQQxV0OZvzY9pYvNuqDcY9tfk4zG41Y6uziev9V12W7Ahm7ifq5BnXjpsaZDDWhPU/s640/Picture+145.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At this point, we couldn't breathe from laughing so much.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeG3u1cpJx4xf1kA_pftvyb1Q67ahvdMBfLKt55fREQGq4eAKcCrAHxDAia8ZWJA-OSplCdi3orY7eKYfH-Ne32xxQ3TwRd1oseA3nVM-HTtTbQr7qLHFGvo_tjUGVFGJgJBDMHa7bpVLV/s1600/Picture+147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeG3u1cpJx4xf1kA_pftvyb1Q67ahvdMBfLKt55fREQGq4eAKcCrAHxDAia8ZWJA-OSplCdi3orY7eKYfH-Ne32xxQ3TwRd1oseA3nVM-HTtTbQr7qLHFGvo_tjUGVFGJgJBDMHa7bpVLV/s640/Picture+147.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then we moved on to the "eat a cookie off your face" game.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhDF2a2CzmgBR8T9sF4EFZdrWi9cO04ztZ2dQ6FP_NCAMRcbUYyFwt0RUVH8721RVJM2_WsmzXBgdHqZWOrrbyM0svfiRgUTmDWDdmpmxDECRiegQQxejC_n0JC9Ej9QGzhE8aI8ascAa/s1600/Picture+148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhDF2a2CzmgBR8T9sF4EFZdrWi9cO04ztZ2dQ6FP_NCAMRcbUYyFwt0RUVH8721RVJM2_WsmzXBgdHqZWOrrbyM0svfiRgUTmDWDdmpmxDECRiegQQxejC_n0JC9Ej9QGzhE8aI8ascAa/s640/Picture+148.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even the teenagers had fun.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwhzJ7OP9eNqmgs0y-6mRJ4tI0zfRpAo0kYxUBdY9WNlzMN250yzCrx92XL8F4fV8he2IQgKpj_DqxPHo75HJjy0x7ZDAjLHv_Y7HZE4Dg_ZiQkDPg_jqqp9NvYT-Fz2tJwGMuv1Zz-lsw/s1600/Picture+149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwhzJ7OP9eNqmgs0y-6mRJ4tI0zfRpAo0kYxUBdY9WNlzMN250yzCrx92XL8F4fV8he2IQgKpj_DqxPHo75HJjy0x7ZDAjLHv_Y7HZE4Dg_ZiQkDPg_jqqp9NvYT-Fz2tJwGMuv1Zz-lsw/s640/Picture+149.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flick a ping pong ball into the basket across the room. We used L as a weight.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvTeh923onwEdOIhRVb540i-Ke8-Pkn-WSCpNZMW_xbTbY9DjGJ2YDC8IR5CfSd287bZui3XGm-zfpKQLmc30nzmKpbMIj4puhy3DBgvHlUvp-YIU_gcAI4-yc0hyphenhyphenM2Fg-LE9eOZB7s30D/s1600/Picture+150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvTeh923onwEdOIhRVb540i-Ke8-Pkn-WSCpNZMW_xbTbY9DjGJ2YDC8IR5CfSd287bZui3XGm-zfpKQLmc30nzmKpbMIj4puhy3DBgvHlUvp-YIU_gcAI4-yc0hyphenhyphenM2Fg-LE9eOZB7s30D/s640/Picture+150.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Well THAT doesn't look incriminating.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYxYtwqRQEbhPw_3rVBXopdNF8lRnnbPr83pZksz4NJktivnADDoMi_qQepZoiuBjmwFFB7-X9SC_mqsgOVw2F5TliqrJ49UMrp-VFgZGbFbbx2Y5P2FIW8ymf-gNSgrpdJ6Uk97_YF3-I/s1600/Picture+151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYxYtwqRQEbhPw_3rVBXopdNF8lRnnbPr83pZksz4NJktivnADDoMi_qQepZoiuBjmwFFB7-X9SC_mqsgOVw2F5TliqrJ49UMrp-VFgZGbFbbx2Y5P2FIW8ymf-gNSgrpdJ6Uk97_YF3-I/s640/Picture+151.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Transfer a skittle from the table to a container, using only a straw and your lungs.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnR7lK3a8QiGpKyMCt6Cm9-rfgzfGxYe3_Fpc3YvLCG4mLz46hmpEdC8iJa8wgcCv87yi82xH12Jxd49doUAfOM6DAMxhsKFIxiJoRUQxwQMjVmx-TYDiNtrH2OBXfkBwAi6uFWwHsUQKs/s1600/Picture+152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnR7lK3a8QiGpKyMCt6Cm9-rfgzfGxYe3_Fpc3YvLCG4mLz46hmpEdC8iJa8wgcCv87yi82xH12Jxd49doUAfOM6DAMxhsKFIxiJoRUQxwQMjVmx-TYDiNtrH2OBXfkBwAi6uFWwHsUQKs/s640/Picture+152.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone was feeling the love that night.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxxCCF-HAtWLdGc9bTcdrZNMGhFKvO_agVZ_i_TJoM4Xm1WCAXBHBoANtVwg-s9a4RTh3xQY_YBTQjoGo7PA7SO4bhcto2dKSqey5neruII6K9TKcN-VXphqDBhSMETqYrNbtKGIfD7oGo/s1600/Picture+153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxxCCF-HAtWLdGc9bTcdrZNMGhFKvO_agVZ_i_TJoM4Xm1WCAXBHBoANtVwg-s9a4RTh3xQY_YBTQjoGo7PA7SO4bhcto2dKSqey5neruII6K9TKcN-VXphqDBhSMETqYrNbtKGIfD7oGo/s640/Picture+153.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And it quickly turned into a "who is stronger" contest.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQKKGKJjcjAcptuuaxadG7GJGypIHd6ZWBPY6WkgGnsfrzbwtxsPMSoieWxNwv33CS2mhek9JnjgeFKWYg9quab0wmYtZ-NT1Rtov9chphQQaUpw7myVMyt9p71kQ1DTuQ0eocAtBdJyOR/s1600/Picture+154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQKKGKJjcjAcptuuaxadG7GJGypIHd6ZWBPY6WkgGnsfrzbwtxsPMSoieWxNwv33CS2mhek9JnjgeFKWYg9quab0wmYtZ-NT1Rtov9chphQQaUpw7myVMyt9p71kQ1DTuQ0eocAtBdJyOR/s640/Picture+154.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think she won.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I would be remiss if I did not say something about the disaster that was M's birthday cake. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I'm not a baker. I'm the equivalent of the angel of death to cakes, cookies, and other sugary treats. I think this photo of my offering needs no further explanation.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhajg6YL6J6aFDaWKkjy1XwHiS442ebk-wV1vrnqh5gPGklkSthYSwuGOraD5gAa8N-SheyyyfjK6-Aw-jgrNrUjmrquLjHv1PH6eUL6uPqJq1llkwbDK2VATYzF7Yh0R3J3eP_3xY_7tl_/s1600/Picture+141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhajg6YL6J6aFDaWKkjy1XwHiS442ebk-wV1vrnqh5gPGklkSthYSwuGOraD5gAa8N-SheyyyfjK6-Aw-jgrNrUjmrquLjHv1PH6eUL6uPqJq1llkwbDK2VATYzF7Yh0R3J3eP_3xY_7tl_/s640/Picture+141.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sister took one look at it and said, "You need to submit that to epicfail.com." Thanks Tilte.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Number Whispererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148342055826061987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810207331970161690.post-80183489476370687962013-02-22T05:00:00.000-08:002013-02-22T05:00:11.039-08:00When Kids Have Questions About Private Parts<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I was going through my old emails at work today and came across some fairly entertaining ones I've sent to BH over the years. Here's one about P, who was 7 at the time.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><u><b>From:</b> Number Whisperer</u></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, April 05, 2007 4:13 PM</span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
<b>To:</b> Better Half</span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><u>
<b>Subject:</b> the birds and the bees</u></i></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><u><br /></u></i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>P asked me yesterday why we have
privates. I told him they’re for making babies. He didn’t
understand, duh, so I explained that to make a baby, the half from mommy and
the half from daddy has to come from inside their bodies...it’s not like we can
just buy the ingredients and cook up a baby in the kitchen. And the only
way this stuff can combine to make the baby is by using the private parts.<span style="font-size: small;"></span></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>
</i></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>
</i></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>I can’t believe it, but he didn’t
even ask HOW. And I wasn’t going to push it.</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>
</i></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>
</i></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>I’m sure more questions will follow.</i></span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
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<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have a feeling P didn't ask any follow up questions, because he had no idea what I was talking about. <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Either that or the imagery shocked him speechless.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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</span>Number Whispererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148342055826061987noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810207331970161690.post-43080420718293186162013-02-16T00:07:00.001-08:002013-02-16T00:07:14.493-08:00The Trouble With January Birthdays<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A few weeks back, M turned seven, and like any other six year old, he had been looking forward to the big day, oh, since about a week after his last birthday. Completely disregarding the fact that Christmas was only 23 days earlier, he was practically salivating at the thought of what he might receive in gifts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Have I mentioned that work has been crazy lately? It has, since October. And between Christmas and his birthday, I barely had time to breathe, let alone plan a special day for him, which is how January 16th rolled around, and I had yet to purchase a single gift for him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">His birthday is the 17th. Totally my fault, I know. I should've planned better. So when the night before his birthday appeared (out of nowhere) and BH called from the freeway to see if I had bought anything, I felt a twinge of guilt saying,"oh no! I didn't yet (<i>yet</i>, ha). Did you?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I only asked him in the hopes that he would shoulder some of the guilt with me. But he and I both know full well that birthday planning is my job.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So the night before M's birthday, 3 weeks after Christmas, BH hit every toy store in the county. He returned at 9pm with a video game and a hot dog toaster. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Really? A hot dog toaster? And yes, the Christmas decorations are still out. More about that later.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Turns out the toy inventories had not yet been replenished so soon after Christmas. I guess I had never noticed before, probably because I had never been in the position to need a bunch gifts on short order.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So it's 9 o'clock, the night before his birthday. I had to think quick. How was I going to save this one?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">M, who had been counting down to the big day since Thanksgiving, was pumped for his birthday, which would be arriving in less than 12 hours.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Me: "M, since tomorrow is a school day, you'll only get to open one gift in the morning."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">M: "Ok, Momma. Can I pick which present to open?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Me: "No, Daddy and I get to chose for you."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">M: "Ok!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The next morning, M opened up his hot dog maker and marveled at his new appliance. It was decided that he would cook dinner for us on his birthday. Thank goodness, because I had also forgotten to plan dinner or dessert.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The toaster diversion bought me some time. I would need a miracle, but I was determined to find him some birthday presents.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Enter TJ Maxx.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Who would've thought that TJ Maxx, of all places, would have a ton of Star Wars figures and other 7-year-old-boy appropriate toys less than a month after Christmas? I've been in this store nuuumerous times in the last 6 years, and I've never known them to carry good toys. But I wasn't going to question it. I scooped up everything in sight and loaded up the minivan.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So I did it. Shopped, wrapped, picked up groceries for dinner, baked monkey bread AND put in a full day at the office (or at least that's the story I'm sticking to).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When I picked him up from child care that night, he was so excited to come home and begin celebrating.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As we're walking up the path to the front door, he turns to me and says:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Momma, you remembered to keep the Christmas decorations for my birthday! Thank you Momma!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You're welcome M, you're welcome.</span></div>
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Number Whispererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148342055826061987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810207331970161690.post-27817590545689289472013-02-15T05:00:00.000-08:002013-02-15T05:00:14.392-08:00Shooting Hoops<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">M had his first basketball game last weekend. He's in the 5-7 boy/girl age group, and not one kid on this team looks like they've ever played basketball before. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This makes for some good sports-viewing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've seen plenty of 1st grader soccer games in my life, and those are fun...it's like a swarm of bees traveling around the field, with legs flying left and right. Basketball is even better. The addition of the ball being bounced and thrown brings an element of slapstick to an already chaotic situation. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">M has been watching his brothers play basketball for the past 3 years, and he was practically giddy at the thought of donning a uniform and "shooting some hoops" (somehow it's adorable when those words come from chubby cheeks).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">P is assistant coach to M's team, which makes my heart swell with pride. He lines them up and starts them with stretching exercises. For an hour and a half, Coach P is all patience and kindness. He's on his way to becoming a man, it's happening right before my eyes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">M played all four quarters. I'd like to say it was because he was such a valuable player, but at this age, if you have two legs, you're as valuable as the next kid. He did have a few notable moments, however. In the 2nd quarter, he attempted to pass the ball and succeeded in pegging a teammate in the head. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">At close distance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Like, as in, one foot away. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was pretty funny, but I couldn't laugh too much, because some people have no sense of humor about those kinds of things.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here's his other standout moment. Notice his dribbling skills. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Even with a dribble to the face, he keeps on going.</span></div>
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Number Whispererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148342055826061987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810207331970161690.post-64725725212533482992013-02-11T05:00:00.000-08:002013-02-11T05:00:02.408-08:00Rugers, STDs, and Public Transportation<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">How was my trip to Georgia, you ask?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was pretty good. Memorable, even. I don't know if it was the Ruger flashed in the minivan or the STD comment made by the innocent boy-genius or the fall I took in the MARTA. Whatever it was, a good time was had by all.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggT3SAoV7jBP1zXK79LXTWD6aHeKKE4fQUknt7RjSlHO7TmswuLSbJh8eBBQqKOzHV33RfWVaAQy2deJMQ8tOV5gfNYv_agbZO6L9mkIPAOPr3TEFnWwjzR5PzyUEYysKiENZjbcDdIczD/s1600/Picture+139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggT3SAoV7jBP1zXK79LXTWD6aHeKKE4fQUknt7RjSlHO7TmswuLSbJh8eBBQqKOzHV33RfWVaAQy2deJMQ8tOV5gfNYv_agbZO6L9mkIPAOPr3TEFnWwjzR5PzyUEYysKiENZjbcDdIczD/s640/Picture+139.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice that death-like grip? There's a reason for that.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The "business" part of this business trip was nothing to write home (or on a blog) about. Work is work. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In my usual (as of late) lazy blogger style, I'm going to bullet a few of the more interesting parts of the trip.</span></div>
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<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">LAX is a people-watcher's dream come true. Did you know that there are still women out there with permed mullets? Poodle in the front, Lhasa Apso in the back</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For some, 7:30 in the morning is not too early for a mixed drink :(</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pitch Perfect is maybe the worst movie I've sat through in 15 years. Not counting kid's movies, of course...I have no choice but to sit through those</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There IS such a thing as too much cheesecake</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Public transportation in Atlanta is scary; don't let anyone convince you otherwise</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You've got to try the public transportation in Atlanta at least once in your life</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The World of Coca Cola attraction in Atlanta felt like a huge rip off</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The CNN tour was fun, mostly because my expectations were low</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">No one was interested in eating a peach while in Georgia, nor were they interested in singing Alan Jackson on the bank of the Chattahoochee. Heathens.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I learned that Twin Peaks and Tilt a Kilt are giving Hooters a run for their money</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had a star sighting at ATL airport</span></li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKnwOM1lZ9gSLBy7_-MbaLwUBDi7GliNV2EM8aTFcVMCfJCrgn3oXxaAWf5O6tpctHhB9WMsNftJ-1vdq_xiKlbJB7_9I9SDgZhpFotO_cKRei3w8egzfidzpalkPlrL61ETh1HqtijHFk/s1600/Picture+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKnwOM1lZ9gSLBy7_-MbaLwUBDi7GliNV2EM8aTFcVMCfJCrgn3oXxaAWf5O6tpctHhB9WMsNftJ-1vdq_xiKlbJB7_9I9SDgZhpFotO_cKRei3w8egzfidzpalkPlrL61ETh1HqtijHFk/s640/Picture+003.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No really, I saw the REAL Terrence Howard. I also saw this sign of him. Both times, our eyes met.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Centennial Park looks a bit like a cemetery</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFvhPc9jXzHsoIYyBc5txLRPlzo5nrhYIaRoH5aO4Sq5NaSihIJjbXpjvgR_BKaal1vUOBPrWgmCyFjT1NcUxhnlyJb-fO_6C53xmm2JQel3SGCV9VcJprG05xAF2NYgTCMQ73ADQIbZw/s1600/Picture+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFvhPc9jXzHsoIYyBc5txLRPlzo5nrhYIaRoH5aO4Sq5NaSihIJjbXpjvgR_BKaal1vUOBPrWgmCyFjT1NcUxhnlyJb-fO_6C53xmm2JQel3SGCV9VcJprG05xAF2NYgTCMQ73ADQIbZw/s640/Picture+016.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Creepy, right?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Worst Coke drink EVER is Beverly from Italy</span></li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiytuq1ETT4pc9pCBiYsqcR_Y67EyVcau0p15EwOQ50AUweR2jT73laLlev6zQQiP26r9GDdIyDwNbRmx6zcEfCRuNU01U0PGHLCDzuNmsGTE3s9vPa4jYI9FWBC4COzPwpFOZrYNeU6yV/s1600/Picture+025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiytuq1ETT4pc9pCBiYsqcR_Y67EyVcau0p15EwOQ50AUweR2jT73laLlev6zQQiP26r9GDdIyDwNbRmx6zcEfCRuNU01U0PGHLCDzuNmsGTE3s9vPa4jYI9FWBC4COzPwpFOZrYNeU6yV/s640/Picture+025.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trust me. This stuff is nasty.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Buckhead has some nice buildings to photograph</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnRoA2iYT__QyNT02EaOHeaJb7s-kRKryNGFSpzfEO2fUMU2EidN1kjRLVwM4xsnXR7V4EHJDhqCrT7l5lAxN1MadHVCKNGF0e4klnPgPSZmBlXnw1KvkuNHHaO8KoyqGs6Q7l3ZZ6WXBq/s1600/Picture+043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnRoA2iYT__QyNT02EaOHeaJb7s-kRKryNGFSpzfEO2fUMU2EidN1kjRLVwM4xsnXR7V4EHJDhqCrT7l5lAxN1MadHVCKNGF0e4klnPgPSZmBlXnw1KvkuNHHaO8KoyqGs6Q7l3ZZ6WXBq/s640/Picture+043.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I feel like this post could've been way more exciting, given the stories that have come from this trip. Unfortunately, work is currently sucking every ounce of creativity out of me, which is odd, considering all I do is crunch numbers for a living. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Perhaps my next post will be more entertaining.</span></div>
</div>
Number Whispererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148342055826061987noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810207331970161690.post-16747759413702058192013-02-06T19:50:00.002-08:002013-02-06T19:50:59.754-08:00Next Time You're In Atlanta, Try the Sushi<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I never would've thought I'd come away from Georgia with a new favorite Sushi place. But I have.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaDAf15D27W-8K7-JVFwQ7Jf6b0Pr8gJWPMzeB91a9vVTCO23Y6Uf2r4WsFjaAYXDvhfPcaVbRrqFfD4RfP4aG6smIJCmRHdn5nhk9qdmslnuK9lD2T1BikWQpQ5LLb6LJ460zYunC2gHh/s1600/Picture+038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaDAf15D27W-8K7-JVFwQ7Jf6b0Pr8gJWPMzeB91a9vVTCO23Y6Uf2r4WsFjaAYXDvhfPcaVbRrqFfD4RfP4aG6smIJCmRHdn5nhk9qdmslnuK9lD2T1BikWQpQ5LLb6LJ460zYunC2gHh/s640/Picture+038.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSyaTI_p-k1M-68IyvlNkEURisi2irawlbu7W-2qxLbDLZw2xLL08VtcRvBFWmG5LJAaJB6FF4bPSqU-83AuDnVCfgeOFUg3KbUEjWKBdHp6NM4vjGNB7VB_vj-iFTEPMrNR8Xt2lgFnVg/s1600/Picture+139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSyaTI_p-k1M-68IyvlNkEURisi2irawlbu7W-2qxLbDLZw2xLL08VtcRvBFWmG5LJAaJB6FF4bPSqU-83AuDnVCfgeOFUg3KbUEjWKBdHp6NM4vjGNB7VB_vj-iFTEPMrNR8Xt2lgFnVg/s640/Picture+139.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://rusans.com/images/RuLogo.jpg">Ru San's</a> in Buckhead, you make a mean sashimi plate</span>.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://rusans.com/images/RuLogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://rusans.com/images/RuLogo.jpg" width="502" /></a></div>
<br />Number Whispererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148342055826061987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810207331970161690.post-27045984581946259572013-02-05T20:17:00.001-08:002013-02-05T20:17:23.713-08:00Every Office Has Its Secrets<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My Georgia associates don't mess around.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigYWnrOhvIeMFrXoOAMJe8DMG5qUTJrFJGflllaIOucs6EvcDtWkP002Me_DfrRxvJOg3T2dk4bFsoirjfIFl6kG69vBA9oDnkblIwrhrZytBSBOtrUuof2XzDHXi8w7eVEJ6XkTf-Q04C/s1600/Picture+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigYWnrOhvIeMFrXoOAMJe8DMG5qUTJrFJGflllaIOucs6EvcDtWkP002Me_DfrRxvJOg3T2dk4bFsoirjfIFl6kG69vBA9oDnkblIwrhrZytBSBOtrUuof2XzDHXi8w7eVEJ6XkTf-Q04C/s640/Picture+001.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWPPqz2-EjD8pzkRWHTtkqDB9HruOxzoai5ceHZ41hmzkPU_564K-t-WH2pwpdnoC1a1aujTrTdOWw-bPYps40ULPWgAXRKj2LYsYRo-nWp7Xy_CKb-V07uz7x-1yEthS7J5kB4NB8qTk/s1600/Picture+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWPPqz2-EjD8pzkRWHTtkqDB9HruOxzoai5ceHZ41hmzkPU_564K-t-WH2pwpdnoC1a1aujTrTdOWw-bPYps40ULPWgAXRKj2LYsYRo-nWp7Xy_CKb-V07uz7x-1yEthS7J5kB4NB8qTk/s640/Picture+002.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Number Whispererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148342055826061987noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810207331970161690.post-88837196526130494022013-01-28T22:04:00.002-08:002013-01-29T12:12:54.086-08:00Are The Peaches Really Better in Georgia?<div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4mQAymyAxPYb2mIBmx3nhzuXCIwaETtsNl78TkwxLT_IVyU3VyOyJO0rYgsD50BoEACix6Lrkg6Q5YS4qp4xh34QeoPeqqT_FWsABRF8kKOo-S3A8QhpH_K7V6O_LXIf25hDgyj2_1l3/s1600/Christmas+023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4mQAymyAxPYb2mIBmx3nhzuXCIwaETtsNl78TkwxLT_IVyU3VyOyJO0rYgsD50BoEACix6Lrkg6Q5YS4qp4xh34QeoPeqqT_FWsABRF8kKOo-S3A8QhpH_K7V6O_LXIf25hDgyj2_1l3/s320/Christmas+023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm going to Atlanta next week for work. Instead of blogging, I <i><u>should</u></i> be documenting the genius insights I will be imparting unto the gathered masses, but that would be no fun. Instead, I'm going to share my thoughts on this upcoming excursion.</span></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">BH is going to be on his own with our three terrors from Monday through Thursday night. This means he is going to be stressed out about having to leave work more than an hour early every day so that he can get home with enough time to pick everyone up from after-school care. Nothing takes the shine off a vacation, er business trip, more than knowing that my better half is going to be glaring at me when I return.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The thought of walking through metal detectors in my bare (or socked) feet makes me queasy. I wouldn't normally consider myself a germaphobe, but I can't help <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">but wonder just how nasty that portion of the ground is. There has to be some research findings published on it somewhere. If not, someone needs to find themselves a grant and get moving. I suspect that, next to airport bathrooms, the dirtiest place in the world might just be the ground surrounding the metal detectors at LAX. Honestly, I obsess over that path. I'm considering taking a throwaway pair of socks. Or two. You know, for the return trip.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My flight is at 6am, which means the shuttle will insist they must pick me up at 3am. That's gonna be rough.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm traveling alone<span style="font-size: large;">, which is good.</span> I <span style="font-size: large;">p<span style="font-size: large;">refer to travel<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span>alone.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My coworkers and I are taking a tour of CNN when we get in. I was inordinately excited about this excursion, mostly because BH is a CNN junkie. When I got home to rub it in, his response wasn't exactly what I was hoping for: </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>BH: "I don't care about Altanta. <span style="font-size: large;">I want to go <span style="font-size: large;">to CNN New York</span></span>."</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Me: "There's no CNN New York, it's in Atlanta."</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>BH: "Anderson Cooper is in New York. That would be the good one to go to."</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">
</span>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Me: "What?!? You're right. You know you could've just let me have my moment."</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>BH: "Hey, you were trying to rub it in, that's what you get."</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Me: "If you really loved me, you would've let me make you feel bad."</i></div>
</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Richard Blais from Top Chef has a burger place in Atlanta. I'm doing everything I can to get the group to take me there. The nutella and burnt marshmallow shake sounds like something I need to try before I die.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've saved the best for last. Guess what river made world famous by a certain Alan Jackson runs through Georgia? That's right, the CHATTAHOOCH<span style="font-size: large;">E</span>E!!! Or "the hooch," as the locals call it. I really don't know anymore about the Chattahoochee than what I've learned from listening to Mr. Jackson sing about it, but it's enough to have me weak in the knees at the thought of catching a glimpse of it. Rumor has it, I may be disappointed, but how bad can it be with lyrics like this?</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Way down yonder on the Chattahoochee</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>It gets hotter than a hoochie coochie</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>We layed rubber on the Georgia asphalt</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>We got a little crazy, but we never got caught</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pure poetry.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pictures will be taken. And maybe shared.</span></div>
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Number Whispererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148342055826061987noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810207331970161690.post-7725463037279021392013-01-21T16:19:00.001-08:002013-01-21T16:19:05.930-08:00PSA: Move Over Sarah McLachlan<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Starving children have Sally Struthers.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Abused animals have Sarah McLachlan.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Children and pets...these two segments of our society, the most adorable and deserving of protection, have, for years, been the focus of charity efforts. And deservedly so. They're innocent, filled with goodness, and vulnerable to the evils of this world.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But this post isn't about children or animals. It's about a currently under<span style="font-size: large;">-</span>served, yet vital, productive member of our society. These members are much loved and little protected from the abuse and risk that comes with their position.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> People, I'm talking about stuffed animals.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Stuffed animals are as adorable and as vulnerable as any puppy or baby out there, yet ZERO dollars are going towards the protection and welfare of these silent victims. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Often the perpetrators of such abuse are precisely those who we are devoting much time and resource protecting: children and animals. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'd like you to meet Pinguino2. Pinguino2 was little brother to Pinguino1 and older brother to Pinguino3. Pinguino2 fell victim to Charley last night, after years of failed attempts on his life. Pinguino2 and his family have lived in fear for their lives for years. The constant abuse that he, along with his siblings, has faced is hard to even imagine.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Warning: the following images may be too graphic for young children.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqNOP6oO2hj0YrzW7QV7G1GeeQH0Z8PJtKT9v5J08Scn0c2IYbbXdHFP-el6U3QuRvfGmmY_P5rrUY0jB2jjEzTYabjoiKkY1EDruuP5_h5l6tQDlk0uZV4LQp_gwlAVxH-jg9mJ_69O4/s1600/Jan+2013+031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqNOP6oO2hj0YrzW7QV7G1GeeQH0Z8PJtKT9v5J08Scn0c2IYbbXdHFP-el6U3QuRvfGmmY_P5rrUY0jB2jjEzTYabjoiKkY1EDruuP5_h5l6tQDlk0uZV4LQp_gwlAVxH-jg9mJ_69O4/s640/Jan+2013+031.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkl07Dns-Ik6F6Zn0pPEfGos90-cgdCJ3ZyMHp1NWN2qIBie3Aty3yhn-9n8hkoZ5COJ3XU4k_B9VkBenqSm7Ag0PPs-RTo4kJUSX86qnjEdwkFFxDnqmKVP0jAAfFBdupFIBcy3W14oPP/s1600/Jan+2013+035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkl07Dns-Ik6F6Zn0pPEfGos90-cgdCJ3ZyMHp1NWN2qIBie3Aty3yhn-9n8hkoZ5COJ3XU4k_B9VkBenqSm7Ag0PPs-RTo4kJUSX86qnjEdwkFFxDnqmKVP0jAAfFBdupFIBcy3W14oPP/s640/Jan+2013+035.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7NYgGzkq3NZAmjlY8GTs0kAeeYtJ6cHKMlxk7Ed_8_5qoDCA55HztBWFl-tT_6mg_ZIYmYxZ2nKEdI972FmpB_sOLIyUYYEUStUzqr6N1gxA0cigkDaXJZJJ8fANe0uDij5LQPZUTi7o/s1600/Jan+2013+032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7NYgGzkq3NZAmjlY8GTs0kAeeYtJ6cHKMlxk7Ed_8_5qoDCA55HztBWFl-tT_6mg_ZIYmYxZ2nKEdI972FmpB_sOLIyUYYEUStUzqr6N1gxA0cigkDaXJZJJ8fANe0uDij5LQPZUTi7o/s640/Jan+2013+032.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This kind of fate is not uncommon for the many stuffed animals of the world. Aggressive violence and blatant neglect at the hands of children and pets is rampant in the stuffed animal community. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But you can help.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For as little as $5 a day, you can help build a safe, secure environment for this under-served population. And with your donation, you will receive a photo and a personal profile of the stuffed animal you are adopting.</span></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggsw0IkONLSfsHUw-rd8mryPFmFjGet21QUkdZNpz_8Dx_cddSmmWgS2L1hIHgoZLCxhfe7qv0sib_If_KZMnanp1NyvlS5cc_2yv6gc9MMdKum8ubGCQOJbySg2ObdmOBk25rpKhUVts1/s1600/Tanya1+096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggsw0IkONLSfsHUw-rd8mryPFmFjGet21QUkdZNpz_8Dx_cddSmmWgS2L1hIHgoZLCxhfe7qv0sib_If_KZMnanp1NyvlS5cc_2yv6gc9MMdKum8ubGCQOJbySg2ObdmOBk25rpKhUVts1/s640/Tanya1+096.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Meet George. He was rescued from an abusive 18 month old.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Won't you please help the (stuffed) animals?</span></span></div>
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<br />Number Whispererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148342055826061987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810207331970161690.post-29546859485980703922013-01-14T05:00:00.000-08:002013-01-14T05:00:09.586-08:00Children in the Workplace<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have a coworker who is a genius. Well, technically he might not be classified as "genius", but he graduated from a top college at age 17. And what took me 23 years to achieve in my career...well he's managed to do in 2 years.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He's 19 now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And he's my peer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At first, I thought, "oh great, just another slam to my already fragile ego...now I have to deal with a kid showing me that what I thought was kind of challenging work is actually something a trained chimp could do."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But he has grown on me. And he really IS pretty bright. So I don't feel so bad anymore. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sharing a cubicle wall with a 19 year old genius is exactly what I thought it would be like.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Too bad I can't share any stories with you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because he'll be my boss one day.</span></div>
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<br />Number Whispererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148342055826061987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810207331970161690.post-84037495948694963822013-01-04T05:00:00.000-08:002013-01-04T05:00:16.721-08:00My Family Is A Zoo<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>I found this in P's writing spiral. </i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">My family is a zoo.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">My father is the bear, </span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Big and strong, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But also loving.</span></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">My mother is the tarantula,</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">With her unblinking eyes that see everything.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then eats it alive.</span></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">My younger brother is the small bird in the bird exhibit,</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So small and shy and always ready to fly at a moment’s
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">My youngest brother is the hippo.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">He is strong and sturdy,</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">He will never back down from a fight.</span></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">My dog is the sea otter.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">People stop by to say, “How cute!” and “Pretty!”</span></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I’m the lion,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Drawing everyone’s attention and admired by all. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am the main event that everyone comes to see.</span></span><br />
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">My family is a zoo.</span></span><br />
<br />
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Number Whispererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148342055826061987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810207331970161690.post-16315627314169901932012-12-28T05:00:00.000-08:002012-12-28T11:25:42.559-08:00Q4 2012 Post Season Wrap-Up<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Trying turkey neck for the first time. Gag<span id="goog_1814682552"></span><span id="goog_1814682553"></span>. </span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvz0LjPmmh_vM2fhJN9J25ERijx0EkwIVzp7xcApYiRHwvMW3oxZ7J_9pNWe1Z2PXtAX3TUF7cEiaJuFnfaKZV2_OXl6yhlzSieQw-QM66g7dujepq6_ZCI8IQTTndTLd1mjmrct3YcPMB/s1600/Thanksgiving+2012+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvz0LjPmmh_vM2fhJN9J25ERijx0EkwIVzp7xcApYiRHwvMW3oxZ7J_9pNWe1Z2PXtAX3TUF7cEiaJuFnfaKZV2_OXl6yhlzSieQw-QM66g7dujepq6_ZCI8IQTTndTLd1mjmrct3YcPMB/s1600/Thanksgiving+2012+004.JPG" width="563" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Never trust the words, "You've never had them? They're DELICIOUS."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Getting a family member to cry at the Thanksgiving table. Sorry Mom!</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJ30Fxvom_nEcwaFOP93-dLlwhCyA94Vye51Bp-f0qOugg92uJ5EOqQ5OicjJBia31IE5YTBU8PKcUlqG14oamLJj64Yiu9JM1NV-1thRlfSlGORyk8LsvBkCgYbkTxUr27DChq7D1FO9/s1600/Thanksgiving+027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJ30Fxvom_nEcwaFOP93-dLlwhCyA94Vye51Bp-f0qOugg92uJ5EOqQ5OicjJBia31IE5YTBU8PKcUlqG14oamLJj64Yiu9JM1NV-1thRlfSlGORyk8LsvBkCgYbkTxUr27DChq7D1FO9/s1600/Thanksgiving+027.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Really? I made someone cry AGAIN?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Going salt-free (a fate worse than death).</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3y84SATjjUlDPboSp-bHGOkrDyttLNy5UYYzjzsbklfnu_JN9aumMCGgyu-RWHTCuEiF-QTRAMKRUSq_GTTtv0KiOlQfU5sJImHPaXvtI8OWgT-um-_5FiN5vQV0v_SpUmL8kVFN_OQtk/s1600/November+2012+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3y84SATjjUlDPboSp-bHGOkrDyttLNy5UYYzjzsbklfnu_JN9aumMCGgyu-RWHTCuEiF-QTRAMKRUSq_GTTtv0KiOlQfU5sJImHPaXvtI8OWgT-um-_5FiN5vQV0v_SpUmL8kVFN_OQtk/s1600/November+2012+021.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Low Sodium chicken broth? Might as well be drinking water.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Rum cakes and polvorones.</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEherkv-dIM-Wf_WvQSSXV_rWiHkf0vcUV9oV7VP-TZcPc_xu8XFZg6ndXGHN0zH-8PL59gtnlGCoHY7WRVlXUxcis7DHuig49EYgrQqjQbt36v4lX8J2nUpZSBWfO8Pm3-eWgc-zuhQDhUW/s1600/Thanksgiving+2012+036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEherkv-dIM-Wf_WvQSSXV_rWiHkf0vcUV9oV7VP-TZcPc_xu8XFZg6ndXGHN0zH-8PL59gtnlGCoHY7WRVlXUxcis7DHuig49EYgrQqjQbt36v4lX8J2nUpZSBWfO8Pm3-eWgc-zuhQDhUW/s1600/Thanksgiving+2012+036.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
World's worst baker, right here.</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Family Time.</span></span></div>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZ8YMCNuQA4HfU85fBYWsdp7q1qZp0UMdvGnfAipKLbawDDjWGdK4-cdg-5r0yD6PrCk35opf0Gg3b3eD5SZ45N_l3fjTIUCdVXItJIgjEwsDejUC7VUxJb2eZ7t87VtZMtY2FbfPkFjQ/s1600/Thanksgiving+030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZ8YMCNuQA4HfU85fBYWsdp7q1qZp0UMdvGnfAipKLbawDDjWGdK4-cdg-5r0yD6PrCk35opf0Gg3b3eD5SZ45N_l3fjTIUCdVXItJIgjEwsDejUC7VUxJb2eZ7t87VtZMtY2FbfPkFjQ/s1600/Thanksgiving+030.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crazy runs in the family.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-Ed-ktpsRssis6PYIkAfwCraH9TGhfHXzlMD5656lCv3rcbB3T8a-8txiZJCEIEEnEm36ZjSO-RwUHGyHFkxZRP3xA0sd_k63RE4Cybw17TeWOlPw0IpRPfnLPAKClThhYQPheRIsw7U/s1600/Thanksgiving+2012+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-Ed-ktpsRssis6PYIkAfwCraH9TGhfHXzlMD5656lCv3rcbB3T8a-8txiZJCEIEEnEm36ZjSO-RwUHGyHFkxZRP3xA0sd_k63RE4Cybw17TeWOlPw0IpRPfnLPAKClThhYQPheRIsw7U/s1600/Thanksgiving+2012+015.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mental note: Stop taking pictures with my 20 year old cousins.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADKK-o3m4z_sN7S65g9XU56KnKuBaBbaWYZZ-_t794k30kHvJYmlPAiPRUSsatYq_lN8gQcvPsOw4xEbiBCQsIkcLG3oxGMbcZtHzZwQd8PL0QOZpafb8ToXU0WcJs12xRwmxfYxXcRRM/s1600/Christmas+2012+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADKK-o3m4z_sN7S65g9XU56KnKuBaBbaWYZZ-_t794k30kHvJYmlPAiPRUSsatYq_lN8gQcvPsOw4xEbiBCQsIkcLG3oxGMbcZtHzZwQd8PL0QOZpafb8ToXU0WcJs12xRwmxfYxXcRRM/s1600/Christmas+2012+005.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Momma.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ceLlo4S3jaQxB6f9jynhnJ7oXeLcHiyTQs0uCXZBA_ueSoqH2ywn4c2FTEhvprdZZR89a-jOxqiawTfV2cuHLtaMAh8mRIv82PQNCmUnUFLiPuLja5dU-IGnKNNk5tZPv6MSZIl96T8C/s1600/Christmas+2012+029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ceLlo4S3jaQxB6f9jynhnJ7oXeLcHiyTQs0uCXZBA_ueSoqH2ywn4c2FTEhvprdZZR89a-jOxqiawTfV2cuHLtaMAh8mRIv82PQNCmUnUFLiPuLja5dU-IGnKNNk5tZPv6MSZIl96T8C/s1600/Christmas+2012+029.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This would've been great if it weren't blurry.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Gift Exchanges.</span></span></div>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JxjpBrTdzZ2WpYC30gG_VzeLrH_wKJXSoBksy8oYb92SDQqi38agSMiAQC_dDVfgobGyAPaQYVn6XJsRRDl3fuqMbfAmsyCm9NBzI5i3CaBvkIQZvZqUA4UGbwxTwVUX_a7aqnmTFDt4/s1600/Christmas+2012+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JxjpBrTdzZ2WpYC30gG_VzeLrH_wKJXSoBksy8oYb92SDQqi38agSMiAQC_dDVfgobGyAPaQYVn6XJsRRDl3fuqMbfAmsyCm9NBzI5i3CaBvkIQZvZqUA4UGbwxTwVUX_a7aqnmTFDt4/s1600/Christmas+2012+022.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is anyone ever really happy with gift exchanges?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Discovering just how bad of a dancer I am.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Holiday eating.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBRyFUzcrTwcE3WzixgDdStmVLR6DMisJgbHq5-G3vHHgTewmXpohtQVr_g06h1HVh-OgtS-ZyVN-ZxdCemh47OWdK6UswW3o0SgCzasJ9jPHWrqybEf5fyaZ1sP9nA2W2I7FfQ59yDp4/s1600/Thanksgiving+2012+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBRyFUzcrTwcE3WzixgDdStmVLR6DMisJgbHq5-G3vHHgTewmXpohtQVr_g06h1HVh-OgtS-ZyVN-ZxdCemh47OWdK6UswW3o0SgCzasJ9jPHWrqybEf5fyaZ1sP9nA2W2I7FfQ59yDp4/s1600/Thanksgiving+2012+010.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BH and my three blessings.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4JsaqFznsMcx5upSItPCGuWcNi6ukC8c_zBTZSE_bT12SKphGvePHZMtnCtnaLArSJFrvapZzCthuEzzlGnN1-lweNOpjJnUaIwVol3iZ-x7CqocLWZ0lM69M0LJdINW-c1canfCiapTK/s1600/Thanksgiving+2012+030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4JsaqFznsMcx5upSItPCGuWcNi6ukC8c_zBTZSE_bT12SKphGvePHZMtnCtnaLArSJFrvapZzCthuEzzlGnN1-lweNOpjJnUaIwVol3iZ-x7CqocLWZ0lM69M0LJdINW-c1canfCiapTK/s1600/Thanksgiving+2012+030.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have no idea when M learned how to eat with chop sticks.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now that's my kind of holiday spread.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm classically conditioned to salivate at the sight of Reynolds Foil.</td></tr>
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Hope your holiday season was happy and filled with warm times.<br />
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Number Whispererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148342055826061987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810207331970161690.post-22580261534697159572012-12-21T05:00:00.000-08:002012-12-21T05:00:11.007-08:00Merry Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Number Whispererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148342055826061987noreply@blogger.com0