Wednesday, Oui?

I'm back, and back on a Wednesday... go figure. The blogcation is officially over and I missed you all.

So, to start anew, (it will probably be a while before I take another break) I will begin with a video that makes me laugh, and laugh, and laugh.

I truly apologize to all who are sick of hearing about the puppies. All I can tell you is, well, too bad! They are my Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday Oui.

The back story to this is as follows: Every night when I get home from work I do the same thing. I change my clothes while playing with the puppies. This night, Aaron caught me in the middle of it with the camera (as you will clearly see I am still buttoning up my pants at the beginning :)

Bing LOVES to play.... Manny LOVES to be a spectator.

Enjoy! It is, after all, Wednesday, Oui?

Stay Tuned!

From time to time we like to take a Blog-cation.
I am putting in my notice for a leave of absence.
We will be back in the blogosphere before you know it.
XOXO
A & J

Wednesday, Oui?

I had a wonderful Mother's Day. Aaron bought me a beautiful bouquet of roses and handmade me a card (complete with coupons... that I will use!!) It was so sweet of him to think of me on Mother's Day considering I don't have any "human children."

Oui, I am one lucky Mama!!

Great Friends- Weekend updates

In the past week, since Aaron went down south, I (we) have been spending a lot of time with my (our) friends. Now, don't get all worried folks, there isn't trouble in paradise. I can just hear it now, "Aw-ohh, what's going on?" Nothing. Everything is fine. Actually, perfect. I'm just the type of girl that takes advantage of every minute of each day to enjoy myself, my life, and my friends and family.

On the Saturday after Aaron left, (May 3rd) I went bowling with some of our friends. It was a blast and considering I haven't bowled since Jesus was a baby, I did really well.

Sttttrrrriiiiikkkkkeeeee! YYYYEEEESSSSSS!

Matt & Jillian and Ryan trying to sneak in last minute...

Me and the boys. These guys are so good to me. They have known Aaron forever and always make sure I am taken care of when Aaron goes away. Aaron never has to worry. For example, the porch light died when Aaron was in Georgia. Ryan came right over to fix it so I wouldn't have to walk the dogs in the dark.

At Friendly's Ryan and Matt were feeding each other their cherries while Jillian and I were cracking up!

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On Sunday May 4th, I went to Rochester to attend the bridal shower of one of my oldest friends, Quinn. My sister and I have known Quinn since the very early 80's and she is getting married in June! The shower was so sweet, all the attendees made a scrapbook page for Quinn's album, and we all got a tour of the new house Quinn & Aaron just closed on. Congratulations Quinny and Aaron, we love you!!!
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Last week I also had breakfast with my friend Roni, lunch with my darling Hilary, and..

On Belay?

Belay on.

Climbing?

Climb away!

Climbing with the girls!!

Every other week, me and a couple of my best girlfriends get together for some type of activity after work. We have been going climbing, a lot, which is a BLAST; so challenging and fun!

Me and Jaime (I want to give a shout out to my Jaime who is graduating with her Master's Degree on Saturday! Woot, Woot!)

Nickie (not my sister, but could be) is a climbing pro... she is the one that made my marathon training schedule... thanks a lot, Nickie ;)

I'm not sure what I was saying here, but it looks pretty important ;)

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Our friend Charlie spent last weekend with us and Aaron and I hosted another BB-Q. This time we had about 15 people! What a blast!

Lastly, on Sunday, we had lunch with Aaron's family to celebrate Mother's Day. I didn't get any pictures because I started in on the drinks once I got there ;) But we had a beautiful day with lots of food and conversation. Jim and Linda had just arrived home, the day before, from Las Vegas, so I was very jealous :0)

Happy Mother's Day

To all the wonderful mothers of little boys, little girls, and little animals.
Enjoy your day!
XOXO
A&J

April Vacation: Wrap up

Day 7, Friday: There isn't really much to report this day. Early in the A.M. I went to get my hair cut (5 1/2 inches) and Aaron went for a ride. We hung around all day; I laid on the hammock drinking margaritas and Aaron did some work around the house. I finished the book I was reading, Pieces of my Sister's Life by Elizabeth Joy Arnold... amazing, and we played a lot of chess. I don't think we even took one picture that day.

Later that night one of our best friends and Aaron's teammate, Charlie, came down? over? from Vermont to stay the night so we could go to the race on Saturday in the Palmer/Sturbridge MA area. We stayed up way too late talking over Margaritas, but, a good time was had by all.

Day 8, Saturday: We were up early again (I don't think we 'slept in' one day during our vacation!!) We left for the race around 9. We had about 2 1/2 hours to travel. The race went okay; Aaron had some stomach issues when racing, so dropped out after the first lap or so, and poor Charlie dropped his chain and couldn't catch the field. So Aaron, Charlie, and I cheered on the rest of the team from a feedzone (I was responsible for feeding the team water.)

Charlie & Aaron

After the race Aaron and I headed to Connecticut to look for a hotel. We had a mountain bike race in the Farmington, Ct. area the next day (Aaron does cyclo-cross, mountain, and road races). We ended up staying at the Marriott just outside of Hartford, CT. What a beautiful area. It reminded me a lot of DC. We scooted around the city for a bit that night, ate at Baskin-Robbins and Friendly's, but turned in pretty early because we were both exhausted!

The Beautiful Hartford, Connecticut

Day 9, Sunday: We woke up, EARLY to explore more of Ct. before Aaron's race around noon. I wanted to go to Trader Joe's. I love Trader's Joe's. If you haven't been there, you need to go... it's pretty much an all local/natural/organic-ish food store. Very cool.

I know we look chiper, but this was about 7:45 and we had already packed up, showered and checked out.

Iwo Jima memorial.

We had an amazing breakfast at I-HOP. I love I-HOP, I'm a huge fan of french toast, and not a fan of pancakes. I-HOP had the "Tour De French Toast" going on, so I engorged myself on stuffed french toast. I could eat it everyday. Sooooo yummy!

Aaron did awesome in his race, he came in 5th, and even won a little bit of cash. I am glad he was able to do a mountain bike race. I really like the culture of the mountain bike races. Granted I have more friends at road races, but the people at road-races are a bit more uptight than at mountain bike races where everyone is pretty chill.

We left the race and went straight home. I wanted to pick up the boys and give them a bath for the month.

How many people could say they spent their vacation in New York, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut?! I am really blessed. I could not have asked for a better vacation, better weather, and better company. I am very fortunate to be able to do the things I want to do, and the ability to afford it. I try very hard not to taken for granted the path my life has taken . Thank you, Aaron for such a great week.

April Vacation: Day 6

So, last you knew we went kayaking on Wednesday then out to dinner with the Molloy's. On Thursday we woke up early and walked down the street to a cute little cafe to get some coffee and then packed up the car to drive to my old stomping grounds (the Seacoast of NH.)

We stopped by my dad's business to drop off Aaron's car. This summer, Aaron is going to build a teardrop camper for our traveling/races, so we needed to have a trailer hitch put on the Honda. We picked up a loner car and were off to one of my favorite places in the whole world. York Beach!!

It was a gorgeous day, we did everything I wanted to do, ate at my favorite place, got an ice cream at Bob's in Kittery, walked the beach, went to the lighthouse, and Aaron bought me a kite to fly when we got there. We had a great day, the perfect temperature and the sand and sea licked our toes all afternoon. Aaron loved to watch me fly my kite, and the wind was just right.

We took the long way back to my dad's garage to pick up Aaron's car, then went home for a quick bite to eat, and it was off to the track for Aaron's race. Every Thursday Aaron races on the International Speedway Track in Loudon. It's more of a training race than anything else, but it's wicked cool to watch him race around such a well known track.

Planet Embarrassment? Oui.

The theme of my Oui is going to be a little different this week. When I invented the Oui, the purpose was to blog about something that made me happy, smile, and/or laugh. This Oui definitely has the last two covered. This is a true story; some of the names have been changed to protect the innocent.

Aaron and I had a *horrible* time at the gym the other night. We forced ourselves to go when we really didn't want to which, was our first mistake.

First, it was pouring rain and we couldn't find parking. Then, I forgot my elastics so my hair was all over my face and I had to keep brushing it away. Once I started sweating and my hair stuck to my face I knew there was no hope for me being truly comfortable.

Then, I hopped onto the only available treadmill next to a person who was laughing, relentlessly, at what ever they were listening to in their IPod.

Additionally, my el-cheapo Mp3 player has the crappiest headphones ever made. You might as well try to stick a wine cork in your ear canal. So, while trying to brush my sweaty hair out of my face, I knocked the ear phones out of my ears with so much force, causing the Mp3 player to fall free from the headphone cord, onto the treadmill, and propel backward into some people standing by the garbage.

Did I mention I was jogging? Yep. Me hauling butt, going absolutely nowhere, but running like a fool, sweating, messing with my hair and listening to the butt-hole beside me giggling away at what I presume to be an audio book on tape. Mind you, he was giggling loud enough for me to hear it over "Come on Eileen."

So, my reaction? I turn around on the treadmill to grab my sorry Mp3 player, completely forgetting the law of inertia, (and that I was on moving treadmill.) I fling backward, facing forward but, luckily, giggling idiot reaches over to catch me in his moment of clarity. He caught me, but I almost slipped free from his grasp as his hands were all greasy from sweat, or laughing potion. God only knows.

So, naturally, I yell "You mutha f*cker!" Perhaps angry at my Mp3 player, or my hair, or Krusty the Clown laughing at absolutely nothing. Directly followed up by, "Sh*t!" Krusty asks, "What? Are you okay?" I reply "No, I am all messed up and now... now... I owe a dime." Dead silence, not even a chuckle.


I pull the emergency stop button, gather myself, and run to the other side of the gym to find Aaron at the bench press. I plead.


J: Lets go, we are leaving.
A: Why did you sh*t your pants?
J: What? No. Huh? Let's just go, I'll explain in the car.

We part, briefly, to use the locker room. I am out in record time refusing to do anything besides wash my hands. I wait at our "meeting spot" and after a few minutes Aaron emerges from the locker room, ghost white.


J: What?!
A: Nothing. (Sounding completely defeated.)
J: No seriously, what? (We are walking in the pouring rain toward the car)
A: I just saw the worst thing in my life.
J: WHAT?! You don't even know what just happened to me.
A: When I was in the locker room, changing just now, some dude comes in, drops his pants, and starts wiping his junk... while making eye contact with me!!! Then he starts inspecting it, right there, in the middle of everything!!
J: OMG. That is... what was he looking for?
A: I don't know!!! It was horrible. I left.
J: Who was it?
A: The guy you were running on the treadmill next to.


Honest to God, this really happened.
Only to us.

21.098 vs. 13.1

I've really done it this time.

I have registered to run in the Manchester Marathon, November 2, 2008.

I'm running the half marathon. A half marathon is 13.1 miles or 21.098k., and my only hope is that I finish. It has been a life-long dream just to run a marathon, so I do not care how I place.

I must write this here to hold myself accountable.

I can and will do this.

Party!

We had Manny's Birthday party tonight. Just us, doggy ice cream, and fun!

Is all this for me?

Happy 3rd Birthday, Manny.

Yummy!

Spoon fed, of course!

Don't worry, Bing got to celebrate too, and managed to sucker plenty of Lovies from Daddy.

Cinco De Manny

Dear Manny,

Exactly three years ago today you came into this world. Originally you were purchased as a gift for your brother, Bing, but once you came home I can't imagine a time when you weren't my little guy.

When you first came to be mine, you were completely unruly and hyperactive but, your tenderness made your misbehavior adorable. I love that, at times, you challenge my authority but are so obedient in other ways. You always come when asked and hardly ever have an "accident." You are such a good boy!

I love that you wait for me to enter a doorway first, out of respect for the pack leader. I love that you let your brother lick your face and ears, I love that you insist on sleeping with us every night, I love your short snout and your sausage body, and I love that you roll on your back so I can scratch your belly.

Your mouth, at times, is completely relentless, and while I suspect you may have an eating disorder, I intend on helping you overcome these struggles. I know before you were mine your puppy-hood was less than optimal, but you are in a place now where you will never be hurt and never run out of food. Plus, here with your Mama, there are endless supplies of kisses and hugs. You are so independent yet so needy, and when you look at me, it makes me feel so humble and loved.

When you run down the stairs to greet me, that electric tail wagging, I forget all my troubles and am transported to a place where all that matters is us. Never, in a million years, did I think a 10 pound Chihuahua would make me so happy, vulnerable, and tender.

You and your brother are two of the most important things in my life and I understand the responsibility that comes along with being your Mama. I laugh when I read articles that warn dog owners against treating their pets like humans. I don't know what else to do, you are my son, and I can't imagine not giving you top-of-the-line-star-treatment.

I know you and Bing depend on me for love, food, and shelter but; you will never understand how much I need you.

I love you. Happy Birthday to my youngest super-canine.

XOXO,
Mama, Daddy, Bro-Bros and Sis-sis.

Jimmys vs Sprinkles

So, this topic has been a huge point of contention for me. Growing up I lovingly referred to the topping I add to my ice cream as "Jimmys." I would get a cone with "chocolate jimmys" *Please note* unless I am getting a sundae, still, I always get jimmys.

"Jimmys" is a New England term. Most other states, especially Southern states, call the topping "Sprinkles."

Sadly, when I was in graduate school and took a class called Race, Class and Gender, I was informed that Jimmy was a racial term. Apparently, it referred to Jim Crow's law, a law meant to secure segregation in residential areas. Rumors circulated everywhere, that Jimmy was not a term to be used.

Honestly, this confused me to no end. I have always referred to my favorite topping as Jimmys, but was my ignorance perpetuating racism? I don't know the answer to that, even still.

I have read up on this, simply because I want to call them Jimmys; for 26 years I knew them as Jimmys!!! My research has led me to the following; not sure what is true and what is false:

1. Most people consider, based on rumor, jimmy to be a racial term.

2. The word, Jimmy, came from the manufacturer who would donate $ to the Jimmy Fund every time someone purchased sprinkles on their ice cream (although the Jimmy Fund was established years after sprinkles were invented, so this is not factual.)

3. The man who ran the "sprinkle" machine in the factory was named Jimmy.

I have read a ton of articles on this topic, and I can not find a straight answer. There are too many conflicting reports with no concrete evidence. The true origin of the word is, probably, just a strange New England semantic. Unfortunately, without proof, most people are believing a sinister origin. So I have come to the conclusion I am going to call them sprinkles. I feel sad that I am not being true to the roots of my culture, where I was taught to call them Jimmys. But, I am also not willing to risk offending anyone of color or perpetuate racism.

So I guess it will be a small soft serve with chocolate sprinkles for me, please.