Happy Birthday Jenny!!!

First to Make the Fridge

I am one of those annoying people who delights in covering their refrigerator with various magnets, pictures, coupons and such. Is it super classy? Probably not, but it's what I like. I was pretty psyched to announce the first person to make the refrigerator, this morning I proudly gathered two recently delivered Save-The-Dates for upcoming weddings and marched into the kitchen. I picked out the perfect Michael Scott magnet (the highest magnetic honor) to hold A-Ross & Laef's prominently placed picture on the front of the fridge, but in a perfectly anti-climactic turn of events both the magnet and picture fell like a ton of bricks to my feet.

Who makes a refrigerator with a door that isn't magnetic? Really? Why do they want to ruin my life. I actually had a moment that I thought, 'how can I live here with a refrigerator that you can't put magnets on the front?'

Luckily the side of the refrigerator is magnetic, so I was able to stick up A-Ross & Laef, and Meagan & Chris' save-the-dates, but I can't lie, I am still a little bit disappointed. What's a magnet-loving girl to do?

Great American Blog Out

I'd like to be able to say that I quit blogging for 3 straight weeks as a personal challenge, to better myself if you will, to rid myself of the technology that binds us all and to take up some more sophisticated hobbies....but that would be a lie. The truth is that all this time I've been trying to think of the perfect Michael Phelps joke.

Finally pulling up the ol' bloggeroo I was horrified at the last posts. Seems like so incredibly long ago. As you can see pictured above, I'm pretty far behind in my google reader too (and that's actually accumulated in only about 4 days worth of deliquincy.)

We're all moved in to the new house, and we're loving it. Zeb and Damon did an excellent job with the move 2 weeks ago while I was on my first road-trip of the softball season. With plenty of help from Sam, Jaton, Stan, Nita and my Dad somehow the house got put all together in my absence. I am so thankful for them.
Within the first week of homeownership Zeb got some great news as he accepted a position as Office Manager for the Salem-Liberty Willamette Dental Branch. This is great news on many levels as he will be getting back into the company that he worked for before we left for Montana, a company he really enjoys working for. This also means that he's getting a big raise from his job with the Boys & Girls Club, which with help out with the old mortgage payment big time. Oh, and it also means he gets to go back to working 9-5, instead of 12-9PM. Awesome. We celebrated appropriatly by breaking out the Sheridan's, a delicious liquor...or something...that Emily & Chicken brought back for us from Mexico. Apparently you can't buy it in the US, so next time you're in Mexico be sure to pick some up.
Now I'm off on the road again, heading back to Palm Springs for another 5 days (its not as glamorous as it might sound) but I've got some new reading material that should keep me busy.
Oh, and Ollie is still really cute.

The Office Friday

• FACT: Any episode that starts at Jim & Dwight's ajoined desk is bound for greatness. I like the way Jim pronouces Dwight - D'Wight sometimes. Anyone else notice this?
  
• Whachu Talkin' About Wallace?
• Is Hillary Swank Hot? I'm pretty sure we've had this exact conversation and many like it at my office.
  
• Your fictitious name? Michael Scarn, of course.
  
• You know how I feel about IHOP! One of our Grad Students has oddly strong negative feelings toward IHOP. He's going to hear about this tomorrow.

Check out this sneak peak at the next new episode of The Office, and watch it on Super Bowl Sunday!

Your favorite moments from tonight?

I Heart Clint

We saw Gran Torino last weekend, which prompted me to realize that I heart Clint Eastwood. Yes I know, this is pretty obvious. It's like watching a baseball game and noticing that Omar Vizquel plays pretty good defense. Eastwood plays this crochety old man who uses racial slurs the way Derek Jeter grounds into double plays in the post season (often.) But it's impossible not to kinda like his character.

Oh and it has the Jo & Laurie factor, a.k.a. "The Little Women Phenomenon." Men feel free to stop reading. Come on girls, you know, in Little Women, how you desperatly want Jo & Laurie to be together? Only they never end up together. But no matter how many times I've read the story or seen the movie and know that it can never end the way I want it to, I always watch it again thinking that just maybe this time it just might end differently. Same thing in Gran Torino. It can never end the way I really want it too...but I get the feeling I'll keep rooting for the same thing if I ever watch it again. I kinda like that.

What's your favorite "Little Women Phenomenon" movie?

What is He Smelling?

You know when I take him out to do his business, and he sniffs and sniffs and sniffs and sniffs around for 10 mins. before he finally figures out where he wants to poop? What in the hell is he smelling for?! What does it matter what it smells like in the spot where you take a crap? Is he looking for a place that already smells bad so he won't make it worse? Or is he looking for a place that smells good? I've been thinking about that a lot lately.

Inundated by the Inaguration

I have a problem. Other than reality TV. I get sucked in to CNN. Any time there is big national or world news, I can NOT tear myself away from it. Even when it gets to the point where the new anchors are just repeating over and over the small amount of news that is available. I can't help it. Yesterday's presidential election was no different. Although I'm sure there was a market of people interested in watching every tiny little moment of the festivities, it really did go way overboard. There is a reason that for past inaugurations they usually just breaks into normal programing to show the oath and speech, maybe a little bit of commentary and then back to normal business. Not an entire day's worth of TV on every station. But I'm pretty sure I was glued to just about every moment of it. Soooo yeah.

It is one thing I really enjoy about my job, and maybe those of you that also work in athletics can relate, there's something special about working in this setting when really big things go on in the country and the world. We are constantly mulling over the news of the day with whichever athletes happen to be in the Athletic Training Room. There are always a vast array of opinions and points of view, and I think it's fun and refreshing to see what these young people are thinking about any given topic. Sometimes it's hilarious, sometimes exchanges are heartfelt and meaningful, and sometimes the comments that get made are just plain dumb. But it's always interesting. We don't always agree, actually we rarely agree, but we're always respectful of each other. I hope that everyone has that kind of sounding board, at least to some degree.

The celebration is over, no more pomp & circumstance - now we get to see what happens next.

The Office Friday

Great episode this evening, wished it was longer. Looks like Angela is going to be left high and dry. The whole Andy/Dwight confrontation was hilarious, including the high five in the middle of their fight. Both are clueless! Pretty sure no one has ever really liked Angela, but she is really going to be in the doghouse after this one. Loved Jim trying to act like the grown up in the situation, Michael breaking the news and driving off in his car, Jim going around the office finding all of Dwight's hidden weapons, and so much more.

Did I mention the radar gun thingy at the start of the episode! Hilarious!

It was a great episode for those who love Michael Scott too. Wallace trying desperatly to figure out what in the hell Michael is doing RIGHT?!?!? Come to find out, not even Michael knows. But he sure can have one hell of an improversation.

Can't get enough of Dwight & Andy? Play The Duel on the Dunder Mifflin Infinity website.

Next Week on The Office: PRINCE FAMILY PAPER | 01.22.09 | 9/8c |
FAMILY BUSINESS - Michael and Dwight (Rainn Wilson) go undercover to do a bit of industrial espionage on a paper company competitor. Meanwhile, the rest of the office holds a debate to settle the question: is Hilary Swank hot? John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Leslie David Baker, Phyllis Smith, Angela Kinsey, Ed Helms, Kate Flannery, Brian Baumgartner, Creed Bratton and Craig Robinson also star.

Taco Bell Wedding

'There's no stress': Couple weds at Taco Bell

NORMAL, Ill. (AP) — Wedding bells meant Taco Bell for Paul and Caragh Brooks.

Customers inside the fast-food restaurant continued to order tacos and burritos as the couple sat Friday in an orange booth at Taco Bell and exchanged vows.

"It's appropriate," groom Paul Brooks said. "It's an offbeat relationship."

Employees displayed hot sauce packets labeled with the words "Will you marry me?" They decorated the restaurant with streamers and balloons.

The bride wore a $15 hot pink dress and the entire wedding cost about $200. Several dozen guests looked on as the couple's friend, Ryan Green of Normal, administered the vows while wearing a T-shirt. He was ordained online.

"This is the way to go — there's no stress," said the groom's mother, Kathy Brooks.

Caragh Brooks, 21, of Australia, met Paul Brooks, 30, on an Internet dating Web site. They already had the same last name.

The couple wrote back and forth and talked on the phone for nine months before Caragh Brooks moved to the United States.

"We have the same brain, just in two bodies," Paul Brooks said. "We think alike in virtually every manner. We have the same interests, viewpoints."

He proposed on New Year's Eve and, because they like to spend time at the local Taco Bell, they decided to wed there.

"I would never have expected in my life in working here there would be a wedding," restaurant manager Carl Hamlow said.

This is strange on so many levels. First of all these have to be the 2 laziest people alive. Couldn't be bothered to go out and meet someone in person, so they met online. Couldn't be bothered to get a real preist, so their buddy took the test online. Couldn't be bothered to have a real hobby, so they spent all their time hanging out at Taco Bell. Couldn't be bothered to plan a real wedding so they did it at Taco Bell. Couldn't be bothered to change her name, so she just found a guy with the same one.

This Week on The Office

I've been slacking on my The Office posts, but this week I'm going to try to recommit to doing a better job keeping us current. Here's the preview for tomorrow night's episode, looks like a good one!


This Week On The Office:

The Duel: 1/15/09 - 9/8 Central - When Andy finds out about Dwight & Angela it's a fight to the finish when the two men decide to take matters into their own hands.

Late Pass Wednesday

It's been a long time since the last Late Pass Wednesday, but it is worth the wait, this one is a a doozey guys...

We're buying a house! It's been a crazy, stressful, exciting and scary few months leading up to this, but yes, we are actually buying a house. Like most first time home buyers this is the biggest purchase we have ever even thought about making, but we've searched long and hard (thats what she said) and I think we've really found the right place for us. And it's cute right?!

Zeb has really worked hard doing the majority of the research for the house, talking to the realtor, mortgage broker and doing various other leg work. It has been tough, and there has been more than one occasion that I thought he was going to have an aneurysm. I can't lie, there were nights when we waited to hear back from the seller on our offer that I could barely sleep with anticipation. Now that the closing date is almost here it is nice to be able to relax a little and look forward to the future.

The house is 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath, obviously a little bit too big for just 2 people. And no, I'm not pregnant. So we decided to ask Damon to move in with us, occupy a room and help us with our new mortgage. You, Me & Dupree - here we come! At first I was a little nervous about this idea, but if nothing else it should be really good for the blog because I'll have endless ridiculous stories, probabaly lots more polls to settle household debates, and pet antics involving Ollie learning to co-exist with Damon's cat Apollo.

American Idol

American Idol
=
Another season of the youth of this country slaughtering
Stevie Wonder songs.
Yay!

Friday Night Rant

It costs $4.79 to rent a movie at Hollywood Video. Are you shitting me? That's more than a gallon of gas (oh yeah, and gas prices seem to be slowly creeping up too. but that's another rant.) I don't get how they can raise their prices at Hollywood when they've got those damn red boxes going in everywhere. I hear those things only cost $1 per movie. (Note to self: stop f'ing around at Hollywood and check out those damn red boxes.) But like a bunch of suckers we paid damn near $5 tonight to rent Step Brothers. Oh yeah, and we paid a late fee too. Idiots. (us I mean, we're the idiots, not Hollywood. They must be pretty smart actually, they've been making a killing on us you know.) And Step Brothers is probably going to suck.

Have a great weekend!

Favorite Moments of 2008

Growing up with my mom, the question "what was your favorite part?" became a game to be played on all occasions. Your favorite part of the vacation, your favorite part of the football game, your favorite part of this week's episode of The Real Housewives of Orange County? It's all fair game. But when she called me yesterday to ask the age old question "What was your favorite part of 2008?" I was stumped. I couldn't narrow it down to just one, so here is my list of favorite moments of 2008.

• MSU Women's Basketball upsets University of Montana at the Fieldhouse. Mara jumps, Jamie skips (or vice versa) and I get the best send off from Montana State that I could have ever asked for.
• The Stanley Elkinton one-man moving company. No shot that we would have made it out of Bozeman on time with out Zeb's Dad. Let me say that again. No shot.
• Coach's VS Kids w/ Zeb's baseball team. Grown men with no business wearing baseball uniforms. Enough said.
• Grandpa Grant and his Birthday Boy badge. Being in Yosemite for his 80th was priceless.
• 1-Up'smanship. Pretty sure I laughed so hard that I cried on more than one occasion.
• Michael Phelps Mania.
• Explaining various office activities and inside jokes from my work and leaving Zeb & Damon speechless at the kinds of things that actually fill my day.
• Last minute Football win over Arizona. Yeah, I did a fist pump when we made that field goal. We kept the dream alive for 1 more week, and the possibility of the Rose Bowl seemed so very real.
• 2008 Election. My obsession with bumper stickers, history and a rebirth of hope in this country.
  
• Ollie
• Mexican food in El Paso
  

Enough of my moments though - what was your FAVORITE moment of 2008?

Gramma's Bad Influence

Ollie spent the week while we were in El Paso with my mom. We missed him terribly, but felt better knowing that he was being well taken care of and having fun. Too much fun it turns out. Although my mom promised to stick to our stringent puppy parenting guidelines it seems that something went astray along the way. He reportedly spend the week feasting on dryer sheets, roaming the wilderness and sleeping in people's beds. In short, having the time of his life.

Upon picking him up, Ollie quickly asserted his distaste for the situation by going 3 for 3 in incidents of relieving himself indoors per day stats, including pooping in my dad's kitchen and peeing on my freshly laundered sheets. I'm not sure if he was more mad that we left him for so long or that we came back for him. After the 3rd offense Zeb vowed that if he made one more mistake we were going to get rid of him. There have been no more mistakes.

In other odd behavior related news Ollie now barks at every little noise around the apartment, the hair on the back of his neck stands straight up everytime we leave the house and he marks his territory at least 50 times in any one block span. In other words he acts like a real dog. We can't wait to have our civilized little guy back.

Greetings From El Paso

Zeb bought cowboy boots. I'm not sure if he really likes them or if he was just trying to spite me. Actually, I didn't fight it much because when worn under pants they really don't look like cowboy boots. A good compromise I suppose. He's pretty proud of them, when we got back from a team function last night he couldn't wait to get back to the room and put his boots back on. He called Damon and told him about his purchase, and D didn't believe him. So here you go Damon, proof he actually did buy cowboy boots.

More from TX later.

White Elephant

The Breslaw's White Elephant party is a tradition that we all look forward to each year. Invitee's typically include a reunion of the '05 Tahoe Crew and other miscellaneous VIP's. It is a time to catch up, share news, give updates and generally give each other a hard time. This is no ordinary White Elephant party. Some in attendance spent the entire year preparing their present. Breslaw White Elephant Hall of Fame Gifts Include: poop from the coop, the okie outhouse, the infamous "it hit hard tire", and the napoleon dynamite talking dolls - among many others.
Gifts Given This Year:

• Talking Darth Vader Mask
• Okie Live Well
• Portable Light Switch
  
• Sandlot 2 Movie Pack (including baseball and cracker jacks)
• Autographed Elvie Gaskey photo
• Brunette Wig
• Year's Worth of Scratched Off Non-winner lottery tickets
• Meditating Water Fountain
• Chicken Alarm Clock
• Dinosaur Chia Pet
• Kenny Rodgers CD/T-Shirt Set

I'm a little too juiced in my wig. Pretty sure I never figured out how to put it on correctly.


What is your all time favorite white elephant party gift???

Ugly Christmas Sweaters Aren't Just For People

The 3rd Annual (??) Breslaw White Elephant Party was this Saturday. It was amazing as always, more pictures and stories later. This picture of Ollie in his ugly bill Cosby Christmas sweater couldn't wait.

Brrrrrrrr

It's cold. There are not enough jazzy cute scarves and adorable hooded pea coats in the world to make up for this kind of cold. Oh wait. That's a lie. Adorable hooded pea coats do actually make it a little bit more bearable.

But that's besides the point. It's cold! I had to wear gloves and a scarf inside my office yesterday. And I won't stand for this kind of....of...I won't stand for it. Not in Oregon anyway.

Our power went out yesterday evening, and it's not like we actually have candles or flashlights or anything that would help in the event of a power outage. I navigated the apartment by the light of my cell for for a little while, stubbed my toe on the couch, then sat in the dark and waited for Zeb to come home. (Note to self: if there is ever a serious natural disaster I will not survive.)

And you know what, it's such an inconvenience. I drove around in worse than this for a year and a half in Bozeman. If I have to hear "it's probably not a good idea to go to the _____ right now, it's not your driving I'm worried about, it's the other people." I will freak out. Learn how to drive people, so that Zeb will let me out of the house!

I'd also like to put a permanent ban on the phrase "I like the snow, it really gets me in the holiday spirit." F-That. I''m going to go put on my pea coat, sit on the couch and watch the Real Housewives of Orange County.

Dear God,

Lord Almighty, please don't let C.C. go down in a pile of flaming dog poop like Carl Pavano. It's all I'm asking for. I promise I'll do everything right and nothing wrong. I'll be nice to Zeb. Most of the time. Unless the Red Sox get Mark Texiera. Then all bets are off.

Amen.

You can't lie. This kid is filthy. I just hope that the Brewers didn't ride him 'til his arm fell off (oh yeah, they did,) and then forget to have it re-attached. Can't wait to see how this pans out. The bullpen still looks a little shaky though...

Also, the quest to determine professional sports most trailer-trashy team of all time is really starting to get going. I'm pulling for the Oakland Athletics circa FOREVER, or since the invention of white baseball cleats, and the opposition is championing the Atlanta Braves circa John Rocker era. You've got me on the whole John Rocker thing, but the A's have a long lineage of trailer-trashyness Mark McGuire/Bash Brothers, The Giambi Brothers, Nick Swisher. The list goes on. Post up with the team in all of sports history, doesn't have to be baseball that you think personifies trailer-trashyness. We'll poll it out when sufficent candidates have been nominated.