Honest to blog.

I swear I’m going to update you on everything [and there's a LOT of everything] going on in our lives.  Seems like when I work in an office, I fall off of the face of the earth.  Well, I plan to remedy that this week – both by blogging – and also by finishing my stint at 360jmg, the firm I’ve been working at this election cycle.

Here’s what I have to remember to cover in this massive posting I plan on writing this week:

• Becky’s super-secret-surprise-birthday-halloween-costume-party extravaganza
•  The election. I’ve almost purposely avoided blogging about politics this cycle. Most of you know what I think already – and everyone from outside of DC only seems to want to talk to me about it so I can tell them how smart they are and what a DC insider they sound like.  That said, I’m certainly happy that so many of my hitherto apathetic friends seem to get why I dragged Adam here and what I’ve been working for for the last 8 years.
• Baby-ness.  We’re 5 weeks out and I’ve barely even mentioned him here.  I hear you saying to yourself, “Booo! Sandy sucks.”  Agreed.
• TV – all of the new seasons have started and we need to talk about it – including the new Jeopardy theme music. Eww.
• Pictures. I’ve got a TON of pics of everything from the Jimmy Buffett show to my giantness to Heidi and David’s wedding to our new front stoop and basement, to a baby shower – and even this weekend’s party. I’ll upload those bad boys soon.  Pretty hilarious.
• Recent reading – and my book club.
• My job.
• A few more recipes that did not fail.
• An update on Teddy and his bizarre health issues. (Don’t worry, nothing too bad!)
• A request for stroller/baby stuff recommendations.  We have no clue what we need.  You baby mamas and baby daddies out there need to tell us what things you use that you can’t live without!

Ok – so that’s a lot to post about this week.  But I’ll try.

Is anybody even reading anymore, now that I’ve left you without any titillating info for months? If so, let me know I’m not just typing to the wall;)

Proof.

Need proof that Adam and I have been together far longer than the five years [today] we’ve been married?  Well, here it is:  We went out to an anniversary brunch this morning at one of our favorite restaurants.  We called ahead ’cause it’s a crazy busy place – we sat down, ordered – and were in and out in 20 minutes.  Seriously – are we an old married couple or what?  It’s not even like we just put face to plate and ignored each other in favor of our meals.  We shared our DELICIOUS brioche french toast and scrambled eggs, drank sparkling cider [I know - lame, right?], and talked about all kinds of stuff – from work, to last night’s performance of The Lion King we saw at the Kennedy Center, to inappropriate themes for a baby’s room, to the fancy necklace Adam gave me to celebrate our fifth, and I’m sure much more.  I guess with time comes efficiency.

Yesterday was such a busy day and night that we’ve decided to play it super lazy today.  We’re currently laying on the blanket from Adam’s old room in Orlando, which we spread out in the floor.  Adam was reading Freakonomics, but now he’s just watching tennis [in HD, I'm sure he'd like me to point out], I’m blogging [duh], and Teddy’s in between us, snoring – which is nice for him because he’s not allowed in our bed, so he’s in heaven.  Sure – we’ve got plenty to do.  But we’re ignoring that.  It’s a good lazy Sunday.

In other news, Teddy’s legs are really bothering him.  He’s having a tough time getting out of the sit position and is sort of sitting in a way that leaves his legs floppy.  It’s weird because he’s so young.  So far, he’s been tested for Lime Disease – and was negative – and we’re awaiting the results of some other blood tests, etc.  The vets are a little worried he has some sort of auto-immune disease like Lupus.  Oddly, Ted doesn’t seem to notice there’s anything wrong!  And when his adrenaline gets going, he bounces around, runs stairs, and jumps up like his usual self.  He’s on anti-inflammatories and antibiotics until we figure out what the real issue is.  He’s still the most adorable pup ever.

Adam did get the hybrid Highlander!  It’s sweet.  Came with running boards, the spoiler that makes it look hot, some racing stripes, leather interior, navigation, rubber mats and inserts for Ted, a third row – you name it.  Yep – it’s a bunch of stuff we don’t need.  But it’s blue and it’s awesome.

And I’m starting to show a bit.  I’m like 4.5 months along and feeling fine.  Nothing really notable to tell – I just have to pee more often.  The pic is me trying to stick my stomach out so I look like a pregger and not just a chick with a gut.  I just look really…fluffy.  Not sure why I’m making a face like I’m pissed – I’m pretty sure that was accidental.

Other than that, all I have to report is that the new job is going well [a little boring since I don't have much to do yet], Becky’s gone for three weekends in a row which SUCKS, and she and Chuck and the kids are moving a few blocks away over the next couple of weeks.  If you have any cute ideas for a baby boy’s room [Thatch likes cars] and/or a baby girl’s room, write ‘em in the comments and Becky will be your best friend.

Lately.

So, first of all, Passover pics are up. Not sure why, but I was really excited to sing Ehad, Mi Yodea – I am totally into my number [4 - "arba imahot!"]. Let’s just say that it started a lot better than it ended, but was, well…lackluster when compared to how it went in my head:

Secondly, how cute are all of my boys watching the Magic’s 3rd playoff game last night? Yes, they did suffer a devastating loss, but still…

By the time the game ended, we were sleepy…obviously. But we hung in there until the end.

Reader Appreciation.

If you’re reading this posting, it’s probably your birthday.  How do I know that?  Because we only have like 4 readers – and one of them is Jaime Gold!  So happy birthday, Jaime!  Oh – and check out her big news.  Awesome.

Happy Birthday, Ad!

Ahh, the year in review. Here’s a look at Adam’s year on this planet as a 27 year old.

New Year’s Pics.

Check out our latest pics in the Flicker badge in the right sidebar. They’re mostly from New Year’s Even and New Year’s Day with Chuck, Becky & the kids. Are these kids the cutest ever, or what?

Best Day Ever.

So this has got to be the best day ever. After getting a great night’s sleep in my very own bed, I woke up and ran 6 whole miles without stopping! Woo hoo! Then I showered, got dressed, and headed down to Ultimate Results to redeem my gift certificate for a one hour massage [Adam is obviously a fantastic Hanukkah gift giver]…and let me tell you – on top of being realllly interesting, my new Iraqi friend Ahmed is a fantastic massager! Next, I headed over to my favorite Starbucks to spend what I assumed was the last of the cash on my Starbucks gift card [my mom totally hooked me up for Hanukkah] – but NO! My favorite barista heard me order and told the guy on the cash register that my tall-vanilla-with-whip-chai was on the house! She said “Happy Festivus!” and gave me a free drink!

There are two morals of this story: 1 – I have great a family that picks out awesome gifts that I love, and 2 – It is GREAT to be a Jew on Christmas.

Too Much Time on My Hands.

Alright. Adam is in New York with the team tonight – and I’m being really lazy here at home. And surprise! There is NOTHING on television.

Can we just talk about TV for a second?

First of all, I’d like to make a note that I saw my first Christmasy commercial of the year on this night, November 3rd. So, congratulations to Garmin for winning the award for Most Ridiculously Early Christmas-themed Commercial. Isn’t November 3rd a little early to bust out the lyrical parodies of Sweet Silver Bells?

Secondly, we need to have a conversation about the once very exciting Trading Spaces. We all loved the show at its start with good ole Alex McLeod, the cast of would-be-regular designers and carpenters, and, of course, that annoying theme music. Well, like 10 years ago [wow, it's been a long time], Alex got booted [or not] in favor of Paige Davis – who, might I add, was waaay too perky, but she grew on us. Then they began to include a very small number of new designers, very slowly, over many years. Next thing you know, Paige got the axe, the show decided it would be better without a host, the opening graphics and music changed, and they got some new carpenters.

I stopped watching the show years ago. I was never one to watch new episodes in prime time. Instead, it was the type of show I’d watch when there was nothing else on, but, of course, I’d become entranced against my will. But, it seemed like they just played repeats over and over and over for so long that I just lost interest. Plus, the original premise of the show was that neighbors could do anything THEY wanted to each other’s home – but that never really materialized. The reality of the situation was that whatever DESIGNERS were assigned to the houses got to do whatever they wanted. Often the actual homeowners were merely helpers and the design plans weren’t even divulged to them entirely. By the end of my viewing enjoyment, the designers would actually talk to the people whose houses they were decorating to find out what they wanted. Bah!

Now, in my absolute boredom, I saw the old standby in the guide and decided to tune in. Whoa! The only component of the show I even recognized was Frank, the flamboyantly straight old man designer with a soft spot for chickens. EVERYTHING else was different – the carpenters & designers [really new ones I've never ever seen before], the music, the format – everything. It blew my mind. Is this a sign that the show is conforming to what people want? Or does it mean that no one watches it and they’re desperate to make big enough changes to win back an audience? Either way, the fact that I’m over it has been confirmed.

Third – I want to write about last week’s Dem debate, but I’m so frustrated with it that I can’t make myself do it yet. Seriously? Is Dennis Kucinich such a real possible nominee that Tim Russert needs to investigate his personal life and bring more things that make him look wacky to the forefront for the American people to judge? Really? Is it helpful to our party to make an already losing, nerdy, unpopular candidate – who, mind you, is the only truly liberal voice on the dais – look like an absolute whack job by asking him about his UFO sighting? Way to make an effort to further discredit a guy who, aside from giving a different point of view and probably being a pretty nice guy, has probably been getting laughed at since he was nine. Great job. Reinforce the idea that leftist peaceniks are outside-the-main stream crazies. Whatever individuals think about him as a person doesn’t really have much to do with the fact that, in concept, what Tim Russert did was unnecessary, disrespectful, and just mean. He knew that most people think people who claim to have seen UFOs are mistaken and naive and he called out good guy Dennis Kucinich – for what? And I usually like Russert. And Obama. He just kicked the guy while he was down, marginalized him, and laughed at him. What a good guy, that Obama.

Also – does the fact that I’m increasingly drawn to the Science Channel, the History Channel, and Jeopardy mean that I’m turning into an old man?

Pumpkin Seeds Abshire.

Halloween is pretty great, huh? We lost Ted’s Redskins Jersey [which is actually mine], so there was no Tedskin the Redskin this All Hallows Eve. BUT! Peter Pan and [s]Tinkerbell showed their faces, as did Fiona the Butterfly – so the holiday still felt complete.

 

Oh! – and I cooked something that didn’t suck: Cajun/spicy pumpkin seeds! [I also made candy corn flavored cocktails that DID, in fact, suck.] And because Laura is our favorite Louisiana native ever, I named the recipe “Pumpkin Seeds Abshire.” Here’s the recipe AND a pic of the pumpkin that gave its life for our snacking enjoyment:

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup pumpkin seeds
• 1 scant teaspoon Cajun seasoning, or to taste
• paprika, for more color, if desired
• a little salt, depending on saltiness of the seasoning
• 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon melted butter

PREPARATION:

Rinse seeds well and get as much of the pumpkin pulp off of them as possible. Some of the small pieces are going to adhere, but they won’t hurt the seeds at all, and might even add a little more flavor.

Then, boil them in salty water for 10 minutes. Pat dry with paper towels. Don’t let them dry completely on the paper towels, because they might stick! Toss pumpkin seeds with seasonings. Combine butter and Worcestershire sauce; stir into seeds until well blended and coated.

Heat oven to 300°. Roast, turning from time to time, for about 45 to 60 minutes, or until nicely browned and crunchy.

If It’s Not One Thing, It’s Your Mother.

Here’s my mom in her Halloween costume. For those of you who have never met her, I bet this explains a lot. And, Mom – thanks for the yummy bread you sent. We got it today!