On Birthdays And Bests

Today Iggy is 2! puggy years old.

Today my BFF Cayly (often known around these parts as “Hans”) is 27! human years old.

This is Iggy:

This is Hans:

(Picture quite blatantly stolen from Hans’ Facebook page, because I have been horrible with the recent picture taking.)

Got it? OK, then!

I’ve known Hans since we both chose the same college for our Undergraduate Experience (9! years ago now), and she so quickly became one of my most favorite people on this planet, for many reasons, not the least being her ability to live her life courageously and with gusto, and to inspire me to do the same. She also makes me laugh, a lot, and is one of the most supportive people I’ve ever had the privilege to have in my corner. I told her yesterday that I think we should start making our birthdays epic adventures each year, so that when we’re 80, sitting next to each other in our rocking chairs not knitting and drinking moonshine we’ll have so many stories to tell the random children crowded around our feet, children who aren’t ours, but who think we tell awesome stories. (We totally do.)

(I haven’t quite worked out all of the details of our elderly-ness, as you can probably tell. But it will definitely involve awesome stories.)

Most of you probably know Iggy well enough to know he’s a pretty rad pug, probably the cutest in all the land, and more than anything he reminds me that there is so! much! to be excited about in this world, on a minute-by-minute basis. This piece of stray string on the floor? EXCITING. The phone ringing? EXCITING. The sound of a drunk couple slurring and stumbling past the open apartment windows? EXCITING. Cottage Cheese? EXCITING.

In summary, the fact that two of my favorites in this world have birthdays on the same day is a pretty awesome coincidence. EXCITING, even.

Also, I can’t believe Iggy was once this small:

Happy! Day of Cake*, my loves.

*No cake for Iggy. Though I might have slipped him a bit of peanut butter this morning.

Where Am I Going, Where Have I Been?

This week I have been:

Writing, editing, and organizing grant proposals, and preparing gargantuan-sized grant budgets feverishly, to meet deadlines both old and new.

Snuggling with my pug and enjoying any downtime I have been able to muster.

Writing! I’m so excited about three different stories I have in the works, and thanks to a recent prompt by Danny, I’ve been sitting down daily to translate my excitement into actual words on a page. (Not unlike snakes on a plane. Only → Read more...

Stand In The Place Where You Live

This post inspired by my friend and partner in movie quote crime, Home Sweet Sarah.

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Some of the most memorable places I have stood, in no particular order:

On The Great Wall of China. Next to my sister as she took her wedding vows. In front of the Kremlin in Moscow. Next to my favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. Priest Lake. Specifically, my family’s Priest Lake dock spot. On Mt. Seorak, South Korea. Poolside for countless summers with friends, and cousins, and awesome(ly ridiculous) bikinis. At the base → Read more...

“I once saw him beat a guy up with a starfish.” “That’s ridiculous.”

Full disclosure: I initially considered titling this post !!!!!!!!! but Wordpress started laughing at me, and threatened to throw spam.

At this point to say I cannot contain my already typically excessive exclaiming is to understate. HOW am I going to refrain from blurting out, “Hawaii! I’m going there!” from now until I leave at the beginning of September? Better yet, Maui! + getting to see my sister in TWO WEEKS = how am I going to sleep tonight? And the → Read more...

Not A Kid’s Movie Review: Pan’s Labyrinth

Originally aired: January 19, 2007. Watched by Kerri Anne: August 1, 2010. Courtesy of: Netflix Instant Watch. Because: a) I was in the mood for a lighthearted, kid-centric story; b) Netflix told me I would four stars enjoy it and saw fit to leave out crucial somber-tone-revealing plot points in their synopsis; c) Netflix is a lying liar face; d) ALL OF THE ABOVE.

Starring: A slew of great Spanish actors you’ve probably never heard of, most notably Ivana Baquero and Maribel Verdú. Protagonist’s → Read more...