no bathroom words

Hi there!  This is Jim writing on behalf of Alisha tonight.  She isn’t feeling the best right now and determined that she wasn’t going to blog tonight.  She never really promised that she was going to write everyday, but it still made me sad that she wasn’t going to after such an impressive streak of days.  I actually didn’t think she had it in her.  I figured she could do 3 days in a row, but 25??  Nice job, Bib!

I don’t mind doing #26 for her… she pitched in once or twice for me- good thing we lit the unity candle.

The only rule that she had about me blogging for her was that I couldn’t use bathroom words.  Apparently, her blog is way too high class to discuss topics about bidets and their effectiveness in cleaning the…

Quote of the Day: “XX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXXX!” (I had to edit out the quote Jim used….it was good but not useable!)

Life Is Weird, Yet Wonderful (Or Maybe I Am Just Weird): Well, I could list all kinds of things that are weird about Alisha… but I can’t think of anything weird about me.  Since she isn’t feeling well, I’ll just be nice and say nothing at all.

Oh So Good!

Just a few highlights of the day:

• Extremely productive morning work wise
• My war with Charter continues…even though I canceled service.  I will win this war!
• The Charter communications lady tries to teach me a lesson, I choose to teach her one instead
• Jim congrats me and laughs a lot about my Charter conversation
• Baby Clothes Purchase for the new niece
• Coaching Jim through making an appointment at the eye doctor (He has a phobia!)
• Sonic…need I say more!
• A fun night with Kelli, Elle, and Paisley
• Laughing a ton at Elle’s commentaries on the world (Oh… the 3yr old mind!)
• Giving Elle a bath…wow I love that kid!
• Movie with Jim
• A great day!!!!!

Quote of the Day: “Excuse me ma’am…does Charter send me a paycheck?  I understand that you spend eight hours a day on the phone, but they pay you for it.  I have actually been paying you while I have wasted hours on the phone with your company.  I actually paid you for the phone.  So…I am not sure what your point is that you spend hours on the phone dealing with issues, it really does not compare to my situation.”

Life Is Weird, Yet Wonderful (Or Maybe I Am Just Weird): (Warning: Mush factor!) It was so great to have Jim back and just be able to cuddle with him.  I am so blessed to feel so safe in the arms of my husband.  He truly is my safe place to land.  He is there in the good and the bad.  He know when to hug me, when to make me laugh and when to just let me rant.  We went and saw “500 Days of Summers” tonight, and he held me throughout the movie.  (Disclaimer: We would normally never do that…because we strive not to annoy others, unless it is to get a laugh….but there were only three people in the theatre.  In turn, it was completely acceptable.)  Life is pretty wonderful!

Let Them Eat Cake, Or At Least Look At It

Life without Jim has left me struggling for good blogs.  He gives me good material.  He should be home in about 30 minutes….that means tomorrow’s blog will be better.  So today…quote and weirdness.

Quote of the Day: “Being a grown up is a mix of being both a child and and adult.  You still have a childlike part on the inside, but you know you are grown up when you start putting others ahead of yourself…  when the people you loves needs become more important than your own.”

Life Is Weird, Yet Wonderful (Or Maybe I Am Just Weird): I cannot believe how many cake shows are on tv:  Ace of Cakes, Cake Boss, Amazing Wedding Cakes, The Ultimate Cake Showdown….that is a lot of cake shows (I googled them!).  This seems rather ridiculous, but the truth is that I end up watching these shows.  I never knew that I needed to see a shark made of cake, or a wedding cake that is a replica of the Stanley Cup or a typewrite cake.  Yet, I have seen it and I am amazed.  But, I have a question when you work on a cake for a week how can it end up tasting good?  You would think it would get dry.  Also, have you ever tasted fondant, it tastes like licking duct tape.  (FYI: I do not suggest licking duct tape!) This is just something that I ponder.  If your wedding cake is pretty, but tastes like feet is it worth it? 

That is a Cake!…(What is weird, yet wonderful about this you may wonder…that I actually spend a decent amount of time thinking about stuff like this.)

 

Memories…”Way to Go Farty, Way to Go”

I was recently thinking about embarrassing moments, especially those that happen when you are younger, and it feels as though life will truly never be good again. because this embarrassing situation happened.  I have realized though, these are stories to be embraced not hid.   (Because they are awfully funny!)  So… I think I will occasionally share these tales from my youth.  (For those of you who know this story…here it is again.):

I am the worst softball/baseball player there is.  I can throw and I can catch, but I cannot hit a ball with a bat to save my life. ( I truly need a tee.)  This fact always made me very nervous when it came to gym class, especially in Jr. High.  I was a shy, awkward kid who tried to fit in, but grace was not one of my assets.  My seventh grade year…. it was once again time to play softball.  I was so nervous that I thought I was going to throw-up.  My stomach hurt,  my legs were shaking and I could not catch my breath, because I knew I was one step away from pure humiliation.  The gym teacher, Coach Payne was pitching and called me up to the mound.  “Barker, it is your turn.” (By the way, Barker is a cruel surname when you are in Jr. High.)  I grabbed the bat with my sweaty palms and was set to go.  I was determined that I was going to give it my all.  I was going to to hit that ball, actually not only was I going to hit  the ball, but I was going to use all my might to swing as hard as possible and just slam it. The first pitch came at me and I swung.  Strike!  I  regrouped and was set to go again….really believing I could do it!  The ball came towards me, and I was ready.  My eyes were glued to the softball,  my stance was low, my butt was pushed out and I could smell success.  As I swung the bat with all my possible strength….my nervous stomach releases all my might with the largest fart known to man.  It is released in sequence with the bat moving….all in slow motion.  (Like a seen from a bad 80’s movie!)  The field goes silent, except for the echoing  sound of my gas.  Coach Payne, falls down on the pitching mound laughing and kicking his heal in the dirt .  All 30 girls erupt in laughter…thanking God it is not them.  Then to top it all  off…..from the ground Coach Payne bellows out the words …strike!  (He precedes to tell me I can just have a seat.!  I probably used up all my energy!)  For the rest of seventh and eighth grade my name in gym was farty!  The constant cheer was…”Way to go farty, way to go!.”

I remember it like it was yesterday! Oh…Jr High!

Quote of the Day: “I’m about to go on a segway tour of Richmond….I am so excited!  It is the best.” (Jim has been dreaming of going on a segway tour forever!  Whenever we have seen people on them…I have always thought they looked a little ridiculous…Jim thought they looked cool!  By the way, he loved the tour!)

Life Is Weird, Yet Wonderful (Or Maybe I Am Just Weird): I just watched Jim’s video blog from yesterday.  It was weird and wonderful!  (He is so weird, but I love him so much!  His weirdness allows him to appreciate my weirdness.)  I think he may have a future as an auto show model.  (Make sure to watch the video till the end and you will understand!) 

Shower Dancing…The Art of the Future

Quote of the Day: ” Love God supremely and others sacrificially.”  (I wish I did not need to be reminded…but I want and need to live this way.)

Life Is Weird, Yet Wonderful (Or Maybe I Am Just Weird): I just found myself dancing in the shower.  This is silly in and of itself, and not very safe….especially for dizzy people.  (I am not officially endorsing shower dancing….even though it was fun.)  I could not help myself.   I was singing all of Lady Gaga’s top 40 hits….and the dance was inside of me and had to be let out.  It is true…rhythm is a dancer, maybe a shower dancer. So… I was in the shower busting out “Just Dance”.  (I refuse to link to these songs because it is not good music.  Actually it is kinda awful!.)  As the routine shower continued I moved onto “Poker Face”…and then as the grand finale was ”Love Game”.  (I am really good…especially at the papapapa poker face papa poker face part….I need help! ) I  may need to try out for “So You Think You Can Dance”…if they ever have a version involving water.

My Day…My Superhero

Today was super busy, but really good.  Jim left for Virginia…early this morning.  I took him to the airport.  (I miss him already!)  Then I met with a good friend, had a hair appointment (becoming a natural blond again), visited Paisley at the hospital, worked a little and then we celebrated Erika’s (my niece)15th birthday.  For her birthday she wanted to hangout in the Loop and go to the Chocolate Bar with my sister, my mom and me.  (What a cool thing…that she wanted to spend the night with us!)  It ended up being a great night.  We went to Blueberry Hill, Chuck Berry’s restaurant, and Vintage Vinyl, a record store that is a Central West End landmark.  Then onto the Chocolate Bar.  (It is this trendy dessert place.)  We had such a good time.  Lots of laughter, great conversation and just a ton of fun!  It was so good to celebrate her and the amazing young woman she is becoming (Wow…that comment makes me sound old!), but it is so true. 

(Happy Birthday Erika! I love you booger!…It has been her nickname since she was born.  I know it is unfair, but I cannot change it!)

Quote of the Day: “If I had a super power I would have the ability to poop out tulips, and fruits and vegetables.  They would be clean of course.  This way I could travel around and feed the world.  I could end world hunger.  I would be the best super hero ever. “  (Don’t ask!) 

Life Is Weird, Yet Wonderful (Or Maybe I Am Just Weird): The quote says it all tonight!  Who knew that would be my superhero of choice.  The sad things is that this is the first things that came to my mind…without a moments hesitation.  That is the super power I wanted.  I think I need help!  (I also need a Superhero Name!)

A Wonderful Baby and Lots of Cool Whip!

I am a “great” aunt again and I love it.  (I hope I am great in two ways!)  Tonight I got to meet my 2nd great niece Paisley Rae McGill .  She is beautiful.  Watching Elle, my older great niece, with her was wonderful.  She wanted to hug her and kiss her…and tell everyone she was a big sister.  It was adorable.  What else can you blog about when such a great things happens….Paisley and Elle cannot imagine how much they are loved!Quote of the Day: “My baby needs me.”  (Elle talking about her baby sister…it cannot get cuter!) 

Life Is Weird, Yet Wonderful (Or Maybe I Am Just Weird): I have blogged about my love of Cool Whip in the past.  I still love it…and I can actually eat the Fat Free kind on my liquid diet. (It makes Jello so much better!)  So…we always have some in the freezer and the fridge.  (The fridge for right away use and the freezer for upcoming use.)  Currently we have ten containers of Cool Whip in our freezer and two in the fridge.  This is weird, but great!  It was on clearance at Target for .88 cents.  I had to stock up. The lady who checked me out looked perplexed…I just said “I really like cool whip, it is tasty!”  (Who knew Cool whip could go on clearance…it even had a special red sticker.)

I Have Nothing….Except a Quote and Weirdness

 

I don’t have much…I keep typing and erasing because I am tired.  Yet…I am still blogging.  I wish I had something better to say.  Just wait for tomorrow!

Here is a picture of me from tonight…it is all I got!

Quote of the Day: “I came home and I just realized I loved that little girl.  I was only with them for part of a day, but I love that family.”  (Stephanie, one of my best friends, talking about a family she met on a mission trip to Guatemala.  She is hoping to be able to sponsor the little girl through Compassion International.)

Life Is Weird, Yet Wonderful (Or Maybe I Am Just Weird): My life has a soundtrack in my head.  I hope I am not alone in this.  Just like a movie trailer….all my memories come with a soundtrack.  (Sometimes the music I hear on the commercial makes me want to see the movie.)  I love it!  It is so much fun to think back at different events and not only to have mental images, but songs to go with.  It is weird, but wonderful!

Dinner, Table Settings….and Gas!

I really like having people over for dinner.  I love to welcome people into our home and make a meal.  It excites me to no end.  I like to plan a meal around what the people like and then set a table that I think fits them.  Tonight we had Kevin and Diane Hughes over for dinner.  They are two of the most amazing people we know.  Kevin is my boss, but he is also my pastor and a father figure in my life.  (They are so important to us.)  So..making the meal and setting the table were a ton of fun!  I was really excited at how the table turned out.  In turn, I am including a picture.  (Silly I know, but it made me smile!)

Quote of the Day: Wieners are awesome.  It is a circus of wieners. (Someday I will explain!))

Life Is Weird, Yet Wonderful (Or Maybe I Am Just Weird):  In my love of cooking and table setting…I also love to forget to turn off the burner.  In turn, I try to poison all my guests with gas that leaks into the air as we sit and chat after dinner for a couple of hours.  This is the second time I have done this…pretty stupid when you have candles lit throughout your house.  Tip from me to you….do not try to blow up your guests…this does not make them feel special!

Where Is Papa John When I Need Him?

I decided to make homemade pizza for dinner…o.k. it was actually semi-homemade because I bought that pillsbury refrigerator dough.  The dough was the downfall.  It was one of those biscuit packages that you have to pop the seal. So, I hit it on the counter and was off.  I tried to unroll it like the directions said and it just stuck together in a big mess.  I kept trying to unstick it, but it would not budge.  Then I decided I would try to roll it is a ball and toss it like a professional pizza maker. (I’ve seen it on tv)  I tossed it and stretched it.  Then, I tossed it and stretch it again.  Then, I made Jim toss it and stretch it.  The outcome: it looked exactly the same…. a big ball of basically biscuit dough.  What a mess?  In the end I rolled it out with a rolling pin…it was a fourth of the size it was supposed to be and did not cook all the way through.  (It ended up the size of a personal pizza.) 

It is boiled down in this graph:  

The blue bar is Alisha- Made, The Green Bar is Papa Johns

Conclusion: Alisha-made expensive and bad…Papa Johns good, easy and better! 

Quote of the Day: I don’t think it’s Pillsbury fault…people use this all the time and I am sure it works.  (Said by Jim in the middle of my rant of how pillsbury has a bad product…thanks for the support!)

Life Is Weird, Yet Wonderful (Or Maybe I Am Just Weird): I actually thought because I have watched the movie Mystic Pizza (An old school Julia Roberts movie) that I could make delicious pizza.  I also thought that I could toss dough up in the air and magically it would be beautiful, round and the perfect thickness….I really believed this…and was shocked it did not work.  (I still blame Pillsbury.)