Ma famille paternelle et beignets doux. ;)

I didn't meet him so much as we walked past and looked at each other.
I passed up the chance to say hi and meet Jack White in 2002 on the way to his concert in Pontiac, MI because I was too fricking shy. Kicking myself ever since. Damn it.

I don't use toxic chemicals to keep my lawn "summer green" like my other neighbors. Grass isn't always supposed to be green!
I don't buy into the green movement - most of the reusable bags people buy are made in China. Maybe I'd put more stock into it if such things were made here instead of overseas. It takes a lot to ship them over, dontcha know...

This weekend was spent relaxing.

Saturday - went to Parmenter's Cider Mill. Sonya loved the cider and donuts.
Sunday - Hung out at home
Monday - We wanted to go to the cottage, but I had the worst allergies all day. The kind where you look like you've been crying. So we stayed home.

Also - last night's episode of Rescue Me made me want to throw up and cry.
I did cry at the end.
That is all.

Ray was harvesting, chopping and drying red peppers this weekend.
The peppers were little, red and potent. We don't know exactly what kind they are - the plant tag that came with the plants said "Red Peppers."
The first batch, he used gloves for handling them.
The second batch - he didn't. As a consequence, his hands have been burning since mid-afternoon Saturday.
Anyone have any relief for him? He is being stubborn and refuses baking soda paste.

Stubborn Scorpios..

My cue to stop working in the garden is when a giant daddy longlegs is crawling on my arm.
Yes, I screamed like a little girl.

Happy birthday, Hannunvaakuna!!!!

Been up to a lot lately. Mainly spending time with friends and going to family gatherings. All is well.
This weekend, an anniversary party and picking strawberries with Mom. Not all in the same day, of course.
Summer will be fun.

List your current six favorite songs, then pick six other people to do the same.

1. Henry Lee - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
2. Dead Friends Around the Corner - Einsturzende Neubauten
3. Don't Go to Sleep Without Me - The Creatures
4. Missed Me - Dresden Dolls
5. Ringfinger - Nine Inch Nails
6. Happiness - Tones on Tail

Tag, you're it: all of you! Share with me all of the good stuff I should be listening to! I'm in the mood for new music!

Our first anniversary was very good. We got a couple days away, sans bebe. She stayed with her great grandparents. We went to dinner and saw Star Wars Ep III on Sunday night and it was just ok. Wooden dialogue, plot with holes and we already knew the ending. We missed the hellacious storms that went through because the movie was so long. It was all blue skies and sunshine before the movie and nighttime and barely sprinkling when we got out. We had no idea about the storms and power outages until much later. That was for the best because bad storms freak me out!

We stayed at the same hotel we did on our wedding night - the Hyatt Regency. It was good to get out of the house because whenever I get downtime, I end up finding all kinds of things to do around the house and don't go to bed until 1 or 2am. I really liked doing nothing but relaxing with my husband. Husband..that still sounds so bizarre. When we got back to the hotel, we went to the bar to have a drink to toast the occasion. After half of an apple martini, it is clear to me I have no desire to drink. Yep, I'm old. Deal with it. The view from the room was beautiful. We watched lightning flash across the Detroit river over the sparkling Ambassador Bridge.

On Monday, we just bummed around town together until 5:00, when we decided it was time to pick up Sonya.

We decided to get one present for each other instead of each of us going out and buying each other something. Nothing says "I love you, happy anniversary" like a nice new shiny set of kitchen knives.

It's due time I've posted - it's almost been a month and I've hardly said a peep.

This weekend was nice. We spent a relaxing weekend at home, with no pressure to be anywhere at a given time.
Our new livingroom and kitchen furniture was delivered. The couch and loveseat are microfiber and is moss green. It sounds not so nice, but with the wood trim in the room it really warms up the place.

It is also good to have proper kitchen seating for the three of us (and friends) eat dinner together. We just have to wait for two replacement chairs for the ones that were damaged in the crates.

I've been on a Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds kick lately. Just can't hear enough of em. I'm not so sure that it's good to play the harder stuff around Sonya. She's already got the dark and brooding genes from Ray. ;)

Speaking of, this Sunday marks our first wedding anniversary. Time flies when you're having fun. To make Ztepfinator, Riotmod, Backrubbear and the rest of the Caballers feel old, we've been together for nine years so far. NINE years!
We were mere children when we met at a party at the Temple. We owe many, many thanks to PeeWee, Zerby and Steph for our meeting. We just have to keep the details of the Cabal parties away from Sonya's ears for a while.

This Saturday is my dad's fiftieth birthday. We're having a surprise party for him. We won't be the ones getting him a bottle of Geritol or a cane. He can easily get Ray and I back next year and two years from now, even though I will be counting every birthday past my 29th as the anniversary of my 29th birthday.

I got an email invitation to my ten year high school reunion and am wavering whether to go or not. There are a few people who I did care about in HS, but the rude ones outnumber the good. If only I had a way of knowing how good life would be in the end of senior year and after high school in general, life would have been easier.

This weekend was jam packed with fun.

Saturday - We had Sonya's birthday party and it was a chance for my family and Ray's family to get to know each other better. Highlights included Sonya digging in her new sandbox and seeing her hopped up on chocolate cake, running in circles.

Sunday - Melissa and Brian's wedding. The ceremony was very sweet and totally them. Every ceremony must have laughter in it. It is part of the foundation of a marriage. The reception was nice, too. After getting over my initial shyness it was nice to talk to new people and talk to Jeff in person. Normally wedding receptions where I don't know a lot of people make me terribly nervous, but we were in good company at our table. We left the reception early to pick up Sonya and went home to crash before..

Monday - Sonya's second birthday. To celebrate even more, we took her to the Detroit Zoo. Even though it was fricking freezing, she had a good time. We all loved the Arctic Ring of Life section with the white foxes, polar bears and seals. I loved the underwater tunnel where the seals were swimming around and beside you. It was surreal to see the rain falling and making ripples on the water above us. The tiger seemed amused by our presence. Sonya kept blowing him/her kisses and saying "ki-ki" while I told her that the tiger is a relative of a kittycat. I felt so bad - after we left the tiger's area we heard it roaring sadly. If only we could pet it without being killed.. A couple things bothered me. 1) It was too cold for the giraffes to be outside, and 2) The penguinarium was closed. Closed! They should have had a sign at the front gates telling us the penguinarium was closed and why. The penguins are one of the main reasons I like going to the zoo. Another trip will be necessary in the summer.

Today I took the girl in for her two year checkup and hung out at my grandpa's house so I could see my sister and niece. I also must say that today I felt really happy and was feeling the Irish mischieviousness in my blood. Don't worry though, I won't use my mischieviousness for bad, only good. ;)

Right now I am pondering sleep as I stare at a basket of clean laundry that should be folded and put away, but it will wait. The bed calls!

Here's my results to the Elemental Meme
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Yes, I am still here!
Just been getting over a funk I've been in lately. The nice weather is helping a lot, as is seeing friends.
Ray got a Kia and it's been nothing but a headache. The instrument panel lights and brake lights stopped working the day after he got it. He went to the dealership to get it fixed and now they're telling him that the specific part he needs will "take a day, or take a month" to come in from overseas. Luckily he has a free loaner, but come on. A month without his new car? Ridiculous.. So he's trying to work things out with the dealership.

Everything else is going well.

The steaks are marinating in Montreal seasoning slurry, waiting to be broiled.
The potatoes are baking.
And Ray is on his way home in his new car - a Kia.

As requested by Hannunvaakuna, here is a recipe for swiss steak.

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On Saturday, Ray and I went to Outback with our friends.
I had a steak for the first time in five years. It was mmm mmm good and my body did not hate me.

I'm still here, I just haven't had time to do a proper update.

Congratulations to Kahleida and PeeWee. You are a great couple.

Ray, Sonya and I have been good. Spending as much time with each other, family and friends.
I'm thinking of joining Curves really soon. The winter blahs got to me and I need to pick myself up.

Anyone want to get together before the thaw? ;)

On Friday, the familie Crane went to dinner with Jeff, Chris, Liam and Dave at Johnny Carino's. Sonya demonstrated her ability to eat bread like no one's business and her great pitching arm. She filled her Uncle Chris' shoe with ice water. Luckily he laughed about it. I'm very sorry about that, Chris!

Saturday, we just hung about the house. Ray and I both needed a lazy day. Sonya didn't mind that we weren't strapping her into her carseat to go to some lame place with no toys.

On Sunday, Ray and I had a lovely lunch of White Castle and went furniture shopping. Found lots of stuff we like but didn't need right then. After grocery shopping (yuck) we headed back to my grandparents house to spend time with them, Sonya and Shelby. It was fun to see Papa and Grandma rocking out to Paul McCartney, the only good part of the football game.

Today I found myself thinking of old friends I've lost touch with, more specifically Pat LaMere and Asha Fabiano. They just fell off the face of the earth. Hope they're doing well wherever they are..

My hands are dry, cracking and bleeding.
I am in need of a good lotion - fast.
Any suggestions?

Merry Christmas!