not too shabby....

I won third place in Architecture with my picture of downtown New Orleans. The judge said it had good lines, it screamed "architecture" and he liked the little people in the background.

AND, Otto won third place in People with his picture of Jessica, Renee and me. The judge liked how it captured the moment, the emotion since we were laughing, and the intimacy since we had our hands so close together.

I am pleased at having won something!!!!!!!

I am not in total agreement with his choices--a picture of a puppy won best in show for crying out loud--but I see his logic and all. It was all about capturing the moment and getting the judge's attention.

AND, to place in my very first photography show?!? Not too shabby at all!

ooh, and...travel and groceries.

I'm 100% officially going to be in Tulsa in December. Not for a terribly long time, but if people wanted to go out on the 23rd I'd sooooo be up for that. Otto and I will leave on the afternoon of the 26th to come back to NC.

Also, I got hit on at the grocery store last night. It was amusing, and it went a little something like this:

I'm checking out the bread, and I'm trying to decide on the Italian or the French to go with our smothered chicken. I reach for the French, and I hear a loud "No!

I turn around and see what's going on, and I think this guy on his cell phone is telling me not to pick up that bread. He says, no, not you, and I laugh about it. He then explains that he's on the phone with his brother, and he just heard that one of our US Senators doesn't know the National Anthem! Can you believe that?!? Anyhoo, we exchange a few comments, and that's it. I go on with my bread to pick up a bell pepper and some bananas, and I check out.

And I am backing my car out of the spot, and I see the same guy. He motions for me to roll down the window, and I do. He says he has an idea, and would I go out to dinner with him sometime? Of course I say no, but who doesn't like to be asked ou--especially at the grocery store?

bricolage

have you all seen these purses?  I'm really thinking about getting one—it just looks like something I'd own.  I think I want one of the top three here.  And it's neat that they're made from recycled candybar wrappers and/or newspaper. 

My test was ick.  I mean, if you get right down to it everything on the test was covered in class or in the book.  But there were waaaay more factoids than I was expecting.  I was all ready for the gazillion calculation problems. But not for spouting off factoids.  Eh.

And I've wanted to tell y'all about Beefmastor, but that isn't in the cards quite yet.  Between work, class stuff, KayDee stuff and trying to find time to sleep and eat, I've been rather swamped.  Though I must admit that on Monday after my test I watched Studio 60 and Heroes, and both were pretty darn good.  There's a LOT of TV I want to watch this season—those two plus Lost, Desperate Housewives, Gray's Anatomy, Six Degrees and Brothers & Sisters.  Plus I'm still catching up on Gilmore Girls. I might have to cut some of these out.  Or invest in a DV-R.

tough call. 

Ooh, and, mucho thanks to my first two purchasers of pictures—you make me happy! And thanks again, everyone, for offering their opinions and support.  I really, really appreciate it!  (PS-I find out how my photos did on Friday afternoon.  There are 184 photos in the competition! Yikes!)

And kudos to Renee and her pb&j…just go with it.  (and R & J, I'm putting it in the book!)

Eh, time for more plating. Which is nice because it requires little or no mental effort.  yippee!

and, a special thanks to Jeremy Wood for teaching me this new word!

four.

wtf?!?

okay, so I'm studying for my test tomorrow, and I just realized why some of these equations are getting mixed up in my head. there are FOUR different things that use the letter "n." (quick scrabble tip: "en" can be used as a word, since it's how you spell the word that's said for the letter N--sorta like "cee" for C). anyhoo.

Na-avogadro's number (I once wrote an essay about this and sunflowers--no joke!)
N-# of atomic sites per cubic meter
Nv-equilibrium number of vacancies
n-number of atoms associated with each unit cell

I just hope he doesn't make us use these for Sodium (Na), Nitrogen (N), Nickel (Ni), Niobium (Nb) or Neon (Ne) because I think I'll get lost--and thank goodness we won't be dealing with any of those pesky rare earth series or actinide series elements, since that's three more potential Ns!

back to studying. oh, and I think I might enter this (thanks, O!). But I can only enter a single picture--maybe I'll wait until judging on Friday to see how my other photos do? hmm. I kind of want to enter my blossoming pink gerbera daisy, but I think it's not going to stand out, y'know? we shall see.

box o' happiness.

it's quite late/early to be blogging, I know. but otto's flight arrives in thirtyish minutes and I want to be awake when he comes home.

I spent the evening watching Gilmore Girls, eating PeiWei and making a study guide for my test. I totally need to re-read like half the stuff. And if I only I could grasp this moving-the-origin thing. Eh, we'll see.

So, earlier this week I got out this funny green box--it's maybe 7 x 10 x 7, I guess? And it has a lid. And in it are things from years and years or months and months or just a few days ago. Ones that make me happy, or remind me of something important.

Clearly, and as it should be, there are a bazillion letters/cards/coloring book pages from Renee and Jessica--and a few more from Jessica, but we've been friends longer. There are Sterling letters and drawings, a very long and important letter from David and the laminated card from the yellow V-Day roses he sent me in college, cards from when my college trauma happened, LOTS of cards from my incredible! Kappa Delta Sisters, some photos of my dad, my family and my kitties Rainbow and Bluey, birthday wishes, programs from the Ring Dance and Graduation and from when I was featured in TU's Engineering Recruitment stuff, stuff from Dee Wakely and the girl I tutored in college and even something from my miserable apartment-mate. And Del, don't you worry, my shot list--complete with signatures--is in there too. There's even professional things in there--two from when I recieved the Corre Anding Stegall (which is still, on paper and personally, one of my very greatest achievements), a letter thanking me for eating dinner with the Delphi scholarship recipient at the SWE conference, my you-may-sit-for-the-FE letter AND my you passed! letter, church things, Tulsa Youth Leadership stuff, Girl Scout info, you name it. It's some of the highs and lows of the past, oh, gosh, ten years--all in a box. Some are sappy and some are funny and some are wonderful.

and it's so strange to me, because looking at the physical representation of all these memories makes me feel really, really good. like, in a let out a big sigh of contentment kind of way. and, as luck would have it, pictures also have this affect on me. perhaps that's part of why I enjoy taking them.

I also found this--I'm not sure where I got it, but I like it and I want to share. (and, it will lead me to another post soon, that will include a very good point made about Mother Teresa--I think you will like it. Maybe some time next week when I'm done studying. you're all holding your breath in anticipation, I know.....)

written by Mother Teresa:

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between God and you;
It was never between them and you anyway.

and now that I've read this again, perhaps I understand part of what makes looking at all of the things in that box so wonderful...the things in that are in that box are from people who love(d) me and who care(d) about me, who at one time or another lifted me up, encouraged me and supported me, if only with their presence in my life. and a lot of them are still doing it today. and I appreciate it. and I hope that in some way, some how, I can return the favor.

my glass is overflowing.

and not in the cup-runneth-over kind of way.

I really, really, REALLY want to watch Iron Jawed Angels. realbad. I just do. It's about women's suffrage, and Hilary Swank is in it, and I wanna see it. Last week when the girls came over we were supposed to watch it—but Amy was having a bad bad day, and we spent so much time talking that we didn't even think about starting it. So, new plans were made, and Betsy, Mary Alise and I were going to watch it last night.

I TRIED to force them to watch. Really I did. But I had to keep stopping it so we could talk! I did, however, learn that the start of the civil war (or, the war between the states) was not actually slavery. Which, um, yeah--I totally remember learning in elementary school that it was. But when you come to the "South" you learn the real story (and yes, whether or not Raleigh is still "suth-ern" is up for debate sometimes, I guess, whatev.)

So hopefully, hopefully I'll get to watch it soon. My netflix subscription is hungry for me to return it so I can get another movie, y'know?

Oh, and about the glass. So, last week I bought three little trashcans from target—the *college* kind that come in fun colors. They were on clearance for $1.38 a pop. Otto and I have been using them to pre-sort our recyclables. And the glass one is full. Over-full. Like, not even trying to balance stuff on top anymore full.

because of the wine.

There are wine bottles galore. Three from last week's girl time, plus another one. Plus four from last night (one had only a single glass left in it)! That's a lot of wine bottles! Yikes. So, this evening while I study study study and reward myself by updating the new photo blog, I'm also going to have to find time to empty the recycling. Because my glass is overflowing.

PS-I think it is weird that the advertisements for a movie about women's right to vote has 1) a lady's naked back on it and 2) her wearing a flag, which you aren't supposed to do. So, um use sex-appeal and inappropriate flag conduct to promote a movie about women's rights? Anyone else think this is odd? I mean, I know they were all about breaking/changing the rules, but...perhaps I'm not getting the point?

julie andrews, where are you when I need you?

Yesterday evening Sterling and I were discussing the difference between confidence and courage.

I, for instance, lack confidence, but I’ve got courage—and sometimes in spades. But maybe I should work on my confidence (like I sooo didn’t already know this). And I went to bed thinking “besides which, you see, I have confidence in ME!”

Which 1) made me want to listen to the song and 2) made me want to hear about the lonely goatherd, being sixteen going on seventeen, maria being a problem and my favorites things, like whiskers on kittens!

But, alas, my cd seems to have a taken a little stroll. I found “O, Brother Where Art Thou” and “The Only Broadway Cd You’ll Ever Need,” “The Point” and “Grease” and “The Wizard of Oz,” but no “The Sound of Music.” So I’m settling for singing in my head. :)

What will this day be like? I wonder.
What will my future be? I wonder.
It could be so exciting to be out in the world, to be free
My heart should be wildly rejoicing
Oh, what's the matter with me?

I've always longed for adventure
To do the things I've never dared
And here I'm facing adventure
Then why am I so scared

A captain with seven children
What's so fearsome about that?

Oh, I must stop these doubts, all these worries
If I don't I just know I'll turn back
I must dream of the things I am seeking
I am seeking the courage I lack

The courage to serve them with reliance
Face my mistakes without defiance
Show them I'm worthy
And while I show them
I'll show me

So, let them bring on all their problems
I'll do better than my best
I have confidence they'll put me to the test
But I'll make them see I have confidence in me

Somehow I will impress them
I will be firm but kind
And all those children (Heaven bless them!)
They will look up to me

And mind me with each step I am more certain
Everything will turn out fine
I have confidence the world can all be mine
They'll have to agree I have confidence in me

I have confidence in sunshine
I have confidence in rain
I have confidence that spring will come again
Besides which you see I have confidence in me

Strength doesn't lie in numbers
Strength doesn't lie in wealth
Strength lies in nights of peaceful slumbers
When you wake up -- Wake Up! It's healthy!

It tells me all I trust I lead my heart to
All I trust becomes my own
I have confidence in confidence alone
(Oh help!)

I have confidence in confidence alone
Besides which you see I have confidence in me!

Also, I looked at the competition in the photo contest today. In nature (where the Bradford pear pic is entered) the competition is steep. There’s a kick-ass one of a peacock. Otto’s people pic has a good chance, and I think my “misc” ones do too—the shell on the wood and the ferris wheel. In architecture I think my New Orleans building one could do well, but the Tulsa skyline isn’t original enough. And in landscape—well, there’s a lot of good ones, but a lot of unoriginal ideas too. My shell could have a shot there too—there’s an awful lot of sunsets.

Ooh, and? Don't you hate when you wake up and it feels like you haven't been sleeping? That happened to me last night. I bought the sleeptime extra tea, and I think my body doesn't like the whatever-is-in-it. Valerian root maybe? Anyhoo.

Okay, time to finish up work stuff and go make tooth #13 a princess—meaning she gets a crown. Yuck-o.

Oh, and PS—I updated my I’d-like-to-sell-my-photos-blog. More pictures, lower prices. :)

i'm sorry, are you too good to walk around?

grrrr. it makes me soooo mad!

 

so, in the lab I do a lot of work in something called a walk-in hood.  if you don't know what a hood is, then look here if you're curious.  anyhoo, I usually open the top half to do my work and leave the bottom part of the sash pulled down.  I'm not doing anything terribly dangerous, but ammonia and hcl are involved, along with some metals solutions, so it's in the hood. 

 

4.5 feet away, behind me when I'm working in the hood, you'll see the lab bench.  I measured. When I'm working in the hood I probably take up ~1 foot, making that distance 3.5 feet.  And when the rolling chair is behind me at the lab bench, I'm guessing there's about 1.5-2.0 feet of clearance between me and the chair.

 

yet, despite this terribly small space, people insist on walking between the chair and me to get to the door.  now, I guess I see why.  it's the shortest distance between two points--the rest of the path and the doorway.  and it does take an additional six-to-nine steps to walk around.  but come freaking on! it's not like people are *supposed* to walk through here.  the way around my lab bench is the "this way is safe, walk in the designated area" pathway. 

 

and then?  then?!? people look at me as though I'm inconveniencing them when I almost bump into them because I back out of the hood.  it's not like I can hear them or anything.  it's a big friggin fan inside of a box--hullo?!?  plus, they in an area they aren't supposed to be on.  like if someone got upset 'cause they got a grass stain when they walked in the grass when "do not walk on grass" signs were clearly posted.

 

makes me frustrated.  a lot.  I've even tried to line up my chairs to form a barricade, yet people insist on moving them.  man, oh, man.  I keep wanting to tell them to walk the eff around, laze bums! but instead I just seethe, as saying something will only manage to get me in trouble, I'm sure.

 

at least it makes me laugh a little, remembering how on the first day of class Mrs. Benson would move the chairs in her classroom all around so she could observe how people got to the one they wanted--would they move other chairs?  push through an area?  take the first one they came to?  go the long way? hmm, hmm. and grr.

ahoy!

Happy Talk Like a Pirate Day!

and, if you're feeling pirate-ee AND frisky...avast! (it's work appropriate)

now, integrate those new vocab words and celebrate with some grog! (aye aye!)

and, here, for your viewing pleasure, are some pirate pictures from the last couple months, including what my friend erik looks like when he says "arrrgh!"

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mres

no, I didn't leave out any additional vowels, consonants or sometimes-vowels-sometimes-consonants.

mre is short for meals-ready-to-eat. and there are eleventy billion of them hanging out in our building near the bathrooms, along with juiceboxes of purified water. I mean, seriously, dozens and dozens of mres and twenty-sevens and twenty-sevens of the purified water.

and it freaks. me. the eff. out.

now, I realize that at some point in my life, on whatever scale, I will likely have to deal with the bird flu. with my immune system and age I'm likely to get sick, but that's all. (knock on wood) but this whole thing almost sounds like some freaky version of biological warfare--only the strongest will not survive?!? makes me shudder.

and I've been trying not to think about it, for the most part, but I walk by those mres and purified waters like eleven times a day. so I can't help but notice. grr.

it's weird though--more than anything else, I'm worried that I might get quarantined inside of my building (hence the food rations being stockpiled) and otto might not be able to get home either and no one could take care of my kitties. I actually talked to the vet about it on saturday--because it's the thing that makes me the most nervous. but fortunately, she said call their office and they'd do everything possible to take care of gobi and hazel--they might have to move 'em somewhere, but they'd get taken care of. which gives me a great sense of relief.

PS-hazel's eye will be fine with these little drops that she's being rather agreeable about. and gobi, well, I may have to eat my words about that EKG and bloodwork. but at least he has very good teeth. the two of them were TERRORS though. absolute terrors. man, my vet is good-natured.

on to happier subjects...

I went to see an NC State professor's photography show, and his pictures were lovely. It made me very excited, because if he's making money off of this then I certainly can too. So I made a new not-connected-with-my-blog-blog blog. It's here. I offer discounts to friends and family. :)

and, I went TWICE today to see if the photos were posted in the cafeteria for the photo contest--but alas, they are not. I wanted to see my competition, and I've now promised myself not to look until Wednesday, because surely they'll be up by then--surely. I'll let y'all know how they look once I see 'em...

tried new recipes last night...

had the girls over--an excellent excuse to try a new recipe--so I tried two. served with wine and caesar salad, this is deeeee-lish! enjoy!

artichoke and tomato pasta
I'm not sure where this one's from...Audrey, Katie or Ariel I think.

1 6oz can artichoke hearts, reserving liquid

1 onion, chopped

2 cloves minced garlic

1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes

1 8oz can tomato sauce

1/2 tsp dried basil

1/4 tsp dried oregano

1/4 tsp salt

1/8 tsp crushed red pepper (I used ground)

1/8 tsp cumin

8 oz pasta (rotini or farfalle)

cook pasta.

heat artichoke liquid to boiling and add onion and garlic, cook for 2 min. stir in tomatoes, tomato sauce and spices. heat through.

note:you might want to drain the liquid from the diced tomatoes and add as needed, else you'll have to wait for it to reduce.

bruschetta
from my 365 great 20 minute recipes book

12 slicess Italian bread

3 tbsp balsamic vinegar

1/3 c olive oil

2lbs tomatoes, diced petite

2 cloves garlic

1/3 c fresh basil slivered

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp hot red pepper

8 oz fresh mozz, thickly grated

1. heat oven to 400C. toast 3-5 min making sure not to burn the toast and have to have your friends fan the smoke alarm and open all the windows.

2. mix everything but the bread and cheese. put 2-3 tbsp of mixture on each slice of toasted-not-burnt bread.

3. sprinkle mozz on top. if desired, put in the oven for ~1 min to melt cheese, again, making sure not to catch the house on fire.

note: we used varying proportions of these. basically, it's to taste. but it's yum!

also, be careful with your spinach.

fruit-less.

so, these six went in.

the heart of Tulsa-skyline (architecture)

a breath of fresh air at oregon inlet (landscape)

round and round and round we go (misc)

Standing, Still-Upper Pontalba Building on Jackson Square (architecture)

Pyrus calleryana--Bradford Pear from an ant's perspective (nature)

weathered (misc)

and I turned in this one of otto's.

laughing ladies

get it? there's not a picture of the fruit bowl anymore. (ha! I kill me.) seriously, though. I decided that though I love love love that picture, it's not photo contest worthy...

alert, alert!

so, one of these three photos is in. just one. It would be the ferris wheel hands down, BUT, as Otto pointed out, there's a big light pole in the middle of it. Does that matter? Is Forsyth Park or Tulsa a better pic in light of that observation?

soooooo....yeah. help?!?

about judging--there's a professional judge coming in (awarding best in show and 1st, 2nd and 3rd for the five categories) and then there's a 1st, 2nd and 3rd for People's Choice. I'm turning these kids in tomorrow. thank you, thank you, thank you for your help.

tough call: subject to change.

gah!

so, I made my decision. well, maybe.

I went to Michael's where a nice girl named Mary helped me with the foam board and all. I got all black and one turquoise, thinking I'd put the picture of Jess, Renee and I that Otto took at Mayfest on that one (he's my *sig O* so he can enter too!) I came home and set out to cut the board--which took a loooong time. And made my hand hurt. But I did it.

I mounted all of the pictures on the boards with this cool spray adhesive stuff--it's repositionable!--and set all nine of them (not counting otto's) against the wall
to evaluate. I stepped back a bit and thought "which ones catch my eye?" The people one was out immediately--the person leaping is off to the side, and it just doesn't look as good far away. The other choices were not so easy.

But here are the six I've chosen. The fruit bowl looks especially stunning against the turquoise foamboard--not overkill, I swear. Plus, it doesn't look quite so neon on the turq.







and two runners up are at the bottom of the post. the impala looks a skosh fuzzy and it's kind of hard to tell what it is from very far away.

anyhoo, if you think I'm making a mistake, let me know. Else, I'm done! I'll submit them on Friday (they're due by 2pm eastern daylight).

PS-Blade's Season Finale was awesome. I pity the fool who didn't watch it (said in my best Mr. T voice, which, admittedly, sounds better in my head than it does in reality).
PPS-This is my four-hundredth post. Zowee!
PPPS-I think Hazel has an eye infection. :( I'm taking her to the vet on Saturday anyway, so I'm secretly hoping it will clear up or at least not get worse, and I can wait to take her until then, since I won't have a car today and tomorrow is the day before the appt (plus I would have to drop her off, not stay)...hmm.

macaroni and cheese, phone calls and revelations.

strike that, reverse it. or read the post from the bottom up, maybe?

In addition to the wedding festivities, I've had a pretty busy last few days.

It all began on Friday. Oh, Friday, how I love thee. Anyhoo. On the way to Podunkish, VA, the little puzzle pieces that make up Carrie's thought processes were assembling themselves. Logic, insight and good old-fashioned gut feelings helped form the pieces into an actual concept. And I talked to Otto about it, and I've decided something.

I am not going to paint anymore.

Okay, well that's not exactly true. I'm just not going to paint anymore unless I really, really want to.

I am an okay painter. I enjoy it, but about 1/3 of the time I don't really dig what I paint and I end up being disappointed that I spent my time doing it. Sometimes I get really excited about a certain thing I painted, and that makes me happy.

However, I think in comparison, for me,

photography skills >>> painting skills.

And, (here's logical Carrie coming into the equation) photography is cheaper (both upfront and to produce an actual photo), it produces a result more quickly, it is easier to take a picture that someone else will like than to paint one that someone else will like, it also makes me happy and if I take a picture I don't like it's not a big deal at all. So, um, I want to be Carrie, the Material Scientist / Chemical Engineer / Pretty-Darn-Good-Photographer, not /Mediocre-Painter.

I think I'm putting that on my to-do list.

Anyhoo, I decided this on Friday, and I told Otto about it—that I was thinking about mostly abandoning painting and so on. And after hesitating for a moment to make sure I was serious, he said, "Good. Because you're a damn good photographer." This made Carrie pleased.

Then all that weekend stuff happened. And while I was attempting to sleep on the way home, I got a message from my two bestest friends. They rule. THANKS. It's quite nice when your friends totally affirm a choice you've made in your life without yet being aware that you've made it. So...

We were talking about you, about your birthday, they said, which led us to talking about the pictures we saw on your blog. And, um, we think you're very amazing at that and really talented and you should do that as a job or something. Or at least a part time one and show your pictures at Mayfest and stuff because we think people would absolutely buy them. Ooh! And then you could travel the world and take pictures and we could come with you—Jessica would help us talk to people and Renee would provide the musical background—and then we could make a documentary of it! But really, you're very talented at photography and we think you should put lots of time and energy into it.

And, as Renee once said about me, if you've ever wondered why Renee and Jessica are my best friends, now you know. (cft love to the both of you)

So, that pretty much firmed up that thought, yup yup. And I could breathe a nice sigh of relief instead of wonder if I was losing my mind. Which, um, I felt like I might be doing. I LOVE painting. It's hard to decide not to pursue something you enjoy, y'know? But I feel much better about it now.

Oh, and about the macaroni? Well, Carrie the Cook RUINED BOX MACARONI.

TWICE.

How in the world do you do that, you might wonder--ruin box macaroni in TWO ways???…well, first of all, use Annie's 'cause it's yummy and it's better for you anyhow. And be very hungry and lazy from your travels so you just want to fix something quick and easy. And then get distracted by Season 4 Episode 2 of Gilmore Girls for just thislong. But, uh, be distracted after you've cooked and drained the noodles and after you add the cheese powder but before you add the milk and a tiny bit of butter.

And then your cheese powder will be burned on the bottom but look totally normal on top. Double bonus if you can manage to spill half of the cooked pasta on the floor instead of into the pan, and you have to fight with two cats to try to put it in the trash before they can eat it.

Now picture this in your head. Wish someone had been filming—America's Funniest Home Videos here I come!

and PS-thank you, as well, to you folks who told me which pictures you liked, or how great/fun/amazing they were. not only did you absolutely make my day(s), but you helped me realize this too. and I appreciate it. ooh! and though I've printed the photos (and I'm going to have to re-print the tree one 'cause it came out too dark) I've yet to decide which ones, exactly, are going in. but both shells and the ferris wheel are, for sure.

wedding fun: saturday, the rest of

Otto, Erik and I got ready and went to the wedding. Had a little hair-o-the-dog, got cleaned up and dressed and all. My hair was even curly for like three whole minutes, and then it returned to its usual stick-straight self. Oh well. The boys looked slick though, methinks.

The wedding itself was gee-org-jus. Wow. And Kate looked radiant, and they both looked so happy. I hear their vows were incredible, but as we were 1)sitting in the back and 2)it was an outdoor wedding with no microphones, we didn't really hear most of them. But just by seeing their faces, you could tell how spectacular they were. And I liked it that the minister said the vows they'd written and they repeated it--so there was no memorizing.

they even had this guy playing. wonder what that instrument is. Someone said it may be a guitar harp. It was lovely. AND loverly. :)

And the party? Spectacular! Awesome food. Good good music. Lots of wine and beer. Yum.

But my favorite part (because sometimes I'm a very tacky person) was the table that I sat at. There were eight people there. Seven engineers and a second grade teacher. I bet you can guess who the second grade teacher was. (there’s nothing wrong with being a teacher, by the by. In general, I admire them quite a lot.) So I asked a lot of them about Virginia Tech (which is on my list of possible schools) and talked engineering stuff for quite a while, much to the disappointment of one of our table members. In response, however, she made a point of mentioning how there was no such thing as a guy who wasn't hard up. Even guys with girlfriends are hard up. Which, of course, I found annoying.

The first dance was so sweet (to Iron & Wine's version of Such Great Heights) and the toasts were moving. We are sooooo giving them this pic I took for Christmas. Do you think they'll like it?

No one really boogied, which was kind of sad, but the little kids did put on a dance show for us. And everyone loved the shoes I borrowed from Mary Alise. Oodles of nice things said. Carrie happy.

At 1030ish, once the bar had closed, and I said goodbye to Lynn (the very nice bartender that I made a point of making friends with), we headed off to our hotel to change again. Others met us there, and we carpooled--and guess who rode in my car AND dissed my Regina Spektor? You guessed it.

It took FOREVER to get to the bar, since it was already 20 minutes away, plus the guy leading us missed his exit, leading on a twenty five minute detour, as the next exit was 15 miles away. The bar was fun, though. Erik and I took silly pictures. Until we got kicked out at 2.

And then? Then?!? After a run by Mickey D's to feed the drunk people Otto and I took J and Erik to their hotel. And then ENTIRE way there, J talked about *ahem* very specific bedroom activities and the techniques for such. And inquired about my choices in said activities. "Do you do that?" She said? "Do you this or this? 'Cause if you this then I just think that's awful." And on, and on, and on. In graphic, specific detail. And her personal choices were always the less, um, let's go with common. I avoided her questions as much as possible, thankyouverymuch. But I learned a lot about her that I didn't ever, ever want to know. And you don't either, trust me.

I was SO. RELIVED. when she got out of the car. And in the morning she had to go back to Raleigh to catch her flight to Cali, so there just wasn't time for her to join us for breakfast. Shucks. And Golly Gee. The rest of the weekend was pretty un-eventful. Another trip to Joe's Diner and a rainstorm on the way home. Then a nap, some gilmore girls, and a dinner story I'll tell you later.

wedding fun: saturday pre-wedding.

so, it's the morning after, and I wake up to erik snoring. a LOT. :)

we ate at Joe's Diner, which I found out about from the front desk guy at LaQuinta. Though he couldn't be much more than 3-4 years younger than I am, he called me "ma'am" about seventeen times in the three sentences we exchanged. grr.


anyhoo, so here we are at Joe's. Don't you just LOVE Erik's beard? Me too. Good quote from

the weekend--"the beard will be happy once I smother it in sausage gravy." Erik ordered a separate meal for his beard. Good stuff.

then, I found out something amusing. mentos+diet coke= exploding soda. see?

wedding fun: friday

So, we'll begin at the beginning, and when we get to the end, we'll stop.

Otto and I left work early to drive to VA, via the beautiful blue ridge parkway. SO PRETTY! Otto and I need to go back so I can get out and take pictures when we aren't on a schedule.

We stopped once to pick up a snack--funyuns and a soda--and drove on our merry way. Then, Otto, Erik and I met at Otto's and my hotel. We each had a forty, and changed into more party-appropriate clothes. Forty-five minutes later than we expected we arrived at the party, and I began aerating the lawn.

With.
My.
Pink.
Heels.

boo.

The party was calm/lame. At least, until the crazy college friends (aka the three of us--I'm a pseudo college friend) arrived and brought beer. Yeesh. They had some beer there, but most were having soda with their bbq. The three of us moved to the deck, near the cooler, and began getting to know other people.

Following Paige's advice, I drank slowly after that. J was there, and she was unpleasant at best. Never blatantly rude, but some little mean pokes. I played nice anyhow.

So, around 1100, after many you-had-to-be-there moments, including being asked to leave by the groom's brother, talking to someone about photography for an hour and making fun of the guy with his eyeglasses that used to be oakley sunglasses, we realized it was time to go. And that we were all drunk. But I'd had two and a half beers during our three hours there. Weird.

Know what's missing in this story? DINNER. Gosh, we're idiots.

(PS, thats topleft-me, top right-the guys, bottom left-me playing nice w/ O's exgf and the guy Jon who was hitting on her HARD and bottom right--joe and me (the wedding photog))

We decided we wanted to go into Blacksburg and go to a bar, and that we'd pull into some fast food joint on the way. But we saw a Sonic, pulled a u-ee, and enjoyed the yummy goodness there. The people even gave me free onion rings (I forgot to ask for them instead of fries with my #1) and when Otto spilled my drink all over the hood of my car, they brought me a new one of those too, no charge. We were, however, those loud drunk people, and we had the lights turned out on us. And, when I walked inside to give our server a $5 tip (which is very good for a $17 meal) he looked at me like I'd handed him monopoly money. Weird.

After the Sonic people turned off the lights on us we returned to the hotel, rehydrated with some gatorate and passed out. Poor Erik had to sleep on the floor. (long story that ends with--we couldn't get a different room since we'd booked through hotels.com). but we were home safe, sound, fed and attempting to pre-appease hangover gods. and it sort of worked! more later.

nervous.

but just a little bit.

 

today I'm headed to a place near Blacksburg, VA to go to the wedding of one of Otto's college friends.  I've met her, and she's a cool gal. tonight we go to her house for a post-rehearsal-dinner party, and then tomorrow is the wedding.

 

So, stay with me here, it gets a bit mucky. But just a skosh.

 

In college, Otto was friends with a group of  people, including Kate (the bride) and Erik (who's hella fun and comes to visit periodically).  Kate is friends with J (Otto's ex gf) and Mel (Erik's ex gf)--and J and Mel are best friends (or were, not 100% positive).  Erik and Otto are still good friends with Kate. And Erik and J still talk, I guess. 

 

So, since Erik doesn't have a date and J doesn't have a date, they're being each others pretend dates, and they're sharing a hotel room--with two beds, for the record. 

 

And Otto and Erik can't be within a hundred mile radius of each other and not hang out.  It's in the bylaws or something.  Sooooo, since Erik can't really abandon J to hang out with Otto and me, she'll be coming along.  Which has an awkward potential of: HIGH.

 

Now, all of this could be Carrie getting paranoid.  It's certainly possible.  But just how many of you have been in a similar sitch of sorts--you still have to see your ex in class, or at work or church or in public or whatever.  Generally it can be a bit tense, but it works out.  (PS, this makes me want to go on a tangent and tell you about when my prof put my in a group with my at-the-time-enemy and sorority sister and my recent ex, with whom I'd had a very ugly break-up.  I totally got that changed, let me tell you.  Anyhoo.)  MOST of the time, even if you have to be in the same room as your ex, you get to avoid him/her.  But this chick is going to be with us--eating food, sitting at the table, having convos, going out in the evening.  And she, um--how shall I say this--has a reputation.  Concerning her behavior.  And it ain't good.

 

So, for the record, I'm not AT ALL worried about Otto or him having feelings for her.  That was soooo two years ago.  But I AM worried about how this girl will behave towards me.  I don't think she's had a serious relationship since him.  Hmm. I'm going to be nice until she's mean, and then I'll just be less nice, never mean.  That's the plan.

 

Good news is you'll be seeing some terribly cute pictures of me next week, 'cause let me tell you, I'm going to look hot.  Constantly.  Mary Alise loaned me these adorable silver shoes, and my red dress is smashing, and I have excellent outfits for tonight, Saturday day, Saturday post-wedding and Sunday day.  All will go well, I hope.

 

*crosses fingers*

 

And Paige gave me a good piece of advice--from experience.  Be very very careful about how much you drink. Because for some reason, if an ex is involved, the amount of drunkeness escalates quickly and can make you say things you prolly don't want to...

attention all tulsans, former tulsans, people who know (former) tulsans, people who were never tulsans and don't ever expect to be tulsans, et al.

have you heard about this? holy sh*t!

perhaps it's old news to some of you, but I hadn't heard about it until this evening. not sure what was revealed in advance...

at first I found it frustrating. but then I thought it might be really really good for the city. huh. this is definitely an off-the-wall idea. but a pat on the back goes to the inventive people who thought of it--whether or not you agree!

there are pros and cons ecologically--what about the river life? but then that solar power stuff is a huge plus in my book. and how progressive! hmm.

wow.

seriously, watch the video. it's like two minutes long and yeesh! um, the music is a bit much though, so I wouldn't blame you if you muted your computer for the duration of said video.

opinion needed.

so, I'm wanting to enter a photography contest at work. I could (potentially) win between $30 and $75, if they like mine. I'm doing it more for fun than for the money, and I'll be pleased if just one of them gets an "honorable mention."

However, I can only enter SIX. Which is a hard pick. So here's my options. Can you tell me which ones you think are best? Of course, I can enter fewer than six, too. Jackie, I KNOW you have an opinion... :)

SIGH. this is one of those days that CRAWLS.