All Quiet on the Western Front

Call it the calm before the storm. Call it whatever the heck you want. Life is about to become an epic mess of fun things, work things, moving things, school things, life things.

That was my lead in sentence on yesterday's post about how Monday was going to be the calm before the storm that is about to become my life. Last week I was able to deny how busy and tired I was from the combination of sickness and back injury and just the sheer desire to think about it "tomorrow."

Yesterday I promised myself I would get my head out of my ass and recognize that life is changing. I am moving. It's happening at a very rapid rate. I work a busy job where I'm about to go out of town for a week with little internet and cell phone access. Sipsey is having surgery, possibly right at this moment. There's nothing I can do for her now. 

But this all seems trivial, because, Boston. At the same time, it doesn't seem trivial. Life is moving forward today. In my own way, from what seems like a different planet, I will try to be better, for Boston. Being better is all we can ask ourselves to do. The world, collectively, has a better heart than this.

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I'm choosing to express mine by giving blood. It's something I have always done, when able, since I was 16. It's something so easy that can make such a difference. Maybe you'll think about it as well. Or say an extra prayer, or do whatever you can to be better. Let's all just be better; not "tomorrow" but today.

Fail Friday

One of my favorite sayings is "You're doing it wrong." Because, frankly people, a lot of times, you're doing it wrong. And no, I don't consider myself an exception to this rule. This week has been an excellent example of me, doing it wrong, WAY WRONG.

As I mentioned Monday, and if you follow me on twitter or IG you'll know, I hurt my back this past week. I have spent most of my days high as a bloody kite on muscle relaxers sitting in a straight-backed chair trying to write about oxygen sensors and lawn and garden equipment.  (I live a glam life.)

This morning I realized as I was finishing my monthly column: using the latest technology to transfer sounds onto paper in regards to carburetors...yeah, you’re not alone; I have no idea what the hell I am talking about either...half of it is made of up of tax return information.

Thankfully I caught it before it actually went into the production department, but let's just say my $250 donation to Holy Spirit Catholic Church in fiscal year 2012 and a $1,300 Snap-On Vantage system used to do the whole sound on paper thing, don't exact go hand in hand.

I also did my taxes two days ago. Pray for me that I don't get audited. I doubt, "I'm sorry I was infirmed and on some medications when I did this, oopsie," will be an acceptable way out. 

Monday Medley

This weekend was a big one for little ole me. Friday night. I spent some time with some of my favorite people in the world, doing some ridiculous things. (Like wearing a pink lipstick and a purple shirt.)(I also need to be more cognizant of the giant bar cups that always find themselves in my pictures.)

 I found a perfect place to live. Cross your fingers my references check out!

I threw my back out again. So I am back to walking at a 75 degree angle. It's not a cute as it sounds.

I added a movie to my Top 5 Favorites list: Midnight in Paris. If you haven't seen it, rent it immediately. Use Redbox code BREAKROOM and you'll get it fo free. Aiii, what a bright Monday.

 Finally, I bought this Saturday and I literally cannot get over how much I love it. Can't wait to wear it later this week with white denim as it FINALLY feels like Spring down here. (pssst, no code needed, you get an extra 40% off the marked price!)  

Celebrate the best thing about Mondays: go getcha a Moe's burrito for $5 with Moe's Monday. 

Lovin' Bloglovin'

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Please?

As I am redesigning the blog and trying to make myself accountable to posting and keeping up with my increasingly impossibly busy life, (if only to show my children that one day Momma was a hot mess in a small dress size!) as well as make some blogland friends I encourage you to follow me on Bloglovin'. Mainly because I have a big fat 0 on it and it KINDA makes me sad.

Thanks in advance.

Wednesday Wisdom

This past weekend almost the entire Johnson crew, or really I guess the entire Williams crew plus Watsons and Johnsons!, gathered in Tuscaloosa for some family Easter fun and to celebrate the Baptism of sweet Saylor Grace. With three kids and lots of adults, more than half with Johnson blood running through their veins, it was definitely a fun, loud, hilarious weekend.

Saturday night, Kristen and I, over a pair of Sam Adams' summer ales, playing at a pink train table with her wonderful son, got to talkin'. Talkin' about life, love, the Internet, family, grammar. Basically Kristen was throwing down some wonderful big sister advice and I was soaking it up like a sponge.

Then she dropped this line. It is something that will never leave me in the time of 140 character snippets, one-picture stories and five paragraph blogs.

She is totally right. 

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

My all time favorite movie is a '90's classic: "The American President."  Set in modern day DC, mainly The White House, the President of the United States meets and falls in love with a lobbyist. It really is the best movie in the world. There's politics! There's sex! There's a whack job stinky poop face! You should watch it as soon as possible. (& make sure to let me know, because I can quote pretty much the entire thing and it's usually amusing to see.) In one of the scenes from the movie, "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," a classic movie by Frank Capra, is referenced. IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT GOOGLE IT BECAUSE YOU'RE EMBARRASING ME. Hence the title of this trip recap! #endramble

Over this past weekend DCK and I flew out to Washington DC! We hung out with friends, took in the sights and rode the metro. We also ate. And then ate some more. And then decided we were really proud Americans.  

Washington this go 'round was such a different experience than it was when I last went. As an adult I appreciate more of the history. I, also, standing in the middle of the Library of Congress, realized I am a huge nerd. Like epic nerd. Like I was disappointed I didn't get to hear all the guest lectures they have scheduled this month, nerd. Mooooving on.

We took in the sights...

 Marveled at buildings filled with beauty...

 

Paid our respects to those before us...

  Froze our asses off...

Showed Dixieland pride...

Fangirled so hard (not because of Obama, but the aforementioned favorite movie!)

Walked all around Georgetown U in search of a souvenir for my Dad's personal sports bar...

Witnessed what true dedication and belief in a cause looked like... 

 These protestors slept in front of the SCOTUS in the snow and rain days before arguments were heard. Before the general masses got involved in the cause. These people showed up; heads held high as they listened to a crazy man protest Roe v. Wade in front of the hoards of varying middle school tour groups. These people amazed me. Love is the most important thing that God has given us—in any and all forms. These people reminded me.

We ate at some of the most amazing restaurants I literally can't bring myself to eat a meal in Montgomery. I was also too busy shoving the food in my face to take pictures, so just trust me. The. Food. Was. Sensational. Ooof. It was a wonderful weekend and despite the 3:30am wakeup call and 6:00am flight back yesterday, I wouldn't have changed a moment of it.

Oh, and we had been batting around a certain possible location for our next BIG trip and then saw this on one of our many metro rides. It was clearly a sign...

So, basically, here we come Reykjavik. Can't wait to meet you (and the Northern Lights) in January of 2014.

A True Love Affair

I've never had something I swear by. I mean I loved my Rainbows in high school and college.  I've always thought Apple products are better than their Windows counterparts; I think that in some instances generic brand foods are just as good as name brands. But I've never sworn by anything.

I am a flip flopper. I like trying everything and sticking with what doesn't look terrible at the end of the day. That was until I met my Minnetonka Moccasins.

It started out as a DSW gift card/coupon combination impulse purchase. Now I know it is real love. I now have something I swear by.

Oh yeah, and they are the most comfortable shoes ever that compliment a variety of my offbeat outfits. Winner winner chicken dinner.