What Teachers Make

Something my Mom sent me awhile ago, but I like it and you should like it too (diatribe by teacher Taylor Mali)!

Life List Item #101 Completed: Do Something With My Hair

I've had some crappy luck this week. In the grand scheme of Myanmar, China earthquakes, and people that are choosing between a gallon of gas or a gallon of milk, my problems are all pretty small time, just frustrating.

It started with a minor car accident last week (which was my fault, although I was not ticketed), followed by a flat-busted television set (totally unwatchable, and unlike most Americans it is the only set we own), culminating in a violent allergic reaction to some type of satanic Kentucky plant that left one of my eyes swollen shut and hives up my face and neck. I was just going for a hike!!

The day I had the car accident, I was actually on my way to get my haircut at a nice salon, something I haven't done in probably 5 years. The accident turned this competent, confident, go-getter into a wailing, helpless mess. The other car was barely dented, while my front end was crushed in and vomiting radiator fluid all over the street. Rory was the only person I called, and within minutes he had handled the insurance issues, got a tow truck, called the collision place, and arrived on the scene to pick me up. Once the car had been towed, he turned to me, and in his best soothing nurse's voice said "I know you're pretty upset right now. But why don't we go and get you that haircut anyways? I bet it'll make you feel a lot better."

And you know what? It did. I guess the moral of this story is a great haircut and a great husband can improve any situation. This morning I got up to see the aftermath of my reaction to the wilds of Kentucky. My face looks like I've been in a bar brawl, with a bruised eye and scratches on my face and neck. But damn, if my hair didn't look perfect - and that was after crawling out of bed! Life is good.

Happy Memorial Day

Star Spangled Banner | Funny Jokes at JibJab

Life List Item #109 Completed: Go To A Drive-In

I LOVE roadside attractions. I will make Rory drive 20 miles out of our way if it means we might get to see a good mystery spot or play 18 holes of Biblical mini-golf. If I have my choice of two routes, I'll take the longer of the two if it passes a large fiberglass eyesore of any type (the route I currently take to school takes me right by these two eyesores, "the world's largest bats", TWICE... on the way there and back).

But despite this love affair with kitschy Americana, I've never been to a drive-in. That all changed last night, when Rory and I crossed the river to go to the drive-in theater in Georgetown, Indiana.

We saw "Ironman" which was OK, but the movie could not compete with the festive atmosphere. We had an absolute blast. I enjoyed being able to mock the movie out loud in the privacy of the Jeep, and I liked that I got to bring my own blanket. I'm always cold, so any activity that encourages you to bring your own blanket is alright with me.

We got there early, and there was definitely a fun, family picnic-type vibe. Getting there early also gave us an opportunity to peruse the snack bar at length, and this topic nearly deserves a separate posting of it's own. Rory and I normally eat really healthy (hello, grad-school degree in Nutrition), but sometimes you just see something in your travels that at least in the name of science demands to be tried. So here are our picks of the exceptional: the chili dog, the deep-fried Twinkie, and the deep-fried Snickers bar.

The chili dog in and of itself was not exceptional, until I noticed that you applied the chili yourself out of this big pump that probably hasn't been cleaned in the last ten years. I myself didn't eat this item, so you'll have to email Rory for a final verdict.

Next up, deep-fried Twinkie vs. deep-fried Snickers bar. Both items were coated in a batter and served up on a stick a la fair food, but the Twinkie was the definitive winner in this culinary smack down. The cakelike texture of the Twinkie allowed it to absorb far more delicious trans fats than the weak Snickers bars, which just got all melty and nasty looking. Rory also gave props to the Twinkies "toasted marshmallow kind of flavor", but to me it tasted like a really greasy donut. At any rate, I'm not the sweets eater in this marriage, so I did the curiosity bites and Rory dispatched with the rest.

All in all, it was a great time and we will probably go again. A really good value too at $8 per person for a double feature.

And while I'm on my Americana theme, I'll recommend one of my favorite websites: http://www.roadsideamerica.com/ . Even if shoe trees, giant messiahs, and funny water towers don't blow your skirt up, this is a highly entertaining and well documented site.

And while I was uploading my drive-in pics, I found these old, but funny Homer pictures. He's a good little dog, but also a weird little dog as one of his favorite things is to be held like a baby...

Another Semester Ends... :)

Which means I am on vacation, sort of, until June 11 when summer classes start (then I get to go to chemistry classes for 6 hours a day, 4 days a week).

In the meantime, I intend to catch up on my Netflix, catch up on my book list, go to Michigan (briefly, at the end of the month), clean our Boston terrier-infested house, enjoy cooking stuff with my farmer's market finds, scratch off a couple life list items, and go with Rory to Huber's in Indiana to pick long beans and blackberries (our new 4th of July tradition).

And now, since I'm feeling too lazy to write more, I'll just post something I find amusing: "The Shawshank Redemption In Under A Minute":

Shawshank in a Minute | Funny Jokes at JibJab