No Foolin!

Everything that was important to me in my youth is making a comeback. Case in point: you'll want to set the Tivo for the Today Show on Friday where NKOTB will be doing some sort of comeback performance. If you want to feel really old, I learned in People's article about the reunion, that it's been 20 years since NKOTB debuted its "Hanging Tough" album. 20 years. Seriously. 20 years. I'm old.

Smelly Cat

I told you that Lila wants a cat. Well, turns out, there's a cat in our neighborhood that wants to live with her so badly, it moved into our house without permission. The freeloading feline got in through a side vent on our house (even though it was closed--the smelly cat managed to knock it in and get inside). So, the cat WAS living under our house (even peeing, we smelled it). When it was outside, frolicking like it owns the neighborhood, which it's known to do, Chad blocked the vent with a cinderblock, and now it cannot get in. LMCP really likes that smelly cat, but she must stay away from it. The cat doesn't belong to anyone--it's been here longer than we have been here. It hangs at our neighbor's house a lot--they say it's been around forever with no home. Someone must be feeding the damn thing. Anyway--I hope this is the end of the cat with no home freeloading in my home, cozying up to my heater vents, and pissing in the crawlspace. The end.

2 Weeks Later

My friend Amie asked if I was still sleeping from 2 weeks ago, because I haven't posted here on my blog. My other friend, Mrs. Mac, keeps asking for updates even though I see her everyday and this will all be old news to her. Either way, I'll tell you what I've been up to: TOO MUCH! We've had a crazy couple of weeks. First, Grandma and Grandpa Hopson came to visit from Chicago. Lila was a really good girl with them--getting right back in the game after seeing them about 3 months ago over Christmas. My favorite part of their visit: Lila desperately needed to take a nap and was fussing. While I was in the shower, Grandpa scooped her up to cuddle in the chair--and got her to go to sleep by reading to her. No, not an Elmo book, but a book he was reading for teacher college: Night by Elie Weisel. Do you know that book is about the holocaust? I guess it's never too early to get yourself edu-macated. Here's photographic evidence Grandpa's feat:

After a few days with Grandma & Grandpa, I went back to work-- then we packed up and went to my sister-in-law's house for Easter. My momnesia kicked in and I forgot to charge the batteries in the camera--so we only snapped one good Easter photo of Lila (my sister-in-law is supposed to email the other with the egg hunt and all--but it could be a few months before I see them. She-admittedly-is terrible at stuff like that. So, look for Easter photos on the blog around the 4th of July). Lila loved the egg hunt--she got 6 eggs before she lost interest. She's at a fun age-- where she likes to put stuff in baskets (or tupperware, or drawers, or the bathtub, or the toilet, or whatever). Then, she had her first taste of a Reese's Peanut Butter cup. Now, I wasn't going to give her Peanut Butter until age 2, but Chad's mom beat me to the punch -- and Lila loved Nana for it. The good news--no allergic reactions to the Peanut Butter, so I guess it's "bring on the Jif" for lunch. Here's the one picture we snapped--Chad insisted I get in the photo--and I would've rather died. All apologies for my appearance!



So, before we left, our nanny played dress-up with Lila for Easter, and I just have to share these pictures:



Some other things of note--I have TWO NEW VIDEOS posted on youtube. I'm going to try to embed them here... but you can always just subscribe to my youtube page and it will notify you when I post new stuff (I think!). Here should be the videos:

Lila Making Cupcakes:



Lila Blowing Kisses (needs some patience--it comes at the end):


Okay, I'm just about done with my beer after a hellish day at work. Lila will be up in hours, so I need to sleep.
This weekend, Chad's taking me out for a delicious sushi dinner, then we're going to the Blazers game in the company suite! Woo hoo! Just gotta get through Friday!

Don't worry. I missed you, too.

Way Past My Bedtime

I just finished watching LOST and I was so inspired, I had to post. Don't read anymore if you haven't seen the 3/13/08 episode yet. So, I didn't know it, but according to the first blogs posted on tonight's episode, Sun's baby's birth was a "flash-forward" and Jin's Panda Hysterics was a "flash-back." I'm sort of pissed about it, but have to give the people props. Seriously. The show is mesmerizing. It was super-confusing, yet heartwarming and inspiring. I loved the Bernard-Jin fishing scene. It felt a little contrived, but it was still sweet. As a lot of the other blogs say, Hurley's "Good" response to "is anyone else coming," was a little creepy. My theory: Jin is not really dead, maybe their trip to the gravesite was for the paparazzi? People obviously know Sun is one of the "Oceanic 6" so I imagine they're on her like they were on Kate a few weeks ago. The blogs say the date on Jin's headstone is 9/22/04 (the date of the crash). Something is fishy. Only time will tell. Not surprised by Michael on the ship, we all knew that was coming. Not surprised about the Evil Charles Widmore's scheme to stage the wreckage of the plane (if that's what really happened). I think maybe Charles and Ben are buds, and something went awry and now Chuck wants to collect $3.2 million from Ben. Who knows. There are so many thing to think about that I will likely theorize till I'm off to dreamland. Basically, I think the writers will drag all of this out until the show ends in 2010 or 11 or whenever the hell it is, and the series finale will actually be them getting off the island and us learning how the "Oceanic 6" came to be. Brilliant. TV is the best thing to happen to our civilization. What I want to see more of: Penny hearts Desmond, Sawyer being hot, the Clare/Kate/Aaron situation. Don't care too much about Jack. I'm assuming Locke stays on the island with Jacob. (I think I read something about how Jack & Clare's dad was in the cabin with Jacob so that's just F'd up). Also, I want to know about Richard and the Black Rock and how Chuck Widmore fits in to all that. Richard has been alive forever. So, who are the Oceanic 6? Kate, Jack, Hurley, Sayid, Sun and Aaron? Does Aaron count? He must. Poor Sun -- I love her and Jin. Okay, must stop typing. I could go on for days about this show.

Breaking 90210 News!!

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Have you seen this?

Crazy, crazy happenings in the world of TV News. And one dude lost his job over this. My boss sent this to our staff to show people what NOT to do. Crazy video.

Reading is FUNdemental

So, have you seen that video of the toddler who can read? Well, Little Miss Chicken Pants (LMCP) has her own version. (sort of)

Yes, I know it sounds like she's saying "Mmmmm," like she does about anything that goes in her mouth, but I'm convinced (I'm her mama, what can I say) that she knows the cow says "Mooo," and she just can't get the "oooo" part out. Whatever. She's cute, and I like sharing stories about her.

(Somebody wants a kitty. That kitty is smelly and gross and may secretly live under our house -- if it's not the cat it's some other creature. I like to believe it's the cat)

We're getting ready for a visit from Grandma & Grandpa Hopson. That means cleaning, which will be minimal because I have a lot going on at work. I guess I didn't realize it, but I'm a little stressed out (hence the urge to eat chocolate when I get home from work -- I highly recommend the Cadbury Easter Eggs that are Orange Chocolate, mmmmm). I'm training someone new, and we just launched a new big project that has me scrambling the second I walk in the door everyday -- so I'm learning to adjust. Growth is good.

My ear is actually hearing a little bit better. Maybe I won't need that ear tube afterall. Although, the hearing is still not where it should be, so I think I should probably still get it.

Here are some new pics of LMCP. She's getting so big! Her hair is a work in progress. Trying to train her to let us put pretties in it! As you can see she doesn't like it. Mainly, she doesn't like sitting in that high chair without food in front of her, damnit!

31 Random Things

I haven't blogged in a week, so in honor of turning 31 today, I'm going to blog about 31 random things that I've been thinking about blogging about. (Sounds kind of boring to me, too, but what the hell).

I took a seminar on Thursday, and the "teacher" looked just like the mom from Dawson's Creek.

I am getting an ear tube afterall, but I'm trying some steroids to see if it reduces the inflammation. Possible side effects: Roid Rage, trouble sleeping, and double vision. I have them all.

I don't know what Lila is going to do when the balloons left over from her birthday (one month ago) deflate. She will be devastated.

I learned that Gabrielle Carteris from 90210 was partially paralyzed during a "stunt" during a movie.
The bigger question here -- Gabrielle Carteris has a movie career?

I'm going to the Blazers-Bobcats game at the end of the month. That's super exciting.

I think that Lila asked me in the car today: "What is that?"
Or she could've just been mumbling. (oh, and I'm near deaf in one ear)

Alright, 6 out of 31 ain't bad. Okay, it's terrible. But, I'm tired and ready for bed, and it's my blog and I can do whatever I want. I need to surf for a plane ticket to my friend's wedding. So, that's what I'll do for now. Maybe some more of the 31 will come to me when I hit "publish post."

Just One More

One more quick photo of my adorable girl before I leave the computer for the weekend!

Lila Loves the Outdoors

Lila is getting bigger everyday... walking, trying new words, and she loves playing outside. She's repeating words like "book," "teeth," and my favorite: "poo poo." She is also getting really close to "balloon." (and that's a really hard word for a kid!) Can't wait to see what the weekend brings!