But I will say that on my Feedjit, I noticed someone from Independence, MO had been here. And I just want to say that I hope they were only there for a short while as they obtained supplies for the Oregon Trail. Because why the hell would you be in Independence, MO otherwise?

And because it always should be watched:

Kristen Wiig’s character, Annie (yay) is in her 30s and single, and is Maya Rudolph’s (Lillian’s) maid of honor. It’s a great commentary of how it feels to be friends with someone who is wildly successful when you are wildly not. There gets to be a point in the movie where I was really mad at Lillian, and Annie still calls her to discuss something happening in her life. Lillian doesn’t answer, and Annie leaves a message. In my movie-watcher fervor, I wanted Annie to yell at Lillian and tell her what a shitty person she had become, but then I realized she didn’t do that because no one would do that. Annie was hurt, but she still loved Lillian. It’s so much more complex than just telling someone off.

I loved how it spoke to having so many different friends from different groups, and admitting that they would be walking disasters together. Inside me, beats the heart of a total D&D style nerd. I don’t talk about it much, but I play a very popular MMORPG. BUT, I also wash my hair! I wear makeup! I get pedicures! And see the sunlight! And have IRL friends who wouldn’t understand what I meant when I said “IRL friends.” If I put any of these groups together, they’d be totally lost. They might even hate each other. Because you can totally love someone and totally hate their other friends. It also speaks to having childhood friends and noticing how you both change. Sometimes childhood friends grow into people you can no longer stand. Sometimes time just exposes your differences. And sometimes it’s real and long lasting.

Finally, it’s not a fucking chick flick. It’s not a Kate Hudson/Julia Roberts/Cameron Diaz rom com. It’s fucking funny. My chick flick hating husband loved the shit out of it. The characters were feminine and believable as humans, but were funny. It was really refreshing. Please let Kristen Wiig do this forever and ever!

Also, there are puppies. Tiny yellow lab puppies.

And I’m now obsessed with this Britney Spears song from like 2003 that’s on the soundtrack. It was never a single, so this video is YouTube poop, but bears a listen.

Go see this movie! GO SEE IT!

To celebrate my freedom, Ryan and I decided to go see Thor last night. It was great! I’d characterize Thor as the most handsome bigoted looking gentleman ever. He was very sexy in a scary Aryan way. I’m actually a little concerned that when he was beating up a black security guard, it may have been a hate crime. Anyway, by the end of the movie, you realize he is nice and sexy and not a bigot, as he loves Natalie Portman, who is Jewish. *phew* A sigh of relief. It’s not wrong to think he’s sexy. And he is. We then determined that Thor stole Ryan’s beard! Personally, I think it looks better on Ryan, but Thor is pretty good too.

Last night, I began losing my voice. It is all cracky, and makes me sound like a pubescent male. Today, I think I feel a bit worse. So I’m laying low. So much for my week of crazy freedom!

Hopefully, some things will enrage me enough to blog them while I’m under the weather. We can all hope!

So this past month has largely been full of school work (why I took 9 credits, I’ll never know) and oh, um….my birthday. My twenty-eighth! I’m old as fuck!

No, I know I’m not. But Ryan and I went to Gordon Biersch to get their beer sampler in honor of my birthday, and neither of us was carded. I’d like to blame Ryan’s sweet ass beard, but it stung a bit just the same. Still, I suppose it’s nice to be closer to 30 than 20. 20-year-olds are idiots.

So as to not make this a lame “sorry I’m a bad blogger” post, I’m going to show you the list of most searched terms that leads people to my blog. Some may shock and horrify you.

- religion – This is no shocker. I’m always ranting about religion.

- “that would be telling…” - This one thrills me because it means some of you read this at one point and just had to get back! YOU LOVE ME!!!!!!!! (or you very possibly hate me and have to show your friends why I’m going to hell.)

- funeral potatoes for two – Well, the recipe I have isn’t for two, but embarrassingly the two of us did eat it. All of it.

- chicken fromage – One of my best recipes, and from Mama D! You should love it!

- hate when people make out at your house – Me too, Internets. Me too.

….And my very favorite:

- fingerboot – lolwut? Did I actually blog about fingerboot? A fingerboot? THE FINGERBOOT?

What is this? I don’t even…

So mostly, I can conclude that you are strange people. But I really love you. Please keep searching weird shit and keep coming back, even when I spend too much time getting old and doing grad school.

February 28 began my new lifestyle (which is what I’m calling it instead of diet) and it’s going SO WELL. Ryan is doing it too, and we are really being good with food (I’m back on SparkPeople) and working out 5 days a week. Turns out, I love the gym! I love my routine, and I love the feeling I have when I’m done working out. All those super lame runner types were right–there is SO a high, and it’s really great. Both of our moods are overall better.

Ryan’s actually starting to get a bit ripped. He’s really been dedicated, and has lost weight. I’ve actually lost 11.8 pounds, which I’m really proud of. My jeans are so loose that I actually have to pull them up every time I stand up. I think in a couple more pounds I’ll really want to move to the next size down.

I have a lot to lose, and I’ll probably need over a year to get all the way to where I want to be, but this is probably the best start I’ve ever made. I did very well 2.5  years ago (of course I gained it all back) and lost about 40 lbs, but this time is even better because Ryan’s in on it too. We’re both just really doing something great for ourselves.

We celebrated 4 years of marriage on Thursday and had a wonderful day together. I often joke about how I wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for Ryan, but I seriously don’t know how I would have made it through all the shit we’ve been through in the last few years without him. I love him more every day. Aside from a few lingering communication issues, that usually go something like this, “You mean you didn’t want to see this movie? I didn’t either! I thought you did! I was seeing it for you! You mean we both hate this fucking movie? Let’s just leave and go to Pinkberry!” we’re pretty much golden.

So I think we’re going to be okay! We just need a few things to turn around (like especially job things) and then things will be much easier. But we’re pretty happy and we’re pretty lucky overall.

And soon I’ll be back with funny rants. Swear it.

Sophie's first day at home, September 28, 2008

Today, our darling girl went to heaven. Her condition had been deteriorating for some time, and we thought it was nearing time. We brought her into the vet for a quality of life assessment. The vet noticed that a mass had started to form in her stomach. It was time.

Our beautiful girl in her father's arms

It was far more difficult than I expected. We knew this day would come, but it was still the most difficult thing I’ve ever done. I can’t believe she was only 2 and a half years old. I’m alternatively “okay” and feeling like I have a rock on my chest. I can’t believe she’s really gone.

I miss her so much. I loved her so much. I hope to feel normal again at some point.

The last picture I ever took of Sophie. Her ears are all floppy because of the steroid treatments. This was January 21. She had personality and sweetness until the very end.

1. Okay, the news you’ve all assuredly been waiting for: GERI JEWELL IS A LESBIAN!!!!! Now, many of you will be saying, “Um, who?” And that’s just because you’re young and never watched old shows. Or you’re old and your memory is going. And clearly, you never saw Deadwood. But Geri Jewell is an actress who has cerebral palsy, and was in The Facts of Life and Deadwood. She was actually pretty bad ass in Deadwood. I say, good for her for coming out! She’s in her 50s, and she deserves to be who she is. She’s also very talented, and is a great role model for people with disabilities. You go, Geri! And here you are surprised that The Facts of Life cast member who is gay isn’t Jo! Well, there’s a Family Guy for that!

2. We’ve been snowed in for 3 days. THREE DAYS. I dug my car out yesterday and got to Chipotle (the important things, y’all), but it has been no joke. I haven’t subbed in quite some time, since schools have been closed for ages. This is very weird and tiresome. I’m happy the sun is out now. We never had all this snow when I was growing up. Global Climate Change is real, yo.

3. School has started again! Unfortunately, due to the aforementioned snow, I’ve only been to one class. I haven’t even been able to purchase a book I need in order to do an assignment that’s due Monday. I’ll probably have to trek over early on Monday because the bookstore is always closed when it’s convenient for me. Boo.

4. Ryan and I have been watching SNL on Netflix, and it has been great. Last season (35) was so much better than this season, but it’s all very fun. Our favorite sketch of late has been Father Swim Coach Scoutmaster. Because those are all dudes who can and will molest your kids. My god. So hilarious.

5. What the fuck is this? Why, it’s the Vibram Five Finger BOOT. Just when you think they can’t get any worse looking, these people make a BOOT. Dear god. Can you imagine? I hate feet, so these shoes and boots just offend the shit out of me.

6. Apparently Will Smith is going to do a remake of the movie Annie, which will star his daughter Willow. First of all, Will Smith needs to stop buying up the rights to movies (a la The Karate Kid in China with fucking Kung Fu and NOT karate) just to foist his children upon us. Keep your Scientologist babies to yourself. And second, I wonder if the world will accept a non-redhead Annie. Is there going to be some racism? I don’t think the character of Annie NEEDS to be white and a redhead, but I’m guessing that since white supremacist groups have problems with a black “Norse god” in the upcoming movie Thor, someone will balk at this. (By the way, hey white supremacists? It’s 2011. Please STFU for the rest of time.)

7. And 6 is all you get.

In all seriousness, this is a meaningful and important day. President Obama’s remarks on the occasion:

“Today marks the 38th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that protects women’s health and reproductive freedom, and affirms a fundamental principle: that government should not intrude on private family matters.

I am committed to protecting this constitutional right. I also remain committed to policies, initiatives, and programs that help prevent unintended pregnancies, support pregnant women and mothers, encourage healthy relationships, and promote adoption.

And on this anniversary, I hope that we will recommit ourselves more broadly to ensuring that our daughters have the same rights, the same freedoms, and the same opportunities as our sons to fulfill their dreams.”

I couldn’t agree with him more. The recent horrific news story about the “abortion doctor” Kermit Gosnell, who is now rightfully set to undergo a trial for his heinous crimes, demonstrates the exact reason that we need safe and legal abortions. Shaming women, making them feel that they have no options (as third trimester abortions are often illegal) makes horrible things happen. More than being rhetoric for the right and the anti-abortion movement, Gosnell serves as a cautionary tale of what taking choices away means. Women deserve better than a butcher who wants to make them suffer.

May women always have the right to choose, and be able to make these difficult decisions for themselves. Let us see no governmental limits and interference anymore. Let us see no more Gosneslls.

Tragically, six people were killed by the shooting by 22-year-old Jared Loughner. One of the dead was a 9-year-old girl, whose neighbors brought her to the meeting because she was just elected to her school’s student council, and they thought she’d find it interesting.

I had several reactions to this event, the first of which was that the shooter was probably an anarchist nut. Then I wondered if he was a right wing nut. And while he seems to have had some political opinions (all of them dark and incomprehensible), the major thing we should take was that he is insane. This young man is clearly suffering from some severe mental illness. I’m so saddened by the loss of life and injury. I’m saddened that this man clearly slipped through the cracks of the system and became a dangerous weapon.

I think Jon Stewart really sums up the whole situation best. I’ll let his words express how I feel about it at this point.

(Click the link to see the video, as WordPress does not allow embedded video from many sources.)