how did i get here?

A nice day, despite the fact the Pats won.

2008-01-20T22:18:00.000-05:00

What can I say, I'm a bitter Cleveland sports fan/crybaby. I don't like Bill Belichick and want him to lose! lose! lose!

The evening got better as I watched The Amazing Race with a friend I hadn't seen in a while. Yay TK and Rachel! I liked all the remaining teams and am thrilled that Jennifer and Nathan didn't make it. They seemed (or were edited to seem) like really unpleasant people. Granted, if I were on that show, my inner b*tch would be front and center. I also know I wouldn't eat crickets, skydive or gut a 5' long cod. I guess I'm not going around the world on CBS's dime anytime soon.

Off to bed in the hopes that the kids will sleep in as there is no school tomorrow.

FYI: I just spell-checked this post and it didn't like "Belichick" and instead, offered "Belching" as a bettter option. I love spell-check.

Mmmmmm...meatballs with lingonberries.

2008-01-16T14:39:00.000-05:00

You know you're close to the middle of nowhere when you rejoice (and I mean rejoice) when they announce the opening date of Ohio's first IKEA...which will still be a two hour drive away.

It's Only Fair...What I loved about Washington , DC that kept me there from 1992 to 2002

2008-01-15T16:45:00.000-05:00

Metro, except when I hated it (wanna walk up the dead escalator at Dupont Circle, anyone?)

Cactus Cantina and Austin Grill. Mmmmm...salsa and chips.

Garrett's in Georgetown, especially when three of your housemates worked there and got you free drinks all evening.

Walking around my really old neighborhood.

Someone spray painted "Surrender Dorothy" on a Beltway overpass near the Mormon Temple in Kensington, Maryland.

Adams Morgan.

The GW Parkway.

The nicknames for the grocery stores that everyone seemed to know, ie. Social Safeway in Georgetown, Ghetto Giant on Wisconsin, Soviet Safeway on R st.

Free (well, included in our taxes) museums and zoo.

The really amusing way everything would close down due to the threat of snow. Oh no, we might get 3 inches!!!! (I grew up in Cleveland, people.)

Washington DC Area Browns Backers. No "Hail to the Redskins" here!
For work, I would make calls to out-of-towners and they got all excited like the president was calling. "Jimmy, somebody's calling you from Washington!!!!"

And a drumroll, please for what I loved most about living in Washington, DC:

My daughter was born there. What a difference six years can make.

Two Months Later...

2008-01-14T17:11:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I suck at this blogging thing.

I started this for NaPloBlowWhatever and obviously I should have aimed lower. Post every day for a whole month? Who was I kidding? I'm not the most disciplined writer and my spelling and grammar are crap, which has always frustrated the hell out of me. Not a good time to start.

So I stopped blogging. AFTER TWO DAYS.

But, I'm going to give it another go, only because I read others' blogs and think, "I want to do that, too!". I tend to forget that most of the blogs I read are written by people who actually know how to write. And they've been blogging for years, and their sites have evolved over time to become the interesting places I admire.

I need to cut myself a break and decide that its okay for this to suck for a while. Which it will.

By the way, I've posted, edited and reposted this post (?) seven times already. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Why I Love Being Back in Ohio After 10 Years in DC

2007-11-02T16:52:00.000-04:00

It's 35.3% cheaper to live in Columbus, Ohio than Washington DC/Arlington VA/Alexandria VA.
TBDBITL
A mall is a mall is a mall, not The Mall.
Celebrating the Indians 2007 World Series win!! ...or maybe not.
When out-of-towners come to visit, I am very confident they are here to see me, not to use me for a cheap place to stay while they see the sights.
Amish Country
No more Pennsylvania Turnpike. Breezewood, go to @#$%#!!!!
Art Modell is much, much farther away from me.
We can afford a house with a GARAGE
My husband's commute is only 15 minutes long.
Ohioans can drive in the snow.

2007-11-01T23:01:00.000-04:00

I'm ready and willing to post everyday over at NaBloPoMo. . This should be fun since I've never really blogged before, and my writing is crap. So, let the fun begin!

What might I write about this month:

I'm a big Cleveland Sports Fan (Yes, I know. The Tribe collapsed this year, what's new?)
My kids. I know...snoooooooooooore...but my son has some developmental delays (speech, gross motor) which makes for some interesting days and my daughter is the biggest diva I know.
I've lost about 45lbs since January. That's on top of the 30lbs I lost a few years back. So, I'm getting used to a new body and lifestyle that better keep me from gaining them back!
Shopping. What can I say, I'm shallow.

I'm using NaBloPoMo as a way to test whether or not I like this blogging thing. Wish me luck!

2007-10-24T23:17:00.000-04:00

Poor guy. He's in for a life of pain.

It's Tribe Time...next year

2007-10-22T22:28:00.000-04:00

Why do I care? I knew they would lose. It was inevitable. Fate. But being a Cleveland sports fan, I watched, hoping against hope.

I first discovered Cleveland sports in 1980. I was twelve and went to my first Indians game at Municipal stadium. I think we were playing the Rangers. Andre Thornton, Rick Manning, Grover, Duane Kuiper, Buddy Bell...we didn't ask much of them. Just play some baseball and win on occasion. We didn't get excited, didn't expect anything. just a fun, cheap way to spend an afternoon.

Then my 7th grade English teacher put a poster of Brian Sipe on her wall. It was puppy love at first sight. I went to two Kardiac Kid games that year and was devastated when they lost the wild card game against Oakland. Following years brought us The Drive...The Fumble...the betrayal by Art Modell. At least Browns fans wouldn't quit, and we got our team back.

Masochists.

In the 90's the Indians tempted us with winning. Got us all thinking that maybe our run of bad luck was over. I got married the morning of Game 6 of the 1995 Series. We had a party that evening...and they lost the Series to the Braves.

I expected this to be a good year for the Tribe. I didn't expect them to get all the way to the ALCS. So, on one hand, this was a great year. But to get thisclose and then collapse, it hurts.

As it always does.

My First Time

2007-10-21T19:21:00.000-04:00

I love lists, so that's how I'm starting things!

My Top 10 Top 10 List Ideas:
1. My 10 Favorite TV Shows of All Time
2. My 10 Favorite Music Acts
3. 10 Best Places Visit in England
4. 10 Favorite Blogs
5. 10 Favorite Websites
6. 10 Places I'd Rather Be
7. 10 Things I Do With My Kids on a Rainy Day
8. 10 of the Best Things About Ohio
9. 10 of the Worst Things About Ohio
10. 10 Biggest Influences