August 2010
1 post
4 tags
Thirty Days Summarized
If this is your first time stopping by, Welcome! Enjoy this easy to follow guide to my Thirty Days of Turning Thirty (30dot30) celebration. :-)
Day One: Ziplining
Day Two: Touring Old House, Road Trip to Old Stomping Grounds, & Visit from Old Friend
Day Three: The Pizza Place Pizza
Day Four: Celebrating the Four-Year Anniversary of Bringing Home my Hound Dog
Day Five: Massage
Day Six:...
July 2010
27 posts
6 tags
Day Thirty: Date Night!
Event: Dinner and a Movie with Jim
I can’t believe Day Thirty is here. It seemed fitting to finish out the celebration with Jim as a small token of appreciation for his tolerance of contributions to 30dot30. Thanks Jim!
I hope you’re sitting down as you read this: Tonight’s dinner did not involve Mexican cuisine or pizza! It was, however, very tasty nonetheless. We went to...
6 tags
Day Twenty-Nine: Cooking Dinner with Jim
Event: Cooking with Jim, then Rita’s for Dessert
Making dinner with Jim is not anything new. In fact, it ordinarily happens at least four nights a week. But with all of the celebrations and travels of the last month, we haven’t had many opportunities. So, tonight we went for a quick treat: Nachos & Coronas. We made a beef & bean chili that went wonderfully with the other...
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Day Twenty-Eight: Games Games Games
Event: Playing Buzz and Clue
It is probably not surprising to hear that I am not a gamer. I played my fair share of Mario Bros and Duck Hunt back in the day, but I haven’t gotten into video games since. That is, until we found Buzz Quiz TV. There are no race cars, no guns and no footballs—just a super cheesy game show host, crazy characters and fun trivia questions.
I challenged...
7 tags
Day Twenty-Seven: Sister Time
Event: Lunch with Megan
Despite the fact that my sister lives about two-and-a-half hours away in Charlotte, we rarely see each other in NC. We’re usually in the Burg when we get to hang out. As I mentioned, we text frequently and talk on the phone a bit too. While we are completely different in some ways, it’s sometimes eerie how in sync we are with one another. (For instance,...
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Day Twenty-Six: Empire Records
Event: Watching Empire Records
I have to be honest: I didn’t fall in love with Empire Records the first time I watched it in high school. It wasn’t until college when I “borrowed” my sister’s copy that I got hooked. I didn’t return hers until I bought the DVD for myself.
Even though it was filmed back when Ethan Embry was still Ethan Randall and Renee...
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Day Twenty-Five: Bookstore & Impromptu Get...
Event: Afternoon at Barnes & Noble and Asian Night with Friends
I first fell in love with Barnes & Noble during my internship at Meredith College. I would often go there to study or work on projects. Now that I’m out of school, I have come to appreciate its offerings beyond a quiet space to work: it’s another good opportunity to people-watch.
After doing a bit of work,...
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Day Twenty-Four: Cartoons!
Event: Watching The Little Mermaid & The Flintstones
The Little Mermaid is my favorite Disney movie ever. I saw it at the theater several times, owned the VHS tape, wore out the cassette of the soundtrack, flipped my hair a la Ariel in the pool, and had the poster on my wall & sheets on my bed. Years later when I started babysitting, I tried to work this movie into the viewing rotation...
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Day Twenty-Three: Putt Putt
Event: Playing Putt Putt
Being at the beach was the perfect opportunity to play a little miniature golf. Jim and I used to play pretty regularly. I’m not really a competitive person, but it is fun to beat Jim … when it happens. His cousins agree with me. We loaded up four vehicles with cousins and hit the greens. About a third of those in attendance were on the same mission:...
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Day Twenty-Two: Road Trip to the Beach
Event: Road Trip to Topsail Island to Join Jim’s Family at the Beach
Every year, Jim’s family gathers at Topsail Island for a week of fun in the sun. They’re kind enough to extend an invitation to me, but let’s be honest, with four houses and forty-odd people, I’m not sure they’d notice an uninvited guest.
I drove over this afternoon and took advantage of...
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Day Twenty-One: Trip Down Memory Lane
Event: Perusing Photo Albums and an Impromptu Lunch with an Old Friend
Anyone who has known me for any length of time knows that I like to take pictures. Not photographic art, but snapshots to document and remember events. While I am by no means a scrapbooker, I have photo album after photo album full of pictures from junior high through college. (Now I rely on fantastic iPhoto to organize my...
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Day Twenty: NC State Fairgrounds
Event: Strolling Around the Flea Market at the NC State Fairgrounds
The Raleigh Flea Market is held at the fairgrounds every Saturday and Sunday. Even if you’re not looking for a specific find, wandering the grounds is a fun (free!) way to spend a weekend morning. Let’s face it, the Flea Market makes the Longbranch feel like the minors in the game of people watching.
Of course...
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Day Nineteen: The Longbranch
Event: People-Watching at The Longbranch in Raleigh
When the Longbranch reopened earlier this year, Jim and I were very excited. It’s one of our favorite places to people-watch. With five “clubs” under one roof, there is plenty to observe!
In my book, you can’t go wrong with live music, a good seat, and a crowd of folks. We’ve seen Trace Adkins, Craig Morgan,...
6 tags
Day Eighteen: Comedy Show
Event: Comedy Show at Goodnight’s Comedy Club
I like to laugh. I’m quite an expert in the field, actually. I look for ways to get my giggle on every day. Conveniently, my family is hilarious and I’ve managed to surround myself with some very funny friends and one incredibly humorous hound dog.
Goodnight’s Comedy Club in Raleigh brings in some impressive talent, so we...
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Day Seventeen: School Lunch
Event: School Lunch with Child Nutrition Friends
Surprise! Another celebration involving food!
I’ve always been a fan of school lunch. From my elementary school days to the five years I worked in the biz, you could find me filling my tray with USDA goodness. (I did take a three year hiatus in high school, but with open campus and The Pizza Place across the street, who could blame me?)...
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Day Sixteen: Lunch Adventure with Friend from Work
Event: Lunch with Veda
Veda and I met when I worked in Child Nutrition. We became fast friends because we share similar senses of humor and the same appreciation for all things Bob Harper. (It’s just icing on the cake that she has family in WV.) Veda is one of the sweetest and most hard-working people you’ll ever meet.
When our schedules would allow (ahem), we would take our...
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Day Fifteen: The OC Night Reunion
Event: Getting Together with The OC Night Gang
As a nod to the four fantastic seasons we spent with Seth, Ryan, and Summer (and I suppose the three with Marissa), our OC Gang got together for dinner and a couple episodes tonight. We enjoyed the series, but especially liked the excuse to get together once a week and hang out. We had quite the system worked out—alternating houses and meal...
4 tags
Day Fourteen: Macaroni & Cheese
Event: Experimenting with a New Mac & Cheese Recipe
As you can probably tell by reading a post or two, I like to eat. To be honest, even I am a bit surprised at how many of the 30dot30 festivities have included food. But I think it’s fitting for a celebration of things that make me happy to include yummy food. In addition to pizza and Mexican food, I also really like macaroni &...
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Day Thirteen: Toby Toby Toby
Event: Toby Keith Concert
It’s no secret that I love Toby Keith. It’s not just that we have the same birthday (though that doesn’t hurt). I am impressed with his talent as a singer/songwriter. I think he is funny. I admire his dedication to the Troops. And I like singing along with him. Tonight was the eleventh time I’ve been able to do so live at a concert since...
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Day Twelve: Bulls Game
Event: Durham Bulls Baseball Game
Going to baseball games is always fun. There’s yummy food, frosty beverages, fun on-field entertainment between innings, and lots of people-watching.
Oh, and some people watch the game, too.
The Bulls won tonight and someone hit a home run!
We had good seats (thanks Joe!) along the first baseline (not to be confused with the 2nd baseline).
...
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Day Eleven: MY 30th BIRTHDAY!
Event: No Work, Watching Clueless, Painting Nails, Eating Mexican Food, Listening to Toby, and Catching Up with Family & Friends
I cleared my schedule for a day all to myself. After a quick trip to the bank and Qdoba (with a playlist of my birthday pal, Toby Keith), the festivities began. While giving myself a manicure and pedicure, I watched Clueless. It’s one of my favorite movies...
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Day Ten: Skyping with my BFF
Event: Video Chatting with Becki
Becki and I met in fifth grade. In sixth grade, we were inseparable. We would pass notes in class, have sleepovers, play in the woods, and make some pretty kick-ass music videos with my parents’ ginormous video camera. In junior high, Becki moved to the other side of the county, and thus, to a different school. As this was the time before cell phones,...
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Day Nine: Phone Conversations with Longtime...
Event: Phone Convos with Jay, a friend since 6th grade, and Kevin, a friend since I’ve lived in NC
Buckle up. We’re going back to the early 90’s for this one. In sixth grade, back when he was known as J.D. (though his name is Jerome), Jay and I met. We were in the same class and rode the same bus, so we spent quite a bit of time together. One day, he brought a stuffed rabbit...
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Day Eight: Savannah Smiles
Event: Watching Savannah Smiles
When we were younger, my sister and I were fortunate enough to get to spend a lot of time at our grandparents’ house. There were a lot of things that made those days so memorable: crustless sandwiches while watching The Price is Right, sitting on the porch eating halved peaches with Grandpa before throwing the pits in the yard, and just plain being spoiled,...
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Day Seven: Independence Day Festivities!
Event: Cookout & Fireworks
It wouldn’t be the Fourth of July without some tasty food from the grill. Fortunately for us, Jim’s parents invited us over for dinner.
This was the third try at a group photo, not including the attempt where the camera went tumbling onto the deck floor before the timer went off. Sitting from left to right are Nanako, Jonathan, Sean, Tori and Joe....
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Day Six: Stroll at the Park
Event: An Afternoon Stroll around Bond Park
This afternoon we took advantage of the uncharacteristically mild weather and visited our favorite park, Fred G. Bond Metro Park.
We missed the Independence Day Olde Time celebration earlier in the day, so the park wasn’t too crowded while we were there. We did see a few other dogs and took a moment to snap a group shot. Look how happy MD...
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Day Five: Massage!
Event: One-hour Massage
This morning I visited Massage Envy for the first time and enjoyed an introductory-priced full-body massage.
It was wonderful. I don’t get massages regularly (even less frequently now that my closest girlfriends’ bridal party events are over), but when I do I usually ask the therapist to just focus on my back. After today, I won’t be doing that...
6 tags
Day Four: The Fourth Anniversary of the Hound's...
Events: Two of Marshall Dillon’s Favorite Things - Food & PetSmart
We brought Marshall Dillon home on July 1, 2006 when he was eight weeks old. Here is a picture of him from that day:
Here he is today, July 1, 2010, (wearing his bandana from Kelly) wishing I would put the camera down and give him his anniversary treat:
To celebrate the anniversary of his arrival (what Jim has...
5 tags
Day Three: Pizza Place Pizza
Event: Enjoying Pizza from The Pizza Place
I love pizza. I truly think I could eat pizza four or five times a week and not grow tired of it. And I’m not particular—I can enjoy a national brand, a local joint, or even a good frozen pie.
But, my absolute favorite pizza is from The Pizza Place in my hometown of Parkersburg. You can’t go wrong with any slice there, but my...
June 2010
5 posts
3 tags
Day Two: Visits
Events: Tour of Old House, Quick Trip to Huntington & Catching Up with a Close Friend
My family has lived in two houses since my sister and I were born. We moved from the first one in 1990. It is crazy to think that we’ve been away from that house twice as long as I lived there. I decided to take the current owner up on his twenty-year old offer for us to come back any time.
I had...
2 tags
Day One: Ziplining
Event: Ziplining at Hocking Hills in Rockbridge, Ohio.
That’s me cheesin’ it up in the middle!
Jessica (in the purple) and her husband, Adam, came from Cincinnati to meet us at Hocking Hills. Jess and I met in college and have been close friends ever since. It had been almost two years since we had last seen each other, so it was great to catch up. Jessica’s 30th birthday...
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West Virginia, Wild & Wonderful
Country Roads, take me home To the place, I belong…
We’ve arrived in the Burg for a relaxing weekend with the family and to celebrate Dad’s birthday before the celebrations begin Monday!! I’m finalizing some of the plans for the WV leg of the festivities and am getting more and more excited each day.
Let the official countdown begin!