shake it out...

How would you like to have this little present left on your floor by a stranger?


Back in March my sister-in-law had a carpenter come over to give an estimate on work. As they were talking she noticed something hanging out of his pant leg. These are her words from the true and hilarious story.

Upon closer inspection, I discovered that it was a pair of UNDERWEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!! He must have take off his pants the night before, and left his undies in them, then forgot about it, and they fell to the bottom of his leg - OR, while doing laundry they got mixed up - I think it was the former. Anyway, as he was walking along, they kept falling more and more out of his pants, I was scared they'd fall out when we were both standing there and he would be REALLY embarrassed that his panties (editors note: I hate the word she used here to describe his tighty whities) were sitting on the ground! I always walked in front of him in case they fell out and he noticed then he could pick them up without me 'seeing'. So they kept getting more and more out, then he sat at out table to write out the info, and when he got up, they fell out on my floor! Lucky for him, he didn't notice, and went on his merry way and was none the wiser. BUT, I had a gift on my dining room floor!

Lucky for him? She was the one that I had to dispose of them. So people, shake out your pants if you decide to wear them the next day. Needless to say he didn't get the job... although it may have had nothing to do with him leaving a pretty white present behind.


If the carpenter that owns these happens to be reading this post, you can find them at the house where these cute munchkins live.

venice...

I went to Venice.

Not this one:

But this one:


I had the privilege of going with Her Royal Highness. She had the privilege of experiencing a Venice beach washroom. If you follow her link, you'll see one of the fine places one can use to drain their bladder. Having experienced this once before I was more mentally prepared than her. However, I was unprepared to have a man tell me I was "stunning" as I washed my hands. I must have looked rather shocked, as he quickly followed it up with "I mean that in the most G-rated sort of way." It was flattering but "stunning"? Not an adjective I'm used to hearing about my looks. Cute, pretty... sure. But stunning? Hmm, that's stretch.

Of course, when you're surrounded by mountains it is important to always get your feet wet when you see the ocean (even if it is freezing cold).


Always a sucker for beautiful men, especially ones playing b-ball or skate tricks, HRH caught me in the act.


She allowed me to pollute her ears with sinful hip-hop music and I allowed her to pollute my body with In-N-Out burgers and fries. Overall we were a pretty good balance for a work/fun trip to LA. Cause this is why, this why, this is why we're hot.

i'm a slacker

I want to blog, I really do. But when I get home, it's the last thing on my mind. This past month has been a whirlwind of work visa, taxes, and craziness at work. I've likely lost all my readers and maybe one day I will redeem myself.

Today I started race season preparation. I am now a proud owner of my very own wetsuit and aerobars for my bike. My first race is this Saturday but involves neither of those items. It's the SLC half marathon. All it requires is my legs (and my head game). Let the racing begin.

when life happens

Ever have a week where you get punched, either figuratively or literally?

Sunday night I slept peacefully not fully anticipating the storm about to hit Monday. Boy did it ever hit. I've slept fitfully ever since. Today I pondered if this was the most stressful week of my life. And even if it is, I know I will have harder ones to come. The beauty of this week is knowing I am strong enough to weather the storms of my life. I know I will get through them. I also know that life is pretty darn good despite all the weight I am currently carrying.

That is the most peaceful thing I know at this point in my life. Storms can come but I've got enough of my emergency kit in place to survive.

confessions of a 30-something music snob

SONG HAS BEEN UPDATED... let's hope it works now.

There was a time in my life when I spent inordinate amounts of time perusing music sites in search of the coolest, newest, independent music. Then my life became an explosion of busyness as I started building my career and music searching went by the wayside. My work commute consisted of listening to NPR and I soon became an aficionado of world financial issues and American politics. I still listened to my indie music, went to a multiple of excellent shows, such as Of Montreal, Arcade Fire, Dandy Warhols, Regina Spektor, Mason Jennings, Rhett Miller and on and on.

I've worked with kids for 2 1/2 years that LOVE the hip-hop and R&B genre. The school vans seem permanently stuck on these radio channels. Most of the kids we work with are from California, so when I was out there last month I felt a wave of nostalgia for my former and current clients. In honour of them all, I listened to hip-hop all weekend. However, it had me so hooked that my station now fluctuates between NPR and hip-hop. While some songs enrage my feminist sensibilities, other ones get me smiling more than usual and dancing in my car. Give me a good beat and silly lyrics and I might just be your next shorty.

There, it's off my chest. I like "Kiss, Kiss", "The Anthem", "Stronger", "Superstar" and the list goes on. I'm no longer a closeted hip-hop listener. Coming out feels better than I could have imagined. I no longer have to hide my true self... an indie loving, NPR listening and occasional hip-hop enjoyer.

And as a treat to my loyal readers, please enjoy "Kiss Kiss" by Chris Brown. This song gets my jiggy on more than any.
http://www.mediafire.com/?pde0y18nyy2

feet

Yesterday a salesman told me that my feet are "sisters not twins." He chose to throw this line out when I was feeling frustrated over the left shoe not fitting properly. I thought it was the lamest line I had heard in a long time but I ended up buying the shoes. So, who's lame now?

I'm just hoping the heel grip will actually keep my skinny left heel in to the shoe. They were just too cool to pass up.

Don't you agree? (I bought the black ones).

isn't it ironic?

A local story that's not really funny but sorta is funny. (I can only say funny because no one was hurt in the accident).

Check it out

a week in travelblog adventures

So, I went on a lot of trips since October and haven't posted any of them. I don't normally do. However, I decided to make this week an "Aislinn's vacation scrapbook." It doesn't require quite the mental energy and some of my family might enjoy it. The rest of you can take an extended hiatus from my blog, as it may be awhile before any original written content appears.

I will begin with my most recent expedition which was a solo work/play trip to San Diego. I decided to see what all the fuss was about with Sea World. My two sisters offered very differing opinions. One said "(Husband) and I really enjoyed it. In fact, I got teary eyed a few times." Other sister said "It's okay I guess, well if you you like sea creatures and stuff. It's really cheesy though." In the end I decided to say hi to "Wannabe" Shamu (because there really isn't a 'Shamu' anymore).


On my visit I was reminded of my teary-eyed sister's extreme phobia of piranhas when we were young. She feared swimming in a lake in B.C. and was fit to be tied when her foot slipped in to my granddad's pond. Prior to her fear, I had never heard of those fish. I have no idea how her anxiety developed but it was hilarious. In her mind, Piranhas existed in every body of water. This is a warning to my sis: Look away if you're still haunted by these little guys.


Heading in to the shark encounter I ran in to the woman who won the "Most Overdressed Award." Perhaps she was on her way to a club when she decided that she and her family needed to see some sharks. (It was the shoes that really cracked me up. I just don't think walking around in heels all day is my idea of a good time)


So all in all, Sea World provided a pretty entertaining day. I guess I sorta do like sea animals. I do think it was overpriced but now I can say I have gone. There are still other tourist destinations I have yet to see, such as Disneyland. Unlike most other children, my parents deprived me of this important childhood milestone.

The next day I headed downtown and walked the Pier. There was a homeless man yelling obscenities and such while I was taking pictures of some trees. I started to wonder if it was directed at me but I just pretended to be deaf. Here is my best 'artistic shot' of the trip.


And in case you're thinking I stole someones photos from Wal-mart, here's one of my many self portraits. (I am getting better at taking solo shots. A talent that will come in very handy during my single, travelling life).


And there is San Diego in my little nutshell.

hazards

You know those idiots that trip on treadmills?

Today I was that idiot.

my lame mastercard rip-off

1 water bottle - $1.09
1 new iBook keyboard - $79.95
Putting the lid on your water bottle - Priceless



Lesson WELL learned

delays

I was all prepared with new posts in my head but I fried my keyboard. I spilled less than a teaspoon of water on my mac and POOF, it ain't working no more. Well, the keys were all jumbled and sometimes two letters would type when I just pushed one. I'm waiting on an estimate for the fix but I'm DYING without my internet at night. So, if everyone could pray for my mac or say a few hail mary's, I'd really appreciate it.

uh, awkward

Perhaps "babypoo" is a term of endearment, but when I saw this license plate

all I could think of was crap... crap in a diaper... smelly, crappy baby poop.

Who thought this was a good choice for a vanity plate? Big, big mistake.

At least this made me laugh and laugh and laugh.

too much

Yesterday I saw more than I wanted to. I was finishing one of my laps in the pool when the man in the lane beside me mooned me! Okay, his swim trunks started coming off as he was swimming but I saw full-on BUTT. He did several swim strokes before he pulled up his shorts. I'm sure he felt the water against his bare bum or the trunks hanging down to his thighs so I'm not sure why he didn't pull them up right away. I'm just glad it was his butt facing me. Then in the locker room a woman got ready in just her tanktop and underwear. Is it really too much to put on pants while you do your hair makeup? Too much, much too much.

Unfortunately I ate too much hummus last night. My poor workout buddies got to smell garlic mixed with my sweat this morning in spin class. Garlic is so delicious but so dangerous.

By the way, why do we call swim trunks "trunks?" And, any good stories about "too much?"

doesn't get better than this...

There are few things that make me smile more than this


or this


and this


and my newest thing to make me smile, my "niece" Teagan. I'm calling myself her adopted Auntie since I have no nieces and nephews in Utah. I think a best friend's child counts, don't you?


Happy Sunday

(PS-Denise, you can sorta see the new hairdo in all the photos, except the Boston one. My new glasses are featured in the last photo)

changes

The years change, the seasons change, and inevitably so does life. We're not far in to the new year and a lot is changing in my life. One of my BFF's adopted a beautiful baby girl this month. I'm ecstatic for them but it will invariably change the amount of time we can spend out and about. My own life will soon take a sudden change as I accepted a supervisor position within my company but on the girls campus. No longer will I be surrounded by hormonal teenage boys. I'll get to deal with emotional teenage girls (along with all the other parts to my new job). I'm excited for the advancement but it is bittersweet. Telling the boys today was one of the hardest days of my professional life. I barely know any of the staff over there so it will be like starting fresh. However, a raise never hurts!

Heck, I even changed my hair colour (albeit slightly) this year.

All this change is good. And although I'm nervous, I'm excited for what lies ahead.

only on a monday

As if getting up Monday mornings aren't bad enough, I torture myself by swimming every Monday. I like swimming but I hate chlorine. I also hate getting up early. This morning i drove to the gym only to realize that I forgot my toiletry bag. I'm furious with myself and drive back home as quickly as possible. In my haste, I am not paying attention to the container full of milk (for my after workout breakfast). After taking a corner a little too fast I look down only to see the milk everywhere. This is one of those moments when you CAN cry over spilt milk. The floor mat was sopping wet and the smell of vanilla soy milk penetrated throughout the car. I have yet to make it to the car wash to soap it down but it's not something I'm particularly excited about in below freezing weather.

So to recap, my drive to the gym took 45 minutes instead of 15. I spilled milk all over the passenger side floor (and it still smells). And I can smell chlorine on me with even the slightest movement.

Mondays. I hate them.

go green

Last month I decided to get "greener." My roommates and I signed up for our local recycling program, I purchased canvas shopping bags and now I want to do more. As silly as it sounds, it makes me feel better. I was so stoked to find out that HP attaches a self-addressed envelope to their ink replacements so you can send back your old one for recycling! Thank you HP. So my goal for 2008 is to find even more ways to be earth friendly. I also want to cook more and eat healthier (that's why I want to start cooking). We'll see how well I do on that last one. And maybe, just maybe, I'll run a full marathon.

So, if you have one, what do you resolve to do differently?

*Have I ever told my readers how amazing Jo is? She's the genius behind the very cool New Year's Eve photo.

ho ho ho

As I sat down to write, all I could hear in the house was a faint "Ho Ho Ho" from my niece upstairs. I think she is reading something. She's so sweet.

Today I tried my hand at domestic living and made some spicy chocolate covered pretzels. It wasn't really by choice but more of a demand from my sister. They turned out pretty good if I do say so myself. My mom was delighted to share the kitchen with two of her daughters (both of which are/were domestically challenged). It's hard to believe that Christmas is tomorrow. This whole month has been a blur. Work was crazy busy, kids were leaving and new kids were coming. I spoke at the graduation of two of my clients and it was all I could do from bursting in to tears. I'm excited for them to move on to real life but so scared at the same time. I learn something from each kid I work with, and some goodbyes are harder than others. This one was the toughest yet.

So, it is nice to settle in with the comforts of home and be surrounded by people that I love. My nieces and nephews are growing up so fast and are a delight to be around. There is much laughter, singing and even a little dancing. There isn't any fresh snow to greet us before Christmas but otherwise it feels perfect. Soon Santa will descend on the house while we are all fast asleep and in the morning the excitement and awe of children will fill the house.

Merry Christmas sweet readers. I hope you all feel the warm fuzzies that this season is known to bring. May 2008 fill your life with memories, even if they aren't always the perfect ones. There is so much to learn and receive from life. I wouldn't change a thing (okay, maybe a few things).

Best wishes to you all.

names

My readers all know that I have an unusual name. Granted my parents didn't call me Apple, Camera, Puma, Fifi or Banjo (actual names of celebrity children) but it's still a little different.

I wonder if my name would be different had I been born in Rome. Apparently some parents were forced to change the name of their child, Friday, because it might hinder him from having serene interpersonal relationships. Compared to a lot of names out there, Friday seems fairly benign. Apparently the powers that be in Rome didn't think so. Click here to read the full story. I do think some names have gotten way out of control but I think government interference is even MORE out of control.

thank goodness for spell check

(Or, Why don't people use it?)

So, I am a member of the fast growing "Facebook." At first I was leery but then I began to appreciate all the contact I have with long lost friends. It's also a good way to beat others in scrabble or get beaten. I really enjoy seeing what people are up to these days. Anyway, there is a handy little section that is the "News Feed." Here you get information on the coming and goings of friends and I noticed one of my friends joined a group called:

"If Hillery Clinton becomes President I am moving to Cananda!"

I went to the group believing it was a joke. It had to be if Hillary and Canada were both spelled wrong. Upon further examination it seemed like a legitimate group. Today there was a posting about Glenn Beck being the best guy in televesion [sic]. By the way, I have always wanted to use sic in a sentence. I'm glad I got my chance.

I'm not trying to be rude. I admit to using poor grammar and misusing punctuation (I am sure this post is full of them). I have even had the occasional misspell. However, I do think if you are going to create a group opposing something or trying to make a statement, you might want to spell it correctly. Otherwise how are you going to be taken seriously?