We Drove. We Danced. We Conquered.

I'm still smiling from our quick jaunt up to Montana. The oh-so-fun couple threw a great reception! It was really great to cut loose with my family (including my karaoke king Dad and my Black Eyed Peas lovin' Mama) and life of the party boyfriend.

Ah, the cake and the happy couple. They are equally silly and are a perfect fit.

Speaking of silly...

...while the photo above captured what seems to be a rather tender moment - McW and I managed to cut all sorts of rugs on the dance floor. Lots of spinning, some of the running man and a pretty good rendition of the 'Carlton.'

And.

There was plenty of karaoke to be enjoyed. Some of my favorite performances from the evening included Mr. Roboto (sung by the bride), Shoop (..ba doop ba doop ba doop..sung by the sister of the bride), Vanilla Ice (sung by the groom) and the wide variety of hits performed by my personal Entertainer of the Year which included Luck Be a Lady and Tears of a Clown. The photo above is from Islands in the Stream. Ah ah.

Thanks for getting hitched, you two. We had a whole bunch of fun!

Heading for the Bitterroot

This weekend, McWHYBAML and I are headed to Montana for my cousin's wedding reception. My family is a boat load of fun. My cousin married a super fun man and so their little shin dig should be a whole lot of fun.

Here's the happy couple.

Hopefully McWHYBAML and I return a happy couple after a weekend of nearly non-stop driving!

Happy Friday, friends (hi Mom!)

Team Bowersox

I like this girl. I like her attitude. I hope she wins. My favorite part (aside from the really good performance) is the interaction with Seacrest at the end. Her personality is blossoming and blossoming. Go KBow!

P.S. A little paint thinner will take Miley's sharpie right off that guitar! Don't you worry your dready-little head about it!

Polar Bear Sunbathing

While looking down at my glowing white legs during church this morning, I felt it was time to take action. I sent a text to the Executioner to see if she was in for a little 'second day of spring' sunbathing - of course she was. Nurse Wonderful was on board as well.

Today is cloudy, windy and mildly unwarm. However. A couple years ago we made clever use of a 54 degree February day and the community hot tub. We'd lounge in the hot tub until we were close to heat stroke and then slather up and lay in the pseudo sunshine.

My phone said temperatures were going to reach 62 today. I figured we would be in the clear. Two words: brrrrrr rrrrrrr. We spent 98 percent of our time in the hot tub. However. I did manage to capture this peacefully crisp moment:

A for effort, I suppose.

Wee Little Gingabolls

My adventure in nannying is drawing to a close. I have two more nights left. I will have my evenings back and no extra money to spend! It's bittersweet.

My little paycheck has grown up a lot over the year. The first week, it was an accomplishment to get him to sleep. Now he is feeding himself, running all over the place, helping put his diapers in the trash and, recently, learned how to pinch my derriere'. Instinct? I think so.

I'm really going to enjoy the free time but I'm really going to miss watching him grow up.

- LayneStreet (brought to you by iPhone)

Happy St. Patty's Day, Sugar!

I can always count on the attorney I shall refer to as 'Hollywood' to exhibit some holiday spirit. He's Hollywood because he is charming and traditional and reminds me of a good old movie.

There is always a Christmas tie, a flag tie and yes - a green bowler hat for St. Patrick's Day.

Also. Today reminds me of this scene from the movie that I love. Here's to Dayquil and plenty more days that look just like this one.

Happy Sick Day, Sugar!

So I have a little bug of some sort - it's drippy and achy. I slept a lot yesterday and watched a couple movies. I slept in today and went to work at noon. I was sent home at 12:45.

I bragged about not being sick all winter. What a stupid thing to brag about. How much better would it have been to be sick in the middle of winter than to be sick on the warmest day of the year thus far?

The sunshine is beaming in through my open windows and I have mixed emotions about it. On one hand, spring really has sprung and it's beautiful. On the other hand, the sunshine is casting all sorts of light on the dust that is resting comfortably on all the ledges and nooks in my apartment. I'm idling and it brings out the OCD in me.

I'm going to fight the urge dust and cozy up with some o.j. Hell or high water, I'm blowing this popsicle stand tomorrow morning.

All Fore It

The man and I played thirty-six holes of disc golf yesterday. We met a variety of personalities and enjoyed a couple root beers. It was the ideal Sunday afternoon activity.

And this...the ideal disc golf form.

Jack of Some Trades. Only Some.

I'm heading in for lesson number two at the meat packing plant tonight. My homework this last week was learning the 'Jig of the Irish Washer Woman.'

Done.

I told lesson man that I wanted to learn the mandolin part from 'Landslide.'

Look out, Marti.

The excitement of learning always spurs a kind of avalanche in my thought life. The more I learn, the more I want to learn and I worry if I'll ever catch up.

This is probably a happy problem to have.

Insert High Pitched Screechy Violin Sounds

McWHYBAML bought me a mandolin for my birthday. I am in love with it. I need lessons. So I craigslisted "mandolin lessons" and found a place.

Last night was my first lesson. I could barely find the place. The only building I saw was a meat packing plant. According to mapquest - I was in the right place. I looked a bit closer and discovered a sign with an arrow "Music Lessons THIS WAY."

I pulled around to the back of the building and parked.

A few things went through my mind upon arrival:

1. I found this place on craigslist. People die answering craigslist postings.

2. This 'studio' is on the backside of a meat packing plant. On the other side, I wonder if the sign above the cattle chute says, "greener pastures."

There probably isn't a sign.

3. Is the music I'm hearing from the score to a horror film or the young violin protege in the 'studio?'

Against my better judgement, I decided to proceed. On the other side of the doors was a mother and son sitting on the sofa in the 'foyer.' The son had drum sticks and was still alive - so instantly I felt a bit better. My instructor soon appeared. He's Grizzly Adams' youngest son and plays a mean mandolin.

All's well that ends well...for now.

What WAS Willis Talkin' Bout?

Nanny baby (Little Paycheck, L.P.) is learning to eat on his own. This is a messy process. It totally grosses me out but I'm sure (eventually) he'll learn to get more of it in his mouth verses his shirt, hands, hair and the floor.

Last night a majority of the carrot chunks and chicken nugget bits were on the floor.

Post dinner time - I had no choice but to whip out the vacuum. The kid is scared of the vacuum and sits on the far end of the couch - eyes wide open. I try to get it over with pretty quick...but I thought last night was the night to try and work through some of his issues with ol' Hoover.

I documented the experience via iPhone.

I was gently coaching him to get closer and closer. You know, baby steps. He maintained a high level of suspicion. He also whipped out what I feel like was a pretty accurate impersonation of Gary Coleman. This is not a little person joke. Look at this facial expression.

Monday Pants

I'm wearing my Monday pants. I wear these pants every Monday. I generally don't have the motivation to do any creative wardrobing on Mondays. So.

I wear my Monday pants. Every Monday.

They are from the Gap. They are perfect pants - hip slung easy flare.

Here's to Monday and wearing pants.