Happy Trails

I tried bird having.

I failed. Maybe some other time. Maybe not. 

Either way, this sweet little thing really was enjoyable. However, a studio apartment and two cats made things a little difficult.

Goodbye, sweet little Feather Face!

The Type Of Day You Dream About

Sincerely, I just lived that type of day.

First of all, my Bu Bu declared today some sort of holiday in my honor. It was around 10:00 this morning when I saw his FB post. My eyes welled up with tears and I felt incredibly special from thousands and thousands of miles away.

We laughed most of the day. My co-workers and I were giddy with anticipation over an awards ceremony which we were all attending later in the day. The awards ceremony was in honor of the top ten best places to work in the state. We were honored to be in the top ten. The winners were to be announced later at the ceremony.

People sent me sweet notes all day to let me know that they loved and appreciated me.

Flowers fresh from the middle east arrived around 3:30 this afternoon. The flowers marked week number two and only fifty more weeks to go until the man comes home for good. Talk about sending someone over the top. What a sweet thing to see come through the doors.

Then we made it to the awards ceremony. We waited as the countdown begin. We weren't in tenth place, ninth, eighth...so forth. We were voted BEST place to work in the state. We screamed. We cried. We laughed about how we screamed and cried. First place.

It was a magical day and I have my sweet boyfriend, my workplace and Jesus to thank for it. My heart was flooded with all kinds of love and happiness today - so much so that I didn't know what to do with all of it. Everyone deserves a day like today.

I am a lucky, lucky, lucky girl.

Meet Barney

Because two cats just aren't enough for my studio apartment...meet my new alarm clock:

He is an interesting little addition to my menagerie. I've never had a bird. I'm pretty sure I never got one because I heard they were loud and messy.

Turns out - they are loud and messy. But look...

He gives kisses. And whistles. And, so help me God, he'll be able to sing the 'How I Met Your Mother' theme song. I think he was actually trying to sing it this morning but it came out sounding more like a car alarm. 

Two Things

1. This cat is cute.

2. I am loving this song and her dress.

Happy (almost) Tax Day, Ahmeri-cuh.

Last night on the radio I heard we're going to have $5 gasoline this summer. I may have to modify my bicycle (basket, rear rack, side car, air conditioning/misting system) because it sounds like we'll be spending a lot of time together from here on out.

Bu Bu teases me and says he left the country for work because he couldn't afford gasoline anymore. Upon hearing last night's news, I'm not so sure he is teasing.

Ahmeri-cuh? Really? At $5 a gallon, people won't be able to afford running their lawn mower - let alone their vehicles. People will be squatting in their yards with kitchen shears to keep their lawn looking nice. Is that what you want?

Squatting?

Chick vs. Rabbit

An attorney friend bought me a wind-up Easter bunny and bought a chick for herself and we pitted them against each other in an epic battle for supremacy.

My bunny went all Thelma and Louise. Children, please look away.

Sad.

Anyway...

Last night my little band (it's not the 'Layne' band...just the band I sing for) played a corporate party. It was an awards ceremony for the employees - one where every employee gets an award. It was like the Dundees...some of the 'achievements' were equally as...made up?

After all the awards were handed out, we played, played, played and they danced, danced, danced. The highlight of the evening (aside from the meal...) was the fifty-something lady in a fancy dress singing along to Cee-Lo's 'F [insert Forget] K You.' Girl knew every word.

That's all. Hope you're having a hoppy day. : /

One week down.

My Bu Bu has been gone for one week today.

Only about 51 more weeks to go.



Everything is better with karaoke.

Well. I was wrong about a couple things.

1. The Nut House? Just a real live sports bar full of really nice people and fully dressed men. There was a lady there with uncommonly short shorts, but aside from that...no nudity.

2. I only know two songs on the guitar.

When open mic'ing winds down, there might be someone in the crowd who owns a laptop, a hard drive with thousands and thousands of karaoke songs. When we ran out of songs to play, we just started k.j.'ing for four or five people that wanted a chance to shine. And let me tell you - there were some stars out tonight, for sure.  I was uber impressed.

The night went from high pressure to easy as pie in a few minutes. People love karaoke and loved us by proxy.

Whisker Watch Alert!

Please take the time to view the following:

This has been a whisker watch alert.

Open Mic Night

Tomorrow night begins a new musical adventure. My pal and I are starting an open mic night at a local sports bar.

I'm concerned for a few reasons:

1. Are sports bar customers really going to be interested in the acoustic music we have to offer? I'm having flashbacks of accidentally walking in front of the television during Monday Night Football when I was a little girl. It was never a good idea...and I wasn't even making noise then.

2. The place we're gearing up to play at is called (screw anonymity) 'The Nuthouse.' [Insert wincing emoticon here]. I've never been to this venue and I'm not entirely sure it's not a strip club for ladies (think Thunder Down Under...only much less toned).

3. I only know three songs on the guitar.

I'm pretty sure free drinks are apart of my contract and I'm sure everyone else will be drinking so that will act as a little buffer between the discriminating ears of the Nuthouse patrons and my less than prepared self.

Playing with Legos

Via Pinterest

Looks like someone else in their 20's is still playing with Legos. I'm not sure I'm fully behind these little pumps, but on the other hand, they would be better conversation starters than puppies and babies.

Sunday Funday

Praise the Jesus for Sunday Funday. It's been a rough week in a lot of respects and it was nice to be in community, in good company and to be...well...drinking a little bit.

Post church and Buffalo Wild Wings with my Facebook Official sister, I hit the streets on my new bike. This is probably, most definitely too early to say this...but I think this one is a keeper. She's smooth like butter, light weight and beautiful in all the ways that count. And. She got me all over town today. Here's a few highlights:

At the end of the day, I can't help but wish life were a little more simple but good friends and Skype really keep the ol' chin up.

The Green Machine

The Brown Bandit is vying for the attention of local Craigslisters. In the meantime - I've found a very capable replacement. One that is a much better fit for me.

Meet...the Green Machine:

The Green Machine is so smooth. I purchased it from a local non-profit bike repair shop that recycles donated bikes. They put the right parts together and sell solid, affordable bicycles. This little shop has a great reputation and they deserve it. I had a great experience today.


Hopefully my bad bicycle ju-ju has worn off. I have a feeling the G.M. and I will be very happy together.

The Brown Bandit, Appendix B

The tire was flat at lunch.

My pant leg got caught in the chain guard.

My bum REALLY hurts.

I'm selling the B.B.

The Brown Bandit, Appendix A

My spring bike riding season has not started like I planned. I suppose the idealistic picture of me pedaling down the street in a sundress and ballet slippers set the bar a little high. No butterflies have landed on my hands, I don't have a tan yet (granted, I'm still in long sleeves and have only been on the bike a total of an hour an a half) and I have yet to install a bell.

Here's how things really started.

The work day ended yesterday and the weather was pretty sunny. So. It was time to take the Brown Bandit out on the town. My first stop was the local bike shop that tuned her up for me. My fender brackets keep popping off so I wanted to see if they could fix them. Keep in mind that the B.B. is about fifty years old and nothing is the standard (modern) size. Alas, the bike wizard could not fix the fender brackets. Only a special part from a hardware store would do the trick...if I could find the right size. 'Eh,' I said and decided to ride on yesterday.

I took to the local green belt for the rest of the ride. It was pretty delightful, I'll say that. As I was whizzing (plugging away) past the trees and the river, I was reminded of why I got the bike in the first place. Then the wind kicked up. I felt like I was going backwards and it wasn't long until my lips were dried to my teeth. Magical...right.

Then came the right angle turn I wasn't anticipating. The last bike I had was a cruiser and the brakes were engaged when you pedalled backwards...the B.B. has hand brakes. I swerved! I ran into the dirt and nearly ran into the post that said 'slow.' I didn't fall down. Success. These types of things don't happen unless someone else sees, right? Just as the thought crossed my mind I heard, 'Are you alright?'

Damn it.

'Yep. Just a new bike. Doin' fine. Thanks.' He says, 'Well, what you should have done was applied the brakes just a bit sooner.' I thought the gentleman buzzing past was trying to be funny. So I said, 'Zip it.' He just kept riding. I turned around and went home soon after that. In the quiet of the side streets near my apartment, all that could be heard was the creaking and squeaking of my old bike. Add injury to insult (I know), my bum hurts like crazy. The old seat is pretty but it feels like I'm sitting on a two by four.

Regardless of my misplaced euphoria, I made the decision to ride to work today. I walked down to the bike rack and there it was. Flat tire. I was not shaken. I pumped that thing up and made it to work just fine.

If it's flat by noon, I'm putting the Brown Bandit back on Craigslist.

I LOVE technology.

Hello from emotionally stable Layne. Today was a huge improvement from yesterday. No melt downs (especially no melt downs in front of partners...except for the tear that welled up in my eye when I choked on an almond). The countdown is on and that brings me a whole lot of hope and happiness!

Speaking of happiness, technology (free technology at that) brought me plenty of happiness when McW and I Skyped over my lunch break. Here's a snap shot of the session:

Technology is going to make this adventure a much more enjoyable one.

Don't hug me, I'll cry.

Seriously.

My man left for the middle east today. I've redone my make-up four times already.

He's the type of man that does whatever it takes to get the job done. Even if it means giving up a year of his life to live in the desert. I'm very, very, very impressed by who he is and proud of how much initiative he has.

Love. Him.