The weekend of beer and sleeping in.

Our weekend started Thursday night with a party at Beth's house for the season premier of The Office. Everyone dressed up as a character from the show and we had beer and pizza. Yesssssssss!





Even though the episode was an hour long I was panicking that Jim wasn't going to propose. I may or may night have had a little tear when he did. Although seriously, at a gas station? I'm all for spontaneous, but in real life shouldn't he have waited till the weekend and planned something a little special? Me thinks so.

Friday I slept in and then ran a few errands, cleaned the house and started reading a book my best friend Tina got me for my birthday, American Wife.
On Friday's Jerad is now off by 3:30 so that we can spend time together. I'm loving it! It is such a nice change from all of the double shifts. Especially since I don't work Fridays. We had dinner at Cool Hand Luke's to celebrate his sister Jill's birthday and then headed over to Hoover's Live in A-town.

Noah and Lucinda had invited us to see Noah's band compete in the Battle of The Bands that Hoover's Live puts on. Taylor and Dom were going to come but Taylor ended up playing a show last minute in San Luis, and Beth and Tyson also bailed on me but since it was their 7 year anniversary I'm letting that one slide. Since Melinda and Larry live right behind us now, they didn't have much of a choice. Plus I told them there was alcohol so they were in.



Lucinda thought it started at 8:30 and we might want to be a little early and also mentioned that she would be stuck there from about 7 on. I think we got there at 7:45 and found out it didn't actually start till 9, and the first band ended up playing at 9:30 or something like that. We had fun visiting though and at least we got a table and there was no line at the bar for the first hour and a half:)


The first band was Honor Bound Heroes who are pretty popular around here.



After that was Noah's band, Perceive the Symphony.


It was fun watching them play because I don't think I've seen Noah play since he was in The Timothies, my friend Taylor's high school band. I also went to school with the drummer and hadn't seen him play since he was in a different highschool band as well.

They were very good and ended up winning the $100 prize, and getting to advance into the next round. Yeay!!! Everyone celebrated:




During this time Larry managed to get drunk which I have NEVER seen cause he is by no means a lightweight. Apparently when Larry drinks he likes to argue about football. Loudly. It was really funny.

Saturday we slept in which never happens. The dogs even slept in. I don't know if Jerad drugged them or what, but none of us were out of bed till after 10. Scandalous I know:) Jerad made us breakfast, homemade biscuits and fresh jam, sausage and homemade gravy and he cleaned up! After breakfast, he played some music and I read some more of my book and then we met Nick, Heather, and Jerad's brother Joey, sister Jill and her kids Carter, Maddie and Abby in Morro Bay.

We rented a boat and cruised around the Bay for an hour then had dinner. It was really fun!












Saturday night from about 8pm till 1:30am we had a Rock Band Championship.



It started out with us playing with Nick's game on our Wii, and by the end we had bought our own game so we had 2 and could have dueling bands.



We learned that just because I have been in a relationship with a drummer does not mean I can rock the drums on Rock Band. At.All. But I can kick Joey's ass singing, I ended up doing okay on bass too. I do need some practice fo sho. I wish they had a country version!

Melinda turned out to be good at the drums, and of course Noah rocked the guitar. Heather was really good too.

Sunday we AGAIN got to sleep in (IIIIIIIIIII know!) until probably 9:00, and shopped around for supplies to make these invitations for our Halloween party:


So you can be looking forward to a plaster version of my finger arriving in your mail box soon! Creepy huh?

I also re-did our window box with new flowers since the herbs had come to the end of their life span. I went to plant some flowers in the back yard too and found out the hard way that I was digging in a red ant hill. After that I stayed in the house. Jerad cleaned up the back yard and planted a Palm Tree in one of the barrels that we had had a tomato plant in that had also finished for the season. Him and Larry finished the gate on the new fence they have been building, so now we can get to each other's houses without walking around the block.
For dinner I made a lasagna from scratch (including the noodles and sauce) along with seared squash and a salad.

We spent a lot of time playing with the dogs. Jerad's been teaching Bailey to vault over Buddy ro catch the Frisbee. The first few times she was just so focused on the Frisbee, she nailed him in the face (these are pics from the week before, but you can get the idea):
After awhile she got it:


Other than that we just vegged on the couch and watched some shows we had tivoed during the week. Very relaxing! I'm bummed that I missed the Desperate Housewives Premier. Totally forgot it was last night, I'll catch it online tonight though.

Most of our tomato plants are finished growing tomatoes. I picked a ton yesterday and in an act of domestic diva-ness I'm going to make and can a bunch of marinara sauce. The lasagna sauce came out really yummy, so why not?

I'm older than I thought...

This weekend we were in Morro Bay with some friends and family and were talking about something or another and I turned to Jerad and said:

"I can't believe its already been a month since my birthday!" It was August 30th, and then as an after thought, "I turned 24 right? Or was it 23?"

He looked at me, rolled his eyes, and told me without a hint of doubt in his voice that I had just turned 23. I thought that didn't seem right, but we've known each other for 11 years and he has celebrated just about every birthday with me since I was 16. Also, I tend to get confused about these things. I always start rounding up a few months ahead, so by the time the actual birthday rolls around I think that I'm actually turning a year older than I am. The same goes for my friends ages. This year I was convinced that Jerad was going to be 27. Oops.

Today I started thinking about it again and counted it out on my fingers (you know, cause I'm all smart like that). Yeah, 1984-2008 means that I'm 24. Not 23. I decided to text message my boyfriend of almost 3 years, friend of 11 years that obviously knows me so well:

***

me: didnt you say i just turned 23...cause i just figured it out and im 24...dumbass

(apparently im very endearing in my texts)

Jerad: shut it.

(well, at least its a two-way street!)

me: i KNEW i was right! i cant believe you dont know how old i am!

Jerad: i do now.

me: im mad.

Jerad: love you

***

Maybe I was right and he is going to be 27! Except no matter how I do the math, I can't make him being born on 10-17-82 turn into him turning 27 this year. Damn.

Yeay!

My phone is here and finally activated...

but, I only have a few phone numbers in the address book. I can't get them out of my old phone, since its all ruined and all. Can you send me yours (if I had it before)? Jerad never saves ANY numbers so he's no help... thanks!

PS, you can text your number to me... or email it to stephbrownthinks@gmail.com

Can you say "Awkward?"

There have been so many times where I have had things shipped to my house and they try to deliver them while I'm at work and they need a signature and I'm not there... You get the drill. I've gotten used to just having everything shipped to my job since there is always someone here to sign for it.

So I didn't even think twice as I ordered something completely inappropriate and embarrassing and had them send it here. The even more worrisome thing is that about 20% of the time the young shipping clerk guy we have OPENS the packages by mistake. Great. they already think I'm a freak.

I guess I can always say its gift? Hmm, that would be even weirder:) The company name isn't weird, it just gives the impression of something totally different that is going to spark another conversation that I don't want to have. They are all going to be talking about me downstairs. Hopefully he just reads my little name, and brings it on up. Right? Cause I always have good luck like that. Ha!

busy week ahead!

Tuesday Night:
Dance Classes again and wrap up the last of the Twilight books.

Wednesday Night:
Date night consisting of dressing up, a romantic dinner and a movie. Ooh lala!

Thursday Night:
Jerad's softball game and then the pretty much best part of the week....
The Office Season Premiere! Annnnnd, we are going to an "Office" party where you dress up as characters from the show. Pretty bomb! Hmm, I don't think I've said that for about 8 years hahah.

Friday Night:
Watching my friend Noah and his band at a Battle of the Bands. Which will be great because 1) I get to see Lucinda, and 2) I went to highschool with the drummer and it will be interesting to see how he has improved in the last 10 or so years since I've heard him play. And I love Hoover's cause it will always hold a place in my heart after all the fond karaoke memories. So, you should come support Noah and his band. DO IT!

Saturday:
Sleep in :) Yoga. Take the dogs and the boy to the beach. Work around the house. Get my bedroom painted? Pwease?

Sunday:
Top.Secret.Mission.

Google Reader 101

I was looking through my Sitemeter and FEEDJIT and noticed that someone likes to click on allll the blogs on the side of my page to read them. Which is nice... I mean, that's why they are there but I wanted to tell you all about using an RSS reader in case you didn't know.

There are a lot out there, but I use Google Reader so thats what I'll show you.

Google Reader can do a ton of things, but here is the really basic part. How to view your favorite blogs.

Go to http://www.google.com/reader

Sign in with your google account, or make one real quick.

(click pics to enlarge)

Click "Add Subscription"

Type in URL:

Then when you want to catch up on your blogs, it will list all the new blogs for you. Kind like email:


You can read them from the reader:

Or click on them and it will take you straight to the person's blog.

You can also do fancy things like add "tags" to different blogs like "craft" or "recipe" or something like that, then if you click on your "craft" tag, it will bring up any blog you have ever tagged that way. You can add multiple tags to one blog. You can also email blogs straight from your reader to someone if you think they'll like it.

Pretty much if you read more than a few blogs I would highly recommend trying it this way you'll love it!

The Reason I'm Ignoring you is...

... I'm phoneless. That's right, broke it. And by "broke it," I mean I washed it in the washing machine. Dumb right? Ya. I still can't believe it.

First, I accidentally left my phone on silent most of the weekend... so I just figured I had forgotten it at work. Then I came across it and somehow managed to ruin it about 3 hours later. In my defense... never mind, there really is no defense haha.

The worst part is, its only been a few months since I got my phone... and it was expensive. Whatever. Jerad was ready for an upgrade and gave it to me. Well, I took and and let him know and told him when he wanted a new phone I would just buy it and he was happy with that since its been annoying not being able to get a hold of me except calling me at work. Usually we text on and off all day.

So, RIP pink Venus

and hellooooo maroon env2!!!


I hope you get here SOON!

The other two phones I almost got (and both are available in pink :) were the Blackberry Pearl which would be $29:
and Blackberry Curve which would be $49 (same as the env2):

but then I thought I don't really need the internet on my phone after being stuck on it 10 hours a day at work AND having it at home right?

As soon as I got my last phone I knew I didn't like it and should return it but I was pretty enamored with the color and the touch screen so I kept it. This time for sure I'll take it back if I don't like it, so ANY recommendations would be great! Hopefully I can hold on to this one for awhile:)

Slightly Obsessed

Of course. The Twilight books.

When I worked at Borders, Publishers always sent us Advanced Reading Copies of books before they were published. That way we could read them and be able to talk them up to customers. I happened to pick up Stephenie Meyer's Twilight before it was published in October of '05. I remember reading and loving it and then not really thinking about it again.

Well, lately since the movie is coming out (and sure to ruin everything as usual) everyone has been all into reading the books again and its all I hear about. So, as we were headed off to Jerad's softball game last Thursday night, I decided to grab my old copy of Twilight out of the basement to refresh my memory. His game was at 7:45 and I brought Buddy with me so I didn't figure I'd get much reading done.... HA! I was finished with the 498 pages by 10 AM the next morning, and it would have been sooner if I didn't have to sleep, and picked up New Moon. I was done with all 563 pages of that by that evening and the next morning went in search of Eclipse.

Have I ever mentioned how much living in the north county sucks? Yeah, we don't have a real book store. I checked Walmart, Target, Longs Drugs, Rite Aid, GROCERY STORES. Everyone was sold out! Oooh ooh I know, I'll look at the library! Is it too new? Its so popular, they must have it right? They actually did. You had to pay $2 to check it out, and could only keep it for 5 days or something like that... weird. But of course, someone else had just.checked.it.out.

So, I did the next best thing; bought book 4, Breaking Dawn, and read that instead. I got it around noon, and finished 776 pages by bedtime. My sister is going to have her hubby pick up book 3 in SLO after work today and I hope he delivers or I will have to drive down and find it myself tonight.

3 books in basically 2 days. I'd say I liked them. It could have been faster if Jerad didn't care if I, you know, talked to him and stuff:) Reading makes me miss working at a bookstore. I am so passionate about it. I miss working with people that care about reading. I miss knowing about the new books, and being able to talk to customers about books I like and why I think they will enjoy them. I miss going in the break room and it being silent because all the employees are engrossed in their various books. Then again, I like getting a decent paycheck... and working normal hours. I guess you can't have EVERYTHING:)

Even though I am always disappointed by the film rendition of a novel, I am still curious to see how the characters are portrayed... and I don't have too long to wait!


Meyer's is also working on another book in the series, Midnight Sun. At least there is that to look forward to!!! There isn't an announced publication date, but the others have all been about a year apart, so probably somewhere between August and October of '09? If you are a fan and left in the lurch like I am, you can read the first unedited chapter on her website here if you are interested.

If you are not a fan, I suggest you pick up a copy of Twilight and become one. Everyone I know who has started reading them has become hooked. I loaned my sister a copy on Friday, and she asked my for the next book on Saturday. Just do it...

Edit: You can read that 1st chapter of the Midnight Sun book even if you have only read Twilight. Its just a flashback told through another character's point of view. Another yummy yummy character.

Dancity Dance Dance Dance

Last night Jerad and I went to some Western Dance Classes in Templeton. We brought my sister and Larry... and apparently almost gave her a heart attack which you can read about here. If you are looking for something fun to do:

****

Get ready to swing and line dance! Templeton Recreation will be offering two Western Dance Classes. Line Dance Classes (no partner required) are held Tuesday evenings at 7 p.m. followed by a Western Swing Partner’s Class at 8 p.m.

The classes are held at the Templeton Community Center at 601 South Main St., Templeton. Students register at the class; registration is ongoing. Cost: $5.00 per class. For more information call Templeton Recreation at 434-4900/4909.

****

Anyways, it was really fun. There are a bunch of different dances they teach you over the next few months. I was pretty much a pro, like the best in the class. Totally kidding! One of the line dances was really hard (for me)... and we will definitely be working on one of the couples dances as well. Luckily they ended with two-step which we have done before... even though it was a little different. Still, $5/person for 2 hours of lessons is awesome!!!

I know a few of the girls in the class and they have only been doing it a few years, so I am HOPING I will look as good as them by then! Or at least be able to fake my way through:)

Jerad and I have taken beginner and Intermediate Salsa lessons, East Coast Swing, a little bit of Two-Step, and Waltz. So if we could add some Western Dances to our already MAD natural talent (har har) we should be good to go yeah? At least our house now has wood floors to practice!

Weirdo

On Wednesdays I take an hour lunch break so that I can deposit my paycheck and run other errands. I was talking to Jerad on the phone and we had a conversation that went something like this:

Jerad: Randy Travis has a concert at Chumash the day before my b-day.

Me: Oh?

Jerad: We should go...

Me: Well... I have that doctor's appointment I'd have to cancel and reschedule and it would kind of mess up our Yosemite trip...

Jerad: It would totally be worth it.

Me: Doesn't he sing that song you always play and sing me?

Jerad: Yes and that other song too.

Me: Ha! and you should totally propose during the song!

Jerad: Cause that would be romantic: 'where did you get engaged?' 'oh, at a casino.'

Me: Obviously I'm kidding. I meant cause you always play me that song and stuff. Anyways... I'd be pissed if I told you you should propose somewhere then you did.

Jerad: Actually that would be nice. I'll bet my parents would like to come. My mom loves Randy Travis, and they could witness the whole thing.

Me: Ya that would be fun! Well, if I do end up having to take another day off of work to go to the doctor and re-work our camping prep and stuff then you better make the trip fun for me!

Jerad: That's what I'm saying.

Me: ???

Jerad: Well, if I'm taking a 30 minute lunch then I should go, or if you want I could take an hour and we can keep talking?

Me: Nah, you should probably go so you can have some extra cash for that ring you'll be buying.

Jerad: Thats what I was thinking. Should I have him sign it?

Me: I was thinking we could just engrave it "R. Travis '08"

Jerad: I'm on it.

********

I'd just like to say that after that odd little convo if he actually did propose there... I would probably pretend like I didn't hear it. Which would work in a loud concert setting. Ha! Well, also I think we have discussed many times that highly public proposals are not my thing. Its sweet when its for other people, but not so much me. Then again, we could gamble the ring and hopefully make enough to pay for the wedding? jk

How To Fail College Exams with Dignity

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