A Lot Going On

Cleaning and selling junk to get ready for new paint and furniture and even going to try and clean my closet out.  Getting ready for a trip to Connecticut.  Still researching family information.  Ryan will be traveling for work next week.
It is going to be a fun few weeks.

Hatfields & McCoys

Tonight was the last of the 3 part mini-series and after watching all 6 hours I can say it was completely entertaining.  It was gut-wrenching and heartbreaking but well acted and interesting.  I looked forward to watching every day even knowing how bloody and sad it would be.
Way to go History Channel. I hope you make more movies like this!

Carolina RailHawks

Tonight I attended my first professional soccer game.  The LA Galaxy were in town for the US Open Cup third round match against the Carolina RailHawks.
What a great game! The place was packed with a record crowd of 7,939.  The fans were into the game from minute one even when the Galaxy scored the first goal.  It wasn't until 75th minute that we got to see the RailHawks score and then 13 minutes later they took the lead.  The final was 2-1 RailHawks with the upset.  The Galaxy did not bring their star players like Donovan or Beckham but were still favored to win.

RailHawks in Blue, Galaxy in White

Final Score 2-1

Hatfields & McCoys

I watch my fair share of the History Channel and have seen this mini-series advertised.  I have been looking forward to it for weeks now.  Tonight was night 1 of 3 and it did not disappoint.  I went into it  knowing very little about the feud and even though I know this is not all based on facts it shines some light on what it might have been like.  It is hard to imagine those days - the men seem like it is nothing to take a life and kill another man but if one of their own kin is killed they take it personally and get revenge firmly believing in an eye for an eye.  I find it crazy that for one minute they don't stop to think it is someone else's family they are killing.
So far a little dark and bloody but looking forward to part 2 tomorrow night!

Really Animal Planet???

So now you are telling me Mermaids are real?  I hope this isn't like Finding Bigfoot all over again!

Nice Day

Took a nice drive around NC today looking for land my ancestors may have lived on 250 years ago.  Still have more research to do but this is getting really interesting.

Guest Blog - Husband

One of the highlights of my day at work is my daily bathroom break. I get to have 10 minutes or so of time alone in the john to clear the ol' bowels and read my Twitter feed. Frankly, I look forward to this every day (partly for the alone time and partly because I find it funny that I'm getting paid to poop).

My office building only has 3 men's bathrooms and only 6 total stalls. Considering that my office building has mostly tech companies, it's probably 80% men, so at peak times (mid-morning and after lunch) it's very difficult to find an open stall, so when you walk in and one's open, you grab that sucker and hold onto it for a little while. Sometimes nature calls around lunch time, which is great because the bathroom usually isn't busy then. Sounds like everything is looking up, right? Not quite. Apparently, our cleaning lady takes the noon hour to clean the bathrooms and fill up the paper towels. It never fails that as soon as I sit down, there's a knock on the door.

At this point, I have to yell "Someone's in here" and then I feel like I'm rushed. This is because the lady waits outside the door until you're done. Who does that? Even if it's like 5 minutes, she just stands there. Then when you exit, she knows the foul odor and messed up toilet is your fault. Thanks cleaning lady - you just ruined my afternoon.

Oh Buggy

This summer is going to be really bad for bugs this year because of the mild winter and I already hate it.  Our neighborhood has had a ton of people and dogs with ticks and the gnats and mosquitos are already yucky in the early humid weather.

Jackle and Hyde

Jack is like two different dogs.  At home he is crazy, doesn't listen and never stops moving.  When we take him in the car to the vet or anywhere he is a perfect dog.  He will be held or sit perfect right by my side.  On the table at the vet he barely moves and lets them poke, prod and stick him without a flinch.
At least he behaves in public in front of other people so I don't look like a bad dog owner!

Kinect

With the Xbox we also got the Kinect.  This is my kind of game - no controllers.  Those things have way too many buttons and I have no idea how or when to use them all.
The husband and I played some of the sports games they have for the Kinect and after about an hour of beating him at most games I have to say it is a workout.  I know I move around more than I should or even need to and probably look like a crazy person but it is fun.
Now he is back online playing a war game with a friend.  I hope this friend realizes this won't be a nightly occurrence!
Time to go find a new book for my Kindle.

XBOX

After being taunted by friends to get XBOX to play online games my husband has finally got one.  He is officially hooked up and online, now all I hear are gunshots.  This will be his obsession for a while it's a good thing I have good books to read.

I Make My Own Sunshine!

That Lowe's commercial gets stuck in my head.

Could Be Worse

We didn't go buy our furniture today but I got to watch Chelsea beat Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League Final in penalty kicks.  Way to go Nando, Lampy, Side Show Bob Hair, Dogbutt, Cech Mate and Bazinga (just an FYI these are my nicknames for some of my favorite guys from Chelsea).  I have only recently started watching soccer but some of the games I've watched have been crazy and fun I might be a fan now!
We turned on the Rangers vs Devils game for a few minutes.  I don't really care about who wins this match-up and I will be rooting for the Western Conference in the Finals anyway.
Now time for some NASCAR.  Just watched Dale Jr race his way into the All-Star Race.  GO #88!
The day was spent mostly on the couch since I feel pretty crappy with a cold and sick tummy but at least there was good TV on.  As a bonus, when I feel better we will go buy our furniture.

Too Lazy to Play

Jack and CT have been so lazy lately that they just lay on their sides, growl and bite at each other until one or both fall asleep.  Aren't they cute?

Baseball = Summer

I feel like Summer has officially started now that I have been to a baseball game. Tonight we went to the Durham Bulls game to see World Series MVP Hideki Matsui. I liked him on the Yankees and am happy we might see him more now with the Bulls.
The night was off to a rain-delayed start but Matsui got a big cheer when coming up for his first at bat. The Bulls won 5-0 against the Pawtucket Red Sox.
Great night of baseball and I got to see a Red Sox team lose - woohoo!

Cancelled

I have read that some of my favorite TV shows from this past season are cancelled!  I watch a lot of TV and usually am a little disappointed when a show isn't coming back on but I get over it quickly.  This year I started watching The Secret Circle since I watch Vampire Diaries and they are on the same channel on the same night.  I thought it was good for what it was and I admit I really looked forward to it every week.  I will miss it next season.
The biggest upset comes from The Finder being cancelled.  I started watching this show on-demand because I never knew what day it was on.  I don't think FOX even gave this show a chance since I never saw it advertised.  I liked every character in the show and thought it was well written and quirky.  I have never written a letter or email to complain about a shows cancellation but this might be the one.
I was also shocked to hear Who Do You Think You Are was not coming back.  This show chronicles famous people as they explore their family trees.  Basically this was an hour long advertisement for Ancestry.com but was really entertaining and made me want to start my family tree and it has lead me to find two distant cousins and really learn about how and where my ancestors came from.
This is why I should be a Nielsen household.

DNA

I know I have been talking about Ancestry.com and my family tree a lot lately but it really is something I have been working on constantly.  I even have the husband doing his family tree!
Last night I got an email invitation to the DNA beta testing.  It did cost about $90 but I am really excited to see what comes of it.  Even if nothing happens now who knows how many people are going to try it and maybe sooner or later I would find a long lost cousin or find where some of my ancestors are from.  I should have the testing stuff in a week and then 6-8 weeks for the results.
Things could get even more interesting.

River Monsters

Never swimming in anything that is not a chlorinated pool!

Family Info Overload

My head is swimming with a million details and stories.  I have been wrapped up in this for weeks now and have found interesting stories and some relatives going back to 1630 in Connecticut.  Hopefully when we are going to CT in June I can do some research and find definite answers.  Someday I will blog about it when I have the correct information.
Connecticut Landons - I am looking for you.

Ice Cream for Dinner

The husband went to play poker with friends so I watched some hockey and ate some ice cream!

Wicked!

Went to see Wicked tonight with some friends and it was great!
Loved it!

Season Finales

Watching our favorite Thursday night shows.

Rainy Day

Yuck!

Amendment One in NC

I very proudly voted AGAINST Amendment One on the NC ballot today.  This is the wording of Amendment One:
 "Constitutional amendment to provide that marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State."
Personally I feel like this is adding an amendment to our State Constitution that takes away rights of some citizens. Isn't that discrimination?  I am all for equality and I feel this is the opposite.
I am extremely sad to live in a state with this in the Constitution but unfortunately it looks like it will pass.

6:30am

Going to try getting up in the morning with my husband to go walking before it gets too hot and he has to go to work.  I am going to keep walking with Julie too.  I am hoping by doing this and eating better I can get some of these pounds off.  It is just so hard for me to say no to yummy food!

Dale Jr.

I don't watch as much NASCAR as I used to but I still love Dale Jr.  I noticed before todays race that he finally shaved his beard.  No win today but hopefully soon.  A championship would be nice for him this season too!

Happy Cinco de Mayo

Yup - I have had a few Coronas!

Husband's Sense of Humor

Last night while watching 30 Rock we had to pause the TV because of a funny line Tracy Jordan said: "I think I just solved the mystery of the phantom pooper!"  He was coming into a room he thought was a bathroom but found out it was someone's office.  Later last night we were talking about my husband's favorite episode of The Office when Michael was in New York and walks out of the subway and says "Ok, there's a guy pooping in a cardboard box."  My husband then just says out loud "I guess I just like poop!"  What a weirdo!

EWWW

I really wish my husband would SLOW down while eating pizza so he wouldn't get the gross hiccup-burps!

91 Degrees

Tomorrow it is going to be 91 degrees!  Friday and Saturday 90 degrees.  I missed spring!

New Sofa???

This is the sofa I want.  It is a sectional made up of all recliners separated by console wedges with cup holders and a compartment.  It is the most comfortable thing I have ever sat on.  We just don't know how it will look in our TV/Hurricanes room and the husband worries about having only 4 or 5 seats in the room.