Something to Grab Next Time You're at Target

Rob's Uncle Bill recently published a book, Around the Master's Table: Seed Thoughts for Today's Christian Designed to Help You in Your Study and Walk with the Lord. Click here to buy it at target.com!

Oh...now I get it... (by Mary)

After we first started our blog, I didn't understand why so many people do not blog. Now, I know why. It has been almost two weeks since we've blogged, and still, there is nothing really blog-worthy.

Or, it could just be that I'm a disgruntled blogger, since nobody found my photo with Patrick Dempsey nearly as hilarious as we do. We still crack up when we look at the photo! I've never had so much fun with a carved-out-circle-for-your-face photo. Maybe it was because my head fit well, or maybe you just had to be there.

On a new topic, because of the fibro, and other things lately, I've really been pondering fairness in life. I have always been a huge advocate for all things to be fair and equal. I'm not talking about affirmative action, I'm talking about certain siblings receiving more Christmas gifts than me. My best friend, Jill, knows exactly what I'm talking about (we have already discussed how our children will receive equal gifts at the same age, and we'll keep track).

Now it is finally sinking in, that life really isn't fair. You may think it is immature to absorb this after 25 years, but consider the possibility that you haven't accepted it either. I know my notorious coworker, soon to be 43 years old, has yet to realize that life isn't fair. She is often pointing out inequities with everything in our office- usually related to closer parking, more office space, higher salary, better title, and employee classification. I used to agree with her when she pointed these things out, but now I just don't want to hear it.

This weekend we are starting our travels again. We will be driving up north for six weekends between now and June. While this really isn't fair...I'm getting over it already!

...Well, ask me on Monday. Have a happy easter!

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Grey's Anatomy star, Patrick Dempsey, weds unknown woman after wild night in Vegas.

Beef; It's what's NOT for dinner (by Amanda via Mary)

My environmentally conscious friend, Amanda "Fatty" Pankau, sent me this email yesterday (citations and all), so I thought I'd help share the word:

It is often hard to put the environmental impacts of meat production into context. Here are a couple interesting ways of looking at it.

2.2 lbs of beef is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions and other pollution than driving for 3 hours while leaving all the lights on back home (Ogino et al. 2007).

It takes ~440 gallons of water to produce 1 lb of beef (Beckett and Oltjen 1993).

Ogino, A., H. Orito, K. Shimada, and H. Hirooka. 2007. Evaluating environmental impacts of the Japanese beef cow–calf system by the life cycle assessment method. Animal Science Journal 78:424 -432.

Beckett, J.L. and J.W. Oltjen. 1993. Estimation of the water requirement for beef production in the United States. J. Anim. Sci. 71:818-826.

Gotta love before and afters! (by Mary)

I had 8 inches cut off tonight! I'm very excited for my new, light, low-maintenance hair cut! Here is my before picture with straight hair:


My stylist put my hair into pigtails before she chopped it:


It looked pretty cute (and just like Victoria Beckham) before she styled it:




And, finally, my new style (still longer in front, shorter in back, but you can't tell with the curls):

Baby Boomers

This is for our parents

The Weekend Curse (by Mary)

Just like New Year's Eve and season six of 24, weekends are overrated. This is something I learned when I started working a "business hours" job.

Don't get me wrong, I'm just as excited for 5:00 on Fridays as everyone else. I love that on weekends that I get to sleep in, eat out for breakfast, stay out past 10:00 with friends, and shop for supplies for our most recent home project. But that is exactly what is wrong with weekends. I want to get everything done, and they're just aren't enough hours.

Us "business hour" workers spend Friday nights recovering from the week. Saturday morning is spent lounging around, or maybe a long run/workout. Once Rob and I usually get out of the house on Saturday, it is usually 2:00. We're lucky if the bank and/or post office are still open for errands, but we can still stop at Lowe's and maybe go out for dinner. Sunday morning is for church and brunch, and Sunday afternoon is available for laundry and getting ready for the coming up work week.

Think of it this way- if we didn't have weekends, then Mondays wouldn't have a stigma! Or, if we had a three-day weekend, then we could have a "case of the Tuesdays."

I can think of only one person who I would rather have as a boss than Jan- myself. I do believe that if I worked for myself, this would be a non-issue. I can dream, can't I?

Fish Fry Fridays (by Rob)

Friday night, Mary and I went with our friends Jamie, Dave, Kelly, and Ron to a little town of 399 people (according to 2006 Census data) called Sadorus. Supposedly the Sadorus Pub has a great Fish Fry. There was a little bit of a wait, but it was worth it! The breading on the fish was corn meal based, but what was interesting was the catfish came "bone-in" and "tail-on". Mary had the prime rib which looked great.

Afterward, we went to Jupiter's and the boys played Extreme Hunter. Ron is an ace. We hunted bison, wolves, and deer. It was a little unbelieveable when Dave was hunting with a bow and arrow and he was able to shoot just as fast as us shotgunners.

I can't wait for this Friday night! We don't have plans yet, but hopefully they include another Fish Fry!