A Special Blend: April 2006

Dazed and Confused (Favorite Things Saturday)

That was weird, somehow I woke up this morning and thought, Hey, it's Saturday! Better post my Self-Portrait Tuesday pictures. Wow...

So here is my Favorite Things Saturday:

SATURDAY MORNING

Being able to sleep in and be perfectly irresponsible and unaware of what the heck is going on, on Saturdays (unlike Monday-Friday when one might be trying to run a business, and unlike Sunday when one might be trying to get the house in order for the coming week).

Self Portrait Tuesday

Instead of posting a picture of anne-as-flag-on-pole, I thought I'd offer a peak at the super cool shoes we wear in pole class. These shoes serve a variety of functions (even though they just look insane)--
1) The high heels not only help you keep your toosh out (very important in pole dancing), they also give you a much more intense workout in the legs.
2) They are generously padded to help keep your feet comfy.
3) (And I believe most important) The plastic parts help you hold onto the pole with your feet so you can climb (and maybe even one day hang from) the pole.

I went to class again last night and discovered that it's $5-Friday! Whoohoo. I'm always going on Friday (normally its $9/class). I learned a couple of new spins last night, but was not able to master them all. That's good though--it keeps me interested in class, and it makes me want to be stronger and more flexible, which then makes me want to exercise! What a great deal.

Speaking of exercise, I think if we can drag our butts out of bed (Mark! :) ), we might get to go on a big hike today.

Self Portrait Tuesday website

More fun Pictures for Work

1 & 2

3 & 4

We had a fun photo-shoot on the lawn to create pics for a giant poster-sized advertisement.
#2 and #3 are two of my favorites.

An Attempt at Randomness

I think I generally hold back what I write on my blog, for fear of saying something I shouldn't (I guess maybe about work...).

But I love reading everyone else's random thoughts that they post on their blogs. So I thought I might attempt a bit of randomness today.

I love my pole dancing class (did I mention it before?). It's great exercise and lots of fun. I go to this place where only women are allowed (no children; no men). Women of all ages and backgrounds come to work out at this special fitness center where we learn to get fit and feel great about ourselves. I just graduated from the Beginner Pole class, which is mostly walking in circles and clinging to the pole for dear life while trying to hold your knees up.

On Saturday, though, I went to Pole 1. Now I'm clinging to the pole for dear life while I fly in the air, spinning to the ground. Sound scary? It is a little, but that's what all the upper-body strengthening was for in Beginner Pole. Anyway, I love it.

Whenever our instructor says, "How're you feeling girls?" If all is well, we must respond in full volume, "HOT!" My favorite instructor is a Kindergarten teacher by day who works with kids with special needs. She is very cool.

Self Portrait Tuesday

I live in a brick rowhouse. I love the way our brick houses stack against each other and stack into the sky.

Self Portrait Tuesday website

Visitors

Ed and Bonnie came to visit us last weekend. We had a wonderful, relaxing time: we went to two baseball games (Angels v. Orioles), dined out Saturday night, Mark and his parents surveyed some Hopkins lectures Friday morning, and Saturday-day we had a day in the yard.

Ed helped Mark install an outdoor light over the garage entrance.

While Bonnie and I carefully supervised.

And watched the grass grow. Come on grass. You can do it!

Ed even joined us in grass-watching for a few moments.

But in the end, he seemed skeptical.

Finally, I decided I'd better at least LOOK helpful. So I tacked on some protective covers over our fence posts. As the boys wrapped up their job, we learned in fact that it takes only two grown men to screw in a light bulb :) (just kidding)

The light fixture looks fabulous!

Finally, we let our guests rest :)

On Sunday night I cooked a fresh fish dinner for them. I think it turned out pretty well (though definitely not perfect). All in all we had a really great time!

Favorite Things Saturday: Light

Morning sunlight...particularly summer (spring) light, is quite possibly one of my favorite things in the world. I love the way the bright light cuts in lines through windows and blinds, and falls bright and breezy across white walls and wooden furniture.

Favorite Things Saturday Blog

Check it out!

Whoo--hoo!
Our grass is growing!

We finally spread grass seed about 2 weeks ago. It was lots of work!

First we spread special soil to help balance the chemical make up of our dirt.

Then Mark tilled the ground with a Tiller we rented from Home Depot. (That thing was scary!)

And then, of course, lots of water and love...

and needlessly staring at the dirt for two weeks :)

Then, yesterday, THIS:

What beast?!

Some horrid creature has ripped up my pretty tulips! Grrr.

Blushing Beauty

My tulips have finally begun to peak.
I could just barely see it--walking past my garden--the first beautiful red tulip almost hiding in its green, leafy skirts.

Fun taking pictures at work

Favorite Things Saturday

My First Spring Garden

I'm notorious around here for my "black thumb." I have literally killed every living plant that I have ever been in charge of, and I was sure my bulbs were not going to make it either.

This is, of course, our first house, and also our first yard and first garden. I love spring...love, love, love bright yellow flowers. And I'm so delighted to have these visitors (a bit late as they are) standing tall and healthy in my own backyard.--The orangy-pale dudes are pretty amazing, too.