Gentlemen, start your engines!

On Thursday, I introduced Nathan to the great American tradition of the Pinewood Derby. He had some preconceived notions of what it would be like, namely he thought it was a soap box derby. While this would be infinitely more exciting than what actually happens, it was still an enjoyable evening. Nathan started off with his normally incredulous face, but after studying the merits of each car and discussing the mechanics of a winning carved block of wood on wheels he was drawing up plans in his head and designing his perfect garage to take State. He has already decided that two cars will be made for each tournament - one prototype to act as control and the final product. Here's hoping we never have sons!

In the end, it was one of my wolf's that brought the certificate with the 100 Grand candy bar taped to it proclaiming he was the winner. I have had few prouder moments.

Welcome to the world, baby boy!

My newest boyfriend, Ethan McLaughlin, joined the family today. Elton John was right about that circle of life thing. It's pretty cool.

Congratulations, Derek and Emily!

Serious questions for a serious time.

"Good enough...for you" or a horrible, horrible mistake.

‘Goonies’ Sequel An ‘Absolute Certainty,’ Says Astin

Back in August, the “Goonies” rumor mill went into overdrive when Corey Feldman revealed to MTV News that talks had resumed for a possible animated sequel to the classic 80s flick. Now his co-star Sean Astin has weighed in, exclaiming that as far as he’s concerned, “Goonies 2” is an “absolute certainty.”
“The writing’s on the wall when they’re releasing the [”Goonies”] DVD in such numbers,” enthused the fan-favorite actor, who garnered acclaim in such films as “Rudy” and “The Lord of the Rings” and is now appearing in the baseball epic “The Final Season.”
According to Feldman, numerous plotlines are floating around, with his favorite involving the children of the original Goonies embarking on an adventure of their own. That idea’s a home run for Astin, who says the real-life growth of the actors should factor heavily into a “Goonies 2.”
“Steven [Spielberg] and Dick [Donner] and all the powers that be … they really feel like the thing that made the movie strong was that it was about kids, so they really want to make the next movie about kids…the next generation of Goonies. And they’ve had a hard time tackling that.”
Like Feldman, Astin sees the passing of the torch concept to be a logical progression for the franchise. “I have three children,” he said, “and Corey’s got a kid now [too]. So as we now all have kids who are coming into the age that we were when we made the movie, it’s more likely to me that they’ll figure out how to design a story that will satisfy the older audience in terms of connecting with the original 1985 Goonies, and then [also] create this new thing.”
While Astin admits it’ll be difficult to recapture the magic, he’s confident that the “creative lightning” will strike that allows the project to move forward. “I remain as open-minded and willing to participate as I have ever been,” he declared.

God Bless Youtube.

Would someone explain to me why I think this is the funniest commercial I have seen in years? I seriously belly laugh every time I see it.



Not only can you look up great commercials on Youtube, you can introduce your English husband to every American kid's dream that was a child in the 80's.

Stacey was so Fergalicious!

I know this post is totally random, but enjoy!

Do you believe in improbabilities?

March should not be a difficult month. We have a couple of family birthdays, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, and (in Arizona) the weather is absolutely gorgeous. But then it happens. Like clockwork, I get an email with a link that leads me to this...

This is a hard day. It means that March Madness and almost certain humiliation are just around the corner. I should preface this by saying that until I receive my bracket I have almost zero interest in college basketball. All of my sporting attention is directed towards sending good vibes to my beloved Phoenix Suns. Once that bracket arrives, though, I am like Eisenhower plotting the invasion of Normandy - complete with sand charts and aerial maps. I listen to sports radio and look up the experts advice for some little clue or insight that will give me some kind of leg up. As yet, my planning has proven unsuccessful. Last year was the closest I came, only losing to Nathan in the second to last game. Curse you, Hoyas! I have filled out my bracket for this year and it looks pretty dull, to tell the truth. Not too many loops thrown in there. As for my prediction...

GO TAR HEELS!!!

(please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, etc.)

Ode To My Masseuse

(Nathan got me a spa day for Christmas and I finally got to use it. In celebration I wrote this little ditty.)

Oh, my masseuse.

Leann.

How do I count the ways?

Under cover of a dimly lit room

and an expertly tucked sheet,

You see the wide expanse of my broad, white, buttocks

not as a dimpled wasteland

But as a canvass on which to ply your art.

Baste me like a

Christmas Goose

And bake me for 60 minutes

Under the dulcet tones of

a pan pipe accompanied by crashing waves.

Make me forget that I am in a

J.C. Pennys.

Send me instead to Sweden, Shiatsu-land, warm towel-land

And let me die

as greasy as a pig in a rodeo.

Thank-you Nathan!

Beannachtai na Feile Padraig!

... or in other words, Happy Saint Patrick's Day! I hope that this day finds you all happy, healthy, and as lucky as can be. Enjoy the cabbage and corned beef and get yourself a copy of "The Quiet Man", one of my favorite movies ever. As for any friends from Ireland that might be checking out the blog today, a sincere apology for the bastardization of your patron saint. We just can't leave anything well enough alone!

By the way, enjoy the tunes. I thought it would be nice to feature some Irish artists this week.

I also thought it would be nice to close with a lovely phrase in Irish.

"Gheobhaidh tú gach eolas san bhileog."

Translation: You will get all the information in the leaflet.

Great-great Grandpa would be so proud.

Oh give me land, lot's of land...

When Nathan and I were first married, we toyed with the idea of buying a home. I will admit though that I was completely unprepared for the idea of contracting myself to a 30 year debt when I have spent my whole life shuffling from place to place. Now, however, that I have reached the lofty heights of my 30's - an age that completely prohibits me from ever appearing on a "Girls Gone Wild" video - I have started thinking that laying down some roots and slapping up some paint doesn't sound like such a terrifying idea anymore. It seems that the market agrees. This last weekend we went out and looked at some homes being built south of town. We had seem some of them last year, when the idea of going to India was still being tossed around as a possible alternative. We had found one that we really liked and had talked to the builder about what would be required to get us in. Then we found out that we were off to Delhi and that was that. So we decided to just see what prices are like now for fun. HOLY HANNAH! Let's just say that I could see Nathan mentally cashing out his 401k right there and then. Prices had dropped about 15% with all sorts of incentives. It was fantastic. We took a look at the homes and decided that they probably aren't really what we want now, but it was great to see the market finally going our way. Is it horrible that I actually have a moment of glee when I hear that foreclosure rates are skyrocketing? "Mwa-ha-ha!" she laughs devilishly while rubbing her hands as if to remove the imagined spot of blood...

By the way, when I was putting together a presentation for our ward Valentine's party I looked up a list of romantic couples on the web. One that they suggested was MacBeth and Lady MacBeth. Yeah. It kind of reminds me of when I was working at the bookstore and a boy came in looking for "Three Musketeers" by Alexandre Dumb-ass. You know, a little knowledge goes a long way.

We have also been having a blast with our Wii. Nathan traded our Call of Duty 3 for Guitar Hero with a co-worker this weekend, and we had at it. The first night was a bit frustrating for me as I was used to playing the bass on Rock Star which is much more on the regular beat as opposed to the lead guitar which is everywhere, but now I am hooked. We decided that we were going to muscle through the frustration by making the motto "Do you want to have fun, or do you want to be a Guitar Hero?!" our call to arms. It worked. My tennis game has also stepped up a notch although sometimes I get a little too into it and my arm ends up really sore. I just tell myself that this is what the Williams sisters had to deal with as well, but it all turned out great in the end for them. Oh Wii, where have you been all my life?

Love and Marriage

I had a serious a-ha moment the other day. And no, it did not involve a Norwegian band with a serious penchant for hitting ridiculously high notes while being chased through a pencil drawing by slightly older motorcycle riders brandishing wrenches. It was much more exciting than that. I was leaving my hotel room the other night to head down to a business dinner when I realized that Nathan was not there to hold my key and chap stick like he always does and I was going to have to come up with other arrangements. I'm not going to lie - it threw me for a bit of a loop. Now, this may seem like a small thing but it made me realize that Nathan and I are seriously married. I have, of course, realized that for the last five and a half years we have been legally and religiously recognized as a couple but at that moment I realized that our lives have become completely mangled with each others. I guess I no longer function as well on my own. I do much better when I know exactly where my chap stick is and that it is coming home with me when the dinner is over. What can I say? It may be messy and confusing at times, even deranged and terrifying, but I love my guy - my lip balm carrying man. This must be what J.Lo and Marc Anthony have...