dress shopping with Alex

Alex picked me up tonight, and Kelsey was with her. Ozzy was so happy to see both of them. But they didn't stay long. We got into Alex's car and drove over to the north east side, I think, to check out a Bridal store. 

They had already gone shopping one night, and Alex emailed me pictures, so I had an idea of what style she likes. She tried on four dresses tonight at the store, where we met her mom and her other sister, Paige. I'm not going to describe the dresses in detail because she still hasn't bought the dress, but there was one dress that she tried on that, when she came out, we all went "wow." I think that's a pretty good reaction. She had said the first time she tried it on only her sister was there and the reaction wasn't what she was hoping for. I like the dress a lot - her mom, her two sisters and Alex, too, but she has another store to check out. If this is the one she gets, Paige is the one to mention it - I can't wait to see the look in Josh's eyes the first time he sees her in this dress. It really reflects her personality. She looks beautiful in it. 

We finished up and headed back to J&A's house. Kelsey's car was there, and I stayed to hang out for a little while. Josh helped me by fixing my iPod nano which tends to just shut down as I use it in the car. I brought it back to life one time, and he did tonight. Alex downloaded the pics I took of her in the different dresses so I don't have to worry about how to email them (I use hi res) and we talked about blogs we have been reading. I mentioned Stuff White People Like, which I read about on CNN and checked out - it's pretty funny. And it turns out that Alex had checked it out just lately, too. Only she got there through the blog site passive-aggressivenotes.com. That's a funny site. I've been reading it since she left after bringing me home. 

When she did bring me home, we stopped at Arby's and got dinner, since Josh had already eaten, and brought it back to my house and we ate together and just talked. We hadn't spent a lot of time together for a while so it was great just to sit and catch up, and, as always with Alex, it's so easy and time flies so fast. Josh called three times before Alex actually left. I have such a good time when I talk with her. I love her so much and am so happy and lucky that Josh made such a good choice of partner. I have to admit that I didn't need a wedding ceremony, or a ceremony of any kind to feel like Alex was family, Josh's partner, or my daughter-in-law. I've felt that way for years. It seems so odd to think of women who think their sons pick women that they don't like (well, not so hard - that was my mother-in-law) or that put the son in an emotional tug of war. I'm so glad there is none of that. Whew - life is too short to have to live it that way. Josh and I are so lucky that he found Alex and her entire family. They're keepers!!

not busy, not busy

I didn't do much today, as is usual for "the day after." I talked to Michele and we played for a while on Rock Band. My time of not playing for the past week or so wasn't good for my playing and she really beat me bad, like she does more often than she would admit.

When we finally wore our important body parts out (her arm, my fingers) we called it quits and Ozzy and I went to do our running around. We went to the Wal Mart market, then to Walgreens and stopped at Sonic for dinner. There's still slush on the ground in the parking lots, which is interesting to drive in.

I haven't done any driving in slush since Colorado, really. And, my street isn't really that melted, so it's still pretty icy. Pulling into my driveway was fun, too. On a good day, about a third of the time, I end up stalling the car because I'm overly careful because the curb is so sharp. Tonight I did the same thing only restarting involved having to go over the curb and up a grade from a standstill. On hard packed icy stuff. Whee. I did make it, tho. When I got out of my car in the garage and walked around the front of my car, it did smell a little hot. Poor baby.

busy, busy

Josh called today and we met Alex at her work. Well, it didn't go quite that smooth. We had to go back to Josh's house cause he wasn't sure he latched the door. Then we had gone several miles from there and the alarm company called me to tell me that the motion sensor had gone off at my house, so we had to turn around and go home to turn that off. You know, Ozzy doesn't do that when I leave him alone, only when I leave with someone else. Josh reminded me that I leave through the front door when that happens. I should have known better than to set the alarm today because Sheba has been on a tear for the last 24 hours. She jumps up and off the bed and tears through the house, and she seems to entice Ozzy into chasing her. I'm sure that was when the alarm went off.

Anyway, after all that, and after picking up Alex from her job, we drove into downtown OKC and visited the Civic Music Center, to the Hall of Mirrors. Then we went on the the next couple of places - the rustic Farmers' Market and then the Petroleum  Club on the 35th floor of the Chase building. All interesting venues. I took the opportunity to take photos for the OKC photo blog page, and I think I got some good ones. We ate dinner in Bricktown, at Abuelo's and then we came home. We stopped at their house for a few minutes and got to see a few pictures of wedding pictures and play with the babies, and then went to the Best Buy by my house. I had never been there before. It's a nice one. Then home. A full afternoon and evening, some good photos, lots of fun with Josh and Alex, as usual. I think there are more venues to go to, which will be more fun, and wedding dresses on Friday.

today's weather

This isn't snow, it's sleet. I could actually hear it hitting the house last night, along with a clap of thunder somewhere along the way. Thunder sleet. I had never heard of thunder snow, or sleet, until a few years ago. Anyway, it sounded like someone throwing course sand at the house. At least it was less slick today then the ice we had yesterday.

Not much posting because not much has been going on. I haven't been online a lot, and I haven't been outside a lot. I did do to the University of Oklahoma campus and drive around a little bit, took a few pictures. It was pretty warm then, and it was only a couple of days ago. 

Ozzy is fine with the weather because it isn't wet outside. He didn't pause one second to trot out into the sleet. When it's raining I always get at least one evil (for Ozzy) eye at the door. And the sleet is so solid, and he is so light, that he barely left any footprints.

I keep testing the mat out front to see how frozen it is. I don't know why but I never thought about it freezing until yesterday when I decided to check the mail. I don't know why because, in my head, I had decided it could wait a few days, then I changed my mind. I looked out the door and thought I could identify the icy spots. Wrong-o. I took one step and down I went. My feet didn't sweep out - one went one way and the other buckled under so I basically sat down really hard on my knee. I iced it, and my lower back really good last night so it's all good. I actually scraped my knee through my sweats (good trick), so it's a little more sore, but it's not even bruised. 

The news said that there were 126 emergency calls for slips on the ice yesterday - it happens so quick. They showed a bit about the postal workers, and the guy showed the strap-on hooks for their shoes that the Post Office issues, yet one of the most seriously injured was a Postal worker who hit her head when she fell. Snow is so much easier to deal with than the ice. 

Oath in 3D

There's a feature at CNN.com called Photosynth. It's a Microsoft application that you have to download, but after you do you have an incredible view of the inauguration. What it does is take all of the digital shots that have been uploaded to CNN.com and integrate them into one big 360 degree shot that you control. I don't think it's exactly the definition of 3D, but it's fun to play with. Because it's digital you can zoom in and see the faces of the dignitaries and celebrities, and the expressions on the faces of the Obama's, and the Bush's, should that be your choice. You can also go out into the vast audience and "people watch" from your laptop into a moment captured in time. Really fascinating. I tried to see if I could read what was on the music stands of the Marine Corps Band, but I guess you can only do that in the movies and on TV. 

Inauguration day

Oh dear, it's three a.m. and here I am on the computer and wide awake again. And I was doing so well. I blame it on the Girl Scouts and the President. That makes sense, doesn't it? Unfortunately, you probably said, "Yes, for you." Sigh. Here comes the explanation.

Being a huge fan of the talking heads, and since there is so much inaugural trivia being bandied about, I've had the coverage on all day, and still have it on. I've got my alarm set for early this morning (well, later this morning), so I can watch it, but now that's a bit in jeopardy. 

This afternoon the doorbell rang. There was a little bitty girl there being prompted by her two eager parents with a stroller. She was selling.... Girl Scout cookies. Her Troop was asking her, her mother told me, to sell 72 boxes - this one little girl! 72 boxes! Holy cow! The mom said they had never gone door to door before but what are you going to do? So, I did my part and bought, of course, the thin mints and also a box of shortbread. The mom laughed and said that was what most people had been getting. I think they had stocked up on those. Smart woman. She had loaded up the stroller with the cookies. No ordering and getting the cookies later. Immediate satisfaction. I have had many thin mints tonight. Too many (not so many as to be ashamed, too many to fall asleep. Stupid caffeine.)

So, other than a trip to Sonic for dinner, I've been watching the coverage for two days straight. And will watch it all day tomorrow. How can you not watch it? I'm a political junkie? pop culture junkie? Both. 

Enough. I'm going to turn the computer off and try to go to sleep. Turn off the TV?Umm, probably not. But I'll turn it down reallly low. 

listening to talking heads

Once again can't believe it's been so long since I've posted. I'm not going to try to play catch up. Nothing much has happened, and too much. I was going to post one day while I was watching TV, and that was the day the plane landed in the Hudson, Roland Burris was sworn is as the Junior Senator from Illinois and the new Attorney General designate was being questioned by the Senate. So much to comment on. So much going through my head that nothing came out.

I'm watching the coverage from Washington, DC. The Mall is teeming with people who are there to participate in the free concert and to see Obama. The Inauguration is going to be crazy. I'm glad that I have had a chance to see the Mall and the surrounding area without all the people so I have some perspective. I'm not going to discuss politics, but it's nice to have, and to see, the country have hope. We're in the middle of so many difficult times but we finally have a man of principles who is guided by inner morals not by a power hungry Vice President. 

Okay, I won't go into that. Bush is gone and back on the ranch and not a day too soon. We all have our own opinions.

****News Flash*** The Cardinals are going to the Super Bowl. Bidwell always said they would be a winning team when they had their own stadium. I guess he was right.