tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26863347746352706532024-02-07T14:32:28.442-06:00Cellar DoorThehackbarthjourneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08140567679107662214noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686334774635270653.post-58514744851102391732014-08-10T22:32:00.004-05:002014-08-10T23:09:57.426-05:00Tenho saudades tuas. There is little doubt that much of how we were raised - people, experiences, culture, etc. therein - equates to the molding of who we become. At the very least, it serves as heavy influence to who we decide to become. But there seems to be very few circumstances which are so heavy, sobering, and reality-shattering that a single one can rock our worlds and permanently bend our character to move against the grain of everyday life as we would otherwise have lived it.<br />
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Tonight I am remembering one of a couple of my own 'circumstances' and feeling the weight of it. My heart is just aching with what could have been and words left unsaid.</div>
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We must never put off for tomorrow what deserves to be said and accomplished today. Cherish and <i>appreciate</i> those you love as if you wouldn't have them tomorrow, and you will gift your loved ones the love they deserve. We must love with an 'Agape' love: an unconditional, sacrificial and selfless love. Should there be any other kind? If we give anything only to expect something in return, is it simply not just the conduction of business?<br />
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"Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." ~ Proverbs 16:24</div>
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The expression of love is the music to our savage beasts. Go hug someone.</div>
Thehackbarthjourneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08140567679107662214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686334774635270653.post-84442405170635397582014-07-08T23:13:00.000-05:002014-07-08T23:16:19.465-05:00Free.There is something so remarkably liberating about reaching a level of maturity, experience, and clarity that allows oneself to shake off concern for the world's perception of the individual. It feels like a breath of fresh air...or like a great deep inhale/exhale of crisp, fresh air to finally give myself permission to just <i>stop</i> being so concerned about allowing too much of who I am to show to certain people. I always new that I shouldn't worry about what others thought of me, but I could never convince my spirit...always shy by nature. As long as I keep strong persevering in faith and love above all else, there is nothing to be ashamed of. I am a colorful individual, and I'm tired of hiding it. Frankly, I've just gotten bored of this cage.<br />
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That's me with the dumb knee braces on :)....I ran a marathon nearly 3 years ago, but never went through photos until now. The only event to top this for showing myself what God's children are truly capable of was muscling through a 42 hour difficult natural labor. We are fearfully and wonderfully made....there is no reason to settle in life; no reason to back down against adversity for adversity's sake; no reason to hide the quirks and interests and talents that make you <i>you</i>.</div>
<br />Thehackbarthjourneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08140567679107662214noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686334774635270653.post-11727065146517276802013-09-26T23:20:00.003-05:002013-09-26T23:34:04.047-05:00Hard Lessons Learned<div style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">
<span class="text Heb-12-4"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">"</span><span class="versenum" style="vertical-align: top;">In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text Heb-12-4"><span class="versenum" style="vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">'My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text Heb-12-4"><span class="versenum" style="vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text Heb-12-4"><span class="versenum" style="vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text Heb-12-4"><span class="versenum" style="vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.' " </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text Heb-12-4"><span class="versenum" style="vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Hebrews 12:4-6</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> This is a term many of us are all-too familiar with: deep, dark, gut-wrenching, heavy, confusing, mind-numbing anguish that shakes the soul and tests our foundation. The first mystery that we as humans in such situations are inevitably determined to solve is: "why?". When hit with suffering, there is such a blow to our senses that we forget what God has emphasized time and time again throughout His word. He knows that for all the duration of mankind's existence, as captives to our emotions, we will need extra encouragement and teachings on the subject of discipline through suffering and how that equates to His love for us.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> The scripture cited above is a prime example of the encouragement which God yearns for us to understand that hard times do NOT mean an abandonment of God and do NOT mean that God hates you. The quotation within the quotation is taken from Proverbs, used in the book of Hebrews to then reiterate this important lesson. Because God <i>needs</i> us to realize, at the very least, that He is allowing us to <i>endure</i> hardships so that we may gain <i>endurANCE.</i> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> Example.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> This past year, I had gone through one of the worst, if not <i>the</i> worst, tests of faith and trust in God yet. I will spare the details for privacy and the attempt at keeping the example as uncomplicated as possible, because the 'meat' of the issue was that I dearly wanted something to happen and prayed for God to grant it. I prayed for it ad nauseam. It was what I thought to be a very selfless wish, and therefore did not understand why days upon weeks upon months of intense prayer did not grant me what I longed for. In fact, things got worse! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> I broke down. A lot. I begged. A lot. I plead for mercy. I plead for answers.... Nothing. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> As I was beginning to lose hope - my faith and resolve bloodied and beaten on the floor of my spirit - God began to redirect my path. Praise the Lord for His mercy in these hours of darkness, because instead of giving up on me, whom had begun giving up on Him, he gave me hints. As long as I kept searching for meaning in this situation, hints were more than enough.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> The first sign came one evening, as tears welled up and I began to pray. My prayer was simple: "Lord, why are you allowing me to go through this?" And the strangest yet most amazing thing happened - almost before I could even finish uttering this question, one word came to me. A single word spoken into my mind: "<i><b>Patience</b></i>." It was so dissociated from my own thoughts and I was taken aback by the abruptness of it. I knew that God had delivered the answer to my prayer, instantly. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> I was shocked. However, somehow it didn't relieve me much - I was still dealing with the problem at hand and God's answer to me meant that this was a complicated issue to which I better figure another way around, other than God simply whisking it away - poof! So I needed to learn more patience, and fast. So I worked at it. And worked and worked and worked, always in prayer. Nothing changed.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> The second sign came when after some time had passed and I was not noticing any fruits of my diligent prayerful requests and practice of patience. Now at this point in time I was broken. If any human can even come close to tangibly feeling a rip in their soul, I felt it. The pain felt real and was numbing, always. Allow me to preface what I am about to attest to by explaining that God has been extremely gracious to me throughout my life that when I have been in dire need of answers or encouragement, so long as I had been seeking answers through Him, He would blatantly provide them. This could mean I would randomly open up my Bible and the first thing I read would be an answer to what was troubling my heart at that moment in time, or attending church and the sermon was written as if speaking <i> directly</i> to me in that very specific situation at that moment in time. And I'm not referring to how sometimes some lessons can be applied to a multitude of situations - I am referring to specifics. That is exactly what happened for this second sign that ultimately was the one to wake me up and redirect my path to where God wanted to lead me the whole time.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> During these days, it was always a struggle to get my husband, baby and I to church on time. I was just terrible with trying to coordinate an unpredictably sleepy/hungry/sometimes fussy newborn with driving 30 minutes to get to church on time early on Sunday mornings. So needless to say, in those early days we weren't able to make it happen much. Well one Sunday, we actually made it happen. We all got to church, and the sermon was a message directly to me again. The pastor began preaching about hardships in our lives and why we can pray and pray and pray and nothing seems to come of it. He began to explain that perhaps our focal point is off; perhaps we aren't praying for the right thing. We get so caught up in praying for God to take away our plights that we don't stop wishing away our problems long enough to realize that we are experiencing them <i>for a life-altering purpose</i>. He preached that God doesn't want our <i>situation</i> to change, He wants <u style="font-style: italic;">us</u> to change. He wants <u style="font-style: italic;">us</u>. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> It was as if a light bulb went on in my head; of course! It made so much sense! While I was busy trying to emulate some astronomical amount of patience that I felt God required of me for this situation, while praying for it to be corrected, I was missing the point that oftentimes we are not <i>capable</i> of enduring and growing from hardships using our own strength <i>without</i> God's help.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> That night I spoke to God and lay bare my soul, submitting to the fact that I don't have the answer for why this is happening - but <u style="font-style: italic;">I will trust in you, Lord</u>, that for a test on my faith and spirit so rigorous, it must be extremely important. So I prayed again - not for an answer and not a plea to put an end to this plight, but instead for the strength, patience, understanding, compassion, perseverance and love to uphold me and mold me through this dark time. I confessed that I didn't know why He was choosing to allow what was going on, but that I was going to trust Him that it is only for good, even though I could not fathom what that good may have been....</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span class="text Rom-8-26" id="en-NIV-28143"><span class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">"</span>In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit<span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28143AZ" title="See cross-reference AZ">AZ</a>)"></span> himself intercedes for us<span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28143BA" title="See cross-reference BA">BA</a>)"></span> through wordless groans. </span><span class="text Rom-8-27" id="en-NIV-28144">And he who searches our hearts<span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28144BB" title="See cross-reference BB">BB</a>)"></span> knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes<span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28144BC" title="See cross-reference BC">BC</a>)"></span> for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. </span></span><span class="text Rom-8-28" id="en-NIV-28145" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">And we know that in all things God works for the good<span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28145BD" title="See cross-reference BD">BD</a>)"></span> of those who love him, who have been called<span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28145BE" title="See cross-reference BE">BE</a>)"></span> according to his purpose."</span></div>
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<span class="text Rom-8-28" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28145BF" title="See cross-reference BF">BF</a>)"></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">-Romans 8:26-28 </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> And it worked.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> Not right away - not like some magic trick, no. But once I gave the Lord permission into my heart again, He began to shape and mold me into a much better version of me. In time, He even took away my burden and blessed me what seems to be tenfold. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> Lesson learned.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> We are loved. Plain and simple. We are not meant to needlessly suffer - <u style="font-style: italic;">ever</u>. When we find ourselves weighted down by troubles that don't seem to go away, we need to not only pray but re-examine ourselves and what exactly we are praying for. Try to understand why God may be allowing you to endure this test, and when our human understanding fails - just trust. Trust that there is very good reason for which you suffer. Cultivate something positive from it. Don't let it destroy you and whittle you down to a frail toothpick of a soul - let it carve beautiful and intricate impressions in your surface that tell the world who you are and where you've been and that you are a much better version of yourself for it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> Hebrews goes on to say, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. Make level paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.</b>"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">- Hebrews 12:11-13</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our character really shines in how we choose to react to tough situations. We can choose to let it cripple, corrupt, and deteriorate who we are, or allow these "life" experiences to enrich, develop, and deepen our integrity of good character. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">"My child, do not reject the Lord's discipline,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">and don't get angry when he corrects you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The Lord corrects those he loves,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">just as parents correct the child they delight in."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">- Proverbs 3:11-12</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">I'll leave it at that for now. It's late and I'm starting to go cross-eyed from sleepiness :)!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"> Good night all. Be well and God bless.</span></div>
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Thehackbarthjourneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08140567679107662214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686334774635270653.post-40321265050024126342013-08-11T08:58:00.000-05:002013-08-11T08:58:42.209-05:00Good Morning, Sunshine! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Philip slept very poorly for the first 6.5 months. He only wanted to sleep either in my arms or eventually, in his swing. If he were in his swing, he would rarely sleep more than 3 hours at a time even. With our doctor warning us that he should be sleeping in his crib so that he can stretch out and move about as he needs, we naturally were anxious and desperate to get him to sleep in his crib. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Philip decided that he loved his lovely crib....to play in. That's about it. At first, after many different tactics, I could get him to sleep in the crib for 2 hour chunks at a time. I figured in time he would sleep longer and longer. Nope. He actually got worse to the point that I would spend hours upon hours trying to have him fall asleep in my arms, do the transfer, and he would instantly wake and begin crying relentlessly. Uugh....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> When he reached 6.5 months, and I had tried <i>every</i> no-cry solution known to womankind in various forms and various combinations, I realized in my bleary eyed and minded state, that our family was in a sleep-deprived crisis and I needed to kick it up a notch for the sake of my entire family. My son was depriving himself of much needed rest and we were chronically sleep-deprived and suffering as a whole. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> I am absolutely against abandoning your child in the middle of the night to let him scream and cry himself to sleep, so when I say that I researched every no-cry sleep solution known to womankind, I meant it. I went through several books, numerous forums and internet searches, testimonials, etc. I tried it <i>all</i>. Disheartening at best, as I simply wanted to spare my child from any negative associations with sleep. But desperate times called for desperate measures.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Now that I knew my son and knew what made him tick, for the most part, I began developing a bit of a tougher sleep training method comprised of various parts of the techniques I had read worked for other moms. And you know what? I got him to sleep in his crib the first night. By night two and three, he was sleeping peacefully up to 7-8 hours at a time! Within several weeks, he would sleep <i>completely</i> through the night from 8pm to 6 am. <i>Unbelievable</i>. I could not and still find it difficult to believe this is my child!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Here's what I did, in case you are curious:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> By 6.5 months, I knew two things that allowed me to do what I did successfully and psychologically healthfully: #1: the issues Philip had with sleeping were behavioral and habitual; he never had collic(thank you God) or reflux issues, and #2: he was old enough and beyond psychologically developed enough to understand who we were and that when we leave his presence, we would be coming back - especially if he were to need us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> We started out with quiet time/music time a little before bed, got him into jammies, and read him a book (having bath time helps, too). I then nursed him and when he was finished, I didn't wait for him to fall into a deep sleep before laying him in the crib with a breathable blanket pulled up to his chest. He fussed. Aaaand fussed. What I have found out in my research is that with this fussing and crying, it is only protesting. They are kind of saying: "hey I don't know how to fall asleep like this....I'm pretty sure I need you to help me fall asleep via nursing/pacifier/rocking/etc." The object is to <i>teach</i> them how to fall asleep like this; to be able to soothe themselves into sweet slumber.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> So I would allow Philip to fuss for 5 minutes with me out of the room, then I would go back in, pick him up and shoosh and sway him until he quieted down again (not necessarily until he was asleep again) and put him back into his crib after a minute or two of that. He would begin to fuss, but I'd leave the room. We continued this interval pick up/put down of a few 5 minute intervals, then 7's, then 13's....and I'd go in a bit sooner if he really got himself worked up into a serious cry. This went on just under two hours the first night, but then he slept for 4 hours at a time right away. I couldn't believe it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> The second night...same ritual, but it only took 30 minutes. Third night, 20 minutes. By the fourth night, 10 minutes. Fifth or sixth night, no fussing at all - he just grabbed his blanky, turned to his side and closed his eyes to sleep! Was this <i> my </i>child?? Why yes! I realized the importance of what I had taught him: that it is good to sleep on his own and that if he truly needs Mommy, I would return to him at whatever hour of the day/night. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Now, he loves to sleep in his crib. He can roll around and switch positions throughout the night to suit his comfort, stretch out and play with one of two stuffed animals I have in there for him if he needs some down time before falling asleep. And best part, he is <i>so</i> much more well-rested and so are we! This is what a growing little mind needs: sleeeeep and lots of it. Now, he only waked once, maybe twice a night if he is teething real bad or if his tummy hurts (starting solids is a new challenge to the digestive system). Amazing!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> I felt so guilty those first few nights, but now I see what a great benefit this is for him and our whole family and that teaching him to sleep on his own is truly the best gift I have given him yet. Steven and I finally have hours of free time together after he goes to sleep, so we can strengthen and preserve our marital relationship, not to mention me-time(wow, nearly forgot what that was!), cleaning time, and projects-time...after having nearly none of that for 6.5 months! Aaah, liberation :). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> I have no regrets. I would not have tried what I did sooner than 6 months. I am satisfied that I educated myself thoroughly and tried every no-cry solution before resorting to a "fuss"-it-out with check-ins from mommy when I knew he was cognitively ready to understand what was going on and create positive associations with sleep.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> In other news, I spotted this really cool Katydid on the side of my work building. It was about 3 inches long:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmQS046gYOvKk0fUokeSyFAxkjp8pGOUVcGXHQrexSrKrW3d1I4Nx6Y96o2-P_pONudXVaBoXrz9BYJhxth8VkJhCqqn-cX06J_Jl42eSaRWYhP2QfNNDYSY-M3QYwQBh9ToxYeuEO5WX5/s1600/0810131332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmQS046gYOvKk0fUokeSyFAxkjp8pGOUVcGXHQrexSrKrW3d1I4Nx6Y96o2-P_pONudXVaBoXrz9BYJhxth8VkJhCqqn-cX06J_Jl42eSaRWYhP2QfNNDYSY-M3QYwQBh9ToxYeuEO5WX5/s320/0810131332.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I love bugs! I had to laugh to myself because obviously, our amazing Creator designed the Katydid to camouflage amongst green plant life, but He did not allow this disguise to be fool-proof, as this particular little guy decided not to use it wisely: it was about 2 feet from being perfectly camouflaged with grape leaves/vines of the same color....it chose to instead park itself smack dab in the middle of this pure white side paneling. Oye...</div>
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Aaand....here's a fluffy bunny I spotted two days ago in our back yard:</div>
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I definitely did a double-take with this one. A plump white rabbit with chocolate points, grazing in our yard with her wee little one (brown and speckled with larger-than-normal ears). </div>
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Ah, Wisconsin wildlife!</div>
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Thehackbarthjourneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08140567679107662214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686334774635270653.post-41337996149202299872013-08-10T21:49:00.001-05:002013-08-10T21:49:45.618-05:00And Finally, the Birth Story... <br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Brace yourselves, this is a long and detailed story:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> It was Thursday January 3rd and I was a week overdue. It was also the day of another doctor appointment...however, this would be the appointment where we would seriously need to have the induction discussed and planned in case pregnancy went even longer (we had come to an agreement to go two weeks late before medical intervention, since I was a low-risk pregnancy).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> I was so depressed and filled with much anxiety as I have been a natural birth advocate for years before ever even becoming pregnant. I hadn't even shown any major signs of labor being near by this point.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> So I went to my doctor's appointment and it took every bit of strength in me to hold back the tears as she told me I was only 1.5 cm dilated and about 60% effaced. Granted, I knew that those numbers mean little (I have heard many stories of women jumping from 0 to 8 cm in a day), but when you are the one swimming in desperation with time running out and everything you believe in being threatened by the medical world, you can't help but be discouraged by such low numbers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> My doctor basically began treating the situation as an inevitable induction and even wanted me to tell her what method I would use so she could put in the order that day for the meds - to which I refused to decide in my shock at her brazenness. She didn't seem to like that and began questioning why I wanted a natural birth so badly (will never go back to this doctor). I could sense her irritation and it left me feeling quite betrayed as she had me believing that she was a natural birth supporter throughout my pregnancy. Towards the end, the signs had surmounted to prove otherwise, such as: when she confessed that she would rather be medically induced than drink any amount of castor oil to induce labor naturally, and also wanted to induce me several days earlier than agreed upon because she was going on vacation that weekend. Hah....I told her no, I would rather give my child the extra few days to make his appearance and I would just utilize a different doctor. After all, <i>I</i> was going to be doing all the work, so what did it matter?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> I left the appointment feeling so discouraged. Every pregnant woman knows how each day after the due date can feel like an eternity of anxiety and hopefulness, while the span of the two week count down until induction (if you're lucky enough to be allowed that much time) is never long enough - a blink of an eye. So, I basically felt like my time was already up, even though I had another week before any medical intervention.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> I broke down in the car on the way home. Steven was driving and trying to console me, simultaneously. Poor fella. I texted my doula to update her and expressed my overwhelming concerns. Once she realized how emotional and worried I had become, she advised me to go buy clarey sage oil and rub it on my belly and bottoms of feet. She also referred me to an acupuncturist who is also a doula and experienced in pregnancy/induction acupuncture. Without questioning a single word, I booked my appointment with the acupuncturist for the following day and drove with Steven out to Menomonee Falls to buy some Clarey Sage oil.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Upon arriving home, I nearly immediately bathed in the smelly oil. (gave myself a headache). I took a bath to relax (adding more oil to that), and the wonderful husband gave me a foot rub with still more oil. Then...bed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Before I fell asleep, I prayed and I prayed hard. I begged and I pleaded with God to <i>please</i> let this little boy come into the world as He intended; beautifully, naturally, healthfully. I wanted God to choose my son's birthday, <i>not</i> the hospital staff. Medical intervention is a blessing for those that truly need it, but I was blessed with such a healthy pregnancy, there were no signs that I was one of those women that would actually need any part of it. And so I fell asleep. But not for long!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> I had begun to wake up periodically to intense cramping, but went back to sleep not thinking too much of it. When I awoke at 6 am to feel the cramping intensify and prove to be regulated, I got reeeaaally happy! I tried not to get myself too psyched - since it was still possible that it may be false labor. I didn't tell my doula until that afternoon on the 4th that I was experiencing contractions about 15-25 minutes apart and not too uncomfortable yet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> We kept up communication throughout the day as the contractions turned into 10-15 minutes apart with a lot of dull lower back aching. But then there seemed to be no progress beyond that...they didn't get any closer together but did get more intense. It wasn't until later in the day that she realized that my now intense back pain was because I was having "back labor," i.e. the baby was posterior. So with each contraction, baby was pressing against my spine. This gave way for aching even in between contractions, so I didn't get much of any breaks! She instructed me of some stretches to do that could shift the baby into better positioning to allow labor to move forward. She said that the reason why I wasn't progressing any further was because my uterus was too busy trying to get Philip to flip into correct position with each contraction.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> After hours of stretching and holding awkward positions over our exercise ball, couch, or floor, it worked! I no longer felt searing, firey back pain through each one. Still, they were about 10 minutes apart at that point, around 1 - 2 am. So we did our best to go to sleep. Steven slept for a bit while I slept a few minutes at a time in between contractions (absolutely awful...I know). I was <i>so</i> exhausted from the full day and night of laboring that I even slept for about 1.5 - 2 hours <i>through</i> contractions! I do remember dreaming about feeling contractions, so I didn't escape them entirely, alas...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> When we awoke at about 8 am on Saturday the 5th, they had spread out to about 15 minutes apart again -<i>aargh</i>! However, within 1 - 2 hours after waking, they sped up to 8 - 10 minutes apart and intensified quickly. The bad part was that I was having back labor again and the stretches weren't helping this time - stubborn little guy!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> When contractions got to be around 6 minutes apart, we had our doula come over to our house to see us through the rest of labor (around 2 pm that day). She guided me through meditation, relaxation and breathing techniques through each contraction as they were getting to the point I could no longer talk through them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> She massaged my back and tried to help move the baby around by using acupressure during each contraction. It began to hurt <i>so </i>bad! Mostly the back pain, though. The contraction itself was painful but bearable. Steven even felt my spine being pushed and moved when I would contract! Yikes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Fast forward to about 7:30- 8 pm. After hours of watching <i>Anthony Bourdain's: A Cook's Tour</i> on Hulu, Steven making dinner for himself and the doula, and me suffering so much that all I could stomach were energy health bars and lots of water and coconut water (hooray electrolytes), labor had progressed to about 3 minutes apart and I could barely stand anymore (only if clutching onto Steven - strong guy, thank you Lord).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> We packed up the car and headed to the hospital! Every bump in the road felt like death to me, but I remember reminding Steven to please drive safely and carefully....he did very well!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> We arrived at the hospital, I got into a wheel chair and wheeled all the way to Labor & Delivery (a long haul). Then.....they made me wait in the lobby for about 30 minutes. Let's just say that I didn't try to quiet myself during each contraction for the sake of others in the lobby....I figured it'd expedite the process ;).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> By the time I got to the room I was 6 cm and 100% effaced. I admit I felt a bit discouraged, as the pain was such that I felt I was ready to go! My doula assured me that it could change quite quickly from there. Boy was she right...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> I just did my best to focus on not only breathing in but breathing out (surprisingly difficult). My doula continued to coach me through each contraction to help me channel my breathing into a steady "oooo" sound, which worked marvelously!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Steven played the pre-arranged "Loreena McKennit"-themed radio station on Pandora in the background.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> As I requested, the nurses prepared the whirlpool for me. They all appeared very nervous that I would have the baby in the tub, which is a big no-no in Wisconsin. I assured them this wouldn't happen, while my doula and I joked off to the side together that it wouldn't be a bad idea - it'd be quite perfect actually.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So I hopped into that....and by 'hopped' I mean slooowly shuffled my way down the hall to the whirlpool room and sloooowly and completely ungracefully climbed into the tub, which seemed all-too impossibly high for my laboring parts to heave into. Luckily, the husband and nurses were quite helpful.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Surprisingly, it wasn't the most comfortable thing at the time, so I only spent 15 minutes in there; way too hot and terribly designed to sit it (probably done on purpose to avoid moms from getting too comfy and having water babies). I returned to my room (very slowly) and spent the rest of labor in there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> At 8 cm, my water had not yet popped and so I gave my blessing to do so, thankfully relieving so much pressure and skyrocketing me to 10 cm. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Time to push.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Boom. Baby. Seriously...it was that quick after being given the go-ahead to push. I remember thinking of how weakened, malnourished, dehydrated, and sleep-deprived I was at that point - I could feel myself fading and seconds from fainting. It was in that same moment that survival and protection mode kicked in: 'Momma bear' instinct had begun and I told myself that I had not come this far and suffered this much to let my body give up at the very end! I could not fail my child and compromise his safety. I <i>had</i> to keep going somehow. I mustered up all the strength I had left in me (I had no idea where it came from - truly from God above because I was long spent) and I pushed...he was out in 5 minutes. I didn't even know that was not normal until my doula informed me that usually it takes at least an hour of pushing...the staff had not even changed into the proper scrubs yet (oops, sorry). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> My blood pressure was below 100 now, but in my dizzied daze I clutched onto this tiny new little person that was suddenly beholden to me: my little Philip Elwood Gottlieb. All the pain literally disappeared. It was just me and him. He was so beautiful; so perfect; <i>so</i> miraculous.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> He held his head up right from the get-go and was crying a healthy, powerful cry - what a voice! What strength!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> I was so in love, and by that same token, so intimidated by him. I knew my life had changed instantly and I wanted nothing more than to pour my heart and soul into this little new soul and be everything he deserved me to be...but I was afraid I would not be good enough. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Now, as he is 7 months old, I still hold myself to that high standard, but I also have come to realize over this time that it is precisely that which makes me the mother that Philip needs; one who loves him with an endless, ever-growing love, whom is always at work to better herself and embody the role model he needs in this journey of life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Stats:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">born - January 6th, 2013 </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(Epiphany Baby!!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">@ - 12:27 am </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">weight - 8 lbs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">height - 19.5 in</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">hair/eyes - dark brown/slate blueish grey</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">skin - olive</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And here's a cute picture of teeny tiny Philip on his baptismal day (1/20/13), with us and his Godparents :</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span>Thehackbarthjourneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08140567679107662214noreply@blogger.com2Milwaukee, WI, USA43.0389025 -87.90647360000002742.6676395 -88.551920600000031 43.4101655 -87.261026600000022tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686334774635270653.post-46102853545622603692013-07-30T09:31:00.001-05:002013-07-30T09:31:21.046-05:00If I could put time in a baby bottle... Good gracious, it's been a while!<br />
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Where do I start? Where did I leave off? Well.....<br />
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introducing the newest member of clan Hackbarth: Philip Elwood Gottlieb!</div>
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Our dear son was born January 6th, 2013. Birth story to follow in a future post as a whole lot happened in my 42 hours of labor! </div>
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We bought a house. I have a new job. Husband is in school at the University to finish his Electrical Engineering degree. I'm starting an Etsy business. We had a dog for a week. Grimm kitty is still Grimm kitty. Marriages have happened in the family. But mainly, the most life-altering event has been the addition of our son, and we couldn't be happier!</div>
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People have always said that having children changes you and that you just don't understand until you have one of your own. I always figured this was quite true, as you are suddenly responsible for a whole new host of duties to another human being....but that's not it. It's not as simple as simply taking on more responsibilities or even suddenly adding another person to the list of people you love. It is so much deeper than that; it's truly spiritual. Out of the love of two separate human souls, is created the miracle of a brand new soul and given the breath of life by God himself. Through nearly 10 months, I played house for this little life as he grew strong enough and developed enough to be brought into the 'outside.' Every fiber of my being is stitched within him and not only do I see him as my son, my child, but as an extension of myself and Steven, love in tangible form. Philip is love itself; a gift from the most loving of all: God the Father. To be blessed and trusted enough to be Philip's mother is truly the greatest blessing and privilege I have ever received. </div>
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No longer are my thoughts my own, as they are constantly with Philip; loving, wondering, planning, thinking, worrying, praying, etc... Not a moment goes by that he isn't at the forefront of my mind. Steven's Aunt Judy tells me that this will never change, even as her children have all become adults with families of their own. Extraordinary is the love of a mother for her children!</div>
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Uh oh...baby waking from nap. Gotta go! To be continued...</div>
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Thehackbarthjourneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08140567679107662214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686334774635270653.post-56500211904810884732010-05-22T21:51:00.000-05:002010-05-22T21:51:10.682-05:00A Forgotten Poem.... The other day I was weeding out files from my laptop, in desperate hopes that it may run a little bit smoother afterwards, when I found this poem I had written August 20th of last year, 2009. Here she be:<br />
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Walk with me; glide - through silken darknesses of the evening;<br />
shadows carress our skin and illuminate our hearts,<br />
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Ripping winds lay our souls bare against the street lights, begging for mercy....<br />
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Dead skin and bones slow their movement, but the embers of our beating hearts race to find one another.<br />
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Almost there.<br />
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Time is running out, but our pieces stitch together somehow, before all is lost...and then all is gained.<br />
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</div>Thehackbarthjourneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08140567679107662214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686334774635270653.post-24285326080497340602010-05-22T21:37:00.000-05:002010-05-22T21:37:13.089-05:00Zombie nomie nah...eh eh!Ok ok ok.....<br />
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After <i>much</i> deliberating (since my last post, practically), I've decided that while tying myself down with trying to produce one great photo per day for this year, I'm going to break FREE of those chains and convert it into an all-encompassing "2010" album.<br />
I feel bad since I <i>kinda</i> feel like a quitter. Then I think about why I made this decision; how I came to not ending, but altering my project (that sounds better, right?). At first I loved the challenge of finding normal, every-day things to photograph and inscribe into tangible memory. However, I started to get frustrated with this, as there were *quite* a few days in which I had been busy from morning until night (and there goes my excellent lighting anyhow) and then was too exhausted to think of anything even remotely artistic to put into pixels.<br />
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So I'm done with restrictions! And it feels so good :). Also, I may or may not be double-posting the pictures on this blog akin to the ones I post on FaceBook. After some self-evaluation, I figured out that I needed to start this blog to have a place to put other, random thoughts. I don't want <i>any</i> obligations - even something so insignificant as reposting pictures from FB.<br />
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NOW....on to more interesting future posts ;] .<br />
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CiaoThehackbarthjourneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08140567679107662214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686334774635270653.post-77214302705105449412010-04-14T19:24:00.000-05:002010-04-14T19:24:33.986-05:00The Road Goes Ever On and On....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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My bestest friendest Emilyest sent me this brilliant postcard - received today! Yep. Even them Jack Rabbits are bigger in Texas.<br />
Poor cattle; ever the brunt of tipping, poking, and punching.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">April 7, 2010<br />
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Here be the fixin's for my Black Bean Dip a la Hackbarth :). Normally I cook dry black beans for any recipe calling for them, but I was a little short on time to make this for dinner - so Bush's will have to do! I also usually add Cilantro, but going to the store without a list in hand does not serve me well. Oops.<br />
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Yum! Healthy, homemade, and economical; can't beat that for good eats.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">April 8, 2010<br />
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I didn't have much free time today. Work. Gym. Work on compiling a few quizzes to help my brother study for his computerized driving tests. That's about it! That's ok though; at least it was all productive business!<br />
Here's Grimm taking a nap on our bamboo place-mats on the dining room table next to me. No matter where I am, there he is also. He's so sweet :).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">April 9, 2010<br />
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Steven and I went to the Antique Mall in Waukesha and found two small treasures! I got 2.5 yards of flowery lace (to be used for some future undetermined project), and this 'Robin Hood' book which is two years shy of being 100 years old! We thought that was pretty much amazing, so we grabbed that right away.<br />
It was printed in 1912. When we delicately paged through it, I noticed that the pages with pictures on them had no writing on the opposite sides, meaning that printers back then must not have been sophisticated enough to do double-sided printing with pictures+text. Neat!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">April 10, 2010<br />
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I am REEEEAAALLY liking HDR photography. Like...a LOT. This is an HDR shot of the sun setting over the Menomonee River Parkway which Steven and I took a walk through today (we love our nature-y walks :D ).<br />
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About 2 minutes after taking this, I turned around and there was a young doe standing in the path right ahead of us! She wasn't scared by us,but instead by some loud trail-goers coming up the path a ways away. Hmpff....darn kids....scaring nature away from us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">April 11, 2010<br />
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Thanks Grimm.<br />
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We had purchased these fresh tortillas from a little Spanish Fruit Market in Waukesha yesterday. I was looking forward to a delicious breakfast burrito. I woke up this morning to find that Grimm had aimlessly chewed at the ENTIRE circumference of my tortilla stack! He must have been quite bitter with us for some reason to do this random act of destruction.<br />
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Oh well...we'll still eat them anyhow :P.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">April 12, 2010<br />
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Kiera y Bella.<br />
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I went over to me mum's today and she had two of my nieces over. I've introduced Karen previously; here's her little sis Kiera. She LOVES animals, particularly ♥ horses ♥ , which makes me a VERY happy Aunty.<br />
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She adores Bella. I took this shot of her after she had wandered off towards Bella, whom was standing in the middle of the yard simply surveying the neighborhood around her. She stood next to Bella for a while, held onto her collar, and serenely looked out into the world as Bella did the same.<br />
Don't ask me how I got them to match profiles in this photo either. Natural and candid are the way to go ;].</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">April 13, 2010<br />
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Fat LOOTZ!! So I went to Joann's today for a few items. So naturally I came home with a bag-full of goodies to start my small-scale jewelry shop.<br />
Look for me on Etsy.com soon!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">April 14, 2010<br />
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YES!! I got a new bike!<br />
Steve and I went to Trekfest this past weekend, and he convinced me to buy myself a bike. SO, I got this ridiculously awesome hybrid bike which is 100% recycled and therefore 100% recyclable (when the time comes)! It kinda has this retro-meets-modern look to it, which helped convince myself it was worth it. I love the idea of crossing the generational gaps by mixing and matching defining characteristics of each.<br />
I haven't had a new bike since 6th grade, so this is pretty epic to me....I could cry, hahah...I had forgotten what a thrill it was to use the bike as a main source of transportation and enjoyment. Ah, the good ole days!<br />
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I took this with my camera phone while riding, which explains the crap-tastic shot. Hey I just didn't want to run into anything or be run over, so this is the best I could do :P.<br />
Woohoo bikes!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Thehackbarthjourneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08140567679107662214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686334774635270653.post-11659170055666812182010-04-05T21:18:00.000-05:002010-04-05T21:18:13.176-05:00Our Year Continued....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkDlIznEKbgNfbFwW5mp-8b0w0WpvKBfuI5POURPqIsStos4l6zyxyk92ZlclN5ShAETkl89XuCEZyl5x4KFhj1Ag3hOfaeKrXxpeoYqX9tMtJHxT0aGAggrqoODFWSnp4XaLjJBlvLiyJ/s1600/0320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkDlIznEKbgNfbFwW5mp-8b0w0WpvKBfuI5POURPqIsStos4l6zyxyk92ZlclN5ShAETkl89XuCEZyl5x4KFhj1Ag3hOfaeKrXxpeoYqX9tMtJHxT0aGAggrqoODFWSnp4XaLjJBlvLiyJ/s1600/0320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkDlIznEKbgNfbFwW5mp-8b0w0WpvKBfuI5POURPqIsStos4l6zyxyk92ZlclN5ShAETkl89XuCEZyl5x4KFhj1Ag3hOfaeKrXxpeoYqX9tMtJHxT0aGAggrqoODFWSnp4XaLjJBlvLiyJ/s320/0320.jpg" /></a></div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">March 20, 2010</span><br />
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This evening, I caught a glimpse of the reflection of our dragon lamp in our Lord of the Rings picture and thought it looked pretty cool :). Go go Gandalf!</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">March 22, 2010<br />
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As you may have noticed, there is no picture for yesterday the 21st. The day was a blur, as my mother discovered the loss of a very close loved one.<br />
Here we are at my favorite park. There's nothing like a walk through nature to help mend the heart and ease the mind.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">March 23, 2010<br />
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Life and death. Sunrise and sunset. Spring has come, bringing new life in more ways than one.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">March 24, 2010<br />
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I made this necklace for my mom. The crystal butterfly is a reminder to her that we live as a caterpillar lives: crawling amongst the dirt of the earth, fattening ourselves and preparing ourselves in every way for our metamorphosis, when we will then emerge from our cocoon and fly freely above the earth.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">March 25, 2010<br />
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In the arms of the angels and God above. Rest in peace and never again know the troubles of this world :).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA1Fqj863Zzdn2ULsDVqbiewlGQuZiZwiMJv2QVBt-rcAxRdHhxaOIBIbx7GvGzOUcQSTRGN4a_Me3fgZASAzf2zWtENm5M7bIPPIZA5CHuvivJvhHb0xmMhhBDtLZH7yjYYZA3G7cg7BR/s1600/0326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA1Fqj863Zzdn2ULsDVqbiewlGQuZiZwiMJv2QVBt-rcAxRdHhxaOIBIbx7GvGzOUcQSTRGN4a_Me3fgZASAzf2zWtENm5M7bIPPIZA5CHuvivJvhHb0xmMhhBDtLZH7yjYYZA3G7cg7BR/s320/0326.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">March 26, 2010<br />
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Adventurer and father-figure. I'll miss those spontaneous fishing trips.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">March 27, 2010<br />
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Ah, the circle of life :). Here is my newest nephew, Gabriel Mark Lavold!! Congratulations Mark and Anna Lisa! They will be amazing parents :). He was born today at 2:30pm. Beautiful!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">March 28, 2010<br />
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Here's me Granny and my nephew Reuben. Shannon and Pete were in town for the funeral and so we got to see the baby :).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">March 29, 2010<br />
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Newest hobby and slight obsession: jewelry-making. Here's one that I made after a shopping-spree at Joann's today. It's a little difficult to see, but in the center piece there's a swarovski cherry blossom crystal i strung through. I ♥ sakura!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">March 30, 2010<br />
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I gave myself a haircut today. Without realizing it, I had successfully cloned myself as well.<br />
Aaaaw...she has my mustache ♥ .</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">March 31, 2010<br />
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I am so in love with making jewelry right now!! And my obsession with pearls is only growing more and more ridiculous.<br />
I made this one for Mrs. Boese - wife of a dear friend of mine :).<br />
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Ach...I need a detailed/ up-close shot :P. Maybe I should invest in a mannequin head for all these jewelry shots? But that'd be kinda creepy, having a head lying around the house. We already have a fake arm in our living room.<br />
Well, maybe one can never have enough spare parts!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">April 1, 2010<br />
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Happy April Fool's! Hmmm...it kinda crept up on me this year....didn't have time to actually prepare anything. Blast!<br />
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Anywho, I know this is yet ANOTHER necklace photo, but truly this is what I've been spending a majority of my time on lately. It's been very healing for some wounds that have just been very icky lately.<br />
Ah, constructive and functional therapy :).<br />
Well this just may be my most favorite jewelry creation yet! It has two silver sparrows on each side of the neck, just resting above the collar bones and holding the two strands you see here.<br />
♥ birds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">April 2, 2010<br />
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I heard the distinctive call of a Cardinal while at my Mom's house. So after a little bit of searching, I found this beautiful male Cardinal sitting in the tree in front of the house.<br />
They happen to be my Grandma's favorite :).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">April 3, 2010<br />
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I somehow failed to remember to take a picture today (so scatter-brained sometimes...), so here is another from the visit to my Mother's yesterday. This was taken at sundown, while the sky still had a bit of sherbet-y color to it. I also just loved how the tree branches 'explode' into the sky! Aaah nature ♥ .</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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I swear I am a slave to the artistic brain....I have forgotten yet AGAIN to take a picture today! AH so frustrating.<br />
However, this one was taken within the last few days anyhow, so that kind of counts, right? This was taken during a walk that Steven and I took in Hart Park at dusk.<br />
Dusk= Best lighting! I love the mix of saturated colors and contrast ♥ .</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">April 5, 2010<br />
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I don't know what is wrong with me. I used to hate pearls. With a severe, acute passion. Now....I love them. I can't get ENOUGH of them! This may have been cultivated from my obsession with the styles of the 1920's as well as the styles of the Victorian Era which have been absolutely blooming lately.<br />
And a big 'thank you' to Carly for being so kind as to donate these little Swarovski cerulean crystals! They add the perfect touch :D!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</span></div>Thehackbarthjourneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08140567679107662214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686334774635270653.post-36671467273377071452010-03-20T18:34:00.002-05:002010-03-20T18:44:04.810-05:00Let's Recap!<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Hello hello! Since I will be uniting my <i>Project 365</i> with this web log, I figured I should play catch-up in case anyone not on Facebook wants to see what Steven and my year in pictures has been like up until this point.</div><div><br />
</div><div>I will start at the beginning, on January 12th, and include the brief captions I included with the original posts. Hope you enjoy :).</div><div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRcC0AvaJbaj5qTFwcXUvUKNBjK58uNLh64mtA8FfD7Dpy7NdM86y6lf3FZtcoLmojY0p-_eKCnzZmfyjCXct9MgC4EgJgCr_QKqGEu3Eyx6c-rnMqLCqELzcUVjbZtqVCby_8b0Un0W1Z/s1600-h/0112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRcC0AvaJbaj5qTFwcXUvUKNBjK58uNLh64mtA8FfD7Dpy7NdM86y6lf3FZtcoLmojY0p-_eKCnzZmfyjCXct9MgC4EgJgCr_QKqGEu3Eyx6c-rnMqLCqELzcUVjbZtqVCby_8b0Un0W1Z/s400/0112.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">January 12, 2010<br />
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I had never taken a picture of my wedding/engagement rings, so here they are!<br />
What better way to start off this documentary, than by a pure symbol of friendship, love, and loyalty; to God and to one another.</span><br />
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Steve decided to really put the 'cake' in 'pancake' today!<br />
This whole-wheat-with-fresh-blackberries pancake spanned the entire circumference of the plate and was at least an inch and a half thick.<br />
But most of all, it was delicious ;) .</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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Meet Grimm. He is one of three in the Hackbarth household. Many who know me, know of my cat. He was 8 years old when his previous owner had to move to a nursing home, and therefore give him up for adoption. The Wisconsin Humane Society was where I found him - completely emaciated, but yet still so full of life and personality. I had to have him!<br />
After bringing him home and finding a better-tasting food for him to nom on, he quickly filled out, as did his personality. He is now as lively, cunning, spry, and loving as any kitten or cat I have EVER known...even at the ripe old age of 11. God willing, he has many more years with us :).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">January 15, 2010<br />
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Busy busy day...so I suppose this is about an hour and 3 minutes past the day it was intended for xD...ah well.<br />
I finished making these little baby washcloth bunnies for Anna Lavold's baby shower for the upcoming Sunday.<br />
BEHOLD...my arsenal of deceptively cute militant BUNNIES.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">January 16, 2010<br />
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Villainous Victorian Velociraptor.<br />
That's right folks - I got another amazing Woot Shirt in the mail today! The theme for this shirt was the letter 'V.'<br />
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Look closely and you can see his monocle :O! SO cool...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcj70rTqP4du5Xr0x066HPuJ-ajcdBlGmczyndngIhRDw_u9TIyZ2so0t-5y7Vge1vSFWLtbkMaY5gYlC5Hh7FWOBKsoDSJyP_HjHcxjkmqls4vlzFCzCBmVmv2Cb9qIxuCyEC6-wTQVTG/s1600-h/0117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcj70rTqP4du5Xr0x066HPuJ-ajcdBlGmczyndngIhRDw_u9TIyZ2so0t-5y7Vge1vSFWLtbkMaY5gYlC5Hh7FWOBKsoDSJyP_HjHcxjkmqls4vlzFCzCBmVmv2Cb9qIxuCyEC6-wTQVTG/s400/0117.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">January 17, 2010<br />
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Anna Lisa Lavold had her baby shower today! Since her baby is due at about Easter time, we went with a very Spring-y/Easter-y theme.<br />
So here's the dessert table:<br />
Red Velvet Bundt Cake & Cupcakes - Val Hackbarth<br />
Frosting - Steven Hackbarth<br />
Design & Decoration - me<br />
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Kudos to Laura Fitzgerald on encouraging me to add a stem....along with those awesome title cards..and of course the idea to add a plethora of delicious Mama Hackbarth Melt-Aways :D!<br />
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The shower was a blast. I'll be posting up the rest of the pictures after I go through them all for editing :).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">January 18, 2010<br />
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Hmm, well since I had quite the busy day yesterday, and conveniently forgot my camera for the whole day....I'll have to use another picture from the baby shower.<br />
This is a shot of some of the decorations I set up for Anna Lisa for her baby shower.<br />
I was able to reuse my candle holders from my wedding, along with some new floral pieces, ladybugs, and such that were specifically picked out for the shower :).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">January 19, 2010<br />
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It's sooo nice to have a little bit of extra free time these days; I can finally get back to making homemade bread!<br />
Here are some rolls which I created the recipe for today. I kinda got the notion to turn a plain ol' French Bread Roll recipe into a whole wheat one, with added cinnamon, thyme, and agave. They turned out purdy tasty ;D.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">January 20, 2010<br />
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Yeah I know I know...another food picture :P. But as you may be able to tell by Steven's excited visage, this one's extra special because within that fruit salad are Organic Jazz Apples!<br />
Almost exactly 2 years ago we were in Seattle, specifically at the fruit market outside of Pike's Place Market, and they were premiering the Washington Jazz apple - a new delicious hybrid to hit the market.<br />
At The Outpost today, I stumbled into the same apples - yes!! They finally migrated to Wisconsin! Ah, memories ♥ .</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">January 21, 2010<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hulu.com/watch/16417/saturday-night-live-googly-eyes-gardener" onmousedown="UntrustedLink.bootstrap($(this), "a07f2ef329ae15668bd656b78400edbd", event)" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.hulu.com/watch/16417/saturday<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break" style="display: block; float: left; margin-left: -10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span>-night-live-googly-eyes-gardener</a><br />
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So the house is a bit safer now that Steven bought some googly eyes for our tree.<br />
Thank you, Christopher Walken.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">January 22, 2010<br />
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Whilst helping my mother move, I was able to reclaim a piece of my childhood.<br />
I guess I outgrew this *tear tear*.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYx7eIBwwkRLm0dRvHCWhTCzfxI35g-UaeebKV_g75J6Syg6kYcpE5r2v-6rzIZmA-AWv3n2MYg37UrSC3l2oqH1i5ApT9KdZKxRurMZ-0MvnQlna7izYy4DqseHlsdVBSxJkoaF_iC0s/s1600-h/0123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYx7eIBwwkRLm0dRvHCWhTCzfxI35g-UaeebKV_g75J6Syg6kYcpE5r2v-6rzIZmA-AWv3n2MYg37UrSC3l2oqH1i5ApT9KdZKxRurMZ-0MvnQlna7izYy4DqseHlsdVBSxJkoaF_iC0s/s400/0123.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">January 23, 2010<br />
<br />
Today was our day!<br />
Steven and I went to downtown Milwaukee and had lunch at the Water Street Brewery, then went for a liter at the Hofbrau, took a walk along the Riverwalk for a bit, stopped at Trinity for a few more cooling libations, then walked some more :). It was an awesome day! And OH, what a handsome model my man makes :D!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">**********************</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC4a3aDMiBrEI9Jf5vSuH1x17U54CKDBsVrKKW6nJPBUdWBXUVJyZny2P0pwwMty-IspVJ8sSgS-HyVjir7G2IQPhkc7a9ClrlnCdg3ZsRkvLLLHNHKonUp6HI3sWZHRoV-BLiEKquFrzO/s1600-h/0124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC4a3aDMiBrEI9Jf5vSuH1x17U54CKDBsVrKKW6nJPBUdWBXUVJyZny2P0pwwMty-IspVJ8sSgS-HyVjir7G2IQPhkc7a9ClrlnCdg3ZsRkvLLLHNHKonUp6HI3sWZHRoV-BLiEKquFrzO/s400/0124.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">January 24, 2010<br />
<br />
Yep. This is what my day consisted of. Basically, after the gym, baby shower photo editing, and cooking for the hard-working, studeous husband was out of the way, I gave myself the gift of relaxation.<br />
So I am currently re-reading some older 'Real Simple' magazines and drinking some fantastic loose leaf Jasmine tea that Steven and I picked up at some random Asian Market downtown yesterday.<br />
<br />
Cheeky kitty does not permit stalking xD!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">**********************</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAUX3g87FJR-f_P26LXnMoXYLO4xf7CfrGrdHsIOBbEGewnwgjGIHi5ij3C1PWSH2ij6x3Sceg4MBenwWuWjImIvburM7wobdsLJJZ8nKbz6gGeivWTiJfbnkpX9UIYddMs8SackCHQPEm/s1600-h/0125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAUX3g87FJR-f_P26LXnMoXYLO4xf7CfrGrdHsIOBbEGewnwgjGIHi5ij3C1PWSH2ij6x3Sceg4MBenwWuWjImIvburM7wobdsLJJZ8nKbz6gGeivWTiJfbnkpX9UIYddMs8SackCHQPEm/s400/0125.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">January 25, 2010<br />
<br />
Eventually, I would like to litter my home - wherever it may be - with hidden treasures. I can live in my own 'I Spy' book, never staring in any one direction without discovering something amusing.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">**********************</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5ViPs8mwzGKGEtYn3H79BQFX46tZnfzE2Crs4tmuvvjjpu3usL0CCrWqHAmxBWx8qN6GbHKd2xJZUlOSCEs8s6BBo0heiT5z2JSexw3hp2PihIuwULEunrI3Znyk60wbvbTwxjyzQ2VD/s1600-h/0126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5ViPs8mwzGKGEtYn3H79BQFX46tZnfzE2Crs4tmuvvjjpu3usL0CCrWqHAmxBWx8qN6GbHKd2xJZUlOSCEs8s6BBo0heiT5z2JSexw3hp2PihIuwULEunrI3Znyk60wbvbTwxjyzQ2VD/s400/0126.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">January 26, 2010<br />
<br />
Pen & paper notes are much too boring in our household. Creativity is infectious ;D.<br />
<br />
Found this "note" from my husband when I came home today. He definitely wins this game.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">**********************</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlG_tqUzGGW6WVdSYRx04lwwVLyLQUfP_UnulLDl8zC6jtFkfPl96BQBPk68s8E4XDg0SLUj-a6RykPilsTjRoo7-FtFPBtvzC3ewLLf-952b2gGJgF7R78a3KdIn3eMzt8oUZceEPrlkA/s1600-h/0127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlG_tqUzGGW6WVdSYRx04lwwVLyLQUfP_UnulLDl8zC6jtFkfPl96BQBPk68s8E4XDg0SLUj-a6RykPilsTjRoo7-FtFPBtvzC3ewLLf-952b2gGJgF7R78a3KdIn3eMzt8oUZceEPrlkA/s400/0127.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">January 27, 2010<br />
<br />
Here is a bag chock-full of my latest obsession - FIGS!! The Turkish kind, pictured here, are my absolute favourite! Just got these ugly little nuggets of yummy today at Trader Joe's. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">Yay Figs!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">**********************</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJAPjQMOwakieWm8Oi0o5cJ9dxN5lxVh77sueaA_5DKFGm7IcHc4AIlHQ5qoCIuz-2lRmwcT-Vy3dwEVak4fqov0qjothTXOFs8Hkr2-nCAoAOj49sHeDpbsAJDrZxlWVBS7pKZr99I7Rj/s1600-h/0128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJAPjQMOwakieWm8Oi0o5cJ9dxN5lxVh77sueaA_5DKFGm7IcHc4AIlHQ5qoCIuz-2lRmwcT-Vy3dwEVak4fqov0qjothTXOFs8Hkr2-nCAoAOj49sHeDpbsAJDrZxlWVBS7pKZr99I7Rj/s400/0128.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">January 28, 2010<br />
<br />
Ok, so I cheated for this day. Sshh, don't tell! I actually forgot to take a picture somehow, so here's another one from last weekend.<br />
This is my first attempt with my camera's 'Panorama' function. As you can see, I have much to perfect, as the bottom corner of the table sort of fades into the chairs. Oops.<br />
Nonetheless, I like it :).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">**********************</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKK_uuqtY8NvIGOlg7eGamocOzr7ScFIsm0GJkmxtmPCySApossxJqxfMncEWxj7w5HX4aTK6jyBghVAuxlEpZFXU4OD9l4accmpYY1rAZeEeCP6lenrm5c8AIUhDmejksbeABgN-M-zFQ/s1600-h/0129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKK_uuqtY8NvIGOlg7eGamocOzr7ScFIsm0GJkmxtmPCySApossxJqxfMncEWxj7w5HX4aTK6jyBghVAuxlEpZFXU4OD9l4accmpYY1rAZeEeCP6lenrm5c8AIUhDmejksbeABgN-M-zFQ/s400/0129.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">January 29, 2010<br />
<br />
Today was the big day to start moving my Mom to her new place.<br />
Pictured here are my brother's legs dangling from the attic, as he's searching for dead bodies.<br />
I thought it looked amusing.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">**********************</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWnPkb0-swbYjpc-BIXJmpt8da7B3nrwKX0ePalTwK4k-ky1Rd-n5ruYgzZQmUkDBErjcaqjrCqQCra50jrgFGXBXMtWHDo_5LWPjyTqBup-DLSW0WVDhOBOhu9jySDgshj823kD37WsMk/s1600-h/0130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWnPkb0-swbYjpc-BIXJmpt8da7B3nrwKX0ePalTwK4k-ky1Rd-n5ruYgzZQmUkDBErjcaqjrCqQCra50jrgFGXBXMtWHDo_5LWPjyTqBup-DLSW0WVDhOBOhu9jySDgshj823kD37WsMk/s400/0130.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">January 30, 2010<br />
<br />
Day 2 of the big move.<br />
I am sooo proud of my 9 year-old niece, Karen! She's totally into manga and all things Japanese...without being influenced by her aunts and uncles :P .<br />
<br />
I let her borrow my Bleach manga - seen here. She loved it!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">**********************</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5JSOULCK8YoPQG5wR1ynbP_ibvLqHks8YkrIFDjYp0jGYw021nPS7mpkYWMmyitBDXvincei-kX4GZyx4FYHGcFdnIqwMO-w8EzrIy1SjK4UCbpYxrPTBHbMWw-s5VHpONaNk2nob79CZ/s1600-h/0131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5JSOULCK8YoPQG5wR1ynbP_ibvLqHks8YkrIFDjYp0jGYw021nPS7mpkYWMmyitBDXvincei-kX4GZyx4FYHGcFdnIqwMO-w8EzrIy1SjK4UCbpYxrPTBHbMWw-s5VHpONaNk2nob79CZ/s400/0131.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">January 31, 2010<br />
<br />
Day 3 of the big move. And we are losing it....<br />
Steve's dragging Karen around while the rest of us watch the show.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">**********************</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_i4aJ-51lUF5tkE1HId8ZifyJy4MsJ0PrwIUBMKAlb6ceHwQETBYPTyOMq1KyAzn9usQGwZzSYhcy2euZSYF5inXshtX3KPU957Pcd7-ijkBzBkBHPdEbyowgoYh7eJ4OkqrF5AehHaQ/s1600-h/0201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_i4aJ-51lUF5tkE1HId8ZifyJy4MsJ0PrwIUBMKAlb6ceHwQETBYPTyOMq1KyAzn9usQGwZzSYhcy2euZSYF5inXshtX3KPU957Pcd7-ijkBzBkBHPdEbyowgoYh7eJ4OkqrF5AehHaQ/s400/0201.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">February 1, 2010<br />
<br />
Peering through two different windows of two very different worlds.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">**********************</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHviAPTpzGkM5W16D2UbmqvcXOdsU0EeAQiwfcUo3WhzCkD7NI8drMsfwQb1bN5IM5XINtK64mDfEJLdA2iUhZnLKs4NkPairOC6kDxBOD0xi8Zs1msMjEJNZMHWyCASYFAL_L__GXvl5V/s1600-h/0202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHviAPTpzGkM5W16D2UbmqvcXOdsU0EeAQiwfcUo3WhzCkD7NI8drMsfwQb1bN5IM5XINtK64mDfEJLdA2iUhZnLKs4NkPairOC6kDxBOD0xi8Zs1msMjEJNZMHWyCASYFAL_L__GXvl5V/s400/0202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">February 2, 2010<br />
<br />
Well, mom is successfully all moved into the new place!<br />
This box's bold statement made me laugh every time I saw it xD.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">**********************</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPoZjDh7AtA0_hi8VE7mF3IKkWaUiUqbxJPFTQ-IBqyrNeaogvHxXO67VaX_p_3uRr_9EcYf3QQ3sYVe9TzWYtwqtxU-M1B6hBXB_BgR1-xoORKIFYjsQzCJZ8f-pbwKC-nWWI7uU5TI5M/s1600-h/0203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPoZjDh7AtA0_hi8VE7mF3IKkWaUiUqbxJPFTQ-IBqyrNeaogvHxXO67VaX_p_3uRr_9EcYf3QQ3sYVe9TzWYtwqtxU-M1B6hBXB_BgR1-xoORKIFYjsQzCJZ8f-pbwKC-nWWI7uU5TI5M/s400/0203.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">February 3, 2010<br />
<br />
A cross-section of a nutmeg. Made me think of a thumb-print :).<br />
I ♥ my nutmeg grinder.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">**********************</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy9-hZvXWMA7993KBcOcKN7kul-ArdN87c9ep7Dv8bkVRK1yFOEeyreg0bLbL_KGAP-cx9z1zLk-EWS7zkWmLKSJtkjPo5RYEZavO6t-c9l5yvFRlq6giQQu1OS8ARfRH1UV9-j03nH25W/s1600-h/0204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy9-hZvXWMA7993KBcOcKN7kul-ArdN87c9ep7Dv8bkVRK1yFOEeyreg0bLbL_KGAP-cx9z1zLk-EWS7zkWmLKSJtkjPo5RYEZavO6t-c9l5yvFRlq6giQQu1OS8ARfRH1UV9-j03nH25W/s400/0204.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">February 4, 2010<br />
<br />
Was over at the mom's, helping put the kitchen together while she worked on reports for school.<br />
Steven decided to help us out by sweeping the dog.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">**********************</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaI-rQId5Z3e-A2s3NydUmBWpEJ1D05eCbJXQ7P8FNPPf1-EZ0zeRY8jg-KhyYcQ5zvFsFsfTEV_DNsMy7jlypYLgvQAGl1TJOTymkddbCFd7fkadnUPvmsyP7t6UdDPpDZ7hbcKztG8Bt/s1600-h/0205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaI-rQId5Z3e-A2s3NydUmBWpEJ1D05eCbJXQ7P8FNPPf1-EZ0zeRY8jg-KhyYcQ5zvFsFsfTEV_DNsMy7jlypYLgvQAGl1TJOTymkddbCFd7fkadnUPvmsyP7t6UdDPpDZ7hbcKztG8Bt/s400/0205.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">February 5, 2010<br />
<br />
I don't know if i'm frightened or if i'm completely amused by this one....<br />
The recipe of his face + cat being "strangled" + 'it's a trap' shirt= lol.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">**********************</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7xL9lGLfRrLvbxE94jFeLZBumkSDwsqQxeLDa1FhERUAQISUGAVPG2JQsPPeWo28ZGPRPxMLeGZVxlxiV4CQHTNvMltRsqFLpNVPK68nE4f6bVBp5WUOTPJiu-_ZPe7UQmDQg8gdWwIN7/s1600-h/0206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7xL9lGLfRrLvbxE94jFeLZBumkSDwsqQxeLDa1FhERUAQISUGAVPG2JQsPPeWo28ZGPRPxMLeGZVxlxiV4CQHTNvMltRsqFLpNVPK68nE4f6bVBp5WUOTPJiu-_ZPe7UQmDQg8gdWwIN7/s400/0206.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">February 6, 2010<br />
<br />
Meet Pepper. She's my mother's Blue Macaw which she adopted through an aviary rescue center in Madison, Wisconsin.<br />
A few of her favorite phrases include:<br />
- Whatsup<br />
- Rock n roll<br />
- Captain Kiiirk<br />
- weird gutterol noises<br />
- peek a boo</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">- what's your problem<br />
- come here<br />
- evil laughs<br />
<br />
She's managed to grow most of her feathers back.<br />
She's special...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">**********************</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfSnrf-g06BaVvL7LCsTsaBz5uAkWyU7E5CplJOxmcf-tCZnrDUNJRaOmg005Gp-Pgw_hRnkFbAuWh25uK_0XvVRiG88Mje6lDXidQNmTn1jI68FHWLq9T-cuui5e-TNjIg8fUMt8lS2ol/s1600-h/0207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfSnrf-g06BaVvL7LCsTsaBz5uAkWyU7E5CplJOxmcf-tCZnrDUNJRaOmg005Gp-Pgw_hRnkFbAuWh25uK_0XvVRiG88Mje6lDXidQNmTn1jI68FHWLq9T-cuui5e-TNjIg8fUMt8lS2ol/s400/0207.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">February 7, 2010<br />
<br />
I bought some tulips for me mum as a housewarming gift. They're her favorite ♥ .</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">**********************</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjiQfU0fIPrSzOrHDe7duapdSPw5MxA-9lCfWmsZbp4mnUYaF3vZkKa_5joDy6Slx_rEj5jDw4o5GfWv_-qfW4E_HcQG9LTcKc_CSHuHe7gNEEg1FSOn5rLxZDovUZIPUKeZw8Y83GhU_C/s1600-h/0208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjiQfU0fIPrSzOrHDe7duapdSPw5MxA-9lCfWmsZbp4mnUYaF3vZkKa_5joDy6Slx_rEj5jDw4o5GfWv_-qfW4E_HcQG9LTcKc_CSHuHe7gNEEg1FSOn5rLxZDovUZIPUKeZw8Y83GhU_C/s400/0208.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">February 8, 2010<br />
<br />
Just noticed how uncanny this white birch tree in front of my mom's house is. See the face/arms?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">**********************</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTITLruaXqTDY1qqa_y8vp8WzC-b9PDeiuAjKuXKt3W4-mYjp98knrXLcqhTgj1wBJjXG4ce5z4Y5GbAASZ2Rw8FNiltrb8v_ctktffUBHLIKj13zBkVSx9YzebL3gjCgCYeyhveXAbbT/s1600-h/0209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTITLruaXqTDY1qqa_y8vp8WzC-b9PDeiuAjKuXKt3W4-mYjp98knrXLcqhTgj1wBJjXG4ce5z4Y5GbAASZ2Rw8FNiltrb8v_ctktffUBHLIKj13zBkVSx9YzebL3gjCgCYeyhveXAbbT/s400/0209.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">February 9, 2010<br />
<br />
Apart from this day being our 1.5 year wedding anniversary, there was a rather lengthy snow storm as well. It was such a pretty snow day :D! I was very happy to be home from work by 1pm to enjoy this view till the sun went down.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">**********************</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnCFpI7515tM2HVdQ5QB78eQlbe9Ub1djC494I7yva0XZVN06EcApH6CaSSZeM8um5RJxBzhM5WUUdP9l9_mSyidvkhzELRgkSA09kf0GfxN_UrfsHREhw9mObBqBi2NPA4KC4-xTC9G2n/s1600-h/0210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnCFpI7515tM2HVdQ5QB78eQlbe9Ub1djC494I7yva0XZVN06EcApH6CaSSZeM8um5RJxBzhM5WUUdP9l9_mSyidvkhzELRgkSA09kf0GfxN_UrfsHREhw9mObBqBi2NPA4KC4-xTC9G2n/s400/0210.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">February 10, 2010<br />
<br />
Here I am playing ninja with my brand-spankin'-new scarf which I got for less than 3 smackers. Totally worth it :D.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">**********************</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBeE2u50ztD9xOEMVBNtP-RbULskj43Y5Zg12aHBiOPN_vcDoYmcKRM5NiCO08Xez5qgu4rGn-_nJe6b1KVX0dZFqtNWijBxzIjH6IeTvCLfE3MOWo_1BcSaXcgSu7qZVOvT5mjQWSkjB5/s1600-h/0211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBeE2u50ztD9xOEMVBNtP-RbULskj43Y5Zg12aHBiOPN_vcDoYmcKRM5NiCO08Xez5qgu4rGn-_nJe6b1KVX0dZFqtNWijBxzIjH6IeTvCLfE3MOWo_1BcSaXcgSu7qZVOvT5mjQWSkjB5/s400/0211.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">February 11, 2010<br />
<br />
My mom got this set of steins from her friend's parent's grandparents. Originally I was told that they came over with the ancestors on a ship from Germany, but I discovered the writing on all of them is Czech. Weird, but awesome.<br />
<br />
An amazing piece of history :).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">**********************</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZetHzIeV9mF8i1mVjsdPAhARNU-mDIstxI8VTdey1H5g4FbFbLH8VEuXDcPVldh8eoX8bOsyitEUUak5VYrieXqDtRDjOGpyXRwrwRb7Me2dXuvj_mYDQZecZGcBdqd-XEja9L1pjCPW/s1600-h/0212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZetHzIeV9mF8i1mVjsdPAhARNU-mDIstxI8VTdey1H5g4FbFbLH8VEuXDcPVldh8eoX8bOsyitEUUak5VYrieXqDtRDjOGpyXRwrwRb7Me2dXuvj_mYDQZecZGcBdqd-XEja9L1pjCPW/s400/0212.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">February 12, 2010<br />
<br />
The lovey and I spontaneously decided to go on a Miller Brewery Tour today. Although we prefer better beer than Miller, we figured the tour and sampling was free so why the heck not? It was entertaining. Good times were had.<br />
<br />
Shiny kettles!!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">**********************</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZyfKveaVwx25kcIgVUzCkGjr5Rjpj2xAAokURXymXi5xWaktHMbOrJ8mlk694ZiR2xrHSe9kydYafq1Z9DqcmJlbyquUfdTkUeAev70LnFyALqQE01bjYmwujyLPfo9POcqEkMeRdFVC/s1600-h/0213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZyfKveaVwx25kcIgVUzCkGjr5Rjpj2xAAokURXymXi5xWaktHMbOrJ8mlk694ZiR2xrHSe9kydYafq1Z9DqcmJlbyquUfdTkUeAev70LnFyALqQE01bjYmwujyLPfo9POcqEkMeRdFVC/s400/0213.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">February 13, 2010<br />
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My friend Amber turned 20 today and invited Steve and I as well as a group of her friends to BD's Mongolian Grill - yummmmm....<br />
<br />
Amber the Mongolian has a sad D: . Perhaps it is because this stir-fry restaurant is all that is left of her empire.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">**********************</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2rApDtFjh5QsaQtn015eUE2IkH3PMIHYhz01N-r8gYRMNjJ_hj_flqO3k8aRxHwPj8aidcWmhtuoGcTmZFSniqTT7qQwubYMmk_gi_D0DxKItQ4G9b_Z3FXnW9c8BodR35NGvmP2HF-v/s1600-h/0214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2rApDtFjh5QsaQtn015eUE2IkH3PMIHYhz01N-r8gYRMNjJ_hj_flqO3k8aRxHwPj8aidcWmhtuoGcTmZFSniqTT7qQwubYMmk_gi_D0DxKItQ4G9b_Z3FXnW9c8BodR35NGvmP2HF-v/s400/0214.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">February 14, 2010<br />
<br />
Happy St. Valentine's Day Massacre anniversary!<br />
<br />
The husband and I poorly planned his one out, probably because our Valentine's outing will be postponed to this Saturday when we go see the Cinematic Titanic. That being said, we decided at the last minute to venture out to Seven Bridges after grabbing some Subway, only to arrive and have just enough daylight to eat our subs in the company of some ducks, turn around and go back home : / .<br />
Oops.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">**********************</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06KpLCaY-JP4TPCrEx6WboS28uJ9oEB67Kx6X8O0Tl3qKm5rY9cZm2wg4UoS7t_fYmc7YNzWeJA1rymqRnmtbhFMWVVfMreDIXb76SWD-f8eIOQVw10nZXVeQogWmgfl9AjIILPRNjQQI/s1600-h/0215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06KpLCaY-JP4TPCrEx6WboS28uJ9oEB67Kx6X8O0Tl3qKm5rY9cZm2wg4UoS7t_fYmc7YNzWeJA1rymqRnmtbhFMWVVfMreDIXb76SWD-f8eIOQVw10nZXVeQogWmgfl9AjIILPRNjQQI/s400/0215.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">February 15, 2010<br />
<br />
There's this little table at the end of my apartment hallway littered with random awesome stuff, donated from different people in the complex.<br />
When we first moved in, I began decorating it to suit the season - others joined in - then it became a hodgepodge of knick-knacks and such.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">**********************</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYEN54x7sTC6q848udE_6QvVhkKBDJ_UJoJWMhPVnVTS28tMMSJO4lUyat2nmIFiPe0h3SAtqHnhp8fIe8lvZQfvPlcdrjzH38RWKwQVt7ViXBi9xQhRMHPLBSy7de6bQ1taeLbwBfq6q/s1600-h/0216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYEN54x7sTC6q848udE_6QvVhkKBDJ_UJoJWMhPVnVTS28tMMSJO4lUyat2nmIFiPe0h3SAtqHnhp8fIe8lvZQfvPlcdrjzH38RWKwQVt7ViXBi9xQhRMHPLBSy7de6bQ1taeLbwBfq6q/s400/0216.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">February 16, 2010<br />
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It's official! Spring is here! I saw my first Robin while walking through the Menomonee River Parkway :). I stumbled upon it drinking from the river, got one shot, and then it flew away. A while later, on my way back I actually found it again and was able to finally put my camera's excellent zoom skills to good use!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">**********************</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Xxl0L8BrF2lzPCwGk3Ov52Sa2SFVlGFy4329EAy6OvVzbLdcS99J9HmzNJ_wE1hdASp349EFJQyIFCbg6a_uyj_kDLBcEaEndIPzKlj1k5rFchcGYj2FGGDQjpHSgDfQnk0aBrKFqgW0/s1600-h/0217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Xxl0L8BrF2lzPCwGk3Ov52Sa2SFVlGFy4329EAy6OvVzbLdcS99J9HmzNJ_wE1hdASp349EFJQyIFCbg6a_uyj_kDLBcEaEndIPzKlj1k5rFchcGYj2FGGDQjpHSgDfQnk0aBrKFqgW0/s400/0217.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">February 17, 2010<br />
<br />
It's Ash Wednesday, and thus I set out for some old stomping grounds: Mount Olive Lutheran Church. Although the husband and I mainly attend Trinity Freistadt, this church + school will forever be near and dear to my heart; this is where the foundation of my being was cultivated ♥ .<br />
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Here is a shot of the church from afar, with the path on the left that I used to take, walking home everyday after school.<br />
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Ah, nothing like revisiting simpler times to strip away the years and bring you closer to who you really are.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">**********************</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyPjqf7lZq-ni72gPBtoxH1W5vPjVldoxriIf-W1E72__i1ZKoNLcGIW5FKng8hsrDhohEAjUOUyVvUpupf2-KuKJnONqAhI4UFWVHP5lxGWTJzj-HQ4FLGkWhlmGlQd4LxsUvnCZF-rI_/s1600-h/0218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyPjqf7lZq-ni72gPBtoxH1W5vPjVldoxriIf-W1E72__i1ZKoNLcGIW5FKng8hsrDhohEAjUOUyVvUpupf2-KuKJnONqAhI4UFWVHP5lxGWTJzj-HQ4FLGkWhlmGlQd4LxsUvnCZF-rI_/s400/0218.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">February 18, 2010<br />
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Baaaad kitty.<br />
Who wants a free cat? I can't guarantee you'll get him alive, however.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">**********************</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhrXtRmEPSx1komFMJa694tmuzWUe_vmWWnNtWbbdgTYwMh8iehq8oFigk-bQNhLpRP1wiPMe0zY68CFl8XOze_ZPMVbbCGguTI2H4-V9n_g0RkJCJb0hH8T7YkUVO_n8Nnpq6v1wWE_y/s1600-h/0219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhrXtRmEPSx1komFMJa694tmuzWUe_vmWWnNtWbbdgTYwMh8iehq8oFigk-bQNhLpRP1wiPMe0zY68CFl8XOze_ZPMVbbCGguTI2H4-V9n_g0RkJCJb0hH8T7YkUVO_n8Nnpq6v1wWE_y/s400/0219.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">February 19, 2010<br />
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Tulips again, yes :). These are also special though, since they were a random surprise from Steven. The vase was one of the first gifts he gave me ( 6 month dating anniversary, I believe).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">**********************</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZTP9GGWxNAfkFgf-xbNLxWEpJxV1Bp9qEDDMGOn7D0lxMZnxs4BYLqkPmYkB_BPNfldXkSLVkCpWu3u8kJbRHsfWgui0Z0y1khCz12DmeYS3HIES5wcCqLSTwyvOjgkztBdML8LqSWzPJ/s1600-h/0220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZTP9GGWxNAfkFgf-xbNLxWEpJxV1Bp9qEDDMGOn7D0lxMZnxs4BYLqkPmYkB_BPNfldXkSLVkCpWu3u8kJbRHsfWgui0Z0y1khCz12DmeYS3HIES5wcCqLSTwyvOjgkztBdML8LqSWzPJ/s400/0220.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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The love and I headed for Seven Bridges again today, to make up for our lack of good planning on Valentine's Day. Those of you who are familiar with this gorgeous park should be familiar with how I was able to "frame" nature in the form of a heart ♥ .</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">**********************</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlVWSlk321Vbtaz4czX9JHw2844P39-zOGjS5S2Y8xOPN2OLin3gJ2jdC1sX6KppnVfTP8DnMfFcKIYlrOOo932QkXXdJs0y30togHTHhg2ulNbehr3HU1JDV-69N5bMGnx4zi6WftR-X/s1600-h/0221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlVWSlk321Vbtaz4czX9JHw2844P39-zOGjS5S2Y8xOPN2OLin3gJ2jdC1sX6KppnVfTP8DnMfFcKIYlrOOo932QkXXdJs0y30togHTHhg2ulNbehr3HU1JDV-69N5bMGnx4zi6WftR-X/s400/0221.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">February 21, 2010<br />
<br />
Day 2 of our fantastic weekend involved spending the night in downtown Milwaukee, and then taking a morning stroll along the River Walk :).<br />
We came upon these interesting birds which we've never seen locally - we thought they were Loons at first! After coming home and researching the characteristics of these water fowl, I figured out that they are actually called Common Goldeneyes.<br />
They were so fun to watch as they darted around, under and above the water.....playing tag as they submerged themselves and popped up at some random area about 30 feet away, a couple seconds later :).<br />
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Eat your heart out, James Bond. These little Goldeneyes are way cuter ;).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">**********************</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgam9m3uHrHwjnXtvqA71Bj2SrPK4mFSn_QD8-OKsjLjv_Oe05iz4kc86-74hlb61pq4Lw-WWjeXoqo0Rz5pxoEkmwlrZwFv-TxsYNT_ySoRufCDUJggFA-GOvqFu6Cl8g9pw-JIjfh2K34/s1600-h/0222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgam9m3uHrHwjnXtvqA71Bj2SrPK4mFSn_QD8-OKsjLjv_Oe05iz4kc86-74hlb61pq4Lw-WWjeXoqo0Rz5pxoEkmwlrZwFv-TxsYNT_ySoRufCDUJggFA-GOvqFu6Cl8g9pw-JIjfh2K34/s400/0222.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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<br />
Feeling SO lazy today....and not much inspiration as far as photography goes. So here's the inside of my lantern. Enjoy.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">**********************</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdTpqTP31OhaYpCAofk1HHMTuW-XiBUOiBGCe5Yl0f0sLD2yO7GnE8_DhTAciTXFx9-xi7stkGXjL_rIpqDJIuiPUhUMiI749V0liNu3PsbGQsytZGCa7ZBiqCvZ3tQjLqOyisRM72JHP_/s1600-h/0223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdTpqTP31OhaYpCAofk1HHMTuW-XiBUOiBGCe5Yl0f0sLD2yO7GnE8_DhTAciTXFx9-xi7stkGXjL_rIpqDJIuiPUhUMiI749V0liNu3PsbGQsytZGCa7ZBiqCvZ3tQjLqOyisRM72JHP_/s400/0223.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">February 23, 2010<br />
<br />
Took the kitty to the vet today to have some blood/pee extracted for testing. Methinks he may have a UTI or kidney issues or something.<br />
He's licking the alcohol off his fur here...what a lush.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">**********************</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8lO0m3Jo_riYjwA_RaQucW9f8-m9Uy2HxEY3s8_lb61MjuZWouypkXgtP40_ap5XcYI0N3oEUYU5cHq_3hwZs1PyDUq85OZirysQ4vvHT3YaRsndNAn2ACIQoKmAJ2tks-ioY2bf6MGF/s1600-h/0224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8lO0m3Jo_riYjwA_RaQucW9f8-m9Uy2HxEY3s8_lb61MjuZWouypkXgtP40_ap5XcYI0N3oEUYU5cHq_3hwZs1PyDUq85OZirysQ4vvHT3YaRsndNAn2ACIQoKmAJ2tks-ioY2bf6MGF/s400/0224.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">February 24, 2010</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"></span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">Here's the latest yummy nom nom concoction I made. It's basically chicken, red onion, and mystery mushrooms from an Asian Market cooked in oconut milk, curry, red pepper flakes, ginger powder, thyme, and agave nectar. Put it over rice or salad and you're good to go. A little bit of orange oil drizzled over the finished product is tasty, too :).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">**********************</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg84Q_vWPaEnOP1pRsE6agLh6HsCIeng17nmyWM8cr2Kj2BcCXUs3Q7lq97TWO032972iM6tYfoBPXEkfPCr09BO2RSDftaw51J_BzaGxAZpCZYsCCwdSYJw5OcbY2EjdU63UahqEjHGdC/s1600-h/0225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg84Q_vWPaEnOP1pRsE6agLh6HsCIeng17nmyWM8cr2Kj2BcCXUs3Q7lq97TWO032972iM6tYfoBPXEkfPCr09BO2RSDftaw51J_BzaGxAZpCZYsCCwdSYJw5OcbY2EjdU63UahqEjHGdC/s400/0225.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">February 25, 2010<br />
<br />
Don't ask me why the Flash has been hanging out in our freezer door for the past week......</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">**********************</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSacGHVLr0NefZNUYod-YHl6_1wbRZwqbOtwG9iJPitbhYMi-RxtoMxgQpy1cuoMZPawOSvwd78Pp0Px41fs3_HkucRSCH6LXaOhGqCVPhUmREbqHlvfUhNXhTyxGK3pR5uIQLUenfaoVC/s1600-h/0226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSacGHVLr0NefZNUYod-YHl6_1wbRZwqbOtwG9iJPitbhYMi-RxtoMxgQpy1cuoMZPawOSvwd78Pp0Px41fs3_HkucRSCH6LXaOhGqCVPhUmREbqHlvfUhNXhTyxGK3pR5uIQLUenfaoVC/s400/0226.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">February 26, 2010<br />
<br />
Steven got these awesome cotton pants with a neat fabric trimming down each leg at some Incan store at Southridge.<br />
Grimm especially enjoys the ties on the bottoms...he hasn't stopped stalking him all day xD.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">**********************</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmuoCrnB7wgvwbU25WNkFEUHUFPz0eTku7KZ5HEFh2-uPR3ZBpxb-ngVa5721ziRaBkK-wrvgSSF5GKMGWrHTRILE-jqYZ5ichyphenhyphenOSrxznpm2RqVFw_CsZ1DpQ04KOrLfgtd4zAKySWLFZd/s1600-h/0227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmuoCrnB7wgvwbU25WNkFEUHUFPz0eTku7KZ5HEFh2-uPR3ZBpxb-ngVa5721ziRaBkK-wrvgSSF5GKMGWrHTRILE-jqYZ5ichyphenhyphenOSrxznpm2RqVFw_CsZ1DpQ04KOrLfgtd4zAKySWLFZd/s400/0227.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">February 27, 2010<br />
<br />
My latest obsession/endeavor: KOMBUCHA! It's an amazing probiotic that's good for all sorts of things. More to come on this in a future photo where I'll show you my home-brewed kombucha that I started today :D.<br />
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It's sort of an acquired taste, i guess. It's kinda like drinking carbonated yeast-vinegar-tea. And somehow it's growing on me....or in me. It's chock full of billions of bacteria living in a symbiotic relationship with the yeast.<br />
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Appetizing, no?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">**********************</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTqHeacQqa8_z9i4I4IoXX3UkGuLN5cmpLRs3NNEkvletx_r5wGZvO7kchdL40-_16Ybw0fskJX6NbKRPp6b7eVQoFernJr1cjdwZ7yfRRPhZT4Nu67BQoXRGTsbIel2AoYrgrEaxqNNv/s1600-h/0228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTqHeacQqa8_z9i4I4IoXX3UkGuLN5cmpLRs3NNEkvletx_r5wGZvO7kchdL40-_16Ybw0fskJX6NbKRPp6b7eVQoFernJr1cjdwZ7yfRRPhZT4Nu67BQoXRGTsbIel2AoYrgrEaxqNNv/s400/0228.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">February 28, 2010<br />
<br />
Well, I took some pictures at Alterra while Steven and I were working on separate projects. However, I subconsciously decided I did not need to load my memory card in my camera. D'oh.<br />
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So here's a panorama of the end of a walk in the Root River Parkway taken yesterday.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">March 1, 2010<br />
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I tried SO very hard to capture how gorgeous this nearly-full moon was, but alas I have no tripod. Here's the best picture I could manage with my unsteady hands.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">March 2, 2010<br />
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I really liked the way my Mom's shower curtain was reflected in the towel bar...so here's a spin on the typical bathroom-mirror-picture ;).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">March 3, 2010<br />
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I made these today for myself and a long-time friend. The turtle pendants are carved from the Tagua shell, known for it's sturdiness and ivory-like appearance.<br />
No, I didn't carve these little turtles. I wish I could get my hands on some raw Tagua....but that's another project that I don't need to add to my list right now D: .<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">March 4, 2010<br />
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After checking various other sources for instructions on creating my own SCOBY, I realized that I did this batch wrong. ARGH....oh well, it only puts me behind one week, right? Right. Besides, it gave me an excuse to go to Whole Foods and buy some more Kombucha ;D. This time I tried a Passion Fruit/ Elderberry blend....DELICIOUS!<br />
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Yes, so as you can see there is nothing forming in this failed attempt. There should have been at least a thin film on the surface by now. Oy....</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">March 5, 2010<br />
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Yesterday was my sister-in-law's birthday, so we celebrated today by going to Joey's Seafood and Grill and then back to her place for yummy cake and ice cream and some much needed coffee :).<br />
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Here are the Lavolds - all 3 of them!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">March 6, 2010<br />
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There was actually a Winter Farmer's Market at the Wisconsin State Fair Park today - not much to choose from of course, but we picked up this bottle of delicious apple mead from a local apple orchard/winery among a few other things (lamb roast, bag o' random mushrooms, and onions).<br />
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Here's Grimm being a lush as usual. Don't mind the clutter - the dining room table has taken on my mental state as of late xD.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">March 7, 2010<br />
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I just loaded up my second set of results from a run with my shiny new Forerunner 305. This little thing is an extraordinary piece of technology!<br />
This run was from just a 4 mile stretch on the Root River Parkway. The ice patches were worth tackling since it meant that others were warded off, leaving the whole trail to myself :D.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">March 8, 2010<br />
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Oh my....I found this photo of my best friend and I from our Camp Matawa days. I felt this photo captured our true essence: completely awkward and um....'different.'<br />
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Oy...the Powerpuff Girls >.< .<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">March 9, 2010<br />
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Poor Grimm. He's been so very sick for the past 24 hours, puking up EVERYTHING. So here he is, finally holding down some food, taking a nap to regain his energy. So cute....</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">March 10, 2010<br />
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Today was a GREAT day for food. I came home to a surprise loaf of organic Guinness bread which my husband contrived in my absence. There was also a lamb roast which had been going since midnight which was pretty good (lamb takes a wee bit of getting used to). The lamb, mushrooms, and onions within the roast were all purchased from the Milwaukee Winter Farmer's Market last weekend.<br />
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Support your local farmers!!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</span></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">March 11, 2010<br />
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The past two days/nights have been SO foggy! It reminds me of how much I wish I lived in London :).<br />
Anyhow, I think this photo only minutely captures how mysteriously awesome the fog made everything look.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">March 12, 2010<br />
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Ahahaha....Steve and I went to a play tonight, directed by our Aunt and Uncle (woohoo it was great!), and stumbled upon this at the book fair during intermission. I was hit with waves of fright, pity, humor, guilt, and then humor again.<br />
Basically in the end, the only living being to make the 'unlovable' dog feel lovable was by another 'unlovable' pug like itself.<br />
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So what did we learn?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">March 13, 2010<br />
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After years and years of trying to get to the downtown St. Patty's Day Parade (always interrupted by one thing or another), Steve and I finally made it! We stood outside Mo's Irish Pub and even ran into a dear old friend (Ms. Jackie Benka).<br />
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Long story short, this was by far my favorite part of the parade...not only because I got to see my dream vehicle, but those driving it expressed fine taste in the comedic macabre :). They pretended to stall the hearse, at which point the body + coffin fell out of the back onto the street. They quickly loaded up the coffin and fiddled with something under the hood to make it start up and go again.<br />
Very Monty Python; very nice! Cheers :).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">March 14, 2010<br />
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Woohoo! My first HDR photo! I think I'm in love ♥ . Thanks Emily for teaching me this amazing art form!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">March 15, 2010<br />
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Ach du lieber....this is as far as we got with our planned brewing day. D'oh. Silly errands preventing us from having fun. Ah well, perhaps this weekend?<br />
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Well, I can't say our errands weren't any fun at all. After all, we went to Science & Surplus to try and find strong enough magnets to use for our hover couch. Yeah, that's another story.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">March 16, 2010<br />
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Tonight I decided (last minute of course) to create a two-tiered medieval/ peasant/ oriental skirt for St. Patrick's Day. Yeah...overly ambitious is an understatement. By 11:30pm, I figured I'd just have to settle with ending after the first tier - after getting bit by the sewing machine, an aching back (why do I always insist on sewing on the floor??), and work in 5 hours.<br />
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I'll post more pictures of it when it's all finito :). Another task for the weekend >.< .<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">March 17, 2010<br />
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Happy St. Patrick's Day! Forget green beer.....if you truly want get into the Celtic vibe, you HAVE to have Guinness, Smithwick's, Murphy's, or Strongbow Cider (as seen here)!<br />
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We headed to downtown Milwaukee and found a few Irish pubs to stop at. In between we followed a bunch of bag-pipers onto a Horny Goat Beer bus (we traded our freedom for free beer). Turns out we kinda drank beer with the owner's son on the bus, and were taken to the brewery as well. AAAAND...I got a free sticker.<br />
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CHEERS!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">March 18, 2010<br />
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Today we took my sibling-in-law's puppies for a walk. Long-haired Chihuahuas ♥ .<br />
It's interesting how much friendlier people are in passing when you're being led by two adorable fluff-balls. They brought smiles to many people today :D.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">March 19, 2010<br />
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Working nearly every morning at 6am has really taken a toll on this night owl persona of mine. On account of averaging 4 hours of sleep per night, I finally crashed today; I took a nap. For 5 hours, I took a "nap." I hate wasting the day like that! It's my own fault though :P.<br />
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Anyhow, since my time was occupied by being in a coma, I had to settle for one of those every-day-objects kind of pictures. Here's the "Thinking of You" Willow Tree Angel that was given to me by my mom not too long ago. I absolutely love it! I've always wanted one of the Willow Tree Angels, but it's one of those things that you can't just buy yourself; it needs to be gifted to you.<br />
And how did she know I am obsessed with the ocean?<br />
♥ you mum :)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">That's all folks! There's the recap :). Ta ta for now!</div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Thehackbarthjourneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08140567679107662214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686334774635270653.post-78477335285802321012010-03-19T22:24:00.000-05:002010-03-19T23:23:37.973-05:00Cellar Door.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIPWifiXDZDr2ZyUKlMTyMu12oPpRvYWJF9qfbi_tEBiS2LG3cqad_mVTH5C6X9QepV94gMMc2W8qpx-F7bmhdSpcxMHOFwuyTNr9cYiWh9eFKzBN573GT8ETzJK6wLDea2_7dva9oJOE/s1600-h/DSCN1164.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIPWifiXDZDr2ZyUKlMTyMu12oPpRvYWJF9qfbi_tEBiS2LG3cqad_mVTH5C6X9QepV94gMMc2W8qpx-F7bmhdSpcxMHOFwuyTNr9cYiWh9eFKzBN573GT8ETzJK6wLDea2_7dva9oJOE/s320/DSCN1164.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450566752103333490" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> For little more than a century, it has been said that "cellar-door" is the most beautiful word in the English language. The phonoaesthetics mirror the purposefully light, feathery, and melodious nature of the Elvish language within The Lord of the Rings. It has long been said that even Edgar Allen Poe's favorite word was indeed "cellar-door," so much that his famed poem </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">'Nevermore' </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">utilized the one word he could find which came closest to it. Simply by the song of the word, non-English speakers have been convinced to dedicate themselves to learning the language, convinced that it must be a beautiful language, worthy of delving into.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> So why does this matter? Well, I suppose its importance partially stems from a long-time moderate obsession with the word myself. I heard about it maybe 10 years ago, and it's stuck with me ever since. I enjoy playing with the idea in my head that despite meaning and definition that people try to attach to </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">everything</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">, there are certain "truths" and shared feelings about some things in life which people all over the world can agree on. And maybe it's more than a simple agreement, too; it's magnetism! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> Throughout my life I've kept journals, mostly written and some online. The online ones never really stuck around for too long. There's just something so timelessly important and personal about handwritten words on real pieces of paper.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> However, with these times I've come to realize that I just need to shove myself into the online world as well, being that most of my social contacts are through the cyber world. Not to mention, I have family all over this continent! So I suppose I am following in some of my cousin's footsteps by publishing my journey through life in an easy way for them to keep connected with Steven and I, if they so wish :D. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> The other inspiration for this journal ( I don't like the term '</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">blog</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">' :P ), is my photography project, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Project 365</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">, which I've been keeping up with via Facebook. I figured it's about time to give the photo-journal a little more accessibility.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> So here I am. Here we are. The words and experiences coupled with the photos soon to come will be my 'cellar-door' to you, I hope. We are each our own concoction of colors and flavors, words and melodies; Though individually, we cannot be directly translated to another's definition, there are some things about each of us that blend perfectly and strike the same chord with others. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> Cheers :).</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div>Thehackbarthjourneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08140567679107662214noreply@blogger.com0