SMOOSHED

That's what my brain is right now... everything is SMOOSHED inside it... (that's also one of the words I used during a really poor live shot at a train derailment a few years ago... followed by an immediate drop of the head and instant embarassment)

My friend Megan recently wrote a post on her blog with the warning "hold on to your seats!"  I'm stealing that.  HOLD ON TO YOUR SEATS, FOLKS!  Probably would have been more effective if I hadn't admitted my theft beforehand, huh?  And since we are currently in the midst of the Winter Olympics.. every subtitle within this post will follow the Vancouveran theme...

THE LUGE

A.K.A.  My ass of a dog, Mack

Last weekend, I got all dolled up to head to a "retirement" party for my beautiful friend and coworker, Marla.  Those who know me know on the weekends it is not uncommon for me to hole up in my pink room and scrapbook until I run out of decals.. so to get all snazzy and go to a party is a big deal.  I was all ready and put on Mack's leash to let him out one last time before leaving.  Unfortunately I didn't see the other dog on HIS leash, being walked right past our house by my neighbor.  Mack BOLTED for his would-be friend.. the other dog had a mad case of Little Dog Syndrome and spazzed.  I tried to pull back on Mack's leash.. but quickly learned party shoes + freshly fallen snow + 72 pound IDIOT DOG =

BRANDI SLIDING BELLY FIRST ACROSS THE FRONT YARD.

Yeah, you read that right.  I tried to dig my heels in.. but had no traction.. and just like a cartoon flopped down onto my front and got pulled across the front yard like a MORON.  I can just imagine how my neighbor's night went.. speed dialing or facebooking everyone he knows.. telling them how the TV girl luged across her front yard trying to stop her dog.

Mack and I were not on speaking terms for several days.

BIATHALON

A.K.A.  Brian's New Job

Brian is now a month in to his new gig at Qwest Center Omaha as one of the heads of internal production.  Basically, if you go to something in the arena.. everything you see on the big center screen, the banners, the sound.. that's all at the hands of my husband :)  He's kind of a big deal.

Why biathalon, you ask?  Because Brian has logged 127 HOURS in the last two weeks.

Concerts + NSAA State Wrestling + Creighton Basketball + UNO Hockey =

a very tired husband... but BANK for his wife :)

The one GREAT perk.. the celeb sightings.  When Tim McGraw and Faith Hill came into town.. guess who hooked up TM's cable in his dressing room?  BRIAN.  And guess who talked to him about baseball?  BRIAN.  And guess who said "oh, it's no problem" when FH walked by and said "oh, I'm sorry.. I didn't know you had someone in here.."  BRIAN.

And in case you were wondering if Faith Hill really is that gorgeous in person.. Brian's answer:

"OHHHH YEAH... she's NOT ugly.."

SKELETON

Like me giving up ALCOHOL for Lent... you're NUTS to try either one.

But that's what I'm doing... one of my favorite things to do after a long day is have a glass of wine and either read or scrapbook... so it's a big sacrifice for me to give it up for Lent.  So far so good!  Unfortunately I've turned to milkshakes/smoothies instead.. which does NOT bode well for my weight loss regime....

BOBSLED

Brian got me Wii Mario Kart for my birthday...

I know have Wii thumb.. and I think I went for a four hour stretch Saturday night without blinking...

BUT THE GAME IS BRILLIANT.. If you have it, let me know--we can race online!

***

Thanks for helping UNSMOOSH some of my random thoughts :) 

And thank you everyone for the birthday wishes! 

29?!?!?!

This House Is CLEAN

Hopefully you heard the voice of the little, creepy lady from Poltergeist as you read the title of this post... that was my intent :)

I'M HEALED!! Almost... but compared to the near-death state I felt like I was in a few short days ago, this is HEAVEN.

UPDATES:
  I'm the worst bride EVER.  It has officially been 1 year since Brian proposed.. and we are nearing the 6 month point since our wedding.. and I STILL HAVEN'T SENT OUR WEDDING ANNOUNCEMENT IN to local papers.  YIKES!  However.. I've been paying close attention and realize I'm not the only Bad Bride.. and there are still weddings being shared that happened before ours.  PHEW!  So the final hurdle.. which picture to use with the announcement?  I've sent my 6 finalist photos to my girlfriends... and a few man-friends... to help me decide.  The winning photo (and the runners up... you know, in case the winner cannot fulfill it's wedding photo duties...) will be posted here soon :)

  More evidence of my post-wedding shame.. I haven't picked up my dress from the cleaners!  EEK!  It was done being cleaned and preserved last week and I haven't gotten my always-late butt to 50th and Leavenworth to pick it up.  I should be getting ready for work so I can stop and get it as I head in... but I'm blogging about my procrastination instead.  Go figure :)

  Finally... not only am I a bad bride--I'm a horrible momma!!  As you read in the last post (the death-bed sickness post).. Bri took Mack to PetSmart when I was sick.  I was grumpy and mean, Bri is working 16 hour days, and we had tile installed in our entryway for the last few days.  While Mack was at Doggie Camp--there was apparently a gang fight in the play room... the keepers said that two other dogs started fighting, Mack jumped in, and MACK was the only one who got bit.  Here's how I think it went down... (thinking in "Up" movie terms will help)

ALPHA LAB: "Hey... Beta.. you see that dog over there?  He's been eying my pork chop.  I don't like it."

BETA ROTTWEILER: "yeah... YEAH!  That dog's a jerk!  Get him, Alpha!"

ALPHA LAB:  "Hey... Boxer!  Yeah, I'm talking to you.. You like that pork chop, do ya?  Yeah... I didn't think so... well just to make sure, I better teach ya a lesson..."

BOXER:  "What?? No!! I would never think of squeaking your pork chop, Alpha!! Never!  EEK!!"

MACK:  "Hey--HEY! Can't we all just get a long!!!??!!"

(sigh) So Mack was apparently holding the Boxer down.. and the Lab went at him and ripped through a bit of his ear. He's fine.. but had to get a few stitches and spent the last two days of Doggie Camp in the Doggie Hospital.  Poor guy :(   At least he doesn't have to wear the CONE OF SHAME!!!! Let's just say it's belly rub time.. whenever he says it is... for the next few months.  I feel SO GUILTY :(

Another Snow Day

While his Dad snowblowed the driveway..

and his Mom got ready for work..

Mack was enjoying another snow day in Nebraska.

Kickin' The Habit

GOODBYE, FRIEND.

Hello.  My name is Brandi.  And I'm a Bejeweled Blitz addict.

I blame Megan.  For all of those months, I'd see her score updates and I'd think to myself

"hmm.. that must be a fantastic game if my brilliant, neat-o friend Megan keeps playing it!" 

So I allowed the app on Facebook.

BIG MISTAKE.

I have what I refer to as an "addicting personality"

(Schuetz: "Brandi, it's an 'addictive' personality.  Trust me, you're not addiciting.")

I have played this game every spare moment for the last 3 months.  I think it's time for an intervention.

So as of tomorrow, the start of a new year.. a new decade.. I am saying goodbye to Bejeweled Blitz.

It's time.  I JUST WANT MY OLD LIFE BACK!!

On a completely unrelated note..

if anyone has any idea how to get Mack to go outside and do his business QUICKLY

when it's 10 degrees BELOW zero..

instead of walking around our front yard EATING SNOW...

please let me know.

Merry Christmas!

Our first Christmas photo as a family :)

The Good Life

Sometimes, especially in the winter, you just want to lie in the sun and tan..

..maybe take a nap in the warm sunshine..

..then, other times, you just want to curl up in bed..

..with your monkey.

Bah Humbug

To the woman who honked at me in the Westroads parking lot Friday, because apparently I wasn't backing out of my stall fast enough:

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

I can't handle Christmas shopping on the weekends. When everyone and their mom is out. And 90% of those people either can't drive, or are talking on their cells, or are just not paying attention and creating the most frustrating domino effect on traffic known to man... ugh.

The one bright spot... a little (big) guy I call Mack

How do you not love a guy that gets so much happiness from a simple car ride?