Resurrection

So, I've been absent for awhile. My bad. Shit happens.

For example, I've recently decided to renew the actually-made-from-corks corkboard project that Amy began our senior year of college. See my budding collection? If you are a wine drinker please begin saving your corks for me. I can't use those cheap-o plastic ones, only ones that are made out of actual cork. Hence the title of the project, The Actually-Made-From-Corks Corkboard.

Also, my brother got pulled over going 109 mph on the Lodge, called me to come get him, and because we'd both been at the bar (read: really shouldn't have been driving), the very lovely Michigan State Trooper that pulled him over found it somewhere in his heart not to give either of us DUIs, and instead merely gave Jess a speeding ticket. So there was that whole fiasco.

Nextly there's the fact that I am reading a new and very good book after having just finished a not-so-new but equally as good book. I miss reading and getting to talk to people about it a few days later. I actually (in my supreme and eternal dorkhood) still underline stuff in pencil that strikes me as important or moving or just plain nice when I am reading something. What did I just finish you ask? The Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver, quite good. What am I reading now you query?? A Million Little Pieces, by James Frey (you know, the one who "duped" Oprah? Apparently she had some trouble coming to terms with the fact that a recovering alcohol and crack addict may have had to fabricate parts of his memoir for emphasis or effect or perhaps because he's a recovering crack addict, I mean, how much can he possibly remember with total clarity anyway??).

Lastly there is the fact that lately I have become consumed with the desire to move out of my house, and, more specifically, in with Shaun. Not at his apartment because, and you may know this already if you saw the absolutely horrific pictures of what the management of his apartment complex did to his shower - eek, well because lets just say that the only 2 redeeming qualities about his apartment are that 1. he lives there, and 2. it's in Royal Oak, which is nice, but still, eek. I drive around and look out the car window and I think, "What does the inside of that house look like, and how much would it cost for us to buy it?" I try to think up compelling arguments to convince Shaun that we should move downtown, both because I believe it would be a wise investment and we'd make a ton-o-money off of selling something good in 5 years, and also because with every passing day I think the likelihood of me going to Wayne State to get my master's in a year and a half increases. He says, "No well in hell I am living downtown," and I say, "No way in hell I am living in Warren!" So we'll probably end up in Royal Oak or Berkley or Clawson or who the hell knows where.

Was that good enough for ya A.? I will try not to be so long next time, deepest apologies.

Mickey D's

This morning Shaun decided to stop at McDonald's on the way to work. The McDonald's we stopped at is one we usually skip, seeing as how they f*ck up the order 92% of the time, but since it is the most strategically located McDonald's in relation to Shaun's office, that's where he pulled in. His order was simple, a medium OJ and one hash brown. Finito. The ordering conversation went as follows:

McD: Can I take your order?

Shaun: Yeah, I'll have a medium OJ and a hash brown please.

McD: Is that an orange juice or an orange drink?

Shaun: Juice.
(At this point a small OJ order is showing on the screen, in spite of the fact that he ordered a medium.)

McD: And what else?

Shaun: A hash brown.

McD: Would you like sauce with that?
(At this point I giggle because who orders sauce with a freaking hash brown, which, incidentally, is still not appearing on the order screen.)

Shaun: No, just the hash brown.

McD: Did you say a breakfast burrito?
(Now I'm giggling again because it is clear that this person is an idiot in the best kind of way, namely one that will provide me with entertainment.)

Shaun: No, I said a hash brown. (Enunciating perfectly the two syllables that form HASH BROWN.)

McD: Is what you're ordering a sandwich, because I don't know what that is...?

Shaun: (Yelling at the order microphone) A HASH BROWN!!!

Finally his order appeared on the screen, still showing a small OJ instead of a medium, but I don't think he wanted to press his luck at that point. I was giggling so hard I was in tears until we pulled back out onto 14 Mile Rd. It was hilarious. Whether or not you'll be able to appreciate the humor from my retelling of the story remains to be seen, but take my word for it, it was hysterical.

The Best Things in Life Are Free

Perhaps it is a bit played out, but it's true all the same: the best things in life are indeed free. Matty and I experienced several examples of this on Friday night when we were hanging out. While minding our own business and drinking our brews at the Rock in Royal Oak we were suddenly bombarded by representatives from Sprint who showered us with *free* Super Bowl XL gear! We each got hats and long sleeve tees, neither of which I'd actually use, so that hat went to Jesse and the tee to Shaun. But after that we decided to head downtown to check out the official Super Bowl XL Insanity that had been going for a couple of days already. Matt works downtown and has a parking pass, and I talked us past the cover at the Anchor, and Kira being the super awesome and gracious gal that she is merely pooh-poohed me when I asked for our tab. The perks of knowing the family that owns the bar I suppose.

Now that the Super Bowl has come and gone (well, I suppose the Steelers fans are still partying it up big time downtown), I really hope that Detroit will be able to sustain some of the interest it has piqued with the whole event. It was so great to walk around downtown and see families out with their kids, and people bar hopping and just having a kick ass time. It's what a major city should feel like all the time. I'm proud of Detroit for doing us proud for the big game, and I just hope we can keep a little of that pride around, because that's what really helps.

In other news, Shaun and I went bowling last night and had a rockin' good time. It's crazy how much FUN I have with that man! Here's a picture of us having fun and looking cute at my work holiday party (which was stupefyingly LAME, in spite of the fact that they gave away a 50" plasma TV).

He is a much better bowler than me (read: he owns his very own pair of bowling shoes while I rent the dorky Day-Glo ones), but I actually didn't suck! I started off with a strike and managed to break 100 every game. Shaun finished by bowling his best game ever, and somehow still managed to be disappointed by his score. Men. (Just kidding baby!!)

Anyway, I am exhausted so I'm going to bed. If anyone has a any great pics from their adventures downtown this weekend I'd love to see them!