The Me Monster

For Charlotte:

28 is Gr8.

My birthday was a smash. Thanks for all the Birthday wishes. I felt like Paris Hilton.



In reverse order, since I am too lazy to rearrange my pictures....

Don took me to PF Changs.

Food Fantasy: Fulfilled.

Bonus: Waiter Looked looked like my American Idol, Danny Gokey.

Story: I told Don to ask if they give free desserts for birthdays.

He said he would find out in a round about way.

He asked the waiter, "Do you sing for birthdays?"

Waiter said, "No."

While Don was away washing his hands, I asked the waiter, "Do you do anything for birthdays?"

Waiter says, "yes. You get a free dessert."

Moral of the story: Sometimes being tactful doesn't work. Don't be shy, ask about the free food.



Before PF Changs, Don took me shopping. Other birthday fantasy: fulfilled.


Dad watched Chloe while I went out to lunch with my friend Charlotte.



She was thoroughly pooped.



Chelsey gave me this necklace.
It says
sisters-love-loyalty-friends

I said, "Chelsey thank you so much! Did you pick this out?"

She said: "No...Dad did."

She's very sentimental.






After lunch I went to the furniture store and picked up my new chair.

Not really.



My friend Charlotte that took me out to lunch.

We had Mexican food.

She made me wear a birthday ribbon and a flashing pin.

I guess it didn't really do it's intended job because we had to ask if they did anything for birthdays.

The waitress said, "Oh it's your birthday."

Really??

Moral of the story: Doing tacky things doesn't get you free food either.

Blame it on the economy.

I had an excellent day. I haven't eaten that much in a long time. Like since last week.
Thanks to all my friends and family for making me feel like a star. I am a lucky old woman!

Bump it Up Ladies!

I am pretty sure this had to have been invented in Utah.
Now Erin, you can achieve that Bon Losse look anytime!

Random. Seriously, really random.

Hello. It is Sunday and I am a little bored. But not stressed, so that is good. I had a talk in church today that was causing my nerves to go haywire. So I am enjoying relaxing. And my birthday is tomorrow. I am trying to think of something extra spectacular, other than going to Disneyland, that I could do. Or...maybe someone wants to do something a little crazy, and we could take a spontaneous trip to D-Land. No husbands! Anyone? Anyone?

I found some interesting pop culture trivia on the internet today.
I had no idea these were urban myths. I firmly believed them to be fact. ( Did you know Steve Martin is Mormon? I just found that out). I am actually relieved. I won't feel creepy about watching "Wizard Of Oz" anymore.





Okay I probably will. I used to hide whenever I heard the wind chimes in my backyard because I thought a tornado ensued. Also, every cloud looked like a funnel cloud. My mom tried to convince me that tornadoes don't happen in Mesa, AZ. I didn't believe her. Mom's lie sometimes. You know we do. "I'll give you some candy if you get in the car!" You know stuff like that.
Anyway, admit it, "The Wizard Of Oz" is a little creepy. Its creepy level is up there with the animated version of "The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe," "Alice in Wonderland", and that one with Jodie Foster and some old lady that lived in the woods. Old school stuff. Anyone know what I am talking about? Shiver.

What movies creeped you out as a kid?

And for anyone that might care:

Movie: The Wizard of Oz
Claim: A lovelorn munchkin's suicide was captured on film.

Verdict: FALSE
There are few movies out there that have more urban legends connected to it than "The Wizard of Oz." And while some are partially true -- it does actually synch up in some freakish ways with Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" (start your CD when the MGM lion roars for the third time) -- others, like the dead munchkin tale, are not.
The scene in question is when Dorothy and Scarecrow discover the Tin Man. It ends with all three dancing off into the distance along the yellow-brick road as the camera cranes up. If you watch closely, you can see some kind of odd motion behind a tree at the center of the screen. Some have it that it's a hiding stage hand who didn't hear the director shout "action" until it was too late. More active imaginations have it that it's a suicidal actor who played a munchkin kicking a ladder out from under him.
Leaving aside the absurdity that footage of a suicide would make it past the editors who labor over every frame of a movie before it's released, the truth is that movement the background is actually a stork or a crane. In order to help add some atmosphere to the indoor set, a number of exotic birds were lent to the production by the L.A. Zoo and were allowed to roam free. That strange flutter is one crane stretching its wing at an inopportune moment.

Ummmm, P.S.
A large bird wandering around on set?...also very creepy. Huge birds are creepy. Like ostriches. And geese. blugh. I freak out when there are flocks of pigeons by the fake lakes around here. They are just gross. And they fly way too close to my head. No wonder Alfred Hitchcock made a horror film about them.

Also, myth that people died in the chariot race during filiming of "Ben Hur."
False.

You may all now rest easy.

Also, once again, and no one ever takes me up on these offers, Chloe is for sale today. 5 dollars.
I need a nap. And she insists on being my siamese twin.

The White Witch was seriously spooky.

What children's movies traumatized you for life?

Discuss.

Dear Don, please don't kill me.

Last night we had plans to celebrate our anniversary. I was excited. I had envisioned a nice Mexican restaurant with dimmed lights, Mariachi music, and gorging myself on delectable chips and salsa.

I thought Don and I were on the same wave length. And I think we were but somewhere it all went awry.

I think it began with, "How do you feel about eating somewhere along the lightrail?"

I said "fine" and I meant it. And I know Don meant no ill will towards my food fantasy. I am very fickle at times when it comes to food. I have it perfectly envisioned in my mind's eye and sometimes I fail to communicate. Like the time on our Honeymoon in Mexico and I envisioned a classy, cold sandwich joint. In Mexico. I think we spent half the day looking for one. And when I ate the sandwich I realized I should have gone with the street tacos, available on every corner. Again...what was I thinking??? I am definitely more into ambiance than Don. And perhaps sometimes I don't give good food a chance because I am sidetracked by the ambiance factor. I could give several examples, but I will spare you that tangent for another day.

So back to my original point. Don told me about a great sushi place that also served the regular greasy and delicious chinese fare. He said he had eaten lunch there regularly and it was a happening joint. By this time I was starving and so I went against my better judgement on buffets. I do have an exception for buffets though-Chinese food. How do you mess up fried foods? You would think impossible, right?

Wrong.

Note to self: Do not go against better judgement. Especially when it comes to buffets. It is rare that a buffet engages both quantity and quality. Yes, even when it comes to chinese food.

Our first clue should have been the sign that said cash only. When we realized we were short about 7 dollars and were about to walk away, the "hostess" said, "that's okay, follow me." Too bad we weren't short 20 dollars. They still would have been making a hefty profit off of us.

I think my favorite part of the "buffet" was the dessert section. I had a hard time choosing between canned pears or the melted jello and chopped up brown bananas, mellowing underneath the heat lamp. Yum.

Ladies and gentleman, I bring you the stalest piece of cake in the whole entire world.

So my food fantasy did not exactly come true.

But that's okay. My birthday is in a few days and we will get to try again. And this time we will get it right. Because I am choosing.

Don, I love you. Even if you made me go to a bad buffet with bad decorations and painted geese.

You didn't know the fried rice would be 8 hours old and the crispy General Tsao chicken would be a soggy excuse for an entree.

Okay, okay. He didn't "make" me go. It was a joint decision. But sometimes I like to blame Don because it makes me feel better.

I'm working on that.

The best anniversary gift is the gift I get every day.

Thanks Don.

You and Chloe are my happy place.

Tickling your funny bone.

I've been having one of those weeks. And I needed a good laugh. Maybe you could use one too.

Happy Anniversary

Dear Don,

Thanks for marrying me 4 years ago. It's been finger lickin' good hasn't it?

Your Wife,

Meliss