Blond Archives - Page 28 of 87

Spoiled

July 30, 2009/1 Comment/in Blond, Happiness, Lucy, Videos, web /by Megan

I’ve been a Macintosh lover and user for years. I guess it all started in high school, when the only Mac computers in the school resided in the journalism classroom, where the epic “Mentor” newspaper and “Blue M” yearbook were created. While most kids took a while to get used to the glory of the Macintosh (Where is the CTRL key?! How do you right click? What the ‘eff does CMMD mean?!), I quickly took to those silly looking computers with the time clock wait icon. When I decided to become a journalism major in college, I was pleased to find the whole school used Apple exclusively, and when I got my job as a video editor with the school, which lasted throughout my college career, I knew I would need an Apple of my very own.

Enter my beloved “Macaroni,” a G4 Powerbook which has stood by me for many, many years. It’s been through five major moves in four cities (including Florence, Italy), and countless You Tube videos. Though it doesn’t hold battery charge now and is basically obsolete, I still love my Macaroni, and refuse to give it up. That is, until it can be properly replaced (suggestion: here).

And my Mac love doesn’t just extend to computers. I have been the owner of way too many iPods, including my first, a pink iPod Mini given to me by Trent as a Christmas gift oh so many years ago. That was followed a few years later with a Video iPod, and a hand me down iPod Touch. But now, ladies and gents, now I have entered a whole new world of Mac dependency.

I have an iPhone. And not just a 3G, but because of some crazy billing error, the new 3Gs. Please, let’s have a moment of silence.

This phone is the best electronic tool I’ve ever laid my fingers on. I use the Google Maps GPS feature instead of printing out directions, I downloaded a sound machine app to help me sleep when I can’t settle down, I check Twitter way more often then is necessary, I can listen to Pandora or any NPR station in the county with just a touch. And having my music, videos, photos and phone all in one device isn’t bad either.

But the best part, for me, at least, is the new video feature, so when Lucy gets all cute at a Royals game, leading our section as team cheerleader, I can capture it and share with you.

Or when Mara is trying to avoid me, I can easily annoy her.

Or when I need to entertain my kid with random questions, I can capture her insane reaction.

But I’m certainly not wasting time taking videos. I spend most of my iPhone time checking my work email and calendars. And the stock market. And the weather.

Yup, it’s all about the work. Practicality, people. Uh huh. Totally.

[cough, cough]

A Birthday Haiku

July 28, 2009/1 Comment/in Blond, Fun, Nerd Herd /by Megan

Today is my best friend Mara’s birthday, and in honor of her big day (and because I just bought her a graduation present), in lieu of a gift, I have decided to glorify her with a poem. Specifically, a well-thought-out haiku:

Team Edward and Team Ronald
you are such a goof
twenty-six will be awesome

Please, please, stop applauding. I know, you didn’t realize my talents stretched into the world of incredible poetry. Well, now you know.

(If you’re on Twitter, wish Miss Mara a happy day yourself here! It’s also photographer extraordinaire [and fellow mother of a Tasmanian child] Nicole’s birthday! Wish her happy birthday here or here. I think I’ll go eat some cake now. You know, for solidarity.)

“Firsts” or “Why Did You Bring a Rifle to the Wedding?”

July 21, 2009/3 Comments/in Blond, Fun, Photos /by Megan

This past weekend I was able to do so many fun things, my head is still spinning. The fun was so overwhelming, in fact, I actually haven’t been able to sleep. For reals. It’s 4:22 a.m. and I’m still not asleep. This will not end well.

But as long as I’m not sleeping, I figured I’d share some of the fun with you all, you lovely Crazybananas readers, you. First, on Friday, I got to finally meet Miss Lauren Kathrine Fogarty, the new baby girl just birthed by the awesome Kristi. I definitely didn’t get enough time with the munchkin (Lu fell while playing with the neighbor kids and never really recovered from the trauma of it all), but there were major snuggles to be had.

Out of focus, but I love it anyway.

Kristi is a great mom already. Such fun stuff!

Um, yeah, I know. Right? Right?!! Arggghhh, BABIES! Overwhelming adorable-ness!!!!

That made no sense, did it? Well, like I said, NO SLEEP, so nothing I say in this post will make much sense.

But I digress.

On Saturday, I headed to good ole’ Manhattan, Kansas for a lovely July wedding. My best bud, Abbie, has a brother-in-law that was getting hitched, and she asked me if I’d take pictures of the wedding. Now, as I AM NOT a professional (or even f’ing close) photographer, I bitched and moaned and begged not to do it, but in the end, I decided I wanted to help out. And I’m glad I did, as it was a fun learning experience for all involved.

What did I learn? Well, when the bride looks like this, the photographer doesn’t have to do much.

What else did I learn? Well, sometimes, at weddings in Kansas, boys like to have their picture taken with their guns. I find this odd, but I tried to go wtih the flow.

And then I ran for cover….

Special thanks to Luke and Abbie, who trusted me (for some strange reason) to capture Sascha and Michaela’s big day. You guys are pretty. Now move home from Alabama, immediately!

Harry Potter Recap

July 14, 2009/6 Comments/in Blond, Fun, Happiness, Nerd Herd /by Megan

Yesterday, after standing in line behind quite possibly the most obnoxious family of all time for two hours, my good bud (and fellow Ron Weasley lover) Mara and I headed in to the theater for our advanced screening of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. We had chatted for a bit about what we were going to do when we were inevitably disappointed with the story (they always cut out the best parts of the books), the acting (or shall we say, overacting), and the overall suckiness that seems to come out of the movies made about these amazing books. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve liked the other movies as well, but while each had it’s moments, I usually left the theater somewhat unsatisfied.

So imagine our surprise when this Harry Potter movie blew our freaking minds. For real! The story (though they did cut out some pretty important stuff…harumph…) was beautifully told by director David Yates and his team. It was a movie that actually seemed smooth, as opposed to the choppy cuts of all the other HP films. The characters showed some real development, in particular Harry, Hermione, Ron and Draco Malfoy. The child-actors that always drove me nuts with their grand hand gestures and fake dialogue, really stepped up this go ’round. Both Mara and I commented that they had obviously worked on their craft since the last film, and it shows.

Again, a major thanks to Scene-Stealers.com for the tickets and the opportunity to see this movie before it’s even out in theaters. For those of you that have to wait until the end of the week, (sorry about that) it will be worth the wait. You’ll laugh, maybe you’ll cry (I won’t mention who did cry, but her name rhymes with Zara), and you’ll hopefully be as pleasantly surprised as we were.

And now, some notes from the premiere. We were told not to have cell phones anywhere near the theater or they would be confiscated, so we left ours in the car. Of course, as the line started moving, they changed that particular rule, so you just couldn’t have your phone on when you walked into the theater. So while everyone else was Twittering or texting or talking…Mara and I just stared at each other and tried not to punch the annoying family in front of us in their nasty faces. Some high (and low) points:

– Mara proved once again that she hates people. All people.

– If you are an obnoxious, awful human being, please do not procreate. Your children will indeed be as awful as you are.

– If you are a Kansas City radio host, why must you wear cut off t-shirts to a movie premiere? We get it, you’re country, but good Lord. Movie theaters are cold, and your arms are looking chilly.

– I totally cried during the previews when they played the scene from “Where the Wild Things Are.”

– I love Ron Weasley.

– Someone needs to invent a flask that has absolutely no metal on it so it won’t set off the metal detector wands from the crazy theater security.

– When we were searched (as everyone was going in to the theater), I was all “Look out, we’re about to get wanded. Get it? Wanded!” And Mara tried to kill me with her eyes.

– Mara loves Ron Weasley.

– The Quiddich scene was awesome. Like, finally. After six movies, they finally perfected Quiddich. About time.

– Mara thinks the one thing missing from the movie was a shot of the Weasley’s clock with all the hands (family members positions) pointing to mortal peril. I offered to make her one for her birthday. Only without magic. (Turns out you can get this very clock on Skymall.com…again, without magic. Which is sort of the point, isn’t it?)

– I promised Mara that if I someday have a baby boy and it has red hair I will name it Ronald Weasley Peters. Hope Trent doesn’t mind this little development.

– I bet you all $100 that Mara went home last night and rewatched the other Harry Potter movies. Seriously.

Mean Girls

July 9, 2009/1 Comment/in Blond, Grumples, Lucy /by Megan

The other day I headed to Lulu’s school to pick her up after a very long workday. I was exhausted, both mentally and physically, from a long holiday weekend and the work pileup that resulted from it. I checked the classroom first, then realized that the kids were out on the playground and rushed outside to grab Lu, as we were (of course) running late for her first swimming lesson. On the playground I noticed two little girls being talked to by a teacher in the corner, while Lu and another girl were riding bikes. The other girl’s mother was there too, and as the four of us walked out of the playground, a teacher stopped us.

“I just wanted to let you know that the girls have had a rough afternoon. They [points to Lu, the other girl, and the two little girls in the corner] have been fighting, saying mean things to one another, basically a girl fight.”

And then, “I just really never expected this out of girls this young. The older girls, yes, but not these ones.”

The other mother and I just stood there, looking like we were in trouble ourselves, our heads hanging and mumbling “sorry” to the teacher who stopped us. We both told her that we’d have talks about being nice to our friends and the four of us shuffled out of the park. The other little girl yelled that she wanted Lu to come for a playdate, and Lu asked the same. We both said no, maybe next time, and exchanged a look.

When we got in the car for the trip home, I asked Lu what had happened.

“Well, Mia* and Jenny told Emily [the girl that Lu was playing with when I picked her up] that we don’t like her anymore and she’s not our friend and she can’t play with us.”

“Did you tell her that? Did you say anything to Emily?”

“No.”

“Were you nice to her?”

“I just stayed with Jenny and Mia. Emily got really sad.”

At that point, I almost started bawling. I mean, I was ready for an outsider, a nerd who reminded me of myself as a kid. But I never, ever expected I’d have to deal with Lulu being one of the mean girls. I’d always assumed she’d be the one on the other side, getting teased, not the one doing the teasing. And I couldn’t believe we were already talking about this stuff. I mean, she’s THREE!

After a few days to reflect (and many, many talks about treating people kindly), I’ve started to look at the situation a bit differently. I suppose a big reason is because Lulu’s daily teacher told me she’s had to talk to the girls several times about being nice, but Lucy always seems oblivious, and if she’s in the middle of it, it’s strictly because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. She even told me, “I’d never expect that out of Lucy. She loves everyone. And everyone loves her.”

Another part of me has started to get a bit angry. I mean, why do we have to label these kids as “mean girls” at three and four years old. Why can’t females at any age disagree or argue without being labeled at all? I mean, geez, if these were boys, we’d be all “Well, boys can be boys,” but with girls we make a big deal out of it. I understand that boys and girls are different, and fight differently, but if a boy would have done this, I’m sure we’d just be thanking him for not hitting or resorting to violence. “Use your words,” we’d say. But when girls do it, they’re “mean girls.” Why?

I suppose all I can do is keep teaching Lu to value friendships and kindness, and continue to make it very clear that I won’t tolerate a “mean girl” in my home. I guess encouraging the nerd in her can’t hurt either. I mean, we don’t want her to end up all Lindsey Lohan-ed out at age twenty-three, right?

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