Oscar party

This last weekend, I held my first (impromptu last minute) Oscar party. It was practically like going to John Elton's viewing party.

Swag bags included a box of Cheerios and some Mardis Gras beads (the top sponsors for the Milwaukee-based event).

It was a very exclusive event, with 3 people and 2 cats attending.

Ben was supposed to dress in a suit jacket/vest and make an appearance, but "the Oscars are dumb," so he spent time being a gamer in the bedroom and running out to pick up more champaign. Such a nice boy.

Brianna arriving to the Oscar party

Jessica arriving to the Oscar party... with an umbrella...

swag bags!

Ben made a momentary appearance

Paris was a guest host

trying to pop bottles



popping bottles... eventually

xoxo, b

Drama queen

Ben got sick the other night. It was disgusting. I found him in the living room around midnight, his body wrapped in multiple blankets and his arms wrapped around the kitchen garbage can. He was a sad sight.

I cleaned up after him, got him water, and rethought our wedding vows (WHAT did I agree to?!).

Morning rolled around, and the sad, sick man-child grunted for me to call in to work for him. By the time I was leaving, he allegedly only had a few hours of life left. The following Oscar-worthy performance included a monologue about letting him feel my face one last time because the sickness had taken his sight, bringing him a cat to cuddle with so he would not die alone, and mumbling for one final kiss goodbye since THIS was his deathbed.

I ended up having a half day at work so I didn't go into overtime.... which meant I had to I home to the sassy sicky. I gave him a call to let him know the news, and that I was stopping at the grocery store to pick up soup. A full shopping list from him later, and I was on my way home to play nurse.

Upon arriving home, I brought Ben his requested orange. With a smirk and a sniffle, he asked if I could peel it for him.......because he's "siiiiick and I love him, right? Ooh and gonna need a glass of that apple juice." Then he settled back into his blanket and pillow cocoon to continue watching crappy Netflix movies.

That's when I made up my mind: Premeditated Slumber.

Ben quickly received his glass of apple juice, topped off with NyQuil. After the first big gulp, he realized he had been foiled.

30 minutes later he was cruising on the road to recovery.... by sleeping it off

xoxo, b

Funeral for a fish

Yesterday was rough. Life is so short, and it seems as though death steals away such promising futures on a regular basis.

Yesterday, my sister Brianna's fish, Gill, died. She called me during work to break the heart wrenching news. Gill had gone home to the big fishbowl in the sky, and since I was there when he was brought home from the pet store, she felt it was only fitting that I say a few words at his funeral.

So I did. I spoke from the unprotected and vulnerable depths of my being. I spoke of Gill, and the amazing life he lead since I met him in March.

Then we flushed Gill, while Faith Hill soulfully sung "there you'll be" in the background. Bittersweet feelings arose as we bid a final farewell, and watched as he went to sleep with the fishes forevermore.

Then we went to Maggiano's for a family dinner, and to eat our feelings Italian style.

**I'm thinking Brianna needs to find herself a full time job. What an odd bunch we are.....

xoxo, b

Date day: mke zoo

First off.... This will be the first time in 4 years that we have not been in New Orleans for Mardis Gras. My body actually started craving beignets and Cafe du Monde coffee. But we figured MKE is pretty cool, so we went to Molly Cool's seafood restaurant on the river for Fat Tuesday. They were having a NOLA inspired buffet and hurricane drink specials. Not quite the same.....

::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Yesterday was DATE DAY! This time, it was a miscellaneous Wednesday between Fat Tuesday and Valentine's Day that we both had off from work. Stupid cold day, but sunny. I even sang a stunning rendition of a self-written melody entitled "date day" at predetermined times throughout the day to commemorate the occasion.

We went to the zoo first, because the zoo is awesome and we like to think we are awesome so naturally....

We saw some monkeys, the big kitties, elephants, giraffes (my favorite), and the exotic fish (Ben's favorite). We decided it would be awesome of we had a tank of glowing jelly fish at our place.... so that's in the works now. Also, those peacocks were strutting around everywhere. I'm not a super fan of birds in general with their beady little eyes, talons, and super sharp built-in knife mouths, so the generally tranquil walk around the zoo was dotted with some thrilling run-ins with peacocks.

After conquering the zoo, we stopped by Kelley's Bleachers by Miller Park for food. I made that BBQ pork sandwich my betch; Ben was impressed. He knows whassup.

:::::::::::::::::::::::

Happy Valentines Day, I suppose. Sappy love is all good and fine and wonderful for some..... But I'm more excited to stalk the candy aisle after this silly day is done parading around.

Because THAT is true bliss.

:::::::::::::::

xoxo, b

Snowman snow

It snowed all day today.... The good stuff, PERFECT of creating a masterpiece snowman!!

And after creating a masterpiece snowman... PERFECT for Ben to cat-nap Paris and bring her outside to personally meet the snowman. Nicole lucked out and got to view the snowman from inside.

xoxo, b

Pinterest Meets This Old House Day

This year's New Year Resolution was finally nailed down last week. (Better late than never). We are going to work on saving dollars so we can go on a kickass honeymoon in the near future. (Another better late than never).

With that whole idea being set into place, my lovely days off bumming around various retail stores have now become days brimming with internal struggles, soft weeping while in the fetal position, and day drinking wine.

Who am I kidding. It's been spaztastic days of checking out DIY projects on Pinterest, rearranging, repurposing and organizing everything we own, and day drinking wine (after 12:30, I have standards). My tool box is getting solid use.

Because Pinterest has showed me that I CAN and SHOULD make old beer bottles into drinking glasses, refashion Ben's dress shirt into Britani's shirt dress, and write on my walls. Pinterest also tends to highlight all theaters of my life where I am sorely lacking cutesy, ridiculously overdone organization.

And so, in conclusion, today I'm tackling the bedroom. Because I saw some stuff on Pinterest this morning. And the shared closet could use some loving. I'm going to revamp the shhht out of it.....or at least I'll start. Because it's almost 12:30 sooooo......

Here comes creativity, cussing, and power tools.

xoxo b

••••••••

I had some major success, and it only took all day and half a bottle of wine! I ripped things off the wall, played with power tools and pliers, and bam-a-lam organized closet space!

xoxo b

Coffee cat

Paris and I shared an intimate cup of joe the other day. She's slowing getting over her seasonally affected disorder (S.A.D.), so we are all pretty happy for her.

xoxo, b