I need more Space in my Office

Let's take this time to talk about things that irritate us. I'll go first.
Today at work THIS was my conversation with ... well, we'll call him "Joe".

Joe: (looks at my boss's cube- which is empty). Where's Tom?
Me: Not here yet. I'll tell him you came by.
Joe: Hmmm.....(leans against my cube)....I really need to see him....when will he be here?
Me: I'll just go check the GPS tracking program I installed in his shoulder while he was sleeping. I don't know.
Joe: Riiiiight....well, maybe you can help me....I'm trying to find out if he labled it. I was looking for it this morning in the shared drive but I can't find it so I'm guessing it either isn't there, or it's called something else.
Me: (stare at him with BIG smile) Just to clarify. You realize I have no idea what "it" is that you're talking about?
Joe: (Looks at me like I'm mentally deficient) The program I was talking to him about yesterday at the meeting. Hellooooo.
Me: Was I there?
Joe: No. Just Tom.
Me: (pause....Smile)
Joe: (Blank Stare)
Me:(Smile...widen eyes, raise eyebrows...)
UNCOMFORTABLE LONG PAUSE AS JOE TRIES TO FIGURE OUT WHY I'M SMILING
Joe: So...(obviously confused)..isn't Tom normally here by now?
Me: (I start to worry that we've "reset" the conversation and we're going to start allllll over)Yes. Normally. I'll tell him you came by
Joe: yeah....cause I really need to talk to him.....when do you think he'll be in?
Me: okay, bye-bye now.

*Later when Tom came in, 'Joe' came back with a "Ah-HA! I knew he would be here! I just KNEW it!" victorious look as though I'd been somehow concealing Tom away from fellow co-workers. But not from Joe. Joe was too quick for me!

Sometimes I think a college degree might, JUST MIGHT, be over-rated.

Grill, we hardly knew ye

It seems as though the ramifications of our 2-month stay in North Carolina are STILL coming back to haunt us. In addition to owing North Carolina FOUR DOLLARS in my taxes this year (Thanks to the "job" I had at Onslow County Public Schools for a hot minute), we sold or gave away a lot of our household items that would never fit in our 'grand' pink carpeted one bedroom apartment. (yes. PINK). Among these items was our brand new grill we'd had for MAYBE a month before we found out we were moving. We sold the grill to our neighbors, Adam and Jess. Rob was distraught over this one. But I, in my infinite wisdom, convinced him it would be futile to keep it in a storage unit for 2 years - and besides, it's not like Home Depot would discontinue it or anything. Sheesh.
We were back 2 months later. Oh, and yes, Home Depot DID discontinue it.
We've been eyeing it ever so enviously from our yard ever since. (I realize this picture seems stalker-ish. I'm okay with that).


Finally we started the grill hunt. (i.e. I looked it up exactly one time on Google) Lo and behold if you can't find LITERALLY everything on http://www.amazon.com/. Today we fired up the new 'old' grill, and I think the sky was a little bluer, the grass a little greener, and the salmon...well, a little undercooked but whatever.

zapatos nuevos!

Rob and I are going to run in the "Friends of Sudan, 5k". It's in Annapolis on 14 July. Anyway, in light of that, Rob finally convinced me today that it was time for new running shoes. I didn't really believe him...until we got to the store. What is it about seeing new shoes next to the ones you've been wearing that makes you feel like a second class citizen? Anyway, since I'm a creature of habit, I bought the newer version of my old running shoes. And well, wow.
















What a difference a year makes. (Yes. I waited a whole year. shut up).

Flight of the What?

This is Flight of the Concord. You may have heard of them before... I haven't. But they're hysterical.


I dig it.

Camping 101

List of Things We Forgot To Pack:
- Sunscreen
- Long Pants
- Sweatshirts
- Pillows
- Sleeping pads (they go UNDER your sleeping bag)
- Towels

This weekend was the big "small group camp out". Rob didn't make it up here until almost midnight Friday night which left us almost no time to pack on Saturday. Luckily, we adapt well...and we have some good friends who know how to prepare.

This was no "relaxing weekend" though. It was like the Camping Olympics- and it was a blast. As soon as our tents were up, we hiked out into the woods to go rock climbing. (oh, and by "rock" I mean terrifying 50 foot cliff. yeah.) This would be Rob and me climbing the Cliff o' Death. (shut up. Nobody looks good from that angle!) By the way, there's something....interesting about these pictures. If you can figure it out, I'll give you a dollar. (okay, more like a pat on the back. But you're intrigued, aren't you?)

Anyway, afterwards we cooled off by throwing each other around in the lake to see who we could throw the farthest (very high school - we know) until the sun was on its way down and poor Rob was literally shaking from the cold....also possibly because we forgot towels.

After a luxurious shower in the bathouse (re: hose inserted into the side of a wall) we huddled up by the campfire playing "Loaded Question", eating S'mores, and watching Steve make Pineapple Upsidown Cake over a campfire. (Yes, it can be done!)

Rob and I spent that whole night freeeeezing (Note to self: Next time check the weather channel. Dress accordingly) and the early morning listening to the conversation of SEVERAL crows with a nest about 30 directly above us. Ahhh, nature. We left early on Sunday to get some rest at home before Rob had to drive all the way back to NC. We're definitely down for another camping experience...but I think next time we'll make a list.

The Stewart Family!

This is Paul, Kelly, and Piper Stewart. Kelly and I went to college together (CU, BABY!)..The next thing I know she is married and has a 5 month old baby girl. Kelly is also probably the only female I've ever met who is as sarcastic as I am. (Another reason to keep in touch).

Anyway, they are moving to Papau New Guinea to be missionaries for the next 3 to 4 years with Wycliffe Bible Translators. So unless the Marines have some REALLY off the wall plans for us, we won't be seeing them for a while. Before I left for work this morning I asked them to make sure they took A picture of themselves on our camera so I could share it with all you fine people... Ahh, Kelly...you're nothing if not thorough!

The following series is a little something I like to call "What Piper did while Danielle was at work". Oh, and BELIEVE ME, this is about HALF of the pictures I received. (Kelly, I'm gonna miss you, girl!)

She rode my dog...

Sent a few emails...

Played my guitar...

Hung out with our cookie jar...

And made out with a picture of my husband. I knew it was just a matter of time until he found a younger woman. Oh, it's ON!

We'll be praying for you, Stewarts! Let the care packages commence!

*If you would like to support Paul and Kelly while they are in PNG, we would be happy to get you their information*

We're so LOST!

So, you guys are stuck with me for the week. Rob is out camping in the field playing cowboys and Indians - or whatever Marines do out in the field... actually I think it's some kind of weapons training. He called last night to check in and informed me that he is basically layered in sweat, insect repellent, and sunblock. (Stand back, ladies. He is ALL MINE). The irony is that our Small group has planned a camping trip that just happens to be this weekend. Nothing like camping for seven days straight (with a 6 hour drive thrown in for good measure)!
It's okay though, we could use some time outdoors. This past Saturday we spent on our couch. Why? Because we have discovered Season One of Lost. Neither of us have seen it before and I was feeling 'under the weather' so we thought we'd check it out. Holy Addicting Television, Batman. Now we're hooked and planning our "Season Two" weekend (but maybe this time with some breaks for dinner and a stroll around the neighborhood).
Don't get too concerned, we aren't TOTAL couch potatoes. Right now I'm gearing up to go play some ultimate Frisbee down in 'Dena. If you're around and you want to come, the Townley Carpool leaves at 6!