Pretzel Boy - Yet Another New Name

Here he is - and what he puts up with on a constant basis is beyond normal for any cat.

But he is certainly not just any cat.

Crazy Joe

Joe was at the dance studio today to drop off his flower order (fundraiser). He stayed a bit and watched drills class and obviously got inspired by everyone doing leaps and jumps. Here's a blurry Marissa... Joe could not get much height in his jumps so he had to resort to jumping off a bench in the studio. Here, he prepares....

And then jumps - with Marissa accompanying him. Ahahahahaha~ So funny. They had to close the doors to the classrooms - we were making too much noise.

Photo Shoot

This cannot top the photo shoot that Sam had - all bubblicious and all. ha - That said, we need to send in a photo to BalletMet for the summer intensive and we just don't have a good, recent shot. I'm not absolutely positive on what will be done with the photo, but they do ask for a press release. Olivia dances with a good friend, Andie, who's mom is a really talented photographer so tonight we got together and she took some beautiful shots of Liv. I tried to snap a couple of candid's with my iPhone camera and also used an iPhone camera app. I hope her pics are better than mine!!

Liv and Andie - Really good friends. :)

Out Like a Lion

The view from my office window this afternoon. Yes, it's officially spring in Columbus. I must admit it looks pretty - on my way to a meeting.

New Do

I got my hair cut tonight - I kinda like it. Thought short would be fun for spring and summer. Liv was just fooling around in the kitchen before her dance class tonight. The boots add a nice touch, wouldn't you say?

The Evolution of Sauce

And so it starts with the meatballs - sorry Stevie. Gotta have some meat to make a good sauce. Let them brown and the house begins to smell good.

Add some pork and chicken - and a lot of garlic.

Then you get the paste and puree ready - plus a secret ingredient - which I believe everyone knows about. Then it's all together in the pot. Yes, even the hard boiled eggs.

The plate of meat.

Yum.

This is the look of one happy child.

Guns, Domie, and Bread

So my last day of freedom and it started at the gym. I love starting my day this way. Wish I could do it every day. I would look a-ma-zing. Love the new poster - Reminds me of the movie "Night at the Museum" - Firepower! Hahaha. Came home and interupted Domie's moring nap. Sorry Poey.

Jeff and Olivia got back into Columbus about 3:00. Then they both turned around and left me again - Jeff had to play in Canal Winchester and Liv had a party. So I tried a new receipe - Marbled-Chocolate Banana Bread. Made with plain low-fat yogurt, egg substitute and only a 1/2 stick of real butter. Hope it tastes as good as it looks and smells.

These Are a Few of my Favorite - Eating Places.

I love the Northstar Cafe! Ate lunch here today with Steve, a co-worker. One of the best vegetarian places in the city. But - I can't help myself - I get the same damn thing every time, no matter the specials - and today's specials looked good - They are known for the most amazing cookies. Can you see the size of these things?

My favorite (non-alcoholic) drink - maybe in the whole world... A fresh made ginger ale. Real ginger syrup, fresh squeezed lime, muddled mint - unbelieveable - served in an icy glass. Yum.

Then my fav salad - the Winter Vegetable salad. Greens, fresh beets, goat cheese, roasted butternut squash tossed in a champagne vinagrette. So good.

Then, after a short trip to Easton to pick up 30 boxes for work at the Container Store (Shirl came along for the trip) - we stopped at PF Changs for vegetarian lettuce wraps. Thanks Shirl! This was our 'appetizing' view from our table. Ha -

It's Just Another Day

Not much going on today - Went to the gym after work (that's 4 times this week - yay!) and then picked up Shirl to go see Grandpa. Joe was there and I should have take a pic or two there but I always forget! So when I finally remembered, Shirl and I were in Panera getting salads to go so that we could go back home and watch AI results.

I Love Jimmy!

Ha - Johns that is. Their Beach Club is awesome and I had one today- guilty pleasure. I'm sure it's not the healthiest thing but it can't be all bad - turkey, tomato, avocado and sprouts with some "lightweight" sauce. right.

So tonight I had to get to the gym and work it off. Wish I could look like this....

This is Melissa - last name, Perfection. Stevie - she is the dancer you noticed when you watched the DVD. She takes from Shirl Lee Wu - Even though I did not take this picture - how could this not be included in my picture of the day post???

It's Spring and Tea Time!

The sure sign of spring.....
And I love $$$ Teavana $$$
(couldn't afford to actually buy anything there today - so Shirl was nice enough to give me some tea samples to try. Now, I have to get a decent strainer - do you see the ridiculous thing I have?)

On My Own - Birds & Old Folks Home

I just can't seem to get this 'daily' thing. As Ellen would say, "anyway..."

Jeff and Olivia took off today - Road trip to Punta Gorda Florida to see Grandma Jane and Grandpa Bill. I am saving my va-cay time for this summer -

Here is what Olivia was taking - She left her cool hot pink and black sparkly converse shoes at home.

Then part of my first day of my 'time-off' was spent at Mayfair Village - Yipppeee! Got to see more old people in wheelchairs, slumped over, and looking pretty great and ready to party! :/

That was a real good time - Shirl and I are checking out other places for G-pa Sam.

They did have some nice birds in the foyer though - although Grandpa would not be able to stay at the really nice part. That's a bummer.

That's Ohio

I had to spend sometime in the Student Union today and saw this cool piece of art - Made with the license plates representing the 88 counties in Ohio. The new union is really gorgeous - I should have taken more pics.

I kinda like my cat. Deal with it.

Omee's Room

Omar's new favorite place to chill - the new bedroom, under the comforter. He jumps under and I have no idea how he does it without the bed being unmade.

Sunday Filming

I had to work today for a few hours in the afternoon. Never one of my favorite things to do. But at least it was something kinda fun.

Remember the scholarship process - where I had to screen through hundreds of applications? Well, the top 15 were picked, recently informed of their $95,000 scholarship and now we must try to recuit them. They will be getting offers from Stanford, Brown, Northwestern, MIT, Georgetown, and NYU - to name a few. We are filming personal messages from each of their OSU hosts to be put on flash drives, along with a message from President Gee. A recruiting gift from OSU - in hopes they will all decide to become Buckeyes in the fall. We usually get about a 50% yield. We lose them to the Ivy's.

I told them all to wear anything scarlet and gray. Too bad we couldn't get this kid's shoes.
This is the foyer of the Honors House - I spend a lot of time here, although my office is next door. It's a beautiful, old house that used to be the University President's house. Then they all got smart and decided the President should not live on campus.

I'm Baaaack!

Ok, so I am a loser blogger. Sorry. My life is either too boring for a photo to prove it or too busy to remember to take a photo. I will give it another try -

This is a photo of Olivia & her dance friend Alyssa at Olive Garden tonight. She just got home after 16+ hours - dance intensive at Wright State U - dinner - then dance show by the university. She texted me the pic. 2 cute 13 year olds. Remember when you were 13? - yeah, I don't.

Gorgeousness

Today was such a fun day!

After a great breakfast and getting Liv ready for her dress rehearsal, Mary and I went to see Sam and stayed for a bit. He had fun with us - Who wouldn't?

Then, it was off to the spa!! Shirl joined us for the manicure portion - here are her nails. After my massage with Missy, I was waiting in the relaxation room and the girl by me was soaking her feet in this rose petal foam. Ahhh.
Here is a lesbian wedding picture!
Ha - Me and Mary's nails.

Finally - Rested, and gorgeous.

The Festivities of a Big Week Begin

This is going to be a huge week for us. And it's off and running with Liv's bottom braces coming off (top, front four still on with a wire and rubber bands to keep pushing overbite back) and a hair trim of 2.5 inches. The girl's got hair. Julie does such a great job with her - also noticed her brows had a few "stragglers" and did some tweezing - all for $13. Can't be beat.

So much hair -looks like a puppy on her head. :)

And a happy, smiling face through the process.

Priceless.

Bedroom #3

Our new desk - love it! But missing a part so we have to wait till they overnight it tomorrow to finish putting it together. :(
Poey just looking cute during the transition. He has to be a part of all the action. Always.

Low foundation box spring - but I thought it would be lower. Guess what I really wanted was a platform bed.

Semi-finished. But not bad, huh? The room needs lots of little touches that we probably won't have time for this week - but later.