Jet setting across the Atlantic

Chelli and I are heading to London tomorrow night. We're staying in Hammersmith, which I know nothing about but all of the reporters I talk to seem to know where it is so hopefully it's not a slum.

I'm going for work (and hopefully quite a bit of fun) and she's going because she needs a break. (Eric is in contention for husband of the year after buying her a ticket to go with me for her birthday.) Besides, who could turn down a free hotel room for three nights? I'll keep you posted on our travels and take lots of pictures.

Hopefully we'll see some cool stuff. But it's going to be chilly!

It's official: I live in a pigsty

I am coming to the realization that I do not have enough time to clean my house. So I am in the process of interviewing housekeepers and getting estimates for our place.

A woman came by this afternoon to look at our place. She talked me through what she cleans and then I walked her through our house. We got to the bedroom and she wiped off a bunch of dust on the dresser.

"Well," she said. "You could definitely use my help."

And that was that.

Words of wisdom

I flopped into the back of a cab tonight, trying to finish up one more interview before putting an end to the workday. After telling the driver where I needed to go, he turns around at a red light and says, in broken English, "You habbing a gude day?" Yes, I said halfheartedly, and you?

I was expecting him to rant and rave about the war, the President, immigration, traffic, stupid pedestrians, or anything else that cab drivers are usually complaining about, but he surprised me.

"Deb ini te ly!" he said enthusiastically. "Ebbery day is a gude day for me."

Here is a guy who drives a cab all day long roaming the streets of DC looking for someone to take somewhere for a measly $6.50. Who knows what his life is like outside of work or what brought him here. But "ebbery" day is a good day for him.

Sometimes a fresh perspective can come from the most unexpected places.

Binge & purge

My pack rat tendencies were slowly coming back to life, so today was the day that we were going through everything--drawers, countertops, bookcases, etc. and getting rid of stuff that we didn't need. Our deal was, if it has a place, put it away. If you haven't ever used it or aren't going to use it again, either give it away or throw it away. I don't need all this stuff!

So Chad started in the bedroom. While watching NFL Game Day on ESPN. By the time I had finished the rest of the upstairs, he was still going through stuff in the bedroom. All I will say is that his side of the room has never been so clean.

Remember, your vote counts

Love it, love it, love it. What a smart campaign. And Barry called this guy an idiot.

No thanks, I think I'll just jog in place

I'm staying at the Mandalay Bay hotel this week, where we're having a conference about online shopping. I had some time to kill today so I thought I would head to the fitness center. But of course, fitness centers in these massive resorts are coupled with the spa so they can charge you an arm and a leg for the whole package.

So I called just to make sure that the fee was not outrageous and they said that for a one-day pass to the spa, which includes the exercise room, it would be $27. Seriously? For an hour on the treadmill and maybe a few sit-ups? Their selling point was that, hey, they do provide free juice and a "spa-like atmosphere."

I took a nap instead.

Just so wrong...and so funny

Chad sent me one of the funniest--yet worst--pranks I have ever seen. If you have five minutes and want a good laugh, check it out. If I was the girlfriend, I don't know who I would be more peeved at!

PS: I found my cell phone in RT's Jeep. The next time I lose anything, I'm going to look for it first in a Jeep. That's where I've lost two things in a row.

Sugar Shock, Part II

When I get stressed, I eat. I am stressed. I have just had three mini Baby Ruth candy bars within a thirty minute period. At this rate I will have eaten all of the candy in the little bowl at my desk by tomorrow at noon.



Why does no one else like these? I think to myself as I open another one...Perhaps it's because they are addictive.

I'm not ignoring you, I'm just crazy

I have lost my cell phone. It's been missing since last Sunday night when we got back from California. Originally I thought I put it through the washing machine, like I did to Chad's about two years ago, but it wasn't there. So perhaps it's in the back seat of RT's Jeep. Regardless, if you have tried to call my cell phone, I apologize. Not only can I not get your calls but I don't know how to listen to my messages. Oy vey.

These are a few of my favorite things...

1) My new favorite snack: sugar-free Jello with Cool-Whip. Believe me, when you have cut back on your sugar intake, even things with a little bit of sweet taste good.

2) Da Bears. Even though they lost yesterday to San Diego. The Chargers are a good team.

3) March. That's when my hell-on-earth work schedule is going to be over. Oh, if I can only make it til March.

Don't try this at home (please!)

We were at Hershey Park over the weekend enjoying the last few moments of summer before watching the Irish lose miserably to Penn State (my new mantra: "It's a rebuilding year").

Now, those of you who know me well know that there are a few things that some couples have been known to do that I find horribly disgusting, the worst being sharing something that you suck on. Think popsicles or frozen bananas. Hell, even ice cream cones. For God's sake, just get your own! Or I'll get you one.

But I think perhaps I saw something this weekend that surpassed the communal sucking on of frozen treats.

While in line for a ride, I saw a particularly nice-looking, happy-looking couple with three girls. Quite Cleaver-ish. And I see the woman look at the guy, tell him something and dig into her purse. She pulls out some floss. Apparently he has something in his teeth. Now I'm not really into flossing in public but, look, if you have something in your teeth it's better to just deal with the two seconds of shame so you don't have to go around all afternoon with a big black spot sticking between your incisors.

So, she pulls out some floss, snips off the strand, he opens his mouth, and she flosses his teeth! I suppose it would only be grosser had she then flossed her own teeth, but thankfully she didn't.

And that's a wrap

We had a great vacation. While I am not going to recap the entire thing, you can look at our pictures. And here are the top five highlights:

1) We had an unbelievable time on our bike tour through the vineyards. Though they usually have groups of 16 people or so on each trip, it was just me and Chad! We biked through all sorts of areas, including a protected marsh that most people don't get to see. Though part of the trip was incredibly exhausting, it was also really peaceful and so insightful.

2) The wine shuttle that we went on had eight people, plus the driver. Me and Chad, a couple from New York that just got engaged, a woman and her mother from Columbia (the country), and two women about my age that were from Aledo (IL!). And to top things off, one of the girls was my roommate in summer camp when I was in fifth grade. Isn't that bizarre?

3) The food was amazing! Most of what was served was grown in the restaurant's gardens out back. And the two places where we didn't make reservations had the most charming ambience of any place we went. I want to go back!

4) The wine was also fabulous! I loved the lessons about how to "taste" wine properly. We even went to a class. It was fun to learn about the different wine areas, "micro climates," soil, etc. Who knew that I really was a farmer at heart?

5) Chad picked out our hotel and I have to say that it was awesome. He did such a good job. He booked us at the Napa River Inn, which was the perfect combination of charming and top-notch. I can't say enough nice things about it!

Ok, now I'm getting depressed that I'm not on vacation anymore. Back to the real world...