Wee Bit Wednesday 22

Yikes, it's Wednesday night...I almost forgot! Can't break the streak now!

{1} if you were given a brand new yacht, what would you name it?

I honestly have no idea. Honestly, I can't even come up with a name for the boat we already have. 

(Any suggestions?)

{2} have you broken any bones? 

Yes. My right ankle, left wrist and right ulna.

{3} who would win in a fight: pirates or ninjas?

I would have to go with ninjas. Or Chuck Norris ;)

{4} what are you most excited about right now?

My trip to Chicago. It's definitely a nervous, anxiety inducing type of excitement, 

but it's all I've got right now.

{5} what was your favorite tv show as a child?

This is tough. It really depends what age you consider "child". I have to admit, I loved Mr. Rogers. 

Especially the episode where he went to see how crayons were made.

{6} what message would you want to put in a fortune cookie?

Probably something completely random and meaningless...not unlike any other fortune cookie, I guess. Maybe "A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort." Can't remember who said that, but I like it.

{7} if you could be invited to one person's birthday party, whose would you choose?

Any of the Kardashians. Seriously. Those are some killer parties!

{8} do you believe in luck?

I certainly believe in bad luck, so I guess by default I also believe in luck.

{9} how many siblings do you have?

I have one amazing little brother. 

{10} have you had your heart broken?

Of course. Many times.

One for the....oh, hell no!

Just saw the trailer for "One for the Money" and I am so incredibly disappointed with the casting. I mean, as if Katherine Heigl as Stephanie Plum wasn't annoying enough they totally missed the mark on Morelli (hello, as the name would imply, is Italian...not Irish). Ranger needs to be WAY hotter. And Debbie Reynolds as Grandma Mazur?! Jesus, what has the world come to. Was Janet Evanovich even consulted when they cast this movie?

This is definitely one of those times where making a movie from a book totally screws it up for me...and I haven't even seen the movie yet!

{one} what is your happiest childhood memory?I loved going to our cabin when I was a kid. Actually,I still love going there now!
{two} what is your middle name?Joan
{three} what’s the habit you’re most proud of breaking?I quit smoking almost 7 years ago!
{four} what do you order when you order chinese food?I don't ever order chinese...but I will order Thai from time to time. Then I order a noodle dish...either pad see ew or jungle noodle. And I love to get thai rolls (egg rolls)
{five} what’s the best bargain you’ve ever found at a garage sale or thrift store?I am not a garage sale girl, but I've found some awesomedeals at Second Run downtown. 
{six} what’s the best costume you’ve ever worn?I just found a picture of me in preschool where I was a "nice witch".Probably not the best costume ever, but my mom madeit for me and I find it funny that I made sure everyoneknew I was a nice witch :)
{seven} who’s your favorite game show host?Who's the drunk guy that used to hostFamily Feud?  You know, the one thatalways kissed everyone. That guy!
{eight} what’s your favorite breakfast food?The club scramble at Snow City Cafe. 
{nine} what’s your least favorite word?Abominable. I CANNOT ever say it right!
{ten} describe something that happened to you for which you have no explanation.Just one? There are tons of things that have happened that I have no idea why. The biggest, or at least the onethat sticks out the most, is why I have MS. 

Firefighter Loy

Firefighter MASON Loy, that is. Like father, like son, right? This firefighter costume is still way too big for him, but we got it out today and he had so much fun playing with it. I am constantly amazed by his imagination when we are playing. It is so much fun!!

Ready to go!

Off to drive the "fire engine"

Driving to the fire

The saying on the wall is so, so true

Helping get his monkey ready for the fire, too

My handsome boy.

Like a little school girl

We all know how in love I am with Anderson Cooper, so it should be of no surprise that my DVR at home was set to record this week as he debuted his new talk show "Anderson". What do I think so far? Well, considering that already on day 2 he stripped down to get a spray tan with Snooki....let's just say this may well be my new favorite show on television.

I'm sure you all have seen this giggle-fest video (or, as Anderson described it "Giggle-gate) but I just had to share it. He's so stinking cute when he gets the giggles!



Now all I can think about is how to manage a trip to New York to be at his show.

Wee Bit Wednesday 21

{one} what color is your kitchen?It's a blue-gray. I love our kitchen.
{two} do you have a good luck charm?No.
{three} do you prefer to write with a pen or pencil?I'm actually pretty picky about pens (I know, shocking, somethingI'm picky about. Try to contain your surprise). I like blue, medium ball point pens. 
{four} can you use chopsticks?Yes.
{five} do you prefer baths or showers?Showers. Especially since we have a steam shower!
{six} what is your favorite salad dressing?I change it up a lot. I always like blue cheese vinaigrette. Or a simple balsamic.
{seven} can you sing the alphabet backwards?No, and I won't even try.
{eight} do you have any allergies?Yes. It often feels like I'm allergic to everything, althoughI know there are people way worse than me.
{nine} crunchy or creamy peanut butter?Creamy.
{ten} have you ever hitch hiked?OMG, no!

A decade of remembrance

Ten years seems like SO long, but when I think of the attacks on 9/11/01, ten years doesn't seem that long at all.

This photo of that day still gets me. The ladder truck
in this picture, Ladder 118, heading across the Brooklyn
Bridge toward the towers, would lose it's entire crew that day.

Today will also be the rededication of the AK Fallen Firefighters
Memorial that was moved downtown. When it was dedicated
last year, Andy's name wasn't on it. This day is going to suck.

Wee Bit Wednesday 20

{one} what is your dream job?I would love to be a librarian. I know, I'm a total nerd.
{two} how many best friends do you have?Ok, more corny responses...Todd is my best friend. And my brother is, too. I can tell either of them anythingand I know they'll always have my back and be there for me.
{three} what’s the longest road trip you’ve ever taken?Anchorage to Fairbanks? Not really a road trip, butthat's about it for me.
{four} if you had to do one single thing every day for the next year, what would it be?Hmmm, I would love to have 1 hour a day to work out (and actually do it). I would also love to have 1 hour a dayto read (this would not require as much arm twisting)
{five} what’s one story your family always tells about you?My grandmother loves to tell the story of the time shecaught me tap dancing on her dining room table.She was mortified and I quickly got a spanking.
{six} how did your parents pick your name?Pretty much, I think they just liked it. My middle name is alsomy grandmother's middle name. If I was a boy, I was going to benamed after my great grandfather...Pasquale!
{seven} what’s the one thing that scares you more than anything?Snakes. 
{eight} are you a good cook?I like to think so, and Todd tells me I am...so there's two votesin my favor. I'm no Top Chef, but I can hold my own.
{nine} where do you see yourself in 20 years?Todd will be retired, Mason will be grown. Hopefully we'll be living somewhere warm and with four seasons.
{ten} what’s your best childhood memory?Going to our family's cabin at Nancy Lake.

Mason the Builder

Mason has been quite the little helper lately. He loves wearing his ear muffs around the house, and then of course he has to complete the look with his goggles, too. He loves pretending to "fix" the cabinets or the dining room table...my only fear is that someday very soon he'll find a real tool and actually succeed in taking something completely apart!














Mason has also become 99% potty trained. I say 99% because while he pees and poops on the potty just fine while he is awake, night time is a different story. We're getting there, though, the last 5 days in a row he has been completely dry at nap time!!! Anyway, I found a step that he could use to be able to reach the regular toilet better, but of course it was in a magazine that, on top of already being a little expensive, also wouldn't ship to Alaska. Being the handy guy he is, Todd built one for Mason himself...and of course, Mason had to help him.