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.