Russell just kept saying - there's a cookie in bed. I didn't think it was that funny but he was cracking up. There are a few blogs that I will check once in a while (okay, I check them everyday) and a couple different people have dedicated posts to 6 weird things about themselves. I am going to call my habit of eating in bed number one...

1. Yes, I eat in bed and nothing is off limits. Saltines, Ritz crackers, the crumbiest thing you can think of - I'm there.
2. I have weird nighttime rituals. I rub my feet together and rock back and forth to get to sleep. Ask Bride about this one. When we got our bunk bed, I couldn't wait for Dad to put it together and I can't believe it but he let me do it. Yeah it was a bit wobbly. I would shake the whole bed and Bride used to have to ask me to stop. I don't know I'm doing it - weird, huh?
3. I can't do homework unless our apartment is clean. I don't know if it's me avoiding my homework or my OCD coming through. On a similar note, I can never sleep Sunday nights. I get into a crazy cleaning mood like I just want everything to be ready for the week ahead. I don't know.
4. Usually people get better at watching scary movies as they grow up. Not me. I've gotten worse. I will close my eyes and force myself to sleep. Last scary movie - The Omen (the remake) - it started getting weird and I just closed my eyes. Can't do it. Just can't do it.
5. I hate fleece blankets. I hate the way they feel on my skin. Come on, I have really dry skin.
6. I cannot buy a gym membership because I feel too guilty. Yes, I could pay to run on a treadmill and have a convenient little timer right there but I wouldn't be able to take Otis with me and that makes me feel like a big fat jerk. Otis needs exercise, too! (For the record I was NOT always a weirdo dog person like this.)

For good measure I'll add a few more of Russell's ideas - I have to cut my sandwich in half and I have to have chips and I like bologna but I don't like ham (neither of these are weird as far as I'm concerned).

Now that I've spilled my guts I think you should do the same. What's weird about you?

I am going to try to make our bread instead of buying store bought. I think I told you this in an earlier post. Well, I made bread this weekend. It turned out really good. The recipe is really easy too. Originally I wanted to make potato bread but I opted for the Italian instead. Oh, and if you decide to use this recipe don't worry about the preferment. You don't have to do it that way.

I don't think there is anything better than a peanut butter and jam on homemade bread. It's just so much more substantial. Dad used to make us PB&J's on bread maker bread and when I was younger I used to be embarrassed about how big my sandwich was. Not embarrassed enough not to eat it but still embarrassed.

They laugh at me at work because I ask what's for lunch almost everyday. I don't know why, I love hearing what other people are having for lunch. Weird, I know. So let me ask you - What are you having for lunch today?

Check out this totally awesome hat I bought for Russell. It started out as kind of a joke (we have a bad habit of making fun of all these Idahoans). It reminds me of the hat that Elmer Fudd wore. It's red plaid wool on the outside lined with rabbit fur. Yes real rabbit fur. For the record I didn't actually know that when I bought it, not that it would have swayed my decision, I'm just saying it wasn't on purpose. Anyway, I think it's hilarious. Last night he wore it when we took Otis out and when he came in he said, "feel how hot my head is."

I don't know if you can tell how excited I am. I was in the process of adding movies to my brand new Netflx queue! I called Russ today and said let's get Netflix and before I could even give him my well formulated list of reasons Netflix is awesome he said, "I want it too." YAY NETFLIX!

I needed something to cheer me up because today I discovered a hole in my favorite jeans. Bummer. Such a bummer.

I have big baking plans for this weekend. I don't know why but I've been in a baking mood lately. I think it's Valentine's Day... Anyway, I am going to make a few loaves of bread this weekend. Maybe even a couple different recipes. I was thinking about making bread every Saturday - enough for the whole week. We'll see how it goes.

I am so excited. Look what is growing! Everyday Russell would look and say no green stuff. A couple days ago he called me and said, "You've got green stuff growing!" I was excited and surprised at how fast something came up. We now have green stuff growing in each pot. The cilantro is growing the fastest. I can't wait to cook with them! I thought it was too cold for sure. Anyway, that is some exciting news.

Tried to get another picture showcasing the dark hair. Don't think this one is any better but whatever. I have some homework to get to. Oh, crap I have laundry in the dryer too. Dang it.

By the way, I think I am going to bring my camera to work tomorrow and try to sneak a few shots of the ladies I work with. That way I can introduce them to you. This could be fun. I'm not making any promises, I'm just saying it could be.

I am seriously looking forward to trying this new recipe. I don't love chocolate but they look so yum to me. I'll let you know how they turn out...

Didn't do anything fun this weekend. I did manage to sew some buttons on the duvet that I made this summer. I kept putting it off because I didn't know how to sew button holes. I was thinking that my sewing machine had a button hole attachment but it doesn't. Anyway, I found these awesome buttons and went for it. I think it turned out okay. I wanted to go yard sale shopping this weekend but I didn't. I don't think very many people have yard sales in the winter anyway.

Did I mention that I lost my phone on Tuesday night? Yep. Otis and I went for a run and I lost it. When I realized it was gone, I turned around so I could retrace my steps but to no avail. My phone was long gone. I set an alarm so I would know how long I'd been running so it would have been blinking red. I even got in the car when I got home and drove around looking. Sad I know. I sent Russell a text from the computer (because we don't have a phone at home) and asked him to call and get it turned off.

Fast-forward to 2:10pm yesterday afternoon. I get back to work after lunch and I have a voicemail. "Caity, it's Mom. Someone called me and they have your phone. I hope you're not out buying a phone right now." Sweet. I called the people and went to pick up my phone after work. Am I lucky or what?

Russell requested a white cake with white frosting. That is what I am doing right now. A white cake from scratch and a delicious new white frosting recipe. We will let you know how it turns out. I'm sure it will be delicious. Really, how can you go wrong with flour, sugar and butter?



I've been meaning to post a picture of my new shoes. I bought them at Gap and they were only $15 and I am so in love with them. Isn't it weird how getting a good deal on something makes you like it more?



Do we have the laziest dog ever?

I just thought he looked funny.

I'm having a little trouble staying motivated today. It must be the long weekend. I feel like doing exactly what Otis is doing. Nothing. When he sees someone walk by the window, he growls but he doesn't move. He and I are about to go for a bit of a run. I am out of work a little earlier than usual so the sun hasn't gone down yet which will be nice. I was running everyday and doing a good job but then it snowed and since then it hasn't been above freezing which means ice and I already have enough trouble making it from A to B without killing myself. Time to suck it up ice and all. If I come home with some nasty bruises, I'll be sure to document them here.

A good cd can make the crappiest job (dishes) seem not so bad. That's what I think anyway. I hate doing the dishes but I love having them all done. I had to tell Russell that I don't think he uses hot enough water when he does them. He said, "I'm never letting you touch my water again."

We had the day off today. We didn't do a whole lot. We went and looked at a house (scary), tried to go to the library (closed), went to Borders instead, and then made gingerbread cookies. Russell's outside right now grilling us up some steaks. I'm making rice.

School officially starts tomorrow. I say officially because my teacher has already e-mailed the class about the first couple assignments. So, back to it. I have to decide on a date to take the test for my application to the Nursing program. I am going to set it right now. February 1st. I'll take it February 1st. Okay. I'm going to eat dinner now.

We tried a new recipe tonight. Thai Chile Beef. We saw them make it on America's Test Kitchen on PBS Saturday morning. I am not usually interested in making anything I see on that show but this looked pretty dang good. Russell was really excited about it but not that impressed after it was done. I thought it was tasty. I think I'll make a few adjustments before I add it to my book.

I know it's still winter but I can't wait to get my herb garden started. I'm trying really hard not to get my hopes up too high just in case I can't grow anything. I am planting sweet basil, italian parsley, chives and cilantro. I have one really sunny window sill - hopefully they will be able to grow there. Don't worry, I'll make cuter labels for them later.


You didn't think I could go without posting an Otis picture, did you? I thought this was a good one. I think he heard a scary noise or something; he usually hides under the desk when he is scared. Doesn't look comfortable to me...

I love Thursdays. I love Thursdays because all the good shows are on on Thursdays but I realized something this week. Every single show that I am interested in watching can be seen the next day online and with way fewer commercials. It is really amazing how much you can get done after work when you don't turn on the tv. I made an apron tonight. I have a confession to make. I am addicted to blogs. Heather mentioned one a while back and that's where I got the apron idea. Hers was way cuter but I had this ugly fabric and it would have probably just gotten tossed anyway... I'm not giving you the link because hers is a lot better.

So, let me tell you a little bit about my day yesterday. You know, I am continually manipulated by Otis. If you are a sucker DO NOT get a dog. He would be perfectly fine at home for eight hours until the end of the day but I go home for lunch every day so I can take him out and keep him company. Yes, I said keep him company. I eat first and then take him out - usually at the last minute. So, I take him out and on the way back I check the mail. I come in the back door and decide to grab the last grapefruit and bring it to work for a little late afternoon snack. Somewhere between the back door and the fridge I lose my keys. It took me almost 20 minutes to find them. They were in the pantry closet. I think I need one of those pagers for my keys and as long as I'm at it, I better get one for my glasses too.

Russell was at home for lunch one day last week and I made some Kraft Mac & Cheese. Well, I tried to hurry and add the butter while he was turned around so he wouldn't see how much I put in and he totally called me on it. He said I had butter written in my eyes. I just didn't want to forget that.

Look at this baby dog. If we're not in bed when he is ready, he paces and cries. Then finally, he gives up and lays down on the couch. Tonight he lays down on Russell. What a baby.

So, I got my hair done yesterday. I didn't wash it today but I think Bride is waiting to see...


Bride got her hair done too. She sent me this picture. She says it's black but it doesn't look black to me.


Has anyone else noticed that blogger is uploading pictures way faster lately?

Russell was messing with our sweet computer. It came with this cool Photo Booth program. He was just taking picture after picture and we were cracking up for like an hour. Have I mentioned that we are pretty easily entertained?

Sometimes Bride and I would lay in our beds and formulate a plan of attack. A plan of attack for cleaning up our room. Is that weird? We would lay in our beds and look out over the room (from the top bunk) and decide the order in which we could most rapidly pick everything up - no back tracking. Our goal would be to get it done in one song. While we were in bed we would also consider which song would help us get it done most quickly. For some reason, "Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel" comes to mind. Anyway, I am thinking about this because I have so much cleaning up to do and I just want to hurry up and get it over with. This technique is a little bit harder to use when you have more than one room to clean up. I wish Otis knew how to help...