We totally pulled it off. We surprised by Dad for his 60th birthday. We did it. No one wrecked the surprise. Everyone made it on time. It was perfect until the idiot guy in the reception area asked, "oh, are you here for the 60th birthday party?"
It's okay. He still didn't expect to see (almost) all of his kids. It was great.
Anyway, I also had fun hanging out, hiding out for a couple days before the big surprise. We went to the lake with Eric and Paola and had a rocking time. Our dog. Where does he come from? If anyone got in the water further than where he could touch, he would start barking and crying and then when you made your way back to him, he would maul you like so...

Also, you just don't see this stuff in Boise.

Heather gave me this little challenge and I thought it would be kind of fun...

The questions are:

1. What is one of your fears?
I am afraid that I will be walking down the hall in church and one of the doors to the cultural hall will swing open really quickly (why do they always open that way?) and hit me in the face and knock my teeth out.

2. Which parent are you most like? What attributes do you share?
I know it's a cop out but I can't pick just one. Russell says I tell stories like my Dad and I'm like him because I tell personal stories to strangers. Example: I called to place an ad in the paper for my car and I was telling her all about how I wanted to sell it because I got into Nursing school and how I would be able to ride my bike to school and everything. I know I'm a lot like my Mom, too but I can't really think of anything specific.

3. Share a favorite childhood memory.
When we lived in Chicago, we used to tip our bikes on their sides on the front lawn and pretend they were cars. My imagination was so crazy when we lived there. We used to play house in the back backyard and all we had was a little Fisher Price chair but I can remember the whole layout of the "house" in my mind, the rooms and what was in them and everything.

4. You must leave your home to never return....you will only be able to bring 5 possessions (family is coming with you) what do you take?
Otis counts as family, right? Okay. I would take my iPod, our projector, Russell's pillow (otherwise he's a total crab), my computer and my santoku knife.

5. What drives you crazy?
I hate it when people pull into the middle turning lane instead of crossing the lanes of oncoming traffic and merging the way they are supposed to. It's illegal, people!

I worked at the Western Idaho Fair last night at the Idaho Transporation Department's booth. Who comes to the fair with questions about vehicle registration anyway? Weirdos. It's okay. I got comp time for it and I'm using it!

George W made an appearance at the Ada County Republicans booth. I wanted to take a picture with him but the lady that I was working with had some kind of moral objection to taking such a picture.
I forgot a stamp this morning for something I wanted to get in the mail first thing and when I got back to my desk I found this note. It made me laugh.

I am sick and tired about not blogging about work and I'm not going to not do it anymore! What the heck, right? I've only got 4 more months of this crap anyway!


Take a look people. This is Special Plates. Talk amongst yourselves...

I'm going to the BSU Bookstore to get my books for class right now. I love the bookstore! After, I'm going to get some lemons and I'm making some delicious lemonade (Russell and I like it sour). I love the weekend! Happy back-to-school! (Man, I'm a dork)

Have I told you that when I run, after mile 2, my foot falls asleep? I am slightly concerned because I replaced my shoes this week and it didn't solve the problem. I am wondering what is causing the problem but mostly I'm afraid that I'm going to hurt myself running with my foot asleep. I wonder if it makes me run funny... Anyway, any ideas?

I think I'm old.

My friend Paola called me last week and said, "Are you going to be 24 this February?"

I responded, "yes"

Her reply, "whoa"

That made me laugh but it's not why I think I'm old. I don't get these whiny emo (I like to say emu) bands that wear makeup. It's not that I don't like emo - I do. The genre has some serious potential (for hilarity), I think. Sample: "buy you lemonade right now, if you were here, and I'd throw it in your face and I'd listen to you cry" (I'm having deja vu, have I talked about this song before?) Anyway, why do you have to wear the makeup emo bands? Why? Have you ever thought that maybe that is the reason girls don't like you? Can anyone explain this for me? Yeah, I'm old, aren't I?

Check out our super sweet tomatoes. We've eaten two so far and I have to be honest with you, I didn't think we were going to get any more. All of a sudden, we go outside and see like 15 new ones all at one time! I can't wait to eat them. The leaves smell so good.
How about our peppers!? What the heck are we going to do with all of these? Russell and I taste tested one even though they're not quite ripe yet. Holy crap these things are hot!

Russell said that as long as we are posting pictures of our little garden, we've got to get the basil in there. I argued that with nothing to compare it to, you can't tell how big it is. He made me stand next to it. That's a lot of basil.

Last week I bought a few canvas bags from JoAnn's for the grocery store. The large one is only $3.99 and it's awesome because with the longer handles you can make it from the car to the house with all the groceries in just one trip. PLUS at my grocery store I get six cents for every reusable bag that I bring. They'll pay for themselves in no time...

I can't believe a whole week has gone by. It really hasn't been very busy at all, I don't know what I've been doing instead of blogging.

I was just catching up on a few of the blogs I like to read and I came across this link at one of them. I was cracking up because I have totally adopted that policy this summer. I added two new skirts to my wardrobe this summer and I've pretty much quit pants. It's great.

We don't have plans for the weekend. We're trying to spend as little as possible (saving for our boat) so we're going to bike downtown to the market tomorrow morning to kill a little time. I'm making a couple loaves of Pumpkin Spice bread tonight and then I'll clean up the kitchen and go to bed. Exciting, I know. Please try to contain yourselves.

And I have totally been getting hassled about a picture of my haircut. You guys are blowing this WAY out of proportion. I swear, it was just a trim and I don't blow dry my hair during the week and it's not worth taking a picture of unless it's blown dry, right? Right. "If I don't get your agreeance on this, Frenchy" Oh, sorry. Spontaneously blurting out lines to Woody Allen movies - everyone has their problems...

I got my hair cut today. 2 1/2 inches gone and it's still past my shoulders. I didn't realize I let it get so long. I told the girl that I thought I was ready to cut up to the second layer, you know, get it back to one length. She tried to talk me out of it. Pshh - what does she know?

I tried my first roasted salsa recipe today. I watched them make it on America's Test Kitchen. Actually, they made it for Huevos Rancheros but the salsa was the only part that sounded good to me. It turned out pretty well. A little mild for my taste - I like HOT salsa. Next time I will at least double the garlic. Here is the recipe if you're interested:

3	medium jalapeño chiles , halved, seeds and ribs removed (see note above)
1 1/2	pounds plum tomatoes (about 8 medium), cored and halved
1/2	medium yellow onion , cut into 1/2-inch wedges
2	medium cloves garlic , peeled
1	tablespoon tomato paste
	Table salt
3	tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2	teaspoon ground cumin
1/8	teaspoon cayenne pepper
3	tablespoons minced fresh cilantro leaves
	Ground black pepper
1 - 2	tablespoons fresh lime juice from 1 or 2 limes, plus additional lime cut into wedges for serving

Adjust oven rack to middle position; heat oven to 375 degrees. Mince one jalapeño and set aside. In medium bowl, combine tomatoes, remaining jalapeños, onion, garlic, tomato paste, 1 teaspoon salt, 2 tablespoons oil, cumin, and cayenne; toss to mix thoroughly. Place vegetables cut side down on rimmed baking sheet. Roast until tomatoes are tender and skins begin to shrivel and brown, 35 to 45 minutes; cool on baking sheet for 10 minutes. Using tongs, transfer roasted onions, garlic, and jalapeños to bowl of food processor. Process until almost completely broken down, about 10 seconds, pausing halfway through to scrape sides of bowl with rubber spatula. Add tomatoes and process until salsa is slightly chunky, about 10 seconds more. Add 2 tablespoons cilantro, reserved minced jalapeño, salt, pepper, and lime juice to taste.

I'm trying this new recipe tonight. It's out of the oven in about 20 minutes. I haven't tasted yet but it smells delicious so I thought I'd give you an early heads up.

UPDATE: I think this recipe is one to keep. I skipped the walnuts, I'm not a fan. I don't really like sour cream on my tacos or anything but I'm always intrigued when it's used in baking. It's like a secret ingredient. Anyway, try this. It's good.

Ever since the marathon talk started, I've been worried about one thing - finishing. I didn't give any thought to any other problem that I could possibly encounter including this one:

Runners trots… (noun, as in "Oh no, I’ve got the trots" or "Oh no, where’s the nearest port-a-potty?" ) a miserable condition of having to go to the bathroom while on a run. If this happens, you might want to keep track of what you eat, and when you eat, before a run, to see what might be causing you to need a bathroom during the run. (definition courtesy irunlikeagirl.com)

Now I really have something to worry about.