My New Blog!

Hey dudes- it has been a LOOOONG time since I've written, stopped in, commented...I haven't done a lot of anything in a while and I sincerely apologize.

After about a year at my current job, I finally feel like I can fit blogging back into my schedule and, in celebration of that fact, I have started a brand new blog! I would absolutely LOVE if you guys could stop over and say hi- even if just for a minute. I plan to get back into reading all of your blogs again and I added a few of you to my blogroll (let me know if you want me to add you!) so you will definitely get some bloggy love in return!

My new blog is pretty different from what I was doing here- it's actually a year-long food challenge! A few years ago, a blogger created a list of 100 foods you should eat before you die. It was called the Omnivore's 100. I have decided to do the entire list in one year. Sounds easy, but it's not.

Please stop by- I promise I won't fall back into a black hole again! I hope to see you all there! And now, for the reveal.........my new blog!

http://Omnivore100Project.com

P.S. I just started a Twitter profile, too! I'm adding all of youse! @Omnivore100Proj

Ta Ta For Now...

Hey, everybody. My computer is somewhat fixed now, thanks to my good friend Samir at work (computer genius!) but I have come to the sad realization that I don't think I really have the energy to continue with the blogging. It kind of makes me feel like a failure, as my blog only grew to the age of 8 months. It was still a baby! I do enjoy writing, but doing it for work every day really makes me not want to do it in my spare time. The only thing I want to do now when I get home is veg out and relax. That's not good, I know, but I'm totally lacking motivation at the moment. I don't want to say goodbye forever- I still hope to do some occasional posts every now and then- but I don't want to pretend that I'm going to be nearly as active as I was. I really do LOVE all my followers, though- I can't believe that 70+ people would ever want to read what I have to say...regularly! I want to give some special shout-outs right now:

To Erin, my blogging bestie, who also seems to be taking a blogging hiatus right now. You rock, I haven't forgotten about you, and I always love the stories you tell.

To Dan, my British buddy. You have cracked me up since day one. Your stripper story makes me chuckle every time I think about it and I consider you a great friend!

To Alyson, for being a totally awesome real life and blogging friend. You are the reason I got the idea to start blogging. We must hang out soon!

To Intense Guy, who is such a wonderful, devoted follower and such a kind person. Your comments always made me smile!

To McGriddle Pants, who is so bizarre and totally hilarious! I always leave her blog laughing my ass off! AND her blog is named after a "Seinfeld" quote- what could be better?!

To Millions of Atoms Man, who is too crazy to even describe. You are awesome.

Everyone else, don't feel left out- I adore each and everyone of you! I will do my best to visit you and keep reading your blogs in my spare time.

I will now leave you with a ridiculous video of a crazy Indian man singing and dancing. It's pretty epic, so check it out.

Technical Difficulties...

Hey people, we're having some issues over here. My laptop is all virused out and the wire thing that supplies Dan's laptop's keyboard with power broke. So I can barely get my internet to open and Dan can't type. Great timing, huh?

We're going to have a brief hiatus until our computer issues are fixed. I might need to buy a new one altogether, which might take a couple of weeks. Until then, I haven't forgotten about you all! See you soon, darlings.

I Just Wanna Dance!

When I was younger, I wanted to be a choreographer. I would picture myself in my Hollywood home having various music stars pop over. They'd be like, "Yo, K-Rock" (because I'd have some crazy hip choreographer name), "I need a slammin' routine for my new music video!" I would then exclaim, "check out these sweet moves!" and bust into some incredible combination of hip shaking, rapid arm movements, and hair tosses. "You just blew my mind," they'd say, and hand me a check for $100,000.

The REALITY of the situation is that I would spend many nights in my parents' basement creating dance routines or watching music videos over and over again to try to copy them. Eventually, this grew old and I decided I needed something more. Some help, if you will. Some help from Darrin.

While Jerry Seinfeld claims that the most embarrassing thing he's ever said was, "I'd like to order the Ginsu knives," the most embarrassing thing I've ever said was, "I'd like to order Darrin's Dance Grooves." If you're not familiar with this incredible instructional DVD, check out the ad below:



"Do you wonder where Britney Spears or N'Sync got their moves?" the commercial asks. I was one of the 26 people on the planet who responded, "yes, yes, I do." I made the call that night. I swear as I was ordering the DVD, the people on the other end were chuckling.

When the video finally came, I was pretty pumped. Within two days, I had learned how to shake like Britney Spears, slide like Justin Timberlake, and spin like Jordan Knight. The DVD also had me, a skinny little white girl, trying to "pop and lock" in my parents' basement. Needless to say, I lacked skills in that area. But Darrin still rocked my world.

That year, I decided to try out for the school dance team. A couple days before try-outs, however, I read a flyer for the team that said you had to be trained in all areas of dance. Trained! Meaning shaking your ass in your basement didn't count! And I might have to be able to touch my toes and stuff! No way. I didn't try out.

My dream to become a world-reknowned choreographer slowly faded over the next few months and I acquired other dreams. But I still have every single move from Jordan Knight's "Give It to You" video memorized. Take that, DANCE TEAM!

-Kathryn

The Great Outdoors

I'm going camping Sunday through Wednesday and it's pretty safe to say that I'm pumped. We (Yankee Girl, her husband Lee, and other assorted peoples) will be heading out a couple of hours after a show that we're playing and diving head first into a few days of no work, hours of swimming, and even more hours of drinking. I'm getting giddy just typing about it.

We did this last year and it was a pretty great time, even before we hit the camp grounds. Driving up through Wisconsin, we passed a roadside "novelty" shop. The shop itself was rather nondescript but what drew our attention to it were the two yellow semi trailers parked next to it. On the trailers, using what looked to be black duct tape, someone had written a message;


We all uttered a collective "Bwuh?" and stared at the lurid message as we passed. Time was of the essence and we couldn't stop. We said we'd stop on the way back but after 3 days of storms, waking up in eight inches of water, trying to sleep in a port-a-potty, and constant drinking, we decided to get home as fast as possible. Throughout the year, when Lee and I would talk about the trip, we'd both laugh about the sign and fall silent for a moment, only to break it with a somber "We should have gone back, man."

This year, it's going to be different!

At least I hope so, a port-a-potty is no place to rest your head.

-Dan

Penny For Your Thoughts?

First off, I'd like to give a big "WOO!" for having 69 followers! Yeah, I'm a perv.

ANYWAYS, usually I sit here and I rant and rave about my point of view on some particular subject. Today, my dear readers, I'm asking for your opinions. I need your help, you see. I have a big decision to make and I'd like to hear what you have to say before I make it. This might not be an incredibly entertaining post, but I genuinely need advice.


The subject? Moving in with your significant other.

My lease ends in April and Dan and I have been discussing moving in when my lease ends. Here's a quick background on us:
-We have been dating for 1 year and 4 months.
-By the time we move in, we will have been dating for 2 years and 1 month.
-We are not engaged.
-We currently live an hour away from each other, so we don't get a huge amount of "us" time.

Now, I have mixed feelings about moving in. I always used to be a huge supporter of "try before you buy," as I think it's the only way you can really know if you'll be a successful couple. Then I moved in with my now ex-boyfriend. We had been dating for 2 years, then we moved in together (with a roommate), dated for another 2 years, then broke up. The inevitable happened; we took each other for granted, we became an "old married couple," and it ended. I wouldn't say that moving in together was the sole cause of the breakup, but it probably was a catalyst.

My relationship with Dan is VERY different from the last relationship; it is infinitely better and I think we are able to work out any problems we may have. However, I still have concerns.

My issues are these:
-I don't want us to take each other for granted.
-I don't want us to get bored with each other.
-If/when we get married, nothing would change (I would want there to be some sort of change!)
-I don't think you should have to deal with becoming an "old married couple" before you're old and married

Look at how bored this couple is with each other! I don't want to be like them!

I have witnessed many couples go through the 4 or 5 year dating/moving in/breaking up process, and it makes me nervous to try moving in again. One of my friends is encouraging me to give him an ultimatum: no moving in without a ring. But I am definitely not ready to be engaged anytime soon!

So here's where you all come in. For all you married folks, what did you do? Did you move in before you got married? If so, do you regret it? For all you couples living together, what do you think? Do you think you should wait until you're married or engaged to move in with your significant other? What should I do??? Thanks for your help, dudes!

Every Girl's Crazy 'Bout A Sharp-Dressed Man

My sister and her husband are renewing their vows this weekend. When they got married 10 years ago, they were strapped for cash so they just opted to go the the courthouse to get their marriage license. Then they waited like 10 days before telling my parents. That last bit was widely regarded as a pretty bad move, but that's a whole other story that I'll tell at some other point. It comes complete with death threats, fisticuffs, crying maidens and explosions. Well...okay, no explosions.

So for this upcoming ceremony, my sis really wanted to go all out and have the wedding she always wanted. As she described what she wanted to me, I realized that I'm not the only person in the family who has a taste for things of "epic proportions". While listening to her plans, I started imagining a wedding where each member in the wedding party rode in on giant winged-tigers that belched fire, while Iron Maiden played the processional march. My fantasy came to a screeching halt when she told me to go and get fitted for a tux.

Now, I like looking good and I do actually like wearing tuxedos. What I don't like though, are tuxedos that someone else picks out for you. That's how people end up in those powder-blue numbers that were popular in 1950. I was hesitant but then I thought "Hey, it's her day" and did what any good brother would do; procrastinate until I absolutely had to go.

To make a long story short, I went and got fitted and other than the attendant's sour milk breath, I had no issues. I paid up and was told to pick it up today. I got there after work and they led me to the changing rooms and I finally saw it...

Apparently, my sister's dream wedding has me in a bright red bow-tie. This is what I get for being such a f**king brat when I was little.

Sorry about the late post! I lost track of time while trying to fix an amplifier yesterday. I'll say 1000 Hail Mary's in penance for it ;)

Have a great weekend everyone!
-Dan