i Not Worthy

For over twenty years, I've been at the back of the mac line. Shawn, numero uno tech freak, always got the latest and greatest, newest and coolest, brightest and shiniest mac thingy to come along, while I got the used goods. The slow stuff. The cranky software. The banged up hardware. I've been babying my hand-me-down, dropped a millions times, including in water once or twice, old phone for months, developing iphoneitis from pushing so hard, hoping to make it last a little bit longer. It's not all macDaddy's fault, either. I've always been, no, no, no. I don't need it. It's not worth the money. Just wait. Until today. Saturday surprise. A new iphone is out. White. Ohh. Shawn discovered some contract fine print. Some way below retail special price.  So responsive! So cute! So fast! On sale! Just think of all of the thumb physical therapy treatment money I'll save.

I ripped open the box and immediately dropped the phone. So not worthy.

(Sunday afternoon update - sold crappy old phone for $110 to some guy on Craigslist - worthy, worthy, worthy)

Rock The Zoo

Saved the animals. Relived the 80s. Strolled through the jungle. Rocked the Zoo with The Motels, Animotion, Tommy Tutone, The Promise and Dramarama as another balding prince from my youth on this happy royal wedding day sang Anything, Anything to me under the stars on a perfect night, making me cry one more time - MARRY ME, MARRY ME, MARRY ME!

I Do!

The Pomp! The Circumstance! The pithy Chaucer poem! 

I got all teary-eyed watching Will and Kate all by myself Friday morning, but then grabbed The Amazing Duchesses of Scottsdale to hit The British Open Pub for some bangers and mash, some fish and chips, some beer, of course, and round two of the nuptials - dishing the whole time about every little thing, the hats, the trivia, the richer or poorer (not!), the David Beckham, the dress, the crowds, my brand new very own personal harpist and the Queen Wave.

Cheerio!

British Open Pub

Here I am with my own military Prince (those are hand-made royal streamers on the carriage).

Book Club - A Walk in the Woods

Life is like the Appalachian Trail and book club is that thank God there's a hotel one Wednesday night a month along the path where you can go and wash off all the grime, sit in a soft, safe place and know no bears can get you for the next few hours. Oh, and there's food, too. How glad am I that I have friends that can cook? Homemade bread, a vegetarian feast - Gorgonzola arugula pasta, pine nut pesto pasta salad, veggie tray - we're talkin' huge artichokes, baby bella marinated mushrooms, adorable radish flowers, lots more, homemade dips, and a juicy, juicy dessert spread. Yay Cathy! We played musical chairs by candlelight, missing the pool, skipping the book, of course, but covering politics, birth certificates, toupees, Tennessean Muslims, the asshole brother and brother-in-law, the new tats, the Easter Hop, the please don't move to Denver, the boundaries, the better than Prozac shuffle, the up way too late on a perfect Arizona patio night. Now I'm all clean and full and ready to get back on the trail.

Also got through this month: The Tiger's Wife

 and Blood, Bones & Butter

Both great reads...

Earth Day (tardy)

Better late than never. 

Some positive steps I'm taking.

My compost is beginning to resemble actual dirt.

I'm going to start recycling at the office 

- collecting the never ending supply of plastic and Styrofoam bottles, cups and containers and hauling them home for my weekly pick-up.

I am reading a great book, Plastiki, about a guy that built a catamaran out of plastic bottles and sailed from San Francisco to Sydney, trying to increase our awareness. Pretty inspiring.

Went to a home "party" for Melaleuca products. Lots of amazing things, clean, green and good for the environment and our health (but then I discovered that they take a ton of their profit and contribute it all to Republicans, who generally poo poo global warming and clean food, air and water regulation). So, I started to look for products on my own made by a company that puts it's money where it's mouth is. Unfortunately, that list is short.

Signed up for emails from treehugger.com to learn something new I can do everyday.

I spent $82 filling up on gas the other day - good reminder to slow down and drive less.

I BYOBs

to the grocery store, to Costco, to Target (nobody gives you weird looks anymore)

If you live in Scottsdale and have a garage full of dead cellphones, squeaky printers, old TVs, lost remotes and other electronic stuff gathering dust, drop it off on May 7th here. Just drive up and some cute guy will empty out your trunk. It's a beautiful thing.

I cleaned out my mailbox by going here DMA Choice to get rid of some catalogs.

Small steps with my big, big feet.



Two Dorks At A Five Guys

Recent Facebook chatter with old peeps about what dorks we all were back in high school moved into lunch with Shawn conversation at the total high school kind of place, Five Guys.

Shawn agreed. He was a dork in high school, too. At least until he could drive.

Then he got a girl.

But he still can't draw anything without sticking out his tongue.

Some things never change.

Dork :) 

The Final Countdown

Spring Break's over and now all Shana has left are some finals, a flamenco show in Madrid, her premiere as a surly male cop in her Theatre class play, one more quiet weekend in Alcala and then home. I said, How about Lisbon? You're so close. Go, go, go!

Nope, she said, I'm done.

Movie Madness - The Greatest Movie Ever Sold

Surrounded by a bunch of guys instead of our usual grey-haired Camelview ladies, we got a hilarious look behind the scenes at how Madison Avenue has taken over the world.

As a dedicated movie watcher, it's good to be informed. Now go buy some POM Wonderful 100% pomegranate juice and go see - The Greatest Movie Ever Sold.

Bring on the Bitch

 

Wow - these ladies can bitch!

Stunning, hilarious, heartbreaking short plays by some unbelievably talented local women. Incredible.

SOS - Save Our space55. 

London Calling

The Three Musketeers made it to London

 and thanks to Amy's cool friends Richard and Iona

they've got a great front row seat to an English three day weekend.