I was channel surfing and discovered ESPN (or ESPN2) was airing the U.S. Open Of Competitive Eating. The U.S. Open? Man they’ll attach that title to anything. And apparently ESPN will air anything. If that’s going to be a sport, why not lump Fear Factor stunts as sports too. I tuned in long enough to see two guys trying to shove as much salad down their throat as they could. It was very disturbing, and I’m sure there are plenty of people out there who love to watch this.

I finally told Nicole today that I wasn’t come back to Harry & David for the holidays. What prompted me? She shared some bad news of her own, that Jen had been let go. So it looks like I won’t get a chance to say goodbye to Jen. I think I will try to get her number from Nicole so I can try and get together with her for coffee sometime. I promised Nicole I would continue to come distract her from her job, and she was thrilled. She enjoys seeing Elijah a few times a month, and she is one of the few people I know who lives in Denver.

I am hoping to take an infant CPR course in the next few months. It is something I think is important, since I’m with Elijah everyday. They offer one monthly at Fitzsimons, but I think they also offer one at his pediatrician, so I’ll check there too. The one at Fitzsimons is a 2 hour course in the evening, which means, I either take it alone and Geoff watches him, or we get a babysitter to come over (once we move into the new place) and Geoff can take it too. Geoff actually knows CPR already, but it’s something you are supposed to renew and he hasn’t done that in a while. I’ve never taken a CPR course. I remember once at Woodbridge that a child was choking, and thankfully the nursery worker there knew CPR and knew what to do. After that, they started offering a CPR course every few months, and it was strongly encouraged for all Children’s Ministry workers to take it. The church even offered to help pay for some people if money was an issue. I should check to see if our church here has people who are certified.

I mentioned back in March that Kelly was having a short story published in a magazine she works for, and I’d been searching my local bookstores for it. No one carried it, thought Tattered Cover said they may try to order it. Well, Kelly picked it up and sent it to me. It was exciting to see her name in print. The story is called Hack, and it is set in Washington. It’s about a journalist who has grown weary of his job and hopes to move into a new job as a writer. It’s a great ironic story, and if you can find the magazine Doublethink, I suggest you pick it up. I really hope this is the beginning of more fiction publishing for Kelly. Her website is kellyjanetorrance.com if you want to read articles she has written. I’m so proud!

I’m going to close now with a quote from The Muppet Show. (BTW- Season One DVD out on August 9. I think we’ll have to get this for Elijah.)
Rowlf: [treating a viking pig] I know all about them – they come from Denmark. One of my ancestors was a viking!
Miss Piggy: Oh, this isn’t going to be a Great Dane joke, is it?
Rowlf: Well, it’s a Dane joke, but I wouldn’t call it great.

A year ago today we “officially” found out we were pregnant. I took a test when we got back from Scotland, but this was the day the doctor confirmed it for us. It’s been a good year, and when I look into my sweet boy’s face, I can’t believe how quickly he is growing. I can’t get over how much I love him. Having our family grow from 3 (I count Honey Cat) to 4 has been the most amazing, wonderful thing in the world.

Mary and I finally connected on the phone, and we’ve set up a lunch date for next week. She had left a message for me when I was in Canada, and I called her back and left a message, which she didn’t get. So it was nice to finally speak. I got more details on Jeff departing Education Collections for Zoology. It was more of a lateral move than promotion. Also he never really considered Rich to replace him, but he did seriously consider me. It’s nice to know I was wanted. Obviously I still cannot take the job, since the H visa doesn’t allow it. Mary thinks they still haven’t hired a replacement, so maybe I should entertain the idea the museum would sponsor me for my own green card. 🙂 Ya right. Anyways, Zoology is a much smaller department, and they only have volunteers 3 days a week. I wonder how many from Education Collection swill jump ship to be with Jeff. I hope to make it to DMNS at some point this summer, even if just to say hi.

I’m not at all surprised to hear Echinacea does squat for colds. I’ve been saying that for years. But each person has their own treatments they like and swear by. Me, I prefer not to treat every little thing with medicine. I like to let my body try to fight it on his own. If it’s not working, I’ll seek other treatment. I just don’t want my body to become immune to certain medicines. That’s just me.

I’m going to close with a quote from Good Will Hunting, ’cause it was on tv yesterday and I like that movie.

Will: Do you buy all these books retail or do you send away for, like, a shrink kit that comes with all these volumes included?

Thanks to Kat for starting this.

My layers
* Layer.one
Name: Melissa
Birthdate: 1/11/77
Birthplace: Edmonton, Alberta
Current location: Denver, CO
Eyes: Hazel
Hair: Brown
Height: 5’5″ (but I like to think I’m 5’6″)
Righty or Lefty: Righty
Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

* Layer.two
Your heritage: dad’s side: Scottish & German; mom’s side: Ukrainian & Yugoslavian
Your weakness: Potato Chips, Chocolate
Your shoes you wore today: tevas, always my tevas
Your fears: too many to mention
Your perfect pizza: bacon & pepperoni
Goal you’d like to achieve: To be more like Christ

* Layer.three
Your thoughts first waking up: Must get the boy
Your best physical feature: my smile
Your bedtime: 9:30-10pm
Your most missed memory: I wish I remembered more about my dad

* Layer.four
Pepsi or Coke: Coke
McDonald’s or Burger King: meh. If hungry enough I’ll eat at either. But I’d otherwise choose neither.
Single or group dates: both
Adidas or Nike: who cares
Sketchers or Vans: again, who cares
Chocolate or vanilla: chocolate
Cappuccino or coffee: can I pick mochaccino?

* Layer.five
Smoke: never
Cuss: only when I’m worked up
Sing: all the time
Showers daily: every other day
Have a crush: on my husband
Think you’ve been in love: Oh yes!
Want to go college: don’t care either way
Want to get married: again? No, once is good on me. 🙂
Believe in yourself: sure
Get motion sickness: oh yes!
Think you’re attractive: oh sure, in my own way.
Think you’re a health freak: not particularly
Get along with your parents: at times
Like thunderstorms: sure
Play an instrument: does the kazoo count?

* Layer.six
– in the past months…
Gone to the mall: every week
Eaten an entire box of Oreos: no, but I could
Eaten sushi: oh no!
Gone skating: nope, couldn’t
Made homemade cookies: I’m gonna this week
Gone skinny dipping: no
Dyed your hair: not recently
Stolen anything: not since I was a kid

* Layer.seven
– ever…
Been trashed or extremely intoxicated: yes, but I don’t do that anymore
Been called a tease: yep. some people are such jerks
Got beaten up: Not really, but I’ve been in a fight or two

* Layer.eight
Age you hoped to be married: been there, done that
Number and name of children: Currently 1 (Elijah James) but I hope to have 3.
Dream wedding: If we did it again, we’d elope
How do you want to die: Don’t want to, I’m hoping to be raptured. But if I gotta, I want to be with Geoff & Elijah to say goodbye.
Where do you want to attend college: California?
Dream job: hmm, so many to choose from.
Country you want to visit: New Zealand

* Layer.ten
Number of drugs taken illegally: none
Number of people I could trust with my life: 5 or 6
Number of CDs that I own: More than 100, less than 200
Number of piercings: just one set in my ears
Number of tattoos: none, I like to be different
Number of times my name’s been in the news: twice
Number of scars on my body: two
Number of things in my past that I regret: Hard to say. All the decisions I’ve made, good or bad, shaped me into this person. But I guess there are a few things, but nothing that I’d share.

We went up to Boulder on Friday, and while I would never want to live there, there is a certain quaintness to the town. I love how green it is, parks everywhere, and you can get anywhere by bike or by foot. The shops on Pearl street were not quite what I thought they’d be, but we only touched so little of it. I did find a Christmas gift for someone in the family, so I’ll have to go back at some point.

The campus buildings are pretty cool. They aren’t labeled very well, so a map (or guide) is necessary. This is the Chemistry building, where Geoff will have his Boulder office. He’ll be there maybe a few times a month.

There was a neat fountain outside the building in a courtyard, which I could see was a popular place for people to eat their lunches. There were kids playing in them too. I think the building across from Chemistry was a food hub, and it also housed the bookstore.

That’s about all I have to say about that. To read Geoff’s take on it, visit his blog. I’m anxious for us to get up to Estes Park, it’s not too far off from Boulder. Since we’ll be in Colorado for many years, we’ve got plenty of time to explore the state.

I’d been meaning to mention, we got new neighbors. A seemingly nice gay couple moved into the hooker-vacated apartment. I say seemingly because we’ve only ever said hello to each other. But one of them I see everyday, and I hope to ask him his name. They have a little wiener dog named Vienna (how cute is that?). The downstairs neighbors are FINALLY leaving. (insert crowd cheering here) I’ve grown so very tired of them constantly slamming their door every time they use it. Also, the parties where their friends are out yakking underneath our window. I laughed last Saturday when I was awake at 2am and heard the sprinklers go off on them. 🙂

Checked out the farmer’s market this morning, which had a ton more vegetables than they did the last time we were there. We didn’t buy any today though, but Geoff almost succumbed to the green beans. Naturally we went to Peet’s but there were no tables free, and I didn’t want to sit at the bar. I just felt too high and boxed in. We passed through the mall, I shopped for underwear at Victoria’s Secret (it was on sale) and then went to Safeway to get provisions for burgers tonight. Spent the rest of the afternoon doing laundry and had a nap while the boys went for a run.

I think every Canadian I know is away this weekend, which is a little frustrating because I wanted to talk to some of them. I suppose I have to wait until Tuesday.

We watched The Village last night, and it was good. I thought it would be scarier, which is fine, scary would have prevented me from sleeping. It left me thinking about the movie, and the characters. I do like M. Night Shyamalan’s movies. Geoff said he enjoys the way they are filmed, and the stories they tell. I’d have to agree. I don’t want to divulge any of the story in case you haven’t seen it, but I think it’s worth renting.

Thank God July is almost over. I feel like I’m in a rush for the months to go by, and yet I know I should be savoring each day. I am just anxious to start looking at houses, and anyone can understand that.

I suppose I better go and give Elijah his bath. I’ll close with a quote from The Village.

Ivy Walker: How is it that you are so brave while the rest of us shake in our boots?
Lucius Hunt: I don’t think of what might happen, only what must be done.

Lisa leaves on vacation tomorrow, and I’m trying to help her stay in a positive frame of mind amidst her sister being selfish. Sigh, I will be praying for Lisa & Chad on this trip and hoping they can enjoy themselves.

Ryan (KUCI alumni and former co-host) is in Japan teaching English. He says it’s super hot & humid there. He does enjoy being there, which is cool. I enjoy learning about what he is doing by asking a lot of questions.

I don’t really care if I ever see Japan (sorry), but Geoff would like to go someday. I just worry I would never find anything to eat. Or worse that Geoff would be deprived of eating all he wants to eat. Can you do a cruise of Japan? So I could always retreat to the boat for food? Rod would know. I’ll ask him.

This last week was the one year anniversary of our Scotland trip. It’s been lovely to think back on the good stuff, look at the pretty pictures, and reread what we did. I’ve overlooked all the stupid travel problems. I really feel in my heart that there will come a time we’ll get to go again. Many many years down the road.

I’ll close now with a quote from Forget Paris.
Mickey: You just had one of those ‘I glued a bird to my head’ days.

The weather here is still cool, which I love! Yesterday was perfect for walking, and today is supposed to hold the same. I’ll definitely be walking up to Cherry Creek North today. And if Jen is at H&D, I’ll tell her I’m not coming back for the holidays. 🙁

So the family is heading out to Victoria this weekend. Ah, Victoria. I completely forgot there was a holiday this weekend. The name of it differs from province to province. Since they’ll be in B.C., it’s called British Columbia Day. Alberta calls it Heritage Day. (To see what it’s called elsewhere, click here.) No holiday for us Yanks. We’ll just have to wait for Labor Day to have our next day off.

Geoff has to go up to Boulder on Friday (I think) so we’ll try to join him. I’ve never been to Boulder, but I’d like to check out the shops on Pearl Street. Geoff says the campus (University of Colorado Boulder) is beautiful. Funny enough Jennifer Garner is in Boulder until Friday filming a movie. I doubt we’d see her, and I’d really much rather see her husband. I’ve never seen the show Alias, though everyone I know loves it.

I’ll be so happy once this month is over. It’s been painfully long, and financially strained. But hopefully we’ll get caught up next month. I would love to get a jump on my Christmas shopping, I may try to buy at least one gift. But I have gifts already needed for August.

Nothing else is going on, so I’ll close with a quote from Unbreakable.

Joseph Dunn: Do you think you could beat up Bruce Lee?
David Dunn: No, Joseph.
Joseph Dunn: Even if he wasn’t allowed to kick, and you were really mad at him?

The rumors of my pregnancy have been GREATLY exaggerated!

Lisa called me to ask (jokingly) why I hadn’t told her about me being pregnant. I am? That was the story going around Edmonton. And I’m due next month! Lisa knew enough to know it couldn’t be right.

Ha Ha Ha Ha.

Who is pregnant and due next month? Misty (Dawn’s sister). Sounds like Missy doesn’t it?

Lordy, I would cry if I got pregnant now, I’m not ready for #2 yet.

Just had to set the record straight.

You are MARIO BATALI, host of “Molto
Mario”! You are casual, but very rooted
in tradition. You have a strong sense of your
cultural background and family history, and are
interested in preserving it. You tend to be a
little stuck in the past, but they did it
better back then anyway! You can be a little
pompous, but when even Martha Stewart invites
you on her show to show her how to make pasta,
you have a right to be.

Which Food Network Personality are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Finally, we’re seeing some cooler weather come our way. I miss walking to Cherry Creek, and welcome the opportunity to do so.

We went to Peet’s yesterday (mmm caramel freddo!), picked up Miss Congeniality 2 from the library, then headed into the mall. Eddie Bauer Home is closing, so everything is on sale. Man that was painful, to have no money and see such fantastic deals. I’m certain we’ll find great stuff for our new place when the time comes. The plan so far is aiming to move before the end of the year. Our friends here have offered to help, which would be nice. We haven’t had friends to help move since we moved into our first apartment in Edmonton. All other moves were thousands of miles away, where we knew no one. This will also be the first time we’ll be able to have a housewarming party.

For dinner last night I made chicken in a tarragon cream sauce, on a bed of rice. Not exactly like Rachael’s recipe (fussy eater and all), but damn it was tasty. It’s not a recipe I feel confident making without my sous-chef, the oil was all splattery.

Miss Congeniality 2: Armed & Fabulous was cute. Did I like it as much as the first? Probably not, but it was entertaining. And I’ll close now with a quote from it.

Gracie Hart: Wake up and smell the iced vente decaf caramel macchiato!