I'm FAMOUS!

Well, I'm not really famous, per say... today I just happened to swing through a revolving door behind Philip Seymour Hoffman!! Here is a depiction of the event. I am the green blob with brown hair, and Philip Seymour Hoffman is the red blob with blond hair... can you believe it? I even looked back twice as I was walking down the street to make sure it was him, and it was!

This is what he looked like:
I called Shelby immediately... this DEF wins for best New York moment!

Stella misses Dave? Or loves Chloe?

I think it's a tie. Stella will not leave Chloe alone! She tries over and over to get up on the couch sneakily to smell Chloe's bum and capture her wipping tail! She gets so transfixed we cannot reach her! But then the other half of the time she stares and says- Where's Daddy? And then runs around the couch 27 times fast. Dogs are weird. Stella is the cutest....

Stella missing Dave.....

Stella missing Chloe.

Thinking of Dave.....

and thinking of Chloe.

Bored of not being able to play with Dave.....

Excited at the opportunity to eat Chloe.

Dreaming about licking Dave....

Perplexed by the choice of licking Grandma's toes or licking Chloe.

In short, me and Stella miss Dave.....

But we are glad to get to spend some time with Chloe.

If I had a super power it would be...

Helloooo Wolverine!!

With Wolverine coming out this weekend, I got to thinking... If I had a super power, what would it be? Actually that's a lie. I always think about this question :) when Heidi is around she likes to ask this question because A.) she is cool, and B.) our friends are cool, and C.) unlike most people, Heidi actually has a super power!

don't be alarmed.

She fits right into society. Unlike Wolverine, she does not have blades that pop out of her knuckles. Heidi has super senses. That's right, her hearing, vision, sense of smell, taste, and touch are all heightened, CONSTANTLY, like a pregnant woman. Only Heidi is not pregnant, and thus, has a super power.

This is Heidi's Super Hero boyfriend... duh, when you're a super hero, you date super hero's... hot ones!

To play this game, you aren't supposed to just "make-up" a super power, you're supposed to figure out something unique about you that makes you "super". For instance, Heidi has sensitive senses, and we turned that into a "super-power".

Some other "Super" examples:
Me- Dream Sense, my dreams depict future events, sometimes to the betterment of the world! (like Angela Petrelli... with Jean Grey's hair)
John Mort- Super Strength, he's got big muscles and he's not afraid to use them!

What is YOUR super power?

An Earthlike planet just 20.5 light years away!

How cool is this!?

Most Earthlike Planet Yet Found May Have Liquid Oceans
Kate Ravilious
for National Geographic News
April 21, 2009

It probably wouldn't feel exactly like home. But the planet known as Gliese 581d has a lot more in common with Earth than astronomers first thought. New measurements of the planet's orbit place it firmly in a region where conditions would be right for liquid water, and thus life as we know it, astronomer Michel Mayor, from Geneva University in Switzerland, announced today.

"It lies in the [life-supporting] habitable zone, and it could have an ocean at its surface," Mayor said during the European Week of Astronomy and Space Science conference, being held this week at the University of Hertfordshire in the U.K.

First discovered in 2007, Gliese 581d was originally calculated to be too far away from its host star—and therefore too cold—to support an ocean. But Mayor and colleagues now show that the extrasolar planet, or exoplanet, orbits its host in 66.8 days, putting it just inside the cool star's habitable zone.

At the same time, Mayor and colleagues announced that they have spotted a fourth planet orbiting in the Gliese 581 star system—and it's the lightest exoplanet found so far.

The planet, dubbed Gliese 581e, is only about twice the mass of Earth and is the closest planet to the star, completing its orbit in about 3.15 days. "It brings down the mass [of the lightest known exoplanet] by more than a factor of two. The previous smallest was around five," said Andrew Collier Cameron, an astronomer at the University of Saint Andrews in the U.K. who was not involved in the find.

Near Neighbor
Gliese 581, a red dwarf star in the constellation Libra, lies around 20.5 light-years from Earth. "In astronomical terms it is one of our near neighbors, the 87th closest known star system to the sun," said Carole Haswell, an astronomer at the Open University in Milton Keynes, U.K.

Since planets orbiting Gliese 581 are too far away to be seen directly, Mayor and colleagues originally spotted Gliese 581d by searching for tiny wobbles in the host star's motion using the European Southern Observatory (ESO) telescope at La Silla in Chile. Weighing in at around seven Earth masses, Gliese 581d is unlikely to be made of rocks alone, the team believes. "We can only speculate at this stage, but it may have a rocky core, encased in an icy layer, with a liquid ocean at the surface and an atmosphere," Mayor said.

Meanwhile, the much smaller and lighter Gliese 581e "probably doesn't look too different to Earth, except that it will be very hot, because it is so close to its host star," said Andrew Norton, an astronomer also at the Open University.

Norton's colleague Haswell added: "It is very exciting that such a promising candidate for an Earthlike planet has been found so close to us. It means there are likely to be many more when we search further."

And the more there are, the greater the chance of discovering one that harbors life. "I think it is only a matter of time," Norton said. "If life really does exist elsewhere in the universe, then within the next 10 to 15 years I expect we may see the first signs of life, via spectroscopic signals from exoplanets."

I'm back in Granite Bay!

Well, it is official- I live with my parents again. And WITHOUT my husby :(. Dave will move in a month to join me once he has graduated. I start my new job tomorrow, and I am kind of nervous, and I miss my sweety. Here are some pics of my first night! Ryan and the kids came over (Sandi is on a trip with her sisters.
Braden all of a sudden appeared in full on fighting gear! Stella was VERY scared.
Here is Stella modelling her new Life Preserver. She was scared of it at first, but is slowly getting used to wearing it. The kids played with Stella all night. It was hectic.....

The Warm Weather Brought More Than Just Sunshine...

How to handle the dreaded barometric pressure headache!

If you've ever had a barometric pressure headache, you know it can be really difficult to deal with. Let's take a quick look at the research that's out there on barometric pressure headache and see if we can limit your pain!

It's been fairly obvious throughout history that weather, and particularly changes in the weather, have an effect on your body. In spite of this long line of weather-sensitive individuals, scientists are still unsure why changes in weather cause headaches and other migraines. There is a theory, however. Changes in pressure cause changes in oxygen levels.

It could be that blood vessels in your head expand or contract to compensate. Changes in the size of your blood vessels is part of the flow of changes that happen when you get a migraine headache. This is also why you may get a headache when flying, hiking, or even travelling to a new location.

A study was done by a group of researchers led by Dr. Galina Mindlin of Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia with migraineurs and "normal" individuals to compare their reactions to weather. The study found that migraines are indeed more likely when pressure rises, and somewhat more likely when the temperature rises. (Read more about the barometric pressure migraines study here)

Many researchers believe that it's not pressure alone, but a variety of weather factors together that trigger migraine. A study done in 1981 found that during phase 4 weather migraines increased – that's weather with low pressure, the passage of a warm front, high temperature and humidity, and often overcast skies. (Read this interesting article about health and weather) According to the American National Headache Foundation, weather changes may also cause chemical changes in the body, another factor that triggers migraine. Many believe that the electrical charge of the air may also have something to do with your headaches.

Weather.com now has an "aches and pains" forecast, basically based on dropping pressure, increased humidity and changes or extremes in temperature. Click here to see if a barometric pressure headache is on the way. Just enter your zip code or city.

What can I do about Barometric Pressure Headache?

Looking on the bright side, often barometric pressure headache sufferers at least have a little advance warning, especially if there is a predicted weather front moving in, or if you know you're about to go on a trip. Here are a few suggestions for dealing with the pain:

1.Keep track of the effects of weather on your headache

If you think pressure changes are a trigger for you, try keeping a diary of weather changes and headache pain. For this you'll want to get a decent barometer (preferably not the cheap ornamental one that you bought at the hardware store or department store). Ideally if you really want to investigate, consider investing in a digital barometer. These are not cheap, but they do tend to give you more accurate, exact readings.

2.Talk to your doctor about medications

Your doctor may suggest you take an anti-inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen before you travel or when a headache begins to come on. At least one doctor I know of recommended doubling your normal migraine medication dosages when taking a trip. Obviously you'll want to discuss these options with your doctor. Take along your diary from #1 so that you can show him how your body is reacting to pressure changes.

3.Try an ionizer or humidifier, or get some fresh air

This will not directly solve the pressure problem, but it may help with some weather related headache. Some people find that a walk by a waterfall or river will help. If you don't have easy access or need to lie down indoors (as many with barometric pressure headache or migraine do), try going to a room with a humidifier or ionizer. (Obviously if you're in a humid climate you'll want to avoid adding more moisture to the air!)

4. Check out some of the other medications and remedies on this website and learn something new!

Barometric pressure headache may respond particularly well to certain medications or home remedies. Barometric pressure headache can be tough to handle. But don't give up! You are an individual, and you may have to keep trying until you find the treatment that helps you kill that barometric pressure headache...

Weekend Forecast

Today is a splendid day!
First of all, it's Green Friday*!
#2, I finished my laundry before the weekend AND completed a homework assignment!
And lastly, and probably the most important- I've got sunshine coming my way!!
Let's check out some other weather forecasts for Tomorrow:
San Diego, CA - 62° mostly sunny
Granite Bay, CA - 74° partly cloudy
Pohnpei, FSM - 79° scattered T-storms
Provo, UT - 52° scattered T-storms


WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO WHEN IT'S NICE OUTSIDE?

I love me some Frisbee. (this is me and my hypothetical dog playing frisbee, isn't he cute?!)*Green Friday is a National Geographic initiative to save energy by having employees not work on selected Friday's during the year. I cannot complain. :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY COURTNEY!!!

Belly Rub

A Timid Advocate of Freedom

"President Obama has failed his early foreign-policy tests."
By Mitt Romney

Read this article:
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ZTYyYzEzMzBhNTgzMTBkZTk1N2I0MDIxZGMxN2Q3MDM=

Grey, the color of the day

Today when I was getting ready, I REALLY wanted to wear my comfortable/cute grey pants, so I put them on. Then I thought, I know my grey tennis shoes don't look marvelous with my grey pants, but what the heck, I feel like wearing those too. I put on a blue shirt, and headed to my computer to check the weather where Weather.com told me it was high forties with a daily high of low fifties. This calls for my newly wearable, security tag free, thick sweatshirt jacket! Oh my, that also turns out to be very grey. I again thought, who cares! I'll be to work soon, where I'll take off my jacket and be wearing a blue shirt and grey pants, which is totally acceptable. So I walked to work, got to my desk, took off my jacket, 15 minutes passed, and I put my jacket back on! It's about 65 degrees in my office (TOO COLD) and I can't NOT wear my jacket!! So the point of this post is, today I look something like a cross between a grey blob and a jolly grey giant. What can you do!

+

=Me

The Maltese Falcon (1941)

I watched this movie... and it was very interesting. The plot was kinda out of control. It all made sense and everything, but people's motives and reactions were wild! It was pretty decent, but I'd have to say MUCH different from murder mystery/treasure seeking thriller's we see today. (no fingerprints, lab work, or CSI)If you like old movies that have a womanizing private eye, a secretary he calls "Precious", a desperate beautiful woman, a high class man referred to as "the fat man", and a snooty guy with a crazy Hungarian accent- then I basically think you will like this movie. :) Throughout the entire thing you can't tell who is good or bad, but in the end it is VERY clear.

A Grand Suggestion!

This blog post is dedicated to Heidi. I have determined a FANTASTIC name for your running team in the upcoming Ragnar Relay race. When I saw this picture, I thought of you-I don't care how you use it, but it is amazing, and I'm sure it will inspire the team like none other. Think about it.

Thank goodness it's Friday!!

I can't wait to go home and do NOTHING all weekend long!!! :)

I was thinking today about movies I wish I owned so I could watch them over and over again. Here's what I came up with:

Madagascar
Madagascar 2
Princess Diaries 2
Just like Heaven
Gladiator
The Last Samurai
First Wives Club
How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days

What movies can you watch over and over again???

PS the weather forecast for this weekend is fantastic! Tomorrow is supposed to be 72°! I hope summer (or heck, SPRING!) has finally arrived! Tomorrow, this will be me. :)

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!

My new favorite show...

Okay, so I may have discovered the most fantastic reality show of my life this week (special thanks to other Ashley). I've successfully watched almost 3 complete episodes, and I LOVE IT. If you haven't heard of this show, or seen it yet, YOU NEED TO. YOU WILL LOVE IT. Well, some of you will love it... If you love reality, fashion, famous people, and characters who are totally fun, then you'll love this show! I love it I love it. WATCH!!! AND it's not even trashy at all, promise.

Stargate, what?!

Shows on MUST SEE list:
The Rachel Zoe Project
Heroes
NCIS
And I'm starting to enjoy Stargate SG-1 (it's on SciFi when I get off work)

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE SHOWS??

Plus I saw a really CUTE movie, Nim's Island! It's so fun and cute, and kid appropriate, but fun for big kids too. Watch it! :) It's starring Gerard Butler, Jodie Foster and Abigail Breslin.

Best Quote of the Week

From Shelby, on moving:








"I told Dave that if he wanted me to get any packing done, he'd better cancel our cable and internet. So he did. But now I just sit on the couch surrounded by a bunch of empty boxes starring at a black TV. (pause)
I'm going to the gym so I can watch American Idol."

Idol Breakdown Shakedown by Ashley

That's right. I actually watched it this week. Here they are, the final 7!
And here's what I'm thinking:
Allison- eh? Surprising... ly not good.
Adam- Poor song choice, but boy can he wail! Good voice.
Anoop- I liked him!
Danny- is this the hand guy?! (How am I supposed to feel about every contestant IGNORING Quentin Tarantino's word's of wisdom? Oh wait... that's right, QT's not even IN music). I think I liked this guy...
Chris- Why do they all look the same! I think I REALLY liked this guy...
Matt- BLAH!!! Kick him off.
Lil- ew. Please get kicked off asap.

Basically, this is how I feel. *Please keep in mind, aside from some YouTube clips of Adam, this was my only exposure to any of these people this entire season.

Bloggin'

This blog has seen better days!! (Hence this picture of a desert drought, metaphoric representation) At least the blog background is so pretty!!

There hasn't been too much to blog about recently... but that's just not true... yesterday I actually started to blog about this disturbing thing I saw on my way to work (a park bench and side-walk covered in puddles of fresh blood) but I determined that was too morbid and creepy to post about, so I deleted it. (Lucky YOU!)

This may blow SOME of your minds... I've been waking up much earlier! Monday I woke up at... (hold on to your chair) 7:30am!! and I didn't even take ONE SINGLE NAP all day long (unless you count doing work expenses as napping with your eyes open.. some might). This is me rising and shining at 7:30am with my little bird friends.

Can we talk about Twitter? I don't think I care to know what every person/company/organization is doing at every moment of the day. Maybe I do. Do we think it's going to tip the scale? Has it ALREADY hit the tipping point?? Aside from all that... I sure do like twitter's birdie icons!

Random Funny Stuff

I was reading my friend Brigham's blog, and found the most uh-mazing website!!

Here are some of my favorites!! (and just so you're not super confused, these are April Fools jokes, NOT REAL)


SLEEP IN THE BELLY OF THE BEAST
(I wish this was real! If you know anything about Star Wars, I hope you laugh as much as I did when I saw this one...)
In the sub-zero wasteland of the planet Hoth, only the strong survive... and of course those lucky Jedi protected by the thick skin of a Tauntaun. This high-quality sleeping bag looks just like a Tauntaun, complete with saddle, internal intestines and glowing lightsaber zipper pull.


THE THINKGEEK SECRET QR SHIRT!
(I don't even know what this MEANS and it's funny!)
What's a QR Code? It's a quick-scanning 2D barcode that's readable by many newer phones, and is hyuuuuge in Japan. We're guessing your friends and coworkers will think this is one of those stereograms from the 90s. We vote you let them stare at your shirt for at least five minutes, watching them back up, refocus their eyes, stringing them along by asking if they can see the seagulls above the sailboat before you tell them that it's really a QR Code.Note: The QR Code on the shirt in this image is *not* the QR Code on the free shirt. Cause that'd just be lame. What IS on the shirt? Just trust us. It probably says something like 'What the frak happened to Starbuck?'
(okay, I wikipedia'd... QR codes are huge in Japan! And "Starbuck" is probably a reference to a "Battlestar Galactica" character... I looked that one up too!)


USB PET ROCK
(This is SO random...)
Let's face it: even if you take the time to learn about it, history repeats itself. Everything that's old becomes new, and the Pet Rock fad of the 70s is no exception. But we've added our own touch to the phenomenon: a USB cable. What does it do? Abso-frickin-lutely nothing. And therein lies the beauty, for this is, without a doubt, the greenest USB gadget ever created (it draws absolutely no electricity). And best of all, the USB Pet Rock is plug-and-play compatible with all past, present, and future operating systems.