iMovie will bring us together

Tonight, my sister put the cutest video of my nephew on his website. It was only a 2-second video, but it was the cutest thing ever. He said "Hi!" and waved. Priceless. I had to play it over and over and over, and you get the idea.

Since buying my MacDaddy I've wanted to try out the programs that come with it: GarageBand, iMovie, and iPhoto. These are basically scaled-down version of some of the high-end apps out there. Tonight I tested iMovie, sending my nephew a message back saying hi and blowing him a kiss, with some Eels playing in the background. It was like a video email. His response? He blew my video a kiss back!

Maybe some videos will make it to this blog soon.

The recession begins: No raise

I've been waiting for April to come for a year. Last year, at review time at work, I vowed this year I'd work to the bone, proving how indispensable I am and then get a mega raise this year. Kaboom! That's my plan exploding in my face.

My company will be announcing a hiring and raise freeze tomorrow. Perfect timing. I had been counting on that raise. It wasn't just the extra money (to get us one step closer to buying a home), but the principle. Good, hard, honest work deserves reward, especially when you know the big heads as I call them makes an exorbitant amount of money. I won't even be getting the living wage increase. Great just great.

Hell yeah!

Some truly amazing history took place in San Antonio last night. On the 20-year anniversary of KU winning its 1988 National Championship basketball title, KU took home another one. Jonathan and I left work early (yes, even this workaholic found time to root for her Jayhawks), and we trekked to Allen Fieldhouse to watch the game on the big screens. There was something magical about watching the game while being in the stands. I almost felt like the ghost of the players were playing on the court the entire time, hearing our chants (Rock Chalk Jayhawks!) and feeling the energy from our free-throw fingers and prayers. The part of the band that wasn't in San Antonio was at Allen to strike it up and set on us on fire. There was, of course, the usual audience-wide waves that coursed through the place, providing even more spirit. Also on hand was Baby Jay and Jay, our mascots.

I knew in my gut that we were going to win this game, never knowing that the come back we'd make would be sensational. That three-pointer—just about the only one we made that night—was something we were fated for. Overtime was ours. It should have been called Jayhawk Overtime. From paint to paint, we were swirls of colors as dribbled, passed, and shot. We high-fived strangers, honked like crazy around town, and joined in the merriment. Downtown was a mass of 40,000 strong. Climbing up flag poles and street lights. It was pure crazy high. Even the mile-long drive-thru line at Taco Bell couldn't upset us.

I give credit to Memphis. They really were our equal. If you don't believe me, look for the line-up online. It's almost like we were playing ourselves. My only criticism would be that the team needs to work on their free throws. Had they made the many they missed, we wouldn't have won. But that's all part of the game. The other thing I think Memphis shouldn't have counted on was their fouls. KU doesn't rely as hard on fouls as other teams do. I saw Davidson and North Carolina play the same foul game. Not a good strategy.

In 2003, I thought we were destined for this title, but it wasn't ours. That game, despite our loss, was a good memory. Mom and Tami had came to Lawrence before the game to see me. I was hyped, and so was Mom. She'd stopped at some store before coming to see me, buying me my beloved KU blanket and Jonathan a hat. Mom loved watching the Jayhawks, talking with Jonathan about the latest wins. Mom knew were going to win tonight. I felt like her spirit, which I hadn't felt in some time, was with us in Allen.

Will we win?

I think Jonathan and my blood pressures are at the max right now as we watch KU take on nemesis UNC in the Final Four. Behind the Tar Heels is traitor Roy Williams, one time KU coach. I know it's sinful to wish someone death, but maybe just little bit of pain? Just a little? Are the basketball gods with us? Will we make the chalk shake this evening? Please, please, please!

Today, we ventured to Target. We expected the stores to be deserted because everyone would be trying snake a table somewhere downtown to watch the game, but it seemed a usual shopping day. I picked out a pair of prescription sunglasses. Jonathan wasn't comfortable with the fact that I had been driving with non-prescription sunglasses, so come a week, I'll be driving in style and with sight! I also picked out another pair of glasses—editor glasses! So $300 later, we left the optical shop. It amazes me how expensive glasses are!

I've been reading my cookbooks in prep for my sister's visit. I'm thinking about attempting scones, maybe some jalepeno bread, but definitely asian lettuce wraps and homemade pot pie!

Smart pinky toe

I rang in my 26th birthday on March 13th. The days wasn't too fun-filled because work was cra-zee, as was the freelance editing gig I've got going on. I did, however, receive flowers at work. Not from hubby. From my aunt (a.k.a. M.O.M.—my other mother). It was the sweetest thing ever. I've never received flowers at work before. And the compliments I received. I felt like Ms. Popularity for the day. My co-workers let me go at decent time despite our being over burden with work (it's tradeshow season and we're one man down). So I headed home quite happy and excited to make tortilla soup from a recipe my sister had passed along. It was so yummy. Combine that with my favorite show Lost, I considered it a good birthday.

Currently, I'm spending the weekend at the Dad's digs. Figured it was time to get his Christmas present to him and see my nieces before they turned into teenagers. As they're just a little more than year old, they're running all over the places and jibber jabbering up a storm. It's so cute how shy they started out at the beginning of the afternoon, clinging to their parents like a koala to a eucalyptus tree, but by the end of the evening, they're more than eager to play and laugh with you.

My sister in laws shared stories, while I borrowed stories of the most recent adventure of my almost two-year-old nephew that my sister had told me. I told my sis-in-law Stacey (Hey Stacey; see, I told you I'd put you on my blog!) that I need to have a kid just so I can join the conversation. I even feel trumped up from old school friends; one in particular I had just recently emailed to see how she was liking her new job; her reply was that she was 10-weeks pregnant with her second child! It's email like that makes you want to take your top 10 list of the things that you must get accomplished before starting a family, crumple it up, and throw it out a window (no, not trash can, where you can retrieve post-insanity moment) and the wind will sweep it along.

Mantra to self: you're in no rush, you're in no rush; you're in no rush; you're in no rush. House, trips abroad, two or three pay raises, those are just a few things I need to get checked off that list. Plus, I don't know how my life would even work right now with a kid. My job is ever consuming. If you could see me right now, you would see that I'm writing with my pinky toe—all that is left of me. It's a very smart pinky toe.

National MS Awareness Week

Somehow National MS Awareness Week crept up on me. I firmly believe knowledge is power, and not just for doctors. Within the last few months, I've discovered while reading MS research that by doing my injections in the mornings, I can prevent the side effects. It worked, and my doctor had never heard of switching the time you take the medication to limit side effects. You never know what you might find by helping yourself. That's what Lorenzo's parents did.

For the latest news and research on MS —the disease that's impacting more than 400,000 Americans—visit www.nationalmssociety.org.

Woe is me

I love Black Beauty (a.k.a my Scion xA), but sometimes she's just a thorn in my side. Apparently, we've got a leak somewhere causing my Check Engine light to come on. Problem is it could be caused from one of two valves. One is covered under my warranty, the other isn't, and it could end up being neither valve. The long-term repecussions of the problem: zilch. Basically, I'm paying to not have my Check Engine light light up. Those carmakers are sure clever guys—they'll get your dough somehow, someway. If hubby and I weren't so damn responsible, we'd probably let the problem slide, but we are, so we'll keep sitting in Toyota Service Center until the sun goes down and I hope the problem solved. Jury will be out on that one. If the light comes back on, we'll have gambled with fixing the wrong valve. If it doesn't, we won!

In other news, we've been browsing houses. Yep, we're probably going to be buying a house this summer because we're afraid we might not be able to break into the market if we wait any longer. Part of me is excited. My own place where I can paint the walls and have space for all my great wedding gifts that are still sitting in my closet. But the other part of me thinks, "Oh the dread of unexpected expenses for repairs and then taxes." But we can't really move forward in our lives without taking this step. Can't have kids (not that you can't have kids in an apartment, but I've had kids in my apartment, and they feel like they're sitting on top of me or getting into everything—maybe that's not exclusive to apartment homes). With my 26th birthday coming up next week, I'm thinking about that ticking clock, or rather trying to find the damn snooze button for just five more mintues (or years). I think we're ready for home and the extra space, but part of me likes the uncomplicated life we lead. We don't have too much to worry about. Why give that up? Is the grass really greener on the other side? I doubt it. It will still be the same life, but just with another place to call home—and more bills to pay.