#31. condition yellow!

is north texas traffic really always "condition yellow" . . . really? and, if it is always yellow, why do we even have to announce that? couldn't they just announce if it one day happens to be not yellow? I listen to the radio frequently on my way to and from work. I have never heard any other condition. what are the other colors it could be, anyway?

weird.

(also, isn't Airwolf an 80s tv drama about fighting the communists? why is that a good thing to name your traffic report? I know I don't especially like to think about the commies before I've had my coffee . . . )

#27. "pretty nice little saturday . . . "

(note: this was supposed to post yesterday. not sure what happened there . . .)

ok, ok, it was actually sunday. and we went to Lowe's not Home Depot. but still, it works people, it works . . . . (plus, we did have enough time to go to Bed Bath & Beyond)

anyway, I needed to repot some plants and Rock wanted to look at lumber (again) for his (interminable) entertainment center project. (no really, he's been talking about this for almost a year. we've made 4 of these "wood scouting trips" and I don't even know how many he's made on his own. -- I swear he spends his lunch breaks at Home Depot. he has the store memorized)

anyway, Lowe's. garden center. browsing through the azaleas and the gerbera daisies and all the other gorgeous blooms I didn't even know you could grow at home! (stupid short mountain growing seasons) and there they are:

boots! and not just boots, BOOT PLANTERS! you're supposed to put your pansies in there and put it in your yard! in your yard! and to think of the time I wasted making fun of the little "southwest" pots with a cactus on them . . . I was going to try to put my foot in it, but Rock stopped me. I think he was embarrassed . . .

we didn't buy any boot planters. but I did get a cute little tomato plant and Rock picked out a pepper plant. we bought pots and soil and pavers for the backyard (but no wood. again.) and I even got everything repotted before the crazy rain storm!

I also realized that I have no clue how to grow tomatoes or peppers. and I'm historically pretty bad at keeping things alive . . . this could be fun . . . anyone know how to not kill food plants?

#15. all a matter of pride

when non-texan sis was here last week, we went out to Buffalo Wild Wings to eat some asian zing wings and play a little trivia. (unrelated tangent: in my college town, everyone called this chain "BW3's" I say that here & people look at me like I'm crazy. am I crazy? tangent over.) In this very fine establishment, we saw a woman at the next table with a tattoo. a tattoo behind her right ear. a tattoo behind her right ear depicting the state of texas. the state of texas! (I totally wanted to get a picture of this, but couldn't come up with a good way to ask her)

now, maybe I'm just jealous because if I got a tattoo of my home state, it'd just be a rectangle (and I'd forever be explaining what it was). But really? the state of texas? umm . . . why? in case you forget where you live? of all things to have permanently inked on your body . . .

when I told Rock, he was totally unfazed. he's seen a million texas tattoos. is this some sort of bonding ritual or residency requirement or what? (cause if it is, I might never change my license plates)

no, he says, it's a matter of pride. state pride. I see. now, I'm proud of my state (mostly) but I'm still not getting a tattoo of it (see: stupid rectangle shape, above). so I told Rock I'm getting this:

{from cbs sports. here.}
(bonus points awarded if you recognize the mascot!)

#7. oooh . . .

everything I've ever wanted in one easy click . . .

#6. nothin better to do, apparently. . .

Rock loves to watch the History Channel. lately he has been fascinated with MonsterQuest {www.monsterquest.com}. we now know all about any number of various oversized beasts including giant birds, giant bears and giant cats. as a result of the latest episode, we have become acquainted with the Texas Bigfoot Research Conservancy. no joke. the TBRC. at www.texasbigfoot.com.

these fine gentlemen here . . .

they are a certified non-profit dedicated to finding bigfoot. for real. they do research, compile others' research and chronicle reported sightings in a 4-state area. (you can add the "latest sightings" ticker to your rss feed)

best of all? there's a Texas Bigfoot Conference! have plans for the 26th of Septemper? then bring your 60 bucks to Tyler & the 2009 Texas Bigfoot Conference! Woo!

sounds like someone has waaay too much time on their hands . . .

#3. snl stole it from me

um, texas? seriously? we need to talk . . .

73 degrees? at 9pm? in FEBRUARY?!? totally not acceptable. really? 73 degrees? no, really?

you're trying to kill me. and it's not even summer yet . . .

#1. the lone star

(emphasis on lone)

actual conversation had at my office the other day:

coworker: did you know the pecan is the state nut of Texas?
me: isn't George W. the state nut of Texas?
coworker: . . . umm . . . *polite chuckle* . . .
coworker: actually, maybe the pecan is the state fruit . . .
me: isn't George W. the state . . . oh . . . too far?

most days I'm surprised they let me move into this state . . .