just laura

It’s now 12:06 on 2/2/2002 in Wisconsin. And some of you know what that means… I’m in Oconomowoc to be in Mary and Dale’s wedding! Mary and I met online back in 95 or so, and have been pen pals ever since. Crazy! Anyway, it’s my third day in WI and it’s been fun so far. Met tons of her friends (nice folks), saw some of Milwalkee today (even drove by the old Pabst brewery), and tomorrow’s the big day where I get to shave my armpits, put on a bridesmaid dress, and stand up for her at the wedding (should be great)! I think she’s ready to get the wedding over with at this point so she and Dale can just relax and enjoy a stress free life. :) (Not uncommon among many brides I’ve seen). Anyway, that’s the life update for the week. Hope everyone is well! Take care!

I got back from Wisconsin yesterday and am still exhausted! It was lots of fun, but I’ll write more about it later. For today, I’m tired! I worked 8 hours yesterday, got some food, then went to bed. Guess that means today I get to do more work, then clean for a while. Yuck! I think I need to quit my apt manager job… it’s getting to be lots more work for the same pay. Lame…

Actually watching TV tonight… a rare occurance… had to go over to Dieter’s to see it. I’m watching NBC for the opening ceremonies of the Olympics tonight. The lighting of the torch is supposed to be really cool, so we’ll see. When Dieter gets home, we’ll be heading over to Jen’s for her Olympics party. You’re supposed to be dressing up as your favorite winter Olympic athlete. Sadly, I don’t have a favorite, and don’t have a costume either. If only my parents had left my torch bearer uniform here, I’d be set! Ah well. Next time…

Happy VD to all!

In other news, found out yesterday I get to fly to DC this weekend for a work conference. It’s really cool that I get to go, will be totally great bonding, and will be great learning. It’s sad though too, since we were planning to do a late, Valentine’s Day this weekend to make up for the lack of festivities tomorrow night. It also kinda sucks because Monday’s President’s Day and the only day all semester Dieter isn’t working or going to school. Lame.

I surface a week later… tired and happy to be home. Be forewarned I’m in another Blah mood, though unsure if it’s from the exhaustion or the gray weather. Either way, Dieter brings himself into sainthood for being so amazingly wonderful when I got back in town and for giving me a fabulous day back after the conference. The DC trip was overall okay. I got to know the folks on my team much better, so that was the coolest part. The team did a really funny, original skit on Sunday night that was amazing, and totally deserved every moment of the standing ovation the audience gave. We also went out to a couple of bars around DC, some in Dupont Circle (I liked the Big Hunt) and others near Trinity College (liked the Colonel better than the Tiki Bar). We also go to go see the monuments in a borrowed van… it was cold, windy, really erie and definintely changed with all of the police and barracades everywhere. I hadn’t been to the (relatively) new FDR monument yet, and it was pretty darn cool. As for the event itself, the workshops were okay, the rituals kinda bizzare, the hours long, and the flights long too. I guess I’m glad to be home, and still need to catch up on some sleep and rest time. Looking back on the week, I can relate to Dieter going to school and working every day, not ever having a “weekend” to actually relax. After working though my weekend, I’m ready for a rest. Guess balancing three jobs right now might also be making me tired. Ah well. That’s my own doing. It’s not bad, just busy. Not a first in my life. :)

In other news, I just got a call from Ryan tonight!! Hadn’t heard from him in a long while, so it was great to catch up. Brought a little bit of excitement to my otherwise tired day. Also brought some kinda lame news from the former work front: Enform apparently laid off about 20 folks today, all from Houston, many of them my friends and former coworkers. No one really disputes the company has changed from when it first began, but I’m with Ryan and agree that it’s still sad to see changes like this.

In more uplifting news, I got a care package last week from my old roomie Meg! I think it was a purple themed package, and it was amazingly sweet and generous. I’m super excited that I’ll get to see her in LA next month when Dieter and I drive down there over his spring break and stay with his parents. It’ll be a long drive, but I suspect we’ll maybe stop to visit friends, do some camping, and drive down some of the scenic routes along the water. I also suspect we’ll be stopping for burritos at Tres Amigos in Half Moon Bay. I’ve seen my standards for burritos raise this past year, and I’m excited to see what they have to offer. :) Let’s here it for road trip fun!

Hope everyone is well! Take care! I’m off to either clean or have a bubble bath. We’ll see…

Hmmm…. what to say. Still feel tired, ah well. I did get up the enthusiasm to make Tortilla Soup yesterday. It was pretty good, though a bit spicy I think. Dieter had never eaten any before… what a foreign concept! What else to share? Andrew and I went to the Museum of Flight (I’ve got a year long pass for me + guest). Our docent Jim gave us a private tour, which was very cool of him. He had a long career in engineering and was actually working at NASA in the control room the day the astronauts from the Apollo ship burnt up on take off. Kinda crazy. Anyway, was a pretty good, low-key day. Oh, and how can I forget… I started my taxes! Wohoo! Am about 1/2 way done… maybe I’ll try to finish this morning before heading out to meet Erin, Elisa, and Jen. :)

Be excited to know I finally put up pictures today from the torch relay! Wohoo!

Tonight was a very special night… I got to give Dieter the long awaited hair cut. Yes folks, my baby has a mullet!! Look for photos to come soon!

What’s more glorious than a sleazy-man mullet?!
Dunno, but Dieter’s a sexy mullet man in this photo!