Northend Nique

Kellie's Tree

Kellie, was this the tree you were looking for? I found it here.

posted by Dominique @ 12:00 PM 1 comments

It's Over and I'm Cold.

It's 20 degrees outside and I am freezing. It did manage to snow some and being as it's still so freakin' cold out we still have a little bit, places where the sun doesn't really hit. Man, I hate the cold but I love snow. Hey, at least when there's snow on the ground you've got something to show for all this cold icky weather.
Anyway, it's finally over, the Thanksgiving holiday. Hope everyone had a good day. Mine turned out pretty well. This year it was decided, without my knowledge of course, that I would be hosting the pigging-out party. Thanks go out to my mother and Bubba for deeming me (and my house) ready for these family functions. I've never been one for the traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas meals. Don't get me wrong, I like the togetherness (cheezy, I know) but the actual meal itself I could live without. One of the things I'm thankful for is that we only do this once a year. We have a Christmas breakfast instead of dinner. WOOHOO! That I love!
Now, for those of you who don't know, my family is quite small. There's Dan and I plus the Queen. My mom and dad live next door so I see them a few times a week. My husbands best friend, Bubba, who is like a brother to me (we have been known to throw food at each other at family gatherings) and attends ALL family functions, yes, even Christmas morning festivities, lives next door to my parents. The only other family is my Grandmother, Mimi, and although she lives on the other side of town I still see her about once a week. So getting everyone together is really no big thing since we all see each other so often. It's a typical family... my mother is neurotic (me? never!). My dad is so laid back you have to check if he's still breathing. Bubba is actually my ex-boyfriend, the best man at our wedding, and I'm his only ex that he's still friends with. Mimi, my mother's mother... see above comment about neurotic mother now multiply by 10. The Queen is CRAZY INSANE. I mean the girl bounces off the walls most of the time. Dan, well, he has a knack for being missing until the last minute, hiding out from my family I'm sure. Me? I'm fabulous and how can anyone compete with that? Sorry, had to pick myself up off the floor from that comment!
Anyway, since my new kitchen/living room is pretty much finished the decision to have me make everything apparently came easy. I now have the largest kitchen. Well, really the most countertop. Mom said, upon finally informing me, "I will buy all the food if you cook it all!" She seemed so excited. She said she really wanted to show off all the handy work that my dad, Dan and Bubba did. Ok, does that seem weird to anyone else? Who exactly are we showing all this off too? We've all been watching this damned project for like A YEAR! There's no one in our family that hasn't seen this shack before. I really think she wanted to have it here because I have a dishwasher. I agreed. Crap, what we do to make our families happy (and have a free meal).
I have had this peculiar habit at Thanksgiving for a few years now and this year I had to nip it in the bud. The first year Dan and I were married my mother conned me into cooking the turkey for Thanksgiving. The night before I proceeded to go out with my friends and get trashed. Mind you, I had to get up at like 6 a.m. to put that freakin' turkey in the oven. I did make it up at the proper time. I felt like the Dunkin' Donuts guy... "gotta make the turkey." Hung over like a wet sweater on the shower rod, I opened the refrigerator door to get that nasty thing out and blood poured out all over the floor and onto my bare feet. I was sooo disgusted. I ran to the bedroom, woke Dan up and pleaded with him to help me. I couldn't do this job I had signed up for. I showered while Dan made the turkey that year. Mom never asked me to make the bird again. Did I mention I'm really not fond of turkey? Thankfully I could go out Thanksgiving Eve with my friends, drink as much as I wanted and never have to see a raw turkey again, at least for the next 9 years. I swore this year, since I was on bird duty once again, that I wouldn't repeat my habits of years past and I would stay home sans alcohol so I wouldn't have to #1 wake Dan at some ungodly hour to help my stupid ass out and #2 so I wouldn't feel like I was going to ruin EVERYONE'S meal by yakking on the bird.
Thanksgiving morn, I woke, right on time I might add, no hangover, ready for finally doin' right! I opened the fridge and DAMNIT! the blood waterfall all over again! I have realized that being hungover doesn't really matter when it comes this phenomenon. It's nasty no matter what! WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING TO ME? P.S. Don't tell me to put it in a pan next time... I know already and I'm NOT DOING THE FUCKING TURKEY AGAIN! There is nothing like standing in your pj's with turkey spooge, blood and random liquids all over your feet and clothes you were hoping to jump back into bed in after this was all over. You should be happy to know that I did manage to get it all completed though with only minimal help from a cranky Dan. I mean, c'mon how the hell am I supposed to get that humongous turkey into that stupid plastic bag all by myself? It weighed 26 pounds for christsakes!
After all that the rest of the preparations went decently well. Even the mashed potato incident, where I was trying to point at Bubba while holding the mixer, that was running, in the potato pot, flinging mashed potatoes EVERYWHERE. People filtered in and out (since we all live on the same block) snacking, drinking and chatting. It all came together pretty damn well if I say so myself. We sat down to eat only 1/2 an hour late. Can we all notice that Dom's got a time management problem? :) There wasn't even any food throwing. The Queen was smart and put us at separate tables.
Mom was so happy that it all went so well and she was ecstatic to be able to put the dishes in the dishwasher she got right to it as soon as folks were done eating. She managed to scrape the dishes into the wrong side of the sink. I looked in there as the filthy water swirled around and said, "You know mom, the disposal is on the other side of sink." "It will be fine." she says and continues on. I ran that load of dishes while we all hooted and hollered over a few rousing games of Uno. Yes, beer played prominently in that game. Some of us were laughing so hard we were crying! Then, it being time for everyone's post-Thanksgiving coma, my house was empty again. Whew!
When I came out of my own coma I decided I should finish up the kitchen. Wait! Why the hell isn't any water draining out of the sink? Yep, drain is clogged. "It will be fine" my ass! I plunge until I hear water pouring out on the floor from somewhere in the bathroom. We work on it for awhile... pour some junk down it and decide to wait til morning. The next morning we get started and now not only is water coming out in the bathroom it is now coming up and leaking out of the dishwasher. AAAAACK! Thanks mom... let's do it again next year, shall we?
Did I also mention that the day after Thanksgiving was Dan's birthday? Man, this time of year kills me.

posted by Dominique @ 8:42 AM 5 comments

Am I Really?

Seriously? I knew I was a dork but geeeeez....

posted by Dominique @ 12:32 PM 3 comments

Wicked

I found this quite poignant...
"'But they believe in evil still,' said Galinda with a yawn. 'Isn't that funny, that deity is passe but the attributes and implications of deity linger-'"
~Wicked-The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West~
Gregory Maguire

posted by Dominique @ 8:57 PM 0 comments

The End of Eventuallys

I keep saying that I will be posting soon... eventually. I've even put off posting all the new pictures I have taken (from DC to Dinner Dance). Eventually I will get to them all I tell myself. Well folks, eventually is today!

DC TRIP



Suzie and I had a great time. The flight was really long but it was worth it! We couldn't have asked for better weather (unseasonably warm) and the conference was dandy. There were 30,000 others attending the Conference so things seemed pretty hectic at times. It really just a shitload of people attempting to cram into one area all at the same time. Quite comical at times. There was a TON of information. We found that the poster on 'Cocaine Self-Administration for Mice" to be quite informative. Ok, really it gave us new ways to chuckle about mice trying to hook up on street corners looking to score and teeny hypo needles. Really,what's not funny about mice trying to shoot up?! We did some touristy stuff but we seemed to mostly just take in the sights in a relaxing manner. We liked taking the obscure tour of things and realized we are both truely big dorks... I mean who else loves NPR so much that they are truly stoked to take pictures of the Building?

We didn't do a lot of museums and such but we did hit the Spy Museum which was VERY COOL!!!! I would soo go back and do that again. We also found the Albert Einstein Memorial hidden by the State Department. That was a surprise and made us glad we walked the wrong way.

This was our first child-free trip together and I have to say that I can't wait to get to go traveling again with Suzie! Watch out world here we come! All DC pictures live HERE.

DINNER DANCE 2005



It's that time of year again. The time when we get all dressed up and embarrass our husbands by drinking too much and then dancing! We wait all year for this and this year was, I think, the best year. Kellie and I slacked in preparation. We didn't have dresses til the last minute. We did find some and I have got to say I think they were the best yet. No fortunes were spent either! My dress was only $20! Kellie's? $15! We seriously scored! P.S. While on the great dress search I found THESE!!!!


There were some firsts this year too. Kellie had a date! WOOHOO! Her boyfriend, Eric, was foolish enough to agree to join us. He may rethink that choice next year! Really, he is a very sweet boy and I am thrilled for Kellie! It was a great night. Can't wait for next year ladies! Anyone else that wants to go... I'll have a table for 10. Let me know before next November! :)
All Dinner Dance pictures are HERE.

I have also posted a few new pictures in Random Queen Shots. That girl is a kook I tell you!

posted by Dominique @ 12:22 PM 2 comments

Crap, it's sooo early.

Adios. I am outta here. See you in 5 days.
P.S. Kellie, I fell asleep around 10:45. Sorry. I'll call you tonight!

posted by Dominique @ 4:05 AM 0 comments

On My Way

Posted the 'ol bowling pics for a few friends that have been asking... There you go, now we can all be embarrassed! Anyway, leaving tomorrow morning for the conference in DC! I'm super excited although you wouldn't know it by how much I've prepared. The Queen told me this morning that I was leaving tomorrow and that I should probably get packing! I just about had a panic attack. How could I forget? I swear, I have lost my concept of time since I started staying at home. I'm such a dork. I have soooo much to do and currently I'm accomplishing NOTHING! Oh well, I'm sure I'll get it done at some point. Hee. Wish me luck.
In the meantime I leave you with this... I have a REALLY ginormous truck. If you pull up behind me really close in a small car I CANNOT see you! If you start waving frantically I still CANNOT see you. So don't get all butt-hurt about the fact that you were behind me and I didn't see you flailing at me.

posted by Dominique @ 12:09 PM 0 comments

Almost Forgot

VOTE! PLEASE don't forget. If you live in Boise and are planning on voting for Brandi Swindell then get the hell out of here quick before I jump through your computer screen and throttle you, you idiot! Thank you.

posted by Dominique @ 9:41 AM 0 comments

Something Like The Weather

Today is the day! Today is the day I am happy! Just yesterday Kellie and I were discussing how icky it is outside. It's been quite cold and very wet. Now, I'm totally a summer person. I cannot stand to be cold. But there is one thing I do like and that is SNOW! I love being able to look out and see all this clean, bright, beautiful snow. Oh, and it's so quiet when it snows. Even when cars drive by it's quite peaceful. Anyway, back to my point... I woke up at 4 this morning and couldn't go back to sleep. I decided to get up at 5 and quit trying to pretend that I was going to fall back to sleep. When what to my wondering eyes should appear? But a little red sleigh and eight tiny reindeer! Nah, SNOW!!! Might as well have been 'ol Kris Kringle I was so excited! It was lovely. Nope, none of it stuck and it is currently raining again. But I tell you, that glimpse of snow was enough to keep me going this far today!!!
HAPPY SNOW DAYS!!

posted by Dominique @ 9:01 AM 0 comments

8 Inches My Ass!

You MUST read this!

posted by Dominique @ 9:44 AM 0 comments

Snore

I am tired. I haven't been able to sleep well for the past 2 nights. Now, those of you who know me already know I've had much trouble sleeping in the past. Since my last surgery though I've slept better than I have in 10 years. What the hell? Why now? I am cranky, to say the very least. Oh, and the Today Show is boring as all get out today. I have some weird addiction to the Today Show that I have no explanation for. But today, I might just be over it. I am sorry, but I don't give a rat's ass about Rockefeller Center (which the entire show is based on this morning).
Moving on... Halloween was fine. We did the trick-or-treat thing with The Queen. I'm not a big fan of this particular event. I like the walking and the costumes but there's just something about the acquiring of candy that I don't really care for. There is always complaining, costume issues and too many people. I am appalled at how many people we talked to that drove in from other neighborhoods just to bring their children to our neighborhood. I love my area and am not trying to be elitist or anything but damnit, all you extra people annoy me. Why don't you show a little support for your own area making it nice and a safe place for your children. Don't just ignore it, abandon it, and pretend it doesn't exist. So many parents said that the people here are so nice, unlike in their neighborhood, they just had to bring their spawn here. Well, why don't you just stay home and keep being nice and set an example for your children and all those cranky neighbors of yours? P.S. There are cranky people in the Northend too... i.e. ME! But I digress, The Queen eventually had a good time. We have a TON of candy. I tried to get DD to take some to work but he said that he wouldn't because he would just eat it. What does he think is going to happen to it here? As far as the costume, it went over REALLY well! Of course, all the adults got it but NONE of the kids. I guess I was a bit surprised. Not that many kids should know much about Greek mythology... oh, I don't know, maybe it was a bigger thing when I was a kid. Or maybe it has to do with DD's history fascination. Oh well. Wonder what she'll decide on for next year.

posted by Dominique @ 8:40 AM 2 comments