Photo Friday Extra: Bedroom Videos

I managed to get some video of the most exciting things that go on in our bedroom.

No, you perverts....it's all about the weiner dog.

Maggie on her stairs:




Maggie and her water glass:

Photo Friday: Our Bedroom

Our bedroom is pretty small, pretty much dominated by our bed. So here it is in all its glory. Click on the photo to see the notes, and to see who the boss is in our household.



And here's a bonus pic of Her Highness sunning herself.

Photo Friday Extra: 8th Grade Hair

So many folks offered up their bad 80s hair that I made the effort to dig up a photo. I escaped many of the most common 80s hair tragedies because my hair is naturally extremely curly. The LAST thing I would ever have done is get a perm (I shudder to think) or tease it up high. I did use a lot of hairspray in my attempts to keep it flat (which you can see in this photo with the bangs and the top) and I was guilty of sporting the side ponytail into the early 90s. (Though I did eventually graduate to a scrunchie as opposed to the shoelace in this pic.)



I believe those are the bangs I cut myself, though I assure you, they have grown out some from their original state. As for the glasses, well, I don't think kids today know how easy they have it with those child-sized frames.

Photo Friday: Bad Hair

I don't like putting up real pictures of myself -- and I lack the photoshop skills at this moment to alter photos (I know it can't be too hard, I'll learn)-- so I offer this Halloween costume from my college days.



Yes, I'm Albert Einstein. The hair is entirely natural (save for the baby powder) and that, folks, is why I don't brush my hair. I use a wide-toothed comb when it's wet.

I dressed up as one of those N*rfin trolls one year, and another year as Marge Simpson, but I can't find pictures.

In other news, we went to our awesome new tax preparer today, thanks to a recommendation from Shelli. In addition to being very helpful with our issues (joint property, Co's self-employment, I work in a state other than where I live)...we saw M*chelle Hurd at the office. Wow, accountant to the stars! Does that make me one degree from M*riska Hargitay?? oooooooh, swoon......

Best Valentine's Gift Ever

Co got me this for Valentine's Day. Admittedly, she gave it to me on Saturday. One of Co's more adorable traits is that she cannot *wait* to give presents. Waiting for an actual birthday, or Christmas/Chanukah, or even Valentine's Day, is a trial for her that often ends in early gifting. She does not want her own gifts early, mind you...she just loves to give, especially when she knows she has a winner.

Also, she rationalized (correctly) that it was much better to give me this toy on a Saturday when I could play with it all. weekend. long. than on a Wednesday night when I would just stay up all. night. long.

Do you other children of the '80s recognize those characters (who all look kinda constipated; they're pulling up vegetables, the better to kill bad guys with)? We got a Nintendo (just plain "Nintendo") in 1989 when I was 15 and, except for an occasional rental, pretty much only owned the Super Mario Bros/Duck Hunt cartridge that came with the game. I have fond, fond memories of Mario. And Luigi...I was usually Luigi.

Luigi because, in fact, the Nintendo belonged to my 11-year-old sister, so she had claim to Mario. My parents were completely against video games (we didn't even have computer games, except for Lemonade Stand and a very early, all-text version of The Legend of Zelda). So my sister saved her pennies for the $100 system. Aside from the obvious parental objections to video games, they were convinced that the costly purchase would keep my sister entertained for a few days at most, then fall by the wayside.

She STILL has that classic Nintendo, and hooks it up from time to time (like when I visit, and when she can get her husband to unhook the X-Box). And I still have the Cabbage Patch Kid I paid $43.20 of my own money for after my mother refused to spend that much for a doll in which I would just lose interest.

Is the lesson here that our parents were wrong, or that spending our own money made us cherish these items? I'm not sure. But I love Co to pieces, and I am having a ball chucking vegetables at bad guys. (Yes, I know, that's not classic Mario; but I've already ordered it.)

I have a pretty awesome gift for Co, too, but you'll just have to wait to hear about it, because I am going to stand on ceremony and present it to her tonight, while we're here.

Photo Friday: Favorite Places

It's been a tough week here at The Family O, and I'm grateful to Cali for the diversion of Photo Friday. Especially a happy topic like this one!

One of the many things that Co and I share is our love of the beach. We both feel at home by the ocean, love to dodge the waves and lie in the sun. Co grew up going to the Jersey Shore; I, to Cape Cod. We've gone on many beach vacations to different locales: a few towns on the Jersey Shore, Topsail Island (in North Carolina), Fire Island, and this summer our honeymoon in the Virgin Islands. We even fantasize about someday living by the shore.

Of course, being The Family O, the beach pictures will include gratuitous dachshund cuteness. She has accompanied us on most of our trips, and also enjoys the beach: digging in the sand, chasing bubbles in the waves, and just soaking up the sun.

Here she is chasing bubbles in the surf on Fire Island:



Here she is enjoying one of the many dog-friendly beaches in Cape May:

Photo Monday: Sofa with Obligatory Dachshund

We have many, many cute pictures of Maggie on our sofa, so I just chose a favorite. We call this "blankethead."

Here I must admit that our "sofa" is a futon. Real adulthood, I think, is having a couch. The futon cover is the second one we've had, since Maggie ripped the old one in several places with her digging behaviors. The blanket she's wrapped in is one of two lovely, soft blankets that my mom brought home from a trip to India. I initially said, let's keep these for us and not let Maggie take them over.

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. (But we are still allowed to use them.)

And the afghan whose corner you can just see was a homemade wedding gift from my Great-Aunt Shirley.