I'm BAAAAAAAAAd at cards.

So I learned how to play Sheep's Head last night. It's like Euchre only harder. At least for me. I played it in high school with my boyfriend's parents but anything involving numbers pretty much exits my brain faster than (insert topical joke about someone leaving someplace super fast...yeah I know. I'm lazy today. I'm also cranky so don't mess with the bull or you might get the horns and what not.)

Anyway, Jason was a great teacher and the guys we played with were all super nice and patient with me but the same thing happens that always happens when I play a game like this. I got all sensitive and embarrassed for messing up and ended up yelling at Jason (sort of in a funny way...sort of in a "Why is your wife being so come on?" way). He knows me well enough that he was able to laugh it off thankfully.

However! I really did have fun and want to be good at this stupid game. So I'm going back next week. I'll try to stay calm this time, but man...I'm telling you....there is some weird part of me that gets so worried about being bad at something new that I totally FLIP out and become the opposite of how I want to be. I think it goes back to childhood (doesn't it all?). I would BEG my sisters and/or mom and dad to play a game with me...ANY game but my family isn't really big into games so the rare times they said yes I put all this pressure on myself to be good and for it to be fun for everyone. Inevitably I would do the opposite just by being so keyed up and over invested and after one round everyone would all of a sudden have something pressing to do.

Wow. Speaking of things I'm not good at. You should have just seen the results of my spell check on this post. Yipes.

ALL POINTS BULLETIN!

So get this. I'm actually DOING something. Like with my life sort of. I'm writing a real actual thing and having meetings about it and working with a friend in L.A. on it! I won't go into what it is here because I don't want to jinx anything but the fact that I actually sat down and knocked out two scenes (now you know it's not a cook book) today and sent them to my partner makes me feel so much less like a lazy buttface. I know it might not sound like a lot to those of you who write tons of stuff all the time but you have to realize I write tons of stuff all the time too but never have the nuts to put it out there so this IS a cool big deal for me.

Also, I'm going to learn a new card game tonight at this sheepshead tournament Jason is taking me to. He's been going for a few weeks but he wants me to meet the guys (I think they are mostly old dudes from Wisco) and is going to teach me to play. I predict bad card playing but a fun night.


ALSO I got my new converse sneakers today. I plan to do a lot of sneaking in them so watch your back.

IN CONCLUSION, I'm going to Arizona on Friday!!!!

My Cat Rulz & Happy Birthday Elizabeth!

I don't mean like rules for my cat (i.e....Rule 1 - don't pewp on my head...2. don't claw my face...etc.). I mean he rules the world. I love him so much. I was sick for three days and he spent almost every minute either on my lap or on the chair next to me. I'm much better now but would like to make today Calaban Prah Day. Just because he deserves it. OH wait. But it will have to be tomorrow because the world's OTHER cutest being has her first birthday today! A one Miss Elizabeth K. So today is for her and tomorrow is National Calaban Prah Day.

FOR JADY!!!!

Jady all but ORDERED me to post today so I can't let her down. Some randomness.



Lost - Best episode ever last night. I had nightmares all night which is the TRUE sign of a great ep.



My new sweater - We almost could have been magic together until I noticed those weird professor elbow patches AFTER I bought you. Now we are icy at best.



My feet - I need some serious tennis shoe time this weekend. My dogs are barking. Painfully barking.



Friday - This is how we do it. All hands are in the aye-ah. It's the freakin weekend ladies and germs. I plan to eat, drink and be awesome.



Jason - Okay. This weird sleep talking/laughing thing has got to stop. It's freaking me out because I can't tell if he's awake or asleep. Usually he's sound asleep. The other night he said "Crescent. You're the village frown." I am not.



Last weekend - My sisters came to town and brought some Stephen King-ian type influenza that struck Kendra down mid-night. We got to my apartment and she kept asking for blankets and Tylenol. So they had to leave at the crack of dawn on Saturday to get her on the bed rest she needed. She's fine now. I have managed to NOT have it yet but every time my throat tingles the leeeetlist bit I freak. With all the vitamins I'm on I think I have a chance. Stay tuned.

OH and I went to the Shedd for the first time because Kendra (middle sister) is a marine life NUT. The best part was the sting ray that looked like he was smiling with his million tiny teeth and closed eyes. I could recall that memory in the middle of a root canal and it would STILL crack me up.



Scariest part of the Shedd????



FROGS!!!!!!!

Fronchness

Last night I went to La Sardine (loosly translates to "The Sardine") with Jason and some friends of ours. I had snails. I can't spell it in Fronch. They were very magical and I wish I had them again right now.

Jason had blood sausage (loosly translates to "Barf Barf Puke Barf"). I couldn't bring myself to take a picture of that although Jason swears it was really really good. Hey I ate slugs...who am I to judge?

We drank this delicious wine.

And I had sorbet. Can you guess the flavors? Answers are at the end! Don't cheat or you will have bad luck for a thousand days.

Ahhhhhhh LA SARDINE you enchant and amaze moi. Merci Bonapart for a Fronch night.

SORBET QUIZ ANSWERS: Banana, rasberry (i think) and I forget the other one....I wanna say mango....but I kind of always want to say mango.

Insults and Injuries

I fell down some stairs again. My morning started pretty great besides having nightmares about that horrible school shooting. So disturbing and depressing and horrible. But I woke up counting my blessings and feeling positive about my day. Calaban didn’t drop a football size-nose hair burning deuce while I was watching the 6:00 am news FOR ONCE, I actually did my hair, my clothes were ALL fresh out of the dryer, my face was looking slightly less fatty fat fat after my attempts at good eating and it was Friday after all.

I headed to the train and on the way LITERALLY helped an old lady with a walker get across some dangerous ice patches causing me to miss my train but to feel like I was starting my day off right. Then things started to turn sour. The train took forever to arrive and was packed. I was standing next to some dewd with NO sense of personal space. (I realize it was packed but come on…do we have to spoon?) Finally arrived at the Adams stop and start trotting down the stairs in a rush and that’s when it happened. My boot heel got caught in my jean cuff and I sort of slammed into the railing with my arm and just kinda hung there like someone had freeze tagged me. I thought I might be able to recover but my forward trajectory or whatever that word is was too far forward. I made the slightest move and down down down I went. All the way to the bottom. Those of you long time Crescent fans will recall this is the THIRD time I’ve fallen all the way down the train stop stairs and the FIFTH time I’ve fallen all the way down a flight of stairs period.

No one helped THIS little old lady either. Everyone just got out of my way and I could be wrong, but I really think I heard a few snickers. Bastards.

Then I got to work and instantly F’d up like three things because I was so shaken.

Good times….great oldies.

What, pray tell, is the stupid Brighter Side of falling down the stupid stairs? Um….well…let’s see. It hurts to type and do things because my right arm is all tenderized? No no…..that’s not bright. Um…..my new clean jeans are all scuffed up? Nope nope nope…that’s not very positive. OH! I’ve got it. Somewhere out there in Chicagoland Matthew K. is laughing it up like a champ and marking his Captain Gravity log with one more tick mark.

Jason at the Jukebox

I took this picture because it is, without a doubt, the quintessential Jason. Playing a song in his railroad cap on a Saturday in his dad's old shirt. I love it so very much. I wish I could remember the song he played because I'm sure that would be perfectly J as well.

Come on.

I had to post this pic my friend Gena took of me and Jason last Friday night. I love it so much I want to marry it.

Beef.

I'm ate way too much beef this weekend. Yipes. BUT it was all pretty good.

My personal contribution to the lost weekend of beef was this. My first attempt at Stroganoff. It was okay. Not the best but okay. I also made ceasar salads with anchovies for Jason. God those things look gross but he loved them.

Tonight I'll probably be eating left overs of beef. God. I hope I don't heart attack.

pics.

Here is Jason's pork loin. (don't be scared. It's literally pork loin.)

Here is my cake I baked.

Don't Delete Me!

I'm sorry for the BIG gap in blogging (three people who read this and Matt) but my new job is all new and joby. I love it! Things are great. Jason is great. Work is great. My new grey pants are great. The Packers are SUPER great. I'm just very happy and actually also kind of healthy for once.

One new thing is I'm determined to learn how to cook some things. I started with a cake for my sister. It was from a box but I don't think you understand the ineptitude I offer the culinary world. BUT it turned out great. (there's that word again)

Jason has been trying some new stuff too but he's good at things right out of the starting gate. That's just how he is. So he made this. Pork loin and veggies and mashed potatoes. It was.........you guessed it! Great.

That's about all and I have to get back to work but I promise to blog more now that I have my routine down here a little better.

OH so yeah I'm going to try and make Monique's green chicken soup for the Packer game on Sunday. (that's not what it's called, it's actually green chili chicken soup, but I accidentally called it that last night and I think it's funny. PLUS if I tell people that's what I'm fixin them they won't have high expectations and then might just be WOW'd right out of their socks. We'll see. Stay tuned for updates.

Happy Holidays!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's my last day at work. So weird. I've had a really good time at this job but am ready for the next step in my journey to have a life.

Last night I had dream after dream about my new job. Mostly it was me oversleeping the first day and not showing up until 11:00 and then having jeans on when there is a no jeans policy. BUT by the end of the run of stress dreams I was only having a small problem matching blue shoes with a brown dress. That's progress. Good thing I have 11 days off to prepare for the new gig.

Jas and I head to his parents tonight and then to my parents on Sunday. I will be eating more than is recommended by a medical professional and I don't care.

Also, I'm not going to lie......PRESENTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay it's out of my system. I know the true meaning of the holiday and all that. Don't worry. I just get very excited about presents. So do you....don't lie.

HAM AND PRESENTS!!!!!!!!!!

ooops....that one slipped out. Excuse me.

Love and best wishes to everyone!

Regina Paraknockas

5:00 a.m. Jason and I both wake up to pee and get a drink of water. The following is almost word for word the conversation we had.

Jason: I dreamed an entire musical! Everyone was singing in French!
Crescent: Were they like "du day von pew don see swa..." (NOTE: not real French)
Jason: No they weren't singing in French.
Crescent: You just said they were.
Jason: I mean French accents.
Crescent: Ohhh...well you said French but whatever. I've dreamed musical numbers before like the other night when I had that dream about the kids that time traveled back to their dorms and sang that song called "It's All Here."
Jason: Whoa. Yeah that was weird.
Crescent: Don't you wish they made dream recorders?
Jason: If they did I would have a smash hit on the West End. (pause) Or the South End. (pause) Or maybe the rear end. (laughs hysterically)
Crescent: That's what your musical should be called "Zee Rear...End"
Jason: Keeps laughing. (pause) Zee Rear......End. (laughs more...gets up for more water and walks into the living room)
Crescent: Where are you going?
Jason: To write down my ideas!!!! (comes right back to bed and is chewing something) Just kidding. I needed a Tums. (pause) Zee Rear.....End.
Crescent: I only have an hour more to sleep so stop making me laugh.
Jason: Zee Rear.........End.

(5 minutes pass. I'm JUST falling back to sleep)

Jason: (laughing even more hysterically)
Crescent: Dude.
Jason: What if.....(laughs)...what if....there was a Greek woman named Regina Paraknockas??? (hysterical laughter again) Regina.....(laughs)...ParaKNOCKas!!!! You have to say it!!!
Crescent: Regina Paraknockas. Why is her first name Regina?
Jason: (still laughing) Because....she's Regina Paraknockas!

Needless to say I've pretty much been up since 5:00 a.m.

Notice!

I got the official offer last Friday and gave my official notice today! I am so excited! I start at my new job on Jan. 2ND. I have to get a ton of new clothes since my current job is a jeans and t-shirt place and my new gig is biz cazzz. I am honestly so happy and excited about the job I'm doing and the company that I keep forgetting I'm ALSO gonna be making more money! Then I faint or kick off a shoe or something to celebrate.

We had a hilarious party at Fred's on Friday night to celebrate. Here is my favorite moment of that night. I can't remember what they were doing but that's why I love it so much. I think maybe it had something to do with puppetry. I hope so. I just remember having to stop my guitar battle with Slash due to how hard I was laughing.

take stock...THAT'S AN ORDER!

Just a quick post. So one of our dearest friends mother's just passed away last week. A favorite professor passed away a few days ago leaving behind a wife and kids. And a wonderful woman and good friend is in the process of saying good-bye to her Dad. I just can't imagine and it makes my heart hurt so much for all these people and their pain and loss. It also makes me admire them and how strong they all are.

So everyone take stock today and bask in the ease and comfort of a normal day. Kiss someone you love. Most importantly don't flip a lid over tiny things that don't matter.

That's all.

Love,
Crescent

J-Toven's 5th

Jason is growing a beard and I'm so excited! I just got on a beard kick lately. Like the really short but kind of late 70's early 80's type. The things that guy will do for me when I ask him. Some of it has to do with the fact that there is a beard contest going on at work (I didn't enter.....THIS time) and so beards are everywhere.

Oh and my sister started calling Jason J-Toven on Thanksgiving because he did all the dishes and the steam made his adorable curly hair like three times its normal size. Now we all call him that.

I'll have some Thanksgiving pics up soon but just know that I think we may have had the world's most perfect T-Day ever. It just ruled in every way. I can't wait for Christmas!!!!

Love,
Mrs. J-Toven

busy and a little bit sad bee

I'm alive I swear. My sweet cat Ava, sadly, is not. We had to put her down on Wednesday and it was sooooo sad and hard, but the right thing to do.

I will post a pic of her once I can look at said pic without bawling. I'm just not ready.

Other than THAT things are great. I've lost 8 lbs. We are slowly but slowly getting out of debt. There are some job prospects on El Horizon. If I ever open a Mexican breakfast joint I'm naming it that. COPYRIGHT!!!! There...that makes the idea legally mine.

J and I are heading to my sister's for Thanksgiving and can't wait. We are having Kentucky ham (salty and awesome not wiggly and sweet like they do hams up here) AND turkey. Maybe it will be like Thanksgiving of 2000 when I ate so much I literally puked. I hope so. That was hilarious. (just kidding barf gods. I don't want that to happen again. It hurt.)

So there's my update for now.

Here's a picture of me and Jason at the bon fire in Michigan a few weeks ago. I love our weird green and orange color scheme. It's so circa '81 Sears living room.

Para Mateo

My dear friend, Matt, has been on my case about blogging more. I swear I'm trying! This GD job of mine. They want me to.....get this.....do my work all day. Whatever.

Here are a few tidbits.

I'm still on the hunt for a new gig that involves a ton less numbers. However, I've started a game with myself where everytime I go to type in a number I associate an age with it.

"82. The age I'll be when I finally find a job I love."

"18. The age when I thought things were really hard. HA!!!!! Stupid 18 year olds."

"26. The age I realized people weren't going to show up at my door with money and fames. Yes fames. I coined it just now and it's sticking."

Anyway, that's passing the time.

I'm going to Wisconsin AGAIN this weekend with Fred and Jason to see Jason's family and surprise his little brother at a show in which his band is playing.....phewwww.....that was a hard sentence to construct. You can tell I've been immersed in numbertown lately.

OH! My birthday was grand as usual. Had a wonderful time with my family and got to pick out a brand new bed set for our brand new bed!!!!

BEHOLD THE BEDROOM FIT FOR ADULTS! (bathing cat not included)
Also, I would like to pay my public respects to Sylvie the cat. You never told anyone that I snuck you a little bite of cheese every time I cat sat and that made us friends. You were very loved by Matt and Anne and even though you tried to eat part of Jason's arm that one time he still loved you too. I wish I had a picture of you to post but we will all remember how pretty you were.

Finally, Jason is the most fun person to be married to ever. I have been so stressed out and weird lately but he makes me laugh every single day and keeps his material fresh. FRESH! If that's ALL I had going for me I would still be one of the luckiest people on the planet. Thank you to him for being the best.

Whoa. The end of this post makes it seem like I'm offing myself or going into hiding. I'm not. Just doing a little stock taking. It's good for the perspectives.

The Month of Crescent Begins.

I spent my Saturday recording some kick ass back up vocals for a band/artist I used to perform with. I gotta tell you it felt so good. I didn't realize how much I missed singing and how fun it is. I always talk about how I can't do anything with my degree but I seem to forget that the majority of my life was spent in vocal performance training. Why did I stop doing that? I have no idea. But I'm looking for some opportunities to do some more. Not necessarily as a career but just to keep me sane.

In other news I'm going home for my birthday this weekend with Jason and I can't wait. I mean that. I honestly am having a hard time not just packing up and leaving this second. I usually weasel out a way to celebrate my birthday about 10 different times during the month of October so needless to say I'm feeling pretty excited about it being the 1st today. Plus I'll be 33 and that feels like a cool age. faithful blog readers will remember that 3 is one of my favorite numbers so 33 seems like a good omen...knock on wood. (I knocked on paper because there is no wood here at work. Paper used to be wood though so I should be covered.)

I dreamed I got orange and red sheets as a present. They were pretty awesome but flannel. I hate flannel sheets.

I think I need more calcium. I have white spots on my thumb nails. Doesn't that mean I need calcium?

My weekend was really great. Lots of time laughing hysterically and playing Wii and GH and then the aforementioned singing.

Still looking for a new job. Glad I have one in the meantime. I think.