the question of mani-pedis on a warm wednesday evening

(can you tell that headlines are not my strength?)

once, around eighth grade, my entire family decided to get a pedicure for a family outing. i am nearly certain this was my dad's attempt at bonding with his daughters. i mostly remember it as the day dad got pink toenails and another human being actually touched cameron's feet. she will undoubtedly get a special section of cloud in heaven.

but that was my only experience with professional nail grooming. it struck me today, as i listened to a co-worker disgustedly tell me she hadn't had a manicure-pedicure (or, as someone in the know would call it, a mani-pedi) in almost a month, that i've never had a mani-pedi.

now, don't pity me for this. in my mind, it seems like a waste of income to have your nails professional trimmed twice a month (or however often you actually do it). but i do imagine it to be a wonderfully luxurious experience. rejuvenating. relaxing. absolutely girly.

so then i had to ask myself: what do i do in lieu of the infamous mani-pedi that maintains all of those needs?

well, i bought some FABULOUS fabric on clearance this weekend, but i have no idea what i will do with it. that is typical. i suppose that means that crafting of all sorts is out. i go to church, and though this is rejuvenating, i spent all of this sunday feeling like i was going to hyperventilate (can you say three callings, anyone?). so i guess that isn't quite the equivalent of the mani-pedi as i imagine it.

and then i remembered that i have weekly lunches with this little thing. and she makes me laugh. hard.

and i also get to have some great heart-to-hearts with this lovely lady (who is going on the same trip to england that i went on five years ago. but she is going as faculty! can you believe it?).

and do you want to guess how i feel after all of this? if you answered

rejuvenated. 

relaxed. 

absolutely girly. 

totally blessed.

you win five points.

becca takes manhattan

i will say that there were ups and downs. the biggest up? seeing this lady on broadway for this play was phenomenal. and hearing my baby sister sing at this place was cool beyond words (just like her).

but, not visiting this place was nearly heartbreaking. and finding out that this place doesn't even exist anymore was a disheartening revelation.

but finding a three-story version of this place made it all worthwhile.

did i take pictures of these things? no. but i did get a picture of marion trying to make a gang sign. and that, my friends, is priceless.

oh, and here are some other pictures if you are interested.

i loved the trees

particularly the ones in bloom (i only want to plant blooming trees at my house. they are just perfect).

and we had an overall great time

(i hope you liked exploring the different sites again with me)

the truce

dear spiders:

it has recently come to my attention that you may not understand our living agreement.

when we moved in, we created a barrier with the door to the haunted basement. we set a few traps at the top stair, weather stripped the bottom and vowed to never cross the boundary. it was not unlike the sonic fence in LOST.

since then, we have not disturbed your half of the house, save when jesse has popped down there to add salt to the water softener. an unbiased party would surely agree that your half of the home looks eerily like the basement in evil dead. yet, honoring the truce, we have left it undisturbed.

when your vagrant members have violated the agreement, we (jesse) have killed them. one by one. i don't mean to brag, but i do mean to emphasize the measures we will take to enforce the peace.

so, you can imagine how alarmed i have been over the last two weeks to find four of your clan's members in our territory, most notably the three i have found in the shower far too early in the morning.

i know that your calendar may have told you a few weeks ago that it is "spring," and you may feel entitled to roam about a bit (no doubt you have experienced cabin fever). but i drove in a blizzard to work today, so that argument simply will not stand.

in short, if you continue to violate the truce, i will sic my barely awake, irritated but lovingly brave husband on you. and he wields a mighty shoe.

offendedly yours,

boo

lesson (being) learned

it is more important to be kind than it is to be right.

it's best of all if you can be both.

but really, if you have to choose, be nice. please.

and if you still don't get what i am saying, check out this song (i like to sing along).