Neil & Laura Smith are two of my favorite people on The Internets®. Neil is a multi-talented smartypants who works in video, makes electronic music and digs comics and sci-fi. Laura is one crafty chica with mad knitting skills and cooks food that makes me want to crash their family dinners all while being about the coolest full-time homemaker around who knows how to rock a Nirvana t-shirt. She and I are like total BFFs on Twitter, ya know.

Oh yeah, and Laura really loves her some Depeche Mode. Just a teensy bit.

They are both charming, adorable and completely hilarious, Plus they have a daughter who is following in her parents' creative footsteps and will probably rule the world one day.

Together, they have an awesome monthly podcast that makes laugh out loud every single time I listen.

As if that weren't enough, they are also two-thirds of a band called The Sleep who just released their first music video for their album Never In A Million Years.

It's dark and gothy and you'll never look at steak the same way. Check it out.

Permalink | File Under: Movies, Music, Raving

12 of 12 on weekdays are pretty boring for me since I spend a majority of my day at my desk. However, I really wanted to get this one done since I haven't done one in a while.

09:18

Best. Birthday. Card. Ever. It's like art and stuff. If only you could feel the black velvet.

09:41

Our network kept imploding today so my monitor looked like this most of the day.

Like my monitor stand?

11:00

Our new vending machine has "healthy" snacks like Baked Cheetos. Although, I do point out, they are still Cheetos.

11:14

Frida!

11:29

One of my coworker's pink shoes. He can pull them off.

12:19

Leftover pizza for lunch.

14:28

Homer gave me these for my birthday.

14:32

Mary Mo's new office with BIG ASS WINDOWS.

18:30

After I got home, my neighbor rang my bell. She had a package that was delivered for me....from fredflare.com!

18:31

Last week, Jen emailed me to tell me I won a contest they had. I won this awesome book that Chris & Keith are featured in.

18:32

Chris & Keith signed it too! And there was a nice note from Danit. Those guys and gals at fredflare.com are just the best people ever.

18:39

To enter the contest, we had to leave a comment about a great find from a thrift store. This is mine. A 1937 copy of Etiquette by Emily Post. It is hilarious.

An example of the useful advice: "A girl may give a boy a photo of herself, but don’t sign it, because a name on a girl’s picture in a college man’s room is apt to challenge the sort of attention that every well-bred man hates."

Hey look! I actually finished my 12 of 12. Who would have thunk it?

Thanks Jen, Keith, Chris, Danit and everyone else at fredflare.com! Stay cute.

Comments (8)
Permalink | File Under: 12 of 12

Last week, I emailed my mother some photos from Julie & Jason getting married, including a photo of Kristin & I.

She replied quickly.

Cute pictures. Glad that you all had a fun afternoon. Have you been sleeping well? Looks like you have dark circles under your eyes – or is it just the lighting? Take care – Love, Mom

The thing about mothers is they know which buttons to push because they installed them.

I replied that of course the lighting was bad. It's a courtroom and reminded her I would soon be turning forty.

"Here's a guide to help you with this transition."

So, it's here finally. Forty. FORTY! I've been getting a lot of questions how I feel about it. To be honest, I feel just fine. For months now, when people asked me how old I was, I never said 39. I always said, "I'll be 40 next year," or "I'll be 40 in August."

Maybe that was my way of preparing for The Big Four Oh® but I think instead, I've been looking forward to forty.

My thirties were spent figuring out a lot of shit. I clocked a lot of hours on my therapist's couch. I spent a lot time getting my (mind's) house in order. Clearing out the shit that wasn't useful. Renovating what was there to make it better. More inviting. Making it a more welcoming place.

My life is very different from what it was ten years ago. I am very different.

I've said it before, but it bears repeating. The last year has been a difficult one. Loss of jobs. Loss of Elliott. Loss of health. But when I look back on the last fifteen months, I don't reflect on what was bad about them, but the good stuff.

My friends are the most generous, helpful awesome people and I truly am blessed for having them in my life.

As hard as it was to see Elliott go, I am so grateful for the time I had him, especially the time we spent together during his last three weeks.

As painful and difficult June was, it has made me reevaluate how I want to spend the rest of my time here and where I want my life to go.

I didn't mean to say much with this post. Funny how the fingers start flying some time.

So here's to forty. The best has yet to come.

Speaking of those awesome friends, I spent Saturday with many of them. It was a perfect evening and exactly what I wanted.

Photos are on Flickr.

Comments (8)
Permalink | File Under: Life

Today, my dear friends (and former roommates) got married. It was a lovely way to spend the afternoon. I am very happy for them both.

Congratulations Julie & Jason!

We had a little fun in the courtroom before the judge arrived.

Comments (4)
Permalink | File Under: Friends

This weekend has been more busy than usual. SO many birthdays this month! Including mine!

Friday night, we celebrated Kandy's birthday at Dave & Buster's in Tempe.

It was a fun night despite the SHITTY service from our douchey server. Unfortunately, I'm ancient and was falling asleep around 10 PM.

Saturday during the day, Julie and I hung out to celebrate her last weekend as a single gal. She and Jason are getting married this week.

We had pizza near where we used to live, shopped for shoes (OMG! Shews.) and then did something Julie loves... a mani/pedi.

This was my first time. It felt weird. Kinda ticklish. But otherwise, very relaxing.

Then last night we celebrated Mason's birthday.

It was a nice evening. Good to meet Mason's friends too. His friend Frankie made Redneck Sushi which should so be featured on This Is Why You're Fat. To be honest, it was more like an eggroll than sushi.

First Cookie Science and now the making of Redneck Sushi. Enjoy!

Photos are on Flickr here, here, here and here.

Comments (4)
Permalink | File Under: Cooking, Friends, Photos