Penguins vs. Red Wings

Jen and Dave came over to watch the hockey game and eat BW3 wings. A nice relaxing Sunday... go Penguins!

New tires and a Hangover

After a slow start, Aaron and I went out to do errands and shop. I ordered new tires for my Trailblazer! I so need them -- I'm skidding around whether there's snow on the ground or not. Did more shopping then stopped for some lunch. We finished our afternoon chores with food shopping.

Later we hung out with Dave and Nikki at their house. We had a nice relaxing evening having drinks and watching the Hangover. Perfect for Nikki and I since we both weren't feeling good. I still had a bit of heartburn but I'm also feeling dizzy, like my equilibrium's off. I don't know what's going on with me!

GIRLIE UPDATE > MOVIE ALERT: When in Rome

Laura and I went to dinner and a movie after work tonight. We had a nice meal at Rubin's in Elyria before going to see When in Rome. It was a funny, light rom-com... that's amore!

Remember my first obsession?

Mr. Duhamel as Nick
And look what we found...

Luca Calvani as Umberto... Mamma Mia!

Punch, punch, kick!

I took a chance and asked if I could go aerobics tonight. I'm so lucky to have Laura working with me -- I can leave the building since she's a student supervisor!

Class was packed with "new years resolution" souls. All the regulars worked out in the front row with Melody while the newbies hung out in back of the class. Guess where I was standing?

FRONT AND CENTER, to the right! Can you say C - O - C - K - Y!

Holy Heartburn, Batman!

OK my insides are burning! It started on Saturday. I thought I was just hungry and wasn't feeding myself right away. But after describing it to my co-workers they suspect otherwise. Bought some medicine to take. Hope it works, or I'll have to visit the doctor.

Heartburn... my 42-year old ailment! Remember all my other "old lady" ailments in the last 12 years?

GIRLIE UPDATE: The Tudors

I have discovered The Tudors on Showtime, thanks to a hottie who was in one of my latest movie picks. Will I finally learn some history? I'll definitely enjoy watching all the men jousting about.

Henry Cavill as Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk

Blimey! I am arse over elbow for you!

Retail therapy

I was itching to do something today. So I hopped into my car and drove to the Elyria Public Library to return books and DVDs. Unfortunately I waited until the last possible moment to get out of the house and didn't have time to browse for more books and movies before they closed.

Then I headed to North Olmsted to do some "window" shopping. After 2 hours in one store, the "window" cost me $$$. Ayyeee!

I should have taken myself to see a movie! It would have been cheaper!

GIRLIE UPDATE > MOVIE ALERT: Leap Year

Aaron and I got our hair cut and had lunch at the Feve today. After I met Laura and Kristen to see Leap Year starring Mr. Goode. It was a cute love story set in Ireland. We also had dinner at Sorrento's. What a nice girls afternoon out!

Loved that deep Brit accent!

Let's have a drink

Megan and I went for a drink at the Feve in Oberlin after work. Gosh, its been over 15 years since I've done that! It took half of a pint to knock me out as soon as I got home!

Powerhouse... I'm back!

I finally had a chance to take a long dinner break tonight so I could drive back to Elyria and attend a kickboxing class! It took some time to get ready since it was freezing cold today. I went there with ski pants and 3 layers of sweatshirts on, only to strip down to my tee and yoga pants. Brrr! But I was sweating in no time! Then I had to layer up again to leave. Melody was happy to see me after a month and a half off. And I was happy to see her and my classmates too!

My arms and legs are tingling now!

GIRLIE UPDATE: Gamer

G's movie Gamer is out on DVD today! Can't wait to buy it!

GIRLIE UPDATE: Oh, Henry... Cavill

I made a nice discovery in Woody Allen's new movie Whatever Works. Mr. Cavill makes me want to watch the Tudors now. It must be that British accent that gets me every time!

Relaxing weekend

I had no success going to see a chick flick all weekend. Either I woke up too late or was too lazy getting ready in time or feeling too sick to get out of the house. Boo! I must try again next weekend. And even with the added day off, Aaron and I didn't meet up with any of our friends. Double boo!

We did manage to get our food shopping done, visit the public library to return and pick up my books and DVDs, and went out for dinner each night.

We had a bit of fun talking about our upcoming traveling plans. Can we afford to go to the Czech Republic? Should we try the Amtrak to Washington D.C.? Can we get those cheap tickets back home to Hawaii for spring break? Or should be start spending time in San Diego and checking out the neighborhoods for our new home? The dream is getting closer!

Oh, and we did watch The Brothers Bloom, Four Christmases and Whatever Works while staying in each night.

GIRLIE UPDATE: The Time Traveler's Wife

I did it! I finished reading Audrey Niffenegger's best-selling book. It was slow to get into but once I stopped trying to make sense of the time jumping and age hopping, and got past 50 pages, it was easier to follow and was more interesting. Of course it helped that I envisioned handsome Mr. Bana (and cutey McAdams) in my mind. I sort of fell in love with Henry and admired Clare. Makes our lives seem so simple.

Looking forward to having a book discussion via Facebook! And watching the DVD coming out in 3 weeks.

Mangiamo!

Honestly Aaron wanted to eat at Nino's for several weeks now so I ended up going with him tonight. He had the blue cheese alfredo pasta while I tried the cheese and red pepper ravioli with veal. ONO!

OPERA ALERT: Carmen

I was lucky to see Carmen today, another Met in HD opera. Jane, Ben and Ellis joined me. I was impressed with the set designs in this production. It reminded me of Les Miserables -- a large turntable. I also loved Elina Garanca's performance. I could relate to her bravado! And of course, I was familiar with most of the music. What a great experience! I'm looking forward to the next performance...

Elina Garanca as Carmen

GIRLIE UPDATE: Happy birthday Becky!

Hope my sister-in-law had a nice relaxing day!

An-dale! An-dale! A-rriba! A-rriba! Yii-hah!

Boo, I ended up not meeting Megan for dinner tonight! I had dinner with Aaron instead. Had Mexican at Nuevo Acapulco in North Olmsted.

We'll get together soon, Megan!

Short work week

It ended up being a short work week for me since I called in sick on Monday and took off on Friday. Work was easy but productive -- next semester's desk schedule is done! (and the winter term schedule is figured out). I persisted on reading my book club's choice during my breaks. And I helped Aaron doing errands. But I failed getting some exercise in. I thought it was best to keep "breathing" than go overboard and test my sinuses again.

Looking forward to going dinner with Megan tonight -- I'm craving Italian and meeting her at Nino's. Can't wait!

Winter white

Can't - Breathe - Sore - Throat - Blah

After surviving the first week of work with the early hours, going to the gym twice and having dinner with a friend, the weather has won the battle with my sinuses. I came home with a sore throat Friday night and ended up hibernating all weekend long. No night out to the movies or getting together with friends or doing household errands. Just sleeping and taking medicine to prevent bronchitis. I think I'm going to call in sick tomorrow and give myself one more day to get it all out of me.

GIRLIE UPDATE: Happy birthday Shanlee!

Today is my beautiful Tita's birthday! She's 35 now! That's her in the red, with Jen, me, Gram and Charmaine.

Keeping up with the Ignagnis

I ran into my friend Peggi the other day and we managed to go out tonight. It was a nice evening of conversation over dinner at the Black River Cafe in Oberlin. Peggi and her family are doing great and Toni and his business is booming. I tell you, every time I see her, she reminds me that a woman can be strong and can take care of life -- no matter how busy one can be with work and kids and hobbies and the community, etc. That dynamo is always on the go! I want to be just like Peggi when I grow up!

Sho-vel! Sho-vel!

Catch!

Hawaiian down!

Gym-ani-crickets!

Since I have a special schedule for the winter term, I may not be allowed to go aerobics classes for the month of January. That makes me sad because I could technical have 4-8 chances to go. But I need to start later each day just in case Aaron needs a ride to work. I plan to stay in Oberlin until Aaron finishes work at midnight to cut down on traveling back and forth, especially in the winter conditions. This Hawai'ian girl can do without slipping and sliding on ice! That means a lack of life during the week.

But I surprised myself (and Aaron) by going to the college gym during my hour break -- on Tuesday and today! Its just down the street from the library. I just think about all the different things we do in aerobics class and do them on my own with the weights and ball and mat. I even go on the circuit machines. The only thing missing is the cardio. The treadmills are always being used. Oh well, maybe if you count me getting dressed in my snow clothes to go to my car, scraping the snow and ice from my car, driving to the gym and getting out of my snow clothes, and do the process again to go back to work, that can be cardio, right?!

Dressed to the nines in my ski jacket and pants with my summer gym bag -- the snow is coming down!

Lights and icicles

Besides shoveling and driving 25 miles an hour in traffic, winter does have beautiful moments...

These-are-da-brakes...

After 9 years of driving in the winter, I finally experienced FEAR... pressing on my brakes and my car not stopping! Thank goodness Aaron was in the car with me. I would have probably tried making the turn to the on-ramp and go into a spin cycle (or slam into the hill). Instead he suggested I keep driving straight. I slowed down enough to stop but it made me 10 minutes late for my first day of work. I started off my work year f-r-a-z-z-l-e-d!

New Years Day 2010

We braved the snow shower and went out on New Years Day with friends!

First we visited Jen & Dave Starkey, our new Elyria neighbors! They did lots of renovations to their new house and made a cozy home for themselves in just a few months!

We didn't have much time to hangout since we were meeting Michael & Luis at Cobblestone to see Sherlock Holmes. Even though I drove real slow we still made it in time to get popcorn, find good seats together and watch all the previews.

Jen, Dave, Michael & Luis at the movies
After the movie we all hopped into my Trailblazer and drove to Minh Ahn in Lakewood for some delicious Vietnamese food. Everyone was pleased with their selections.

Dave's Pho! Enter the Hoison-hot oil mixture...

Luis & Michael
We later showed the Starkey's the bars around Elyria and ended the evening hanging out at our house watching yet another movie -- Public Enemies. I blame the whiskey shot for the power nap I took at the beginning of the movie!

Two more days of winter shutdown left...

GIRLIE UPDATE: Sherlock Holmes

Who would you pick, Holmes or Watson?

RDJ as Holmes, and Mr. Law as Watson
The new Guy Ritchie film is fu-nny! Downey Jr. and Law kicked British arse! I'm picking the American...

GIRLIE UPDATE: Bounty Hunter preview

They showed the trailer for GB's next film Bounty Hunter before our movie today! Aaron didn't like his haircut...

New Years Eve 2010

Aaron and I ringing in the new year

with Becky and Kyle Brlas

Mike and Brenda Thrasher, and

Mike Stone

Gabby, Madison and Simon waiting for me to drop food