GIRLIE UPDATE: Man of Steel

Good news for my FBF Henry Cavill! No he's not going to Hawaii and no I'm not going to meet him! HC has been chosen to play Superman / Clark Kent in the new re-boot of the series! The movie will be named Man of Steel, directed by 300 legend Zack Snyder and will come out in December 2012. I'm excited!

The perfect choice, right girls?

TCF Challenge: White Chicken Chili

Chicken, white beans, roasted green chiles, corn and onions with a touch of cream. Can be served with steamed white rice, sour cream, grated cheese and salsa.

OK so I said I wouldn't make chili but this dish is nothing like my usual chili-chili I make in my usual rotation of favorites. This may be a new favorite! Aaron rating = 4 of 5 Lisa rating = 5 of 5

A new year, a new schedule

Aaron's starting five 8-hours days per week and a days-and-evenings rotation, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. or 3 p.m.-11 p.m. My dogs are going to love the changes. I'm saying that sarcastically, of course. Thank you to Aaron's co-worker Debbie though for switching Aaron's midnight shifts for her day shifts. Having all three rotations would have been hard. No more until midnight for Aaron! Yay! But the days off-days on schedule is way sporadic. Check out his next 2 weeks...

Days Sunday-Tuesday, off Wednesday, days Thursday-Friday, off Saturday-Sunday, days Monday-Tuesday, off Wednesday, days Thursday-Saturday, evenings Sunday to Tuesday...wow!

Date night #2 with the hubby

A nice relaxing DAY OFF for both Aaron and I! I stayed in my pj's and read my book while Aaron played his PS3 games. We finally got ready and went to see The Mechanic with Mr. Statham. All for $7 (free movie ticket and free popcorn, snuck in our drink, paid for 1 matinee ticket). See I'm a cheap date!

Then we headed to Aces Grill for dinner with Mikey and Tina. Boy that place was packed! We waited awhile for a table but it was worth it -- we got a prime table to watch the band and the pizza we ordered was awesome! Like Tina said it wasn't greasy at all. A great night catching up with friends and listening to some 80's tunes. We never stayed long enough to see the band.

Fun for the Wild Circulation Bunch - Minh Anh Vietnamese on Detriot Ave.

Yolanda, Helen, Jo-Han, me and San getting ready to dig in

Now we see San better!

Aaron tried something new -- Bun Carry Ga or Curry chicken

Jo-Han and I each tried a small bowl of Pho Bo Vien before tackling each a plate of Vietnamese Stir Fry Noodles

San and Tam digging into their meals -- Ta hu xao xa or Tofu with Lemon Grass and Bun Thit Nuong or grilled pork with vermicelli noodles

My co-worker Yolanda finally joined us on our departmental outings, and enjoyed it! She had the same dish as Jo-Han and I. Helen had Chicken Lo Mein.

After dinner we walked to the Asian market next door and bought some goodies, then we drove down the street to Gypsy's Bean and Bakery for some hot drinks and dessert. We got to walk by Capitol Theater and the Cleveland Public Theatre too. Everyone was satisfied and happy!

[Sorry the pictures are grainy. We used our video camera to take pictures since our camera is broken.]

Date night with the hubby

Since Aaron had my car today he picked me up from work and we had a nice relaxing dinner at the Feve in Oberlin. I could almost imagine how it would feel to have a normal life. Work then dinner, and we still had time to run errands if we needed to. I was motivated to do a load of laundry and organize my books when we got home. In our normal life, we hardly see each other and when we do have a day off together we are busy running around during errands. Not so much fun time. What we would do if we had 9 to 5 jobs!?!

Car wash, working at the car wash, yeah!

My car is getting a much deserved "bath" on the inside! I bet you've never seen a more hairy car than mine. It's everywhere and so hard to get out of the upholstery. Add the drool spots on the head stands and windows. It's not the best smelling car too. But it fits the family, the groceries, and all my student workers when we escape Oberlin and adventure to new restaurants and activities. We're making my bus ready for our road trip tomorrow!

IUI ALERT: 2?

I felt so miserable today. I went to work late because I was sobbing uncontrollably this morning. I hit my garage with my car mirror. I painted a smile on my face even though I was in pain. And sadly, I got my monthly. So we can stop counting now.

I'm bummed and honestly a bit discouraged from the whole experience. I think I'll eat some spam with sabou (soup) and watch a little Hawaii Five-O to make me feel better.

IUI ALERT: 3

I felt good today. No dizzy head or sour tummy. I got a lot of work done and was motivated to work extra late. I had enough energy yet to take out the trash and make a run to the library with the dogs (driving, of course). I ended my nice day relaxing in front of the TV watching the movie Eat Pray Love. Can the rest of my winter days be just like today?

Me and my book club

My best friends and I call it the Tahiti Village Book Club. We created it during our Las Vegas trip together. Its the reason I am now on Facebook. And the reason I'm reading a book that is not an easy romance novel. I call it broadening my narrow horizons. This winter we are tackling the book The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. I admit I picked it not only because Carrie had it on her books-to-read list and that there's movies made about the series, but Mr. 007 is currently filming an American adaptation of the story.

As I suspected, it would be a slow read for me. But I'm committed to reading it during my work breaks. By the second and third chapter I started getting interested. No real story and purpose yet but they introduce one or two of the main characters. I'm at page 65... great, there's an adulterer. You know how I feel about them. And guess who's playing that character in the new film? Double great. But I must read on...

IUI ALERT: 4

I want to take my hapai test already! I'm getting anxious, waking up and wondering if my monthly came. BTW I borrowed some hapai books when I went to the library yesterday. Like I said, I'm anxious. I hope I'm not cursing myself. Like Allison said, she's just going to send me some positive vibes.

GIRLIE UPDATE: Movie 43

One of Mr. Butler's films he worked on last year has finally been named and the release date has been set. He plays Chaun, a perverse Leprechaun. The feature film will be in theaters August 26, 2011. I better add it to my calendar!

IUI ALERT: 5

I woke up feeling sad because I had a bit of cramping and thought I was starting my monthly. But I didn't. I had an early start braving the frigid cold and went to the public library and the mall. When I got home I changed back into my snowflake pj's and watched a couple of movies while browsing the internet. I even did dishes and laundry while watching the Jets vs. Steelers game. After Hawaii Five-O I did my first dish of my TCF challenge. Aaron came home to ono-licious smells! All-in-all, a productive day! Now I'm tired.

TCF Challenge: Pasta Da Vinci

Sauteed chicken with mushrooms and onions in a delicious Madeira wine sauce, tossed with penne pasta and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese

Aaron's rating = 4 of 5, my rating = 3.5 of 5 (I'm not a wine sauce fan)

IUI ALERT: 6

I feel good today. I shouldn't have gone out in the frigid -9 weather this afternoon but Ikaika needed the time outside. He doesn't like going on walks during the winter which means he drives us crazy with all his energy in the middle of the night. Ikaika was happy to sit out front to wait for Aaron and Keala to return and ate snow. I did a bit of shoveling. Brrr!

My jeans are getting tight.

Fun for the Wild Circulation Bunch - Sorrento's

Joyce, Laura, Tam, Helen and I had planned to go to the Olive Garden in Elyria after work but decided to head somewhere else for dinner after given a 1-hour waiting time. We headed over to Sorrento's and enjoyed pasta, ziti, calzones, foldovers and sinful desserts. A good time by all! After we headed to my house to visit Keala and Ikaika. Oh and Aaron too.

[No fun pictures since my camera broke!]

IUI ALERT: Let the countdown begin... 7

I don't want to "bachi" or curse myself but I am anxious to know if the procedure took. Today was supposed to be the beginning of my next 28-day cycle but it hasn't started yet. I don't have any symptoms to getting my monthly so Aaron and I are hopeful again. I say again because we were hopeful during our first attempt. I didn't get my monthly but on the day I had to take my hapai test, it arrived. Sad.

I will be nervous in the next 7-days! If I don't get my monthly, I get to take another hapai test. Cross fingers!

We're godparents!

Meet our new godchild... Trevor Alan Andrewski. He is the youngest child of Aaron's high school best friend Big Al and his loving wife Tasha. Yes, we went to church this morning!

The Andrewski's - Tasha, Trevor, Matt, Emily and Big Al

Fun for the Wild Circulation Bunch - Cheesecake Factory and Iron Man 2

GIRLIE UPDATE: Spartacus: Blood and Sand

I've seen previews of this TV series and thought it would be something I would enjoy.

Andy Whitfield as Spartacus
Let's say its a mix of 300 and the Gladiator in one. After watching the first episode I wasn't really impressed, probably because I kept thinking of the other movies and the main character looked a bit shabby with his long hair. But Michael told me it gets better and by the third episode, I was hooked! Woo, what to do with all those buff bodies all over the screen?! I would close my eyes when it was killing time (and some of the sex scenes) and was intrigued what the Romans and their slaves did back in the day. Thank God I live in the modern world, right?

IUI ALERT: It's a GO!

I feel good about this cycle! All the planets seemed to be aligned today -- I woke up on my own without Aaron fussing me for an hour, we were ready to go in no time, we had a nice breakfast at Micky D's before heading out in morning traffic, which wasn't bad at all, the weather held up (no snow), we got to the Cleveland Clinic early, and Aaron finally got a good "no antibodies" test result. Since we've done it twice before we knew where to go and what to do and was out of there before we knew it. We headed home where I napped several hours feet-propped up-and-on my-back before heading out for the day.

Crossing fingers and toes that we are successful!

GIRLIE UPDATE: Three Rivers

I started watching Three Rivers, a CBS TV series that Mr. O'Loughlin was in last year. It makes me bawl my eyes out but its so inspiring. I'm sad that the series got canceled but I'm OK with him being on Hawaii Five-O now. Are you an organ donor? I am!

Mr. Alex O'Loughlin as Dr. Andy Yablonskii and Daniel Henney as Dr. David Lee... hot!

Fun for the Wild Circulation Bunch - Atami Express/Inception

Tam, Joyce, Adam and I went out to eat Japanese food at Atami in Elyria. We ordered a sashimi plate as an appetizer and also got miso soup and a salad before getting our box dinners -- tempura, rice, chicken hibachi, sushi and shumai. Needless to say I didn't eat it all!


After they came over to my house to watch Inception and visit my dogs. A fun relaxing night with friends!

Happy, happy 37 Tita!

Happy berfday to yooou!

Happy berfday to yooou!

Happy berfday to tita SHANLEEEEEEEEE!

Happy berfday to yooou!

White winter day

Johnny, Angelina and Megan

I went to see The Tourist again but this time with Megan. I wished we had more time to go eat or grab a coffee after but we both were busy that day. I would have loved talking about Venice and Paris! Oh it brings back memories of my Europe trip with Kelly...

GIRLIE UPDATE: The Tudors the Final Season

I borrowed the final season of Tudors this week. I'm getting my fill of Cavill now!

Season 1

Season 2

Season 3

Season 4 - I must say this wasn't his sexiest season. But we all know what's underneath all that movie makeup! A young hunk of man!

Back to work

Happy winter term! Can you believe that I was on time on my first day back to work? And for an earlier shift too! It was an easy breezy day sitting at my desk -- creating new schedule and comp time spreadsheets, prepping the timesheets folders and new hire work files. The desk wasn't busy at all and part of my day the library was closed so I got a lot of stuff done. It was a nice way to start the new work year off!

IUI ALERT: Clomid Challenge

We had to drive to Cleveland to have my blood drawn. Its the last part of my test to see if my hormones are in check.

[1/3 Yea! My results came back normal! Wow, the Cleveland Clinic's main building is huge!!]

Hauoli Makahiki Hou 2011

After we went home and played PS3 Gran Turismo 5 against each other. A nice, relaxing time! Hope everyone had a great time too!