Penguin Encounters

I have been traveling a LOT lately.  My most recent work trip took me to Dayton, Ohio.  I went up for the weekend before the meeting to spend some time with my friend from college, Lauren.  We took a short drive down to Cincinnati/Newport area to visit the Newport Aquarium.  Really, its a decent aquarium – lots of differnt exibits, but much like the Georgia Aquarium…way too many people for my comfort!

The highlight (and the reason for going) was the behind the scenes tour where we were able to interact with the penguins.  It may sound silly, but one of my life goals was to pet a penguin.  I just have been so curious what they feel like.

My very first penguin petting experience

It was pretty cool to have 6 little African penguins waddling around you.   The aquarium staff were nice and informative, but you could tell that the majority of the time, they were interacting with 4 year olds.  (You’ll notice in the videos below.)   There was a lot of talk about penguin poop.  The first video caught one little guy (actually girl —they were all girls) shaking her tailfeathers.  It was pretty cute until you realize its what they do right before the pooping commences.  Also, we felt so bad for the little outcast penguin the corner.  She apparently gets picked on, so she hangs out all by herself.  I bet I could write a childrens book with that theme.  Hmmm…

Here is a little video of me being completely giddy about my up-close encounter with the penguins.  You can also hear Lauren say in reference to their feathers, “It looks like carbon fiber.”  Yeah, we are totally nerdy.

They were also funny just to watch.  They were surprisingly catlike, without the catlike reflexes.  They would become transfixed by a fruit fly, only to scurry across the floor in a mad attempt to catch it.  It seemed like they really liked to play.

Some more photos from the day…

And of course, no trip to an aquarium is complete without comparing your height to that of a shark.

Overall, a very fun day.  If you are ever in the area and like penguins, you definitely should check it out!  Now, to the next item on the life-goal list…haha!

26 Candles.

Today is my 26th birthday! Wooo!!  As you, dear reader, are well aware, I have been struggling with the mid-mid life crisis and the aging process.  (read – gray hair post.)  But today, is a welcomed and joyous day…how often do you turn 26?

I must admit I am actually writing this on June 4th.  I will be traveling tomorrow to San Francisco where I get to spend the weekend with Joe and friends.  I couldn’t think of any way I’d rather spend my birthday.  Well, maybe swimming in a pool of money like Scrooge McDuck with Joe and friends…but I’ll save that’s for another day.

My random birthday thoughts:

1. I hope that I never get to the age of dreading my birthday.  I realize that time sneaks up on you these days.  Being 5 took forever…but being 25 seemed like a quick walk around the block.  I think that as long as you are happy with the progress you have made in the last year, a birthday is always welcome and to be celebrated.
2. That being said…I just pictured Joe and I celebrating my 70th birthday and its pretty cool.  Maybe I’ll get a bright pink cake topped with a bonfire of 70 candles just for the fun of it.
3. My parents always said I was a great child…until it was my birthday, and then the terror was released.  (I believe the word my mom used was “brat”.)
4. My family celebrated half-birthdays.  We would get a cake with 5 1/2 candles on top (for example) while being sung to…”Happy half-birthday to you!…”  No wonder my full birthday expectations were so high! haha
5. One of my favorite birthday memories was a surprise party I had when I turned 16.  (I think.)  Joy, Darcy, and I were at the fair when one of them decided to go for a walk around the park.  I look up the hill at this pavilion area and see all my friends…and my mom….and I was so confused.  “I wonder what’s going on??”, I asked.  “OH!  I think its something with Young life, ” Joy quickly replied.  I had never been so surprised nor flattered that it was a party just for me.
6. I’m hard to surprise.  My parents tried a first surprise party when I was younger.  (5-7ish?)  We were carpooling to dance lessons with my friends Darcy and Sarah.  When we got to my house and I normally am just let out of the car, Darcy and Sarah jumped out of the vehicle before I could get out, but not before turning and looking at me and giggling.  The giggling gave it away.  I knew right then something was up…but it was good time none the less.
7. Summer birthday’s are awesome.
8. One of the worst birthday memories I have was from a few years ago.  I received a carefully wrapped package from my sister.  I was by myself for some reason that year and had this one, perfect box to open.  I sat down alone to open it…and within the box were smaller items.  As I went to unwrap them, I noticed something was off.   Item 1 was a little plate that had broken in transit.  I was pretty disappointed, but moved on.  Item 2 was a little cup….that had broken.   Moved on.  Item 3 – dish.  Broken.  I too, then broke down into tears.  It was so sad.  I have all 3 pieces still.  I fixed them with some industrial strength glue, and for some reason, they make me smile about that day when I see them around the house.
9. My parents were born on the same day.  For the longest time, I thought that’s how you knew you’d found true love…if your birthdays were the same.  Maybe Mark Wahlberg doesn’t know that we are soulmates yet…

26 has a good ring to it.  Nice, even numbers.  And, being 25 was great.  I traveled to cool places, married my wonderful husband, and made memories along the way.  Who knows.  Maybe at 26, you are past the quarter-life crisis and just live.  That would be pretty sweet.

The truth

I’ve been saying this all along…

(Personally, this old high school english student was first rolling with laughter.  The clapping and cheering came second.)

My dreams are like boggarts.

I am currently reading the Harry Potter series.  (Please—No comments about the story!  I’m only on Book 5!)  Perhaps that’s why I haven’t posted a blog in awhile.  I have been spending my free time reading and not writing.  Anyway, I came to realize today that my dreams are like boggarts.  For those of you that haven’t read the stories, a boggart is  a shape-shifter that takes on the form of its intended victim’s worst fear.  If you are terrified of spiders and encounter a boggart, there in front of you will be the most menacing spider you could have ever imagined.

So, I’ve been having really bad dreams lately.   I dunno if my sleep schedule is out of whack, or I’m eating something I shouldn’t before bed…who knows, but I only seem to have bad dreams about things I fear or dread.  (The other night I dreamt about zombies.  I guess I don’t consciously fear zombies, but they still don’t give you that warm, fuzzy feeling when you wake up.)  When I h ave bad dreams, I don’t feel as if I slept at all.  I’m exhausted.  Last night, I dreamt that Joe was going to divorce me.  It was so horrible.  I remember him packing saying he just couldn’t do it anymore.  But its not the dream that is so bad…its the feeling that it truly is real.  My boggart dream caused my little heart to break last night.

If only I could have a “Riddikulus” charm (the defense used in the book) equivalent.  Lucid dreaming would be a plus.  I could realize that this situation is just too horrible, too ridiculous to be real and just tell it to project something nicer.  Today was great because despite the fact I woke up upset, seeing Joe fast asleep right beside me calmed me like magic. 

Any suggestions for combating pesky boggart dreams?  Think good thoughts?  Don’t read Harry Potter right before bed? Ha!

Speechless.

I just saw this on cuteoverload.   I know lots of you visit that site on a daily basis, but I didn’t want those of you who didn’t to miss out on this truly amazing video.

Wow…

Cruise Documentary Airs Tonight!

Well our 15 seconds of fame may  have come!  As I discussed in a recent blog about our honeymoon, a film crew from CNBC was aboard  the Norweigan Pearl as we cruised through the Caribbean.  I really don’t know if Joe and I will be on the program despite being asked several times if we were famous for how many times they filmed us.  Anyway, it should be interesting to see our cruise ship and the details of how they tried to get more money out of us while on board! HA!

Cruise Inc: Big Money on the High Seas is on tonight, March 24 @ 9P ET on CNBC.

“CNBC takes you with unprecedented access inside the $30 billion dollar cruise industry. Spending seven days aboard one of Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ships, correspondent Peter Greenberg reveals the delicate balance between profits and losses on the high seas.”

Let me know if you watch it!

FYI – If you miss it tonight, it will re-air on Sunday night at 9pm.

OLD!!!!!!

So Joe is in LOVE with the comic below, and frankly, most of the time I just don’t find it that funny.  Occasionally, I’ll let the slightly amused smirk cross my face, but that’s the extreme extent.  When I hear Joe laughing so hard upstairs after reading the comic, chuckling to himself , “Oh T-Rex!”, I feel like I’ve missed something completely beautiful.

Until today.  I read the below comic and was laughing so hard that I actually had to hold it in (as I was at work)!  I laugh because it is sooo trrrruuue!!  Enjoy!

Looking back & forward

Wow.  I can’t believe it’s already (or only?!) been one year since Joe proposed…and here we are, wedding over & happily married.  We can’t truly commemorate the day as it was on Leap Day, February 29th so I guess today is close enough.

• Leap day 2004 — Joe and I hadn’t even met yet.  (We met that summer in June 2004.)
• Leap day 2008 —We got engaged!
• Leap day 2012 — ….ummmm?

It makes me think….what will our lives will be like the next time February 29th come around?     (I also think it’s funny that our relationship seems to be on a presidential schedule!)

Que sera, sara……….right?

Give a penny, take a penny.

So I’ve been pretty anti-morning recently.  Just ask my lovely husband…I think when he came into to wake me  up sweetly this morning, I simply muttered (or shouted?  I was asleep.  How am I to know the exact level of my voice?), ‘No, no, no!!”  Needless to say, it’s been a bit rough.

So I’m on my way to work…a bit late when the thought of Chick-fil-A popped in my head as a little something to brighten my morning.  (Sorry Yajeev!)  I tell myself no and continue driving.  When I am approaching the traffic light that is the decision point…straight is the faster way to work, turn right to go past Chick-fil-A.  As luck would have it, just as I am in the straight lane, the light turns yellow, I take evasive action and go right.  I guess the hands of fate guided my car….haha!

Anyway, I’m rambling.    Long story short.  I go to Chick-fil-A and get my lovely number #1, to go.  (I always go inside to order.  I find it such a hassle to ask for all my little packets of ketchup, honey, sugar, napkins, creamer, etc.  I also try to mitigate the risk of getting the wrong order.  Don’t you hate when you drive off and the food and/or drink is wrong??  Wow…rambling again.)  Total price = $4.02.  I scrounge around my wallet for 2 cents to no avail, so I hand the cashier a five.

Cashier:  Do you have 2 pennies?

Me:  No, sorry.  I’ve only have one.

Random man standing next to me (waiting on his food):  OH!  I’ve got a penny!!  Here!  I should  have known to give you one.  I saw you looking, but didn’t put it together!

Me:  Thank you so much….

Man:  Of course!!  I hope you have a great day!!!

So he gave me a penny.  You are probably thinking,,,big deal, right?  But, he was genuine, and nice, and joyous to help someone even if in a small way.  Living in a city, those people are rare and it really brightened my day running into him.  (I find it slightly ironic that I went looking for happiness in food, and I got it through human interactions…) It was worth so much more to me than a silly little penny.

So I guess my challenge to you is think about your small actions today.  Are you the person that would give a penny? or are you the bystander who rolls his eyes at the lady rummaging through her purse (probably all the while thinking, “Hurry up lady!  I’m just trying to get my food!!”)   Like most people, depending on the day, I could be either…but I hope that you will take time to do something nice today.  It may be appreciated more than you know…

~Coraline~

Joe, Denisse and I went to the movies the other night to see Coraline in3-D.  We were pretty surprised how packed the theater was with families and kids as it was a Sunday night. (Don’t they have school early in the morning??)  Anyway,  I was curious about seeing this movie, but it wasn’t as if I had been counting down until its release.

As the movie started, Joe couldn’t help but mutter to himself, “Creeeeepy….” The stop-motion animation gives the movie such an additional level of weird.

What I liked about it -

Really, I loved the 3-D.  I think if you go see this movie, definitely find a theater that is showing it in 3-D.  I was watching the teaser trailer above and it just wasn’t the same.  The movie is visually entertaining.  The colors, the unique characters and events…that aspect was very impressive.   I absolutely loved the part when Coraline is crawling from one world to the next.

What I didn’t liked about it -

Bless little Dakota Fanning’s heart, I just really didn’t like her as the voice of Coraline.  Several times throughout the movie, I pictured her reading the script which is never good.  Because of this, I didn’t get completely immersed in the Pink Palace Apartment world.  I also thought that the actual adventure part…the climax of the movie was too short.  It felt rushed.  With so much story build up, it was a bit of a let down at the end.

Anyway…

Denisse and Joe both thought it was a bit dark for a “kids” movie.  The images are pretty powerful and I could not even imagine seeing it as a 5 year old.  I liked the basic, underlying message…or at least the one that I personally picked up from seeing it.  It was teaching self-reliance to solve problems which is always a good thing.  Also, slipping into an alternative universe to escape problems (possibly the newest campaign against drugs? ha!) often only leads to new and unexpected complications.

My recommendation:  If you want to see it in theaters, go 3-D.  Otherwise, wait and rent it for a buck at RedBox.  It wasn’t my favorite movie but I really enjoyed the visuals and it made me think enough to write a blog, so I guess that’s something in itself. 

(PS – Happy Valentines Day!)