Green??

We went to see a great speaker last night, the author of nickled and dimed. She was phenomenal. Funny, well researched, and articulate. I could have listened to her speak for hours!
So now Deb and I are going to pitch to Phil some things that we would like to see change around so that we truly are supporting fair trade and organic, as well as just common juman decency. So I get to start researching!

here is what I hate today....

yup, I'm feeling frustrated, so here is my list of what I hate today:

people who drive without their lights on, especially when it is raining
people who drive and smoke at the same time
generally, people who smoke
people who have no initiative
people who slack off all the time
people who don't get that other people realize they are slacking off
people who think that Mike and I aren't really a family because we don't have kids
people who say they will do something and don't
people who leave messes behind and expect others to clean them up
people who think money is the most important thing
people who use your stuff without asking or returning it to it's proper place.


okay, i could vent for a long time, but that helped a little bit! hope your day is going better than mine!

Taylor

greener grass...

So I was reading our friend Mara's Blog today and started thinking about how people are always wishing for what they don't have. Mike and I graduated with Mara...even in college I was slightly jealous of how she had studied in so many different places and didn't really feel tied to Minnesota. After graduation she was in Atlanta for a year, then off in other fun places. She now lives in Alaska. She is single, healthy, and adventuresome. I am married, healthy, and long to be more adventuresome.
When my friend Karen spoke to the sr high group not long ago, I was blown away at how much she has accomplished since graduation. I'm not sure why I can't see that I have done lots as well. I'm not sure if it is that we never really left Minnesota and our families, or just that it is easier to dream about life differently.
I am happy...I love being married, I love Mike, I love our families, I love my job (most of the time) and I am content where we are with life. I am excited about starting a family someday.

but I also want to travel, see the world, live life to the fullest. I crave new places, new experiences, and new tastes. I am so excited to go to Charleston in May and am really looking forward to traveling in the fall with Mike.

I am not sure that any of that made sense, but at least I got it down!

Elizabeth George Books

I have really enjoyed reading Elizabeth George over the past couple of weeks. I'm almost done with the serious, but wanted to get down the order that I think the books are best read in. Here it is:
A Suitable Vengence
A Great Deliverance
Payment in Blood
Well Schooled in Murder
For the Sake of Elena
Missing Joseph
Playing for the Ashes
In the Presence of the Enemy
Deception on His Mind
In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner
A Traitor to
A Place of Hiding
With No One as Witness
What Came Before he Shot Her

I think that's right...they are good murder mysteries. Enjoy!

Taylor and CHRobinson

future employee?

Corinne Bailey Rae

We just got her CD from the library and it is phenomenal! You can view her website here but I highly recommend getting the CD.

Friends of Old...

So today is my good friend Julie's birthday. Julie was my freshman and senior year college roommate. We always get along, we like each other, and we were really good friends in college. She was one of my personal attendents in my wedding as I was in hers. Somehow we aren't close anymore. I sent her an email today wishing her a happy birthday and that was it. I'm not sure exactly what happened. Perhaps it is growing up, changing life situation, or perhaps I am a bad friend. I sure hope it is not the last one though!
How do we let friends go or how do we renew friendships that have grown old?
I'm amazed that my mom is still really close with her friends from elementary school. I'm not sure that I could do that, or would even really want to do that. People change so much, friendships surely must as well.
Happy thoughts for a dreary, snowy Tuesday.

Taylor's Easter Dress

Reduced Fat Chicken Pot Pie Yum-o

1cup cut-up cooked chicken
1bag (1 lb) Green Giant® frozen mixed vegetables, thawed
1can (10 3/4 oz) condensed 98% fat-free cream of chicken soup
1/2cup fat-free (skim) milk
1cup Bisquick Heart Smart® mix
1/2cup fat-free (skim) milk
1egg
1.Heat oven to 400°F. In ungreased 2-quart casserole, mix chicken, vegetables, soup and 1/2 cup milk. Microwave on High 4 minutes; stir.
2.In small bowl, stir Bisquick® mix, 1/2 cup milk and the egg with fork until blended. Pour over vegetable mixture.
3.Bake uncovered about 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Snow!

It is snowing outside...I can't believe it! It look amazingly pretty, but after some 70 degree days it is hard to go back to snow. I'm thinking about all those cute little girls in their Easter dresses trudging through the snow.

I sure do love Minnesota!

Good movies...

I had the chance this weekend to watch two excellent movies. The first was Take the Lead. Here's the plot summary:
Based on a true story, the movie tells of the struggle of a dance teacher, Pierre Dulain (Antonio Banderas), to give to a group of problem kids a second chance by exploring their dance skills. One night Dulain is astonished to see a boy, Rock (Rob Brown) destroying his school director's car. The following day Dulaine goes to the school to ask for a job as a dance teacher. The director has little confidence in Dulaine's idea of helping kids (including Rock) in detention to reform through ballroom dance classes. Even the kids, who prefer hip-hop or rap, think it isn't a great idea. Despite criticism from students in his formal dance academy as well as from parents and fellow teachers who believe that the kids need more math and less dance, Dulain catches the students' attention with a tango session. After their initial indifference, they eventually compete in a dance contest; the important thing isn't winning, but making a difference.

I really enjoyed it...thought it was going to be cheesey, but it was actually funny and quite touching. I would watch it again.

Then Sunday I watched Secondhand Lions. I wasn't expecting much out of this movie, but I absolutely loved it! Mike didn't want to watch it with me, but came down for a bit about 30 minutes into the movie. He ended up staying for the end! Here is the plot summary for this one:
"Secondhand Lions" follows the comedic adventures of an introverted boy (Osment) left on the doorstep of a pair of reluctant, eccentric great-uncles (Caine and Duvall), whose exotic remembrances stir the boy's spirit and re-ignite the men's lives.

See that one if you can!

Politics

Interesting to see how different people feel about politics. We had dinner last night with our friends Ann and Brandt for Ann's birthday. I knew that Ann's dad was a huge Republican and Ann as well, but it surprised me to hear Brandt speak poorly of Hillary Clinton. I'm not saying that Hillary is the perfect person for the job, but as of right now she has my vote.
She also broke huge fundraising history this year, raising the most amount ever in the first quarter of this year.

Here's her website.
and her myspace page.

It doesn't really matter that much to me who you vote for, as long you vote and vote smart!