he said. she said. a married couple's blog.

apparently

noreply@blogger.com (jess) — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 23:57:00 +0000

Let:

j = size of jessica's stuff
b = size of brendan's stuff
m = size of misc stuff
c = capacity of eight passenger vehicle
x = size of bridget's stuff

So:

c = j + b + m + x

Suppose:

m = 1 person capacity
j = 2 person capacity and
b = 2 person capacity...

That means that x (aka Bridget) is = 3!!

it really didn't feel like we were packing all that much. no wonder my parents used to take two cars when all 6 of us went downeoshun for two weeks!

exterminator

noreply@blogger.com (jess) — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 22:25:00 +0000

I think my favorite story from our C'ville trip happened at Monticello. We had just come through the "all-weather passageway" and Bridget, Brendan and I were waiting for Anne to use the facilities. Bridget, as she often does, noticed a big old ant crawling around on the brick path. She crouched down and watched it for a few minutes. Some high schoolers who were on a group trip gathered near her and commented on how adorable she is. Then, right on cue, Bridget stood up, sized up the ant, lifted her foot and stomped on it. "I GOT IT!!!" She yelled "SQUISH ANT!!" Too perfect.

hot & bothered

noreply@blogger.com (jess) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 22:44:00 +0000

Today, we went to Monticello. And boy, was it hot. For the most part, there was at least some sort of a breeze, but when the air completely stopped it was almost unbearable. We had wanted to get an earlier tour than the 9:55 we had ended up with, but our efforts to purchase tickets online were unsuccessful. SQL error messages and no phone number to call to buy in advance.

The grounds were quite pretty; however, there wasn't as much to see as say Mount Vernon. The tour of the house went quite well. Bridget was very good for the most of it, and about halfway through, we took her out of her stroller and carried her. Between Brendan, his mom and I we had plenty of hands. In the very last room (we didn't know that at the time), the Madison bedroom, she got a little fussy and made like 30 seconds of noise.

Well, that was just unacceptable to some Monticello old-lady employee.

She popped her head in the room and said, "Does she need to go out." I said, "No, it's alright. She'll be fine." and then she said "Why doesn't she come out, come with me." and I said again, "She'll be fine." And she was fine but this woman was majorly pushy. I know it probably doesn't sound like it, but she was giving me the disapproving eye like she somehow knew better.

Whatever lady.

And seriously, two minutes later our guide was leading us outside. I mean, she made it through 6 other rooms... I was pretty damn annoyed. I understand that they need to think of all the people on our tour, but it was literally longer to tell this woman that we were fine where we were than Bridget was "fussy".

I would definitely go back though. The house was interesting and the grounds were very nice. It'd be something to see in the fall. I'm not about to let one sourpuss ruin the experience.

Bridget is an incredibly good little traveler.

hot visit

noreply@blogger.com (jess) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 00:05:00 +0000

We decided on a whim to drive down to Charlottesville this weekend. On the way, we stopped off at the Wilderness battlefields to where Brendan's great-great-great grandfather was wounded. Obviously, he lived, but it's quite amazing. He got shot in the chest and made it all the way to the hospital in Alexandria.

The drive through the country was really pretty. I honestly want to live in an old farmhouse somewhere. Brendan, not so much.

We spent a little time at the downtown mall, had lunch, did some shopping, took Bridget to the Children's Discovery Museum and had gelato.

First of all, the gelato was AWESOME. I had a scoop of rose and a scoop of blood orange. Amazing. Brendan had raspberry and chocolate hazelnut. Brendan's mom had strawberry and dulce de leche. Bridget had a little of everything but preferred the strawberry and the rose.

The Children's Discovery Museum was a lot of fun. It was only $4.00 per adult ($3.50 with our AAA discount). Since it was so crazy hot, it was so nice to get out of the sun, and let Bridget run around and play with a bunch of fun stuff that we didn't have to clean up.

After we checked into our hotel, we took a short drive (2 minutes) to the UVA campus and got some T-Shirts at the bookstore and walked around. It's apparently a big alumni reunion weekend, and they were setting up a dinner around the rotunda, so we didn't get any photos -- we'll have to do that tomorrow morning. We're heading out early to Monticello, a winery (or two) and who knows what else before we go home.

We grabbed some dinner at a little Italian place right near our hotel, and then spent some time cooling off in the hotel pool. (Mom, you will be so happy to hear that Bridget says swim pool with a nice little southern accent.) Bridget LOVED the pool, and did not want to hold onto anyone; however, she does not know how to swim. I totally understand why kiddie pools exist now.

She's fast asleep in the bed now while we wait for the DC United vs. Chicago Fire game to start.

makes me smile

noreply@blogger.com (jess) — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 16:04:00 +0000

There's this commercial that's running on a local radio station in which a man is acting as a labor coach for his wife and doing Lamaze. Bridget has started repeating it, going "tsssst tsssst whoooo" from her carseat.

Cracks me up. Every. Single. Time.

statistics

noreply@blogger.com (jess) — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 17:55:00 +0000

My brother Kevin graduated high school earlier this week (YAY KEVIN!); he's headed to my alma mater, Towson U for college.

Some things struck me in the program (not all surprises)

Total	226
Male	104
Female	122

	Number	% of total	% of females
Headed to traditional 4 year college/university	49	21.68%	n/a
Named Brittany/Brittney	12	5.31%	9.84%
Middle name Nicole/Nichole	17	7.52%	13.93%
First name Brittany/Brittney and Middle name Nichole/Nicole	4	1.77%	3.28%

where is my mind?

noreply@blogger.com (jess) — Tue, 27 May 2008 00:59:00 +0000

I was making cookies for Bridget to take to daycare tomorrow to celebrate her birthday (a day early since she won't be there on the actual day), now I am making brownies. Why you ask? Because cookies need 2 1/4 cups of flour. I put in 5 quarter cups, put in the first batch and thought they might be a little bigger then usual. It wasn't until I checked on them 6 minutes in that I realized I was a cup short on the flour. They were the grossest looking things. So now, brownies from a box that required no advanced measuring skills. GAH!

after your party...

noreply@blogger.com (jess) — Sun, 25 May 2008 11:53:00 +0000

number of new play houses: 1
number of punch cups to wash: 20
number of guests at the house: 4
contents of new plastic swimming pool: 2 watering cans, teapot and teacup, curious george jack-in-the-box
number of my little ponies: 3
number of twisties removed: one billion
number of pictures taken by Bridget's parents: ZERO (oops)

cycles

noreply@blogger.com (jess) — Fri, 23 May 2008 16:36:00 +0000

Bridget has this thing about being wet (outside of the tub or swimming): she HATES it. If she gets a drop of any liquid on her pants, she'll cry, "TOWEL PLEASE!" until she gets it.

The worst is when she's tired and in bed and crying. She gets mad that the sheets, pillow, or God forbid, her hand get tears on them and are a little wet. Of course this leads to OMG! I'M WET! crying and more damp spots and still more crying.

I wish she'd just understand that if she stops crying, there will be no more wet spots. Thankfully, she's sleeping now. I'm crossing my fingers for a few hours and a much happier child at 3pm or so.

OMG

noreply@blogger.com (jess) — Wed, 14 May 2008 23:21:00 +0000

Just look at her:

She will be two at the end of the month, and she is DEFINITELY not a baby anymore. She likes:

necklaces
teaparties
dresses
Charlie and Lola
and various other girly type stuff

I am planning a very girlish, Lola themed party.

We also got the house cleaned today. Holy crap. It feels so decadent. And we'll continue getting it cleaned every two weeks. Already I feel like it was a totally fabulous decision. I feel compelled to keep it clean now, too. Bonus: it smells like lemons in here.

My garden is not doing as well as it could. Not enough sun. But nothing is totally dead, so that's more than some people expected. It's just taking its time.

More Banana. Good Banana.

noreply@blogger.com (Brendan) — Mon, 12 May 2008 02:46:00 +0000

As Jess said before, Bridget likes the banana song. Here's a video of her when she's only about half-psyched for it. When she knows she's on camera she doesn't go full-on.

BANANA!

noreply@blogger.com (jess) — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:51:00 +0000

Bridget would like you to know that she likes bananas too!
The Aggrolites - Banana (Yo Gabba Gabba!)

boooooo!

noreply@blogger.com (jess) — Fri, 02 May 2008 18:01:00 +0000

I've been worried this was the case, ever since Benny had his ankle surgery in the pre-season. It breaks my heart.

annoyed

noreply@blogger.com (jess) — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 02:10:00 +0000

United lost (again). And the DVR decided to only record the first 8 minutes of The Office.

morning excitement

noreply@blogger.com (jess) — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:53:00 +0000

Just saw Eddie Gaven and someone else from The Crew at our morning coffee spot. Soccer players eat a lot for breakfast.

If only DC United players frequented the place, that'd be more exciting.

finally! the sun!

noreply@blogger.com (jess) — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 22:39:00 +0000

Hooray! The sun made an appearance this afternoon. We finally got to go outside.

[more photos in the gallery]

fresh

noreply@blogger.com (jess) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:03:00 +0000

Yay! The Farmer's Market opens this Sunday. I've been ready for it since February. My garden isn't ready for picking just yet.

dolls

noreply@blogger.com (jess) — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:59:00 +0000

I had some time this morning, so I pulled out the two dolls that my mother had saved from when I was a kid. One is an Annie doll that my aunt made and the other a doll that my grandmother made to look a little like me. She has blonde hair, and once had blue eyes (they've faded to look greenish-yellow). At one point, my cousins and I all had matching dolls. They all had Annie dolls and ones from our grandmother made to look like them. I wonder if they all still have theirs.

Annie got a change of clothing, just because her outfit never really stayed snapped. And the blonde doll got some mending in the armpits and a new outfit. Her original baby outfit has these old school bloomers that have a plastic lining. I guess so the cloth diaper wouldn't leak through.

I think Bridget thinks they are pretty neat. She's also got one of Brendan's old Cabbage Patch kids to round out her vintage doll collection.

generally annoyed

noreply@blogger.com (jess) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 01:16:00 +0000

There's been a lot said about the amount of foreclosures in Prince William county (I think I've said a few things myself). Most recently, there was an article in the Post that touched on Woodbridge, Dale City and Manassas.

As the surge in foreclosures continues and banks repossess more and more houses, property values are declining -- but not everywhere, and not by equal measure, Thompson and other real estate agents said. No part of the region is untouched, but most foreclosures are clustered in certain neighborhoods and several troubled Zip codes. Rather than a sea of slumping housing, Northern Virginia has an island chain of hot spots.

The article does not offer any new insights. The comments, however, are another thing. My personal favorite was this gem:

bbcrock wrote:
How could someone in all honesty buy in an area 90 minutes outside the city and NOT expect it was a slum? Really. Who is going to want to drive in at 5am every morning? Desperate people with no options. I'm sorry, I just don't feel bad for the exurbs- they should still be farms.
3/22/2008 9:51:56 PM
Recommend (12)

I'd like to give that person a big old one-finger salute. What a complete ASS. I must have missed that memo. Because there are no slums INSIDE actual cities. And 12 people have recommended the comment. WTF?!

I actually do have a point here... The people on one side of us may or may not have been illegal. I don't know. It was none of my business. I do know they overpaid for their house and they just up and left one day (as I've mentioned before). When they were living next door, they kept up the property quite nicely. Then, foreclosure. The house is still empty. But maybe not for too long.

On the other side, the hillbillies were annoying as hell. Their house was bordering on looking like crap. I do not know the immigration status of the people who live there now. Nor do I really care. They keep the outside clean, are quiet (aka not running all over my lawn like little Bobby Hillbilly) and generally seem like decent people.

Of course now we have more people up the street who, dare I say it, are bordering on white trash. Dude is always working on his damn Monte Carlo or totally awesome bright blue Isuzu with awesome gold rims. His buddies are always stopping by in the middle of the road on the opposite side of the street to have some loud yelling conversation. Plus they run the cars up and down the road and around the block and have marked the shit out of the street. I don't expect the spring and summer to bring any improvements there. Oh, did I mention they live obscenely close to the playground? You'd better bet that I'll be all over the police complaint line when things do not improve.

So what's my point here? (Besides, you know, getting all of this out of me and feeling a little better after venting some.) My point is, not all white people are fantastic neighbors. And not all non-whities are evil.

Now, let's lighten things up a little.

baby steps

noreply@blogger.com (jess) — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 22:54:00 +0000

I planted a small (4' x 4') garden on Friday afternoon. Right now I've got some lettuce, arugula, parsley, broccoli plants and radishes, carrots, peas and scallion seeds. In the summer I'll be adding tomatoes, a pepper, bush beans and basil. Rotating back to cool weather plants in the fall. We'll see how it goes. It's small in scale for sure. Brendan was worried I was going to become one of those "Tomato People" who bring in bagfuls to work in August because they got overzealous. I'm only planning on one cherry tomato plant and one regular plant. That should be close to perfect.

We always had a garden when I was a kid: tomatoes, corn, zucchini, cucumber and beans usually. I did not like having to pick up rocks before dad tilled, or weed in the summer (and since Brendan made me an awesome raised bed -- rocks were not a problem and hopefully weeds won't be much of an issue either). But I did love eating raw vegetables while standing in the garden. I am hoping some of that will rub off on Bridget, because right now she does not have a good relationship with vegetables at all.

no kidding!

noreply@blogger.com (jess) — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:15:00 +0000

I'm sitting here working, listening to tunes on my shuffle and with each song I think, "Hey, I really like this song!"

My response to myself, "Um, no kidding dummy. That's because you set it up that way!"

I need to get out more...

big stuff

noreply@blogger.com (jess) — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 20:30:00 +0000

We got Bridget a bed this afternoon (from IKEA of course).

We thought we were being all slick and wouldn't have to get a new mattress with a toddler bed. No such luck. Her crib mattress is about 10 inches too short. Doesn't that defeat the purpose of a toddler bed? So it's back to IKEA for Brendan for a new mattress and some sheets.

And we also planned to keep the crib together and just move it to the guest room. That plan was also foiled. The crib wouldn't fit through the doorway. So now it's in pieces. I hope this transition goes OK.

Did I mention Brendan's going out of town tomorrow evening?

exhausted

noreply@blogger.com (jess) — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 23:50:00 +0000

This pretty much sums up how we all felt last night and today.

And tomorrow we head back up to Baltimore!

aw man!

noreply@blogger.com (jess) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 19:33:00 +0000

On our last night in town, we're going to see DC United play across the street at the Texas Pro Soccer Festival; however, it does not look like we will be seeing any of the starters play. Maybe they'll all be on the bench and we can get autographs at least.

hipsters

noreply@blogger.com (jess) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 02:05:00 +0000

Went to the SoCo neighborhood in Austin today. We are so not hip enough to live there.

Gallery is updated with photos.