Don't Inhale!

So, I'm not sure where to even begin this post. All of you know that I work in a building that is very new; not even a year old, to be exact. Well, just like all new buildings, not everything is done perfectly the first time. We've had issues with many of the animal enclosures since the opening of the building last March. One of the aquariums has been the biggest headache of all. This particular tank has a large tube through it that kids can crawl through. It was intended to hold piranahas! It was a very anticipated part of the building, however, it has never held piranha due to a leak. Over the last 10 months a variety of tactics have been used in order to fix this tank, but none have been successful. For those of you who think this should be easy, please keep in mind that this tank isn't all glass; it's walls are all rockwork except one. So the leak is not visible at all. At one point we had the construction workers come back and they used 70 gallons of some type of foam in the tank to fix the problem. It, of course, didn't work, and I could have bought a house with the amount of money that they spent on this foam! So, anyway, we made the hard decision of paying a new contractor to come in and clean up the mess, instead of the old ones trying to fix what they did wrong. Although it will cost the zoo a lot more money, at least it will be done correctly. So, we closed our building to the public about a week ago and the construction began. The piranha tank was/is the priority so that is where they began. Within a day of drilling they found 12 different toxins in the rockwork of the tank that would have easily killed anything we would've put in there! All of these "toxins" were obviously used unbeknownst to us. A few days later (Sunday) another keeper came running into my area and told me that we need to secure our animals and get out of the building now! Turns out that their drilling released a toxic fume into the air. After hours of phone calls to our supervisor and curator, who were both off that day, we got clearance to re-enter the building. Apparently, the amounts were not high enough to really harm humans, despite several of us coming down with headaches, watery eyes, upset stomachs and stomach cramps. Once our supervisor and curator got there we were told that for the animal's safety we were to move them all out ASAP. This was music to our ears, as all of us keepers were so scared for our animals. On the other hand, we have over 250 animals in our building and it wouldn't be an easy task. It took 25 people (other departments came to help), over 7 hours to find places for the animals, tear down caging and set it back up in the new locations and physically move all the animals. It was a long night to say the least. In the end, all of the animals are safe, which is what matters most to us. Hopefully, we can find some way to make the original contractors liable. As for me, I have the bruises and scratches to prove the animal's reluctance to move out of their beautiful exhibits, and I am sore in places I didn't even know existed. So, if anyone asks me "how's work?", expect me to grunt and roll my eyes. On a happier note, I have today and tomorrow off to recoup. And after all of this, I'm sure I'll be happy to go back to work on Thursday. It's great to be able to say that I love my job...in good times and in bad!
Laura

Did someone say Super Bowl Party!?

With the Super Bowl only a week away, it's time for everyone to start plugging their ears and stop tuning in to ESPN for their "round the clock" Super Bowl coverage. We have plans to go to a party on Sunday for the game; something I personally don't like to do. However, as many of you know, I like a happy home, so we are going! Anyway, I was reading an article on Steve Czaban's website about Super Bowl parties, and I thought to myself, "Self, this is a sign. You need to show this." So, as much as I would love to take credit for this list, it is through the creativity of another that I have this. Without further adieu, here are the people most likely to come to YOUR Super Bowl party:

The Gambler: Sits there stone silent, rocking back and forth like Leo Mazzone. Spends inordinate amounts of time on cell phone during timeouts and halftime covering his mouth. Eventually erupts with either a loud “YES!” late (usually when the over hits) or a muttered string of expletives followed by a hasty exit without saying goodbye to anybody.
The Boozer: As soon as you said “free beer” he would have showed up to watch girls softball.
The Snoozer: Guy who can’t hold his liquor and BBQ and ends up slackjawed snoring by halftime.
The Jerry Markbre: Knows every rule in every situation and is always ready to let everyone know about it.
The Pete Morelli: Thinks he knows all the rules, but almost always misinterprets them.
The Bitter Fantasy Guy: Insists on recounting every trade his team made all year, before losing in the final.
The Chatty Kathy: Woman from work, who insists on yapping all game about office gossip.
The Coordinator: Guy who uses phrases like “Z-Whammy, Slot-Bingo” to pretend he knows the plays.
The Nostradamus: Fearlessly predicts every play before it happens. Eventually is right, and won’t shut up.
The Bitter Wife: Can’t understand why husband won’t leave when game is still going on in 4th quarter.
The Anti-Martha Stewart: Host with a paltry selection of food and snacks, but thinks its some great “spread.”
The Duece Staley: Guy who shamelessly drops a withering “deuce” in the bathroom.
The Scout: Single/divorced guy who spends way too much time in kitchen, working the ladies.
The Vocalist: Guy who shouts “ooh” and “ahhh” at even meaningless plays.
The Mel Kiper: Somehow claims to know at least a half dozen NFL or ex-NFL players personally.
The Bad Dad: Lets his son run around trashing the house, spilling food, and generally causing havoc.

Walk The Line

So, a while back my brother wrote a post on his blog about Walk The Line. Let me just say, that for once we agree on a movie. Wow...it really was amazing! They both deserve the awards that they got for their performances and I wish they'd get more. Joaquin and Reese were both very believable! It's over 2 hours long and isn't that action packed and somehow it still manages to keep your interest. I actually didn't want it to end. Dave loved it too! We both called our parents right after we left the theatre, urging them to go see it; and this is coming from someone who hates country music (Dave), and someone who the only thing she knows about Johnny Cash is a great song called Ring of Fire (me, obviously). Anyway, my point is... go see it. Or if you don't like going to movies, then buy it when it comes out. No need renting it, as the cost of doing that nowadays is half the price of owning it!
Laura

Talking About Nothing is Everything

Well, I have been nagged by Dave to get my butt in gear and write a few posts on our new blog. Yes, what that means is that all the previous posts were from my handsome honey, Dave. My brother seems to think the last post was mine because Dave's "are normally funny". Well, surprise! I guess I haven't written yet because it seems like my day to day activities aren't interesting enough to share with everyone. Except my mom of course. Dave is very right when he says that her and I could cut our phone conversations in half and still be talking about nothing! We tell each other what we had for supper, exactly what we did throughout the day, sometimes what we wore and I even remember a few occassions when we hung up because one or both of us expressed that we had to use the restroom. Well, what can I say? She's my mom and somehow I feel closer to her when we know everything going on in eachother's lives. O.K., not everything...but close. I mean back when I lived in Milwaukee we could sit for hours over a cup of coffee discussing boys (and by boys I mean Dave), clothes, money, my work, friends and much more. It sometimes felt like we were two teenagers gossiping in a school cafeteria. It was great! It's one of the things I miss the most about being away from home. So, no my "meaningless" conversations with my mom are never really "meaningless" and they'll never stop, as silly as they might sound to the outside listener. Dave knows this first hand, and although he sometimes makes fun of us (he often takes the phone away from me and "scolds" my mom-she loves it though), he will never ask me to stop. He respects me more than anyone EVER has...this is one of the many reasons I am marrying him! And that by the way, is the number one thing my mom and I discuss now-a-days. What color will this be, when will I try my dress on again, what will the centerpieces be, what readings, what linens, who will be there, what d.j., what photographer, etc. etc. etc. But, I love it... I am talking to my mom about the most perfect day of my life (even if all the qustions above never get answered or turn out completely wrong...it won't matter)!
Laura

Something's Gotta Give...

Do you ever just have those days where you need some sort of divine intervention to calm you down? Well, if anyone's listening up there, today is one of those days. It's not necessarily one thing or another, it's just a "group effort". Don't get me wrong, I love my life. I couldn't ask for a better script than the one that's playing out in front of my eyes. I know I am blessed and have been well taken care of, but sometimes I need more of a push. Patience; not my top virtue. I don't know, maybe I just need a good nights sleeps. Tomorrow is a new day and I am going to treat it like one. It'll take an army to bring me down from now on...

-Yesterday is history, today is a mystery, tomorrow is a gift!

Kobe goes off!!

So, not being the biggest basketball fan, I was about to not write a thing about this, but being a SPORTS fan, I feel obligated. Kobe Bryant went off for 81 points last night. 81 points!!! Now, I'm not comparing this to 100 points from "Wilt the Stilt", but c'mon, the guy absolutely went off. And let me pose this question to you, do you know the names of any of the other Lakers? Of course not because there main goal on the the team is to A.) Get Kobe the ball and, B.) Get out of the way. Nevertheless, this was an amazing performance from an amazing athlete. Notice, I say athlete, not person. I will never forget what Kobe was accused for in Colorado, but now I may think of last night and what he did before I think of anything else!

The King has Returned!

So, a few weeks ago a very sad thing happened in our house. My Playstation 2 passed away with little fuss. It kind of just died, mid-game mind you, and since then things have not been complete for me. Until now! I drove to the local Target store and purchased a new PS2. Very slim design, and with the ability for online gameplay built right in, unlike its predecessor that had to have an expansion pack put in place, I am at peace. My world is complete once again. I toyed with the idea of an Xbox instead, but that would be like starting over. My brother-in-law just purchased a new Xbox 360, which I am SUPREMELY jealous of, but that was just way out of my price range. So now, I wait for PS3, and enjoy all of my games once again until I can upgrade. Oh happy days...

01/21/2006

So, I guess we should really get this thing going! After a quick, but very enjoyable weekend last week, it's good to be home and it's good to be relaxing. I will admit, there is nothing like being back home with family and friends, but there is something different about coming home to a place of your own. And yes, the company down here in Texas (Laura), while not nearly the same as that in Wisconsin, makes it home:) So, here are some rantings and ravings for this week;

1. My favorite commercial right now...the NFL commercial featuring the Philadelphia Eagles. You know, the one where the players are in the locker room after the game and a kangaroo comes in posing as the new mascot so that it can steal some authentic apparel only to be confronted by the actual mascot of the Eagles!!! HILARIOUS!

2. Favorite show...24. Unfortunately we are experiencing some technical difficulties here that don't allow us to receive anything other than ABC and CBS, so here's hoping for a miracle. 5 years running and still going strong. Who doesn't love Jack Bauer???

3. I hate to say this, but I am getting sick and tired of Angelina Jolie. I mean, today I saw a little blurb that said, "What makes Angelina cry...". WHO THE HELL CARES!? I mean, is this the next Mother Teresa, or what? Don't get me wrong, I am a BIG fan of hers, most of the time, but enough is enough! I am going to personally lead a boycott right here in my own home. Even though Laura is in love with her, (a little too much at times me thinks), I am done hearing about her and how perfect she is. HOMEWRECKER!

4. Last but not least, I plan on foregoing my own wedding to marry Mandy Moore. Laura doesn't know about this yet, but I am sure she will be ok with it. C'mon, she's talented, beautiful and is just plain wholesome. I think I may have a pretty good chance at her. I mean, if I put on a little bit of the 'ol Dave charm, I could make this interesting. Huh, I like this idea...

5. FREE IDEA! Yes, this is the last one, I promise. STAR WARS EPISODE III finally got the recognition I think it deserves the other night. I know most people don't like Anakin (played by Hayden Christensen), but I think he did an absolutely masterful job of portraying a kid, really, that is lost in love and war. Bravo and kudos to George Lucas for the awards he has won. I got your back, George.

Alright, alright. I'll leave you all with a picture from the trip home. It's the fam, minus one brother-in-law, and including a very unhappy Nathan. Baby Grace is getting big...thank God for these pipes I have over here otherwise I would have been in trouble:)

1/11/2006

Well, my faithful sidekick has finally done something productive on her day off:)

As for this blog, it was inspired by the mind of a genius...(brownie points!?)...and is now in the hands of idiot savants. Our day to day lives are truly stories to be told, and to know us is to love us. Take care and enjoy the ride!