bahamas here we come!!

FIRST...On Thurs morning (at 6:00 am - sorry Ben for making you take us!) we leave for the Bahamas! I am so excited. Yesterday (after re-painting the bathroom - same color, just a new coat and a new white ceiling) Steve and I started making a list of things we needed and started piling up things in the guest room to pack. I have 3 reading books, two crossword puzzle books, 1 sodoku book, 1 photo hunt book, 1 ipod shuffle, 3 magazines, and some sun block. As long as I throw in a few bathing suits, I think I could be ready to go! :)

SECOND... Everytime we leave for extended periods of time, it seems to be the exact time that Beth's dad (Peevo) makes plans to come to the Pacific Northwest. He was here while we were in Greece and he will be here again while we are in the Bahamas. We are totally sad that we will miss him and are hoping we can make plans to do breakfast before he heads back to the East Coast. I know it doesn't seem like that big of a deal... your friend's dad is coming to town... and you will not be able to see him... SAD? YES! Totally sad. Peevo is awesome (even though he says he feels bad for Steve for having to put up with Beth and my antics). We are sad that we will miss him, but are happy that he took us up on the offer to stay at our house instead of a hotel. The empty green house will be happy for the company!

THIRD... Right now, while I blog, Steve is hand painting one part of the bathroom above the shower. The "paint line" between the shower and the wall wasn't straight and he is humoring me. I love him.

Vitamins

We had sunshine today!!! It is true. We woke up to a strange light coming through the bedroom curtains. We rubbed the sleep from our eyes and took a few minutes to register whether or not we were dreaming... but low and behold... WE HAD SUNSHINE!!

It was a perfect Sunday. The weather was low 70's. Beth and I started the day with a walk around Greenlake, a trip to central market for organic strawberries, and some good catching up. (thanks Bethie!).

After walking for my health, Jen and Owen and I headed South to the "Rain Cafe." (More commonly known as the "Rain Forest Cafe.") We saw the monkeys, the birds, the elephants, fish, butterflies, and, most importantly, the aligator that opens and closes its mouth while growling. Owen stroked my hair and said, "Don't worry Noni. It is not real." Next we headed to Macy's for the clinique bonus (Such a cute little pink bag!) and stopped at Ikea for a few choice items - one which included a plant for Owen that he loved so much he cried real tears when I tried to take it out of his sleeping hands in an attempt to save the plant from falling to the floor.

After the outing with Jen and O, Steve and I sat out on the back patio and played cards. Steve started watching tv, but reluctantly agreed to come outside and play games with me... just until the sun went down. I got some well needed vitamin D and absolutely loved today!!!

It wasn't that bad...

We completed the climb. We psyched ourselves up for the difficult task. We drank plenty of water. We lined up. We started the climb. We kept climbing. and climbing. Suddenly, there was a sign that said we were more than 1/2 way done. Well that wasn't too bad. Still climbing. Sweating. Climbing. Greg decides that everyone is strong enough to run the last 10 flights. Um, maybe the last 4? Ok. We ran. We climbed. We got pictures from the top!!!

Chicago...

Steve leaves in the morning for Chicago. He is going to a bachelor party for one of his closest friends. I am a little worried to have him gone... Everytime he gets with these Iowa friends I see the bank account slowly depleting, mysterious cash withdrawals - sometimes many in the same day, and unlimited purchases at all sorts of restaurants. My brother says to leave him alone and let him have fun. I am ok with him having fun. . . I am NOT ok with him forgetting that he is a responsible adult with a wife and a MORTGAGE!!! :)

While he is gone, I am going to go and spend the night at Bob and Kathi's, go to a yoga class in Bellingham with Kathi, have a sleep over with Jen and Owen, and do a climb for cancer. What is he going to do? I don't even dare ask!

Steve... BEHAVE!

Big Climb!

In two sundays, I will be climbing. Climbing 1311 stairs to the top of the Columbia Tower. I might die, but I am going to try to do it. Do it for a cause. I am very nervous and fear for the sanity of my legs, but I am going to try.

We are trying to raise money to help the cause... if you are interested in donating and supporting me on my journey to the top, click here to donate. http://www.llswa.org/goto/angien

Toddlers and Tiaras

Yes. I just spent two hours of my life watching that Toddlers and Tiaras show on TLC. I might have ruined a few brain cells by watching it, but I was sucked in! I can't believe this strange world that some people live in! SO WEIRD! and SO ADDICTING.

Desperate (and this may be TMI for some of you)

Ok. Before I start this one... I have some explaining to do (for all you out there that may be jumping to conclusions...) About three months ago I decided that I wanted to stop taking my birth control pills. NOT because I am ready to have a baby, and not because I want to throw caution to the wind and "see what happens" (I am way too much of a planner for that one!) but simply because I DO want my body to start regulating itself so when, WHEN I am ready to have a kid I won't have have to go through the stress of getting things back to normal. I have been on the pill for 10 years. 10 years of regular periods. 10 years of 28 days, no cramps, and semi-clear skin.

Anyway, on to the desperation. So, I stop taking my pills. I freak out for a few months waiting for "that time of the month" each month, HOPING that my alternative methods are just as effective (see, maybe TMI). I start to get regular, complete with very intense cramps and, yes, you guessed it. BAD SKIN. Skin like, as Beth would say, a 13 year old boy who eats too much pizza and doesn't wash his face. SAD. (Jen would say it was not that bad, but I feel differently!)

Now, I start using Proactive again. Nothing. Next, on to the natural face wash. NOPE. Ok, maybe Proactive again. Maybe the bottle I am using is expired? Nope. Well, maybe just a simple cleanser. Cetephil. Oh, and I heard that the Nepalise women have clear skin from splashing with cold water after washing. I will try that too. NOPE. So, I make an apt for the acupuncturist. Many sessions at $75 each and some herbs and I bail for the benefit of my bank account. What next? Well... I made an appointment for the dermatologist. However, as many of you know, you can make the appointment for the dermatologist, but you normally cannot get in to see the doctor for about 3 months. I will wait, but can I handle this... probably not. I am getting desperate. Hello my friend, internet. How I love you. Google + Natural Remedies for Acne = Garlic. Yes. Garlic.

So what am I supposed to do with the garlic? Grind it up and mix it with water. Ok. I got a grinder for my wedding. I pulled over a chair, got down the grinder, peeled two garlic gloves, grinded away, added water, and applied to my face. NOW... if you are considering trying this, BEWARE. IT STINKS and it STINGS!!!! So bad!!! Steve is away on a trip for the government. I am home alone, screaming in the bathroom. It stings like it is burning the top three layers of skin off! Do you think that is normal?

I wash off the stinging garlic, brush my teeth, vow to never do that again and go to bed. BUT, low and behold, in the morning things look slightly better. NO. It can't be? It might be in my head, but I really think it might have helped. The next night, I got home from work at 12:00, midnight. Grinded up another garlic. Applied, (the stinging was a little less severe), washed, and went to bed. Today, things seem even slightly better. Now I know this could all be in my head. I recognize the power of positive thinking, but I kind of think this natural detoxifier could be working.

I will keep you all updated, but I wanted to share my desparation for normal skin again. I know it seems crazy, but come on. I am almost 30! Shouldn't I be passed this stage of my life?

If the garlic and the dermatologist don't work... I may have to just forget this 'natural cycle' thing. The past 10 years have been fine. Why change something that is working? You know the saying, "if it is not broken, don't fix it" or something like that? I could live by that rule. I think.