Friday, February 27, 2009

All Aboard the Colum-bus!

I wish I had posted each day of the Ohio trip with a clever title about Christopher Columbus...
Or Day 1: Nina, Day 2: Pinta, Day 3: Santa Maria because that would have been funny...
Oh 20/20 vision

I haven't taken many pictures since we've been here...but here's what I have:

On the flight from Orange County, we all took out the in-flight magazine to see what movie was playing (The Family Man--apparently we were on a flight in the year 2000).

I turned to the page with the crossword puzzle and asked if it was a travel faux pas to fill in the puzzle in a book that is left behind...We decided it would be best to fill one of our three out together. This way, someone could still enjoy the other two and marvel at our wisdom, having finished it.

We worked together, reading clues, making guesses...I was so happy: I love love crossword puzzles...

My favorite clue and answer in this puzzle:

Clue: Line sung by a group of men getting dressed?
Answer: Don we now our guy apparel

We were only two answers away from completion...then Jake gave up and found the answers in the back of the magazine. To be fair, they were words that none of us had heard before.


Then, Griff points out the paragraph in the bottom corner:
Evidently, you are more than welcome to fill out the puzzle in a book that is shared because there are plenty more to go around.
We landed in Dallas, ate some Chili's, and walked down to catch our connection. We boarded the plane by walking on to the tarmac and watching them load our luggage in...Jake made dozens of jokes comparing this plane to those in Kitale (it's actually a bigger plane there).


Griff's head was almost to the ceiling in his seat...and he was the only seat in his row (row of 3, row of 3, row of 3, Griff)


This looks like just the left-hand side of the plane...it's actually a view all the way across...
We saw this sign in the Columbus airport...apparently Pease is a lawyer now.
We had dinner at a pub called "Bag O' Nails": $2 appetizers and $5 entrees...so cheap, but really delicious...

The next morning we saw a sign for Hoover Dam, another for Northwest Passage

and then, from the drive-thru at Wendy's:


I apologize to those of you that are offended by this word, but I did not make this sign...I merely photographed it as proof that things are ridiculous in Columbus.


Everyone else arrived Thursday night or Friday morning: Jana and Leigh (and Lola), Jeff and Amanda, Kurt, Brian, Leo, Mike, Megan, the Fields family, Josh and Neely, Phil, Tim Timmons and band (including David Hughes).


Allison Murray's here, too...but I haven't seen her yet...and Riley, Brazel and Nadim are working in the store...have run in to Shan a few times already...what a fun mix of friends.

We're on Day 2 of the conference...I've had 9 hours of sleep in the last 2 days. I think Jake's had about 5...Griff had 11 last night...

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Oh, Stripey Sweaters...

Tonight as I sat in the lobby, a group of young guys (quite possibly a bunch of youth pastors) walked by.

I did a double-take and then laughed at myself...

I was sitting alone, waiting for Griff and Jake to meet me for dinner...so I had some spare time...

I made this list.

I (inevitably) double-take* for most males that meet this description:
Beard
Between twenty-two and thirty-two
Glasses**
Decent Shoes (No sandals or Pumas--I saw a lot of Puma today)
Stripey Sweater***

*The double-take is not necessarily a "maybe I could date this guy" second look. Sometimes it is a nod to his attire...sometimes it is because he looks like someone I know...sometimes it's because I am trying to hear what they are talking about (most commonly, this is the reason), and sometimes it is because I think "I'd like to have a boyfriend that looks like that"

**Glasses are not a must, but are an added bonus

***Stripey sweater counts more than all the others...well, maybe not more than beard.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Things I Have Learned In Ohio...Day 1

We flew in to Ohio last night for NYMC (several photos of the journey to be posted soon)...

Here's what I've learned so far in my first day:

1) I can navigate my way through any Target store...any state...

2) I hate Wal-Mart. (Oh, wait, I knew that already)

3) The best way to cure travel constipation is a Wendy's double-cheeseburger...seriously...

4) I really missed PaperMate pens while I was in Kenya

5) Columbus has a great deal of fake-sites to see: Hoover Dam and Northwest Passage to name a few

Stay tuned...I'd imagine this is only the beginning of my mid-west education.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Oscar! Oscar!

Well done, Hugh Jackman...
Seriously.



And the musical number?
Incredible.



I grew up watching the Oscars. We had a party almost every year; it was a big tradition. For the last few years, I've felt like the show has been a let-down. Not so this year...they stepped it up--and changed it up--enough to be fresh and really entertaining. I would love to be a part of making that night happen...how do I get in to that role?

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Nobody Nose...

Practice:Before:
During:



After:

My mom and dad are both pretty bummed about it...and I haven't seen Kurt yet, but I'd imagine he will feel the way they do...

I really like it, but I'm not sure I have enough outfits to match the look...yet...

Friday, February 20, 2009

Web Sudoku

I used to play Sudoku Online all the time. I would play for 5, 10, sometimes 30 minutes at night before I would go to bed...

Then, when I went to Kenya, internet became an expense; we had to watch how long we were online so that we didn't waste the minutes and run out. So, I cut out my nightly sudoku.

But, now that I'm back in America, I thought maybe I could get back in to it...

As it turns out, I do not enjoy it anymore...
All this free internet time and nothing to (su)do(ku).
I know, terrible...but worth a try...

Thursday, February 19, 2009

When Other Friendships A Bit Forgot, Ours Will Still Be Hot...

I arrived home on Monday and spent all day Tuesday with my very favorite friends:
Katie, Katie and Ryanne...oh, and Abby!

We met the Sarti Family for bagels, went to Starbucks, then went to have our nails done...
Then, we went out to the Shops at Mission Viejo to wander around and eat at Nordstrom's Cafe
Ryanne and I met Sue and the kids at Target and then I met my family for dinner at Lucille's...
What a memorable first full day!

So...What Do You Think?

Don't worry, mom...it's just a fake...for now.
I wore it all night to see if it bothered the people I was talking to...or if it was annoying to me.

I love it.
So, tomorrow, after work, Ryanne is taking me to have it done for real...
What do you think?

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Just Waiting

For iPhoto...
then I will have posts galore...

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Beginning This Week...

This blog will return in full-force...
That's right...I'll be back in America and my other blog will move to the back-burner...

Check it out.

My Last Valentine's Day...

I had a really great Valentine's Day yesterday...you can read about it HERE.

But, I was thinking about VD '08 and remembered it bringing about one of my all-time favorite blog posts.

Thought you might enjoy reading it...even if you read it last February.

Thursday, February 05, 2009

Am I?

I received a facebook message this morning asking if I am:

The Allison Hibbard that worked for Atlantic Southeast Airlines in the early 90's.

I said, no. I was only about 10 in the early 90's.

However, Allison Hibbard that did work for Atlantic Southeast Airlines...your friend Julie is looking for you. She's on facebook.