Hello, My name is Chris Hansen and I'm from Dateline NBC

Is it me, or is everyone watching this show?

I wouldn't say that I am a faithful watcher of the program, but if I happen to be surfing the channels and it's on, I will watch it.

There is something to be said about the men that are caught on this show. How ridiculously dumb can they be to go online with a silly screen name (SexyGuyLuvsU, for instance) and look for young teenagers to meet up with. Even more ridiculous is how they show up at people's homes and think they are going to get lucky with teenagers.

My favorite part of the show is when they actually get arrested and come up with all kinds of excuses as to why they were in the house (my favorite was when a man said he was there to help a young girl do her homework - they later found lubricant and condoms in his car. Homework?)

While we wait for the next installment of the show, Mike and I have new screen names for when we are online: SexualKittyCat75 and YoungGatorLuvr007.

*I'm not trying to make light of these sexual predators, but this show portrays them as such idiots, I have to laugh.*

Heather's Wedding

Back from South Florida and already missing the sunshine and warm weather. We returned late this morning to more snow, slush, and ice. Somehow the humidity we experienced this weekend wasn't *that* bad.

More on the weekend in a future post. For now, I leave you with pictures from Heather's wedding...

Leaving... on a jet plane

My long-awaited trip to Miami is finally here! And while I really don't like Miami, I am looking forward to getting out of the freezing temperatures and gusty winds.

As far as I'm concerned, the stress of traveling began last night. It was nearly midnight when we finished packing, something I blame on myself due to a long week at work. But anyhow, as I was saying, the stress began last night.

Me: Have you taken out all the things you need for the weekend?

Mike: Like what? I have jeans and t-shirts out already.

Me: How about your suit, a shirt, and a tie that doesn't make you look like the biggest Republican in the place? And your square-toed shoes and dress socks?

Mike: Oh yeah, a suit.

Me: I can't wait to see Little Owen. I'm so excited.

Mike: We're going to see Owen and family? I didn't know that.

Me: Duh? Didn't I mention that we were going to a wedding? The wedding of a former college roommate? A roommate that I had when I was a student at the University of Florida and was a bleeding orange and blue gator? A roommate that was also roommates with my bff?

Mike: Oh, I must have not been listening.

Ugh.

The stress continued when I mentioned that we would be bringing my parents presents. Two carry on suitcases! That I got for free! Because if I actually went to Miami and bought my parents two suitcases, they wouldn't like them. But, since I told them I got them for nothing (FREE! GRATIS!), they are excited to receive them. Actually, I told them I had one, but with my excellent packing and organizational skills I was able to pack one into our regular suitcase and use the other one as a carry on for us.

Let me explain this: the thrill of getting a good quality anything is a success to Cubans, namely my parents. It helps even more if the good quality anything was free (FREE! GRATIS! NO TAX!). The other thing is that both my mother and I feel that the gifts we bring eachother are the greatest, most ingenius gifts ever known to man. We never stop to think that the pajamas my mom brought me could easily have been bought in my neighborhood mall or that the shampoo gift basket that I brought her could have been bought in Miami. We've been doing this for years, including the time I regifted my father a Waterford crystal eagle that I received at some charity dinner (I carried that baby on the plane with me, folks!).

But I digress... what was I talking about? Yes, stress. I am sure it will continue through the weekend. I have already heard word of my father cooking for us and packing his home cooking up in containers for us to bring back to Jersey (we can't get food up here, apparently). And there's no arguing with him, so we'll be eating his specialty dish for a few days after we get back.

I suppose I should just enjoy the attention from the family. Afterall, I'm their baby. And Mike, well, he's the greatest gringo they've ever met. I can't wait for my aunt to hug him and kiss him all over.

More on our adventures next week. And photos of us sweating in the hot south Florida sun and doing the white man's overbite to the Electric Slide!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Tagged Again

I've been tagged by the lovely Freckle Face Girl. I was hoping I wouldn't get tagged with this particular one, but I can't deny FFG. Here goes:

Six Weird Things About Me

1. I normally wake up in a good mood. By this, I mean that I am able to wake up and strike up a conversation. I rarely require coffee/caffeine to get me going. Anyone I have ever lived or vacationed with find this trait extremely annoying. I think my co-workers hate it too, since I am able to walk in to the office and immediately start chatting about anything and everything.
2. I am a first class organizer. Just look at my post from yesterday. If the bed isn't made every morning, I cannot function at work. I just keep thinking about how awful the room looks with multiple sheets all tangled up. If Mike leaves after me, I practically have to bed him to make the bed. If it doesn't get made, I will come home and regardless of the time, make the bed. I arrange all my shirts on hangers and they all must face the same direction. I like to clean the fridge out every few days and rearrange the items.
3. When watching television or listening to the radio, the slightest melodramatic music or voice will scare me. For as long as I can remember, I have not been able to watch Unsolved Mysteries. The host's voice really freaks me out. And I don't like the element of surprise in mysteries. Ironically, I love shows like Lost, Law and Order - SVU and CI, and Criminal Minds.
4. I tape the Rachael Ray show every single day even though I am completely irritated by her. There is something about watching the show (sometimes on fast forward) and making fun of her butt and her terrible interviewing skills that brings joy to my day.
5. I love shopping on online. I used to be skeptical about eBay, but now, I am a huge fan. I buy all kinds of things online: books, music, movies, soap, shampoo and conditioner, cotton balls. With the exception of clothes and shoes, I have probably bought it online.
6. I am a coupon clipper. I love the thrill of using coupons every week at the grocery store and saving over $10. My obsession with coupons is so extreme, I have joined a coupon train group.

How's that for weird? There are many more weird things about me, but I thought these things revealed a lot about me and everyday personality.

I am tagging my bff on this one. She's even weirder than I am.

More Changes

Subtle, yes, but changes none-the-less. I've taken your comments (all four of them!) very seriously, as you can see. Like I said previously, I don't know the codes or html, so changes things dramatically is difficult. But I am trying.

Again, all comments are appreciated.

For now, I leave you with the result of an afternoon of organzing my linen closet:

I am not well, folks. Look at my hallway linen closet. Doesn't it make you want to vomit? Come on, I know you just threw up in your mouth a little. :)

More closet cleaniness. This time, the lower portion of the closet. Notice all the cleaning supplies at the bottom? They are located right next to Mike's numerous Ace bandages.