tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63017254459611830732024-03-05T08:20:53.834-06:00From Retirement to Preschool"Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one." -Dr. Seussjuliebrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13762457500166978963noreply@blogger.comBlogger93125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301725445961183073.post-80319129293329314852014-03-22T12:39:00.000-05:002014-03-22T12:39:48.711-05:00i got a massage.<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yesterday, Michael and I got massages. It was the second massage I've ever gotten. It was nice, but it was also weird.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Things that were nice:</span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The massage part. That was nice.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The calming piano music.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The masseuse used this really nice lotion and made my dead winter skin feel less horrible.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After the massage, they gave us a plate of Hershey Kisses, a few Reese's and some honey twist pretzels. Like straight up Rold Gold:</span></li>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.taquitos.net/im/sn/roldgoldhoneywheat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.taquitos.net/im/sn/roldgoldhoneywheat.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Classy post-massage snacking.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Things that were weird:</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There were a bunch of towels on my massage table and I didn't know what to do with any of them, so I just got under all of them. That was wrong. I was supposed to lie on top of one and under the other. Oops.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My face was a little too small for the face hole on the massage table, so it sometimes felt like I was choking.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My masseuse was very sweet and laughed every time I didn't know what to do in a massage, but she also kept calling me "lady." For example:</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Is this good, lady?"</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Are you comfortable, lady?"</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Lady, it is time to turn over."</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Massage is over, lady."</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Thank you, lady."</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Also, everyone was whispering and whispers make me uncomfortable. Brunners don't whisper.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For part of it, I had to let my arms hang over the table and they kept falling asleep, so I kept wiggling my fingers and accidentally hit the masseuse. She was nice so she just laughed, but that was weird and I am still weird.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Butt massage. Enough said.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At one point, I had to flip over, but didn't know what to do, so I basically just grabbed every towel, not realizing she actually placed them in various places for a reason, so (after she laughed, because she was nice) she had to re-arrange the whole table again. I was probably less coordinated than this lion:</span></li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://mastermassagetables.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Foot-Massage-Lion-Atop-a-Master-Massage-Table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://mastermassagetables.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Foot-Massage-Lion-Atop-a-Master-Massage-Table.jpg" height="246" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Why is a lion better at massages than I am? I HAVE OPPOSABLE THUMBS!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When we paid, the people specifically asked if we could pay in cash. We may or may not have contributed to something illegal.</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">However, my body does feel good and it no longer hurts to move, so I will count it as a win.</span></div>
</div>
juliebrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13762457500166978963noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301725445961183073.post-69199764203883971662013-10-17T21:11:00.000-05:002013-10-17T21:11:25.306-05:00biker.<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sometimes I try to be cool enough for my students. It's difficult. There's a lot of them, and they're all really cool. 77 Jumpstart students, 8 student workers, and 23 students in my class. And I have to be awesome enough for all of them, with their hip language and trendy clothes and technological knowledge.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To help with this, I recently got some new boots. They are black, over-the-knee boots with golden stirrups. I KNOW. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yes, I feel uncomfortable and really grown-up when I wear them (spoiler alert: I'm not a real grown-up).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Yes, I feel like a biker chick when I wear them (spoiler alert: I'm not a biker chick).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.elle.com/cm/elle/images/g7/Slouchy-boots-and-sweatshirt-lgn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.elle.com/cm/elle/images/g7/Slouchy-boots-and-sweatshirt-lgn.jpg" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This biker chick is not me.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Yes, I look like a real New Yorker when I wear them (spoiler alert: I'm not a real New Yorker).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And most importantly, yes, my students told me they were cool. They actually used the word "poppin'," which according to the quality source, The Urban Dictionary, means:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1. An ill party that is in full swing.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2. To get (something) started.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I think that means I'm kind of hip? (spoiler alert: I might not really be that hip, but I do have some awesome boots).</span></div>
</div>
juliebrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13762457500166978963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301725445961183073.post-8153832351207938702013-07-17T15:55:00.002-05:002013-07-17T15:55:11.099-05:00sometimes you're horrible, nyc.<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So I'm sure that NYC seems awesome. Lots of people really like it. I mean, there's the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge and Broadway shows and we're the city that never sleeps and all that stuff, but it's also kind of horrible here. And by horrible, I mean that it literally smells like dying, decomposing death everywhere. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Especially now, in the 10,000,000 degree heat where 100,000,000 people put their trash out on the streets on trash day, which seems to be every single day. And those black bags of death sit in the direct sunlight so that you can't walk down the street without continually gagging.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cbsnewyork.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/trash2.jpg?w=300" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://cbsnewyork.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/trash2.jpg?w=300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">WHY DID THIS PERSON THROW AWAY THAT FAN!? <br />Don't they know it's 10,000,000 degrees?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Especially now, in the 10,000,000 degree heat where that nasty pile of vomit next to the bench in your subway platform is literally festering and the smell seems to be spreading all the way to the other end of the platform where you like to stand.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Especially now, in the 10,000,000 degree heat where you have to walk everywhere and then stand in suffocating underground subway platforms while sweating profusely, and then have to cram into overcrowded subway cars with a gazillion other sweaty, smelly people, where your face always seems to end up directly in some tall guy's armpit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fastcoexist.com/multisite_files/coexist/imagecache/960/poster/2013/04/1681880-poster-1280-nyc-subway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://www.fastcoexist.com/multisite_files/coexist/imagecache/960/poster/2013/04/1681880-poster-1280-nyc-subway.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Dear Guy in the Middle, <br />I feel the same way. <br />Love, Julie</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Especially now, in the 10,000,000 degree heat when a simple task like walking to the grocery store 3 blocks away because you forgot you have absolutely no food at home results in you sweating so much you have to come home and shower and by the time you finish, you're not even hungry anymore (this is my new diet. I'm going to be the skinniest ever). And then, when you actually motivate yourself to eat dinner, you regret it immediately when you remember you have to use your oven and/or stove and end up just opting for cereal dinner instead.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Especially now, in the 10,000,000 degree heat when your tiny window unit air conditioner only cools half of one room of your apartment.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Especially now, in the 10,000,000 degree heat when you get dressed for work and end up completely drenched by the time you actually get to your office. Cute.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But at least my favorite frozen yogurt place is only one block away!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mamayogurt.com/Contact%20Us%20Montage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.mamayogurt.com/Contact%20Us%20Montage.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yeah. I will eat you every day.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
juliebrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13762457500166978963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301725445961183073.post-74823813503305336262013-06-16T21:47:00.001-05:002013-06-16T21:47:29.928-05:00uv, i will never let go.<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I have blue eyes. Which is great when I get compliments or when they match my clothes, but it isn't so great when I possibly get macular degeneration in the future.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Which I'm terrified about. I've been trying to wear sunglasses a lot more to protect my weak blue eyes, except I really hate sunglasses. I hate how they make everything look dull and sad. And how they slide down my nose. And how they always break in my purse. And how they squeeze my temples. And how they always get a scratch right in my line of vision. But mostly I hate how they make things dull and sad. It's the worst. I don't like seeing everything in sepia tones. Ew.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So, I've been having this whole guilt issue going on for a couple of months. I know that it's probably just because Brunners are really good at what we call "the guilt factor" and I might not get macular degeneration, but us Brunners have "the guilt factor" perfected. I think it all stems from the fact that we were were those children who weren't really yelled at or spanked or anything, instead we were "disappointed in," which slowly sucks your soul from the inside until you feel so guilty about the fact that you yelled at your mom when she asked you to do the dishes that you sit in your room crying until you decide to write a sappy apology note and leave it on her pillow. This note usually tells her just how wrong you were to do such a terrible thing and tells her how much you love her and never want her to be disappointed in you ever again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So, here's the guilt factor in action:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I really don't want to get macular degeneration so I've been wearing sunglasses more, but I really hate sunglasses so I haven't been wearing them as much as I should, so when I'm outside and decide not to wear them because I hate them, all I can think about is how I should be wearing them, but when I wear them, all I can think about is how I hate sunglasses.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This is real life.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">But then, I was sitting in my bedroom one afternoon, attempting to organize my dresser and instead staring blankly at my spare contacts and noticed that...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">THEY HAVE UV PROTECTION! How did I not know this? My life will never be the same.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn.aclens.com/l/lensphotos/acuvue-oasys-contact-lenses-lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://cdn.aclens.com/l/lensphotos/acuvue-oasys-contact-lenses-lg.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Guilt factor disengaged. Everything is going to be okay.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Bring. It. On. Sunshine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">P.S. don't worry, Doctors Brunners, I still wear sunglasses and I have cut back on staring directly into the sun.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/TTUQyEr-sg0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span>juliebrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13762457500166978963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301725445961183073.post-64021304277856925852013-06-11T21:14:00.001-05:002013-06-11T21:14:54.576-05:00professor julie.<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">If you are the majority of my friend population that doesn't live in NYC and isn't related to me, you might not know that I am now an official Adjunct Professor at St. John's University. You also might not know that I found my first ever grey hair, glimmering in the fluorescent light of the bathroom. I think this must mean I'm an official adult, so I've devised a list of adult-y things I've decided I must now do:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">1. Shower daily. It's the worst. My mother has been trying to make me do this for about 20 years. You win, Mom. You win.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">2. Eat avocados. Adults love avocados, which means I do, too. Especially when they're like this: </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://morselsandmusings.blogspot.com/2011/09/grilled-avocado-w-melted-cheese-hot.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://media-cache-ec2.pinimg.com/736x/04/0c/92/040c927c87bed53fd9ced781b7a06c8f.jpg" width="240" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Hello avocados, don't you look mature?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And since I'm so mature and grown-up, that means I can eat them every night if I want to. Because that's what adults do--whatever they want. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">3. Spend my money on furniture and real-life things. I now own a lamp, two decorative pillows, two dressers, and two side tables. Things are getting wild up here in Astoria!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">4. Go grocery shopping. Unfortunately, New York City is not conducive to grocery shopping, but it is conducive to ordering in food. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Everyone: "But, Julie! What if you divide all your delivery meals into two so that you can take it for lunch the next day?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">My Budget: "Julie, you're not that cool. You don't have money. Go suck on an ice cube or something."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> My budget is not my friend.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />5. Try out some weird fad diet so I don't look frumpy at my friends wedding this summer. And by "weird fad diet," I mean the Eat-One-Avocado-for-Every-Meal-because-you-can't-Afford-Much-Else-Unless-Michael-Decides-to-feed-you diet. But I'm also going to exercise because that is also something that adults do. Also, Grammy once told me that you lose weight if you get a full night's sleep, so that's definitely going to happen. Oh, 9pm bedtime, I've missed you so!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">6. Go to the eye doctor because I haven't been there in approximately forever and I can't see out of my contacts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">7. Go to sophisticated events in NYC. Last week, AJ and I went to see Shakespeare in the Park in Central Park. Sure it rained the entire time as we huddled under AJ's rain slicker, but it's the price you have to pay for culture.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">8. Learn how to do my hair in beautiful ways like this: </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache-ak1.pinimg.com/236x/d6/be/61/d6be618dd048ff08fa90adf65ad9260d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache-ak1.pinimg.com/236x/d6/be/61/d6be618dd048ff08fa90adf65ad9260d.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I don't understand how to even start doing this.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Sincerely, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Professor Julie Brunner</span>juliebrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13762457500166978963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301725445961183073.post-49954121955736594102013-04-25T16:39:00.000-05:002013-04-25T16:53:35.935-05:00shark kitten.<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So it turns out that Michael has always wanted a hairless cat. Yes, I know. It's weird. But the other day, I was walking to dinner and stopped in the pet shop to look at the bunny selection (which was adorable, as usual) and noticed they had two hairless cats for sale (which were extremely creepy and weird looking). </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After dinner and a pep-talk from Michael that I am under no circumstances allowed to let him buy a hairless cat and charge it to his credit card, we went back to look at them. Then weird things happened and I found myself in one of the petting booths with the hairless cat and someone was putting it in my arms and it was SO SOFT I WANTED TO DIE. I know. It looks like Lord Voldemort, but it was so soft and cuddly I didn't know what to do with myself (aka I kind of liked it).</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.</td></tr>
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Apparently hairless cats are more like dogs than they are like cats, which I like. And it kept cuddling up to me, which I like. And it gave me a little nose kiss on my cheek, which I like. But then we found out they cost $1,000, which I don't like.</div>
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Normally I don't really like any cats, even the ones with hair. Because I think they're rude and creepy and really gross when they're fat, but then I saw this cat...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">...and I NEED him in my life. I need that little duckling, too, obviously, but look at that cat. He's incredible. Of course he is riding around on a Roomba in a shark suit. What else would you expect him to do? Obviously that's normal and amazing and so very perfect.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Wanting this cat is a big step in my life because h</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">onestly, I'm terrified of sharks and I'm terrified of kittens. Like irrationally afraid of both. Yes, it's reasonable to be scared of sharks because they're horrifying and huge and will rip your limbs off and I've read far too many stories in the Reader's Digest about innocent swimmers who end up battling for their lives while a shark, who unexpectedly swam up river into fresh water, is gnawing off their leg or something and then they miraculously survive because they punch the shark in it's nose or something, but I know that kittens won't do those things. They're just weird and scratchy and jump at me. And if there is one thing I don't like, it's when things jump out at me. Things like cats and ghosts and piranhas. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But I think I could get used to shark kitten.</span></div>
juliebrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13762457500166978963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301725445961183073.post-62792852838974177522013-02-14T20:11:00.001-06:002013-02-14T20:11:55.329-06:00why did i do that?<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Last weekend, I made mussels for dinner. It was terrifying. I didn't like it at all. I'm probably never going to do that again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">First of all, I had to go to the fish place and I had no idea what I was doing. </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Let me just add that it was snowing/sleeting while I was walking to the fish store. Sideways hail pellets were slamming into my face. And my boots were leaking.</span> Additionally, I grew up in the middle of the country and I honestly have no idea how to buy mussels. I think I can count the times I've ever even eaten mussels on three fingers. Luckily, they had a bag of mussels that I dug out of some ice and it was the perfect amount for my recipe and it was ONLY $6! (I'm still probably never going to make them again).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So I took them home and made this fancy tomato sauce (I might do this part again) and started cleaning the mussels. I read online that if there is one that is open, that means it is dead, and I could see an open one in my bag o' mussels, which made me really nervous because I really didn't want to touch it. What if it oozed out onto my fingers? Or was rotting and smelled really bad?</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Hey mussels. You're in my sink. I really don't know what to do with you.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span id="goog_734408535">So I started scrubbing the mussels to get all the dirt off of them and noticed that there are weird little strings coming out of them. At first I just thought they were disgusting so I started throwing them away, but after I googled "how do I cook mussels and clean them and what are those little strings coming out of them" I realized that I'm supposed to pull the strings, aka "beards," OUT OF THE MUSSEL WITH MY FINGERS! Gross. It makes a crunch sound when you pull it out, in case you were wondering.</span><span id="goog_734408536"></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">For a while, I was just going along, semi-grossed out, pulling out the little beards, until I ran into a shell that had A CREEPY FLAT SNAIL ATTACHED TO IT! It was probably a blood sucking leech in a shell. There is no other explanation.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip52xJ4HyXun-bbiZhRBm609UBOrYSzxXQEjgVbzyskwk4AxQFEWSt6RPcifyRwL9M6vAkFnQnaSWzTX2rz4bsGKoo1XnHLHig7iUvN0HLKec5d1o5mgM6DaIy32_j2ztwNk8TS7AwSTQ/s1600/photo+2-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip52xJ4HyXun-bbiZhRBm609UBOrYSzxXQEjgVbzyskwk4AxQFEWSt6RPcifyRwL9M6vAkFnQnaSWzTX2rz4bsGKoo1XnHLHig7iUvN0HLKec5d1o5mgM6DaIy32_j2ztwNk8TS7AwSTQ/s320/photo+2-1.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">What is that little leech thing?!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So I decided to push that mussel and leach to the side until Michael came over and could throw it away. Continuing my cleaning, I kept searching for that mussel that was open and dead, but I couldn't find it. Only then did I realize THEY ARE STILL ALIVE! AND THEY WERE OPENING AND SHUTTING WHILE I WAS CLEANING THEM! Like little, gooey monsters.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">You see that little guy? With his shell open, ready to clamp some fingers? Not okay.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">After cleaning, I waited until Michael was over to steam them because I was struggling, emotionally because I was traumatized and physically because I scrubbed the top of my thumb off with the scrubbie so I was gushing blood. I was also afraid that they would scream like lobsters or do some other creepy thing when you cook them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Well we finished them. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Michael liked them. I ate a loaf of bread.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I didn't like it. Not one bit.</span>juliebrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13762457500166978963noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301725445961183073.post-38570815133059708892013-02-06T17:28:00.000-06:002013-02-06T17:28:06.948-06:00happy new year/february!<style>
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</style> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">My first blog of the New Year was going to be about
blogging more frequently, but now it’s February. So I’ll write about
Louisville instead. Why? Oh because the best sister in the world lives there,
that’s why. And Olive. Olive lives there, too, and she’s the cutest puppy in
the world. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sure, sometimes Oliv</span>e is terrifying and we have to put her in a blanket straight-jacket,</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Hey Olive. Don't look at me like that.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">and sometimes she will stand by the couch every morning with her face on my pillow making little whining noises,</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwgKYd0HWHLkwN22mz31ctzccjKB0LvuMJJNayu5al5HwGmb2L0e_MP6GzuMyFylZc9sVnKZXFvWbPPd_yiJA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">and sometimes when we come home from the wine shop she yanks Rachel's hand while trying to chase an invisible nothing and makes Rachel drop our new bottle of wine (it was $17! This puppy is really getting expensive), </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Oh wine, we will remember you forever by the stain on the sidewalk.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">but sometimes she's precious and we dance around the kitchen.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">F is for friends who do stuff together.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And she thinks Rach and me are the best. And the coolest, because we are now rebels with ear piercings and cute, trendy shoes from the Zappos outlet who drink mint juleps. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"Mom doesn't like it when you call me Rach!" -Rachel</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2OlXyA2xzH3sgfIUydxLvzbR0azdaDPglFRDq0MHplYJ9klEfKkzC1L2h2nEAxb57wpY8yuMbFhmuI49oDn2ZmzORsgNuAG6tqzLhgjIVqYXH9ou1sF5WxwpctElaX0LGVJYq5exMWw/s1600/photo-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2OlXyA2xzH3sgfIUydxLvzbR0azdaDPglFRDq0MHplYJ9klEfKkzC1L2h2nEAxb57wpY8yuMbFhmuI49oDn2ZmzORsgNuAG6tqzLhgjIVqYXH9ou1sF5WxwpctElaX0LGVJYq5exMWw/s320/photo-2.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Mint julep snow cone perfection.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So we did 1000000 fun things like go to a basketball game with Rachel's friends,</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9MNpSg_jl1sLNU051HWDTevfs5CCu_mY0ROo-cPVLqs9A0A4DamcMoQPQq_iBykaVFTDQK4b8WuMNOtQHaFcShDdjKeFpPAi4RnBKSLXqJKh3z57lr5yHjPf5dbguFjGOhrCAfMzZtlU/s1600/735050_10101243316899920_128391240_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9MNpSg_jl1sLNU051HWDTevfs5CCu_mY0ROo-cPVLqs9A0A4DamcMoQPQq_iBykaVFTDQK4b8WuMNOtQHaFcShDdjKeFpPAi4RnBKSLXqJKh3z57lr5yHjPf5dbguFjGOhrCAfMzZtlU/s320/735050_10101243316899920_128391240_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The sportiest of times!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> and drink Middle Sister wine because we're middle sisters,</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1rBoq6_AiiLKjLwiZsr4C4RVehPWLHMhJUEZU4TXx2H0T-sinQtSaeCmgOaCsSAIm94t5LWGFw_yqzB0H6i06VcyZr4g_iOaP9AovTp1YDdp72RW7rQEg6YlIvmCIoeWK0mDHdoYqxM/s1600/photo-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1rBoq6_AiiLKjLwiZsr4C4RVehPWLHMhJUEZU4TXx2H0T-sinQtSaeCmgOaCsSAIm94t5LWGFw_yqzB0H6i06VcyZr4g_iOaP9AovTp1YDdp72RW7rQEg6YlIvmCIoeWK0mDHdoYqxM/s320/photo-3.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">U is for you and me!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">and watch movies with Olive,</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhknliToIhNqzLonWSBjEcl2C5PtafCWnBvxCuPWZR9IgN4s12DIrSMBbNzeBDCXYYXzYB2nDU8Xr-xZpvwtIf_2BABHrFEcp9_gIDvwgu2HX4wszjz_FkoBl4VdDJu7l61-Mfopc4m3mM/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhknliToIhNqzLonWSBjEcl2C5PtafCWnBvxCuPWZR9IgN4s12DIrSMBbNzeBDCXYYXzYB2nDU8Xr-xZpvwtIf_2BABHrFEcp9_gIDvwgu2HX4wszjz_FkoBl4VdDJu7l61-Mfopc4m3mM/s320/photo+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Olive isn't a very good couch buddy.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">and paint sheds outside in the 15 degree weather for community gardens, </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSpnbO7lBohjmr2gSQ91prdAqkLZnls-R6iK-d0HYwn0EIdZDm2eW3ShOeG3fRd8ia7CkPVWMWArIoDB7E_yCvzukBiBL-ZHThR7Jm6WS3d9a9pgTUwh5ghyphenhyphenCGBS5aP5hErSoqsGBp80/s1600/photo-5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSpnbO7lBohjmr2gSQ91prdAqkLZnls-R6iK-d0HYwn0EIdZDm2eW3ShOeG3fRd8ia7CkPVWMWArIoDB7E_yCvzukBiBL-ZHThR7Jm6WS3d9a9pgTUwh5ghyphenhyphenCGBS5aP5hErSoqsGBp80/s320/photo-5.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">N is for anywhere and any time at all down here in the deep blue sea.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">and go to fancy bars wearing cheetah pants.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8PhtwwXaIC8NZG4Xm_Oy2BUIqcWokErTV1le0z9LePLxs6QdNaamLlJ3oB3j-Oc2p5nKYV5rwa-nIXJnWERGyfjagEclM61zArg7zGimOCFBKbLh9CDR3SGjvrj2eCo8LN_cJ8db6okw/s1600/32181_10101243480666730_1902832815_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8PhtwwXaIC8NZG4Xm_Oy2BUIqcWokErTV1le0z9LePLxs6QdNaamLlJ3oB3j-Oc2p5nKYV5rwa-nIXJnWERGyfjagEclM61zArg7zGimOCFBKbLh9CDR3SGjvrj2eCo8LN_cJ8db6okw/s320/32181_10101243480666730_1902832815_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">She's trendy and runs really fast.</span><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">and do arts and crafts together, and eat Chinese food, and bike to the grocery store, and make Ecuadorian feasts, and eat lots of ice cream, and go to Old Navy, and go to puppy wine shops, and have the best most fun sister time ever!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/AtJGOqAq2m8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span>juliebrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13762457500166978963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301725445961183073.post-79500135926853080542012-10-17T20:17:00.000-05:002012-10-17T20:17:00.629-05:00ice cream girl: an inspiration for us all.<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Today on the subway, I saw a girl around my age shamelessly eating a pint of ice cream straight from the container. That means without a spoon. Literally shoving it into her face. She had even torn down the sides so she could get all the way to the bottom. And I love her. And I think everyone should hear about her. And she inspired me to be a better person. And she also inspired me to eat ice cream for dinner. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And I'd like to tell you about it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I took a little of this:</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://items.olioboard.com.s3.amazonaws.com/4961_286x286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://items.olioboard.com.s3.amazonaws.com/4961_286x286.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ice cream is better in a mug.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Then I took a little bit of this:</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvo6I5Y12VyEWfCnBm-TjIGlQmvFvGU_JY9zMq9cXmQ6jZC6ZtHCbuLdyQC-mSVcMRBnqn3u5gqEgDyNrVyCbxkIyouZPuFbHWWTsNF8FCUhJCxhSSyO2uBWV-ki0LF0Db1Z5UHBq_YsDK/s1600/BreyersBlasts_GoldenOREO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvo6I5Y12VyEWfCnBm-TjIGlQmvFvGU_JY9zMq9cXmQ6jZC6ZtHCbuLdyQC-mSVcMRBnqn3u5gqEgDyNrVyCbxkIyouZPuFbHWWTsNF8FCUhJCxhSSyO2uBWV-ki0LF0Db1Z5UHBq_YsDK/s320/BreyersBlasts_GoldenOREO.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Yeah. This totally exists. You're welcome.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And added a little bit of this:</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsvgdFsKxYEEtmuDQ8GLlP7LYPdHVWjh1Bw9VgyiPgRLtq2CYPBv8itiqPIr7-h7r2hjOoHoXd0PykvvXXo6Kl8TKzTj_VWfg5fxeAQ91Xib4wKyHbw-EOtKBICIb0h1qvG6gnPqBC9b8/s400/breyers_strawberry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsvgdFsKxYEEtmuDQ8GLlP7LYPdHVWjh1Bw9VgyiPgRLtq2CYPBv8itiqPIr7-h7r2hjOoHoXd0PykvvXXo6Kl8TKzTj_VWfg5fxeAQ91Xib4wKyHbw-EOtKBICIb0h1qvG6gnPqBC9b8/s400/breyers_strawberry.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Real ice cream. Real strawberries. Real dream come true.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And stuck in one of these:</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.wikia.com/powerlisting/images/0/0c/SPOON.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://images.wikia.com/powerlisting/images/0/0c/SPOON.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This spoon is much nicer than my actual spoon.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And I topped it all off with one of these:</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.likecool.com/Home/Seating/Coffin%20Couch/Coffin-Couch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://www.likecool.com/Home/Seating/Coffin%20Couch/Coffin-Couch.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Our couch is just like this except more couch-like and less coffin-like. Also, it's not purple.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Because sometimes you just need to sit on your couch and shamelessly shove ice cream in your face while you listen to folk music and paint your nails.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br /><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://1.gvt0.com/vi/_BsZt_3MifU/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_BsZt_3MifU&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_BsZt_3MifU&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
juliebrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13762457500166978963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301725445961183073.post-34351356705792724132012-10-15T21:11:00.005-05:002012-10-15T21:11:48.181-05:00I forgot.<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Oh hello there. I forgot that I had a blog for a month. My bad.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I also forgot to tell you I went to a zoo wedding for my friends Erin and Tim in St. Louis. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiojk7WAf8fTgRpCC3rtFF-HPdfiAjXGx9qOyY1NMMnRK9qDTIPqE3L6fGjBF_OpTTAzBIz0E-tdk58sTGiPK8KeYNEYTm1TQp5KJaOkAk9BLAh1ukf8-WhZxXdrdSvSGMRXDfvmps6eDk/s1600/331024_10101044137941150_950689533_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiojk7WAf8fTgRpCC3rtFF-HPdfiAjXGx9qOyY1NMMnRK9qDTIPqE3L6fGjBF_OpTTAzBIz0E-tdk58sTGiPK8KeYNEYTm1TQp5KJaOkAk9BLAh1ukf8-WhZxXdrdSvSGMRXDfvmps6eDk/s320/331024_10101044137941150_950689533_o.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This is the zoo. And a waterfall. And friends.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I forgot to tell you about my brother and my new sister's wedding. It was the best of times. Sometimes I listen to the songs they played at their wedding and pretend like it's still happening.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXiqyc0PgwYbwncP2C81QapekOa9OE4b-n3CiCg0FucmhnoDEzfCliwLxOI9YBbnbhGIhgAW_CbxKVTvBrRgv3FD2GCvBqRa1VnN9oEBDSmvTGT0MrdgEpek8lI1psqZCT3lv-TQEcqfE/s1600/375902_3929041066669_935052645_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXiqyc0PgwYbwncP2C81QapekOa9OE4b-n3CiCg0FucmhnoDEzfCliwLxOI9YBbnbhGIhgAW_CbxKVTvBrRgv3FD2GCvBqRa1VnN9oEBDSmvTGT0MrdgEpek8lI1psqZCT3lv-TQEcqfE/s320/375902_3929041066669_935052645_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I forgot that Andy is exactly 1 foot taller than me. Rachel forgot to smile.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I forgot to tell you about Brunner Missouri reunion. For one weekend only, the Brunner children reconvened in Jefferson City for
the first time in 100000 years or something. Oh. It was good.</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Uw3OPWaw4ap0GMav33s-XEs05u1WIxBcnBk2e0LniuRnrBC7gFRKxBSmmURyTFnAQtOJg771_RQiN-Zi2QTSJScxskdPHKalYjoPfrK9PfnBC2W4_XFGygCSsxMiwd4QzDk6MnCN6mw/s1600/photo-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Uw3OPWaw4ap0GMav33s-XEs05u1WIxBcnBk2e0LniuRnrBC7gFRKxBSmmURyTFnAQtOJg771_RQiN-Zi2QTSJScxskdPHKalYjoPfrK9PfnBC2W4_XFGygCSsxMiwd4QzDk6MnCN6mw/s320/photo-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Togetherness.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> I forgot that scarves exist. I should start wearing them again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I also forgot that I should wear a coat when it's cold outside. And I forgot that 64 degrees actually isn't that warm.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I forgot how blue my eyes are. Luckily, some random guy on the Q2 bus reminded me</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Q2 boy: <i>(takes off headphones) </i>I was just sitting here, trying to listen to my music, but I couldn't because I keep getting distracted by your beautiful eyes. What is your heritage?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Me: <i>(awkward laugh)</i> Um, I guess German and Irish and Scandinavian. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Q2 boy: You have the eyes of an angel. You look like a teacher, are you a teacher?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Oh yeah, I also forgot that I look like a teacher. It's probably because I look just like this, except in color:</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.afashionablestitch.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/doris-day-teachers-pet3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.afashionablestitch.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/doris-day-teachers-pet3.jpg" width="305" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Julie Brunner. October 2012.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I forgot that I should clean my apartment occasionally. Not today, but occasionally. I wish little Logan the Bed Fairy were here to make sure I cleaned and to put a little candy on my pillow whenever I make my bed. Yes, that is actually a real life part of my childhood.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />I forgot how much I have to work in the fall. A lot.</span>juliebrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13762457500166978963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301725445961183073.post-40846459232073424692012-08-16T09:18:00.001-05:002012-08-16T09:18:33.882-05:00coney island.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.westland.net/coneyisland/titlepic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="http://www.westland.net/coneyisland/titlepic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This past weekend, Sara, Scott and I went to Coney Island. There are a lot of awesome things and there are a lot of gross things about Coney Island. Nothing in the middle.</span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Things that are gross about Coney Island.</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">1. Those plastic gloves. There were weird, used plastic gloves in the bathroom stall. And I also saw one on the beach. Ew.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">2. Lack of clothes. Lots of people decided it would be a good idea to take of some/most of their clothes and walk around the boardwalk. I mean, I totally understand. Clothes are the worst, but there was just an overwhelming amount of skin showing all at one time in one location. It was kind of like being at Oceans of Fun/any water park, except it's free and had more men wearing tank tops.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">3. The beach. Word on the street (aka according to my students) is that if you swim there you will get stuck by a needle and you will die.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Things that are awesome about Coney Island.</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">1. Corn dogs. Coney Island definitely gets 1,000,000 points for having corn dogs. They also have amazing chili cheese fries, made with that plastic-like nacho cheese. Scott and Sara didn't approve of the cheese, but I wanted to eat 4 gallons of it. And maybe I will. Hey Nathan's Hot Dogs, you should probably have a cheese-eating contest, complete with gallons of fake cheese, french fries, and stomach pumps.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">2. The ElectroSpin. After shoving corn/hot dogs and fries in our faces, we decided it would be a really good idea to ride the ElectroSpin. And it was. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtFlctzxzOFDIVbNWibRk583SSsMWkD9z3AsQBl4sqmex0RM4SV8QWVVGyT4lWR069Rdw5TAletLP0pD5Z8_NYe3SXpImm6KZUf11vCCQfI1yhn8_A0ji4V5prafg92nyxDsHf_fYRg3M/s1600/547236_10100656853162795_1585165486_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtFlctzxzOFDIVbNWibRk583SSsMWkD9z3AsQBl4sqmex0RM4SV8QWVVGyT4lWR069Rdw5TAletLP0pD5Z8_NYe3SXpImm6KZUf11vCCQfI1yhn8_A0ji4V5prafg92nyxDsHf_fYRg3M/s320/547236_10100656853162795_1585165486_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This kind of ElectroSpinning.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Electrospinning_Diagram.jpg/450px-Electrospinning_Diagram.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="187" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Electrospinning_Diagram.jpg/450px-Electrospinning_Diagram.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not this kind of electrospinning.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">3. The ocean. Sure, the beach may be filled with hypodermic needles and broken beer bottles, but it is still by the ocean and that is awesome.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6P-DQUVC4vWqFyzohE6Xh96-5SeV5JlUFqKEmhEf_c4S7dzomkKb5XgihgEMrYcH2Zpmmp6Y6eOm53rp19AT98lNBVMwM-Qzp3cUTFHk1kF5owd3f3jrAypWRmoY4ga4TeIxYOk0pI_Q/s1600/319362_10100656853417285_1835416170_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6P-DQUVC4vWqFyzohE6Xh96-5SeV5JlUFqKEmhEf_c4S7dzomkKb5XgihgEMrYcH2Zpmmp6Y6eOm53rp19AT98lNBVMwM-Qzp3cUTFHk1kF5owd3f3jrAypWRmoY4ga4TeIxYOk0pI_Q/s320/319362_10100656853417285_1835416170_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Scott Tucker, Protector of the Ocean.</span></td></tr>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">4. This guy. And this video, courtesy of Sara. Words cannot express...</span><br />
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juliebrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13762457500166978963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301725445961183073.post-89359548870145805712012-08-12T14:20:00.000-05:002012-08-12T14:20:48.522-05:00secrets.<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I have some secrets for you. Are you ready? They're juicy. Get excited.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I accidentally fed Phin1 like 4 times yesterday. And by "accidentally" I mean I did it on purpose, but regretted it right afterward every time. He's still alive.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Sometimes I pretend like New York City isn't as hot/humid/unbearable as Missouri is because New Yorkers complain about the weather a lot. And I mean A LOT. So I pretend like I'm not sweating profusely and the heat is no big deal. But it is. It's hot out there. Like I almost never want to go outside.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I drink black coffee for a few reasons. Sure I like the bitterness and it's easy to order, but mostly I drink it because it makes me feel really cool. However, the other week I put some fancy creamer in my coffee and I really liked it. Maybe even more than I like black coffee, but I don't think I'm ready to be that girl who actually puts creamer in her coffee because it would make me feel way less hardcore and awesome than I do now.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.weight-loss-diary.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/2009221736530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="http://www.weight-loss-diary.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/2009221736530.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Wow, is that girl drinking black coffee? She's hardcore and awesome." -Said everyone.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I want to dye a strip of my hair hot pink, but my students told me I'm not cool enough to do that. They also told me I'm not cool enough to have a sleeve tattoo. Ugh my life is so hard.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Last week I tasted some of Phin1's fish food. I know that's gross. It tastes exactly like it smells, in case you were wondering.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">If you see me with my headphones in while running/on the subway/in public, it usually means I'm listening to Prairie Home Companion podcasts. Sometimes I pretend like I'm listening to rap or something and bob my head up and down. But I'm not. I'm listening to NPR.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I ate Mexican food 5 times in the last week. Cute, Julie. Really cute.</span>juliebrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13762457500166978963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301725445961183073.post-8948828955945716612012-08-10T14:28:00.002-05:002012-08-10T14:28:57.165-05:00running is cute.<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I was going to write a post about how I've been running recently and how it's so hot outside that going running makes me want to die but I do it anyway, but then I started to look at funny pictures of animals running and I decided a photo diary about them would be way better. You're welcome.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Here are a bunch of animals and one Olympian running and doing athletic things.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://funny-pics.co/wp-content/uploads/funny-fat-dog-running-04-445x299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="215" src="http://funny-pics.co/wp-content/uploads/funny-fat-dog-running-04-445x299.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miriam and I look at this picture in our office daily.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://dumbs.info/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/freezed004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://dumbs.info/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/freezed004.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This dog terrifies me. No joke.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMOr3ou2_5Bzz7kwBeYcmUcl7gsdEb-pSvLyF4o5KQW3QC5irBhYfYeq3Zu2RQItaLRNRL9sZQU0MtLLo16IkA1b4sWjZ3p82v0ak_uj2isT36CBXHAisl4y3QK43z6GYeTH2J7q4e0Jg/s1600/Funny-Animals-Surprise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMOr3ou2_5Bzz7kwBeYcmUcl7gsdEb-pSvLyF4o5KQW3QC5irBhYfYeq3Zu2RQItaLRNRL9sZQU0MtLLo16IkA1b4sWjZ3p82v0ak_uj2isT36CBXHAisl4y3QK43z6GYeTH2J7q4e0Jg/s320/Funny-Animals-Surprise.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bounciest fox of them all.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://funnystuff.sunnysunnyspain.com/Portals/106/Images/Animal%20Pics/hairy%20dog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://funnystuff.sunnysunnyspain.com/Portals/106/Images/Animal%20Pics/hairy%20dog.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah, that's a real life dog. I know, right?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.irenesinternet.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/BabyDuckRunning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="http://www.irenesinternet.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/BabyDuckRunning.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Run, little friend, run.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://fun-gallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Running-Race-Finish-Line-Funny-Picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://fun-gallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Running-Race-Finish-Line-Funny-Picture.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">America.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
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<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://2.gvt0.com/vi/C8dZzw8_Y3I/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/C8dZzw8_Y3I&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/C8dZzw8_Y3I&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And you should probably listen to this song and then go back and look at all the pictures again. Miriam and I do it. No big deal.</span><br />
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<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/p02DgHeGdyI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>juliebrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13762457500166978963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301725445961183073.post-1524684636331140342012-07-25T17:39:00.000-05:002012-07-25T17:39:49.595-05:00marinara.<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I sometimes (always) want to drink jars of marinara sauce, but I sometimes (occasionally) try not to do that because sometimes (always) people think I'm really gross/weird. So in order to be really (sort of) appropriate and not gross/weird, I have to find vehicles for my marinara sauce. So for those of you out there who sometimes (always) have to shame-eat marinara sauce in that hidden corner of your bedroom while sometimes (always) listening to that Adele song "Someone Like You" on repeat, these are for you. </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">An Guide to the Various Vehicles of Marinara Sauce Consumption.</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">By Julie </span><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Pasta with Marinara Sauce</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The best part of this meal is that the marinara:pasta ratio can be insanely high, meaning that you can eat 3 noodles of pasta with a cup of sauce on top and no one knows, meaning you can eat this anywhere, meaning you don't have to stay in your room, meaning people won't think you're cray.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>Directions</i>: Make pasta (approximately 3 noodles). Heat sauce (approximately an entire jar). Enjoy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>"Tomato Soup"</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The quotes around the name mean that it is just marinara sauce in a bowl. Shhhh.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>Directions</i>: Pour marinara sauce into a bowl. Heat. Enjoy. And if anyone asks what you're eating, you should probably get really defensive and yell something irrational like, "I'm eating tomato soup, what does it look like?! Gosh! What else would I be eating? It's not like I'm a freak or anything. People eat tomato soup all the time!"</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLuNebGK8dgFpmJpxswBlzILcma-GleDL11s6ldMH487SSSAjOx2tsgMHz7vbdsilRHmJcSi64XmjumswhRaDo_d3Bz4NWX7LMJ6WFjHAnOKdJtIWYMTn0oIxypneI-5wao-ocriWONY/s1600/IMG_0118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLuNebGK8dgFpmJpxswBlzILcma-GleDL11s6ldMH487SSSAjOx2tsgMHz7vbdsilRHmJcSi64XmjumswhRaDo_d3Bz4NWX7LMJ6WFjHAnOKdJtIWYMTn0oIxypneI-5wao-ocriWONY/s320/IMG_0118.JPG" width="229" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What? It's tomato soup.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Mozzarella Sticks with Marinara</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">There is literally nothing better than marinara with cheese inside.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>Directions: </i>Go to <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/mozzarella-sticks-recipe/index.html">this website</a>. Make the mozzarella sticks. Dip them. Or, if you're impatient and poor like I am, you can buy tortillas and wrap a string cheese in them and then bake them until they're crispy on the outside and melty on the inside. No, I don't know how long that takes or what temperature to bake them at. I just know it happens. Plus, the most important part is the marinara anyway.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Pizza Grilled Cheese</b> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Because you can't eat something with the word "pizza" in the title if you don't add marinara sauce.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>Directions: </i>Get
two slices of bread. Put some mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, garlic, red
peppers, whatever your heart desires (because who are we kidding? We're
not making this for the innards) inside. Grill on your stove until the cheese
kind of oozes out the sides and burns to your pan so you have to scrub
it forever to clean it. Put marinara in a bowl and dip the grilled
cheese. Done and done. This could also be translated to Pizza
Quesadilla, Pizza Biscuit, Pizza Wrap, Pizza Croissant, or Pizza Any
Bread Product.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75AQCXprDLHmq8CuKYOzRTdFWfqS5OWn8kOWcOYbslC9h6x1syp-pWuciRda-EAKLKRHjjrxrzZ8zXm2IaOfvgUWKx1WVi6cKsGMTZ8OOzkJ4_CVobMHpBTgPE5h-VDzm2rF5qk9dRM4/s1600/photo(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75AQCXprDLHmq8CuKYOzRTdFWfqS5OWn8kOWcOYbslC9h6x1syp-pWuciRda-EAKLKRHjjrxrzZ8zXm2IaOfvgUWKx1WVi6cKsGMTZ8OOzkJ4_CVobMHpBTgPE5h-VDzm2rF5qk9dRM4/s320/photo(3).JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All of this is in my tummy right now<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>.</b></span></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b> Italian Potatoes</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Everything is Italian if you add marinara!</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Directions:</span></i><span style="font-size: small;"> Cook a potato in the oven/stovetop/microwave/sunlight. Mush it up. Add marinara and literally any kind of cheese. Literally. My fave is cottage cheese and don't you dare judge me until you try it. Ricotta also</span> </span>sounds like it would be nice and Italian tasting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">You're welcome. Now, since I'm home by myself, I'm going to listen to Fleetwood Mac and dance around my coffee table while I try to figure out how to sneak some ice cream into the movie theater without it melting!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>juliebrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13762457500166978963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301725445961183073.post-19048652728430575502012-07-24T17:16:00.002-05:002012-07-24T17:16:39.348-05:00when we grow up.<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When Scott grows up, he is going to be a doctor. He submitted his application to tons of medical schools the other week and now he has been receiving and submitting his secondary apps, which means he sits in his room and writes a lot of essays and I sit on the couch and stare at the fish. Because Scott is going to be Dr. Scott, he has been nominated to administer fish medicine to Phin1 in hopes of curing him from his carnival fungus. According to the box of tetracycline, Phin1 has gill disease and open red sores, which is really sad. He has a really bad sore right next to where his flipper comes out of his body and we don't like it and we want him to be better.</span><br />
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<tr style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scott Tucker, Doctor of Fish.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When I grow up, I am going to be a professional fish-watching-cross-stitcher. Recently, I went on a hobby search, because I needed a hobby. These were the options I came up with:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Baking. Too many calories.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Painting. I'm not good at painting and canvases are expensive.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Reading. I already read.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Eating cheese. Too many calories. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.wordgames.com/zombie-typocalypse.html">Zombie Typocalypse</a>. Computers hurt my brain.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I finally decided on cross stitching, because cross stitching is cool, right? No, it's not. But I'm okay with that because I'm going to make so many wall hangings.</span><br />
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<tr style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making it rain with cross stitchery.</td></tr>
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<br />juliebrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13762457500166978963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301725445961183073.post-90666109964113993562012-07-15T13:49:00.002-05:002012-07-15T13:49:50.143-05:00fish watch, day 15.<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">1. Phin1 is still alive! Which I'm really happy about because the other night I fed him 3 times. I know, I know, over-feeding is the quickest way to kill a fish, but he just looked so hungry! And he's really cute when he eats because he just sucks the food into his mouth like a little vacuum cleaner. I. Love. It. And I also love to sing this song to him when he's eating:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">(Yeah, this is a music video of someone playing a video game about fish to this song. My favorite part is the little snail crawling around in the front. You're welcome.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">2. I changed Phin1's water 2 days ago. It looked like this:</span><br />
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<tr style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So fresh and so clean, clean.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And now it is today, and the water looks like this:</span><br />
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<tr style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phinny? Are you there?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Phin1 is a really dirty fish. All he does is eat and poop. And rearrange his rocks. After we clean his tank, he likes to move all the rocks to the outer edge with his vacuum lips. I always tell Phin1 that he is the smartest fish in the world, and Scott always tells me to stop talking to the fish.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">3. I want to put that plastic alligator into the fish bowl so that Phin1 has a friend. Scott and Aubrey said that we probably shouldn't do that because it's an alligator made out of cheap, possibly toxic plastic from Oriental Trading. It is probably a wise decision to keep that out of Phin1's world. If he dies, I think Aubrey should sing a song for him at his toilet funeral, but he says he won't do that. Come on, Aubrey! Phin1 deserves an original funeral song.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">4. Oh, Aubrey is back! Today, Scott, Phin1 and I watched a video of when he played Snoopy in a play. Good times.</span>juliebrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13762457500166978963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301725445961183073.post-30652874934979492352012-07-09T21:28:00.000-05:002012-07-09T21:34:46.922-05:00apartment fail.<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Today was a day of apartment failures. Yes, they were terrible. No, we aren't happy about them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Failure #1 of today: It's Monday. It is awful. My alarm went off and I just kept my eyes closed and prayed that it was a dream-alarm. You know, the ones that go off and you wake up and have a dream-morning, going through your dream-routine, drinking your dream-coffee that tastes like sunshine and rainbows and happiness, then your real alarm goes off and you start your real-morning and go through your real-routine and drink your real-coffee that tastes like cheap coffee from the convenience store on the corner. It wasn't one of those. So I just laid there, thinking about how I could have 30 extra minutes of sleep if I don't shower. So I didn't shower. Also, showers are terrible and I do not like them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Failure #2 of today: We apparently didn't lock our door last night. Oops. Yes, I know I don't live in Missouri anymore. Yes, I know that all of our belongings could have been taken and they probably would have eaten the brand new box of Cheez-Its on the counter. I promise I will lock my door from now until forever. Unless I move back to Missouri. Then I take that back.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Failure #3 of today: We also apparently left our freezer door open all day. Oops. Hey, sometimes that happens for no reason, right? Like you closed it this morning, but it just decided to open during the day. It's definitely not from slamming the refrigerator door closed on our rush out the front door. Maybe I like melted ice cream better. And thawed bacon. And mushy bags of once-frozen vegetables. Maybe I like those things.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Failure #4 of today: Our box of wine is empty. Enough said.</span><br />
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<tr style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My heart will go on...</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But on a lighter note, Fish Watch continues. What is Fish Watch? Oh, it's that thing where I tell you if our carnival fish, Phin1, is still alive. He is. And Scott bought him a new tank and cleaned his water, because he actually does love Phin1. Phin1 is neurotic and has crazy eyes and sometimes jumps out of the water like a little dolphin. And we like him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming.</span></div>juliebrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13762457500166978963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301725445961183073.post-5915547324820492602012-07-04T13:38:00.000-05:002012-07-04T13:44:16.124-05:00apartment fish.<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In honor of today, things are happening, and I really like them. Really American things like corn dogs, dinosaurs, and fish.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This past weekend there was a carnival in Astoria Park near our apartment, so we went every day, obviously. And we loved everything about it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We got to eat corn dogs, my favorite food of all time. If you know me at all, you know I would do almost anything for a corn dog. I mean, what is better than a hot dog wrapped in corn bread with ketchup on top? NOTHING.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We got fake airbrush tattoos. Scott got a "Kiss Me I'm Irish" tattoo on his arm, Sara got a snake tattoo on her chest, and I got a stegosaurus tattoo on my back. I won't lie, I really liked my stegosaurus and if I were to ever get a real tattoo (which I wouldn't because I'm not as cool and hardcore as I pretend like I am) I wouldn't rule a stegosaurus out. I like them because:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Stegosaurus' are the Colorado state dinosaur and I remember learning all about the stegosaurus fossils found and seeing the bones at the museum, because Brunner children went to a lot of museums. Why would Brunners ever do anything non-educational? Oh that's right, we wouldn't.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I really like Spike from <i>The Land Before Time</i> because he just looks squishy and huggable and I like things that are squishy and huggable. And I love when he ate the Tree Star in one bite. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">All stegosaurus cartoons are adorable. Google image search them.</span></li>
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<tr style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah, I would consider permanently tattooing you on my body.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We got an apartment fish and his name is Phineas the First! We won him at the ping pong ball throw...well, actually, we didn't win him. If you played at all, you got a free fish, so I'm not going to claim any skill on our part. But I like him anyway. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Scott says that Phin1 is dying, but I don't believe him. He says that he has a carnival fungus on his scales and that means he is going to die, but it's been 3 days and he's still flipping! I'm not listening to Scott anyway because he was embarrassed to even carry the fish around in public. On our way home from the carnival, Scott and I were trading of carrying Phin1 and I asked him how awesome he felt carrying a fish down the street, because I felt like the coolest person ever when I was carrying him, and he said that he didn't feel awesome at all and he was embarrassed. So he put Phin1's water bag into a black bag so people couldn't see that he was carrying a goldfish. When we got home he also said we should just flush Phin1 right away and spare him the pain of dying a long, slow carnival fungus death. So, in response to these actions, I've drafted a letter for the future:</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Dear Scott's future wife, </span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My name is Julie and I lived with Scott in New York City. First of all, congratulations on your marriage! Scott is the greatest, but I'd like to pass on some really important things you should probably be aware of when/if you ever think about having children. Once we got an apartment goldfish at a carnival and Scott was embarrassed to be seen with it so he carried it in a black plastic bag. Then, upon finding out the fish is sick and has carnival fungus on its scales, Scott wanted to flush it. While it was still living. He said that it would be happier in the sewers. So, if you have children, make sure you don't have any bags around, just in case Scott is embarrassed. And when your children get sick, you might want to steer clear of toilets/sewers/manholes/etc.</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I wish you the best!</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Julie</span></i><br />
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<tr style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phineas the First. Alive and well and not flushed.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>juliebrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13762457500166978963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301725445961183073.post-59582191236461069632012-06-17T16:25:00.004-05:002012-06-17T16:25:59.543-05:00we did it.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We actually have counters under all those dishes. Who knew?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Things that are not gross about our kitchen:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Clean dishes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Clean stovetop.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Clean counters.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Clean floor.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Pretty pink dish soap that smells like flowers. </span>juliebrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13762457500166978963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301725445961183073.post-21615537950328620962012-06-16T13:17:00.000-05:002012-06-16T13:17:24.376-05:00dishes.<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Sometimes we do our dishes, but most of the time we don't. This doesn't mean that Scott and I are gross, I promise. Well, maybe it means we're kind of gross, but dishes are hard and it's much easier to just not go into the kitchen very often than it is to keep it clean. Honestly, I don't understand how we even have so many dishes to do because we eat out for most meals. Where do they come from? Why are they dirty? How can we go through every single cup in our house? Who even uses plates?</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeEssG_GsNcwjH37XkvNfKTJ0eQwvc-oz57T-YJuQOho8p-ZgshwcVrMUvkAt7Aj4iEcD_Nz8DZ-fa_BbRixv3spqwPhm4DVhvxqmpKgWslpYTU2lIPk9wLM65ZzCL2y8-QMgiuqcRP40/s1600/photo(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeEssG_GsNcwjH37XkvNfKTJ0eQwvc-oz57T-YJuQOho8p-ZgshwcVrMUvkAt7Aj4iEcD_Nz8DZ-fa_BbRixv3spqwPhm4DVhvxqmpKgWslpYTU2lIPk9wLM65ZzCL2y8-QMgiuqcRP40/s320/photo(3).JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At least we have pretty pink dish soap that smells like flowers.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Things that are gross about our kitchen right now:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The leftover rice pilaf plastered to that green pot.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The wine glasses that will have to soak for days to get the purple stains out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The empty box of macaroni and cheese with cheese sauce slimed all over it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The smell of the trash can. Be happy you can't smell via computer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The mound of towels on the rack.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The sink that is filled to the brim with dishes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The slime from who-knows-what that covers the dishes in the sink.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The film of flour that covers the floor from that time I made tortillas.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The fruit flies that live there.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I know fruit flies are supposed to be gross, but I like small things and I like them. I named them all Dave, because there are so many it reminded me of that Dr. Seuss story called <i>Too Many Daves</i> and because I like when animals have people names. They might be here because of the leftover smoothie we left in the sink for a week. Or maybe they're here because we didn't take our trash out before we went to Missouri for 5 days. Or maybe they think our kitchen is just a pleasant place to be, in which case, they are very wrong. Our kitchen is gross, but I'm glad someone likes it.</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In a bold attempt to be less disgusting, I've been researching ways to get rid of fruit flies and <a href="http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Fruit-Flies">these</a> are the suggestions I came across: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>1) </b><b>Clean your vegetables at a make shift cleaning station outside of your home</b>. Not going to happen. All we have is a stoop.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>2) Do not toss food garbage into waste-paper baskets.</b> Not going to happen. We don't have a garbage disposal.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>3) Cover your fruit bowl or store fruit in the refrigerator.</b> This could happen. However, seeing as we eat out all the time and don't actually store fruit at our apartment, it doesn't really apply.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>4) Use or discard all overripe fruit. </b>See number 3.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>5) Clean opened containers of fruit juice, fermented or vinegar products, ketchup, Saccharin sauce or cooking wine. </b>So you're telling me that leaving that empty bottle of juice on the counter is bad? Hm.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>6) Put new soft fruit in a brown bag.</b> See number 3.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>7) Don't keep any vegetable or meat scraps in your garbage can inside your home.</b> If this is implying that we should take our trash out more frequently, then it's not going to happen.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Oh well. I think that Dave 1-200 and I are going to be very happy together.</span>juliebrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13762457500166978963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301725445961183073.post-39545476780461519582012-06-06T12:55:00.000-05:002012-06-06T12:55:33.543-05:00learning.<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I have learned many things this week.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I learned that Grammy's old lady exercise class is kind of hard. My fingers kept cramping when we did the "finger piano" exercise and my legs were shaking when we did the side kicks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I learned what makes oatmeal special. After rehab, Grammy and I came home and Papa had breakfast ready for us. It was oatmeal, which was surprising because Papa hates oatmeal. But apparently it was special oatmeal.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Papa: This is special oatmeal.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Me: Oh yeah? Why is it special?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Papa: Because I made it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I also learned that the proper way to eat your oatmeal is with strawberries, bananas, milk, and one Sweet 'n Low. Papa's recommendation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I learned that blue birds can fit 15 meal worms (or mealy worms, according to Grammy) in their mouths at one time. Grammy has blue bird friends and she feeds them every morning during breakfast so she can watch them eat, too. She makes a whistling sound to call them to the feeder and then gives them 15 mealy worms. This morning, the girl blue bird ate all 15 mealy worms in approximately 17 seconds. I like her style.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I learned that Papa is going to give away all the cucumbers in his garden and buy pickles at Wal-Mart instead of making Granny Green's Pickles with them. Granny Green's Pickles are my favorite. And they would be yours, too. I promise. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage1.instagram.com/43af7e4eaeb311e19894123138140d8c_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage1.instagram.com/43af7e4eaeb311e19894123138140d8c_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"Papa, are you going to make pickles with all those cucumbers?"<br /> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"Nope, I'm going to give them away and buy pickles at Wal-Mart." </span></span> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I learned that if you stick a bunch of chopsticks and mothballs in your flower planters, it will keep the squirrels out of them. Earlier this spring, Grammy planted her flowers in the backyard, went to plant them in the front yard, and by the time she came back to check on the back ones, a squirrel had dug them all up and scattered them around the porch. So now we use chopsticks and mothballs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I learned that my mother found a brown recluse spider in her closet. And I don't like it one bit. If I lose a limb, you all know why.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I learned that I'm a really fast typer, according to Tony the Bug Man who is currently spraying our house for brown recluse spiders. He is my best friend.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I learned that there are some overalls in my closet at my parents' house and I will wear them every day. I asked my students if I would be cool if I wore overalls and they said absolutely not. But I think they're wrong. Who wouldn't want a pair of khaki capri overalls? It's okay to be jealous.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnmk2YPURgWCprJw3FchcOOu2zdqzABSeOG0eX4V_y40ynrjvSTQSd05_ppxtFk0jl2fCBXShEOeW9D5olLwelg-8Tjef7Rh0RCI8S2Ay-vGObEV8Aiaz8buYHHXrtHwWJ-TW45qwJz4/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnmk2YPURgWCprJw3FchcOOu2zdqzABSeOG0eX4V_y40ynrjvSTQSd05_ppxtFk0jl2fCBXShEOeW9D5olLwelg-8Tjef7Rh0RCI8S2Ay-vGObEV8Aiaz8buYHHXrtHwWJ-TW45qwJz4/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Middle School Julie would be so proud.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>juliebrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13762457500166978963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301725445961183073.post-28936492398146178762012-05-23T12:57:00.000-05:002012-05-23T13:02:56.280-05:00highs and lows.<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">High</b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">: I took my laundry in this morning. Say goodbye to Julie wearing dirty clothes and hello to Julie wearing 30lbs of freshly-laundered clothes. And I bet lots of you didn't know I was wearing dirty clothes. Ha. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Low</b>: I think someone in my apartment building has tuberculosis. The window in my room opens up to a small courtyard and every morning, no matter what time I wake up, I can hear a man cough-puking really loudly. The fun thing about courtyards is that they echo, and while it's nice when pleasant sounds are echoing, it's really disturbing when the sounds of cough-puking are echoing. How can someone cough-puke every single hour of every single morning? The only answer to this is tuberculosis.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So these are the steps I think he should take:</span><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Go to the doctor/health department immediately.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Get some antibiotics.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Take them.</span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">On the off chance that he's not infected with TB, I think the same steps should be followed. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">NYC is filled with diseases and c</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ough-puking is bad.</span><br />
<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></b><br />
<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">High</b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">: I finished editing my book, thanks to my smart friends. I'm submitting it for publishing within the next month. Don't ask me what that means, because I'm still figuring that out. But it's happening. My grammy sent me a publishing contest and I've been researching steps involved in self-publishing, because word on the street is that self-publishing is the way to go. I'll keep you updated.</span><br />
<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></b><br />
<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Low</b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">: I slipped on pigeon poop this morning and almost fell. There was a guy fixing light bulbs in the walkway to my building and I was busy making up stories in my head about how he got electrocuted and could then shoot lightning from his fingers and wasn't watching where I was walking. The poop smeared all over my shoes. I'm definitely going to get a disease. Then Cough-Puker and I will have to band together to beat the odds. We'll have to eat cold SpaghettiO's from the can and picket for a Cough-Puke-Free NYC. And we'll probably have to move to Canada.</span><br />
<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></b><br />
<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">High</b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">: I'm going to Buffalo this weekend. And that's close to Canada. And I'm going to see Niagara Falls. And swim in Scott's swimming pool. And hang out with Scott's family. And hopefully not wear shoes. And I don't work on Friday.</span><br />
<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></b><br />
<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Low: </b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'm all by myself in the office. </span><br />
<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></b><br />
<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">High</b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">: I got coffee from Starbucks this morning. Whenever I do my laundry I always treat myself to Starbucks on the way to work because laundry is hard.</span><br />
<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></b><br />
<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Low</b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">: I got coffee from Starbucks this morning. I'm literally shaking at my desk. So. Much. Caffeine. Good thing no one is in the office with me.</span><br />
<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></b><br />
<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">High</b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">: Yesterday I got an entire subway car to myself on my way to work. So I spun around on the poles and sang Irish music. For those of you who commute into Manhattan, this is what a private subway car looks like:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHYZGBF6bhCZrOQqwBC0SuzuweRTQKVukHqbG56vTOy3RIc7271lQyJVUMSFMsgCqjIYuFnBnFRZDNPEgF0bpOCLWB8PN8ebJGevo82iuvvgkOd9BKKF5-Bb1uLTn3KwIcQfckdbqckU/s1600/subway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHYZGBF6bhCZrOQqwBC0SuzuweRTQKVukHqbG56vTOy3RIc7271lQyJVUMSFMsgCqjIYuFnBnFRZDNPEgF0bpOCLWB8PN8ebJGevo82iuvvgkOd9BKKF5-Bb1uLTn3KwIcQfckdbqckU/s320/subway.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It looks like this.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For those of you who love Irish music, this is a song that I like:</span><br />
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<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://0.gvt0.com/vi/HEt2XdN_TbQ/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HEt2XdN_TbQ&fs=1&source=uds" />
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<embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HEt2XdN_TbQ&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div>juliebrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13762457500166978963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301725445961183073.post-36298705436600298352012-05-15T10:19:00.001-05:002012-05-15T10:19:14.520-05:00the knife diet.<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Do you sometimes go to Mexican restaurants and eat so many free chips you have to lie down afterward? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Do you ever accidentally shovel four packages of Ramen noodles into your mouth in one sitting?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Have you ever sat down to watch a movie and realized that you were absentmindedly eating bucket(s) of cheez-balls? And not the small cans, I'm talking the Sam's Club, economy-sized buckets.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Well, do I have the diet for you! It's called The Knife Diet! Forget those <i>other</i> utensils, and pick up your knives. Sure, the edge my cut your lip a little bit once in a while, but I guarantee that if you stick with the knife diet, the pounds will come pouring off!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Where did I get this genius idea, you might be wondering? Well, sometimes you can only find a plastic knife in your office. And sometimes the only thing you have to eat in your entire house is a chunk of cabbage and Italian dressing. And sometimes you think, "No big deal, I'll just stab my cabbage with my plastic knife and eat it! That will work!" </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Well, the best part of this diet is that eating with a knife generally doesn't work. It's really hard. And before you can eat too much, you get frustrated and give up! H</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ow could you overeat those chips if you have to use a knife to eat them with? You can't! Four packages of Ramen? Not happening with your knife in hand!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I think my love of knives started when I was a child. When my mom was at some volunteer function during dinnertime, we would often eat peas and my dad would let us stick them on our knives with honey and eat them off and we would all chant the poem:</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I eat my peas with honey,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I've done it all my life.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It makes the peas taste funny, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But it keeps them on my knife.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.coriconnors.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/peas2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="187" src="http://www.coriconnors.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/peas2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Yummm. Peeeeeasssss. Honeyyyyy.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Speaking of utensils and peas and childhood, I've always thought that it would be a good idea to invent the Knork, the knife-fork. All you have to do is take a fork and give it a knife edge. Kind of like the spork, but sharper. My siblings told me this was a really terrible idea because you would slice your cheek with every bite. That's why you just have to be careful. <i>Everyone </i>knows you have to be careful if you're eating with a Knork! And I also always wished the word "fork" was spelled "4k." And I love peas.</span>juliebrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13762457500166978963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301725445961183073.post-15629735445385196902012-05-08T23:36:00.002-05:002012-05-08T23:36:23.696-05:00things that i've been doing.<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Well, friends, it has been a while. Here are some things that I've been doing.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>I've been getting real haircuts</b>. Now, I know what you're thinking, "But, Julie! You're so good at cutting your own hair! I remember that time you cut your own bangs with your kitchen shears in your bathroom and they looked spectacular!" However, apparently they did not. After my haircut, my stylist told me to try and stop cutting my own hair. I told her I'd think about it. I mean, I've been cutting my own hair in the bathroom since I was 3 years old and hiding under the sink. I was just a gem of a child, right parents?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>I've been working a lot</b>. A lot, a lot. In fact, I just got home from Jumpstart's annual Scribbles to Novels fundraiser event where Tina Fey was the guest speaker! And Stephen Colbert recorded a video encouraging people to sponsor Jumpstart! Tina loves Jumpstart. Stephen loves Jumpstart. I love Jumpstart and Tina and Stephen. We're practically related. I've also been wrapping up the school year. My students are all leaving me and I'm going to miss them dearly! I mean, at least this week I will. Last week I didn't think I would miss them. Ever. There are only so many times I can define the word "mandatory" for them in one day without wanting to shatter something against the wall. I'm pretty sure I had this conversation with every one of my 70 students:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Julie: See you Tuesday night!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Student: Wait, what?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Julie: Did you read your email?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Student: Um, yes? I think so.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Julie: No you didn't. Open it on your phone immediately. Let me know when you've read it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Student: (reads email) do we have to go on Tuesday?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Julie: Do you see that word "mandatory?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Student: Yeah, but do we really have to go?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Julie: Do you know what the word mandatory means? It means yes, you have to go. Mandatory does not mean optional. It means required. As in be there. As in I'll see you on Tuesday night for that mandatory event.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Student: Oh.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Painful, I know. However, this week, they've all come by the office to say goodbye for the summer and I kind of miss them already.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>I've been watching this video every day. </b>Miriam and I decided that this is the best way to start our 12 hour workdays. Warning: It might change your life.</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/eaIvk1cSyG8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>I've been getting my tax refunds</b>. Sometimes you go through the month and you think, "Wow. Do I even have any money? How am I still able to pay for things?" And then you look at your online banking account and you see that you got your tax refunds and it is a glorious day so you go to TJ Maxx and buy 6 dresses. Making good financial decisions! Don't worry, Papa. I really <i>needed</i> those dresses. This way I only have to do laundry every 3 weeks and I never have to wear pants again! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>I've been dreaming about apartment bunny and looking at cute pictures. </b>Like these little guys:</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache4.pinterest.com/upload/158189005631676510_eouoOJvb_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache4.pinterest.com/upload/158189005631676510_eouoOJvb_b.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The best of friends!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And these guys:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache6.pinterest.com/upload/174796029257359339_Fk3flPVR_f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://media-cache6.pinterest.com/upload/174796029257359339_Fk3flPVR_f.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smooooooosh.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And the sleepiest of all bunnies:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache4.pinterest.com/upload/150589181259709775_r6LaVfi0_f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://media-cache4.pinterest.com/upload/150589181259709775_r6LaVfi0_f.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zombie bunnies.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>I've been eating tiramisu</b>. Well, tonight I did. I've been eating tiramisu tonight and it was excellent. I only choked on the cinnamon once.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>juliebrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13762457500166978963noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301725445961183073.post-67457839357107121242012-03-13T19:45:00.002-05:002012-03-13T19:45:52.472-05:00dear bus driver.<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Dear New York City Bus Operators,</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There is no more room in the back of the bus. I know, you just want everyone to fit, and I want that, too. I've been that girl who is trying to get on the bus, but falls out and has to wait for the next one. I understand. But it just isn't going to happen, so you can save your voice and stop yelling. I promise we moved back as far as we possibly can. We would have even done that if you used your kind words. We're close. We're cozy. By proxy, these strangers have become my new best friends. We often bond about that time ten seconds ago when you slammed on the breaks and I flew two feet down the aisle and landed on that guy with the duffel bag. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Or about that time you slammed on the breaks and I fell off the back step and that woman had to help me stand up because I was carrying a huge back filled with <i>Green Eggs and Ham </i>books and markers. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Or that time you slammed on the breaks and I dropped my coffee mug and it rolled to the front of the bus, leaking coffee all over the floor, and that kid had to bring it back to me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Or that time you slammed on the breaks and I tripped over that old lady's bag. It was the best of times. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And I know what you're thinking. You're thinking that most of this letter is about me falling, and it is, but that's not my fault or the point of this letter. I mean, it is normally my fault when I fall, like when I trip over my shoes or fall off curbs, but these instances are not my fault. And the point of this letter is that the bus is full. No one else can fit. I'm practically sitting on the girl playing Temple Run in the seat in front of me and I keep stepping on that guy in scrubs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">That's all I have for you. Except I don't think you should yell at that old guy who lost his MetroCard this afternoon. We all have bad days.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Love,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Julie</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">P.S. In case you're still confused, this bus=full:</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sf.streetsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/3_22/crowded_bus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sf.streetsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/3_22/crowded_bus.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what it looks like when a bus is full.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>juliebrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13762457500166978963noreply@blogger.com0