Meet Amy Haase. I like her, and here’s why.

Last night, Kristin & Craig were in town and invited me to join them for dinner at Machiavelli’s in Seattle.  
     

Can I just go off topic here for a minute and rave again about the food at this little restaurant???    Deciding between the Chicken Milanese and the Tortellini Formaggio with Cream Sauce, Proscuitto and Peas is always a daunting task. (I went with the Chicken Milanese with roasted veggies on the side - Kris opted for the Tortellini and we shared a bit with each other).  Craig enjoyed the Chicken al Forno with a side of Spaghetti (which he rated 9 on a scale of 10). Simply put, Machiavelli’s is the BEST Italian food I have ever had - surprisingly affordable, and in my top 3 restaurants of all time…  don’t ask what the other 2 are, I haven’t decided, just leaving the spots open.   Personally, I think it would be worth your while to make a trip to Seattle just to eat at this little gem. But you have to invite me to join you, of course. This was Craig’s first visit - perhaps he can tell you if it lived up to all of the hype……

OK, back to Amy. After dinner, we drove back to Molbak’s (where I had left my car) and Kristin and I ran in for a potty break while Craig ran an errand to a man store (auto parts). As we were waiting for his return, we gandered at the billions of poinsettias, and I convinced Kristin to sit in front of the giant poinsettia tree so I could take her photo. She was reluctant, but agreed.

While sitting on the bench waiting for me to snap a shot, she said “I feel silly.”

And at that moment, a fellow shopper says “I’ll sit with you!”

Delighted, we laughed and invited her to do so, and she did.

Amy is a spontaneous, fun and thoughtful person - stepped outside herself to try and help someone else feel more comfortable - just the sort of person we’d love to get to know. We learned she has been living in North Carolina, but is looking to make a return to Seattle (where her family lives.) We hope you do, Amy!

After all this excitement, Kristin discovered she needed another potty break - and I, apparently, needed to amuse myself while waiting for her.

So I stuck my camera over the stall to snap her photo - and found the shot I captured to be absolutely hysterical. Don’t ask me why.  Maybe I was drunk with the joy of my Machiavelli meal and our encounter with Amy, but I showed Kristin the photo, and we both came out of the bathroom with tears running down our cheeks, barely able to breathe from laughter. Craig thought we were nuts. I think he’s probably right.

What fun people have you met in unexpected ways and places?

A “church signs” debate, being played out in a Southern town, between a Catholic church and a Presbyterian church.  From top to bottom shows you the response and counter-response over time. 

I don’t know if these signs are real (I think it’s unlikely, since the cars are parked in the exact same spot in each picture) but it makes me laugh out loud anyway.  Thanks, Kristin, for passing it along to me….

Over the years Paris Hilton has received little more than eye rolls from me…
And yet here she is being all clever and making me laugh, in her response ad to John McCain’s moronic (and false) “Celebrity” ad. 

What a pleasant suprise.  

I manage over a dozen email addresses - and a couple of them have gotten onto junk mail lists, receiving hundreds of spam emails a day.  Thank heaven for spam arrest which stops them from getting to my inbox. 

I do have to check the filter every few days to see if legitimate mail is stuck, and when I do, I am faced with some of the must ridiculous subject lines.  Some are really stupid, others totally crack me up.  Here are a few of the more memorable ones of late:
 

• What a stupid face you have allison
• Does this look illegal?
• Bomb her womb from your huge cannon!
• Have you ever felt the kiss of a womb?
• Satisfy your woman, you pin dick!
• Help your little soldier stand taller

Noticing a theme?   What is the deal with the obsession with the “male member”?  And can any man’s penis ever live up to the expectations of these emails??? 

What memorable spam subject lines have you received?

I’m so glad I found out about this!

The correct way to weigh yourself: 

I can’t believe I was doing it wrong all these years.

We must spread the word.

I just learned that my sister, Kristin, has adopted a very important family tradition.  I’m so delighted!

It began when Ashley started dating.  The first time a new suitor would come to do the door, I would answer and greet them.   Unbeknownst to Ashley, The dialogue woud go something like this:

   boy:  Is Ashley home?
   Me: Yes, she is - but first, a song.
   boy:  Huh? 
   Me: A song. You need to sing me a song.
   boy:  (visibly weighing options)  Umm…  what song?
   Me: Oh, any song will do. Maybe ________ (then a suggestion).
   boy:  really?

Some took a bit more convincing - not wanting to look foolish, I’m sure.  But when they realized I was dead serious and they were NOT getting in the house, nor was Ashley being made aware of their arrival, they’d give in and sing.   Some even enjoyed themselves, and those were the boys I knew would be fun dates for Ashley.

I heard “Give Said The Little Stream“, “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” among others.    My all-time favorite response was Ashley’s friend Josh - all 6′4″ of him…. without batting an eye, he launched into “I’m a Little Teapot” (which he chose) and even did the actions.  He got bonus points.

One kid, named Richard, absolutely REFUSED to sing and I eventually relented in letting him in.  But I knew he’d be a very POOR MATCH foor my daughter (which he was… not a fun bone in his body)… and after a far too long dating spell she finally realized it too

Justin, now her husband, performed Rod Stewart’s - “Have I told you Lately That I Love You” beautifully… ending up on one knee, I believe.   The two of them are still singing today!

So…. today I learned that J’Neil (my neice) had her first suitor arrive today - and Kristin was serenaded with “Itsy Bitsy Spider.”   I nearly cried with joy.

Since J’Neil is just entering her dating era, Kristin would love a list of song suggestions…. any ideas?   

Did, or do you have any “first date” traditions like this?

Be careful… there are a few trick questions….

Click here to take the Bush-McCain Challenge!

If you get enough answers correct, you advance to my favorite part - the final round…

The McCain-Carrot face off!

For all my feline loving friends….   enjoy

I just returned…  well recently returned from a brief trip to Salt Lake to visit my kids/grandbabies….  photos forthcoming.  However - before I forget, I just had to share some cute Kennedy-isms.   She is so entertaining.

On a visit to Aunt Kathy’s house, we were chatting while Kennedy (age 3) played on the floor near Kathy’s feet.   After awhile, Kennedy looked up at her and said, very earnestly, “Your feet smell like roses!” ….   to which a bemused Kathy showered her with hugs and kisses.

I slept at Kathy’s that night - and the next day when Kennedy & Ashley came to pick me up, Kathy walked out in her nightgown and blue/flowered housecoat.    Kennedy poused only a moment and then said, “I like your pretty dress….”     and was rewarded with more hugs and kisses.

Later that day we had lunch with my mom.  During a break in our conversation, Kennedy looked up at my mom and said, I like your eyebrows.”   LOL. . .       
That one had to be my favorite.