What’s that?

Originally uploaded by Jake Spurlock

Doctor… I am really confused. Where are you putting that?

DSC_0393

Originally uploaded by Jake Spurlock

Seriously, what a kewl kid…

I have a super duper awesome fantastic announcement to make, but you’ll have to go to our new blog to see it:

jakeandmelissa.com

Bookmark this and update the link if you have it on your blog.  (I’m so sorry to make you do this! I hate when people change their email address or blog address!!)  Jake being the tech geek that he is – it’s very important to him that our little blog have it’s very own URL, no blogspot no wordpress no typepad no nothing.  So now all his dreams are coming true.  Plus, I think the new blog design is much cuter than this blog, and isn’t that what blogging is all about?  Having the CUTEST blog out of all your friends??

Millie

We got a puppy.  I’m at a loss for words, just as you are.  Never in a million gazillion years did I EVER think that Melissa Bain Spurlock would ever have to own a real live pet, let alone a dog.  The things we do for our jobs… (or more accurately, for our SPOUSE’S job).  It still doesn’t feel real, I don’t totally believe it.  However there are several little BIG reminders that shock me back to reality, such as: the DOG IN OUR KITCHEN, the barricade we’ve made between the kitchen and the carpeted living room that I am constantly tripping over, the fact that I can’t eat in the kitchen anymore because just KNOWING an animal is there makes me a little sick to my stomach, the frantic banging of a Gatorade bottle being chased around the kitchen floor all day, and the smell of dog food in the garage.

But I guess she’s not ALL bad…  Jake’s really good with doing ALL the work in taking care of her, so I don’t really do anything (that’s our agreement and the ONLY way it can work).  And he’s really cute with her – I think he’ll be a great dad once we have kids.  And just look at that cute little face!  Plus, she’s pretty well behaved, as far as puppies go.  So I’m no ”dog lover” by any means, but I’m also not dead yet.  That’s what I call PROGRESS.

Millie’s stats:  Australian shepard.  Born May 6, 2008.  About 9 lbs.  If she gets too big, I’m giving her away.

 I know, I know, I haven’t blogged for about a month.  Please forgive me.  The following are my very valid reasons:

1.      The main reason is that I want to include pictures in my posts, but all of our pictures are on JAKE’s computer.  And have you ever seen Jake without his computer?  Neither have I.

2.     The longer you put something off, the easier it is to KEEP putting it off.  Plus, the idea of blogging regularly overwhelms me, which is why it took me so long to start a blog in the first place.  It’s a HUGE commitment, not unlike marriage.

3.     I simply forget.  I spend my entire day at work on a computer, so you’ll understand if getting on another computer isn’t my first priority as soon as I get home in the evening.

4.     I think our blog theme is ugly and I can’t find any free WordPress themes that I like that are allowed with our current WordPress account.  But don’t worry, we’ll be rolling out our new blog site as soon as some of the back-end stuff gets worked out and everything from this blog gets transferred over.  And I’m sorry!  I know how annoying it is for people to keep changing their website address/email address!  But I’ll be much happier with a prettier blog template, and much more inclined to write.

5.     I’m busy!  When I’m not at work, there are endless chores to do at home which I should be doing instead of blogging.  (Who knew that a mere 2 people could generate SO MUCH dirty laundry and dishes??  It boggles the mind.)  I sooo look forward to the day when I no longer work and can keep up with the daily housework.

So there you have it.  But I’m back now and I’ve got a lot of catching up to do!  Stay tuned…

 

Warning, hell is on the verge of freezing over.  Why?  Because… (brace yourselves) …we are thinking about getting a dog.  A DOG (Did I really just say that and MEAN it??)  Now just pick your jaw back up off the floor and understand that I am just as bewildered as you are.  I’m a Bain, right?  And Bains – in general – are NOT animal people.  (Except for my Dad, who long ago even wanted to be a vet when he grew up.  What family is HE from??)

But alas, Jake just got a new job – his first post-college-graduation career-starting REAL JOB – and this job strongly encourages that he have a pet.  So in the name of Jake taking over the role of “breadwinner” in our family, I have more-or-less said OK to a dog.  Family, please do not disown me.

This decision, however, comes with conditions.  I only want a dog that doesn’t shed, doesn’t bark, doesn’t smell, doesn’t poop, doesn’t lick my face, doesn’t have germs, and it will NOT be in our family Christmas picture.  So if you know of a small dog that fits that description, let me know.

And as for a name, this was Jake’s attempt to build his case in favor of naming a dog “Capone”:

“Melissa, you’re from the Bay Area, right?  And in the Bay Area, there’s not only dogs, but also D-O-double-G’s.  You know, like Snoop Dogg.  And Al Capone, one of the greatest criminals/doggs of all time, was incarcerated at Alcatraz in the San Francisco Bay.  So, naming a dog “Capone” is like an homage to your childhood hometown.”

Capice?

 

Yes, I cut my own bangs.
No, I didn’t mean to make them this short.
Yes, I’m OK with how they look.
No, this was not pre-meditated.  It was VERY spur-of-the-moment, with VERY permanent consequences.
Yes, Jake was momentarily speachless, but I think deep down, he thinks they’re hot.

Lesson learned:  Cutting your own hair is terrifying yet exhilirating.

Note to self:  You never feel like more of a dork than when you post a picture of only yourself…

I love reading my friends’ “100 Things About Me” lists and I have wanted to do my own, but 100 items seems a little overwhelming.  So overwhelming, in fact, that instead of starting on it and getting only part-way through it, I’d rather ignore the urge altogether. (This is NOT unlike the mountainous pile of laundry on the guest bed, waiting to be folded… I won’t tell you how long it’s been there.)  My solution: post only 10 things at a time.  Hopefully this will lead to more frequent but shorter posts…  Enjoy!

 

1. Very appropriate at #1 on this list, I LOVE making lists.  Just ask Jake – they’re all over the house.  Grocery lists, to-do lists, movies to see, things to purchase, chores, home improvement projects, favorite baby names (this is NOT any sort of announcement – I’ve been doing this for years), restaurants to go to, lists of the lists I need to make, you name it.  I’m addicted.  Somebody please help me.
   
2. I’m cursed when it comes to ordering at restaurants.  No matter what, Jake’s food is ALWAYS better.  Good thing he loves sharing… (NOT TRUE, but he’s getting used to it!)
   
3. The sound of rubbing napkins together has the same goosebumpy effect on me as fingernails on a chalkboard.  I am even cringing right now just writing about it.
   
4. I’m a sucker for Hollywood red-carpet fashion – I could look at best/worst-dressed lists all day long.
   
5. I’m also a sucker for the tabloids.  I admit, often I’ll pick the longest line at the grocery store just so I can have a few minutes see what Carrie Underwood is wearing, read about Britney’s latest disaster, who’s kissing who and who’s having babies.  Guilty pleasure, I KNOW, but I can’t help it!  For the record, though, I never BUY tabloids – I don’t believe in financially supporting the paparazzi…
   
6. I love love love babies – the way they smell, their soft skin, the noises they make, holding them, their smiles…
   
7. I get teary-eyed almost every time I watch “Jon & Kate Plus Ei8ht” on TLC (show about a family who has twins (7 yrs old) AND SEXTUPLETS (4 yrs old)).  They are so blasted CUTE I can’t hardly stand it.
   
8. I’m a Food Network junkie.  Somehow I keep telling myself that watching cooking shows makes me a better cook.
   
9. I have tons of recipe books, but I hardly EVER use them.  And I won’t buy a recipe book without pictures on almost every page.
   
10. In general, I don’t like cake.  However, sometimes I’ll eat it to be a good sport.  And sometimes it actually tastes a little bit good (ice cream cake, dutch oven pineapple upside-down cake).  But just a little bit.

Who doesn’t like lists…

1. When I get out of the shower, and I forget to bring a towel, she is there for me.
2. Dishes. Being. Done.
3. Reasonable bedtime. See here.
4. The smell of her hair, even after a long day…
5. Sharing drinks.

The list could go on, but I am tired, and looking for #3 pretty sternly. Two more sleeps.