absent!

Wow I have been absent from the blogosphere for quite a while!

Let's recap the last 6 weeks:
Thanksgiving = awesome, as usual. I actually went up early and helped Vada with the pie-making. We did our traditional post-thanksgiving ladies day in Jerome and as always remember that I have an awesome family.

Next up was my birthday. 26 isn't a very exciting age but I work in an office of a lot of 20-somethings so I am still one of the younger people there. I got an office happy hour plus dinner with Joe and Michaela (and other friends Jeff and Jaime -and jeff is my old boss from the info desk). Turns out another coworker of mine shares the same birthday so the happy hour was fun. I got art supplies from my parents and travel/makeup bags from the Uchino-Thomas clan. Ariana has very good taste.

This month I have made oreos "crack" balls 4 times. I have lost my enthusiasm for oreos. (What are crack balls you ask? They are crushed up oreos mixed with cream cheese, made into balls then dipped in melted chocolate. In other words, divine!)

Now I am up to my eyeballs finding student ambassadors for the social network I run.

Really I just can't wait to go home for Christmas...did you hear? Santa Claus is coming!!! Its our first christmas altogether since Ariana was born and now she is old enough to anticipate Santa :)

Early Christmas Decorating

I went ahead and put up my Christmas tree and decorations today a) because I was bored and b) because I bought my first presents and needed a place to put them.

Also reminds me I need to get christmas lists from my family so I actually buy them things they want :)

Who wants to dress up just once?!

On friday I went to a Halloween party and decided to deck out for the holiday. I got all gussied up, bought a wig, made part of my costume and put on a bunch of make-up (complete with false eyelashes). I was Katy Perry and had a great time!...and spent over $50.

Today I put a fake bird in my hair and grabbed a bunch of mailing labels and had the best, most interactive AND work-appropriate costume I have ever thought of...for free (borrowed the bird from Jenn and used mailing labels I already had) I was Twitter! I went around the office asking people to write a tweet - often teaching them about what Twitter is (outreach!) - and had a blast!
(I don't know why my pictures load sideways from my phone)

Lets play dress up!

I am dressing up as Katy Perry for Halloween (bought a blue wig and everything) but my craft project for the costume was the shoes!

I scoured all kinds of stores for crazy colored, very high heeled shoes and finally settled on plain black shoes and a trip to Michaels

What do you think? :)

This makes me think of my dad, because he likes facts like this

Random fact: This year October has 5 Mondays, 5 Saturdays and 5 Sundays. This happens once every 823years.

I don't know if this means it happens in October 823 years, or in any month 823 years...but wow!

Don Jose

I had a great day off - I got to see Margie and Dave and got to watch the dbacks win another game...and got my free shirt!

Th best part though, was going to my friend, Eliza's, birthday dinner at Don Jose mexican restaurant. Yes, THE Don Jose near grandma's house.

It closed a couple years ago, but apparently a customer bought the building and recipes and reopened it...exactly the same. Except now they offer chicken and carnitas. But the furniture, cups, cheese crisp pans, and 5¢ mints are all the same. It even has the old menues (and prices). It was awesome!

And Margie I did ask about the 'same old thing' and the waitress (she worked there before too) said she probably would remember what that was supposd to be if she saw the face of the customer...so Dad and Dick will have to come down and test her.

It was delicious!

This is why I am on Twitter

For all y'all that just don't understand Twitter, or why I have not 1, not 2 but 3 accounts that I manage, let me tell you a story - one of several I have.

Yesterday, I went to the diamondbacks game (which was awesome!) through a promotional offer. the dbacks were hosting their first 'tweetup' event and offered 1/2 off box level seats. what is a tweetup? it is an event held in-person for all the people that usually 'hang-out' online tweeting about the dbacks and sports-related news. it showcased a Q&A panel of Fox Sports Net people like Todd Walsh and then a meet and greet for all the great dbacks tweeters.

I assume that is how it went - that is how it was advertised. I didn't actually make it to the tweetup portion of the evening because it was from 4:30-5:30 and well...I have a job, albeit in social media, but I can't just go galavanting off to tweeting events all over town!

But I still bought those tickets because there was a free tweetup shirt they were handing out and we got $53 box level seats (second tier for those of you watching on tv) for only $25! So when my friends and I got there, the tweetup stuff was over, and there wasn't any station to get the free shirt.

So I tweeted about it: @dbacks I got my #dbackstweetup seats but no shirts:(

(The # is called a hashtag and it signifies a keyword or phrase that you can search in twitter to see what others are saying about the same subject.)

and they tweeted back: @kuhsay did you not make it to the Q&A where we were giving them out?

me: I was on my way here! Couldn't leave work early :(

We tweeted this back and forth throughout the game and that is the last I saw.
I also tweeted other things like this: Whoa the @dbacks have bionic hearing! I just said "I wish the roof was open" and voila! http://lockerz.com/s/140294313

(Because tweeting is fun!)

Then this morning I saw this tweet that they sent right around the time the game ended (I had already left)

them: @Kuhsay sorry to hear. we'll get you one if you're still here. just tweet us your location and shirt size

So I tweeted this morning: @dbacks thanks for trying to get me a shirt! it was such a good game I will be back tomorrow for the 12:30 game!!

to which they replied: @Kuhsay DM us your name and shirt size and we'll leave one for you at guest relations.

DM means direct message, it is private. so I did that and then tweeted: Its official, the @dbacks really ARE the fan friendliest team in sports!


The rest of that story is that Bruce texted me on Sunday asking if I wanted to play hooky from work on Wednesday and go to the dbacks game with them and Margie and Dave because they are coming down for the game. I said yes...and then promptly requested the day off from work (I am a goody-two shoes after all). So I really do get to go to both games :)

That is just one example of the cool stuff I have gotten from twitter - I have also won tickets to a broadway show at Gammage and a $25 gift card to my favorite restaurant for tweeting about them.

I love Twitter.


(Me and a coworker at the game)

You're Outta Here!

So last Sunday was the first game of the new season for my softball team - you know, the adult co-ed soft toss 'D' league? Needless to say, we play for fun first and wins if we are lucky.

I play catcher because I don't have much of a throwing arm and I am not a fast runner. It is fun though because I get to interact with the other teams and the home plate umpire.

During one of my at-bats (yes, I am usually like Casey At The Bat and strike out) I hit the ball and ran to first. Likely there was a playing error otherwise I would've been out but this time I got on base. The home plate umpire starts talking to me sternly because I apparently threw the bat when I started running and nearly hit the catcher. I apologized of course. I have never once given conscious thought to my bat because I focus so hard on trying to get to first base.

Cut to my next at-bat: it is the last inning (we were the visiting team) and we were losing...losing enough that we knew we weren't going to have to go back out on the field. I am lead off batter and I once again hit the ball and am so excited start running to first. I am thrown out at first and start to go back to my dogout when the umpire starts yelling at me "I TOLD YOU about your bat and you did it again and hit the catcher. YOU ARE OUT OF THE GAME!"

...

For reals?! I was dumbfounded because a) I don't like getting in trouble b) I have never done anything to get an Ump mad at me much less get thrown out and c) I was already out at first and unlikely to have to go back on the field anyway...oh yeah, and did I mention it is soft toss D league softball?!?!

My coach got mad and yelled at the umpire and got thrown out too! A first for him too. He went to complain about the umpire to the league administrators and found out he had 3 other complaints against him that night!

Luckily the umpire didn't file the ejection with th league because I would've been ineligible to play in this week's game too (they take it really seriously).

Now, I can see where the umpire was coming from - as a catcher I would be upset if someone through a bat at me - it is soft toss so we don't wear any protective gear (not even helmets) but that other catcher didn't really pay close attention so my guess is I didn't have to throw it very hard to hit her. Not like she would jump out of the way. And it is D league so I don't know why the umpire would think I had a ton of control over my bat anyway

It gave me a good story though and some street cred with people who don't know our team or league. I joked with the team playing after us that they better look out for me when we play each other because I am a maniac!

Oh What Pun!

You all know I tend not to post things from other websites, but this is just too funny. If you have seen this, it is worth watching again.

Here is the set up: Anderson Cooper was reporting on Gerard Depardeiu boarding a plane drunk and peeing on the floor of the plane after being told he couldn't use the bathroom during take off. The entire story is a 'golden stream' of potty puns that holds up to, if not exceeds, the Thomas Family Punning Ability.

The whole video is hilarious but gets even better about 2/3 of the way through when Anderson gets the giggles after a a particularly funny pun about Depardeiu only going number 1 and not a 'part deux.'

Be careful, you might laugh so hard you pee your pants!!

Happy Birthday Dad!

Happy Birthday Dad, I didn't get anything in the mail, so we will have to celebrate when you get home. Maybe have an 'experience' like dinner and a movie...you know, quality time together instead of just stuff.

Can't wait for you both to come home!


Love,
Casey

Ok, here is the album from Mom's Art Show

I tried to take some close ups so you can see some details. I also tried to put the photos in order as if you started on the right side and walked in a U-shape all the way around

Fiber Artists of Southern Arizona

The Art Show

I drove down to Tucson this afternoon for the Fiber Art Show at the JCC to see my mom's art pieces in the show. I am so proud of my mom for moving her craft into the next phase and finally being recognized for the art she makes. Plus it was really cool to we what her friends made too.

I hung out with Alex Smythe for most of the show and it was great to see him! He is also the proud child of an artist and we discussed the various pieces and what we liked and didn't like. Even the Roleskis showed up. I haven't seen them in about 10 years so I chatted with Mark (c?) For a few minutes.

I made sure to take pictures of everything (but now I need to figure out how to put my picasa album in my post - which might require a computer and not just my smart phone, which means you have to wait until tomorrow)

After the show Caseyman, Aimee and Alex and I went out to a late lunch/early dinner at Blanco in La Encantada. It was very good and i recommend the ceviche. We walked around the mall and had great time catching up!

Casey and Aimee say hello (although they really never check the blogs so I told them I would say they said "f*** off" because they would never read this. Don't worry, they laughed)

I will post some photos here but wait for the album later

CONGRATS MOM!!!

A Real Artist in the Family!

Look what I got in the mail! Who wants to go with me?

Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad!

So...apparently calling my parents isn't enough. I have to add it to the written record that I wish my parents a happy anniversary.

It is actually a running joke that I should not call my parents until I have read their blog. I ask "how are you?" And they say "haven't you read the blog?" "No! I thought it would be more personal and call you!" I guess they just think I come unprepared :)

Well joke is on you mom and dad! I am posting this and I still haven't read your latest blog post because i spoke to you and heard it first hand instead!!

Anyway, happy 41st anniversay! (I knew that without seeing your blog too)

That's Not Fog

Another dust storm came through the valley this evening. Although I am hesitant to call it a haboob because there was no force behind it. I got caught in this storm but it wasn't very windy. In fact it just looked like fog and I didn't feel like I was in a dust storm until after about five minutes outside when my phone had a very fine film of dust on it.

Harry Potter and My Last Crusade

So...tonight is the premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part two which means...I am totally in the theater right now (it is 7pm) for the midnight showing.

Why you ask? Or you actually know me you don't ask?! Because I am at the Double Dose showing which means we get to watch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows PART ONE at 9pm and then PART TWO in 3D at midnight! Oh, and of course the 3D glasses are Harry Potter style!

I am here with a couple of my friends from work and they said they were making shirts. Now I have never been that brand of crazed fan before, but I am totally willing to succumb to peer pressure ESPECIALLY since it is the last Potter movie. So I have attached photos of my shirt :)

It should be a fun night!!! (PS most of the people in this theater are my age or older, Haha)

11:30pm update Deathly Haloes part one just ended...only 30 minutes until Part Two! Enough time for a bathroom break and some stretches "looking at the cracks in the sidewalk."

2:30am update it can't be over!!!! Parts one and two are possibly the best of the Harry Potter movies because they follow the book sometimes verbatim. I loved it!

No Ghosts

So I dont know if I posted on here that my water heater broke...but it did. Actually it worked just fine but it rusted a hole through the bottom and water leaked out of it (I still had hot water to use) I had noticed for a couple weeks that the laminate wood flooring in my kitchen was starting to warp and buckle, but there was never any water. The floor wasn't wet, my sink and appliances didn't seem to be leaking so I didn't rush into action.

So of course that means that last week when I was catsitting for Michaela (the cat had to live with me because she was on vacation and getting all new flooring in her house) I got out of my shower one night (still had hot water) and walked into the kitchen and heard and saw the squish of water.

The next morning I locked the cat in the bedroom and called the apt management. They said it sounded like the water heater and would have it replaced that day. Apparently my water heater is in my kitchen in the dead cupboard space between the sink and stove - I had no clue. I had been thinking my AC intake duct in the hall closet was my water heater ( I didn't really look at it that closely).

True to their word it was fixed within the day with only the dirty path of destruction in its wake...maintenance men don't clean even when the vacuum is left out :).

Then I had to sign a release of entry form so the flooring company could come in while I was gone to replace my floor. They said it would be 3-4 days before they came. I figured they would call me.

Yeah...they didn't. LUCKILY I was done catsitting before they came!

Last night was office trivia night so I didn't get home until 9pm. I watched a little TV then went to bed. I have a small apartment so I don't really feel thr need to look around...because I figure I can see everything. Not the case.

This morning I woke up to see this barricade of my stuff in front of my kitchen. It took me a minute to figure out why it was there (of course my first thought a single woman was that someone came in my house as I slept or it was a ghost) and luckily I wasn't too sleepy to put two and two together and realize the floor was replaced while I was at work yesterday. Only for a second did I think they did it while I slept :).

So now I have lovely new floors and no ghosts!

Haboob!!!!

Dust storm came rolling in this evening and blanketed Phoenix and Casa Grande. I have added a picture from outside my house now (although it is nighttime), it feels like we are in an ash cloud.

Also, here is a slideshow of other people's better photos (I hope that works)
http://www.azcentral.com/photo/News/Other/858?collectionID=858&prevNext=next&next_limit=0&total=278&sel=

It's getting hot in here!

Yeah, the weathr gods heard about the summer solstice and finally realized we are supposed to be hot. We had a very mild April, May and first half of June and then came the solstice and since then it has been well over 100° and this last week especially has been over 110°! On saturday it was at least 117°.

So that means I had to chop off all my hair. I hadn't cut it since January so it was well past my shoulders and heavy. I haven't worn it down in 3 weeks. Yesterday I used some gift cards I received and went to a local fancy salon and I think I have found my new stylist! Only took 7 years of living in Phoenix to find someone better than my Tucson stylist :)

(I don't know why it uploads sideways from my phone)

End of Era

I just finished rereading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (as evidenced by how late I am posting this) for the first time since I bought it in 2007.

Definitely worth a second read through and now I am ready for the double header of the movie versions of the seventh book. The local theaters are showing part one at 9pm and part two at midnight on July 14th (who cares about having to be at work by 8am the next day?!).

They are actually showing an entire week of Harry Potter movies leading up to the big night. If I had the time I would do that: movies 1 & 2 that Monday, 3 & 4 Tuesday, and 5 & 6 Wednesday. But the movies are all at night and I would be out past midnight every night of our first week of annual training - seems like a bad idea.

It is really the end of an era. My generation's Star Wars. But apparently J.K. Rowling has created Pottermore ( look it up on youtube) to not only bringing the books into a digital format but also add new short stories about supporting characters.

Still, this is my last midnight premeire of all things Harry Potter. No more books or movies. It's about time!!