Goodbye X3 Hello TL

This past weekend was a draining time for both of us. Haggling with car salesmen is about the least exciting thing on the planet. Especially when they won't give you what you want - which is pretty much always.

I had to let my baby go... The suspension was so tight that it would upset both of our stomachs if we rode in it for more than an hour. And because of all the bouncing, things inside the car started to rattle and annoy. Noises and suspension aside, it was a pretty sad day for me. I really loved my old car.

Well my new smoother ride is here in the form of a 2007 Acura TL w/ Navigation, Bluetooth "handsfree" calling, and only 8 miles on it. I LOVE IT! It's tons of fun to drive and the navigation is out of this world. Not sure how I'll ever live without it now. I'm still trying to come up with a name for "my new lady that tells me where to go." If you have any ideas of girls' names with the initials TL, let me know.

Here are some pictures. You can click on them to enlarge...

BAM!!!

Last night Kristen and I went out for dinner at Bonefish Grill. It wasn't spectacular, but it was pretty good. We both ate fish (imagine that). We were sadly interrupted by HUGE snowflakes on the way to the restaurant. UGH!


This morning we woke up depressed as hell because the snow had covered the ground. This is Kansas City in April, people. Of course, Blue didn't mind.

Determined not to lie around all day watching TV, we decided to get up and head out to the mall to make some important purchases: t-shirts, underwear, make-up, and gum. After returning home, Kristen talked to Molly and then proceeded to bury herself in our closet. She got rid of the tons of clothes she never wears. It's like a new closet.

While Kristen turned the closet into a whirlwind, I promised that I would fix dinner tonight. We wanted pasta, and I couldn't think of anything I'd rather have than my favorite pasta from my cooking days at Fedora on the Plaza. I must have eaten this 100 times - EASILY! However, today is the first time I've actually made it in ten years.

It consisted of the above ingredients:

• Orchiette Pasta (translation: "little ears")
• Grilled Chicken
• Peas
• Orange Zest
• Chicken Stock
• TONS of garlic
• Red Pepper Flakes
• Toasted Almonds
  
• Parmigiano Reggiano
• and oh yeah, more garlic...
  

Here's a PRICELESS video of Mark making the pasta. Double-click the arrow to watch:

Back off ladies, he's all mine!

Hopefully tomorrow will be a nicer day because our lilies aren't having this snow! It is supposed to be sunny and 60 degrees. And people wonder why we want to move to Texas...

Easter at the Dacks'

What a great Easter Sunday to celebrate Mimi and Papa's 60th Wedding Anniversary as well as Emily and Tom's birthdays!!!

Looking at the wedding picture.

Kiki and Papa

Mimi and Margaret

Emily's shaggy Beyonce hair...okay, it was a pillow.

Alex taking a break from watching golf....snore.

Kyle making the "water."

Ready to see Randy eat a cupcake in a single bite in THREE.....

TWO..............

ONE.....................

Happy Easter!!!

Home again, home again - jiggity jig!

Well, I'm finally back home and adjusting to Central Standard Time. Here are some additional pics from my trip to the Emerald City!

The Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound taken from the Space Needle

Downtown and Mt. Ranier - from Space Needle

Pike Place Market

The Mongers throwing fish at Pike Place Fish

"Gentle Dentist" sign at Pike's Place

Inside the Original Starbuck's

These pics of industrial cranes are taken during my harbor boat tour.

These Imperial Walkers or "AT-ATs" created by George Lucas in The Empire Strikes Back are said to have been inspired by the industrial cranes shown above.

Tugboat

Jellyfish at the Seattle Aquarium

Some sort of tidal sea creature

Giant Pacific Octopus feeding at the aquarium.

Mt. Ranier - towering above Seattle

Pike Place Market

Stories from Seattle: Day Three
I met my co-worker Melissa at Pike Place Market today for breakfast, you know - the place where the guys throw the fish. It was so neat down there. Three stories of stores and stalls of goods. The top floor was almost entirely locally grown produce and seafood - you would not BELIEVE the size of the lobster tails. Mark would have shopped there for hours! There were artisan cheese shops, french bakeries, and spice and tea shops. Plus there were singers and performers on every corner. I also saw the first Starbucks ever. If you blink, you'd miss it. Very small and unassuming. I took some pics, which I'll post when I get back to KC, but you won't be impressed.

Things Mark Will Never Do...

Stories from Seattle: Day Two

...Visiting the Space Needle? Top of the list. I went to the observation deck today. It even made ME a little nervous and I'm totally not scared of heights, but this is HIGH. And you're outside too. It stands 605 feet high and was build for the 1962 World's Fair.

I also learned that Puget Sound is home to the largest species of octopus in the world, the Giant Pacific Octopus, which can grow to weigh 400 lbs.

Michael York is not "The Manimal"

Stories from Seattle: Day One
I had a great flight into Seattle. Arrived in time for dinner. I was trying to choose a good seafood place. My Dad sent me an e-mail recommending the salmon at the "Palomino Grill," which is only about 3 blocks from my hotel downtown. I walked down there and ordered the salmon, which was quite good. Halfway through my dinner, a couple next to me was celebrating a birthday, so the candle and dessert spectacle caught my eye. Hey...hey....that guy looks familiar.... I kept staring at him...kept staring...squinted....staring. Oh, *eyes dart down* he caught me staring. I thought he looked familiar. I thought it was "The Manimal" from one of my favorite shows as a kid. I ignored them the rest of the meal and made a mental note to look up "The Manimal" when I got back to my room." As I walked home through downtown, I noticed a poster of the guy above on the left. THAT'S the guy from dinner - Michael York!!! He's doing a play or something in Seattle. I immediately called my Dad - who informed me that Michael York....is NOT the Manimal. I looked it up. It's true. Michael York played Basil in the Austin Powers movies and Logan in Logan's Run. Makes me glad I didn't ask him if he was the Manimal. Woops.

The Sweet Escape

The first round of coworkers who opted into the Voluntary Separation Package left the company on Friday. So sad. My Chicago travel-buddy Jessica (second from left) has worked at Sprint for many, many years. Off to bigger and better things! Good luck, Jess! On a lighter note, we sent the "VSPers" off in style at a concert with an 80's cover band in Brookside. Fun, fun!