Really?

I can't recall publicly admitting this, but one of my most embarrassing guilty pleasures is watching TMZ. Yeah, that's right. A ridiculously immature, yet extremely hilarious program that highlights paparazzi semi-stalking celebrities with video cameras, asking them ridiculous questions.
Last night, the asked the guy who hosts America's Most Wanted if he could help Jessica Simpson find the Coyote that took her dog*. See? Funny stuff.
The only gripe I have is that TMZ is on late at night (too late for me really...but I just can't resist it!!).
No matter what kind of day I'm having, I know that at 10:30 I can flip on the television and watch a 30 minute program that cracks.me.up.
Do you watch any television programs that make you laugh out loud?


*in case you live in a cave, Jessica Simpson's dog, Daisy, was stolen by a wild Coyote...never to be found again...sad, right? (a story I also learned about via TMZ).

**I also laugh out loud at How I Met Your Mother, and The Office.

Happy Sigh.

Today, I am happy.
Some would call me crazy...but if you knew me, you'd already know I'm all sorts of crazy.
The past few days have been whimsical. It has snowed in my neck of the woods...the first time in seven years we've had snow this early, and it makes me smile. Granted, I don't have many negative repercussions in terms of snow. I don't have to shovel or plow. I'm allowed the joys of kicking back, watching the flakes peacefully fall, and soaking it all up.
Since the first measurable snow came so early this year, it melted ALMOST as fast as it poured down. The air outside was warm while the flakes drifted down..unlike December when the air is generally VERY cold and frigid.
Some are claiming that summer went straight to winter...but they're overlooking the fact that September in MN had temperatures consistently higher than normal...if anything, the MN fall has been AWESOME thus far.
This morning, the sun has been shining. The leaves that are still clinging to the trees are glistening. The realization that the holidays are right around the corner can't escape my mind...and I am happy. Happy because the holidays mean seeing people....and people generally make me feel warm and loved.
At the first sight of snow, little man came rip-roaring into my room shouting "MOM! MOM! IT'S CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" (bless his heart). I had to pull out my calendar to explain to him that Christmas was still a couple of months away...but lucky for me, his excitement was contagious.
I'm not only excited to be around people this holiday season...but also excited to show and teach him the importance and shear awesomeness of giving. Be it to a food shelter, or a toys for tots drive..my goal this year is not to shower him with gifts, but show him how to shower others around him.
So yeah...I'm happy today. Happy for the weather. Happy for my health. Happy for what's to come. Plain and simple, I'm happy.

Tired Eyes

My thoughts on this weekend will hopefully group together soon. In a nutshell, I was at the Twins playoff game last night..and it was emotionally and physically draining. We lost, but I still love (and think) the boys that make up the Twinkies are hometown heros.

Sorry kids, but this chick has to focus on waking up right now. The coffee just isn't doing it!

Happy Monday!

Sunshine Committee

I rarely write about work. It's a taboo subject that makes me uneasy to write about..but this...THIS, I cannot resist.

Our office is having casual Twins attire day to celebrate the 163rd tie-breaker game against the Detroit Tigers, taking place today at 4pm Central time.

Not gonna lie, this day has me giddy. The Twins always seem to make a run for the playoffs interesting, and if I had more time on my hands, I'd research the facts for ya...woe is me.

If you are unfamiliar with the Minnesota Twins, let alone Major League Baseball (MLB), here are some cliffs notes that will help you understand how awesome the Twins are.

The MLB is divided into two leagues: National and American. In each league, there are a couple of divisions. Each division has a champ that makes it to the playoffs (aka, the run for the World Series), and each league has a "wild card" (aka, the team with the most wins that DOESN'T win their division).

The Twins have a few great competitors in their division, however, they're all on the lower end of the pay scale compared to the Yankee's and the Red Sox. The biggest competitors for MN are usually Detroit and Chicago.

In a nutshell, Minnesota has been on fire this past month, making up a large deficit the Detroit Tigers held over their head. I think I'm elated because about a month ago, everyone in my office had lost hope this day would come...except for me. I never gave up on the Twinkies....I always knew they could make it this far...and I have faith that they'll prevail and allow the Dome to have one more playoff run, and perhaps even a World Series to boot.

GO MINNESOTA!

BEEEP! BEEEP! We Interrupt this Program....

I swear...If I get ONE MORE TELEPHONE call from the Star Tribune asking if I want to subscribe to the newspaper we ALREADY RECEIVE I just might flip out.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled program of daydreaming, including rainbows and butterflies.

The Odds.

A while back, I had a conversation with a fellow blogger about the odds of winning the powerball. She insisted the odds were one...and of COURSE I told her she was wrong.

So, who was actually right? We both were. While she was arguing the odds being one, my argument was that the odds were more than just one, for example one in (insert whatever HUGE number here).

Whenever the Powerball gets really really high (over 120 mil.) my office does a five dollar buy-in. I normally don't participate because:
1. I'm cheap.
2. I usually don't have the money to participate (even though it's only five dollars)
3. I feel like it's kind of a waste of five dollars.

Me being the scholarly person that I am, googled the odds of winning the powerball to feel better about myself....here's the site I found: http://www.durangobill.com/PowerballOdds.html

The site says the odds of one number winning are one in blah blah blah for the dollar amount you're trying to win. It's really interesting (at least to the geek inside of me).

Warning: The powerball explanation site contains a LOT of math, and a LOT of numbers...the last sentence in each section explains what the numbers mean...and if I can figure it out, I'm sure you can too!

The chances that I'll win the current Powerball is Zero. After all, you have to buy a ticket to win.*

*I'm sure someone I know will ACTUALLY win since I'm adamantly NOT buying a ticket...if so, please don't forget the little people (aka ME!).

Oh, the places I'll go...

An awesome blogger friend posted a map of the states she has visited. It was a pretty full map....mine, on the other hand, is QUITE empty!

States I've Visited:


create your own personalized map of the USA
or write about it on the open travel guide

I've pretty much stuck to the midwest, only traveling out of the midwest a handful of times (mostly by plane).

I think I want to take a road trip next summer. I don't know where I'll go, and I'll definitely be bringing little man with...but I know I'm going to go somewhere!! Any suggestions?

Also, for you more seasoned travelers....How much time should I take off of work, and approximately how much money should I have saved? As you can tell, I'm completely clueless!! Any parents out there who would know of a great road trip destination with a four year old?

Ideally, I'll plan the trip around another company holiday so I won't have to use ALL of my vacay days...