Not the kind that go on your roof. The other kind.

I went to the doctor this morning to have this nasty rash on my neck looked at. I've had the rash for almost a week now, and since it wasn't getting any better I figured I should get a medical opinion about it. Especially since the rash has spread from my neck, to my ear and up into my scalp. And it doesn't really itch, but rather it prickles.

When I talked to my mom over the phone last night, she had a suspicion as to what it could be... and this morning, the doctor confirmed: shingles.

Mutha. Effin'. SHINGLES.



At least this makes me feel better:




I've watched it countless times since Sunday night and it never fails to bring a smile to my face. So many things about that opening number were epic: Jimmy... Glee... the Boss... and Jon Hamm getting his groove on. It's like a cupcake of awesome topped with gold frosting and sprinkled with diamonds.

Ok, that may be the pain killers talking...

If you can't reach me over the next day or so, blame Suzanne Collins.

Now if you'll excuse me, I must get back to my book...

Once in awhile, you find a friend...

who will be a friend forever.

Happy Birthday, Angie!

Table Topics Tuesday: Hit the Open Road

It's time to bring back Table Topics Tuesday... not sure yet if I'll do the whole link-up thing, or just go back to posting the topic question and having everyone answer in the comments... Anyway... today's question is:

what is the ultimate road trip?

For me, I'd love to take a driving tour of the west coast of Ireland.

First stop would be Ashford Castle in County Mayo...

Then onto the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare...

Stopping in County Kerry to visit Killarney National Park...

And finally to County Cork to kiss the Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle...

Not that I've given this any thought, or anything.



What do you think is the ultimate road trip?

It's official.

I'm now the mother of a 4th grader and a 2nd grader.

(Not quite sure how that happened...)


Here's the requisite "first day of school" photo:

I've just about given up on getting a decent photo of my girls (but really, it would break tradition if I got a good photo of them on the 1st day of school). Hannah looks like she just rolled out of bed, but she insisted she did comb her hair. And if Michaela looks like she's been crying... well, that's because she had been. Pretty sure it was just a case of the "first day jitters".

(And I'm pretty sure she's going to smack me when she sees I've posted this photo.)

random, random, random

This post is going to be all over the place...

• My kids go back to school in 5 days. Summer has been fun, but I'm ready to get back into a routine.

• Mom and I took the girls to get their first pedicures!
  

• Did y'all know a certain Hollywood heartthROB was in my neck o' the woods last week to shoot scenes for his upcoming film?

If you do live 'round these parts, it was hard NOT to know he was coming, as it was the top story on the six o'clock news every day for about the 4 days prior to his arrival. Now that they've wrapped filming and have left, I sort of wish I had driven out to the set. I think it would've been cool to see the antique cars, vintage clothes on the line, the rail cars with "Benzini Bros. Circus" on them... and then to see the movie and the scenes that were filmed here. I would like to read the book first... I've heard it's really good. Have you read Water for Elephants?

• This past week I've made an effort to watch what I eat and start exercising... so naturally I then win a cupcake giveaway.
  

These were shipped from Georgetown Cupcakes... apparently the store is the focus of a new TLC show, "DC Cupcakes"! I haven't seen the show, but I can tell you the cupcakes are very good!

• And just because it's been awhile...

Got any plans for the weekend?

These things should *really* come with a warning label.

As in,

WARNING! Contents of this package may become addictive (especially whilst one is in the throes of PMS) and therefore one could quite possibly devour the entire package of said contents without realizing one has done so and then one might wonder as to why she can no longer button her pants.


Or something like that.

dancing with the devil... and Dave Matthews

Shane and I went to see Dave Matthews Band in concert last week (the tickets were my gift to Shane for his birthday). He's more of a DMB fan than I am, but we both had a great time. And we both agree Dave seems like he'd be a pretty cool guy to hang around with.

It was a little bizarre how eclectic the group of concert-goers was. There were kids who looked as though they just got out of high school... and then there were men and women who looked older than my parents.

Unfortunately, the yahoos around me just reaffirmed why I think some people are idiots. Mainly the couple in front of me who couldn't keep their tongues out of each others' mouths... and the tipsy girl beside me who kept encroaching on my personal space with her spastic dancing.

I'm all for having a good time, but there is a time and place for playing tongue hockey. (Here's a hint: standing amongst 19,000 people isn't it.) And I don't understand the people at concerts who think they're on Solid Gold (oh, jeez... did I just date myself?!) and have to dance all over the place. Sure, you can sing along, sway back and forth, clap your hands, whatever. But when you repeatedly bump into the person standing next to you (read: ME) maybe you're taking up a little too much space, Ginger.

Regardless, we did enjoy ourselves, as the band put on a fantastic show. Before we knew it, two hours had passed and the concert was coming to a close.

Best of all, Shane said the concert tickets rank as one of his best birthday gifts ever. That right there made getting danced on totally worth it.