Buffalo Powder Keg Festival

This weekend was the first-ever Powder Keg Festival in Buffalo, NY. In years past there have been snowy days where parts of the highway were not used for driving but instead for tubing down. ( I never partook but I wish I had). There is a history of a pond-hockey tournament with local hockey players. So in an effort for Buffalo to full out rock the cold, this festival was an awesome collaboration.

So Kevin and I and a good friend, Matt took this opportunity to break ground on a new and awesome event in celebration of our Buffalo love! We walked down near the rails and found our way to where the awesomeness occurred. We had seen and heard stories of tubing and snowshoeing but what we heard as we approached was awesome rock music that we later learned was live!.

When we got there, since it was evening the tubing had been closed down but the Pearl Street Brewery was lined with people on the balcony with hats and gloves and beers rocking out to the music.

We made our way to the Ice Maze... Yes folks a maze made of ice...
These next two pictures are awe-somely taken by Joe Cascio, Please go check out his page and see ALL the pictures!!


This is the WORLD's Largest Ice maze... We had Guinness world record verify this! It was made with 2,200 blocks of ice,,, each approximately 300lbs!!! Check out this pic to imagine yourself standing inside it (you couldn't see over the walls!)


(AGAIN Credit to Joe Cascio!!!)

So we entered the maze and did a quick time check to make sure we could record how long it too us get through it. We did the time check only because we decided if we were still lost after 20 minutes we would work on making our way back. It was cold and because it had gotten warmer during the day the ground had been walked on by many and was full deep puddles of cold watery slush, which soon submerged our feet and socks and boots!. We moved carefully through the maze and made it to the Buffalo in the middle to see many others have their picture taken on the ice-throne in the center (right smack dab in the middle). It was great fun to watch families and friends rejoice over snow and ice instead of the usual dread and angst!

We made it out of the maze in SEVEN MINUTES!!!We made it quickly and we jumped for joy on having found our way through. Pure ecstasy!! We look forward to coming many many more years!

After the maze we hit the beer tent for some special-brews courtesy of Pearl Street Brewery (my male companions and 'beer snobs' were hugely impressed.... which takes a lot so that means it was awesome!).

This was a great great EVENT and we even came too late to experience everything. But you bet your bottom dollar (what does that even mean!?) that we will be back again!!!

Top Three Thursday

Yayyy... A new fun blog posting forum! I love finding new fun topics and all answering them together and learning about the different people and nuances! Wa HOO!

What are the Top 3 reasons why you blog?

3)It started when I read my cousin's blog (Milk and Cuddles). She lives in Texas with her awesome husband and lil baby, and it was a great way to watch their lives grow (literally and figuratively)..and helped me to be connected when we're so far apart logistically. As my life changed I wanted to keep them in touch with what I was doing to.. tit for tat ya know?

2)I think blogging is like my new Graduate program. As a lifetime-student (or so it seemed as school never seemed to end), I created an image of myself that was very 'must keep learning'-based. Blogging is my creative avenue that opens my mind to learning about html, web design, as well as tricks of the trade that other's have learned for decor, parenting, cooking!. Plus with my financial blog-focus (www.dollard.wordpress.com) that allows me to learn about money and finance and share it as I go!. I told Kevin the other day that blogging is my new Ph.D., and I'm only in my freshman year!

1) I love to socialize and chat with others. Some of my worst jobs were those where I was either traveling by myself or sitting in an office by myself. I need NEED NEED interaction with others,, and blogging is how I not only can put my thoughts as they go all over the place out there, but I can find other bloggers to read and learn about and socialize with all over the world! So I am NEVER alone.. see the draw?

Hygiene

So recently I completed my first Meme and one of the questions was how often you wash your sheets and how often you wash your hair. It got me thinking about hygiene and how different people have different comfort zones with hygiene.

I used to date a guy who would take two showers a day, one in the morning and one before bedtime. This confused me as how dirty could one get overnite sleeping in your bed alone!? But when I was a kid you either had to shower before bed or before breakfast. Okay as a high school-er we had a choice but before that it was always before bed ,, which thinking now was probably like 6pm which is when I now leave work which is just unfathomable!. So I grew up believing it was one or the other..

So it got me to thinking that everyone probably has their learned-comfort zones about hygiene..

Perhaps they are learned from their parents/guardians. Perhaps they are learned from being embarrassed by their peers. (ex. the college room mate who mocks you out for passing the '24 hr rule of showering'). Perhaps they are learned as a part of your occupation/job.

I personally have had copious amounts of Infectious Control training in my work in various medical and school locations. Its important to understand the need for proper hand-washing procedures and have a plan to maintain your workplace and areas you are in contact with clear of your bacteria, others bacteria, and that bacteria which is just passing through your body but is being combated by your immune system (which might not be combated as well in those immune-compromised patients, students coworkers etc)

So hand washing is of utmost importance for me both at home and at work. If I go play with my lil sisters most adorable puppy (Luna), I always wash my hands prior to eating. When I go visit my friends who have lil babies/toddlers I make a point to wash my hands before holding them or cuddling them (this is so hard cuz they are SOO cute!!).

I know when I am at work I am surrounded by more bacteria and I am more aware of my obsessive compulsive self and I sometimes wonder how that translates to my home and how it compares to others's homes. I also wonder how it will someday translate when I have little ones making messes and searching out the 'ick'!

So I wonder what your rules are.. what are the mores you have for personal hygenine and those around you.

Do you have a maximum days that if you do not shower you absolutely cannot stand yourself?

Do you have a maximum number of days that you will let your children go without a tub/shower? Do you have a maximum number of messes you will allow before they cannot be wiped down but instead need to be submerged?



How often is enough to brush your teeth and floss?
Is there a limit as to too much flossing?

How often do you use mouthwash? Is there a too much of that?

Do your OCD's about being messy get put on your children? Are your kids allowed to get messy or is the germ factor too much to allow this to happen?

If you eat an apple can that replace tooth-brushing? (I have heard this before)

Is it not tooth-brushing if there is not toothpaste?

Where to Start in the PURGE!?

This is a good one..
Your turn! Which possession of your spouse's would you like to toss in the trash? Answer in the comments...

I actually mentioned this awesome Table Topic last nite, and I told him that I had trouble coming up with any one thing (he was amused but knows my 'anti-clutter brigade' which does NOT mesh with his 'keep everything anyone ever gave me' mentality.

Of course the first thing he said was 'my facial hair'.

SO that is 100% agreement the first thing that if I could remove I would.
I refer to it as 'scratchy face' cuz its not soft and cuddly its scratchy and rough!

the other things I would remove are basically any movie/dvd/video game. We have an EXCESSIVE amount of all of these things. Not as many as my old roommate in NYC but he was a director so it was his job.

We have shelves upon shelves upon shelves of all of these things, many of which we'll never watch or read or play,, and its just a lot of STUFF. My ideal office would have a few carefully chosen and placed books or framed pictures and so the crazy bookshelves we have make me NUTS but they're his joy so in the big picture its my joy too. (oy!).


(CAN YOU SEE Two of the bookcases in the back!) NUTS!!! makes me NUTS!!! Disclaimer this pic was taken right after we moved in,, cause yes the only way to eliminate boxes is for Kevin to place all of his happy books and movies and games on the shelves they belong on!)

Join in!!

Reason, Season or Lifetime

Do you know that quote "People come into our lives for a Reason, Season or Lifetime"?
Well I'm finding it especially poignant these days. I wish often that I could find the friends that are there for a Lifetime, and move them all to Buffalo and just go on rocking my life instead of constantly trying to push myself through the friendships that are for a reason or season.


Perhaps for some people friendship is something that is fluid or ever-changing so to gain a new friend or to lose an old friend is just part of the world that they live in.



I often wish I could be that way, that I could know there is a timestamp for when we're going to be friends, and when we're not. I understand that some friendships only work when your living across the dorm-hall from the other person, and some only work when your in the same town. But I feel like either of those would work if both parties truly made the effort to maintain it.

Which I suspect is the reason my feelings get hurt so easily. Because I try very hard to support and be there for my friends and family and call and check in or email or text or something to let you know I care. I try hard even when even the trying forces me to worry or stress or be anxious about the person. I keep trying until there is nothing left of me and then eventually I give up.

The thing that hurts my feelings it sadly, not that those who I care about don't appreciate my efforts because that is frankly just who I am and I could guarantee that if they could choose they wouldn't want me to be anxious or stressed on their behalf (me neither!), the thing that hurts my feelings is when I finally run out of myself and I stop trying or giving or losing, and it dies.

It dies because the other person doesn't care enough to hold up their side. They don't see me as that important in their life or value our friendship enough to make the effort.They don't want to maintain that friendship when we don't live across the hall or on the same campus or whatever.

Now I'm not so naive to believe that my friendship is without fault and the best thing there is second only to Shamrock Shakes (;)),, And I'm not going to say that I didnt do or say something to hurt the other person's feelings. Cause I'm human and I'm mouthy sometimes and I'm opinionated so that would be totally ridiculous to believe I never hurt them.

But to not call, not text, not email and not do anything is so hurtful to me. It just shows you not only don't want a friendship but you don't even respect or value me enough as a person to communicate why you do not want one,, so I could learn, or Lord Forbid I try harder/differently?

Follow the leader..

I have yet to do one of these Meme things (mostly cause I was waiting to figure out what MEme stood for,, and no,, I still don't know. my guess-me-memoir but that could be just bs!).. Anyway I love reading ArizonaMama's blog so I figured if she can do it regularly I could try it too!

Originally from http://www.mannland5.com/


1. How often do you wash/change your sheets?
About once every two-three weeks depending on when I remember to throw those into the laundry. I really hate reaching that corner to get the fourth portion of the fitted sheet on the mattress. Plus how do you fold fitted sheets its a mess!


2. When is your birthday?
10-25, two months before Christmas!


3. Have you ever met a bloggy friend in real life?
Only the bloggies I already knew prior to my blog-life. But the more I blog the more I find new WNY folks so its not impossible! Plus Blogher 2010 might change ALL that!:)


4. Brad Pitt or George Clooney?
George Clooney-I prefer the dark brooding philanthropic type.:)


5. If you could change one thing about your body what would it be?
My omentum. Per Dr.Oz he said I cant ever get rid of it but I sometimes consider saving for plastic surgery to have completed after my kid-making years (yet to come) to get rid of that sucker, it makes me NUTS!


6. How often do you wash your hair?
Every other day, although I condition every fourth. As an Italian my hair has its own natural 'condition!'.

7. Do you have pets?
Not yet although I wish I had a puppy/small dog. Someday, just not in this apt!


8. How many social networks do you belong to..if you had to give up one, what would it be?
Three, but I only use FB, and I'm resisting Twitter. I have yet to attach my blogs to FB or MY space and all that cause I really like to let my social networks be about my career or my family/friends. Not ready to market or push stuff there ya know? Perhaps someday

Giving up Giving up things? And other Ashy Talks...

Ash Wednedays peeps... its the beginning of the Lent season. When I was a kid I often confused Advent and Lent and could never remember which colored candles went when on the wreath on the dining room table. Purple and Red? or Green and Pink? I'm not even entirely sure that the red and green candles were intended for advent or if that was just what my mom had in the house!

A fellow blogger, Frugal Housewife
wrote a great blog on lent details that I never knew or if I did the Easter bunny was too much cooler!

Anyway in about high school I started to take Lent as seriously as I could at that point in my personal evolution. I decided to give up chocolate. It seemed like a challenge and others were impressed with me for doing so (again,,, I was in HS so others opinions were hugely important, sorry!) I made it through the 40 days except for one slip up, that was unconscionable (my friends mom made us cookies and I ate one before asking if it had chocolate chips in it (I couldnt see any) and apparently there were and my friend was like STOPPPP,, which I did).

Since then I've tried various forms of self torture and positive out-givings.

Usually food tends to be the main thing. I have tried (and failed) potatoes, cheese, soda, sugar, chocolate, wine. All in an attempt to push myself outside of my comfort zone. Some worked, most did not.

I do very well with abstaining from Meat on Fridays, and Ash Wednesday. I forget sometimes on these days to fast in between meals, but when I do remember I stop my actions so its all in the effort of trying and being sincere right?

This year my lenten promises are intended to kickstart some better choices that I have had difficulty with this year. I am giving up chocolate again, as I feel it is something I can handle and is worth continuing. I am giving up soda, as everything you read/watch describes how bad it is for your body chemically (the best is when they refer to soda as a 'chemical s%$#show"... I feel like it something I need to reserve for really rare occasions and not leave for mindless consumption and 'filler'. The last thing I'm giving up is Donuts. Its sad but at my office it is very common for donuts to be brought in by others (and often bought by myself too!), and I believe that sometimes the sugar kick from the donuts actually makes it harder for me to make good eating decisions later on in the day/nite.

This year I have also decided to let lent push my workout goals into a commitment and not a 'when I feel like it' (mostly cause I NEVER feel like it). So I'm requiring myself to go 3-4 times from Sun-Sun (per week). Hopefully this will help me create a good habit so that I am healthier and can then help others and give my best person outward to the world!:)

Thats the plan! What is your lenten plan.
Do you celebrate or not?
D

PS.... pic added from my cousin,, lil molly on her first Ash Wed (last year!)