I'm such a horrible blogger. More than two months have passed since I've sat down and actually thought about writing. And frankly, I'm kinda okay with that. My mind has been on somewhat of a vacation, and I've also been sick. I apologize for the sudden disappearance. Between both jobs and just life around me, I haven't even had the energy to miss writing.
I'll be back. Just check in sometimes and I'll be blogging again soon.
I can hear my parents' voices of warning ringing loud and clear: "Don't get a tattoo; you'll end up regretting it someday." While I don't exactly regret my ink, I have come to accept the fact that I have probably grown up and apart from my tattoo in that dolphins and yin yangs probably aren't the most suitable decorations for a 30-something Linda. I've also decided that if I'm going to be stuck with ink on my ankle for the rest of my life, I should at least like it. Right?Last night Aaron and I were talking in the kitchen when the subject of my tattoo came up. He seems to think that I might be making a bad situation worse by adding to the tattoo. He is afraid that I'll just make it bigger, and we'll have the same late-night conversation again ten years from now, with me asking why, oh why, did I let him let me get further inked? I have a tendency to be fickle, especially when it comes to my appearance. In the end, it is ultimately up to me whether or not I pursue my whim further, but he is always the first sounding board in any decision I need to bounce to someone for an opinion. The thing is, I don't hate my tattoo. I don't regret getting either of them. I just am not a fan of dolphins like I was at the age of 22, and I'm kind of wondering what I can do to make it better. Getting my tattoo in the first place was a streak of rebellion that I'm still kind of proud of, and I still smile about it. It's just not "me" anymore.A little smaller around than a pop can is the red and black yin yang/blue and purple dolphin adornment. I'm working on a picture, but my batteries are low. Whoops. Anyway, I really don't want it any bigger--it is on the outside of my ankle, about 2 inches above the bone. But I do want to do something to it to make it fresh and new, to represent me in this stage of my life, but also has to make sense with what is already there. See my dilemma?I thought about an ankle bracelet tattoo. A chain of rainbow fish? I liked it at first, but honestly, I think I'd be reblogging and bitching ten years from now if I did that. Ugh, decisions. This is a sign to just leave it alone, I know it.Aaron suggested I just have it removed. I can't do that, though. I like the fact that I have my tattoo, I'm just...say it with me...over dolphins. I would even consider covering them completely but having red and black as two of the main colors that take up a good half of the tattoo itself, well, that's tricky. See why I need help?I know this isn't anything I'm going to decide overnight, or even any time soon. But it's going to be done, eventually, and I need some inspiration!
There's something to be said about exes. They are a sticky area for even the most solid couples. I'm not denying the fact that there were women before me, but being reminded that they exist isn't your most warm and cozy feeling.
I suppose that is my comfort, my knowing that the knee-jerk reaction of defensive major wasn't uncalled for when a friend forwarded the dreaded MySpace link of a former flame of Aaron's to his Facebook. It's dreadfully cliche, but that's why it's so cliche: it happens! I begrudgingly gave him his space to travel back through time, all the while not allowing him to forget MY presence in the other room, animatedly enjoying a Pink Floyd rockumentary.
It was the exclamation that came from the other room, the one I will edit for, well, just to be kind, but something along the lines of "I can't believe it's not butter!" well, yeah that...those were the words that let me know that I'd come along this journey down the path of Aaron's Exes unscathed. Phew. Because I know the stories, and they ain't pretty!
But really, why do we get so defensive at the thought of an ex? Even in the simplest, most innocent of ways; the ones, too, that come to us in the form of an inside joke--the true meaning sometimes is marred by a defensive attack by a third party and can be ruined of it's original intent.
I'm just glad I have the confidence that even had the ex turned out to be (insert scream from Psycho shower scene) the long-lost twin of Dita Von Teese my husband would still love only me. And I am pretty confident that I don't have any Dave Navarro exes out there, or anyone like Robert Downey, Jr., so Aaron's safe, too.
Yeah, it's one of those Myspace/Facebook forwards, but I decided to do it here as an exercise to help alleviate my writer's block. Yep, my creativity has gone on hiatus, only rearing its funny little head during inopportune times when I am without a means to record thoughts. So...in order to overcome this uphill battle with my malfunctuning brain, I offer to you this list of 25 things that aren't everyday common knowledge about me!
Enjoy :)
1. I'm a writer who suffers from chronic distraction from train of thought.
2. I spend days behind my desk reading celebrity gossip and trying to look busy.
3. I don't like milk.
4. I do like rice milk.
5. I didn't have chicken pox until I was in 7th grade. It was embarrassing.
6. I still have beside my bed Jerry the stuffed gray mouse I got when Target was still called Ayr-Way.
7. I used to pretend I was Laura Ingalls.
8. If I'd lived in the hippy generation, I'd have bummed a ride to San Francisco.
9. I've never seen an ocean.
10. I am seriously contemplating uprooting my entire family and lifestyle for a change of scenery.
11. I still haven't figured out what I want to do with my life.
12. I am a vegetarian, but I sometimes sneak a bite of meat. And I do eat Campo's Taco's chicken tacos...
13. I have served food to 2 local television celebrities: Bob Gregory and Gerry Dick.
14. I won a coloring contest when I was in 2nd grade.
15. I can change a tire; I just choose to play helpless.
16. I have taken lessons for violin, keyboard/piano, and flute.
17. Legend has it that I have a great, great uncle who was a personal assistant for Queen Victoria.
18. I took a class on The Beatles at Indiana University. Of course I got an A!
19. I remember numbers very easily.
20. I was driving a boat 4 years before I could legally drive a car.
21. I need trees in order to feel calm.
22. I played Auntie Em in an elementary school play.
23. I could eat Indian food every day for the rest of my life.
24. I make a kick-ass jalapeno popper spring roll.
25. I will never turn down a glass of chianti.
I'm so excited right now, I don't even know what to say. Tim Burton is producing a movie version of Alice in Wonderland, and Johnny Depp is in it. Now, I'm not one of those "ohh he's so cute" kind of people. Nope, I just love his acting. I love his Gonzo roles, I love his Jung role. I love them all.I've been saying for years that someone should do a screen version of the book. It's a classic, it's interesting, it's fun, why not? And to have someone like Burton doing it, I know it will be fantastic.Of course I can't wait for the Caterpillar. I mean, really. The caterpillar truly is my favorite character. I can't wait for the music. You know it's going to be good. 2010 can't come fast enough.http://www.dlisted.com/node/28969
I've found my new favorite place to eat.
I love the fact that I live in a small town that is starting grow; you get all kinds of neat new things and new places to eat. We recently had another restaurant join our community, Campos Tacos. It's in the little strip mall next to CVS and Chicago's Pizza, and it's a small place, but it has big taste.
Now, if you're thinking you're going to walk in and find Qdoba, Jr. or even something like Taco Bell, you're wrong. Totally different thing. This is what tacos are all about: flat corn tortillas (soft though, not crunchy) topped with your choice of chicken, steak, refried beans, and a few things that I'm not familiar with, and instead of lettuce, tomato, and cheese, you'll find chopped white onion and cilantro as your toppings. I'm not a fan of commercialized Mexican food, and in my opinion most Americans have pedestrian views on what good food is.
Anyway, like most other Mexican restaurants, you start of with a basket of chips and salsa. They bring two kinds to the table. One is more of a verde kind of sauce and the other, my favorite, is the chunky tomato, cilantro, onion salsa. For just over 2 bucks, you can get a big glob of the best guacamole within a 50 mile radius. It's not the bird-poop kind, either. It has chunks of tomatoes in it, too. Are you seeing a pattern? Love those 'maters. Okay, so get the guac. It's yummy. And it's made fresh; I know this because I've had it twice this week and it was slightly more lemony the second time. Yummmm.
The other thing I really, really like is the fact that you can buy bottled Coke. Mexican Coke, to be more exact, which is made with sugar, not that high fructose bullshit. Of course I just get water, but Aaron loves the fact that he can actually drink a Coke somewhere every now and then. They also have non-alcoholic bottled Sangria. Yum.
Okay so back to the menu...I haven't tried it all yet, but of the things I have had (a refried bean burrito, which was huge--too huge if I'm being completely honest; and the bean taco) the taco is my favorite so far. And they're priced reasonably, too. For around $10, Aaron and I can eat until we're stuffed. And that's not easy to do! Tacos are $1.75 each, and two of them are too much for me. One and a half would be perfect. I guess that's just another reason to get a take-home box or just order one and pig out on the guacamole. The chicken and the steak is amazing as well. I have been caught breaking my vegetarian lifestyle for a couple chicken tacos.
Campos Tacos...try it! Don't go in expecting your pedestrian taco joint. It's anything but that, at least as far as Central Indiana is concerned. Go hungry and come out happy!
Yesterday I spent the day with the fam. They can be pretty cool to hang out with. We started off by going out to breakfast at one of the little diners here in town. We usually go to The Wagon Wheel but they were packed with people waiting to be seated. Yikes. When I first found that diner a year ago it was pretty much a regular crowd of older folks who have lived in McCordsville since before this recent population boom. We didn't want to wait (or sit in the smoking section--this town is a little behind the times), so we made the journey up the road to another small town diner, called Robbie's. It's nice to sit down with my husband and our boys, slurp my coffee and eat my vegetarian egg-white omelet, and watch their faces covered in syrup and smiles as we talk about the things they find important in their broadening worlds. Breakfast was a hit, up until Willie overate and threw up in front of the cash register. It happens....always. My kids are vomiters. Unfortunately we haven't quite gotten the hang of making it to the restrooms first. So, I gleefully (ha!) cleaned up the mess while my older two ran back to the table, announcing to the entire restaurant not once, but twice, "Willie threw up!!" Forks fell. That's breakfast for the Ongs. Overall, though, breakfast was a hit and we'll go back.
After breakfast we headed to Fort Benjamin Harrison. There is a state park with walking trails in the woods, which is one of my most favorite things in the entire world. We started out on our 2 mile trek and to my absolute glee, I found hanging vines! It has been YEARS since I've gotten to swing on a vine and I couldn't wait to jump on. At first the boys were a little unsure about swinging off a vine, but once they saw me launch myself up, they couldn't wait to follow suit. Matt quickly got the hang of it and A.J. did after that. Willie never really quite got his feet off the ground, but he wasn't scared to try. Aaron even got a bit of a swing in. I quit after I nearly impaled myself with the vine around my Achilles tendon. It left a bruise but I show it proudly. It's my Tarzan injury! We spent a good ten minutes playing with the vines before we headed onward with our journey.
The trails were buzzing with people with dogs. The boys had to stop each person with a pup so they could give a quick pet on the head. Sometimes I think that was annoying to people who were trying to get on with their trip, but overall it was a good day to see lots of dogs. We even saw a couple deer run right in front of us and off into the trees. I wanted to kick myself time and again for not bringing a camera.
After the kids kept up for over 2.1 miles we threw them back in the car and drove around the park to see what else was there. I was surprised to find more trails, a sledding hill, a couple playgrounds, and my favorite part: the natural history museum and horse stables. Aaron and I are planning to go back this weekend and take a guided tour. For twenty dollars each, we get an hour long horse ride. Sounds fun to me! They also offer pony rides for children under 16, and it's cheap.
The natural history museum was really fun. It's small, probably around 2000 square feet or less, but it was filled with things like stuffed animals (taxidermist stuffed, not beanie baby stuffed!), war artifacts from both World Wars and Vietnam, POW artifacts from Nazi Germans (I saw a real swastika. I mean, I'm not pro-Nazi or anything, but do you realize how awesome that is to see it?). We measured our arms up against the wall and compared them with the painted wingspans of birds (my arms have the same span as a Turkey Vulture!) and then we compared our heights with that of Elk, black bears, moose, and a few other things.
Finally, before we went home we let the kids run off whatever leftover energy they had on the playground and then rolling down the sledding hill. They were exhausted when we came home. We spent the entire day there and still didn't get to do everything. We'll be going back, soon!!
