Marriage is easy

It's easy for me to nit pick.

it's easy to shoot down ideas.

it's easy for me to cry for what I want.

it's easy to forget to pray.

it's easy to get annoyed.

it's easy to forget what I have and think about what I don't.

it's easy to focus on the negative.

it's easy to think I'm a mother, not a girlfriend.

it's easy to sleep in and hope he'll take out the dog.

it's easy to think about what I do all day.

it's easy to get in a bad mood.

Can you tell things in the our house have just been newlywed bliss? We've been packing and moving and life is just crazy. We talk things out and we're real with each other and we get through it. Reality is sometimes the best dose of inspiration out there, after all. I know that my first-year of marriage goal is going to be a nicer, sweeter version of myself.

Deanna, Deanna

Really, girl? Really?

I don't know what I'm upset over more. That she picked the snowboarder over Mr. Perfect, or that I just watched an entire season of the Bachelorette -- and was an avid commenter on it with a group of bloggers.

Save the world

Copy edited this story today.

Highlights:
Food prices have risen 83 percent since 2005.

Developed nations are pledging to help less-developed ones, but...

Agricultural subsidies and trade barriers in developed nations have historically stifled the growth of the agricultural industry in poor nations. (I remember being so frustrated by this as a kid)

and
A reporter who's been around the block a lot longer than I have gets corrected once in awhile.

It's written by an advisor to McCain. I don't know why, but I liked that. I guess I just like it when I can agree with aspects of both sides. Makes me feel like a bright future is in store.

Note: I don't work for Bloomberg. I work for a company that runs Bloomberg copy.

Oh say can you see

Birthday Cupcakes from So Cupcakes, they have such a great story.

Utah was a blast. (ha ha, get the fireworks joke? I'm hilarious. Or clearly still on birthday pretensions. Thanks for all the birthday wishes, gifts, messages. I have the best friends ever.)

The hubs and I spooned on the first blanket I ever made under the stars, at Davis High School. We listened to patriotic tunes and watched the sparks light up the air.

It's how I've spent my birthday every year, sans husband, almost my whole life. This year was so much better though -- really we decided that college was so much better than high school.

I almost never mentioned it was my birthday to my friends in high school. I was too scared to have a party because I was sure no one would show up. I had a boyfriend in high school -- when he gave me a gift, he would give it to me the day before or the day after. At his house. At night.

One time my friends gave me a princess crown though and I wore it in the parade. That was so cool. Thanks guys.

So there the husband and I were, chatting on the red-and-gold blanket, that I'd consequently made for my first-kiss boy, and grabbed back when it didn't work out. (hey, I said I was shy, not a walk-over) The husband said he was the same way. We were shy folk; we didn't want to get left out. I was just excited to have someone to go along with, to have found a group of friends to "follow."

I walked into high school senior year and felt like I didn't have a "real" friend -- now I think, how many of my friends felt the same way and we all pretended we didn't. I had a sweater with a letter tied around my waist that so many on thought was a symbol of popularity. It wasn't.

Not me. But I so had those shoes. I was that cool.

I just want to hug every high schooler I see and say, it gets better. It will be OK. The braces do come off. And wear that retainer, because the orthodontist is right. Your teeth will get gappy again, and you'll be asking your dentist 10 years later just how much it will cost for another one.

Modern medicine

Went to the doctor (remember this?).

Got back on the migraine meds.

Update: I take 100 mg of Topamax. In my opinion it's a miracle drug. It makes me ever-so-sleepy at first, but I don't have headaches. I just don't. I don't have to worry about triggers, like eating chocolate, or pulling all-nighters, or if I am around a vanilla scented candle.

Migraines are different than headaches, but if you get them, I reccommend doing something about it.

Topamax is a name brand, and there's no generic. It costs over $300 without health insurance. Some health insurance plans do not cover it. In Utah, I was covered byBlue Cross Blue Shield and it cost $65; now I am covered byKaiser it costs $35.

One of the bad side effects is that it makes me tired. I have taken a nap everyday. One of the positive (or so I think) side effects is weight loss. I can't figure out how I lose weight -- loss of appetite or what, but think I generally shed about five pounds.

Patriotic quiz time

Could you pass the latest quiz to become a U.S. citizen?

I didn't. I'm blaming it on rushing through it because I'm part of a busy team that's trying to put out two newspapers today.

I hope everyone has a happy holiday weekend, too. We jump on a plane tonight bound for Utah to see the family and celebrate my birthday, which is tomorrow. (Yes, I'm a Yankee Doodle baby.)

Life is

getting to work and realizing that you have a fist-sized stain on the back of your shirt.

Love is

asking the husband to bring you a new one.

Life is

the husband arriving with puppy but sans shirt.

Love is

the husband telling you "he barely notices it" and sending you back to work with a kiss.

Ever so noble

:: following a commercial for one of those criminal justice schools ::

N: You know, CSI and the TV shows have made that seem like a noble career. But noble isn't all it's cracked up to be.

A: You would know? Is that what your professors told you in college?

N: It was all about being the fourth estate and watch dogs, blah, blah. What they don't tell you in college is that it's really all about covering speeches and ribbon cuttings. Noble just doesn't put food on the table.

A: Well, you're never going to hear anyone say an attorney is noble.

It just hit the spot

I'm a sucker for ad campaigns, apparently, because I went to Taco Bell for the first time in my life to try a new Queso crunch. (ducking cover as people tell me it's not real Mexican. Hello, I love Cafe Rio, I know it's not real Mexican.)

I don't know if that's the "official" name of it, but I'm afraid to go to the web site and check because I'm sure there's a calorie listing and that's never any fun.

I'm just going to relish in the goodness that was spicy cheese and the fact that we're moving this week -- closer to the fro yo place and further from the Taco Bell.

But don't worry, it's San Diego, I'm never too far away from tacos.

Hands off

A law prohibiting holding a phone and driving is effective today in California. You can still talk -- it just must be with a hands-free device.

This prompted several hands-off and hands-free jokes during work meetings today. People think they are hilarious.

I've been successfully navigating with a cell phone and stick shift for years now, but the fear of paying up, has prompted me to (ask my husband to) dig through boxes to find the hands-free cord. I won't be buying a bluetooth, I hate how robotish they look.

Famous last words, I'm sure.

Don't worry, text messaging is still allowed. Only because lawmakers didn't think to include it; they'll fix that loophole soon. I didn't even know that people texted while driving until my last year of college.

Texting in class, I get. Texting while driving, no, not safe.

I consciously spoke my last conversation hands-on last night with my friend Heidi. We talked about how this was the last time we'd be talking and holding our phones.

I can't wait to use the excuse "Oh, sorry I missed your call. I was driving."