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The other night I fell asleep around 9:30pm while watching Shutter Island with the boy and dog (I had already seen the ending so I knew what was going to happen). I fell asleep haaaaarrrrrrrrrrd. I was sleeping so I hard I dreamt that I was asleep on the couch watching Shutter Island and I kept trying to say something to Cooper over and over and over and he just couldn’t hear me. One of those late night naps where you really should have just gone to bed and when you wake up to actually get in bed it is one of the most painful things to muster the energy to do. Especially since you still have to wash your face and brush your teeth and floss. So, I sat in the tub with my eyes closed and flossed. And C-man took a picture.

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We recently discovered that our dog likes to sing. We can get him going via a number of methods but here he is harmonizing with the C-man. I was even able to get him to sing to me over ichat while I was home on Colorado.

Oslo’s vocals melt my heart.

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C-dawg has a special skill other than photo-taking…furniture making! While we were in Washington he took advantage of his dad’s shop and crafted us a new coffee table. The table is a huge chunk of solid maple that had massive cracks down the center which Super Duper Cooper Man filled with resin. He even did the welding. I’m impressed. Freshly home in the bay area and not even 24 hours after we set it up, Oslo managed to add his personal touch: two great big scratches. C-dawg took it like a man though.  I see a new profession in his future…

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Isn’t she a beaut?

I found this “statue of wonder” on the street between the E’ville/Oakland border…lines I probably shouldn’t be crossing. I brought it home, washed it up and put it on C-dawg’s desk with a note on it that included lots of “deer” verbiage. His eyes lit up with excitement but it was only fleeting. He isn’t too into this kind of stuff.

Other moments of excitement over the past week:

- For about the 5th time we found a lost dog while walking Oslo. No tags, no nothing…but the dog was super friendly. Cooper, being a true MacGyver, whipped off his belt and used it as a leash. We walked around until two punk kids said “Is that your dog?” Um, no. The kids looked like they were on something. Poor dog. I feel so bad for all the neglected dogs in this world.

- Over the weekend my “entertainment” was to get to try three new recipes. Watermelon gazpacho, a mango slaw and pretzels. The pretzels were amazing.

- This is way old, but my little bro was in town as was my dad so I got to spend some quality time with the men of the family. C and I had a great Indian meal with the brothers followed by dog sitting my little bro’s two pugs which ended in lots of dog barf…but that is another story. I love those guys even if they barfed on me every hour. Another highlight with all the time with the men: the dinner that ended in an hour long discussion about genetically modified foods.

- A neighbor of ours had a vintage dress sale and Cooper and I majorly stocked up (for photo shoots, not so much for me). I did get some really great stuff though: a new winter coat for $5 and two awesome aprons. If I feel conceited enough I’ll have Cooper take photos of me wearing my new finds. Thrifty is the motto for 2010.

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These used to be my pants:

**please note, we were playing and Oslo likes to chew through material so this was not dog abuse.

Yes, these used to be my pants. The pants I bought in high school (13 years ago). The pants I would wear to cover my little white legs before volleyball games while in high school. The pants that almost look like a skirt because the legs are super duper uber wide. The pants that were like a security blanket and were my favorite to where when I wanted extra comfort. The pants that when my significant other first saw them he thought to himself, “Whoa, this is a side to Ali I was not aware of. I’m not so sure about this.” The pants that my significant other said I should retire because they looked ridiculous on me (were so worn out they didn’t stay up, holes in spots where holes should not be, etc). The pants I did retire once as suggested by my significant other but then brought back out before walking the dog. The pants that made my significant other think even more so “Whoa. Scary. Those had been retired.” The pants than are now a dog chew toy.

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Why didn’t I think of this sooner?

Bearded Lady Food Company…you and I were meant to be.

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Cooper’s birthday celebration was a winner. Especially for our waistlines. We pretty much devoted the entire day to food and family which is really one of the best ways to bring on the start of a 30th year.

We started with an assortment of pastries from our favorite cafe in Olympia. I could sit and eat there for days. I seriously think I could. Thanks to this trip to the cafe, Cooper realized he has a massive love for bread pudding.

Then we went to a local strawberry field to pick up a crate of freshly picked strawberries. Doesn’t get any better especially now when the berries are in their prime.

Then it was lunchtime with the pops followed by food preparation for dinner. Ha! (Actually, I had to take a walk in between meals…luckily I did bring a lot of stretchy pants).

The menu for dinner was what I KNEW Cooper would pick: bbq. Duh! We made ribs…

Prepared the strawberries…

For cheesecake! Seen here cooling on their great old school fireplace…

Made creamed spinach, opened a can of beans, slaw…

Skillet cornbread with honey butter…

Of course Cooper got the first slice…

I do declare it was a feast and a mighty fine day to be turning 30.

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Mom, I want to be a beekeeper when I grow up.

At least I want to help Cooper’s mom and learn from her all that is involved. Cooper’s ma went out to check her hive and along the way she went step by step in explaining to me all the ins and outs of the beekeeping process.

I felt like a child soaking in the most interesting thing in the world (and actually, the life of the bee really is very very fascinating).

I have a much deeper love for all the honey she has given us through the years. Three cheers to all the beekeepers in the world. I want to be one of you. I also want to try this some day:

(photo courtesy of Neurological Correlates)

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I have lots of details to share from Cooper’s super low key bday but in honor of the memory loss that comes from turning 30 I thought I’d share my very very favorite Sesame Street cartoon…

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Next Friday, on the 18th of June, 2010, Cooper will be celebrating his 30th year. His one wish was to be with family and keep the celebration low key…true Cooper style. I’m still pushing to get a jumping castle and inflate it in our loft and have a party (not sure if that is safe, but whatever)…but for now we will celebrate just he way he wants. I see visions of strawberry shortcake making, beef eating and maybe a mylar balloon (I made him carry one around for his bday two years ago and he did not like it one bit).  I hope he doesn’t feel like this as he reaches this milestone of a year:

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