Police Blotter

The police blotter from my home town paper has to be one of my favorite things to read. Yes I go online during the week to check it out. It makes me feel like I’m never to far, and always gives me a laugh. As I have mentioned many times I am from a small town, and the police blotter, along with a scanner are the best way to see what shinnanigans are really going on. Below is the police blotter from yesterday’s paper, no I am not kidding nor did I make this up.


10:12 a.m. Wednesday — A woman called from the 22000 block of Lofall Lane to report a trespasser shot a turkey on her property. The male trespasser took the turkey and walked away. A deputy notified the California Department of Fish and Game.

3:09 p.m. Wednesday — A caller from a school on the 11000 block of Highway 174 reported an ice cream truck was coming to the campus before class let out and the male driver was blasting music. The caller asked the man not to park in the school parking lot. The man parked across the street and was still disrupting class.

158 Days

Apparently when you get engaged, and plan a wedding people actually want to know some details. Well I’m not sure if they actually want to know, but they ask.

I figured I would just let everyone know…IT’S ALL PLANNED! Yep, I’m done. Well I have a few minor things to decide when I'm in Tahoe next month, but other than that…we have a wedding folks.

Gotcha

My mom is here visiting for a few days, and we live in a small house. Meaning at night, it's quiet. My mom doesn’t seem to understand this concept and around 11pm last night after we were in bed she decided to call my dad, and to check her office voice mail…(7 messages) all by using the speaker phone feature on her cell phone.

The first 2 calls Chris and I lay in bed perplexed, but by the 3rd client voice mail we were dying laughing. We started making fun of her loudly (of course) and she decided to take that opportunity to start calling my cell phone that she knows I keep on but in another part of the house. Me, of course not knowing it was her, leapt out of bed and ran to the cell phone thinking it was an emergency this late at night (11:30pm, I am a rock star) only to see that it was my mom calling. She started cracking up and yelled out “gotcha”.

Awesome. Sometimes I wonder which one of us is older.

Home Town Torch Carrier!

A friend from High School carried the Olympic torch yesterday. I was waiting to say anything because of the controversy in San Francisco we weren't sure it was actually going to happen, but it did!! I've never known a torch carrier before, but of anyone who represents that spirit it would be Jill. I hope to get a picture of her with the torch up later this week or next.

Anyway, she is amazing, and the accident that nearly killed her (it did kill her boyfriend) was something that stays will all of us who know her. I am amazed every day that she is even here. She is a little fighter, and a ray of sunshine and I thought I would tell a few of you about her...if you're at all interested :)


• Jill Mason, 30, an activist for the "Every 15 Minutes" cause against drunken driving. In 2004 she was crippled and suffered head injuries when a drunken driver hit her and killed her boyfriend while they were on a bike ride.

Here is her Essay that was submitted for selection: Jill Mason

11 days!

11 days until the Bon Jovi Concert. I can't wait!

My Brother

I was 4 when he was born, and from that moment I was his biggest fan and protector. My baby brother. We have always been close, and never really had that sibling rivalry that many do. We played Barbie and Gi-Jo, and had traps on the swing set. I tried to be at all the soccer games, and big events. He probably never needed me to look out for him, but I did and I always will. I can’t help it.

He is the funny one in the family. The one that makes us laugh all the time, literally. He has always been cautious, or “slow to warm” as my mother says. He was the quiet observer as a child, cautious and kind. He was impossible not to love. As he got older and met some lifelong friends in Jr. High, he came out of his shell. He started to become the comedic extrovert that he is today. In high school he was a prankster. He was always the smarter one, and never had to work too hard to do well. He had fewer rules, because by nature he is a rule follower.

When he was in college we were even roommates, and we survived! When he got married I was sad at the idea of being replaced, and looking back that’s normal but also a totally lame reaction. I knew in my gut when he met the woman he was going to marry, and she makes him light up in ways that no one can. She looks at him now, 5 years later, like he is the smartest most wonderful thing in the world. Can anyone really ask for more for your brother?

We have never lived more than 3 hours from each other really. Until they went to Vegas and I came to Texas. I cried when their moving van pulled away from the house. After years of harassment an opportunity for them to move to Dallas came about. I was thrilled. I hated living that far away from them. I always dreamed that we would be close enough to raise our families together. I think that I might get that dream after all.

He turned 27 on April fools. I am so proud of him, and the way he conducts himself. I am proud of the kind of husband and friend he is. He is someone I love to hang out with, whose approval I will always seek, who’s advise I think is indispensable, and who I will always (on some level) boss around. I can’t imagine life without him and I hope I never have to.

Happy Birthday Rob.

Invitations

Invitations. Who knew there were thousands to choose from? Not only that, but you have to decide on the color, font, additional embellishments, envelope style, address placement, wording etc. Come on! I don't think that 90% of people that pick up your invitation notice any of those details really. It goes on the fridge, you might notice it's pretty...but I doubt that my friends will look at it and say " Oh look Megan used that beautiful Lucida font".

I do think that people would have noticed had I gone with the one that Chris suggested. I thought I knew him so well, I can usually tell the things he likes, or doesn't like. He honestly sent this to me as a serious suggestion on what he would choose. I kindly refused, hopefully in a way that did not break his sweet spirit...but refused none the less. I think you all might just agree with my decision on this one. I tried to save a picture but it wasn't working so below is the link to the invitation that was suggested.


http://www.finestationery.com/product.cfm?prod_id=47134&invitation=true&invitation_id=63166948


In his defense we are getting married in Lake Tahoe, and the background is mountains etc...but I still had to suggest strongly another alternative. Well not so much suggest, but I designed and ordered a different one.

Tonight!

Tonight's Bachelor: "Where are they now"? I can't wait. I've been watching this show and have had many a crush on a few of the guys that have been on the show in some capacity. Can't wait. It's tragic TV, but I look forward to it every time.

SNOW?!

Dear Mother Nature,

Snow...seriously? It was 80 degrees last weekend, 80! I'm weather fragile from California. I have been here almost 4 years and every week you manage to find a new way to mess with me! The weather here effects my wardrobe, hair, weekend plans, and commute because of your constant changes. I am pleading with you to cease and desist.

Sincerely,

Stuck in 2 hours of traffic Megan

TWINS!

I know this is totally delayed, but with all the stuff we had going on over the last few weeks we didn’t get a chance to go visit the Twin babies born to our friends Chris and Heather. The boys arrived on Valentine’s Day and both babies were healthy and able to go home only a few days later.

Get this. She had them both without a C Section and NO EPIDURAL. Hello Heather you are a Rock Star. Seriously. Not one but 2 kids, and no major drugs…amazing.

Chris is recently obsessed with babies. Other peoples babies, but babies none the less. I’m not saying this in a “oh how sweet he will be a great dad” tone…I’m saying this in a “you better low jack your baby” tone. I am kidding of course, but it’s cracking us all up. He has been chomping at the bit to get to Ft Worth to see these boys since we got the call they were going to the Hospital.

So I am introducing: Colby Allen and Hagan Reid. Also notice how my fiancé is in heaven. I’m going to go count my BC pills now (ha).

Did you Caucus?

How can you not giggle a little at that word? Texas...did you caucus last night?

I have always been fascinated by politics and the system in general and even though cynicism tells most of us that the idea of One Man One Vote is far from accurate, I still feel like mine counts. I don't care who anyone likes, supports, hates whatever...shut up, get off your ass and vote. Debate with me all you want on why your man or woman rocks the casbaugh, but if you didn't do anything about it yesterday...you can shut it.

We are lucky to have the opportunity people in other countries only dream of. We choose who runs, we choose who wins..we choose. We might not agree, but we get to participate. Yesterday I waited 2 hours to make my voice heard. I hope you did to.

Engagement Party Pics

Ok rather than bore you with all the photos I will send you to the link where you can browse them to your hearts content.

http://www.johnmanning.net/johnmanning.net/chris-megan/index.htm

Enjoy!

2.23.08

The party. It happened and it was amazing. I can’t put into words how moved Chris and I were and how much fun it was. When you have almost all of your family and close friends in one house, and a few bottles of wine…I mean glasses…what’s better?

The engagement party was themed after a night in Paris, because that is where we are going on our Honeymoon. French wine, champagne, French snacks along with cupcakes of course! It had been planned by the best girl’s: Christine, Jen and Allison with the help and house of Chris and Meg Boyd. We also had 40+ friends and family in attendance. I was very nervous, and of course didn’t get to talk with everyone I wanted too, or for as long as I wanted too…but I think it is a dry run for the rehearsal. For those of you who I didn’t get to hang with I apologize.



Some people were selected to give toasts, all the parents being among them. They had such nice things to say, and it was a wonderful opportunity for everyone we care about to meet each other. I hadn’t planned on saying anything, and didn’t really say what I wanted too once I reflected on it. So I will say it now. I looked out over that crowd and realized that Dallas is home. I came here 3+ years ago not knowing anyone, and to see people that will be lifelong friends that I didn’t even know 4 years ago, and I can’t imagine life without was so moving to me. I saw faces from a job that lasted 4 weeks, I saw faces from another job after that, and people who’s couches I slept on, or who took me to dinner and showed me the town…people who were there the night I met Chris, and for all the stalking that came after that…people who had gotten married and were having babies. I just stepped back and was overwhelmed at what an incredible group of friends we have.

I will post pictures later as Chris's step dad John took well over 100...or at least post the link. Look for that later this week!

Ok Ok already

Apparently I can’t post something like “cancer scare” (see blog below) and not send some people into a bit of a panic. Here goes. It was me; I am the one who had the scare and the biopsy. Guilty as charged and I really told no one, except Chris and my family. It has been coming; I have had some abnormal test results for the last 7 months, so when they called in early Feb and wanted me to come in for a biopsy I can’t say I was completely surprised. I really just didn’t want anyone to worry unless there was truly something to worry about. So I kept it to myself. Yes it was scary. Chris was a mess, poor guy, but life with me is anything but normal so he better get used to it. My mom flew in early for the procedure, and then we just waited...for days until the results came back. NEGATIVE! So that’s the story.

FOTY!!!

FOTY, yeah I didn’t know what it meant either…until Friday night. Last week was nuts with family in town, and a really exciting cancer scare (luckily the biopsy was negative) either way it was a week that had me frazzled. I don’t like being frazzled. Friday night all I wanted was a quiet evening, dinner with my family, and Chris. All was going according to plan, until after dinner. We went to Hattie’s, and afterwards decided to celebrate with my brother Rob and sister in law Allison at our place with dessert. We had ice cream cake of course…I have a genetic disposition to ice cream addiction. We were sitting in the living room after the cake, and there was a knock at the door. It was 10pm and I of course thought it was a mass murder and ordered Chris to not open it. He wasn’t even going to look out the window to see who it was! But there was a surprise to top all surprises behind that door.

He opened the door and my best friend Colleen peeked in. Colleen and I have been friends for 19 years, but she now lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. She was of course invited to the engagement party over the weekend but I hadn’t actually expected her to come. She had even insisted that she was busy and was so sad that she wouldn’t be able to fly out. I bought that lie hook, line and sinker. So when she was at the door I lost my shit. I was screaming and yelling, and then of course crying. She and Allison (the best sister in law ever) had been planning the secret for weeks. I had no clue. I’m not generally one who likes surprises, and I usually ruin them for myself about 99% of the time so this was a moment I will never forget.

FOTY means “Friend of the Year” according to Meg Boyd who kept yelling that out to Colleen at the engagement party. Colleen informed us on the way home from that party that “Dallas loves her” and of course…who wouldn’t?

Register?

You know that part in Sleepless in Seattle where and Meg Ryan and her nerdy (but sweet) fiancé are talking about a romantic valentines trip and he gets excited about registering? Anyone? She has this look on her face of "um...ok". Yeah, I think that describes Chris and me. We were told that because engagement parties are the start of the wedding mania we needed to register so that people could have an option to purchase a gift. We debated the merits, and thought, sure...what the heck.

We took a little trip to a store I like to call the bridal mother ship: Crate and Barrel. At least 9 other couples joined us while elbowing one another to scan our desired items. I never knew that in order to make pancakes not only is a batter dispenser necessary, but a special spatula. Who knew? It was refreshing to see all of said couples argue (I mean compromise) on the items they each felt deserved to be on "the list". Us included! Chris wanted to throw that scanner thing at my head at least once, but was hesitant to damage the device because he had to leave his driver’s license to get it. Thank God, I think that was the only thing that prevented me from an injury.

The eagle has landed

Well my mom has landed in the Big D. Friends are throwing us our engagement party this weekend and my parents are making the trip from CA for the festivities. My mom came early to hang out for a few extra days. There is never a dull moment being her child.



For example, she had only been here 2 days when she managed to set off the house alarm system, sending 2 police cars to a normally peaceful neighborhood during the middle of the day. Uniformed officers had to search the inside, and outside only to discover that she didn’t close the back door all the way. The wind blew it open, setting off the alarm after we had left the house. The best part of the entire story is that when the officers were looking in all the rooms while yelling out “Dallas Police, come out” they came upon the guest room she is staying in. Mind you she has been in Dallas 48 hours. They looked in the room and turned to me and said “Miss, does this room normally look like this because it might have been ransacked”.

Ha, if only I were so lucky. Nope officer, it’s just the usual visit from Hurricane Ann. That’s what Rob and I call her. I love her more than life but it’s true.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hilarious!

THANK YOU

I just wanted to post a little about the b-day festivities.



My friend Christine threw a party for me over the weekend with some of my favorite ladies. It was at Torelli’s and the chocolate martinis alone are worth the trip. It was fun to just hang out and catch up over great food and drinks.



The highlight of the evening had to be the cake. Christine had ordered it from La Duni, a restaurant that is famous for their dessert... She had given the server a box of candles and told them to add some to the cake before bringing it out. Well they decided to add ALL of them, and we could see the glow of the cake coming long before the cake made its appearance. Between the blinding light and heat I literally though a meteor was coming at my head.



Chris started the morning off with a beautiful card before leaving for work, sent roses to my office that are amazing, and took me to dinner at the best sushi place in town. He didn’t even give me that “you’re not really going to eat all that” look that he normally does when the sashimi was delivered to the table. I got another card at dinner as well. We decided with the wedding, and the crazy ass ring he gave me that no gifts are necessary this year.

Thank you all for the singing, the cards, the voice mail etc. I have to give a shout out (and yes I did just say that) to my friend Noah in CA who as my best guy friend I never expect to remember to call, and he did! Also to Dustin, my ex-boyfriend from jr. high, who hasn’t forgotten my birthday in 19 years even though he is verry happily married with a brand new baby.

My friend Kerri’s husband sent me the sweetest email addressing my 13 things blog post (below) and I had to add this in because I was laughing my ass off

He said:
9. When I get excited I clap like a cheerleader on SNL
You TOTALLY do. Feet together, arms and hands straight up and down, quick claps, big smile. Sometimes accompanied by a drawn out , “Yaaay!”

13-31

That’s me…turning 31 on the 13th! Except for the fact that almost everyone including my own mother has called me on the wrong days to yell out “Happy Birthday” only to be told they have it wrong. It’s truly insane that a year has gone by since the big 30 bash. This one is very low key in comparison but Chris has learned well that my birthday, our anniversary, and Valentine’s Day are all very separate occasions and need to be treated as such.

In honor of this day I couldn’t decide if I should list 13 things or 31 things you might not know about me. Let's go with 13, who really wants to read 31...not me.


1. Despite my best efforts at acting the opposite, I am a hopeless romantic
2. I get worried when anyone goes to the hospital for anything, I'm convinced they kill people in there.
3. I have seen all seasons of Party of Five at least 6 times.
4. I think peanut butter makes almost anything taste better
5. I’m loud, and with a few cocktails I’m my own megaphone
6. I think men who read the Wall Street Journal are sexy
7. My brother Rob is one of my favorite people in the whole world
8. Moving to Texas changed my entire life
9. When I get excited I clap like a cheerleader on SNL
10.I dream of giving the finger to feminism and becoming a suburban soccer mom
11.My dream job was/is to be a reporter for the Whitehouse
12.I'm not competitive at all, so don’t pick me if winning is your motivation
13.Fine linens are my weakness, I can't help it! I'm a thread count snob.