RIP Dan Benton

Words fail me in this moment of time...
but we will always love and miss you, buddy!
Daniel Andrew Benton
2/12/83-10/28/10

High Inquisitors

[photo courtesy http://movies.about.com/od/harrypotter5/ig/Harry-Potter-Character-Posters/harrypotter5character3.htm]

September 1, 2010
I have a feeling that, had Order of the Phoenix been around during my junior and senior years of high school, many a parallel would have been drawn between Dolores Jane Umbridge and a certain former superintendent of "Tnayrb" with her reforms, restrictions, persecutions, pinched face, and hated thirteen points.

We definitely rebelled in our own ways. ; )
And, no, I would not have shaken her hand had she been at our graduation after all.

SPOTLIGHT ON: Hobie Pharr

HOBIE

Hobie and Daddy (a.k.a. his Old Man)

Maman cuddling an unhappy Hobie

August 31, 2010

SPOTLIGHT ON: Hobie Pharr
A.K.A. Hobie Washburn the Cat, Hobiekins, Ritty Rat, Pretty Ritty, Fuzzy Face, Fat Boy, Prissy Pants, Petit Prince, Mon Chou
AGE: 5
ANIMAL: Cat
BREED: Turkish Van
OCCUPATION: Gentleman of Leisure/Emperor of [his] Universe/The Cat's Pajamas
LIKES: himself, naps, foil balls, pipe cleaners, canned tuna, the pink wingback chair in the living room, window sills, getting brushed, treats, black clothes, catnip, crinkly tubes, French, acting like a snob, dressing up, a strong cocktail, Sasha
DISLIKES: Jake, being cuddled, being snuggled, being picked up, being picked on, being ignored, music, technology, lint brushes, Sasha (She thinks he's a snob since he went to college! *gasp*)
HOBBIES: getting famous on Wikipedia, hissing and swiping his paws (specifically at Jake...and sometimes Phoebe), dropping pipe cleaners into his water bowl, caterwauling in the middle of the night, hogging the bed, running across the house, chirruping hello, keeping his white coat clean, watching out the window, chasing the other cats, catting around, talking too much, waking his Maman in the morning by tapping her face and biting her arms, wrestling his Old Man to death, studying for his PhD in Philosophy
(Hobie likes to eat tuna. Your arm is made of tuna. Hobie likes to eat your arm...or, at least, gnaw on it. ; )
HERO: Garfield
QUOTE: "I want some foil, beotches!"


I thought I would just share a bit about one of the furries running around our house. He's our wittle ritty rat! Isn't he too cute? (He knows it, and he knows you know it, too. ; )

Look for the other 5 soon on a facebook near you!
(I know I am now a crazy cat person, thankyouverymuch.)

He did not want to leave Aunt Monica!

Sasha and Hobie are complete opposites, but ya know what they say about opposites...

As soon as we got the pipe cleaners out of the shopping bag, he knew what they were!

our little gymnast

Hobie is top drawer ; )

eating tuna out of a spoon

helping Maman with graduation applications

He loves to play with (er, chew on) Lego, too.

crinkly tube

~*~birthday pie~*~

August 24, 2010

Tonight we had my birthday pie (chocolate chess). I had to wait for it because my birthday fell during thesising, graduating, and moving, then I didn't know what kind of pie I wanted, and finally I hate to wait until everyone else's birthdays had passed so the house was empty of dessert. It was worth the wait. :) It was yummy! Beverly did a great job.
I've never known someone to have a birthday go over three months. ;)

Can you see the 25 spelled out?

Mama's Mother's Day Lunch at Mimi's

Today Zach and I met my mama at Mimi's for her belated Mother's Day lunch/my birthday lunch. (She works A LOT.)

I had another great salad; I have really been on a salad kick lately. (healthier food = happier) I had the Balsamic Chicken and Pistachio salad with had baby greens, tomatoes, feta cheese, dried cranberries, fresh strawberries, and the obvious ingredients from the title. It was so yummy, and I'm actually eating the leftovers right now. :)

She had already given me my birthday present at graduation, but we held off on her Mother's Day because we thought we were going to see her sooner than this. :I

She loved her present, but she really loved the card, and I have to say, that I totally understand. It had blue hydrangeas on it (my favorite) and butterflies, and I got so darn excited getting to buy "From the both of us" cards. *lol* Everyone thinks I am really talented in the card sentiment area, but Zach also wrote something really sweet. :)

[I really wanted to get "From your daughter and son-in-law" and "From your son and daughter-in-law" cards, both those were a tad more expensive. :]

We had a great time, even though we were all exhausted, and I actually napped on the way to the restaurant. I was a little grumpikins this morning. (Sorry, Zach.) Thankfully my mood improved as the day went on, and when we got back from Toys 'R Us and Gordmans, we took a nap!

I love you, Mama! You're the best Mama!!


{This is seriously the best photo we got. We are not looking our best, although I like how my mama and I sorta match, and Zach has his patent no-smile smile. :}

Happy 1st Anniversary, Em-Em and Phil-Phil!

Today I had Holly's with Em-Em! (I actually didn't eat that much. :)

It was so great getting to see her before we head out of town. She has had a big year, finishing most of her classes for grad school and gearing up for clinicals, AND she and Phil-Phil bought a house!

With some people, it doesn't seem like a day has gone by, and it's so easy to reconnect with them. :) I only wish we could have chatted even longer! I miss seeing her and Philip every day, along with Erin, Nick, and Rose. :(

Em-Em and Phil-Phil are celebrating their first anniversary this weekend, and so I wanted to post a picture from their wedding. Oh, happy day! Congratulations, Robertson's! I love you!

(Zach didn't get to come to the wedding because he was in China-land. I was a little disappointed because I was so excited to have a date, instead of being "the fifth wheel." *lol* Thankfully Rose and Monica and I went as each other's dates. :)

Here are some pictures from over the years:

Halloween 06: Pregnant Homecoming Queen, Pirate Wench, Pirate & Fairy

Halloween 07: Whore, Phantom of the Opera's Christine, America's Next Top Model & Pirate Wench

celebrating Emily and Erin's November birthdays at the newly-opened Ruby Tuesday

Emily and I on my graduation day 2008

Emily and I on her graduation day 2009

the ladies at Em-Em and Phil-Phil's rehearsal dinner 2009

Omicron sisters on our game night 2010

the MASTERS pharr

May 8, 2010
GRADUATION DAY!! Zach and I are officially the Masters Pharr. :) We got up TOO early to head over to the Farris Center for graduation. Luckily we were in the same ceremony and were seated behind each other. Katy Kirk also informed me that Dr. Frontain told her only ugly girls get bangs when she got hers. I'm glad I did not see him today. *heh heh*

Dan spent the night so he could come to graduation.

Getting hooded is rather nerve-wracking because of the fear that they will knock your hat off in the process, thus embarrassing you AND screwing up your hair. Cap hair takes a long time to perfect. We both came through unscathed.

Monica and Ms. Judy came to see us, too!

But let me tell you that, when you are in the first two rows of graduates, graduation feels like FOREVER as you wait for everyone else to get their diploma (covers).

In the Department of Mysteries

Zach with Anatoliy, who was named one of the university's Outstanding Students of the Year

Katie, my dear friend with whom I started grad school--and who hooked Zach and I up!

Our Family--they're the best!

After lovely pictures in the sun and spray at the fountain, we attended the CSPA graduation banquet.Zach's CSPA Cohort

Finally, we headed to the Saucer to celebrate with some of our closest friends.

Ladies of Letters

All in all, it was a great day to become masters! ( And, yes, we would like to be addressed as such. ;) Thank you to all of our family, friends, and faculty who supported us through this process. We couldn't have done it without you!!