Oh Anna.

I've been unbelievably busy this week. Busier than ever, ever before. With a launch of a new website and as the producer for one of our new blogs, I can barely take a bathroom break much less a quick phone call.

Early in the evening yesterday my phone rang. It was my friend from work, who was also my college roommate. Let's call him Nate. I pick up the phone.

Me: WHAT.

Nate: Hey Anna. What's up?

Me: Nothing how are you.

Nate: Pretty good. Headed up north.

Me: Cool. What's up? I'm really busy at work.

Nate: Oh, yeah?

Me: Yeah. So what do you want?
I've got like a million things due in the next five minutes.

Nate: Oh, nothing. It's not a big deal.

Me: Ok cool, talk to you later.

Nate: Yeah, just give me a call when you leave work.

Me: Wait. Why?

Nate: Nothing, it's not a big deal.

Me: No, what?

Nate: Well I don't want to add anything to your list of things to do.

Me: No it's ok, what do you need?

Nate: No seriously, just call me later, it's ok.

Me: No, just tell me. Is it about work? What's up?

Nate: No really it's ok just call me after work.

Me: No, what?

Nate: No it's ok call me later.

Me: Ok now you're freaking me out. What is it?

Nate: I was just wondering if you would do a reading at my wedding.

*silence

*silence

*Anna makes squeaky noises

Me (three octaves higher): Oh! Oh! Of...course! Of course I will!

*silence

Nate: Cool.

Me: Can I...mime it?

Nate: There are unlimited production opportunities available to you.

Me: Th...thank you!

I am a terrible, awful friend! I am sorry "Nate". I can't wait to read at your wedding on a golden elephant wearing a dinosaur outfit and waving a flag of you and your new wife's faces. Love youuuuu!

Jealous?

You should be! Thanks, farmers market. I love you.

Working on my fitness

I joined a gym a few weeks ago and decided to start a self-imposed diet at the same time. My diet is called, "Don't Eat Crap" and involves lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and lean proteins. The one slice of cheese I have on my daily lunch sandwich is OK but all other cheeses are out. Olives are OK, but only seven at a time. I've been munching lots of salads from Whole Foods and carrot-beet-kale juices from the vegan restaurant down the street. As of this morning I'm seven pounds lower than I was when I started my new life plan (on Saturday the scale told me I'd lost 7.5 pounds but I think it was lying).

My plan is to keep weight-lifting until I can open a jar of pickles on my own and cardio until I could successfully hunt a wildebeast. My gym has these crazy elliptical machines that make one look as if one is bounding through a magical fairy forest in attempts to greet a unicorn.

Thus far my gym attire consists of gym shorts I got for cross country in 9th grade that are entirely too short for me and lovely t-shirts such as my bright yellow "Rappel! Ding" shirt from senior year French class or my oversize rhubarb shirt from a much-beloved college roommate.

And that's all I have to say about that.

I broke myself.

My foot hurts when I walk. A LOT. I'm not sure precisely how it happened, but I know it happened after rocking at an outdoor concert this weekend. Except after all the things I did that day which included:

• Biking to and fro the farmers market
• Sidestepping babies, dogs, gardeners and pushy people in the rows at said farmers market
• Cleaning my 200 degree apartment top to bottom
• Standing for nine straight hours
• Pouring and serving beer to hundreds of people out of a tiny tent
• Running from one end of the concert to the other, barefoot

The thing that actually hurt my foot was:

• Stepping into a car

I spent three hours at urgent care the next day only to be told that my foot is not broken, nor sprained. I was given a tetanus shot because the foot was cut a tiny bit, and after giving me a totally useless ace bandage all the doctor could say was "Yeah I don't know...maybe it's a bruise?" When my mouth dropped and I just kept saying "Why, why, why can't I walk then? Why?" she left the room saying, "Well at least we know your tetanus shot is up to date!"

Yes doctor. Now, in addition to being a hobbling mess, I can't lift my left arm above my head. Thanks!

Frankie lives!

After a softball game yesterday, a couple members of my team and I headed out towards our cars. We had to cross a small field on the University campus to get there, and I slowed when I realized that two of my friends had plopped down in the grass to look at something.

The thing they were watching was scurrying around in a patch of grass and weeds but it was much too big to be a mouse or rat or even squirrel, but much too small for even a kitten.

Turns out...it was a guinea pig! He was terrified and out of his element. Someone had just dumped him and all of his cage materials in the grass, including carrots and the liner chips from his cage. Can you believe it? I snapped a picture of him with my cell phone in case you cannot.

I left to meet up with the rest of our team at the bar, but the guys became obsessed with little Frankie (I yelled "good luck with Frank!" as I walked away and the name stuck). An hour and a half after I left, they reported to me that they brought him to the Golden Valley Humane Society where he could be properly taken care of.

They called to check on him yesterday, and the staff said he is doing perfectly well and in a few days will be ready to be adopted. Well done, boys!

Bike love.

Look how she just patiently waits for me even though you can tell she's about ready to fly away from that fence straight up into the sky. Oh Lucy!

Thanks a lot "Wham".

I was really excited to look up the song that was the #1 Billboard hit on my day of birth, then I was incredibly disappointed to find out it was "Careless Whisper" by Wham. Sick!

Do you have a better one?



(By the way, my heart tells me this video is John Candy's finest work.)

Meet my new boyfriend!

I know I've been dropping hints here and there about the new man in my life. You know...you heard his phone message. You heard all about our first date. Well, I think it's finally time for you to meet him. I'm pretty nervous to just include a picture of him right in this blog but, you know, I'm just going to put this out there for everyone to see. I think it'll help move our relationship to the next level.

As you can see, he's really tall. This is me about to hold his hand.

We LOVE holding hands.

Who pooped?

This is honestly the most fun I have ever had learning about animals via their poop! I am so impressed with the Minnesota Zoo. Try it out.

http://www.whopooped.org/