Hot Stuff at State Champs

Okay, well, I at least thought he was hot stuff. Now here's the stats - he did a men's points race (race around, but the winners are ones who win points in the sprints, not who comes across the line first). It was a 75 lap points race - 75 laps! Usually he does between 20-40 laps at the track. 75 laps is the equivalent of 15 miles. Now on the road, 15 miles ain't much, but at an average of 28mph... yes folks, you read that right, 28 mph AVERAGE for 15 miles, we'd all be dead tired. 'Cept for these guys. Steve said his max speed was 38mph at one point. All I know is they looked freaking fast out there. He came in 4th place in his category - so not bad for never racing in states before and racing against guys who are in the top categories. So we're proud of him here at Casa Germonski.



Here are biking buddies that came to cheer him on (and buy pizza later!)

Mark - the Brit and Scupper

Dave, wearing a cowboy hat in honor of Mark's impending move to Texas

Bob, the pizza buyer extraordinaire

Michael, bringing a flask of Scotch, just 'cause

What's a girl to do?

when you have this to look at from your office door each morning? Now how could I write dissertation pages with such cuteness snoring across the room? Seriously though, I do have all my materials done for the qualfying exam in September - all 109 pages of it. 30 of which will probably get throw out or chopped, so that means I'm approx. 80 pages towards the completion of my diss. Only about 120-150 more to go. Eek.

Steve races at Master State Track Championships this weekend - yes folks. it's a biggie. The state championships here in San Diego. I am aiming to take the dog AND the camera, so I will hopefully have pictures of Steve in his racing finest, and - cross your fingers - possibly in a state champ jersey - by Sunday evening.

check out the little bitty pink tongue....

Looking good for 39

So this blog has become all about Scupper as of late, and I want to take a second to brag about my oh so lovely partner. Steve's 39th birthday was this weekend and even though he had to work and missed a bike race he was so excited about doing, he took another year with grace and ease. I don't know many people who are 39 who are practically the same weight they were in high school, who bike 150 miles a week, swallow the crap at work so that I can sit at home and whine about not writing 5 pages, and who dedicate themselves so fully to taking care of the people they love. I feel exceptionally lucky and proud.

But just 'cause, here's one with Scupper, the other cute little man in my life.

We dressed up a bit to go out for birthday dinner, and I realized when we got home that we haven't had a pic of the two of us in awhile. Here we are!

The Poobah Bed

So we're calling this the poobah bed... b/c Scupper acts like a Grand Poobah whenever he jumps, sits, sleeps, chews, on this bed. (Poobah was originally used in the Gilbert and Sullivan light opera The Mikado, which is classic piece of operetta AND totally stereotypical racist piece against the Asian continent, but regardless). I got the bigger size so he could grow into it, but it is a little much. (but it was at Target so it wasn't a lot in monetary terms). Is this dog loved or what?

Hanging out. Check out the spotted stomach. For some reason, this makes him part terrier. Maybe that's why he has so much energy all the time!

He doesn't like baths, but he loves playing in water. However, it seems he doesn't quite fit all the way in this plastic bin. Ah well. doesn't seem to bother him.

Huge!

So I go away to a conference for 4 days, and the dog is bigger when I return. Oh dear. We're in for it - and the shelter said 40-50 lbs. Yah right.

Anyway, here are the latest shots. We are pretty dorky taking pictures of our dog all the time, but he is pretty damn cute. What are we going to be like when we have kids? I think we'll have to get a special memory card just to save all the photos.

Luckily, the weather is cooler today so I feel like getting things done. We were melting this weekend - 95 degrees and 7% humidity on the back patio and then by the evening, 95 in the house. I know, I know, it's not like east coast humidity, but when that hits, all ya'll have A/C and we just have a box fan.

Mid-drink on a hike

Do I look like a German Shepherd mix now?

I don't play catch with the frisbee, I hoard it.

All 22 lbs of energy

It's not a bird bath, it's a doggie fountain.

Our Economic Stimulus Package at Work

So here are the two things that Steve and I have spent our "economic stimulus package" on (well, not all of it, and to be honest, we still haven't received the checks in the mail).

One of them you know already: Scupper the Wonderpup ( a recent pic of how big he's getting and his lovely but wacky spots and colors)


And - TADA! We bought a vintage stove:
Now I hear you saying, why do Steve and Aimee need a vintage stove. Well, we don't. But it was on craigslist for a steal of a deal and it's just so damn cool. (and the one that came with this house was not a full size stove and you KNOW how much cooking we do....)

This is an O'Keefe and Merritt 1955 rare model. It has the 4 burners, which have this AMAZING function where you can turn them on the big ring for full blast gas heat and then turn the knob down really low and there are smaller rings called "simmer cups" that just turn on - and yes... simmer. Perfect for spaghetti sauce and soups. Kick ass. You'll notice the oh so cool griddle in the center that should cook up some tasty pancakes and grilled cheese sandwiches this weekend. The four different doors are up left) a "Grillavator" - which is this neat broiler pan that raises and lowers with a spring loaded lever so you can get closer or farther from the flame. upright) oven; bottom left) utility drawer; and bottom right) oven heating unit.

The best part?? (Besides the simmer cups) Behind the tea kettle on the back right burner you'll see a little window. that is a PERISCOPE down to the oven. Yes sirs. I can turn the oven light on and peek in the window and see what's down in the oven without opening the oven door. !!!

Now why don't they make stoves like this anymore? Viking eat your heart out.

I'll keep you posted on its progress with cooking. So far, the quiche I made in the oven today turned out beautifully. And it looked pretty good through the periscope as well. ;)

Here are some more pics if you are so inclined:

Brilliant!

My aunt just sent me this link this morning - run, not walk, to see these - and vote for the worst album cover ever.

Here's one of my favorites: