Happy 4th of July!

Today is our Independence Day, a day that our freedom is celebrated. I was going to write something about how proud I am to be an American and how lucky I feel to be able to grow up in a country where anything is possible. I was going to write about how we should all honor our troops and thank them for their service... but instead, I thought I would take a lighter side and do something a little bit different. Instead, I'm going to tell you why being an American is just so freakin' cool.

It was just a couple of weeks ago when I met a charming woman in Tennessee and we had a ten minute conversation about icecubes. Yes, ice cubes. Did you know that no where else do people use ice cubes like we do? Think about it, we use them for everything! So, I have to say, icecubes are definitely one of the best things about America.

Another thing that I value dear is peanut butter. Not much else to say. Maybe this goes back to my days in the PC but having to live without peanut butter is terrible.

Last but not least... baseball! Baseball is a true all American sport and I think everyone should grab a ball and go play catch to celebrate our country.

Lady killers = Ego killers

I ran across this article the other day when I was looking up movie times for Wanted, the new "everything blows up real good" film with Angelina. Anyway, I thought this article was completely ridiculous... the writer listed his "top 10 lady killers" (from films) and then proceeded to rate them on a dating scale ranging from "marriage material" to "run for your life". I understand that all of these women are fictional (and some are aliens) but come on...the fact that just because they can shoot a gun, kick your butt, or beat you at a game of chess does not mean you need to toss them aside and find a trophy wife who will bake you a pie. Anyway, here's the article:

"Imagine you're on a date with a girl when all of a sudden she pulls out a Glock 19 and pumps several bullets into that shady guy with the weird left eye sitting at the table across from you. Hey, it could happen...especially in the movies. And with all the tough, no-nonsense action dudes to choose from, luckily Hollywood gives us a few killer ladies from time to time, if only to prove, well, that girls can kick ass too.

These fairer-sex ass-kickers tend to come in all different (and not even necessarily human) shapes and sizes: from a nasty queen alien in Aliens to a psychotic mom in Friday the 13th to a gold-digging murderess in Black Widow, we’ve definitely seen our share of freaky females over the years. But which ones do we remember the most? Which were the toughest, the strongest, the meanest? Who’d be the easiest to date? Is it better to be legally insane...or just good with a gun?

In honor of Angelina Jolie's second turn as a super sexy assassin in Wanted, here are 10 gals you may or may not want to meet in a dark alley...

(Dating Scale: 1 = Marriage Material / 10 = Run for your Life)

10. Nicole Kidman as Suzanne Stone Maretto in To Die For
Weapon of Choice: Seduction
Why She Rocks: Though she doesn’t technically kill anyone, this dynamic Kidman character snags major points for successfully offing her in-the-way husband by sexing-up some high school student, who, in turn, did the job for her. Extra credit, anyone?
Dating Difficulty (6): The "honeymoon phase" would be wonderful with this stunning siren; however your chances of survival greatly diminish once it becomes time to settle down and get married.

9. Lucy Liu as Alex Munday in Charlie’s Angels and Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle
Weapon of Choice: You name it, this wicked braniac will kill you with it
Why She Rocks: Aside from her nasty Kung Fu skills, Alex is also an expert at gymnastics, chess, archery, computer hacking and neurosurgery. But can she win a game of Trivial Pursuit: Totally 80s? That's the question!
Dating Difficulty (4): Assuming you’re in great shape, went to Harvard (or Yale) and don’t mind a girlfriend who moonlights as an booty-kicking private investigator, we don’t see why a romantic relationship would be all that challenging. Just wear knee pads...all the time.

8. Rebecca Romijn as Mystique in X-Men, X2 and X-Men: The Last Stand
Weapon of Choice: A mutant, shape-shifting ability to assume the body, voice and physical traits of anything she wants
Why She Rocks: Because, under any other circumstances, an all-blue naked woman with orange hair might seem quite comical. However, she's named Mystique for a reason – and you never quite know what she’s going to do (or how she’s going to ruin your day) at any given moment. Scary, sure, but we bet a lot of guys had a new favorite color after these films.
Dating Difficulty (5): If you can get her to like you (and not kill you), this shape-shifter could probably take the form of anything or anyone you’d like. Imagine the possibilities!

7. Milla Jovovich as Alice in Resident Evil, Resident Evil: Apocalypse and Resident Evil: Extinction
Weapon of Choice: Twin Kukri knives, machine guns, pistols and shotguns
Why She Rocks: She doesn't have much of a wardrobe (with the exception of that stunning red dress in the first film), but she sure knows how to slay zombies. Don't we all love a girl who likes to get her hands dirty?
Dating Difficulty (7): She’s kind of a loner, a rebel, and busy fighting zombies with dangerous-looking knives. Date at your own risk.

6. Kate Beckinsale as Selene in Underworld and Underworld: Evolution
Weapon of Choice: Automatic machine pistols
Why She Rocks: The beautiful, dark-haired Kate Beckinsale as a vampire fighting werewolves (or Lycans) in a tight, black spandex/leather get-up. Do you need a better reason?
Dating Difficulty (8): Because she's a Death Dealer, if you piss her off, she'll most certainly get medieval on your ass.

5. Juliette Lewis as Mallory in Natural Born Killers
Weapon of Choice: Crazy
Why She Rocks: Two words: She’s faithful. And not only does Mallory stand by her man, but darn it if she doesn’t make serial killing look just a tad wholesome and adorable
Dating Difficulty (10): You go in for the wrong kiss goodnight and she'll snap your neck. The chiropractor’s bill alone would be through the roof, not to mention her psychotic husband Mickey might come knockin'.

4. Sarah Douglas as Ursa in Superman 2
Weapon of Choice: Super-human strength
Why She Rocks: Apart from being the only real female villain in all the Superman films, Ursa also gets to claim a number two spot next to the ultimate baddie, General Zod. (And did we mention she's kinda hot, too?)
Dating Difficulty (9): She comes from the planet Krypton, hates men with a passion and wants to destroy the world. Somehow, we don’t see her as half of a couple.

3. Natasha Henstridge as Sil in Species
Weapon of Choice:Sex
Why She Rocks:Oh yes, this was one female killer who used her raw, alien hotness to seduce unsuspecting males. Put it this way: You won't live long enough to lose her phone number.
Dating Difficulty (10): Way too selfish. She’ll just use you to repopulate the planet with her own kind before (literally) ripping out your spine and calling it a day.

2. Angelina Jolie as Jane Smith in Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Weapon of Choice: Guns...and lots of them
Why She Rocks: From a Glock 19 to an MP5A2, this sexy assassin came stylin' with a gun for every occasion (roughly 30 different types were used throughout the film). And when she wasn't breaking bones, she was breaking hearts in an elegant black dress that was just...to die for.
Dating Difficulty (9): She’s married...to another assassin. We'd advise you to stay far away.

1. Uma Thurman as The Bride in Kill Bill 1 and 2
Weapon of Choice: Hattori Hanzo sword, plus anything she can get her hands on
Why She Rocks: Out of all our killer ladies, The Bride is the only one who chooses decapitation as her preferred method of doing the nasty deed. Plus, how could you not love a gal who says this – in Japanese – following a battle in which she slashes her way through dozens of Crazy 88 gang members: "Those of you lucky enough to have your lives, take them with you. However, leave the limbs you've lost. They belong to me now."
Dating Difficulty (8): Well, considering she was almost viciously murdered on her wedding day, we imagine The Bride might have some personal issues to work through before she's ready to settle down and date again. Keep that in mind." -Written by Erik Davis

No Compromises

The new Marine Corps commercial debuted during Saturday's Final Four game.

Tip the balance

This completely describes my relationship...

Today is not St. Patrick's Day

This holiday was moved by church authorities to March 15th this year in order to avoid it coinciding with Holy Week. The last time this happened was in 1940 and won't happen again until 2160. So if you forget to wear green on Saturday, I guess no one noticed... but it doesn't count as an excuse to go out drinking tonight.

Surprise in the mail

My dad made my morning... he sent me this awesome picture from his USAA calendar. "That's you!" he said. Now I have to figure out how they make their hair so tidy.

Wishing myself a speedy recovery

For the past few days, I have been out with the flu. I finally felt well enough this morning to get up and make some coffee. My poor mom has been walking around the house with a mask on and sliding miso soup under the door...needless to say I am in trouble if she gets sick. Thank goodness we have text messaging for the times when I need some water or if I die coughing.

texting + walking = dangerous?

I saw this article this morning and couldn't stop laughing. Apparently, so many "texting while walking and then running into dangerous objects" injuries have been reported that the city is going to experiment with padded lampposts. Yes, padded lampposts. Personally, I think it's just a scheme to get more advertising on the streets and ugly-up the city a little more. You'd think that people would have memorized their keypads by now instead of risking a black eye.

We have a heron problem...

My step-dad's beloved koi pond is under attack... I repeat... under attack. A really mean heron has decided that the pond is now his new pad. Nothing stops this guy. As I'm writing this, my mom is opening the windows and yelling at the heron to go away...and Brett has cast a net over the pond in hopes that it will somehow stop this nasty creature. My mom has decided to buy a slingshot, and if that works her new name will be Sally Slingshot. All I can say is... where can you buy a silencer for a 22?

Clark County Lincoln Day Dinner

Yesterday my mom, Brett and I drove into Vancouver to attend the CC Lincoln Day Dinner. My friend James was able to come too, along with lots of other guests from the surrounding counties. There were well over 450 people, a great turnout!

The night was emceed by MS and the key note speaker was LL. I was able to talk with him a little before the show started and take a picture with him. When he got up to speak, he embarrassed me by telling the audience to save their applause for the young lady in the audience about to go to Marine Officer's School. What a nice guy. We didn't return home until about one in the morning but it was worth the long drive, just to show our support for Clark County and also our future governor DR.

Even though my first outfit was vetoed by my mom (mini skirt along with a t-shirt saying "I only date Republicans"), I always love being able to wear my pearls my dad gave to me on my 21st birthday from Italy. I guess I'll have to save the t-shirt and jeans ensemble for my mom's PC dinner coming up in April.