CH-CH-CH-CHIA

Today is my first official Christmas party at my new office. Wahoo! There will be food & drink and, of course, a white elephant gift exchange.The first white elephant in a new office is always a challenge. Evaluating the office culture is very important!


Let's say, for example, you bring hemorrhoid cream and everyone else brings pretty ornaments. Suddenly you are inappropriate! Shock fills the room! Let the gasps begin!

Of course there is the reverse...you purchase a sweet little Bath & Body Works something or other and everyone provides a gag gift. Then you are the stick in the mud with no sense of humor. You hear the faint whispers, "Does she know what "white elephant means?"

You want to shout from the roof tops, "EVERY office does this differently!" (Because the do after all)

As you can see, this has been a source of stress in my life. I finally reconciled myself to the fact that I was just going to bring some cheese "flavored" dip and call it good, when all of a sudden it came to me...CH-CH-CH-CHIA! Just like that! There I was on the treadmill, this morning no less, when it came to be like a flash of lightening (or brilliance) CH-CH-CH-CHIA! I zipped myself to the CVS hoping will all my might that Chia Pets were still on market. I turned down the housewares aisle and there it was, glorious Chia. CVS even had a selection! I bounded to the checkout with my Shrek head Chia Pet (okay, I bought 2 - I mean, it is a Shrek head Chia) knowing that I had in my hands the best white elephant gift in the office.

My work here is done. My reputation is safe. So in summary,when in doubt, chose Chia.











CH-CH-CH-CHIA!

Bye! Bye! Bye!
Maggie

Annie-Wan Kenobi

Oh wise Annie-Wan, share with us the secrets of the Jedi Knights!

Very wise or very irritated? It is hard to tell.

Bye Bye Bye!

Maggie

Happy Birthday Schuyler!

I officially commission today as "Wahoo for Schuyler Day!" All those in her presence should feel free to bow and courtesy. In fact, you can do so even if you aren't in her presence - I am doing it right now! Okay, I am at work (on my lunch break - thank you very much) so I will stop now.

Happy Birthday Sky! I am thankful for you!

Sky, Maggie and baby Flynn in San Diego (said sAAAAAAAAAAAAn Diego)

At Maggie's rehearsal dinner. Schyuler and Stew flew all the way from Signapore to be there! That is 24 hours of travel time people! Such good friends!

Schuyler in disguise. Sorry - I just could not help it!

I hope your day is (or was) I am not sure if you are 13 hours ahead or behind) FANTASTIC!

BYE BYE BYE!!!

Maggie

Fancy P.A.T. and Tommy D Visit

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! In honor of our first TG in California, Pat and Tom came to visit. It was a great time! We... ate at In-N-Out, had a fantastic Thanksgiving dinner - special thanks to Drew for cooking a splendid turkey, watched the AGGIES WIN, played golf, went to Beverly Hills, HAD A CELEBRITY SPOTTING - Marcia Cross of Desperate Housewives fame, shopped around, watched football, went to Laguna for brunch and Tommy even got in some birding - 7 new birds spotted!!!

Oh and Annie dog got a new sweater. She feels quite fancy, thank you very much!

Bye Bye Bye!
Maggie

Gig 'em!

Happy Mike = Happy Maggie

Texas A&M announced Mike Sherman as the new head coach! WHOOP!

This girl is happy with the selection!

Oh and by the way....

Texas A&M - 38, Texas 30

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOP!

Bye Bye Bye!

Maggie

Happy Birthday Melanie!

Hey Hey - Happy Birthday Malohnie! Wail, I hope your day is perfect and all.

Me and Mel at the 2006 Texans Halloween Party

We were so proud of our fox butterfly lashes!

Bye Bye Bye!

Maggie

Happy Birthday Grandma!

Happy Birthday Grandma! I hope you have a wonderful day. I love you lots!

Bye Bye Bye!
Maggie

1st Celeb Sighting!

I was at an event benefiting the Vanguard Cancer Foundation and the emcee was...
John Stamos! Let me tell you, he is just as cute in person. He brought along his friend Ian Gomez, Javier to all you Felicity fans. Both were charming and funny and helped raise money for Vanguard!

Bye Bye Bye!
Maggie

Happy Birthday Laura!

I decided this blog is the perfect place to honor my friends on their birthdays. Many apologies to those friends who have already had their special days this year, but the beauty of birthdays is that they come around every year.

So, without further ado...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAURA!

Laura and her boy Beckham (when he was still wee).

Laura and her husband Brian.

Celebrating at Missy's wedding.

Thanks for keeping me so calm on this day!

You always had my lip gloss when I needed it!

I LOVE this picture!

Enough said.

LC - Thank you for always listening, laughing at my jokes, and keeping me in line! I hope you have a wonderful day. I am so thankful for you!

P.S. Aren't you glad we did not use online photo galleries in junior high? Next year I will have to utilize the scanner...be afraid!

Bye! Bye! Bye!

Maggie

California for real, ya'll!

It happened this week...my California driver's license arrived in the mail. So weird! I have always been a Texas driver, so this is quite a change. Can we discuss how in Cali they put your weight right there on your driver's license. What is that about? No wonder people here are so skinny - there is pressure from the government. I am sure people think twice about buying chee-tos and ice cream at the grocery store.

Just imagine...you are in the checkout line with yummy snacky snacks and then it comes time to pay... you hand over your credit card and they ask...

"Can I see your license please?"
"Fine!", you yell, "Put it all back and bring me some celery...with fat free ranch!"

The fun thing about my new license is that it has my new name! Margaret Dolan Dean! How fun is that! I must say that the name changing game is very anti-climatic. I went to the social security office, filled out my forms, waited in line and then my number was called. I bounded up to Window 6, where the attendant's name was Ms. Slaughter (seriously) and proudly stated that I had gotten married and needed to change my name! "Forms?, she said. I handed them over, signed on a line and that was it! I told her that there should be some kind of fanfare. After 28 years I was getting a new name. She said, "What, like a bell or something?" EXACTLY! LIKE A BELL OR SOMETHING! Or maybe just some jugglers - but whatever.

That is quite a bit of ranting for a Wednesday!

Bye! Bye! Bye!
Maggie

Good Morning Baltimore!

Melissa, Laura and I went to visit Missy and Mark for a long weekend. SO MUCH FUN!!! We went to historic Annapolis where we visited my grandfather's dorm at the Naval Academy and viewed the site of Missy and Mark's engagement, spent a day in NYC, and even went to a real live pumpkin patch!

Missy braving the Lincoln Tunnel - HONK HONK HONK! 

Almost there Mis, focus on the shopping!

***Side note: Someone needs to get these NJ & NYC drivers a cupcake or something...Seriously people, calm down!

Laura, Missy, me, and Melissa in Central Park

Laura and I in FAO Schwarz being sorted for Hogwarts. Which house? 

Gryffindor, of course! Hi-0h Harry! 

Cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery - Yum indeed

Rockin' out in Rockefeller Plaza

Visiting the pumpkin patch. No sign of Charlie Brown or the Great Pumpkin. 

Thanks Missy and Mark for a great visit! 

BYE BYE BYE!!!

Maggie

Random Stories...

Harry Potter ain't got nothin' on this guy...
Tuesday I was in the home of a real live magician! No, seriously! I knew something was off about the house as soon as I walked in the front door. Perhaps it was a gut feeling or perhaps it was the brightly colored props and box of DVDs entitled, "Poof! You're a Magician!". And then there was the stack of posters on the table advertising for his magic act, but whatever, I am clearly a detective. Perhaps that should be my new job. Needless to say, we are not making an offer on the house of magic.

Laundry Fun...
On Wednesday I gathered up all our laundry and headed to the laundromat. This in one of the true joys of corporate housing.
It was there that I used my special skills to make water POUR rapidly out of a washer. Some other guy totally ratted me out to the attendant. It turns out a rogue sock was to blame. They had to use a special vacuum to suck up Lake Maggie. I truly am a special situation! Hooray for finding a house SOON!

Anywho, off to San Francisco for the weekend! Hopefully we are going to plenty of Rice-a-Roni- it is after all the San Francisco Treat.

Bye Bye Bye!
Maggie

California Catch-Up

Here we are in sunny California. It is just like on the tv...palm trees, surfboards, overly tan people, crazy drivers... you get the picture.

We celebrated our arrival on Saturday afternoon with lunner at In-N-Out burger - a SoCal original. Hands down the best fast food burger in all the land. There is even a special code when ordering a burger. I gave away my newbie status novice when I said, "No mayo please". The guy with the funny hat then said to me, "We don't use mayo, we use the special sauce, do you want that"? NOTE TO ALL FUTURE VISITORS - the special sauce is 1000 Island. If you don't want it you say "no sauce" you can also have "extra sauce". You can thank me later.

On Sunday we checked into our temporary housing and unloaded Bullie. The elevator was, of course, broken, and we are, of course, on the 3rd floor. So up and down the stairs we went. Bullie was so glad to be free of all our stuff. Now she zips around Long Beach free of all the extra weight. In case you are not used to my special language, Bullie is my car.

After unloading we decided to go grocery shopping. After dutifully making a list, we were on our way. We both agreed that a quick stop at Traders Joes was necessary. Trader Joes is similar to Whole Foods except not nearly as expensive. The cheese selection at TJ is unruly. Wahoo brie! Anywho, we left Traders Joes with 2 bags full of goodness and were able to cross ZERO things off our grocery list. We finished, ahem started, our shopping at Ralph's. Ralph's is really Kroger - can't fool me.

On Monday I dropped Drew off for his first day at his new job. His new office is very different from the downtown skyscraper of old. After leaving Drew at the terminal to play with all the trucks, tools, and gas , I spent some time fixing up our temporary house and waiting for Drew to get home. We celebrated Drew's first day at work with one of our favorite meals...turkey tacos!

To sum up...palm trees, burgers (no sauce), stairs, Joes, work, tacos...yeah!

Bye Bye Bye!
Maggie

Deans on the move!

We left Wednesday morning and drove to San Antonio. There we had lunch with Maggie's great aunt Patsy and dinner with our friend Eric. Hooray San Antonio!

On Thursday we set our sights on El Paso. After many hours, books and even a crossword puzzle (for learning purposes) we arrived. After checking in and a quick trip to the hotel gym, with treadmills circa 1982, we ate dinner with our friend Jay. Hooray El Paso!

Yesterday we continued the trek on I 10 West and I learned that there is NOTHING between El Paso and Tuscon. Well, NOTHING, except for The Thing?! What is The Thing?, you may be asking. I wish I could tell you, I really do. But you will just have to drive to Arizona and pay your dollar to take the tour and find out. When we arrived in Pheonix we expereinced a time travel situation. All the clocks in Phoenix we an hour earlier. We consulted our map and confirmed that we have NOT crossed into Pacific Time. Color us confused, but too tired to care. Perhas we had an outdated map. After dinner we called Tommy Dolan who informed up that Arizona does not oberve Daylight Savings Time! NUTTY ARIZONA!

TODAY....WE ARE OFF TO CALI! More updates upon arrival! Wahoo!

Bye Bye Bye,
Maggie

Boxes

The movers are here, the movers are here! Boxes...everywhere! We are being packed up today, loaded up tomorrow and we head out on Wednesday. It is a strange thing, having movers in your house. It makes this whole moving thing seem very real. I mean, I have known we are moving, but now I realize...WE ARE MOVING. I wonder if LA is ready for us!

Bye Bye Bye!
Maggie

Here Comes the Bride!

Hooray! Molly, Drew's older younger sister, is engaged! After a scavenger hunt taking Molly all their special places, Terry proposed on the dock of her parents' home. Little did Molly know her family and closest friends were waiting upstairs for a surprise engagement party. What fun! Congratulations Molly and Terry...let the planning begin!


I don't have pictures from the party yet, but here is a picture of Molly (left) with her sister Anna!

Bye Bye Bye!
Maggie

LA Baby!

Big news...we are moving to the City of Angels. Drew has been promoted (woohoo - that's my man! ) and we leave in just a few weeks. Try hard not to be jealous when I am babysitting for the Afflecks! More details to come...that is if I remember you when I am famous!

Visitors please!

Bye Bye Bye!

Maggie

Blog-pology

I must apologize for my disappearance from bloggerville! I'm sorry...so sorry.

But, have no fear! I am back in the game. Stay tuned for a big announcement!

Hint: I will soon be able to report first hand from "The Hills"!

Bye Bye Bye!
Maggie

Goodbye Gecko

Everyone knows that when you get married you consolidate and make sacrifices. It simply must be done in order to start your new life as husband and wife. I have not had a problem with this…until now.

I have been able to whittle down my closet (Yes Drew, I gave clothes away – 5 bags in fact), share my financial statements, put my pretty, pretty Anthropologie bedding in the guest room, and even watch the History Channel for 5 minute periods of time.

But now, something is happening that I am having a very hard time with…I have to say goodbye to the Gecko. SNIFF. I have been a faithful Geico customer for many years and have grown rather attached to the crazy Geico Gecko. I think he is hands down the best insurance mascot in the business. But now the time has come to say goodbye. I will, as Drew pointed out, still be able to see him on the TV and that will have to do.

Top 5 things I will miss about the Gecko:
5. His nutty accent
4. His cute face
3. His zany stories
2. His logical explanation of savings
1. His nutty accent

Goodbye Gecko! I will miss you!

Bye Bye Bye!
Maggie

Take that Elan!

Last night I was at the gym when I ran into Melanie and Elan.

I excitedly told them all about my new blog and how much fun it was going to be. Melanie, being a good friend, shared my excitement and agreed that it was great idea. Elan or "Captain Rain On My Parade" as I now call him, boldly stated that most people who start a blog quit after their first entry. Well looky here Elan, entry NUMBER 2! How do you like them apples?

Bye Bye Bye!

Maggie

Hooray!

So all my friends have blogs and quite frankly I think it is neat-o. I have decided to become a blogger, bloggerific, blogified, blogtastic...well you understand. (Shocker that spell check does not like any of those words.) Since this is indeed my first blog, I should tell you that 2007 has been quite exciting. Drew and I were married at First Presbyterian Church of Houston on March 17 in an ode to St. Patrick's Day. Fancy P.A.T. and Tom certainly know how to throw a party. It was the most fun I have ever had and I keep asking when we can do the whole thing again!

I moved all of my things and my beloved beagle, Annie, into Drew's townhouse in Midtown. Drew is adjusting to the loss of closet space and, of course having a dog. Drew never had a dog growing up - please for my sake and that of his mother, never bring this up - so life with Annie has been quite an adventure. Drew and Annie, also known as "Weeble or Weebs or The Weebs", are bonding and learning about each other. For instance, Drew is learning that Annie loves to stare at the window and annouce passers-by with a hearty "Roooooooooo" and Annie is learning that that behavior earns her some kitchen time. Drew puts on a tough face, but I can tell he hearts Annie even though she is a tad bit crazy.

Pictures from the wedding below! Enjoy!

Bye Bye Bye!

Maggie