My Favorite Thing About Winter

I'm not a big fan of winter, but this is my favorite thing about this season...I can wear orange and black knee socks from Halloween with boots, jeans, and a red sweater and nobody knows (unless I tell them like I am now.)

The Dog House

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Just Stuff

I have been too busy to post much lately…which is sad because there has been some semi-humorous events I’ve witnessed lately, but they loose something if when you wait too long. But here are a few bits and pieces:

It’s officially Christmas. I heard the Hippopotamus song today on the radio. It was the highlight of the morning during the Christmas season for my college roommate and me.

My holiday Pet-Peeve made it’s first appearance today…vehicles decorated for Christmas. Why?

Every time I have to put the Christmas lights on the tree by myself, I get motion sickness from walking around in circles. I usually have to stop half way through each strand and sit down for a minute. I shouldn’t admit this, but I can laugh at myself.

I got a 6 qt. Crock Pot for $8.31 the day after Thanksgiving. That’s what I call bargain shopping!

Pie-making is one of my favorite things…especially the crust. This year for Thanksgiving, the plan was to make homemade pumpkin, apple-cranberry (this one was new and really good) and Aunt Jackie’s Chocolate Pies. I made the crust for all three, but was busy finishing up the apple-cranberry and asked my mom to make the filling for the chocolate. My mom can cook, but something went wrong this time around. It was chocolate soup instead of chocolate pie. It didn’t even come close to setting up. So sad…but we ate it anyway.

Today when I was leaving for lunch I saw a man that I did not know get out of his car in our parking lot which is not at all odd, but then he got in the car of a woman that I also did not know and they were looking at me funny. They pulled out ahead of me onto the street and then turned into the neighborhood across the street. It was probably innocent, but it sure didn’t look that way.

For Christmas this year, I have already given myself and really expensive present…a new gas valve for my furnace. Seriously, hoping the new roommate decides to stick around a while so I can finish saving up money to replace that stupid thing (but don’t tell the furnace its days are numbered. I don’t want it quitting before I give it a pink slip).

Here's To You Kid At Sonic

This shout out is for the kid working at Sonic today. Bless your heart...your pants are too short, and this may just be your first job, but you were giving it your best. It was obvious that because you are the newbie, you got stuck carrying the condiment tray on a windy day and despite your efforts could not keep the straws and salt packets from blowing away. Don't give up! It will get better. And hey, your still cooler than your fellow employee who showed up to work in his new used purple corvette with the glass packs and stood by his car during his break looking like a tool and telling everyone this was his new "baby" while he smoked a cigarette. You are definitely cooler than him!

Tip of the Day

If you open all the drawers on a filing cabinet at once, it tips over. Death by filing cabinet would not be a pleasant way to go.

What Is A Girl To Do?

I have 10,241 Mypoints, but I can't decide how I want to cash them in. There are a variety of $50 gift cards I could use them on (with points to spare)...but I want to use them wisely. Decisions, decisions.

I want to know why…

A package of chicken breasts now only includes 3 breasts (one of them being really small) instead of 4. Actually I think I know the answer, but I’m annoyed.

Pictures on people praying on stock photography sites are so posed and corny looking.

Eleven years later, I still have dreams on occasion about an ex-boyfriend that still throw my days off kilter.

They don’t put alleys in new neighborhoods.

I have never won a sweepstakes? Does anyone ever win the sweepstakes that go along with the surveys you get on your store receipts. You know, the “take this survey and you will be entered to win a (submit amount here) gift card. I fill those out most of the time thinking the more I fill out, the better my chances and I have yet to win squat! Sure it’s Wal-Mart most of the time, but I’d be happy with $1000 from Wal-Mart.

Someone thought it was necessary to post a “No Hunting” sign on their property in the middle of Edmond. Is it really a problem?

Pandora had to go and shorten the amount of time I can listen without stopping and asking if I’m still listening. I technically know WHY, but really, why?

My neighbor’s daughter jogs around the little “island” in front of our house. (This one you almost have to see to get the full extent of the humor.)

Someone would put their phone number on their vanity car tag. I’m sure she was trying to promote her business, but really all she was doing was opening herself up to people calling her personally with their road rage issues (and trust me, the way she drove, I’m sure she gets lots of calls).

Are You Kidding Me?

One of my neighbors is already putting up her outdoor Christmas decorations. Lights, yard decorations, the whole bit! I guess she figured if the retail industry can do it, so can she. I'll have to remember to have camera on hand just in case she has the lights on when I get home this evening.

Kitty Litter

I'm sure this is good, but I have not brought myself to try it yet...

Mainly because it's in a litter box. I know it's new and clean, but it's a litter box (which is another reason why I'm not a cat fan...litter boxes). But I'm going to try it, I just need to build up the courage.

Another Finished Project...Finally

This weekend I turned this...

and this...

into this...

Actually, this was one of the easier projects I've had (the painting the walls green part. The painting the wood work white this summer took a while).

All I have left downstairs is replacing the rest of the flooring (that might be a while), replacing the hinges in the kitchen (don't ever try to paint over hinges...it doesn't work well), and replacing the electrical outlets and light switches (which I actually know how to do now). The downstairs is almost done.

Now for the upstairs...

Stop It!!!

Something/someone is messing with my flower beds in the front of my house.

A few weeks ago, someone pulled up both sets of my perennials. Yes, they were starting to die, but I was waiting for them to die off a little more before I cut them back so they could come back next year. Instead someone took it upon themselves to just pull them out...roots and all. I was soooooo not happy. I planted perennials so that I wouldn't have to replant the flowers every year. Ugh!

Anyway, I recently planted another mum plant in one of the front flower beds (I like mums because again, they come back up every year). A few days later I go out there and something had been digging in said flower bed. This has never been an issue before. While I was outside, I also noticed that my drain from the gutter had been knocked loose, so I went to fix it and noticed something has also been digging in that flower bed. THERE'S NOTHING LEFT TO DIG UP! So I level out the dirt and call it a day.

TODAY I got home at lunch and notice something had created a little dirt mound in my flower bed again. What in the world. Why are my flower beds so attractive all of a sudden. They've forced my hand. I'm pulling out the Critter Rid (the stuff I got to keep animals out of the back flower beds...which ended up being a waste of time because I'm convinced the guys who mow the lawns in my addition had been peeing on my flowers).

To replant to not to replant...that is the question?

Sums it Up

A co-worker gave this to me years ago and it's been on my desk ever since. It pretty much says it all.

Welcome to My World

So this is what you see right now when you walk into my office. Actually you normally see something similar just about any time you walk into my office. It's not totally my fault. My office is often a dumping ground for stuff other people don't know what to do with. Right now it's better than it has been in a while. You could barely walk into it a month ago because of all of the boxes. I've been working on finding a home for some of this stuff, so maybe there will be "after" pictures later this week.

The lovely credenza behind me was the decorating ladies answer to my "work space problem. This was not desiged to be a desk to work at. my legs don't fit under it and the drawers are difficult to organize. I probably should get baskets to put in the cubby holes so it looks neater, but I don't have a decorating budget, and I'm not spending my own money for something at work that I need at home.

This space will always look this way. I sometimes stick some of the files on top in that "file organizer" on the right, but then I forget about them. Actually I tend to forget about everything on the "desk" behind me because I don't face that direction very often.

This is leftover supplies from a reception I organized. Technically the stuff now belongs to our Bible class. Lemonade anyone?

No I do not have a serious coffee addiction. I don't even touch the stuff. This belongs to my Bible class and doesn't fit in our cabinet. Until recently I had THREE coffee pots, plus some other goodies.

I have no idea why I have an extra monitor in my office. It supposedly has a home...I think it's lost.

Empty boxes/containers are a staple in my office. I seem to be a box/container magnet. I was told NOT to throw away the long skinny one, the plastic one...belongs to my Bible class. I think I can throw the bubble wrap away.

Ahh, the fun stuff. No, I don't collect cell phones. These are phones that got turned in. But I don't remember anymore which ones work and which ones need to be disposed of. They are sitting there so I can find chargers for them (I have a box of those in my closet) and answer this eternal question. The package of hearing aid batteries I'm trying to find a home for. Just a note, when you send and email to your co-workers looking for a home for hearing aid batteries, be prepared for the responses.

Now this mess is mine, all mine! 90% of my work takes place in this space. Other than the bulletin notebook, most of it probably should be tossed, but I'm afraid to toss some of it (especially all the little notes) because there might be something on it I need. I'll try to get on that.

Last but not least...my morning hot tea, my water bottle that I usually end up getting water on myself when I'm drinking from it but I like the color so I keep it, my candy dish that holds the cinnamon candy which is the only reason most people stop by my office, and the phone that I pull off the desk at least once a week.

So that kids is a tour of where I spend all of my time. You know, I've been working here for 10 years, 8 months, and 12 days and have been sitting in the same chair for just about 10 years and 8 months of that time. I would be curious to know how many hours my buttock has been glued to that chair. I bet more than any other piece of furniture I have ever own.

This has officially been one of my most RANDOM posts ever!

Road Block

I’ve been working at something for quite a while. I gain really good momentum. I’ll be really motivated and have a really positive outlook. And then it’s like I find myself surrounded by brick walls. I feel beat up and tired and loose the ambition I need to reach this goal. So I take a step back until I have what it takes emotionally to face it again.

But here is my dilemma lately…I feel a real sense of urgency to complete the task at hand. It has gone far beyond “want” and is definitely in the “need” category now. But those brick walls are beyond intimidating. I thought I had a plan, but lately I’m rethinking that plan. I’m not sure which route I want to go (actually I don't think I have a route anymore).

If there was ever a time where I needed something to fall into my lap, it’s now. Problem is, I have been relying too much on things falling into my lap. That plan isn’t working anymore. I need a new plan. I’m just having a hard time coming up with what that plan will be. Prayers for a new plan would be greatly appreciated (and the courage to follow through wouldn’t hurt either).

Look What I'm Up to Now

Check it out! By the way, I don't know how long this video will stay on their site.

I'm Starting to Hate Wednesday

Last Wednesday, my car decided to break down on my way home from work. Wasn't cheap to fix. Today at lunch, I realized I had a flat tire. I took it in to get it fixed and found out that the tread was too low to fix it, so I am having to have 3 new tires put on my car (I had to replace the fourth right before Christmas last year). Any takers on what the repair will be next week?

Seriously, what I have done to deserve this?

This Is NOT A Good Sign

I for some reason thought yesterday was Columbus Day. I knew that Columbus day was Oct. 13 and that yesterday was Oct. 6, but I really had it in my head yesterday that it was a legal holiday. I didn't do a lot of things I needed to do. I didn't check my mail. I didn't go to the bank. I didn't put my trash out (and its stinking up my garage since that is where I have to keep my dumpster). I didn't bother to put something in the mail that I needed to. If it weren't for the ad on the TV for Macy's Columbus Day Sale this morning, I wouldn't have been the wiser.

This wouldn't be that big of a deal, but I was really frustrated after my Relay meeting last night (so much so that I didn't get a very good nights sleep), so realizing that I had been a whole week ahead of myself yesterday has caused me to be really disoriented this morning. What can I say?

My New Addiction

I’ve never been a big fan of cold sandwiches. I’ll eat them and deli sandwiches are better than made at home ones, but still they are not my favorite meal. They’re just something I eat when I’m in a hurry. I do though like hot sandwiches, but they’ve always been too time consuming…until recently.

A while back a new friend was talking about how he uses his George Forman Grill to make grilled cheese sandwiches. I laughed at him at first, but then one day thought “hmmm, I should try that”. My GFG is now a permanent fixture on my kitchen cabinet. I have not eaten a cold sandwich in weeks. And forget just plain grilled cheese, I’ve been experimenting. So far I have made…

- Grilled Swiss and tomato with Italian seasoning,
- Provolone and Colby Jack,
- Provolone, Colby Jack and turkey,
- Provolone and turkey,
- Colby Jack and Turkey
- Provolone, bacon, and tomato with basil
- Grilled Peanut Butter & Jelly (this one was kind of messy. The peanut butter melted).

I’m still experimenting and will grill just about anything I can put between two slices of bread. I’ve been thinking about trying apples and peanut butter, but will have to add the peanut butter after the bread is toasted.

Yes, I am easily entertained.

Just Let Me Be

Ugh! I’m having one of those days. It started last night when my car decided that I had not spent enough money on it lately. I won’t go into all of that, but it just started the proverbial ball rolling to what has left me wanting to drown my sorrows/frustrations in chocolate chip cookies (that we have an abundance of right now) and Mexican food. I know, that is counter-productive, but right now I don’t care.

Beware!

What do you get when you mate a cricket with a spider (besides a potentially hazardous situation)? You get this!

A mutant cricket-spider that runs away in the blink of an eye if you get too close and starts jumping at your when you try to hit it. Be warned; don’t try to terminate its existence with a mere shoe. You will want a fly swatter with a very long handle. And just because it lies on its back and doesn’t move does not mean that it is dead. It’s only trying to fool you until you walk away to get something to scoop it up with and then it will make a mad dash to a near by hiding place. Multiple attempts will need to be made to ensure that is has in deed been exterminated from this earth.

Cloris Leachman Needs to Go!

I'm not ashamed to admit that I have become a Dancing with the Stars fan. This was the first week of competition and so far so good, but here is my pet peeve with DWTS...the people who vote because they are a fan of the star and not because that star is a good dancer.

There were two eliminations this week. The first (though I felt bad for them) deserved to go. But last night...give me a break! Not that I felt that Ted McGinley would make it to the end, but he was putting forth effort and did a much better job than some, especially Cloris Leachman!

I'm sorry, I know she's 82 and she's a comedian, but she her antics are getting old FAST! And she can't dance...and I don't think she's trying too hard to dance. So for all of you out there who think it's funny to vote for the worst dancer...please spare the rest of us and don't vote for Cloris Leachman this week. She needs to go. I can't handle watching her another week.

Question of the Century

I swore I wouldn't do this, but I can't take it anymore.

Am I the only one who is ready for this election to be over? I know I have some politically passionate friends who can’t get enough of this, but personally, I’m tired of hearing about it. And it probably doesn’t help that I’m not a huge fan of either candidate, so I have been praying that regardless of who I vote for, that as a country, we will elect the person that will do the most good for our country. And I know there are people out there that feel very passionately that they know who that person is, but I’m sorry, my gut says they are both trouble.

And that feeling goes beyond the run of the office of the President. There is a race for US Senate going on in my state and I believe both candidates are also trouble. I’ve lost all faith and respect for the one that is currently holding the office, but don’t trust the person that is running against him. Still haven’t decided what I’m going to do there.

Back the Presidential race. I have always been one to vote for the candidate that was affiliated with my party, but this was the first time I questioned that decision. Not because I thought the other was a better choice, but because I was trying to decide which was the lesser evil (not that I think either is evil, but you know what I mean). I think after this weekend I decided which way I’m going to vote (I don’t want to get into a political debate so I’m not mentioning names). I noticed this weekend that I’ve started to immediately change the channel when a particular candidate comes on TV. Not that I have much desire to sit there and listen to either on anymore, but one of them has that immediate effect on me. So if I can’t stand to listen to him on TV anymore, than that is a good sign to me that I should not be voting for him. Yeah, I know, it’s not very scientific but I think that is as good as it’s going to get this election season.

Pink Out Cancer

What a way to make the best of your town's name! I can actually send you a registration form if you're interested.

If I Had A Camera Phone There Would Be A Picture

When I was coming back from lunch today, I was sitting at the light and noticed the marquee sign at the gas station across the street. It said "AlcoholFreeGas" but because the words all ran together, all I saw was the "Alcohol Free" part. The line under it said "Bud Lite", so naturally at first I THOUGHT the sign read "Alcohol Free Bud Lite". I don't drink the stuff, but I would think that product wouldn't sell so well.

When Harry Met Sally

The movie “When Harry Met Sally” is definitely a classic, but it is one of those movies that had to grow on me. I didn’t dislike it the first time I saw it, but have learned to appreciate it more the older I get.

I haven’t seen it in several years, but it was on TV last night and I was in serious need of some vegging by time it came on. What’s really scary is that I’m finding there are parts of the movies that seem to mirror my own. Not sure how I feel about that. I’m not so much able to relate to Sally’s character traits…though then again, maybe I am the worst kind. I’m high maintenance but I think I’m low maintenance. It’s more her place in life and her relationship with Harry.

Anyway, in tribute to that, here is a line from one of my favorite scenes in the movie:


"I love that you get cold when it's 71 degrees out. I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich. I love that you get a little crinkle above your nose when you're looking at me like I'm nuts. I love that after I spend the day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes. And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night." – Harry

Look here for even more great quotes from the movie (I’ll apologize now for the occasional bad word).

Oh, and watch this and this! Definately two of the best scenes in the movie.

You want to rent it now, don’t you? It will be on Lifetime this evening if you want to bypass the movie store. ;o)

The Eternal Question...Which is Better?

Everyone has their biases and some are more passionate about them than others. Take for instance Republicans and Democrats. Diehards have very little good to say about the other. I’m starting to realize there is another demographic that seems to be equally guilty of bashing each other…Mac and PC users.

I have had the opportunity to work on both extensively and BOTH have their quirks…they’re COMPUTERS!!! They are going to have their issues. When my place of employment switched from one to the other for both budget and efficiency reasons, I kept hearing from diehards of what we were switching from that I wouldn’t be able to adequately do some of the work I had been doing. Guess what…I couldn’t even tell a difference. What I could tell a difference in was how frequently our Mac’s crashed vs. our PC’s. Sorry Mac fans, but our Mac’s crashed or froze up on a regular basis and honestly I have not missed that aspect at all. It was easier for me to fix a Mac without calling for assistance.

I’m not really looking for a debate here, it’s just a funny observation I’ve had recently. I do have a feeling though that someone’s husband may never let me back into their house.

Just Wondering

If you watch the Family Feud (I often do when I'm home at lunch), then you know that before each round, they say "we surveyed 100 people and asked...". I want to know where they find those 100 people? Do they stand on the street corner? Do they call people randomly? I'm curious. I would also like to be one of those "100 people."

Turkey, Jesus, and the Dressing Mishap

Nope, I’m talking about Thanksgiving (though that topic did come up Saturday night).

Friday evening I ran to the grocery store really quick before I had to be over at Jenn’s house to set up for the garage sale we were having the next day (more on that later). Most of what I bought was not perishable and could be left out until I got back home later that evening with the exception of a rotisserie chicken and some ground turkey. I thought I stuck both in the refrigerator, but when I went into the kitchen at 10:30 that evening, I noticed that turkey was still sitting on the stove…and it was definitely room temperature. I was so mad at myself. That was a key ingredient in what was supposed to be my dinner/lunch a couple of evenings this week.

Saturday was great garage sale weather and though I didn’t get rid of as much as I hoped or make as much as I would have liked, I did get rid of some stuff that I was tried of having around AND I made enough money to make up for the discarded ground turkey and to pay for my movie later that evening with a little money to spare.

I actually like having garage sales with Jenn. We get each other’s sense of humor and have lots of fun people watching. We had a few key items we wanted to get rid of, so as people would start to walk up we would chant something like “you want a stereo” “you want a lawn mower” and the best “you want to buy Jesus”. I had this ink print picture of Jesus set in glass that one of my Polish students gave me YEARS ago. I packed it away somewhere and forgot about it until I was going through some boxes recently. It really doesn’t go with the rest of my décor, so I thought surely it would sell at a garage sale. The picture kind of freaked Jenn out, so we were both anxious for it to sell. On a couple of occasions one of us would make the comment, “I can’t believe no one has bought Jesus.” Her almost 5-year-old daughter obviously heard us at one point because when she got back from her soccer game, she walks in the garage and say “I can’t believe no one has bought Jesus!” Maybe you had to be there, but it was really funny. She also couldn’t believe no one had bought my “Spicy Christmas Tree Candles” (a.k.a cheap stinky cedar tree candles in a Christmas tin.)

Saturday evening I went to see “Traitor” with Suzy & Eric (really good movie by the way). I got to the mall early because I wanted to try to find a jacket. The second store I went into was Macy’s. I didn’t find a jacket, but I found a top that I thought was cute and decided to try it on, but didn’t like it after all, and so I put my shirt back on and went on trying to find a jacket. I noticed that people were looking at me funny, but didn’t give it a lot of thought. When I finally met up with Suzy, the first thing she says is “did you know your shirt is on inside out?” Yes, I had been walking through the mall wearing a black shirt with white tags inside out! It’s a good thing I don’t go to the mall much!

Thankfully, Sunday was uneventful. Oh, wait, it wasn’t. My phone has started messing up again and my alarm started going off randomly during the closing prayer Sunday night. I could hear it faintly, but didn’t want to open my purse because then I knew it would get really loud. I think it’s time to get a new phone.

Random Thoughts

My bank’s website adds your savings to your checking available balance if you have over-draft protection. But in the “Total Funds” column, they have that amount, plus they add your savings in again, so it makes it look like you have more money than you really do. If I were like a couple of my college friends, I would be seriously over-drawn because I would think I really had that much money.

I got a pedicure Tuesday night and had my toenails painted a bright pink. I’ve never painted them pink before because I don’t wear a lot of pink…but I kind of like it. Side note, the pedicure lady was a little rough last night and made me bleed. Jenn also made a comment that her lady was hurting her last night. What was up with that?

When I was in college, some of my guy friends thought I reminded them of a baby seal. They never would tell me why. After college, one of my managers at Eddie Bauer told me the same thing. What was it about a baby seal that made them think of me…and do I still possess that quality? I have to wonder if that was a good thing since they wouldn’t tell me why. I think that is weird.

When you eat a lemon or lime Skittle with M&M’s, it taste like dirty feet (and yes, I know what that tastes like…let's just say I've done some weird things on a dare in my younger years). Grape, Cherry or Orange tastes like a Tootsie Pop. Why do I know the answer to this? The M&M’s and Skittles leftover from a dinner got mixed together. You think you’re getting chocolate and then you don’t. It’s a very odd experience.

Is This Early Old Age?

My brother’s birthday was last week. Not knowing what to get him, I bought him a couple of shirts (he claims he likes the clothes I pick out for him). Well, he called me this weekend to thank me for them and asked if the red one looked familiar. It seems that I gave him an almost identical shirt (also red) last year for his birthday. I guess the only difference was an extra stripe the other didn’t have. I included the gift receipt so he has the option to exchange it. This is something my mom would do. I’m becoming my mom much sooner than I had hoped!

Takes Me Back

There is a lady who comes into our office every Friday morning who wears the same perfume my grandmother did. Between that and the smell of coffee brewing in the workroom, it’s like my grandmother is there and it makes me miss her all the more…especially today. I’m going to leave it at that because I’m already tearing up.

Week’s Like This

It’s not any secret that I have been looking to make a career change for quite a while, but I don’t want to change jobs just for the sake of changing jobs. I really want to find something I’m good at and is challenging in a positive way.

Its weeks like this when I feel more motivated than ever to make a change. Weeks where I’ve had about all that one human being should have to take from a cell phone company (I figured it up…I spend on average 10 hours a month trying to resolve company cell phone issues. I’m already past that average so far this month and it’s not even over yet). Weeks when people think you have nothing better to do than to completely redo a bulletin because they forgot to give you an announcement earlier in the week (yes, one announcement can totally mess up a layout). Week’s when last minute seems to be the norm and accumulating comp-time you may never get to take is the only way to get it all done.

I’m having one of those weeks. If I make it to 5:00 tomorrow without a complete melt down, I’ll consider myself lucky.

Authorized Order Placers Unite!!!

If you are in charge of the cell phone account for your company, than you might possibly feel my pain. It is by far the worst job I have. At one point today I IM’d a coworker and said “shoot me NOW!” Here is today’s run down, but this is pretty common every time I have to call…even for the simplest thing:

Try to use company’s new “Premier” website because it’s supposed to be “so much easier”.

Can’t figure out how to order a phone and add it to a group, so call phone number given to me Friday when I first started this process.

Sit on hold for 45 minutes listening to “on hold” music. The only thing worse than on hold music, is on hold music that doesn’t change. Listening to the SAME tune over and over again for 45 minutes might just make a person go insane!

Finally speak to real person. Real person tells me I can’t add a new phone to a group on the “Premier” site. Will have to order phone, set up on individual plan, and then call (and sit on hold for 45 minutes) to have phone switched from individual plan to group plan. Also run risk that I will have to pay individual plan rate for 2 billing cycles because it takes them that long to correct their records. Everything is on computers these days. Shouldn’t it be instant?

Ask Real Person why then should I bother placing the order online if I’m going to have to call anyway…and risk paying too much for the service plan?

Real Person responds “because it’s easier.” Real person also tells me that if I want to order the phone over the phone, I’ll have to call another number.

Call other number. Sit on hold 20 minutes. In place of “on hold music”, I got “oh hold commercial” brought to you by annoying voice lady.

Real Person #2 comes on the line. Tell Real Person #2 I need to order a phone. Real Person #2 sounds confused and asks lots of questions not normally asked. I’m starting to wonder how long Real Person #2 has been on the job. Not in the mood to deal with a newbie by this point.

Real Person #2 proceeds to tell me step by step everything she’s typing/doing. When Real Person #2 isn’t talking, she’s breathing heavy. Fearing Real Person #2 might keel over before phone is ordered.

Real Person #2 tells me that price of the phone. Even though I’m ordering the phone from the same company, with the same Foundation Account Number, phone is $20 more expensive.

Ask Real Person #2 “Are you kidding me?”

Real Person #2 talks to manager and give me a “One Time Courtesy Price Change” as if all of this is my fault.

Real Person #2 proceeds to talk me through the rest of the ordering process…toss up to which is worse, her talking or her breathing.

Real Person #2 FINALLY gives me my order number.

Real Person #2 tells me the next time I need to place an order, I should go through their National Business Key Contact Center and gives me their phone number.

Phone number is the number I used to use until NBKCC tells me I should us their new Small Business Center number instead (which was who I had been calling the last 2 months).

Real Person #2 also tells me that any future “Premier” website issues should be directed to a particular phone number. I told Real Person #2 that I did call them first, but the number she just gave me was not the number I was given on Friday.

Two hours later, I finally get off phone with cell phone provider and HOPE I have managed to order a cell phone.

Rude Awakening

Last night I was dreaming about something that was going on in my house involving a lot of people (I think my cousins). Not sure what the dream was about, but it was one of those dreams that you wake up tired because of it.

Toward the end of the dream, I started hearing this ear piercing “beeping” noise in the house and was searching every where for it and trying to make it stop. I was unplugging everything in my dream that I could find.

Then I started to wake up a little and realized that the “beeping” wasn’t going away. This was not a dream. So I got up and walked into the hall. It seemed that my carbon monoxide detector decided it needed it’s batteries replaced in the middle of the night.

I was too tired to go downstairs and get a step ladder, so I managed to reach the battery cover and get it off, but I couldn’t get the batteries out at that angle. So I went into my bedroom and go something (no idea what, I just grabbed something) and pried a battery out so the stupid thing would stop making that horrific noise!

I guess I now know that I will most definitely hear it if it ever goes off while I’m sleeping. No worries there! Sad thing is…I was REALLY tired when I got up this morning. I did shower (see previous post), but the hair got pulled up yet again.

Speed Post (or Post on Speed)

Okay, so I haven’t had time to post anything in quite a while, so here is a quick run thru of topics I would expound upon if I had the time…

The mailing company brought me a cheesy “playing card” bowl that I fully intend to take home (it’s cheap plastic) and use at my next card party (whenever that is).

At camp, a plot was formed and I ended up with 18 strawberry air fresheners hidden all over my sleeping area. That smell doesn’t go away quickly and doesn’t smell good. You all know who you are and you will pay.

Also at camp, some male staff ended up with fruit loops in their bed. I’m not telling who did it, but there were plenty of hints and I’m not sure one of them ever figured it out. I might have to find time to expand on this one. It was funny how it played out.

Two former campers told Sherry and I that we looked good for our age...we looked like we were in our 30’s. WE ARE IN OUR 30’s!!! I’m in my EARLY 30’s!!!

I also got told at camp that I must be the cool mom. Seems lots of people last week thought I had kids. BTW…no husband, no kids (no pets for that matter).

Drought-resistant flowers are not resistant to 100+ degree weather in Oklahoma when you haven’t watered them all summer. I’ve never had to water them before. They’re perennials and I’m hoping I didn’t kill them forever.

No Drip Walgreens Afrin smells (and feels) like lemon pledge up your nose. Kind of hurts.

I didn’t take a shower yesterday. I was too tired and didn’t want to bother with it, so I just pulled my hair up and went to work. I bet my office was glad that I stayed locked away in my office all day.

I still have not put my laundry away from camp. Matter of fact, my suit cases are still sitting in the foyer downstairs.

I need to clean my kitchen.
When you try to touch your toes wearing heels, you are very likely to fall over.

Embarrassing Office Moment

So I had a very embarrassing moment at work yesterday. If you read my blog last night, you got a little more detail, but I since decided to make it even more vague when I thought about some of the people that might possibly read this. Let's just say that sometimes you need to be more aware of what is in your inbox and that the preview feature on email isn't always a good thing.

I went to check my personal account yesterday and right after I opened it, my boss came into my office to discuss a project I'm working on. As I discovered after he left my office, there were some "not office appropriate" (but not dirty) images on my screen. I was mortified...and hoping that he was so concentrated on what we were discussing that he didn't notice either.

I Fear It's Genetic

My grandmother has always been a source of entertainment for our family. Not because she’s trying to be, because when she tries it’s lost on everyone. She just has always done things that make you shake your head.

A few examples…

She once told us that she kept a set of keys in her trunk in case she ever locked her keys in her car.

She told us one time that she had hidden a key to her house and wanted to give my dad directions on how to find it. It’s been a long time, so I don’t remember the exact procedure, but this will give you a good idea…take the top of the yard lamp in front of her house (which would require a screw driver). Inside the lamp was a piece of paper that would tell you where to go in the garage. Once you got to this location, there was another note directing you where to go next in the garage. After about 5 stops on her self-made scavenger hunt, you found the key. You could have broken into the house faster and easier.

Once when I was around 14, she was taking me to a doctor’s appointment because both of my parents had to work. Before we got to the doctor’s office, she told me she wanted me to ask the doctor for a pamphlet on PMS (Post Menopause Syndrome). I told her she could ask the doctor for one, but I wasn’t going to do it. She got mad and later called my dad and said I was being disrespectful (but didn’t tell him why). My dad called me and wanted to know what I had done. I told him. He laughed. I was no longer in trouble.

My favorite though came to fruition this weekend. When I was younger, I was going to visit some friends/family with my grandmother. On the way to our destination, she told me that if something happened to her that weekend (no idea why she thought something was going to happen to her…but these conversations were pretty common with her) she wanted to tell me where she kept her money. She told me that in her freezer I would find a bread sack (she always kept bread sacks). In the bread sack, I would find a jar. Inside the jar was another bread sack. Inside that was a brown paper bag. Inside the paper bag was all her money. From that day on, I always told my family that if something happens to grandma, I get the freezer.

Well, over the last year, my grandmother’s health has been failing and the decision was recently made to move her to a nursing home. One of my uncles called my mom and asked if she would mind going over to the house and getting all the food out. My called me right away and said “guess what, I get the freezer!” I jokingly made her promise to split anything she found with me. Yesterday my mom called and was telling me of her experience cleaning out the freezer. She had it full of butter dishes that had frozen food in them. This wasn’t odd, but none of the containers actually had in them what the label said was in them (container marked green beans had strawberries in it). She was tossing some of them out when she came across a container that felt kind of light. She opened it and inside was folded up toilet paper. Inside the toilet paper was $35.

I guess since she’s still living it would be considered stealing instead of an inheritance to keep it, so I guess getting the freezer didn’t pan out as well as I thought. Oh well, $35 wouldn’t even fill up my car these days, so it’s not a big loss. =o)

I can’t wait to see what we find when we clean out the rest of her house.

P.S. For those of you saying "now I know where you get it"...hush!

Maybe I Should Charging for My Services

It's kind of been a joke that on 3 previous occassions when friends have been expecting babies, I've joked with them (for no apparent reason than just being onry) that their babies would be born 2 weeks early...and then they were! So when my cousin found out that her due date was the day before her daughter's birthday, we made a deal...they would pray he would be born healthy and I would pray he would come early. It worked. Carter Lane was born yesterday...2 1/2 weeks early. He's absolutely precious and perfectly healthy! Congrats to the new parents!

I Really Can't Win

Because someone made a comment about the state of my office, I took time on Friday to actually clean my desk off. Today, one of our sales reps walked in and said "you must not be very busy...your office is clean." I give up.

More "Stuff"

Summer TV Watching
I was so excited for the Season 2 Premier of Army Wives on Lifetime. I love this show and the premier was worth the wait. If you didn’t follow it last season, it’s now on DVD so you can catch up. I highly recommend it.

On disappointing note, I watched the new season of Nashville Star last night. I had always been a fan of this show also and was excited to hear that it had been picked up by NBC now that I don’t get the USA Network. Sadly I was disappointed by the first episode. Somehow the show has lost something…talent being one of those things. The only two contestants that I thought were any good at all were Gabe Garcia and Melissa (don’t remember her last name). They both sounded really good. I’ll probably keep watching it because it’s summer and there is not much else on.


Late to Work
I found this article on MSN this morning. I was drawn to it because I am consistently late to work. Usually not by much, but same days are better than others. Sometimes I have some very legitimate excuses, but other days it’s just plain running behind. And it doesn’t matter how early I get up. I think I just have an aversion to going to work because I have no trouble being on time when I want to be somewhere. I always get up with the intention of being at work on time…that has to count for something.


Not-So-Clean Office
Someone (you know who you are) commented on Sunday how it must be nice to work some place where your office didn’t have to be clean before you left work. Ouch! =o) Yes, I know my office is a mess, but it’s not ALL my fault. I only take responsibility for the area around my computer and half responsibility for the stuff on the credenza behind me. I have so much stuff I have to store in my office and so much junk people put in my office (they think I’m their store room). What’s worse is that I have a closet in my office, but it has a filing cabinet that two other secretaries won’t let me remove because there is stuff stored in one drawer that they claim they need. I have been in here about 4-5 years and not once have they ever gotten into that filing cabinet.


Weird Dream
I know you’re SHOCKED to hear I had another weird dream, but this one is bugging me for some reason. Since I was in High School, I have had this reoccurring theme to my dreams from time to time where I have to marry someone I don’t want to marry. I actually hadn’t one of these dreams in quite a while, but had another one last night. This time though I was marrying someone from my distant past that I’m actually kind of repulsed by because of a dating experience with him. Thankfully in the course of the dream he also decided that he didn’t want to marry me either so the day of the wedding, we called it off. I was really relieved…and for the first time ever in these dreams, I got out of having to marry the person. Hmmm…

The Art of Non-Dating

Dating is not something I have ever been good at. I’m sure there are a lot of reasons for it, but we’ll save that for another post.

Non-dating on the other hand, I seem to be getting quite good at. I’ve found that everyone has a slightly different definition of “non-dating”, but here is mine: “non-dating” is when a guy picks you up at your house, opens the car door for you, and takes you to out to either dinner or a movie (rarely both in the same outing), and pays.

I know what you’re thinking “that sounds like a date.” The key difference is that IT IS NOT A DATE…its just two friends hanging out. You must be clear on this. Everyone you know must be clear on this, because if the definition is ever questioned, the guy will start acting very weird, keep you at arms length, and you get to spend the next 3 months convincing him that you are in fact very clear that the two of you are just friends, and nothing more than that.

I have spent the last 2 years perfecting the art of “non-dating.” So I’m sure most of you are wondering why I would even put up with it. Well, said “guy” is also a very dear friend of mine and I really enjoy his company. It took a little getting used to because I never had any experience in the non-dating department before him, but I’ve come to look at it the same way I do when I hang out with any of my other friends. The fact he pays is awkward for me, but I always go prepared to pay my own way. This is also something I have found you have to handle delicately. Some guys get offended if offer to pay and some guys think you’re a freeloader if you don’t…but again, a topic for another post.

But hey, non-dating is better than not dating…and it get me out of the house on Friday/Saturday night every few months and makes me feel less like a loser since normally I’m sitting at home or at the grocery store. =o)

Highlight from the Past Few Weeks:

I haven't had time to do much posting lately, so here it is on warp speed...

5-1 Ladder my mom bought me because I seriously needed one.

Cordless Power Screw Driver my brother bought me because he missed my birthday last year.

Seeing people I haven’t seen in YEARS, the biggest being a childhood friend I hadn’t seen in at least 10 years.

Being whistled at in the Homeland Parking Lot by two teenage boys. Thanks boys. I know you were just doing what teenage boys do, but you gave this “older woman” a much needed ego boost. =o)

Making $86k net at Relay (But we have until August to reach that goal of $90k. You can go here to donate!) =o)

Having 30 people in our new singles class the first Sunday it met (I was nervous about the turnout).

Dinner with Shelleye.

Pedicures with Jenn (even if I did spend more than I intended to because I couldn’t understand the lady and kept saying “sure”. Yeah, don’t do that.)

Getting a Team Captain Bag. I know that probably sounds silly, but they were kind of pricey (and the cost comes out of our Relay), so they only ordered enough for the team captains, and there weren’t extras for the committee but I really wanted one, so Sara got me one for my Event Chair gift. I was excited!


Now for the “Not So Funny” Highlights (that I can laugh at now):

The UCO Security Officer (aka Barney Fife) who tried to kick us off campus and out of our accounting room b/c his boss failed to tell him we’d be there. Seriously, did he think that 300 people would just show up and use UCO tables and chairs without clearing it first. Some people have nothing better to do.

Dropping a bag of ice on my foot. I know that your supposed to ice your foot when you drop something heavy on it, but I don’t think that is the way you’re supposed to go about it.

The Gator (kind of like a golf cart) that I borrowed from work being moved and the keys being taken. THANKFULLY, we were able to get a replacement key free of charge. Thank you RSC!

Almost falling head first into the copier this morning because I tripped on my own feet (okay, that was pretty funny).

Burning my forearm on the oven door making cookies. It hurt and there it left a scar.


Yeah, that is all I can thank of at the moment. That should suffice for the time being. =o)

Funny Little Random Story

A few weeks ago, some of my family came by my house for a little bit. My cousin’s 3 (almost 4) year-old daughter loves to “play cards” when she comes to my house. To her “playing cards” means we get out my Uno Attack game and take turns pushing the button until the cards come shooting out, and then we put all the cards back in and do it again. It keeps her entertained and requires little thought on my part.

This time when we were “playing cards” my Uno Attack game developed a little problem. Instead of shooting a few cards out like it normally does, it would shoot ALL the cards out. The first time it happened it was pretty funny because she was the one pushing the button and was drowning in a sea of cards. What was funnier is that she was the only one it would happen to. If it was aimed at Kinley, cards would come shooting out. If it was aimed at me…nothing (no matter who was pushing the button or how many times we pushed it).

Eventually she got them to shoot out at both me and her “Mimi”, but it was pretty much a guarantee if it was pointing at her, she was going to get covered. One of those moments when you really wish you had a video camera.

Just Wondering

Have you ever looked back at a situation in your life and thought “I wish I knew then what I know now?” Ever wish you had the wisdom, strength, courage, character, etc. that you have now to have handled something then? I guess for better or for worse, its those situations that make you the person you are now. But still, it would be nice if you could have had that knowledge/character then. That’s what has been on my mind a lot the last two days.

Moron Moment

Ever had one of those moments when you wonder "what was I thinking?" This morning I brought some orange juice with me to work. But the container I brought it in is hard to drink out of, so I was pouring into a cup. First I made the mistake of pouring the juice into the cup OVER my keyboard. But the worst part was the attached lid was in the way and so it was causing the juice to go everywhere and it took me a moment to realize I was pouring OJ all over my keyboard. I should never do anything that requires skill before 10 a.m.!

Today

Good Day
It has been a good day so far. Not a whole lot has happened, but one of my bestest friends in the whole wide world brought me a wonderful little thank you gift and a Sonic drink today. Sonic, cookies, and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups…doesn’t get any better than that (oh, and there was BBW lotion on top of that!) She said it was a belated “thank you” for watching her kids. I adore her kids, so I would have done it even if there wasn’t Sonic and chocolate involved! Thank Jenn for brightening my day…I’ve needed it lately.

Strategic Planning
I mentioned in a previous post that I put a lot of thought into planning out my errand running so that I use my time in the most efficient way. Tonight, I am so serious about it that I have a list…in the order I plan to visit the places. I gave it lots of thought. I decided to save all of my weekly errand for tonight. With the price of gas, errands definitely take some planning these days. My goal is to accomplish everything on my list before 9 p.m. Wish me luck!

Not Nuts about Nats (okay, Gnats)
I think I have also previously posted about my gnat problem. They have taken up residence in two of my house plants and I have been trying since last summer to get rid of them. They are REALLY bad right now and one of tonight’s errands is a last ditch attempt to save my plants and permanently rid myself of my gnat problem. I would just throw the plants out, but they have sentimental value and so I really don’t want to do that unless I have no other option. Back in March, I dumped them out, washed them off, washed out the pots, and re-potted them. I thought that solved my problem, but it didn’t last long. But something has to be done. They are really attracted to water…so much so that if I sit a drinking glass down for too long, it will have gnats floating in it. I’m telling you it’s GROSS! Ugh!

Ode to the Missing Drinking Glass

Oh Missing Drinking Glass, where ever did you go?
Our time together was oh so short.
I anticipated your arrival for so long,
Your short stay has left me oh so sad.

Daily I check the cupboard to see if you found your way home,
But each time I find myself disappointed that you are still MIA.
Did you grow feet and walk?
Did you move to a new home?
Did you meet an untimely demise?

I tried to accept our short time together was over.
I tried to replace you, but you cannot be easily replaced.
I guess I will just have to put aside my dreams of dinner parties…
With matching drinkware for eight.
Oh Missing Drinking Glass, where ever did you go?

May Madness

OK Chick…this is why I haven’t updated:

Ever had one of those months where you know that if you survive without some sort of break down, it will be a miracle? Right now June 1st is the magic date for me. If I can make it past June 1st, it will all be down hill.

This is my May (it may not sound like much, but it really is...I'm just not going into detail):

- Relay for Life and all the last minute preparations that go into that. Relay is May 30-31 (yep 3 weeks and 2 days from today). We’re a little short handed this year and the people willing to step up and help me with the areas I have to pick up the slack on are already pretty busy with their own committee positions. Thank heavens for a staff partner who has been willing to go above and beyond for me.

- I’ve been working with a group to start a new singles class at church. So far things have been going much better than I thought they would, but there is still so much that needs to be done before the class starts on June 1. Plus its my nature to always prepare for the worst, so I probably will not breath easy until after the first class is over (maybe even the first quarter).

- VBS. Now technically VBS isn’t until the middle of June, but my involvement with VBS actually takes place a month or two before the actual event takes place. The first phase of the VBS advertising is done. May holds the second phase.

- Building Campaign. This is the newest addition to my “To-Do” list, and though the timing is bad, I’m kind of excited about working on this one. I like having projects like this at work. Our congregation is getting ready to do some major renovations to our west wing…which requires money. My job is to design and prepare all of the information/fund raising packets for this project. I got to do a similar project back in 2002 and really enjoyed doing it, even though I took a lot of time. The only bad part is that everything needs to be ready to go by June 1.

Don’t get me wrong. I am not complaining because it will all be worth it if things go well…but I might need to hire someone to clean my house, do my laundry, and do my grocery shopping for the next month. =o)

Is Anyone Listening to Me?!?

I have recently run into a problem with a company that I do business with. When I noticed there was an issue with my account, I contacted them the only way possible…through email. I stated my problem and the next day I receive a reply. Obviously an automated reply because if they had actually READ my email, they would have known that their response would not possibly solve my problem.

So I emailed them back. Said that I understand what they are saying, but I can’t go that item on my account activity list because the item isn’t showing up, so I can’t open up the item and click on “contact customer service for help with this item.”

The next day I got the exact same automated email back. Now I’m slightly irritated. I asked them if they even read my email. I can’t do what they are asking because the account item isn’t showing up. I can’t follow the steps they are telling me to take because not all the elements are available. Since there is only a small window of time to resolve this issue, I would really appreciate an actual response to my email instead of an automated response.

This morning…the exact same automated response. Ugh! I give up!!!

Some Days Are Just Like This

Someone sent me this video years ago, but I have it saved on my computer because I absolutely love it...probably because this is how I feel 90% of the time. And I'm posting it because it's how I feel today!

Make It Stop!!!

I haven’t written much about Relay for Life this year, but this I’m going to share.

We are less than 6 weeks away from the event. For the most part, things are going okay, but there is still a lot that needs to be done and we’re still a ways from reaching some of our goals.

I guess the “lot to be done” part is really getting to me because all night, I dreamed about Relay. I dreamed that it was today (that woke me up in cold sweat several times). I dreamed that we were only able to get one case of water donated. I dreamed we didn’t have any food. I dreamed that everyone set up in my neighborhood instead of at UCO. I dreamed I got trapped on the top floor of someplace and couldn’t get into an elevator to go down (that I think was a flashback to Relay Summit in Dallas).

I kept waking up during the night from bad dreams and every dream was about Relay. I hope this doesn’t become a trend or I’m not going to be getting much sleep in the next several weeks.

I got this email from Suzy recently and I decided to share along with my own commentary.

The human body is a machine that is full of wonder. This collection of human body facts will leave you wondering why we were designed the way we were!

*Scientists say the higher your I.Q., the more you dream. I must be SMART!!!

*The largest cell in the human body is the female egg.

*The smallest is the male sperm.

*You use 200 muscles to take one step.

*The average woman is 5 inches shorter than the average man.

*Your big toes have two bones each while the rest have three. Unless you are me and then you only have two in your little toes also...except for when you break them, then you have 3.

*A pair of human feet contains 250,000 sweat glands.

*A full bladder is roughly the size of a soft ball.

*The acid in your stomach is strong enough to dissolve razor blades. Some idiot is going to put this to the test. I will not be that idiot...remember, I'm smart!

*The human brain cell can hold 5 times as much information as the Encyclopedia Britannica. But it's much quicker to find the information in the Encyclopedia than it is to find it in my brain...things get lost in there.

*It takes the food seven seconds to get from your mouth to your stomach.

*The average human dream lasts 2-3 seconds. Man, I pack a lot into those 2-3 seconds.

*Men without hair on their chests are more likely to get cirrhosis of the liver than men with hair.

*At the moment of conception, you spent about half an hour as a single cell.

*There is about one trillion bacteria on each of your feet. Yuck...when I was in high school, I could stick my foot in my mouth...literally...and did several times.

*Your body gives off enough heat in 30 minutes to bring half a gallon of water to a boil. Prove it!

*The enamel in your teeth is the hardest substance in your body.

*Your teeth start growing 6 months before you are born.

*When you are looking at someone you love, your pupils dilate, and they do the same when you are looking at someone you hate. So if I'm staring into your eyes, don't get creeped out, I'm just trying to see if you love/hate me.

*Your thumb is the same length of your nose. I have a very long thumb.

*At this very moment I know full well you are putting this last fact to the test...now remove your thumb from your nose and pass this on to the friends you think might be interested in comparing their thumbs to their noses as well - I did.

Please Don’t Shoot the Messenger

I don’t know how many of you have the kind of job where from time to time, you are required to be the barer of news to a co-worker that is not going to make them very happy. If you do you probably can feel my pain right now.

I don’t know why I keep getting putting in this position because I’m not any of their supervisors and most of them seem to resent getting this information from me and I find myself in the middle of a battle that really isn’t mine. I often feel the need to duck and cover. I don’t know why people always insist on making me the bad guy. It happens at camp a lot too. I had a co-counselor once ask me to tell one of her campers that her shorts were too short because she “didn’t want the girl to hate [her]”. What, like I want her to hate me?

Anyway, I’m having one of those days today. It happens a little too often for my taste. And this one could be a big one, so I currently feel the need to get in a fetal position in the corner, cover my head and plead “Don’t Shoot the Messenger!!!”

First Annual Me Week

Last week was the First Annual Me Week? What is “Me Week”? That is the week of work I took off to do stuff I needed/wanted to do. I must say, “Me Week” will probably become an annual tradition. So how did I spend my “Me Week”? Here is the rundown…

Easter Weekend
Me Week started a little early with a visit from Tonna, Kael and Zaine. I hadn’t seen them in over a year so it was a much anticipated weekend and lots of fun! We hung out with Tarren & Erin (Tonna’s brother/sister-in-law), did some Easter Egg hunting, went to the park, and ate LOTS. It was a fun weekend.

Monday
Monday was spent cleaning my bedroom. Yes, it took me all day, BUT I wasn’t just cleaning, I was cleaning out and I dusted/vacuumed everything. I started an eBay pile and a Goodwill pile.

Tuesday
Tuesday was another cleaning/cleaning out day. I also took a break to go meet my friend, Grace, for lunch in Bricktown.

Wednesday
This was the most eventful day of the week. It started Tuesday night when the fan on my furnace wouldn’t shut off, so I had to turn it off at the fuse box to keep it from running. I had plans around noon on Wednesday, so I got up early to get ready in hopes that I could get someone out before I had to leave to look at the problem. That didn’t happen, but he did make it out late that afternoon, so all was well (with the exception of an impending repair before next fall).

After lunch, I went to the zoo with my friend, Jenn, and her kids. I LOVE going to the zoo and it was a nice day to do it. We did have to do a little redneck rigging of the stroller to keep the sun off of Kyler, but it worked. The animals were more into napping than anything else, so we were only there a couple of hours.

The most eventful part came after dinner that evening. I had been sitting on the couch and went to get up to take my dishes to the kitchen and change clothes before church. I was wearing a pair of cargo pants that were rolled up to Capri length. Don’t ask me how I did this, but I got up, took a step (maybe two) then managed to get my foot caught in loop of my pants and fell flat on my face. I have a HUGE bruise on my left knee to prove it and a nice big rip in my pants. I guess it’s a good thing they weren’t one of my favorite pairs of pants. I’m thinking it need to get one of those “I’ve Fallen and I Can’t Get Up” devices.

Thursday
This was work outside day. I cleaned out my garage, pulled weeds in the flower bed, fixed the crack in the bird bath, sprayed my back yard for weeds, and THEN I went inside and started the paper shredding process.

Friday
This was my last official cleaning day. I cleaned the kitchen and mopped/vacuumed/dusted everything downstairs. By Friday evening, I decided my work was done and didn’t do much the rest of the weekend.

Must say, I’m impressed with myself. I completed all but two items on my list and that was just because I couldn’t complete them. I know most of you could think of better ways to spend a week off, but when you can’t afford to go on a vacation, it’s a good way to spend a week away from the office. Me Week is definitely going to become a new tradition.

This is NOT Fun!

Over the weekend, I developed a good, old-fashioned, sinus infection. I felt really cruddy Sunday night and Monday and since I can’t take over-the-counter cold medicines (they wire me, make me agitated, make me feel like I’m in a fog, and make my heart race), I decided to call the doctor. Well, my doctor couldn’t get me in for a few days, so I went to the urgent care facility they have referred me to in the past. The doctor I saw determined I had a sinus infection and gave me an antibiotic…and not any antibiotic, but a fairly new on that was pretty pricey.

So I go home, take the antibiotic, rest on the couch for a while, and then get up and do a few things that I HAD to get done that evening. Early evening, I begin to notice small bumps on my fore arms. I call my nurse friend and resident medical advice giver, Rachel, and ask her what hives look like. We determined that my bumps were too small to be hives and since it hadn’t spread anywhere, she said to watch it and suggested taking some Benadryl. By time I went to bed that night, the bumps on my fore arms were red and they were starting to show up on the trunk of my body. By time I got up the next morning, most of my body looked sunburned and I had a rash from head to toe and itched like nobody’s business! Seems I’m allergic to the new high-priced antibiotic. Lovely.

This resulted in a call to the doctor who gave me the antibiotic and they called in another antibiotic. Yes, I got to pay for two antibiotics and what hacks me off is the second one was much cheaper and has to be taken for fewer days. Why didn’t they just give me that one in the first place? Oh I know why.

When I went to pick up the new prescription, the pharmacist suggested I take Benadryl for the next couple of days instead of my regular allergy medicine. So last night I decided since the box said I could take two, I would take two. I shouldn’t have taken two. When I woke up this morning, I couldn’t walk straight and kept running into things. Note to self…next time stick to one. And yes, I know there is non-drowsy Benadryl, but it has the same side affects listed previously.

So as it stands, I’m looking less sunburned, but still itching a lot (even inside my ears and mouth). This better go away soon!

1 Weekend, 2 Heart Attacks

This was not a good weekend for my heart. It started Saturday morning when I woke at up a little after 7:00 a.m. and thought it was Sunday and that I had forgotten to change my clock and that was about to be late for church. I kept running around looking at every clock in my room, tried to figure out why the reminder on my cell phone didn’t go off, and kept trying to figure out if I was correct that if it was now actually 8:00 instead of 7:00. This went on for a couple of minutes until I started wondering “what happened to Saturday?” I hate it when that happens. =o(

The second heart attack took place this morning. About 6:30 I heard a crash and thought something fell off the wall in the bathroom. I got up to investigate and everything looked fine. So I went into the other bathroom down the hall…everything fine there. My next thought was that the mirror finally fell of the wall downstairs. I was about to go downstairs when I heard a noise in the empty bedroom. It was obvious there was a raccoon in the attic, but I thought certainly the trap didn’t make that much noise. Then I hear the raccoon overhead and realized it wasn’t in the trap. I then take a step further into the bedroom and low and behold laying on the floor in the closet was the entrance to the attic. This really freaks me out. I take a quick glance around the room to make sure I’m alone, and then I quickly closed the door to the closet and proceeded downstairs to find a chair to prop in front of the door to make sure that anything that comes out of that attic doesn’t make its way through my house. This afternoon Jay from work went with me to investigate the situation and more importantly fix the current pressing situation. And would you believe after all of that, no raccoon in the trap!!! But I have learned one lesson…the door to the closet will stay closed until this situation is resolved. I am not pressing my luck!

Oh Well

Maybe God’s trying to tell me something, but twice this week I have been informed of how bad sugar and other foods are for you. Yesterday it was another patient sitting next to me in the chiropractor’s office (yes, it was a very eventful day in the chiropractor’s office). Today it was watching Montel while I was home at lunch. Seems we consume 150 lbs of sugar on average each year. Soda is also very bad for you. So what did I eat in addition to my sandwich at lunch…Girl Scout Cookies. What am I drinking right now…Diet Dr. Pepper. I do try to eat things in moderation, but I figure the world is over populated anyway, so I’m just doing my part. =o)

Tuesday Tidbits

I have discovered that I cannot pronounce “Acapulco”. I guess that rules it out as a future vacation spot unless someone else handles the travel arrangements.

My chiropractor is trying to set me up again. This time it was awkward because the guy was sitting next to me in his office. I don’t know why my chiropractor thinks he’s such an expert in setting me up. If he really knew me at all, he wouldn’t attempt to set me up with half the guys he does. Today, he told me I would probably have a hard time finding a guy that didn’t have some baggage. I never once told him “baggage” was the reason I wouldn’t date any of his patients. Not trusting his match-making abilities is reason #1 of many.

They’re Baaack!

Oh yes blogger world, you guessed it…my non-rent paying residents decided to move back in over the weekend (see posts about this time two years ago).

Saturday morning, a little after 2 a.m., I wake up out of a deep sleep to hear that familiar sound of something walking around overhead and making it’s nest in the corner of my bedroom. Unlike the first time, I wasn’t freaked out…I was MAD! So I did the only thing I could think of…I stood on my bed and proceeded to pound on the ceiling until it moved. Then I laid there the rest of the night have irritated that they were back and half freaked out because the ceiling below the section of attic they seem to be attracted to is starting to sound weak and I don’t want a raccoon falling through the ceiling and landing in my bedroom. As I described it to my brother, it would be like that car commercial where the guy is locked in the car with the badger. Not good.

Saturday morning, I got up and went outside to see where it was getting in at, and sure enough, it was the same spot it got in the last time (which is not on my property, but the unit next to mine). Either the previous owner didn’t do a very good job of fixing it or those raccoons are persistent little boogers (I think it’s the latter). To make things more interesting, my new neighbors are Asian and the husband is freaked out by animals of any kind. When they moved in and I told them about my original experience with the raccoons, he looked panicked. Since I want this fixed permanently and quickly this time, I went next door and explained the situation and told him I would fix it if it was okay with them. I figured it will be a whole lot cheaper for me to fix it than to keep calling a pest control company out to remove raccoons.

Thankfully I haven’t heard the raccoons since Saturday. It doesn’t mean they’ve left all together, just means they haven’t been hanging out where I can hear them. The next step is to set a trap to be sure I caught the raccoon (I actually think there is only one up there so far…but I don’t want friends moving in). Since I don’t have anything to do with my attic – which includes sticking any part of my being through the opening – I’m hoping I can bribe a friend of mine with cookies and that he’ll come do it for me.

Once said raccoon has been relocated, I’ll be able to fix the opening under the eve. The next task will be to figure out a way to keep them from coming back. I am told that if I spray coyote urine (yes, that’s correct) in my attic, they’ll stay away. One, I’m not exactly sure where you buy such a product and two, I’ll owe my brother big time IF I’m able to talk him into going back up there (you know, after his whole finding a snake in my attic ordeal).

I guess the raccoons have been reading my posts lately and noticed how lame they had become and decided I needed a little excitement in my life. Thanks, but no thanks!

Ladies Priviledge

I've heard that February 29 (i.e. Leap Year) is also known as Sadie Hawkins Day or "Ladies Priviledge". I knew that Sadie Hawkins Day was this day that girls could ask guys out (whatever), but I found out for the first time today this actually comes from an Irish Custom where women could propose to men. Interesting...not that I plan to do it this year, but hey, check back in 4 years. I might have changed my mind by then.

On another note, I have decided that technically, this should be a holiday where you get the day off (at least if you're salaried like I am). Think about it, they figure our pay off of 365 days a year, so technically I'm working for free today. I guess I have 4 years to get that law passed (or get my employer to see it my way). ;o)

Random “Hmmm” for the Day

I have 223 Coke reward points. For 200 points, I can get a “Silver Ticket” at AMC (which can’t be used on new releases). I bought 90% or more of those Cokes from our machine at work. A pop at work costs $1.25. That means that if I decided to redeem my points for that ticket, it would have in a way cost me $83.75. It’s taken me over a year to save up that many points. If I gave up buying Cokes at work, I could have gone to the movies at least 9 times by now. Kind of makes me wonder why I took up the hobby of collecting Coke Rewards. =o)

Denim Dilemma

Today at lunch, I ripped the seat out of another pair of jeans. Not the same pair that I have ripped the seat out of 4 times already (my favorite pair, FYI). No, this was a different pair. And fortunately, it was as I was getting in my car, so no witnesses. But I am now down to one pair of jeans that don’t require the wearing of heels. This bums me out for 3 reasons…1) I don’t always want to wear heels, 2) I hate shopping for jeans, and 3) I put myself on an indefinite spending freeze.

With the exception of a dress this fall (that was less than $25), I have not bought clothes for myself since last summer (and even then, it was a gift card, so does that really count?) There were multiple reasons for this…no roommate, wanting to pay off debt, wanting to save as much as possible so I can finish some projects at home, save up for a new stove and furnace which are both on their last leg (stove will be MUCH cheaper to replace).

Granted it’s not been easy because my wardrobe is looking dated, but I keep telling myself I have clothes to wear and I don’t work in an environment where “fashionable” in expected. I’m thinking I might be checking out eBay again.

And P.S. it wasn't because they don't fit! They were actually loose, thank you very much!

Random Bits of Info

I discovered today that my external keyboard has a button that if I push it, a calculator appears on my screen. Kind of cool. Actually, it has a lot of cool buttons, but the way my desk is, they stay hidden under the ledge and I forget they are there. I can push a button and “My Picture”, “My Documents” or “My Music” comes up. There are lots of cool buttons. The only ones I use right now though are the volume buttons and the mute button.

Self-con•trol n. Control of one’s emotions, actions, etc.
I’m exhibiting “self-control” today in regards to my posts and my opinion about this particular day. =o)

I finally got a new hair dryer to replace the one that blew up. If you’ve ever lived with me, you know it takes FOREVER for my hair to dry because it holds water like nothing you’ve ever seen. My sister-in-law can blow dry her hair completely in 2 minutes. It takes me at least 15 minutes. It’s annoying. Anyway, to aid in this, I really wanted to replace my hair dryer with a Chi because it dries my hair so much faster, but I didn’t want to pay the $129+ they usually run in the store. So I finally found one on eBay for a price I was willing to pay and got to use if for the first time today. Hair was dry in 10 minutes!!!

The decision was made to install a door bell in our receptionist area so that our new full-time receptionist could assist people when we don’t have a volunteer receptionist. This is much better than listening to someone yell “HELLLL-OOOO.” But the door bell that was purchased sounds like the chimes on the clock in our receptionist area. It’s very entertaining to see Vicki jump up to help someone every time the clock chimes.

Does anyone else use the term “okie dokie?” A couple of the ministers have been making fun of me for saying this. They say they’ve heard “okie doke” but wonder if “okie dokie” is a Kansas thing? Maybe it is. Just wondering.

I have a Facebook account, but I’m finding that I don’t do near as much with it as some people do. I guess I just haven’t really figured out WHAT to do with it. I take quizzes people send me, I respond to friend requests people send me, but I haven’t figured out or taken the time to do as much with it as I probably could. Plus side, some college friends have found me and it’s been nice to reconnect a little with people I haven’t seen or talked to in AGES!

I could be dangerous with a camera phone.

OKChick gave a bad review of “Fool’s Gold”. I personally liked it. There were parts of the story line they could have expounded on more, but over all I thought it was decent. Of course, I think I got a little wrapped up in the idea of living in the Caribbean on a boat and being surrounded by water (and searching for treasure would be tons of fun). Have I mentioned I don’t like cold weather?

My chiropractor would KILL me if he saw how I sit in my chair at work 90% of the time.

I love that I live in a state that has spring-like weather one day and snow the next (I’m being sarcastic).

Efficiency Dilemma

I’m not sure if people have every caught on to this personality trait of mine or not, but I am all about being efficient. I am always trying to figure out the best way to accomplish the most with the least amount of work. Running errands is always very well planned out for me. I almost can’t stand it if that plan gets derailed. I could go on and on about this, but you get the point.

Today is one of those days that efficiency is a necessity. We have our Relay Kick-Off this evening and I have several things that I need to accomplish before I have to be at our Kick-Off location. Ideally, the best plan would be to go home, load up everything I need from there, change clothes, go vote (and no, I still haven’t decided who I’m voting for), and then head to our Kick-Off location. The problem with that plan is that when I change clothes, it will be into a poodle skirt and I really don’t want to draw that much attention to myself when I go vote. So as much as it KILLS me to have to go out of my way this afternoon, I’m thinking there is no way around it.

Weekend Happenings

This weekend I went to Kansas to do the birthday thing with the family. It was a good weekend (though I never sleep well at my mom’s…I think I’m just not used to a twin bed). Here is a rundown of the weekend…

Made a poodle skirt for our Relay Kick-Off on Tuesday. It’s a little full, but hey, it’s only for one night.

Kyler Russell finally made his appearance into this world. I make it sound like he was over-due, but he came on his due date. I guess I had known for so long that he was coming, it seemed like it was taking forever. =o) I figured it would be Saturday since I was out of town...and it was. But I got to go watch some of the Super Bowl half-time show with him. He’s a keeper. Congrats to his mom and dad and VERY proud big sister.

I got a propane grill for my birthday. I’m really excited about this. I love grilled food and though charcoal tastes better, you have to plan ahead if you’re going to use charcoal. I also got grilling tools from my brother and sister-in-law. Now I just need to go pick up the actual grill at Lowe’s (my mom decided giving me a gift card for it would be easier than wrapping it.)

I also got a big broom for my birthday. Now I can sweep out my garage!!! And yes, I asked for this…just like the snow shovel.

Sunday morning my hair dryer blew up while I was getting ready for church. First I heard a pop. Then I saw a quick flash. And then I heard a few more pops, then an even brighter flash. At this point, I turned off the dryer and unplugged it. But wondering if it was a fluke, I plugged it in again and turned it on. It started popping some more. I decided it was done for. I am now in the market for a new hair dryer. I’m hoping to get a Chi dryer off of eBay for a good price, but if I haven’t won something by the end of the week, I’m going to have to give in and go to Wal-Mart because at the moment I’m using an unclaimed hair dryer from camp that didn’t sell in the garage sale…it took me 30 minutes to dry my hair this morning. This is not good.

The Mississippi Squirrel has a Kansas cousin and he made his appearance at my mom’s church on Sunday morning. Church had just started when you start hearing all this commotion. Then the song leader stops and looks a little puzzled. He then informs everyone there is a squirrel loose in the auditorium and asked the ushers to open the doors and try to chase him out. The mission was successful…and humorous.

I'm Getting Desperate People

Today's post comes from the great state of Kansas (which has WAY too much snow for my taste at this particular moment). I'm at my mom's this weekend celebrating my birthday with the fam.

Anywho, while driving last night, I was trying to contemplate my next post. My posts have been really lame lately, but there really hasn't been anything going on in my life worth writing about. And then this idea hit me...since I can't seem to come up with worthwhile topics on my own, I'm opening it up to my loyal readers (if I still have any). You suggest my topics. Ask me questions you think I should answer. The only rules are 1) keep it clean and 2) be nice. I of course reserve the right to choose what I respond to, though if I don't honor your request, I promise I probably have a really good reason.

And if this fails, be prepared for what is likely to be more lame posts.

P.S. Yes, this started out under a different title, but the original title sounded like an advice column.

Random Stuff

Cookies
I went to make chocolate chip cookies the other night and wanted to use a recipe I used to use that makes a smaller batch. The last 3 times I had made these cookies, they didn’t turn out right…something was wrong with the consistency. So I was very cautions as to what I was doing again this time and once again…the consistency was wrong. They come out spongy (kind of like pumpkin cookies or bread). I am at a loss as to why they’re turning out wrong. Cookies are the one thing I do REALLY well at in the kitchen. I don’t think I’ll be able to give up till I get them right.

Stolen Information
I got a letter in the mail yesterday from my bank saying the secret service had seized a computer that had my bank card number and address on it (and it was a legitimate letter). Considering I don’t ever use my bank card online and I’m super cautious about shredding anything with personal information on it, the fact that this happened is a little unnerving. All of this leads to a topic that has been bothering me the last few months. I know people are greedy and self serving, but what is it that makes some people think that it is okay for them to steal to get what they want? You hear of people having their Christmas presents stolen. You hear about the rising costs in retail stores because of theft. People have their identities and all kinds of personal property stolen all the time. I don't know the answer, but it’s just not right!

None of the Above
Is “None of the Above” an option in the upcoming elections? I have been trying to do my part to be an informed voter, but the more I read, the less I want to vote for any of them. Sometimes in this case I would choose the lesser evil…I just don’t think that is an option this time around. Ugh!

Birthday Highlights

Saturday I added another digit to my age, but it really wasn’t that painful. So once again, here is another “highlights” list…

My brother DIDN’T call and wake me up at the crack of dawn. My plan was to sleep in because I was exhausted, but I had an issue with the alarm clock and accidentally turned it back on when I thought I had turned it off and I never really went back to sleep after that. My mom did call at 8 a.m. which normally would have been too early, but I was already awake. My brother was kind and waited till 8:30 to call.

Had lunch with a friend whom I haven’t spent much time with the last several months. It was good to catch up beyond our email conversations.

Saw “27 Dresses” with friends. Very cute movie, but I’m kind of disturbed by how much I have in common with the main character beyond the 27 dresses part (I think I only have 6).

Dinner at Johnny Carino’s with the same friends. It was fun to actually have a “night out”. Oh, and word of warning…don’t get the free dessert at Johnny Carino’s. It really didn’t taste like anything and it was a little obscene looking.