Who Am I?

I absolutely love the words to this song, so I thought I would share.

Who Am I
Casting Crowns

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart

Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You're

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours

Who Am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love and watch me rise again
Who Am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me

I am Yours
Whom shall I fear
Whom shall I fear
'Cause I am Yours
I am Yours

The Point System

In the world of romance, one single rule applies to the man: Make the woman happy. Do something she likes, and you get points. Do something she dislikes and points are subtracted. You don't get any points for doing something she expects. Sorry, that's the way the game is played. Here is a guide to the point system:

SIMPLE DUTIES
You make the bed (+1)
You make the bed, but forget the decorative pillow (0)
You throw the bedspread over rumpled sheets (-3)

You go out to buy her what she wants (+5)
in the rain (+8)
but return with beer (-5)

You check out a suspicious noise at night (0)
You check out a suspicious noise, and it is nothing (0)
You check out a suspicious noise and it is something (+5)
You pummel it with an iron rod (+10)
It's her pet (-20)

SOCIAL ENGAGEMENTS
You stay by her side the entire party (0)
You stay by her side for a while, then leave to chat with a college buddy (-2)
named Tina (-4)
who is a dancer (-6)
and has silicone implants (-80)

HER BIRTHDAY
You take her out to dinner (0)
You take her out to dinner and it's not a sports bar (+1)
Okay, it's a sports bar (-2)
It's a sports bar, it's all-you-can-eat night, and your face is painted the colors of your favorite team (-10)

A NIGHT OUT
You take her to a movie (+2)
You take her to a movie she likes (+4)
You take her to a movie you hate (+6)
You take her to a movie you like (-2) and it's called "Death Cop" (-3)
You lied and said it was a foreign film about orphans (-15)

YOUR PHYSIQUE
You develop a noticeable potbelly (-15)
You develop a noticeable potbelly and exercise to get rid of it (+10)
You develop a noticeable potbelly and resort to baggy jeans and baggy Hawaiian shirts (-30)
You say, "It doesn't matter, you have one too." (-800)

ANSWERING THAT "BIG" QUESTION
She asks, "Do I look fat?" (-5) (Yes, you LOSE points no matter what!)
You hesitate in responding (-10)
You reply, "Where?" (-35)
Any other response (-20)

COMMUNICATION
When she wants to talk about a problem, you listen, displaying what looks like a concerned expression (0)
You listen for over 30 minutes (+50)
You listen for more than 30 minutes without looking at the TV (+500)
She realizes this is because you have fallen asleep (-1000)

Now what chance do Men have?

sbon74 may explode without warning

M EXPLOSIVE

Wednesday, June 08, 2005

Fire Flies

Last night after Bible Study, I decided to go outside and lay in my hammock for a little bit. While I was out there, I saw my first fire fly of the season! I like fire flies. They remind me of being a kid. Of course my fondest memories of fire flies are a little deranged. Though on occasion I would catch them and put them in jars like most kids, most of the time my cousins and I would catch them, pinch their tails off and write on ourselves with them (it glows you know). Yeah, we were sick. But it was fun.

Advice

I have really been struggling with how to handle something for quite a while now. I finally got to a point yesterday where I decided that I really needed to do something about it, but wasn’t sure if I was handling it the right way, so I called my friend, Tonna because I knew she would tell me what she thought. But the thing is, if you know me very well at all, you know that I rarely ask for advice because I’m not necessarily going to take it. I’ll listen to what you have to say, file it away, but when it’s all said and done, I will make my own informed decision.

When I called, she wasn’t there, so this is how the message went, “hey it’s me. I need some advice before I do something stupid, not that I’m necessarily going to take your advice, but I just need to know what you think.”

What was funny was when she called me back. She knows me too well because her first thought when she heard me say “I need your advice” was “you won’t take it.” She laughed when that was exactly what I said next. But she pointed out some important points:
1) A real friend knows you well enough to know whether or not you’ll take their advice and isn’t offended when you don’t.
2) A real friend knows all of your faults and loves you despite them.

So, am I going to take her advice…some of it (or going to at least try – I’ll tell you tomorrow, maybe). Her points were valid, but I guess I don’t give up too easily.

Eternal Rest

I recieved this email from a friend and liked what it had to say.

"Growing older. Aging. We laugh about it, and we groan about it. We resist it, but we can't stop it. And with the chuckles and wrinkles come some serious thoughts and questions about what happens when we die. Is death when we go to sleep? Or is death when we finally WAKE UP?

Several years ago, I remember my young daughters falling asleep on the floor at bedtime. I would pick them up, carry them up the stairs and put them in their beds. Why? I KNEW IT WAS TIME FOR THEM TO REST, AND I KNEW THE REST WAS BETTER UP THERE THAN DOWN HERE.

DOESN'T GOD DO THE SAME? DOESN'T HE, KNOWING MORE THAN WE, CARRY US TO THE PLACE OF REST HE CREATED? For God, death is no tragedy. In God's economy, THE TERMINATION OF THE BODY IS THE BEGINNING OF LIFE.

Can you imagine if one of the sisters objected to my decision to carry her upstairs? 'Don't take her. We'll miss her, Please keep her here so we will all be together.'

How would I answer? 'Oh, but she'll rest so much better in the room I have prepared for her. Besides, you'll be coming up yourselves soon.'

By calling us home, God is doing what any father would do. He is providing a better place to rest. A place he has 'prepared for us.' HEAVEN IS NOT MASS-PRODUCED; IT IS TAILOR-MADE.

By the way, I've often thought it curious how few people Jesus raised from the dead. He healed hundreds and fed thousands, but as far as we know he only raised three: the daughter of Jairus, the boy near Nain & Lazarus. WHY SO FEW? COULD IT BE BECAUSE HE KNEW HE'D BE DOING THEM NO FAVORS? COULD IT BE BECAUSE HE COULDN'T GET ANY VOLUNTEERS? COULD IT BE THAT ONCE SOMEONE IS THERE, THE LAST PLACE THEY WANT TO RETURN TO IS HERE?

We must trust God. We must trust not only that he does what is best but that he knows what is ahead.

THE PROBLEM WITH THIS WORLD IS THAT IT DOESN'T FIT. OH, IT WILL DO FOR NOW, BUT IT ISN'T TAILOR-MADE. WE WERE MADE TO LIVE WITH GOD, BUT ON EARTH WE LIVE BY FAITH. WE WERE MADE TO LIVE FOREVER, BUT ON THIS EARTH WE LIVE BUT FOR A MOMENT.
We were made to live holy lives, but this world is stained by sin.

TRUST THAT THIS WORLD WEARS LIKE A BORROWED SHIRT. HEAVEN, HOWEVER, WILL FIT LIKE ONE TAILOR-MADE."

From 'A GENTLE THUNDER' BY Max Lucado

Great Relationship Advice

Great advice from Billy Joel (of course if he had taken his own advice, he might still be married to Christy Brinkley.) Hmmm...

Tell Her About It

Listen boy, Don't want to see you let a good thing slip away
You know I don't like watching anybody make the same mistakes I made

She's a real nice girl, and she's always there for you
But a nice girl wouldn't tell you what you should do

Listen boy, I'm sure that you think you got it all under control
You don't want somebody telling you the way to stay in someone's soul
You're a big boy now you'll never let her go
But that's just the kind of thing she ought to know

Tell her about it
Tell her everything you feel
Give her every reason to accept that you're for real
Tell her about it
Tell her all your crazy dreams
Let her know you need her let her know how much she means

Listen boy, It's not automatically a certain guarantee
To insure yourself you've got to provide communication constantly
When you love someone, you're always insecure
And there's only one good way to reassure

Tell her about it
Let her know how much you care
When she can't be with you tell her you wish you were there
Tell her about it
Every day before you leave
Pay her some attention give her something to believe

Cause now and then she'll get to worrying
Just because you haven't spoken for so long
Though you may not have done anything
Will that be a consolation when she's gone

Listen boyIt's good information from a man who's made mistakes
Just a word or two that she gets from you could be the difference that it makes
She's a trusting soul, she's put her trust in you
But a girl like that won't tell you what you should do

Tell her about it
Tell her everything you feel
Give her every reason to accept that you're for real
Tell her about it
Tell her all your crazy dreams
Let her know you need her, let her know how much she means

Tell her about it
Tell her how you feel right now
Tell her about it
The girl don't want to wait too long
You got to tell her about it
Tell her now and you won't go wrong
You got to tell her about it before it gets too late
You got to tell her about it
You know the girl don't want to wait - you got to tell her about it

Things That Creep Me Out

I don’t get freaked out by a lot of things…just mice (especially dead ones), Ferris wheels, and snakes. Noises in the house usually don’t bother me unless they’re really suspicious. It doesn’t bother me to stay in the house alone. BUT I have noticed lately that there are several things that CREEP me out. So, since it’s a slow day in the office (and I was just reminded of one of these things) I’m going to list them for my few loyal blog readers:

1. The Burger King “King”. That thing is just WRONG! I sure hope he doesn’t make public appearances because I might just run for cover! He might have a smile on his face, but I fully expect him to pull out a hatchet and start a massacre at any moment.

2. Ice Cream Trucks. I know this might seem weird to some, but there’s just something not right about a man in a truck chasing down kids. Maybe in the 1950’s the Ice Cream truck was a staple in society, but these days it just screams pedophile looking for a quick get-away.

3. The Journey Land Hallway. You’d have to be familiar with my church to know what Journey Land is, but occasionally I have to take things down there during the week. Our building (which is also where I work) is really scary during the week when there’s no one around and the Journey Land hallway really creeps me out. It’s just this long dark hallway. I walk quickly.

4. Dark Basements. I don’t like to be in the basement with the lights off. I still, to this day, run up the stairs when I turn the lights off in my mom’s basement.

5. When Strangers Know My Name Before I Tell Them. A good example of this was yesterday when I went to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription. I walked up to the counter and the tech asked me if I needed help, I told him I was there to pick up a prescription, and he said, “for Stacey _____, right?” This wouldn’t bother me so bad if 1) he always helped me when I went in or 2) I was in there weekly. They deal with enough customers during the week; I sure couldn’t remember everyone’s name. Anyway, instances like that creep me out.
I guess that’s not too many things. I’m sure there are more, but this is what stands out.

New Neighbor Update

Oh, my new neighbors…will the fun never end? So much has happened since my last update on them, where do I even begin? After the incident with the loud stereo and my talking about it with the landlord, Jeana met one of them (Vick). He was really nice and apologized for being so loud. So, we were good.

Sometime after that (not sure when, maybe a week), I was home one day at lunch and they had their stereo up again. Since I was going back to work, it wasn’t a big deal, except the bass was so loud that it was rattling things on my wall. So I decided to go over there during the day when I was in a pleasant mood instead of waiting till one night when they were keeping me awake and I wasn’t in such a pleasant mood. I could have let it pass, but I just thought it was best to go ahead and establish the fact that they do play their stereo too loud at a time when tensions weren’t high.

So, I walk next door and rang the doorbell. When the door opened, it was all I could do not to laugh. Vick (I soon figured out) opened the door. Vick is about my height and has a build like Drew Carey. Now, that wasn’t what was so funny. What was funny was the fact that Vick had his shirt off, nipples pierced and more hair on his torso than any ape I have ever seen. Not a sight I look forward to seeing again any time soon. So I very kindly explained the situation…that I didn’t mind so much that their stereo was loud during the day because I’m not home and not sleeping, BUT they really needed to turn the bass down because I didn’t want things falling off my wall. They were really nice about it and turned it down.

But bless their hearts, they are single boys and I’ve come to the conclusion that they are, without a doubt, hopefully clueless! For the last week, they have been parking their car out behind their garage (because they can’t get their car in the garage because they have turned it into ½ den, ½ motorcycle storage). Problem is, their depth perception is bad and they end up parking too close to our garage and I have to maneuver my car just right to get out. Saturday, a girlfriend parked her car ½ behind their garage and ½ behind ours. Thank goodness Jeana had already left for the day or I would have been stuck.

This problem seemed to resolve itself this morning though because when I came out, our homeowners association had put a tow away notice on their car. I don’t think I’ll be having this problem any more.

I doubt this is the end of my experiences with the new neighbors, so I’ll keep you posted.

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952.

New Neighbors

I just want to start by saying that I REALLY miss Katie & Tamra! Yes, Katie had been known to turn her stereo up from time to time, but they were actually very considerate neighbors. But noooo, Tamra had to decide to move to San Antonio and so now without a roommate, Katie moved out too and left us with ANOTHER set of new neighbors. This time, though not yet confirmed, we have two guys living next door too us. This really is not a good thing because these guys also come equipped with a stereo with a lot of bass. We can't even watch TV in our living room when they have the stereo going because you can't hear it.

Early Tuesday morning at about 1:45 a.m., they woke me up when one of them started yelling (I don't know if he was mad or just loud), but once they woke me up, their stereo kept me up for what seemed like forever! Then last night I finally got home at 9 p.m. after a REALLY long day, only to hear the bass on their stereo pounding AGAIN. Even though I was no where close to going to be at that point, I just wanted to come home to some place quiet.

As a result, Jeana and I have been trying to come up with a plan of action to silence the noise problem. Randy suggested we get this CD that has really annoying sounds on it like a baby crying and blare it early in the morning when they're trying to sleep. Jeana suggested I put on something really provocative (because my legs are longer) and go over there and try to sweet talk them into turning down the stereo. I'm thinking I'm just going to call Patsy and get the scoop on the new neighbors.

So that's it for today, but I doubt this will be the last post about our new neighbors.

The Puppies

McKensi & Colton's new puppies. Right now the names are Midnight and Sandy, but that changes frequently.

Bite A Snake Cafe

This is the Bite A Snake Cafe. They tell me it tastes like chicken, but frankly I'm not eating anything that shoots poisonous venom out of it's mouth.

Rattle Snake Derby

Rattle snake cage

This past weekend, after much coaxing, I attended my first Rattle Snake Derby in Mangum, OK. Actually it was the 40th Anniversary, but I didn't buy a comerative t-shirt. Since this was my only experience with Rattle Snake Derbys, I don't have much to compare it to. I wish I would have been brave enough to take more pictures because there were a lot of strange people running around. I saw women wearing things they should have reconsidered, mullets, and people taking pictures with a rattle snake around their necks (I'm told the snakes mouth was sewn shut, but I don't care...that's just wrong!). The people watching was by far the best part. I swear I smoked an entire pack of cigarettes though -- second hand of course. So, this was my excitement for the weekend. I know your jealous.

Shoes & Men

The Shoes 

Okay, I have needed to replace a pair of shoes that I wear A LOT for a while now, so I have been on the lookout. I have in mind exactly what I want, but haven’t been able to find it until recently. Born has the style of shoe that is exactly what a I want, but of course, they don’t make them anymore, so they’re really hard to find. The pair I found were half a size too small, so I have been on a mission looking for a pair of black, Born “Fame” shoes in a 9.5. I am to say the least on a mission.

I know, there are those that are saying, “give it up, find something else” but I now know EXACTLY what I want and I’m not giving up until I find it. What makes me a laugh is this is very much my nature…when I know what I want, I won’t settle for less. This is not the first time it has taken me over a year to find a pair of shoes (or a wallet, or a skirt, or…well the list could go on).

So what does this have to do with men? I’ve said it before, if I’m this picky about a pair of shoes, WHAT IN THE WORLD makes anyone think I’m going to be any less picky about the man I marry? Enough said.

Second Post of the Day

So I copied too (couldn't help it). But I do have to say that #19 was hard. I pronounce it both ways...I pronounce it "root" if I'm talking about a road (i.e. Route 44), but if I'm talking about a farm address, I pronounce it "rOUTe".

Your Linguistic Profile:

70% General American English

20% Dixie

5% Midwestern

5% Upper Midwestern

0% Yankee

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

Baby Duck

Our Church building (which is also for those who don't know, where I work) is a haven for mama ducks wanting to lay their eggs. Usually, they lay them in this old solarium by Fellowship Central, and then Jay has to collect them and take them out to the pond and wait for the mama duck to find them (which thankfully she always does).

This year, one of the mallard ducks got smart and layed her eggs in the bushes by the building. Her eggs hatch just recently, but today when Jay was doing work outside, he found that one of the babies had been left behind. The poor thing has a bad leg and it can't walk, so when the mama made the trek with the rest of her family to the pond, this one got left behind (really makes me sad just thinking about it).

So as ususal, Jay to the rescue. After bringing it in so we all could see it (it is sooo cute), he headed out to the pond to hopefully locate the mother and the rest of her babies and reunite this baby duck with the rest of it's family. Most likely, it can swim, just can't walk yet. And for those of you who are mean spirited and feel the need to tell me that it probably won't survive... don't even think about it. It already makes me sad that it got left behind and I don't want to think about it getting left behind again. Hmm...might just have to be the subject for the children's book I've been wanting to write.

P.S. Sorry no pictures, I didn't think to take one till after Jay left for the pond.

UPDATE: Oh this makes me MAAAAAAD! The baby duck wasn't left behind because it had a birth defect, it had been ran over!!! Jay found 7 flat baby ducks in our parking lot a little while ago. This poor baby duck was the only survivor. It's already irritating that we have to dodge OC students using our parking lot as a road all the time, but now knowing that one of them was cruel enough to run down 7 baby ducks...just makes me mad!!!

Women Over 30

A friend recently sent this to me and I really liked it. I would have posted it sooner, but I've been having trouble posting lately. Have a great day!

This is for all you girls 30 years and over.... and for those who are turning 30, and for those who are scared of moving into their 30's...AND for guys who are scared of girls over 30!!!!... This was written by Andy Rooney from CBS 60 Minutes.

Andy Rooney says:

As I grow in age, I value women who are over 30 most of all. Here are just a few reasons why:

A woman over 30 will never wake you in the middle of the night to ask, "What are you thinking?" She doesn't care what you think.

If a woman over 30 doesn't want to watch the game, she doesn't sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do. And, it's usually something more interesting.

A woman over 30 knows herself well enough to be assured in who she is, what she is, what she wants and from whom. Few women past the age of 30 give a hoot what you might think about her or what she's doing.

Women over 30 are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won't hesitate to shoot you, if they think they can get away with it.

Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what it's like to be unappreciated.

A woman over 30 has the self-assurance to introduce you to her women friends. A younger woman with a man will often ignore even her best friend because she doesn't trust the guy with other women. Women over 30 couldn't care less if you're attracted to her friends because she knows her friends won't betray her.

Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over 30. They always know.

A woman over 30 looks good wearing bright red lipstick. This is not true of younger women.

Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over 30 is far sexier than her younger counterpart.

Older women are forthright and honest. They'll tell you right off if you are a jerk if you are acting like one! You don't ever have to wonder where you stand with her.

Yes, we praise women over 30 for a multitude of reasons. Unfortunately, it's not reciprocal. For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed hot woman of 30+, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some 22-year-old waitress.

So to all my fabulous over 30 friends, relish in your wisdom, beauty, and sassiness!

What the Future Holds

What the future holds

This picture makes me laugh. It reminds me of my card playing friends and myself. At least by this point we won't be asking if the chips are fat free and the lemonade is diet.

My Daffodills

My Daffodills

Definate Kodak moment (in this case, Fuji). For the second year EVER, my daffodills bloomed -- and for the first year ever, I got more than one. They're a little sad looking (I've been informed I should have fertilized them), but they bloomed and that's all I care about. Now if I could get my tulip to do the same. My poor tulip didn't even come up this year. The ground cover on the other hand... Well let's just say if anyone wants some ground cover, I'll transplant some for you. I've transplanted it 3 times already and you don't have to do anything to it. I don't even water it. Now, I just have to plant something that will bloom in my back yard this summer (other than weeds). Maybe yardwork should be part of my Saturday schedule...we'll see.

Questions I Have

Yep, it's a two post day. Below are a list of just some of the questions I have been pondering the last few days. Enjoy...

Why is spit so stringy?

Why must men and women be so confusing to each other?

Why do I have to work all day on the days I have nothing to do since I’m going to have to work late on the days that I do have something to do?

Why can’t cars just run on water?

Why do I keep waking up at 6:19 a.m. when my alarm isn’t set to go off till 6:20 a.m.?

Why have I never gotten my $5 for posting the comment about “Hot Eric” on the conclave? (Excuse me, it’s now $3, because I owed Lindsy $2.)

Why do they insist on pronouncing it Ar-Kan-Saw? (Yeah, I’m not going to let this die).

Why don’t people have a pen and paper ready when they call YOU for a phone number? (Happens here at work all the time.)

Why when I’m dating someone, do people insist on asking me if he’s a nice guy? No, I prefer to date total jerks. What’s up with that?

Why do my hands get dry so easily?

Why are robins the first bird of spring (and why do they show up so early…it’s false advertising)?

How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?

Why do our noses and ears never quit growing?

Why do people who drive ice cream trucks freak me out so bad?

Why do we have appendixes when most of us will have it removed before we die anyway?

Where is the elevator at Memorial Road (my place of employment)?

Well, this is by far not the end of my never-ending list of questions, but I better stop there.

Letting Go

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. ~ Joshua 1:9

This is my favorite verse in the Bible – has been for a long time. But lately it’s started hitting home again for me. I have been so stressed about whether I was making the right choices in my life. Stressing over whether some of the things that have been taking place are God’s will or my will. After a brief conversation with a respected friend the other day, it finally dawned on me that I’ve been praying about these situations for a long time and that by worrying about it, I’m not leaving it God’s hands. My heart is in the right place, my intentions are good, and I just need to let God use me as He sees fit and remember that He knows what He’s doing.

Anyway, I have this verse scheduled to pop up on my computer every morning, but this morning, it just reminded me that I’m not alone in this.

Peeps

Peeps

Let me start by saying that I think this is the nastiest candy ever made, but hey, it's almost Easter and since these seem to be an Easter staple for some, I thought I would print these interesting facts that I found. By the way, want to know more? Go to the Official Marshmellow Peeps website.

Peep Prep

Have you ever wondered which came first, the marshmallow or the Peep? Well, we've got the answer. Follow along on our tour of the Just Born, Inc., candy plant in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and you'll know a lot more about those cute little chick and bunny peeps that show up in your Easter basket every year.

1. Mixing and Whipping
A mixture of marshmallow, sugar, corn syrup, gelatin, and a few other special ingredients are whipped into a marshmallowy goo that will become the shaped candy figures.

2. Coloring the Sugar
All sugar starts out white. Since yellow Peeps were being made the day we visited, yellow food coloring was added through that little arm outside the barrel. The barrel rotates like a cement mixer to color all the sugar.

3. Spreading the Sugar
Sugar is loaded into a spreader (the gray piece in the background) by hand. The spreader distributes the sugar all across the conveyor belt that the candy will ride during production.

Fun Fact
Just Born, Inc., produces 1.2 billion marshmallow goodies each year for all occasions -- that's a heap of Peeps. Chicks and bunnies are the most popular shapes and are made year-round at the plant.

Peep Population

4. Peeps Are Made
No photos are allowed of the machinery that actually pumps the marshmallow into the right shape. That's top secret. We can tell you that it's basically the same technology that was developed in the 1950s by the Just Born company.

5. Bring on the Breeze
Naked Peeps make their way along the conveyor belt (yes, they travel backward the whole way!) toward the wind tunnel. This is where air will whip the sugar around so that it sticks evenly to the warm, wet marshmallow.

6. Recycling the Sugar
The sugar-coated candies slide off a solid conveyor belt on to a grated one that lets extra sugar fall through. That sugar will be reused.

Fun Fact
In 1953, Peeps were made by hand with a pastry tube. Making one Peep took about 27 hours. Today, Peeps can be made in just six minutes.

Peep Packaging

7. The Eyes Have It
This machine gives the Peeps their peepers, which are actually tiny dots of an edible wax. The machine can pump out 3,800 eyes per minute.

8. Hop in the Box
The final stage of the conveyor takes the candies through a very cold area so they can firm up enough to easily drop off the conveyor belt and into boxes. As you can see, chicks stick together five at a time. When it comes to bunnies, it's four per box.

9. It's a Wrap
The next stop for the boxes of candy is a wrapping station. Boxes are sealed with plastic wrap, either individually, two at a time, or three at a time.

Fun Fact
Peeps chicks come in five colors, listed here in order of popularity: yellow, pink, lavender, blue, and white.

Peeps Hit the Road

10. Ready to Ship
Finally, the packaged chicks are placed in cardboard boxes for shipping. Peeps are sold in 30 countries around the world.

Fun Fact
Just Born is named for Sam Born, who grew up in Russia and came to America in 1910. He started his business with a small candy shop in New York City. The company's headquarters has been in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, since 1932.

Facts 10-1

I stole this from Lindsy too. But it's been slow this afternoon, so I was looking for something to do. I guess I need to enjoy these days while they last. I go back to running the bulletin myself in 3 more weeks.

FACTS

TEN Random Things About Me:
1. I can’t sleep with socks on
2. For the last few weeks, I’ve started waking up every morning 1 minute before my alarm is set to go off.
3. I have very uncoordinated feet. Can’t dance, do aerobics, run and dribble a basketball, etc.
4. My favorite pie is strawberry-rhubarb
5. Thanks to an $800 piece of plastic, I talk with a lisp during the day (hopefully it’s temporary)
6. My heritage consists of Irish, Czech, French and British.
7. The shoes I’m currently wearing have a hole in bottom (and yes, I’m trying to replace them, just can’t find any I like)
8. I need a haircut…BAD
9. I have a clock on my desk that probably hasn’t worked in 5 years (it’s symbolic)
10. My most hated household chore is dusting.

NINE Places I've Visited:
1. Warsaw, Poland
2. Krakow, Poland
3. Jamaica
4. Paris, France
5. Rome, Italy
6. Venice, Italy
7. Vienna, Austria
8. Salsburg, Germany
9. London, England (but I was too tired to enjoy it)

EIGHT Things I Want To Do Before I Die:
1. Get married
2. Have kids
3. Go to Spain
4. Go to Greece
5. Visit all 50 States
6. Write a book
7. Buy a house
8. Pay off my student loans

SEVEN Ways To Win My Heart:
1. Be a Godly man
2. Be honest
3. Treat people with respect (me included)
4. Do something nice for me that I didn’t expect
5. Have a good sense of humor
6. Show interest in things that are important to me
7. Open doors for me

SIX Things I Believe In:
1. God
2. The Bible
3. True Love
4. You reap what you sow (eventually)
5. The Golden Rule
6. Santa Claus

FIVE Things I'm Afraid Of:
1. Ferris Wheels
2. Being one of those old people who dies in a nursing home without any family.
3. Dark basements (I still run up the stairs when I turn the lights off at my moms)
4. Rattle Snakes (actually don’t like any snakes)
5. What’s behind the boxes in my garage

FOUR Of My Favorite Items In My Bedroom:
1. My bed (I designed it and my sister-in-law’s dad made it)
2. My antique school desk
3. My pajama collection
4. My bean bag

THREE Things I Do Everyday:
1. Pray
2. Take my pills and vitamins
3. brush my teeth

TWO Things I Am Trying Not To Do Right Now:
1. Clench my teeth
2. Find something productive to do (it’s the end of the day and it’s Friday!)

ONE Person I Want To See Right Now:
1. Ed McMahon (I could use my check from PCH)

What Did I Tell You

I'm telling you, I'm accident prone. My hair dryer blew up this morning...literally. Sparks were flying and I could not get the stupid thing unplugged to save my life. I'm amazed I didn't burn the house down. AND I have little electrical burn marks up and down my arm. They are the weirdest thing ever. They don't hurt, they just look like I have a bunch of little moles on my arm. I wonder how long it will take for those to go away?

By the way, the face is healing well. It's getting less and less red every day and I think if it scars, it won't be very visable.

The Accident Prone Queen

I think I am the most accident prone person alive – especially when it comes to anything hot. For anyone who has known me long enough, you know that I am infamous for burning myself. I’ve picked up curling irons by the barrel, I’ve had more “curling iron” hickies than anyone I’ve ever know (some of which were pretty serious). I’ve burnt my hand on the stove numerous times, and me and matches…not a good match. I even have a nice large scar on my fore arm from reaching over a steaming coffee pot to get a cup. But I think this time, I have outdone myself.

First, I’m going to share a little beauty secret with you about myself…I wax my own eyebrows. Why pay someone to do something I can do myself. After Saturday night, I will be paying someone in the future. You see, late Saturday night, I was heating up the wax in the microwave (new container by the way). Problem was, it wasn’t melting like it should, but it had already been in there longer than it was supposed to be, so I didn’t want to heat it up any longer. So I was poking around on the surface trying to see if it was even slightly soft yet when I hit a soft spot and hot wax came spraying out and hit me in the face. Yeah, not good. So I quickly ran into the bathroom to try to get the wax off. As I’m trying to take the wax off, I discover that more than wax is coming off…so is my skin.

To make a long story short, I now have this not-so-lovely burn pattern across my face that I’m desperately hoping doesn’t scar me for life. I am putting vitamin E oil on it daily to try to reduce any permanent scaring. It hurts like the dickens and I probably shouldn’t be putting make-up on it, but I am not leaving my house looking like this. I was going to post a picture, but thankfully I guess, it doesn’t show up as well in pictures.

Stuff

I haven’t been the best at posting lately. Part of the reason is because I’ve been so busy, but at the same time, there just hasn’t been much to post. So for the sake of not neglecting my blog, here are some recent “happenings”.

Saturday I went shopping with my friend Jenn. I hadn’t been “shopping” in quite a while, so it was fun. We started pretty early and I’ve decided that I like that mall at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday. There’s no one there. It made it so much more pleasant. And I must say we accomplished quite a bit. I managed to find a pair of jeans that fit, and some other really great deals. Jenn though was the QUEEN of bargain shopping. I was quite impressed at how much she came away with for under $100. I’m looking forward to a repeat shopping spree (if Cory will ever let her shop with me again.)

Since Grant asked on Sunday, I thought I would give an update on Valentine’s Day. I survived. Actually, it wasn’t as stressful as I thought it was going to be. Because he was going to have to work late on Monday, we went to dinner on Saturday and then went to a movie on Monday (which guys, I highly recommend Hitch as a date movie if you haven’t seen it. We both actually enjoyed it). So I’m sure some of you are wondering why I was dreading V-Day so much. Well, when you’ve only been dating someone for five weeks and you’re taking things really slow, V-Day can cause some anxiety. But it went fairly smoothly (despite my cookie making fiasco) and there are no more major “holidays” until his birthday in May (granted we last that long).

I have officially decided that you really get the short end of the stick if you work in my office and you’re healthy, single and without children. It dawned on my yesterday that I only took 3 sick days all last year. My female co-workers on the other hand… Well if you consider the days they take off for themselves being sick (which is quite a few I’m noticing) and the days they take off when their children are sick it adds up. I’m thinking I deserve some sort of compensation for being healthy and without kids. I don’t see that happening though. But it really stinks. I also realized the other day that I’m the ONLY one taking comp time or working through lunch when I have doctor’s appointments to make the time up. I’m starting to wonder why I’m doing this if no one else is. Hmm…

Finally, I saw a robin yesterday. For those of you that are saying “so?” it means that spring is just around the corner. I’m really excited. I really like spring (despite the number it does on my allergies). I like fall too, but when I think about it, spring is my favorite. Why? Let me list them for you:

1) Warmer weather. I’m not a cold weather girl. Fall is the coldest I want it to get and by time Christmas is over, I’m done with winter.

2) Thunderstorms. Spring is thunderstorm season. I love thunderstorms. Actually I just like storms. There’s nothing better than going to sleep to the sound of thunder and rain.

3) Flowers, especially tulips. I’m really hoping my tulips and daffodils will bloom this year. They come up every year, but last year was the first time they bloomed (and it was only one pathetic bloom each). I need to go out and cover my daffodils before the cold weather hits later this week.

4) Longer days. I’m ready for a little more daylight.

5) The hammock. My hammock is my favorite thing in the world and I love it when “hammock season” begins.

6) Color. There are so many colors in spring with everything turning green and blooming. I like fall for the same reason (more colors).

7) Sandals. I LOVE sandals. They don’t require socks, can be put on quickly and don’t take up much room in the suitcase.

So let’s just say YEAH FOR SPRING!

My Own Ramblings

Lindsy inspired me. It too has been a while since I've rambled and well, I've had a lot to ramble about lately.

1) I hate sitting on hold, but never fail, if we've got a problem with our cell phone bill, I am guaranteed to sit on hold for at least half and hour trying to clear up the simplest problem. Today is especially frustrating because I'm on hold with Cingular because 3 months ago, a wrong account number was entered by someone on their end and 10 cell phones that did not belong to us were sent to us and though we finally managed to get them to take them back, we are still being charged for them. The only thing worse than sitting on hold is sitting on hold because of someone else's screw up. I've officially been on the phone for 45 minutes.

2) I grew up in Kansas and the river is the "AR-KANSAS" river. I know all these people from Arkansas like to say it's pronounced "Ar-kan-saw" but it's spelled A-R-K-A-N-S-A-S. Let me stress the last 3 letters "S-A-S". If it were supposed to be pronounced "saw" it would be spelled "Arkansaw". It's just like Miami, Oklahoma. If it were supposed to be pronounced "Miama" it would be spelled that way. But it ends in an "i" not an "a". And just because they pronounce it "Miama" doesn't make it right, just ignorant. =)

3) I really need to get a better attitude about my job or find a new one. It's really not a bad place, I'm just burnt out and I don't enjoy it anymore. Problem is, I don't know what I want to do instead. Ideally, I'd like to open my own business, but since I still have bills to pay and no collateral, the business thing might be put on hold a while longer. I'm in a quandary.

4) Valentine's Day. I really don't like this holiday. Even when I've had a boyfriend at Valentine's I haven't liked the holiday. I really could take it or leave it. I just think the holiday causes unnecessary stress in a relationship. I think it's one of those holidays that should be kept simple and sweet.

Okay, I'm off hold now, so I better get back to work.

It's the Little Things

I had to run to our accountant's office this morning to pick up a check on the way back to work, I saw something neon green bouncing down Bryant. Turns out it was one of those rubber bouncing balls. When I drove over it, it continued to bounce and I could hear it hitting the bottom of my car. As I looked in my rear view mirror, it was still bouncing down Bryant. I'm not sure how long it bounced before it came to an end, but it made me laugh that this ball just kept bouncing as if it had a life of it's own.

I HATE being Sick!

I've been fighting - successfully I thought - until yesterday when I woke up with a weird feeling throat. I was hoping it was like the other "weird feeling thoats" I've had lately and was just allergies, but no such luck. I woke up this morning feeling like I had been hit by a truck and the worst part is, I know the worst is still to come. So this list of things I hate most about having a cold (or what ever it is I have) is dedicated to my lovely co-workers who so generously spread it around.

1) Sneezing. I hate sneezing, because when I'm sick and I sneeze, I really sneeze. If you've ever been around me much, you've noticed that most of the year, when I start to sneeze, its this big build up and then nothing. But not when I'm sick. I have an even bigger build up and then Katie bar the door! It hurts - so I hate sneezing.

2) Runny nose. Where does all that snot come from? If it's always in my head, why does it feel the need to "leave the building" when I'm sick. Sticking a kleenex up my nose is usually becomes an option.

3) My mood. I don't know why, but I feel this overwhelming need to be a BIG WHINEY BABY when I start getting sick. Luckily for those around me, this does pass once the full fledged sickness kicks in (by that point, I feel too bad to whine, I just want to be left alone).

4) My Bladder. Why do I have to go to the bathroom every 30 minutes when I'm sick? Annoying.

5) Plugged up Ears. I hate feeling like I'm talking in some sort of underground tunnel.

6) Loss of voice. I hate sounding like a frog, but when I get sick, the voice is the first to go. I go from sounding like a man to sounding like a frog.

7) Coughing. Every cold is followed by the "I'm going to cough up every internal organ before it's over" cough. And it lasts FOREVER!

8) Loss of taste. Nothing tastes right when you have a cold.

9) Phlem. If it's not running out your nose, it's draining down you're thoat (sick I know, but I' sick and I don't really care right now.)

10) The "don't feel bad enough to stay home, but don't feel good enough to want to be at work" feeling. I hate having to prioritize whether my "sickness" is bad enough to warrent the mess that will be waiting for me when I return to work if I stay home. Just not fair. Can't a person at least enjoy wallowing in their sickness without the stress of worrying about the work that is waiting for them. I'm confident that is why I'm sick now. My co-workers felt the need to come to work because they had so much work to do and in the process spread their sickness to the rest of us. Ugh!!!

Top 10 Reasons to Visit Hutchinson

I started this a long time ago, but never posted it. With my impending trip home next weekend -- and the fact I haven't posted much lately -- I decided to take a moment post just a few reason why Hutchinson, Kansas is a great place to visit (even if I don't have a desire to ever live there again).

Underground Salt Museum – this actually isn’t open yet, but if you have connections, you can tour the salt mines themselves. My sister-in-law works for a company called Underground Vault and Storage where they store all sorts of items and documents for both government and private companies. My favorite is the movie vaults because they store all the original film for most of the major production companies. And it’s not just the final cut version of the movie, it is every footage of tape that they filmed. Because its climate controlled and very secure down there, it’s a very logical place to store these kinds of things.

Kansas Cosmosphere & Space Museum – If you’re interested in space travel, it’s a pretty interesting place to visit. Unless you get car sick easily, you will also want to take time to visit the Omnidome theater while you’re there. You actually feel like you’re moving.

Kansas State Fair – It’s your typical fair full of everything a fair has to offer (including the mullets). Our house is less than a block from the fair grounds, which is nice because you don’t have to pay for parking, but bad because you wake up every morning to the sound of the car races and you’ve got all kinds of weird characters walking through you’re yard and looking in your windows.

Anchor Inn – By far the best Mexican food in town. It started out as this little hole in the wall family restaurant that has now expanded multiple times to be able to accommodate their customers.

Prairie Dunes Golf Course – I’m not a golfer, but the 2006 U.S. Senior Open will be held there and the 2002 U.S. Women’s Open was held there. I guess it was a pretty big deal because people were renting out their houses to the women in the tour while they were there.

Dillon Nature Center – Nothing too exciting, but it’s very peaceful and a nice place to go if you want to get away for a while. Also the site of several of our family pictures.

NJCC Basketball Tournament – Probably one of the biggest things to take place in Hutch every year (which is pretty sad). I loved tournament time though because I would make a ton of money babysitting.

The Hutchinson Zoo – not as exciting as it sounds. No lions, tigers or bears, but plenty of livestock, snakes, and prairie dogs. Doesn’t take long to see, but a good way to waste some time on a nice day.

The “burn off” sites – Hutchinson had a problem with pockets of gas from an underground reserve building up under the city and they would explode. It blew up 2 businesses and a trailer park. So now when you drive through town, you occasionally see a pipe coming out of the ground with flame coming out of it so they can burn off these pockets of gas.

My mom (sorry, not link for her) – For those who have gotten to spend time with my mom (especially in her house) you know she is the Queen of Hospitality. She’s a great cook and will feed you all weekend and make sure you have everything you need. Definitely worth the trip. I like visiting Hotel Mom.

My Sentiments Exactly

Good Morning

This is exactly how I feel every morning, but it felt extremely relevant today! Have a good one.

Just Rambling

So, I'm just going to share my frustration at the moment. I just wrote a check earlier today for an obscenely large amount to the specialist who is trying to fix my jaw. Why am I having problems with my jaw? Stress. What stresses me out? My job. Not that it's a bad place to work, but I have to put in way too many hours for what I'm paid. What also stresses me out? The fact that I'm going to have to get a second job to pay for the specialist who has to fix my jaw because of the job that stresses me out, yet doesn't pay me enough. Oh, and have I mentioned that I've been working so many hours, I haven't had much time to spend looking for that second job?

So, the logical answer would be, get a new job. I've thought about it - a lot. What I've discovered is that I want to work for myself (seriously). I've got a couple of ideas of how to go about that, but they're going to take time (which I don't have an abundance of right now) and money (did I mention I don't have that either?)

So if anyone would like to donate $3,310.75 to the Stacey's Stress Fund, I'd really appreciate it.

What is this World Coming To?

Maybe you've heard the news. Brad & Jenn are splitsville! I know that the end of celebrity relationships is not an uncommon thing, but I really thought (or at least hoped) they were going to last. There is still the optimist in me that says, "this is just a separation...maybe hope is not lost." As much as this bums me out, there are at least 2 other celebrity couples that if they split, I would probably give up hope in the human race:
1. Clint Black & Lisa Hartman-Black
2. Brad Paisley & Kimberly Williams-Paisley.

Really, what is this world coming too?

Bulletin Day

I am never a fan of bulletin day. Friday’s are supposed to be slow days. Not for me. Friday is bulletin day at my office. The day that can make or break my Friday night (and sometimes my entire weekend). To the average bystander, printing the bulletin probably doesn’t seem like it’s that big of a deal, but if the copier or folder breaks down, it can totally put the rest of the day into a total tailspin. Today was one of those days. It was probably the daddy of one of those days.

I won’t bore you with the details, but for the last year and a half, I’ve been working on the process of putting together a new bulletin. Trust me when I say there is a whole lot more that goes into it than you could ever imagine. This week has been really stressful trying to prepare for today. Trying to make sure that everything went off without a hitch. Test runs were done yesterday to make sure everything was set up and running correctly. Today should have gone pretty smoothly.

I started the bulletin early to make sure we got it done in time. It should have taken us 3 to 3 ½ hours max. It took us 5 ½ hours. The new paper didn’t work well in the copier. The copier was having problems, the folder was having problems. I ended up spending my day sitting by the copier pulling off the bad copies as they came out and fixing jams. And what was really bad, was that it was taking every bit of will power I had to not break my new year’s resolution (to stop saying “crap” and “sucks”). Instead, I stomped my feet and yelled “I QUIT” a bunch.
As a result, I’m sitting at home Friday night trying to get caught up on the work I didn’t get done today instead of doing something fun like laying on my couch watching TV.

Three Things

Krista found this on someone's blog, sent it to Lindsy, and so now I'm posting it on my blog (because I need to post something new.)

Three names you go by:
* Stace
* Bon
* Stacley

Three things you like about yourself:
* I’m creative
* Loyal
* Very attentive to detail

Three things you hate/dislike about yourself:
* I worry/over-analyze too much
* I get too flustered if I can’t concentrate
* I’m overly intimidated by other people

Three parts of your heritage:
* What’s
* My
* Heritage?

Three things that scare you:
* Ferris wheels
* Starting something new b/c I might fail
* Being alone

Three of your everyday essentials:
* Sleep
* email
* food

Three things you are wearing right now:
* black pants
* grey sweater
* black shoes

Three of your favorite bands/artists (at the moment):
* Keith Urban
* Rascal Flatts
* John Mayer

Three of your favorite songs at present:
* Brown Eyed Girl
* Bless the Broken Road – Rascal Flatts
* Where Are You Christmas – Faith Hill

Three new things you want to try in the next 12 months:
* Surviving Relay for Life
* Dating (I think I’ve taken a long enough break)
* Starting a business (maybe)

Three things you want in a relationship (love is a given):
* Security
* Humor
* Common Faith

Two truths and a lie:
* I’ve never seen a Star Wars movie
* I’ve been sky diving
* I only have to work one day next week.

Three physical things about the opposite sex (or same) that appeal to you:
* Eyes
* Smile
* Strong arms

Three things you just can't do:
* Drink anything stronger than a Dr. Pepper
* Eat fresh or frozen peas (makes me gag)
* Dispose of a dead mouse

Three of your favorite hobbies:
* Traveling/road trips
* Watching Movies
* Cooking

Three things you want to do really badly right now:
* Go home and do laundry (my laundry basket over-flowth)
* Go to a movie
* Get a massage (my shoulders are tight)

Three careers you're considering:
* Event Planning
* Doing promotions for a record company
* Starting my own business
Three places you want to go on vacation:
* Hawaii
* Europe
* New York City

Three kids names:
* Hewy
* Dewy
* Lewy (what is the purpose of this question?)

Three things you want to do before you die:
* Visit all 50 states
* Pay off my debt
* Get married

Three people who have to take this quiz now or die painfully:
* ?
* ?
* ? (I’m a lover, not a fighter. I don’t want to see anyone die a painful death).

Happy Holidays

Christmas Cartoon

You'll probably have to click on this to be able to read it, but it cracks me up. By the way, did NOT attend the office party last night and do not regret it one bit. Might have to try that again next year.

Tis The Season

As I was driving down Memorial Road earlier today, I was thinking that I hadn't seen any cars with Christmas Wreaths on the grill this year. Could it be? Could the tradition that I was unaware of till I moved to Oklahoma finally run it's course? Have people finally realized how STUPID it is to decorate your car for Christmas. Christmas wreaths belong on your door, not your car!

Well, as I just discovered, the tradition (though fading) is still hanging on. I just saw a big white SUV with a big green wreath and a red bow driving down Memorial Road. Please, JUST SAY NO!

The Weekend

The Christmas Tree

So, this is how the weekend went. The concert Friday night was great, with the exception of the drunk lady behind us that felt the need to scream in a high pitched shrill the entire time anyone one was on stage (no exaggeration). She only took a break during intermission which is when she would, as the girl next to Meredith put it, “reload”. I was deaf Saturday morning.

Some other highlights from the concert would be the “fashion statements” made. My two personal favorites would be 1) the teenage girl in the shiny teal top who literally could not walk in the shoes she was wearing and complaining about how bad her feet hurt. (Honey, that’s why you don’t wear stiletto heels to a concert unless you’re a professional). 2) The lady who looked dressed to “meet the band”. I almost felt sorry for her because you could see the forlorn look on her face that seemed to imply she had realized she would not be “getting lucky” that evening with anyone famous. Jay Leno really needs to hire me to go to country concerts with a video camera and get my commentary on things.

Kudos do go out to the man who sat next to me. He was a BIG guy (a stout version of Grant) yet was kind and considerate enough to always stand in such a way that he would not block my view of the stage. Not all concert goers are that considerate.

Saturday was spent running errands and decorating the tree (see above) followed to an brief excursion to Harrah, Oklahoma to the Harrah Music Hall to listen to a friend’s band play. If you’ve never been to the Harrah Music Hall, a must see for sure. And hey, for $3, it’s a cheap date (not recommended for a first date unless you don’t want there to be a second).

Sunday night I had BK at my house. It was a fun time of fellowship, despite the fact I spent the whole night trying to keep Jayna from stealing my candles on the dining room table (her bag had to be checked at the door). Then there was my little flub up that Tracy has insisted had to be included on my next blog. We were discussing why I wasn’t keen on letting my chiropractor set me up and I was telling Tracy that he doesn’t know me very well because he’s always telling me I need to go to Night Trips to meet guys. “Night Trips” was not what I meant to say…City Walks is what I meant to say. And though I caught myself immediately, I thought Tracy was going to wet her pants on our floor. Probably a “you had to be there” moment, but we got a good laugh out of it.

Week in Review

Sunday:
Sunday morning started with me waking up from a very disturbing dream that caused me to seek out answers. Found this site: http://www.dreammoods.com/. Somewhat helpful, but if nothing else – kind of fun to read what certain things in dreams “could mean” (it’s by no means the standard for everyone).

Monday:
Started out fairly normal with the exception of being really tired since I keep having weird dreams that are keeping me from sleeping well. Then I had the run in with the stupid driver (see previous entry). Then that night I went over to Randy's apartment to play cards, but since it was dark and it had been a while since I’d been there, I went to the wrong apartment. I was a little thrown when a shirtless guy answered the door and then noticed that the décor had changed quite a bit. That’s when I notice I was one building over from where I should have been. Of course, since I had cookies in hand, I think he was going to let me stay.

Tuesday:
By far the most eventful day this week. I had an appointment that afternoon to go to the doctor to have a mole removed from my arm. I’m sitting in the lobby talking to a lady from church who was also waiting to see a doctor when there was this pop and the lights went out for about a second. Little weird, but we just kept talking. A few minutes later a nurse comes out and tells everyone we’ll have to evacuate the building because a transformer blew and started a small grass fire out back. So we all go outside and wait for the fire department. Because of my LOVE of firemen, this alone made my day. By time the fire department got there (which was maybe a minute) the fire was out and they let us go back inside a few minutes later. They were checking the attic while I was in the exam room and it sounded like they were going to come through the ceiling. Having a fireman fall in my lap would have made my year! No such luck. Instead the firemen left and I left the doctor’s office with one less mole than I had that morning (I was going to post a picture of my stitches, but I'll spare you the gory details). The day ended with my trying to put Christmas lights on the tree by myself (a true sight to be seen) and watching A Charlie Brown Christmas (which I hadn’t seen in years, but found even more humorous now than I did as a child).

Wednesday:
Wednesday was a pretty busy day since I accomplished nothing at work on Tuesday, but the only thing eventful was the trip to the chiropractor’s office. A little history, my chiropractor is almost obsessed with setting me up with someone. He is convinced that he can find me a husband. So, I walk into his office Wednesday and the first thing he asks me is “are you up for a blind date?” The man has seriously been scoping out friends and patients to find me a date. As tempting as it is since my dating life has taken a serious dive the last few years, I don’t exactly trust my chiropractor’s taste and based off of information he shared with me about the guy, I think it’s probably wise to pass.

Thursday:
Pretty uneventful other than the fact that I did score a ticket to go see Rascal Flatts on Friday night (thanks Krista). I shouldn’t go because I need to clean house for BK on Sunday, but oh well. Krista and I have discussed my need to wear tight jeans and have big hair so that I’ll fit in with the crowd (and so we’ll have a good story for Bible study). We’ll see…

Friday:
The day started with another disturbing dream. According to the dream site, I’m going through a lot of personal change, personal discovery, inner turmoil and hidden feelings. That site might be more accurate than I thought. On a brighter note, I received my Christmas bonus today which was earlier than normal. It’s not a substantial amount, but every little bit helps this time of year.

So, up to this point, that’s been the highlights of my week. I have a feeling the weekend could be just as entertaining. I’ll keep you posted.

HELLO!

My BIGGEST pet peeve is people who think they are the most important thing on the face of this earth and the rest of the world needs to submit to them. I ran into one of these people today on my lunch hour.

For those familiar with Edmond, I was heading east on 33rd Street and had just past Pepperoni Grill heading to Taco Bell to pick up lunch for a co-worker. Well there was this woman sitting at the cross street next to McDonald’s who wanted to turn left onto 33rd. Problem was, the light was red, so traffic was backed up quite a bit.

I don’t know who died and made this woman queen of the world, but instead of waiting for the light to turn green and look for a break in traffic, she pulls into the east bound lane and proceeds to block BOTH lanes of traffic. So not only is traffic backed up on the west bound lane waiting for the light to change, but traffic is now backed up on the east bound lane waiting for her to move. And the whole time this broad is looking at us like we’re the ones with a problem.

I wanted to get out of my car and smack her upside her head to maybe jump start that brain of hers (if she had one), but before I had a chance, some cars in the other lane maneuvered to let her in (I think they saw the anger on the faces of everyone else). So now, what she’s learned is that she can get away with it.

All I want to know is why people like this exist? What is it that makes people think that the world owes them and they have the right to behave badly to get their way? And sorry to say, it’s not limited to non-Christians. I see it all the time. I have to deal with a woman on a regular basis who has gotten her way her entire life and as a result, she believes that she deserves to always get her way and will stop at nothing to make sure it happens. Frustrating. Does nobody remember the Golden Rule anymore? Okay, I’ll stop now, but stunned at this woman’s behavior.

God Doesn't Make Mistakes

A couple inches taller
Another size smaller
A little curl in my hair
Used to wish I was older
Now I wish I was younger
Back when I didn’t have a care
Most of the time I am happy with what God gave me
Once in a while I wish that some miracle would change me

I’m okay with the way God made me
I have my days but doesn’t everybody
It’s not always easy for me to believe in myself
But I gotta remember
I’m always going to be a better me than anyone else
And God doesn’t make mistakes

Mama says I’m special
Calls me her little angel
Yeah, I could almost do no wrong
But I trip and stumble
Guess that’s what keeps you humble
But I pick myself up and I carry on
I’ll never be a flawless model of perfection
Nobody’s perfect and I admit I’m no exception

I’m okay with the way God made me
I have my days but doesn’t everybody
It’s not always easy for me to believe in myself
But I gotta remember
I’m always going to be a better me than anyone else
And God doesn’t make mistakes

I’m thankful for the rainy days
They only make the sunshine sweeter

I’m okay with the way God made me
I have my days but doesn’t everybody
It’s not always easy for me to believe in myself
But I gotta remember
I’m always going to be a better me than anyone else
And God doesn’t make mistakes


If you don’t listen to country music much, you’ve probably never heard of Carolyn Dawn Johnson, but this song is off of her Dress Rehearsal CD and it has to be one of my favorite songs. Not that I think it’s musically spectacular, but the words really hit home with me.

I don’t know about anyone else reading this, but I have a tendency to get down on myself now and then and wish I could change some things about myself – both inside and out. What I like about this song is that it reminds me that God made me the way that I am for a reason and if I’ll just trust Him and let Him have control of my life, He’ll make any necessary changes. Of course this is easier said than done sometimes.

I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas

When I was out shopping with my mom on Friday, by far my favorite thing about the holiday season took place...I heard the Hippopotamus song for the first time this year! My sophomore year in college, my roommate and I would turn this song up every time it came one (which was every morning at least!) If I could find this ring tone to download on my phone, I would. Jenn, this one's for you! =0) Merry Christmas!

I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas

I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
Only a Hippopotamus will do
Don’t wanna a doll
No dinky-tinker toy
I want a hippopotamus
To play with and enjoy

I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
I don’t think Santa Claus will mind, do you?
He won’t have to use
A dirty chimney flue
Just bring him threw the front door
That’s the easiest thing to do

I can see me now on Christmas morning
Creeping down the stairs
Oh, a joy and what surprise
When I open up my eyes
To see a Hippo-Hero standing there

I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
Only a Hippopotamus will do
No crocodiles, no rhinoceroses
I only like Hippopotamuses
And Hippopotamuses like me too

Mom says a Hippo will eat me up, but then
Teacher says a Hippo is a vegetarian
There’s lots of room for him
In our two car garage
I’d feed him there, and wash him there, and give him his massage
I can see me now on Christmas morning
Creeping down the stairs
Oh, a joy and what surprise
When I open up my eyes
To see a Hippo-Hero standing there
I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
Only a Hippopotamus will do
No crocodiles, no rhinoceroseses
I only like Hippopotamuseses
And Hippopotamuses like me too

Mod Podge

This will probably be the most random of any of my random thoughts ever, but I don’t care, I’m sharing anyway! =0)
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STACEY

First, Lindsy and Grant both made mention of the Dictionary of Names site, so I decided to check it out. Not sure that was a good thing. Though fairly accurate, I don’t sound like a very pleasant person. That could explain a lot of things, though.

Your name of Stacey has created a practical, responsible, stable nature, and you desire to direct the efforts of others rather than to take order or ask permission. You have a determined, self-reliant, capable nature and resent any interference, although in your desire to help you are inclined to become involved in the lives and decisions of other people. You like to make your own decisions and to be the master of your domain. You feel a limitation in your own expression when it is necessary to reach another through tact and understanding. Although you are honest and fair, a directness in speech is a source of much consternation to you, and you often regret what you say. You also have a tendency to worry. It causes you to be too serious, and interferes with happiness and relaxation that comes with naturalness of expression. Health weaknesses centre in the head appearing as headaches, head colds, and eye, teeth, ear, or sinus problems.
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EVEN MORE RANDOM THOUGHTS

Here are some other thoughts that have gone through my head (or come out of my mouth) the last few days:

Taco Bueno has indefinitely stopped putting tomatoes on their menu items due to the hurricane in Florida. Though not the end of the world, one of the reasons I prefer Taco Bueno is because they put tomatoes on their tacos.

My life is pathetic because I spend 90% of my Friday nights in this manner: get off work (most likely late), go to the grocery store or run errands, go home and watch TV till I fall asleep (which is often before 10 p.m.). My Saturday’s are often the same, without the work part.

My life isn’t as pathetic as it seems because 1) I don’t have a cat and 2) I don’t dance with it! (Trying to think positive here!)

It is WRONG to start playing Christmas songs all day, every day on the radio before Thanksgiving. It’s even “wronger” to run head first into a Christmas tree when you’re going to change the server tapes (thank you Christian Services for this experience). =0)

Office Christmas parties are for the birds, which is why I’m boycotting mine this year. I have decided to just forego the whole process of praying I’ll get sick so that I don’t have to attend – I just told them I wouldn’t be attending this year. I hate the office Christmas party. It is the only time of the year I feel like it really SUCKS to be single. There are so many reasons for why I feel this way, so that might have to be a blog of its own.

Keith Urban is by far the sexiest man alive (but People Magazine didn’t ask me).

At this very moment, someone in my office is popping popcorn and it smells like a wet diaper. I want to puke!

Well, that’s it for today. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

The Quiz

Since I was feeling the need to change my blog entry, I’m taking a cue from Lindsy and posting one of these email survey’s I received yesterday.

1. WHAT IS YOUR FULL NAME? Stacey Kaye _______

2. WHAT COLOR PANTS ARE YOU WEARING? black

3. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Teresa cleaning up her Sonic coke that she just split all over the floor & “You’re Still the One” on the radio.

4. WHAT'S THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Brown Sugar & Cinnamon Quaker Oatmeal Square

5. DO YOU WISH ON STARS? Sometimes. Hasn't worked yet.

6. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Blue

7. HOW IS THE WEATHER RIGHT NOW? Cold and foggy

8. LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Some guy who is bringing a shuttle bus for our transportation ministry to look at.

9. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT YOU THIS? Of course (okay, with questions like this, are you really going to say no – but my answer was honest).

10. HOW OLD ARE YOU TODAY? 30, but 31 is too close for comfort.

11. FAVORITE DRINK? Grape Shasta

12. FAVORITE SPORT? Baseball

13. HAIR COLOR? Dark brown

14. WHO WOULD YOU MEET IF IT COULD BE ANYONE DEAD OR ALIVE? My Grandpa Wayne or my sister, Michelle.

15. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No

16. SIBLINGS: 1 - a brother, Brad

17. FAVORITE MONTH? December. I generally have the most time off work that month.

18. FAVORITE FOOD? BBQ

19. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Amelie (yes, I finally watched it! And what’s scary is that I AM Amelie!)

20. FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR? I don't think I have one.

21. WHAT DO YOU DO TO VENT ANGER? Walk it off.

22. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY AS A CHILD? Jenny Doll (This is what Jenny would look like if she hadn't been so loved. My Jenny's head is barely attached to her body). I was also a big fan of Barbie.

23. SUMMER OR Winter? Summer

24. HUGS OR KISSES? What are kisses? I'll have to go with hugs.


25. CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA? Both - I like them mixed together.

26. DO YOU WANT YOUR FRIENDS TO WRITE/ E-MAIL BACK? Of course (again, are you really going to say no?)

27. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Rachel (though, at this point, she hasn't.)

28. WHO IS LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? This question is just wrong.

29. LIVING ARRANGEMENTS? Rent a condo with Jeana.

30. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Last night (7th Heaven was sad)

31. WHO IS THE FRIEND YOU HAVE HAD THE LONGEST? Melissa Nuss & Jill (Dietz) Blackwell. I’ve been friends with them both since the teen years.

32. WHAT DID YOU DO LAST NIGHT? Washed crock pots from BK the night before, unloaded the dish washer, put away my Halloween decorations, cleaned out the fogger machine, took out the trash, watched 7th Heaven & American Dreams, talked to And on the phone, and paid my bills.

33. FAVORITE SMELLS? Men's cologne or anything baking

34. WHAT INSPIRES YOU? People who can make the most of the worst situations and don't compromise their character in the process.

35. WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF? Ferris Wheels & not having any family left (being alone)

36. PLAIN, BUTTERED OR SALTED POPCORN? Buttered

37. FAVORITE CAR? What ever I can afford that won't break down.

38. FAVORITE FLOWER? Tulips & White Daisies

39. NUMBER OF KEYS ON YOUR KEY RING? 8

40. FAVORITE DAY OF THE WEEK? Thursday

41. WHAT DID YOU DO ON YOUR LAST BIRTHDAY? Spent it in bed - sick and without a voice. I had to postpone the celebration for a week.

42. HOW MANY STATES HAVE YOU LIVED IN? 2

43. HOW MANY CITIES HAVE YOU LIVED IN? 3 (if you consider Anthony a “city”).

44. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW? Crossing Jordan, American Dreams, 7th Heaven, Law & Order SVU, CSI, ER, Third Watch (my VCR is always running!)

45. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CARTOON CHARACTER? Dopey (but if Muppets count, then its Animal.)

Patsy

Only a select few are going to really find the humor in this, but today’s entry is about Patsy.

Patsy is our Onsite Property Manager. Actually her last name is the same as mine, so we’re pretty tight. She’s a nice lady, but she’ll talk your ear off so you better be prepared to be on the phone for a while if you call her with a problem. And don’t get her started on Bob. She doesn’t like Bob much. Bob is the manager for the Home Owner’s Association (takes care of the clubhouse, pool, etc.) Luckily Patsy and Bob both seem to like me, so I can get things done quicker than some (though I’m still waiting for someone to seal my windows so I don’t have cold air blowing in. Maybe today?)

The reason this entry is dedicated to Patsy is because of an observation I have recently made. For anyone living in The Crossings, you probably see Patsy pretty regularly. She’s always walking through the edition. I leave in the morning…she’s out walking. I come home at lunch…she’s out walking. I come home after work…she’s out walking. Even if I run home randomly during the day…she’s out walking. I ALWAYS see Patsy out walking. She has to be in excellent shape because I think that’s all she does all day. Walk and talk to people she meets along the way.

I like to walk, but I can’t imagine walking all day in that neighborhood. There’s no outlet and it’s not a big edition. There’s not a lot to see. I would get bored, but not Patsy. She’s always out walking.
So if you’re ever in the neighborhood and see a white haired (maybe it’s really light blonde) lady walking around – most likely wearing a visor…That’s Patsy. But don’t bother to try to get her attention. She probably won’t even notice you’re there (she gets very focused when she walks – must be something about the last name).

The Frog Man

Don’t ask me why, but I had some flashback to my younger days this weekend that reminded me of something I think I’ve tried to repress, but probably has a lot to do with why I have the “relationship issues” I have now.

What could be so traumatizing from my childhood that it still haunts me today? Three words “The Frog Man,” a.k.a. Frog Man Eddie or Eddie Ford.

Now I’m not being mean by calling him “The Frog Man.” This was a self-proclaimed nickname. You see, I met The Frog Man at my beloved Silver Maple Camp at the age of nine. For those not familiar with SMC, it has a large pond/small lake that is the home to many water-type creatures – especially bull frogs. Eddie lived for two things – catching bull frogs and professing his undying love for me.

I’m not sure how I became the object of his juvenile obsession, but I would have gladly shared the wealth with any of my female co-campers. Eddie used to follow me everywhere. He would go out of his way to get as close to me as possible. He’d chase me multiple times a day from the chapel or mess hall back to the girl’s side of camp. The cabins were my refuge. He put me in tears so many times that first year at camp that our counselors has to impose a “restraining order” on him. He was not aloud to sit by or near me, but he’d still find ways to torment me.

And this wasn’t just a first year thing. This went on for YEARS! Every year, I’d get to camp and start praying that The Frog Man wouldn’t be there – no such luck. The “chasing” did eventually let up and I developed this amazing skill of ignoring him, but he still continued to be my shadow. I remember on one occasion, we were going on a hay-rack ride and he came and sat close by. The male counselor sitting next to me (yes, I had to have male counselor body guards) reminded him he wasn’t allowed to sit next to me. Frog man responded by saying “I’m not sitting NEXT to her, I’m just sitting close enough to her so I can LOOK at her.” Oh, brother!

I know I should be flattered, but it was creepy. No girl in grade school should have to deal with a “stalker”. And thanks to my early on experience with The Frog Man, I avoided boys a whole lot longer than normal. I’m still not sure why me? I have always been a magnet for guys weird guys (oh, yes, there are more, but we’ll save those for a later blog).

So where is The Frog Man now? WHO CARES! Once I hit my teen years, I started attending another session of camp and was finally free of the Frog Man. Actually the last time I heard, I think he had either joined the army or was in jail or both…I don’t know for sure – something with a lot of structure. I’m sure if he’s in jail, it’s for stalking someone or ignoring a restraining order.

Scary Movies

Okay, so last night I went to go see The Grudge (which, can I say that this link even freaks me out) with some friends after church. I know there are some out there that weren’t that impressed, but since I’m so jumpy, I was completely freaked out. What really got me was the scene of the lady in her bed. I won’t share details, but it only seems logical to me when you’re scared to run and jump in your bed and hide under the covers. Not sure about this anymore. If you’re not safe in your own bed, where are you safe?

Now if you’re like me, when you see movies like this, you’re sitting there saying – out loud – “what are you thinking?!?” No wonder people in scary movies get killed. They’re STUPID! This was just reinforced last night, so here is my brief attempt at a guide of “how not to get killed in a horror movie.” Feel free to add to the list.

1. If you hear a scary noise, do not go “check it out” especially by yourself and without some weapon to protect yourself.

2. Do NOT take the stairs. Don’t go upstairs, don’t go down stairs, don’t go in the stairwell. Bad things happen when stairs are involved.

3. Never return to the scene of the crime. When you know that something bad has happened in a house, a school, anywhere - don’t go back there! If you were fortunate enough to get out the first time, you probably won’t be the second time.

4. Don’t date someone who seems to have involved themselves in some horrific quest. The significant other ALWAYS dies.

5. If you ring the doorbell and no one answers, but the door is unlocked, don’t go inside.

6. NEVER under any circumstances go up into the attic or the down into the basement. Bad things happen in attics and basements.

7. Never leave the office late at night by yourself. Actually being at work late at night by yourself is never a good thing because that “night watchmen” hired by your company to keep you safe will not protect you and most likely, will die himself.

8. Stay away from the creepy kid. No matter how sorry you feel for the kid, the creepy kid will always be your demise (especially if it cries like a cat!)

9. If scary things have been happening to you all evening, do not open the door. No matter who you think it is, DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR! It will always lead to your demise.

10. If you think there is something in or under your bed, don’t look. RUN!!!!!!!

Some Day My Prince Will Come...

Me & Kim at the Halloween Party

Unlike my Disney look-alike, this is not a song that I go around singing right now. This thought has spurred on my top 5 reasons why my “Prince” is MIA…

1. He ran off with a dwarf. It wouldn’t be the first “prince” in my life to do that.
2. He clothes lined himself riding his white stallion through the forest and developed amnesia.
3. He was riding his white stallion across I-40 and got hit by a Mack truck.
4. He’s directionally challenged and lost in the woods somewhere
5. He married Sleeping Beauty. He prefers blondes.