Ramblings – The End of Summer Edition

Since nothing that has been going on in my life deserves an entire blog entry of it’s own, here are some of the highlights of my life in the last month.

Six Flags
A few weeks ago, I took Monday off and went to Six Flags with my friend Jenn, her daughter Kayla, and Jenn’s parents. It was the first day back to school for Dallas schools, so it was a great day to go. We never had to wait in line more than five minutes and that only happened twice. Jenn and I did discover that we have gotten too old for Six Flags. We had a blast, but the rides that we used to love really freaked us out this time. You should have seen us on the Sombrero ride. Not long into the ride, we looked at each other and said “this ride can end now.” We saw the word “inverted” on the Mr. Freeze ride and decided against that. Taking Kayla on the Log Jam was the highlight of the day. She loved it and kept saying “again, again”. So, if you ever want to go to Six Flags, I suggest taking a day off and going after Dallas school are back in session.

The Painters
They have been painting our condos lately and the painters really creep me out and they suck! Besides the fact that they painted our front door closed (yeah, that wasn’t fun), but when they painted in our backyard, they tossed all of our pots and anything else on the patio into the middle of the yard, BUT hung my wind chimes back up and moved the grill to a spot that was more in their way than it’s original location. This isn’t why they creep me out (I’m not posting that story), but it is why they SUCK! Oh, Tams! So wish you were still here!!!!

New Lock
I came home Friday at lunch and there was a new door knob and lock on my back door. I’m not sure why this is. Hmm…

Jilinda
My friend, Jilinda, called me Wednesday night and she’s getting married!!! I haven’t met him, but he sounds like a really great guy. His proposal was super sweet and definitely one for the record books. The sad thing is…I’m loosing my Dallas weekend shopping partner. Not that I can’t still go see her and go shopping, just not the same when there is a husband in the picture.

The Allergist
On Thursday, I went to an allergist for the first time. If you’ve never done that, quite an interesting experience. Good thing I’m not afraid of needles because I sure did get pricked with a ton of them. As a result, they determined that I’m highly allergic to cedar, ragweed, two types of mold, and dust mites. This would explain why I get sick at camp every summer!!! Luckily, allergy shots are not deemed necessary at this point. I do though have to shoot all kinds of stuff up my nose several times a day. Also learned that I have a deviated septum and something else up my nose that might need to be surgically corrected – but we’ll cross that bridge later (hopefully much later). I would tell you more, but my doctor was foreign – and though very nice – I couldn’t understand half of what she said. She also wrote down the directions for me on what I need to be doing over the next few months to try to help my allergy symptoms, but she’s a doctor, which means I can’t read her hand writing. I figure that doctor’s office will be hearing from me again.

Another Bombshell
Okay, I’m saving the best for last. If Jilinda calling to tell me she’s getting married wasn’t a big enough shock for my week...my best friend, Tonna, called me this morning to tell me she’s pregnant! The reason for my shock is that she and Kael always said they weren’t going to have kids (though I suspected they might change their minds eventually). I’m so excited to finally get to be “Aunt Stacey!” Okay, I’m still in shock, so that’s about all I can say about that for now.

Two Truths & A Lie

How well do you know me? See if you can tell which two are true and which one is the lie.

1) I can be dared to do just about anything.
2) If I could spend my life doing only one thing, it would be scrap booking.
3) I spewed green Hawaiian punch all over Jason’s house last night – twice.

A Reason to Rejoice

For the first time EVER in my bulletin printing days at MRCC, I was able to print the entire bulletin (all 2200 copies) without the copier jamming once!!! First time in over 3 years! This is a major accomplishment. I feel the need to celebrate!!!!

Momentary Lapse of Gratitude

Lately I have been feeling like I’m trying to run up the down escalader and getting no where. I’ve been so busy at work and working really long hours, yet feel like I’m getting no where. So, last night all of that frustration kind of came to a head and started feeling sorry for myself because on top of it all, finances have been really tight lately due to an abundance of unexpected expenses. And then it hit me. I started feeling like such a heel. I had just earlier been watching reports on TV about everything going on in Louisiana and Mississippi and how quickly I had let my own “self woes” let me forget how fortunate I actually am. I have a roof over my head, I have clothes in my closet, water in my faucet, and though they might not be the most appetizing combinations, I could survive for at least 2 weeks – maybe 3 on what is in my cabinets right now. These people have NOTHING right now. Definitely not one of my prouder moments.

Re: Request for a New Post

Yes, I have been neglecting my blog, but that's because I work with people who can't plan ahead and I have had 6 weeks worth of work to get done in 2. I do have some things to post (though I don't know how relevant they will be by time I find time again). I hope to return to blogging world by early September! (Sorry Tams, this will just have to do for now. Even sorrier that my last post was my opinion on Cheez Its.)

FYI

BBQ Cheez-It crackers are NASTY! Hot & Spicy are highly recommended though.

Falling Apart

This is quite appropriate when you consider the rest of my posts this week. To fill you in, I’ve had a sinus infection for the last 3 weeks and pretty bad sinus problems for the last few years. On Monday, I went back to the doctor because things just weren’t getting better. My doctor decided that my sinus problems were chronic (duh!) and that I should see an allergist. To speed up the process, my doctor decided to go ahead and schedule the CT scan that the allergist would do anyway.

So yesterday morning, I went in for my very first CT scan. Not bad at all – with the exception of having to lay still for so stinking long! Well, modern medicine is fast, because my doctor’s office called this morning and I have a sinus disease! It’s some long name followed by sinusitis. Next course of action is antibiotics for a month. Sure hope that works because if it doesn’t I will have to go see an Ear, Nose & Throat doctor to have my sinuses cleaned out and I don’t know what that entails, but it doesn’t sound like much fun!

Most Memorable “Accident Prone” Moments

When I was talking to my mom Monday night on the phone, I told her about my shaving accident from earlier that day (which seems to be healing well) and she brought up some of my past injuries, so I thought I would list the most memorable ones for you:

The curling iron burns (yes burns, more than one) to the head region. I’ve had marks on my ears, forehead and neck. The most memorable of those was the day of Jill & Dan’s wedding. The night before at the rehearsal dinner, the guys were talking about how they hate it when girls get hickies and blame them on the curling iron. Low and behold, the next day while I was getting ready for the wedding, I burnt my neck on a curling iron – badly I might add. Ended up with a 3rd degree burn that required a visit to the doctor.

The black eye my brother gave me when he threw a shoe at me. I started my 8th grade year with quite the shiner and was given the nickname “Spot” by my art teacher (senior year in high school and he’s still call me Spot when he saw me).

The curling iron burn to the palm of my hand. Never pick up a curling iron by the barrel unless you’re sure it’s not hot. Just because the light is off in the bathroom, doesn’t mean the curling iron hadn’t been plugged in all day and that it hadn’t just been unplugged right before you walked in to pick it up. Also, when your hand comes into contact with something that hot, it seems to like to grab hold even tighter. I didn’t think I’d ever be able to let go.

The car door slamming on my nose. Windy day and a sloping driveway at the Shoemaker residence in Wellington, KS does not a good outcome make. I don’t think I could re-enact it if I tried, but it gave Rachel a good laugh. I’m just glad I didn’t break it.

Broken pinky toe. I know a lot of people break their little toe, but how many have broken it while doing a handstand? Takes talent!

Branding myself with a hair dryer. Oh yes, it can be done and it takes YEARS for it to go way. How does one do this you ask? Try dropping a hot, running for 15 minutes, hair dryer on your leg barrel down.

Steam burn on fore arm. Who would have thought that reaching over a steaming coffee pot two years ago would leave a faint, yet still visable scar to this day?

The infamous “shaving accident.” Want to know more, read the post.

The infamous “waxing” accident. I’ll spare the details since I posted it previously, but still haven’t touched the stuff since. Luckily, the scaring is so minor, that unless you know where it is, you don’t even notice it (and make up completely covers it up).

Grapefruit size bruise in Jamaica. This actually is also my most embarrassing story. To make a long story short, we were in Jamaica when I was in college and the guys decided to throw one of the other guys in the pool. Not wanting his watch to get ruined, I was trying to take it off of him when he grabbed my ankle with the intention of taking me with him. Since I was wearing a dress and didn’t want my camera to go into the pool, I was trying to hand my camera to someone in our group while the guys try to use me as a human tug-o-war rope. Before it was over with, I’m in a straddled position with my dress was around my waist and ended up with the biggest bruise on the back of my leg from the near by rail.

The missing toenail. This is pretty gross, but I had a toenail just fall off one summer while I was talking on the phone. It didn’t bleed or anything, it just popped off. It didn’t look like anything was wrong with it, so I don’t know what happened. But since it was summer and I didn’t want it to be obvious that there was a toenail missing, I would just paint the skin. It grew back by the next summer.

And the best, yet STUPIDEST way I have ever injured myself…

The bruised ribs that I got when I fell on/out of a tree. I’m glad my mom doesn’t read this, but if my sister-in-law still does, I might be busted because I’ve never told my mom the real story. When we first moved to Hutchinson, we lived in a duplex on a dead end street. At the end of the street was a green belt that we used to hang out at. One afternoon, my friend Kelly and walked down there after school. It had been raining earlier that day, so everything was wet. I was wearing loafers with slick soles. The story we told my mom was that I slipped and hit the trunk of this tree that had fallen. The REAL story is for some STUPID reason (don’t remember why) I decided to climb a near by tree that was wet from the rain, in these slick soled loafers, and slipped (wonder why?) and fell out of the tree and landed on the tree that had fallen. I didn’t lie about the slipping and falling part, I just left out the reason why I slipped. Nope, I’m not a candidate for Mensa.

Tip of the Day

Bad Move

NEVER shave your legs when you're worked up about anything. The result, a 2 inch gash on your leg.

And for those of you asking why I chose to wear a skirt with such an injury...because I took the time to iron it last night and didn't have time to iron anything else because I spent the morning doctoring myself. If I ever start a list of what I want in a husband, good medical insurance will be on the top of the list!

The following is the running email in our office today…

Stefanie:
“I have an OB appointment AND ultrasound appointment at 1:30 on Monday. Because it is two appointments, it’s very likely they’ll take the entire afternoon, considering all the waiting room time. If it goes quickly, I’ll try to come back to work. If not, I’ll just see ya’ll Tuesday morning.”

Sarah’s Reply:
“And I have a doctor’s appt. on Monday at 10am and an ultrasound on Monday the 22nd at 8 a.m. I think collectively we are the doctorinist group of people I ever met!!!”

Debbie’s Reply:
“Ha! I’m not pregnant and not having an ultrasound. Just wanted everyone to know. If I was there would be pending funeral arrangements for one man I know.”

Linda’s Reply:
“Yeah, some of us are going to the doctor because we’re old and falling apart, and those who aren’t old are getting pregnant!”

Sarah’s Reply:
“Which category does Stacey fall in??”

My Reply:
“EXCUSE ME! I DON’T THINK I FALL INTO EITHER OF THOSE CATEGORIES. Just bad genetics!”


I’m telling you though, and I’ve said it before, it does not pay to work her and not have children. And I know Cochran (yeah, I still don’t like calling you that) has volunteered to “knock me up”, I believe I will be passing on taking anyone up on that offer anytime soon!

A Totally Bizarre & Gross Story

For those who have weak stomachs, you might want to pass on this one.

My mom called me last night and she was telling me that these friends of ours from church had gone on vacation with their whole family to Breckenridge last week. While they were there, they decided to take the kids to ride the Alpine Slides. Anyway, Cathy was coming down the side when her toboggan thing flipped. Since her grandson was right behind her, she didn’t want him to run into her, so she flipped it back over really quick on continued down. When she got to the bottom, one side of her face was covered in blood and she couldn’t figure out why. Turns out she had almost completely cut her ear off!!! My mom said it took a ton of stitches, but they were able to reattach it. How gross (and freaky) is that!?! I told my mom to tell Cathy I can beat that, I’ve had both ears cut off (of course mine were done by a surgeon).

Anyway, I thought that was totally bizarre. For my Colorado traveling companions last summer, this is the same slides we went down! Good grief, my only concern was hitting a chipmunk along the way. Never would have dreamed of loosing an ear! I hold on to my ears every time I think about it!

Lunch Hour Observations

The following (though VERY random) were a couple of observations over my lunch hour that made me go hmmm... and well, just had to share!

Useful Information:
I saw the following message today on the side of a Budget moving truck in front of our condos: “Moving Tip #48 – Packing tape should NOT be used as a painful practical joke.” Really? That’s one of my favorite ways to use packing tape. Duck Tape on hairy legs...laughing just thinking about it! My mission is now to track down Budget Moving trucks and find out the rest of the 47 (or more) moving tips!

Get A Room:
As I was exiting my back door to head back to work, I saw something I had NEVER seen before...2 wasps mating. I didn’t appreciate the miracle of life too much though. The first thing I did was reach for the can of wasp killer. For those of you who don’t believe in killing any living things, don’t worry…they were gone before I got the lid off and I don’t know where they went. I was quite disappointed because it's been my hobby this summer - killing wasps. And this would have been a double bonus...2 at once!

When Did I Go Back to Jr. High?

Last week while I was at camp, I experienced something I don’t think I’ve experienced since the 8th grade…someone getting in my face. I think just about every girl out there knows what I mean. Some girl who thinks she’s all that, confronts you asking why you’ve been spreading rumors about her (or whatever her issue is). Often, this results in some sort of cat-fight that gathered a crowd.

Here is what I don’t understand:

1) I’m 31 years old…well past the age of petty teenage girl “issues”. My confronters were 16 & 17 and campers in my cabin!!! How stupid to mess with the person that dictates how late you get to sleep in the morning and has the power to make you clean toilets!

2) The “rumors” they accused me of spreading, were about their behavior that week (being late to everything, wearing things they weren’t supposed to, not being where they’re supposed to be, talking on their cell phones, etc.) and they couldn’t deny that they did any of it. As for “spreading” the so-called rumors…I don’t call discussing cabin issues in a staff meeting and looking for guidance on what to do next “spreading rumors”. I have no idea how any of this got back to them, but I’m sure it was some well-meaning counselor trying to steer them in the right direction (didn’t work by the way).

So after a LONG heated discussion about their behavior and their attitudes, we came to the agreement to start fresh the next day. Here is the kicker…one of the things they accused me of saying about them was that they were planning on sneaking out. I told them we were told by other counselors that they had been over-heard talking about sneaking out and that we should keep an eye on them. They PROMISED me that they would never sneak out, they were too afraid of getting caught.

Jump forward 24 hours or so. The entire next day, they had been sleeping in the cabin every spare moment they had. And on some occasions, when they shouldn’t have been in there. But instead of getting on their case AGAIN, I gave them the benefit of the doubt. We had a feeling they were up to something, but they promised me they wouldn’t try to sneak out, so I took their word for it.

That evening, after we got back to the cabin from the devo, there were about 5 of them (these two included) that were just acting suspicious. As a result, I had a hard time falling asleep because every time a bed moved, etc., I was awake. Finally sometime around 2 a.m. I fell asleep. My co-counselor, Jessica, came in at 4 a.m. from her “night-watch” duties. At 4:30 in the morning, we were all awoken by 5 girls sneaking out the door. Fran yelled at them asking them where they were going and they were out the door. Oh, it was ON!

Fran & Jessica jumped up and put on clothes and took out after them (I got the job of keeping an eye on the rest of the girls since I was sick and already sleep deprived). These bright young things were not too bright after-all. They were caught within minutes and couldn’t understand how they got caught (hello, the cabin door sticks! It always wakes us up when it opens.) I joined them in the mess hall shortly after and following some more heated discussions, they were informed that they would not be sleeping for the rest of the day and would spend their rest time serving others.

To be honest with you, I wish they had tried sneaking out earlier in the week. They were on their best behavior the rest of the day and were actually for the first time all week, enjoyable to be around.

Plus side to all of this, I got to see my first sunrise in about a year. It was beautiful.

I Fell From A Cypress Tree

WHAT TREE DID YOU FALL FROM?

I got this email from Vicki and well, didn't have the brain power to post anything else (but felt the need to update).

Find your birthday and then find your tree. This is fun and somewhat accurate in line with Celtic astrology. Mine was bizarrely accurate.

Dec 23 to Jan 01 - Apple Tree
Jan 01 to Jan 11 - Fir Tree
Jan 12 to Jan 24 - Elm Tree
Jan 25 to Feb 03 - Cypress Tree
Feb 04 to Feb 08 - Poplar Tree
Feb 09 to Feb 18 - Cedar Tree
Feb 19 to Feb 28 - Pine Tree
Mar 01 to Mar 10 - Weeping Willow Tree
Mar 11 to Mar 20 - Lime Tree
Mar 21 (only) - Oak Tree
Mar 22 to Mar 31 - Hazelnut Tree
Apr 01 to Apr 10 - Rowan Tree
Apr 11 to Apr 20 - Maple Tree
Apr 21 to Apr 30 - Walnut Tree
May 01 to May 14 - Poplar Tree
May 15 to May 24 - Chestnut Tree
May 25 to Jun 03 - Ash Tree
Jun 04 to Jun 13 - Hornbeam Tree
Jun 14 to Jun 23 - Fig Tree
Jun 24 (only) - Birch Tree
Jun 25 to Jul 04 - Apple Tree
Jul 05 to Jul 14 - Fir Tree
Jul 15 to Jul 25 - Elm Tree
Jul 26 to Aug 04 - Cypress Tree
Aug 05 to Aug 13 - Poplar Tree
Aug 14 to Aug 23 - Cedar Tree
Aug 24 to Sep 02 - Pine Tree
Sep 03 to Sep 12 - Weeping Willow Tree
Sep 13 to Sep 22 - Lime Tree
Sep 23 (only) - OLIVE Tree
Sep 24 to Oct 03 - Hazelnut Tree
Oct 04 to Oct 13 - Rowan Tree
Oct 14 to Oct 23 - Maple Tree
Oct 24 to Nov 11 - Walnut Tree
Nov 12 to Nov 21 - Chestnut Tree
Nov 22 to Dec 01 - Ash Tree
Dec 02 to Dec 11 - Hornbeam Tree
Dec 12 to Dec 21 - Fig Tree
Dec 22 (only) - Beech Tree

YOUR TREE (in alphabetical order)

Apple Tree (Love) -- quiet and shy at times, lots of charm, appeal, and attraction, pleasant attitude, flirtatious smile, adventurous, sensitive, loyal in love, wants to love and be loved, faithful and tender partner, very generous, many talents, loves children, needs affectionate partner.

Ash Tree (Ambition) -- extremely attractive, vivacious, impulsive, demanding, does not care for criticism, ambitious, intelligent, talented, likes to play with fate, can be very egotistic, reliable, restless lover, sometimes money rules over the heart, demands attention, needs love and much emotional support.

Beech Tree (Creative) -- has good taste, concerned about its looks, materialistic, good organization of life and career, economical, good leader, takes no unnecessary risks, reasonable, splendid lifetime companion, keen on keeping fit(diets, sports, etc).

Birch Tree (Inspiration) -- vivacious, attractive, elegant, friendly, unpretentious, modest, does not like anything in excess, abhors the vulgar, loves life in nature and in calm, not very passionate, full of imagination, little ambition, creates a calm and content atmosphere.

Cedar Tree (Confidence) -- of rare strength, knows how to adapt, likes unexpected presents, of good health, not in the least shy, tends to look down on others, self-confident, a great speaker, determined, often impatient, likes to impress others, has many talents, industrious, healthy optimism, waits for the one true love, able to make quick decisions.

Chestnut Tree (Honesty) -- of unusual stature, impressive, well-developed sense of justice, fun to be around, a planner, born diplomat, can be irritated easily, sensitive of others feelings, hard worker, sometimes acts superior, feels not understood at times, fiercely family oriented, very loyal in love, physically fit.

Cypress Tree (Faithfulness) -- strong, muscular, adaptable, takes what life has to give but doesn't necessarily like it, strives to be content, optimistic, wants to be financially independent, wants love and affection, hates loneliness, passionate lover which cannot be satisfied, faithful, quick-tempered at times, can be unruly and careless, loves to gain knowledge, needs to be needed.

Elm Tree (Noble-mindedness) -- pleasant shape, tasteful clothes, modest demands, tends not to forgive mistakes, cheerful, likes to lead but not to obey,honest and faithful partner, likes making decisions for others, noble-minded, generous, good sense of humor, practical.

Fig Tree (Sensibility) -- very strong minded, a bit self-willed, honest, loyal, independent, hates contradiction or arguments, hard worker when wants to be, loves life and friends, enjoys children and animals, few sexual relationships, great sense of humor, has artistic talent and great intelligence.

Fir tree (Mysterious) -- extraordinary taste, handles stress well, loves anything beautiful, stubborn, tends to care for those close to them, hard to trust others, yet a social butterfly, likes idleness and laziness after long demanding hours at work, rather modest, talented, unselfish, many friends, very reliable.

Hazelnut Tree (Extraordinary) -- charming, sense of humor, very demanding but can also be very understanding, knows how to make a lasting impression, active fighter for social causes and politics, popular, quite moody, sexually oriented, honest, a perfectionist, has a precise sense of judgment and expects complete fairness.

Hornbeam Tree (Good Taste) -- of cool beauty, cares for its looks and condition, good taste, is not egotistic, makes life as comfortable as possible, leads a reasonable and disciplined life, looks for kindness and acknowledgment in an emotional partner, dreams of unusual lovers, is seldom happy with its feelings,mistrusts most people, is never sure of its decisions, very conscientious.

Lime Tree (Doubt) - intelligent, hard working, accepts what life dishes out, but not before trying to change bad circumstances into good ones, hates fighting and stress, enjoys getaway vacations, may appear tough, but is actually soft and relenting, always willing to make sacrifices for family and friends, has many talents but not always enough time to use them, can become a complainer, great leadership qualities, is jealous at times but extremely loyal.

Maple Tree (Independence of Mind) -- no ordinary person, full of imagination and originality, shy and reserved, ambitious, proud, self-confident, hungers for new experiences, sometimes nervous, has many complexities, good memory, learns easily, complicated love life, wants to impress.

Oak Tree (Brave) -- robust nature, courageous, strong, unrelenting, independent, sensible, does not like change, keeps its feet on the ground, person of action.

Olive Tree (Wisdom) -- loves sun, warmth and kind feelings, reasonable, balanced, avoids aggression and violence, tolerant, cheerful, calm, well-developed sense of justice, sensitive, empathetic, free of jealousy, loves to read and the company of sophisticated people.

Pine Tree (Peacemaker) -- loves agreeable company, craves peace and harmony, loves to help others, active imagination, likes to write poetry, not fashion conscious, great compassion, friendly to all, falls strongly in love but will leave if betrayed or lied to, emotionally SOFT, low self esteem, needs affection and reassurance.

Poplar Tree (Uncertainty) -- looks very decorative, talented, not very self-confident, extremely courageous if necessary, needs goodwill and pleasant surroundings, very choosy, often lonely, great animosity, great artistic nature, good organizer, tends to lean toward philosophy, reliable in any situation, takes partnership seriously.

Rowan Tree (Sensitivity) -- full of charm, cheerful, gifted without egoism, likes to draw attention, loves life, motion, unrest, and even complications, is both dependent and independent, good taste, artistic, passionate, emotional, good company, does not forgive

Walnut Tree (Passion) -- unrelenting, strange and full of contrasts, often egotistic, aggressive, noble, broad horizon, unexpected reactions, spontaneous, unlimited ambition, no flexibility, difficult and uncommon partner, not always liked but often admired, ingenious strategist, very jealous and passionate, no compromise.

Weeping Willow (Melancholy) - likes to be stress free, loves family life, full of hopes and dreams, attractive, very empathetic, loves anything beautiful, musically inclined, loves to travel to exotic places, restless, capricious, honest, can be influenced but is not easy to live with when pressured, sometimes demanding, good intuition, suffers in love until they find that one loyal, steadfast partner; loves to make others laugh.

To all of my European Traveling Friends…

My friend, Tonna, and I are working on a little project and we need your help. For those of you who have traveled to Europe, what are some of the things you would add to your “must buy” list? (i.e. Poland = pottery, Prague = crystal, etc.) We’d love your feedback and if you have any friends who might have input, direct them here because we’d like as much feedback as possible. Thanks!

Thought to Ponder

“…Does the clay say to the potter, 'What are you making?'” ~ From Isaiah 45:9

Slackers of America ARISE

I found this article today on MSN. I AM NOT commenting, but found it very interesting. I wasn't surprised on the reasons they found (I could have told you all of that). Also, I have no opinion on the Missouri findings. Who cares!

Extra: Missouri is No. 1 in slacking off at work
Survey finds average U.S. worker spends two hours a day surfing the Web, running errands or staring into space.

By MSN Money staff and wire reports

A new survey suggests that we’re a nation of slackers -- worse at wasting time at work than even human resources professional suspected. According to an informally conducted poll, the average worker wastes more than two hours a day, not including lunch. Younger workers slack off more than older ones, and men and women waste about the same amount of time.

Although gender played no part in time wasting, geography loomed large. The No. 1 state for wasting time was Missouri, where workers who responded to the survey reported slacking off 3 hours and 12 minutes a day.

The top time-wasting states were:
2. Indiana 2.8 hrs/day
3. Kentucky 2.8 hrs/day
4. Wisconsin 2.8 hrs/day
5. Nevada 2.7 hrs/day

The survey didn't look at why Missouri is the worst in the nation. Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt was a little prickly. "Nobody can match the work ethic of Missourians. This survey, which our busiest citizens did not want to waste their time on, cannot undermine decades of experience. Missouri workers are among the most productive in the world."

The Missouri Department of Economic Development said a study it published last year on the industries driving the state economy found Missouri employees hard at work."

It appears to me the Missouri worker is equal to, or slightly higher, in productivity than other workers across the nation in most of the industries (the Missouri study) looked at," said department spokeswoman Kristi Jamison.

Not enough to do
The survey of visitors to America Online and Salary.com asked 10,044 respondents how much time they wasted in an average workday in a workweek consisting of five eight-hour days. Demographic information, including respondent geography, job category and gender was also collected.

The poll found the workers' top excuses for wasting time nationwide were not enough work or inadequate for the work they do.

More than 44% said the No. 1 way they waste time at work is personal Internet use, like reading e-mail, instant messages, playing interactive games -- and responding to online polls.

The second most popular, according to 23% of respondents, was socializing with co-workers. Other excuses included conducting personal business, spacing out, running errands and making personal phone calls.

The top time-wasting activities were:
1. Surfing Internet (personal use) 44.7%
2. Socializing with co-workers 23.4%
3. Conducting personal business 6.8%
4. Spacing out 3.9%
5. Running errands off-premises 0.1%

The top excuses for time-wasting:
1. Don't have enough work to do 33.2%
2. Underpaid for amount of work I do 23.4%
3. Co-workers distract me 14.7%
4. Not enough evening or weekend time 12.0%
5. Other 16.7%

Employers expect that workers will waste some time on the job, about an hour per day in addition to the lunch hour.

"Our survey results show that workers on average are wasting a little more than twice what their employers expect. That's a startling figure," said Bill Coleman, senior vice president at Salary.com.

He noted that some of the wasted time could be considered helpful, however, as conversations and personal Internet use can lead to new business ideas.

Question...

Why is it the one day when you really NEED to stay really busy at work to keep you from thinking about things you can't do anything about, it’s the day that you’ve accomplished everything you could possibly accomplish before noon even rolls around. It’s going to be a long day.

Well, It's Official

Effective November 19, 2005, I will be without a roommate. Yep, you guess it, Chris popped the "official" question on Friday night. I say "official" because I've known they were getting married for quite a while now and known the date for the last few weeks. It's been funny because they have already bought a house (that they close on next week), she's had her dress for about 2-3 weeks now, they've had the chapel reserved, even started premarital counseling...but it was to remain on the down-low till the ring showed up. Since I knew I was going to have to come up with new living arrangements but couldn't do an active roommate search until the ring was on her finger, I think I was almost as anxious for her to get this ring as she was. So if you see Chris & Jeana, congratulate them because they probably are the cutest couple I have ever seen and I'm extremely happy for them (even if he IS taking away the worlds greatest roommate).

Arachnophobia Episode 2

Oh you guessed it. One year later, a repeat of last summer’s skin crawling experience. Oh yes, I have hundreds of baby spiders all over my office again. Funny that it was the same week last year that this happened. I would say it’s a sign that I need to take this week off, BUT then, who would know that the spiders have hatched! They are the creepiest little black things that you have ever seen. It seem that they hatch in the billboard vinyls that I have in my office before Jay takes them upstairs. I’d take a picture, but they are way too tiny. Squirming here!!! One spider I can handle…hundreds are another story! Who knows how long it had been since they hatched. I only noticed them while talking to Tyson Condict who was sitting in the chair next to my billboard box. But i really think it was just today because they were too concentrated in that area. YUCK!!!!

Giving Up Control

“Most people I know who live free have experienced a serious stronghold or hindrance they fought to overcome. They usually appreciate and apply victory more readily because they’ve experienced the misery of defeat firsthand. I rarely meet people who have come to trust God fully who haven’t also painfully confronted the fact that they can’t trust themselves.”

I have been reading book lately by Beth Moore called Breaking Free. The above was the opening paragraph to the chapter I read last night and the last sentence really hit home for me.

I have been struggling lately with wanting some changes to take place in my life, but not really sure if the changes I WANT to make are the ones God wants me to make. I have always been such a control freak that I have always struggled with truly allowing God to take control. I guess that’s why the last sentence has hit home for me because I have finally come to a point where I truly realize that I CANNOT trust myself to make the right decision about at least one of the situations that I’m facing right now (of course, truth be known, that’s probably the case with every situation I face…old habits are hard to break). I can potential positives and negatives for either choice. As difficult as it has always been for me to give up control regarding decisions that affect my life (like I ultimately have much control anyway), I think for the first time in my life, I just don’t WANT to be the one to decide. I want God’s will.

The problem now is that I want God’s will NOW. I know that in the long run, I will be happiest with God’s decision. I’m just anxious to get there and get past this stage of constantly wondering what He’s up to.

Something else I have come to realize recently that my approach in regards to one of these situations has been wrong from the very beginning. My intentions have been good, but my viewpoint has been skewed. I have been under the misapprehension that God had left the entire burden up to me to make one of these changes. Problem was I didn’t know how to go about it. So because the desired outcome didn’t come about, I was feeling like a failure. I have since come to realize that I wasn’t expected to handle it on my own and that I should have developed a better support system.

All I have to say is that I’m thankful for the gift of prayer and for God’s amazing grace!

Color Quiz

Someone sent me this quiz a while back and I ran across it again this morning. Curious if the results would be anything similar to what they were the last time, I took it again. Am I really this much of an emotional mess? And here I thought I was actually at peace with the situations out of my control. =) Shoot! Sounds like I need a vacation! I'd be interested to know what it says about everyone else...

Your Existing Situation
Needs warm companionship, but is intolerant of anything short of special consideration from those close to her. If this is not forthcoming, is liable to shut herself away from them.

Your Stress Sources
Acutely distressed by what appears as a hostile environment. Feels she is being subjected to intolerable pressure and driven against her will. Rebellious and resentful at what she considers unreasonable demands on her. but feels powerless to control the situation or protect herself in any way.

Your Restrained Characteristics
Willing to become emotionally involved, but demanding and particular in her choice of a partner and in her relations with those close to her. Needs reassurance and is careful to avoid open conflict since this might reduce her prospects of realizing her hopes.

Feels trapped in a distressing or uncomfortable situation and seeking some way of gaining relief.

Your Desired Objective
Needs to feel identified with someone or something and wishes to win support by her charm and amiability. Sentimental and yearns for a romantic tenderness.

Your Actual Problem
The tensions induced by trying to cope with conditions which are really beyond her capabilities, or reserves of strength, have led to considerable anxiety and a sense of personal (but unadmitted) inadequacy. She attempts to escape into a substitute world in which things are more nearly as she desires them to be.

Your Actual Problem #2
Depleted vitality has created an intolerance for any further stimulation, or demands on her resources. This feeling of powerlessness subjects her to agitation and acute distress. She attempts to escape into a substitute world in which things are more nearly as she desires them to be.

Fast Broken

Oops. Our church (which by the way is also where I work) started a day of prayer and fasting for missions last night and it’s supposed to run till 6:00 this evening. Well, I totally forgot, and I guess Sarah did too because she brought stuff from Panera bread this morning. I ate my bagel (who is seriously going to pass up a cinnamon crunch bagel from Panera) and went on with my day. Then just a few moments ago, Sarah walked into my office and reminded me that everyone has been encouraged to fast today. Oops. =) I guess everyone will have day-old Panera tomorrow.

Phoebe O'Shea

“Phoebe O’Shea…has to go to the bathroom”

This was the message left on our voicemail this weekend by and elderly woman living in an area assisted living center. It was the funniest message we have ever had. If I had a way to do it, I would copy the message and try to post it on my blog as a sound file.

What made me laugh even more is that during the beginning of the message, you just heard her breathing, and then as if she was sick of being on hold, she says the first thing that comes to mind. That will be me as an old lady! Random stuff is always coming out of my mouth.

Am I On Candid Camera?

This was by far the craziest, weirdest, you name it, weekend I think I’ve had in a really long time (if ever). It definitely deserves a shout out on my blog.


The Tire

This weekend, I went with a group from our Singles Ministry to Tahlequah, OK to float the Illinois (the “s” is silent by the way) River. This is an annual event and unlike past years, the weather and river were actually perfect for floating. With the exception of my quick exit on what turned out to be the wrong exit, the drive down was uneventful until right before Suzy and I reached the Tahlequah/Muskogee exit. For some unknown reason, I all of a sudden got a flat tire. I was very fortunate though, because it happened right as we were coming up on an exit, so I was able to get off the highway and pull over someplace that didn’t have a lot of traffic. I get out of my car and yes, I did have a flat tire.

Problem was, my dad never would show me how to change a tire because he said that I would always have a man around to do it. Now I was never naïve enough to believe this, but he wasn’t going to show me how and I guess I never thought to ask any of my guy friends or boyfriends. Anyway, we had just had some friends pass us right before this happened, so we called them and they turned around and came back to help us. I think I would have been able to figure it out on my own, but I couldn’t get the lug nuts off. Thankfully Chris had a T-iron and was able to get them off and put my spare tire on for me.

So, spare tire intact, we proceed to continue our journey to the War Eagle Resort just outside of Tahlequah. Since it was after 9:30, Wal-Mart’s automotive center was already closed, so we just decided to stop by there on our way back from the river before we headed home. Bad choice. Had I been a wise woman, I would have gotten up early and taken my car to Tahlequah BEFORE we floated and picked it up on our way back through town. But NOOOO, it was just a flat tire. How long could it take Wal-Mart in Tahlequah to fix a flat tire? The answer to that question…3 hours. But what makes it worse, is that Suzy and I opted to not take a shower before we left the river, so we looked BEAUTIFUL to say the least. We did fit in with the locals though, so it wasn’t so bad.

So here is the ultimate question…what do you do for 3 hours in a Wal-Mart in Tahlequah, OK? Answer…eat in the snack bar and buy nail polish remover, a nail file and toe nail clippers and give yourself a pedicure. =) Oh yes, I have officially crossed the line into white-trashdome. Thankfully we were out of Tahlequah by 7:21 p.m. on Saturday and were basically incident free the rest of the way home.


Ultimate Redneck Vacation

I cannot in good conscience write on my blog without making mention of the observations I had on the river this weekend. I have floated the Illinois many, many times in my life and though I have been aware of this fact in the past, it never really hit home till this weekend. Floating the Illinois River is the ultimate redneck vacation. Oh to have a video to post of what we saw! I just can’t even begin to put into words what we experienced, but let me try:

1) You have women in bikinis that frankly, the person who sold them that bikini should be arrested for inflicting cruel and unusual punishment on the rest of the world.
2) When it comes to tattoos, some people need to learn the concept that “less is more”. It’s almost like they can’t stand to have an inch of skin not covered with ink. Why?
3) Old skanky men with much younger skanky women. I know the world isn’t lacking in skanky men, so why do these women feel the need to hook up with men old enough to be their grandfathers. It’s not like these men are sugar daddies or anything. The most they’ll be leaving behind when the pass from this world is their run down trailer in the trailer park. Why bother?
4) Frat boys. I must say the river had a large number of frat boys this time. The incident that really got me were the group of boys who stood on a bank discussing how they were going to get women to show them their chests. Yes, they were putting a lot of thought into this. I think what they decided on was this “Hey ladies (pause, pause, pause) show us your tits!” And who ever said college boys never grow up?
5) Beer. Lots and lots of beer. I think we were the only ones on the river not under the influence of something. The only thing scarier than intoxicated people in boats is the thought that eventually, all of these intoxicated people would be getting off the river and driving home.


Mark

Now to a subject that has nothing to do with Tahlequah at all. Some of you may have heard about this guy that I was sort of seeing a few years ago named Mark. Some mutual friends really thought we needed to meet, so they gave him my email address and we proceeded to email and call regularly for 7 months before we actually met. What’s funny is that he lives here in Edmond, so distance didn’t have anything to do with us taking so long to meet. But by time we did, we knew each other pretty well and seemed to hit it off. We went out a couple of times and things seemed to be going well. To make a long story short, he traveled a lot with his job, so he called me one night to say he was going to be out of town for the next few weeks, but wanted to know if I wanted to go do something when he got back and I told him sure, just give me a call when he got back. That was the last time I talked to him on the phone. I got a few half-hearted email responses after that, but that was it. Since I decided I had better things to do with my life, I just quit emailing him and hadn’t heard from him since.

Then yesterday, I was sitting in church and this family walked in late and sat in front of me. I didn’t really pay any attention to them till I got up to leave and noticed that the guy was Mark! The woman he was with had a son about 6 or 7, so I knew it wasn’t his child and the way she introduced him, I could tell they weren’t married. I am pretty sure he recognized me because he looked like a deer in the headlights when our eyes met. I turned really quick and started talking to Lindsy (which by the way Lindsy, this is why what ever I was saying to you was extremely distracted and probably made no sense). Well, that answers my question of whether or not he was still in the area. =)

Impatience

People are always telling me what a patient person I am. Personally I feel like a very impatient person when you really get down to it. I can put up with bad behavior from people (at least the ones I care about) most of the time because I have a great deal of hope it’s only temporary. But when it comes to the big picture…that’s a different story.

So often (this being one of those times) I’m faced with a difficult situation that I know in time will be resolved because I’m spending time in prayer about the situation and have faith that God will always do what’s best. Even if the result isn’t what I want ideally, I know God’s will is so much better than anything I could possibly desire on my own. Problem is, I want to know God’s will NOW. I find myself thinking, “If God would just show me the outcome, I’m okay with not knowing what it will take to get there.”

Yes, I know it’s in these times that character is built. Trust me, I’m quite the character! To make things worse, I never seem to want to take the easy way out. It’s like a game show and I’m being shown a “sure thing” behind curtain one, but NOOOO, I’m the type that will choose curtain two and take the hard road if I think the outcome could be even better than the sure thing. So I guess I can’t complain too much because I guess I’m partly responsible for my times of struggle. And really, it’s not that I can’t handle the struggles that come my way (especially this time), I’m just tired of “handling the struggles.” I’ll continue to push through whatever comes my way, but it sure would be nice to have a break now and then. =)

Ramblings About My Day

Well, since I'm looking for something to do, I thought I would ramble a little about my day. Let me start by saying that today is the first day of VBS. Yes, it is a mad house around here. It has quieted down a little at the moment, but will be picking up here again in about half an hour. We've already had our first injury of the year. A child ran into one of our secretaries and broke her toe. She is now sporting a lovely boot. =)

Even though the theme changes every year, some things with VBS always stay the same. There will always be crying children, we will always have at least one child during the week go missing which requires an all-out man hunt. We will always have people calling wanting us to go locate someone for them (finding a needle in a haystack would be easier). Not everything about VBS is bad because we always get cookies (well, not last year, they forgot about us).

The lovely spots all over my ankle appear to be a really bad case of chiggers. How I got chiggers on my knee, I'll never know. I guess they travel.

Today, I get to go to the dentist to get my teeth cleaned. Normally I wouldn't be excited about this, but I'm looking forward to getting out of the office.

Last night, I mowed the yard. It was so high that the poor mower almost didn't survive. Now we just need an edger. It also probably wouldn't hurt for us to plant some more flowers. Doubt I'll bother this summer. Maybe next.

Well, that's as random as it's going to get today.

Attack of the...Well, I'm Not Sure

My Ankle

This is a picture of my ankle. The little red dots are just a sampling of what is all over my legs. My best bet is that it is chigger or mosquito bites, but with all the poison ivy I came into contact with, that isn't completely out of the question I guess (I have never had poison ivy, so I really don't know for sure.) What ever it is, it doesn't really itch, just looks UGLY. I might be wearing pants the rest of the week. The darker red dot above the bone in my ankle is from a stick that attacked me while I was raking. I guess that's the price you pay for a weekend in the great outdoors.

On another note, if you ever find yourself in need of a clothes line, Racheal Henry and I are your gals! We built eight of them for the girls cabins as Silver Maple Camp. Can't promise they'll withstand a massive wind storm, but they look good and we got to use power tools! =) If I ever get a copy of the picture from Racheal, I'll post it.

When All Seems Lost

This is one of those "well-timed" forwards that I received from a co-worker and I thought I would post it.

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for GOD to rescue him, but every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect himself from the elements, and to store his few possessions.

One day, after scavenging for food he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. "GOD, how could you do this to me?" he cried.

Early the next day he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" Asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because GOD is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain, and suffering.

Remember that . . .
The next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground, it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of GOD.

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.