I REALLY Am A Chicken

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, I really am a chicken! It’s pathetic really. I determined I just have this fear of things running/jumping out at me, which is why I don’t go in my attic. I also don’t like to move boxes in spaces that might harbor mice, snakes or spiders. This brings me to my latest dilemma.

My house has this storage space under the stairs which is great for storing holiday decorations, etc. Problem is, there is also a hole in the wall that I think goes out to the garage (not really sure where it leads). I intended to patch the hole after my mom “de-spidered” all the Rubbermaid containers that had been in my garage in the old condo and put them neatly away in the storage space (what can I say, she loves me and has become quite aware of how depilating my fear can be). Of course, I didn’t around to it before my roommate moved in and put some of her own stuff in there. Now the storage space appears to be full and the only way I can get to the hole is to pull her stuff out of the storage space – hence my problem.

With cooler weather approaching, I need to get in there and patch the hole before a mouse decides to move in and take up residence. But to do this will require moving my roommates stuff out of the way and I can’t do it. I have tried do build up the courage and I just can’t. I had a hard enough time just opening. It seriously freaks me out (like the furnace incident). What’s even worse is that I have some really great fall decorations that I would like to put out, but again, I’ll have to crawl into the storage space and pull stuff out. My plan is to put up sheet rock in there and maybe even install a light – but that won’t be happening this year.

I hate that these kinds of things freak me out so bad. You should have seen me when I would go to get the seasonal decorations out of the garage. I would pull out a box, set it down really fast, and then run. When I thought it was safe, I would get a broom and sweep any cobwebs away and then off to the next box. Just thinking about it has me anxious and stressed. I’m not being overly dramatic here – it really freaks me out. I have laid in bed the last several nights trying to figure out how I’m going to deal with this.

Now, if I see a spider, I can kill it. If I see a mouse or snake from a distance anywhere other than where I am living or sleeping, I’m okay. It’s the whole element of surprise from these creatures that I can’t handle. Really causes some issues when you are a single homeowner. IF I ever get married, he can’t be afraid of stuff like this – he is going to HAVE to be the attic and crawl space inspector of the family.

Oh, and on a side note, though slightly related – I am now a firm believer in keeping my shoes in shoe boxes (especially plastic shoe boxes.) When I moved into my house, I decided for organizational reasons, to start keeping my shoes in shoe boxes and purchased some clear plastic shoe boxes for the shoes that did not have a home. This morning when was getting ready, I pulled out a pair of shoes I hadn’t worn since last fall and opened the box. Low and behold, there was a dead spider in the box. Which means that spider had been in my SHOE at some point. Yeah, flip flops are now the only shoes allowed to be without a box. YIKES!!!

More Fun Quizzes

Okay, I don't think the first one discribes me very well, but the second one hits the nail on the head (especially the last line)!

I'm a Chevrolet Corvette!

You're a classic - powerful, athletic, and competitive. You're all about winning the race and getting the job done. While you have a practical everyday side, you get wild when anyone pushes your pedal. You hate to lose, but you hardly ever do.

Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.

I'm a Lifer!

To you, a job is what pays the bills. You put in your hours, follow the rules, and then go home. Occasionally, you consider quitting, but then you think of how bad the job market is and you reconsider. Whatever happiness you get, you get from your life outside the workplace. Relationships, family, hobbies, and outside creative pursuits are what really matter to you. You're probably taking this test at work because you don't have anything better to do.

Talent: 51%
Lifer: 56%
Mandarin: 38%

Take the Talent, Lifer, or Mandarin quiz.

College Randomness

I was reading Krista’s blog yesterday and she made the comment “no good decisions are made after 2 o’clock in the morning.” It’s true, we do weird things when we’re tired, stressed, sleep deprived and some how, being in college, surrounded by people who are in the exact state of mind, just becomes a breeding ground for all kinds of randomness. This got me to thinking about all the random things I did in college (with help sometimes), that probably lack in humor if you weren’t there, but were stink’in hilarious at the time. Here are some examples:

Chinese Christmas Decorations
At Thanksgiving my freshman year in college, my Grandma P gave me some Christmas decorations she had from when she used to work at the Senior Citizen Center. They were metallic looking, and were primarily red, gold and green. So we decided to hang them in the hallway between my room and Jenn’s room. It looked like a Chinese resturant. They were hideous, but they stayed up till we left for Christmas.

The Gong Show
My sophomore year, my roommate Jenn and I were listening to this “new song” on the radio that was just horrid. So I got up, grabbed a pan and started hitting it like they did in The Gong Show. The next time I went home, I brought back this small brass gong that my mom had and every time we thought a song was bad or someone was lacking talent, we’d hit the gong. Again, you had to be there, but it was funny.

My Song Writing Abilities
A little known fact about me is that I have a tendency to make up little songs when I’m bored. RARELY does anyone here them. Normally, I’m just singing them in my head, but occasionally – I bust out and share one of my little ditties with the world. My friend, Jenn (you know, she was a part of a lot of my random experiences in college), was fortunate enough to experience one of these performances. It was shorting after school started and I found myself bored, and laying on my bed. Since I was being left to my own devices, I picked up this pink metal basket that normally sat on my desk, and put in on my face. No reason. Just felt like it. (BTW, there is a picture out there somewhere of this event). This led me to spontaneously start singing the following song:

It’s time to get a date,
When you’re sitting on your bed
With a crate on your face.

Yeah, I won’t be making a career out of this.

Trouble-Causer
Is there a statute of limitations on being punished for something you did in college? I hope so. I’d really hate to get sent to the Dean now. So here goes.

One night while living in the dorms, I was studying with my friend Tammy in the lobby. Some girls down the hall were fighting with their next door neighbors. Not sure what was going on, but the girls from one room kept going and banging on the door of the girls in the other room and yelling at them. This went on for a little while before it stopped. Don’t ask me why, but I decided that it would be funny to go bang on the door of the room of the girls who had been banging on the door of their neighbors. I convinced Tammy this would be a good idea (I didn’t have to work too hard to convince her). But instead of doing it ourselves, we convinced our friend Carrie Dawn to be the “knocker”. Tammy and I stood in the bathroom across the hall and held the door open while Carrie Dawn when and banged on the door. So Carrie Dawn bangs on the door, runs into the bathroom and we all hide in the toilet stalls (we needed an alibi).

Oh, it hit the fan then. We could here all kinds of yelling outside. We waited in the bathroom till things calmed down and then went back down the hall and continued to “study”. A few minutes later, our RA came and asked us if we saw anyone bang on the door down the hall. Of course we didn’t – we were “studying”. Our hall director had to come upstairs and intervene. I think one set of girls maybe even ended up moving to a different room. I don’t even know who lived in those rooms, so if you’re reading this, I really hope you don’t know who I am. And if you do, sorry. I’m going to plead boredom. =o)

Second Source of Income

I have found a second form of income. Not steady, but not back “pocket change” now and then. I’m going to become a human guinea pig. Kind of makes it sound like I'm selling myself, doesn't it?

I had to go to the allergist today for a follow-up. Which before I go any farther, I have to note that I sat in the exam room for an HOUR waiting to be seen. One of the ladies did have me come do a clinical trial for her while I waited – which gave me something to do for 5 minutes of that time. Next time, I’m taking a good book!

Anyway, the doctor is asking questions about how I’ve been doing and then tells me that I would have been perfect for a clinical trial they just finished on people with weed allergies. She thought it paid around $250. Even though I missed out on this one, she wanted to know if I’d be interested in doing them in the future. Shoot! Sign me up!!! I can handle the risk of being miserable for a short period of time for that kind of money. I know several other people that have been doing clinical trials with this same doctor for a while now. I guess one of them got paid $1,000 once (rare, but hey – that would be new flooring if I got the opportunity).

I was joking with a co-worker that this is how I could finance the booth I’ve wanted to open at The Market.

It HURTS

Yesterday afternoon, I had a funny thought. I decided that maybe I just needed to cut off the entire right side of my body. My right jaw hurts, my right hand hurts, my right knee hurts and I have a blister on a toe on my right foot. Then last night, the icing on the cake. I was getting something out of the freezer and I dropped a container on my right foot and it seems I might have fractured one of my toes. It HURTS. The only way I can walk on it is to walk on my heel. And I cannot stand for anything to touch it. Needless to say, I didn’t sleep well last night because the blankets kept touching it and waking me up. It doesn’t throb as much as it did last night, but I avoid walking as much as possible. This morning I called the doctor to make sure there wasn’t anything else I should be doing other than icing it and taking ibuprofen. There’s not – so I just get to suffer for the next several days at least and wear open toed shoes. Did I mention – it HURTS!!!!

No Smokers Here

Twice now, in the last week, we have received mail at our house for a former resident. Not unusual I know, but what it weird it that it is cigarettes. Sample packs from Camel. And what I find strange is that I have lived there for almost a year now and we’re just now starting to receive these packages.

I think it is weird – and wrong. The package says it’s illegal to mail cigarettes to minors, but how to they know a minor isn’t going to gain access. I didn’t expect them to come in the mail. If I had teenagers that checked the mail, they could easily take them without my knowing about it – because again, I wasn’t expecting them in the first place.

I keep putting “return to sender” on the box hoping to get off the mailing list, but we’ll see.

Bummer

This morning I woke up thinking it was Friday. It wasn’t. I was bummed. I’m still bummed.

Random Thought on Jury Duty

I have been wishing lately I would get called for Jury Duty again. I wasn’t thrilled the last time, but when I think about it – I get paid to be there PLUS get paid by my normal job. Granted the last time, I never made it on a jury (only made it out of the jury holding room once). Being on a jury might have been more exciting, but I got a lot of reading done. I think I could handle being paid to sit and read for a few days if I had to.

0 for 2

Last night was BK. After church, I noticed I had missed a call. Turned out to be a friend who called to make sure I was still going. He said to just swing by his apartment on the way and we could ride together.

I get to his apartment complex and walked up to his door and knocked. No answer. I knock again. No answer. As I’m standing there I noticed that his grill was gone and wondered what happened to it. A little puzzled to where he might be, I head back downstairs to go to my car and call him. That’s when I look up at the building next to him, see his grill and realize I had gone to the wrong apartment. What’s funny is that I’ve done this before, but the last time I had a plate of cookies and a strange guy answered the door. But what’s sad is that I’ve been to his apartment MANY times before, so I should have known better.

But it gets worse. We head over to Tracy’s for BK. We’re driving down the street and find the house number painted on the street. I park, we get out and I walk up to the house and ring the doorbell. We’re standing there and no one comes to the door. While we’re waiting, we notice that it really smells like cigarette smoke outside her house which didn’t seem right. We quickly realize that we have gone to the wrong house. I just assumed I knew what house it was, but never really looked that closely at the house number.

My friend was a little worried if I would make it home. I plead sleep deprivation.

My Lullaby Collection Needs Some Work

This weekend my friends came to visit with their 5 month old son. I put them in my room because it would be a lot more convenient for them with the baby and all. Recently, I took my portable CD player from work and brought it home because I never used it anymore. Tonna & Kael always play music softly in the room that Zaine is sleeping in, so when Tonna saw my CD player, she decided to turn it on. She looked down, and saw the nature sound CD case that was next to the CD player and assumed that was CD in the player. Instead, she discovered it was a Scary Sounds CD from Halloween last year (shows how long it had been since I used the CD part). We got a good laugh out of it when she told me the next morning.

Saturday night, she decided to put the nature sounds CD in. Zaine was asleep and we were all sitting downstairs watching TV when I started hearing birds. She told me she put the nature sounds CD in, but I just knew there was no way we’d be able to hear it all the way down stairs. But none the less, we kept hearing birds. Finally, Kael decides to go to bed and is standing at the foot of my stairs and it really sounded like it was coming from upstairs. So I went into the room where Zaine was sleeping and sure enough. The babbling brook part of the CD is really quiet – so Tonna had turned it up quite a bit, which made the bird sounds so loud we could hear it all the way downstairs. How he slept through that, I’m not sure.

Tonna informed me on Sunday that I really need to work on my lullaby collection.

Blog Neglect

I know I haven’t posted anything lately. It hasn’t been from intentional neglect. I’ve actually sat down to write several posts, but never had time to finish or post. The jury is still out on whether this one will make it to blogger land or not. Here is the Reader’s Digest version of everything that has taken place lately:

I’m in LOVE!
Sorry, not with a guy – with a truck. Last Thursday I rented a pick up to go to Kansas to get a bed from my mom’s house. Enterprise gave me a brand new, black Chevy Colorado. I am so in love with that truck. The gas mileage wasn’t bad for a truck, but still not as good as my little economy car. I was sad to have to turn it in. Only 3 payments left on my car and the temptation to trade it in is getting tough. A truck like that would be practical for me, but not economical. My goal is to try and hold on to my car for at least another year.

Chair Rail
First of all, for anyone who thinks like a particular “un-home improvement savvy” friend of mine – a chair rail is NOT one of those things that you sit in and it takes you up and down the stairs. A chair rail is a wood border that is placed on the wall as a design divider. I was going to get help from a friend’s husband, but it was hard to find a good time to have them over. So I got online and found a good do-it-yourself site and borrowed the necessary tools from someone at work. On Monday, Amy came over to help me put it up. It was comedy because we couldn’t figure out how to get the saw to work (we needed to remove the safety pin, but wasn’t sure how). At one point, I called a friend from church and asked him how to make the saw work and my explanation to him was “we’re girls”. We managed to get the first wall up without a lot of difficulty (can’t say my cuts were the best, but wood putty and paint fixed it). Our problem came when we tried to do the inside corner. We could not get it to work the way the directions instructed and couldn’t figure out how to make the miter saw cut it the way we needed it. So we gave up. Yesterday, I decided to give it another shot. I finally figured out how to miter the ends so that they met up in the corner the way I needed them to. I managed to get the second wall up all by myself. I just have one more wall to do and I’m done! Not the most professional job, but only a professional could tell and well – not bad for my first attempt.

I’m Quitting My Job and Becoming a CSI
For the last two years, we’ve been having a problem with cash theft in our building. On Thursday, someone had their wallet stolen out of their office. Granted, it wasn’t too hard for the thief because the last person to leave our office left the door open. What this thief didn’t realize was that he was on candid camera. When my co-worker told me she couldn’t find her wallet and was afraid it had been stolen since the door was wide open when she returned to this part of the building the evening before, I pulled up the security tapes and started watching. Since we didn’t know exactly when it happened, I had to start with right after she last used her wallet – which was a good 6 hours worth of viewing. After two hours, I was quickly approaching the time of day when she left and she was starting to wonder if she went someplace else that she had forgotten about. Then all of a sudden, we both gasped and there he was. The man we’ve caught wondering around the building on several occasions. We watched as he walked into the office, looked around, walked into her office and left. I used my “skills” to view him exiting the back the north entrance vs. the south that it was assumed he would have left. I really think I need to become a crime scene video technician. I’m all about making people pay for their wrong doings (I think I need to work on grace).

Shoes
I have been shopping for at the very least, a pair of black heels to go with a pair of pants that I have. Doesn’t seem like it would be a difficult task, but I can’t find anything in my size that are comfortable and not ridiculously over-priced. It’s becoming frustrating – and I have looked just about everywhere. The only place I haven’t looked (mainly because they close before I have a chance to get there) is the Shoe Gallery at North Park Mall. Shopping for black heels should not be this hard!!!

So that’s about it (at least for the stuff I’m going to talk about on a blog). This is me signing off and hoping to head home at a decent hour for once!

You Gotta Try This!

I found this on my friend Fletcher's blog. Of course, the only picture I had that would work was the one from Halloween a few years ago when I was Snow White. I don't make a habit of running around with big red bows in my hair...I promise!



I had to make this smaller to keep it from messing up my title bar on my blog, so if you want to see a clearer version, go here.

You Got to Love My Mom

Ever since I moved into my house, I have wanted to get some sort of bed for my spare room. I wanted to get a futon so that it wouldn’t take up a lot of space, but haven’t had the money to purchase a good one as of yet. So recently, my mom has been talking about getting rid of one of the many twin beds she has in her house to make room for a full or queen size bed. I of course offered to take one off her hands.

Well, with some friends’ wedding quickly approaching which will also bring much anticipated house guests, I decided I needed to find a way to get the bed from there to here pretty soon. I priced renting a pick-up truck online and found out that I can rent one for a day for around $45. So I tell my mom my plan and that I’m going to try to come get it soon.

Well, my mom didn’t want me to spend the money to rent a truck and said she would just put it in her car and bring it down to me this weekend. My mom drives a Ford Focus. But she was insistent that if she laid the seats down, it would fit. We actually got in an argument over it one night because I kept telling her it wouldn’t fit and she said she knew what she was talking about. She even called me to say that she measured it and there was plenty of room. I still kept telling her it might be long enough, but they wouldn’t fit in her car at the angle they would have to go in. Still she was insistent, so I dropped it and told her that if she could get it to fit, great. Otherwise, I would rent a vehicle and come get it.

The plan was that my brother would come over last night and load it in her car for her (even though he also didn’t think it would fit). She called me last night after Brad left. It didn’t fit (surprise, surprise). But hey, she tried and I guess that’s all that counts.

Anyway, looks like I’ll be making a quick trip to Kansas in the next week or so. I think it’s going to have to be next Saturday to get the cheap rate. Road trip anyone?

Thoughts for the Day…

Thought #1
Did you know that Pluto has been down-graded and is no longer considered a planet? I’m serious, you can read all about it here. I feel really bad for Pluto. Though then again, maybe that’s how Grant felt about losing his status, so I guess my feeling bad is kind of hypocritical. Anyway, Pluto no longer meets the qualifications and is now considered a “dwarf planet”. Is that politically correct? I’m actually quite disturbed about this because I always liked Pluto. Maybe because it was the smallest which made it the underdog. Anyway, I ‘m bummed about it. Poor Pluto!

Thought #2
I did a very dangerous thing today and didn’t even realize it. I decided to try someone new to cut my hair. Actually, I had gone to her once before, but it was a long time ago and it was only once. This finding a new hair stylist has been difficult. I liked the girl I’ve gone to the last few times, but she’s so far away. Anyway, back to the dangerous part. I walk in today and she asks what I wanted done. I told her it needed trimmed, but that I really hated my hair. She and another stylist got all excited and started making suggestions. They suggested an inverted bob – but I didn’t really want to do that. I kind of wanted to keep the current length, but hated the shape. So I told the perfect stranger that she could do whatever she wanted to do to my hair, just don’t razor it and don’t take too much length off. End result – well I think it’s okay. I think I like the way she cut it, I just don’t like the way she styled it. So the jury is still out on the hair.

I did find this funny…while I was in there this other stylist (Heather) told another customer that she has been asking people if she and Lisa weren’t hair stylists, what they looked like they might be. So she asks me. I hate being put on the spot like that. First she asked about Lisa (the girl cutting my hair) and the first thing that popped into my head was Kindergarten teacher. I have no idea why, that’s just want popped into my head. Then she asked what I thought she looked like she could be. I had to go with my second thought – receptionist, because I didn’t think telling her she looked like a stripper would go over too well. Do not ask me random questions if you don’t want a random answer!

Thirty Years Ago Today...

My life turned upside down when this creature, a.k.a my little brother Brad, came into this world.

Boy, were my parents shocked to find out Brenda Renaye turned out to be a Bradley Allen. I was personally offended that he was sleeping when they took me to the hospital to see him. How DARE he! It didn't take me long to figure out that a sleeping Brad is a good thing.

My mom and I were laughing last night about some of the things he's done growing up like washing his toy 3-wheeler and then putting the bath power I got for my birthday all over it. Or riding his Hotwheels down the street and telling the neighbors he couldn't step foot on his block without his permission. Or the time he was jumping on the bed trying to make it collapse on me (I was under it) and the bed did collapse, but I got out first and he ended up with stitches (not the first or last time he got those). Then there was the time my parents were trying to teach him manners and after being warned several times to be quiet and go to sleep, he spared me a spanking when he looked at my dad and said "ladies first." Or the time he was trying to make cinnamon toast and used smoke salt instead (he just grabbed the red lid, didn't read the label.) And no one in our family will ever forget when he decided to remove my mom's broom closet with a sledge hammer in the middle of July. Mom wasn't happy.

So happy birthday, Brad. You made it to 30 and NONE of us ever thought you would!

Official Notification of Status Change

Move over Grant Johnston, you have been replaced by Superman! Read Lindsy's blog and it will help explain why. Sorry to bump you, but I'll still watch your weather reports and remember the fond times. =o)

I'm Grace Kelly

I received this from a co-worker. Don't cheat! Sorry Guys, you might want to pass on this one.

Ever wonder which movie star you are most like? Don't read ahead please! Well, a team of researchers got together and analyzed the personalities of movie stars. The gathered info has been incorporated into this quiz.

There are only 10 questions so it doesn't take long.
Number your paper from 1 to 10, then 'Answer' each question with the choice that most describes you at this point in your life, and then add up the points that correspond with your answers.
Don't look ahead or you will ruin the fun!

1 Which describes your perfect date?
a) Candlelight dinner for two
b) Amusement Park
c) Rollerblading in the park
d) Rock Concert
e) Have dinner & see a movie
f) Dinner at home with a loved one

2. What is your favorite type of music?
a) Rock and Roll
b) Alternative
c) Soft Rock
d) Classical
e) Christian
f) Jazz

3. What is your favorite type of movie?
a) Comedy
b) Horror
c) Musical
d) Romance
e) Documentary
f) Mystery

4. Which of the following jobs would you choose if you were given only these choices?
a) Waiter/Waitress
b) Sports Player
c) Teacher
d) Policeman
e) Bartender
f) Business person

5. Which would you rather do if you had an hour to waste?
a) Work out
b) Make out (Wow! This is an option!?!)
c) Watch TV
d) Listen to the radio
e) Sleep
f) Read

6. Of the following colors, which do you like best?
a) Yellow
b) White
c) Sky blue
d) Teal
e) Gold
f) Red

7. Which one of the following would you like to eat right now?
a) Ice cream
b) Pizza
c) Sushi
d) Pasta
e) Salad
f) Lobster Tail

8. Which is your favorite holiday?
a) Halloween
b) Christmas
c) New Year's
d) Valentine's Day
e) Thanksgiving
f) Fourth of July

9. If you could go to any of the following places, which would it be?
a) Reno
b) Spain
c) Las Vegas
d) Hawaii
e) Hollywood
f) British Columbia

10. Of the following, who would you rather spend time with?
a) Someone who is smart
b) Someone with good looks
c) Someone who is a party animal
d) Someone who has fun all the time
e) Someone who is very emotional
f) Someone who is fun to be with

Now total up your points on each question:
1. a-4 b-2 c-5 d-1 e-3 f-6
2. a-2 b-1 c-4 d-5 e-3 f-6
3. a-2 b-1 c-3 d-4 e-5 f-6
4. a-4 b-5 c-3 d-2 e-1 f-6
5. a-5 b-4 c-2 d-1 e-3 f-6
6. a-1 b-5 c-3 d-2 e-4 f-6
7. a-3 b-2 c-1 d-4 e-5 f-6
8. a-1 b-3 c-2 d-4 e-5 f-6
9. a-4 b-5 c-1 d-4 e-3 f-6
10. a-5 b-2 c-1 d-3 e-4 f-6

NOW, take your total and find out which Movie Star you are:

(10-17 points) You are MADONNA: You are wild and crazy and you know it. You know how to have fun, but you may take it to extremes. You know what you are doing though, and are much in control of your own life. People don't always see things your way, but that doesn't mean that you should do away with your beliefs. Try to remember that your wild spirit can lead to hurting yourself and others.

(18-26 points) You are DORIS DAY: You are fun, friendly, and popular! You are a real crowd pleaser. You have probably been out on the town your share of times, yet you come home with the values that your mother taught you. Marriage and children are very important to you, but only after you have fun. Don't let the people you please influence you to stray.

(27-34 points) You are DEBBIE REYNOLDS: You are cute, and everyone loves you. You are a best friend that no one takes the chance of losing. You never hurt feelings and seldom have your own feelings hurt. Life is a breeze. You are witty, and calm most of the time. Just keep clear of backstabbers, and you are worry-free.

(35-42 points) You are GRACE KELLY: You are a lover. Romance, flowers, and wine are all you need to enjoy yourself. You are serious about all commitments and are a family person. You call your Mom every Sunday, and never forget a Birthday. Don't let your passion for romance get confused with the real thing.

(43-50 points) You are KATHERINE HEPBURN:You are smart, a real thinker. Every situation is approached with a plan. You are very healthy in mind and body. You don't take crap from anyone. You have only a couple of individuals that you consider "real friends".You teach strong family values. Keep your feet planted in them, but don't overlook a bad situation when it does happen.

(51-60 points) You are ELIZABETH TAYLOR: Everyone is in awe of you. You know what you want and how to get it. You have more friends than you know what to do with. Your word is your bond. Everyone knows when you say something it is money in the bank. You attract the opposite sex. Your intelligence overwhelms most. Your memory is the next thing to photographic. Everyone admires you because you are so considerate and lovable. You know how to enjoy life and treat people right. Now put your Movie Star in the subject line, then forward and share with your friends.

Not for the Faint of Heart

Last night I stayed at my BK meeting WAAAAY too long. Especially considering I needed to bring the leftover sandwiches up to the church and put them in the fridge to be picked up the next morning for Capitol Hill (my fridge wasn't wide enough for the tray or I would have just taken them home).

It was after 10:00 p.m. when I got to the church, which meant that the building was locked up and everyone had left for the night. Our building is kind of scary when no one is around. Normally when I'm up there after hours by myself (which isn't often), I have 911 dialed on my cell phone just in case, but this time, I didn't have a free hand.

Though my trip was without incident, it was just really creepy to be in the building - dark (didn't want to mess with Turning on additional lights), all by yourself. I could not get out of there fast enough.

Oh, and Suzy, if I've never apologized for the "RUN!!!" incident, I'm VERY sorry now. ;o)

Stacey vs. Air Filter

Well, I finally did it. I changed my air filter! It took Rachel standing at the top of the stairs with me on Thursday night for me to get brave enough to open the door to the unit, but once I discovered it was varmint free, I broke down and went and bought air filters. For everyone that kept telling me it was really easy, I beg to differ! Getting it out wasn’t to bad, but not as easy as one would assume. Putting the new one in was another story. When I went to Wal-Mart Friday night, they didn’t have the size I needed, so I had to wait and go to Lowe’s Saturday morning. I didn’t want to make a lot of racket, so I had to wait till I heard my roommate up and around (because it’s right outside her bedroom).

Here is the play by play:

- Open closet door and manage to get the cover off the unit. Meanwhile, door to closet keeps closing on me causing much frustration.

-Pull old air filter out (which took some maneuvering).

-Open new air filter and proceed to put back in place. Not as easy as I thought it would be because it kept slipping out of the guides.

-In addition to the guide problem, something kept catching hold of the air filter and making it even harder to keep on the guides.

-Frustration begins. A faint “ugh” was verbally expressed.

-Pull air filter out. Try again. Still keeps slipping out of the guide and catching on something in the closet. Door to closet begins closing on me again. Louder “ugh” expressed.

-Something jams in between my finger and fingernail (it HURT). Air filter still won’t stay on the guides and something is still catching it. Air filer is now starting to come apart. Louder “ugh” is expressed.

-After several more attempts at this, the air filter is in serious shape. I’m not VERY hacked that I might have to go buy another air filter. This is when the “dabnabits” started. Verbal frustrations getting louder. (Note: no cussing ever took place, but it was tempting!)

-Now REALLY irritated, I get up and go looking for tape. I think I hit the door to my room when I tried to open it.

-Proceed to tape the air filter back together and making mental note to purchase heaviest dutiest air filter on the market next time around.

-After 10-15 more attempts (and several verbal outbursts of frustration) air filter is finally in place. Dreading the need to replace again in three months.

“Changing Air Filter” has officially become “man’s work” in my book. My definition of “man’s work” is anything that I could do if I tried, but have no desire to do.

And, by the way, I didn't just change one air filter, I changed three. I was advised by a fellow female homeowner that there were too other locations that I should also have air filters. One of the locations was a peice of cake to change. The other one, well - it was in my ceiling and it's a good thing I'm tall because I had to hold the grate in place with my head while I tried to put the screws back into the ceiling. It took some serious talent on my part.

How Rude!

This started out as a comment on Suzy's blog, but then just decided to post it. Yesterday, I went to buy more shampoo and the lady at Ulta ask me if I used their salon services and when I said no, she said "I thought you might need one of these" and stuck a flier in my bag. I didn't think my hair looked that bad. I'm sorry, sleeping yesterday took priority over having perfect hair. And who was she to talk? Her makeup was HIDEOUS! Teal and Purple eye shadow. Plleeeaaassseee!