Kids Say the Cutest Things

Okay Jenn, I'm posting this so that you don't forget to write it down...

Today I went to lunch at Taco Bueno with my friend Jenn. The booth we were sitting in was right by a window and the sun was shining in. We'd only been sitting a few minutes when her daughter asked "Mommy, could you please turn the sun off. It's too bright." It was too cute. We couldn't help her with the sun, but managed to figure out how to close the blinds.

Sometimes You Just Have to Make Work Fun!

I love to mess with people and today I found a new way. When you get an email from a co-worker asking a question, respond to their question, but before you send it, use the translate feature in Microsoft Word and change it to a different language. It’s great!!!

Secret Admirer, Maybe?

Nope, I don’t have one – but my mom might. Someone has been leaving stockings on her door. The first one had a pear shaped Christmas ornament. The second one had two chocolate turtles and two dove chocolates (yeah, you get the idea what’s going on here). It ought to be interesting to see what they come up with for the rest of the twelve days (and even more interesting to see who’s doing it). Whoever it is, I think it’s a good distraction for her. My dad died six years ago today, so this time of year is always bitter-sweet for all of us – but especially her.

I’ll try to keep a running list of what she gets each day.

Day 1 – Partridge in a Pear Tree (Pear Christmas ornament)
Day 2 – Two Turtle Doves (2 chocolate turtles and 2 Dove chocolates)
Day 3 – Three French Hens (3 "peeps")
Day 4 – Four Calling Bird
Day 5 – Five Golden Rings
Day 6 – Six Geese a Laying
Day 7 – Seven Swans a Swimming
Day 8 – Eight Maids a Milking
Day 9 – Nine Ladies Dancing
Day 10 – Ten Lords a Leaping
Day 11 – Eleven Pipers Piping
Day 12 – Twelve Drummers Drumming

Not a Good Year For Nails

It's no secret that I am accident prone. We've had that discussion in several previous blogs. But my "accidents" are starting to scar me for life. Several months ago, I dropped a container of ice cream on my toe and the bottom section of the nail turned black and blue. My biggest concern at the time was that I would permanently have a black and blue spot in that area that cannot be easily covered up with toe nail polish. OHHHH I should only be so lucky. A few weeks ago, that section of the nail started coming off. so now there is this big crevasse in my toe nail between where the remainder of the nail actually is and where the nail SHOULD start. I'm not even submitting a picture because it's gross. I'm now afraid I may never have a toe nail ever again. I can only pray the situation will resolve itself before sandal weather 2007.

But that's not it. Last Saturday when I was taking a shower, I managed to shave off part of my fingernail (interestingly enough, it is the same fingernail in relation to my thumb as my damaged toenail to my big toe...i.e., second finger/toe on the right hand/foot). I had to cut the nail off to the quick because there was a hole in the nail. But now I still have to keep it cut off short because if I let it grow out any, there is a "claw" on that finger (again, no picture...not because it's gross, I just can't seem to take the picture with my left hand).

I'm some how thinking an investment in electrolysis might be my best bet because I am NOT good with the razor (this isn't my first major mishap).

Just Wondering

Here is a question for you. Last night at our office Christmas Party (yep, I actually went this year), we got into the discussion about ballerinas and one of my co-workers asked this question “what do you call male ballerinas?” One of the girls at the table responded with “balleriners” which sounded like ballerwieners and we got a good laugh out of that. But what do you call them? Just wondering.

Ain't He Cute

This is my friend's little boy Zaine. He's almost 9 months old and so much fun. I have a feeling there is a section of this tree that won't stay decorated this year.

Outdoor Lights & Snow

Here is a picture of the Christmas lights outside my house. Get a load of the HUGE snow drift over my neighbor's door. Eventually, it has to come down. Just hope I'm not standing under it when it does.

Update: I seem to have inspired my neighbor. When I came home yesterday, he had put icicle lights up on his half to complete the picture. It looks complete now.

Ugh!

So I switched to Blogger Beta because it said I would eventually have to, but now it's cutting off the top of my header (though it doesn't do it in the preview). I can't figure out how to fix it yet, so excuse the mess till I get it figured out. I'm so irritated...which isn't good because I'm already easily irritated today (that's a whole other discussion).

I Should Time and a Half…

...and a raise for this! I am working today. NO ONE ELSE in my office had to come in today (well, except Linda). Why are Linda and I here? It’s called a bulletin. We seem to be able to do without anything else…but the bulletin must be printed. And if Linda had a chance to proof it before today, I would be the only one here. This stinks!!! Linda’s husband had to bring both of us to work because if I pulled my car out, I might not be able to get it back in. I’m supposed to go to a friend’s house tonight, but if I don’t figure out a way to get my driveway cleared off, that won’t be happening. I’ve added a snow shovel to my Christmas list, but I might have to break down and get one before Christmas. Hopefully I will get home in time to take a picture of the HUGE snow drift on my roof.

Initial Holiday Thoughts

It's Begun

I was sitting at a stop light yesterday and there is was...the first car I've seen this season with a wreath on the grill. This is a pet peeve of mine.


Christmas Lights

I decided to put up Christmas lights outside. Started out pretty easy. The previous tenant had left the nails in place, so all I had to do was hang my lights...that is till you get to the garage. Ideally, I would like to follow the eve of the garage, but it's pretty tall and I don't have a ladder tall enough to reach it all, so even though I think it looks dumb, I probably won't do the garage. I also hung garland over the front door...but I had to go get new lights for the garland and I think I need some sort of bow to finish it off. They're not lit though. It wasn't thinking when I went to Wal-mart yesterday to get a extension cords and didn't get enough, which will require another trip later. I probably need to do that tonight now that I think of it before the bad weather moves in. Hmmm...


Christmas Tree

I also started putting up my Christmas tree this weekend. The last time I put up a tree, I lived with Jeana (which was two years ago). I didn't realize how few decorations I still had. It's looking pretty sad - but I'm working on it. I also started putting up the garland on the fire place and entertainment center. Also missing something - but I'm working on that too. I would like to make a trip to Garden Ridge on Saturday, but I also value my life. We'll see. The rest of the Christmas decorations are on the floor (at least the ones I want to put out). I'm trying to wait and give my roommate a chance to also put hers out, but she's been sick, so I don't know if she's even going to want to put them out. I figure I'll leave them on the floor a while longer and give her a chance to get hers out.


Christmas Shopping

I have only bought one present so far and it's for my mom. I'm planning to take a Friday off in the next couple of weeks, so I'll probably just do it all then. It's not like I have a whole lot to do. I guess that's the nice part about not having a lot of family that you exchange gifts with. Mom, brother, sister-in-law, and a few friends and that pretty much covers it. I do have quite a few people I need to make Christmas Cookies for. I might need to start getting busy on that sometime soon.

A Good Week – The Anniversary Edition

Monday
- Won the shoes I was bidding on off of ebay and actually got a great deal on them (even with having to pay shipping). This is the second pair of expensive shoes I’ve gotten for cheap off of ebay. It’s my new shoe source.

- Got taken to dinner by my former youth minister/family friend. I like it when I get a free meal.

Tuesday
- Stayed really busy at work (this is actually a good thing right now).

- Got to watch Emmitt Smith on Dancing with the Stars. You can not help but smile when you look at him.

Wednesday
- Got to watch the “leafas” blowing outside over lunch with Jenn & Kayla. Kayla has a great collection of “leafas” in the floor board of their car in front of her car seat.

- Emmitt Smith won Dancing with the Stars!

Thursday
- Paid my car off (and the final payment was less than what I thought it was going to be)! Now hopefully my car won’t be in and out of the shop so that I can actually save the money instead of spending it on the car.

- Found a new duvet cover w/ shams for my bedroom for only $30!!! Looks like the red gingham and denim might be retired sooner than I thought. It’s been 10 years, it’s time.

Friday
- This is BIG. I have officially owned and lived in my house for a year TODAY!!! I was hoping to have an open house/party to celebrate the occasion – but that’s not going to happen. I feel the need to celebrate…maybe I’ll add ordering a pizza to my normal weekend routine.

- Got my shoes in the mail that I won off of ebay. I love them!

- Didn’t get pulled over this morning on 33rd when I very easily could have been. I was thinking about things to add to this list and was going about 7 miles over the speed limit. Whew!!! That would have put a damper on my week.

Dry Cleaners

This is just weird, and maybe not post worthy, but it’s my blog and I don’t want to start a new project this late in the day so I’m going to post it.

I had to go to the dry cleaners today (sorry girls, no cute guys behind me in line, but I did have business cards on hand). Anyway, I give the lady my clothes and she asks for my last name. So I told her and she say “no, I need your last name.” So I told her again and once again she says “no, ma’am, I need your LAST name.” I responded by telling her that was my last name and spelling it. What I find humorous about this is that my last name is never mistaken for a first name. I’ve never even heard of anyone with my last name as a first name. I guess it’s possible, but not common. Granted I answer to my last name a lot, but lots of people do. It was just a very random conversation.

Sorry my posts have been lacking lately, but NOTHING interesting has happened to me in a very long time. I am cooking my first turkey this weekend – but I am hoping this event is uneventful. It has been a good week – but that’s tomorrow’s post. I know you’re anxiously waiting (okay, well humor me and pretend to be).

This is weird

I have had dreams the last two nights about people from High School. I have no idea why. Nothing all that weird or significant about the dreams other than the fact that I probably haven’t thought about or seen most of these people since High School. That’s all I have to say about that.

Miracles DO Happen

I don’t know if I have posted about this in the past, but we have a copier repair guy that in the past I absolutely could not STAND. He was rude and degrading. I got to the point where I asked them not to send him out here. From what I had been told from other repair techs from this same company, he seemed to have that effect on lots of their customers. They said he was good at what he does, but his people skills were lacking.

Well, lately they have been sending him out here most of the time. They have our regular tech working on other stuff, so we’ve had no other choice but to have our machine repaired by the other guy. What I have noticed is that he has become easier to deal with. I think they may have sent him to sensitivity training or something. Whatever the change – it has been welcomed.

Today, we were having another problem, so I had to place a service call. When I got back, he was here fixing the machine. He told me he couldn’t find the problem, but wanted to show me the change he had made to one of the trays. Our copier has two large capacity trays. He thought I was calling about the one I have been having trouble with instead of the external one. When I told him it was the other tray, he LAUGHED and jokingly acted like he was going to hit me. Did I mention he LAUGHED!!! Normally, this would have made him mad. I think maybe, just maybe, we have come to an understanding and I’ve finally made friends with the copier guy that was making my life miserable every time he came out. See, miracles do happen. It’s taken a couple of years, but they do happen.

On a funny note, He has his shirt tucked into his boxers and his boxers are sticking out the back of his pants today. It’s a very funny site and I don’t want to embarrass him by pointing out the problem. I’m just hoping he’ll discover it himself before his next service call.

Today I Feel...

Frustrated
frus‧trate/verb, -trat‧ed, -trat‧ing, adjective
1. to make (plans, efforts, etc.) worthless or of no avail; defeat; nullify.
2. to disappoint or thwart (a person).
3. to become frustrated.

Try This

HowManyOfMe.com

There are: 4 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

And here I thought I was an original!

Other interesting facts:

- There are 167,982 people in the U.S. with the first name Stacey.
- Statistically the 357th most popular first name. (tied with 4 other first names)
- 90.18 percent of people with the first name Stacey are female.
- There are 6,869 people in the U.S. with my last name.
- Statistically the 5174th most popular last name. (tied with 38 other last names)

FYI

Just in case anyone is wondering, it is NOT dump on Stacey day. Just thought I would clarify that because my co-workers seem to be under the impression that it is.

Bit-O-Honey

Some people call it “old lady candy”, but I LOVE Bit-O-Honey! I’ve been digging through out office Halloween candy basket pulling them all out. Yum!!!! But don’t tell my jaw doctor. He’d kill me!!!

Over-Heard in the Office

Sometimes I just love the things I hear people say in my office. Today co-worker #1 was sharing with co-worker #2 the experience she and her family had in fleeing their hotel while they were in Hawaii recently during the earthquake. Co-worker #2’s comment was “didn’t they have a basement or something you could take shelter in?”

Seriously, would it really be wise to be in the basement of a building that is shaking and could potentially crumble to the ground? I think not.

Thoughts for the Week

My New Toy
A salesman came in yesterday trying to sell us a new phone system. Since we just replaced ours about three years ago and it’s not something you replace regularly, he was wasting his time. He DID bring me something really cool (not a stupid pen or magnet like they usually bring). He brought me an airplane! And of course, as soon as he left the office, I put it together and tried it out. It didn’t do too well in the office because it kept hitting the ceiling tiles, but it DID do awesome in the auditorium. Who could think I would be so easily entertained (okay, so everyone did.)

Pumpkin Carving
Warning, this can become addictive. What’s great is that it’s a lot easier to carve and NO CLEAN UP! There used to be a tradition with some of my college friends to have a pumpkin carving party every year, but we haven’t done it in a really long time. I thought about re-establishing the tradition this year with new friends, but decided it was too messy. So HERE consider yourself invited to my pumpkin carving party!

Hiccups
I got the hiccups really bad this afternoon. I hate the hiccups, especially when they are so bad that you can’t write or type because of the convulsions the cause.

House Numbers
I finally have house numbers. Now I just need to put them on the house. I tried Tuesday night, but it was after 7 p.m. and it was noisy and I didn’t want to make the neighbors mad, so I decided to hold off and maybe try at lunch today when no one is home.

The Post Office
If you live in Edmond and have every tried to send out a bulk mail, you know how trying it can be (especially when Silvia was in charge). Yesterday, one of our secretaries took a bulk mailing to the post office. When she got there, they didn’t have any sleeves for her to put the trays in, so she went to the counter. The normal lady wasn’t there, but Debbie could see a woman back there working. She waited a few minutes before the woman saw her and approached the counter. Here was their conversation:

Postal Employee: Did you need something?
Debbie: You are out of sleeves and I need some for my trays.
Postal Employee: Did you ring the bell?
Debbie: This bell? (pointing to the counter) No.
Postal Employee: You need to ring the bell.

Debbie stands there for a second trying to figure out if this woman was serious and decides she is. So she rings the bell.

Postal Employee: How can I help you?

Debbie seriously was looking for a hidden camera and said it was all she could do not to bust out laughing. Seriously, we are starting to wonder what test they give postal employees to determine if they are difficult enough people to work for them.

Nightmare
Last night (well, technically it was this morning) I had one of the worst nightmares I have had in a very long time. Hours later and I am STILL shaking. In my dream, I was living in an apartment (the big city kind that opens up into a hallway). A friend had come over and we were talking in my living room for a little bit and then he left. After he left, I decided to make pancakes. I had just finished and walked into the other room when I hear my front door open. Thinking it’s my friend, I peak around the corner. That’s when this guy is walking around my kitchen telling me he’s the apartment welcoming committee. He’s got a bottle of pills and it unwrapping something (cord or tape or something). The way the apartment was laid out, I was able to run out the front door without running past him. I’m running down the hall banging on door screaming and just about the time he grabbed me, I woke myself up screaming. I don’t know if I woke my roommate up (if I did, she wasn’t too worried), but it took me over 45 minutes to calm down enough to go back to sleep. I hate dreams like that.