Kitty Litter

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

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

Another Finished Project...Finally

This weekend I turned this...

and this...

into this...

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

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

Now for the upstairs...

Stop It!!!

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

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

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

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

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

Sums it Up

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

Welcome to My World

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Road Block

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

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

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

Look What I'm Up to Now

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

I'm Starting to Hate Wednesday

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

Seriously, what I have done to deserve this?

This Is NOT A Good Sign

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

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

My New Addiction

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

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

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

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

Yes, I am easily entertained.

Just Let Me Be

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

Beware!

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

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

Cloris Leachman Needs to Go!

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

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

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

Question of the Century

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

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

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

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

Pink Out Cancer

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

If I Had A Camera Phone There Would Be A Picture

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

When Harry Met Sally

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

The Eternal Question...Which is Better?

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

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

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

Just Wondering

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

Turkey, Jesus, and the Dressing Mishap

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

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

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

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

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

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