Happy Birthday Lauren

My friend's daughter is turning 11 this week. Her party is today and she wanted a purse cake. Since my friend couldn't find anyone who either had time to make one, would make one, or wouldn't require she order one that served a minimum of 25...we decided to take on the task ourselves.

She found the directions on the Betty Crocker website. She baked the cake, I made the icing and we converged last night to put it together.

It was almost tragic. First the cake wanted to tip over to one side and nothing was helping. After several failed attempts to level it and many minutes just standing there staring at it, I came up with the idea to build the icing up on the side that was leaning to prop it up...and it worked. We also had a problem with the chocolate cake crumbs coming off in the icing. We tried every trick I knew of and nothing was working. Finally we just decided to put it in the fridge after we got the thin layer on and let it set up and use all the remaining icing to put a thicker layer on (which meant no black icing accents as originally planned).

But when we were finished, we were pleased with our final outcome. Not too bad for to amateurs on their first attempt. I don't foresee this being my new career though. I will stick to sugar cookies...they're easier. ;o)

Ode to the Alarm Clock

This is my alarm clock.

I have had this clock since I was eleven. It has woken me up every almost every morning since. Its lavender and has never matched my decor (especially now). My dad won it at some conference he went to. My brother was mad that he gave it to me, to which my mom replied "do you REALLY want a lavender alarm clock?" Yes, I know that I'm a grown up now and that I could easily afford to replace my alarm clock with something a little more stylish, but honestly, now that I have had it for so long I kind of want to see how long it will keep working. I have no intention of getting rid of it until it bites the bullet.

So why am I writing about my alarm clock? No reason at all other than I found it fascinating when I realized how long I have had it.

One Day Down

VBS started today. I tried declaring our offices a VBS-free zone, but it didn't last long. It was a strange day.

On a non-VBS related note (but yet still related to the title), I started a new workout this morning. I was getting bored with the one I had been doing. I found this on Amazon really cheap and decided to give it a try.

Since I'm still recouperating from what ever it was that made me sick this weekend, I watched the first level last night (it's only 20 minutes). My thought was this "seriously, you expect people to loose 20 lbs in 30 days doing that? I sure hope the other two levels are harders." After 15 minutes, I was having trouble keeping up. It kicked by butt! Granted I am still not at full capacity, but I under estimated this workout.

Relay For Life 2009: Should Have Known

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…

Okay, so not necessarily the WORST. There have been far worse things that have taken place in Relays past, but things were off to such a great start.

Before I tell you about this year, I may need to share a little history. 2005 I decided to start volunteering with our local Relay For Life which is the premier fundraising event for the American Cancer Society (click on the link to learn more about Relay For Life). I had found myself in a bubble and was looking for a way to get to know people in my community outside that bubble and since my mom is a cancer survivor, it seemed like a good opportunity. I served for 3 years as their Logistics Chair and then fell into the roll of Event Chair for the 2008 and 2009 Relays…a position that was a great learning experience, but a lot of work. Enough for the history, but I do encourage anyone who has been touched by cancer in some way to check into getting involved with your local Relay For Life by either forming a team or making a donation.

So now the moment I KNOW you have been sitting on the edge of your seat for (haha)…

We were off to a great start on Friday. Yes it was hot, but things were going pretty smoothly. Considering the amount of help we had, we got set up by a decent hour. Normally, the two hours before the event takes place, I’m running around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to put out “fires”. But this year I had time to sit down before the Opening Ceremony. I wasn’t stressed. The campus police weren’t trying to kick us off campus. Everyone that was supposed to be there was there. I actually got to EAT before 9 p.m. Everyone was having fun. It was a good evening. And then the phone rang.

This was my 5th Relay. Before I joined the committee they never had to move it indoors because of weather. My first year, we had to find a back up location at the last minute. Since then it has rained every other year. This was supposed to be a “rain” year, but as of Friday morning, the forecast only had a 20% chance of rain. In Oklahoma, 20% chance means you’re not getting rain. Ha! Around 9 p.m., I started getting phone calls saying that we had weather moving our way. And in the age of iPhones, everyone is a meteorologist and had their own opinion on how bad the weather was going to be. At 9:30 p.m., I finally gave in and called my friend at one of the local news stations and asked him what his weathermen thought. They said the weather we had coming our way was not going to be severe, but we were going to get wet so we decided to move our Luminaria Ceremony up by 15 minutes so we could try to beat the rain.

The Luminaria Ceremony was beautiful and going smoothly. They were half way through their silent lap when my phone started ringing. Seems that a section of sprinklers had not been turned off as requested and was spraying water onto some of the luminaria. I go to find the campus employee who was helping me with the lights to see if he knew how to turn off the sprinklers…which he didn’t, but was calling someone who did…when the phone rang again. The sprinklers were now on throughout the entire park area.

Yes, sprinklers were going off INSIDE many of the tents, and if they weren’t going off inside the tent, then they were spraying into the tent. As everyone is rushing around trying to cover up sprinkler heads, the rain starts falling. Water was coming from both the ground and the sky. Our perfect evening had a damper put on it…literally. When my friend called after the 10 p.m. news to see how things were going, I started laughing and said “I’m wet.”

We had few teams leave, but most stayed. Our DJ almost bailed out on us, but he ended up coming out after all (which we were VERY thankful for…it would have been a long evening without him).

I would like to say that was it for the evening, but about 1 a.m., I got really sick and kept getting sick throughout the rest of the evening. I think I just got dehydrated, but I spent the last half of the evening laying on a couch in the accounting room…that was NOT fun.

But hey, it wouldn’t be Relay if something didn’t go wrong. At least this year I wasn’t running around trying to find a missing gator (check out the “not so funny highlights” from this post.)

The Muppet Movie Says It Best

The Muppet Movie is one of those movies that is a favorite, that I forget is a favorite. This song is becoming a theme lately. Change the "she's" to "he's" and the chorus pretty much says it all.

You can't live with 'em, you can't live without 'em.
There's somethin' irresistabullish about 'em.
We grin and bear it 'cause the nights are long.
I hope that somethin' better comes along.

It's no good complainin' and pointless to holler.
If she's a beauty she'll get under your collar.
She made a monkey out of old King Kong,
I hope that somethin' better comes along.

Ah, but what could be better than a saucy Irish setter
When puppy love comes on strong?
Or a collie that's classy, a laddie needs a lassie,
A lover and wife gives you a new leash on life.

I hope that somethin' better comes along.

The Joys of Adulthood

In the last month, I have replaced a furnace and A/C coil, replaced springs on the garage door, and have to take my car to a mechanic tomorrow night because my car is making noises that shouldn't be ignored. Really? Shouldn't there be some cosmic rule that major repairs need to be spread out over an extended period of time? Yeah, I know...wishful thinking.

I'm Perplexed

So, here is my dilemma…I am SOOOO bored with my job I can’t stand it. It’s not that I’m not busy, it’s just not challenging for me anymore (well, not in a good way…there are days when it is “challenging”.)

The easy answer is to look for a new job. I’ve tried doing that; the problem is I have no idea what I want to do when I grow up. Nothing sounds appealing and it’s hard to look for a job when I don’t really know what you’re looking for. If I were viewing this from someone else’s position I would say its laziness, but really I enjoy staying busy. I would get bored sitting around all day. But I want to enjoy going to work (at least most of the time, I know everyone has those days when they dread having to go to work…but that is a part of life.)

Last summer I was contacted about a position working for an auction firm and the job would require traveling and handling the logistics of all their auctions. Though it was in another town and I might not have been able to accept the position for logistical reasons, I was really intrigued and a little disappointed that I never heard back from them the second time…but oh well. That is the only job I have run across that REALLY sounded interesting…ever. I’ve interviewed for some stuff that I thought would be a good change, but never felt like the best fit.

And don’t get me wrong, I KNOW how blessed I am to have a job, and there was a time when I loved my job, but I’m just one of those people that once I have “mastered” something, I’m ready to take on something else. I’ve pretty much done everything I can (and care to) do where I’m at. I need a new challenge.

Ugh! After all this time, you would think I would have this figured out by now.

Answer Me This

I noticed this morning that my Bath & Body Works bottles had this disclaimer on them "Finished Product Not Tested On Animals". I'll be the first to say, I don't really take this into consideration when purchasing anything. I should be more conscience of whether or not things are tested on animals, BUT does B&B think that some how makes them socially acceptable with the animal rights groups? Do they think that will get PETA off their backs? Really. So they tested it on animals UNTIL they had a FINISHED product and then decided THAT was okay? That just seems to be a dumb statement to put on their bottles.

Boycott

I have decided that I am boycotting Subway until they get rid of that AWFUL $5 Footlong commercial with the horrible singers. Makes me cringe! I change the channel every time.

This Makes Me Happy

To see that big yellow icon so many times in one week instead of the ugly gray one we have been seeing makes me very very happy. Hopefully I'll get to enjoy some of it.

Breaking news - Celebrity Swine Flu Fatality

Rumor has it that they have a suspect.

Have To Laugh

Murphy’s Law seems to apply to my life. Yet another case in point…

Grass
In the last year, I mole decided to take up residence in my back yard. Said mole killed a large portion of the grass in my back yard. Homeowner’s associate will mow back yard, but will not repair grass (not that I really expected them to). Landscapers hired by HOA have decided not to mow in the area where most of the grass is dead, so the un-dead grass is growing tall in spots.

Solution: Buy grass seed and re-seed back yard this last weekend.

Problem: Spent over an hour preparing ground and re-seeding backyard, only to have rain storm (that I was unaware was coming) wash most of the seed into they greenbelt behind my house. Ugh.

Car
Recently, my car has started making a grinding noise. I was tempted to ignore the problem because I didn’t want to pay for car repairs, but I finally realized that ignoring the problem would not make it go away (such can be said about life). So this morning I took the car to the mechanic to find out the problem…which became 3 problems.

Problem 1: Rear breaks needed to be replaced. Thankfully I took it in before it got too bad and it was a cheaper fix.

Problem 2: Windshield wiper fluid sprayer not working (I was aware of this and asked him to look at it). A piece of foil from the bottle got stuck in the hose and clogged it up.

Problem 3: Nail in the tire, and it’s in the side of the tire and broken off. I’m not real sure that was an accident.

More Things That Creep Me Out

I dedicated a post to things that creep me out almost 4 years ago. All of those things on that list still creep me out, but I have some additions.


In addition to this...

And the the Quaker Oatmeal Guy...not the one on the box, but the plastic one in the commercials that just stands there and smiles (sorry, couldn't find a picture),

But these freak me out too!

What's worse is that it has been a while since I've been in Old Navy and today I walked into my local store and what should be standing there as you walk in the door...the supermodelquins! Seriously made me uneasy...almost turned around and walked out.

Are you seeing a pattern here? I'm starting too. I don't like things with platic smiles! The Burger King is still the worst because he moves.

Ah Ha!

Much thanks to the roommate's cousin, I now know where my critters are getting in at these days. As I thought, it is NOT on my property and unless my neighbors fix the problem, I am going to be dealing with critters in my attic. Ugh!

As for the Second Annual Me Week, not as productive as I hoped. I did though get the hinges replaced in the kitchen. FYI, that is much more a two person job. It had its challenges, but the doors are up and all is well in the kitchen. ;o)

Good Thought

A friend sent this to me a few days ago (and actually I've seen it before) but I just got around to reading it today and even though it would have meant something a few days ago, it means more today.

A man was sleeping one night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light, and God appeared. The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might. So, this the man did, day after day.

For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all of his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.

Since the man was showing discouragement, the adversary (Satan) decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the weary mind: "You have been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn't moved." Thus, he gave the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man. Satan said, "Why kill yourself over this? Just put in your time, giving just the minimum effort; and that will be good enough."

That's what the weary man planned to do, but decided to make it a Matter of Prayer and to take his troubled thoughts to the Lord. "Lord," he said, "I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?

The Lord responded compassionately, "My friend, when I asked you to serve Me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all of your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push And now you come to Me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so?

"Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewy and brown; your hands are callused from constant pressure, your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have.

"True, you haven't moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. That you have done. Now I, my friend, will move the rock."

At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants, when actually what God wants is just a simple obedience and faith in Him.


By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still God who moves the mountains. When everything seems to go wrong… just P.U.S.H.! When people don't react the way you think they should… just P.U.S.H. When your money is "gone" and the bills are due… just P.U.S.H.! When people just don't understand you… just P.U.S.H.!

P= Pray
U= Until
S= Something
H= Happens

2nd Annual Me Week

Then 2nd Annual Me Week officially begins on Monday, but I’m a little disappointed in the current weather forecast. I was hoping for some 70’s and 80’s, but at the moment they’re predicting 50’s & 60’s. I was hoping to do some work in the yard, but my projects next week may be limited to indoors.

On the docket next week is some cosmetic work to the kitchen cabinets, house cleaning, lunch with a friend (hopefully two or three), maybe a little shopping, some reading, and of course sleep. I definitely don’t want to waste my time off and have every intention of making the most of it. I’m just praying it will warm up more so I can make even more of it. It could happen, it is Oklahoma!

I Can't Help It, I Have to Vent

I’m prefacing this by saying that I should not let things bug me. I should not post a negative comment on my blog. BUT I have to let this out before I say it out loud. I have discovered that something that I thought was a minor pet-peeve, in fact bugs me so much more than I ever thought. I can’t stand it when people drag their feet when they walk. I know. I’m awful. But I cannot stand the sound of it. I want to scream out “PICK UP YOUR FEET!!!!”

It used to bug me when I was a kid and my mom used to tell me to stand up straight, chew with my mouth closed, and pick up my feet when I walk. THANK YOU MOM for nagging!

Time For Another Injury Report

It's been a while since I included a photo of an injury, so I decided it was time.

It's a little blurry because it's hard to hold the camera still when your taking a picture with your left hand and you're right handed.

It looks a little worse today. I'm hoping I don't end up loosing the nail. That wouldn't be pretty.

The cuticles definately could use some attention...don't foresee them getting any in the near future. I work with my hands too much to fuss with my nails a whole lot. Oh well.

How did this happen? I was trying to put together the hammock stand and to make adjustments, you have to pinch these round things with pliars to loosen them up and move them. The pliars slipped and I some how managed to smash my finger. It still hurts, but typing isn't as painful as I was and I only woke myself up three times last night because I rolled over on it.

Next week is the 2nd Annual Me Week and there are several projects planned so more injury images are likely in the near future. Until then...

Question of the Day

Would some one tell me why my friend down the street who also has a green belt in his back yard has a critter free attic and I can't seem to get rid of mine to save my life. Ugh!

It's About Time

I cannot begin to tell you how glad I am spring has sprung! I had every intention of posting some pictures from the yard, but don't have a camera at home these days and forgot to borrow one from work at lunch. Maybe this weekend.

Anyway, just wanted to wish everyone a happy spring!

On a Serious Note

I’ve come to realize that anxiety and worry is how Satan gets to me…filling my head with all of the worst case scenarios in situations that I’m already struggling not to worry about.

That’s definitely been the case for the last week. And every time I convince myself that I’m stressing about nothing, something happens and all of those fears come flooding back all over again ten fold. The worst part is that I don’t think there is anything I can do about it but pray and ultimately it’s God’s will that is going to be done…and actually in this case, that is really what scares me. I’m asking myself why everything has played out the way it has if this is going to be the possible outcome. Was it all really necessary?

Useful Work Phrases

I got these from a friend today. They made me laugh.

1. Thank you. We're all refreshed and challenged by your unique point of view.

2. The fact that no one understands you doesn't mean you're an artist.

3. I don't know what your problem is, but I'll bet it's hard to pronounce.

4. Any connection between your reality and mine is purely coincidental.

5. I have plenty of talent and vision. I just don't care.

6. I like you. You remind me of when I was young and stupid.

7. What am I? Flypaper for freaks!?

8. I'm not being rude. You're just insignificant.

9. I'm already visualizing the duct tape over your mouth.

11. I will always cherish the initial misconceptions I had about you.

12. It's a thankless job, but I've got a lot of Karma to burn off.

13. Yes, I am an agent of Satan, but my duties are largely ceremonial.

14. No, my powers can only be used for good.

15. How about never? Is never good for you?

16. I'm really easy to get along with once you people learn to worship me.

17. You sound reasonable...Time to up my medication.

18. I'll try being nicer if you'll try being smarter.

19. I'm out of my mind, but feel free to leave a message.

20. I don't work here. I'm a consultant.

21. Who me? I just wander from room to room.


22. My toys! My toys! I can't do this job without my toys!


23. It might look like I'm doing nothing, but at the cellular level I'm really quite busy.


24. At least I have a positive attitude about my destructive habits.


25. You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers.


26. I see you've set aside this special time to humiliate yourself in public.


27. Someday, we'll look back on this, laugh nervously and change the subject. (My friend listed this as a favorite. I think this had more to do with the awful movie we watched together than work.)

OH NO HE DIDN’T!

Maybe it was his age. Maybe it was because he drove a tank of a car and thought he ruled the road. MAYBE he lives by my personal pet peeve (people who think the rules don’t apply to them). But today at lunch, I witnessed this…

Man in an “old man” type car apparently decided that waiting in line for the turn signal was too much to ask. He pulls into the lane on his left (which just happened to be into oncoming traffic). But he didn’t stop there. The light was still red. He didn’t want to wait. He turned LEFT on a red light and proceeded to go on his merry way.

OH YES HE DID!

Song of the Day

Every heard a song a thousand times and then all of a sudden pay attention to the lyrics and think "wow, how did I never notice the words to that song before?" That's today's song. I'm really liking these lyrics. ;o)

Though there are a few people I would like to dedicate this to, today it goes out to Michelle. Girl, he didn't deserve you!
------------------------

Artist: Toby Mac
Album: Welcome To Diverse City
Title: Gone

Told the girl that you should treat her like a lady and
She told me all the things you did and it was shady, man
She said that what you say and what you do are different things
While you were telling me that you were checking out them blingy rings
She said she’s had enough
Well, it sounds to me like you’re straight out of luck
And she said she’s all throughAnd life’s not blowin’ her kisses thanks to you

I wanna know, wanna know what you were thinkin’
I can’t imagine why it didn’t even sink in
They say you never know what you got till it’s gone
(Never know what you got till it’s gone)
I wanna know, wanna know what you were thinkin’
I can’t imagine why it didn’t even sink in
They say you never know what you got till it’s gone
(Never know what you got till it’s gone)
She said she’s had enough

So, it sounds to me like your still out of love
And she said you weren’t true
And life’s not blowin’ her kisses thanks to you
She said it’s gonna be alright
Cause God made a way through the pain and he opened her eyes
And she said you came crawling back
But after what you did to her she wouldn’t have any of that.

A REALLY Good Day!

I’ve been going through a real rough spell lately (actually a long lately) but TODAY turned out to be a good day and I’m hoping it lasts a while. This is the run down so far…

My friend left me a voice mail about an observance her 10-year-old daughter made about an ongoing situation in my life. It made me LOL! I saved that voice mail.

It was in the 80’s today!

Changes in tax laws went into effect and my paycheck increased slightly (just enough to be excited, not enough to go shopping).

I got my federal tax refund today. I got my state on Monday. All goes well, I am only months away from being able to afford to replace my furnace. You don’t know how HUGE that is!

Sarah got the guest speaker we wanted for the Big Hat Brunch she’s putting together as a fund raiser for Relay For Life.

New lip gloss!

Yes I watched The Bachelor this season…

And I’m mad! I’ve never followed this reality show much. I’ve usually only watched the last couple of episodes (if that) of the season. But I felt really bad for this year’s bachelor when he got dumped in a previous season (even though I hadn’t really followed the show that year).

I actually enjoyed watching it this year and really got in to it. I really liked Jillian and Melissa and was bummed when he let Jillian go but felt like I knew who he would pick and was excited when I was right and it was Melissa. I thought she was a good choice for him. But I have never been so mad as I was last night when he ended it with her the way he did AND turned right around and started pursuing Molly!

I’ll be honest…I got pretty emotional about this one. I can kind of relate with Melissa. No I’ve not met, dated, and got engaged to someone on TV – but there were some similarities to her break-up situation and I really felt for her. Can I just say the cruelest thing I guy can do to a girl when he breaks up with her is to tell her “it’s not you, you’re perfect.” As girls, if this happens enough times and we’re not totally narcissistic, then we know that obviously there is something wrong with us and the kindest thing the guy can do is be honest instead of trying to spare our feelings. Give us the opportunity to learn from our mistakes.

I do have to give her props for handling herself with dignity and grace and hope the next guy that comes along is a keeper. But if they offer her the opportunity to be the next Bachelorette, she needs to decline. She’ll probably just face more heartache. It rarely ends well in the long run.

No More Surveys For Me

I occasionally get requests from a particular site asking me to take surveys. I don’t usually have time to take them, but today I needed a break from what I was working on. I’m wishing now I didn’t.

When I came to the end, it asked the typical gender, income, education, questions. When it asked for age, I realized I have moved up an age bracket (depressing) and when it came to the typical marital status question, these were my options:

Single – dating one person
Single – dating several people
Engaged
Married
Divorced
Seperated
Single – not dating

Thank you Mr. Survey Writer for making me answer THAT question. Considering the survey questions, “Single” would have been sufficient.

Worst Movie Ever

I feel it my duty as a citizen of earth to warn everyone to think twice before watching the movie "Blindness". Seriously, I think this replaces "The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain" as the worst movie I have ever seen.

It is disturbing in so many ways, but what puts it in my "WORST" category is that the movie has so many holes in it. Lots of questions, absolutely no answers.

Actually, it was so bad that the friend I watched it with and I have vowed to never speak of it again to each other.

5th Time is a Charm

Yes, after 5 (yes count them, 5) attempts, I am finally the recipient of a valid drivers license.

I got my absolute, falling apart, original birth certificate in the mail today. So I left work for what I hoped was my 4th and final attempt to get a new drivers license. After standing there for about 10-15 minutes, it was finally my turn. When I told the lady what I needed to do, she tells me “sorry, but we don’t have anyone in the office today that can help you with that.”

I wanted to cry. Actually I wanted to bang my head on the desk. I looked at the lady and said “Please tell me you’re joking. This is the 4th time I’ve tried to renew my drivers license this week.” She was at least kind and helpful and said she would call another tag agency to see if they had someone who could help me. They did.

When I asked how to get there, they told me it was on an infamous stretch of road around here that is completely torn up and that I would need to take the access road. When I got to where they told me I would find the access road, it was closed. So I take a detour south hoping I could get there another way. Normally I would, but there was a big road crew truck blocking the way. After calling work and getting a phone number and then calling to get directions, I finally reached a destination that not only was able to help me, but they were nice.

Thankfully, no headaches or run around with attempt #5 and I am now the holder of a valid drivers license which expires in January 2013!!!

What Does A Girl Have To Do To Drive In This State?

I’m having a little trouble renewing my driver’s license. Here is how my week has gone.

Tuesday: Go to the dentist and notice while filling out paper work that my driver’s license expired Jan. 31. Like a responsible driver, I immediately go to get it renewed after my appointment. Girl behind the counter informs me (in a not very nice way) that I have to have a birth certificate to get my driver’s license renewed since it expired.

Let me interject and say that in December 2007 I went to get it renewed since I needed to have my new address on my license and it was only a year away from needing to be renewed. I guess (from the way it was explained to me) because it was 13 months instead of less than a year before the one I had expired, they issued me a duplicate instead of a new one…but didn’t tell me that and I left thinking that my drivers license didn’t expire for a few years and I hadn’t looked at it that close until it was too late.

Wednesday: Decided to go to get license renewed (birth certificate in hand) before work. Get to the location and they didn’t open until 8:30 and I didn’t have time to go back before they closed at 5:00.

Today: Take an early lunch to try yet again to get license renewed. Take in certified copy of birth certificate (which by the way I used to get my passport and have used for several other official matters). The certified copy was dated March 1974 and stamped with an official stamp. The LOVELY woman at the Tag Agency looks at it and says “that stamp isn’t raised. I don’t know that you didn’t make a copy of this and that it’s a fake.” To which I explained to her all the things I had used this for and that this was in fact my official copy. So she tells me I can take my passport down to the Department of Transportation and get my license that way. I explained to her my passport expired last year. She then tells me they MIGHT take it and then adds “but you better hope that you don’t get pulled over on your way there because you ARE driving without a valid drivers license.” Yeah, I wanted to hurt her.

As it stands, my mom is getting yet another official copy…with a raised seal…and mailing it over night so that I can try yet again to get my drivers license renewed.

I think what gets me in this whole situation is the joy the Tag Agency workers seem to get in making this situation all the more difficult.

Moral of this story…pay REALLY close attention to your drivers license.

Shall We Gather at the River

So, what do you get when the company replacing the pump on your baptistry forgets to turn the water off and lets it run all night?

A wading pool!

The dark patch on the carpet is how far up it went. About 4 pews back.

This isn't even the deepest spot...this is from the front pew. They're estimating about 6-8 inches of standing water at the deepest point.

If you look close you can see the paint buckling where the water was flowing over at.

No one wanted to volunteer to go unplug this.

I tell about myself

So I got this email at work today:

Hello!!!!
I the lonely girl. To me of 28 years.
I have found yours E-MAIL in agency of marriage.
I have addressed in agency of marriage to find the man.
I have paid to agency of marriage 8 $ to make questionnaire.
I have in a stock there data and a photo. To me have shown photos of several men.
I at once have decided to write to you the letter.
Thus I have found you!
But I search only for serious attitudes, please answer me.
Harmony, understanding and belief also very much it is important. If you interestingcorresponder with me also.
Write to me on my personal e-mail: ##### I hope you to me, you will answer!
Your friend!!

I THINK she needs to ask the company for her money back (actually, I'm quite sure it is some sort of scam).

Belated Birthday

Birthdays are always interesting when my mom gets involved. Let me preface this by saying that my mom and one of my aunts have been cleaning out my grandmother's house lately to help my uncle get it ready to sell. They've run across some interesting stuff in the process. They've also run across a lot of pictures. My mom found this picture when they were going through stuff:

This was at my grandmother's house a LONG time ago. She never threw anything away, so there were all kinds of old clothes that we used to play in. This was my chosen attire for the day. And during the cleaning out process, my aunt found the dress...so they wrapped it up and gave it to me with this picture for my birthday. Just what I always wanted!!! ;o) Not sure who the dress orignially belonged to, but it was definately someone smaller than I am now.

Thankfully, that wasn't my only birthday present. I'll get a lot more use out of this one:

When searching for this image of the Shark Steam Mop, I found a review site that had mixed reviews. People either love it or hate it. So far I love mine. I didn't have to work as hard to mop my floor and my back didn't hurt when I got done (and I have lots of floor to mop). And it didn't leave a sticky residue like other things I had tried. I tried other methods and so far this one has been my favorite. But I have only used it once, so feel free to check back with me if you are interested in getting one.

Random Question

I love the internet. Have a question you don't know the answer to? Type it into the Google toolbar and usually you'll find your answer (some things are easier to find than others).

I think I'm having a really, more-than-usual, random day. I have had the chorus of "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" stuck in my head all day...last and only time I saw "Evita" was 12 years ago (that boyfriend deserved a metal...I had no idea what I was about to put him through). Anyway, this is the question that just popped into my head a little bit ago..."how did the term 'going commando' get started". Yeah, that one is out there. Surprisingly, there are lots of theories on the internet, but this one made the most sense to me.

Wish You Could Have Been There

Today is my birthday and for my birthday, I got an ice storm! Of course Ice Storm = Close Shop Early, so I’m not complaining too much. My heater on my car also decided to quit working…but we won’t go into that.

Anyway, I come home from work and burn some rubber trying to get into the garage (which I succeeded at on attempt 2). But I’m a prepared homeowner…I have rock salt! So I get a cup full and step partway out onto the driveway to a dry patch that turned out not to be dry, slipped, and slid from the top of my driveway all the way to the street. Miraculously didn’t hurt myself, did though end up with a cold, wet, butt and put on quite a show for the mail man.

How Old is Your Brain

Sarah sent this to me and it seemed post worthy. My brain was 29...not bad I guess.

The site instructions are in Japanese, so read below!

1. Touch 'start'
2. Wait for the countdown 3, 2, 1.
3. Memorize the number's position on the screen, then click the circle from the smallest number to the biggest number.
4. At the end of game, computer will tell you the age of your brain.
5. Forward the message and type your age in the subject line.

Click Here to Start

Bus-O-Fun

My friend’s mom has been posting all kinds of old pictures on Facebook lately…most of which are a reminder of exactly how little fashion sense we had.

Yesterday she posted a picture of our old church bus. Some of the best times in my life were spent on that bus. It was old, smelly, no A/C and we LOVED every minute of it. Lots of stories...most you had to be there, some probably shouldn't be shared. But it doesn't matter, just looking at it makes me laugh!

So here’s to you old church bus! Thanks for the memories!

My Personal Opinion

I think one should be rewarded for being healthy and never taking sick days unless their ailment is contagious or legitimately debilitating. I only took one and a half sick days last year, and its been 4 years since I took more than 3. I think I'm getting a bum rap. I'll deal with some discomfort if it means a break from this place. Would someone please come cough on me?

Ouch!

This won’t surprise anyone who knows me well too much, but I hurt myself…again. Don’t ask me how, but I closed the door from the garage to the house on my foot and seriously bruised the back of my heel/bottom of my Achilles tendon. I couldn’t walk on it when I first did it, but by the next morning I thought I was fine…until I put on shoes yesterday. When I got up this morning to work out, my tennis shoes didn’t bother it any so I thought I was fine…until I put on shoes for work. It was evident that was NOT going to happen. Thankfully after digging through shoe boxes I found a pair of open back shoes that I had intended to get rid of because the lining had come loose and was all bunched up inside. Annoying is much more tolerable than uncomfortable right now.

It really was just the cherry on top of everything right now, but at least I can laugh at this. It’s been getting harder to see that light at the end of the tunnel lately. Getting up and going through the motions each day is becoming tedious. The chorus to the song on my cell phone pretty much sum it up…

There's gotta be something more
gotta be more than this
I need a little less hard time
I need a little more bliss
I'm gonna take my chances
taking a chance I might
find what I'm looking for
there's gotta be something more.

My Favorite Thing About Winter

I'm not a big fan of winter, but this is my favorite thing about this season...I can wear orange and black knee socks from Halloween with boots, jeans, and a red sweater and nobody knows (unless I tell them like I am now.)

The Dog House

Does someone you know need to be put in the dog house? Click Here

Just Stuff

I have been too busy to post much lately…which is sad because there has been some semi-humorous events I’ve witnessed lately, but they loose something if when you wait too long. But here are a few bits and pieces:

It’s officially Christmas. I heard the Hippopotamus song today on the radio. It was the highlight of the morning during the Christmas season for my college roommate and me.

My holiday Pet-Peeve made it’s first appearance today…vehicles decorated for Christmas. Why?

Every time I have to put the Christmas lights on the tree by myself, I get motion sickness from walking around in circles. I usually have to stop half way through each strand and sit down for a minute. I shouldn’t admit this, but I can laugh at myself.

I got a 6 qt. Crock Pot for $8.31 the day after Thanksgiving. That’s what I call bargain shopping!

Pie-making is one of my favorite things…especially the crust. This year for Thanksgiving, the plan was to make homemade pumpkin, apple-cranberry (this one was new and really good) and Aunt Jackie’s Chocolate Pies. I made the crust for all three, but was busy finishing up the apple-cranberry and asked my mom to make the filling for the chocolate. My mom can cook, but something went wrong this time around. It was chocolate soup instead of chocolate pie. It didn’t even come close to setting up. So sad…but we ate it anyway.

Today when I was leaving for lunch I saw a man that I did not know get out of his car in our parking lot which is not at all odd, but then he got in the car of a woman that I also did not know and they were looking at me funny. They pulled out ahead of me onto the street and then turned into the neighborhood across the street. It was probably innocent, but it sure didn’t look that way.

For Christmas this year, I have already given myself and really expensive present…a new gas valve for my furnace. Seriously, hoping the new roommate decides to stick around a while so I can finish saving up money to replace that stupid thing (but don’t tell the furnace its days are numbered. I don’t want it quitting before I give it a pink slip).

Here's To You Kid At Sonic

This shout out is for the kid working at Sonic today. Bless your heart...your pants are too short, and this may just be your first job, but you were giving it your best. It was obvious that because you are the newbie, you got stuck carrying the condiment tray on a windy day and despite your efforts could not keep the straws and salt packets from blowing away. Don't give up! It will get better. And hey, your still cooler than your fellow employee who showed up to work in his new used purple corvette with the glass packs and stood by his car during his break looking like a tool and telling everyone this was his new "baby" while he smoked a cigarette. You are definitely cooler than him!

Tip of the Day

If you open all the drawers on a filing cabinet at once, it tips over. Death by filing cabinet would not be a pleasant way to go.

What Is A Girl To Do?

I have 10,241 Mypoints, but I can't decide how I want to cash them in. There are a variety of $50 gift cards I could use them on (with points to spare)...but I want to use them wisely. Decisions, decisions.

I want to know why…

A package of chicken breasts now only includes 3 breasts (one of them being really small) instead of 4. Actually I think I know the answer, but I’m annoyed.

Pictures on people praying on stock photography sites are so posed and corny looking.

Eleven years later, I still have dreams on occasion about an ex-boyfriend that still throw my days off kilter.

They don’t put alleys in new neighborhoods.

I have never won a sweepstakes? Does anyone ever win the sweepstakes that go along with the surveys you get on your store receipts. You know, the “take this survey and you will be entered to win a (submit amount here) gift card. I fill those out most of the time thinking the more I fill out, the better my chances and I have yet to win squat! Sure it’s Wal-Mart most of the time, but I’d be happy with $1000 from Wal-Mart.

Someone thought it was necessary to post a “No Hunting” sign on their property in the middle of Edmond. Is it really a problem?

Pandora had to go and shorten the amount of time I can listen without stopping and asking if I’m still listening. I technically know WHY, but really, why?

My neighbor’s daughter jogs around the little “island” in front of our house. (This one you almost have to see to get the full extent of the humor.)

Someone would put their phone number on their vanity car tag. I’m sure she was trying to promote her business, but really all she was doing was opening herself up to people calling her personally with their road rage issues (and trust me, the way she drove, I’m sure she gets lots of calls).

Are You Kidding Me?

One of my neighbors is already putting up her outdoor Christmas decorations. Lights, yard decorations, the whole bit! I guess she figured if the retail industry can do it, so can she. I'll have to remember to have camera on hand just in case she has the lights on when I get home this evening.

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.

Random Thoughts

My bank’s website adds your savings to your checking available balance if you have over-draft protection. But in the “Total Funds” column, they have that amount, plus they add your savings in again, so it makes it look like you have more money than you really do. If I were like a couple of my college friends, I would be seriously over-drawn because I would think I really had that much money.

I got a pedicure Tuesday night and had my toenails painted a bright pink. I’ve never painted them pink before because I don’t wear a lot of pink…but I kind of like it. Side note, the pedicure lady was a little rough last night and made me bleed. Jenn also made a comment that her lady was hurting her last night. What was up with that?

When I was in college, some of my guy friends thought I reminded them of a baby seal. They never would tell me why. After college, one of my managers at Eddie Bauer told me the same thing. What was it about a baby seal that made them think of me…and do I still possess that quality? I have to wonder if that was a good thing since they wouldn’t tell me why. I think that is weird.

When you eat a lemon or lime Skittle with M&M’s, it taste like dirty feet (and yes, I know what that tastes like…let's just say I've done some weird things on a dare in my younger years). Grape, Cherry or Orange tastes like a Tootsie Pop. Why do I know the answer to this? The M&M’s and Skittles leftover from a dinner got mixed together. You think you’re getting chocolate and then you don’t. It’s a very odd experience.

Is This Early Old Age?

My brother’s birthday was last week. Not knowing what to get him, I bought him a couple of shirts (he claims he likes the clothes I pick out for him). Well, he called me this weekend to thank me for them and asked if the red one looked familiar. It seems that I gave him an almost identical shirt (also red) last year for his birthday. I guess the only difference was an extra stripe the other didn’t have. I included the gift receipt so he has the option to exchange it. This is something my mom would do. I’m becoming my mom much sooner than I had hoped!

Takes Me Back

There is a lady who comes into our office every Friday morning who wears the same perfume my grandmother did. Between that and the smell of coffee brewing in the workroom, it’s like my grandmother is there and it makes me miss her all the more…especially today. I’m going to leave it at that because I’m already tearing up.

Week’s Like This

It’s not any secret that I have been looking to make a career change for quite a while, but I don’t want to change jobs just for the sake of changing jobs. I really want to find something I’m good at and is challenging in a positive way.

Its weeks like this when I feel more motivated than ever to make a change. Weeks where I’ve had about all that one human being should have to take from a cell phone company (I figured it up…I spend on average 10 hours a month trying to resolve company cell phone issues. I’m already past that average so far this month and it’s not even over yet). Weeks when people think you have nothing better to do than to completely redo a bulletin because they forgot to give you an announcement earlier in the week (yes, one announcement can totally mess up a layout). Week’s when last minute seems to be the norm and accumulating comp-time you may never get to take is the only way to get it all done.

I’m having one of those weeks. If I make it to 5:00 tomorrow without a complete melt down, I’ll consider myself lucky.

Authorized Order Placers Unite!!!

If you are in charge of the cell phone account for your company, than you might possibly feel my pain. It is by far the worst job I have. At one point today I IM’d a coworker and said “shoot me NOW!” Here is today’s run down, but this is pretty common every time I have to call…even for the simplest thing:

Try to use company’s new “Premier” website because it’s supposed to be “so much easier”.

Can’t figure out how to order a phone and add it to a group, so call phone number given to me Friday when I first started this process.

Sit on hold for 45 minutes listening to “on hold” music. The only thing worse than on hold music, is on hold music that doesn’t change. Listening to the SAME tune over and over again for 45 minutes might just make a person go insane!

Finally speak to real person. Real person tells me I can’t add a new phone to a group on the “Premier” site. Will have to order phone, set up on individual plan, and then call (and sit on hold for 45 minutes) to have phone switched from individual plan to group plan. Also run risk that I will have to pay individual plan rate for 2 billing cycles because it takes them that long to correct their records. Everything is on computers these days. Shouldn’t it be instant?

Ask Real Person why then should I bother placing the order online if I’m going to have to call anyway…and risk paying too much for the service plan?

Real Person responds “because it’s easier.” Real person also tells me that if I want to order the phone over the phone, I’ll have to call another number.

Call other number. Sit on hold 20 minutes. In place of “on hold music”, I got “oh hold commercial” brought to you by annoying voice lady.

Real Person #2 comes on the line. Tell Real Person #2 I need to order a phone. Real Person #2 sounds confused and asks lots of questions not normally asked. I’m starting to wonder how long Real Person #2 has been on the job. Not in the mood to deal with a newbie by this point.

Real Person #2 proceeds to tell me step by step everything she’s typing/doing. When Real Person #2 isn’t talking, she’s breathing heavy. Fearing Real Person #2 might keel over before phone is ordered.

Real Person #2 tells me that price of the phone. Even though I’m ordering the phone from the same company, with the same Foundation Account Number, phone is $20 more expensive.

Ask Real Person #2 “Are you kidding me?”

Real Person #2 talks to manager and give me a “One Time Courtesy Price Change” as if all of this is my fault.

Real Person #2 proceeds to talk me through the rest of the ordering process…toss up to which is worse, her talking or her breathing.

Real Person #2 FINALLY gives me my order number.

Real Person #2 tells me the next time I need to place an order, I should go through their National Business Key Contact Center and gives me their phone number.

Phone number is the number I used to use until NBKCC tells me I should us their new Small Business Center number instead (which was who I had been calling the last 2 months).

Real Person #2 also tells me that any future “Premier” website issues should be directed to a particular phone number. I told Real Person #2 that I did call them first, but the number she just gave me was not the number I was given on Friday.

Two hours later, I finally get off phone with cell phone provider and HOPE I have managed to order a cell phone.

Rude Awakening

Last night I was dreaming about something that was going on in my house involving a lot of people (I think my cousins). Not sure what the dream was about, but it was one of those dreams that you wake up tired because of it.

Toward the end of the dream, I started hearing this ear piercing “beeping” noise in the house and was searching every where for it and trying to make it stop. I was unplugging everything in my dream that I could find.

Then I started to wake up a little and realized that the “beeping” wasn’t going away. This was not a dream. So I got up and walked into the hall. It seemed that my carbon monoxide detector decided it needed it’s batteries replaced in the middle of the night.

I was too tired to go downstairs and get a step ladder, so I managed to reach the battery cover and get it off, but I couldn’t get the batteries out at that angle. So I went into my bedroom and go something (no idea what, I just grabbed something) and pried a battery out so the stupid thing would stop making that horrific noise!

I guess I now know that I will most definitely hear it if it ever goes off while I’m sleeping. No worries there! Sad thing is…I was REALLY tired when I got up this morning. I did shower (see previous post), but the hair got pulled up yet again.

Speed Post (or Post on Speed)

Okay, so I haven’t had time to post anything in quite a while, so here is a quick run thru of topics I would expound upon if I had the time…

The mailing company brought me a cheesy “playing card” bowl that I fully intend to take home (it’s cheap plastic) and use at my next card party (whenever that is).

At camp, a plot was formed and I ended up with 18 strawberry air fresheners hidden all over my sleeping area. That smell doesn’t go away quickly and doesn’t smell good. You all know who you are and you will pay.

Also at camp, some male staff ended up with fruit loops in their bed. I’m not telling who did it, but there were plenty of hints and I’m not sure one of them ever figured it out. I might have to find time to expand on this one. It was funny how it played out.

Two former campers told Sherry and I that we looked good for our age...we looked like we were in our 30’s. WE ARE IN OUR 30’s!!! I’m in my EARLY 30’s!!!

I also got told at camp that I must be the cool mom. Seems lots of people last week thought I had kids. BTW…no husband, no kids (no pets for that matter).

Drought-resistant flowers are not resistant to 100+ degree weather in Oklahoma when you haven’t watered them all summer. I’ve never had to water them before. They’re perennials and I’m hoping I didn’t kill them forever.

No Drip Walgreens Afrin smells (and feels) like lemon pledge up your nose. Kind of hurts.

I didn’t take a shower yesterday. I was too tired and didn’t want to bother with it, so I just pulled my hair up and went to work. I bet my office was glad that I stayed locked away in my office all day.

I still have not put my laundry away from camp. Matter of fact, my suit cases are still sitting in the foyer downstairs.

I need to clean my kitchen.
When you try to touch your toes wearing heels, you are very likely to fall over.

Embarrassing Office Moment

So I had a very embarrassing moment at work yesterday. If you read my blog last night, you got a little more detail, but I since decided to make it even more vague when I thought about some of the people that might possibly read this. Let's just say that sometimes you need to be more aware of what is in your inbox and that the preview feature on email isn't always a good thing.

I went to check my personal account yesterday and right after I opened it, my boss came into my office to discuss a project I'm working on. As I discovered after he left my office, there were some "not office appropriate" (but not dirty) images on my screen. I was mortified...and hoping that he was so concentrated on what we were discussing that he didn't notice either.