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.)