Not that I'm a seasoned traveler just yet, but even I know when they change your departure gate at the airport to D-28, you're screwed.
Not only is it 89-1/2 miles from where you walked into the airport, it's the only gate that does not use a jetway. It's such a flash back in time to when the airplanes still had propellers. Ugh.
This morning, I checked into the airport around 5:30 a.m. That is rude enough. However, the boarding pass I printed off last night had a departure gate of D-8. The agent told me the good news. We'd been changed to D-28. Oh the horrors. Picture this if you can...
Four airplanes on the tarmac at the same time. When it's time to go, it is time to go for all four planes. No boarding by rows, by height or by hair color. Nothing. Here's what you get:
"Attention passengers. We are now boarding the following flights: Chicago O'Hare, keep to the right, Baltimore, keep to the left, New York, to the middle, also in the middle, XYZ city (the one destination I forgot). C'mon people, let's move."
You hand your boarding pass to one of the harried agents. They take your pass and send the passengers for all four planes through the same door. Through that door, you walk down two flights of steps, carrying all of your crap. Then outside into the elements. Hopefully there are at least a couple of the grounds crew out there, pointing your way to one of four airplanes sitting out on the tarmac. With trepidation, you walk up the right stairs, and keeping your fingers crossed, into the correct airplane. This is way too taxing so freakin' early in the morning!
Ok, I'm heading to the correct plane. In front of me heading up the steps is a nice, clean cut younger guy. Once up the steps, he takes off his jacket and I see he's the captain! Nice! I like to get a good look at the person that has my life in his hands. I wanna know if he's hung over, didn't have enough sleep or is bright eyed and bushy tailed. He was one of the more bushy tailed kinda guys. Since he's there, and I'm there, I ask him how he's feeling while I try to sniff him to see if I smell alcohol. He informs me that he's feeling "fantastic"! This is a good start. Then he adds that his 12 cups of coffee are finally kicking in.
The smart ass streak in me had to respond. I told him that I hope he didn't think he was going to pull the plane over once we were airborne so that he could go pee! Happily, he assured me that he could definitely hold it until we got to Chicago. aaah. I felt much better about the whole thing!
So, he has a bit of a smart ass streak in him too. Gotta like that in a pilot. But, I'll give the guy his props. This had to be the best landing I've ever been a part of. Well, it's true that any landing you walk away from is a good landing. However, this one landed so softly, I didn't even realize the wheels touched down. On my way out, I had to poke my head into the cockpit to congratulate him on a great landing, AND on his bladder control. That was one strange look on the co-pilot's face! Hey, let the pilot explain that one to him.
Monday, February 06, 2006
Saturday, February 04, 2006
Brain Fart
When I first started thinking of having to travel for this audit we are doing, I had visions of being able to blog daily and keep y'all updated on all of my adventures! Yeah! How's that working out for me? As you can tell, not as well as I hoped.
I forgot about the long days when you're on the road. We're on site from 7:00 a.m. until 6:30 or 7:00 p.m. By the time we finish dinner, it's usually 9:00 or so by the time we hit the hotel. By then I'm pooped. It's time for a shower and hit the uncomfortable bed.
I do have a few stories about the past week. My biggest stories seem to be food related. That seems to be all I write about anymore! Keep in mind, the highlight of our morning is discussing where we're going to lunch. As soon as we're on our way back to work after lunch, we're talking about where to go for dinner. Yes, you can tell what's important to us.
I have tried to be out of the box on this trip. I could never take a page out of Michael's book and eat fish head soup, but I have tried a myriad of new and exciting things. I ate Indian and Nepalese food for the first time, and even Japanese and Korean food. We do a lot of walking since parking is at a minimum. In our walks, we see a restaurant that looks good or smells good walking by, we're willing to give it a shot. So far, we have had no regrets in any areas other than price! Not a bad record.
It's been a nerve wracking week though. I am on this audit with my boss. He takes care of the driving duties, and my job is to print out mapquest directions of anywhere in particular we want to go and I navigate.
My boss had a meeting here in town on Friday, so he was flying out early on Thursday. I'd finish up the week and fly out as usual on Friday. And, he has more commitments next week, so he's staying at the local office all week, and I'll be ALONE in Chicago all next week as well.
To get me ready for this huge undertaking, I did the driving all week to make sure I could find my way around. Ugh. I'm ok with to and from the airport. I have troubles in town, like in finding all the areas that house the restaurants we like to go to. And, from there, finding the hotel again. I can go from the hotel to work and back again, no problem. It's any side trips I have issues with.
All week long, the boss showed me how to get to some of our favorite areas. I even had to parallel park the car into a parking spot, of which was successful two out of three times. The third time I said the heck with it and went down a few more blocks to a parking lot. Some days it's easier to walk than to fight into a spot. I thought all was going to be well in my world while on my own. Yesterday was my first solo day, and of course, I got lost on my way to lunch. Dang, it's going to be a long week next week.
So here we are. I am home safe and sound and trying to block out the fact that I go back again on Monday morning! I think I'm ok getting in and out of the airport. But once I'm on site, it will be another story.
You know, they can implant a microchips in your pet's neck. So, if your pet is lost, they scan the chip through the neck and get your info in order to return the pet safe and sound. Do you think I can get one of those implanted in my neck? Maybe when I'm lost, I can go to a some scan station and have them scan me and tell me which way to go to get home. It's either that or I need me a nice pair of size 10 ruby slippers.
I forgot about the long days when you're on the road. We're on site from 7:00 a.m. until 6:30 or 7:00 p.m. By the time we finish dinner, it's usually 9:00 or so by the time we hit the hotel. By then I'm pooped. It's time for a shower and hit the uncomfortable bed.
I do have a few stories about the past week. My biggest stories seem to be food related. That seems to be all I write about anymore! Keep in mind, the highlight of our morning is discussing where we're going to lunch. As soon as we're on our way back to work after lunch, we're talking about where to go for dinner. Yes, you can tell what's important to us.
I have tried to be out of the box on this trip. I could never take a page out of Michael's book and eat fish head soup, but I have tried a myriad of new and exciting things. I ate Indian and Nepalese food for the first time, and even Japanese and Korean food. We do a lot of walking since parking is at a minimum. In our walks, we see a restaurant that looks good or smells good walking by, we're willing to give it a shot. So far, we have had no regrets in any areas other than price! Not a bad record.
It's been a nerve wracking week though. I am on this audit with my boss. He takes care of the driving duties, and my job is to print out mapquest directions of anywhere in particular we want to go and I navigate.
My boss had a meeting here in town on Friday, so he was flying out early on Thursday. I'd finish up the week and fly out as usual on Friday. And, he has more commitments next week, so he's staying at the local office all week, and I'll be ALONE in Chicago all next week as well.
To get me ready for this huge undertaking, I did the driving all week to make sure I could find my way around. Ugh. I'm ok with to and from the airport. I have troubles in town, like in finding all the areas that house the restaurants we like to go to. And, from there, finding the hotel again. I can go from the hotel to work and back again, no problem. It's any side trips I have issues with.
All week long, the boss showed me how to get to some of our favorite areas. I even had to parallel park the car into a parking spot, of which was successful two out of three times. The third time I said the heck with it and went down a few more blocks to a parking lot. Some days it's easier to walk than to fight into a spot. I thought all was going to be well in my world while on my own. Yesterday was my first solo day, and of course, I got lost on my way to lunch. Dang, it's going to be a long week next week.
So here we are. I am home safe and sound and trying to block out the fact that I go back again on Monday morning! I think I'm ok getting in and out of the airport. But once I'm on site, it will be another story.
You know, they can implant a microchips in your pet's neck. So, if your pet is lost, they scan the chip through the neck and get your info in order to return the pet safe and sound. Do you think I can get one of those implanted in my neck? Maybe when I'm lost, I can go to a some scan station and have them scan me and tell me which way to go to get home. It's either that or I need me a nice pair of size 10 ruby slippers.
Friday, January 27, 2006
That's Just Wrong, Page 2
Here's another page from the book I should write, titled "That's Just Wrong".
Parking is at a real premium here where we are. On street parking near anywhere you wanna be is almost unheard of. Besides, most street parking requires a certain parking pass. No pass, and you will be towed. Anyway, so we do a lot of walking. We drive to a nearby parking lot, and then it's not uncommon to walk two or three blocks back where we want to be.
That said, today for lunch we headed to a nice little area we recently found. There are a handful of restaurants in a couple block radius, so we have choices. We were walking up and down the street, trying to decide on where to have lunch while I was also window shopping in some quaint shops along the way.
What did I come across? A dad on his day with the kids. That should be a nice sight. But here's the quality of dad I was looking at. Dad had his two kids in a double stroller. It's like really wide and the two kids are sitting side by side. The stroller is parked by a door to a shop with both kids in the stroller. Go ahead. Guess where dad is. IN the store. IN THE STORE. Kids outside. Alone. In a stroller. They had to both be under three years of age. I was so angry with this guy. He came strolling out of the shop like he didn't have a care in the world.
That's just wrong.
Parking is at a real premium here where we are. On street parking near anywhere you wanna be is almost unheard of. Besides, most street parking requires a certain parking pass. No pass, and you will be towed. Anyway, so we do a lot of walking. We drive to a nearby parking lot, and then it's not uncommon to walk two or three blocks back where we want to be.
That said, today for lunch we headed to a nice little area we recently found. There are a handful of restaurants in a couple block radius, so we have choices. We were walking up and down the street, trying to decide on where to have lunch while I was also window shopping in some quaint shops along the way.
What did I come across? A dad on his day with the kids. That should be a nice sight. But here's the quality of dad I was looking at. Dad had his two kids in a double stroller. It's like really wide and the two kids are sitting side by side. The stroller is parked by a door to a shop with both kids in the stroller. Go ahead. Guess where dad is. IN the store. IN THE STORE. Kids outside. Alone. In a stroller. They had to both be under three years of age. I was so angry with this guy. He came strolling out of the shop like he didn't have a care in the world.
That's just wrong.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
I Am Stuffed Like a Pizza
The best part about traveling for work is the food. Dang, we do eat well on the road.
And, being someplace new is all about discovering new places to eat. The heck with the Applebee's or Papa John's you can get anywhere. I want something new and exciting. It is our mission to boldly go where few Clevelanders have gone before! We live for our dinner!
This week alone has been a winner every night. Monday started with Wolfgang Puck's. I had a pretty good chicken and pasta dish. Tuesday we found a great Irish pub by accident, the Celtic Knot. It was awesome! We each picked one of the specialties of the place. I went with fish and chips while my boss went for the Sheppard's pie. Hard to know which one of us did better they were both fantastic.
Tonight though, we went for authentic deep dish stuffed Chicago-style pizza. Holy Cow! We ordered a medium pizza and between two of us, we couldn't finish it. It wasn't for the lack of trying though. I can't tell you how full I am! If anyone has the opportunity to try some real Chicago-style pizza, I strongly recommend it. It's not like anything you'll ever get at Pizza Hut or Donatos or whatever your favorite joint happens to be.
I have about one and a half pieces leftover. I don't know why I brought them back to the hotel with me, but I did! Who knows, maybe I'll wake in the middle of the night and want to abuse my tummy. It's happened before.
So much for my diet!
Update to yesterday's blog . . . I am feeling much better today!
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Deja Vu
I am having a really, really bad day today.
I know we all joke about deja vu, but I don't know what else to call it. It's happened four times today, the last being a few minutes ago as we were pulling into the parking garage.
I just suddenly get a "feeling". I'm seeing something in my mind's eye which feels like a memory. Like I know what's going to happen in this other reality, or memory, or vision or whatever. It is so hard to put into words. All I can say is when I start thinking about what I'm "remembering" I start to feel like a wave of panic is washing over me and I suddenly feel very nauseous. Ugh. One of them today felt like I was afraid of the snow that was falling in my "memory". Just a little bit ago, it had to do with finding a parking spot while holding a book on my lap. It doesn't make sense.
I'm telling you, it's the absolute weirdest feeling. What's happening? There are no drugs in my system, not even alcohol. Right now my heart is pounding and I'm still shaking. I remember feeling this way once before when I lived in Houston. I can remember quite clearly that I was working at cost accounting, and when this feeling hit me before. The panicking is the worst. Here's hoping it will be another five or six years before it happens again.
Maybe I'll just turn on all the lights, pull the covers over my head and wait for tomorrow to come.
I need a hug.
I know we all joke about deja vu, but I don't know what else to call it. It's happened four times today, the last being a few minutes ago as we were pulling into the parking garage.
I just suddenly get a "feeling". I'm seeing something in my mind's eye which feels like a memory. Like I know what's going to happen in this other reality, or memory, or vision or whatever. It is so hard to put into words. All I can say is when I start thinking about what I'm "remembering" I start to feel like a wave of panic is washing over me and I suddenly feel very nauseous. Ugh. One of them today felt like I was afraid of the snow that was falling in my "memory". Just a little bit ago, it had to do with finding a parking spot while holding a book on my lap. It doesn't make sense.
I'm telling you, it's the absolute weirdest feeling. What's happening? There are no drugs in my system, not even alcohol. Right now my heart is pounding and I'm still shaking. I remember feeling this way once before when I lived in Houston. I can remember quite clearly that I was working at cost accounting, and when this feeling hit me before. The panicking is the worst. Here's hoping it will be another five or six years before it happens again.
Maybe I'll just turn on all the lights, pull the covers over my head and wait for tomorrow to come.
I need a hug.
Monday, January 23, 2006
Where's There's Fire, There's Firemen!
It's one of those good news/bad news things.
The good news is that I saw firemen! In full gear! Carrying armloads of cool stuff. Like axes and picks and long pokey things. Dang, that's a great sight.
The bad news is they came out of the fire truck and the hook and ladder truck that was parked in front of my hotel as I was checking in tonight! Yeah, that's bad.
The good news is that they said it was a false alarm in a stairwell, but they had to check it out anyway.
The bad news is that they left after they decided the stair well wasn't on fire. Rats.
This is how my week is starting. As much as I love telling stories, here's hoping that the rest of the week will be a little more quiet.
The good news is that I saw firemen! In full gear! Carrying armloads of cool stuff. Like axes and picks and long pokey things. Dang, that's a great sight.
The bad news is they came out of the fire truck and the hook and ladder truck that was parked in front of my hotel as I was checking in tonight! Yeah, that's bad.
The good news is that they said it was a false alarm in a stairwell, but they had to check it out anyway.
The bad news is that they left after they decided the stair well wasn't on fire. Rats.
This is how my week is starting. As much as I love telling stories, here's hoping that the rest of the week will be a little more quiet.
Monday Sucks
I had an entire weekend of goofing off and do you think I could update my blog? Oh heck no. I was too busy holding the couch down.
We made it home ok on Friday in spite of the storm that was blowing rapidly into Chicago. We were happy just to make it out of Chicago Friday night, as they were expecting things were not going to go well for all scheduled flights. We were delayed an hour, and it was like riding a bucking bronco, but our flight made it home safe and sound.
Now we're back to Monday already. Gee, where did the weekend go? Today was a much smoother flight, even if we did come back to the snow country. I wish I would have packed my boots!
I've been up since 4:00 a.m. and believe me, I'm ready for a nap. If I can just make it through the rest of today, the rest of the week should go by smoothly. Maybe I'll even get an adventure or two in before the week is up. Here's hoping!
We made it home ok on Friday in spite of the storm that was blowing rapidly into Chicago. We were happy just to make it out of Chicago Friday night, as they were expecting things were not going to go well for all scheduled flights. We were delayed an hour, and it was like riding a bucking bronco, but our flight made it home safe and sound.
Now we're back to Monday already. Gee, where did the weekend go? Today was a much smoother flight, even if we did come back to the snow country. I wish I would have packed my boots!
I've been up since 4:00 a.m. and believe me, I'm ready for a nap. If I can just make it through the rest of today, the rest of the week should go by smoothly. Maybe I'll even get an adventure or two in before the week is up. Here's hoping!
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Location, Location, Location
I need to write a book. This book will be titled "That's Just Wrong". A page from this book would be on what I saw last night.
We took a ride around looking for somewhere new to go for dinner. We headed over to Skokie. Don't ask why, that's just where we went. Anyway, we passed a Chinese restaurant. In the same building as this restaurant was an animal hospital.
Think about it.
That's just wrong.
We took a ride around looking for somewhere new to go for dinner. We headed over to Skokie. Don't ask why, that's just where we went. Anyway, we passed a Chinese restaurant. In the same building as this restaurant was an animal hospital.
Think about it.
That's just wrong.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Welcome to the Windy City
Yes, dear friends, I am in Chicago. So much going on and no internet access! Aargh!
As most of you know, I am extremely challenged in many areas, technology just being one of them. Our hotel has wireless, but my laptop isn't set up for wireless. So, I get a bridge, most hotels offer them for free. Some are easy to use, some are beyond me.
This hotel's is beyond me. I tried on the one bridge, and the disk they included with the driver I just couldn't get to work. So, I walked it down to the front desk last night and asked for another one. Found out my problem is all OE. (operator error) Yes, the second bridge didn't work any better than the first. Crap. Now all I have to do in the hotel in the evenings is actually work. How wrong is that. This is seriously cutting down on my goofing off time. How does my boss expect me to keep up my blog let alone get any quality Pogo playing done? My life is so sad, huh?
One story for now about my trip out here. We had the ditzyest (if that's even a word) flight attendant I've ever seen. I swear I'd bet a paycheck that she would not have passed a sobriety test. And, this was the 7:30 a.m. flight. You have to work hard to be that looped still at 7:30 in the morning.
A few bloopers could be forgiven. Like she kept insisting that this flight was the non stop flight from Houston to Chicago. Even after a plane load of people kept correcting her that we were the non stop Cleveland to Chicago flight. In her world, she was leaving from Houston. Then we got a 10 minute lecture on "if you left your bags at the jetway, you need to pick your bags up back at the jetway when we reach Chicago. If you go to baggage claim you will be waiting there for a long time. By the time you make it back to this gate, the plane will no longer be here. Also, any luggage left on the jetway will be returned to the plane. Then where will you be? You packed your bags for a reason, didn't you? I don't suppose you would have packed if you didn't need what was in your bags. Maybe you have medicine in there, or your glasses or something else important. Now how would you feel if your bags ended up back in Houston without you while you are in Chicago?" I swear, she went on and on like that for 10 minutes! Some people were really laughing. Others like me where a bit frightened. She is supposed to be there for our safety after all. Yeah, right. I could go on and on about that one hour flight, but I guess I should get back to work.
I'll update when I can. This trip should be good for some stories if nothing else.
Stay tuned!
As most of you know, I am extremely challenged in many areas, technology just being one of them. Our hotel has wireless, but my laptop isn't set up for wireless. So, I get a bridge, most hotels offer them for free. Some are easy to use, some are beyond me.
This hotel's is beyond me. I tried on the one bridge, and the disk they included with the driver I just couldn't get to work. So, I walked it down to the front desk last night and asked for another one. Found out my problem is all OE. (operator error) Yes, the second bridge didn't work any better than the first. Crap. Now all I have to do in the hotel in the evenings is actually work. How wrong is that. This is seriously cutting down on my goofing off time. How does my boss expect me to keep up my blog let alone get any quality Pogo playing done? My life is so sad, huh?
One story for now about my trip out here. We had the ditzyest (if that's even a word) flight attendant I've ever seen. I swear I'd bet a paycheck that she would not have passed a sobriety test. And, this was the 7:30 a.m. flight. You have to work hard to be that looped still at 7:30 in the morning.
A few bloopers could be forgiven. Like she kept insisting that this flight was the non stop flight from Houston to Chicago. Even after a plane load of people kept correcting her that we were the non stop Cleveland to Chicago flight. In her world, she was leaving from Houston. Then we got a 10 minute lecture on "if you left your bags at the jetway, you need to pick your bags up back at the jetway when we reach Chicago. If you go to baggage claim you will be waiting there for a long time. By the time you make it back to this gate, the plane will no longer be here. Also, any luggage left on the jetway will be returned to the plane. Then where will you be? You packed your bags for a reason, didn't you? I don't suppose you would have packed if you didn't need what was in your bags. Maybe you have medicine in there, or your glasses or something else important. Now how would you feel if your bags ended up back in Houston without you while you are in Chicago?" I swear, she went on and on like that for 10 minutes! Some people were really laughing. Others like me where a bit frightened. She is supposed to be there for our safety after all. Yeah, right. I could go on and on about that one hour flight, but I guess I should get back to work.
I'll update when I can. This trip should be good for some stories if nothing else.
Stay tuned!
Thursday, January 12, 2006
"Now Just Relax . . . "
I swear these are the worst words in the world to hear. Well, in the right circumstance, they are the worst words to hear. Imagine my scenario - laying flat on my back, feet up in stirrups, doc is bringing the stool in close while adjusting the spot light in what is not my most flattering side. "Now Just Relax . . . " Are you freakin' kidding me???
Yes, today was THE day. The day of the year that most women hate. As a side note, when picking out someone who is going to climb up into your hoo haw up to their elbows, pick a man doctor. I never thought I was a sexist but trust me. Men doctors are much more gentle in this area. Women have been there, done that. They want to you suck it up and get it over with. The only thing a man has to liken the experience to is a prostate exam. With that in mind, they tend to be a LOT more gentle in the nether regions. But, that's not what this blog is about today. That is just a small public service announcement.
That done, let me tell you about my day.
As stated, today was my yearly exam. Not only am I poked, prodded, humiliated and humbled, we have now reached a new level.
Part of the appointment is spent talking about where I am and where I need to be. As a woman over 40 (yikes!) I am told to watch my weight, watch my salt intake, exercise, eat right. That's all the normal stuff. Also in the normal column is the yearly blood work prescription and well as my appointment to get my boobs slammed between two glass tables. Now in the "you gotta be freakin' kidding me" column we now have:
Testing For Colon Cancer.
No joke.
She's serious.
She's crazy, but she's serious.
I received a packet of my very own to take home with me. This packet will enable me to test myself. Get this. I have a card and some poop sticks. Read that again, I am not lying here.
Upon experiencing a bowel movement, I am supposed to turn around and admire it. After that, I take one of the poop sticks and take a little piece of poop and wipe it on the card. Then, pick another piece of poop, take another little piece of it and wipe that on another place on the card. I am supposed to do this for three consecutive bowel movements. Oh the horrors.
First of all, does anyone take three consecutive dumps at home? Am I supposed to take my poop card to work with me? How does one sneak a poop card and poop stick into the ladies' room? And then....what if....could it happen? Can you imagine??
Me: "um, excuse me! I dropped my poop stick and it rolled into your stall! Would you please roll it back?"
Oh, I think not.
To make it worse, once my poop card is filled up with the six samples, I am supposed to send it via US Mail to the doctor's office! For what? So they can admire it?
Mail it. In the mail. Ew. Isn't this against the law? If not, it should be. Where is homeland security when I need it?
I need to take another hot bath.
Yes, today was THE day. The day of the year that most women hate. As a side note, when picking out someone who is going to climb up into your hoo haw up to their elbows, pick a man doctor. I never thought I was a sexist but trust me. Men doctors are much more gentle in this area. Women have been there, done that. They want to you suck it up and get it over with. The only thing a man has to liken the experience to is a prostate exam. With that in mind, they tend to be a LOT more gentle in the nether regions. But, that's not what this blog is about today. That is just a small public service announcement.
That done, let me tell you about my day.
As stated, today was my yearly exam. Not only am I poked, prodded, humiliated and humbled, we have now reached a new level.
Part of the appointment is spent talking about where I am and where I need to be. As a woman over 40 (yikes!) I am told to watch my weight, watch my salt intake, exercise, eat right. That's all the normal stuff. Also in the normal column is the yearly blood work prescription and well as my appointment to get my boobs slammed between two glass tables. Now in the "you gotta be freakin' kidding me" column we now have:
Testing For Colon Cancer.
No joke.
She's serious.
She's crazy, but she's serious.
I received a packet of my very own to take home with me. This packet will enable me to test myself. Get this. I have a card and some poop sticks. Read that again, I am not lying here.
Upon experiencing a bowel movement, I am supposed to turn around and admire it. After that, I take one of the poop sticks and take a little piece of poop and wipe it on the card. Then, pick another piece of poop, take another little piece of it and wipe that on another place on the card. I am supposed to do this for three consecutive bowel movements. Oh the horrors.
First of all, does anyone take three consecutive dumps at home? Am I supposed to take my poop card to work with me? How does one sneak a poop card and poop stick into the ladies' room? And then....what if....could it happen? Can you imagine??
Me: "um, excuse me! I dropped my poop stick and it rolled into your stall! Would you please roll it back?"
Oh, I think not.
To make it worse, once my poop card is filled up with the six samples, I am supposed to send it via US Mail to the doctor's office! For what? So they can admire it?
Mail it. In the mail. Ew. Isn't this against the law? If not, it should be. Where is homeland security when I need it?
I need to take another hot bath.
Saturday, January 07, 2006
Office Party
Last night was our office Christmas party. Yes, I know it was January 6, but that was really the first opportunity we had to get together since the holidays.
Ron, me, my boss, his wife and our regional sales manager met last night at 6:00 p.m. at Buca di Beppo's. Surprisingly, we had a great time. For a dinner that started at 6:00 p.m., we never walked out of the restaurant last night until 9:30 p.m. Holy cow!
We had a great waiter, who was willing to let us take our time and just ordered one course at a time. And boy, did we order courses.
Everyone has had good Italian food, so I'm not going to give a run down of everything we had. But I do want to mention a few things I had that really surprised me that I liked them as much as I did.
One of the salads we ordered was called the Warm Tomato and Spinach Salad with balsamic dressing, goat cheese and roasted pecans. I highly recommend this if anyone goes to Buca Di Beppo's. I could have done without the goat cheese but the rest of it was the bomb. I didn't know before last night how much I liked raw spinach.
One other dish I want to mention was one of our entrees. Veal Saltimbocca. Wow! This is something I've never even heard of before. Words just can't describe how good this was. It was thin slices of veal and it had a little lemony flavor, there were capers and artichoke hearts on here as well. Who'd have thought it would be something I'd eat. But I seriously scarfed it down.
This restaurant is all family style. That means they bring out all the food on platters for the table to share, from the salads to the desserts. There are no "individual" servings. As they take courses off of the table, the pack up whatever is left into to go containers. Somehow, when you're all done, this bag full of food appears on the table. There was a little bit of almost everything. No one wanted to take the leftovers home. My boss said since I don't cook, we should take the leftovers home with us. Hey, who am I to argue with this man?
We have a ton of leftovers in our fridge. I know we don't have any of the spinach salad left, but I think we have some of every other food we had last night. We could easily feed about four more people! Anyone in the neighborhood and hungry, c'mon over! We'll share!
Ron, me, my boss, his wife and our regional sales manager met last night at 6:00 p.m. at Buca di Beppo's. Surprisingly, we had a great time. For a dinner that started at 6:00 p.m., we never walked out of the restaurant last night until 9:30 p.m. Holy cow!
We had a great waiter, who was willing to let us take our time and just ordered one course at a time. And boy, did we order courses.
Everyone has had good Italian food, so I'm not going to give a run down of everything we had. But I do want to mention a few things I had that really surprised me that I liked them as much as I did.
One of the salads we ordered was called the Warm Tomato and Spinach Salad with balsamic dressing, goat cheese and roasted pecans. I highly recommend this if anyone goes to Buca Di Beppo's. I could have done without the goat cheese but the rest of it was the bomb. I didn't know before last night how much I liked raw spinach.
One other dish I want to mention was one of our entrees. Veal Saltimbocca. Wow! This is something I've never even heard of before. Words just can't describe how good this was. It was thin slices of veal and it had a little lemony flavor, there were capers and artichoke hearts on here as well. Who'd have thought it would be something I'd eat. But I seriously scarfed it down.
This restaurant is all family style. That means they bring out all the food on platters for the table to share, from the salads to the desserts. There are no "individual" servings. As they take courses off of the table, the pack up whatever is left into to go containers. Somehow, when you're all done, this bag full of food appears on the table. There was a little bit of almost everything. No one wanted to take the leftovers home. My boss said since I don't cook, we should take the leftovers home with us. Hey, who am I to argue with this man?
We have a ton of leftovers in our fridge. I know we don't have any of the spinach salad left, but I think we have some of every other food we had last night. We could easily feed about four more people! Anyone in the neighborhood and hungry, c'mon over! We'll share!
Thursday, January 05, 2006
My Verdict Is In . . . I Don't Like Him
I hate admitting this in public, but it's true. I am a fan of Howard Stern.
I'm not going to say I agree with everything that he does or says. When even I find him offensive, I have no problem changing the channel. But when I was able to listen to his show, usually the first hour of it, I think he's a gas. He makes me laugh.
The guy is intelligent, he argues well, and really mixes it up with those around him. He cast and crew are a whole other story. Anyway, I wasn't intending for this to be a Howard Stern tribute, I'm just saying that my drive to work has always been made better by him.
Now that he's made his move to satellite radio, I am left to find another way to help me get to work in the morning. I have nothing against people paying for satellite radio. Heaven knows I pay enough for cable TV. But, I watch a lot of cable TV. The only time I listen to the radio is in the car. That's not enough for me to pay more for the satellite radio. Big bummer.
Anyway, Howard's replacement in our market is David Lee Roth, former front man for Van Halen. I didn't want to be one of those people that just automatically decided not to like him without giving him a chance. Well, I gave him a chance. Three chances. There aren't words strong enough to express just how much he sucks.
I listened on three separate days, at most for three minutes each day. Here is what happened in the random times I tuned in.
Tuesday: David Lee Roth was just picking up a phone call. The caller said how much she loved David Lee Roth as a performer, and she was very excited that he made this career move. She had many questions for David Lee, that she felt had never been answered before and that a lot of his fans might want the answers as well. David Lee assured her that she could ask anything she wanted and he would answer. This was like the "David Lee Roth Reality Show" and he would hold nothing back. So, the caller asked her question. She stated that she had heard that David Lee had recently married. She wanted to know if it was true, and if he had any little David Lee Jr's running around. I thought that sounded like an easy question. He immediately bristled at the question. Hey! That was personal! He wasn't answering any personal questions, don't ya know! He didn't want to mix his personal life with his public life! No, he would NOT be answering that question! HA!
Wednesday: When I tuned in on Wednesday, David Lee was going on and on about Americans losing valuable jobs to people coming across our borders and taking our jobs! For example, he said how about the Mexicans coming over the border taking our jobs. And, what about them Canadians coming over the border taking our jobs. He said it must stop! Oh where do I begin to comment on this 30 second blurb I heard come out of his mouth. I guess the only thing I'm going to say is I musta missed reading the paper the day it was announced that it was a problem all them Canadians coming south to take our high paying jobs. Yeah, that's it.
Thursday: Today I again tuned in, I thought he's just having opening jitters. It HAS to get better. Well, I think I was wrong. He was talking about a girlfriend of sorts that he had for awhile a few years back. I guess she wasn't too personal to talk about. Turns out, she was one of Heidi Fleiss' girls even. Well, he'd start telling his story and then he'd tell one of his side kicks to turn up the music, because he had to tell them something. So, up came the music, which drowned out his story, a few seconds later the music went down and everyone was laughing. I guess it musta been funny. Then it happened again! He said to turn up the music because he had one more thing to add! Music up, no David Lee, music down, laughter all around.
Ok, maybe I have it all wrong. You're a radio talk show host, I guess you should be talking to the radio audience. If he wants to sit around talking only to his homeys, perhaps he should stay home.
Yeah, that's it. Do us all a favor. Quit your day job.
I'm not going to say I agree with everything that he does or says. When even I find him offensive, I have no problem changing the channel. But when I was able to listen to his show, usually the first hour of it, I think he's a gas. He makes me laugh.
The guy is intelligent, he argues well, and really mixes it up with those around him. He cast and crew are a whole other story. Anyway, I wasn't intending for this to be a Howard Stern tribute, I'm just saying that my drive to work has always been made better by him.
Now that he's made his move to satellite radio, I am left to find another way to help me get to work in the morning. I have nothing against people paying for satellite radio. Heaven knows I pay enough for cable TV. But, I watch a lot of cable TV. The only time I listen to the radio is in the car. That's not enough for me to pay more for the satellite radio. Big bummer.
Anyway, Howard's replacement in our market is David Lee Roth, former front man for Van Halen. I didn't want to be one of those people that just automatically decided not to like him without giving him a chance. Well, I gave him a chance. Three chances. There aren't words strong enough to express just how much he sucks.
I listened on three separate days, at most for three minutes each day. Here is what happened in the random times I tuned in.
Tuesday: David Lee Roth was just picking up a phone call. The caller said how much she loved David Lee Roth as a performer, and she was very excited that he made this career move. She had many questions for David Lee, that she felt had never been answered before and that a lot of his fans might want the answers as well. David Lee assured her that she could ask anything she wanted and he would answer. This was like the "David Lee Roth Reality Show" and he would hold nothing back. So, the caller asked her question. She stated that she had heard that David Lee had recently married. She wanted to know if it was true, and if he had any little David Lee Jr's running around. I thought that sounded like an easy question. He immediately bristled at the question. Hey! That was personal! He wasn't answering any personal questions, don't ya know! He didn't want to mix his personal life with his public life! No, he would NOT be answering that question! HA!
Wednesday: When I tuned in on Wednesday, David Lee was going on and on about Americans losing valuable jobs to people coming across our borders and taking our jobs! For example, he said how about the Mexicans coming over the border taking our jobs. And, what about them Canadians coming over the border taking our jobs. He said it must stop! Oh where do I begin to comment on this 30 second blurb I heard come out of his mouth. I guess the only thing I'm going to say is I musta missed reading the paper the day it was announced that it was a problem all them Canadians coming south to take our high paying jobs. Yeah, that's it.
Thursday: Today I again tuned in, I thought he's just having opening jitters. It HAS to get better. Well, I think I was wrong. He was talking about a girlfriend of sorts that he had for awhile a few years back. I guess she wasn't too personal to talk about. Turns out, she was one of Heidi Fleiss' girls even. Well, he'd start telling his story and then he'd tell one of his side kicks to turn up the music, because he had to tell them something. So, up came the music, which drowned out his story, a few seconds later the music went down and everyone was laughing. I guess it musta been funny. Then it happened again! He said to turn up the music because he had one more thing to add! Music up, no David Lee, music down, laughter all around.
Ok, maybe I have it all wrong. You're a radio talk show host, I guess you should be talking to the radio audience. If he wants to sit around talking only to his homeys, perhaps he should stay home.
Yeah, that's it. Do us all a favor. Quit your day job.
Monday, January 02, 2006
Happy New Year
Here's hoping everyone has had a safe and happy new year so far. Hard to believe we're actually in 2006 already. What happened to 2005? Heck, for that matter, what happened to 2004, 2003, and 2002?
Anyway, here in our household, we are not off to the greatest start.
New Year's Eve found Ron and I enjoying a nice early dinner at one of our favorite places, Carrabba's. http://carrabbas.com This absolutely is one of my favorite Italian restaurants. The dinner bill will not be on the cheap side, but truly worth it.
That was the good part of night.
Well, I have been dealing with a headache since Tuesday night. It came on me suddenly Tuesday and I haven't been able to get rid of it since. It feels like it's coming from the right side of my neck, and it has been getting worse every day. We've tried a lot of home remedies, from the numerous Aleve tablets to a muscle rub, to Ron even going out and buying some new stuff he's seen on commercials. It's called "Head On" and you rub it on your forehead. Well, I've done it all with no relief.
By the time we were done with dinner Saturday night, I was having trouble holding my head up, my neck hurt so much. I figured the longer we waited, the worse it would be in the ER, and I didn't think I could wait until my doctor's office opened on Tuesday. At 7:30 p.m. New Year's Eve, we headed for our local emergency room.
Joke was on us. The closest hospital to us is about five or six blocks away. We walked in and the emergency room was closed. Hmmm, this is not looking good for me. There was a sign though, that directed us to the next nearest hospital a few miles to the west. At least they were open!
The service at this hospital was really awesome. They took us right in. A doctor came in and did an exam. I explained how it seemed to come from my neck. He traced a muscle that came out of my neck, showing where one part of it went on top of my shoulder while the other part of this muscle went down to the right of my spine and under my shoulder blade. When he traced this muscle, I was like YES! YES! That's exactly where the pain starts! He immediately said he thought it was a muscular problem causing my headache. He asked me if I was under any new stress or having any problems. I couldn't think of anything that has changed recently, so I'm at a loss of why I'm this tensed up.
To be on the safe side, he did send me for a CAT scan which came back normal. They set me up with an IV and pumped me full of some happy juice. They let me lay there awhile with a great buzz. When he came back to check on me, unfortunately I still had my headache. I had a great buzz, but still a headache. Next they gave me a little orange pill. And we waited again. Well, Ron waited, I napped. When Dr. Paul came to check once again, I still had my headache. I said it was a little less intense, but still there. And a great buzz!
Again, he said he felt it was a muscular problem. He sent me home with a prescription for some purple capsules that are made specifically for tension headaches. Who knew they made such a thing! We got the prescription filled and headed home.
Once we got home, I took one of these pills on top of everything else I had in the ER and I was finally feeling no pain. We were home before 10:30, Ron made us some sandwiches, and I was trying to stay awake until midnight. I think I made it until about 11:30 when I was about ready to collapse. I headed to bed and didn't even make it to my side of the bed! I took over poor Ron's side of the bed and forced him to my side. (thanks, honey!) I know he did wake me up long enough to watch the ball drop and to get my New Year's kiss, but then I was back out into oblivion. As a matter of fact, I was out for about 14 hours.
Now, it's two days later. I still have a headache. You'd think a trip to the ER would at least fix the problem, wouldn't ya?
Anyway, here in our household, we are not off to the greatest start.
New Year's Eve found Ron and I enjoying a nice early dinner at one of our favorite places, Carrabba's. http://carrabbas.com This absolutely is one of my favorite Italian restaurants. The dinner bill will not be on the cheap side, but truly worth it.
That was the good part of night.
Well, I have been dealing with a headache since Tuesday night. It came on me suddenly Tuesday and I haven't been able to get rid of it since. It feels like it's coming from the right side of my neck, and it has been getting worse every day. We've tried a lot of home remedies, from the numerous Aleve tablets to a muscle rub, to Ron even going out and buying some new stuff he's seen on commercials. It's called "Head On" and you rub it on your forehead. Well, I've done it all with no relief.
By the time we were done with dinner Saturday night, I was having trouble holding my head up, my neck hurt so much. I figured the longer we waited, the worse it would be in the ER, and I didn't think I could wait until my doctor's office opened on Tuesday. At 7:30 p.m. New Year's Eve, we headed for our local emergency room.
Joke was on us. The closest hospital to us is about five or six blocks away. We walked in and the emergency room was closed. Hmmm, this is not looking good for me. There was a sign though, that directed us to the next nearest hospital a few miles to the west. At least they were open!
The service at this hospital was really awesome. They took us right in. A doctor came in and did an exam. I explained how it seemed to come from my neck. He traced a muscle that came out of my neck, showing where one part of it went on top of my shoulder while the other part of this muscle went down to the right of my spine and under my shoulder blade. When he traced this muscle, I was like YES! YES! That's exactly where the pain starts! He immediately said he thought it was a muscular problem causing my headache. He asked me if I was under any new stress or having any problems. I couldn't think of anything that has changed recently, so I'm at a loss of why I'm this tensed up.
To be on the safe side, he did send me for a CAT scan which came back normal. They set me up with an IV and pumped me full of some happy juice. They let me lay there awhile with a great buzz. When he came back to check on me, unfortunately I still had my headache. I had a great buzz, but still a headache. Next they gave me a little orange pill. And we waited again. Well, Ron waited, I napped. When Dr. Paul came to check once again, I still had my headache. I said it was a little less intense, but still there. And a great buzz!
Again, he said he felt it was a muscular problem. He sent me home with a prescription for some purple capsules that are made specifically for tension headaches. Who knew they made such a thing! We got the prescription filled and headed home.
Once we got home, I took one of these pills on top of everything else I had in the ER and I was finally feeling no pain. We were home before 10:30, Ron made us some sandwiches, and I was trying to stay awake until midnight. I think I made it until about 11:30 when I was about ready to collapse. I headed to bed and didn't even make it to my side of the bed! I took over poor Ron's side of the bed and forced him to my side. (thanks, honey!) I know he did wake me up long enough to watch the ball drop and to get my New Year's kiss, but then I was back out into oblivion. As a matter of fact, I was out for about 14 hours.
Now, it's two days later. I still have a headache. You'd think a trip to the ER would at least fix the problem, wouldn't ya?
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Changes In The Neighborhood
There is a house, two doors to the north of us, that has been empty since we moved in here.
The word in the neighborhood is that the house has actually been empty for 15 years or so. A lady owns it, doesn't live there, but for some reason, refuses to sell it or fix it up and rent it. The neglect that this house has gone through shows.
There are broken windows, missing screen doors, a roof caving in, the grass doesn't get mowed more than two or three times a year. And that's only after enough complaints to the city from the neighbors when the grass gets knee high.
The house was posted about a year ago as "uninhabitable". No kidding. So, this is the eyesore of our neighborhood.
Well, finally, there is good news! The weekend before Thanksgiving, Ron told me he saw about four or five different people going into the house. Hmm, what could this be? Is this the city finally inspecting the house prior to demolition? No, it was even better.
Soon came the BFI dumpster! Oh YES! That can only mean good things! It was a huge dumpster, like the size of a semi truck. I came home from work and I could see the dumpster in place. I believe I even did a happy dance in my driveway!
We found out that somehow the house was indeed finally sold. I don't know what happened to facilitate this decision, but I'm not complaining. I believe the new owners just plan on owning it long enough to fix it up and then plan on reselling it.
I don't remember the exact day, but shortly after Thanksgiving a crew showed up. They started filling up that dumpster. I never realized that the house was still full of furniture. We saw couches and chairs sticking up out of the dumpster. They seemed to have spent a few days just on the emptying process.
It is just so exciting to see such a wonderful change in the neighborhood. The house now has new windows and a fresh dumpster to fill up. Makes me wanna get my cup of coffee, sit on the front porch, and become a real neighborhood busybody watching all the cool stuff happening in our world. I'll let you know how it turns out!
The word in the neighborhood is that the house has actually been empty for 15 years or so. A lady owns it, doesn't live there, but for some reason, refuses to sell it or fix it up and rent it. The neglect that this house has gone through shows.
There are broken windows, missing screen doors, a roof caving in, the grass doesn't get mowed more than two or three times a year. And that's only after enough complaints to the city from the neighbors when the grass gets knee high.
The house was posted about a year ago as "uninhabitable". No kidding. So, this is the eyesore of our neighborhood.
Well, finally, there is good news! The weekend before Thanksgiving, Ron told me he saw about four or five different people going into the house. Hmm, what could this be? Is this the city finally inspecting the house prior to demolition? No, it was even better.
Soon came the BFI dumpster! Oh YES! That can only mean good things! It was a huge dumpster, like the size of a semi truck. I came home from work and I could see the dumpster in place. I believe I even did a happy dance in my driveway!
We found out that somehow the house was indeed finally sold. I don't know what happened to facilitate this decision, but I'm not complaining. I believe the new owners just plan on owning it long enough to fix it up and then plan on reselling it.
I don't remember the exact day, but shortly after Thanksgiving a crew showed up. They started filling up that dumpster. I never realized that the house was still full of furniture. We saw couches and chairs sticking up out of the dumpster. They seemed to have spent a few days just on the emptying process.
It is just so exciting to see such a wonderful change in the neighborhood. The house now has new windows and a fresh dumpster to fill up. Makes me wanna get my cup of coffee, sit on the front porch, and become a real neighborhood busybody watching all the cool stuff happening in our world. I'll let you know how it turns out!
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Christmas Past
Tonight I was telling Ron what Christmas was like in our house when I was growing up.
Christmas Eve was THE night. Everyone would be over on Christmas Eve. Mom would go nuts making sure all the food would be ready and that the house would be clean. It was a frantic day for sure. But oh so worth it.
I told him stories of how the house would be full of people, and the table would be full of the good Slovak food. The fried perch, sweet rice, bubulki (both sauerkraut and poppy seed) and of course the lentil soup. Try explaining bubulki to someone who's never had it.
After dinner, time for dishes. As soon as the dishes were done, it was time to open presents! I swear I was never so happy to do dishes as I was on Christmas Eve! After presents, it seemed like it was time for Midnight Mass.
Tonight we were eating our Christmas Eve dinner, leftover Chinese food and leftover barbecue. Weird combination, but extremely tasty! Anyway, we're just finishing dinner when Ron kept asking me if the dishes were done yet. Why is he obsessing about the dang dishes? It's no one's "job" to do the dishes. I think we pretty much share in the dish doing responsibilities. So why does he keep asking me that?
Finally feeling like I've heard that enough, I finally ask him "why do you keep asking me that? If it bugs you, do the dishes!"
Of course, the joke was on me. Since telling him the story of my Christmas Past, he figured as soon as dishes were done we could open OUR presents! You never saw me move so fast, and Ron was right at my heels. The dishes were packed into the dishwasher, and the dishwasher was set to wash. Then we got to business.
Let me tell you, I musta been a very, very good girl! Santa treated me right!
May we all have a very Merry Christmas!
Christmas Eve was THE night. Everyone would be over on Christmas Eve. Mom would go nuts making sure all the food would be ready and that the house would be clean. It was a frantic day for sure. But oh so worth it.
I told him stories of how the house would be full of people, and the table would be full of the good Slovak food. The fried perch, sweet rice, bubulki (both sauerkraut and poppy seed) and of course the lentil soup. Try explaining bubulki to someone who's never had it.
After dinner, time for dishes. As soon as the dishes were done, it was time to open presents! I swear I was never so happy to do dishes as I was on Christmas Eve! After presents, it seemed like it was time for Midnight Mass.
Tonight we were eating our Christmas Eve dinner, leftover Chinese food and leftover barbecue. Weird combination, but extremely tasty! Anyway, we're just finishing dinner when Ron kept asking me if the dishes were done yet. Why is he obsessing about the dang dishes? It's no one's "job" to do the dishes. I think we pretty much share in the dish doing responsibilities. So why does he keep asking me that?
Finally feeling like I've heard that enough, I finally ask him "why do you keep asking me that? If it bugs you, do the dishes!"
Of course, the joke was on me. Since telling him the story of my Christmas Past, he figured as soon as dishes were done we could open OUR presents! You never saw me move so fast, and Ron was right at my heels. The dishes were packed into the dishwasher, and the dishwasher was set to wash. Then we got to business.
Let me tell you, I musta been a very, very good girl! Santa treated me right!
May we all have a very Merry Christmas!
Decking Our Halls
I didn't want anyone thinking we were a couple of scrooges. So, here is a picture of how we decked our halls.
And, I took Santa's advise to heart, and I've really tried to clean up my act this week. I tried to be the best me I can be.
C'mon Christmas! I think we're ready!
Friday, December 23, 2005
The Good Got Better
Someone once told me that if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything. So, I've been quiet over here. It's not an easy time for a lot of people, me included. 'Nuff said.
On to a brighter note - Ron took me out to dinner tonight. It is Friday after all! You can almost bet that on Friday at least we go out to dinner. I like that - nice way to finish off the work week.
Tonight's first choice, Taqueria Mexico, was closed already for the Holiday. They don't reopen now until Tuesday. Go figure! Our second choice was a Chinese Restaurant that we really like. It's a sit down restaurant instead of a buffet and one of the things we like the most about it is that you can always get a seat. It's not that they are not busy, I just think over half of their business is take out for some reason.
They have a soup on the appetizer list that has been highly recommended to us, so tonight we thought we'd try it. It was something like shredded chicken and corn soup and it was soup for two. That's all the description there was for the soup. We got a nice little tureen and two bowls. As soon as Ron looked at it, he said it looks like there is egg drop in there. As most of you know, eating eggs makes me extremely ill. We called the waitress back over to verify. She checked with the cook and unfortunately, the answer was not what I wanted to hear. It did indeed have some egg in it. Ron told her I was allergic to eggs and how sick they made me. That was good for Ron though, because he said the soup was excellent and he ended up polishing off almost the whole thing!
For dinner I had ordered Pork Fried Rice. I know that has egg in it, but it's usually not a lot, and I sit and pick it out. I love fried rice, but I don't order it often because it is a pain in the butt to keep picking out pieces. But once in awhile, I'm willing to do just that. When the waitress heard I was allergic to egg, she went back and told the cook about it. Come to find out, my rice was almost done by now, and the cook started it all over again, this time without eggs!
Ok, call me silly, but in all my years, I never thought to ask for it without eggs. Duh! Our waitress thought I'd appreciate not having to pick all that out and boy was she right! My dinner was awesome!
And of course, Ron left a very nice tip. The service we received tonight absolutely made a good meal great.
On to a brighter note - Ron took me out to dinner tonight. It is Friday after all! You can almost bet that on Friday at least we go out to dinner. I like that - nice way to finish off the work week.
Tonight's first choice, Taqueria Mexico, was closed already for the Holiday. They don't reopen now until Tuesday. Go figure! Our second choice was a Chinese Restaurant that we really like. It's a sit down restaurant instead of a buffet and one of the things we like the most about it is that you can always get a seat. It's not that they are not busy, I just think over half of their business is take out for some reason.
They have a soup on the appetizer list that has been highly recommended to us, so tonight we thought we'd try it. It was something like shredded chicken and corn soup and it was soup for two. That's all the description there was for the soup. We got a nice little tureen and two bowls. As soon as Ron looked at it, he said it looks like there is egg drop in there. As most of you know, eating eggs makes me extremely ill. We called the waitress back over to verify. She checked with the cook and unfortunately, the answer was not what I wanted to hear. It did indeed have some egg in it. Ron told her I was allergic to eggs and how sick they made me. That was good for Ron though, because he said the soup was excellent and he ended up polishing off almost the whole thing!
For dinner I had ordered Pork Fried Rice. I know that has egg in it, but it's usually not a lot, and I sit and pick it out. I love fried rice, but I don't order it often because it is a pain in the butt to keep picking out pieces. But once in awhile, I'm willing to do just that. When the waitress heard I was allergic to egg, she went back and told the cook about it. Come to find out, my rice was almost done by now, and the cook started it all over again, this time without eggs!
Ok, call me silly, but in all my years, I never thought to ask for it without eggs. Duh! Our waitress thought I'd appreciate not having to pick all that out and boy was she right! My dinner was awesome!
And of course, Ron left a very nice tip. The service we received tonight absolutely made a good meal great.
Friday, December 16, 2005
A View From the Top
Taa Daa! I finally remembered to take my camera to work!
Yes, folks, this is the view from my office at the moment. Unfortunately, I didn't get the greatest picture, but it's should at least give you a feel. I am facing east and on the left you can even see the lake. Directly in front of the lake is a small airport. That isn't quite distinguishable in the pictures unfortunately. I tried to get one picture of a helicopter taking off this morning and it just didn't come out. Too bad.
The hard thing about a view like this is concentrating! Too much to look at. Especially on a clear day when you can even see the waves crashing. Yep, I could get used to this.
I tried to be brave and take a picture looking as straight down as I could. Unfortunately, the window glare played a big part in this picture. At least you can see the courtyard across the street I mentioned in yesterday's post. Too bad I didn't get a picture of that building. You can see part of the atrium in the picture, but this doesn't do it justice. Oh well, I'm still learning.
So, welcome to my world. Beats the heck out of the dirty, dusty, windowless basements I've been in or the unheated portable storage facilities. And they even pay me to be there!
Thursday, December 15, 2005
One Of Them Days
Yesterday, I had one of them days.
It wasn't a really bad day. I mean, it could have been much worse. But, there were a whole lotta little things that were just bad enough to be really irritating.
It started just after 6:00 a.m. as I headed out to work. I need to make sure I'm more awake before getting behind the wheel of my car. Right now, I am working right in the midst of downtown. That means I take the freeway straight from here to there. I started out on the right freeway. Suddenly, I guess my car had a mind of its own and before I knew what happened, I was fixin' to get on the turnpike. Bad, very bad.
Luckily, before I went through the booth to grab my ticket, I was able to do a U-turn and head back north to the freeway. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Ok, little brain fart, I can overcome.
A few minutes later, I am back on the freeway and headed for downtown. Next on the list comes the parking garage.
I find me a good parking spot in the parking garage. Now work with me here. I walk to the elevator, take elevator downstairs, exit garage, through building, outside into the cold, walk through the courtyard, passed a panhandler, across the street, into another panhandler, into my building . . . only to discover . . . I left my badge to get into the building in my car. Grrr. Again, nothing really bad, just really inconvenient.
So, past the panhandler, across the street, another panhandler, through the courtyard, into and through the building, into the parking garage, up the elevator, to my car. Got my badge. All was good with my world.
Let's skip ahead to lunchtime. This was one of the few days I didn't pack my lunch. That shouldn't have been a big deal. Eating downtown can be a little pricey, but there are a lot of places to eat within walking distance.
My boss and I usually have lunch together. He chose to forego the sandwich he brought for lunch opting for lunch out as well. We decided to head to the Galleria. The Galleria does have a couple of restaurants, but more importantly, it has a food court. Gotta love a food court! Something for everyone.
We bundled up against the cold and headed out. Once we walked into the Galleria, what do I see between me and the food court? Dogs. Lots and lots of dogs. Some were sort of penned inside of portable two-foot high fences. Some were on leashes, and I'm not all that sure that some weren't just running loose. Those of you that know me, know that dogs terrify me probably more than spiders do. To say that I wanted to cry and bolt out of there is an understatement. I started to shake and seriously my life past before my eyes. Here, they were having some sort of pet adoption thing happening at the Galleria. Had I known, I'd have skipped lunch.
So as to show as little weakness as possible to the boss so as not to give him ammunition to use against me at a later time, I took the long way around and got past the dogs. I still just wanted to hide and cry, but I made it by them. I grabbed a sandwich, and made sure I sat with my back to the pooches. I figured what I couldn't see couldn't kill me! It was all good until it was time to go. Again, some fancy footwork kept as much space and as many people between me and the dogs. I lived through the experience.
Now we move to my drive home. I got on the right freeway and headed home! Closer to home, the freeway goes from three lanes down to two lanes. It was in the two lane part, at the exit just before my exit. This is a very busy exit and entrance. There always seems to be a steady stream of cars entering the freeway here, so I like to try to get in the left lane to give traffic room to merge onto the freeway. Again, it's only two lanes here. Well, there seemed to be more cars than usual getting on here. I kept looking for a hole to move back into the right lane. I foolishly passed a couple of holes I could have made, looking at a big one up ahead. Just as I was reaching this hole, the car in front of me stepped on the brakes and slowed waaaay down. He chose to move over into my hole! The way he slowed down and the time he took moving over, the hole closed. No room for me and my Honda. Dang it! I get so angry when someone cuts me off, I can't do it knowingly to other people. So, since I waited too long, now I missed my exit.
I blurted out a few expletives at myself and kept going to the next exit and doubled back to the house.
Now, it's been kinda a bad day. Nothing terrible, but just really, really irritating. Ron, being the great guy he is, said he'd take me out to dinner since I had such a poopy day. WOO HOO! Things are looking up!
I decided I had a hankering for Ponderosa. And, being difficult, I wanted the Ponderosa in the next town. That one seems to be to be much nicer, cleaner, food is better and the service is tops! It's worth the extra 10 minutes to get there.
We pulled into Ponderosa and saw the sign. Santa Claus was at Ponderosa last night, and kids got a free picture with Santa! Hey, I may not technically be a kid, but I had enough kid in me. I didn't want to hurt the guy by sitting on his lap, but I did want to go over and say howdy!
Santa shook my hand and I said "hey Santa! I've been a very good girl this year, so I'm expecting good things from you!"
With the signature twinkle in his eye, he replied "Who are you kidding? Remember, I have a list and I've checked it twice. You have a week to clean up your act or nothing from Santa!"
HELLO???? Dissed by Santa??? Oh the horror!
The guy had me laughing, but c'mon. What a way to end my day. Dissed by Santa. And only a week to clean up my act? I better not even think of leaving the house and I may have a chance. Wish me luck!
It wasn't a really bad day. I mean, it could have been much worse. But, there were a whole lotta little things that were just bad enough to be really irritating.
It started just after 6:00 a.m. as I headed out to work. I need to make sure I'm more awake before getting behind the wheel of my car. Right now, I am working right in the midst of downtown. That means I take the freeway straight from here to there. I started out on the right freeway. Suddenly, I guess my car had a mind of its own and before I knew what happened, I was fixin' to get on the turnpike. Bad, very bad.
Luckily, before I went through the booth to grab my ticket, I was able to do a U-turn and head back north to the freeway. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Ok, little brain fart, I can overcome.
A few minutes later, I am back on the freeway and headed for downtown. Next on the list comes the parking garage.
I find me a good parking spot in the parking garage. Now work with me here. I walk to the elevator, take elevator downstairs, exit garage, through building, outside into the cold, walk through the courtyard, passed a panhandler, across the street, into another panhandler, into my building . . . only to discover . . . I left my badge to get into the building in my car. Grrr. Again, nothing really bad, just really inconvenient.
So, past the panhandler, across the street, another panhandler, through the courtyard, into and through the building, into the parking garage, up the elevator, to my car. Got my badge. All was good with my world.
Let's skip ahead to lunchtime. This was one of the few days I didn't pack my lunch. That shouldn't have been a big deal. Eating downtown can be a little pricey, but there are a lot of places to eat within walking distance.
My boss and I usually have lunch together. He chose to forego the sandwich he brought for lunch opting for lunch out as well. We decided to head to the Galleria. The Galleria does have a couple of restaurants, but more importantly, it has a food court. Gotta love a food court! Something for everyone.
We bundled up against the cold and headed out. Once we walked into the Galleria, what do I see between me and the food court? Dogs. Lots and lots of dogs. Some were sort of penned inside of portable two-foot high fences. Some were on leashes, and I'm not all that sure that some weren't just running loose. Those of you that know me, know that dogs terrify me probably more than spiders do. To say that I wanted to cry and bolt out of there is an understatement. I started to shake and seriously my life past before my eyes. Here, they were having some sort of pet adoption thing happening at the Galleria. Had I known, I'd have skipped lunch.
So as to show as little weakness as possible to the boss so as not to give him ammunition to use against me at a later time, I took the long way around and got past the dogs. I still just wanted to hide and cry, but I made it by them. I grabbed a sandwich, and made sure I sat with my back to the pooches. I figured what I couldn't see couldn't kill me! It was all good until it was time to go. Again, some fancy footwork kept as much space and as many people between me and the dogs. I lived through the experience.
Now we move to my drive home. I got on the right freeway and headed home! Closer to home, the freeway goes from three lanes down to two lanes. It was in the two lane part, at the exit just before my exit. This is a very busy exit and entrance. There always seems to be a steady stream of cars entering the freeway here, so I like to try to get in the left lane to give traffic room to merge onto the freeway. Again, it's only two lanes here. Well, there seemed to be more cars than usual getting on here. I kept looking for a hole to move back into the right lane. I foolishly passed a couple of holes I could have made, looking at a big one up ahead. Just as I was reaching this hole, the car in front of me stepped on the brakes and slowed waaaay down. He chose to move over into my hole! The way he slowed down and the time he took moving over, the hole closed. No room for me and my Honda. Dang it! I get so angry when someone cuts me off, I can't do it knowingly to other people. So, since I waited too long, now I missed my exit.
I blurted out a few expletives at myself and kept going to the next exit and doubled back to the house.
Now, it's been kinda a bad day. Nothing terrible, but just really, really irritating. Ron, being the great guy he is, said he'd take me out to dinner since I had such a poopy day. WOO HOO! Things are looking up!
I decided I had a hankering for Ponderosa. And, being difficult, I wanted the Ponderosa in the next town. That one seems to be to be much nicer, cleaner, food is better and the service is tops! It's worth the extra 10 minutes to get there.
We pulled into Ponderosa and saw the sign. Santa Claus was at Ponderosa last night, and kids got a free picture with Santa! Hey, I may not technically be a kid, but I had enough kid in me. I didn't want to hurt the guy by sitting on his lap, but I did want to go over and say howdy!
Santa shook my hand and I said "hey Santa! I've been a very good girl this year, so I'm expecting good things from you!"
With the signature twinkle in his eye, he replied "Who are you kidding? Remember, I have a list and I've checked it twice. You have a week to clean up your act or nothing from Santa!"
HELLO???? Dissed by Santa??? Oh the horror!
The guy had me laughing, but c'mon. What a way to end my day. Dissed by Santa. And only a week to clean up my act? I better not even think of leaving the house and I may have a chance. Wish me luck!
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
I Heart Shopping
Last night, Ron and I hit the roads to do some shopping.
First, you have to know, I hate shopping. I really do. In spite of the title of this post. Especially at Christmas time. You'd think some sort of Christian spirit would be with people. Isn't that what this whole time of year is supposed to be about?
Unfortunately, the only spirit filling people is the spirit of "Me First" and I think a little of "Kill or Be Killed". Since when did K-mart shopping become a kamikaze mission?
Our purpose for being out in the battle zone wasn't even really any Christmas shopping. We needed survival stuff. We were in serious need of some Ice Melt for the ice in the driveway, and vacuum bags. My vacuum bag was so full, it wouldn't accept one more spec of dust! Knowing me, y'all can probably pretty much guess where this story is going.
We came home with almost everything . . . except . . . the Ice Melt and the vacuum bags.
In our defense, we looked more than one place and could not find a vacuum bag size J for an upright Eureka vacuum. We could find a size J belt and a size J hepa filter but no dang bags. The Ice Melt however, was totally overlooked until we got home and we slipped in the driveway unloading the van. Go figure.
The only good that came out of last night was we just about completed our Christmas shopping. I did need to stop today for a few last items, but the bulk of it was done last night.
As a side note to the Christmas shopping, I did have one moment of desperation at K-Mart. I actually stopped a young Hispanic couple with a cart full of toys to ask them if they knew any four year old girls. Just before they screamed for security, I added the fact that we had to buy for a four year old girl and we knew pretty much nothing about what a four year old girl would want! With their fears calmed, they gave us some good ideas of things that would work. So as not to tempt anyone into telling Ron's great-niece what we ended up getting her, I'm not telling here what it was!
I have one more gift to get, something for Dad. I know what I'm getting, I just haven't gone to the Dad's Gift Store yet to pick it up. And, before you ask, I'm not telling what this is either! I don't want anyone telling him before hand! It's gonna be a surprise. I will tell you, I know he'll love it!
First, you have to know, I hate shopping. I really do. In spite of the title of this post. Especially at Christmas time. You'd think some sort of Christian spirit would be with people. Isn't that what this whole time of year is supposed to be about?
Unfortunately, the only spirit filling people is the spirit of "Me First" and I think a little of "Kill or Be Killed". Since when did K-mart shopping become a kamikaze mission?
Our purpose for being out in the battle zone wasn't even really any Christmas shopping. We needed survival stuff. We were in serious need of some Ice Melt for the ice in the driveway, and vacuum bags. My vacuum bag was so full, it wouldn't accept one more spec of dust! Knowing me, y'all can probably pretty much guess where this story is going.
We came home with almost everything . . . except . . . the Ice Melt and the vacuum bags.
In our defense, we looked more than one place and could not find a vacuum bag size J for an upright Eureka vacuum. We could find a size J belt and a size J hepa filter but no dang bags. The Ice Melt however, was totally overlooked until we got home and we slipped in the driveway unloading the van. Go figure.
The only good that came out of last night was we just about completed our Christmas shopping. I did need to stop today for a few last items, but the bulk of it was done last night.
As a side note to the Christmas shopping, I did have one moment of desperation at K-Mart. I actually stopped a young Hispanic couple with a cart full of toys to ask them if they knew any four year old girls. Just before they screamed for security, I added the fact that we had to buy for a four year old girl and we knew pretty much nothing about what a four year old girl would want! With their fears calmed, they gave us some good ideas of things that would work. So as not to tempt anyone into telling Ron's great-niece what we ended up getting her, I'm not telling here what it was!
I have one more gift to get, something for Dad. I know what I'm getting, I just haven't gone to the Dad's Gift Store yet to pick it up. And, before you ask, I'm not telling what this is either! I don't want anyone telling him before hand! It's gonna be a surprise. I will tell you, I know he'll love it!
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Women Are From Venus, Men Are From The Hardware Store
We had one heck of an exciting day at our house. Well, actually it started last night.
Ron and I after dinner headed to one of the chain hardware type stores. Our big plan for this weekend was to get some insulation blown into the attic floor. We are all about trying to save some cash this year with the heating bills. This is something we've talked about doing since we moved in. This project really moved up on our priority list!
Ron figured out how much insulation he thought we'd need, and we grabbed a few more bags, just in case. As long as you bought ten bags of insulation, the rental of the blower was free. We had 30 bags. Free rental right here!
One bag of insulation is about one foot square by two feet long. We filled up two flat bed carts with our 30 bags. On top of that is the blower, and add to that two huge garbage cans that held the 100' of hose. At this hardware store we have me, my car, Ron and his van. There was no way in heck we were fitting in all I just mentioned even into both of our vehicles. What do we do? We called our friend Larry! It's great to know someone with a truck!
Even though it was after 8:00 p.m., Larry said he'd come help us. He met us right away. We loaded up his truck, the guys tied it all down, and we had a convoy over to our house. After loading up two flat bed carts, then unloading them into the truck, I didn't relish the thought of unloading them again that night into the garage. We had Larry back up his truck right into the garage. Since he had the plow on front of the truck, we couldn't close the garage door. We had to cross our fingers and hope like heck no one was going to steal anything. I think we got lucky on that end!
Larry went home with my car and promised to be back at 8:00 a.m. to help Ron with this project. In return, he asked for breakfast. That worked for me! I had Mom's waffles and sausage links ready around 8:00 a.m. We all had breakfast and then the guys got to work.
The most amazing thing to me is what is in a guy's DNA that is not in most women. They just "know" stuff. They may not know why the sky is blue or why water is wet, but the important stuff, they just KNOW. The blower machine came with no instruction booklet. But yet the guys KNEW how to work it. Neither one of them had ever blown insulation before, but somehow they just KNEW what to do. That amazes me. I wouldn't have figured this out had my life depended on it.
Luckily my job was just to run tools up and down and to fix meals. There were serious meetings up in the attic then down in the driveway, but eventually the guys got their system down. A few hours later, it was DONE! I can't believe it!!!
Ron and Larry ran the blower back, took back seven extra bags of insulation, Ron put the attic windows back in (we had the hose coming in the attic window) and we were done.
Now, it may be my imagination, but I swear it is so much warmer up here. The first floor of the house was good about holding the heat or the air conditioning. This second floor was another story. For example, right here where I sit at my computer, I have a blanket on the back of the chair and a heating pad on my desk. On the really cold nights, I have the blanket around me and the heating pad on me somewhere. Socks aren't enough on my feet, some nights I have to put my shoes back on.
Tonight though...I took a long hot bath, and came to my chair. That was a couple of hours ago. I am still barefoot! The floor feels warmer, heck the entire room is warmer! And the temp outside is only 27 degrees.
I know I'm rambling, but I am just so excited! These guys worked really really hard today. They made a slight mess out of the house, but by golly, it's warm in here! This is the first winter night in the two years we've been here that I can say that! Is it just my imagination? Can it be true?? I am warm!!
Thanks to both Ron and Larry for the hard work today. I am truly grateful. You guys are awesome!
Ron and I after dinner headed to one of the chain hardware type stores. Our big plan for this weekend was to get some insulation blown into the attic floor. We are all about trying to save some cash this year with the heating bills. This is something we've talked about doing since we moved in. This project really moved up on our priority list!
Ron figured out how much insulation he thought we'd need, and we grabbed a few more bags, just in case. As long as you bought ten bags of insulation, the rental of the blower was free. We had 30 bags. Free rental right here!
One bag of insulation is about one foot square by two feet long. We filled up two flat bed carts with our 30 bags. On top of that is the blower, and add to that two huge garbage cans that held the 100' of hose. At this hardware store we have me, my car, Ron and his van. There was no way in heck we were fitting in all I just mentioned even into both of our vehicles. What do we do? We called our friend Larry! It's great to know someone with a truck!
Even though it was after 8:00 p.m., Larry said he'd come help us. He met us right away. We loaded up his truck, the guys tied it all down, and we had a convoy over to our house. After loading up two flat bed carts, then unloading them into the truck, I didn't relish the thought of unloading them again that night into the garage. We had Larry back up his truck right into the garage. Since he had the plow on front of the truck, we couldn't close the garage door. We had to cross our fingers and hope like heck no one was going to steal anything. I think we got lucky on that end!
Larry went home with my car and promised to be back at 8:00 a.m. to help Ron with this project. In return, he asked for breakfast. That worked for me! I had Mom's waffles and sausage links ready around 8:00 a.m. We all had breakfast and then the guys got to work.
The most amazing thing to me is what is in a guy's DNA that is not in most women. They just "know" stuff. They may not know why the sky is blue or why water is wet, but the important stuff, they just KNOW. The blower machine came with no instruction booklet. But yet the guys KNEW how to work it. Neither one of them had ever blown insulation before, but somehow they just KNEW what to do. That amazes me. I wouldn't have figured this out had my life depended on it.
Luckily my job was just to run tools up and down and to fix meals. There were serious meetings up in the attic then down in the driveway, but eventually the guys got their system down. A few hours later, it was DONE! I can't believe it!!!
Ron and Larry ran the blower back, took back seven extra bags of insulation, Ron put the attic windows back in (we had the hose coming in the attic window) and we were done.
Now, it may be my imagination, but I swear it is so much warmer up here. The first floor of the house was good about holding the heat or the air conditioning. This second floor was another story. For example, right here where I sit at my computer, I have a blanket on the back of the chair and a heating pad on my desk. On the really cold nights, I have the blanket around me and the heating pad on me somewhere. Socks aren't enough on my feet, some nights I have to put my shoes back on.
Tonight though...I took a long hot bath, and came to my chair. That was a couple of hours ago. I am still barefoot! The floor feels warmer, heck the entire room is warmer! And the temp outside is only 27 degrees.
I know I'm rambling, but I am just so excited! These guys worked really really hard today. They made a slight mess out of the house, but by golly, it's warm in here! This is the first winter night in the two years we've been here that I can say that! Is it just my imagination? Can it be true?? I am warm!!
Thanks to both Ron and Larry for the hard work today. I am truly grateful. You guys are awesome!
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Stuff
Ugh, I'm still sick.
My nose has stopped running like a faucet, now I'm just contending with a cough. But what a cough. I think I've even coughed up part of a lung. And, I think I might have a brain aneurysm. Yeah, that's it. I'm coughing that hard.
For the record, Rite Aid's Tussin CF is the bomb! $5.99 of liquid gold. Unfortunately (or fortunately) it gives me a little buzz, so it's no good for day time use. However, since starting on my CF, I've had very restful nights with no coughs. Amen.
I think Ron is finally on the mend as well. We're still a couple of hacking wheezing coughing fools, but less so every day! Can y'all get a visual yet?
Let's see what's happening since I last wrote:
I had to get a new driver's license! Unlike Texas who just slaps your old picture on a new piece of paper, Ohio makes you take your picture again. It was very wrong of me to go to the license bureau the day before my hair cut! In Texas, I'd never age. Here I look like poop! Stuffy nose, puffy eyes, she at least took the picture in between coughing fits. That's talent! The good thing is that I had my good coat on! So, if you don't look at my face it's all good!
Speaking of my good coat, Ron and I did a little early Christmas shopping. I wanted some nice black dress gloves to go with my good coat. Which, is black. I realized all of my gloves are blue. Go figure. You'd think it was my favorite color or something! Anyway, I wanted to be more color coordinated. We had a night of all about me.
It started at A.J. Wright. I saw nothing there that tickled my fancy. Down the plaza to PayLess Shoes! Hey, how can you NOT find something in there to tickle ya! Ok, I picked up two new pairs of shoes. C'mon...cut a girl some slack. It's been at least a year since I've bought a new shoe! So, now I have some new black dress shoes and a nice pair of brown loafers. A good shoe day, I must say. From PayLess to K-mart, the glove store. Yep, a good shopping night for me!
See why I haven't written lately? Here's the highlight of my life right now. PayLess Shoes and black gloves.
Ok, that's it for now. I need a dose of my CF.
My nose has stopped running like a faucet, now I'm just contending with a cough. But what a cough. I think I've even coughed up part of a lung. And, I think I might have a brain aneurysm. Yeah, that's it. I'm coughing that hard.
For the record, Rite Aid's Tussin CF is the bomb! $5.99 of liquid gold. Unfortunately (or fortunately) it gives me a little buzz, so it's no good for day time use. However, since starting on my CF, I've had very restful nights with no coughs. Amen.
I think Ron is finally on the mend as well. We're still a couple of hacking wheezing coughing fools, but less so every day! Can y'all get a visual yet?
Let's see what's happening since I last wrote:
I had to get a new driver's license! Unlike Texas who just slaps your old picture on a new piece of paper, Ohio makes you take your picture again. It was very wrong of me to go to the license bureau the day before my hair cut! In Texas, I'd never age. Here I look like poop! Stuffy nose, puffy eyes, she at least took the picture in between coughing fits. That's talent! The good thing is that I had my good coat on! So, if you don't look at my face it's all good!
Speaking of my good coat, Ron and I did a little early Christmas shopping. I wanted some nice black dress gloves to go with my good coat. Which, is black. I realized all of my gloves are blue. Go figure. You'd think it was my favorite color or something! Anyway, I wanted to be more color coordinated. We had a night of all about me.
It started at A.J. Wright. I saw nothing there that tickled my fancy. Down the plaza to PayLess Shoes! Hey, how can you NOT find something in there to tickle ya! Ok, I picked up two new pairs of shoes. C'mon...cut a girl some slack. It's been at least a year since I've bought a new shoe! So, now I have some new black dress shoes and a nice pair of brown loafers. A good shoe day, I must say. From PayLess to K-mart, the glove store. Yep, a good shopping night for me!
See why I haven't written lately? Here's the highlight of my life right now. PayLess Shoes and black gloves.
Ok, that's it for now. I need a dose of my CF.
Thursday, December 01, 2005
It's Been A Long Road
Anyone know what today is?
Four years ago today, I stepped foot into Ohio as a new resident. Four years ago, brother Michael brought me bag and baggage back to the north. We had to cross the Mississippi River three times to get here from Texas, but by golly, we got here. (Hey, I was navigating. I keep telling you I'm directionally challenged.
I thought I'd take this opportunity to take stock of myself and see what has happened to me in the last four years. Here's the good, the bad and the ugly, in no particular order.
In four years, I have:
Four years ago today, I stepped foot into Ohio as a new resident. Four years ago, brother Michael brought me bag and baggage back to the north. We had to cross the Mississippi River three times to get here from Texas, but by golly, we got here. (Hey, I was navigating. I keep telling you I'm directionally challenged.
I thought I'd take this opportunity to take stock of myself and see what has happened to me in the last four years. Here's the good, the bad and the ugly, in no particular order.
In four years, I have:
- Moved three times
- Bought my first house
- Had two surgeries
- Got lost numerous times
- Got found numerous times
- Learned I'm stronger than I give myself credit for
- Found a job, lost a job, found another job
- Traveled for work, something I swore I'd never do. I've been to Atlanta, Topeka, Chicago, Harrisburg, Columbus to name a few
- Found Ron (Dang lucky find, I might add!)
- Got to be here for the new additions to our family, my two great-nephews, plus here to hear that two more are on the way! (However, I still say that one of them is having a girl this time!)
- Bought a new car
- Heard and dealt with things that go bump in my night
- Got a new bad habit called Club Pogo
- Got another new bad habit called my DVR
- Learned how to mow the grass and how to plow the driveway
- Searched for inner peace
- Searched for my faith
- Found great new friends
- Held on to old and dear friends
Four years. So much has changed in four years. I really don't think I am the same person I was four years ago. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. I know I've grown. I think I've matured. I am definitely wiser about a lot of things than I was when I got here.
So, my friends, what now. Who knows? Will there be another house? Another move? Another car? Another job? I guess we'll have to go through it one day at a time. Keep checking back here for updates. I have a feeling that the next four years will be exciting!
Monday, November 28, 2005
I Wasn't Fast Enough
Yep, I couldn't run fast enough. A dirty rotten cold caught up with me.
I was feeling a little punk yesterday. I thought it was the day, or the end of a long weekend or just feeling a little blue with the holiday. Ha. I was up half the night with a sore throat. Today, my dirty rotten cold hit me right in the face.
My face feels like it's swollen, my sinuses are so full. And, it's already backing up into my ears. Everything sounds like I'm underwater. I hate that.
But, I went to work anyway. Before I left, I grabbed a huge handful of tissues from the box, since my nose is running faster than most faucets. By 10:30 a.m., I was out of tissues. Lucky for me, there is a pharmacy right next door to where I'm working. So, I took a break, and headed downstairs and next door. Relief was just a few steps away.
Unfortunately, I had to run the gauntlet first. As in any downtown area in a larger city, I had to run the gauntlet of panhandlers. And trust me, they are everywhere. I get accosted every morning leaving the parking garage, crossing the street, trying to get into the door of my building. Keep in mind, I'm there before 7:00 a.m. It's still dark outside. One day I'm going to get mugged and probably shot because I'll try rebuffing him thinking he's a panhandler. Grr, I hate downtown.
Anyway, today at least I had a courteous panhandler. As I stated, I went next door to get some tissues and throat lozenges. My local panhandler opened the door for me going into the pharmacy, and he was waiting there to open the door for me to leave. Hey, with that service, how could I say not give up some cash?
Sharing the love as I like to say. And, I'm hearing Ron start to sneeze and snortle and cough behind me. I guess I shared some love with him too. Sorry, honey. A word for the wise out there....avoid our house for the next few days! If you choose to ignore this warning though....bring tissues. The ones with lotion, please!
I was feeling a little punk yesterday. I thought it was the day, or the end of a long weekend or just feeling a little blue with the holiday. Ha. I was up half the night with a sore throat. Today, my dirty rotten cold hit me right in the face.
My face feels like it's swollen, my sinuses are so full. And, it's already backing up into my ears. Everything sounds like I'm underwater. I hate that.
But, I went to work anyway. Before I left, I grabbed a huge handful of tissues from the box, since my nose is running faster than most faucets. By 10:30 a.m., I was out of tissues. Lucky for me, there is a pharmacy right next door to where I'm working. So, I took a break, and headed downstairs and next door. Relief was just a few steps away.
Unfortunately, I had to run the gauntlet first. As in any downtown area in a larger city, I had to run the gauntlet of panhandlers. And trust me, they are everywhere. I get accosted every morning leaving the parking garage, crossing the street, trying to get into the door of my building. Keep in mind, I'm there before 7:00 a.m. It's still dark outside. One day I'm going to get mugged and probably shot because I'll try rebuffing him thinking he's a panhandler. Grr, I hate downtown.
Anyway, today at least I had a courteous panhandler. As I stated, I went next door to get some tissues and throat lozenges. My local panhandler opened the door for me going into the pharmacy, and he was waiting there to open the door for me to leave. Hey, with that service, how could I say not give up some cash?
Sharing the love as I like to say. And, I'm hearing Ron start to sneeze and snortle and cough behind me. I guess I shared some love with him too. Sorry, honey. A word for the wise out there....avoid our house for the next few days! If you choose to ignore this warning though....bring tissues. The ones with lotion, please!
Friday, November 25, 2005
I Am Moving Up
We started a new audit this past Monday. I am now working right smack in the middle of downtown.
Since I am directionally challenged, Ron took a ride with me last Sunday so that I could make sure I could find my way to the new audit on Monday. Well, I kinda knew where the right building was, but I wanted to make sure I knew where the closest parking ramp was and how to get to the building from there.
This sounds like it should have been an easy Monday morning. I did a test run, so I knew where the parking ramp was, I knew which way to walk from the ramp to the audit, and I knew my contact's name. What could possibly have gone wrong?
Let's start with my parking ramp of choice. This ramp happens to be a designated ramp for one of the major hotels downtown. This ramp also accepts public parking. There are two entrance and two exit lanes at this ramp. I saw one entrance and exit ramp for card holders only. I went past that ramp to the next one which was marked for public access. How could I get into trouble here?
I did what most people would do. I pulled up to the gate and looked to the box on my left, assuming it would be where I get my ticket. But no. It was a machine for people with access cards. You insert your access card into this machine and the gate will open. Hello? If this is the public access lane, where the heck is that box? Now there is a freakin' line of cars behind me and I'm stuck between an SUV and a closed gate. This sucks. As I was starting to panic, I looked around. Here, the machine with the button that says "push here for card" is about five feet behind me. The SUV's bumper is a lot closer to me than that. With the card holder's access machine right next to me, there is no way I can open my door, get out of the car and walk the five feet back. We all need to back up. Finally, the idiot behind me realized he was behind a bigger idiot and backed up enough so that I could stretch farther than I ever thought I could and get my dang ticket. Finally, the offending gate opened.
I headed up the ramp, and up the ramp, and up the ramp. As long as I don't end up on the roof, I consider it a good parking spot. I found a good parking spot. I thought I would be a good girl and take the steps down, but the stairwell was really a frightening place. More lights not working than were working. I opted for safety, shut the door and headed for the elevator.
When the elevator gets to the ground floor, you walk out into a little foyer. The only place to go from there is out one of the double doors that goes to the street. I push on one door. Nothing. I push on the other, still nothing. I again look around. On the left is a sign that states I needed to push this button to open the door. Ok, I can do that. Button was pushed repeatedly but still, neither door would open. So now what am I supposed to do? I can see life passing me by on the street, and I'm stuck in a foyer. I see on the outside a sign that says you have to have a card to get back in this door. The only people with this card are people from the hotel that are allowed to park there or people that pay by the month. So, now I start thinking that if I ever get out of this foyer, how in the heck am I going to get back in? But, I digress.
Finally, some guy comes down the elevator, realizes I'm an idiot, and tells me the secret of getting out of the foyer. He told me to hold the button IN and then the door will open. Duh. Sure. Once you knew the secret, the door worked. Before I could ask him now how do I get back in after work, poof! He was gone. Oh well.
So, across the street and down the block and there I am. I had a few problems finding the correct door, but I finally made it. And believe it or not, right on time.
The day was pretty uneventful. The best part is that our office is on the 14th floor, where one wall is a window that looks out over the lake! Man, this must be how the other half lives. This sure makes up for the other audits where I'm stuck in a basement, or an outhouse. The only bad part about this is how hard it is to concentrate when I have this kind of view!
For the curious, I couldn't get into the same door of the parking ramp that I left from. I had to walk down the side street a bit to where I pulled in that morning. I asked the attendant at the exit booth how do I get back to the elevator. I had to walk down the ramp to the basement floor and get the elevator there. What a nightmare. Luckily, the next day I chose the ramp across the street from the first ramp. For $1.00 more a day, there were more lights, no confusing signs or boxes or gates, and many, many, many more lights that worked.
For now I'll have to fight the traffic in and out of downtown every day. At least I found a better parking ramp to park in. Life is good.
Since I am directionally challenged, Ron took a ride with me last Sunday so that I could make sure I could find my way to the new audit on Monday. Well, I kinda knew where the right building was, but I wanted to make sure I knew where the closest parking ramp was and how to get to the building from there.
This sounds like it should have been an easy Monday morning. I did a test run, so I knew where the parking ramp was, I knew which way to walk from the ramp to the audit, and I knew my contact's name. What could possibly have gone wrong?
Let's start with my parking ramp of choice. This ramp happens to be a designated ramp for one of the major hotels downtown. This ramp also accepts public parking. There are two entrance and two exit lanes at this ramp. I saw one entrance and exit ramp for card holders only. I went past that ramp to the next one which was marked for public access. How could I get into trouble here?
I did what most people would do. I pulled up to the gate and looked to the box on my left, assuming it would be where I get my ticket. But no. It was a machine for people with access cards. You insert your access card into this machine and the gate will open. Hello? If this is the public access lane, where the heck is that box? Now there is a freakin' line of cars behind me and I'm stuck between an SUV and a closed gate. This sucks. As I was starting to panic, I looked around. Here, the machine with the button that says "push here for card" is about five feet behind me. The SUV's bumper is a lot closer to me than that. With the card holder's access machine right next to me, there is no way I can open my door, get out of the car and walk the five feet back. We all need to back up. Finally, the idiot behind me realized he was behind a bigger idiot and backed up enough so that I could stretch farther than I ever thought I could and get my dang ticket. Finally, the offending gate opened.
I headed up the ramp, and up the ramp, and up the ramp. As long as I don't end up on the roof, I consider it a good parking spot. I found a good parking spot. I thought I would be a good girl and take the steps down, but the stairwell was really a frightening place. More lights not working than were working. I opted for safety, shut the door and headed for the elevator.
When the elevator gets to the ground floor, you walk out into a little foyer. The only place to go from there is out one of the double doors that goes to the street. I push on one door. Nothing. I push on the other, still nothing. I again look around. On the left is a sign that states I needed to push this button to open the door. Ok, I can do that. Button was pushed repeatedly but still, neither door would open. So now what am I supposed to do? I can see life passing me by on the street, and I'm stuck in a foyer. I see on the outside a sign that says you have to have a card to get back in this door. The only people with this card are people from the hotel that are allowed to park there or people that pay by the month. So, now I start thinking that if I ever get out of this foyer, how in the heck am I going to get back in? But, I digress.
Finally, some guy comes down the elevator, realizes I'm an idiot, and tells me the secret of getting out of the foyer. He told me to hold the button IN and then the door will open. Duh. Sure. Once you knew the secret, the door worked. Before I could ask him now how do I get back in after work, poof! He was gone. Oh well.
So, across the street and down the block and there I am. I had a few problems finding the correct door, but I finally made it. And believe it or not, right on time.
The day was pretty uneventful. The best part is that our office is on the 14th floor, where one wall is a window that looks out over the lake! Man, this must be how the other half lives. This sure makes up for the other audits where I'm stuck in a basement, or an outhouse. The only bad part about this is how hard it is to concentrate when I have this kind of view!
For the curious, I couldn't get into the same door of the parking ramp that I left from. I had to walk down the side street a bit to where I pulled in that morning. I asked the attendant at the exit booth how do I get back to the elevator. I had to walk down the ramp to the basement floor and get the elevator there. What a nightmare. Luckily, the next day I chose the ramp across the street from the first ramp. For $1.00 more a day, there were more lights, no confusing signs or boxes or gates, and many, many, many more lights that worked.
For now I'll have to fight the traffic in and out of downtown every day. At least I found a better parking ramp to park in. Life is good.
Thursday, November 24, 2005
Happy Turkey Day!
Happy Thanksgiving to one and all!
It's been a quiet day in our household. We watched the snow, we watched the wind blowing. I don't think I've been warm all day since I came out from under the electric blanket!
We have family plans the rest of the weekend. Since we'll get our fair share of the most scrumptious poultry dish there is, we decided to make one of our other favorite meals for dinner today.
Meatloaf! Scoff if you will, this is one meal that just gives me a warm fuzzy feeling. It's comfort food for my soul. We had an awesome meatloaf, some mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans and even garlic bread. Believe it or not, even without the triptophan from the turkey, we are both exhausted. And stuffed!
For now I'm going to go downstairs and do some time on the treadmill. I need to make sure I can handle the turkey dinners to come!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone. May we all have a safe and happy holiday season!
It's been a quiet day in our household. We watched the snow, we watched the wind blowing. I don't think I've been warm all day since I came out from under the electric blanket!
We have family plans the rest of the weekend. Since we'll get our fair share of the most scrumptious poultry dish there is, we decided to make one of our other favorite meals for dinner today.
Meatloaf! Scoff if you will, this is one meal that just gives me a warm fuzzy feeling. It's comfort food for my soul. We had an awesome meatloaf, some mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans and even garlic bread. Believe it or not, even without the triptophan from the turkey, we are both exhausted. And stuffed!
For now I'm going to go downstairs and do some time on the treadmill. I need to make sure I can handle the turkey dinners to come!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone. May we all have a safe and happy holiday season!
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Remember Me?
Remember me? I'm the person that used to blog! I can't believe I've slacked off so much. No excuse, just haven't made the time to sit and write.
I have a bunch of half thoughts running in my head, ideas and even some pictures to blog about. So, now I'll just pick one and get started.
As a last minute substitution idea, this blog is going to be a complaint. I should have written this one last week when I first started to get peeved about it.
Has anyone else noticed how early people are putting up Christmas lights this year? Granted, the stores have been decked out in holly for weeks now, but I can't believe how many people jumped on this bandwagon.
Since when did it become ok to take down the Halloween lights and put up Christmas lights? Are we to just forget about Thanksgiving? What's next? Take the Christmas lights down, put up the St. Patrick's Day Green and then right back to Christmas decorations?
My vote is to go back the way it was...the way it should be. The Christmas season is not allowed to start until you see Santa Claus at the end of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
I have a bunch of half thoughts running in my head, ideas and even some pictures to blog about. So, now I'll just pick one and get started.
As a last minute substitution idea, this blog is going to be a complaint. I should have written this one last week when I first started to get peeved about it.
Has anyone else noticed how early people are putting up Christmas lights this year? Granted, the stores have been decked out in holly for weeks now, but I can't believe how many people jumped on this bandwagon.
Since when did it become ok to take down the Halloween lights and put up Christmas lights? Are we to just forget about Thanksgiving? What's next? Take the Christmas lights down, put up the St. Patrick's Day Green and then right back to Christmas decorations?
My vote is to go back the way it was...the way it should be. The Christmas season is not allowed to start until you see Santa Claus at the end of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Monday, November 14, 2005
What's In A Dream?
Wow.
Aside from being restless at night, my nights have also been filled with wacko dreams. I won't even get into the one where my boss and I are stuck on the 92nd floor of a skyscraper. Yes, that's Ninety Second Floor. Who would even believe that I of all people would go that high in any building let alone with my boss? But, I digress.
So, let me tell you about my latest dream.
This takes place at Aunt Mary's/Mom and Dad's. It doesn't look like it does now, but like it did then. Now that you have that picture, here we go.
Mom and Aunt Mary bought a dog. It was a good sized dark brownish, blackish dog. Mom was getting a water dish ready for the dog (no idea what his name was!) and wanted me to go downstairs to Aunt Mary's to get the dog.
I'm watching Mom get the dog's water dish ready. She is using one of Dad's insulin needles to suck up some Jose Cuervo tequila and squirting into the dog's water dish along with the water. I tried to reason with Mom, mentioning that the dog has already had a decongestant and a pain pill. He doesn't NEED any tequila! Mom assured me that the dog did indeed need the shot of tequila because she wanted to make sure the dog slept the night.
Wait! It gets worse.
I go downstairs to get the dog to bring him upstairs for his water. Billy is walking from the kitchen to the livingroom, pulling his pants down over his right butt cheek to show his new American Flag tattoo.
To recap:
Mom is still alive and she and Aunt Mary bought a dog that Mom wants to feed tequila. Not just any tequila, but Jose Cuervo tequila. That and Billy showing me half of his butt so I can see his new tattoo.
I may need therapy after this dream!
Aside from being restless at night, my nights have also been filled with wacko dreams. I won't even get into the one where my boss and I are stuck on the 92nd floor of a skyscraper. Yes, that's Ninety Second Floor. Who would even believe that I of all people would go that high in any building let alone with my boss? But, I digress.
So, let me tell you about my latest dream.
This takes place at Aunt Mary's/Mom and Dad's. It doesn't look like it does now, but like it did then. Now that you have that picture, here we go.
Mom and Aunt Mary bought a dog. It was a good sized dark brownish, blackish dog. Mom was getting a water dish ready for the dog (no idea what his name was!) and wanted me to go downstairs to Aunt Mary's to get the dog.
I'm watching Mom get the dog's water dish ready. She is using one of Dad's insulin needles to suck up some Jose Cuervo tequila and squirting into the dog's water dish along with the water. I tried to reason with Mom, mentioning that the dog has already had a decongestant and a pain pill. He doesn't NEED any tequila! Mom assured me that the dog did indeed need the shot of tequila because she wanted to make sure the dog slept the night.
Wait! It gets worse.
I go downstairs to get the dog to bring him upstairs for his water. Billy is walking from the kitchen to the livingroom, pulling his pants down over his right butt cheek to show his new American Flag tattoo.
To recap:
Mom is still alive and she and Aunt Mary bought a dog that Mom wants to feed tequila. Not just any tequila, but Jose Cuervo tequila. That and Billy showing me half of his butt so I can see his new tattoo.
I may need therapy after this dream!
Sunday, November 13, 2005
I Still Hear Her Saying "I Told You So"!
Years ago, while I was living in Texas, I was on the phone with my sister Barb. I was probably calling her for directions to make something! She was always good for that. She knew almost everything I needed to know.
I remember this one day in particular. Whatever it was she was trying to teach me, she said something like "just use your rolling pin". To which I replied "I don't own a rolling pin".
Believe it or not, we actually got in an argument over the rolling pin! She couldn't believe that a woman in her 30s wouldn't own a rolling pin and I countered with I'm not a baker, so why would I need it? We went round and round and finally, I relented. My next shopping trip found me in the kitchenware aisle buying a dang rolling pin!
I can count on one hand how many times I've used this rolling pin. It sat in my cupboard for years untouched. I think the first time I used it I was already in Ohio! Even now, when I do use the rolling pin, I generally use it for other purposes. For example, it's great for pounding raw chicken! A couple of pieces of plastic wrap around the chicken, a nice wooden cutting board and my rolling pin! Works great every time.
Friday night I was making chicken breasts. The recipe I was using required the chicken be pounded to 1/4" thick. So, I got out the wooden cutting board, the plastic wrap, and went to town with my rolling pin pounding the heck out of the chicken.
Even now, years later, whenever I pull out that rolling pin, no matter what I'm going to use it for, I hear Barb in my ear telling me "I TOLD you you needed a rolling pin!" How right she was!
I remember this one day in particular. Whatever it was she was trying to teach me, she said something like "just use your rolling pin". To which I replied "I don't own a rolling pin".
Believe it or not, we actually got in an argument over the rolling pin! She couldn't believe that a woman in her 30s wouldn't own a rolling pin and I countered with I'm not a baker, so why would I need it? We went round and round and finally, I relented. My next shopping trip found me in the kitchenware aisle buying a dang rolling pin!
I can count on one hand how many times I've used this rolling pin. It sat in my cupboard for years untouched. I think the first time I used it I was already in Ohio! Even now, when I do use the rolling pin, I generally use it for other purposes. For example, it's great for pounding raw chicken! A couple of pieces of plastic wrap around the chicken, a nice wooden cutting board and my rolling pin! Works great every time.
Friday night I was making chicken breasts. The recipe I was using required the chicken be pounded to 1/4" thick. So, I got out the wooden cutting board, the plastic wrap, and went to town with my rolling pin pounding the heck out of the chicken.
Even now, years later, whenever I pull out that rolling pin, no matter what I'm going to use it for, I hear Barb in my ear telling me "I TOLD you you needed a rolling pin!" How right she was!
Thursday, November 10, 2005
I Can't Believe I Missed It!
I have not been sleeping well the last few nights.
I can't really pin it on anything in particular; I don't think I'm overly anxious about anything new, no new problems, no new issues. I'm pooped before bedtime, fall asleep more or less ok but I just don't stay that way.
Then I can't get comfy. I really don't like our bed, but that's really a whole other story. Regardless, I don't think I can blame my recent restlessness totally on the bed. So, I lay there only so long and then work my way downstairs to the livingroom.
I recline on the recliner, cover with my favorite blanket, take remote control in hand and confirm that there is nothing worth watching on TV after 3:30 in the morning. In case anyone cares, there are really no entertaining infomercials quite like the ones from Ronco. But, I digress.
At 5:00 this morning, I came across a show on one of the ESPN channels. It was a fishing show. YES, I like to watch fishing shows! Anyway, there were two guys on the back of a sports fishing boat. I didn't catch where they were, but the water was blue and absolutely gorgeous.
The announcer for the show sounded very ominous. When I first came across it while channel surfing, I almost thought it was a movie. The announcer kept making comments like "if only they knew the monster they were dealing with" or "too bad they didn't realize the kind of beast they were about to meet". That sure piqued my interest.
Two guys, back of a sports fishing boat, one pole bending into the water with the owner of the pole shouting "I think it's a marlin! I think it's a marlin! It HAS to be a marlin!!!" Sure enough, this beast broke out of the water! What a magnificent creature! I thought I was mesmerized with the show.
One guy fighting the marlin for all he was worth. The other guy offering tips on how to win this fight along with an estimation that this fish weighed close to 300 pounds! Still, that dang announcer spouting crap with words like "monster", "beast", "caution" and all that.
We go to commercial at 5:20 a.m. What do I do? Fall ASLEEP! The worst part is I woke up right about 5:30 a.m.! Hello?? The only thing I missed was the end of the dang show! So....was anyone else up this morning watching ESPN? What the heck happened? Did the guy win the fight and bag his prize marlin? Did the marlin win and skewer the guy on the boat? What happened????
I can't really pin it on anything in particular; I don't think I'm overly anxious about anything new, no new problems, no new issues. I'm pooped before bedtime, fall asleep more or less ok but I just don't stay that way.
Then I can't get comfy. I really don't like our bed, but that's really a whole other story. Regardless, I don't think I can blame my recent restlessness totally on the bed. So, I lay there only so long and then work my way downstairs to the livingroom.
I recline on the recliner, cover with my favorite blanket, take remote control in hand and confirm that there is nothing worth watching on TV after 3:30 in the morning. In case anyone cares, there are really no entertaining infomercials quite like the ones from Ronco. But, I digress.
At 5:00 this morning, I came across a show on one of the ESPN channels. It was a fishing show. YES, I like to watch fishing shows! Anyway, there were two guys on the back of a sports fishing boat. I didn't catch where they were, but the water was blue and absolutely gorgeous.
The announcer for the show sounded very ominous. When I first came across it while channel surfing, I almost thought it was a movie. The announcer kept making comments like "if only they knew the monster they were dealing with" or "too bad they didn't realize the kind of beast they were about to meet". That sure piqued my interest.
Two guys, back of a sports fishing boat, one pole bending into the water with the owner of the pole shouting "I think it's a marlin! I think it's a marlin! It HAS to be a marlin!!!" Sure enough, this beast broke out of the water! What a magnificent creature! I thought I was mesmerized with the show.
One guy fighting the marlin for all he was worth. The other guy offering tips on how to win this fight along with an estimation that this fish weighed close to 300 pounds! Still, that dang announcer spouting crap with words like "monster", "beast", "caution" and all that.
We go to commercial at 5:20 a.m. What do I do? Fall ASLEEP! The worst part is I woke up right about 5:30 a.m.! Hello?? The only thing I missed was the end of the dang show! So....was anyone else up this morning watching ESPN? What the heck happened? Did the guy win the fight and bag his prize marlin? Did the marlin win and skewer the guy on the boat? What happened????
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
Public Service Announcement
Attention! Attention! May I have your attention please!
Just 936 more wake ups until Mr. Phil retires!
Now back to your regularly scheduled evening.
Just 936 more wake ups until Mr. Phil retires!
Now back to your regularly scheduled evening.
End of the Season
Well, here we are. The end of another long, tedious season.
No, I'm not talking baseball. Or football or basketball or any of those other things. Unfortunately I'm not even talking about the winter season. I'm talking about the always dreaded election season.
I complain about my elected officials. Well, some of them. But, I'm out there reading up on the issues and out there voting every election day. Since I'm out there voting, I have every right to voice my opinion about how my officials are doing.
That aside, I am so tired of all of the signs in yards, political backstabbing and pimping via television ads. Monday night was about the worst! Made me long for the days of Budweiser and Vonage commercials.
Welcome to the day after the election. Ok, the commercials have stopped. Let's get the front yards picked up now and send the signs out with the trash. And for heaven's sake, quit the jabbering how you knew all along that you'd be elected and get to work!
No, I'm not talking baseball. Or football or basketball or any of those other things. Unfortunately I'm not even talking about the winter season. I'm talking about the always dreaded election season.
I complain about my elected officials. Well, some of them. But, I'm out there reading up on the issues and out there voting every election day. Since I'm out there voting, I have every right to voice my opinion about how my officials are doing.
That aside, I am so tired of all of the signs in yards, political backstabbing and pimping via television ads. Monday night was about the worst! Made me long for the days of Budweiser and Vonage commercials.
Welcome to the day after the election. Ok, the commercials have stopped. Let's get the front yards picked up now and send the signs out with the trash. And for heaven's sake, quit the jabbering how you knew all along that you'd be elected and get to work!
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Ree's Bed and Breakfast
Well, ok, we're not great at breakfasts, but Jim was willing to spend the weekend with us anyway! Speaking for myself, I think we had a great time.
Jim joined us on Friday. Ron and I had a few technical difficulties getting home that night, but that's another story. Poor Jim ended up sitting in our driveway awhile waiting for one of us to get here. I'm telling you, I need to hand out more keys to the house!
But, the wait was worth it. We whipped up one heck of a batch of lasagna from a recipe that is older than dirt. My lasagna recipe is the recipe Cathie got in home ec class in highschool! It is an old recipe, yes, but it's also very easy to follow, and judging by the "mmm mmm" noises around the table at dinner, I would say it was mighty tasty!
Saturday Jim, Ron and I went on a picnic. That's the picture at the top of this post. We went to one of our favorite parks that is right on the lake. As you can see, it was an overcast day, but still very beautiful. Especially considering that this was on November 5th, and none of us needed coats or even jackets. That's my kind of November day. We grabbed a picnic table and had some sandwiches and enjoyed the lake and the two views below.
Hopefully y'all can see why this is one of our favorite parks. It's just so beautiful there, even without the fountain being on. The fountain can be seen in the middle picture. (And that's my lonely car in the parking lot in the bottom picture!)
Saturday evening, we partied hearty at Mike and Mary Jane's. They put on a FEAST! One dish was better than the next. Seriously, kudos to both cooks. Once again, meal time was filled with "mmm mmm" sounds and not much talking. After dinner, I think all pants were unbuttoned! No, not in getting ready to audition for the Jerry Springer show, just trying to making room for dessert. It didn't work, but that's ok. The cake we found out on Sunday, pretty much sucked!
Anyway, before Jim headed back home, we made a stop at Dave & Busters. Everyone should try out the place at least once. There really is something for everyone. One note to self here. No more car racing games for me! The three of us competed against each other. This is one of those games that there is a big screen in front of us, and the car "seats" that we sit in for this game actually move! You hit the virtual wall with your race car, it almost feels like you hit a real wall! Same thing with hitting another race car!
I know I'm competitive, especially with Ron. And, I'm pigheaded. I was trailing Ron most of the race. Finally, I came up on the inside and took over the lead! I thought it would be smooth sailing to the end of the race! If only I could keep it on the track and off of the wall, I thought I could do it! All of a sudden....who is that coming up on my left?? Oh NO! Car # 8! None other than Ron! That's not fair! I don't know how, but I know he's cheating!! I would have none of it. I gave it my all and got really ugly. I knocked him spinning into the wall while I took the win for myself! Go me!
The price for me cheating? I was car sick like you wouldn't believe. Ugh. I guess I deserved that!
Nausea aside, I had a great weekend. Huge hugs to Jim for giving up a free weekend and spending it with us. I'm already starting on plans for what we're doing on his next Ohio vacation! Love you, brother!
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Nothing But The Best
Yes, that's right. Nothing but the best for me and mine.
Tonight was a shopping night. We are having company this weekend (that's you, Jim!) and I wanted to make sure my cupboards were supplied with just the right foods and sodas and perhaps even a margarita or two. So, after work, Ron and I were on a mission.
I needed to hit Sam's Club followed by a quick trip to Giant Eagle. Some time in there, I figured we'd decide on somewhere to go for dinner. By the time I walked through Sam's Club and paid for our booty, I was hungry but too tired to think about supper. That's when Ron got the great idea of eating at Sam's Club!!
For those of you that don't know, Sam's Club has a little cafe if you will, by the checkouts. Ron said hey! Let's just eat there! It worked for me.
Our order included one polish sausage sandwich, one italian sausage sandwich with peppers and onions, one soft pretzel, two sodas and one four berry sundae. All together, our bill came to $7.30! How the heck can you beat that? The sandwiches were awesome. The four berry sundae alone is worth the trip to Sam's Club. Just how good is this sundae? Ask Ron. Even though it gave him brain freeze, he finished every last drop!
Tonight was a shopping night. We are having company this weekend (that's you, Jim!) and I wanted to make sure my cupboards were supplied with just the right foods and sodas and perhaps even a margarita or two. So, after work, Ron and I were on a mission.
I needed to hit Sam's Club followed by a quick trip to Giant Eagle. Some time in there, I figured we'd decide on somewhere to go for dinner. By the time I walked through Sam's Club and paid for our booty, I was hungry but too tired to think about supper. That's when Ron got the great idea of eating at Sam's Club!!
For those of you that don't know, Sam's Club has a little cafe if you will, by the checkouts. Ron said hey! Let's just eat there! It worked for me.
Our order included one polish sausage sandwich, one italian sausage sandwich with peppers and onions, one soft pretzel, two sodas and one four berry sundae. All together, our bill came to $7.30! How the heck can you beat that? The sandwiches were awesome. The four berry sundae alone is worth the trip to Sam's Club. Just how good is this sundae? Ask Ron. Even though it gave him brain freeze, he finished every last drop!
Monday, October 31, 2005
I Am Turning Into My Dad
I know, it's Halloween. I should be writing about something Halloweeny. Unfortunately, I have other things on my mind right now. Mainly....I am turning into my Dad!
Oh the horrors. It's bad enough I have his ugly toes. I also have his nose and of course, I am getting proficient in his greatest trait, procrastination. Now I have reached the point of no return. I have gone across the line and I don't know if I can ever come back.
Brace yourselves, people. What I am about to confess should frighten all within the sound of my typing! Don't blame me if you have nightmares! Ok, here it is: I have started to put ketchup in my soup! There! It's now out in the open! Is there a 12-step program for this?
It started with the leftover lentil soup I blogged about recently. The leftovers just needed some zing. It was missing something. It wasn't salt, or pepper, or even more veggies. Finally, I reached for it. The big red bottle of Heintz Ketchup. After a liberal dousing, I found Nirvana. I kept this a dirty secret. I wasn't going to tell anyone. Maybe it was just a fluke. I could stop any time I wanted. I didn't have a problem.
Then, temptation was again brought before me. I thought I could be strong. I failed. Ron made chicken soup recently. Yes, every bowl I had included some of the delectable condiment. It was good! I liked it! I made Ron try it!
Now, I have turned him over to the dark side. Ron had some chicken soup tonight for supper. With ketchup! My Dad will be so proud!
Oh the horrors. It's bad enough I have his ugly toes. I also have his nose and of course, I am getting proficient in his greatest trait, procrastination. Now I have reached the point of no return. I have gone across the line and I don't know if I can ever come back.
Brace yourselves, people. What I am about to confess should frighten all within the sound of my typing! Don't blame me if you have nightmares! Ok, here it is: I have started to put ketchup in my soup! There! It's now out in the open! Is there a 12-step program for this?
It started with the leftover lentil soup I blogged about recently. The leftovers just needed some zing. It was missing something. It wasn't salt, or pepper, or even more veggies. Finally, I reached for it. The big red bottle of Heintz Ketchup. After a liberal dousing, I found Nirvana. I kept this a dirty secret. I wasn't going to tell anyone. Maybe it was just a fluke. I could stop any time I wanted. I didn't have a problem.
Then, temptation was again brought before me. I thought I could be strong. I failed. Ron made chicken soup recently. Yes, every bowl I had included some of the delectable condiment. It was good! I liked it! I made Ron try it!
Now, I have turned him over to the dark side. Ron had some chicken soup tonight for supper. With ketchup! My Dad will be so proud!
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Bad Me!
I can't believe it's been a week since I've posted! Talk about writer's block. Well, part writer's block, part moody. Just had a busy week along with a week of a serious case of "I don't wanna's".
So, I'll sit here and write down a few miscellaneous thoughts that are running around in my head.
We had a "fright night" last Sunday night. We watched one scary show after another. I did good Sunday night, no nightmares for me. Although showing up at my office at 7:00 a.m. on Monday was another story. I sat in my car awhile to work up the nerve to walk into a very dark, very empty building. I'll be glad when Halloween is over and I can go back to avoiding scary movies and books. Something about this time of year, I can't resist them.
I have roses on my dining room table. Some are the last blooms from our own rose bushes! Some are store bought. Either way, a gal can get used to having roses on her table!
Tuesday I had a date with brother Mike. Chinese take out and a selection from Blockbuster! We used to do that pretty often, although it's been awhile. I've missed them nights! Next time I'll call for the Chinese, you stop at Blockbuster!
Wednesday, my contact from my last audit came all the way up here for dinner. Ron made dinner and I made margaritas. This worked out much better! Mainly because Ron is a great cook. Other than that, all I had to do was worry about stumbling up the stairs to bed. She had to make that long drive home. Although, it seems like there was a lot less drinking this time!
Finally put the electric blanket on the bed. Still futzing with finding my right number. I like a four to get the bed warm before I crawl in, but once I'm in, a four will become too hot for me and I throw off the covers. Then Ron steals them all and eventually I get cold again and by then I'm all outta luck. Vicious cycle, I know.
I cooked tonight. Chicken - good. Carrots - good. Mashed potatoes - thrown out. Don't ask. How can anyone screw up mashed potatoes? Only me.
Can you see why I haven't blogged for a week? Not much exciting
One thing happened this week I seem to be blocking out. It's the time of the year to change insurance plans with my company. Our new plans go into effect on Tuesday, so the drop dead date that I have to have my paperwork in with my choice of coverage is Monday. One new plan that they came out with is the new HSA plan. (Health Savings Account) The only problem with this is, they don't have many answers as to how this plan works! I have tried to do my research on this on my own, only to be thwarted at every turn. grr I am so frustrated. They give us one day to make a decision, and they don't give us all of the facts so that we can make an informed decision.
Enough complaining. That's it for now, I need to go make a decision on my insurance! Then again, maybe I'll go play Pogo.
So, I'll sit here and write down a few miscellaneous thoughts that are running around in my head.
We had a "fright night" last Sunday night. We watched one scary show after another. I did good Sunday night, no nightmares for me. Although showing up at my office at 7:00 a.m. on Monday was another story. I sat in my car awhile to work up the nerve to walk into a very dark, very empty building. I'll be glad when Halloween is over and I can go back to avoiding scary movies and books. Something about this time of year, I can't resist them.
I have roses on my dining room table. Some are the last blooms from our own rose bushes! Some are store bought. Either way, a gal can get used to having roses on her table!
Tuesday I had a date with brother Mike. Chinese take out and a selection from Blockbuster! We used to do that pretty often, although it's been awhile. I've missed them nights! Next time I'll call for the Chinese, you stop at Blockbuster!
Wednesday, my contact from my last audit came all the way up here for dinner. Ron made dinner and I made margaritas. This worked out much better! Mainly because Ron is a great cook. Other than that, all I had to do was worry about stumbling up the stairs to bed. She had to make that long drive home. Although, it seems like there was a lot less drinking this time!
Finally put the electric blanket on the bed. Still futzing with finding my right number. I like a four to get the bed warm before I crawl in, but once I'm in, a four will become too hot for me and I throw off the covers. Then Ron steals them all and eventually I get cold again and by then I'm all outta luck. Vicious cycle, I know.
I cooked tonight. Chicken - good. Carrots - good. Mashed potatoes - thrown out. Don't ask. How can anyone screw up mashed potatoes? Only me.
Can you see why I haven't blogged for a week? Not much exciting
One thing happened this week I seem to be blocking out. It's the time of the year to change insurance plans with my company. Our new plans go into effect on Tuesday, so the drop dead date that I have to have my paperwork in with my choice of coverage is Monday. One new plan that they came out with is the new HSA plan. (Health Savings Account) The only problem with this is, they don't have many answers as to how this plan works! I have tried to do my research on this on my own, only to be thwarted at every turn. grr I am so frustrated. They give us one day to make a decision, and they don't give us all of the facts so that we can make an informed decision.
Enough complaining. That's it for now, I need to go make a decision on my insurance! Then again, maybe I'll go play Pogo.
Sunday, October 23, 2005
5:15 a.m.
I have been up today since 5:15 a.m. HELLO??? What's up with that?
It was an emotionally draining day yesterday, complete with a couple of good cries. That's usually good for the soul now and again, but it just took it all out of me. By the time Ron and I got home, I was pretty much spent.
I got into my jammies while Ron heated up some of his home made chicken noodle soup. That's another thing that's good for the soul! We had a little soup and sat down to watch a movie. Arsenic and Old Lace with Cary Grant! It can't get much better than this! Unfortunately, I don't think I lasted an hour through the movie. My eyes started getting so heavy I was started to doze in my chair. Enough was enough. I headed to bed around 9:00. I couldn't fight it any longer.
Now it's Sunday morning. I've been up about a half hour now. I think I'm hungry. Should I wake up my weekend farina maker for some breakfast? Naw, I have a feeling if I do that I may never get farina again. I guess I'll stick to playing Pogo and watching all my taped tv shows from the week.
Good note for this early: Per MLB.com this morning, the Astros lost game 1 of the World Series! Yeah!! That news alone was almost worth starting a Sunday this early!
It was an emotionally draining day yesterday, complete with a couple of good cries. That's usually good for the soul now and again, but it just took it all out of me. By the time Ron and I got home, I was pretty much spent.
I got into my jammies while Ron heated up some of his home made chicken noodle soup. That's another thing that's good for the soul! We had a little soup and sat down to watch a movie. Arsenic and Old Lace with Cary Grant! It can't get much better than this! Unfortunately, I don't think I lasted an hour through the movie. My eyes started getting so heavy I was started to doze in my chair. Enough was enough. I headed to bed around 9:00. I couldn't fight it any longer.
Now it's Sunday morning. I've been up about a half hour now. I think I'm hungry. Should I wake up my weekend farina maker for some breakfast? Naw, I have a feeling if I do that I may never get farina again. I guess I'll stick to playing Pogo and watching all my taped tv shows from the week.
Good note for this early: Per MLB.com this morning, the Astros lost game 1 of the World Series! Yeah!! That news alone was almost worth starting a Sunday this early!
Saturday, October 22, 2005
Rest In Peace, Stanley
Linda is our friend. Linda's Dad Stanley passed away this week, and today was the funeral.
We have met Stanley a few times. Stanley was a quiet man who enjoyed his family, enjoyed his friends, enjoyed life. I have learned more about Stanley since he passed away than I knew about him while he was alive.
Stanley went right into the U.S. Army from high school and became a decorated veteran. He was attached to the 101st Airborne Division in Normandy, the Rhineland, the Ardennes and Central Europe. He received the Purple Heart, Distinguished Unit Badge with oak leaf cluster, four Bronze Stars and Bronze Arrowhead, and the American Service, European-African-Middle Eastern Service, Good Conduct and World War II Victory medals. They don't make many men like Stanley anymore! A true American Hero. He received full military honors today at the funeral.
Rest in peace, Stanley. You sure do deserve it.
We have met Stanley a few times. Stanley was a quiet man who enjoyed his family, enjoyed his friends, enjoyed life. I have learned more about Stanley since he passed away than I knew about him while he was alive.
Stanley went right into the U.S. Army from high school and became a decorated veteran. He was attached to the 101st Airborne Division in Normandy, the Rhineland, the Ardennes and Central Europe. He received the Purple Heart, Distinguished Unit Badge with oak leaf cluster, four Bronze Stars and Bronze Arrowhead, and the American Service, European-African-Middle Eastern Service, Good Conduct and World War II Victory medals. They don't make many men like Stanley anymore! A true American Hero. He received full military honors today at the funeral.
Rest in peace, Stanley. You sure do deserve it.
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Stop, Thief!
With all that is wrong with today's world, I know I should quit my biatching and get over it, but it really peeves me.
We had a theft at the house. Someone walked onto our front porch and stole the ashtray. To add insult to injury, they dumped the contents of the ashtray on the steps on their way out.
It's a $1.00 ashtray from The Dollar Store but that's beside the point. Someone walked on to MY porch and stole something. Did they try to steal the glider before they realized it was chained to the porch? (The chain was Ron's idea. Probably the only reason the glider is still there!) Did the piece of crap thief try my front door to see if it was locked? The back door?
I know it's a small thing, but I'm peeved nonetheless.
Thanks for listening. I just needed to vent.
We had a theft at the house. Someone walked onto our front porch and stole the ashtray. To add insult to injury, they dumped the contents of the ashtray on the steps on their way out.
It's a $1.00 ashtray from The Dollar Store but that's beside the point. Someone walked on to MY porch and stole something. Did they try to steal the glider before they realized it was chained to the porch? (The chain was Ron's idea. Probably the only reason the glider is still there!) Did the piece of crap thief try my front door to see if it was locked? The back door?
I know it's a small thing, but I'm peeved nonetheless.
Thanks for listening. I just needed to vent.
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Can You Hear Me Now?
I am moving up in the world.
No, my boss still won't give me a promotion or a raise, but what he did give me was . . . a cell phone!
Yes, I now have a cell phone paid for by work. I have hit the big time! A few problems though with the new acquisition.
Bells. Whistles. Buttons. Aargh! Read back....I'm sure I've mentioned in a post or two that I am technically challenged. Yes, my friends, this includes cell phones.
I got the phone on Friday. I spent a good part of the weekend and this morning figuring out how to set the voicemail. And, how to dial a call. Anything else, I'll make someone else figure out or just forget it. Before anyone suggests it, no I can't just read the manual. Corporate obviously didn't think I needed one. All I got was the phone and a charger.
Let's review. New cell phone, don't know how to work it. Ok. On to my real story.
I am on the audit site today, working away like a good little worker bee. My boss decides to use my new cell phone to call me! Hey, I appreciate that. However, I heard something ringing and just looked around like everyone else was doing. No one could figure out where that ringing was coming from! My personal cell phone is always on vibrate, so I knew it wasn't my phone.
Um. Well, you probably guessed. By the time I figured out it was MY laptop bag that was ringing, I missed the call! Oh great! Now I had to figure out how to check the voicemail.
What a day. Hopefully by the end of the week, I'll recognize what my cell phone sounds like. Welcome to the big time!
No, my boss still won't give me a promotion or a raise, but what he did give me was . . . a cell phone!
Yes, I now have a cell phone paid for by work. I have hit the big time! A few problems though with the new acquisition.
Bells. Whistles. Buttons. Aargh! Read back....I'm sure I've mentioned in a post or two that I am technically challenged. Yes, my friends, this includes cell phones.
I got the phone on Friday. I spent a good part of the weekend and this morning figuring out how to set the voicemail. And, how to dial a call. Anything else, I'll make someone else figure out or just forget it. Before anyone suggests it, no I can't just read the manual. Corporate obviously didn't think I needed one. All I got was the phone and a charger.
Let's review. New cell phone, don't know how to work it. Ok. On to my real story.
I am on the audit site today, working away like a good little worker bee. My boss decides to use my new cell phone to call me! Hey, I appreciate that. However, I heard something ringing and just looked around like everyone else was doing. No one could figure out where that ringing was coming from! My personal cell phone is always on vibrate, so I knew it wasn't my phone.
Um. Well, you probably guessed. By the time I figured out it was MY laptop bag that was ringing, I missed the call! Oh great! Now I had to figure out how to check the voicemail.
What a day. Hopefully by the end of the week, I'll recognize what my cell phone sounds like. Welcome to the big time!
Monday, October 17, 2005
What Was I Thinking?
I have a lot of ideas running around in my head.
Some are good ideas, some are bad ideas. Some are good ideas that turn into bad ideas. Case in point.
I had big ideas for our Saturday night. While watching TV on Saturday afternoon, I saw some previews of movies coming on Saturday night. Since we were having company for dinner Saturday, I figured I'd record these movies. Then, after everyone left, I wanted to turn off all the lights and watch the movies! Wanna know what I taped?
Movie # 1: Return of the Living Dead: Necropolis
Movie # 2: Return of the Living Dead: Rave to the Grave
C'mon now! Isn't that just a great night in the making???
Well, after company left, I had second thoughts about watching any movie that starts with "Return of the Living Dead" in the title. After all, it was dark outside. In case anyone is confused, I am one big wimp who is afraid of my own shadow. I figured if I waited until the light of the day on Sunday, the movies would be more palatable. Um, again, I changed my mind. (Read "chickened out" here.)
Ron says he'll watch these with me if he HAS to, but I can tell he'd rather not. So, anyone out there up for it? I still have them taped! It's almost Halloween! Anyone out there brave...I mean want to sit next to me for a few movies? I'll even make the popcorn!
Some are good ideas, some are bad ideas. Some are good ideas that turn into bad ideas. Case in point.
I had big ideas for our Saturday night. While watching TV on Saturday afternoon, I saw some previews of movies coming on Saturday night. Since we were having company for dinner Saturday, I figured I'd record these movies. Then, after everyone left, I wanted to turn off all the lights and watch the movies! Wanna know what I taped?
Movie # 1: Return of the Living Dead: Necropolis
Movie # 2: Return of the Living Dead: Rave to the Grave
C'mon now! Isn't that just a great night in the making???
Well, after company left, I had second thoughts about watching any movie that starts with "Return of the Living Dead" in the title. After all, it was dark outside. In case anyone is confused, I am one big wimp who is afraid of my own shadow. I figured if I waited until the light of the day on Sunday, the movies would be more palatable. Um, again, I changed my mind. (Read "chickened out" here.)
Ron says he'll watch these with me if he HAS to, but I can tell he'd rather not. So, anyone out there up for it? I still have them taped! It's almost Halloween! Anyone out there brave...I mean want to sit next to me for a few movies? I'll even make the popcorn!
Saturday, October 15, 2005
Let's Go Shopping With No Money
Last night, Ron and I made a stop at a dollar store. You know, for some things, you just can't beat a dollar store.
We just had a few items in our hands when we headed to the checkout counter. Paper plates, batteries, an ashtray (there will be a blog about that to come) and a couple of other things I can't remember right now. The line at the counter was through the store! There had to be eight to 10 people in line at one register.
The woman at the register finally said she couldn't ring anyone up until someone came back from the ATM with money! Hello?? Why couldn't she cancel that sale and ring up the rest of us in line? Because the person with no money tried to purchase 82 items and she didn't want to have to ring all that up again! When I asked her why she couldn't just open another register, she just walked away in disgust.
Heck of a way to run a business. Me, being the hard head that I am, put my items by the register, stated my opinion about the cashier hiding from the line of people and maybe a comment or two about the idiot that got over on the dollar store and walked out.
I wonder how long the dollar store employees waited for this person to come back with the money for their 82 items. I'm still willing to bet they never did.
We just had a few items in our hands when we headed to the checkout counter. Paper plates, batteries, an ashtray (there will be a blog about that to come) and a couple of other things I can't remember right now. The line at the counter was through the store! There had to be eight to 10 people in line at one register.
The woman at the register finally said she couldn't ring anyone up until someone came back from the ATM with money! Hello?? Why couldn't she cancel that sale and ring up the rest of us in line? Because the person with no money tried to purchase 82 items and she didn't want to have to ring all that up again! When I asked her why she couldn't just open another register, she just walked away in disgust.
Heck of a way to run a business. Me, being the hard head that I am, put my items by the register, stated my opinion about the cashier hiding from the line of people and maybe a comment or two about the idiot that got over on the dollar store and walked out.
I wonder how long the dollar store employees waited for this person to come back with the money for their 82 items. I'm still willing to bet they never did.
Friday, October 14, 2005
Dean Koontz
I have been very lucky with my last few choices from the library. Well, with the story line choices anyway.
I am anal retentive in everything I do, even reading a book. When I read, I don't like to put the book down unless I am at a proper stopping point. My favorite stopping point is the end of a chapter. Some people I know, will stop reading at the end of any sentence or maybe paragraph. I can't do that. I like to read at lunch at work, so when my hour is up, I try to reach the end of a chapter. Reading before bedtime, same thing.
Well, Dean Koontz has really messed with my feng shui. As mentioned above, lunch is only an hour! Bedtime has to come sooner rather than later when your alarm clock starts blaring at 5:00 a.m. Dean Koontz has single handedly made me take a loooong lunch as well as not get enough sleep at night. Yes, I've said it. I am holding him personally responsible.
To justify my stance on his responsibility, just take a gander at how he's ended some of the paragraphs of the last book I finished, Life Expectancy.
End of Chapter 6: "He shot Lionel Davis in the head."
End of Chapter 8: "Checking his wristwatch, the maniac said, "This has taken too much time. I've got a lot of research to do before the explosions start."
End of Chapter 9: "In time, the premonition eventually proved true, and nothing I did was able to alter the trajectory of the bullet."
End of Chapter 10: "The maniac brightened at the sound. "That'll be Honker and Crinkles. "You'll like them. They have the explosives."
End of Chapter 18: Punchinello shot Honker in the chest, Crinkles in the back, then pumped two more rounds into each of them as they thrashed, screaming, on the floor."
Get the idea? The end of a chapter should close a thought or a section, put it to bed so the next chapter could start a new idea fresh. Not in this book! Cliffhangers at almost every turn! What's that about?!! Yes, I took long lunches and yes, I lost sleep. It was worth every page turning moment!
I am anal retentive in everything I do, even reading a book. When I read, I don't like to put the book down unless I am at a proper stopping point. My favorite stopping point is the end of a chapter. Some people I know, will stop reading at the end of any sentence or maybe paragraph. I can't do that. I like to read at lunch at work, so when my hour is up, I try to reach the end of a chapter. Reading before bedtime, same thing.
Well, Dean Koontz has really messed with my feng shui. As mentioned above, lunch is only an hour! Bedtime has to come sooner rather than later when your alarm clock starts blaring at 5:00 a.m. Dean Koontz has single handedly made me take a loooong lunch as well as not get enough sleep at night. Yes, I've said it. I am holding him personally responsible.
To justify my stance on his responsibility, just take a gander at how he's ended some of the paragraphs of the last book I finished, Life Expectancy.
End of Chapter 6: "He shot Lionel Davis in the head."
End of Chapter 8: "Checking his wristwatch, the maniac said, "This has taken too much time. I've got a lot of research to do before the explosions start."
End of Chapter 9: "In time, the premonition eventually proved true, and nothing I did was able to alter the trajectory of the bullet."
End of Chapter 10: "The maniac brightened at the sound. "That'll be Honker and Crinkles. "You'll like them. They have the explosives."
End of Chapter 18: Punchinello shot Honker in the chest, Crinkles in the back, then pumped two more rounds into each of them as they thrashed, screaming, on the floor."
Get the idea? The end of a chapter should close a thought or a section, put it to bed so the next chapter could start a new idea fresh. Not in this book! Cliffhangers at almost every turn! What's that about?!! Yes, I took long lunches and yes, I lost sleep. It was worth every page turning moment!
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
The Student Becoming the Master
Yesterday was Ron's first Microsoft certification test on his way to his MCSE (Microsoft Certified System Engineer).
You have to pass a series of seven tests to get your MCSE. He needed a score of at least 700 out of 1,000 in order to pass this test.
What was Ron's score?
968!!!
Can you believe it? Way to go honey!!
What a great start!
You have to pass a series of seven tests to get your MCSE. He needed a score of at least 700 out of 1,000 in order to pass this test.
What was Ron's score?
968!!!
Can you believe it? Way to go honey!!
What a great start!
Sunday, October 09, 2005
Washing Away the Blues . . . er . . . Grays
I was doing laundry tonight. Ron happened to go into the basement with me for a smoke while I folded and fluffed.
He has this shirt, he wears when he paints. I happened to be folding it and mentioned, "you know, no matter how much I bleach this shirt, it may never be white again."
Can you guess Ron's reply? It went something like this . . .
"That's ok because it never was white. It used to be gray."
Duh!
He has this shirt, he wears when he paints. I happened to be folding it and mentioned, "you know, no matter how much I bleach this shirt, it may never be white again."
Can you guess Ron's reply? It went something like this . . .
"That's ok because it never was white. It used to be gray."
Duh!
Call me Betty
October has definitely been a month of parties. Last night was no exception, nor was it the last party planned for this month! Suddenly we have a social life. What's up with that!
Last night was an awesome night. We had over Mike and Mary Jane as well as most of their family. Mike, Jo and Isaiah were in town, and that was sure cause enough for the festivities!
I am not Betty Crocker. Generally I don't even like to cook. However, if it's an occasion, that all changes. Ron and I scoured the internet looking for new things to make. We decided on a couple of recipes that seemed within our scope of abilities, but totally using ingredients that we were not familiar with. It was going to be an adventure in cooking!
The menu was set, with one last minute addition. Since the weather has turned cold, we decided to start with a nice, warm soup. This was the only thing I didn't have a "recipe" for. I remember a long time ago, Jo trying to teach me how to cook lentil soup. Her basic instructions were just to throw in there whatever would make you happy! So, we tried to follow that idea and I think we were pleasantly surprised with the results.
We ended up with a great pot of lentil barley soup with tomatoes, onions, carrots, celery, peas and potatoes. Holy cow! Add a little salt and viola! (The leftovers are going to be our supper tonight!)
Our main courses were wild. Keep in mind, that everything we made was from scratch. I've done things with food I've never done before. Knowing that my specialty is orange spaghetti, you should realize I am totally out of my box with this menu! I even cut fresh herbs. Does anyone out there realize what chopping fresh basil and parsley can do to a white cutting board?? Eww!
We made Raw Vegetable Lasagne Extravaganza! This was marinated (home made garlic and herb marinade) sliced zucchini (I'm such an idiot, I had to call Jo and ask her if I was supposed to peel the zucchini first!) layered with Artichoke Pate, Tomato and Herb Paste, marinated chopped peppers, carrots, onions, topped with another slice of zucchini. This was a big hit! Very tasty.
Our other main dish was in my opinion, the big winner - Spicy Fried Tofu with Peppers. WOW! It wasn't so spicy that I wouldn't eat it, just spicy enough to make it so tasty. Here is a picture of both of the Spicy Fried Tofu with Peppers and the Raw Vegetable Lasange Extravaganza:
Trust me, the picture doesn't do it justice. I thought it was quite a feast.
Ron and I had so much fun getting ready for this. We would each grab a recipe, a piece of counter and we went to town. We made one heck of a mess! But, you wanna know what? Mike and Jo even volunteered for K.P. Hello?? Does life get any better than this??
One thing I definitely did realize last night. I am glad to be home. Sometimes I contemplate my decision of leaving Texas. I was making a lot more money there, the job market was booming. On down days, I ask myself if I did the right thing. Then last night happened. Our house was filled with family, filled with laughter, filled with baby giggles, filled with toys all over the floor. Trust me, it does NOT get any better than that!
If anyone is interested, the recipes were taken from http://www.veganchef.com
Last night was an awesome night. We had over Mike and Mary Jane as well as most of their family. Mike, Jo and Isaiah were in town, and that was sure cause enough for the festivities!
I am not Betty Crocker. Generally I don't even like to cook. However, if it's an occasion, that all changes. Ron and I scoured the internet looking for new things to make. We decided on a couple of recipes that seemed within our scope of abilities, but totally using ingredients that we were not familiar with. It was going to be an adventure in cooking!
The menu was set, with one last minute addition. Since the weather has turned cold, we decided to start with a nice, warm soup. This was the only thing I didn't have a "recipe" for. I remember a long time ago, Jo trying to teach me how to cook lentil soup. Her basic instructions were just to throw in there whatever would make you happy! So, we tried to follow that idea and I think we were pleasantly surprised with the results.
We ended up with a great pot of lentil barley soup with tomatoes, onions, carrots, celery, peas and potatoes. Holy cow! Add a little salt and viola! (The leftovers are going to be our supper tonight!)
Our main courses were wild. Keep in mind, that everything we made was from scratch. I've done things with food I've never done before. Knowing that my specialty is orange spaghetti, you should realize I am totally out of my box with this menu! I even cut fresh herbs. Does anyone out there realize what chopping fresh basil and parsley can do to a white cutting board?? Eww!
We made Raw Vegetable Lasagne Extravaganza! This was marinated (home made garlic and herb marinade) sliced zucchini (I'm such an idiot, I had to call Jo and ask her if I was supposed to peel the zucchini first!) layered with Artichoke Pate, Tomato and Herb Paste, marinated chopped peppers, carrots, onions, topped with another slice of zucchini. This was a big hit! Very tasty.
Our other main dish was in my opinion, the big winner - Spicy Fried Tofu with Peppers. WOW! It wasn't so spicy that I wouldn't eat it, just spicy enough to make it so tasty. Here is a picture of both of the Spicy Fried Tofu with Peppers and the Raw Vegetable Lasange Extravaganza:
Trust me, the picture doesn't do it justice. I thought it was quite a feast.
Ron and I had so much fun getting ready for this. We would each grab a recipe, a piece of counter and we went to town. We made one heck of a mess! But, you wanna know what? Mike and Jo even volunteered for K.P. Hello?? Does life get any better than this??
One thing I definitely did realize last night. I am glad to be home. Sometimes I contemplate my decision of leaving Texas. I was making a lot more money there, the job market was booming. On down days, I ask myself if I did the right thing. Then last night happened. Our house was filled with family, filled with laughter, filled with baby giggles, filled with toys all over the floor. Trust me, it does NOT get any better than that!
If anyone is interested, the recipes were taken from http://www.veganchef.com
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
All I Want for Christmas is my GPS
What a day.
I finished the audit at the hospital yesterday and today I was on to a new audit. This client is a client we audit every year. This is my third year working with them. The first two years however, they were located downtown. This year, they moved to a relatively new building that is much easier for me to get to! That part I like a lot.
The building is huge, bright, colorful, and I was foolish enough to have the opinion that it would be cool working there. After my first day there, I'm rethinking my opinion. Y'all know I get lost turning around, I have absolutely no sense of direction.
The entire place is full of cubicles. Ok, that's not unusual in this day and age. However, these cubicles are the short cubicles; the walls are only about waist high. That means there are no real "walls". Everything looks the same. You see from one end of the building to the other. I was so confused!
Today, I'm sitting there working and what am I hearing? Country music. Loud country music. Now, it is not my intent to offend any country music fans. I just don't happen to be one of them. At first I thought someone's radio was turned way up. Until I made a trek to the ladies room. Then I realized that the music could be heard everywhere. It was coming from speakers in the ceiling. It was EVERYwhere! What the heck is that about? Finally, I asked someone who is the country music fan. I was told that the music changes every week. Sometimes classical, sometimes oldies, sometimes country. How innovative! Muzak at work. And, cycling the music every week, everyone gets to hear their favorite station at some point.
One more story about my day. Like I mentioned already, this place is truly a sea of cubicles. I made the mistake of going to the ladies room which seems to be in the next county. While walking back, I realized I was lost. Can you believe it? I couldn't find my cubicle! I searched and searched and searched! I finally saw someone I knew and had to ask directions! How embarrassing is that!
Luckily, it was pointed out that all of the cubicles are numbered. Just like leaving downtown, the numbers get bigger the farther away from the bathroom you get. Duh. That did make it a little easier. I swear, things like On*Star were made for people like me! Either that, or I'm sticking a big white flag up where my cubicle is so I can find my way.
I finished the audit at the hospital yesterday and today I was on to a new audit. This client is a client we audit every year. This is my third year working with them. The first two years however, they were located downtown. This year, they moved to a relatively new building that is much easier for me to get to! That part I like a lot.
The building is huge, bright, colorful, and I was foolish enough to have the opinion that it would be cool working there. After my first day there, I'm rethinking my opinion. Y'all know I get lost turning around, I have absolutely no sense of direction.
The entire place is full of cubicles. Ok, that's not unusual in this day and age. However, these cubicles are the short cubicles; the walls are only about waist high. That means there are no real "walls". Everything looks the same. You see from one end of the building to the other. I was so confused!
Today, I'm sitting there working and what am I hearing? Country music. Loud country music. Now, it is not my intent to offend any country music fans. I just don't happen to be one of them. At first I thought someone's radio was turned way up. Until I made a trek to the ladies room. Then I realized that the music could be heard everywhere. It was coming from speakers in the ceiling. It was EVERYwhere! What the heck is that about? Finally, I asked someone who is the country music fan. I was told that the music changes every week. Sometimes classical, sometimes oldies, sometimes country. How innovative! Muzak at work. And, cycling the music every week, everyone gets to hear their favorite station at some point.
One more story about my day. Like I mentioned already, this place is truly a sea of cubicles. I made the mistake of going to the ladies room which seems to be in the next county. While walking back, I realized I was lost. Can you believe it? I couldn't find my cubicle! I searched and searched and searched! I finally saw someone I knew and had to ask directions! How embarrassing is that!
Luckily, it was pointed out that all of the cubicles are numbered. Just like leaving downtown, the numbers get bigger the farther away from the bathroom you get. Duh. That did make it a little easier. I swear, things like On*Star were made for people like me! Either that, or I'm sticking a big white flag up where my cubicle is so I can find my way.
Monday, October 03, 2005
It's Another Party!
Unlike the last party we attended (thrown by our friends, Larry and Linda! That's for you, Phil!) tonight's party was thrown by us! We were celebrating Mike's birthday a few days late!
In attendance were Mike and Mary Jane, and Jim and Dad made the trip in. We had a great time! At least I think we had a great time.
Ron and I slaved all day over a hot stove. Um, sort of. Ok, I picked up the phone and called for pizza and ribs from Pizza Pan. Hey, that counts! The store was really warm inside and I had to wait about five minutes for my order to be ready!
We all ate our fill. Dad had barbecue sauce from head to toe. You know it's good food when you're a mess after dinner. So, it was good food, good conversation. A great evening that filled me with that nice, warm fuzzie family feeling. You know, the kind you get when there is no blood shed, no shootings, no body parts missing! Ok, you know I'm kidding. I think the older we all get, the more we seem to cherish each other. Maybe I'm just speaking for myself, but I know that's how I feel.
So, from the bottom of my heart, thanks everyone for coming over tonight and spending the evening with us. Y'all did my heart good.
Happy birthday, Mike!
In attendance were Mike and Mary Jane, and Jim and Dad made the trip in. We had a great time! At least I think we had a great time.
Ron and I slaved all day over a hot stove. Um, sort of. Ok, I picked up the phone and called for pizza and ribs from Pizza Pan. Hey, that counts! The store was really warm inside and I had to wait about five minutes for my order to be ready!
We all ate our fill. Dad had barbecue sauce from head to toe. You know it's good food when you're a mess after dinner. So, it was good food, good conversation. A great evening that filled me with that nice, warm fuzzie family feeling. You know, the kind you get when there is no blood shed, no shootings, no body parts missing! Ok, you know I'm kidding. I think the older we all get, the more we seem to cherish each other. Maybe I'm just speaking for myself, but I know that's how I feel.
So, from the bottom of my heart, thanks everyone for coming over tonight and spending the evening with us. Y'all did my heart good.
Happy birthday, Mike!
Sunday, October 02, 2005
What a Party
We went to a party last night. And what a party!
Any party that goes through 80 lbs of ribs and 40 lbs of chicken is my kind of party!
This was an outdoor party, they have it every year about this time. We couldn't have had a better night for it either. It did start getting a little chillier after the sun went down, but there were two big fire pits that were going strong. If you got too cold, you just moved a little closer to one of the fires. Or, you could have hit the dance "floor" and danced to what the DJ was playing.
You know, I've been to parties before. I have even thrown a few sorry excuses for a party myself. This party though, was a party that was so text book right. The party was kinda in an alley. That's not exactly right, but I don't know how to explain it any better than that. Sort of a parking area between some apartments and a house. One 2-car garage was designated refreshments. A full bar, a lot of beer, and soda as far as the eye could see. The other 2-car garage had the food. Holy cow, what food. Aside from the ribs and chicken, were tables of steamers with side dishes. There was a noodles and cabbage one even! However, this noodles and cabbage dish also had ham in it. In theory that sounded good, but my taste buds really haven't decided yet if I liked it or not. There were so many different kinds of salads, pastas, veggies, chips and dip, cookies, candies, cakes, pies and yes....even brownies.
We ate all we could eat and then went back for seconds. We really had such a good time last night! We started the night only knowing a handful of people at this party. We left knowing quite a few more. One guy we found out is even our neighbor! Small world, huh? Anyway, it was a great way to end the summer season.
Any party that goes through 80 lbs of ribs and 40 lbs of chicken is my kind of party!
This was an outdoor party, they have it every year about this time. We couldn't have had a better night for it either. It did start getting a little chillier after the sun went down, but there were two big fire pits that were going strong. If you got too cold, you just moved a little closer to one of the fires. Or, you could have hit the dance "floor" and danced to what the DJ was playing.
You know, I've been to parties before. I have even thrown a few sorry excuses for a party myself. This party though, was a party that was so text book right. The party was kinda in an alley. That's not exactly right, but I don't know how to explain it any better than that. Sort of a parking area between some apartments and a house. One 2-car garage was designated refreshments. A full bar, a lot of beer, and soda as far as the eye could see. The other 2-car garage had the food. Holy cow, what food. Aside from the ribs and chicken, were tables of steamers with side dishes. There was a noodles and cabbage one even! However, this noodles and cabbage dish also had ham in it. In theory that sounded good, but my taste buds really haven't decided yet if I liked it or not. There were so many different kinds of salads, pastas, veggies, chips and dip, cookies, candies, cakes, pies and yes....even brownies.
We ate all we could eat and then went back for seconds. We really had such a good time last night! We started the night only knowing a handful of people at this party. We left knowing quite a few more. One guy we found out is even our neighbor! Small world, huh? Anyway, it was a great way to end the summer season.
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