Summer Planning

My summer weekends are quickly filling up!
That's pretty much all I have to say about that so...that was a pointless post...except it let you all know that I'm still around!

I plan on doing a crap load of camping this year. I only got out to camp twice last year and that wasn't nearly enough.

Periodic Update

It has been a while! Got a new job, YAY!
It is going well, Still in training. Learning lots - hating MED TERM!
I am always thinking that I have everything. Yuck!
Emma and Murphy are doing well
Amy is too
Excited for the upcoming Vegas trip in March!
YAY!

Today is the day

Today is my last day at IBM...technically it's Friday but the site is closed tomorrow and Friday so...today is my last day on site.

This is certainly not bad news, I have taken a job at Mayo Clinic and am very excited for the future there. A bit more stability and better pay...can't complain!

It is kinda bittersweet to say goodbye to everyone but I'm ok with it...I have often said that they aren't my friends here. Some are on better terms than others but I have never divulged anything to anyone here other than some basic stuff. I am certainly "friendly" with them, but not friends. It's ok that way.

5.5 years of trying to get into Mayo has finally paid off!

It's a girl!

The baby is here! Now here is the story...

Erika was having uncomfortable feelings all day yesterday and when I talked to her at 5:30 we decided that she would call my mom and get to the hospital...She went, they sent her home. Later on, 3:30am she went back to the hospital...they sent her home at 6:30am. She went home, took a bath, got up and went to the potty and had the baby at 8:40am. By herself in her bathroom :(
Everyone is ok, they got to the hospital in an ambulance and everyone is fine
I'm so disappointed that they let her go home. They said she was only 3 centimeters so I suppose they had no indication (EXCEPT LABOR PAINS ALL DAY AND IT WAS HER DUE DATE) that she was going to deliver.

No name has been chosen yet...

Liar Liar Pants on Fire

In 1999 I worked for a small credit union. Just myself and another woman worked there and I only worked part time it was so small.
People would often call up and ask for money to be extracted from their account in a check form and prepare them for pick up. No big deal, that was my job and I did it with gusto. I loved my job. What I didn't like, and honestly never understood, was the people that would call for a check and then proceed to tell me what they needed their money for. Even worse was the people that called for a check, tell me what they needed it for and were lying about it. For instance:

**Exaggeration**

"Good Morning, Credit Union"
"Yes, I need to have $350.00 made out from account number 157 payable to me"
"Okay sure - when will you be in to pick it up"
"Hmm I'm not sure, you see I need the money because last night a tree fell through my attic window and ice is penetrating my entire third floor" (It's June)
"Oh I'm sorry to hear that, I will have your check ready for when you come in"
"Yea, I need to get the money to the contractor today so they can fix it up!"
"Oh that's rough"
"OK see you later"

or

"Good Morning, Credit Union"
"Hi I need to have all my money, I have to go to the dentist"

Seriously man, I don't care what you need your money for. My job is to give you your money whenever you need or want it.

Likewise, when we would process loans they did the same thing.

"I need a loan application"
"For what type of loan?"
"Car please"
"Here you go"
"My car got wrecked last week so I need a new one"

Again, I don't care.

Another thing that gets to me is when, for instance, I'm running late with a particular friend she says:

"We can just say that we were traveling up 52 and there was an accident and we got caught behind the car that did it and it backed us up"
and I say...
"Why don't we just say "Hey - sorry we are late, we got a late start"?"

or

"Just tell her you are allergic to it"
and I say..
"Why don't I just say "You know, I'm not to fond of fish, can we try something else?"

No need for elaborate stories.

Because I won't say "IN YOUR FACE"

But I will post his acceptance speech - it moved me in so many deep and powerful ways...

Hello, Chicago.

If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen, by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different, that their voices could be that difference.

It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled. Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states.

We are, and always will be, the United States of America.

It's the answer that led those who've been told for so long by so many to be cynical and fearful and doubtful about what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.

It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this date in this election at this defining moment change has come to America.

A little bit earlier this evening, I received an extraordinarily gracious call from Sen. McCain.

Sen. McCain fought long and hard in this campaign. And he's fought even longer and harder for the country that he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine. We are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader.

I congratulate him; I congratulate Gov. Palin for all that they've achieved. And I look forward to working with them to renew this nation's promise in the months ahead.

I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart, and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on the train home to Delaware, the vice president-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.

And I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last 16 years the rock of our family, the love of my life, the nation's next first lady Michelle Obama.

Sasha and Malia I love you both more than you can imagine. And you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the new White House.

And while she's no longer with us, I know my grandmother's watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight. I know that my debt to them is beyond measure.

To my sister Maya, my sister Alma, all my other brothers and sisters, thank you so much for all the support that you've given me. I am grateful to them.

And to my campaign manager, David Plouffe, the unsung hero of this campaign, who built the best -- the best political campaign, I think, in the history of the United States of America.

To my chief strategist David Axelrod who's been a partner with me every step of the way.

To the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you've sacrificed to get it done.

But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to. It belongs to you. It belongs to you.

I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn't start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington. It began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston. It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give $5 and $10 and $20 to the cause.

It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep.

It drew strength from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on doors of perfect strangers, and from the millions of Americans who volunteered and organized and proved that more than two centuries later a government of the people, by the people, and for the people has not perished from the Earth.

This is your victory.

And I know you didn't do this just to win an election. And I know you didn't do it for me.

You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime -- two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century.

Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us.

There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after the children fall asleep and wonder how they'll make the mortgage or pay their doctors' bills or save enough for their child's college education.

There's new energy to harness, new jobs to be created, new schools to build, and threats to meet, alliances to repair.

The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term. But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there.

I promise you, we as a people will get there.

There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as president. And we know the government can't solve every problem.

But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And, above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way it's been done in America for 221 years -- block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.

What began 21 months ago in the depths of winter cannot end on this autumn night.

This victory alone is not the change we seek. It is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were.

It can't happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice.

So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves but each other.

Let us remember that, if this financial crisis taught us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers.

In this country, we rise or fall as one nation, as one people. Let's resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long.

Let's remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House, a party founded on the values of self-reliance and individual liberty and national unity.

Those are values that we all share. And while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress.

As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, we are not enemies but friends. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.

And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too.

And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces, to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of the world, our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand.

To those -- to those who would tear the world down: We will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security: We support you. And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright: Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.

That's the true genius of America: that America can change. Our union can be perfected. What we've already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.

This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that's on my mind tonight's about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She's a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing: Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.

She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons -- because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.

And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America -- the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.

At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.

When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs, a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.

When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.

She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that "We Shall Overcome." Yes we can.

A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination.

And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change.

Yes we can.

America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves -- if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?

This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment.

This is our time, to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope. And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can.

Thank you. God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America.

Weepies and Palin and Trick or Treating and Forums and Dirtbags and Weddings and Babies and Birthdays and Naps

Just some randomness from me today...

#1 - So awesome that the Weepies were on Dirty Sexy Money the other night! Much love for the Weepies!

#2 - I wish I had a $150,000 wardrobe for me and my family. Must be freakin nice. Palin is a J-O-K-E.

#3 - So Illinois (I don't know if it was a particular town or the entire state) has banned trick or treating for anyone OVER 8th Grade (about 13), unless, they are special. What is the big deal if a few kids want to dress up and go around with their friends to get some candy...it's not like the candy is *that* expensive that you can't give a few pieces to some kids that want to have fun.

#4 - I've been chillin in the Norther Berkshires Forum lately, reading what people are concerned about there and I was told that I shouldn't have an opinion because I didn't live there. I am literally so irritated with that comment that I can't comment back. 1st of all - I can have an opinion on anything I want to have an opinion on and #2 - I can blog about it where ever I want to, and #3 just because I don't live someplace doesn't mean I don't have deep connections to it - I grew up there, my family still lives there, I am very much in love with where I grew up...so wtf is the big deal....to go along with that, all they do on the NBF is bash Barrett...Apparently the DMV has moved onto main street and they brought the mayor into the debate...last I checked DMV's are state controlled, not city. What a bunch of losers, and they can't spell properly. A few spelling mistakes is acceptable for the sake of typo's but there is seriously a lack of education on some of these people.

#5 - I had the iPod on shuffle and today I was driving back to work and Dirtbag came on by Wheatus so I'm singin along and having fun, I get to work and pull the iPod out of the holder, go into the office and put my headphones on and accidentally start the shuffle all over again and song two was Dirtbag by Wheatus. Weird.

#6 - My cousin is getting married tomorrow...I can hardly believe it!!! Growing up it was always him, Kerry, and I. We were like the 3 Holy-terror's. He's the first of us to get hitched and I wish I could be there!

#7 - One month to go before I'm an AUNTIE!!!!! (for the sixth time, but still, I'm excited!)

#8 - Heading to Windom this weekend for Madi's 4th and Adison's 1st birthday party. Kids grow up so quickly.

#9 - I'm exhausted and I'm going to take a nap now (if I really could...damn work, maybe on the rid to Windom)

HS Reunion....Nostalgia hits

The other night we were hanging out at the fire swapping stories of high school days and what we were like back then.
I started to describe who I was, the girl that didn't have a lot of friends, the girl who went to class and usually sat in the back, the one that had no extra curricular activities, didn't attend the football games etc. I basically showed up, went to class, and that was about it.
After I started to describe who I was I stopped and said, "That's not the way I started out...it changed the first half of sophomore year" I described who I had started out to be, the girl that showed up to dances, went to some games, joined SADD, let people copy her homework, really TRIED to fit in.
Of course, the obvious question came up - WHAT happened to make you change?
I didn't realize that I had remembered this situation so vividly but still, to this day, it was a life altering situation for me and it didn't even happen to me.

I went into 3rd period Social Science class - Mr. Petropolus' class. The walls were pale yellow and sponge painted with blue and green and pink. Very pastel. The room was directly to the left of the library. I sat 2nd row up against the wall. "Mark" sat two rows over, one seat back. I'm sure we were talking about the Shi'ites or the Sunni's since that is what that class was about. Mark got up to leave the class for a moment, maybe he had to potty, maybe he forgot his homework or book in his locker, I'm not sure. Mark was a bit like me, someone that showed up to the games, would have played if he was so inclined. Maybe he did play a sport, I don't remember too well, our paths didn't cross often but when they did, we didn't have anything to talk about. He tried very hard to fit in, he always hung around the athletic boys and joined group after group. The other boys made fun of him behind his back and called him names, but they let him tag along.

So this one day - they day Mark left class, I remember I was sitting sideways in my chair, back against the wall, obviously Mr. P wasn't saying anything important or I'd have been taking notes like a good girl (ha) and I saw another boy put a tack face up on Mark's chair. Mark always sat the same way in the chair, right leg tucked under the thigh of his left. Obviously when he sat down he would have punctured his ankle. I remember Mark came back and sat down, let out a small howl and then after a look of dejection, smiled it off. I'm sure now that it was a case of boys-will-be-boys, but right at that moment it was so much more. To me it said "you can try all you want but they are just going to pick on you, give you a fake sense of family and friendship, and then they will hurt you and laugh at you". Wow hello. I don't know how long after that came out that I stopped letting people copy my homework, stopped going to the dances, etc. One girl that I pissed off by not letting her copy my work - or was it in gym class when I didn't "try" at volley ball in gym - she put a tack on my seat on the last day of graduation practice. I happed to see her do it so thankfully I didn't sit on the tack, but I don't know if she knows that I know, or remembers she did it.

Do you think I hurt myself in the long run, missed out on the "high school" experience? I can't say. I liked high school to a point. I had an after-school social life, I had friends, and the ones I did have didn't ask me for my homework and if they did they didn't put me on the back burner after they finished copying it. The friends I had invited me to their houses and into their lives. I can safely say now though, it didn't matter a lick. I have just one friend from HS that I still have now - I can't say that, let me take that back. I have some pals from HS that I still have myspaces with and exchange some messages and say hi when we see each other but there is one person (Tammy - you don't count, we didn't go to the same school). One person that has been my friend through it all - from the time we met when we were 3 to middle school, through HS (even though she was friends with all the cool kids, she let me tag along sometimes because she was a good friend like that...and most the time I didn't want to go anyway LOL) and then even today I call her one of my best friends. She even drove across Florida to see me when I flew into Orlando for 2 days. I was and still am touched. MY POINT is this -

High school was good, I had my own fun, but I did it my way. I doubt most of the people I graduated with liked me or even knew me and I have come to accept that as reality. I didn't make it easy for them to know me or like me. If I had it to do over again would I change anything? Maybe...I might have tried to make more of an effort, join in things. I know that the friends you make in HS don't often stay life long friends but it might have been nice to at least try to have another friend like Christie. Someone that would stay a life long friend.

My 15th HS Reunion is coming up in November, and I can't make it. I used to say "Why bother going, I didn't like them then, I won't like them now" and that's not fair. I didn't know them then, they didn't know me then, and I certainly don't know them now. People change after HS, life is no longer petty and silly. Experiences shape a person and they suddenly become easier to talk with - they have lives and have figured out their values and whatever. I know I have.
Of course there are some folks I didn't like then and certainly wouldn't like now....some just made my life hell because they could and there is just something mean about that that doesn't go away.

Overall - I would give the people in high school another chance if they did for me. I can't believe I just typed that LOL

I think I'd be scared to go to my reunion. I can't imagine "knowing" 160 people and going back and no one knowing me, remembering me, or liking me. Knowing that having known all these people and I made absolutely NO impact in their lives at all. I'd hate to have them all look at me like I was still the same person I was in HS, a stand-offish beatch. But is this me reverting back to the girl that wants to fit-in? I don't think so, I think it's someone realizing that having friends - any friends whether good friends, close friends, distant friends, acquaintances, - is NOT a bad thing.

Marcus Buckingham

Yesterday I had the astounding opportunity to photograph an event held by Ideation Consulting and TCHRA that had Marcus Buckingham as their keynote speaker. They also had Sara Christensen from Ideation Consulting present about her People-Centric work environment philosophy, and Jody & Cali from CultureRX present their "Work Sucks: and how to fix it" philosophy.
I was totally inspired. If none of you know how Marcus Buckingham is, I suggest you follow the link and read up. He has appeared on Oprah and is a world renowned motivational speaker. He has a strength-based work idea where we don't work on our weaknesses to make us better but work on our strengths to make them better and in turn - make us a better and more productive employee. He wasn't talking to people like me, the employees, but to our managers and HR professionals to focus on our strengths but inspired me also to FIND my strengths and gear my work and my manager to see that just because I don't do a certain task well doesn't mean I am a bad employee, I just don't do something well and ya know what - that's ok, because someone else out there has that as their strength.
A lot of what he said can be related into child rearing. For instance - a lunch mate told this story - a woman was having issues with her daughters report card. She consistently was failing/scraping by in Math while she excelled at English. The mother, after hearing Marcus speak, decided that this is what she was going to do: she got her daughter a tutor for math - just so she would pass and she let her daughter THRIVE in english, her strong point. The school was astounded that the mother didn't care her daughter was just recieving a "D" and she was ok. The mother said "why not? She isn't good at math, that's ok. I don't care as long as she graduates". It spoke to me - Let your kids do what they are good at and figure out why they are failing in the other subjects but if they just aren't interested, don't push it. We don't all need to excel at all things!
Anyway - if you don't know Marcus Buckingham, look him up - his book is "The Truth About You" (well one of them, but this one is his most recent), it's not in stores yet but shortly!!!

The Soundtrack to my life!

I just did this on myspace but wanted to see different responses. I didn't think the iPod was feeling me today. Oh and I skip songs that aren't mine!

Opening Credits: Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel
Waking Up Scene: Blister in the sun - Violent Femmes
Car Driving Scene: Rock Me Amadeus - Falco
High School Flashback Scene: The Former Years - Katie Sawicki
Nostalgic Scene: Mudfootball - Jack Johnson
Bitter, Angry Scene: Til You're Dead - Melissa Ferrick
Break-up Scene: You Can Make History - Elton John
Regret Scene: Every Single Day - Lucy Kaplansky
Nightclub/Bar Scene: Total Eclipse of the Heart - Bonnie Tyler
Fight/Action Scene: Give Me A Beat - GirlTalk
Lawn Mowing Scene: A Long December - Counting Crows
Sad, breakdown scene: Let it Go - Marc Billz
Death Scene: Your Song - Elton John
Funeral Scene: Hummer - Smashing Pumpkins
Mellow/Pot-smoking Scene: To Let You See Me - Melissa Ferrick
Dreaming About Someone Scene: I Enjoy Being A Girl - Doris Day
Sex Scene: Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! - Abba
Contemplation Scene: Hard to say Im sorry - Chicago
Chase Scene: Dirty Laundy - Bitter Sweet
Happy Love Scene: Beautiful In My Eyes - Joshua Kadison
Happy Friend Scene: Life's A Dance - John Michael Montgomery
Closing Credits: How Far We've Come - Matchbox 20

All in all, I'd have to say not far off. some of it actually makes sense!!!!

Goin for the gold

Oh oh oh I love the Olympics! Ok so I like watching gymnastics (they don't call it gymNICEtics), and swimming. I want to catch some diving too. Softball isn't too bad either
LOL

My Very Second!

So a while back I did a picture restoration for someone, got some cash from it, that was cool. Then I kinda did a wedding for a friend, just some candid reception shots, again no big deal, it was a favor and gift for her. This past weekend, however, even though it was for a friend, was my very first (and I say second because of the two listed above) project that is out in the ether. My friends parents have their 40th Wedding Anniversary and she commissioned me to make a DVD using pictures of their wedding, children, grandchildren and lives together.
HOWEVER, when she played the DVD at the party she wanted me to have some business cards. Well, that required me to have a business name and information available. What a scary step to take. And once I finish cleaning up the pictures I'll publish the address where send people to look at my pictures. I never did get around to making business cards but I did make some brochures with my skills listed.
Very scary indeed.

Must Document before I forge.....

I'm slowly forgetting my dream so I must write it down before I totally forget.

I had a dream (obviously) that Amy got a job and it was on the moon. So we went, and some how our entire HOUSE was transported up there with us, we didn't need any special apparatus or anything, just had to be there. It was dark, very dark. I took Murphy outside to potty and she couldn't go into the street because it wasn't really a street.
Then I got a panicked feeling that during our tenure on the moon we would run out of light bulbs and it was a most horrible feeling. So we went on a ride (in the Daewoo we haven't had in years) and found a mall like structure so we went to it, but it was office buildings, well I refused to let that be the end so I kept walking around it until I found an Emporium. (an emporium of all things) and it had light bulbs, so I decided that it was time for us to eat since we found out at least WHERE we could buy light bulbs. So we sit down in this cafeteria like place with long tables and sat across / amiss a family also working the same job was and we talked for a few minutes about life on the moon and the guy told me there was INTERNT on the moon. I was so excited that i could email my family.
Time moves slower on the mooon than Earth so when my alarm was going off ths morning i kept say, no it's not 20 more minutes, it's really like 45 minutes. I woke up late. b

I have always tried to be polite in my years. I've held doors for strangers, let pregnant women and elderly (or anyone that looks like they have more to do than me) cut me in a grocery line. I've said my pleases and my thank you's and done my best to give a wave to the people that let me in while merging or yielding. I've let people copy my homework, look at my test answers, steal words from my essays. I've all but bent over backwards for friends that are homeless, boyfriends whose cars have died, and housed kitty cats that are going to be put down.
I listen to my friends when they cry, laugh when they laugh, and rage when they hurt. I am friend like no other and to have me on your side makes you have a leg up. I am an auntie that adores her squishees, a daughter that is always the best, and a grand-daughter that always listens to the same stories 5 times because it's her gram's inclination to tell her those stories.
I have a very strong work ethic, if you say you are going to do something, you do it. If you are hired for a job, you complete it. You show UP everyday and on time and you come prepared to do your job. You don't talk back to your boss, you do as they say and you keep your mouth shut until after hours, and if that means that sometimes I take my job home with me, then I have to.
On the flip side I have an attitude. I don't take kindly to people who hurt others, who hurt animals or children. I glare at parents that let their children run amuck, or won't answer them when they are obviously trying to get their attention, who scream at the top of their lungs and do nothing to satiate them. I have little, to no, patience for people that drive poorly, use improper English, and use the word "like" ad nauseum. I have no tolerance for people that don't value life and are quick to gun down someone that doesn't agree with them (gang bangers, white power, etc)
I also like things the way I like them. If I ask you for a cheeseburger plain and it is your job to give me a cheeseburger plain, I expect my cheeseburger plain, and please, do not be offended when I get pissed off that my cheeseburger has pickles and ketchup and mustard on it and I had to drive all the way BACK to your establishment to get what I wanted in the first place. That is your job, do it correctly. Especially do not mark your product "Double Checked for Accuracy" if it is still coming to me wrong. I like certain flavors together, they are harmonious to my pallet and to have it any other way is just not worth my money. So when I ask if you if there is crab in a ragoon and you say NO and one comes with crab in it, I will not take kindly to you, especially because the taste and smell of crab makes me want to vomit.
I get frustrated when trying to ask a question, and because you don't speak the same language I do, you misunderstand me and answer something I didn't ask. Please don't think I'm mad that you are speaking another language, I am not. I'm frustrated at the situation. Because of that I ask the g/f to ask for me, she has more patience than I do and handles issues like that better than I do. I do this because it's easier on me, and easier on the person I'm trying to communicate with.
With all this said I believe that I'm a just person, a morally competent person, and someone that is more than able to raise a child with a proper belief structure and moral code. I believe that I can teach a child the value of life, the value of friendship and family, the value of a dollar, and the value of a job well done. And while I do have my quirks and my impatience is widely known, I do have a partner that will help me out. Anyone that truly knows me, my personality, my wit, my talents, my family values, my...CHARM...my anything will rightly agree that me as a parent is right as rain. (I don't know what that means.) They will tell you it would be ashame if I never had a child to pass along my knowledge to, my name, and my being.
I agree.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat. Soap in eyes may cause watering.

I think I'm having a bit of a problem with people that are "sue happy"
Not that this case that I'm talking about has anything to do with "Sueing" anyone, but it has to do with an injunction to against a Rochester city council member who might have voted with his own best interest in mind.
There is a guy saying that one of the council members is voting to allow a certain construction company a contract because his lumber company might benefit. Ok, I can understand that, the two companies have done business in the past. The claim, however, is silliness. Last year the two companies had only $6,000 worth of business. That is so minimal, it's laughable! $6,000 for a construction company is an "Oops! My regular lumbar supplier ran out of 2x4's and I need some really quick!!!!" and it was a one shot deal. Seriously.
Did you hear about the woman whose daughter got kissed on a school playground and she sued the school board? Yep.

I can't imagine what our kids are going to grow up and do.

Don't people realize that the more they SUE the more they end up paying at the store/company? SOMEONE has to pay for their windfall.

I hope more judges start throwing out bogus cases.

I want to know how OJ Simpson can be found not guilty of murder by a court and then turn around and have a civil suit brought upon him for - what, I can't remember, but basically the same thing, like wrongful death - and be found guilty. I'm perplexed.

People, what happened to personal responsibility? There used to be a time when I was walking down the street, tripped because I wasn't watching where I was going and got up and walked away. Now someone would sue the city for that tree root or the raised concrete that made them fall. And on top of that, they sue for about $750,000. FOR FALLING? I could see if you broke your leg and didn't have insurance, or if you had insurance and your premium went up or it was more out of pocket but seriously. Or you were a professional runner and couldn't ever work again. But seriously.

I read the back of my shampoo bottle in the shower one day - and I can't quite remember which shampoo it was but it said "Idiot warnings" and I giggled!
How much warning is too much warning? Do we need a "Contents are hot" on a coffee cup? Shouldn't that be EXPECTED?

Do you know all those papers you sign when you buy a house? It's because someone got away with something BIG and they can't have that again.

I think that is all I have to say right now.

I'm Gay, Give Me Sherbet!

MMMMM Thanks Paul!

Vending Machine!

May 24, 2007

End of the day.

Getting kinda hungry.

Trot down to the vending machines.

Oh My God! Twizzlers, perfect!

I put my money in the machine....I watched as the wheels turned...and then I watched as the wheel stopped turning, still clutching my strawberry goodness in it's hold.

NO! I have no more change. I have nothing. I sobbed.

I filled out the refund request - lots of good that will do me now, I'm hungry and have just this carbon copy to keep me satiated.

*sigh*

Lets move forward 378 days.

I got my refund! Guess what I'm going to go have for a snack this afternoon?!?!?!?!?


Rolos!

I put in a request on 12/27 too - I was so hungry for lunch that I wanted a Egg & Cheese & Bacon bagel for a buck 50...I put in my money and it wouldn't open the little slidey door.
I finally got that money refund back today too. I'm loaded!

Watch out vending machine!

Jobs, Bottle Caps, and Trips

So I've officially changed jobs. My "old" job was sunsetting since the company decided they didn't want to use it anymore. The day my job was to go part time I was able to pick up a different job on site doing something drastically different. I am now in an office with 5 or 6 other people (not jumping for joy on that one) but I have my own little corner and no one bugs me or can see what I'm doing at all.
I have new pictures of the kids up...well of MOST of the kids. Erika didn't send me any new ones yet. Theirs are still from Christmas. That's what you get for slacking.
I even have one of the dog. I love my puppy.

I had an odd dream last night that there was a group of people that had the ability to control the minds of people to make them think they were someone else (the mind controllers were someone else, that was) as well as makes the person being controlled not know where he/she lived or what they were doing or anything of the sort...People observing the mind controlling could tell because the controllers had to have a soda bottle cap (not the new ones, the old ones) attached to someplace on their body. They were trying to get the human race to off themselves. They were succeeding. My friends and I took off in a raft. It was kinda hilarious. We don't raft.

The g/f and I just decided that we *might* be going to Duluth this summer, the weekend before we go to Massachusetts. I love Duluth.

Sitting in this office is dangerous. I get some free food stuffs - mints and ice cream treats.
mmm

Fudge bars mmm

I think I need to eat an orange!

Third Annual Camping Extravoganza

Went camping!
Came back from camping!

Let's see - where do we start.

We left Rochester at 2:00 (ish) and convoyed with A and H&J. We drove across Minnesota to LaCrosse WI and followed the Mississippi River about two thirds the way down then crossed over into "Dairy Land USA". We arrived around 4 hours later and were relieved to find Mike ready to haul our stuff to the camping area (this was NOT a campground, just a hunk of land in Wisconsin)
Started putting up tents, ours first, H&J's, then A's. Got the Loo standing and ready and then put up J&D's. A&J showed up and popped up their tent then J&B showed up and popped up theirs. J&D showed up last, we already had the fire up! Mike provided us with enough wood to last all weekend and loaded it up to survive through the thunderstorms!
Friday we all had some drinks and goodies. Chatted about the drive and whatever else came out of our mouths. It was a bit chilly but it wasn't too horrible. Finally went to bed around 2ish maybe? I don't know since I don't use a watch while I camp. I was determined to sleep without the rain tarp on the tent so it could feel like we were under the stars. It was nice but C-O-L-D. I didn't sleep much. Finally put on some warmer pants and dry socks and fell asleep. Murphy kept us nice and warm lol

Saturday was nice and warm. We had breakfast, played some lawn games, took a nap, ate some lunch, and then Mike took us over to the tunnel that was to be for a train but it never happened, I guess...It was nice, and cold, and dark.

Got back to the villa and found that dinner was done. We had pork loin that had been marinated in all sorts of different marinades - but since it was smoked, it didn't really matter. We had pasta salads and chips to round off the meal. Later that night we played music and sat around the fire - again! Much warmer Saturday night.
Got up Sunday a little later than normal, had breakfast and watched as B&J packed up and then A & her son pack up too. J&B had planned on heading back early since J's uncle had died. A went home as it was already a long weekend for her toddler as it was! Which left us with 8. We had lunch and played more lawn games and hung out around the fire. Dinner was too be a deep oil fried turkey but no one thought to bring the oil so it was smoked turkey! We also had chips and calico beans. During dinner it started to rain so we all (10 people and 8 dogs) piled into one of the larger tents and ate dinner. After a while the g/f, dog, and myself ran to our car...it was hailing and we wanted to hear the weather so we left. There was a tornado that touched down near Galena IL, which was about 10 miles from where we were so it was really horrible weather. It died down a bit so we walked back to the villa and found that the loo had fallen over (thankfully the girls had cleaned it out earlier that day so not as much was left) and J&D's tent blew down and had 6" of water in it! Our tent had no water but was damp enough to just say we are going to the car to sleep. Woke up, ate some breakfast, tore down camp and then had some lunch and then packed up and headed home! We convoyed home with H&J and I slept ALL the way home. I had to potty and no one would stop so sleeping was the only alternative.
I finally got all the pictures on the net!
Oh and One of the J's and B got stuck in the mud trying to wash out the loo pail. That was hilarious. *snicker*

Confessions of a TV Junkie!

I got a DVR because I thought it would be more convenient to have a contraption that I didn't have to manipulate record shows for me. Not only shows, but I could fast forward through commercials! NO LONGER would I be a slave to the TV, wasting hours through commercials and boring Reality TV spots like when Ryan says, "And we'll find out......after the break" I know that we aren't going to see who is eliminated from AI until like 5 minutes before the end of the show, so guess what I can do now...I can get through the first 55 minutes in about 5 minutes of fast forwarding and not miss a hell of a lot. BAM! I save 50 minutes of TV watching right there. So I thought I would be a better person, have more time to do things around the house, more time to devote to hobbies and not be tied to a mechanical object that dictates to me when I need to sit down and watch a show.
Oh how wrong I was...well kinda. I don't only watch less TV, I watch less TV more. What do I mean? Well, funny be that if you have DVR you can record a show while you are watching one, or you can watch a show on the DVR while TWO other shows record. What did that mean for me?? No longer did I have to chose between watching Desperate Housewives and Family Guy, or Ugly Better and Survivor, or anything against American Idol. I could effectively DOUBLE my TV watching in less time than it would take to watch DOUBLE the amount of TV, but still more time than if I just watched the one show that I wanted to watch.
I found myself taping shows that I didn't really care about - Super Nanny and Wife Swap. I would record shows that I just "kinda" liked just so I could have something to watch when I came home for lunch. At one point I looked at my DVR TV show line up and saw 43 shows scheduled to be recorded. FORTY THREE! In one week! If those are all hour dramas (which most are!) that's a full time job!!!!
Enough I said. Enough. I got rid of all the shows that were on hiatus, the shows that were cancelled (or changed names like Big Brother and Survivor do that depending on their season title)
I got rid of the shows I just "kinda" liked and realized that I was still ahead of the game. Some of the shows were for Amy (Deadliest Catch, Wife Swap, Super Nanny). Then I felt better. I am seeing the upcoming line up for this season and I don't see much I want to add to my list. Last year at this time I was faced with such dilemnas as "I have 3 shows here! What am I going to do?" God.
So after all the weeding is done, here are the contenders that are still on the DVR

Brothers & Sisters (I like family dramas, there are just so many story lines)
Criminal Minds (I loooooooooove behavior analysis. I wanted to do that when I was a kid)
CSI (Vegas style)
Desperate Housewives (Falling out of love with it, so it may not stay much longer)
Dirt (again, falling out of love...think I won't record next season)
Dirty Sexy Money - LOVE IT
Eureka (it's cute.)
Family Guy (hello, do you know me at all??)
Ghost Whisperer (it still makes me cry)
Grey's Anatomy (because I'm part of that generation that is sucked in)
Heroes (they best have a good start to next season, I'm getting kinda bored!)
House (I will never take this off of DVR, even if they cancel it for 10 years.)
Monk (As much as I watch the show, sometimes I just can't figure out how it's done...)
Numb3rs (I might be done with this show too...not sure)
Private Practice (I'm on the fence still, but LOVE kate walsh!)
Pushing Daisies (it's on there for Amy, I personally think it's dumb)
Psych (Love Gus)
Riches (eh. This last season was kinda bad.)
Ugly Betty (This show makes me laugh my ass off)
Dexter (I need to get showtime back before this comes on again!!!)
The L Word (6 episodes left of the series...*sigh* Last season actually rocked!)
Weeds (again, right now I can take or leave it, but next season looks better, it's going to shake up a bit)
Ace of Cakes (I love to see what they can do with a lump of confection goodness)
America's Next Top Model (I missed this past season, I couldn't fit it on the DVR LOL!)
American Idol (I'm so hooked it's not funny)
Big Brother (Still, after all these seasons, I am still hooked on the antics of pent up house guests, so glad Ryan won!)
Deadliest Catch (For Amy)
Hell's Kitchen (Watch when I'm bored...it's the same show every season)
Project Runway (it's FIERCE!)
Top Chef (I'm falling out like with it. I can't taste what they are making and it drives me nuts)
Survivor (hello, how many seasons have I watched now? Why stop now??)
Amazing Race (I could take or leave it...I watch it if I happen to catch it now)

That's 32 shows if you are counting. If I got rid of all the ones I was iffy about it'd be 9 down, plus Amy's shows....I guess it's not as bad as I thought, but still. I spend way too much time watching TV. Admiting it is the first step.

I actually took a big step this month and said we should get rid of cable (DVR and all) and just have netflix. We'd watch what we could on tv when and if we caught it, but otherwise it was movies and extended basic cable.

I think I had to overdose and hit ROCK BOTTOM before I could make that kind of realization....besides I can catch American Idol and most other shows online anyway hehehhehe