I tend to make snap judgements and decisions, especially about people. I think this comes from moving almost every year of my life growing up. You had to decide pretty quickly who was going to be your "best friend" that year. This process has led to some good decisions as well as some bad decisions as you can imagine.
But, I do think you can get an impression about a person pretty quickly. Recently I went out on 2 dates with this guy we'll call "D". D is very nice, around my age and divorced with no kids. As I've mentioned before, people have their own pace to dating, especially online dating. D was pretty quick to move things along and I'm pretty content to move things however the other person wishes.
So we went pretty quickly from IM'ing to calling and then to a date. The date was fun, but I wouldn't have called it "the best date I've ever had" to quote D. So we agree to go out again...in the mean time, I get IM'd and text messaged by him pretty regularly...to the point it became annoying. So for our second date, we were meeting for dinner. My day at work had been pretty bad and I wasn't feeling like I was going to be good company and almost considered canceling. But, I dislike it when people cancel at the last minute (see flaky friend who dumped me), so I went anyway. Also, this particular date was on a Monday, unlike the first date which was a Friday. I had a nice time, but when asked what I wanted to do after dinner, I said, well, it's a "school night" and after the day I've had I'm heading home. D was pretty annoyed and disappointed. So he pushed for date #3.
I had casually mentioned I was going to another city for work and he happened to be as well - oddly enough. So he wanted to get together while there...at this point, I'm feeling like I'm getting the full court press and getting a little freaked out by it. So, I said, no to meeting while out of town.
I was going to tell him I didn't want to see him anymore before I left, but my friends were telling me I should give him another chance or at least the week to think about it. So fine, I gave it the week to think about it - still same decision.
When I got back in town, felt fine all day Friday and then woke up late Friday night and felt like someone had been choking me...my throat hurt so bad and I was freezing yet sweating...lovely. I had also lost my voice. So I couldn't call D to say, you know, I'm not interested. Not exactly something I wanted to do via text message. But he kept texting me and calling me...I sent him a text saying lost my voice, ergo can't speak...but guess that wasn't sinking in.
So I ended up sending him an email. I don't want to waste his time or my time. I basically said, I think you are a great person and we do have a lot in common, but I don't feel there is any chemistry there. Which is a nice way of saying, when you kiss me it feels like I'm kissing my brother.
He wrote back and said fine, but he wasn't sure how you could tell there was no chemistry from only 2 dates. I'm thinking, I could tell from the first date but thought maybe I was being too harsh.
But wouldn't you rather have someone tell you this now and not a month from now? I'm not saying that I think every relationship has to start out with thunderbolts and rainbows, but I do believe there has to be some type of connection, some topsy turvy feeling in the pit of your stomach.
The older I get the more set in my ways I become and maybe I am destined to be alone, but I'd rather be alone than settle for someone just because he's "nice".
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Speechless
I woke up this morning with quite the sexy raspy voice. Actually, that is only partially true. I was woken up last night on the sofa at 10:20pm with a sore throat by the sound of my cell phone ringing. I had just flown back in town after being away for 6 days and was quite tired. I'm annoyed that I know at least 2 of my colleagues gave me some nasty virus as well as dislike people who call after 10pm!
Therefore, I refuse to answer. If you know me at all, you know I'm in bed by 9:55pm to watch Jon Stewart. As it was a Friday evening and I was flying home, I had already spoken to anyone who cared and decided it was only someone completely and totally RUDE who did not care for me that was calling after 10pm.
I am now sick as a dog. For some reason, this does not kill my appetite, but makes me ravenous. So I woke up this morning barely able to speak and starving. Granted, I didn't really eat dinner last night, but still.
I'm a good cook. I'm no cheffy, but I'm a good cook and not nearly as annoying as Rachel Ray. But there are times when your best efforts are not going to cut it. This morning, I was craving this Thai soup that I love. I had bought some in a can that was supposedly similar...all you had to do was add anything you wanted to jazz it up. I go to all the trouble of adding things, cooking rice, etc...only to decide once it was finished and I tasted it that I so was not going to eat it. What a waste on many levels.
I ended up eating the same comfort food that I have eaten since I could have solid foods...a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I have had as much water as humanly possible so am now sloshing around the house.
My voice sounds marginally better, but am wondering if I will actually lose it. When I was teaching in Japan, I would lose my voice at least once a year. I would get so sick because it was freezing and they have no heaters in the classrooms. It's ridiculous, this so-called 1st World Country, prided itself on making the students suffer in the winter by not providing heat...as well as no air conditioning in the summer either! I would show up looking like the abdominal snowman, and my poor kids were wearing their uniforms which didn't exactly come with parkas.
It's going to snow again today. I'm off to hibernate.
Therefore, I refuse to answer. If you know me at all, you know I'm in bed by 9:55pm to watch Jon Stewart. As it was a Friday evening and I was flying home, I had already spoken to anyone who cared and decided it was only someone completely and totally RUDE who did not care for me that was calling after 10pm.
I am now sick as a dog. For some reason, this does not kill my appetite, but makes me ravenous. So I woke up this morning barely able to speak and starving. Granted, I didn't really eat dinner last night, but still.
I'm a good cook. I'm no cheffy, but I'm a good cook and not nearly as annoying as Rachel Ray. But there are times when your best efforts are not going to cut it. This morning, I was craving this Thai soup that I love. I had bought some in a can that was supposedly similar...all you had to do was add anything you wanted to jazz it up. I go to all the trouble of adding things, cooking rice, etc...only to decide once it was finished and I tasted it that I so was not going to eat it. What a waste on many levels.
I ended up eating the same comfort food that I have eaten since I could have solid foods...a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I have had as much water as humanly possible so am now sloshing around the house.
My voice sounds marginally better, but am wondering if I will actually lose it. When I was teaching in Japan, I would lose my voice at least once a year. I would get so sick because it was freezing and they have no heaters in the classrooms. It's ridiculous, this so-called 1st World Country, prided itself on making the students suffer in the winter by not providing heat...as well as no air conditioning in the summer either! I would show up looking like the abdominal snowman, and my poor kids were wearing their uniforms which didn't exactly come with parkas.
It's going to snow again today. I'm off to hibernate.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
The Iceman Cometh
Update on driving in bad weather: thank god I was actually using my noodle on Friday when I was out in the sleet. I decided to back into my garage. I'm not exactly a great "back-er upper" nor a great parallel parker, but I figured it would make my life easier if I did it in the event of bad weather.
Well the bad weather arrived in the form of a thick sheet of ice on my driveway. (Form of water, form of a bucket - Wonder Twin Powers ACTIVATE). I was running around on Sunday morning trying to get ready to leave for the airport. Trying to decide if I should just postpone the trip or even cancel. I finally decide that if I'm gonna go it's going to be Sunday otherwise, there is no point in going. So I pull out of my driveway - which isn't very long...and there is the slightest of inclines before the curb dropoff into the road. The car gets stuck.
Sigh...so I'm sitting there trying to figure out what I should do next. I get some salt to create some traction, then I get my shovel and try to pound on the rock solid ice. I move about a 1/2 a foot. I was completely stuck. Couldn't go forward, couldn't go backward. I'm seriously about to burst into tears...when thankfully one of my neighbors, that I have met once comes out to get his paper and sees me struggling and then a random car drives by and both men help me "rock" the car out of my driveway.
So, thank you thank you thank you!!! I think I'll take cookies or something over to the neighbor. I have no idea what I would have done if they hadn't have come along...I'd probably still be there, crying like a big baby.
Well the bad weather arrived in the form of a thick sheet of ice on my driveway. (Form of water, form of a bucket - Wonder Twin Powers ACTIVATE). I was running around on Sunday morning trying to get ready to leave for the airport. Trying to decide if I should just postpone the trip or even cancel. I finally decide that if I'm gonna go it's going to be Sunday otherwise, there is no point in going. So I pull out of my driveway - which isn't very long...and there is the slightest of inclines before the curb dropoff into the road. The car gets stuck.
Sigh...so I'm sitting there trying to figure out what I should do next. I get some salt to create some traction, then I get my shovel and try to pound on the rock solid ice. I move about a 1/2 a foot. I was completely stuck. Couldn't go forward, couldn't go backward. I'm seriously about to burst into tears...when thankfully one of my neighbors, that I have met once comes out to get his paper and sees me struggling and then a random car drives by and both men help me "rock" the car out of my driveway.
So, thank you thank you thank you!!! I think I'll take cookies or something over to the neighbor. I have no idea what I would have done if they hadn't have come along...I'd probably still be there, crying like a big baby.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
10 & 2
I am a big fraidy cat when it comes to driving in bad weather. We have a winter storm here in Kansas and I am loathe to get out on the road, but tomorrow I have to. I went out on Friday morning, hoping to beat the weather, but the roads were already slick and it was the type of precipitation that sticks to your windshield...and of course I realize that I am almost out of wiper fluid.
I bought a new car 2 years ago. It is the only new car I have ever owned. My first car was a Honda Accord DX hatchback, blue with poorly tinted windows that had bubbled up due to the Alabama heat. I drove that car my last year of high school and all throughout college. She was a bit tempermental, and of course The Colonel bought it on the cheap and it only had a radio, no tape deck to speak of.
Then, I moved to NYC and to keep a car there would have cost as much if not more than my rent and who really wants or needs to drive in Manhattan? It was quite nice really, not having to deal with a car. I remember my company wanted me to rent a car for an event we were doing, but I was too young...I was exstatic to not be able to as I didn't want to drive with all those crazies.
I then moved to Japan and the first year there my only mode of transport was a very old bicycle with a basket on the front. It was supposedly a 3 speed, but I could never get it out of the one speed it came in. I hadn't ridden a bike since I was about 6 years old. And if you have read my blog for any length of time you will know that I am a complete and total clutz of the first degree...so my exploits on the nefarious bicycle were notorious all over Nishigoshi Town - didn't help that there was only one other foreigner in my town. Anything I did in that town was well known, from buying celery to falling off my bike - both of which I did on quite the regular basis.
Once I made the decision to stay for a second year in Japan, I decided to purchase a car. Japanese people don't like to buy anything used. It is a gold mine for any foreigner as we could care less. Once a year, on big trash day you could rack up televisions, VCRs, stereos, etc. None of them broken, just perhaps a year or two old.
So I bought a Suzuki Alto. I personally wanted to get a Suzuki Parsley, but the Alto was cheaper. And what do you drive? A Parsley. I often wondered how they decided on Parsley and not Thyme or Rosemary. And in Japanese there is no "L" sound...so it was pronounced "pa su ri". Alto = a ru to. The Alto was essentially given to me by another foreigner and all I had to do was pay the obscene insurance tax levied on the car. Driving a stick on the other side of the road was hilarious. For the first few months I would slam my right hand into the door "reaching" in vain for the stick shift. Turn the windshield wipers on instead of my blinker. Also, in Japan, you bow at everyone at all times. So if someone lets you into traffic, you bow. If you let someone walk at a crosswalk, you bow. You try shifting left handed and bowing at the same time! The aruto was quite possibly smaller than a "mini". I could park her anywhere. The only weird thing about her was I had to remember to put water in the battery - hello?! That did not compute when the garage next door to my house tried to explain to me why my car wouldn't start after being on holiday. I kept thinking it was my poor Japanese and there was some alternate meaning to the word water that I didn't know yet.
When I returned to America, I bought my mom's old Toyota Corrola, maroon, automatic. I named her Millie. I liked Millie, but it seemed like one year all of her original parts started breaking and I started wondering if I was going to be stranded somewhere, so I finally got the nerve to begin the horrid process of buying a car.
I ended up buying Suzy, a Nissan Altima SER in fire engine red. She's a 6 speed stick shift with every bell and whistle I could possibly get. I love that car. But as technology progressed with cars, and I didn't, I missed the memo on a few things such as traction control. Now, when I learned how to drive in bad weather, you were taught to "pump" your break pedals. Now, with the new traction control and anti-lock breaks, we are told to "stand" on your breaks, they do the "pumping" for you. This is challenging for me to remember at times. I also dislike a feature, a light on the dashboard specifically that constantly flashes "SLIP"...as if I don't know that my tires don't have traction, I need a freaking light essentially yelling at me.
So tomorrow I have to go out. I'm not looking forward to it. I am going to be white knuckling the steering wheel the whole way. Wish me luck.
I bought a new car 2 years ago. It is the only new car I have ever owned. My first car was a Honda Accord DX hatchback, blue with poorly tinted windows that had bubbled up due to the Alabama heat. I drove that car my last year of high school and all throughout college. She was a bit tempermental, and of course The Colonel bought it on the cheap and it only had a radio, no tape deck to speak of.
Then, I moved to NYC and to keep a car there would have cost as much if not more than my rent and who really wants or needs to drive in Manhattan? It was quite nice really, not having to deal with a car. I remember my company wanted me to rent a car for an event we were doing, but I was too young...I was exstatic to not be able to as I didn't want to drive with all those crazies.
I then moved to Japan and the first year there my only mode of transport was a very old bicycle with a basket on the front. It was supposedly a 3 speed, but I could never get it out of the one speed it came in. I hadn't ridden a bike since I was about 6 years old. And if you have read my blog for any length of time you will know that I am a complete and total clutz of the first degree...so my exploits on the nefarious bicycle were notorious all over Nishigoshi Town - didn't help that there was only one other foreigner in my town. Anything I did in that town was well known, from buying celery to falling off my bike - both of which I did on quite the regular basis.
Once I made the decision to stay for a second year in Japan, I decided to purchase a car. Japanese people don't like to buy anything used. It is a gold mine for any foreigner as we could care less. Once a year, on big trash day you could rack up televisions, VCRs, stereos, etc. None of them broken, just perhaps a year or two old.
So I bought a Suzuki Alto. I personally wanted to get a Suzuki Parsley, but the Alto was cheaper. And what do you drive? A Parsley. I often wondered how they decided on Parsley and not Thyme or Rosemary. And in Japanese there is no "L" sound...so it was pronounced "pa su ri". Alto = a ru to. The Alto was essentially given to me by another foreigner and all I had to do was pay the obscene insurance tax levied on the car. Driving a stick on the other side of the road was hilarious. For the first few months I would slam my right hand into the door "reaching" in vain for the stick shift. Turn the windshield wipers on instead of my blinker. Also, in Japan, you bow at everyone at all times. So if someone lets you into traffic, you bow. If you let someone walk at a crosswalk, you bow. You try shifting left handed and bowing at the same time! The aruto was quite possibly smaller than a "mini". I could park her anywhere. The only weird thing about her was I had to remember to put water in the battery - hello?! That did not compute when the garage next door to my house tried to explain to me why my car wouldn't start after being on holiday. I kept thinking it was my poor Japanese and there was some alternate meaning to the word water that I didn't know yet.
When I returned to America, I bought my mom's old Toyota Corrola, maroon, automatic. I named her Millie. I liked Millie, but it seemed like one year all of her original parts started breaking and I started wondering if I was going to be stranded somewhere, so I finally got the nerve to begin the horrid process of buying a car.
I ended up buying Suzy, a Nissan Altima SER in fire engine red. She's a 6 speed stick shift with every bell and whistle I could possibly get. I love that car. But as technology progressed with cars, and I didn't, I missed the memo on a few things such as traction control. Now, when I learned how to drive in bad weather, you were taught to "pump" your break pedals. Now, with the new traction control and anti-lock breaks, we are told to "stand" on your breaks, they do the "pumping" for you. This is challenging for me to remember at times. I also dislike a feature, a light on the dashboard specifically that constantly flashes "SLIP"...as if I don't know that my tires don't have traction, I need a freaking light essentially yelling at me.
So tomorrow I have to go out. I'm not looking forward to it. I am going to be white knuckling the steering wheel the whole way. Wish me luck.
Friday, January 12, 2007
Long time no see - care to buy from me?
I am a few years away from my 20th reunion for high school and my 15th for university. Every time I get near one of the major milestones, I get emails from long lost friends and/or boyfriends. It's always fun to catch up with people...to see where and how they ended up.
I just got an email from one of my sorority pledge class sisters that I haven't heard from since our senior year in college. I'm frankly surprised she even remembers me, because our senior year we both started dating boys from different social groups and pretty much lost touch. I knew she was engaged when I left college, but so were half of the other girls I knew at that time and some got hitched and some got ditched. But with her, I'm not surprised she is married to him and that they have babies.
But I have a question, and maybe I'm just incredibly cynical these days...but she sells make up/skin care products. Which is fine, but in her reply back to my reply she mentions wanting to talk with me about it. So, was she really writing me to catch up or was she going through the alumni directory looking to expand her business? I know, I know! I'm cynical! I'm jumping to conclusions. Maybe she's thinking, great to catch up - but great if I can make a sale too?
Oh well, I'm not a fan of their products and if I was there are at least 3 women I know locally that I could buy from...so we'll see if she keeps in touch.
I just got an email from one of my sorority pledge class sisters that I haven't heard from since our senior year in college. I'm frankly surprised she even remembers me, because our senior year we both started dating boys from different social groups and pretty much lost touch. I knew she was engaged when I left college, but so were half of the other girls I knew at that time and some got hitched and some got ditched. But with her, I'm not surprised she is married to him and that they have babies.
But I have a question, and maybe I'm just incredibly cynical these days...but she sells make up/skin care products. Which is fine, but in her reply back to my reply she mentions wanting to talk with me about it. So, was she really writing me to catch up or was she going through the alumni directory looking to expand her business? I know, I know! I'm cynical! I'm jumping to conclusions. Maybe she's thinking, great to catch up - but great if I can make a sale too?
Oh well, I'm not a fan of their products and if I was there are at least 3 women I know locally that I could buy from...so we'll see if she keeps in touch.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Barking Mad
It sucks at times having my mom live a few states away from me. Like tonight when she calls me and tells me that 3 fully grown Boxer dogs have attacked her and her little foufi dog Coco! I mean seriously, I'm totally upset and freaking out and there is nothing I can do from here. She claims they are both okay and that she's calm now and everything is okay. I, on the other hand, am in tears as they knocked her down and tried to practically eat her dog who might weigh 5 pounds total.
So what do I do? I call my sister-in-law who lives in Florida. Because clearly she can do something from there. I needed moral support dammit! Mom was saying she didn't want to call the police or animal control on the stupid owner of the damn marauding dogs, who upon arrival as my mother is laying on the ground, screaming for help comes up and says, "their just puppies". Like, oopey, they managed to get out of the yard and they were just playing...they didn't really mean to try to kill you and your dog!
My SiL and I agreed that we had to get mom to report this. Oh! AND! What I neglected to mention is that last night she was walking Coco and they walked by the house with the 3 Boxers and they tried to jump the fence - so they deliberately took an alternate route for their walk and when dogs managed to get out they came running for them on a completely different street!!!
We both said, what if it had been a child? She finally called. But because they didn't break the skin or truly bite either one, there's no real report...
I still can't get over that horrid owner! If you cannot control your dogs you don't deserve to own them. You have a responsibility not only to the people around you but to the damn dogs! It's not their fault - she's the one who can't control them! And who gets 3 freaking dogs at one time? She's probably never even owned Boxers before, never even researched the breed! Probably never owned large dogs before! She saw them on one of the dog shows on TV and thought, why don't I get three very large dogs - they can keep each other company! I'll keep them outside and let them bark incessantly, attack my neighbors and try to eat small defenseless animals!
I dislike feeling so helpless and I hate not being there for her other than on the phone. I remember when I lived in Japan and there was a HUGE typhoon coming directly for my little town...it was the middle of the night and I was freaking out so who do I call? My mom who lives thousands of miles away because if I'm going to be freaked out, well then she damn well should be too!
So what do I do? I call my sister-in-law who lives in Florida. Because clearly she can do something from there. I needed moral support dammit! Mom was saying she didn't want to call the police or animal control on the stupid owner of the damn marauding dogs, who upon arrival as my mother is laying on the ground, screaming for help comes up and says, "their just puppies". Like, oopey, they managed to get out of the yard and they were just playing...they didn't really mean to try to kill you and your dog!
My SiL and I agreed that we had to get mom to report this. Oh! AND! What I neglected to mention is that last night she was walking Coco and they walked by the house with the 3 Boxers and they tried to jump the fence - so they deliberately took an alternate route for their walk and when dogs managed to get out they came running for them on a completely different street!!!
We both said, what if it had been a child? She finally called. But because they didn't break the skin or truly bite either one, there's no real report...
I still can't get over that horrid owner! If you cannot control your dogs you don't deserve to own them. You have a responsibility not only to the people around you but to the damn dogs! It's not their fault - she's the one who can't control them! And who gets 3 freaking dogs at one time? She's probably never even owned Boxers before, never even researched the breed! Probably never owned large dogs before! She saw them on one of the dog shows on TV and thought, why don't I get three very large dogs - they can keep each other company! I'll keep them outside and let them bark incessantly, attack my neighbors and try to eat small defenseless animals!
I dislike feeling so helpless and I hate not being there for her other than on the phone. I remember when I lived in Japan and there was a HUGE typhoon coming directly for my little town...it was the middle of the night and I was freaking out so who do I call? My mom who lives thousands of miles away because if I'm going to be freaked out, well then she damn well should be too!
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
It can always be worse
Tonight I went out for drinks with some old work friends. There's a group of about 5 or 6 of us that make an effort to get together at least once a month and tonight was a birthday celebration. Another guy showed up that we haven't seen in a while. J and I got laid off in July at the same time. J still has yet to find another job and his wife is due to give birth any day now.
So while work is crazy and a bit uncertain right now, at least I still have a paycheck coming in...knock on wood.
So while work is crazy and a bit uncertain right now, at least I still have a paycheck coming in...knock on wood.
Junk Mail
Happy Birthday to my brother Robby!!! The big 39! Next year is a doozy!
I find it hard to believe that I am 35 and Robby is 39...it seems like just yesterday we were both in university together...memories, sniff. I really miss my brother and SiL since they've moved to Florida. Although my SiL claims that we only go to visit now to see Ms. Peanut, I do miss having them here in KC. It seems the older I get, the more I want all my family together (there aren't that many of us) and I am becoming more and more hermit-like.
I'm very proud of being a home owner and being Ms. Independent...but there are days when I get so tired of doing everything and being responsible. I particularly hate Thursday evenings because Friday is my trash day. I used to laugh when a single friend of mine said the same thing, but seriously, I can't stand it. I am responsible for every little thing in my life, not to say I can't handle it, but sheesh, I'd like a break now and again.
Which might be why I have a tendency to become very slobby and unorganized around the house. I am so tired of junk mail that clogs up my mailbox and then that I have to spend time shredding. I receive on average of at least 3 - 4 credit card offers daily...I've heard there are now these "green services" that you can pay someone to contact all these companies to eliminate your junk mail. I find that hard to believe as the "do not call list" was supposed to get rid of all the telemarketers and I still get at least 3 calls a day.
I go through spurts, I will become a crazy anal woman and clean my house like mad for weeks straight, and then I'll do the exact opposite. It's not as if I leave food on the counter or dishes in the sink - talk about EW! But, I let the vacuuming and the dusting slide and the junk mail piles up.
Because we moved almost every single year of my life growing up, I didn't have the same room or same house, so I ended up making my family schlep all my stuff. It's difficult for me to throw things out...I might need that catalog one day, you don't know!
So I think a new business idea is a roving giant shredder machine...wouldn't it be nice if the trash company would send a truck around that was a shredder once a week, so you could dump all your junk mail in it? Maybe they could incorporate it into the recycling trucks? In one of the neighboring towns, they did, one day last year a giant shred day at a grocery store and you could bring all your junk mail to shred...but why is it only once a year?
I need a giant shredder for my life in general. Buzz!!!!
I find it hard to believe that I am 35 and Robby is 39...it seems like just yesterday we were both in university together...memories, sniff. I really miss my brother and SiL since they've moved to Florida. Although my SiL claims that we only go to visit now to see Ms. Peanut, I do miss having them here in KC. It seems the older I get, the more I want all my family together (there aren't that many of us) and I am becoming more and more hermit-like.
I'm very proud of being a home owner and being Ms. Independent...but there are days when I get so tired of doing everything and being responsible. I particularly hate Thursday evenings because Friday is my trash day. I used to laugh when a single friend of mine said the same thing, but seriously, I can't stand it. I am responsible for every little thing in my life, not to say I can't handle it, but sheesh, I'd like a break now and again.
Which might be why I have a tendency to become very slobby and unorganized around the house. I am so tired of junk mail that clogs up my mailbox and then that I have to spend time shredding. I receive on average of at least 3 - 4 credit card offers daily...I've heard there are now these "green services" that you can pay someone to contact all these companies to eliminate your junk mail. I find that hard to believe as the "do not call list" was supposed to get rid of all the telemarketers and I still get at least 3 calls a day.
I go through spurts, I will become a crazy anal woman and clean my house like mad for weeks straight, and then I'll do the exact opposite. It's not as if I leave food on the counter or dishes in the sink - talk about EW! But, I let the vacuuming and the dusting slide and the junk mail piles up.
Because we moved almost every single year of my life growing up, I didn't have the same room or same house, so I ended up making my family schlep all my stuff. It's difficult for me to throw things out...I might need that catalog one day, you don't know!
So I think a new business idea is a roving giant shredder machine...wouldn't it be nice if the trash company would send a truck around that was a shredder once a week, so you could dump all your junk mail in it? Maybe they could incorporate it into the recycling trucks? In one of the neighboring towns, they did, one day last year a giant shred day at a grocery store and you could bring all your junk mail to shred...but why is it only once a year?
I need a giant shredder for my life in general. Buzz!!!!
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Hide and Seek
I have a very weird habit of constantly checking to see where my cats are before I leave the house. I have to do a headcount. And, if I haven't seen one of them in a while, especially with baby Becks, I have to go and find them. I have this fear that one day they are going to get out and I won't be able to find them.
My cat Maru, who passed away, got out once. I was laying on the sofa (I know you are shocked) one day after work. I had the house open, all the windows and the sliding glass door. The boys were in the back room in front of the sliding glass door and all of the sudden I heard a loud crash! I ran to the back room, there's the Fuji running in circles and yelling at me - no Maru to be found! I just know the Fuji was saying, Mom! I told him not to do it, but he did!
So I go tearing out the back door to find Maru - almost forget to close the sliding door in the event the Fuji wanted to venture out. I am freaking out because not only is my baby on the lam, but he's DEAF. Stone cold deaf. Even if he would come if I called his name - he couldn't hear it! Turns out he went tearing off after another cat. Maru was quite the heavy weight, but he had no front claws (he and the Fuji came that way). So I was really worried the other cat was going to rip him a new one. Of course, as soon as Maru sees me, he runs from me. As I'm trying to corral him and he tries to climb a tree! Needless to say, fat boy with no claws didn't get very high. I finally cornered him under a neighbors truck and managed to fake him out by pretending I had food. What a nightmare. I was so mad at him.
But, even before that, I had the weird habit of always checking to see where they were. Now that I have two again, the Fuji and baby Becks, I am the same way. Tonight, baby Becks was no where to be found and the house was awfully quiet, which can only mean trouble is being had. I couldn't find him! It's not as if I have a huge home. I don't know how they do it - they always manage to be back in the same room I started in when I retrace my steps, sitting there, looking at me as if to say, I was here the whole time you MORON.
Meow.
My cat Maru, who passed away, got out once. I was laying on the sofa (I know you are shocked) one day after work. I had the house open, all the windows and the sliding glass door. The boys were in the back room in front of the sliding glass door and all of the sudden I heard a loud crash! I ran to the back room, there's the Fuji running in circles and yelling at me - no Maru to be found! I just know the Fuji was saying, Mom! I told him not to do it, but he did!
So I go tearing out the back door to find Maru - almost forget to close the sliding door in the event the Fuji wanted to venture out. I am freaking out because not only is my baby on the lam, but he's DEAF. Stone cold deaf. Even if he would come if I called his name - he couldn't hear it! Turns out he went tearing off after another cat. Maru was quite the heavy weight, but he had no front claws (he and the Fuji came that way). So I was really worried the other cat was going to rip him a new one. Of course, as soon as Maru sees me, he runs from me. As I'm trying to corral him and he tries to climb a tree! Needless to say, fat boy with no claws didn't get very high. I finally cornered him under a neighbors truck and managed to fake him out by pretending I had food. What a nightmare. I was so mad at him.
But, even before that, I had the weird habit of always checking to see where they were. Now that I have two again, the Fuji and baby Becks, I am the same way. Tonight, baby Becks was no where to be found and the house was awfully quiet, which can only mean trouble is being had. I couldn't find him! It's not as if I have a huge home. I don't know how they do it - they always manage to be back in the same room I started in when I retrace my steps, sitting there, looking at me as if to say, I was here the whole time you MORON.
Meow.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Cat People
Last night my two cats turned into dogs! I was back in the computer room and all of the sudden they both came out of a sound sleep to immediately perk up their ears, stand on-point and start growling at the sliding glass door!!!! There was nothing there! I was so freaked out. Then, the baby, Becks, starts running for the front door!!! The wind was howling last night…so I’m guessing that they got spooked by it, but it took a long time to go to sleep.
As I didn’t sleep well, my thoughts are really scattered today.
I’ve been thinking about people’s style: what is it and who says whether or not it is good? I'm not necessarily speaking of fashion style...because clearly we all know that I have that. :) I'm talking about the way in which you interact with people. At work, one person may be aggressive, the next laid back, the next confrontational...it's such a variable and how you react to that person's style also helps determine your own. I have a tendency to put blinders on and only see the end goal. I just want to figure out what the issue is, how to solve it and get it done. Some people like to wallow in the problem, talk about it ad nauseum until everyone reaches a decision - but in a "kumbaya" way. I can't stand those types of people. It drives me insane. But I'm better at dealing with them than I used to.
Some of my colleagues think I am "debbie downer". I wouldn't say that, I prefer to think of myself as a realist. Managers also have different styles. Some don’t like confrontation (who does?) but that idea of confrontation can also include what I would consider "business as usual" conversations that do not require confrontation.
In the dating scene, there are also different styles. Some people like to take their time, others like to jump in the deep end and then there are the stalkers. Having been out there for a while...I've run the gamut. I think Random John has finally realized that trying to start a relationship with someone you don't know that you called by mistake isn't really going to work out for you. It only took a ½ dozen phone calls and a text…sheesh.
There has to be a connection between two people – in any type of relationship. You have to have a spark. And if not, in dating relationships people always say well, “He’s just not into you”. Because clearly, that is a fantastic explanation. Reminds me of that stupid book “The Rules”.
Anyway, this post was very rambly… I blame it on my cats. :)
As I didn’t sleep well, my thoughts are really scattered today.
I’ve been thinking about people’s style: what is it and who says whether or not it is good? I'm not necessarily speaking of fashion style...because clearly we all know that I have that. :) I'm talking about the way in which you interact with people. At work, one person may be aggressive, the next laid back, the next confrontational...it's such a variable and how you react to that person's style also helps determine your own. I have a tendency to put blinders on and only see the end goal. I just want to figure out what the issue is, how to solve it and get it done. Some people like to wallow in the problem, talk about it ad nauseum until everyone reaches a decision - but in a "kumbaya" way. I can't stand those types of people. It drives me insane. But I'm better at dealing with them than I used to.
Some of my colleagues think I am "debbie downer". I wouldn't say that, I prefer to think of myself as a realist. Managers also have different styles. Some don’t like confrontation (who does?) but that idea of confrontation can also include what I would consider "business as usual" conversations that do not require confrontation.
In the dating scene, there are also different styles. Some people like to take their time, others like to jump in the deep end and then there are the stalkers. Having been out there for a while...I've run the gamut. I think Random John has finally realized that trying to start a relationship with someone you don't know that you called by mistake isn't really going to work out for you. It only took a ½ dozen phone calls and a text…sheesh.
There has to be a connection between two people – in any type of relationship. You have to have a spark. And if not, in dating relationships people always say well, “He’s just not into you”. Because clearly, that is a fantastic explanation. Reminds me of that stupid book “The Rules”.
Anyway, this post was very rambly… I blame it on my cats. :)
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
No Crying Over Spilled Milk
I really miss my Flaky Friend who dumped me. I miss hanging out with her and chatting with her and frankly...I miss her flakiness because usually her excuses were so wild, they had to be true!
I had, what I would call a work acquaintance once who I will call ABC. ABC and I used to get together for lunch when we worked together about every two months. I liked her, but I wouldn't have called us friends as the only time I was invited to her home was for one of those stupid "pay" parties like Pampered Chef.
In my old job, I used to travel a lot overseas. She kept IM'ing me asking when I was coming back in town. Once I got back, she asked me to come see her and she was crying. She was not a person to cry, much less to cry in public. She told me that she had been having an affair. She married her high school sweetheart and they have 3 children - all under the age of 9 at the time. She asked me if she could come stay with me for a while because she needed a break. She has family in town but didn't want to go to any of them until they could figure out if this was a trial separation or a real one. I felt backed into a corner. I knew her husband - heck, he built my deck for me one summer. And my brother and sister-in-law knew them as well. They went to my brother's birthday party one year. So, I said okay, you can stay with me. I was headed back overseas and she offered to cat sit for me for the 2 weeks I was gone.
While I was gone, I would hear periodically from other work friends/acquaintances about ABC and what was going on at my house. And basically it turns out she was just using me to further her affair. They were using my home to continue to meet up. Not only that, her affair was with a man we all worked with - a man who had recently become my "friend". Now I knew why...
Basically I was used. So long story short...we obviously do not speak anymore. The guy she was having an affair with actually had the balls to come up to me ask what happened between us...whatever, there was no us. You used me and I don't care for being used.
I just heard she has a new job at a new company. To quote another friend, "new men to cruise".
It sucks when you make a bad call on who to trust as a friend. As much as I miss Flaky...I'm not calling again. I'm tired of all the BS.
I had, what I would call a work acquaintance once who I will call ABC. ABC and I used to get together for lunch when we worked together about every two months. I liked her, but I wouldn't have called us friends as the only time I was invited to her home was for one of those stupid "pay" parties like Pampered Chef.
In my old job, I used to travel a lot overseas. She kept IM'ing me asking when I was coming back in town. Once I got back, she asked me to come see her and she was crying. She was not a person to cry, much less to cry in public. She told me that she had been having an affair. She married her high school sweetheart and they have 3 children - all under the age of 9 at the time. She asked me if she could come stay with me for a while because she needed a break. She has family in town but didn't want to go to any of them until they could figure out if this was a trial separation or a real one. I felt backed into a corner. I knew her husband - heck, he built my deck for me one summer. And my brother and sister-in-law knew them as well. They went to my brother's birthday party one year. So, I said okay, you can stay with me. I was headed back overseas and she offered to cat sit for me for the 2 weeks I was gone.
While I was gone, I would hear periodically from other work friends/acquaintances about ABC and what was going on at my house. And basically it turns out she was just using me to further her affair. They were using my home to continue to meet up. Not only that, her affair was with a man we all worked with - a man who had recently become my "friend". Now I knew why...
Basically I was used. So long story short...we obviously do not speak anymore. The guy she was having an affair with actually had the balls to come up to me ask what happened between us...whatever, there was no us. You used me and I don't care for being used.
I just heard she has a new job at a new company. To quote another friend, "new men to cruise".
It sucks when you make a bad call on who to trust as a friend. As much as I miss Flaky...I'm not calling again. I'm tired of all the BS.
Monday, January 01, 2007
Clean Slate
Ring the bell, it's a new year. Frankly I am quite happy to say goodbye to 2006. Wasn't exactly a banner year for me. Got laid off, turned 35 and my entire body is falling apart - or at least my teeth are.
I recognize it could have been worse, but I am still ready for a new begining. As my birthday resolution to stop cursing due to my potty mouth has not really worked, I will forgo the usual trite new year's resolutions. Maybe I'll try to give up something for Lent instead...although not being a practicing Catholic (just one by default due to birth) I'm not sure that will work either.
I'm not ready to go back to work. I have loads of things to do...but let's be honest here...even if I had a month off, I wouldn't do them. I excel at procrastination and sheer laziness. I have quite the talent. I need to figure out how to get paid for it.
I joined Netflicks recently as I don't have any pay TV movie channels. I thought it was a great idea, but am now feeling intense pressure to watch the movies immediately upon receipt as I have so many titles queued up. I get anxious when I receive emails from Netflicks saying...new releases, coming soon...I feel behind. Which is completely irrational as that is the point of Netflicks...no late fees.
I watched Brokeback Mountain and Match Point this weekend. Brokeback should have been named Heartbreak Mountain. The movie was overhyped for what it was simply due to the homo-erotic scenes. It was pretty tragic, living your life as a lie and in constant fear. Match Point, the Woody Allen film with Scarlett Johanssen, was completely boring and slow. I'm not a fan of Woody Allen in the first place...but I like Scarlett Johanssen as well as Jonathan Rhys Meyers...but neither were likable characters. The third movie this go-round is Shop Girl with Steve Martin based upon the novella he wrote. I read the book and am curious to see how the movie compares.
For the new year, I watched Talledega Nights again - hilarious. Made some lasagna and then played the most stupid game on the planet called Outburst, but we had 1 too many to play Trivial Pursuit.
I moved almost every year of my life growing up, and there were times that I was quite happy to move on. I liked the new begining, you could start over, clean slate. That is my goal for 2007. Clean slate. Happy New Year.
I recognize it could have been worse, but I am still ready for a new begining. As my birthday resolution to stop cursing due to my potty mouth has not really worked, I will forgo the usual trite new year's resolutions. Maybe I'll try to give up something for Lent instead...although not being a practicing Catholic (just one by default due to birth) I'm not sure that will work either.
I'm not ready to go back to work. I have loads of things to do...but let's be honest here...even if I had a month off, I wouldn't do them. I excel at procrastination and sheer laziness. I have quite the talent. I need to figure out how to get paid for it.
I joined Netflicks recently as I don't have any pay TV movie channels. I thought it was a great idea, but am now feeling intense pressure to watch the movies immediately upon receipt as I have so many titles queued up. I get anxious when I receive emails from Netflicks saying...new releases, coming soon...I feel behind. Which is completely irrational as that is the point of Netflicks...no late fees.
I watched Brokeback Mountain and Match Point this weekend. Brokeback should have been named Heartbreak Mountain. The movie was overhyped for what it was simply due to the homo-erotic scenes. It was pretty tragic, living your life as a lie and in constant fear. Match Point, the Woody Allen film with Scarlett Johanssen, was completely boring and slow. I'm not a fan of Woody Allen in the first place...but I like Scarlett Johanssen as well as Jonathan Rhys Meyers...but neither were likable characters. The third movie this go-round is Shop Girl with Steve Martin based upon the novella he wrote. I read the book and am curious to see how the movie compares.
For the new year, I watched Talledega Nights again - hilarious. Made some lasagna and then played the most stupid game on the planet called Outburst, but we had 1 too many to play Trivial Pursuit.
I moved almost every year of my life growing up, and there were times that I was quite happy to move on. I liked the new begining, you could start over, clean slate. That is my goal for 2007. Clean slate. Happy New Year.
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