Highs and Lows

This posting is going to be a bit disjointed as my thoughts are pretty scattered...please bear with me.

Tomorrow I fly out to interview at another company. Last time I did that I flew in and out in the same day and that's what I'm doing again tomorrow. Ugh. I'm hoping I don't get home at 2am again. I still haven't received my ticket information from the company...I guess if worst comes to worse, I'll show up at the counter tomorrow an hour before the flight (they at least told me the times) and see what happens. Last time I went up and back in one day I only brought a change of shoes and I was miserable going home because the flight was so delayed, etc. I'm trying to decide if I should bring sweats or something.

I start my new job on Friday. I'm pretty excited. I'm sure I'll be exhausted. I haven't worked retail since college.

5 months after my car wreck, in which the kid rear-ended me and did not have car insurance, after a court date and months of waiting, I just got my reimbursement from the kid for my deductible!!! Woo hoo!!! Couldn't have come at a better time!

I had my first home show yesterday. I wish I knew what the person and the realtor thought of my home. It's my baby. I obviously think it's a fantastic home, but no idea what others may think of it.

Did I mention that throughout all my craziness of being unemployed and putting my house on the market, I managed to still pull an "A" in statistics?!!! Statistics!!! I know! Insane! Perhaps it goes to show what a crappy program I'm in but I'm still so proud! I, solely, wrote our teams final stats paper! Now I'm marketing and after marketing I only have 3 more classes to go! They are all mostly BS type classes, I can't believe I made it through accounting, econ, finance AND stats!!! I'm so happy I'm almost done! All my remaining classes are 6 week classes and they are hopefully just going to fly by! My last class ends on October 3 and I will seriously be partying that weekend!

It's been a tumultuous two years of change. I'm tired of change and ready to move on.

Win free stuff!

That's right! I'm pimping the following blog: Chop. Stir. Mix.

Go here and win free stuff!

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On another note, I'm very excited to say that I was just hired on the SPOT for a retail job at the mall! I wasn't even planning to speak with the manager. I look like complete ass: no makeup, casual clothes, hair up in a clip...I was just going to drop off the application. The manager came up, we chatted and she said, "when can you start?". If only every other job I've applied for these days ended the same way!

So I have some interviews this week and I'm starting a job on Friday! I have something to do! Somewhere to go! Some worth! Some value! AND - A DISCOUNT!!!! :)

It's the Plumber, I've come to fix the sink

I had to have a plumber come out today to fix my kitchen sink. I have done some minor repairs on my home myself. I was so proud, I even re-grouted tile! But I was too intimidated by the sink - and good thing I didn't do anything as he had to practically take the entire thing apart and put it back together.

So I've started applying for retail jobs to see if I can get a part time job. It's odd. I feel like I'm in the perpetual "weekend" state of mind. I feel like every morning I'm going to wake up and this will be a dream and I'll have a job to go to. It's hard to say I'm unemployed. It's hard to say I've been laid off. I know I wasn't fired, but it really doesn't feel like it. I've lost so much self-confidence and self-worth. I know it's not smart to have my entire identity wrapped around a job, but it is so much of who I am.

I keep thinking about what someone said, that maybe corporate america isn't the place for me...but where is the place for me? I keep trying to figure out if money was no object and I could do and be anything I wanted to in the world, what would it be...I have no idea. I thought I had a plan, getting my MBA, going back into HR. Now I just don't know.

It's easier to know what I don't want. I know I don't want to own my own business. I know I don't want to work retail, I know I don't want to be teacher again (at least right now)...obviously I could go on...I really just don't know what to do anymore. I'm open to suggestions.

Close House

I had my first open house on Sunday. I'm not a believer in open houses when selling. When I was looking to buy a home, I never went to open houses. I didn't want to look at homes with other people fighting to get into rooms, etc. So low and behold not a single damn person showed up at my open house. I killed myself to get everything ready for the showing - mowing the lawn, etc, only to have no one show. Not even a flipping nosy neighbor?!! When I drove home one of my neighbors had taken a flyer and then she and a few other neighbors stood outside pointing at my house gossiping. Lovely.

THEN! To top it all off! My realtor set her purse down on my baker's rack and a bottle of wine fell off due to her setting her purse down and the bottle broke a clay pot of mine! This pot is called a nabe pot and I shelped that thing back from Japan. A friend of mine in Japan gave it to me for my birthday and I use it ALL THE TIME!!! I'm so upset. Seriously! What the hell! Keep your damn purse in your car! What do you need at an open house, your flipping cell phone and your keys, that's it! She writes me a note and says she'll replace it...I don't even know if I can replace it! Is she goign to fly one over from Japan?!

So I'm totally stressed out and freaked out. The companies that I speak with love me, but then they tell me they can no longer hire externally. The economy sucks. Now I won't be able to sell my house. All I want to do is lay in bed all day long and I can't do that on the off chance someone wants to see my house. WHATEVER. I'm so depressed.

Procrastination

One of my many talents is procrastinating. I am supposed to be "decluttering" my house to put it on the market and I don't want to. It's not like I have to pack the entire place up yet, but I just really don't want to do it. I guess it is the reality of decluttering that makes me realize I have to sell my house and start over somewhere.

I hate moving. Growing up we moved almost every year. I am a complete and total clutter bug. I LOVE my stuff and I like to have my stuff around me at all times. I don't like having to start over. I put my heart and soul into my home, from decorating, to renovating and more. It's my sanctuary - probably too much of one at times, but I love it.

I'm really scared about the future and the unknown. This latest experience of being laid off has completely sucked. I feel so helpless and out of control of my own life. There are days I just want to lay in bed and pull the covers over my head. I feel like people think I'm a big slacker and that I am not trying to find a job. It's frustrating when I talk with some people, especially old colleagues who say things like, oh I would love to have the time off - as if I'm on holiday. Clearly I'm out shopping all day long.

I've been lucky not to have to really worry about bills when I have a job. I'm not used to clipping coupons and having to make life decisions at the gas pump. With prices going up all over, it's scary to try to figure out how I'm going to make ends meet. I'm completely depressed. It's hard to keep my spirits up.

I think it's just really difficult as I'm doing all of this on my own. I don't mean to say that I'm alone, as I have my family and friends, but the decisions I make, right or wrong, are mine and mine alone to live with. This time last year, I thought I was making the right decision to take a new job...less than a year later, I'm unemployed. I still think it was the right decision at the time, but with hindsight being 20/20, it's hard not to second guess yourself.

You always hope you are making the right decisions. But what is right at the time may not end up being right in the future. I hate the uncertainty and the unknown. So I'm procrastinating so as to put off reality. Everything is changing and I don't know if those changes are for the better.

Clean Sheets

I've been working pretty hard to get my house in shape to sell. Since I'm exercising my inner domestic goddess I put clean sheets on the bed last night. The rule in my house is if you have clean sheets, you must have a clean body. What is it about clean sheets? I guess it's similar to pulling on jeans straight from the dryer in winter.

Update on my job search: well as I'm about to sell my home, it's not looking good. I am waiting to hear back from a company that flew me out to interview a little over 2 weeks ago. I hate waiting. The pickings are slim out there. More and more companies are laying people off. The economy seems like it's on a continuous downward spiral. The only bonus in my being laid off is not having to make the awful commute that I had as the price of gas is ridiculous as well as the bridge I used to cross the river is now under construction for the next 3 years.

Well, I'm off to watch the Price is Right.

Here Kitty Kitty

I love cats. I didn't grow up with cats, but I always wanted one. When I lived in Japan there was a stray that hung out at my friend's apartment. We named him Fat Paul. For a while we didn't see Fat Paul and were worried something had happened to him...he showed up a few months later looking worse for the wear and had become known as Skinny Paul.

When I moved to the heartland, I got two cats. One passed away and about 18 months later I decided Schmoopie needed a playmate, so I got Little Man. It is now almost 18 months since Little Man joined the family and he and Schmoopie are finally getting along...for the most part.

I have contemplated getting a third cat, however, I feel that would make me the scary crazy cat lady and have resisted. I have also resisted as it was so difficult getting Schmoopie and Little Man to like each other, I can't go through that again.

I saw this video and thought it was pretty hilarious as I too use the corporal cuddling method of punishing my cats - they hate it when I smoosh them and kiss them...yet they always seem to come back for more.

For Sale

As things are not going well with my job hunt, I've decided to move forward and put my house on the market. I'm totally bummed out as I L.O.V.E. my house. I have had a TON of work done on it and it is my cocoon. My realtor claims it will sell quickly even in this tragic of a market. I'm not sure what his definition of quickly is...most of my friends who've sold their homes (similar price ranges) have taken 5 - 6 months. I could probably stick it out for another few months...I don't know. I'm starting to FREAK out. The job market sucks and the housing market is worse. So please send positive thoughts my way.

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Okay, on another note, I'm a bit outraged by the Pope's comments regarding those molested by priests basically blaming it on US society's character! AND he "laments" US injustices against Black people and Indian people. Yes, I lament that as well, however does the Pope lament the Catholic Church's role in the Spanish Inquisition?! I'm positive we are not the only country to have priests taking advantage of boys and girls! At least today he finally met with the victims of abuse - which was not supposed to happen.

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So on a more positive note, I have managed to sell a few things lately. It makes me feel good to get rid of stuff, but also to potentially make a little money. I've never done a garage/tag/yard sale (whatever you call it in your world). I'm not sure if I like the idea of doing one. It seems like a ton of work for little profit, unless Niecy Nash from Clean House was running it! I'll probably just give more stuff to Goodwill.

Obsessions

I'm spending a considerable amount of time watching television these days. I know you are thinking how is that different from before? Well, let me explain, now I get to watch daytime TV because I have wireless and I can look for jobs while sitting in front of the TV. I definintely have a routine now.

I have to watch GMA in the morning. Followed by Regis & Kelly only because my other options suck. I can't stand Racheal Ray and I hate the Today show. I watch Regis & Kelly to fill the hour until my favorite daytime show, the Price is Right, comes on. I am so in love with Drew Carey. I think whoever cast him as Barker's replacement was a fricking genius! He is the anti-Barker. He wants everyone to win and is so funny. Sometimes I think he still can't believe he has this gig. So, I am officially a Carey's Cutie. I love that the audience has embraced him too and everyone wears t-shirts for him now saying things like: Bob who? We've got Drew! I especially love the prime-time Price Is Right on Friday evenings. While the show frustrates me because people rely way too much on the audience and they can't make a decision on their own, it's so cool to watch people win things and hilarious to watch them win things like snow mobiles. They smile because they have won something but they have that fake smile, like, I live in Florida - what am I going to do with a damn snow mobile. Cracks me up. After I bought my new car, I would run around saying "A NEW CAR" just like they do on the show. I liked his sitcom and I liked his version of Who's Line is it Anyway?

I'm also obsessed with the show Clean House. I have no idea why I like it other than I'm fascinated by what color flower the host Niecy Nash is going to match with her outfit that day. Besides filling the hours between the morning shows and then the afternoon talk shows is difficult. I don't watch soaps, although it is becoming tempting. I used to watch Days in college. And before that it was GH. Who didn't love GH when it was Luke and Laura and Scorpio? But I don't know if I want to make the committment to a soap as I feel once I cross that line I will never get a job. I'll be living with my mom, collecting unemployment watching soaps.

Anyway, the job hunt is not going well. Everything is taking forever and the odds of my being able to stay in my house, in my town are quite slim. So I've been selling some stuff on Craig's list - which is a bit scary as it can bring out the crazies. And doing some minor repairs to get it ready to sell.

So I'm off to watch my obsession, the Price is Right.

Shattered

I had a series of interviews on Thursday with a very large company in New Yersey. What seemed like a great idea at the time, of flying up and back for the interviews in one day, has turned into the most wrecked I've felt since the last time I was seriously wasted. I don't know why doing essentially nothing but sitting in a tin can for hours on end makes you so flipping tired, but it does. My flight up to New Yersey was actually early! Seriously! When is the last time you flew in to Newark and arrived 30 minutes early AND they had a gate for you?!!! NEVER! So I knew I was totally hosed for the flight home. After 4 back-to-back hour long interviews of having to be "on" for the day, I sat on the runway with a dog barking in the row behind me before we could take off. The fight, was of course delayed prior to the sitting on the runway part, so I didn't arrive home until like 1:30am. Bizarrely enough, as I was leaving my parking lot, the woman who was working the kiosk was the same lady that gave me my ticket that morning at the crack-o-flipping-dawn. I was like, we've both had long damn days.

I usually know how I've done, whether it's tests, interviews, you name it. I know in my gut if I've killed it or bombed it. But this time, I feel great about 2 of the interviews, good about 1 and decent about the last. So it could go either way which totally sucks. The are supposed to get back to me quickly, so at least I won't be on pins and needles forever.

Have two interivews on Monday, one with a big-wig of a company out California. The role would mean I would have to relo to L.A., not really ever a place I wanted to live. Seriously, how can anyone afford to live there? New Yersey is just as bad. It just sucks there aren't jobs in locations out in the middle of the country.

Since I've been spending all my time at home these days constantly looking for a job, I've been doing more "kravitzing" aka spying on my neighbors than usual. Today, I actually saw the bitchy neighbor catty-corner to me play with her kid for the first time in like 5 years! I was blown away. Usually she's screaming and yelling at them. She has a new boyfriend who now apparently has a key to the house - big doings. So I'm wondering when he will be moving in for good or she will sell and move with him.

I went to visit my mother recently and in her little podunk airport, I'm sitting waiting for my flight and guess who walks by? You won't guess, so I will tell you...Oliver flipping Stone! I know! WTF? Apparently he's filming there. Who knew?

You know how people say they've reached the end of the internet? I've reached the end of television. I've seen every show that is on TV. My only excitment is my tennis lessons are starting again next week. I had been working out since the new year. I gave up drinking the evil elixer of life called Diet Coke and was exercising every day - not so's you'd know it. But since the day I got word I was being "eliminated" I've been on a food and bev pity party from hell. No working out, guzzling DC like mad and eating whatever the hell I want. So, going back to tennis next week is going to suck because I'm a complete fat-ass and will probably hurl afterwards. Blech.

Long time no post

Hi there...so I'm officially unemployed, again. Laid off as of yesterday. I feel like I'm in a constant state of deja vu. For the last three years I have either been laid off or felt under the threat of a lay off. At this point, I can see the warning signs from miles away, but it doesn't make it any easier. To say I am disappointed is an understatement as I had such high hopes and aspirations for my latest role with my latest company. While this isn't my first time at the "dance" - looking for a job, it is, if it's at all possible, a worse market this year than the last two. And my town doesn't have a helluva lot to offer, so it seems I may be moving. Yes, in an even more awful real estate market.

So with that, I am frantically looking for a new job. My severance, such as it is, leaves a lot to be desired. I have to make some hard decisions and even when/if I make them, it doesn't mean they will go as planned.

For the new year I gave up drinking soda, I quickly fell off that bandwagon once I got word of my job being eliminated. That's right, I was whole hog crazy on the juice again. You can't stop me. I'm a soda loving queen! I needs me some D.C. and I needs it now. I had been working out again - not that you could tell but still - that too quickly fell by the wayside. Now that I've had my pity party, I will start working out again.

I have two solid leads on new opportunities. One that requires me to relocate and one that may not. So please send good thoughts my way.

For you Idol fantatics who saw the most recent performance of David Cook singing the Chris Cornell version of Michael Jackson's Billie Jean, thought you might be interested in hearing the real thing. Very reminiscent of the Foo Fighters covering Prince's Darling Nikki.

People

The End

I'm thinking about closing down my blog for a variety of reasons, but the biggest one being that I have nothing to say these days. I have a gag order on work related issues, my friends and family read this blog (not that I would EVER say anything bad about any of you!) and really I'm just lazy.

School is stupid. I have my Econ final on Friday night and then I start Innovative Business Thinking on Saturday. I have to read this stupid book called How to Think Like Da Vinci...well, it put me to sleep. I'm thinking like him alright - he's dead and has no thoughts and now I don't either!

One of my new colleagues is trying to get me to get back into the dating scene...if only I could meet someone while playing Wii at home...oh well. We'll see.

So...you may not hear from me for a while, but that's not really new either. Basically I'm feeling boring and redundant.

End of Year MeMe - Courtesy of my SiL

1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before?
Started graduate school.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
 The same resolution I make every year Pinky...try to take over the world!
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
 work friends
4. Did anyone close to you die?
 My Pawpaw
5. What countries did you visit?
 England
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
 an MBA degree
7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
 December 18, the day I got in a car wreck.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
 Getting a new job.
9. What was your biggest failure?
 Not putting myself out there more
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
 Sprained my ankle for the bajillionth time and now more than 8 weeks later, I still don't have full range of motion back. Going to the doc soon.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
 Wii!!!!
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
 My niece
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
 Our Congress
14. Where did most of your money go?
 Bills
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
 Playing Wii against my brother!
16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
 Gimme More - the tragedy of Brit Brit
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
 a) happier or sadder? 
b) thinner or fatter? 
c) richer or poorer?
 Happier, same and poorer
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
 Enjoyed the moment
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
 Traveled
20. How did you spend Christmas?
 In Florida with family
21. Did you fall in love in 2007?
 With my cat Beckham who has moved from being called "the Terrorist" to now being called "Little Man"
22. What was your favorite TV program?
 Life
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
 I hate my car insurance company
24. What was the best book you read?
 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
 How much I miss satellite radio
26. What did you want and get?
 To have my mom come for Thanksgiving and get to know my niece
27. What did you want and not get?
 Can't say a single thing
28. What was your favorite film of this year?
 The Bourne Supremacy - the best trilogy ending ever
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
 I had dinner by myself at my favorite Thai restaurant
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
 Spending more time at home
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
 Wear pink or die!
32. What kept you sane?
 Phone calls to mom
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
 Daniel Craig & Jason Statham
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
 Too many to name
35. Who did you miss?
 My mom
36. Who was the best new person you met?
 My new work friends - they are really awesome people
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007: The reality of the karmic boomerang and being able to witness its impact on someone else.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. What if I say I'm not like the others? What if I say I'm not just another one of your plays. You're the pretender. What if I say that I'll never surrender?

Wii Wii Wii - all the way home!

Just got back from a fun Christmas with the family in Florida. My adventure started by leaving the lovely Midwest in a snow storm from hell - we weren't sure I was going to make it. I thought for sure I was going to end up spending the holidays at the Econo Lodge next to the airport! But low and behold I made it.

I got to spend some time getting to know my niece again. The last time I saw her was in April. She is now 14 months going on 16. She is hilarious and a bit of a dare devil. No real talking yet, but she sure can give you the "what for" if she doesn't like what you are doing!

I'd been thinking about getting a Wii for a while and haven't been able to find one. I had no idea that my brother and SiL had one. It is AWESOME! My mom played the bowling game and kicked butt! Hilarious! So I found one on eBay, thanks to my SiL and I am in love with the tennis game and the boxing game. Talk about breaking up a sweat! I think my next purchase will be the Dance Dance Revolution game - I'm totally obsessed!

The car drama with Martha hasn't really ended. Thus far the service I have received from my insurance company has been lackluster at best. An independent appraiser who missed the damage to my front end. I've been passed around to three different adjusters who all say something different about my claim. Getting them to authorize and reauthorize my rental car has been the biggest hassle. And now the rental car company, who picks you up, seriously sucks.

Prior to leaving for the holidays, I had a car that they gave me with no air in the tires and a car alarm that kept going off for no reason. Lovely. So when I returned it the kid said we'll upgrade you for free on your next rental. HA! He never put it in my account. So when they came to get me today in the most ghetto hoopdie-mobile you have ever seen (so dirty inside it was disgusting), I said, I'm supposed to be upgraded. They said, no record of that. So I pitched a fit. I am so tired of having to be a bitch to get what I want/need/deserve. But I'm so not going to take it anymore (that's right, I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!). I'm tired of being shit on. So, I got upgraded. Not that I'm in some flipping Caddy mind you, but at least I'm not in a car that looks like it's been through the ringer.

After speaking with the body shop it looks like Martha is ahead of schedule and I may be able to get her back by the end of the week!! Woot Woot! Now I get to move on to the continued hassle of the insurance company, a criminal court date to see if the kid will pay up and then potentially on to a civil case. Happy New Year to me!

Car Talk

I was in an accident on the way home from work this evening. I'm driving southbound on a four-lane interstate in the second to far left lane and some guy cut in front of me from the far left lane and then slammed on his brakes. So I slammed on my brakes and hit him and the kid behind me slammed into my car. Ba bam! Then the guy in front of me took off after I hit him! And joy of all joys, the kid behind me is driving without insurance. My car is not totalled but definitely not drive-able. So my tow truck driver gave me a ride home - actually as he was hitting on me the whole time, I'm sure he would have been happy to really give me a ride home. ;-)

So now I'm car-less. How bizarre is that? I feel trapped. Because I clearly was going to go somewhere tonight, not. But it's the fact that I can't go anywhere if I wanted to now. Also, the rental car companies in town are apparently suffering from a shortage and aren't sure I will be able to rent a car...there are no buses in middle America! And because I'm a flipping GENIUS, this is the first time in months that I didn't bother to bring my laptop home with me.

Sigh...it all could have been much worse. No one was hurt and it was an accident. At least I was not at fault. I'm sure I'll never be able to track the kid down his hit me from behind. Out of state tags and no insurance. Yeah right! Like I'll ever see him again. I have a court date for February - COURT!!! I've never been to court. Never been to jury duty. The policewoman who came to the scene was SO nice. I was so glad to get her and not some jerky hard-ass.

And who knows, maybe I'll get free tows for life now. :)

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Okay - have to spread the joy of this amazing new game. I was listening to NPR the other morning and this guy came up with this really cool vocabulary game while helping his son study for the SATs. Every time you guess the correct meaning of a word (you get four choices) the website donates 20 grains of rice through the United Nations to countries in need! It is the most addictive game AND you are donating to a worthy cause! In this time of year when we are constantly being asked to give (wish they would spread it out more) this is a really fun way to actually learn something AND give back! www.freerice.com

PS~I got up to level 41 and have donated over 2,000 grains of rice. So far the website has donated over 9 billion grains of rice!

Shovel It!

The first snow of the season, well the first real storm of the season, hit today. While my Mom was here it did snow, but it was hardly any snow at all and none of it stuck. Today, we got 3 inches and it stuck. I was able to leave work a bit early and get home to shovel the drive while it was still daylight.

I was to go to one of those pay parties tonight and needless to say, I'm happy that the weather gave me a good excuse to not go. I like the girl who was throwing it, but I hate the fact that you feel guilted into buying even if they say you don't have to. This time of year is so out of hand with so many people asking for money whether it's the fricking girl scouts, pay parties or the fundraising done for very worthy causes - I'm tapped out! Hell, every time I go to the grocery, I'm hit up to donate there too. I'm going to make a t-shirt that say, I've donated my share!

I was so wishing it was Friday today. I'm sure I'm alone in that wish. I have a new appreciation for my car Martha. I easily forgot how much I dreaded driving my old car Suzy in bad weather. I only remember all the bells and whistles I've given up with Martha. But after today, driving in the snow, Martha wins. I had such trouble with Suzy and her so-called traction control that I felt like never really worked, my tires had trouble getting purchase and I was so afraid I would spin out or roll down a hill as it was a stick shift. While the roads weren't horrid, they were pretty slick and icy and driving Martha home was nice. No issues, no annoying "slip" light yelling at me. So...I'm not saying I've change my mind completely, but she has really come up a few notches in my book today.

I would also like to say how thankful and happy I am that two of my family members who had medical procedures this week, each went well and had good results. A friend of mine lost 3 of her family members in a head on collision the weekend after Thanksgiving. To quote Hill Street Blues, let's be careful out there. Be extra careful, especially in the bad weather.

Holiday Parties

The dreaded company holiday party is tonight and I don't want to go. None of my direct colleagues are going for a variety of reasons, and the other teams going are quite clichy. The party is far from my house and although we didn't really get the bad weather everyone thought we were in for, I still don't want to go. Okay, truthfully, I'm being a baby. I don't want to go by myself. These types of parties are only fun if you have someone to bring with you - it's always Noah's Ark, everyone showing up in two-by-twos.

I really don't feel well either. I've been fighting off a cold for what seems like the last month. I've been Zicam'ing and Benedryling myself to death. Yesterday it seemed like I was having a sneezing fit every 15 minutes. So essentially I've talked myself out of going to the company party. I'm a wuss, that's right.

I also have a ton of schoolwork to catch up on. Also the last thing I want to do on earth.

Just feeling puny and lame. Oh well, back to the grind.

Perpetrated by the man

Okay - seriously, Marie Osmond in the finals for Dancing with the Stars? And what a crap finale it was in general! Her doll routine creeped me out! Goes to show you how the fans can totally change the outcome of any show.

My econ course is kicking my ass. I've bombed 3 out of the first 4 quizzes. But apparently I'm not alone - the rest of my classmates are averaging about the same. My professors advice, you ask? Yes, read the text 3, count 'em - 3, times AND complete the study guide and then you might be ready to take the quiz!!! I am not a full-time student! I have a full-time fricking job! Who the hell has time to read a textbook 3 times?!! THEN do a full-on study guide to take a quiz that's questions aren't remotely similar to the study guide!!! ARE YOU HIGH?! SERIOUSLY?!

Now I'm having connectivity issues and my entire coursework is done ONLINE. I can't have connectivity issues. And they have nothing to do with accessing the internet - I can't access the damn school's webpages. Annoying and it's totally freaking me out if the help desk can't fix it!

So I haven't really gotten into any of the new shows and since the writers are on strike I guess it really doesn't matter now anyway. One shows concept that I really like is Samantha Who. I haven't watched it, but I love the starting over, clean slate concept. That is the only thing I miss about moving almost every year of my life growing up. I could always start over. Although at the rate that I keep changing companies, I suppose it's the same thing.

The only show I'm super excited about is the new tattoo show, London Ink. I keep contemplating getting a third and fourth tattoo...I'm just such a wuss about the pain. It always amazes me, watching the shows and people just lay there and have normal conversations while getting stabbed over and over and over again like it's no big deal. Besides, half of the places I'd like to get one are not possible as I work for the man! It's a conspiracy, C.O.N...spiracy! (Super bonus points if you can remember where that came from!).

The Road Never Traveled

I often ponder about what I would do if I won the lottery. I have all these thoughts of being altrusitic - to a point - and then thinking I would travel. That it would be fun to buy one of those monster RVs and roadtrip. Who am I kidding? My Mom made it safely back home after a long 12 hour drive from my home to hers. I've driven that stretch as well and it is not fun. I remember thinking that roadtrips were fun, but in reality, they aren't. If you drive the "scenic route" you aren't going to get anywhere quickly and if you drive the interstate you aren't going to see anything at all. However, that drive between us is a bit of both the so-called scenic route and interstate and yet you still see nothing. It's a horribly long drive to do by yourself. At least Mom had her dog Coco with her - who too got tired of the road. Doing a trip like that is so not fun if you are by yourself. So, I'm going on record, if I win the lottery, no RV and no road trips. And who am I kidding, I never want to leave my house anyway, why would that change with money? I would become a full-time hermit, surrounded by a TON of stuff.

I don't like my new car Martha. She's perfectly acceptable, but I don't like her. She's boring, hence her name Martha - she's typical, she's usual, she's bland. I know I can be a bit (okay, a lot) snobby about many things, but previously I never really cared what I drove. Sure I envied the really nice cars, but I knew they were out of my league and that was okay. My first new car ever was Suzy and I got just about ever bell and whistle possible with her that goes with all the really fancy cars, yet in my price range. I know I did the right thing for my daily sanity during my commute, but I don't like my car.

Speaking of being snobby, I've decided that I only want to shop at the expensive snotty grocery store. The produce is so much better when compared to other grocerys as well as they have really amazing cheeses and deli products. Sure, I may have to skip a mortgage payment to continue to shop there, but at least I will be well fed when I lose my house and become homeless.

Thankful

I know it's been quite some time since I wrote. I'm not feeling inspired or clever these days. I've been so crazy busy with work and school, I've been coming home and falling on my face into bed. Sometimes not even making it to bed. The other day, I fell asleep on the sofa and could barely wake up enough to crawl into bed.

My Mom has been here for the week and I couldn't really take much time off to be with her. It doesn't even feel like we've had any time together at all. She brought her "grandbaby dog" Coco with her which has been interesting as the boys have never been around a dog before. Coco hasn't exactly endeared herself to my boys either. Her only frame of reference is my Pawpaw's dog, Buddy, who went to my Mom after Pawpaw passed away. Buddy is very aggressive. Coco has therefore become a bit aggressive as well as only really wants to play chase - to chase and to be chased. Cats don't chase. The first couple of days the boys hid out in my room. Schmoopie and Little Man don't really like each other, but I think have bonded in solidarity against Coco. The boys were so scared at first they just hid. Now, they are still hiding out in my room, however, when Coco goes back in there, they hiss and growl back at her - I don't want to think about where things would progress to should Mom stick around much longer.

The video I added is what I imagine my boys doing in my room - discussing ways to enact revenge on Coco.



I just finished my Business Law class last week. I have been disappointed with the courses I've been taking and haven't really felt like I've been learning anything. This last class, law, really epitomized that feeling. I was traveling pretty heavily over the entire course and didn't have a lot of time to invest in the class and so the quality of work I produced was the worst I have done thus far and yet I still got an "A". What does that say to me? That it doesn't matter what I do as long as I do "something" and I will still get an "A". Everyone in my class gets "A"s. It's so ridiculous that we are graded on what seems to be solely on participation and not quality of work. I've started Econ...can't wait until next year, I'm done in October of next year.

How Nerdy Are You?

I'm BAAACK

I'm finally home. My trip was filled with the usual stupid travel woes, however, it all ended on a high note by being upgraded to B-class on the way back from London to D.C. (I had to connect to North Carolina). There is something so civilized about flying business class. It was so pleasant. I was even in a middle seat - but who cares in business class? I actually slept most of the way home. How can you not when you can actually stretch out and prop your legs up? It was lovely.

I'm so happy to be home. There is nothing like it. Of course, I manage to get sick this weekend. I woke up Saturday sneezing my head off and went downhill pretty quickly. Thanks to some mainlining Zicam, Benedryl and Advil PM, I woke up feeling pretty good. Took a nap today - what a treat. There is nothing like getting good sleep. I'm so old. Everyone has said it: you know you are old when all you talk about is how great sleep is compared with how you used to talk about how awesome partying was.

My ankle is getting better slowly but surely. Having to walk so much in London didn't help that much. Couldn't really stay off of it. But Friday afternoon, my friend GJB, came to visit me and we went to see a play, Avenue Q. Of course, as GJB would say, we end up sitting next to the "nutter", who talked and sang the entire play. The play itself was okay. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. Frankly it was a bit creepy for someone who grew up on Sesame Street - Avenue Q is muppets and people interacting in "real life". It was the muppet sex that really threw me. Creepy and icky. Scarred for life, first we find out that Snufflelupgus is real and now muppets are having sex? What's next? Bert and Ernie come out of the closet?

After the creepy play, we went and had Korean food, something I can't get in my town. It was yummy and fun. Then we must have walked the entire city. I can't get over the weather we had while I was there. Every time I've been to London it's been grey and rainy. It was beautiful sunshine and about 65 degrees. I was walking around in jeans and a sweater. There was a possibility that I was going to go back at again at the end of this month, but that's not happening. I'm happy on the one hand, on the other, GJB was going to come back down and he was going to take me outside of London for the first time to Hampton Gardens and other places. Oh well, next time.

I'm currently avoiding doing my homework. I'm sick of school. I'm hating my current class - business law - which is over this Friday. Then I get to start the exciting economics class on Saturday - you know you are jealous.

I'm so ready for a holiday. I can't wait for turkey day. My mom is coming up - should be interesting as she's bringing her dog Coco with her. My cats are not going to be happy. Hopefully there won't be any blood drawn on either side.

My techno freak neighbors home is up for sale. They've done a lot of work on it - it looks great. The sign says "coming soon" and the listing is not up on any website yet. I hope they sell it quickly and for a lot of money. I unfortunately, still have the eyesore home next door to me, once owned by the old man hoarder whose family hasn't done a damn thing about it in three years. It is ridiculous to have a home sit empty that long.

Schmoopie has done nothing but sleep since I got home. It's almost as if he didn't sleep the entire time I was away. Little Man, aka the Terrorist, has matured hence his new nickname. He's mellowed out quite a bit - makes me very happy. He still likes to play and use the house as his obstacle course, but he now occasionally joins us in the living room and hangs out and likes to cuddle a lot more. I need to take some photos of them.

So nothing new in my life. Just can't believe it is almost Thanksgiving. A lot has happened in the last couple of years. This January I will have been here 7 years and in my home for 5 years with 3 companies and 4 jobs. I never would have predicted how happy I am to be here and that I would have lived here for this long.

Feeling Puny

I've been feeling sorry for myself since I took my latest tumble. My ankle is healing faster than I thought it would (knock wood) and I hope to be at least to 75 - 80% by the time I have to leave on Sunday. The nurse at my company clinic said it would take 2 weeks to heal. Nothing I don't already know. I cannot count the number of times I've sprained/twisted my ankles. My only consolation this time around was I don't have my stick shift car anymore, which would have been really painful and diffcult, more so had it been my left ankle, but even with it being my right ankle, driving an automatic isn't that comfortable.

Last night was so much fun. My team at work and I participated in "Trunk or Treat". We created a Spongebob theme and decorated a yellow truck to look like Spongebob's Pineapple under the sea. I dressed up as Spongebob and another team member was Patrick. We won for "Coolest Theme". I think we should have won more categories, but I guess they were just trying to be fair - whatever! Fair Schmair! We gave out Krabby Patty candy and our decorations were so real that kids were asking if they could actually go in our cardboard pineapple facade!

The kids were so hilarious and dressed up so cute. I had the best time handing out candy. Much more fun than sitting at home for the 8 or so kids who come by. Last night was essentially anyone who worked for my company to bring kids by to trick or treat. The only bad part was it was a little cold and I stood for 2 hours on my hurt ankle and didn't realize it until the waves of kids died down and then I thought I was going to die. Stupid. Oh well, it was worth it. We won $100 and a huge bucket of candy - and it was a lot fun.

I also got out of the volunteer thing for Saturday night. I just knew after last night there was no way I could stand in black tie and work a registration desk all night. Luckily they were very nice about me bailing at the last minute.

All I really want to do is sleep. I just want to sleep the entire weekend away and do nothing. No such luck.

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Six Things About Me (because it's all about me, you know)

1. In spite of the fact that I no longer mow my own lawn due to the amount of travel I do for my job, I actually like mowing the lawn. It's instant gratification. Plus I like to try to make different patterns in the grass. I hate raking leaves and shoveling snow sucks.

2. I love my cats, however, I absolutely despise it when they clean themselves anywhere near my vicinity. The noise and the constant motion drives me crazy.

3. I was a fashion major. Completely obsessed with clothing from the time I could dress. Now it is my goal and objective to wear pink every day as well as to look at cute as possible - I use work as an excuse to put on a fashion show every day. I lay in bed and contemplate what outfit I will wear the next day. I try to see if I can wear a different pair of shoes every day of the week. It's not difficult when you are starting to rival Imelda Marcos.

4. I hate Thursday evenings because Friday is trash day and I hate dealing with the trash. Plus my trash men are bitchy and won't take everything unless it is all bagged properly. They also seem to relish leaving the bin so close to the street that the slightest breeze will throw it into the street to get run over.

5. I am completely obsessed with Spam and spray cheese. I'm becoming white trash. Just call me Britney, y'all.

6. I love ironing. My mother hates it. She hates it so much I don't think she's ever done it. I secretly love it. There is also something quite satifying about it. I am such a domestic goddess. NOT.

No huge revelations, but what can I say, I'm not very exciting lately.

Graceless

Many people name their children after characteristics they want them to epitomize. A guy I worked with named his daughter Grace. My niece's middle name is Grace. I have always wished I was more graceful. I'm a klutz. I fall a lot. So often it was a joke at my old company. I fell down the stairs once in front of my CFO and my friend MM was like, "oh, she does that all the time, no big deal". Which is true.

However, tonight, I fell big time. I have one flipping stair in my house - ONE. I managed to take that step this evening and sprained my ankle the worst I've done in quite some time. For the first few minutes there I thought it was broken. Then I felt like an idiot. A bawling, greatly pained idiot.

I contemplated whether or not to call someone to go to the emergency room, but decided against it. Not that there is a good time for an injury to happen, but this week is particularly bad. I have to participate in Trunk or Treat at work tomorrow night and help build our theme out for the kids. I just realized I signed up to volunteer for my company's huge fundraiser on Saturday night and I fly out to London on Sunday for close to two weeks.

I'm a big honking loser.

Flame Out

Today I went to a work friends house to help her figure out what was wrong with her computer, because clearly I am a computer whiz, not. We met for lunch and then I followed her to her house. As soon as I saw the flags to the entrance of her apartment complex, I knew I had been there before...but I thought, surely she doesn't live in the same complex as one of the last guys I "dated". There are a couple of different complexes you can access via that entrance. Low and behold, we turn the corner and she signals me to park in the only space left on that row which happens to be right next to his truck. Not exactly a person I want to reminisce with over so-called good times. And thankfully I did not have that lovely experience today.

I spent quite a bit of time with work friends this weekend. Friday night I was invited to a bachelorette party by a girl I work with - in honor of someone I don't know. I've been invited to these things before and they are usually pretty sad and pathetic. They are usually for someone new to the city who doesn't know anyone and their finances friends wives / girlfriends end up throwing the party. I thought by the email invite that there were a lot of people invited - like 10 or so...I ended up working late on Friday night and was thinking of bailing but in the end decided to go. Well, it was me, two co-workers and the bachelorette. Four of us! That's it! Had I not shown up it would have been that much more sad and pathetic - well maybe it was more so for my showing up. Anyway, I was only going to stay for dinner, and they convinced me to go to a bar for one drink. So I go, it was still pretty early, so the bars weren't really happening yet. I was practically falling asleep at the table - such a party animal, so I left.

Seriously, if I moved to a city because of my fiance I would not want to have some bachelorette party thrown for me by people I don't know! Then again, if I ever get married - which is highly doubtful, it will be at the JoP or in Vegas by Elvis.

Long Time No Write

I know it's been a while since I've written. I've been on the road traveling quite a bit for work. Between the hours I'm putting in for the job and also school, I don't have much time for anything else. Half the time I feel lucky if I get to eat lunch. I recognize I could probably live off the "fat of the land" without any hardship for quite some time, however, I don't have a minute of downtime.

So my thought-provoking musings are more than likely going to be few and far between over the next 6 weeks or so...go ahead, let it out, you know you can cry in front of me. Actually I'm the one who wants to cry. I just keep thinking if I can make it to the first week in December I'll be okay. It's my light at the end of the tunnel. Then I'm going to sleep forever.

Due to my travel, I haven't been able to play tennis. I really miss it. And the place I play at is outdoor only so I either need to find an indoor place or find a new fun thing to do over the long winter. So, I was thinking I might try ballroom dancing again. Yes, I said again. A few years ago, not long after I moved here, I began taking ballroom dance lessons. It was okay, but if you didn't have a partner it was lame. And of course, I never had a partner. I found a new place that I could take private instructor led lessons...so I may sign up.

I went and got my eyes checked again because I caught myself squinting at the damn laptop at work the other day. Sigh...I am blind as a bat and I can't wear contacts for long periods of time because I have excessively dry eyes - which means I want to claw my eyes out if I have contacts in for longer than 8 hours. So my prescription hasn't changed that much, but just enough that I have to get a new scrip and new glasses.

Because my goal in life is to wear pink every single day of the week and be as cute as humanly possible, I found the funnest pair of new eyeglass frames - check them out! I finally found a place in town that can order them for me - PINK EYEGLASS FRAMES!! Hee! I'm very excited!

4 Tag

I pushed the Easy Button today as I don't have anything to say that is remotely exciting or entertaining.

4 Jobs I Have Had in My Life
1. Gift wrapper
2. Convenience store clerk
3. Showroom manager
4. English as a second language teacher

4 Movies I Can Watch Over and Over
1. Dazed & Confused
2. Love Actually
3. Bell Book & Candle
4. Clueless

4 TV Shows I Like to Watch
1. Survivorman
2. Girls Next Door
3. The Hills
4. Bones

4 Places I Have Been on Vacation
1. China
2. Mexico
3. Canada
4. Thailand

4 Favorite Foods
1. PB&J
2. Chocolate
3. Fried anything
4. Sushi

4 Places I Would Rather Be
1. In bed
2. On holiday any where
3. On sofa
4. Hanging out with my mom

Ramblings...

So the birthday has come and gone, more with a whimper instead of a bang. I celebrated it all week with work friends and personal friends followed by spending the actual day at the spa. Got my hair did and a facial and let me tell you it is tough work getting beautiful. Then went to dinner by myself at my favorite Thai restaurant. Finally passed out on the sofa. I was exhausted.

I love how now that I am 36 and not in a relationship that everyone I know is clearly thinks I am unhappy and must be in a relationsihp. Due to a new job, school and tennis I don't have time to do much else. That is a pretty full schedule and looking for a man / dating is a full time job. I have taken myself off all the online boards because...well...it's all the same people I've seen since I moved here 6 years ago! I'm actually pretty happy. Do I miss having someone to go and do fun activities with - especially certain activities? Sure. But frankly I can't handle anyone for an extended period of time. I need my personal space.

I now have to write yet another term paper. Why is the magic number of pages for a term paper between 8 - 10? Why not 6 - 8? Hell, 2 - 4? Seriously, does my teacher really want to read 15 term papers? I've never understood it. I would rather deal with a group presentation than to have to write yet another term paper.

Perhaps I need a personal assistant to write my term paper for me? Although I've heard what everyone has these days is a "glam squad" which I am clearly in need of...essentially a traveling team of spa people. This is clearly beyond the ubiquitous maid, chef and driver. I seriously do not know how I have been doing it alone for so long now.

My Mawmaw (grandmother to you Yankees) used to say you can have nice things or you can have children and pets. I have pets. Specifically cats. I think Schmoopie has this weird gag reflex that when he gets upset with me he pukes everywhere. I swear it's not due to the occasional hair ball. I woke up this morning to find that of all the places he could hurl all over, he chose my sofa. And of course, by the time I see this, I am running late for work and barely have time to try to clean it up. I have a sofa with slipcovers. Which in theory sounds like a good idea however I will never buy another slipcovered sofa again. The slipcovers are not exactly the easiest things to get on and off as well as you cannot throw them in the dryer as they shrink (learned the hard way)...so I came home tonight to strip the sofa and wash the slipcovers. I'll be lucky if I can get them back on again. And the thing that sucks most of all is the slipcovers cost about 1/2 the cost of the damn sofa if I wanted to replace them! Which I won't be doing...so I'm guessing that side of the sofa will be permanently covered with a throw. Lovely.

Clickity Clock

Commercial of the week, Zycam, it works. So on Saturday I was feeling puny and whiny (I know not much different from most days) and started taking Zycam for my stuffy head and I swear on my cats furry heads that by Sunday morning I was fine! Isn't that crazy?!

So we had our 6 pack weekend and it was a great success. I have to say I particularly enjoyed the process of watching men in little leather underpants with capes run around and kill people - a la The 300. I frankly think that uniform needs to come back into fashion. Women are doing the whole Grecian goddess thing, I think men need to do the Greek god thing. It's only fair.

I had to go to New Orleans on Tuesday for work. I know I've said it before and I'll continue to say it, but I hate flying. I was booked on a new regional jet airline and was a bit trepidatious (is that a word?) about it. I don't like those little regional jets with the one seat on one side and the two seats on the other. However, what this new airline lacked in planes it made up for in service! Service? On an airplane? I know! How revolutionary! Que Surprise! We got FOOD! Not only did we get FOOD, but we got FREE FOOD! It was a morning flight and the flight attendant came around and offered us "breakfast cereal"! "Would you like some breakfast cereal"? "Why yes I would"! I had the nicest, most pleasant breakfast on that flight. I couldn't wait to come back to find out if I would get the same "breakfast cereal". I did not, but instead was offered a yogurt smoothie and a breakfast cereal bar! Seriously, I can put up with a lot if the flight attendant is nice, solicitous and I'm being fed. I will totally fly this airline again.

New Orleans is still quite sad. Two years post Katrina and things are still coming together. It's quite sad. As usual, I was quite lame and didn't want to traipse around by myself, so I took a long bath and passed out on the bed dreaming of staying in a nice hotel with room service - which I was not in. Quite exciting.

So happy to be home. I love being home.

Sniff, Honk Honk!

I'm getting a cold and I'm pissed off about it. I have no idea where this came from and why all of the sudden my entire head is stuffed up, but I'm really ticked off. One of my co-workers was sick this past week and I'm so totally blaming it on her! I hate being sick. Yes, I'm sure the rest of you love it. However, I was the child who got sick all the time. It was during that phase when they wouldn't take your tonsils out even if you were dying, which I was. So I was stuck taking stupid chewable pills because I was too ascared to swallow pills at that time. Lovely memories.

I love it when you tell people you are sick and they ask you what you did. Well...last night, after I took a cold shower, I ran outside naked and rolled in the grass and then went to bed under the fan on high. Gee...I have no idea what I did to deserve a fricking stuffy nose!

I don't have time to be sick and why am I getting a cold just in time for my BIRTHDAY! Annoying!

I was to spend today doing homework...so not motivated. I blame it all on Schmoopie. The minute he lays on me, I have to go to sleep. There is no choice in the matter. Not to mention, he knows I don't feel well, so he's coming over to try to comfort me and because of the nice blankie he makes on me, I immediately fall asleep. So I blame him or I'm simply narcoleptic. I wonder if I could get a job that requires napping. I'm sure my MBA will help me secure that one.

Tomorrow, I'm going to my friend MWs house for our "six pack weekend". We plan on watching a bunch of movies that showcase very fit men in little clothing, such as The 300, Casino Royale (why is it that 007 manages to have his shirt off in just about every scene, yet Mr. Jason Bourne has not done so in the last 2 in the series?!) and Troy with Brad Pitt. I am making my infamous lasagna and we are going to veg out and pig out and ogle men all day. I can't wait.

But now I have to go blow my nose. Honk!

Bears do it in the woods

Please tell me that everyone saw the train wreck that was Britney Spears last night?! OMG! It was like watching a rated R movie with your parents - you want to watch, but you are so embarrassed!




I believe Fall has officially fallen in the Midwest. I walked out of the office this evening at around 6:30pm and it was 61 degree Fahrenheit. Feels really nice. I'm the type of person who likes to sleep when it's cold. I want to sleep in a hooded sweatshirt with the hood up on top of my feather bed cocooned in my down comforter surrounded by at least 6 down pillows. Now it's officially good sleeping weather. What a nice change from the fricking Africa hot triple digit degree temps we had for most of August. Ugh.

My latest reality show that I'm obsessed with is called Survivorman. I know most of you know I'm a complete nerd these days, watching shows like Planet Earth and the Deadliest Catch. The guy who does Survivorman, is thrown into various wilderness conditions for 6 days and 7 nights with no food, water or shelter and has to figure out how to get to civilization. He's like fricking Macgyver for real. He somehow manages to always build a fire. It amazes me, kind of like that movie Cast Away with Tom Hanks. Had that happened to me, I'm so not smart enough to survive. But what I like about the TV show is that this guy is supposed to be some trained professional survivor and yet he constantly makes boneheaded mistakes. I watched one recently where he built his fire too close to his shelter and it caught on fire! He's constantly coming up with creative ways to use trash he's found to make a fishing lure, etc., and he'll forget to bait it. There are some episodes that he doesn't eat for 5 or 6 days. Or he'll eat something truly nasty because it's either that or die. I would throw a massive pity party and lay down and die...or get eaten by a bear. I hope that bear likes Spam, as I have a fondess for it lately.

Spam Musubi

Have you noticed that it's next to impossible to walk into any store like Target, Walmart, or a traditional grocery store without dropping a minimum of $100? And that for some reason the magic price for big ticket items like flat panel televisions or pieces of furniture is a minimum of $1,500? And that's if you are shopping at a discount / off-brand location.

I went to one of the wholesale shopping clubs today. I don't go very often. I'm not really sure I can justifiy the $50 membership for only going once a quarter. I am a single person, do I really need to buy 24 rolls of toilet paper at one time simply to save money?

Speaking of money, recently I decided to invest in one of those robotic kitty litter boxes. I love the fact that I don't have to walk my cats - especially when it's pissing down rain - but I seriously HATE the litter box. Ever since the automatic cleaning boxes came out, I've been skeptical...but I was going to have to buy a new box regardless, and then when the pet store told me I could return it (I know, ew) if the boys didn't like it, I bought it.

Well, who knew the Terrorist was such a baby! He was so scared of the box that I couldn't even get him to go in it! Schmoopie didn't really care one way or the other but the damn thing was a nightmare. Worse than a regular box the mechanism was constantly stopping / starting, not working when it should, getting caught up...I was dealing more with fricking poo with the automatic box than I was before! So this past Saturday, I got rid of the damn thing. What a relief to go back to the regular pooper scooper.

When GJB was visiting, we found a "new" restaurant (I say "new" with quotes as I have no idea how long it's really been there, it's just new to me) called Ohana, Hawaiian BBQ. I've lived in Hawaii. Granted I was 9 and 10 years old, but I have lived there. I wasn't aware Hawaiians had a particular style of BBQ, other than perhaps the big huge pigs they roast during a tourist luau. So clearly we had to try it.

The menu is an odd combination of many Asian dishes, such as your usual Chinese General Tso's, Pad Thai and crab rangoon. Then, comes the weirdness that is Hawaii, the use of Spam. I've never understood Hawaiian's love for the squidgy salty faux meat that is Spam. Everyone used to eat it when we lived there and from what I understand, Hawaiians eat over 60% of the world's Spam. So, in looking at the menu, there is an item called Spam Musubi. Musubi is a type of sushi - usually a large piece of fish is put on top of a bed of rice with seaweed or nori just wrapped in the middle - larger than your average roll or traditional piece of sushi. Clearly, it was a moral imperative that GJB and I try this Spam Musubi (see photo).

Keep in mind, GJB and I lived in Japan for 3 years. We are pretty well traveled and have eaten our fare share of nasty crap. So, we were not expecting to like Spam Musubi, but we wanted the bragging rights to say we ate it. It is now my favorite thing to eat. I LOVE Spam Musubi! Then! I see it on the Today Show on Saturday morning because one of the major cooking magazines is showcasing strange regional dishes such as Kool-pickles (that's right, dill pickles soaked in Kool-aid) and there is Spam Musubi! You can read more about Hawaii's obsession with Spam and Spam Musubi at http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/Spam.htm.

Foreigners

My friend, GJB, who I used to teach with in Japan and I haven't seen in 3 years came to visit for the Labor day holiday. He's British and asked me why do we celebrate Labor day...so why do we celebrate Labor day and does anyone really labor on that day? I try to avoid all labor at all times.

We had a fun visit. It's always good to catch up with him and reminisce about our years in Japan. His memory for people and things is so much better than mine! I think because of moving so much while growing up, I tend to wipe the slate clean and start over in each place.

I'm tired though from his visit. We were busy! Thursday night, dinner with friends. Friday night, minor league baseball game (fun!), Saturday the zoo (lame!), Sunday lunch and hung out with more friends (fun!) and Monday shopping and watched DVDs (fun!). I'm not used to having anyone around for that long. He always jokes that I can stand him for more than 4 days, hell, I can't stand anyone for more than 4 days! Clearly the reason I'm still single. Well, that and the chubby factor. Speaking of which, (tangent warning), so idiot fancy pants degree person actually received funding to do a study to find out that gee...men only look for attractive mates and women don't. Didn't know you needed to do some big study to figure that one out! Ridiculous!

Back to GJB - People tend to find him fascinating as he only works enough to save up money to go on holiday. He's been to practically every country in the world and I'm not joking. He's moving back to his parents home to attend an MBA program in their town to then try to get a job as an ex-pat in either Singapore or Korea, just so he can continue to try to save up money to go on holiday.

Here I sit, day in day out, like a hamster on a wheel...work, school. Work, school. Then, when I graduate it will be worse...just work again. I need to win the lottery.

I started tennis lessons again tonight and got moved up to the "advanced beginners". Tonight was lame. We worked on fundamentals - I just want to play! Fundamentals, schmundamentals - boo! I hope Thursday night will be more fun. I'll probably get demoted to the "beginner beginners"...

Who Are These Kids?

I'm sitting here watching the Teen Choice Awards feeling very old. I have no idea who these kids - these new young actors much less the musicians. Crazy that half of them have grown up on TV. Between Disney and Nickelodeon, they are practically starting them from the womb.

I'm going to be 36 next month. I feel old. You know you are sad when you used to brag about how late and often you used to go out, how drunk you got, how many beers you drank and now you brag about how many hours of sleep you get, how awesome your nap was.

All I want to do is lay around on the weekends and do nothing except watch TV, read, play on the computer and sleep. Sleep a lot.

School

I abdicated my throne as team leader for my grad school class. I don't have time to do it anymore. So HW is now the team leader and it will be a rotating team lead position go forward. I'm iritated on a few levels:

1. HW did the schedule of rotating team leads and I have already done it for 5 courses and each of the other team members only have to do 2 classes and they've asked me to do another one. I've done my share, I'm over it.

2. HW sent out the teams assignment matrix and she's proceeded not to read or follow her own damn matrix so I now have to redo my assignment because she did mine by mistake!

3. I'm having a hard time reliquishing control, I know you are all shocked to hear this news.

Okay - enough of my rant.

School Update

In spite of my lack of motivation, I managed to get a 98 in my last course! I've finished my 5th course and am carrying a 4.0. I'm totally psyched about my latest course and hope to continue my streak.

Wish me luck!

Africa Hot

I am now moving into my new class, Managerial Finance. I have had a serious motivation problem with school recently. I'm not even halfway through yet so it seems ridiculous that I feel this way. This time next year I will be in the home stretch. Last night we got our books for the next three classes, which puts us through next year. Scary. The MF class ends in October - October! It's Africa hot here, and I can't even think about October, but it will be here before we know it.

I was in Target today as I had to buy this calculator for my MF class and they already have Halloweenie shirts out! I'm sick of how early the retail industry moves us into the seasons. The fact that Christmas stuff shows up at the end of August is ridiculous! You don't even feel as though you can enjoy the season you are in (although how anyone can enjoy this disgusting heat is beyond me).

For the first time I think I have a normal, realistic professor who isn't going to make me do work for the simple sake of doing it. So ridiculous. We don't even have to attend the last class, when we usually take our final, because he's already posted the finals for us and we can just send it in! I really hope I have this guy for a few other classes as these first few have been so much fricking work - none of which I have felt was valuable.

I have a birthday coming up. I'm usually quite excited about my birthdays. I'm one of those annoying people who has the countdown to my birthday and love being annoying about it. This year I'm going to be 36. I don't feel 36. Not that I know what 36 is supposed to feel like. It's bizarre.

My friend GJB that I used to work with in Japan is coming to visit me over the Labor Day weekend. It should be great fun. I haven't seen him in a few years. He's one of those people who only works enough to go on holiday. I swear, I think he's been to every country in the world - he's even been to both the North and the South pole! In my old job I used to travel globally and could meet him in London which was great fun. The only challenge is my city is very difficult to get around if you don't have a car. GJB hates to drive. He's been in numerous accidents, some while driving and some while riding, and plus he's British so it would all be on the other side of the road. Based upon his last visit here, I know he won't take me up on my offer to take my car. I can't take much time off while he is here because I've used up quite a bit of holiday when my Pawpaw passed away. So there are only a few places I can drop him off to hang out for the day with activities to keep him busy while I have to work.

Last time he was here, he was so funny, we were driving downtown on a Sunday morning and he's like where are all the people. I'm like, in the suburbs. He's like where are the buses, I could just take the bus. I'm like, I've seen them occasionally, but I wouldn't even know where to tell you to wait for a bus much less where that bus would take you.

I hope it doesn't continue to be so fricking Africa hot, especially while he is here...maybe I'll drop him at a movie theater...

Best Television Friends

For a fair portion of my last 6 years I have had jobs where I traveled upwards of 80% throughout the year. Anyone who has never traveled for work has this image that it is SO glamorous. Those of us that have traveled for work realize it's tedious and awful. Throughout my travel, the one constant in my life was CNN, Headline News. No matter where I was around the world, I could still manage to catch Robin Meade and Company on Headline News. They are my best television friends. Robin always makes you feel glad you are watching with her calling card: "morning sunshine".

I have been watching long enough to see friends and foes come and go from the program, however, my friendship with Ms. Meade has been constant. Now, much to my delight, she is sending out a daily newsletter and based upon her writings, I know why we are clearly best television friends! She was a pagent girl who loves peanut butter and wears black on Monday in protest of Mondays! How can you not love her?!

I love waking up to her, Bobby V the weatherman, Jennifer Westhoven the finance girl (who I do like better than the previous chic Carrie Lee who's hair annoyed me), sadly Will Selva my sports guy moved on - yet my previous sports guy Ray D'Alessio is back in his place until they find someone more permanent. Which leads me to my whine: I dislike it when they move my anchors around to other shows or when they leave the show or hell, I can't stand it when Robin is on vacation! Now Christy Paul, her stand-in, is okay, but she's no Robin Meade. I barely made the transition to Will Selva and now he's leaving. One anchor position that I have always hated every permanent anchor has been the entertainment anchor. This has completely bummed me out over the years as it's my favorite type of news. When I first started watching I had to listen to the putz Kendis Gibson who clearly thought he was too good to do entertainment reporting and has since moved on to some host job on a random HGTV show that I think was canceled. Then, I got stuck with the biggest airhead on the planet, Adrianna Costa. She couldn't do her measly 2 minute report without READING from her paperwork and mispronouncing people's names and more! Robin gave her a "Bratz" doll for Christmas this past year claiming it was because it looked just like her - I thought it was a backhanded compliment and that the name of the gift was really indicative of Adrianna's personality. Yet another reason to like Ms. Meade.

These people are my second family. Hell they have been with me longer than most relationships! I have been waking up to Robin and Company for 6 years and I am happy to say to you "morning sunshine".

Term Paper

I have been putting off writing my term paper for school. I don't care. I have the I don't wannas. The paper has to be between 8 - 10 pages. Seriously, that is ridiculously long. Boo!

Anyone want to write it for me?

School should be out for the summer

I'm sick of school. This time next year I'll be in the home stretch of my MBA achievement. Right now, I'm not even seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I don't like my current instructor. I'm so ready to be done with this crap.

Sigh. Allright, enough. So I'm on a break between tennis lesson sessions. I was hoping to get to play/practice, but lately I've been so busy with school and work evening events, I haven't had time to play. I've been looking for a free court that has a wall so I can practice by myself...haven't found one. I was thinking I could go to the elementary school down the street from me and hit tennis balls off the side of the building...but really I can't wait until lessons start again next week.

When I bought Martha, I gave up my satellite radio. I thought Martha was satellite radio ready, however, I was informed it is satellite "ready". I can the sat radio company and they tell me all I need to do is buy a receiver for $20 and then take the car back to the dealership to install it. So I go to one of the big retailers and talk with the sales kid there and he says, yeah, I can sell you the receiver, but you are going to end up with wires all in your car. You need to get it installed proper from the dealer if you want it done right. I go back to the dealer, and they tell me I need a lot more than just the receiver and it's going to cost me about $1,000. So, now I'm hacked. For $1,000 I can buy a GPS that plays MP3s and gets radio! It just seems like it's always one thing after another that you have to buy piece-meal. Like when I was doing my home renovation, you buy the toilet, yet you have to buy the seat separately. Or, if you buy a stove, you have to buy the electrical cord separately. Seriously!!! Ridiculous!

So television isn't very exciting these days. My current reality fav is So You Think You Can Dance. My Boys just started again and it is my DVR cue. Shark Week is on again - for like year 20. I'm sick of Shark Week. I feel like all they do is focus on perpetuating the fear instead of educating people on why we need sharks. Seriously, do I really need to see the worst shark attack in recorded history re-enacted? NO!

I'm getting old. All I seem to listen to in the car, as I don't have satellite radio anymore, is NPR. I watch the news or the History channel, Discovery or Animal Planet. And the Daily Show is my bedtime story.

Recently on NPR, there was a story that the federal government is going to try to pass a law to ensure that all Americans receive 3 weeks of paid holiday. I don't know how they would enforce this, but I am all for it. Holiday! Holiday! Holiday! I don't even get holiday this year thanks to starting with a new company. Sucks.