Seasame Street Personality Quiz

Which Seasame Street Character are you??






I'm Cookie Monster!!!



Misunderstood as a primal monster, you're a true hedonist with a huge sweet tooth.

You are usually feeling: Hungry. Cookies are preferred, but you'll eat anything if cookies aren't around.
You are famous for: Your slightly crazy eyes and usual way of speaking

How you live your life: In the moment. "Me want COOKIE!"

Head of the Fish

If you're not familiar, fall regattas are usually refered to as "head" races. I know, all rowers at some point think this is funny.. especially back during the Monica Lewinsky scandal... (and just think - there's a stroke and a cox too! The cox also uses a device called a "cox box". Trust me - these are all legit terms - but it only goes downhill from here...)

So this past weekend David and I decided to make a weekend out of it. It was the Head of the Fish in Saratogo Springs. We planned a nice weekend so we could spend some time together between the kids races and the masters races. We stayed in Residence Inn both nights (thank god for Marriott points!) The schedule went like this - we drive the trailer (60 foot trailer, mind you...) up Friday afternoon. The high school (David's kids) and college races were on Saturday and the Masters (for me and David) races were on Sunday. It didn't turn out as well as we had hoped.

Saturday was disugting! It rained all day. Look at what the rowers had to tromp through all day!! I was ok until about 11AM when I was officially soaked to the bone. Water had penetrated thru my jeans and my super- duty spandex. (actually they're more like thin neoprene...) My Gortex jacket couldn't take the onslaught by then either. However I had enough layers on my top half to keep me relatively dry. It was still miserable any way you looked at it...


This is Mickey - one of David's rowers. I swear - this kid is so laid back I don't think getting hit by a train would shake him. I mean, really - I swear he was the only person I could find that was actually SMILING during all this rain... It's probably becuase the lumberjack beard was keeping him warm...

One more Temple fountain...

Sorry - I forgot to post the better of my fountain pics from the temple at SLC.

SLC temple

So, when in SLC you must see the temple (or else you're going to hell...) One day I had a few extra hours and was able to walk over and see whtat the fuss was all about. Actually it is quite beautiful. Of course, since I'm not a card carrying Mormon, I wasn't allowed in the temple. Apparently they don't do public tours inside. But the gardens and fountains outside were great to llok at too. Here are a few pics - none do any of it justice...

Don't tell the FAA...

As we were taking off over Salt Lake City I happened to look out the window at this BEAUTIFUL vista. So beautiful, in fact, I absolutely had to take pictures... Now, I'm not exactly sure what my pictures are - and they aren't exactly what I thought I was taking but I was trying to be sneaky and take the pics without the flight attendants knowing.... but here they are - right out the airplane window - seat 3A (Yes - that is first class. I'mfinally starting to get upgraded here and there. About time!!)

back in the west

Well, I'm in Salt Lake City rihgt now. Never been here before. At first glance it looks similar to Denver. Ah - I miss Colorado.... (sigh)

Yesterday I spent ALL day on a plane. It started when I thought my alarm clock going off VERY early. I had downloaded the Clemson fight song to my cell phone and I all of a sudden hear a marching band playing! I was so alseepo I thought I had set my alarm to the radio and a football game was being broadcast or something. I was totally alseep... I looked at the clock and it was only 4:30 AM!!!! David had the mind to tell me it was the phone, not the alarm, and to answer it. It was the Orbitz travel system calling to tell me my flight was on time. Gee, thanks. Come on!! My flight wasn't until 7:30AM! Why were they calling me so early??!!!

I flew from Syracuse to Philly to Phoenix to Salt Lake. ugh! But I;m here in one piece!! YEAH! Apparently my boss flew through Chicago and got stuck due to bad weather. He's now not getting here until tomorrow. That'll make for a long trip!

Once I get used to my new phone I'll start with the pictures again. I just haven't had time to play with it and figure it all out yet. I'm very excited because it's a much better camera and should give me much better pictures!

Cell phone drama

So I have that "new every 2" thing from Verizon. Every 2 years you get $100 to use towards a new phone. Well my upgrade due date was yesterday. I was very excited because I wanted to get a new phone that took better pics than the current one. (I take all my pics for the blog with my cell) I dutifully did my research to see which phone best fit my needs. I narrowed it down two 2 and fianlly decided on the razr. The hubby has one and likes it. I'm thinking - millions of people have it and love it. It seems to fit my needs...

I go to Verizon and walk in and ask them to set me up with the razr. It took about 45 minutes to get all paperwork done... but finally I walked out the new owner of a new phone.

I played with it for about 30 mintues and finally realized I HATED IT!! Really. That much. What did I hate about? EVERYTHING. What did I do? I went back and exchanged it for a new brand of phone. (same brand I already had - LG) NOW I'm in business. Although I did get one of those bluetoothy things... that I have to still figure out...

As I'm walking out of the mall with the second phone of the day it starts ringing. Great! first call with the new phone!! yeah!! I look and see that it's dad. I answer it.
me: hello?
dad: silence
me: Dad? hello??!! (volume of voice raising)
dad: silence
me: DAD!! HELLO!!!!! CAN YOU HEAR ME?? (I'm getting looks from shoppers. apparently I'm now talking very loud)

I get frustrated and hand up.

Phone immediately rings again.

me: dad? what's going on?
dad: silence
me: DAD?
all of a sudden I had an epiphany. Oh shit! the lady paired my bluetooth with my phone and apparently I have to use the bluetooth to talk. Big problem. I don't know yet how to use the bluetooth thingy. I don't even know how to tell if the stupid thing is even on. I have no idea how to figure out how to even turn the bluetooth thing off on the phone. I'm getting really frustrated because I HAVE to get home to finish cleaning before mom and Carol show up.

Since the bluetooth issue was not know to dad he apparently seems to think something is wrong with my phone. He then proceeds to call me back. As soon as igt starts ringing I send it to vm. He calls again. I send him to vm again. Man I'm pissed!! I can't figure out how to answer my new phone!! What good is a phone if you can't talk on it??!!!!

Ok - I need to read up on the phone/ bluetooth thing. Oh, and call dad back...

Jax in a box, no it's Ries!

One of the on-going jokes in our house concerns one of the cats - Jax (black and white one...) We have a little basket from pier 1 that I put a blanket in the bottom for the cats to sleep in. Jax is usually in it - and we call it... drum roll please.... Jax in the box. Original, eh?

Of course Jax isn't the only one that will get in the box. But I always figured the cats liked it because it was cozy with a blanket. Nope - apparently it's just because it's a basket. That's it. This theory was proven true again last night. Over the weekend I decided to rearrange some lamps in the family room. It's left me with a space that needed, well... something. So I took and extra basket and threw some mags in it. As I was going to bed last night I reached over to turn off the lamp to find this:
Ries has somehow managed to squeeze his little butt in that little space left by the mags. It amazes me what cats can get in and out of easily. As you can clearly see he was very comfy in his new bed - obviously made just for him...

Gotta luv the "kids"

My husband is a big fan of tuna salad sandwiches. So much so that the cats come running every time a can of anything is opened. If you have a cat you probably know what I mean. And remember, we have 4 cats. Usually a few show up for a treat. David drains the tuna juice into a bowl and lets them have at it. Jax loves it the most. He does his imitation of a mir cat in order to get the yummy stuff.




And you gotta love the 1980's brown and cream flooring in the kitchen.... I really need to replace that... I swear it's the same flooring we had in my house in Ohio when I was growing up...

Liam, ah, Liam. What a hoot! Give him one pat on the head or a scratch behind the ear and you've got a friend for life. He doesn't get the concept of "enough". He'd have you pet him forever if you would... Sometimes, actually all the time, he will not take "no" for an answer. Case in point - David wanted him to go lay down but Liam had other plans. He will NOT be ignored. So he put his paws up on David's lap to demand that David give him attention. Remember, this is the 105 lb. dog! He could easily knock over grandma or a small child. Hell, he knocks me over if I'm not paying attention!! But he's sooo cute you have to pet him...

Headline: "Hubby Cooks Dinner"

Some of you may know that David is not a foodie like I am. Due to that, and a few other factors, he cooks just enough to get by. I think when I'm on the road he feeds himself by 1) boiling pasta 2) eating out - although usually a healthy Subway sub 3) snacking on anything he can scrounge in the house and 4) eating at his folks house.

I admit - I do all of these things to - especially when David's on the road. It's nearly impossible to cook for one. Yeah, you can do it - David and I each did for years before we met - but most of the time it's like "why bother?"

Over the past several years I've tried to get him to actually cook for me. This does NOT include boiling pasta, making something out of a box, ordering in or taking me to a restuarant. I mean really cooking. I know he's not a terribly experienced chef so I'm easy - I'll take a salad and a prepared piece of meat. I don't need an appetizer, 4 side items, meat with a fancy sauce and dessert. I know that coordinating all that takes a bit of experience and patience. So far I think he's cooked maybe 2 or 3 times for me. (I'm sure he'll have something to say about that once he reads this.. ; )

We have had words more than once as to why it's my responsibility for every meal. The conversation goes something like this, say on a Tuesday nite:
David: what's for dinner?
me: why am I expected to know what's for dinner??
David: I don't know
me: well why don't you, for once, tell ME what's for dinner.

The intonation and emotion between the two of us depends on how long ago we had this same conversation. A few weeks ago he knew I was really getting frustrated with the whole cooking bit. He suggested that he start cooking a meal once a week or so. I'm not going to argue!

So last night I had him make dinner. I made sure I was out of the house so as to not tempt him to con me into making the dinner. I had a recipe for shrimp and feta over pasta. A relatively easy, yet very yummy, meal. He stopped at the grocery and picked up the 3 ingredients that were missing - I had made the list for him. After that he was on his own. I told him to call me if he had any trouble or questions.

I should note here that when I cook - especially if I'm trying something new, even with guests, the house rule is - I'm going to try something new so if it turns out poorly or you don't like it then we'll order take out. There is no double standard in our house - if his meal doesn't turn out we'll order in. It's just the fact that he tries.

And tried he did! I only got 2 phone calls. The first call - "what does it mean when it sayts I'm supposed to reduce this to 2 cups?" and "how am I supposed to turn this clove of garlic ino something to add to the receipe?" Then the comment "I really wish you'd have given me an easier recipe to start with. I don't like experimenting in the kitchen when you're not here." I took that as a compliement. I don't know why, but I did. I got one other call from him saying he still couldn't find the garlic press and to describe it to him again. He finally found it...

I was anxious on my way home. I knew he was frustrated but you gotta learn sometime! As I reminded him - he was not home when the sump pump flooded the basement and I didn't like having to figure that out on my own either - but I did. He's mechanical and figuring out how to fix a sump pump is right up his ally. The sump pump is NOT up my ally and I had to make the best with what I had. Cooking is up my ally - not his. He needs to learn to make the best of it with what he has. get my point???

I walked into the kitchen not having any idea of what I would find. Honestly - I was prepared to walk in to find a pizza. Last I talked to him he sounded pretty frustrated and I wouldn't have been surprised to see that he gave up on the whole thing. But much to his credit I walked in and smelled something WONDERFUL coming from the kitchen. I took a look and it looked just as it was supposed to!! And more importantly - it tasted like it was supposed to too! Ok, it was a soupy - but honestly that's a mistake in the recipe itself, not the person making it. When my friend made it and when I made it it was soupy too...

Note to self - need to modify recipe for the next time it's made to get rid of the soupy-ness...

In the end David did alright. I just hope he's forgiven me for leaving him to figure it out on his own. But sometimes that's the way it's got to be!

My Exlporer

As most people know - I love my car. Even though it costs a bazillion dollars to fill her up and is probably the sole reason for any oil controversy in the world.... I'm torn - on one hand I'd love to get a new SUV - 1) because it would be new and 2) to get something more environmentally friendly (as far as SUV's are concerned...) and 3) to save $$ on gas. But I just can't bring myself to do it.

I think my husband would like me to get a new car just so it might actually stay clean. (you all know the psychology behind that one - you buy the car and it's clean and new and you try to keep it clean and new for as long as possible.) Maybe that would work for me for about 2 weeks. Bottom line - My truck is a pit. Always.

It's covered in hair and it always smells like dog - imagine that... Sometimes it has a wet-dog smell going on too. But what do you expect?? I put wet dogs in it on a semi-regular basis. The dash is always dirty with fur and dust. There are stains on the upholstery. Unlike my husband, I DO eat in my car. Otherwise I'd starve. I'm not changing my habits. period.

Something happened the other day that might actually force me to clean my truck on my own accord.

Nikki puked in my truck.

I'm standing at practice talking to the women I coach and my husband is standing at the back of my truck with the back window up, talking to the dogs. All of a sudden I see him scrounging. For what?? towels.

He cleaned up the worst and I thought I was good to go. That night I went out and did the "wet towel second cleaning" to get anything else. I thought I was all good. I came to work yesterday, no problem.

But then this morning things changed. I got in the car and I was hit with this disgusting, putrid smell. Apparently when I thought I had cleaned up, I hadn't really cleaned up. It was sort of dark when I tried to clean it 2 days ago and I apparently didn't do a good job.

This is bad. My dream car smells like doggie throw up. It's almost, if not as bad as, human throw up. Gross.... Not only am I going to have to really clean it, I'm going to have to do it SOON. and it's so bad I'll probably spend to have it professionally done. Otherwise - I'm just going to have to buy a new car. That new business suit I was going to buy is just going to have to wait....

Cutie Aggie

Aggie is my friend Brooke's dog. She's a Vizula - a Hungarian-tye Weimereiner. Isn't she cute??!!! Sitting there, looking all calm and regal... She's a great little dog. Brooke says she's about 40 - 45lbs. She's in great shape too - no flab on this dog!!

The thing with Aggie, any dog actually, is she goes all crazy when she gets excited. My dogs have a tendancy to cirle around you like a pack (or is it a school?) of sharks. Liam will also hop around a bit and Nikki, when she's in a misbehaving mood, will even try to jump on you. Not Aggie.

Aggie has what I would call a "special dance". She wiggles from side to side, giving you the biggest grin you have EVER seen. The problem is with the grin - it can easily be misinterpreted as something else. I was lucky enough to actually capture (although not very well) this behavior with my camera phone...














I'm telling ya - this dog is CUTE! I would have taken her home with me if I could. Plus - she
s much easier to manage than my tubby -doggies....

Ok - I'm back

Phew! Man that last trip seemed to take FOREVER! Had a blast with Brooke (see blog on kickboxing...) and a good time with Denise and Janet - except that those 2 are older than me and decided this trip to continually point it out at every opportunity. However, I did go shopping with Janet one night (AND I survived!!) She is on a leopard print kick lately. She had it in her head that she was going to buy a pair of leopard print shoes. Ok - I know what you're thinking and it's not the shoes you're probably envisioning... She's looking for a pair of flat loafers, probably black with a splash of print on the top part. We found everything BUT that.

SIDE NOTE - I don't hate shopping for other people - I only hate shopping for me... Leopard print scavenger hunt - very fun!

For kicks we took this pic and told Denise that Janet actually bought them. However the joke bombed because it's hard to see what it is you're looking at on the small screen of a cell phone....
In case you're having a hard time too those are skanky high heels in leopard print. Can't tell how trashy they are until you saw their profile. Trust me - very very hoochie-momma. Very funny. As you can see from the picture - Janet, NOT the hoochie-mooma type...

Have you ever been to a tradeshow for your industry?? Well mine are interesting because we are in the medical sector so we get all the pharma comapnies - they have $$$$ Every booth usually has some type of give-away. We're small so we just keep a basket of chocolates. People do seem to really love this because they always light up when they see it. And instead of taking a piece or two I have seen many a respiraoty therapist and DOCTORS (as if they couldn't afford to buy their own) take HANDFULS of the stuff. But Pharma companies usually give away GOOD stuff. We have some ladies here in the office that do all the work to get everything we need for the tradeshows but rarely, if ever, get to actually go. So - I tracked a trunk full of crap back for them. Take a look at the loot!!

There are bags, mint tins, golf balls, the round blue thing is a travel frisbee. There's a CD case (from the Dairy Counsel), a box of Splenda, hand sanitizers and yes, ladies and gentlemen - that is an umbrella on the far right side. I carried that thing home on the plane with me. One of the ladies BETTER take it since I went to such an effort!!

And of course Connie already picked out her loot - she got a great bag (I already have the same one from a previous show), a water bottle and a coffee mug. All three of these things are from pharma groups. Cool stuff.

In the past I have hoarded the loot for myself. Let's see - what do I alrady have a home??? I have a nasal saline rinse kit - complete with reusable plastic bottle with lovely shaped head to fit nicely inside the nose - complete with 100 packets of saline mix (just add water). I have a million travel kleenexes and hand sanitizer out the wazoo. I have pens and post-it notes and highlighters too. The list of things I have is too long and embarassing to continue. I swear - I'm surprised I never tried to shoplift as a kid. If it's there for the taking I can't resist. I have that bizarre problem of taking all the travel size things from the bathrooms of hotels. I was so proud - I tought I had finally kicked that habit. Truth is I just replcaed with with taking thigns from the tradeshows instead. Don't be surprised if you see my mug on a :Wanted" flier one day because I grabbed one too many things....

grumpy

I'm grumpy. All the traveling is taking it's toll. Actually, it's not the traveling itself per se, but if you know me even just 50% then you know I don't sleep worth a damn. All this traveling is seeming to make it worse. Like right now - it's past 11:30pm and I'm up messing around on the computer. Again, if you know me I go to bed between 9 and 10. Something is definitely wrong here. Especially since I didn't go to bed until way past midnight last night. This is NOT normal for me.

so - you'll have to excuse me if I don't blog until I get back home. Right now I'm fighting the very strong urge to vent to bitch and complain about everything.... not so much fun for the reader, I'd imagine. But I don't want to not write in the blog for days on end.

give me a few days and hopefully I can shrug off this crappy bitchiness that has settled in.....

Kickboxing in Kansas City

I'm not the kickboxing queen. One day maybe... But I did make it through without A) tripping and falling on my ass (which was a real possibility here with me, the clutz queen) and B) tossing up the guacamole from lunch. I did not pass out and I did everything (albeit, slower than some in the class) except for the tricep dips (bum shoulder no longer allows for torquing backwards as required with dips) Here is a lovely picture of Brooke SEE! she's all smiles after a grueling workout!!! What a sport! I didn't even bother to take my picture. I sweaty girl with her tongue hanging out of her mouth like a pooped pup is not attractive!



Who is the kickboxing queen, you ask?? Well, I've determined the queen is Rita - the instructor. (in the middle) And the two princesses are Brooke and her friend/ neighbor, Diane (on the right) I like how they're all smiles and giggles. They made that workout look like like a quick little jog around the track. (Rita taught class with that long-sleeved shirt on!) Meanwhile, I'm sweating and burping up chicken burrito the whole time thinking "DAMN my hip is so going to cramp up if I keep this up!!" and other thoughts like "Oh my god - my arm is going to detach itself right from my body!!!" But I have to say that Rita ROCKS! Her music was my FAV!! We had some Heavy D in there as well as a bazillion others of my favorites from many moons ago. I almost felt like I was back cheerleading and dancing again. You know, back when I was in kickass shape and probably could whoop some real arse! Uh - but not so much anymore...

And as I'm sitting here writing this entry I keep having to dab off the ooze that is forming on my knuckles where the gloves kept slipping and I would hit the bag with my fingers and not the nice padded part of the gloves I had on. Wha, wha - I know - I'm whining. But all in all I did have a great time and an even better workout!

Everybody give Rita a big Mary Catherine "supa star" for her great Kansas City kickboxing class!!!

Yeah Girls!!

Sorry for the delay in the posting but I am on the road AGAIN!!! Although I'm still traveling for work I was REALLY looking forward to this trip! I am currently in Kansas City with our rep Brooke. Brooke ROCKS! She's my age, single and a bunch of fun. (She even puts up with me rattling on and on...) Then tomorrow I fly to Atlanta to work another tradeshow with another rep and a regional manager - both fun, hip gals. This week is going to be a blast!

I felt so special - Brooke invited me to go with her to her supper club. So last night I tag along to the all-girl supper club. It was tappas (NOT topless) and we had a great time - ok I had a great time, can't speak for every one else, but they seemed to be enjoying themselves. It was great - we had REAL girl talk. Man, I miss girl talk. It was quite a cross-section of thirty-somethings. All were career girls. One was pregnant, two were married, one was engaged, one was single. Some wanted/ had kids. Some didn't have/ want kids... Some get along with the in-laws, some dont'... I had a blast. It's always nice to know that you're not the only one that has in-law issues, or concerns about having kids, etc... I haven't been able to find a group of gals like that in Syracuse. It made me realize how much I miss conversing with a close group of girl friends! I'm so jealous that Brooke's got a group to hang with!

Well, I apparently didn't embarass Brooke too much at supper club because she asked if I would be interested in going with her tonight to her kick-boxing class. I said SURE!! Then I included the caveat that I haven't been working out and I may not be able to keep up and/ or might be clutzy (like usual) and slip and fall and end up with my ass on the ground or something. She's a sport - didn't seem to mind. Of course, if any of that bears out I'll make an ass of myself, not her. I'll have to blog after the class and let you know how it went. If I don't blog then you know I died trying!

I'm sitting on my hotel room taking a breather until I meet Brooke for the class. We had great Mexican/ Southwest food for lunch - one of those places where they make you guacomole at your table (did I spell that right???) I ate most of it. I hope it doesn't decide to make a second appearance at about 7PM at the kick boxing class. That would REALLY be embarassing!

As I'm writing this I realize that I have the TV turned on to Jeopardy - little kid version. I didn't notice at first because I have the volume turned way down. I need to change the channel - watching little kids jeopardy only makes me feel stupid and that I haven't accomplished anything in life....

quick - change the channel before I get depressed!! I can't go to kick boxing depressed - it would defeat the purpose!!