Bittersweet

Gertie, the Green Goddess. My 2001 Ford Explorer, V8, 5L with 135,000 miles. She was a great gal. Never gave me any problems. Bought her in Colorado when I was a single cowgirl looking for transportation for dogs that I longed to own one day. I slapped a hitch on her so she tow anything - although "anything" ended up being mostly a bike rack...

I drove her all over creation (did you see the mileage??) and back. She's been all over the Rockies, the Adirondacks, the Appalachians... ok, never out on the west coast... She's carried me through snowstorms, camping trips, NASCAR races, my own wedding, I've moved a few times (although I was good to her and had her transported form CO to OH... no need to add unnecessary miles.) And of course, she been the grand chariot for Liam and Nikki forever. When we moved here she was anointed with "K9 SUV" plates.

Gertie has been my girl. She was actually my dream car. I told people that and it was the truth. She was the right size, not too big, not too small. Just enough features but not too fancy.

Even though she's been running great it was time to look to trade her in. Sad day. It was time.

So the K9 SUV plates are now on a silver 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee. It's got a bazillion features. Heated leather seats, sun roof, Sirius radio, iPod jack, all these controls in the steering wheel, and I'm sure a million more I can't think of right now and another million more I don't know even know about...

In theory it's a much better car than Gertie. But it's not. Not yet anyway.

So how do I explain to my husband why I was crying last night after we picked up the new car? Not shedding a tear.
Crying.
Like for an hour.
And I'm even tearing up as I write this.

How do you explain that your car was part of your identity?
That you had your car longer than you had your husband?
That your car was the last true remaining symbol of independence and freedom from when you were single?

Well, I hope I get used to this new one. If not I guess David will inherit it. Good thing he likes it - especially since he never drove it until after I bought it. (but then again - he did used to work for Jeep....)

RIP Gertie.

Made it!

Well, D and I made it back from Disneyland!! It was iffy because of the snow. Dad may or may not make it in to Syr. tonight...

I'm at work right now - have lots to catch up on. I'll try and post some pictures over the holidays. Dont' worry - D was a photo-takin' fool!

cheers!

Whew!

Well folks, my tradeshow is done. The website is launched (with a few minor tweaks when I get home). I hung around and packed up the remaining items from our booth last night - 5 boxes and 1 pallet-o-stuff to be sent back home.


Although I didn't eat lunch any day this week I won't divulge how well I've eaten for dinner each night... (I'll give you a hint - I ate at Morton's last night...) so I can't complain. Although I did have to pick up that bill (company expense, of course) and I had to do the math in my head twice for the tip. Let's say there were 7 of us and the tip was WAY into three digits (I'm not counting cents, folks...)


Thanks you guys for the kind words on the website! and in case you didn't get to see the old one here's a peek at the OLD homepage:















So I'm going to take a break and head off to Disney.

Website

It just occurred to me that I should have you guys look at our old/ current website (for work) and then have you look at the new one when we launch!!!

Problem is we're supposed to launch tomorrow... ("supposed to" being the catch phrase...)

So if you happen to read this today go check out http://www.monaghanmed.com/

and then check back in a few days.

You'll know it's the NEW site if it has a picture of a female clinician front and center with the tag line "Your partner for aerosol delivery solutions". If you don't see that then it's the old school one.... I'd like to think it's VERY apparent which one you're looking at....

Wish me luck!!!

baby shower update...

well folks....

I didn't get asked the inappropriate question I was dreading. Although I'm sure one lady was close but I did a quick "duck and dodge" before she could get it out.

But also I admit I didn't mingle extensively prior to the luncheon starting... Aunt Ginny, Lucy, MB and grandma were there, along with cousin Dana. We all sat at the last table on the far side of the room and had our own "party"... That sort of gave me license (ok, not really - but that's my excuse) to plop my ass down and not mingle lots with said friends of the Aunt throwing the shower - lest I get pestered with "the question".

Aunt G and I were discussing good comeback lines you guys all shared - she loved 'em!

Thanks for all the great ideas. I promise they will not go to waste as we all know I'll continue to get the question....

Although Ginny agreed that I should feel free to respond "None of your fuckin' business."

I *heart* her! She's the one that gave her daughters t-shirts that said "boys are dumb throw rocks at them". She's quite the contradiction... happily married to the same man (Uncle Gino.. my F-I-L's brother - big bald Italian guy, works in waste management... ; ) for decades.

On another note David and I met up with a good friend of his from college (K) and his wife (N) on Saturday since they were in the state visiting. David was excited because he hadn't seen them since their wedding almost 10 years before. I, of course, have never met them. A while back David had given them my blog address and I guess N had been reading my blog on occasion. While on one hand I find that very neat - I LOVE reading other people's blogs!! - now that I was meeting them for "real" I was thinking "oh shit - they probably think I'm a flake.. or worse..."

ok - I guess I am a flake... and worse...

but I digress....

I do a bad enough job on a first impression sometimes, I don't need the added pressure of what she's read on my blog!!!! (I mean really - I've nicked my nipple with a razor for god's sake!! and WRITTEN about it!!!!)

But it turned out great! (or at least I thought so... maybe she's just a really good actress... ; ) And the weird thing is I can see why D and K were such good friends in college... I noticed the two of them were even wearing the same thing!!! (plaid-ish button up shirt under a zip neck pullover sweater.... ) they were just wearing different color schemes.... must be a NY enigneering uniform... me being from SC, I wouldn't know....

So I had quite an eventful weekend to gear up for a busy week. You may not hear from me for a while. I'm going to be bogged down in work this week and then I leave for my trade show on Thursday to launch my website I've been working on for the past 7 or 8 months (or so....). and then I'm going to DISNEYLAND!!!

really... I'm not joking.
I'm going to Disneyland.

So you really might not hear from me until after the holidays. Maybe before - but probably not until after. So just in case:

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!

blurrrrrr

I'm having one of those weeks where I can't remember what day it is... Not because of my can't-remember-my-zip-code-bad-memory kind of can't remember... It's the I'm-so-stressed-the-days-are-flying-by-so-fast-I-can't-keep-them-straight kind of can't remember.

And to top of this fabulous week I have a baby shower to go to this weekend. Not just any baby shower... a family baby shower. D's cousin's wife is prego and my MIL and I are going. At first I was pleasantly looking forward to going. (excited is too strong a word...) And then it hit me.

Shit.

I bet I get bombarded with "So, when are you and David going to start a family???!!" or some such iteration of the question.

We've been married approximately three weeks longer than the aforementioned prego couple and are a few years older. Not a good mix when it comes to "baby" questions - assuming you don't yet have them - which, of course we don't.

I want to reply with "none of your damn business".

Because it's not. But I shouldn't be so rude. But then again, they are by even asking...

Maybe we don't want children.
Maybe we're not ready.
Maybe we've been desperately trying since the moment we said "I do" and by asking they keep opening an emotional wound.

Maybe we don't have a clue just yet.

Regardless of the answer - it's none of their business...

Now I have some friends of mine - probably some of you reading - that have asked me this very question. If I've not given you an answer then I'll admit I'm probably not comfortable talking about it with you. Sorry. If I have given you an answer, well then I've obviously known you long enough and well enough to share. But I don't go around discussing this with everyone. And honestly - not everyone gets the exact same answer.

And I'll tell you right now - there is no one at this shower with whom I feel comfortable discussing my reproduction plans.

So - between work and this shower I'm a bit stressed.

And how am I really going to answer if someone asks???
"Oh, ... why, that's quite a personal question. (insert coy smile here). I'd rather not discuss it."

...and I'm really going to try and be nice about it and hope my overactive eyebrows don't give me away...

whoops...

Two weeks ago I deemed it officially winter by putting the electric blanket on the bed. Last year we got the fabulous Tempurpedic and for some reason I decided not to put the electric blanket on the bed last winter. I don't know why - just didn't.

Well, maybe because I was lazy. Because this year I had to untangle the stupid cords, plug into the blanket to test which control went to which side (one control for each side, you know), climb up underneath the stupid bed to split the cords, plug in the stupid thing....

Getting the impression this was all quite stupid? Well it wasn't stupid, per se, but I'm sure I looked stupid as hell, with my head under the bed, arse up in the air, trying to get it all figured out.

Once it was all settled I was sure I was going to be quite cozy. See, the best part of having the electric blanket is to use it to "preheat" the bed. It specifically has "preheat" on the controller. You set it to the highest level 30minutes before you go to bed and when you get in it's all nice and toasty for you. Never fear - ours automatically shuts off after 8 or 10 hours so you don't have to worry about burning your house down. And since it has the 2 controls it's really great for me and D since we never can agree on the temp.

So Saturday I wasn't feeling so great - sinus issues or something. I set the blanket, started getting ready for bed, popped 2 Benedryl and crawled in. Now it didn't take me anywhere near 30 minutes from when I turned on the blanket until I got in. When this happens I usually lay there until I start to get warmed up and then gradually turn the bed down until it's where I want it for the night. Usually in 3 minute increments... it heats up pretty fast once you're under there.

Well, I remember turning it down a few notches once....

The next thing I remember is D moving around. Now remember, we have the famous Tempurpedic - so he's really got to be thrashing for me to wake up.

Then I vaguely recall thinking, "Holy shit! I think I'm on fire! I think my skin is smoking...."

Then it hits me, while I'm fighting against my Benedryl coma, whoops... forgot to turn down the blanket....

The Benedryl musta kicked in and I never got around to turning down my side of the blanket. Meanwhile, D is hotter than hell and can't figure out why. (by the way, it's 2AM...) he turned his side of the bed off hours ago and is still burning up... not knowing that I conked out with my side still set to "inferno".

I'm baking, basting, something... on my side of the bed. I literally start wafting the covers to let out the heat that's trapped - I'm THAT hot. I start panicking... "Oh my god - will this melt our patented Swedish memory foam developed for NASA??!!!"

Never fear, gentle readers.... out Tempurpedic is still intact. But I now have legs like Christy Brinkley and a permanent tan from the neck down!!

My New Favorite Christmas Song

I'm having an issue getting the video to embed.... so you're just going to have to go to the link and watch it. But believe me - it's worth it!!

New Favorite Christmas Song

Habits

Ever notice a habit you have and wonder where/ when/ why it started? I was in the shower this morning, shaving my legs and noticed I do something odd.


Well now, if you're a longtime reader of my blog there's no questioning when or why this habit started.


October 6, 2007


If you haven't been reading that long you must read here and brush up to understand what I'm about to explain.

I'm shaving, got my leg propped up on the wall in front of me and reach across my body with the razor to rinse off the blade. While I'm rinsing I find myself cupping my exposed "girl" with my left hand.

Really.

It doesn't take me 2 seconds to process what I'm doing and why I'm doing it. I stop and think and realize I've been doing this... oh... probably over a year now and just now realizing I'm doing it.

Now I have a million other weird and funny habits. Not many of which I could probably explain the wheresits, whatsits, whysits, howsits and such. I do them just because I've done them that way forever.

But this one... this one I know why.... funny how we adapt...

Two of us couldn't figure this out...

Several months ago we had lightning hit our building. (did I blog about that? I can't remember...) Anyway it required us to purchase a new color printer as it fried our old one.

The color printer I'm referring to is a networked printer for the office. So it's medium sized, with big honkin', expensive ink cartridges and such - not some desk job that each of us probably has next to our home computer.

So about 2 weeks ago the printer started telling us it was about time to replace the black cartridge: "order black cartridge". Thanks for the heads up HP! So one day I catch CB and RR standing over the printer with the lid up messin' with the cartridge trying to compare the cartridge CB ordered with the one they're going to replace. Something is totally amiss. (apparently they've been standing there quite a while too...) The reordered one doesn't look ANYTHING like the one they're about to take out. So I stand there for even longer trying to see if there's anything I can contribute to the situation.

There isn't.

So CB calls the office supply place, explains the situation and they tell her:
1) you don't need to replace the cartridge when it first tells you, it will stop printing when you must replace it. Wait until then - and
2) we'll come over with the correct cartridge - something must be wrong with what the delivery guy dropped off - we'll fix it immediately.

Great. Office supply lady comes over, confirms what we have has the correct reorder number on the box but the product in it is NOT correct (how that happens I'm not sure), takes away the wrong product, drops off a box with the correct reorder number. We think we're good to go.

So today apparently by boss needed to print something in color. We (me and CB) find him going back and forth, irritated at the color printer wondering why it won't print. Ah ha - the black cartridge must have finally pooped out. dun-dun-dun-da!! (insert superhero music here...) Never fear - CB and I will take care of this!!!

I go to the printer, open the black replacement cartridge, open up the top of the printer and lo and behold - it's the same WRONG FRICK'N cartridge!!!

WHAT??!!

Anyone can tell the cartridge coming out is much smaller than the one they keep telling us to put in. We've checked the reorder numbers a million times the last time this happened. We're POSITIVE we have the correct numbers - it's right here in the HP manual!!!! What is it that we aren't seeing??

Then it hits me.

If this is the black cartridge, where are all the color cartridges located? Because all I see when I lift up the top is this one cartridge.

CB and I pause.... thinking....

Frantically, in tandem, I start flipping pages in the manual and she starts looking on the side for a way to get to the inside.

As I find the page in the manual, she finds the magic key. Like I found the location of the pirates treasure on the map and she found the actual treasure.

The whole front of the printer drops down, revealing FOUR FRICK'N HUGE CARTRIDGES!!!!

black
cyan
magenta
yellow

Huh, how 'bout that.

I reach in, grab the top cartridge, pull it out. It's the same shape and size as the cartridge we've been saying all along "isn't going to fit"!

Sure it'll fit - IF WE PUT IT IN THE RIGHT PLACE!!!!

This whole time we've been taking something out of the top of the printer, thinking it was the black cartridge, when in fact, it wasn't.

We still have no idea what it is. I can't find its description in the users manual.

The office supply lady clearly doesn't have a clue either because she thought we were right all along too.

So - when buying a new piece of office equipment it helps to read the WHOLE users manual... not just reference it for the reorder numbers for the ink cartridges....

duh....

Why I shouldn't multi-task

The other day I called a colleague and while the phone was ringing I decided to email my husband some info before I forgot. You know me, if I didn't email D right at that moment I'd get finished with my phone conversation and what I needed to tell him would have vanished into thin air never to be thought of again. (No, really, I don't have ADD. I've been tested.)

So while I'm emailing it appears my colleague, Cari, is not in the office and her voicemail message begins. Great! more time for me to finish typing! The next thing I know I hear a beep.

me: Hi hon. It's me.

long pause. wait. momentary lucidity lapse... what am I doing? am I typing to D or am I leaving him a message?? SHIT?! I'm typing him an email! Who the hell's voicemail is this? Shit!! CARI!

me: Oh my God, Cari... sorry. I didn't mean to call you 'hon'. Sorry. (my speed of talking proportionally increasing with my embarrassment) I'm so embarrassed. I'm typing an email to my husband and got confused. Oh, never mind. Sorry. Oh my god. Call me back.

Lucky for me Cari is the sort that would find that funny. Still embarrassing on my part, nonetheless. Next thing you know I'll be ending work phone conversations with "love you". You just watch...

I'm slackin'

WOW! I'm slackin'. Sorry folks. I would say lots going on... there is and there isn't. I'm just going to work, the usual grind, ya know? But no funny stories to tell. I haven't gotten caught pickin' my nose, my pants haven't fallen around my ankles in public, no one's mistaken me (again) for a 40-something-year-old...

I've just been working. And it's not even really been fun lately. That's really just about it.

It's sad, really.

So I'm still here - I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. I just don't have anything to share at the moment. When I do I will.

How old am I???

So I'm sitting on the sofa up in the concierge lounge enjoying a glass of Cabernet Savignon, a piece of chocolate cake, reading my latest book. The tabloid show ET is on the humongous flat screen TV in front of me. A guy is on the opposite end of the sofa, apparently doing what I'm doing - reading a bit here and there, watching the TV when it interests him.

Did I mention I'm in Atlanta for a trade show? Remember, I'm in the medical devices biz. Not the most sexy biz in the world. Especially this show. (I won't explain, just take my word for it.) I don't know if the sofa guy is here for the trade show. maybe, maybe not. I'm guessing he's in his mid-40's. He's a bit on the "intellectual" side. Balding on top - you know, the crown-o-hair, halo style, t shirt, cargo pant, worn tennis shoes. (although farbeit from me to make a style statement about someone...) I'll admit, I thought maybe I'd aged him a bit too old based on the hair. Maybe he's early 40's but after my brief interaction I'm sure he's at least mid 40's if not older. See if you agree....

So you know, ET does their "Celeb birthdays". Apparently sofa guy was listening and said to no one, but really to me "Can you believe Kate Jackson is 60 today?!"

Who in the hell is Kate Jackson?

me: I'm sorry? who?
sofa guy: Kate Jackson! From Charlie's Angel's! She was every teenage boy' dream! Man, you can't trust anyone HALF her age! Can you believe it?! (said as though he was clearly one of those teenage boys)
me: oh... (smile weakly.)

Did I mention I'm THIRTY TWO!!!!

Now if I was a witty person I would have said: Sorry I don't know who you're talking about, I was only toddling around when that show was on.

But alas, I'm not witty. Well, I am - 15 minutes after a situation occurs. But I don't think the term for that is "witty" anymore. I think it's "lost opportunity".

Am I upset at this? Hell no! I'm pissed!! How freakin' old does this guy think I am??!!! I mean c'mon! Sure, I have my glasses on, but folks I'm not creased from years in the sun for god's sake! This guy was talking to me as if I were his contemporary!

I've never had an issue with my age. I never had an issue with getting older. I WELCOMED turning 30. Really - I did. But this is f'n ridiculous! This guy was treading on really thin ice. It's one thing to get mistaken for being within a few years of your actual age. It's quite another for being mistaken for being DECADES older than your actual age.

I think I'll chalk it up to sofa guy being obviously socially inept.

Taking a poll

I have a question about the election for you guys - but it's not really a political question, per se...

I've noticed lately that all the state and local people running for office in my area have been campaigning (as they should) but NO ONE is mentioning their political party affiliation in their ads or signage. Is that happening where you live??

I'm just curious. I don't recall that being the case in previous elections. I mean, it could have been the case and I just didn't notice it - but I don't believe that was the case.

This year - NOTHIN'. In order to find what ticket a candidate is running on you have to research it. Nobody is 'fessin up!

Why is that?
- don't want to align themselves with a particular presidential candidate (or current prez...)?
- don't want people to assume their stance based solely on party affiliation?

But by not saying doesn't that make it harder for voters to possibly even find their candidate on the ballot thereby not getting voted for at all?

I don't know, I'm not political analyst, obviously. It just seems like a weird tactic.

I might as well be a hooker...

Last night I helped out Crazy Pet Lady, rather, CPL's mom by being a volunteer at a March of Dimes fundraiser. I actually had a blast. What a great cause!!! I should probably get to the point as I don't want anyone thinking I'd rather be a hooker than volunteering for a great cause... I'm not that self-centered...

So "mom" signed us up to be greeters, you know, grabbing all the rich people as they enter the hall, explaining all the places where they can easily part with their money for a good cause. Of course we're lookin' hot in black skirts and button up white shirts... CPL, as always with all 5'11" slenderness of her with her naturally curly hair and fallin' out tatas (sorry girl - you know I had to throw that in with you and you're mom making unbutton one more button... ; ) and me I've got the "hot for teacher/ Palin" thing going on 'cause my contacts have been giving me hell lately so the glasses are on and I'm wearing one of CPL's tight shirts. (all my white ones have company logos on 'em). We're both wearing our f-me boots. we didn't plan it - we just have a knack lately for dressing the same (although it's usually just at the gym...) BTW - I can look like Palin - just don't call me Palin - them are fightin' words...

I digress... and no, the f-me boots reference has nothing to do with the hooker reference... I'll get to that...

So at one point everyone has arrived and our greeter job is done. One of the MofD women ask if we could help pick up these little plates - they're running out and need help.

Now let me clarify something here. The benefit is being held at a facility that has a hired wait staff. The benefit itself has about 10 volunteers like greeters, people helping out with the auction, coat takers, etc... But hey, if the hired wait staff needs help we'll pitch in - no problem! We're here to help, right?!

First of all, I've never worked in food service. And second, do you know how clumsy I am? I was nervous when asked to do this but I wasn't going to say no - I was here to help. No one said I had to pile stacks of plates up my arm and take them to the back. I would just grab what I could even if it meant I had to make several trips. It can't be that hard, right?

The benefit was set up for food with small plates. There were trays set up in the corners where people were supposed to take their dirty plates when they went up for more but no one was. No one gave me and CPL any direction - they just said clear plates off tables. So we grabbed plates and started to stack them on the trays in the corners.

Well, well, well...

Apparently one of the hired wait staff saw us doing that and ran over and laid into us right in the middle of the benefit. (yes - she knew we were volunteers, not hired help)

"You girls can't be stacking all those plates on my tray! I can't lift that tray with all those extra plates! Plus you're gonna make it all fall over! You need to take those to the back in the kitchen!!"

On top of being stunned I didn't want to make matters worse by saying anything - or make myself look like an ass too. I kept my mouth shut. CPL and I looked at each other and returned to collecting plates.

With the next batch we went to try to figure out how to get into the kitchen. We hadn't been back there before. We apparently walked around our ass to get to our elbow but finally found it. In the meantime getting an earful from another "high ranking" employee about how we didn't have to go all the way to the back to get there. We got stiff direction on how to use the doors that connected to the dining area.

Ok - got it. Again, even out of earshot from attendees I kept my mouth shut. I wouldn't want to embarrass CPL's mom. Not that she knows any of these people - but I'm here trying to volunteer and help out. I decided (for once) to just shut it.

So CPL and I went out again to grab plates. This time I made it back to the kitchen before her. (probably because I didn't trust myself to carry too many - CPL has food service experience....I do not.) As I set the plates down I turned to hurry out to collect more - that's what they told us - grab as many plates possible! they're running out!!- the "head boss gal" grabbed my plates and said:

"hey volunteer! you have you clean the plates!!" as she's violently shaking off any contents of each plate in between words, into the trash

"or we can't wash 'em!!" loudly tossing a dish to the washer

"you just can't leave 'em here!!" I can't believe the dish didn't break

"next time" throwing back another plate, huffing as if this work is literally going to cause her to have an aneurysm on the spot

"clean off your plates!!" emptying off another plate and tossing it back.

And let me be clear. She was almost yelling this to me with the meanest, gruffest, bitchiest, tone I have almost ever been talked to in my whole entire life.

I stood there watching the whole time. I was stunned. It was like a train wreck. I couldn't look away.

As I finally turned to leave she grabbed a stack of clean plates and said "take these outside and put them anywhere".

Right. bitch. I know where to put them.

Now I don't know what gets into people. I'd have been happy to scrape those plates. I'm not one iota above it. But don't F'in treat me like a piece of garbage. No one deserves to be treated like that, volunteer or paid employee. As a matter of fact - I'm not even getting paid to scrape plates and I'd be happy to do it. I'm helping YOU out, lady since you're the one getting the pay check. Granted, it probably sucks. But if you were a little nicer it'd do it for you. But if you're gonna act like that forget it. Do it your damn self and I'll go over here and do my cushy little volunteer job and let you sweat it out.

But I'll tell what - if that's what working in food service is like - it SUCKS. It SUCKS big time!! It SUCKS so big time that I might as well be a hooker....

Losing it...

I stopped on the way to work this morning to get gas. I used my debit card and it asked for my zip code. I hesitated but plugged it in. It told me to see the cashier. I went inside and she told me my card was declined.

WHAT? I panicked.

She said it doesn't tell her why just that it was declined. I sheepishly told her that I wasn't sure I put in the right zip code.

Sure, that could make it decline the card but she couldn't say for sure since it doesn't give a reason. She reset it and allowed me to give it another try.

I went back out to the car still in a panic.

What the frig is my zip code???!!!

I tried calling D but he was in the shower and not answering his phone. I started panicking all over again. I started going through things in my car...

What would have MY zip code on it??

Business card? nope

Anything in my planner?? nope

SHIT!!

Anything in my wallet....

I open up my wallet and DUH!

My address is on my drivers license.

Sure enough, I had typed in my zip code wrong. This time I put it in correctly and it worked just fine.

What the hell is wrong with me?? First I can't remember my zip code and then I can't remember where in the hell to find it?!

I should have turned around and gone straight home and just started my day all over...

WOW!

Well, if I knew that last post was going to get FIFTEEN comments I would have... well, I don't know what I would have done any different.

Y'all know I'm not much into blogging about politics but Palin really has me, well, concerned. As a person she seems really sweet and nice - don't get me wrong. But there's a HUGE difference between people I find "nice" and those that I want second in command of my country. Even more so if I'm exceptionally concerned that the guy first in command might not make it through his full tenure.

Winking is cute for a hockey mom. Being "folksy" makes for an adorable hockey mom.

Those traits do not instill confidence coming from a world leader. That's all I'm sayin'.



OK - done with politics. Who wants to move the discussion to the economy??
just kidding...

Just wonderin'

Did anyone else notice that Biden got choked up when he started talking about his wife and child that died many years ago? Has anyone else noticed today, through reading commentary of the debate, that NO ONE has brought that up?? How come every vulture jumped on Hillary when she got choked up??!!!

(if they have I haven't seen it yet)

I'm not saying that he shouldn't have... I'm just pointing out that no one's mentioned it yet. Hillary got a new drilled a new you-know-what, got called weak and chastised for showing emotion.

I don't care your politcal views - I find it interesting it being harped on when Hillary did it and I haven't heard one iota yet when Joe did it.

just sayin'

Palin vs Biden

WHY IS SHE WINKING AT ME??!!!!!

STOP WINKING AT ME!!!!!

Maverick who??
Isn't that a bad western with Mel Gibson and Jodi Foster??

CA style Wedding

Congratulations to my two best-est friends who got married September 19th in Cal-i-forn-i-a.

To the two blushing brides - Christy and Ann.



















Yep - my first girl, girl wedding!! And I was honored by being asked to be their witness!!!

And yes, it's legal folks. They are now required to files taxes jointly. Gotta love it!



















And after the ceremony there was a big bash with food and cake!! What fun!!













Thanks for letting me share such an important day in your life!!

My "Sweet T" moment

So do y'all know my friend "Sweet T"? If not, check out her blog. She had a funny incident involving smoke alarms in her house not long ago.

The way she wrote the story I assumed the alarms were hard wired into her house (like mine are) because if not I would have thought she and her hubby would have just thought to pop out the batteries until said "smoke incident" had cleared out of the house. (obviously it was not an emergency or else they would have grabbed the kids and evacuated... I don't want anyone to worry...)

So this past Sunday D left, again, to go to the mother ship for work and I was left all alone. Sure enough remnants of Ike - or some storm - brought a wind storm through the area and knocked out electricity to the house. I was starting to get antsy because it was hot and muggy outside and without air conditioning I was envisioning the worst if the power wasn't back on soon. I kept trying to call D but he wasn't answering his phone. It was pretty late so I didn't want to call my in-laws in the next town over to see if they had lost power in case they were already in bed. I wanted someone to get online and give me an update from the power company's website - they conveniently give info right there (assuming you can access it...) You can also report an outage (although somehow that doesn't really make sense to me...)

I finally got in touch with D, 45 minutes after the power had initially gone out.

me: hon, can you look and give me an update on what's going on? I called McGregor and JJ and they have power and the other half of the neighborhood still is on.

D: ok, let me log on
(while he's getting online)

me: can you also get me the number so I can call to report it - just in case no one has done it yet (at this point I didn't realize it was the storm and thought maybe someone had hit a pole or something)

D: sure - but their site seems down. I can't get on it.

me: (getting frantic) what am I going to do? It's too late to call your parents! What if no one's called it in? how much longer is it going to be? it's really starting to get hot in here!

D: (in a very calm voice although I swear tinged with superiority...) um, why don't you look it up in the phonebook.

me: oh. I didn't think of that.

Yes. I'm so used to hopping online and looking up numbers on the computer I TOTALLY forgot about it up the old-fashioned way. Go figure. I was starting to panic that I'd be without power and I wasn't thinking... not good... Of course I could have also just called 411 on my cell too... but I didn't think of that either...

There you go Sweet T. We're even.

ok, ok!!

OK, I know I haven't posted in a while and here's why. My computer is still broken!!!!

I don't like to bitch about work on my blog - you never know who's going to be reading... but we have an inept IT dept and essentially I have to do my own IT-ing. (or try to anyway...) So with the help of our CORPORATE IT dept. (which is different than our company IT dept. - don't try and understand, it's confusing) me and D actually wiped the operating system off my computer and reinstalled it about the time I posted last.

So - to make a long, laborious story really short (and I mean it this time) I'm running on the barest of essentials on the computer. Oh yeah - and all the time that it took to do that, combined with all the time I wasted limping along with a computer that wasn't working properly, I'm kinda behind at work - hence not updating the blog. I'm waiting on a new computer that's taken our IT guy 3 weeks to "get around" to ordering and another 3 weeks to get in and god knows how long for him to actually get it to me...

I have a lot to tell you! I've been to TWO concerts at the NY State Fair, I had friends come visit from CA, I'm leaving today to go to a NASCAR race in VA this weekend, I'll be in Canada (for work) most of next week, I'm off to CA the end of next week for my best friend's wedding. (taking a deep breath....) In October I'm headed to Boston for a week and Atlanta for a week (yes, both for work) but it's not a much traveling as a usually do that month. And in Nov. I'm headed to Seattle and then to Anaheim in December for work - where I'm stickin' around and D's flying out so we can spend some time at Disney with friend's - mini-vacation!!!!

AND my cousin Laura is getting married!! WHOO HOO and she asked me to be "her girl" in the wedding!! I'm SOOOO excited- it's a destination wedding on the coast of NC - next June, of course - but we're already starting to look for beach houses for the week!!!

I'm just tired of thinking about it... but there you go.

Am I missing the point?

So I've been on MySpace for over a year and on Facebook for a good bit of months (I know, what does that mean??) And I've noticed this phenomenon...

When I first got on MySpace people would contact me from eons ago in my life... They would say "hi, what's up? What are you up to these days?" Depending on the person you may have a lot say, you may not... but generally everyone was polite. It was fun! I would never have guessed I would have cared to get back in contact with people from so long ago... but it was generally people from Jr high, even elementary school!! Even a few people from high school... the ones that I wouldn't mind talking to again.

But then I joined Facebook... at first people asked to be "friends" and would send a message along with the request. But then I started getting more and more requests... no message. Mostly from people I wasn't really friends with in the first place - just mere acquaintances.

Ok - I understand if we weren't really friends so much then but you want to say "hi" now. I get that - just wanting to reach out or what not. But not saying anything???

Just asking to be my friend for nothing?

Ok, I know - you accept the request and on Facebook then they can see your full profile.

But I'm guessing they really aren't looking at my profile...

So is it just a game to see who can get the most friends??

See if it were me and I really didn't have a lot to say but wanted to be their "friend" I'd look at their profile, find something interesting, message them and reference something in the profile "So how are you doing these days? I see you're living in Kalamazoo?? Interesting! How'd you end up there from SC??" cuz I'm nosey like that....

I've started in with it too. Just started requesting people to be my friend. Just to see what will happen. Do they say hi? Nope - not unless I message them first.

I mean, what's the point? Am I missing the point?

If you're not talking to me and you're not looking at my profile then why do you want to be my cyber friend??

Maybe I'm too old for this... Can someone explain this to me??

As I tell my husband all the time - if you don't understand a commercial on TV it's one of two reasons: 1) it's a terribly done commercial or 2) you're not the target audience.

So what is it?? Facebook is booming with my age group... I'm supposed to be the target audience! It's supposed to be "good"!!

I don't get it...

So - the message is... my blog address is posted on my Facebook page. If you're taking the time to go through my profile you know that. If you care, you've actually come to my blog, which means you've read this entry. Which now means you know - don't just send me a friend request "just because". If you are interested in really getting in touch send me a message...

Although, I guess this will fall on deaf ears because in order to see my blog address you have to send me a friend request and I have to accept it and if you really don't care to be my friend you won't have gone through my profile to see this address.....

Oh well....

9 fingers.. almost...

so the new island counter top is in. Did I mention that Zodiac stuff is slippery?

I chopped and prepped all my stuff for stir fry the other night (you know, in honor of the Olympics in China, and all...) and was cleaning up the kitchen before I start the actual cooking. (stir fry cooks fast!)

Now, I'm sure you all think I can't cook for shit - but really.. I'm good! I swear!

And I really do know my way around a kitchen... I swear!!

So I grabbed my chef's knife and go to move it to my brand-spanking-new sink, from my brand-spanking-new island over my brand-spanking-new floor when it starts to slide uncontrollably over said brand-spanking-new island top.

It slides right off the island.

Now, usually I would hop backwards, let that baby fall right to the ground. Who cares what happens to the knife, the floor, whatever. It's a falling knife for Christ's sake!!! Wouldn't want to lose any fingers or toes!

But this time - and I don't know what got into me - I thought "not my new floor!".

But really - it's a tile floor. What's a knife going to do to it??? My brain didn't get that far into the processing part as I REACHED MY HAND OUT TO GRAB THE FALLING KNIFE.

Yes folks - I tried to grab a falling chef's knife.

And yes, the knife won.

And the weirdest part is how it cut me - it chopped up the crease where my pinkie finger attaches to my hand.... and when I say "chopped" I mean "chopped". It didn't "cut" or "slice"....

Now I jerked my hand back fast enough (my well honed cat-like reflexes) to keep from doing serious enough damage to require stitches or anything (apparently I need to sharpen my knives, thank god...) but it looks gross.

And yet another reason I apparently need to stay out of the kitchen.

Ginko, honey, ginko....

Where I live to the Canadian border is a little over 3 hours. After you cross over the border I have another hour and a half until I reach my corporate headquarters.

In case you don't know, acceptable means to get through the US/ Canadian border is 1) a passport OR 2) a drivers license AND a birth certificate. This will change soon to just a passport or a newfangled thing they call an enhanced drivers license. But I digress... I only use my passport because, well, I have one. (and really - who carries their birth certificate around??)

I had to go to headquarters over a week ago. I left on a Sunday afternoon. I got all the way to the border when I realized SHIT!

I forgot my passport.

I called my hubby in tears.

I know - not the worst thing to get all teared up about, but I've been doing a LOT of stupid things lately of which I've chosen not to blog about. This was the icing on the cake...

I turned around and my FABULOUS hubby got in his car and met me half way to bring said forgotten passport to me. All he did was reassure me that it could happen to anyone. (did anyone else put 2 and 2 together and realize that he did this during a NASCAR race to boot?? he didn't mention it at all...)

And even though I was certain he would at least tease me that I should be taking ginko for memory (which he used to tease me about ALL the time), he didn't say it at all...

Llama's, fainting goats and more!

Did I say in my last post that my life is sometimes boring? Funny, somehow I ended up at a llama/ fainting goat/ mininature horse/ alpaca farm last night. If you want to know how to you have to ask Crazy Pet Lady....

Snooty Winies, Hiking, Song Lyrics and a Movie Set

You know, sometimes I think my life is boring. And frankly it usually is. But then there are events that happen that just blow that thought right out the window. Take this weekend...

Friday night David and I accompanied some friends, McG and JJ, to a wine meet up. So, we have to get there early because even though McG isn't the "leader" of this meet up he might as well be... He is "wine all-knowing". We just sit and let him pour for us while everyone else just flocks to him, asking him about this and that wine related. At these meet ups you never know who's going to show. Generally it's a good group that shows - people of all ages and backgrounds, just wanting to get together to enjoy food and wine. However this one had a decidedly different vibe.

It got off to a rocky start - a young couple arrived in a cute little Smart car. The "real" meet up leader walked over, and in trying to be friendly and start conversation, said "oh how cool! I've never seen one of these in person before!" The girl promptly responded, "Well, now you have." and walked away. ( snob...)

She and her husband then proceeded to write their names on their name tag in JAPANESE. (I'm sorry, make that an f 'n snob...)
(did I mention they weren't Asian...?)
Pompous?
Arrogant?
Pretentious?
Yes, yes, and yes.
(I never did get their names - I didn't give enough of a shit to care to ask...)

Let's just say that was how I felt about some of the others that showed up. So I decided I would just sit in my chair and drink wine with my friends. I didn't have it in my to be social after that little interchange. I would say it was a boring evening, listening to these pompous asses trying to out do each other, "I'm 45, but I only get hit on by 28 year-olds"... but have enough wine and we were having our own fun. Anything can be entertaining with enough wine!!!

So the next day David and I went hiking with McG and JJ. We took the dogs too. It was a blast. First, as usual, everyone had to make fun of me when it was discovered that I do not know the words to songs.

Scratch that. I know words. Just not the right words....

So did you know that the Madonna and JT song is really "4 minutes to save the world"???
I thought it was something else....

So we went hiking to a lake, went "swimming"... ok, got in the water... grilled out... almost got caught in a thunderstorm (not good with our dogs...). Did I mention that McG PACKED IN with a small grill.... When you go with JJ and McG you go in style....

I took a few pictures... I'll have to post them later... I actually took them with the camera and not my phone.

And finally, on Sunday my brother-in-law, Famous Actor, is filming a movie a few towns away - a psychological thriller. David, the in-laws and I decided to go over to take him to dinner. When we got to the set they weren't quite done for the day so we got invited on the set to watch. We weren't there three minutes and my MIL was right there, in the middle of the action, with head phones on with the asst. producer. My husband pointed out "I wonder if all the actor's Mommy's and Daddy's come on set..." wink*wink

Another of the asst. producers, the long haired hippie, took a liking to my MIL and was showing her all around, explaining everything to her, introducing her to everyone "this is FA's mother!!". It was a HOOT! The asst. director was also explaining everything to my in-laws. Inviting them to come see other parts of the set later in the week, like the lake house, etc... Then he mentioned not to come Tuesday... it's a closed set day.

MIL: Why, is my son getting hacked into a thousand pieces??
Asst. Dir.: Um, no. There's going to be skin.
MIL (eyebrows raised): Oh great! it's not going to be like a porno or anything??!!!
Asst. Dir. (eyeballs bulging): Oh no!! It's tasteful!! Nothing will be shown or anything! It's all shadows and stuff. It's for the comfort of the actors...
MIL: Ok. [FA] do I need to be your manager?? Do I need to approve this stuff??? (she says laughing)

Let's be real... the premier of his last movie started with him in a sex scene with his girlfriend. I know - I was there... And the play before that - he turned on stage - full monty. I wasn't there but my hubby was (with his parents). The thing is - they never tell my MIL about these things. They just let her watch the play/ movie and see it when everyone else does.... talk about shock factor!

But, other than watching my MIL, it was BORING on the set. Making a movie is not all it's cracked up to be - unless you're part of it, I guess...

So, my weekend was pompous asses made fun by slight intoxication, hiking to a beautiful lake with friends, and being on the set, watching a movie being made.

Not too bad for just one weekend...

Look who's back!

Just so you know - my friend, Crazy Pet Lady, has decided to rejoin the blogging world. (she mysteriously disappeared for a while.) After a flogging by me, and some interesting happenings, she decided to post again...

Check it out!

Don't Look Now

Ok - some of you were a little curious to the song I was referencing the words - "don't look now, momma's got her boobs out". So my husband commented on that entry with the words to the chorus. I reposted his comment here so you all would read it. Just for the record - I wasn't drinking while I was doing yardwork...

And to reply to some of your comments -

Wandering Girl - no, unfortunately my boobies are NOT big enough to break a clasp... my lats, maybe - but not my girls...

And to everyone else - of COURSE it's something only I would do - that's what makes me ME! :)

Zookeeper's husband here. The song she references is by Rodney Carrington and is called "Don't Look Now". Heard it on Bob & Tom (syndicated morning radio show). To give you a taste, the chorus goes something like this:

Don't look now
Momma's got her boobs out
Showin' everybody in town
Faces turning red
We were wishin' we were dead
There were people standing all around
When momma gets to drinkin'
There ain't much thinkin'
There's nothing anybody can do
You just hope and pray
There never comes a day
When momma's out drinkin' with you

Most Popular Girl in the Neighborhood...

So David and I decided to do some MUCH needed yard work this Saturday. And when I say MUCH I really mean it.... serious pruning, trimming and shaping going on... of the shrubbery, I mean...

So I don my usual warm-weather weekend yard work outfit - bikini and board shorts. I know - I'm in my 30's and probably shouldn't be wearing it. But I don't give a damn. Plus, I've been workin' hard for this bod - I'm gonna get a little sun on it. (Well, once the rays penetrate the SPF 30+ waterproof sunscreen....) It's my yard - if you don't want to see it walk on some other street.

So I'm in the front yard (around 8:30-ish) with the electric hedge trimmer (I'm sure much to the chagrin of my late-sleeping neighbors) trimmin' away while David's mowing the front yard and then he moved to the back yard to work on the pool...

Anyway... I had finished trimming all the bushes and was just finishing cleaning up all the trimmings and putting them into the paper lawn bags. I was in the VERY FRONT of my yard in a landscaped area, all bent over (picture the bent over wooden granny cut-out lawn "ornaments") with my gardening gloves on using my hands to rake a pile of clippings together when all of a sudden I realize I'm looking at my bikini top hanging down around my face.

I'll let you take that in for a minute.

Yes, Julie's in the front yard with her boobies hanging out.

Honest to god - my bikini top broke as I was BENT OVER in the front yard. The little plastic claspy thingy must have broke and it was just hanging around my neck. It took a few seconds for me to process what had happened.

And instead of being embarrassed - I started laughing. As in "this shit only happens to me"... And forget that the top is already broken - I didn't want to get it dirty with my grimy gardening gloves so I'm awkwardly trying to hold the edges with my wrists as I'm walking in the backyard (still laughing) to find David to get some assistance - because at this time I still don't realize that the clasp has actually broken - I just thought it came undone.

As I walk around to show David and explain what happened he looks at me and starts rolling his eyes - as in "only this would happen to my wife..." and then he starts singing this song from Rodney Carrington called "Don't look now momma's got her boobs out"....

I'm still not sure if any neighbors saw what happened... but if they did I'm sure I'm the most popular girl in the neighborhood!

Beaufort Stew and other Southern Specialties

So we survived the trip down south... the heat, I mean... ; )

Some of you may know that I don't visit the south very often. My dad lives there and I love him and all but I'd rather he make the trip up north to visit us. I even do my best to fly him up here as much as I can (although he does drive on occasion....) I usually use the heat as my main excuse. It's true! I really despise the heat and humidity. Although there are a few other reasons that I try to stay above the Mason-Dixon line as much as possible...

But I'll admit there are a few redeeming qualities found in South Carolina. Like the Beaufort Stew dad served at his party on the 4th. What is Beaufort Stew, you ask? Maybe you know it by it's other name, Frogmore Stew. No? Still doesn't ring a bell?

Well, let me explain. It's generally found down around Charleston and I'm sure there are many different takes on the stew depending on where you live and what's in season. But the gist is you take a HUGE stock pot and add in halved cobs of corn, small potatoes, shrimp, sausage, onion, maybe some crab and/ or crayfish (like I said, depends on where you are), water, seasoning and let it "stew up".

The best part is how you eat it. No one up north believes me when I tell them this. You take a long picnic table, cover it with newspaper. Then you drain off the liquid from the stew and pour the rest ONTO the table. Everyone then just picks out what they want to eat.

Simple as that. And no, I didn't just make that up. It's really done that way.

Let's see - other southern delicacies... boiled peanuts. I made my husband do a U-ie in the middle of the road in a terrible thunderstorm to go back to a store so I could get some. YUM!!

Sweet tea. I make this at home. And no - it's not unsweet tea with just regular sugar mixed in when you're ready to drink it... and best of all you can buy it in concentrate form at the grocery store where my dad lives!! It's almost like thin molasses!! You just add water. I LIVED off of it when I was in college.

Then there's Cheerwine and Sundrop. Those are soda's mostly found in NC and in SC, close to the NC border.

And there's the shrimp and grits. Now, I'm not a grits kinda girl. But I will eat shrimp and grits. I didn't have any in a restaurant this time but dad made some for breakfast while I was there. YUMMY!!!

So, next time you're down south you need to partake in some of these yummies. Although you'll be hard pressed to find Beaufort Stew - I'm pretty sure that's the kind of thing you make at home for a party - it's not really something you can find at a restaurant. (maybe you can in Charleston...) But you should really try boiled peanuts - they're great!! Especially with Cheerwine or a beer!!

My Indian Name and other misc. updates (including kitchen)

As Wandering Girl pointed out in her comment on my last post - apparently she has deemed my Indian name "Buns-O-Steel". Now while I'm grateful for that gracious name, it's not quite true... never has been. I'd like to point out that maybe a more fitting name (and one that is more accurate and easier for me to maintain) would be "Thighs-O-Steel". just sayin' ; )

And you asked for it Sweet T - here they are, sort of. D and I are are literally in the middle of our kitchen remodel. Who do you know goes on vacation in the middle of a kitchen remodel? We do! We have the cabinets in - well one was the wrong size so that's why there's a huge white spot by the window. And I will be tiling above the whole counter.... I just decided to paint there since it will be a few weeks until we tile the floor and backsplash. (So, in the event you can see where we scratched the walls putting the cabinets - never fear - it'll be tiled over anyways....)

Also, I still have to paint the ceiling. I have to do this anyway do to a contractor disaster a few years ago when we redid the bathroom and paid someone to put in the new tub.... Which they did incorrectly, which lead to a plumbing problem which lead to a leak in my kitchen ceiling... Needless to say - we're doing ALL OF THIS on our own. The only thing we're not doing, because we can't, is the countertops (Corian and Zodiac... yes ladies and gents - I'm doing two different countertops on purpose.) See previous posts as to why I'd do it myself if I could....

So here are before and "in progress" pictures. Let me clarify that we have an eat-in kitchen and I'm standing in the "eat-in" part to take the pictures. There are no cabinets or anything "interesting" back there so I never took any pictures of it. (and instead of a informal dining table that's where we feed our super-huge dogs.)


BEFORE:



Check out the lights...










































I really hate the countertops.. very 80's..







And finally - a close-up on the island to show you the bad condition of the cabinets. Plus check out the floor!!!!









IN PROGRESS:

Ok, new cabinet configuration - more use of the space, and new paint color (I admit, I did do the faux painting in the previous pictures. That color didn't turn out right but my family room looks much better in gold - much more Tuscan!!)

Man, I keep a lot-o-junk on my fridge!! I need to clean that up! (gym class schedule, bike training schedule, "family" calendar", receipts for stuff we've been buying for the kitchen in case we need to return something...)


So the counter guy, Rex, Came and measured for countertops yesterday. It'll be 2-3 weeks until they're done. Conveniently D and I are leaving tomorrow to go visit dad for about a week. (Kinda hard to cook when there's no sink. We could lay the old counter and sink in and use it but we're too lazy... plus I don't want that crap back in my house.)

I already have the faucet - it's sitting in it's box on my dining room table. I just order the light fixtures yesterday - they should be here when we get back next week. The cabinet will also be here when we get back too so we can hang it. We pick up the new range hood tonight. Dad's flying up to see us July 29th to help me tile the floor (I've had the tiles in my garage since December) and the backsplash.

The electrician comes today to wire for a "real" garbage disposal and give us timing and an estimate on recessed lighting (canned lights). BTW - the garbage disposal we have now is one of those "safety" ones where you have to have the piece you put into the opening and turn in order to activate it. I hate it. So the new one with be the usual "switch" kind. Problem is - currently have no switch - hence the electrician.

SO - that's the kitchen plan. I know - you just asked for pictures but I haven't really had anyone to tell my GRAND PLAN to. So thanks for reading!!! I'll post COMPLETED pictures when we're done!!

It's payin' off

The weight lifting is payin' off girls! Now that shorts weather has rolled around I have noticed that I'm lookin' a bit "tighter" in a few places. The hubby's been a bit friskier than usual and I'm pretty sure I just got the once-over from the hot-young-thing water delivery boy at the office.

(this coming from the girl that doesn't usually get those kind of glances from boys - especially ones that are that much younger...)

Oh yeah, it's payin' off...

Chump man be gone

Ah! A sigh of relief.

After running around collecting my counter top quotes I have finally chosen a company. I admit it - I had FUN!! I was such a high playing these guys against each other! Ok - I didn't play the good guys against each other - I just played Chump man against the others. It was so LIBERATING!!!

And you know what was best?? When Chump man called me back, tail between his legs - with very few words this time, might I add - to convey that he couldn't match the price and we should go with the other quote because it was a good one.

Actually I was disappointed in his lack of determination. He fought this hard for the sale this far. I wonder why he quit now? Because he realized he was the one that f**cked it up??

Yes - I'm sure that was it. Not that I'm patting myself on the back for being so smooth - in fact I'm just pointing out that I think he had a come to Jesus moment. I bet for a long time the guy probably thought he was all that and a bag-o-chips salesman and it probably got his nads that a "girl" caught him up at his own game.

Tough shit chump man. I can play that game too, sucka.

For the record, and posterity, from the very first quote I received on CT (Lowe's) to the one I'm going with I saved $481. I saved $365 over chump man. I do't think that's too bad, if I do say so myself...

So I'm now going with another company - I'd tell you who and give them props and a big 'ol advertisement but it wouldn't matter in blogland. If you live close to me ask me and I'll be glad to tell you where to go and where NOT to go.

This new place has been good to deal with so far. They, too come recommended. We'll see how it turns out in the end. So far it's still just a handshake.

So now comes the fun part. D and I begin the installation of our new cabinets - OURSELVES!

Ok, not exactly ALL by ourselves. D's dad is getting harangued into helping. Careful, if you live close to use you might get asked to help too. We need to get it all done by this weekend so the CT guys can come get their measurements so that can get going while we're in Flo-town visiting my dad over the 4th.

We're on a tight timeline, folks. You know what that means!! There should be PLENTY of blogging material!! : ) Wish me luck on the work and I'll try and relay the best stories as best I can! God only knows what's going to happen. Let's just hope it's nothing that would require a trip to the ER or a divorce attorney. *wink*wink*

Thanks!! - update part 1

Thanks for your feedback guys!!! Funny - all you guys had something to say about situation! : )

So I started getting some competitive quotes (would have sooner but I got swamped with "life") So far the first quote came back $175 cheaper.... HA! back in your face chump man!! I'm still waiting on the others.

I haven't spoken to chump man since that last conversation. I have a feeling our next conversation will be the same as the last:
"Sorry but your quote still in not nearly as competitive as others I have received."

One of two things will happen. 1) He'll either fold or 2) I'll get the best price of the bunch. We'll see. Either way it'll work out in my favor and that's all I care about!!

Don't mess with the Julie

So I'm remodeling the kitchen. When I say "remodeling" I mean new cabinets, new counter tops, new floor, the works. But as usual, D and I are doing it ourselves.

The cabinets should be delivered next week. Dad is coming the end of July to help us do the floor (tile - same as what we put in the hallway/ powder room over Christmas). I'm also going to tile the back splash - my first foray into vertical tiling....

That leaves the counters. I picked out and priced what I wanted at Lowe's (our favorite place. D and I have "dates" there. Are we dorks or what??) My in-laws suggested a local place for a competitive quote where they got their counter tops. I'm all for competition - it makes for better pricing for the consumer, right??

So here's my REALLY LONG story as short as possible...

I was really busy at work a few weeks ago, and trying to include D in the kitchen remodel process, asked him to call this place and have them quote on the counter tops. So we got a quote that was several hundred cheaper than Lowe's - whoo hoo!! So the following weekend we headed to their showroom to choose specifics (edging, sink, etc...).

Once in the showroom I realized the sales guy was a PRICK!! Sorry - no other way to describe it. He kept referring all questions to D, even though D made it clear it was my project and to address all questions to me because I was the "grand pooh bah" of this whole shebang. He was all self important, loved to hear himself talk (which he did for TWO HOURS!!!). He then wasted our time pontificating on why we should buy one of his faucets and why it's a cardinal sin to buy one at Home Depot or Lowe's. I'm even skimming the top as to the hundred and ten ways this guy totally pissed me off.

So why didn't I just walk out of the showroom?? (because the thought did cross my mind the WHOLE time I was standing there....) Because my in-laws and their friends swore by their counter tops and installation. (this guy was just the sales guy...) That, combined with the several hundred dollar savings, I was willing to stand there for bit. But believe me, when we finally left D got an earful. Not that any of it was his fault - just that I vented on what a dick this sales guy was and I was having serious second thoughts about buying a hot steaming pile of pooh from him, let alone several thousands of dollars worth of counter tops....

So, I called the guy back yesterday to confirm the quote as we needed him to add a few little pieces that surround our stove. The quote jumped FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS!!! He swears that WE changed the dimensions of the island piece and that accounted for the price change.

Ok, I won't bore you the back and forth - but we didn't change anything - he got the original dimensions wrong and was now making up for his original low ball quote. (anyone seeing flashing neon signs here???)

So the "correct" quote is now only $120 cheaper than Lowe's. I tell D that I'm willing to cough up the $120 and go to Lowe's because I'm sick of dealing with this chump. It's about customer service -of which I have gotten plenty of it at Lowe's. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about saving every penny I can but I'm sick and tired of this aggressive, sexist idiot. I want nothing more to do with him.

So today I call the "idiot" up to tell him that his "new" quote is not as competitive as we originally thought... (and to give him the boot) and as soon as the words are out of my mouth he starts dealin'. He's now $265 cheaper than Lowe's and has thrown in $80 worth of "extras".

Ok, at $120 I was easily willing to tell him to suck a lemon... but at almost $300 savings I'm having second thoughts.... That's an amount that means something now...

Remember, this guy is only sales. He doesn't install. I have two couples that have have been very happy with the company's work. What do you think - do I eat crow and still go with the company to save money? Or do I go with Lowe's on principle?? The ante was just raised...

He said what??

Ok, I don't normally blog about my office specifics - as in what so-and-so said to whom, etc.... That could potentially cause some serious issues... But this is too much to pass up.

Today I took my "Promotional Marketing Team" out for our first annual "Team Appreciation Lunch". In case you didn't know, they've only been "my" team since November-ish when I got a promotion. The team consists of Crumby, Cakey and Token Male (TM). (sorry - the gals are bakers too!!! : ) Good group - but small. Small enough to have it's quirks for sure. We get along so long as everybody does what I tell them to ; ) (hee, hee)

You know how sometimes people say things innocently that might be considered in certain company as, well... tactless. That happens here in the office on occasion totally by accident. Inevitably, regardless where you are sometimes you might accidentally offend someone. Sometimes you realize it and apologize and sometimes you don't realize it.

I will say there were a few times when TM first started I think Crumby might have said a few things - purely innocently - that I cringed, hoping TM didn't take offense. (Did I mention he's Jewish??) We all know in the office that Crumby would never mean any offense at all!!! But if TM was offended he never really acted it. And I'm sure that once he got to know Crumby he knew she never would say anything maliciously. Now that's he comfortable working with us he jokes with all of us, no big deal.

So, fast forward to today at lunch. Crumby was telling a story about how she had this stool that was wobbly and she started hacking on the legs to get it even to where she ended up with a stool that was only about a foot and a half tall!! So TM pipes in and started telling about how he and his g-friend bought 2 bar stools and realized they were about 2 inches too tall for their table. So TM went out, borrowed his brother's chop saw and trimmed them perfectly on the first try! He swears the last time he ever did anything like that was back in shop class!

Crumby: You know, I bet you're so good at that because...
TM: Why? because I'm Jewish?? Because JC was a carpenter?!

At first when he said this we all weren't sure if he was mad thinking Crumby was going through a religious zinger at him or if he was just kidding. There was that confused moment were Crumby and I sat there trying to figure out was was going on. (Cakey was had just left to hit the girl's room.)

While we were contemplating where this was going Crumby weakly muttered "no". And then TM started to laugh and we realized he was totally pulling her chain!! It was PERFECT on TM's part. Played PERFECT!!!! Then to top it all off:

TM: See, we're told to measure twice, cut once!

This sent Crumby really over the edge. Even though TM was still referring to trimming the bar stools Crumby was taking the context into other Jewish rituals....

All the while I'm watching the whole exchange laughing so hard I started to tear up. It's not often that someone beats Crumby at her own game!!! I loved it!! I almost wet my pants!!!

*In Crumby's defense, she was going to tell TM that she thought he'd be good at it because he's our graphic designer. She thought that him being a designer, and I guess his attention to detail (I'm speculating now because we really didn't get the whole "real" answer) would account for his precise measuring and cutting.*

My May

Well, Madhatter was complainin' that I haven't posted since May 10th. Well turns out I've been home 2 days between May 10th and May 25th. (and that would be May 11th and May 15th.) I got home at 12:24am on May 25th.


Feel sorry for me?

I didn't think so. Hey, I tried....

So here's what I was doing all that time. If you don't care what I was doing then feel free to skip this post. Hey, I gave you fair warning....


So, May 12 - 14th I was in New Castle, NH for our eastern regional sales meeting. It was held at this awesome Marriott Inn and Spa that is on the historical register. It's called Wentworth by the Sea. If you ever want a piece of quaint New England this is it. It's right outside of Portsmouth, NH and right on the Maine state line. I highly recommend it.















Then I was home the 15th - ok, well in the office.... Then on the 16th I was off to Toronto for a tradeshow. I stayed at the Renaissance Sky Dome, home of the Toronto Blue Jays. The hotel is actually built into the dome. Cool, huh?? This was taken from the hotel bar. I was hungry and didn't want to sit in my room and do work..












Since I have status with Marriott's (Renaissance is a Marriott brand) I got bumped up to a sweet suite. The bathroom was HUGE!!! So big, in fact, I had to take pictures....



















































The show lasted through the 20th (yes, we work through weekends...) but Monday night I headed over to London, Ontario which is where our corporate office is located for a meeting with IT since I'm working on reorganizing our extranet and totally redesigning our website. (want my job now??) I left the office in London to get home a little after 6 PM. David wasn't home - he had flown to Toledo for work on Monday.

Wednesday morning I was up at 4:30 AM in order to catch a 6AM flight to Palm Springs, CA for our western regional sales meeting. I was in meetings for a few days. Remember, I was in the DESERT! Was it hot and sunny??

nope.

It was cold. (in the 60's. It was breaking record lows.)

It was raining. (scattered thunderstorms.)

It was hailing and had tornado's touching down.

Figures.

Since I couldn't fly back on Friday after the meetings were over (have you ever tried finding a flight to get back across the country on a Friday afternoon?? They don't exist.) I had to fly back on Saturday.... of Memorial Day weekend... So I went to the spa... and spent $200 on ONLY a facial and a pedicure. The guys that couldn't fly home until Saturday were golfing (in hail. how smart are they??) So the good news is that my company covered $90 of my spa bill because my boss figures that's what they spent golfing. I still think they spent more but I can't argue....

SO - I finally landed at home around 12:30AM Sunday morning and got home around 12:45am...
I know it sounded good with all the perks but I was going non-stop and my Memorial Day weekend got bit into. I'm still pooped. No days off since I got back.

I'm still working frantically trying to get this extranet ready to go live. I head BACK to Canada on Monday for three days. I really hate driving across the border. Try explaining how you live and work in NY but your corporate headquarters is in Canada. And no, I do NOT need a work permit to be in the country... I PROMISE!!!

Man, those Canadians do not want anyone working in their country without work permits!!!

So that's what I've been doing since May 10th.

So help me God if any one of you ever ask me again why I dont' have kids yet... If you do I might twist your arm off.

Don't believe I'd do that??
Try me.

Pill boxes crack me up

Here's one for a mental image. Picture this: I'm lying in bed (by myself - hubby's out of town, coaching) in an old t-shirt and shorts, in my glasses, under the covers, laptop on my chest. Lights are out. To see to type I have my camping head lamp on my forehead.

I must be a sight to see. No wonder I never get any sex these days...

Anywhoo.... I digress. I got back from a trade show late Friday nite. The only thing interesting about the show were the booths around me. Since there wasn't much traffic we were all chattin' it up with each other to pass the time. On one side was a company that sold pulse oxymetry stuff . Don't know what that is? Don't worry - you're not missing anything. 2 guys working the booth - one would work while the other was off doing something. Most of my conversations were with the younger guy. We'll get to him.

The other side of me was a company that made pill boxes in the US. A family company - mom, dad and daughter. The daughter was a few years older than me. Now they were MY PEOPLE!!! What a hoot!!!!!

Pill box family - if you're out there - Anita, Frank and Leslie - I would like to thank you for making an otherwise lackluster show probably one of the most entertaining trade shows I've been to in quite a long time! (Definitely the most enjoyable one I've been to with this company!!!)

Probably one of the best parts was when - somehow - it came up in conversation that young guy from PO company DIDN'T KNOW WHO JIMMY BUFFET WAS!!??? Ok, well, he'd heard of him but thought he was a country singer... and the kid was only 26 and from San Diego.. Apparently Anita and Frank are / were parrot heads and Anita proceeded to give the kid a proper lecture on the finer points of Jimmy. Leslie (daughter) and I were rolling!!!!

Poor kid never lived it down. Even as he was packing up to leave all of us were reminding him to have fun in Margaritaville...

I swear I saw him give us the finger as he left the convention center...


Oh, and now I have enough pill boxes to last me until I die...

New addiction...

Ok, so I'm a little late on techno wagon...

I've perused ebay on occasion. I've even bought something off of it. (for my dad... he wanted this very specific creel for x-mas a few years back and I could only find it on an ebay store...) But I have now gone the next step....

Yes folks - I'm now officially selling things on ebay.

But out of, what to call it??
shame? no, that's not really it. (especially if I end up making some coin at it!! : )

embarassment? no, that's not really it either... I don't think...

but anyway - I'm not telling you what ID I'm using so you won't know what I'm selling.

It all started because I'm drowning in all the "stuff" in my house. I started to gather things for a garage sale I've already scheduled for June 14th. I started looking at some of the stuff and realized that a few things are pretty nice!!! It's just that I'm not utilizing them and their taking up precious space in my house!

I thought - too bad I won't get the money that stuff is worth at a garage sale.

Then it hit me.... I ought to put it on Craig's list or something. Or better yet!! Ebay!!!!

So, I just started listing a few things. I don't see this as a long term thing - I only have a few "nice" things that I was hoping to get a bit more money for than I would at the garage sale. I mean really - the packing up and shipping wouldn't make this a practical endeavor for the majority of what I have anyway...

Beware of those that look innocent...

See this face? Looks innocent doesn't it? Doesn't look like a human eating machine, does it?

Well, it is.

This adorable looking, slipper fetish, Jax-cuddling bundle of fur is on the NY state animal biting shit-list.

Really.

And now I'm on TWO antibiotics with a red, swollen hand, a finger that looks like a vienna sausage and seeing a surgeon for check ups every few days to make sure the little booger didn't "accidentally" chomp into a tendon or nerve in my hand and cause some really serious damage. (who knew cats mouths are so dirty??!!!)

Really.

Monday Karl had to go to the vet for a routine check-up. Guess what - he really didn't want to go. I got bit TWICE in the process. NY state law says the vet has to write it up and Karl has to be quarentined for 10 days. (can't let him outside - no problem...)

It gets better. After 10 days I have to bring him BACK TO THE VET for another check-up so the vet can complete the NY state paperwork!!! Do they realize that that's what got me into this predicament in the first place????

Do we really need any more drama at my house??? and many thanks to my friend Yana who's a physician asst. - I was able to call her afer it happened and go to her house. She took care of me - cleaned the wound, determined no stitches were needed, wrapped me up and wrote me some scripts. Kept me from having to book it over to urgent care at 7:30pm on a Monday night!!!

Argh!!!