thankful 30

On this last day of month-long blogging my thankfulness you would probably expect another thoughtful, serious, sobering comment.

Nope!

I'm thankful for steam cleaners! 

Let's face it.  Without one our floors would be a pee and puke-filled mess.  But they're not. 

Our "cycle" is buy a new one approximately every 3 years, and get something repaired on it every year in between.  This year we decided to forgo the repair and buy a different brand that got top reviews.  (hoping to also forgo yearly repairs for a while...)  

The up side - it's supposed to clean better than our old one and last longer without the repairs.

The down side - the little more expensive (but not much) and a lot more complex to put together.  Which I got the honors to do last night because the hubby had a meeting.  Usually I love doing things like that but the booklet was teeny tiny and I had a hard time seeing what I was supposed to do (it was not intuitive).  And it took so long that I didn't actually have time to use it last night.  I guess that will be tonight's fun!!

I hope y'all had a fabulous Thanksgiving.  And remember to be thankful for what we all have regardless the time of year.

side note:  I'm also very thankful for the few times we have Stanley Steemer come in and give the carpets a good once over to get the stuff our cleaner can't really get!!

why do people do what they do???

Have you seen in the national media about the guy that killed his ballerina/ dance student girlfriend? 

Yeah, well that was right in our backyard.  Literally.

The boy - I hesitate to call him a man for a myriad of reasons - lived with his parents in the same neighborhood as my in laws.  The girl's body was dumped in a swamp area that surrounds the back of my YMCA. 

Things like this shouldn't happen to kids.  I know they do.  But they shouldn't. 

We obviously don't know all the details but please instill in your babies (and I mean anyone you influence under the age of 18) all you can about respect for others.  And about not relying on boyfriends or girlfriends as your means of self esteem.

They haven't said anything about these particular issues in the papers but it just seems any relationship so unbalanced that it leads to death probably has some sort of these psychologically detrimental elements in them.

thankful 28 and 29

I'm thankful I have choices.  Whether it be which grocery store I can go to or which college I wanted to attend - it's nice to know that options exist out there.  Which is a good reminder to not take take every choice lightly. 

I'm also thankful for a cozy warm bed.  One can never underestimate a good night's sleep!

would be thankful

Dear Tempurpedic:

I would be thankful if you designed a contoured memory foam pillow for the car. Specifcally one meant for a front seat passenger (in the US, of cour se, riding on the right side) to use while leaning against the window to catch a nap during long car rides. Like when going home from Thanksgiving - just an example. Because the regular bed pillow works for crap in above said situation.

Please and thank you.
Zoo keeper

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thankful katchup

Oops, I mean "catch up".

I'm, of course, thankful for a great family - even if there are a few nuts in there. Every time we get together it's we were never apart.

I'm thankful for my ancestors - the hard working WV people that helped shaped us and gave us the work ethic that my family has today.

And finally I'm thankful for a great husband who puts up with all this craziness I call my family.

I hope y'all had a great holiday!

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thankful 24

I'm thankful for a beautiful day to drive. (Even though the huuby's doing all the driving.)

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Thankful 23

I'm thankful for Sephora. 

Hello, my name is Zookeeper and I'm a make-up addict.  I'm pretty sure Sephora is going to have me go broke. 

And even worse - it might even turn me into a girly-girl.  I've already bought hot rollers.  Hell, I even bought travel hot rollers just last night!!!

Although my experience today did make me feel very old.  Even though little 20-something "Lindsey", Sephora employee, didn't intend to make me feel old.  Actually she was extremely helpful, courteous and fun.  But here are two snippets from my shopping trip.

L:  yes, do what you're doing, dab gently under your eye with your ring finger.  Just like that!  This stuff is great!  It will keep your shadow from creasing and everything!
me: yeah.  I'm getting to that age where my concealer creases.  Well, lots of things are creasing around my eyes...
L:  Yeah!  My mom says that same thing!!!
me: (great....)

Later while standing in front of the chubby eye sticks (insert own joke here) I admit to my make-up obsession.

me: I have lots of make-up I just don't use it.
L: Why not?!?!  You should get it out and play around with it more!  Try new things!!
me:  I just don't know what to do with it.
L:   Well....  (dramatic pause)...  do you know YouTube is?  (said slowly and drawn out as if I miss it and she might have to repeat.)
me: yeah.  (dear god!  when does this chick think I was born?!?!  1924?)
L:  Ok! Well you can go on there and watch lots of tutorials!  That's what I do all the time!!

Gee, thanks... 

(actually, I think I will!)

thankful 22

I'm thankful for indoor plumbing. 

No, really.  I am.  (Even if I do accidentally plug it up on occasion.)  Because it really beats the alternative of sitting in an outhouse during a blizzard.  Or hauling clean drinking water who-knows-how-far in order to use it.

And remember - there are many people on this planet that still have to haul drinking water for miles.  And it's not even clean.  So you might have chuckled when you first started reading this post.  But I'm dead serious.  I truly am thankful for it.

Sometimes it's just the little things that really count!

thankful 21

I *heart* Janeane Garofalo. Especially the "If You Will".

If you havent't seen it and you have Netflix you can watch it instantly. It's HAR-LAR-IOUS!!!

She makes me laugh!

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Some people are truly crazy

Y'all probably know I don't agree with Sarah Palin's politics.  However I'm sure she's a nice person.  And although I don't think her daughter is a fabulous dancer I think she has done extremely well on DWTS, even though I highly disagree that she belongs in the finals.  She seems to be a very "normal" girl who made a poor choice and is living with the consequences.

I guess to sum it up I don't care enough for the Palin's to be watching their new reality show.  As a matter of fact I have suggested to the hubby that if Bristol wins DWTS I may boycott that show as well, based on principle.

But to send a nasty-gram laced with white powder to Bristol on the set of DWTS?!?!?!

Are you frickin' kidding me?  What is wrong with people out there?  If you don't like the Palin's politics send the talcum powder-laced letter to her mother, not her you stupid idiot!!  What in the world does her daughter have to do with anything? 

My guess is Bristol's doing DWTS to earn some cash to raise her kid.  There are no politics involved!!!  And if you're pissed she's in the finals take it up with ABC or other higher-ups at the show.  What could possibly come of threatening Bristol?  (I'm assuming it was some kind of threat seeing it was mean to scare with the talcum...)

Geesh!!!!!

thankful 20

I know this hobby-helper was fashionable eons ago - i.e. not fashionable now- but I have reacquainted myself with Mod Podge. This is the stuff you use to deco-podge. (I have NO idea how you spell that...)

And since I decided to deco-podge some holiday gifts I'd have to say I'm thankful for it! Because something like this helps the lesser-crafty of us fake it a bit better....

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thankful 19

Honestly I've been truly lucky in the people I've met this week. It's a good reminder that apperances can be deceiving and there are quite the gamet of views out there - and I really do appreciate all of them even if I don't agree with them.

But today, today I'm thankful drinks are free in the Delta Sky Club. ; ) cuz I have a long wait....

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thankful 18

I'm thankful for clean, well-equipped hotel fitness rooms. You can never fully appreciate a good fitness room until you've been in a hotel that calls a bathroom-sized room with an old trashy treadmill and a tv a "fitness room". PA-LEASE! I can't even FIT in the room!

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thankful 17

Today I'm thankful for different points of view. I personally may not agree with you but your thoughts and ideas make the world a much richer place.

(Now if we all could disagree in a more peaceful way we'd have it made...)

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thankful 16

I'm thankful there are nice people to chat with in adjacent booths at my tradeshow. It really helps make the time go by faster!

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wow!

Ok - I knew Marriott guy's name wasn't Akmed but I thought I heard something close to that but one syllabyl longer. Like if someone's name was Christina but you thought you heard Christy...

Turns out his name is Fernando... um, not really close to Akmed... So sorry Fernando! I'll definitely be sure to get your name right especially since you sent me wine!!!

(I hope that my mistake was understandable since I was in full-blown migraine mode...)

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I meant 15...

And just to prove what a crappy day I'm having I accidentally titled my post 14 instead of 15!

Geesh!

Good thing I knew this morning was Monday or I might not have been on that plane at all!

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Thankful 14

I have been having a hard time find something to be thankful about today. I had a 6am flight to NYC then onto Atlanta. The whole time while having a mother of a headache ( that eventually turned into a full blown migraine)....

I suppose I could be thankful for no crying babies on the flights....

Once in Atlanta I stopped at Chic-Fil-A on my way to baggage claim. Cuz let's face it - CFA works just as well as any migraine medication (that I packed in my checked luggage. Note to self NOT to do that again!) So I guess I could say I'm thankful for CFA...

But what I'm really thankful for today? Akmed. The exceptionally nice man, employee of Marriott, that checked me in as I arrived just a short time ago. He double checked to be sure my Marriott number had been entered and I jokingly said "Please make sure!! I need all the nights I can get. I'm about to lose my gold status!"

I must have looked as desperate as I felt because he smiled and declared me his VIP guest of the day! He handed me a card that allowed me to pick a "goodie" like 500 bonus points, or free day of valet parking, etc. Then he took the card and checked off the 500 points and said he was going to give that to me complementary anyway - what else would I like?

!!!!!

I chose a half bottle of Merlot, naturally.

Thank you Akmed! You totally made my day!

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Thankful 14

I'm thankful for another beautiful, sunny November day!

(Very uncharacteristic for this time of year!)

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thankful 13

I'm thankful our dogs are still quasi-mobile. Because when they become immobile that means "it's time".

Liam still has issues going down the stairs and it only gets worse in the winter. So the hubby made him a ramp. We spent 15 minutes training the dogs on it just now. We'll have another go at it in an hour. Both of them are getting so old and weak it's all they can handle at a time. Nikki's no problem. She figured it all out in literally less than 2 minutes. Liam still really hasnt figured it out plus he's a chicken. The one time he came up it by himself I'm pretty sure he had no idea why he was getting a treat and so much praise....

We'll keep trying!

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Thankful 12

I'm thankful it's already mid-November and we do not have snow on the ground.

yet....

Thankful 11

I'm thankful for work travel.  I don't always like it - but I'm definitely thankful for it.  It reminds me what's important in life.

When I'm on the road I'm reminded how much I really do have a "home" and want to get back.  And when the hubby's on the road I'm reminded that we are great team and it's hard pulling all the weight by myself!

And regardless of who's on the road I'm always reminded how much I love my hubby when he's not around.

Thankful 10

I'm thankful for quiet. 

Quiet makes you contemplate.  You may contemplate life, politics, religion.  You may think about the future or remember the past.  Some people don't want to remember because the memories are hurtful.  Some people don't want to be introspective because they don't like what they see.

I'm sure some people crave quiet just because their lives are so "loud" - be it busy, bustling, on the go or literally loud.  They want to hear their inner dialogue but can't for one reason or another.

For a long time I didn't want to be quiet.  Or alone, for that matter.  But I'm slowly finding peace with myself.  And when it's quiet you hear things you've never heard before.  Be it the cooing of the birds early in the morning as sun rises or that tiny, small inner voice that's giving you courage to move forward.

Thankful 9

I'm thankful my little brother finally started making some healthy choices in his life.  And I hope he never forgets the bad times only so that he doesn't repeat them.

3 more things of thanks

So I'm not too good at posting everyday.  So I'm going to add 3 more things I'm thankful for in this post.

6.  We now have a Chipotle in town!  And because of it the hubby and I can agree on something to eat together.

7.   An understanding hubby - when I keep pushing that we have to get things done and then get struck with a migraine he continued on by himself.  (and refrained from any smart comments about how I was the one pushing to get things done...)  And proceeded to make a dog ramp for Liam so he can get off and on the deck by himself.  (ok, he'll still need a good bit of training to be able to use it...  he's not the sharpest knife in the drawer.)

8.  Craigslist!!  I have been able to finish furnishing my house on the cheap!!

Side note:  I found this 1950's Danish-modern Z chair on craigslist for $50. (above.  missing the cushions and the lattice in the bottom that supports the cushion.  and I also have the origianl cushions!) I immediately grabbed that sucker up!  I really had no idea but I figured that if someone fixed the bottom and made new cushions for it that it would resell for a few hundred dollars. (not that I was planning on reselling it....)  Yesterday the guy I bought it from emailed me and told me his wife came across the chair on ebay and I got a great deal!  Those chairs, if you can even find one, are going for almost $1000 each!!!

A THOUSAND DOLLARS!!!

Holy cow!

Most Embarrassing Moments...

You want to know my current most embarrassing moment? 

Working in an office with 4 other people, 2 of which are women, and then going into the ladies restroom and stopping it up.

But that's not the most embarrassing part!!  That was just the set up to the most embarrassing part!

Me, in the bathroom, plunging my little heart out to no avail and even texting my husband "OMG, stuck in bathrm, stopped up toilet and can't fix it with plunger. any ideas?!?!?!?" (btw - received no response from hubby...)  And then realizing our plunger is so old there are cracks in it which convinces me that is the reason I can't fix the issue.  Then me going downstairs to the landlords office to ask if he has a newer plunger, (while telling the other women in the office to stay out of the ladies bathroom for the time being...) then going back up to our bathroom, plunging my little heart out still to no avail.....  and finally having to put a call into the landlord to come upstairs and try and fix it. 

All the while trying to act calm and collected in front of boss and other employees...

*shakes head in disbelief*

NOTE:  Landlord has yet to come upstairs to fix issue.  This definitely has the potential to create even more embarrassment for me...

5 (of 30) things to be thankful for (wow that's poor English...)

I noticed Neda does "30 Days of Thankful" and I think it's a great idea.  Especially since I've been so crabby lately.  I need to remind myself that I have a lot to be thankful for and I just need to shut it.

Obviously I'm a few days behind so I'm going to catch up today with 5 things

I'm thankful for:

1. A hubby who is great!  (and made a mean roasted chicken with vegetables last night!!!)
2. Friends who are there for me.  I've got some great friends.  You've been there for me when I needed a shoulder to cry on, someone to help me celebrate or heck, just paint or decorate a room! Like sending me some of your hi res photos to blow up and frame!! or having you, your sister and BIL come to my house, spend the night in sleeping bags on the floor with me and help paint my first house before I moved in!! Been there for my wedding(s)... 
3. A job.  I know I poo poo it on occasion.  But I can't complain that I have a job that pays me well and gives me good insurance coverage.  (all of which not everyone can claim these days...)
4. Our freedom.  I normally wouldn't admit this - but I'm extremely, overly patriotic.  I tear up at the national anthem.  Hell, I even teared up when I was on the interstate last week and passed a convoy.  Even when my brain can't wrap itself around it, my heart definitely understands the sacrifices that selfless men and women make to keep us safe and free.
5. Moving joints.  Although I can feel I'm starting to get older I'm lucky I'm completely mobile and able to do things to stay healthy.

NOTE:  Mom Outnumbered just reminded me that if I have the photos digitally I could put together an album with scrapbooking software!  Genius!  ('cuz I scanned every one of them suckers!!  I had a bad feeling about our photographer.....  and I turned out to be right!)

Tying up loose ends

I may or may not be guilty of starting projects and not finishing them.... 

Upon further reflection I guess it depends on what you consider a "project".

• I joined rowing in college to "be a part of something" even though I wasn't (am still not) in love with the sport.  But stuck with it for years anyway.
• But I started painting the deck this summer with that resurfacing paint and still have yet to finish going over the edges by the house.  (Yes, hubby , if you're reading this I have not forgotten about it.  Although I do appreciate you not harping on me about it - which is probably what I would do to you were the tables turned...)
• I'm not a huge fan of running (yet!!) but I've been doing it for more than half my life - and even committed to a half marathon just to increase my time on the pavement!
• I started a "Home" book.  It was to be information about each room of the house.  What paint colors were in each room.  Where I purchased certain things.  If a room was not yet decorated it was to be filled with ideas pulled from magazines, etc...  I got a binder, set it all up and even started clipping ideas form catalogs.  But the book never actually got "made".  And now it's just out of date...
• Have I mentioned that we don't have a wedding album?  In my own defense the photographer was supposed to make it for us but that didn't happen.  (I will not go into the drama of the photographer.  I don't need to stir up old wounds...)  And I could care less about making albums or scrap booking and such so I haven't touched it.  (so does that count as an unfinished project if I never wanted to start it in the first place??)

You get the idea.  So I've really been trying hard to "finish what I've started" lately. 

I started knitting a sweater a few months ago.  I got most of the way through it and then started my Murphy bed.  Since the bed was truly needed and taking up garage space I told myself my first priority was finishing that bed.  I wasn't allowed to touch the sweater until the bed was made and the room put together.

Check!  Murphy bed installed, guest room "livable"

So last night I picked up the sweater again.  I'm determined to finish it because I really want to wear it!! 

But I can't make my sweater and forget about practicing piano, or running or swimming.... 

Gee, I guess I'm back to that whole "discipline" thing again....

My plan is to finish that sweater this weekend and not start anything new!  Ok, nothing new that will take over a total of 50 man-hours....  Because I'm already planning on canning more apple butter and bread & butter pickles this weekend.  But I can get that done in a day.  (and knit in the down time!!)

WOW!  I think I just made my plan for the weekend! 

Question of the Day

How is it I can get in a hard swim workout, shower, vote and still get to work faster than if I didn't work out at all?!?!

Halloween Fun

Instead of stuffing my face with goodies this past October 31st I decided to run a healthy, local 5K.  (...and then stuff my face with goodies and not feel quite as guilty....)

The run was in a local park.  It was gorgeous!!  Obviously I wasn't running too hard - as evidenced by pictures I took while running....  (perhaps running is too strong of a word.  Fast, bouncy walk is definitely appropriate!)

Not sure how many participants were there but I did see bib numbers into the 600's.

And we're off, into the sunny, crisp morning!!!

Annnnndddddd now we're stopped.... 

Apparently someone on the planning committee had the great idea of all 600+ of us starting the race in a beautiful, grassy field only to get bottle-necked at the opening of the trail head.  Smooth....

(you can't really see the trail head but, as luck would have it, that funny blue pointy hat in the picture below is actually, albeit accidentally, pointing to the opening in the trees!)

Finally!  On the path!

The event was sponsored by a bagel company and part of the shtick was you got a free bagel (and coupons)when you finished the race.  That was enough incentive for me to sign up!  However by the time I finished the race the line for bagels was nearly 150m long!!  Forget it.  I don't need a bagel or coupons that bad... (plus I already got my "free" long sleeve T when I got my race bib.  I got what I came for!)

Afterwards I came home, showered and went over to help KVeg paint her new house!!!  KVeg and her boyfriend XVeganX bought their first house together!  YEAH!!!!  They closed Friday and are trying to get it painted and the hard wood floors redone before they move in their stuff.

Unfortunately XVX spilled paint down his pants, on his shoe and onto the floor as soon as he picked up his paint tray....  (which explains exactly why they are painting and then redoing floors....)  So he was left of paint in his boxer and....  black dress socks?? 

His excuse - they were the only clean sock he could find that morning.  We'll let him off the hook because I agree the "clean" trumps "matching/ outfit appropriate".

Fah-gett about it!

Wandering Girl will be the new owner of a set of Conair Hot Sticks later this week.....  I tried again this morning without success.  If I can't get it in at least 2 tries then it's not worth it.

That said I'm hoping to pick up both a flat iron (which I used to have one and sold in a garage sale 2 years ago because I never used it....)  and a set of "hooker/ evanglical" rollers. 

Why both?

Well, although I really hope Neda is right about the flat iron I'm worried it's not going to work.  My hair gets stringy before I can even get out the door.  So I'm thinking the flat iron will just compound the problem...  But I'm going to give it the old college try!  (Who am I kidding - I only "did" my hair in college probably 4 times...  I was queen of the sweat pants and baseball hat!)   

And that leaves me with "conventional" rollers.  We'll see how this goes.....