I have been given a new "certification", if you will: Boobs With Tool Belt
I was telling an old friend (boss, actually) about all the work we've done to the house and about MH dropping my name in her blog and wha-la. BWTB.
I think I'll have business cards made:
Zookeeper, BWTB
Contractor
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Deep Breath
But not too deep 'cuz I didn't schedule Stanley Steemer until May 7th. Well, go ahead. I do have a Yankee candle goin'...
Same story at bedtime. Everyone wanted on the bed. And on my side. Reis (orange kitty) jumped on the bed and I made the mistake of moving the book I was reading to see who jumped up. Reis took that as his cue and immediately stepped up and curled up on my chest - right where I'd hold my book. Hmmmm. How to read?? I finally had to move him. The hubby tried to get the cat to come over and lay on him (to give me a break. Having all these animals is sort of like having a few small kids sometimes. Especially if you've been gone a while. They all want your attention and all at the same time. It can get old, quick.) But Reis wasn't interested. But he'd moved enough to where I could get my book back up in front of my face before he found a new place to settle.
And as I'm writing this I've had Karl and Jax curl up and snuggle on either side of me. (and the hubby just came downstairs, saw this arrangements and started singing a made up song "crazy cat lady". I always tell him he'd better not die young and leave me alone with all these cats. Because I will be a crazy cat lady!!)
I have today off so I'm taking several more deep breaths and trying to finish decompressing from my trip.
- Left beautiful, sunny tolerable weather in Miami for cold, rain and wind to come home - Check
- Most emotionally stressful work week (in at least 5 years) over - Check
- Comfortably (ok , not really "comfortable") snuggled in with the "kids" since being home - Check
Same story at bedtime. Everyone wanted on the bed. And on my side. Reis (orange kitty) jumped on the bed and I made the mistake of moving the book I was reading to see who jumped up. Reis took that as his cue and immediately stepped up and curled up on my chest - right where I'd hold my book. Hmmmm. How to read?? I finally had to move him. The hubby tried to get the cat to come over and lay on him (to give me a break. Having all these animals is sort of like having a few small kids sometimes. Especially if you've been gone a while. They all want your attention and all at the same time. It can get old, quick.) But Reis wasn't interested. But he'd moved enough to where I could get my book back up in front of my face before he found a new place to settle.
And as I'm writing this I've had Karl and Jax curl up and snuggle on either side of me. (and the hubby just came downstairs, saw this arrangements and started singing a made up song "crazy cat lady". I always tell him he'd better not die young and leave me alone with all these cats. Because I will be a crazy cat lady!!)
I have today off so I'm taking several more deep breaths and trying to finish decompressing from my trip.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
How NOT to eat Starbucks yogurt
I'm in the Miami airport. It's early and I decided to stop and get a coffee and a yogurt from Starbucks. I sat at my gate and ate it before boarding.
Have you had a yogurt from Stbx? It has an inset cup that holds the granola. Good idea - it keeps it from getting soggy until you eat it. Who knows how long it sits in the counter before you buy it.
I took the cup out and sat it on my thigh and sprinkled a bit og granola on the yogurt as I was eating it. By the time i was done there was lots left. I was cleaning up to throw it all away in the trash and combining everything for an easier trip to the bin. My spoon was in the empty yogurt cup so I squeezed the granola cup and stuck it in sideways in the yogurt cup, around the spoon. As I was getting ready to stand the small granola cup rocketed out of the larger yogurt cup and spewed granola EVERYWHERE into my lap and floor! Includiing a bit of yogurt that got on the back of the granola cup from the inside of the yogurt cup.
After I initially gasped like an old lady I just started giggling. I mean really - what an idiodic thing to do! Obviously I didn't think that through and paid the consequences. The guy beside looked over sheepishly. I looked right at him and said "it's ok. You can laugh. I deserve it."
I've had a very stressful week and, funny enough, I think this is exactly what I needed to snap me out of my funk.
Have you had a yogurt from Stbx? It has an inset cup that holds the granola. Good idea - it keeps it from getting soggy until you eat it. Who knows how long it sits in the counter before you buy it.
I took the cup out and sat it on my thigh and sprinkled a bit og granola on the yogurt as I was eating it. By the time i was done there was lots left. I was cleaning up to throw it all away in the trash and combining everything for an easier trip to the bin. My spoon was in the empty yogurt cup so I squeezed the granola cup and stuck it in sideways in the yogurt cup, around the spoon. As I was getting ready to stand the small granola cup rocketed out of the larger yogurt cup and spewed granola EVERYWHERE into my lap and floor! Includiing a bit of yogurt that got on the back of the granola cup from the inside of the yogurt cup.
After I initially gasped like an old lady I just started giggling. I mean really - what an idiodic thing to do! Obviously I didn't think that through and paid the consequences. The guy beside looked over sheepishly. I looked right at him and said "it's ok. You can laugh. I deserve it."
I've had a very stressful week and, funny enough, I think this is exactly what I needed to snap me out of my funk.
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Wednesday, April 20, 2011
why?
I just saw a women in the restroom primping and applying/ reapplying ALL of her eye make-up It made me wonder: Why are women expected to do soo much to themselves to, presumably, look good for men when they aren't expected to reciprocate???
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Monday, April 18, 2011
what i love aboutFB
There are many drawbacks to facebook. (Especially at "our age"). But one great feature is reconnecting with those really positive friends. Not the "hip, hip hooray! Eveything is fabulous!!" one's. I'm talking about the one's that know life can be rough. And they are ther to pick you up. And your job is to do the same for them. Even if you haven't seem them in decades.
Love you Frogger!
Love you Frogger!
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presumputious
I don't even know if i spelled that right. But whatever. It gets the point across.
I came across a FB post from someone I went to HS with that insinutaed, what i could only assume, was that her childhood home was being sold and she was coming home for the wkend to say goodbye.
Not being a sentimental person myself, my first reaction was " big deal. You're an adult. Move on." But then the part of me that I've "worked on" reminded me that many people don't move during their lifetime (at least not towns) and that the sellign of a chilhood home could be construed as painful.
I was 14 when I had that "painful" move. Since then I've never felt "settled". (Much to the chagrin of my parents and husband.) But that's probably a totally different psychosis to be investigated at a different time.
Back to FB. So this person said she'd be in town and posted her number and a message for people to get in touch with her during such and such date.
Really. What are you? F-ing royalty?? Peons should get in touch with you since you announced when YOU will be available??
I can't put my finger on why this rubbed me the wrong way. But it did. I;m not in the town so it matters nothing to me but I thought it quite presumptious? Snotty? Hoity toity? Asinine??? Take your pick.
I like FB because it has allowed me to recoonect with a few faces from the past. Othr than that it's evil. Because people dont have manners, plain and simple.
That's all I'll say about that,
(Please excuse the spelling and grammatical errors. My droid has no grammer or spell check....)
I came across a FB post from someone I went to HS with that insinutaed, what i could only assume, was that her childhood home was being sold and she was coming home for the wkend to say goodbye.
Not being a sentimental person myself, my first reaction was " big deal. You're an adult. Move on." But then the part of me that I've "worked on" reminded me that many people don't move during their lifetime (at least not towns) and that the sellign of a chilhood home could be construed as painful.
I was 14 when I had that "painful" move. Since then I've never felt "settled". (Much to the chagrin of my parents and husband.) But that's probably a totally different psychosis to be investigated at a different time.
Back to FB. So this person said she'd be in town and posted her number and a message for people to get in touch with her during such and such date.
Really. What are you? F-ing royalty?? Peons should get in touch with you since you announced when YOU will be available??
I can't put my finger on why this rubbed me the wrong way. But it did. I;m not in the town so it matters nothing to me but I thought it quite presumptious? Snotty? Hoity toity? Asinine??? Take your pick.
I like FB because it has allowed me to recoonect with a few faces from the past. Othr than that it's evil. Because people dont have manners, plain and simple.
That's all I'll say about that,
(Please excuse the spelling and grammatical errors. My droid has no grammer or spell check....)
Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8
My mantra for this week:
"Don't forget to wear your big girl panties!!"
Thank god it's a short work week. If I call or text any of you in tears or frustration please remind me of this. (Big girl panties or short week. Whichever seems more appropriate is fine with me.)
"Don't forget to wear your big girl panties!!"
Thank god it's a short work week. If I call or text any of you in tears or frustration please remind me of this. (Big girl panties or short week. Whichever seems more appropriate is fine with me.)
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Saturday, April 16, 2011
Where would I be without Stanley Steemer??
Have I mentioned we have a zoo at our house?? Needless to say we should have bought stock in Stanley Steemer a loooong time ago. I'm sure I've blogged about this before (or at least some of this) so hang in there with me...
It's that time of year again where our back yard is a green swampy mess. Good because the snow is gone and the grass is now green!!! Bad because the ground is saturated and easily turns to mud. Like when Liam jumps off the end of his ramp. He now jumps into a mud puddle he's inadvertently made. Nice... We have a steam cleaner for spots and "in between" cleanings. But it just doesn't get the job done like Stanley.
Even though we try to wipe off their paws and try different products (like the balloon-type paw covers) our carpets look AWFUL!!! It's an annual ritual that we have Stanley Steemer come and do the downstairs carpets. Usually I wait until the end of May but I have to host Bunco the second Tuesday in May so we're bumping up the cleaning schedule.
But one twist we've thrown into this whole carpet issue is aging dogs. Read: incontinent dogs. Yep. I am admitting to this on my blog. And I understand you may never want to come to our house after you read this. Although I define "good friends" as those that overlook your mess anyway.
Nikki had "picked out" a spot in the living room to sneak and pee when she wanted to be passive aggressive. This spot turned into the place she went when it was raining outside and she refused to pee outside. (cranky old lady...) Finally we smartened up and started buying "pee pee pads" and laid them over her "area". Takes 2 pads to cover.
Although I admit not smart on our part - but we NEVER trained the dogs to use the pads. However, they both figured it out!! (fakers. they keep acting dumb to get out of trouble but they're a lot smarter than they let on....) It started with Nikki peeing on them. Well, kinda. She'd squat on the edge. Not all would get on the pad but the majority would and that made cleaning the rest with our steam cleaner a lot easier. She's since gotten better with her aim although she rarely needs to use the pads. But they are a good back up plan!
A year ago we had to put Liam on a reduced calorie food. Apparently it works but packing the kibble with TONS of fiber. Poor guy now poops 4 - 5 times a day. Seriously. There have been times where he hasn't "told" us he has to go and instead has just walked to the pee pee pads and pooed right on them instead! I find it quite amazing since we never trained him to use them!!! There have even been 2 or 3 incidents where we've found where he's stood over the 2 pads and perfectly peed on them too!! (They are super absorbent pads designed for adult dogs....)
Ok, so enough about the bowel movements of my canines. Because now I fear I'll never see any of you ever again in person....
It's that time of year again where our back yard is a green swampy mess. Good because the snow is gone and the grass is now green!!! Bad because the ground is saturated and easily turns to mud. Like when Liam jumps off the end of his ramp. He now jumps into a mud puddle he's inadvertently made. Nice... We have a steam cleaner for spots and "in between" cleanings. But it just doesn't get the job done like Stanley.
Even though we try to wipe off their paws and try different products (like the balloon-type paw covers) our carpets look AWFUL!!! It's an annual ritual that we have Stanley Steemer come and do the downstairs carpets. Usually I wait until the end of May but I have to host Bunco the second Tuesday in May so we're bumping up the cleaning schedule.
But one twist we've thrown into this whole carpet issue is aging dogs. Read: incontinent dogs. Yep. I am admitting to this on my blog. And I understand you may never want to come to our house after you read this. Although I define "good friends" as those that overlook your mess anyway.
Nikki had "picked out" a spot in the living room to sneak and pee when she wanted to be passive aggressive. This spot turned into the place she went when it was raining outside and she refused to pee outside. (cranky old lady...) Finally we smartened up and started buying "pee pee pads" and laid them over her "area". Takes 2 pads to cover.
Although I admit not smart on our part - but we NEVER trained the dogs to use the pads. However, they both figured it out!! (fakers. they keep acting dumb to get out of trouble but they're a lot smarter than they let on....) It started with Nikki peeing on them. Well, kinda. She'd squat on the edge. Not all would get on the pad but the majority would and that made cleaning the rest with our steam cleaner a lot easier. She's since gotten better with her aim although she rarely needs to use the pads. But they are a good back up plan!
A year ago we had to put Liam on a reduced calorie food. Apparently it works but packing the kibble with TONS of fiber. Poor guy now poops 4 - 5 times a day. Seriously. There have been times where he hasn't "told" us he has to go and instead has just walked to the pee pee pads and pooed right on them instead! I find it quite amazing since we never trained him to use them!!! There have even been 2 or 3 incidents where we've found where he's stood over the 2 pads and perfectly peed on them too!! (They are super absorbent pads designed for adult dogs....)
Ok, so enough about the bowel movements of my canines. Because now I fear I'll never see any of you ever again in person....
Saturday, April 09, 2011
Y members are elitists too?
I went to swim at the Y this morning for the first time in a looong time. Let's say months. (I won't admit how many.) As I was swimming a woman asked to share my lane since it was busy. Sure. I have no problem with that. She asked what I was doing (in a nice, interested way) which is understandable. I was doing drills - the current one had me swimming back and forth on my side - so I didn't actually look like I was swimming laps. Seemed she was wanting to learn a new drill - that or make sure she wasn't jumping into a lane with a pure nut.
We started chatting about tri's because she was training for her first one too - but apparently had extensive running, swimming abd cycling experience. She asked me about my training and, since she seemed very nice and not a snotty athlete I said "I'll admit this winter's been tough for me and I've sat my ass on the sofa most of it... I'm just getting back into the swing of things!" Her response was a weird "Oh..."
I apparently assumed - incorrectly - that anyone else living in this godforsaken town (ok, to be fair the town is not godforsaken, just the winter weather...) would at least empathize if someone was severely affected by a tough winter- even if they personally were able to push through it. She reacted like I had openly admitted to being a hooker, having contracted the clap in November and therfore was unable to work during the busy holiday season.
Really? I didn't dump a 30 minute personal 6 month history on her. It was a one sentence statement. I was just merely honest that I haven't been working out because the winter had me down and I'm back in the game. C'mon - $100 80% of people in this town suffer from the same thing and I bet only 5 - 10% do any exercise about it.
Soooo - one reason I joined the Y was to get away from atheletic elitists. And yet this woman inadvertantly (hopefully) made me feel like a HUGE loser in 2 minutes flat. Thanks Robin!! (Yes. That's her name. Not even going to bother to give her a nickname.)
Note: yes, I'm totally aware that it is my own personal insecurities that really is at issue here. But it's just easier to blame Robin. So I am. : P
We started chatting about tri's because she was training for her first one too - but apparently had extensive running, swimming abd cycling experience. She asked me about my training and, since she seemed very nice and not a snotty athlete I said "I'll admit this winter's been tough for me and I've sat my ass on the sofa most of it... I'm just getting back into the swing of things!" Her response was a weird "Oh..."
I apparently assumed - incorrectly - that anyone else living in this godforsaken town (ok, to be fair the town is not godforsaken, just the winter weather...) would at least empathize if someone was severely affected by a tough winter- even if they personally were able to push through it. She reacted like I had openly admitted to being a hooker, having contracted the clap in November and therfore was unable to work during the busy holiday season.
Really? I didn't dump a 30 minute personal 6 month history on her. It was a one sentence statement. I was just merely honest that I haven't been working out because the winter had me down and I'm back in the game. C'mon - $100 80% of people in this town suffer from the same thing and I bet only 5 - 10% do any exercise about it.
Soooo - one reason I joined the Y was to get away from atheletic elitists. And yet this woman inadvertantly (hopefully) made me feel like a HUGE loser in 2 minutes flat. Thanks Robin!! (Yes. That's her name. Not even going to bother to give her a nickname.)
Note: yes, I'm totally aware that it is my own personal insecurities that really is at issue here. But it's just easier to blame Robin. So I am. : P
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Wednesday, April 06, 2011
New Face!
Ok, so no plastic surgery... Once in my life is plenty for me!
Note: If you don't know me that well let me explain. I'm referring to my reconstructive jaw surgery back in 1994. I've had no face lift or anything like that. yet. Although I got a funny feeling an eye lift might be in my future, say in 15 or 20 years... Just sayin'
But I've "suffered" with this crap melasma for several years now and it just won't go away despite my best efforts. And I'm starting to see some crepe-like wrinkles around my eyes that I'm convinced are due to over 20 years of yanking on my lower lids to put in and take out contact lenses. Funny - I'm ok with thedeeper wrinkles laugh lines around my mouth and eyes. It's the really fine, pesky ones that I see up close that have that peculiar crepe texture that scare me.
So I scheduled a chemical peel.
At the dermatologist. No spa for me for a treatment like this!!
This is supposed to help with those fine lines and melasma. I was going to wait because I had it in my mind that it was a few hundred bucks and took a week to recover from. Turns out it's only $60 and only takes a day or two. I'm having it done on a Friday afternoon.
I'll let you know how it goes. I have high hopes!! But I shouldn't because it will probably take a few consecutive peels to really see anything. But here's to a miracle in a bottle anyway!!
Note: If you don't know me that well let me explain. I'm referring to my reconstructive jaw surgery back in 1994. I've had no face lift or anything like that. yet. Although I got a funny feeling an eye lift might be in my future, say in 15 or 20 years... Just sayin'
But I've "suffered" with this crap melasma for several years now and it just won't go away despite my best efforts. And I'm starting to see some crepe-like wrinkles around my eyes that I'm convinced are due to over 20 years of yanking on my lower lids to put in and take out contact lenses. Funny - I'm ok with the
So I scheduled a chemical peel.
At the dermatologist. No spa for me for a treatment like this!!
This is supposed to help with those fine lines and melasma. I was going to wait because I had it in my mind that it was a few hundred bucks and took a week to recover from. Turns out it's only $60 and only takes a day or two. I'm having it done on a Friday afternoon.
I'll let you know how it goes. I have high hopes!! But I shouldn't because it will probably take a few consecutive peels to really see anything. But here's to a miracle in a bottle anyway!!
Sunday, April 03, 2011
Winds of Change
I'm sure you've all been there at one time or another - but I'm in need of a BIG change. Sometimes a drastic haircut (or color) does the trick. Sometimes it takes moving across the country. I'm working out the details, but between job disillusionment and a hell of a winter I'm greeting spring with a big middle finger.
Not that it's spring's fault. But since she's technically not here yet she deserves something for being late. And if I go outside and gesture to the current season it truly deserves it too for hanging on like a bratty younger brother. As I mentioned in a previous post, this winter really had me down. I'm having a hard time shaking it. It's not all winter's fault. (but we'll blame him because it's easiest.)
I've been in my currently location for almost 7 years. As some of you may know, that's a long time for me in one place. I'm sure that has something to do with it. Well, if it were a place with nicer year-round weather and more opportunity for me I wouldn't be complaining. But it doesn't have nice weather and there's no opportunity - so I am.
I know - no one comes here to read me bitch. So what I'm trying to say is this - I'm working on a big change. Like I said before, I'm still working out the details. As soon as I get them all straight - or at least an outline - I'll post them. I have a feeling I'll need some moral support from friends once I put a plan in place.
I don't know how long it's going to take me to get this plan worked out. But I'll tell you this. It's going to start with another "decluttering" of my life. As in "stuff". I keep telling the hubby we have too much "stuff". He disagrees. Whatever. I can't make him do anything but I sure can do something with my "stuff". As soon as I get off this blog I'm heading over to Craigslist to list some stuff. I feel so much more emotionally lighter when I unload myself of material things. I'm sure there's a lot of psychological reasons as to why that is. I think it's simply because it makes me feel more mobile. And I mean that in the simplest of ways. I don't have as much junk to wade through in my own home. (man, I make it sound like we're hoarders!! we're not. I promise!!) And I mean it in a deeper way - if I do move it's just easier to move less stuff, even if someone else is paying to move it. Because let's face it - I'm still the one that has to unpack all the stuff at the other end....
Just talking about organizing has already lifted my spirits!! I'm off to Craigslist!! (anyone want a free antique pump organ?? It's yours if you come pick it up...)
Not that it's spring's fault. But since she's technically not here yet she deserves something for being late. And if I go outside and gesture to the current season it truly deserves it too for hanging on like a bratty younger brother. As I mentioned in a previous post, this winter really had me down. I'm having a hard time shaking it. It's not all winter's fault. (but we'll blame him because it's easiest.)
I've been in my currently location for almost 7 years. As some of you may know, that's a long time for me in one place. I'm sure that has something to do with it. Well, if it were a place with nicer year-round weather and more opportunity for me I wouldn't be complaining. But it doesn't have nice weather and there's no opportunity - so I am.
I know - no one comes here to read me bitch. So what I'm trying to say is this - I'm working on a big change. Like I said before, I'm still working out the details. As soon as I get them all straight - or at least an outline - I'll post them. I have a feeling I'll need some moral support from friends once I put a plan in place.
I don't know how long it's going to take me to get this plan worked out. But I'll tell you this. It's going to start with another "decluttering" of my life. As in "stuff". I keep telling the hubby we have too much "stuff". He disagrees. Whatever. I can't make him do anything but I sure can do something with my "stuff". As soon as I get off this blog I'm heading over to Craigslist to list some stuff. I feel so much more emotionally lighter when I unload myself of material things. I'm sure there's a lot of psychological reasons as to why that is. I think it's simply because it makes me feel more mobile. And I mean that in the simplest of ways. I don't have as much junk to wade through in my own home. (man, I make it sound like we're hoarders!! we're not. I promise!!) And I mean it in a deeper way - if I do move it's just easier to move less stuff, even if someone else is paying to move it. Because let's face it - I'm still the one that has to unpack all the stuff at the other end....
Just talking about organizing has already lifted my spirits!! I'm off to Craigslist!! (anyone want a free antique pump organ?? It's yours if you come pick it up...)
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