Is it really so bad?

Tonight I'm taking my little sis to see a movie.  I'm probably more excited about it than she is. 

Earlier in the week I was telling the hubby that I gave my LS 2 options for Friday night.  We could either see  "How to Train Your Dragon" in 3D at the mall or we could go to our house, watch a DVD we have and make cookies. 

the hubby:  why don't you let her pick a movie to see at the mall?  What if she doesn't want to see the dragon movie?

me: 'cuz I want to see the dragon movie and I'm payin'!  I gave her a choice.  If she doesn't want to see that movie then we can come here and make cookies...

Is that so bad of me??  It's an age-appropriate move for her.   And I'm guessing she's never seen anything in 3D before.  So that in itself is pretty novel. 

And for the record, she chose to go see the movie at the mall..

WOW! That's a flower!

Here's baby Frances wearing the hat I made her.  That flower looks much bigger on her head than it did when I just laid the hat flat to photograph!!

Leave it to Funny Lady

conversation had two minutes ago:

me: I don't know what's going on but I had crazy dreams last night!
FL:  what about?
me: I dreamed the hubby died in war...  but it was weird.  After they told me he died they sent me his battle armor!?!?
FL: (without missing a beat)  Did you look to see if they sent the key to your chastity belt with it?

Snow thaw in the Adirondacks

Sunday I had to drive to Plattsburgh for a meeting on Monday.  If you don't know where Plattsburgh is, it's in the northeast corner of the state, right on Lake Champlain.

As a side note:  People who live in NY state HATE it when you say you're from NY and they automatically assume NYC.  Even Yahoomaps made this fauz pas!  I typed in "NY" and it highlighed NYC and only showed the further eastern portion of the whole frickin' state!  Arg!!!

As you can see it's quite a drive.  About four hours for me.  And I go through the Adirondacks, which is the big open green space between Watertown and I-87.  It's a great drive.  I was glad to see the snow melting and the streams full.  I even stopped and took a few shots just for the blog.  I'll have to remember to take my "real" camera next time - not just shots with my cell phone...

I parked the car, climbed down the embankment and shots these.  And then I looked , saw no one was around and took a pee.   Whew!  Not in the water, mind you.  But I had been holding it for so long!!!  The rushing water didn't help.  And I knew I was a long ways from any gas station.

AMAZING!

I've had some amazing things happen yesterday.  I suppose everything is relative - but to me they were amazing.  Or it just doesn't take a lot to make me happy.

Sorry to rub it in Neda (maybe your recent adventure turned out better than those in the past??) - but I got a great new haircut Saturday morning.  Same gal cut it.  She always cuts it great but she did something a little different this time and I love it.  Actually Neda - I think I was inspired by our conversation to get something a little new.  Did I mention that I always schedule my haircuts for 8am on Saturday mornings?  I'm already up anyway, I don't have to pay for parking downtown - and since it's so early I don't have to worry about finding a spot right in front of the salon.

Maybe because I was in a good mood because of my hair but I decided to swing my Target on the way home to see if they had anything that would interest me for some mew spring clothes.  Yes, I said it.  I voluntarily went to Target.  To shop for clothes.  By myself.  Who knew?? 

I bought a boat-load of stuff at Target for only $160!!!  I know, I know - people have been raving about Target for eons now.  I've gotten a few bathing suits from there within the past few years that are awesome (and cheap!)  I always wander around but it's a little overwhelming for me to try and put together outfits.  Remember, I'm the one that must walk into a store, see it on the mannequin and get that exact outfit.  (ok, maybe I'll get it in a different color...)  For comparison, in the past, for $160 I could get a nice dress and shoes.  Or maybe a pair of slacks and a top.  (which might sound like a lot but seeing as how I hardly ever buy clothes I still don't spent squat on clothes in a year.)  Look at what I got a Target:

• dress
• 2 work tops
• cardigan
• 3 Tshirts
• 2 pair shoes
• pair of rain boots

I'm loving it!  But I will make one comment.  I usually spend $80 - $100 for a pair of shoes.  And those shoes usually last me 5+ years.  (I'm still wearing the same shoes I bought 5 and 8 years ago...)  I bought a pair of shoes at Target for $13!!!!!!!!  I can easily spend 13 for lunch!!  But I'll guarantee that this pair of shoes might not make it al the way through the spring/ summer season.  But for $13 who cares?!?!?

And the hubby rounded out my amazing day.  I got home from Target to an empty house.  : (  The hubby was at practice and then stopped over at his parents house.  While I was home and going through my Target spoils when it occurred to me that Twilight: New Moon was released that day.  Crap!!  Why didn't I pick it up when I was there?!?!?  I was actually contemplating running back out to get it.  But I got sidetracked.  When the hubby got home guess what he had!!!  NEW MOON!!!  He had stopped at B&N to get himself some new books and HE remembered that it was released yesterday!  AND he even watched it with me last night!!!!  Love him! (I think he's a keeper...)

I'm glad that yesterday was such a great day because today I have to wash two dogs and then hit the road for work.  Driving....  ugh...

It's Official!

Over the past few months I've been pondering becoming a "Big Sister".   As in the big brrther, big sister program.  No, I'm not trying to get either one of my parents to procreate.  (ew...  I just threw up in my mouth a little.)   If you're not familiar it's quite a process.  Paper applications, background checks, in-home interview, etc...

There are several reasons I don't have kids.  And I won't be getting into them here.  But I've been thinking just because I can't positively affect the life of my own child doesn't mean I can't positively affect the life of a child, right? 

I think parenting is quite a monumental job.  And I'm not just referring to the time and money commitment.  I'm often staggered at the prospect of one or two adults being soley responsible for creating and shaping a person to be a productive member of society.  Granted, some do a better jobs than others.   Some do the best they can but feel they aren't doing enough.  Conversely some do the best they can and leave it at that. 
But a lot of you reading this are parents so I don't have to expound on this. 

I figured I have 8-10 hours a month to volunteer.  I'd like to think I'm a good role model.  (usually...)  So why not.  Surely there is some little girl out there that could use a friend. 

Sure enough there is.  I met her last night.  She's 11, going on 12 and in the 6th grade.  I can't give her a nickname for the blog yet 'cuz I don't really know her.   Her mom signed her up for the program because she feels that her daughter would benefit from someone who can expose her to things that she can't.  She specifically asked that they help support her in developing socially and educationally.

I can do that.  At least I think so.  We've already chatted for a few minutes.  She likes the zoo (oh boy!!  me too!!!).  She said she rode a horse once and really liked it.  (I'm sure I can swing some riding somewhere here once it gets nice.  WG - too bad your fam is so far away!!  ; )  Her favorite subject is math.  I gave her a high 5 for that one!!  gotta encourage kids to like math and science - especially the girls.  And she likes to read. 

I have a few questions to throw out to you teachers.  ST -with regards to math, she said she's doing lots with fractions.  Is that general 6th grade math?  is it behind?  ahead?  I honestly cannot remember 6th grade math.   

As for reading she's really into the "Bluford High" series.  I did a little research ('cuz what do I know about young adults books today - except, of course, Twilight....)  This series is considered young adult.  It's African-American based, rather most of the characters are African -Am.  It's written on a 5-6th grade reading level but many older kids read them to - story lines to keep there interest.  So here's my question: what are other good books for this age??  I mean hell, I grew up on  Beverly Cleary and Judy Blume!!!

But I figure I'll start simple and easy.  I'm going to pick her up tomorrow after work and take her to the house so she can meet my "kids".  I figure we'll bake some cookies or something.  That's starting out easy, isn't it???  I'm always open to good suggestions too!!

Wish me luck!

Crack in security

You may have noticed that you no longer have to log in to see my blog.  Or maybe you first realized there was a change when I started showing up in your "followed" blogs section.

I decided to dump the privacy act.  It was adding extra effort for everyone and still not providing me with what I was hoping for.  The whole point in going private was to keep out people I didn't want in.  Well, that requires effort on your part to log in.  And then I found out afterwards that you don't get notified when I publish something new.  Which would then require you, in theory, to constantly be checking back at my blog for new stuff.

Today I decided to check the setting I had about keeping search sites from trawling my blog.  It does not appear to show up on bing.com.  but it's still #1 on google.  Not only that, it appears that once you click on the google link it takes you directly to my blog - without requiring a login - and then you can go anywhere in blog at that point.  Which appears to render all my other attempts at privacy pointless.  So why make my friends jump through extra hoops for nuthin'??

So I thank you all for putting up with my little "experiment".  I guess in the end I value my friends easily able to read my blog over worrying about some perv in Singapore doing naughty things to pictures of my toes.

Feedback Appreciated!!!

First off, I'm pretty sure the hubby is too busy lately to read this.  However, hon, if, perchace you are reading this please know that I'm just researching possibilities for the future, that's all. 

If you haven't figured it out by now I'm itching to get out of here.  "Here" being, of course, Syracuse.  We've lived here since April/ Aug of 2004.  Meaning: I started working here in April, the hubby moved here at the same time we moved into the house (and also got married, but that's another story) in August.  So take your pick of dates.  We've been here almost 6 years. 

I don't intend to continue to move around as often as I did when I was single.  But I really don't want to live the rest of my life here.  It's an ok place, but it's not my "forever" place.  And the longer we're here the more antsy I get about not being to "get out" some day. 

If I lived in a place where I wanted to be I wouldn't mind staying there "forever".    But 2 or 3 more winters here...  I can't even stand the thought!  So every once in a while I'll take a peek at places I wouldn't mind living.  And then I glance at the job market, etc.

One place I've been getting great ideas is called find your spot.  It's a fun little site that asks you all sorts of questions and then gives you the top 20+ places that match your criteria.  Here are some of the places they suggest for me:

• Portland, OR
• Charleston, WV
• St. George, UT
• Vegas Baby!!!
• Tacoma, WA
• Norfolk, VA
• Knoxville, TN
• Houston, TX
• Chattanooga, TN
• Tallahassee, FL

I was specifically searching for information on Tacoma, Knoxville and Chattenooga today.  Does anyone know anything about these places?  I've rowed in Knoxville and Chattenooga.  But I've never been to Tacoma. 

I was really impressed with Tacoma.  It has very moderate weather and less rainfall than NYC.  Of course the hubby and I need water and mountains.  Knoxville and Chattenooga have both of those too.  I'm actually more partial to TN just becasue it's closer to our families.  But if we really fell in love with Tacoma family alone wouldn't keep us from moving out west.

Any info you might have, as it relates to living and working, in any of these places - do share!!  I'm already familiar with Charleston, Houston and Vegas.

Oh, and honey - if yo're reading this - go back to "find your spot" and take the quiz again.  We took it so long ago that it's time for an update.

Product Review: Revlon's version of the Ped-Egg

I recently purchased Revlon's version of the Ped-Egg. 

This is the original Ped-egg in case you're not familiar:

It's that handy-dandy pedicure implement which allows you to literally "grate" dead skin off of your feet.  I got it about 2 weeks ago.  It's GREAT!  Indeed, it does slough off the dead skin.  Although my feet are not bad by most standards (if I do say so myself... especially for a runner!)  However I was starting to get the "scratchy" heel syndrome.  Y'all know what I mean, right??  At night I could feel my dry heels on the sheets.  I can't stand that, thus prompting me to get this neat little device.  (that and I had a coupon...)

Last night I decided to give myself a quicky pedicure.  I grabbed the "scrubber" and went to work again on my heels. 

WARNING:  It is possible to slough off too much skin!!!!

I didn't even realize it at the time.  I went a little to wild, thankfuly only on one foot.  I put on cream and then I was reading in bed.  I moved and my heel felt really tender.  That's when I took a look and saw the redness.

(see the slight red patches?  I know it doesn't look like much...)

Yowzers!!!  It's sore to walk today. 

I highly recommend this or the "real" Ped-egg.  Just be careful you don't overdo it like I did!!

Glamour Girls

I had a photo shoot yesterday.  In case you got some weird mental image of my face inserted on top of some bathinsuit model, you are incorrect.  (because for some reason that's what popped into my head... like Ellen and Oprah...)

We were photographing our products with models to use in our printed materials.  Don't go thinking we were on the beach, fans blowing in the background with hair and make-up artists.  That's way too much (and unnecessary) for us.  Simple studio of our photographer and talent coming in and out to shoot at their appointed times.  But it was fine nonetheless.  The most fun was when the "baby" showed up.  Molly is a 9 month old triplet.  Luckily mom left the other two at home with grandma and grandpa.  Molly is such a cutie!!!

Don't you just want to squeeze the bejesus out of those cheeks!!!

We also had 8 year old Franki.  She was adorable too.  Plus all the adults were great.  Overall it was a fabulous day.  Much better than the last time we did a shot with a 5 year old.  The 5YO was super hyper and quite spoiled.  (because a parent is always there on set with the kid, of course.)  Finally after making myself look stupid on the sidelines to get her to smile on camera (think making goofy faces and such) I had had it.  During a quick break I looked her in the eye.

me:  you don't like me do you?

5YO (in her super bratty voice):  No.

At least they're honest.  Needless to say, we haven't asked her back again.  Not because she said she didn't like me.  I could really care less.  But because she's such a handful.  We allot extra time for kids, especially babies.  We expect them to not be super-cooperative.  But not bratty.  Which is exactly what the 5YO was.  Nope, Franki and Molly were great!  (even though stupid modeling agency booked a 9 month old during her usual nap time.  That's a big no-no!!)

The only thing I really don't like about shoots is that I usually end up standing all day.  And my back is killing me when it's over.  Which it was yesterday.  We had yet ANOTHER!!! great day of sun yesterday so I was looking forward to going on a run when I got home.  But by the time I actually pulled in the drive the thought of being on my feet even longer just didn't appeal to me.  So it ended up an evening of a gin & tonic and Wii.  Not a bad way to spend an hour or so!

Did I mention I'm reading the Count of Monte Cristo??  I'm trying to weave in classics that I have never read.  So far I've covered Pride & Prejudice and Dracula.  However this latest book is LONG!!!  My Nook says it's 1142 pages (at the font I have it set).  I've been reading this book for a few weeks now and I'm only on page 750-something.  I realized a week into reading it that when I hit the "next page" button on my Nook it actually takes me 2 or 3 "turns" before the page number increases.  So a few screens worth of reading constitutes only 1 page.  So really I'm reading almost 3300 pages/ screens when it's all said and done!  Holy cow!  That's quite the undertaking!!  Have any of you read this book??

And can I just say TGIF!!!!

Pretty pictures

I ran my first half marathon about a week and a half before my 34th b-day.  And so we celebrated like it was 1976!! (or something like that...)  Anyway - in honor of my first HM and it being my b-day and all, Tri-girl got me this for my gift.  I just came in the mail yesterday!!

Thanks again TG!!

PS - note the picture I put in there.  I ordered two - this one, taken right after we finished and one where I was running during the race.  The other looks like I'm about to die, among other things....  So I decided to put this one in instead.

Weekend Disaster

I was hoping to be able to regale you with stories from our museum adventure; me walking around with a glass of wine (pinky finger sticking out) disucssing whether or not the post-impressionists were just a bunch of cry babies that didn't want to play nice with the impressionists.

But alas, I cannot.  First of all you couldn't walk around with your wine.  *boo*  Second of all, the museum is heavily anchored by a cermics collection.  Ever heard of Syracuse China?  Guess where it is (rather, was...)  Here.  So most of the basement is dedicated to ceramics.  Which are nice, but I want to see paintings and sculptures.  There was one gallery of mostly oils on canvas ca. late 1800's - 1940's.  There was another "post modern" gallery of paintings, sculptures, etc from the 60's and 70's.  And then there were two galleries of what I can only describe as colorful playground equipment.  In two full galleries there were precisely three "sculptures"??  I don't know if you call painted aluminum tubing bent with large pieces of colored plexiglass a sculpture or not.  (and I guess my crash course on Friday afternoon on art appreciation didn't help a lot...)

But that wasn't the news of the weekend.  Nope folks.  We decided, rather were forced, to clean out the basement on Saturday.

Remember this???

Well guess what happened Saturday morning.  I got up to go to a rowing fundraiser with the hubby.  We left the house about 7am.  We got home around 12:30-1pm.  I had just run upstairs and literally stepped in the shower.  My hair wasn't even fully wet.  When the hubby walked in and said those dreaded words "I think the sump pump broke again".

Sure enough, he had gone to the basement to get something and it was pretty much an EXACT repeat of what happened back in 2006.  Except in 2006 the hubby wasn't home.  So this was a new experience for him.

All we can figure is that it's been warm and there's been so much snow melt that the sump pump never got to turn off and burned itself out. 

I call this "Vuja de".  I think I've been there before.  And I HAVE!!

So the FIL came over with the wet/dry vac again.  And he helped again, clean the basement.  Except this time we decided to do it right.  We tossed all rugs.  We even pulled up the carpet and tossed it.  Everthing that touched the floor of the basement is now in our garage.  I'm going to bleach mop the floor tonight and this weekend we're going to refloor it with that garage epoxy floor stuff.

But, as it turns out, we are finally cleaning out the basement of things we need to get rid of.  Such as:

• the old fridge.  (that bitch was hard to get out!!  I forgot movers put it down there in the first place...)
• rusted weights for a bench the hubby no longer owns
• scratched desk top (the company sent the hubby a new one but we had nothing to do with the old one...)
• molding that's not usable for Habitat for Humanity store
• and how could I forget... the crapped-out sump pump

Now since the fridge is out we can install the rack for the bikes on the wall to get them off the floor.  And now we can go through an toss out other little odds and ends that shouldn't have made it in the basement in the first place.

Sunday we pretty much laid around.  We were tired.  But last night, when I opened the pantry to get something I was overwhelmed with how badly I needed to reorg it.  So I did.  At 7pm I decided to run to Wally world to get a few organizational items.  And wha-la.  It's done.

Whew!  I don't know how you people with kids do it.  This completely wiped us out!

Culture Snob

On more than a few occasions I"ve thought about partaking of my cities museums. 

I've gotten the lowdown on a few since the hubby visited most of them as a child while in elementary school.  The Erie Canal museum is not all that great.  Well, it probably is if you're a kid and/ or really into old boats and/ or the Erie Canal.  (Which I'm not.)  I kinda suspected as much since the building itself it really small...

Then there's the MOST. (Museum of Science and Technology)  This is a science museum for kids.  There was a great one in Columbus, OH (COSI) I used to go to as a kid.  I thought the two would be similar.  They aren't.  But in all honesty I don't know if it's because it's not as good as COSI or if it's because I'm an adult and just wasn't looking at it through my little kid eyes anymore.  But it does have an IMAX theater.  Which is a plus!!  But it never plays box office hits.  Which is a downer.

There are several museums I wasn't even aware of until I did a search for museums.  Interested in any of these???

• Museum of Automobile History  (self explanatory.  but I would suppose the best one's in Detroit...)
• International Mask & Puppet Museum (ok, I can invision a museum for this, but not in my town...)
• Museum of Young Art  (kid's art or artists that aren't dead or old enough yet to be considered a master???)
• Anatomical Museum of the Skull (my personal favorite.  I haven't been there - it's my favorite sounding one.)

And finally the Everson Museum of Art.  Although I'm told it's sort of small, it's not bad.  It's had some famous collections come through since I've lived here.  Did I go and see any of them?  Of course not. 

I have been to some of the greatest museums in the world.  And yet I feel I do not have a good appreciation for art.  Can one force oneself to appreciate art?  I mean c'mon.  I am the daughter of an art teacher.  You'd think that I'd have a natural inclination for it.  If not to produce it at least to observe it.  I think what I'm missing is a guide.  I'm not sure what to look for. What to notice.

What I really need is an art appreciation class and an art history class.

So in an attempt to try and enjoy something that apparently makes us "civilized" I'm going tonight. 
Why tonight? 
Because they have an event.
The event is called "uncorked".
(see where this is going...)

Admission to the museum is still free but they will have an open bar from 5-7pm. And if I'm not mistaken, live music.  I'm giddy at the prospect of admiring beautiful art (whichI know nothing about) while snootily sipping a glass of wine.  I might even stick out my pinky finger while I'm at it.


Update:  Ask and you shall receive.  As y'all know, you can find anything on the internet...  Need a crash course too??

Wii injury and other random thoughts

 I have "Wii elbow" from golfing.  Don't tell me I'm doing it wrong 'cuz I'm doing great.  I'm not going to change my swing!  Also I've been getting terrible muscle knots in my neck and shoulders laterly (even with the Tempurpedic!!)  I think it's from golfing and knitting more lately.

Speaking of knitting, I made some baby items for a childhood friend of mine.  She had her first child a few weeks ago - a little girl.  What I remember most about my friend and her mom is their talent for homemade things - be it cooking, baking or sewing.  (of course it made sense that she'd end up going to the Culinary Institute of America...  she's  food writer now.)  So I thought that I'd try knitting her new baby girl a cute hat.  So I did! 

I have a thing against pink baby items for little girls.  Well, not just for little girls.  I have a general dislike for pink.  So I did this in purple. 

But I decided not to stop there.  I saw this pattern for a baby kimono.  It was just too cute!! But I was using a different kind of yarn than they specificed so I had to alter the pattern a bit.  Needless to say this will not fit her until, well... probable next year.  And see those "pit bags" under the arms??  yeah, well I decreased too fast and that was the result.  Oh well.  I told my friend that if it doesn't work for the baby maybe she can slap it on a doll someday.

I want to apologize to all my friends who read this that have had kids and I just sent something store bought.  I just so happened to have the time to give this a whirl.  But if you are interested I can whip up those hats pretty fast if any of the little girls would like one. 

Finally I decided to start running again.  I haven't run since the day I finished my half marathon.  Yesterday seemed to be a nice day here. (Sun was out, not too terribly windy and about 40 degrees.  That's balmy for this time of year!!)  So instead of running on the hamster wheel at the gym I decided to go down to the lake.  It was great!!  Nice and brisk.  Sun was out.  I didn't go very far and I went really slow but I felt fabulous when I was done.  Just what I needed!  The sun over the frozen lake with snow on the ground and in the trees was such a beautiful sight.  I really wanted to take a picture (with my phone) but I didn't want to run with it jiggling in my pocket.  Maybe I'll try again later and snap a pretty shot before all the snow melts. ('cuz I still have my fingers crossed that it will all melt soon!!!)

People, get your shit together, please.

I said "please".  Doesn't that count for something???

Today I have apologized to people on behalf of other people.    As in "I'm sorry I put you through this but my boss screwed up thus wrecking the smooth process for all the rest of us peons.  But since it's coming from me I'll be the one to apologize."  'Cuz trust me folks - my boss ain't apologizin'

And to the rep that lost the samples I sent him over TWO weeks ago for his "special important" meeting....  If it was so special why didn't you take better care of your samples??  And no, I can't just overnight you more.  See, I have to get them from Canada.  I don't sit atop a pile-o-samples of new products here in my office.  This is a new product and not yet launched so I have to get it from the source.  But alas, marketing always answers to sales so I still bend over backwards to get him what he needs.  Long story short - 15 emails later back and forth to Canada - they can send him the samples directly but it won't get there until Wed. morning.  (since today's Tuesday)

• But the rep said his meeting is early Wed. so that won't work. 
• I call the rep to explaing this to him and after a lot of "who's on first" he realizes his meeting isn't until THURSDAY morning. 
• I'm back at email saying "Game on people.  He had his dates wrong!" 
• Only to then get a call from his manager saying "don't send them it'll cost a fortune and that's what he gets for losing them in the first place." 
• So I email Canada "Game off - his manager said so"
• And then I get an email from the manager saying "still send them, just send ground"  Game on!!!!!
• And finally I get a voicemail from the rep (because for some reason he has an  aversion to calling me in the office and always calls me on my cell and leaves a message....) that he has, indeed, found his original samples and now requires none from Canada.
• So I'm back at email apologizing to the guys in Canada (I have a mental image of little elves running around the mail room*) and tell them finally "game off.  for real this time."

ARE YOU FRICKIN' KIDDING ME?!?!?!?!?

Yes, this is how I spent my afternoon - dealing with stupid people.  I would like to request that everyone get a good might's sleep tonight so as not to have a repeat of this tomorrow.

Please and thank you.

*I would like to note that I do not, in any way, think of Canadians as elves.  It's just that elves seem so productive and live in a cold climate.  I'm sure this explains my random association.  I'm sure of it.