Okay, here we go.

So give me like 5 minutes to put it up but I'm moving blogs because we're (I mean Isaac and I but all you guys are invited too) moving onto an exciting and at times nervous adventure.

Part of the trepidation is that the mean person at work knows in general what's going on but I don't think they know how to even find my blog but it's more about the journey. So much unknown but I know it's going to be so great.

Also I don't know if I'll continue to blog on here but I'll definitely leave it up and who knows if I won't eventually move back to this blog. It feels kind of weird to change blogs but good too. So without anymore adieu.

I'm moving here.

Just remember, give me five minutes. :)

My sister wore me out this weekend.

OMG. It was so nice to see my sister this weekend and it's kinda weird she's still in town at a conference but I won't see her again before she leaves.

We went to La Conner and had breakfast and rambled about the adorable small town most of the day and then we went and grabbed Isaac and had sushi for dinner.

On Sunday we went to Archie McPhee's (if you have never been you have to go, even just to go) and then we walked the entire Woodland Park Zoo (which is an amazing zoo btw) and then we went shopping because I needed new summer shirts for work and Carrie wanted a glitter bag from the Gap (which happened to be on sale, score) and then, sadly it came to an end and I dropped her off at her hotel.

I also had to be handy woman again this weekend because our backdoor lock stopped working, and while it was spendy it was super easy to install and I don't have to worry about how we're going to lock and unlock to get in the house.

Also? I'm pretty sure I'm going to unveil my surprise this evening. Still kinda nervous about it because it's gonna make it really real. While right now it's still kinda nebulous (but I promise, it's a good surprise). Sorry to keep dangling it there in front of you! I'm really not trying to be mean, promise. It will be up tonight.

Grand Mama Elizabeth

So when I was little my parents divorced (completely for the better) and both remarried. My stepdad's parents also divorced when he was in high school and so my step grandfather remarried a woman by the name of Elizabeth. We were not allowed to call her Grandma (she was younger than my mom so I can see why, this also irritated my mom. That she was younger I mean) we could only call her Elizabeth. And she was British (although I don't know how long she actually lived in Britain), she loved telling us this and over doing her accent. Along with not being able to call her Grandma she renamed my sister Lindsay, calling her instead Leslie because Lindsay was not a British name. True story. That annoyed both Lindsay and I to no end.

But the bright side was that she had horses, Morgan horses to be exact (at first I actually thought the names of the horses were Morgan so I was rather confused. I was quickly corrected in my thinking) and whenever we would visit she allowed us to ride them. That and she along with my step grandfather (who I was allowed to call grandfather) would always take us to the beach and we would get ice cream afterwards.

With that said I'm really super excited today because tomorrow morning I am picking my sister Carrie up from the airport and I get to spend tomorrow and half of Sunday with her before dropping her off to attend the conference she'll be in town for.

I'm looking forward to this:

Well, minus Keith (Miss you man, and the Monkey but you guys get to go see family this weekend too which is awesome. :) ) And to give credit, Kendall (Keith's mom) took this picture last year on their yearly family vacation.

Just a little something.

So my friend Jilian found this on a blog yesterday but I don't know what blog it is so I can't give credit. Sorry. But I think it's funny.

Although mine would say: "Loving me is hard because I'm annoying."

Just ask my husband. He LOVES it...

The way it goes.

I wish that I was able to write down conversations that I have with myself everyday but they usually happen when I'm driving or no hope of a prayer to make it to a computer. I think they're really cool internal dialogues when I'm having them and pretty lame afterwards. Also? I can never remember all my bullet points of what ever topic it is.

But today I'm just feeling grateful. And I wish I could unveil my surprise but I can't just yet. I haven't had time to finish getting it ready and I still need a few items. The chalkboard map of the USA is by shopdirtsa and you can find her on etsy.

Grateful that I have loving parents and inlaws and that my older sister is coming into town this weekend and I haven't seen her in person in quite a while.


Grateful that I have a great job even if I have been running around this morning like a chicken with my head cut off. I have a new boss and she's wonderful but my old boss didn't tell her quite a few things and so helping her figure things out has pushed my job back and it's been kinda stressful. But I know it will get better and smoother it's just getting through the orientation period.

Happy Monday y'all.

P.S.
Don't buy the shirt I'm wearing today. Well you can't really because I bought it last fall at Eddie Bauer but I think you get my point. I saw it and thought "that's really cute, I wonder why there are so many left on the sale rack". I'm slow. It's a cotton 3/4 length sleeve shirt with lots of ribbon pulled through it.
Problem one: The ribbon pulled through? Obviously this created a lot of holes to which the ribbon easily falls out of. Enter a lot of cursing and pulling it back through.
Problem two: Because holes were made in the shirt for said ribbon the holes enlarge in size naturally. Meaning the ribbon starts falling out on it's own. The ribbon also becomes untied all on it's own. Enter more cursing.
Problem three: The shirt is cotton as mentioned above but it is pilling only under my left arm. WTF.
Problem four: I still love this shirt. I am slow.

Checking in

I know I missed posting yesterday but it's the beginning of the month at work and even without the holiday I've been so bogged down with work I'm a day behind. And also? True Blood recently came out on DVD and since I don't pay for premium channels all I want to do is watch it.

But big things are a foot (I love that saying) and I'm working on a new project that I will reveal soon. But currently I'm still a day behind.

New music for you:

And my new project will involve this:

I know, but I don't want to blow the surprise. :)

Isaac

This is for my husband. Because Saturday was our 6th wedding Anniversary.

And I love this photo because I took it and you're looking at me like you really love me.

I love you and all that you do. I appreciate all the hard work, long hours and determination you've given to this union to make sure it works. We're in this together and while we butt heads at times we know how to give and take and talk about the really hard stuff.

And the beach was so amazingly nice this weekend. Even though it rained the sun came out and stayed out the entire time we were outdoors this weekend. And today I was so excited to come home and see that you'd planted most of our garden for this year. (Basil yet to come.)

I know, nothing says classy like 5 gallon buckets.

Yet another reason I'm going to hell.

I'm pretty sure I need to start this story off with saying I have a twin (it's kind of integral to the story). Also we grew up with a lot of sibling rivalry.

I don't remember why or how the thought popped in my head but I thought it would be funny to trick her (I couldn't have been more than 6, 7 at most). So on the spot I came up with a BRILLIANT plan. (I made her believe that everyone on earth did this. hehe) I told her that the real way people talked was that after they said something out loud they said it really fast again but under their breath (basically mouthing it to themselves). At first she thought I was pulling her leg because she didn't see adults doing that but I came with some brilliant reasoning. I told her that she never saw adults doing it because they had been doing it for so long that they did it so fast no one noticed. She believed me after that and she quickly got in the habit. I totally forgot about it but from time to time I would see her do it and remember and laugh to myself. I never corrected her. In fact I so fleetingly remembered she did this whole repeating under her breath back to herself until high school when someone else noticed and told her that it wasn't so.

True story.

I have to say in my defense that I didn't really think she would believe me so wholly and do it for so long. Also I rarely remembered that she did it I was so used to it.

Again, another reason I'm going to hell.

A few tips

1.) (or as I like to say "A - number one" I know it's weird, get used to it) Change the day on your date stamp. That way it actually looks like you come into work every day and all your invoices didn't come in on the same day. I mean May 23rd is a great day and all but don't make yourself look like you're a rock star on Monday and a slacker the rest of the week. Also (part b of the tip) you don't make it look like you're slowly handing out the invoices because this is all the work you have for the week (and hoping no one will notice it's all the same date) because it's not. Lots o'stuff to do.

P.S. no spell check on o'stuff but on definitely on rockstar. Hm. (also hm. Dear spell check, I'm not trying to spell him by mistake.)

2.) (B - number two, if you're curious) If you drink Starbucks via don't clean your coffee cup, just refill it with water. That way you can get every single gram of caffeine out of your cup. Also you're cleaning it out. Double the benefit. What? I didn't say it was for everyone.

3.) (etc., you get the picture. I don't know what happens after I reach number 26 though. My lists are normally short and so I've never encountered that problem.) Okay well I can't think of a third one but I thought I would continue the theme to finish the post. Happy Thursday people.

Update:
4.) Don't pat yourself on the back when you find your website bookmark for shipping because you're too distracted by bright colorful shiny things. YOU BOOKMARKED IT. You already realized that you need a bookmark for a basic website. Bravo.

I think I need more coffee...

I can't make this up.

So on my way home tonight I had a cop come up behind me and literally ride my ass. Just as I was turning he turned on his lights and I seriously thought he was going to pull me over. I had no idea what it was that I had done.

The real story? As soon as I turned he turned his lights off and zoomed past me. He was seriously going to use his lights to make me get over so he could pass me in busy city traffic. Like he had somewhere to go. Um, what?

Apparently I need to tell a cop "you only use your lights in an emergency". Passing someone IS NOT AN EMERGENCY.

Thanks for the anxiety cop. Thanks a lot.


This doesn't help my complex with cops AT ALL.

A couple of things...

Apparently I look like I just graduated from high school (still) and people are shocked to learn I am married even though I wear (wait for it) an engagement and a wedding ring. I only mention this because it happened yesterday, and it's not the first time. I mean I'm all for looking younger than I am (score!) but a teenager or barely 20 year old? Still kinda confused.

Also apparently not only do I look cuter than the guy that normally works our front desk (whew! I was worried there) but I have him BEAT BY A MILE. And apparently it would be hard to beat how cute I am. This is coming from two old men who I assume have problems with their vision (I mean we're all going to get there some day, right?) visiting a resident at the facility I work at. I assume, one might be the resident. I don't actually work with the residents so I can put very few of their faces with their names.

Also the world will actually end on October 21, 2011. He was just six months off...

You're welcome. Apparently I have to sit here and do all the leg work for you. Don't tell me that's an oxymoron because I can totally move my legs while I sit here. Can anyone tell me why I exasperate my husband with my line of thinking? I have no clue.

Phoning it in.

I was looking at the pictures I've taken with my phone this weekend and thought "this is gold" (I know I'm not a good source of judgement). Because normally I take pictures on my phone and then forget all about them. I am finally doing something with them.

Deer!

I took this one for my Dad because apparently he works in the same town as me (not).

Really? This is just funny.

I am apparently part of a small minority that follows the no dumping your home garbage at the rest stop garbage bins. Why else would they have this sign? Also? You only get to rest for 10 minutes. Do these people seriously not have children or pets?

I surprised Isaac with this one.

Baby lamb! Seriously cute.

This is just cool.

(I am so going to hell) Written by someone who has at least two degrees (neither in English though) and from the US. I realize (besides the two degrees this could be my husband). It just makes me giggle.

And new music because I haven't done it in a while. I need to make better decisions because nothing below save the last one has really blown me away. It's not bad, just kinda ho hum. I do love all these artists though.

I was disappointed by this album and I love Kate Nash.

May 22, 2011

I didn't take this but I wish I had. I took this from a friend on Facebook. :)

Today's your last day.

Because the end of the world is coming tomorrow, but at least someone is there to look after the pets. I was planning on a fun no work weekend (my first one after three weekends in a row) but no, now the rapture is screwing me over (yes I know saying that is going to send me to hell, I've accepted it already). At least today is better weather than what is predicted for tomorrow.

(Yes I snuck this picture in because there has been nothing lately.)

So thank you weather for being on the side of the hedonists. Or maybe the weather turns worse tomorrow because of the beginning of the rapture? I'm just confusing myself now.

I'll see you all on Monday, you know, unless you go to Heaven. Otherwise then, good luck.

Some thoughts

This is basically just a mind dumping because I haven't had time to put anything together. Too busy and then just wanting to relax, besides obviously I would rather watch Biggest Loser and Glee than use my mind for thinking about what to type (also why do I have to have topics? I feel lame otherwise.) here.

My current boss at work has resigned and her replacement started yesterday. I had applied for the job but I really don't feel any resentment or bitterness. Honestly. They needed to hire who they felt was right for the job and that wasn't me. I've always felt that I have a job because the company has a need for a certain job to be done and they think I'm pretty stellar at what I currently do. Also? So far she's really cool and I like her a lot.

(Totally different topic now, because that's how my mind works)

When I got home yesterday Isaac had taken out the trash (love it) which kind of ended our nonverbal (non-hostile) stand off as to who was going to do it and who had the most skillz at getting just one more piece in before it over flowed (I'm a really good smoosher). However he never puts a liner in because apparently that's my specialty (which is true, he doesn't know how to get it just under the lip and slide it in the holder so it stays) yet fails to ask me and I only find out when my hands are full of garbage opening the lid to can sans liner. But I have to give him credit he cuts up whole chickens (much cheaper) and though he has showed me how many times I refuse to learn because it's what he's good at (I know I'm so sweet like that). Also that boy can cook a piece of meat to perfection and while mine is decent it's usually slightly over done and a little dry (that's what they created sauce for right?).

Credit where it's due, give some today. :)

What would you do?

No really. If you didn't have to work for money but you still had to work. Well I guess chose to work would be a more correct statement. Your bills are taken care of, money is in the bank and you even have time for fun. I think this is how we all should look at life but I realize that's rather idyllic.

We all (well most of us) have to work everyday and it's not at what our life's passion is because that's not currently paying the bills ( and sometimes nor will it ever). And while I like my current job it's not what I really want do. I like that I help people and that it's rather predictable (kind of a double edge sword) and I work with great people but I just feel inside that it's not enough.

What I really want to do is be a Physical Therapist for special needs babies and children. And while I love the comfort of routine I know at first I wouldn't have that but I would find it. And I would go back to school right now if I could but I so cannot afford it so it stays a wish.

But someday I will, even if it's a little further off than I like because I'm pretty sure I've loved babies since I was one. And my second favorite thing is helping people. Match the two together and whammo, I'm pretty sure I'd be in heaven (not to mention the pay isn't half bad either). Now I know, every job has it's pit falls and that this specific job I yearn after isn't quite as great as I think it would be but I still want it. So here's to hoping sooner than later.

What job wold you do if you could do anything?

It's Friday

And all that that title does is put the Justin Bieber song in my head (no I haven't ever willingly listened to it, what are you talking about?!?!). Which reminds me of the teller at the bank I go to every day for work because he hates Justin Bieber and for his birthday his coworkers got him Justin Bieber balloons. So now I call him Beebs everyday. He LOVES me. No really. Well, maybe.

And now I'm thinking I'm writing an entire post about Justin Bieber which was SO not my goal. This is really just a stream of consciousness post.

I'm also so glad blogger is back up because it was driving me crazy and I couldn't prepare a post. (Do not tell me I could have just used Word, because I could have but that defeats my excuse. Stick with me.) So instead today you're getting a half assed Justin Bieber and stream of consciousness post. OMG I need to stop saying Justin Bieber.

Work again tomorrow but I'm off next weekend (yay!) and Sunday I'll get to see my husband whom I have seen very little of as of late because we have been working polar opposite schedules but today is the last day of that. So starting Sunday I'll finally get to see him everyday. I don't know how couples that have this schedule do it. I miss him a ton.

Happy Friday!

How I read.

From left to right. Duh. End of blog post.

Just kidding.

I have a degree in English but this however, does not make me any sort of authority on books. Like wine I read what I like. (And this is making me question how self centered this entire blog post is because I am going to make you listen, well you're choosing to listen, to what I like to read. But really isn't a blog entirely self centered anyway? Sorry, done with the tangent.)

I can't read too much adult literature (and I don't mean that adult literature) because so much of it starts out downhill and then continues to end that way. Or it starts out okay and then ends downhill. I can't stand stories that end depressing, heartbreakingly sad. I feel like life has enough heartbreak, tough decisions to make, and moral gray area that I can't read about it. If I have to live through the real world and all it's up and downs I don't need to escape to situations the same as my own or worse. Because I prefer to be happy and pass that happiness on. (I know my snarkiness really conveys that on here.)

So I read teen literature or sci fi. Teen literature at the very worst ends on a cliffhanger to be resolved in the next book or on an even keel. That I can take. If it's sci fi then it's not so bad because even if it ends down (mostly it ends like teen literature) it's not of this world and I can take that. I don't have to worry about that scenario happening to me or someone I know or even having the knowledge that that possibility has happened or will happen to someone.

So there. I'm currently reading the Dresden Files which ends just the way I like it. :)

Yes I fully admit I'm a dork and I added the pictures to give you something pretty to look at as a reward for reading my post.

Wash, rinse, repeat.

This is how I feel my life has been lately, and I'm tired. So tired. I literally sat on the couch most of yesterday. Called Lori though and wished her a happy Mother's day. I think I should mention here that I'm also working 6 days a week, lest anyone just think I'm lazy.

You know the montage that they sometimes show in movies of people going through the days between when the date of something important is set up and the reaching of that date. Yeah, that's me except if there is something important coming up I was asleep when it was found out. And no one's told me yet.

And I don't have anything pretty or exciting to show you. I think this would be much more entertaining if someone else wrote this blog post and I could just comment on it. I hate it when I run out of ideas and I'm too tired to come up with anything fun or exciting and nothing is popping into my head except the tasks ahead of me today.

You can skip this one, I won't mind.

Update: (this is how exciting I am)
I would appreciate people who are wearing large amounts of cologne to stop walking into my office. I already have a massive sinus headache that I have taken plenty of pain medication for and I can still slightly feel it. So, your cologne? Not. Helping. Also I am then having to use my Febreze to cover that crap up. I would prefer to not have to waste it. Thank you very much.

Also people asking for kleenex of all things. I bring my own in because I have aforementioned sinus clog up very often and the kind provided by the facility is hell on my nose. I'm glad the secret is out that I have the good stuff. Go get your own. I don't bother you for your personal crap. Although I do have to admit having everything but the kitchen sink, and stamps. I'm currently out. What can I say (besides the stamps) I like to be prepared.

How I mistakenly, possibly, maybe (can't find him) have a child I didn't know about...

So apparently I have a son named Adam that I just found out about... That or someone has the wrong number but left me a message anyway wanting my son Adam to come over for a slumber party. I'm still not sure which one it is.

I mean I guess it's possible I have have a son I don't know about... I mean I am a bigamist and I have no idea what Hankadalberto is up to half the time. I'm pretty sure Isaac would have mentioned that we had a son named Adam though. Especially if he was of slumber party going age. Although at this point I'm starting to think Adam was kidnapped because I can't find him anywhere. And I have to say that I must have been on some really good drugs to not remember the pregnancy and to name him Adam. No offense to all the Adams out there (I mean I obviously named my son that, you know the one I can't find). And I like the name Adam but if I were to name my son one of the generic male names I think it would have been Ben.

The only other conclusions I can come up with is Susie asking one of her friends to call me and leave that message. You know, it's her way of pretending I've given her grandchildren. (I can say this about her because it is something she would do. Also she knows this blog exists but just never reads it.) Or, the guy who called me has no idea what the names of Adam's parents are. Yes, maybe his mother's name is Sarah, I mean I could throw a tennis ball and hit another one, easy.

So dear confused man who I'm not going to call back and explain that I don't have a son (I think, I'm still looking to make sure), I don't think Adam can make it. Well at least my Adam, I have to find him first.

Yesterday, oh and Monday too.

Well yesterday, again it's another night before post talking in the present when writing and not posting. Just keep in mind it's last night, well right now... well... damn it. You know what I mean. Right?

So our next door neighbors are currently building a garage with a mother in law over top and I just had to ask the contractor to go home. No seriously. I know it's only 8pm right now (and I really need to go to bed) but I get up at 4am and so my bed is calling and he was still $%@%#$ hammering away. I have just worked two ten hour days sans lunch (eating as I work, so. much. fun. someone slap me) and I can't even get peace and quiet at home to unwind. I was at a point of blowing a gasket.

I mean I know he has a job to do but this is where I come to zone out at the end of the day and being unable to really sucks. It helps that he was so willing to cooperate and leave. I just don't understand having to ask him to leave at 8pm. After all the neighbor's on the other side of me have three small children and I'm sure they were loving it. I'm surprised the dad didn't ask him to stop before me.

Okay off to bed. Maybe I'll have something witty or fun to add tomorrow.

Nope, still tonight.

Funny thought:
So you know when kids are really young you can write things down or spell them out loud and they have no idea what you're saying. I'm going to make funny t-shirts (I originally thought banners and running around the house with them laughing maniacally but then I realized it would be for my benefit only) with things like "Hey kids! Guess what? We're going to Disneyland!!!" on the front and then on the back "No, no, not really Mommy was only pulling your leg." So I can laugh to myself and then when they can actually read actually getting them with the joke. Although I'm sure I will then be pestered to go to Disneyland once they read the shirt.

Sometimes I can't come up with a title, you know this is going to be a hodge podge

Oh man yesterday was so nice and sunny. I thought that I was going to have to work this entire past weekend but Isaac and I couldn't figure out how the grocery shopping or any other household chores would get done so I got to stay home Sunday while Isaac worked the second day of the event. (I would however like to point out that Saturday I worked a different event all by myself) I felt bad but I was also very grateful, still really guilty. I slept in until 8:30, that's late for me, by like four and half hours. I did have to get up at 4:30am to feed the cats because they're incessant.

But I shopped, cleaned, did laundry, mowed and did dishes. This was still a relaxing day. If I would have gone with Isaac none of this would have gotten done and yes I would have been back up for him but it mainly would have been just to spend time with him and technically, we got twice as much done by being apart. (This is why being an adult sucks sometimes.) Oh yeah, and I got to sleep in and watch way too much coverage of Will and Kate's wedding because Isaac won't watch it with me. Sure, I mean he'll voluntarily watch (I always have to look up the title because I forget it) The Secret Life of the American Teenager all by himself because I refuse to watch it, see example here. But the Royal Wedding, pull his teeth out. He even sat on the remote so I couldn't get to it. He even stayed sitting on the remote when I conceded to watch the Pixar documentary instead because he'd already seen it. Did I mention I mowed the lawn? I love the look of a mowed lawn. Sorry I'm kooky, I'm still tired.

And (I always find things I want dang it) I really want these boots, and I found some loafers they make that I want too, and some ballerina flats. Must. Stop. Looking. They're made by Frye.

Yes, I know there's a theme here. :)

This just in... President Obama is an American citizen.

How did we not already know this? I mean come on, how many times has this been laid to rest? GET OVER IT.

That's all I'm saying about that.

What I really want to talk about is what I can't talk about. Or at least where I draw the line of personal but still public enough to share and too personal. Because right now I'm kinda stuck in limbo. I have things that I'm talking about in my personal life but sharing online is too personal. (And because I know someone out there is thinking it, still not pregnant. Just so we're clear.) So I kind of don't have a lot to talk about, but I do. It leaves me with writers block.

I know I've always been compelled to write, and I mainly write poetry apart from this blog. Although I don't write as much as I used to. I've been told I'm a really good poet who should seriously consider publishing, but I know a lot of poets are told that. I also remember in high school junior French class our teacher (Madame Case if you really want to know) asked all of us impromptu to write a short poem in English on the back of one of our pop quizzes. Our names were not on the pop quizzes as it was simply an exercise, nothing we were being graded on. And she drew mine out and read it after they were all passed to the front of the class. I only remember I wrote about how I could hear the mourning dove. She asked who wrote it and I raised my hand rather embarrassed as I don't like public attention. And I learned she loved it which made me happy despite the embarrassment. I tend to write sad poetry but I guess I think most all poetry is sad, so perhaps it's just my perception. Below is an unfinished poem that I love so far. Most poems I write fast, they just flow out but this one I know I want to get right, and it's taking its time.

Discipline

This is a practice of discipline

But I smell of a strange wind

Is this discipline inbounds?

A luminescent ray sloping down

This is a practice of discipline

But I feel like an unfound land to you

Umber and canary

Sights you’ve never gleaned

But my discipline is key

Necessitating cadence in hooves and sharps

The sun plays

On the burnt hills

Rolling and burning new pathways

While I am in a practice of discipline

Trying to wire myself back to you

I remember laughing at your complexity

Under arching my discipline

Becoming this strange wind

Losing the connection

Finding that you were across seas

Mistaken that you were in my beating chest

If you don't like Roller Derby, I don't know you.

So this weekend we went down and visited Isaac's parents whom we hadn't seen in quite a while. We stayed with Grandma like always and Susie Grandma and I went and got pedicures. This is one of the things I love the most. Whenever I go down Susie always treats us to pedicures and I love a French pedicure.

And then? Then that night we went to Roller Derby. Which is so much fun. Isaac's brother is one of the announcers for the Portland Rose City Rollers league.

My hometown team (apparently are the Rat City Rollergirls, which I knew, thankyouverymuch) was visiting and we had the privileged of watching four bouts between the two leagues.

I love the names, the costumes and the fun of it all. And it was a great time. If I remember correctly each league won two bouts and so they matched off evenly. I rooted for the Portland league (we were on their turf and Isaac's brother is one of their announcers) and Isaac rooted for Rat City. I tried to keep him quiet as we were sitting in the Portland section. He of course (and why I love him) didn't listen. Thankfully we didn't get beaten up.

If you need a good introduction to Roller Derby I would suggest the movie Whip It. Loved that movie.

And then we came home and crashed. We did all the little mundane things yesterday, you know cleaning, grocery shopping, cooking, etc. Tired today and my left hip hurts. Apparently I'm old.

Random Thought

So you know how you think random things and then once you have your idea fully formed you think "that has to have happened to someone."

Like someone super gluing their hands to the bottom of a tray of cupcakes and going into the ER to get it removed and everyone eating the cupcakes. And the person getting the tray taken off their hands getting really mad that all their hard work just went to waste. Because they made those cupcakes.

Have these thoughts ever happened to you? Yeah, I didn't think so. ;)

Something good

I was going to write about honesty today but instead for now, something good. Because I always look forward to the positive.

I want these:

They (nervous system, they're also on etsy) said they would be available through their website in April. Well April's almost over and I can't find them but they're trivets. Love.

Phoning it in.

I'm sorry about such lame posting lately and I promise it will get better... But not yet. For today, a quote from Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution last night.

"Sometimes in life you meet people that inspire you, sometimes you meet people that you want to inspire, and sometimes, you just want to stab yourself."

It makes sense in context. And also how I feel today. Friday should be better.

Also I have no happy pictures to post.

This post is a fail. LOL

Late

So today did not go at all how expected, but I'm okay with that. I'm reconciling.

I was told this morning by two different outside entities how to do my job... even though I did my job, in both cases. I had my trust betrayed today so I'm not sharing anything so close at work anymore. Well, I'm going to try really hard. I'm one of those people that is open and honest, almost to a fault and I assume everyone else is the same unless they blatantly aren't. I can forget that I shouldn't be so trusting. I had to take my computer in today because the imbedded camera stopped working, in a way and I found out last night. But I had to reschedule because the drama at work and too much work to do.

I eventually made it into the computer store today and even though I had two employees completely ignore me the three guys that helped me afterwards totally made up for it. Also my built in camera was an easy and cheap (read free) fix!

And some fun to make the evening better. Rainbows, cherry blossoms and daffodils.

Things I've learned

"If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention". - Author Unknown

For some reason this quote popped into my head today. When I was younger (yes I know I'm not old yet, lest you point it out to me) I used to think this phrase was cool and spot on. But the older I get I realize that it's not. I'm not saying that I don't get outraged (tailgating me or when we're stopped in traffic practically kiss my bumper with yours, it ain't pretty) but I've learned to mitigate my responses.

I can thank my mother for this but I'm guessing also age. I think when we're all younger we tend to jump in with our emotions and only with age do we learn to wait and see.

I know that there are terrible things in this world and things that are amazing horrible going on. But I work on making the change I can. Being outraged isn't going to get me anything but high blood pressure and possibly a stroke. Also who is it helping if I'm walking around all the time pissed off about all the bad things in the world?

I think that we need to model the type of behavior we want to see in the world because how else are we going to get there? How else are we going to pass it on?

I'm not saying that I'm not pissy sometimes or pessimistic but this is why I make jokes. To help myself turn things around. The difference I try to make is a mitigated response, a better solution because I've thought about what I'm going to say and how everyone can benefit.

I'll get off my soapbox now.

Aaaannnnndddd, completely unrelated. Go check this out it is hi-larious.

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/381487/april-12-2011/threat-level--rainbow

The No Good, Very Bad Day

So yesterday sucked. Not that there was anything catastrophic that happened just a lot of little obstacles that made my day much more difficult and they added up. (I'm writing this last night and therefore phrasing it in the past tense. Make sense? Moving on.) But we're not going to dwell on it because I already had a melt down last night at the grocery store and while getting gas. I called my mother in law (she said that it wasn't a meltdown) to help make it through. God, I love that woman.

So we're focusing on the good. Like this:

Which arrived yesterday (still talking in the past tense and it's still weird) on my front porch and made me a very happy girl. I've loved the smell and taste of watermelon jolly ranchers since I was a wee thing. And this is exactly like it.


And this:

Which is a dish I love and when I give myself into the process, cooking is relaxing. Whenever I buy scallops Isaac knows exactly what I'm going to make. :) So looking forward to lunch today.


And these:

Which helps me through on quiet days and rough evenings sometimes. And I have to confess that I finally made an honest woman of myself and bought them last night and stopped listening to her just on grooveshark. I don't know why I'm drawn to Christian music to lift me up but sometimes I am. I'm definitely spiritual and while I lean on Christianity because that's how I was raised I don't have any affiliations. But let me shatter your illusions because sometimes it's Britney Spears or Katy Perry that does the trick, but who's counting?

To settle a disagreement

So yesterday Noop (my coworker) and I were having a discussion as to which sport the term "box your ears" comes from because I was offering to give him cauliflower ears (I know, so generous of me, right?) due to the fact that he was sleepy at work and I knew that's just what he needed to wake up. I often offer to punch him in the kidney too (this is all in good fun which he also knows, because I'm not a violent person, really). I was lobbying for boxing because boxing is in the phrase, duh. He was adamant it was wrestling. We decided on a draw because I wouldn't concede because boxing is in the phrase, duh. So then I went back to my desk and Wikipediaed it and apparently he's right, damn it.

Boxing is in the phrase. This. Makes. No. Sense. So I need someone to appoint themselves the lobbyist to get this phrase changed. I don't care how old it is (the phrase that is), it needs to make sense. And because I'm too busy with working and too lazy other times to actually commit to it. Okay, I'll correct myself whom ever this person is needs to lobby for two phrases "wrestle your ears" and "rugby your ears", because apparently it also happens in rugby, NOT IN BOXING THOUGH.

If whom ever this person is is victorious in having the phrase changed I myself will change it on Wikipedia and thus prove I am right. Long after I'm sure, when we won't work together anymore and my point is so moot because he doesn't even remember the conversation. But I however, clung on just to prove I'm right. Because I'm like that. Tenacious. :)

So go tell someone you're going to rugby their ears and see what response you get. Let me know.

So weird I'm unique or so unique I'm weird... Which one is it?

Okay so I admit it, I'm kinda quirky. Weird crap makes me really happy. Like at work I have to make up charts from time to time and I have to use prong sets (see below if you have no idea what that means). Normally I get the cheapo's which are fine and it saves the company money, which is good. But sometimes? Sometimes Office Max runs out of the cheapo sets and then has to send us the safety prong sets at no extra cost. That makes this girl so freakin' happy that I horde them. No really, it's okay I'm also the only person who uses them. I just don't want them in the line of sight of others who see something nice and shiny and just want to take them for themselves just to have something nice and shiny. Yes I know I'm weird and no one else thinks like this. I'm okay with that.

I went to Target this weekend for some socks but they didn't have the ones I want but they had some mints I was looking for. So not disappointed. They remind me of the old Velamints once you get through the rough outer coating.

This weekend was hard because I didn't really get a break. I worked a Farmer's Market on Saturday and was so tired when I got home at 4pm I slept on the couch until Isaac woke me up to go to bed at 8pm. I was still so tired I slept until 9am Sunday morning. And then yesterday was just chores, but at least the house is clean and mostly put away. I think next weekend I'm just sitting on the couch, and this week I'm going to go to bed on time.

Ole!

So probably one of my favorite memories of playing with my brother Bryce when he was little was when we would play what we termed "Matador". (Sorry, Corey I don't know why we didn't play it with you. Maybe we did and you didn't like it. I don't think you've suffered much from all the other times we played with you though.) I have told this story to Bryce so many times that the memories that he has of it are my own.

I believe he was 4 or 5 and we had this really big living room (for some reason we would always play this in the living room even though we had a huge playroom downstairs) where we would stand him next to a wall. We would give him a cape or a small blanket that he could hold (and he was so willing to hold it every time, all grins and giggles) exactly like a Matador. Then Carrie Lindsay or I would get on all fours a little ways away from him (like a bull) and charge him. I believe we made bull sounds, but maybe not, it was a long time ago. As soon as we would charge, Bryce would drop what ever it was we gave him to hold and run away laughing. Only to immediately come back and ask us to do it again. I am mentioning this because occasionally it crosses my mind and it did last night so I thought "why not blog about it". Because you too if you have small children and are willing to play the bull can play this game. I know I will with my own children when I finally have them.

And as a side note, another game that I loved to play was when I was in high school and worked at a daycare after school was heads up 7-up. I watched 2-4 year olds and I loved every second of it. Teaching them to play heads up 7-up was quite possibly one of the funniest afternoons I've ever had. I think we kept at it for about an hour and a half (because they had the attention span for it, apparently they really wanted to learn it) and they still hadn't gotten it right by the time we ended. But in their defense they had majorly progressed to not peeking when someone touched their thumbs.

Okay so there you go. Good childhood memories and fun games to play with little ones.

Random Musings

So what do you call a Reuben with turkey? A Rachel.
What do you call a Rachel with Cheddar cheese? I don't know, and it was that or Muenster because I didn't have any Havarti or Swiss. It was really good even though I had some trepidation.

Just learned why trepidacious is not a word, because that's the word I was going to use.

I've watched two new (to me) movies lately. Eat, Pray, Love and Love and Other Drugs. Just realized and found it funny that they both have Love in the title.

Eat, Pray, Love made me kind of introspective and want to start meditation to help my anxiety. I'm kind of still thinking about starting the meditation and I saw it on Sunday. I'm thinking that's a good sign.

Love and Other Drugs I watched last night. It was really good, I'm contemplating watching it again tonight. Although if you've seen it did you find the part about her saying that she told a cat I love you kinda odd? I mean it was funny I know it's a joke but obviously I'm still musing as to how it pertains. Yup, I know I'm over thinking it but do you ever find moments in movies do that to you too?

Colo-ray-do

Yay! I went to go visit my parents and it was fantastic. It was so nice to spend time with them and play with Scout! Sadly, I didn't take any pictures of Scout. I don't really know how I forgot that...

I helped Lori learn how to knit in the round, assemble and put her project board up in her sewing room, and create some quilting square projects. We all watched the KU game where they were beaten (ugh, next year), skyped with Carrie, Keith and Eamon, and spent time together in the evenings (Dad had to work during the day). Lori and I went to Ouray for a day (pronounced you-ray) and for the last day I was there we drove up through the Colorado National Monument for which the weather was perfect. Lori and I tried to make 3(!) angel food cakes, none of which turned out. I made one last night at home just to prove I still could (it worked out just fine, dang elevation).

And now I'm obsessed with knitting ballband dishcloths. Lori was showing me all the dishcloths she has knit and I've always wanted to make ballband ones, so we both started that. And by obsessed I really mean it. I bought enough to make at least 5 but maybe 6? They go really fast. Picture below I just pulled off flickr to give a representation of what they look like.