New Year's Eve! Can you believe it?! I certainly can't.
One of the big questions every year is what will we do on New Year's Eve? There are always a ton of options on probably the biggest party night of the year. But, as you get older I think you lose the desire to partake in some of those options. We're, sadly, still trying to decide what we'll be doing tonight. At this point, it looks a lot like nothing. But, if you do nothing it's so anti-climatic. You feel like a bum or a party pooper for not whooping it up with a little more oomph. Watching the celebrations on TV just makes me envious that I'm not in the MTV studios in Time Square. Not that I'd ever get in but it just looks like so much fun.
The first option on New Year's Eve is going out. There are bars and street parties galore tonight. Almost every venue in the world is hosting some kind of New Year's Eve celebration. It would be very fun to get all dressed up in something shiny and go out to party with the masses. Drink and dance and go crazy on the last night of the year. The problem with this option is that most of these bars and other party places charge and arm and a leg for admission. Who has $100 per person to get into a club? Crazy! Secondly, you have to consider how you'll get home from the event. Have you ever tried catching a cab past midnight on New Year's Eve? Not so easy. That means that one of the persons in your party will have to not drink so they can safely and responsibly drive everyone else home. That's never fun for that person. You could always stay in a hotel within walking distance but add the price of a room to your bar tab and the $100 cover charge and you've got yourself a pretty hefty bill at the end of the night.
Option 2. Go to a New Year's Eve party at someone's house. Assuming you know someone who is throwing a party, this isn't a bad option. You can still get dressed up and party and have a good time. It's a much cheaper option than going out too. But, unless you are planning on sleeping over, you'll still have to deal with how to get your drunk ass home. And, even if someone does step up to be the designated driver, you still have to worry about being on the roads with those people who weren't so responsible. Drunk drivers scare the hell out of me so I' d prefer to be off the roads all together tonight. Also, when choosing to go to a party at a friend's house, you have to be careful about whose party it is. Joe and I found this out last year. We went to a party at his co-worker's house and, while the people were all very nice, they just weren't our close friends. It was like ringing in the New Year with a bunch of strangers. It made us both kind of sad.
Of course, you could always step up and throw a party of your own. This is by far my favorite option. I love having parties and get so excited to make the food and decorate and host people in my home. I've thrown a New Year's Eve party before and had a wonderful time. You have the bonus of just being able to fall into your bed at the end of the night. I also wouldn't mind if our friends needed to sleep over. We've got plenty of room for everyone to crash. My only problem with this plan this year is who to invite. All my friends are far away or on-call for work or have children. If I planned a party, most likely it would just be me and Joe. Maybe if I would've planned earlier people could've rearranged their schedules but it would still probably be a very small group. I had suggested a small dinner party with my sisters but we never followed through on the plan. Now it's just too late.
I hope the rest of you have something splendid going on this evening. I may have to run to Publix and grab a cheap bottle of Andre Blush Champagne just so we can have a cork to pop at midnight. But, Joe doesn't drink champagne so I'd be stuck drinking the whole bottle. Hey, that might not be such a bad idea after all.... the night could be looking up. LOL... Whatever your plans are for tonight, be safe and enjoy yourselves. Don't drive drunk and if you have to be on the roads please, please, please wear your seatbelt! I hope you all have a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!
Monday, December 31, 2007
Friday, December 28, 2007
Changes
I've always been very proud of the relationships I have with my girlfriends. We've been friends for 14 years and have experienced just about everything together. They are the people who have known me best. The ones who know what I'm thinking just by looking at my facial expression. The ones who've "got my back" when I need some support. The ones who I can depend on to tell me that I'm being unreasonable. I have always treasured my relationship with my girls.
Recently, though, I've noticed that our friendships seem to be going off track. We used to all be on the same page with boyfriends, college, jobs, weddings, houses.... Lately it seems like we're not even reading the same book. We're all at very different points in our lives and it feels like we just don't relate like we used to. We've all got our own personal issues that we're dealing with from infertility to career change to child care to divorce. And, of course, each of those issues is the most important thing to whoever is facing it. I just feel sad that we seem to be drifting in such opposite directions.
I've always heard and been told that marriage is hard work. You and your partner are constantly growing and changing and you have to keep talking and growing with each other to make sure it works. I never thought I had to do the same thing with my friends. I think I took for granted them always being there even if we didn't talk all the time or see each other as much as we'd like. They've been such a constant in my life that I figured they'd always be here. They're all still here but it's definitely not the same.
At this point, I feel like we're just doing the least amount that is necessary to stay in contact. We email several times a week but it's really turned into a generic email to everyone describing your past weekend and what you'll be doing the next weekend. There isn't any depth anymore. The phone calls are definitely fewer and farther between and the actual face-to-face visits are turning into a semi-annual (or annual) event.
I know that I am partially to blame. I've gotten very wrapped up in my life and problems that I don't reach out as often as I should. We all are busy with work and home and whatever else we have going on. It's easier to sit down and pop out a quick mass email than it is to take the time to call her and listen to what's really going on with her. Maybe it's true what they say about the "email age". Sure we can keep in touch easier but you lose a lot of thoughtfulness in translation.
So, I think I am going to add another item to my "goal list" for 2008. I am going to try to be a better friend. I'm going to make an effort to get to know my girlfriends again. I will try to pick up the phone more often and not while I'm doing 10 other things. I'm going to go find a quiet place, close the door and actually listen. I am going to try to make an effort to visit my out of town girls and make more lunch and/or dinner dates with my in-town gal. And girls, if you're reading this, I'm sorry for neglecting you. Our friendships mean so much to me and I'd hate to lose them over something as dumb as being lazy. I may not understand exactly how you feel with whatever problem you're dealing with but I will always be here to listen to you vent.
Recently, though, I've noticed that our friendships seem to be going off track. We used to all be on the same page with boyfriends, college, jobs, weddings, houses.... Lately it seems like we're not even reading the same book. We're all at very different points in our lives and it feels like we just don't relate like we used to. We've all got our own personal issues that we're dealing with from infertility to career change to child care to divorce. And, of course, each of those issues is the most important thing to whoever is facing it. I just feel sad that we seem to be drifting in such opposite directions.
I've always heard and been told that marriage is hard work. You and your partner are constantly growing and changing and you have to keep talking and growing with each other to make sure it works. I never thought I had to do the same thing with my friends. I think I took for granted them always being there even if we didn't talk all the time or see each other as much as we'd like. They've been such a constant in my life that I figured they'd always be here. They're all still here but it's definitely not the same.
At this point, I feel like we're just doing the least amount that is necessary to stay in contact. We email several times a week but it's really turned into a generic email to everyone describing your past weekend and what you'll be doing the next weekend. There isn't any depth anymore. The phone calls are definitely fewer and farther between and the actual face-to-face visits are turning into a semi-annual (or annual) event.
I know that I am partially to blame. I've gotten very wrapped up in my life and problems that I don't reach out as often as I should. We all are busy with work and home and whatever else we have going on. It's easier to sit down and pop out a quick mass email than it is to take the time to call her and listen to what's really going on with her. Maybe it's true what they say about the "email age". Sure we can keep in touch easier but you lose a lot of thoughtfulness in translation.
So, I think I am going to add another item to my "goal list" for 2008. I am going to try to be a better friend. I'm going to make an effort to get to know my girlfriends again. I will try to pick up the phone more often and not while I'm doing 10 other things. I'm going to go find a quiet place, close the door and actually listen. I am going to try to make an effort to visit my out of town girls and make more lunch and/or dinner dates with my in-town gal. And girls, if you're reading this, I'm sorry for neglecting you. Our friendships mean so much to me and I'd hate to lose them over something as dumb as being lazy. I may not understand exactly how you feel with whatever problem you're dealing with but I will always be here to listen to you vent.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
The year in review
What a year it's been. I actually can't believe how soon it will be over. I've been trying to look back over my year and remember some of the ups and downs. It's really amazing how much I've forgotten already.
I started last year out at a New Year's Eve party at one of Joe's co-worker's houses. We weren't with our friends, we were with people we hardly knew and I really hated that. I remember watching the ball drop and being completely overwhelmed with sadness. I actually cried. I think that should've been an indication of how the year would go for me. It's been a really hard year. The hits started coming and really have just kept on coming for us. Joe and I kept wondering when it would be our turn for some good luck.
I can't say the year was all bad. There have been some changes recently that I think will put us in a better place for 2008. I got a new job that has amazing insurance that will actually pay for my fertility treatments. That in itself is huge for us. It's a difference of over $1000 a month that we won't have to come up with. It'll really help take some of the stress away from the treatments. We've decided to start back in the new year and are hoping for some success. It's hard to be optimistic but we're really going to try. It just seems like every time we get our hopes up we get knocked down even further.
Some great things have happened this year. I got two beautiful new nieces who I just adore. They are gorgeous and I'm loving watching them grow. I saw my nephew take his first steps in my living room. That's a memory that I'll cherish forever. I've started taking more responsibility for my health. Joining Jazzercise, while hilarious, is actually really benefiting me and I'm really proud of myself for continuing to go even when I'd really rather sit on the couch.
We got to travel a little bit this year too. Not as much as I'd hoped and not to as glamorous of locations as I'd like but it was nice to get away nonetheless. Our trip to Savannah was pretty much a bust. The rain kept us indoors and away from seeing some of the attractions. We did get to spend time with good friends so that was a highlight. Our trip to Alabama, while short, was very nice. We got to see Joe's family for the first time in months and it was very fun to be around them again. I know Joe misses them so much so I was happy that he was able to be in his element again. He fits in great with my family but nothing can compare to being with your own family. Hopefully next year we'll get some more opportunities to travel. I think I'm definitely going to look for somewhere more tropical.
This post is really hard for me to write and I almost feel like I'm dancing around the big, pink elephant in the room. I guess I just have to dive in and let it all out. Finding out I was pregnant in May was seriously the highlight of my year. When that happened I was on cloud 11. It was an overwhelming feeling of joy and happiness for both me and Joe. When I found out I had miscarried I was devastated but I really pushed those feelings away. I knew that miscarriages were very common. I know they happen all the time and that they are just a fact of life. I knew there was nothing I did that could've prevented it from happening. I think those are the things that got me through the initial shock and heartache. But now, eight months later, the pain is still here and it is still intense.
When I was thinking of writing this post, and I've been thinking about it for a week now, I couldn't help but think how my life would be different had I not lost the baby. I was due January 22, 2008 so that would make me 8 months pregnant right now. I would probably already know the sex of my baby, would have the nursery set up, would've already had my baby shower.... I would have a big, pregnant belly and would be feeling my baby move and kick. It's amazing to think that so much time has already passed. I was hoping to already be pregnant again before my due date came around but it looks pretty unlikely. It's really sad.
It's crazy but I think tonight, writing this post, is the first time that I've really sobbed thinking about my miscarriage. I've cried but I usually just tell myself it's a part of life and move on. I put on my brave face and my "happy" smile for the rest of the world to see. I don't know if it's the fact that I'm looking back on my year of ups and downs or that I'm finally just getting everything out that I've been holding in. It's feels kind of good actually. It's like acknowledging my grief will help me let it go. Hopefully letting go will help me move on and prepare for a new year. And hopefully the new year will be better than this one has been.
I don't usually make resolutions and probably won't this year either. I do have goals that I'd like to achieve so I guess those could be considered resolutions. I would like to be more responsible with my money and really start saving. I would like to re-do my kitchen and my backyard. I would like to continue exercising and eating a healthier diet. Obviously, I would like to get pregnant but I know that's the one thing I have no control over. But I think mostly, I'd like to let go of the past and start living for now. I want to live for me and Joe and what we've got going right now. Stop wondering about what might have been or what will be. Stop regretting decisions that I can't change now anyway. I want to go into 2008 with a clear mind and a clear conscience. I hope this post is a step in that direction.
If I don't post again between now and Christmas, I hope you all have a wonderful holiday filled with family and friends. Love you!
I started last year out at a New Year's Eve party at one of Joe's co-worker's houses. We weren't with our friends, we were with people we hardly knew and I really hated that. I remember watching the ball drop and being completely overwhelmed with sadness. I actually cried. I think that should've been an indication of how the year would go for me. It's been a really hard year. The hits started coming and really have just kept on coming for us. Joe and I kept wondering when it would be our turn for some good luck.
I can't say the year was all bad. There have been some changes recently that I think will put us in a better place for 2008. I got a new job that has amazing insurance that will actually pay for my fertility treatments. That in itself is huge for us. It's a difference of over $1000 a month that we won't have to come up with. It'll really help take some of the stress away from the treatments. We've decided to start back in the new year and are hoping for some success. It's hard to be optimistic but we're really going to try. It just seems like every time we get our hopes up we get knocked down even further.
Some great things have happened this year. I got two beautiful new nieces who I just adore. They are gorgeous and I'm loving watching them grow. I saw my nephew take his first steps in my living room. That's a memory that I'll cherish forever. I've started taking more responsibility for my health. Joining Jazzercise, while hilarious, is actually really benefiting me and I'm really proud of myself for continuing to go even when I'd really rather sit on the couch.
We got to travel a little bit this year too. Not as much as I'd hoped and not to as glamorous of locations as I'd like but it was nice to get away nonetheless. Our trip to Savannah was pretty much a bust. The rain kept us indoors and away from seeing some of the attractions. We did get to spend time with good friends so that was a highlight. Our trip to Alabama, while short, was very nice. We got to see Joe's family for the first time in months and it was very fun to be around them again. I know Joe misses them so much so I was happy that he was able to be in his element again. He fits in great with my family but nothing can compare to being with your own family. Hopefully next year we'll get some more opportunities to travel. I think I'm definitely going to look for somewhere more tropical.
This post is really hard for me to write and I almost feel like I'm dancing around the big, pink elephant in the room. I guess I just have to dive in and let it all out. Finding out I was pregnant in May was seriously the highlight of my year. When that happened I was on cloud 11. It was an overwhelming feeling of joy and happiness for both me and Joe. When I found out I had miscarried I was devastated but I really pushed those feelings away. I knew that miscarriages were very common. I know they happen all the time and that they are just a fact of life. I knew there was nothing I did that could've prevented it from happening. I think those are the things that got me through the initial shock and heartache. But now, eight months later, the pain is still here and it is still intense.
When I was thinking of writing this post, and I've been thinking about it for a week now, I couldn't help but think how my life would be different had I not lost the baby. I was due January 22, 2008 so that would make me 8 months pregnant right now. I would probably already know the sex of my baby, would have the nursery set up, would've already had my baby shower.... I would have a big, pregnant belly and would be feeling my baby move and kick. It's amazing to think that so much time has already passed. I was hoping to already be pregnant again before my due date came around but it looks pretty unlikely. It's really sad.
It's crazy but I think tonight, writing this post, is the first time that I've really sobbed thinking about my miscarriage. I've cried but I usually just tell myself it's a part of life and move on. I put on my brave face and my "happy" smile for the rest of the world to see. I don't know if it's the fact that I'm looking back on my year of ups and downs or that I'm finally just getting everything out that I've been holding in. It's feels kind of good actually. It's like acknowledging my grief will help me let it go. Hopefully letting go will help me move on and prepare for a new year. And hopefully the new year will be better than this one has been.
I don't usually make resolutions and probably won't this year either. I do have goals that I'd like to achieve so I guess those could be considered resolutions. I would like to be more responsible with my money and really start saving. I would like to re-do my kitchen and my backyard. I would like to continue exercising and eating a healthier diet. Obviously, I would like to get pregnant but I know that's the one thing I have no control over. But I think mostly, I'd like to let go of the past and start living for now. I want to live for me and Joe and what we've got going right now. Stop wondering about what might have been or what will be. Stop regretting decisions that I can't change now anyway. I want to go into 2008 with a clear mind and a clear conscience. I hope this post is a step in that direction.
If I don't post again between now and Christmas, I hope you all have a wonderful holiday filled with family and friends. Love you!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Every Kiss Begins With... Blah!
I'd like to take a moment to discuss the commercials that we're currently being inundated with by Kay Jewelers. Can I get a collective blah?! I don't know what advertising company came up with these lame ass commercials but I think it's time to put a stop to them. And, is there seriously women out there, apart from 16 year old girls, that actually buy into these commercials? My guess, they're the ones who wear shirts with Tweety bird on them that say sassy things like, "So Tweet". You know, the real classy ladies.
I guess I have a couple issues with the commercials. My first issue is the absolute, over-the-top cheese factor. Seriously, break the wishbone and you'll get some jewelry? Or, let's pick out a tree and you'll find a box of jewelry underneath. Or the best, our son will read you a fake story while I sneak up behind you with a box. Really?! Who are these people and how do they survive life without puking on themselves from being so cheesy? Those are right up there with the jewelry in food or drink. So not ok. I'm all for a romantic gesture but I think if Joe tried one of those things I might be tempted to laugh in his face and call him a girl. Why not just say, "sweetie I love you and I thought this gift would look beautiful on you." Sufficiently thoughtful and romantic without the sappy sweetness.
Another issue I have with the commercials is the guilt factor. They kind of make it seem like if I guy doesn't buy his girlfriend/wife a gift from Kay that he's not romantic or a good husband/boyfriend. I call bull on this one! A piece of jewelry does not make any man a good husband/boyfriend. It takes everyday gestures to earn that distinction, not just a little box on the holidays. I think it just puts so much pressure on the guy. It's like, if you don't spend a bunch of money on jewelry, how will your woman know you love her? I understand that the advertisers are just trying to make money but I feel really bad for the people who fall for it.
Issue number three is the generic gifts that they showcase. How about a journey diamond necklace, or a round pendant diamond necklace.... the same one that every other woman's husband was guilted into buying. I would much rather prefer a unique piece of jewelry that was picked for a thoughtful reason over a piece that was featured on sale for the holidays and came with a cute little bear and a box of chocolates. There are exceptions here. Diamond studs will always be in style. But, if you're a guy and reading this, toss the chocolates and the bear and wrap the present yourself. Lots of brownie points for that!
I guess my point here is don't be guilted into buying some crappy gift because of a really bad commercial. And I don't want to make it seem like I'm anti-jewelry, because that is so not the case. I just think that a gift should be thoughtful and purchased because you know that the recipient will love it. Look at her everyday style. Does she wear yellow gold or white gold, big trendy jewelry or simple and classic pieces? A little observation can go a long way to finding a gift that is perfect without being covered in generic cheese.
Happy holiday gift (and jewelery) shopping. Try not to get nauseous when watching the jewelry commercials... and try not to get sucked in! If you feel it happening for heaven's sake walk away, or at least change the channel!
I guess I have a couple issues with the commercials. My first issue is the absolute, over-the-top cheese factor. Seriously, break the wishbone and you'll get some jewelry? Or, let's pick out a tree and you'll find a box of jewelry underneath. Or the best, our son will read you a fake story while I sneak up behind you with a box. Really?! Who are these people and how do they survive life without puking on themselves from being so cheesy? Those are right up there with the jewelry in food or drink. So not ok. I'm all for a romantic gesture but I think if Joe tried one of those things I might be tempted to laugh in his face and call him a girl. Why not just say, "sweetie I love you and I thought this gift would look beautiful on you." Sufficiently thoughtful and romantic without the sappy sweetness.
Another issue I have with the commercials is the guilt factor. They kind of make it seem like if I guy doesn't buy his girlfriend/wife a gift from Kay that he's not romantic or a good husband/boyfriend. I call bull on this one! A piece of jewelry does not make any man a good husband/boyfriend. It takes everyday gestures to earn that distinction, not just a little box on the holidays. I think it just puts so much pressure on the guy. It's like, if you don't spend a bunch of money on jewelry, how will your woman know you love her? I understand that the advertisers are just trying to make money but I feel really bad for the people who fall for it.
Issue number three is the generic gifts that they showcase. How about a journey diamond necklace, or a round pendant diamond necklace.... the same one that every other woman's husband was guilted into buying. I would much rather prefer a unique piece of jewelry that was picked for a thoughtful reason over a piece that was featured on sale for the holidays and came with a cute little bear and a box of chocolates. There are exceptions here. Diamond studs will always be in style. But, if you're a guy and reading this, toss the chocolates and the bear and wrap the present yourself. Lots of brownie points for that!
I guess my point here is don't be guilted into buying some crappy gift because of a really bad commercial. And I don't want to make it seem like I'm anti-jewelry, because that is so not the case. I just think that a gift should be thoughtful and purchased because you know that the recipient will love it. Look at her everyday style. Does she wear yellow gold or white gold, big trendy jewelry or simple and classic pieces? A little observation can go a long way to finding a gift that is perfect without being covered in generic cheese.
Happy holiday gift (and jewelery) shopping. Try not to get nauseous when watching the jewelry commercials... and try not to get sucked in! If you feel it happening for heaven's sake walk away, or at least change the channel!
Sunday, December 9, 2007
What comes before Part-B?
PART-AY!!!
So, Joe and I survived my office Christmas party. We actually had a pretty nice time too. I didn't end up getting a dress but I did get a really cute red shirt. See picture to the left and in the family album.
The party was very nice. It was in a beautiful ballroom at the Radisson resort. I was shocked at the number of women in full-on ball gowns and cocktail dresses. I still didn't feel under dressed in my pants and shirt combo. I think I fooled most of my co-workers by straightening my hair and wearing red lipstick because until I walked up and said hello it seemed like none of them recognized me. I was also a little more "boobs-out" than I thought I would be. I hope they don't start thinking of me as the office hussy now. We didn't spend much time with my co-workers, we pretty much hung out at a table with our friends. Thank God they were there because I really don't think the night would've been as fun without them. I don't really know my co-workers that well so I didn't even know what to say to them. I pretty much just introduced Joe, said a few pleasantries and then bee-lined back to our table.
I also realized how long it had been since I'd been at a function and drank in front of other people. I've had a few beers here and there or had a couple of glasses of wine. Mostly at home though, where I wasn't responsible for talking to people. I knew I wasn't going to drink anything extravagant at the x-mas party and I stuck to red wine all night. But, I was only 1 glass in when my girlfriend looked over the buffet table at me and said, "Tricia are you buzzed already?". Apparently, she could already tell because I was really feeling it. It set in pretty quick. I had two more glasses and was feeling pretty good by the end of the night. I was reminded later that I went on a tirade on the ride home about some girl who only feeds her children organic food. I guess I was a little harsh but, seriously, who does that?!
The company gave out some pretty nice prizes. Unfortunately, I didn't win any but I was surprised by how many people did win something. I think the best part of the night was actually getting dressed up and going out somewhere. Being able to have drinks with friends and talk and laugh was great. Joe and I got to slow dance together for the first time in a long time so that was nice too. Probably the next time we'll get that opportunity will be Lindsey's wedding so I'm going to cherish it for now.
Welp, that's the run-down of the Christmas party. If you all went to any x-mas parties this season and have funny stories, I'd love to hear them. Don't forget I'm launching the shuttle later today. Look towards the sky around 3:20pm and give a little "absofreakinglutely" shout for me.
So, Joe and I survived my office Christmas party. We actually had a pretty nice time too. I didn't end up getting a dress but I did get a really cute red shirt. See picture to the left and in the family album.
The party was very nice. It was in a beautiful ballroom at the Radisson resort. I was shocked at the number of women in full-on ball gowns and cocktail dresses. I still didn't feel under dressed in my pants and shirt combo. I think I fooled most of my co-workers by straightening my hair and wearing red lipstick because until I walked up and said hello it seemed like none of them recognized me. I was also a little more "boobs-out" than I thought I would be. I hope they don't start thinking of me as the office hussy now. We didn't spend much time with my co-workers, we pretty much hung out at a table with our friends. Thank God they were there because I really don't think the night would've been as fun without them. I don't really know my co-workers that well so I didn't even know what to say to them. I pretty much just introduced Joe, said a few pleasantries and then bee-lined back to our table.
I also realized how long it had been since I'd been at a function and drank in front of other people. I've had a few beers here and there or had a couple of glasses of wine. Mostly at home though, where I wasn't responsible for talking to people. I knew I wasn't going to drink anything extravagant at the x-mas party and I stuck to red wine all night. But, I was only 1 glass in when my girlfriend looked over the buffet table at me and said, "Tricia are you buzzed already?". Apparently, she could already tell because I was really feeling it. It set in pretty quick. I had two more glasses and was feeling pretty good by the end of the night. I was reminded later that I went on a tirade on the ride home about some girl who only feeds her children organic food. I guess I was a little harsh but, seriously, who does that?!
The company gave out some pretty nice prizes. Unfortunately, I didn't win any but I was surprised by how many people did win something. I think the best part of the night was actually getting dressed up and going out somewhere. Being able to have drinks with friends and talk and laugh was great. Joe and I got to slow dance together for the first time in a long time so that was nice too. Probably the next time we'll get that opportunity will be Lindsey's wedding so I'm going to cherish it for now.
Welp, that's the run-down of the Christmas party. If you all went to any x-mas parties this season and have funny stories, I'd love to hear them. Don't forget I'm launching the shuttle later today. Look towards the sky around 3:20pm and give a little "absofreakinglutely" shout for me.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Come Clean
You all know how much I loath cleaning. I've talked about it here in embarrassing detail before. But, it's a necessary evil, and I hate bugs and dirt, so I am obligated to do it. I came across an article on MarthaStewart.com that talked about the guide to spring cleaning. I know it isn't spring but I've never really done a "spring cleaning" so I wanted to see what Martha suggested. What I learned from the article is that either I am the worst housekeeper ever or that Martha Stewart is a crazy, sadistic clean freak who gets her jollies from destroying dust bunnies.
I was shocked at the things Martha says I should be doing on an annual basis. Cleaning the refrigerator coils? Washing the window screens? Wash outdoor light covers? Huh?! I've lived here for more than three years and have never done any of that. Is that bad? Is that something that you people out there are doing? Why was I never taught that these were necessary things? I was intrigued and wanted to find out what else I wasn't doing that I was supposed to.
I found another section, "Routine Cleaning". Apparently, these are the things that I should be doing regularly throughout the week. Again, I was shocked while reading the suggestions. Hand washing the burners on the stove once a week? Removing the stove knobs to wash? Soaking the oven racks? Removing and cleaning the filter in the vent hood? (I didn't even know that one was possible) Cleaning the cabinets once a week? Washing the trash can once a week? Who has time for all that shit? Do you all do that stuff? Am I a crazy, dirty slob?
I do stuff that I think is necessary. I dust once a week or so and I wipe down my kitchen counters every night but some of the other stuff suggested just doesn't cross my mind until the dirt is no longer avoidable. I don't clean my blinds on a regular basis. I only vacuum my floors like once a week and I only mop when I really have to, probably every two weeks. I don't vacuum my furniture regularly and I don't clean my sliding glass door, my mirrored closet doors or the french door in my family room. I know that my house isn't sparkling and spotless but I guess I never realized what all I wasn't doing that needed to be done.
I suppose what I'm trying to figure out with this blog is if I'm a slacker or if I'm just like the rest of you. Are you all following Martha's suggestions for a super clean and shiny home or do you all just do what's necessary to get by? If you fall into the former category please let me know how you get the clock to stop everyday so you can fit all that extra crap in. Thanks!
I was shocked at the things Martha says I should be doing on an annual basis. Cleaning the refrigerator coils? Washing the window screens? Wash outdoor light covers? Huh?! I've lived here for more than three years and have never done any of that. Is that bad? Is that something that you people out there are doing? Why was I never taught that these were necessary things? I was intrigued and wanted to find out what else I wasn't doing that I was supposed to.
I found another section, "Routine Cleaning". Apparently, these are the things that I should be doing regularly throughout the week. Again, I was shocked while reading the suggestions. Hand washing the burners on the stove once a week? Removing the stove knobs to wash? Soaking the oven racks? Removing and cleaning the filter in the vent hood? (I didn't even know that one was possible) Cleaning the cabinets once a week? Washing the trash can once a week? Who has time for all that shit? Do you all do that stuff? Am I a crazy, dirty slob?
I do stuff that I think is necessary. I dust once a week or so and I wipe down my kitchen counters every night but some of the other stuff suggested just doesn't cross my mind until the dirt is no longer avoidable. I don't clean my blinds on a regular basis. I only vacuum my floors like once a week and I only mop when I really have to, probably every two weeks. I don't vacuum my furniture regularly and I don't clean my sliding glass door, my mirrored closet doors or the french door in my family room. I know that my house isn't sparkling and spotless but I guess I never realized what all I wasn't doing that needed to be done.
I suppose what I'm trying to figure out with this blog is if I'm a slacker or if I'm just like the rest of you. Are you all following Martha's suggestions for a super clean and shiny home or do you all just do what's necessary to get by? If you fall into the former category please let me know how you get the clock to stop everyday so you can fit all that extra crap in. Thanks!
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Dress you up in my love
Now that Thanksgiving is over and we're inching ever so closely to Christmas (26 days!) I can break down and admit the holiday season is in full swing. For me, this year, that means an office Christmas party. From what I've heard, this one is pretty nice. I've never had a "nice" office party. I've had some get togethers but they're usually during office hours and everyone is still expected to answer the phones and help customers when they come in so this will be a really different experience for me.
My Christmas party is going to be at the Radisson Resort in Cape Canaveral. It is a nice place and my co-workers have said that the company goes all out with food and drinks and stuff. They supposedly give out really nice door prizes too. I've heard a lot of electronic stuff is given away. That got Joe in the party mood right away! The part I'm most excited about though, is getting dressed up and going somewhere. I haven't been to a "fancy" event since my girlfriend got married in April of 2006!
But the getting dressed up part is now presenting me with a problem. I have a really hot pair of heels that I've only worn once and I've been dying to wear ever since. They are glittery gold peep toe stilettos and they are so fun and sparkly and pretty. Since I now have an event to wear them to, and since they are so fabulous, I am planning my whole outfit around them. That was a really great idea a month ago when I thought I had plenty of time to find just the right dress to go with them. Well, the party is next Friday and I still haven't found anything suitable.
Isn't it always true that when you don't need a really cute party dress they are everywhere but when you need one suddenly everything is black or grey or plain old ugly? I want something in a festive color but not something that screams Christmas. A jewel tone would be great. I also want something that is "season appropriate" without being too warm. It is still 80 degrees here after all. I'm looking for something sexy but not revealing. Something sophisticated that says, "I may be the work control clerk by day but I can glam it up when it's time to party." A bonus would be if I could find a dress just dressy enough for the party but not so dressy that I never get to wear it again.
I have searched high and low for the perfect dress, mostly online but also in some stores. Everything is either too dressy or not dressy enough, too sexy or not sexy at all, or too junior-ish and not enough 28-year-old hottie-ish. I thought I'd hit the mother load when my new December InStyle arrived. There, just a couple pages in, I saw the dress of my dreams. It is a satin or silk, short sleeved wrap dress that comes in either royal blue or emerald green. My eyes just about popped out of my head. I knew that was the dress for my gold shoes. It was an ad for Ann Taylor LOFT but, unfortunately, the dress is not available for sale yet! What the hell?! Why put an ad out if you're not going to let people buy the damn dress in the ad? I'm really hoping that they start selling it December 1st, and that I love it, and that it isn't a million dollars. I guess I shouldn't be putting all my eggs in that basket but I can't help it. I can see myself in the outfit already.
So, wish me luck that (a) the dress will go on sale before my party next week (b) it will fit me and look awesome and (c) I will wow the crowd at my Christmas party. Bonus if I (d) win an I-pod! Happy Holiday parties to all of you!!
My Christmas party is going to be at the Radisson Resort in Cape Canaveral. It is a nice place and my co-workers have said that the company goes all out with food and drinks and stuff. They supposedly give out really nice door prizes too. I've heard a lot of electronic stuff is given away. That got Joe in the party mood right away! The part I'm most excited about though, is getting dressed up and going somewhere. I haven't been to a "fancy" event since my girlfriend got married in April of 2006!
But the getting dressed up part is now presenting me with a problem. I have a really hot pair of heels that I've only worn once and I've been dying to wear ever since. They are glittery gold peep toe stilettos and they are so fun and sparkly and pretty. Since I now have an event to wear them to, and since they are so fabulous, I am planning my whole outfit around them. That was a really great idea a month ago when I thought I had plenty of time to find just the right dress to go with them. Well, the party is next Friday and I still haven't found anything suitable.
Isn't it always true that when you don't need a really cute party dress they are everywhere but when you need one suddenly everything is black or grey or plain old ugly? I want something in a festive color but not something that screams Christmas. A jewel tone would be great. I also want something that is "season appropriate" without being too warm. It is still 80 degrees here after all. I'm looking for something sexy but not revealing. Something sophisticated that says, "I may be the work control clerk by day but I can glam it up when it's time to party." A bonus would be if I could find a dress just dressy enough for the party but not so dressy that I never get to wear it again.
I have searched high and low for the perfect dress, mostly online but also in some stores. Everything is either too dressy or not dressy enough, too sexy or not sexy at all, or too junior-ish and not enough 28-year-old hottie-ish. I thought I'd hit the mother load when my new December InStyle arrived. There, just a couple pages in, I saw the dress of my dreams. It is a satin or silk, short sleeved wrap dress that comes in either royal blue or emerald green. My eyes just about popped out of my head. I knew that was the dress for my gold shoes. It was an ad for Ann Taylor LOFT but, unfortunately, the dress is not available for sale yet! What the hell?! Why put an ad out if you're not going to let people buy the damn dress in the ad? I'm really hoping that they start selling it December 1st, and that I love it, and that it isn't a million dollars. I guess I shouldn't be putting all my eggs in that basket but I can't help it. I can see myself in the outfit already.
So, wish me luck that (a) the dress will go on sale before my party next week (b) it will fit me and look awesome and (c) I will wow the crowd at my Christmas party. Bonus if I (d) win an I-pod! Happy Holiday parties to all of you!!
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Holiday come and gone
Well we made it back from Alabama in one piece. It was quite a journey and we're glad to be home. It was great seeing Joe's family and it was nice to relax for 3 days. We ate entirely too much though so I'm going to have to pick up the pace at Jazzercise this week.
The drive to Alabama was interesting and exhausting. We wanted to get on the road as soon as we could on Wednesday so that we would have all day on Thursday to relax and hang out with the family. We both had to work that day so we wanted to leave as soon as we got home. We packed up the dogs and the car and ended up getting on the road at 5:00. After being on the road for about 6 hours we started questioning why Joe's family had to move to the absolute farthest and hardest to get to point in Alabama. The drive consists of only a few highways (which are mostly full of construction) and the rest of the drive is country roads. In some parts I felt like we were driving through a scene from Texas Chainsaw Massacre. There were no street lights and nothing but road and trees for as far as the eye could see. It was tough. We tried to stop every 3 hours or so to get out and walk the dogs and switch drivers. We finally pulled into Joe's mom's house at 5:30am. She was kind enough to make us some breakfast and then we went straight to bed.
After our nice nap we got up and got ready for the family to arrive. Seeing Sarah and Mary was great. They are so adorable and Sarah is so smart. She'll talk your ear off and it's like talking to a grown up in a 4 year old's body. So we hung out all day and watched football and waited for our feast to be ready. And what a feast it was! We had so much good food and we all stuffed ourselves silly. It was definitely a Miller Thanksgiving! After lunch was more napping and more football and then more food. We pretty much continued that routine for the rest of the weekend. It was very cold there (in the 30's and 40's) so we stayed inside as much as possible. We did take the dogs out to play fetch a couple of times but my Florida blood couldn't take the cold for too long.
We got on the road yesterday morning at 5am (Alabama time). We took a different route home and it was a much nicer trip. I don't know if it was because we were well rested or that we were driving during the day and could see stuff but we had a much more enjoyable ride on the way back. It ended up taking us a lot longer because we got stuck behind a terrible accident just west of Tallahassee. We ended up here just before 9pm (Florida time).
I do have to brag on my dogs for a minute. They were so wonderful the whole way up and back. We set them up with a comforter on the back seat and they just slept the whole way. When we'd stop to let them out they were very good about doing their business in a timely fashion and were very well behaved around all the other dogs that were mulling about the rest areas. I think I need to write a letter to whoever it is that manages rest areas. I was really shocked at the number of people traveling with their dogs. It seemed like every place we stopped we saw at least 5 or more dogs. I think that rest areas should have a little fenced-in doggy area where you can let your dog of her leash to run around. It would've been nice to be able to throw a ball to the girls or even just to chase them around. I think that would've made their trip even better. I don't know how to make it happen but I think it would be great.
It's definitely good to be home today. We all slept great in our own bed and have spent the majority of the day relaxing and getting everything back to normal. We did pull out the Christmas decorations and got some of that started. Unfortunately several strands of lights have decided this is the year they are going to crap out so we'll have to run out for more of those. I can't believe that Thanksgiving is over and Christmas is right around the corner! This year has flown by!
I hope you all had a very nice holiday surrounded by family and friends. I am definitely thankful this year for my wonderful family. Joe and I are very lucky to have great people on both sides of our family. It makes every holiday, no matter where it's spent, very special.
The drive to Alabama was interesting and exhausting. We wanted to get on the road as soon as we could on Wednesday so that we would have all day on Thursday to relax and hang out with the family. We both had to work that day so we wanted to leave as soon as we got home. We packed up the dogs and the car and ended up getting on the road at 5:00. After being on the road for about 6 hours we started questioning why Joe's family had to move to the absolute farthest and hardest to get to point in Alabama. The drive consists of only a few highways (which are mostly full of construction) and the rest of the drive is country roads. In some parts I felt like we were driving through a scene from Texas Chainsaw Massacre. There were no street lights and nothing but road and trees for as far as the eye could see. It was tough. We tried to stop every 3 hours or so to get out and walk the dogs and switch drivers. We finally pulled into Joe's mom's house at 5:30am. She was kind enough to make us some breakfast and then we went straight to bed.
After our nice nap we got up and got ready for the family to arrive. Seeing Sarah and Mary was great. They are so adorable and Sarah is so smart. She'll talk your ear off and it's like talking to a grown up in a 4 year old's body. So we hung out all day and watched football and waited for our feast to be ready. And what a feast it was! We had so much good food and we all stuffed ourselves silly. It was definitely a Miller Thanksgiving! After lunch was more napping and more football and then more food. We pretty much continued that routine for the rest of the weekend. It was very cold there (in the 30's and 40's) so we stayed inside as much as possible. We did take the dogs out to play fetch a couple of times but my Florida blood couldn't take the cold for too long.
We got on the road yesterday morning at 5am (Alabama time). We took a different route home and it was a much nicer trip. I don't know if it was because we were well rested or that we were driving during the day and could see stuff but we had a much more enjoyable ride on the way back. It ended up taking us a lot longer because we got stuck behind a terrible accident just west of Tallahassee. We ended up here just before 9pm (Florida time).
I do have to brag on my dogs for a minute. They were so wonderful the whole way up and back. We set them up with a comforter on the back seat and they just slept the whole way. When we'd stop to let them out they were very good about doing their business in a timely fashion and were very well behaved around all the other dogs that were mulling about the rest areas. I think I need to write a letter to whoever it is that manages rest areas. I was really shocked at the number of people traveling with their dogs. It seemed like every place we stopped we saw at least 5 or more dogs. I think that rest areas should have a little fenced-in doggy area where you can let your dog of her leash to run around. It would've been nice to be able to throw a ball to the girls or even just to chase them around. I think that would've made their trip even better. I don't know how to make it happen but I think it would be great.
It's definitely good to be home today. We all slept great in our own bed and have spent the majority of the day relaxing and getting everything back to normal. We did pull out the Christmas decorations and got some of that started. Unfortunately several strands of lights have decided this is the year they are going to crap out so we'll have to run out for more of those. I can't believe that Thanksgiving is over and Christmas is right around the corner! This year has flown by!
I hope you all had a very nice holiday surrounded by family and friends. I am definitely thankful this year for my wonderful family. Joe and I are very lucky to have great people on both sides of our family. It makes every holiday, no matter where it's spent, very special.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Wine- Oh!
So, I've had a couple of glasses of wine. I have no idea where this post is going but it's been a week so I figured I have to write something. I hope everyone is doing well. We need to give a big shout-out to the newest member of our family. Little Kevin Jr. made his glorious arrival on Thursday. Congratulations to the Mesnick's.
Thanksgiving is coming up and Joe and I have a big voyage in our future. We're heading up to Alabama to see his family. It's a 13 hour drive and Joe and I don't do long car trips well so it should be interesting. I can't stand the way he drives and he can't stand the way I drive so I'm sure it'll be a looooong 13 hours. But, I'm really excited to see his mom and to see my nieces. I have never met my niece, Mary and I haven't seen Sarah for like 8 months so I'm very excited to see them.
I had a very nice weekend. Friday night Joe and I went out to shop for a birthday present for Pierce. We had dinner at the Pizza Gallery and then went shopping. Saturday we had Pierce's big birthday extravaganza. It was very nice. I can't believe that little boy is already one. It's strange how it seems like he was just born yesterday but I already can't remember life before him. He's amazing and funny and sweet and wonderful and I love him to death. He was surrounded by about 65 of his closest friends and family on his birthday and was showered with tons of presents. It was great to see all the people that love him so much. Today I slept late and lounged around the house. I had Lindsey's bridesmaids over to discuss her shower plans. It's going to be gorgeous- if I do say so myself. Then me and mom ran back out to shop. I got a new coat to take with me to Alabama so I don't freeze my ass off. When we got home Joe had a delicious dinner of baked ziti and garlic bread and salad prepared. Mom and Lindsey and Peyton came over and we had a great time. It's amazing how playing peek-a-boo with a laughing baby can be more fun then any party you've ever been to. We all had a very nice time.
Now, I'm just sitting around waiting for my shows to come on. I've had 3 glasses of wine so I'm feeling pretty good. I haven't had wine for so long so it's going straight to my head! I guess that's really all I have to say. I hope all of you have a wonderful holiday surrounded by the people that you love the most. I hope to have a fresh new blog detailing all my adventures by the time I get back. I love you all and wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!!
Thanksgiving is coming up and Joe and I have a big voyage in our future. We're heading up to Alabama to see his family. It's a 13 hour drive and Joe and I don't do long car trips well so it should be interesting. I can't stand the way he drives and he can't stand the way I drive so I'm sure it'll be a looooong 13 hours. But, I'm really excited to see his mom and to see my nieces. I have never met my niece, Mary and I haven't seen Sarah for like 8 months so I'm very excited to see them.
I had a very nice weekend. Friday night Joe and I went out to shop for a birthday present for Pierce. We had dinner at the Pizza Gallery and then went shopping. Saturday we had Pierce's big birthday extravaganza. It was very nice. I can't believe that little boy is already one. It's strange how it seems like he was just born yesterday but I already can't remember life before him. He's amazing and funny and sweet and wonderful and I love him to death. He was surrounded by about 65 of his closest friends and family on his birthday and was showered with tons of presents. It was great to see all the people that love him so much. Today I slept late and lounged around the house. I had Lindsey's bridesmaids over to discuss her shower plans. It's going to be gorgeous- if I do say so myself. Then me and mom ran back out to shop. I got a new coat to take with me to Alabama so I don't freeze my ass off. When we got home Joe had a delicious dinner of baked ziti and garlic bread and salad prepared. Mom and Lindsey and Peyton came over and we had a great time. It's amazing how playing peek-a-boo with a laughing baby can be more fun then any party you've ever been to. We all had a very nice time.
Now, I'm just sitting around waiting for my shows to come on. I've had 3 glasses of wine so I'm feeling pretty good. I haven't had wine for so long so it's going straight to my head! I guess that's really all I have to say. I hope all of you have a wonderful holiday surrounded by the people that you love the most. I hope to have a fresh new blog detailing all my adventures by the time I get back. I love you all and wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!!
Sunday, November 11, 2007
If I knew then...
I heard a song on the radio the other day that got me thinking. It is about writing a letter to yourself in the past and giving your younger self some pointers for the future. I thought it was a cute idea and started thinking of things that I would say to my former self.
I know you're supposed to live your life with no regrets but being young and stupid usually leads to dumb decisions that you do eventually regret. I've had lots of those. I also think that the decisions you make affect future decisions so it's hard to say that I wouldn't have done something in my past because that decision may have led me to where I am today. But, without digging too deep into that philosophical can of worms I want to compose my letter to 14 year old Tricia. I think that's when life got a little complicated for me and I know that I could've used some words of advice to keep me on the straight and narrow.
Dear self,
I know that it is probably hard for you to imagine but I am writing this letter to you as a 28 year old married woman. I wanted to send these words of advice and guidance to you so that, hopefully, you can steer clear of some of the messes that I got into the first time around.
Life is about to get complicated. You're 14 and confused about a lot of things. You're a freshman in high school and made it on to the cheerleading squad for the first time. Boys are starting to notice you more and your increasing popularity is getting stressful. There are some girls in your class that you're making friends with. Stick with them, they're going to be around for a long time.
Be careful with the boys. I know it's nice having the extra attention but don't let them take advantage of you. You're a smart, funny, and pretty girl and any guy worth a damn will wait for you to be ready. If he won't, he wasn't worth it. Please know that you don't have to get physical with a guy for him to like you. He'll probably like you more, and you'll probably like yourself more if you don't. Don't put up with any crap from the guys either. I know it'll feel like you're in love, and you may be, but someone who cheats on you and puts you down doesn't love you. No matter what he says. And you don't need to sneak out of the house to see him even if he insists he can't possibly go one night without seeing you. Don't ditch your girlfriends for a guy either. I know it's tempting and you want to spend every minute with him but you need your friends. They need you too.
Study hard. School may come easy for you now but it won't always. Keep your grades up and dual enroll as much as possible. It'll be easier later. And even though you hate Ms. Rotta more than words, you need to pay attention in economics class. Those fundamentals will help you in college. You may want to visit the guidance counselors some more. Pick their brains for information on how to apply for scholarships. It'll save you from a huge student loan payment later. Also discuss with them options for majors and minors. Really explore what's out there and really think about what you want to do in the future.
Try to stay active. You're going to want to quit cheerleading in your junior year. It'll be because the girl your boyfriend cheated on you with is already on the squad. I know you'll hate her guts but you'll miss out on a lot of fun by quitting the squad. You'll also put on about 15 pounds. Which, unfortunately, turns into a lot more later on. You're not always going to be able to eat pierogies and mac-n-cheese and pizza rolls and cheese puffs (in one afternoon) and not gain weight. Trust me.
I know that it's nice having money to spend but don't work so hard. You'll have plenty of time for a job when you're out of school. Right now you should be enjoying football games and hanging out after school with your friends. Those are things that you'll never get back and that you probably won't do again. Try just a part-time job or maybe just a summer job. Try to save your money too. And don't get credit cards! They are evil and will cause you a lot of agony and struggle later in life. Be happy with what you can afford and save for the things you really want.
Try not to be such a bitch to your family. I know they can be really annoying but you're stuck with them forever and the things you say to them now they'll remember. Try not to let your sisters get you so mad. They know your buttons and know how to push them and they will continue to push them into your adult life so get used to it and get over it. It'll be a lot easier. It's probably best if you don't try to choke them either. I know it's really hard to understand your dad right now. He doesn't always say the right things when you need to hear them but he does love you and will do anything for you. There are certain guys he'd prefer you not date and, while you think he's just being an asshole, it turns out he's right in the end.
There is one guy that you'll meet that you may want to pay extra attention to. He's in your 10th grade Geometry class with you. He's really funny and when he calls you a Jewish hamster, it's just because he likes you. He'll be a great friend and even more someday.
I guess the most important thing that I want to pass on is to not let anyone tell you that you're not special or that you can't do something. It's very hard to recover from letting someone break down your self-esteem. Keep your head up and remember that you are pretty and smart and funny and the people that are worth a damn know that and won't make you feel any other way. So good luck with that. Hopefully when these things come around again you'll be a little more prepared for them.
Love, future you
P.S. When you're ready to have children, see your doctor right away. Waiting isn't worth it.
I know you're supposed to live your life with no regrets but being young and stupid usually leads to dumb decisions that you do eventually regret. I've had lots of those. I also think that the decisions you make affect future decisions so it's hard to say that I wouldn't have done something in my past because that decision may have led me to where I am today. But, without digging too deep into that philosophical can of worms I want to compose my letter to 14 year old Tricia. I think that's when life got a little complicated for me and I know that I could've used some words of advice to keep me on the straight and narrow.
Dear self,
I know that it is probably hard for you to imagine but I am writing this letter to you as a 28 year old married woman. I wanted to send these words of advice and guidance to you so that, hopefully, you can steer clear of some of the messes that I got into the first time around.
Life is about to get complicated. You're 14 and confused about a lot of things. You're a freshman in high school and made it on to the cheerleading squad for the first time. Boys are starting to notice you more and your increasing popularity is getting stressful. There are some girls in your class that you're making friends with. Stick with them, they're going to be around for a long time.
Be careful with the boys. I know it's nice having the extra attention but don't let them take advantage of you. You're a smart, funny, and pretty girl and any guy worth a damn will wait for you to be ready. If he won't, he wasn't worth it. Please know that you don't have to get physical with a guy for him to like you. He'll probably like you more, and you'll probably like yourself more if you don't. Don't put up with any crap from the guys either. I know it'll feel like you're in love, and you may be, but someone who cheats on you and puts you down doesn't love you. No matter what he says. And you don't need to sneak out of the house to see him even if he insists he can't possibly go one night without seeing you. Don't ditch your girlfriends for a guy either. I know it's tempting and you want to spend every minute with him but you need your friends. They need you too.
Study hard. School may come easy for you now but it won't always. Keep your grades up and dual enroll as much as possible. It'll be easier later. And even though you hate Ms. Rotta more than words, you need to pay attention in economics class. Those fundamentals will help you in college. You may want to visit the guidance counselors some more. Pick their brains for information on how to apply for scholarships. It'll save you from a huge student loan payment later. Also discuss with them options for majors and minors. Really explore what's out there and really think about what you want to do in the future.
Try to stay active. You're going to want to quit cheerleading in your junior year. It'll be because the girl your boyfriend cheated on you with is already on the squad. I know you'll hate her guts but you'll miss out on a lot of fun by quitting the squad. You'll also put on about 15 pounds. Which, unfortunately, turns into a lot more later on. You're not always going to be able to eat pierogies and mac-n-cheese and pizza rolls and cheese puffs (in one afternoon) and not gain weight. Trust me.
I know that it's nice having money to spend but don't work so hard. You'll have plenty of time for a job when you're out of school. Right now you should be enjoying football games and hanging out after school with your friends. Those are things that you'll never get back and that you probably won't do again. Try just a part-time job or maybe just a summer job. Try to save your money too. And don't get credit cards! They are evil and will cause you a lot of agony and struggle later in life. Be happy with what you can afford and save for the things you really want.
Try not to be such a bitch to your family. I know they can be really annoying but you're stuck with them forever and the things you say to them now they'll remember. Try not to let your sisters get you so mad. They know your buttons and know how to push them and they will continue to push them into your adult life so get used to it and get over it. It'll be a lot easier. It's probably best if you don't try to choke them either. I know it's really hard to understand your dad right now. He doesn't always say the right things when you need to hear them but he does love you and will do anything for you. There are certain guys he'd prefer you not date and, while you think he's just being an asshole, it turns out he's right in the end.
There is one guy that you'll meet that you may want to pay extra attention to. He's in your 10th grade Geometry class with you. He's really funny and when he calls you a Jewish hamster, it's just because he likes you. He'll be a great friend and even more someday.
I guess the most important thing that I want to pass on is to not let anyone tell you that you're not special or that you can't do something. It's very hard to recover from letting someone break down your self-esteem. Keep your head up and remember that you are pretty and smart and funny and the people that are worth a damn know that and won't make you feel any other way. So good luck with that. Hopefully when these things come around again you'll be a little more prepared for them.
Love, future you
P.S. When you're ready to have children, see your doctor right away. Waiting isn't worth it.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Cheater Cheater Pumpkin Eater
I know I've really been slacking on the blogs lately. I'm very sorry for that. I feel like my creative juices are being stretched really thin. Between trying to help Lindsey plan for her wedding and trying to plan her shower and help Becky think of ideas for Pierce's first birthday and try to think of ways to redecorate my house and how to lose more weight and pay off more bills and get pregnant.... It's just all too much for my poor brain. So, tonight I'm cheating. I'm giving you a new blog but it is not original material. I hope you find it funny just the same.
I am a self-proclaimed magazine addict. I can't get enough of the damn things. My new job is only helping to feed the addiction. There is a box in the "ladies lounge" where people can bring their old magazines for other people to read. That box is like a pot of gold for me. I check it everyday to see if any new magazines have been tossed in. I'll read just about anything too. I've found myself reading Better Homes and Garden magazines from 2000! Which, by the way, totally intrigues me to read a magazine that was written before September 11, 2001. It's hard to remember the world before terrorism was in our faces 24/7. We were so naive back then. Anyway, I'm getting off track. So, today I picked up Women's Health. It's a pretty good magazine, there were a few good articles in it. But, I came across a feature called "The Girl List" and it was so funny I was laughing my ass off (by myself) in my office break room. It also has some really good points. I want to share it with you and hope that you enjoy it as much as me.
The name of the article is "Trite and True, 21 cliches that say what they mean and mean what they say" by Lisa Jones. (All of the comments are the author's. They were so good, I didn't feel the need to embellish.)
1. Just be yourself
2. If "yourself" is not a morning person, wake up and (smell) drink the coffee. Everything else can f-ing wait.
3. This too shall pass. Hangovers, heartache, blackheads, and bad hair cuts- time heals all. Except for a UTI. That misery-fest demands antibiotics, pronto.
4. When in doubt, throw it out. Apply this first rule of fridge cleanup to anything you're not sure you need anymore- that little black dress that fits a much littler you, crushed tampons in purse pockets, the hot-but-boring boyfriend.
5. Life's a bitch. But aren't we all sometimes?
6. Maybe she got promoted before you or looks better in skinny jeans. But maybe you have more friends and bigger boobs. So why compare? Another woman's success is not a measure of your failure.
7. Separate the men from the boys. Hint: The mean are the ones who make you orgasm and pancakes.
8. Open your heart. The scary stuff that makes you vulnerable is the good stuff.
9. If the shoe fits (wear) buy it. When it comes to a sale in the foot ware department, she who hesitates is lost.
10. Make out like a bandit. Life is too short to go unsexed.
11. You'll know it (the right job, man for you) when you see it... and who says you have to explain it to others who don't?
12. A leopard can't change its spots. Nor can an ex-love unbreak your heart when you give him a second chance. Or a third. Or a fourth.
13. Absence makes the heart grown fonder- and the libido grow stronger.
14. Love what you do and do (what) who you love. Even if he never takes out the recycling.
15. Show me the money. More often than not, you have to ask for it. Subtlety doesn't pay the rent- or earn your bosses respect.
16. Fake it till you make it. Hey, it worked for George W.
17. Save the drama for your mama. Complaining, whining, making excuses- all unattractive and boring to anyone who's not you. Nobody said it would be easy.
18. Just do it. Those lifetime goals don't just happen. It's all about the baby steps, baby.
19. You are what you eat. Nature's reminder: asparagus pee.
20. Everything in moderation. And when you forget that: Liquor before beer, you're in the clear.
21. Love many, trust few, but always paddle you own canoe. Unless, of course, you're up a creek without a paddle. In which case, you're totally screwed.
Hope you enjoyed. Hopefully I won't have to keep ripping off other people for material. Keep checking back. The creativity could strike at any moment. I could keep blogging about Jazzercise. One class is enough material for several blogs. Maybe I should change the blog name to "Jazzafreakinglutely". What do you think? It's kinda catchy. LOL
I am a self-proclaimed magazine addict. I can't get enough of the damn things. My new job is only helping to feed the addiction. There is a box in the "ladies lounge" where people can bring their old magazines for other people to read. That box is like a pot of gold for me. I check it everyday to see if any new magazines have been tossed in. I'll read just about anything too. I've found myself reading Better Homes and Garden magazines from 2000! Which, by the way, totally intrigues me to read a magazine that was written before September 11, 2001. It's hard to remember the world before terrorism was in our faces 24/7. We were so naive back then. Anyway, I'm getting off track. So, today I picked up Women's Health. It's a pretty good magazine, there were a few good articles in it. But, I came across a feature called "The Girl List" and it was so funny I was laughing my ass off (by myself) in my office break room. It also has some really good points. I want to share it with you and hope that you enjoy it as much as me.
The name of the article is "Trite and True, 21 cliches that say what they mean and mean what they say" by Lisa Jones. (All of the comments are the author's. They were so good, I didn't feel the need to embellish.)
1. Just be yourself
2. If "yourself" is not a morning person, wake up and (smell) drink the coffee. Everything else can f-ing wait.
3. This too shall pass. Hangovers, heartache, blackheads, and bad hair cuts- time heals all. Except for a UTI. That misery-fest demands antibiotics, pronto.
4. When in doubt, throw it out. Apply this first rule of fridge cleanup to anything you're not sure you need anymore- that little black dress that fits a much littler you, crushed tampons in purse pockets, the hot-but-boring boyfriend.
5. Life's a bitch. But aren't we all sometimes?
6. Maybe she got promoted before you or looks better in skinny jeans. But maybe you have more friends and bigger boobs. So why compare? Another woman's success is not a measure of your failure.
7. Separate the men from the boys. Hint: The mean are the ones who make you orgasm and pancakes.
8. Open your heart. The scary stuff that makes you vulnerable is the good stuff.
9. If the shoe fits (wear) buy it. When it comes to a sale in the foot ware department, she who hesitates is lost.
10. Make out like a bandit. Life is too short to go unsexed.
11. You'll know it (the right job, man for you) when you see it... and who says you have to explain it to others who don't?
12. A leopard can't change its spots. Nor can an ex-love unbreak your heart when you give him a second chance. Or a third. Or a fourth.
13. Absence makes the heart grown fonder- and the libido grow stronger.
14. Love what you do and do (what) who you love. Even if he never takes out the recycling.
15. Show me the money. More often than not, you have to ask for it. Subtlety doesn't pay the rent- or earn your bosses respect.
16. Fake it till you make it. Hey, it worked for George W.
17. Save the drama for your mama. Complaining, whining, making excuses- all unattractive and boring to anyone who's not you. Nobody said it would be easy.
18. Just do it. Those lifetime goals don't just happen. It's all about the baby steps, baby.
19. You are what you eat. Nature's reminder: asparagus pee.
20. Everything in moderation. And when you forget that: Liquor before beer, you're in the clear.
21. Love many, trust few, but always paddle you own canoe. Unless, of course, you're up a creek without a paddle. In which case, you're totally screwed.
Hope you enjoyed. Hopefully I won't have to keep ripping off other people for material. Keep checking back. The creativity could strike at any moment. I could keep blogging about Jazzercise. One class is enough material for several blogs. Maybe I should change the blog name to "Jazzafreakinglutely". What do you think? It's kinda catchy. LOL
Friday, November 2, 2007
The Finer Things
I guess I should start this post by telling you that if you don't watch "The Office" you may not get what I'm talking about. If you do, feel free to laugh along.
Last night's episode of "The Office" was hilarious. But, there was one part that especially tickled my funny bone. Pam, Toby and Oscar started a very exclusive club called "The Finer Things" club. It was just the three of them and they met in the office break room. At their meetings they discussed different books and ate foods that corresponded to what they were reading. They even wore partial costumes and drank tea from fine china. The whole premise was silly but add in the fact that they were in an office break room where co-workers were walking in to make microwave popcorn and to beat up the vending machine and it just made it funnier.
I started thinking of the type of stuff that I would do in a club of that kind. After a little bit of thought I realized my club would probably be called "The regular old crap" club. In my club we'd sit around and eat Chinese food and drink inexpensive, maybe from a box, red wine while flipping through the latest gossip magazines dissecting the many moods of Britney Spears. We could paint our toenails and have a mascara sampling party. Intellectual conversation would not be expected. Though, you may have to pass a short test on celeb gossip and/or pop culture to gain entry. After all, we do have some standards around here.
As much as Oprah tries to shove her book club down my throat, I'm just not that into reading books. Don't throw stones! It's not like I'm illiterate, I read the news and the paper and tons of magazines. How is that any different from a book? It's still reading, right? Books take so much time and energy. You have to be able to carve out all this quiet time to concentrate. I like to read a magazine while watching tv, talking to Joe, letting the dogs out, and cooking dinner. If I tried to read a book that way I'd be lost. I used to read books and there are some that I would still consider reading but it's just not that important to me. Don't tell Oprah.
I hope those things don't make me a bad person. I can't help it if I'd rather browse ten magazines for the top rated mascara or the "it" bag for fall. I think I'm smart even if I didn't read the freaking "Davinci Code". I'm not going to let the "book clubbers" or "The Finer Things" clubs make me feel bad about my choices. Besides, just because Oprah says you have to do it doesn't mean you REALLY have to do it. Even though everything she says people jump to buy/read/give/wear/do.
So I guess the moral of my post is that if you can't join 'em then beat 'em with your own better, less fancy but way more fun club! Come with me to the dark side... we have wine!
Last night's episode of "The Office" was hilarious. But, there was one part that especially tickled my funny bone. Pam, Toby and Oscar started a very exclusive club called "The Finer Things" club. It was just the three of them and they met in the office break room. At their meetings they discussed different books and ate foods that corresponded to what they were reading. They even wore partial costumes and drank tea from fine china. The whole premise was silly but add in the fact that they were in an office break room where co-workers were walking in to make microwave popcorn and to beat up the vending machine and it just made it funnier.
I started thinking of the type of stuff that I would do in a club of that kind. After a little bit of thought I realized my club would probably be called "The regular old crap" club. In my club we'd sit around and eat Chinese food and drink inexpensive, maybe from a box, red wine while flipping through the latest gossip magazines dissecting the many moods of Britney Spears. We could paint our toenails and have a mascara sampling party. Intellectual conversation would not be expected. Though, you may have to pass a short test on celeb gossip and/or pop culture to gain entry. After all, we do have some standards around here.
As much as Oprah tries to shove her book club down my throat, I'm just not that into reading books. Don't throw stones! It's not like I'm illiterate, I read the news and the paper and tons of magazines. How is that any different from a book? It's still reading, right? Books take so much time and energy. You have to be able to carve out all this quiet time to concentrate. I like to read a magazine while watching tv, talking to Joe, letting the dogs out, and cooking dinner. If I tried to read a book that way I'd be lost. I used to read books and there are some that I would still consider reading but it's just not that important to me. Don't tell Oprah.
I hope those things don't make me a bad person. I can't help it if I'd rather browse ten magazines for the top rated mascara or the "it" bag for fall. I think I'm smart even if I didn't read the freaking "Davinci Code". I'm not going to let the "book clubbers" or "The Finer Things" clubs make me feel bad about my choices. Besides, just because Oprah says you have to do it doesn't mean you REALLY have to do it. Even though everything she says people jump to buy/read/give/wear/do.
So I guess the moral of my post is that if you can't join 'em then beat 'em with your own better, less fancy but way more fun club! Come with me to the dark side... we have wine!
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Goin' Back to Tally
Yesterday we made the long drive to Tallahassee to attend the Florida State vs. Duke game. I had been looking forward to this trip for so long and was so excited that it was finally here. You see, even though I lived in Tallahassee and went to school at Florida State I have never attended a football game in Doak Campbell stadium. I've been to a couple of games but they were always on neutral ground in Jacksonville. So to finally be in Doak was a huge thrill for me.
My sister-in-law made the trek down to Tally from Alabama and we all stayed at my girlfriend's brand new (beautiful) house. We tailgated before the game at a friend's office right down the street from the stadium. It was so great being around all Florida State fans. The camaraderie was amazing and the excitement in the air had the whole area buzzing. There were little Seminole fans running around playing football and tailgaters' grills fired up cooking all kinds of good stuff. We cooked up our own goodies and sat around drinking beer until it was time to walk to the stadium. I was practically skipping my way there I was so excited, and maybe a little drunk too.
Once inside the stadium I was positively giddy. It was the "blackout" game so all the fans and players were wearing black. Almost all the stands were black. It was really neat. The "Marching Chiefs" were playing and we were singing the fight song and doing the war chant and having a ball. The game started out slow but we didn't care because we were having a great time. The only complaint I have is that college stadiums don't sell beer. That was a real downer. I knew ahead of time that was the case but I didn't really think it would affect me all that much. I drank quite a few beers before the game and thought my buzz would last at least through the third quarter. Nope! Half time came and my buzz was practically gone. We left the game a little early to keep the party going. Besides, the Duke Blue Devils were no match for my Noles who easily defeated them 25-6.
It was strange going back to Tallahassee though. We drove by our old apartment and felt a little nostalgia set in. It's weird how everything is so different yet everything is still the same. There are roads that are STILL under construction and new business next to the old ones. The hills and the trees look the same and even the students look the same as they used to. It's like college students in Florida wear a uniform. The guys are in sloppy, baggy jeans, flip flops and polo shirts with their spiky-just-rolled-out-of-bed hair. The girls wear their jean skirts and flip flops and tank tops.... even though it was 50 degrees out. It was great though. We had a blast.
I can't wait to go back to another game. I really want to make it a tradition to get up to Tallahassee at least once a year. I can't wait to have my own little Seminole running around in his/her finest Florida State gear while we tailgate. It's definitely a family affair up there. One big, happy, tomahawk chopping family. GO NOLES!!!
P.S. Becky and Lindsey---- GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!
My sister-in-law made the trek down to Tally from Alabama and we all stayed at my girlfriend's brand new (beautiful) house. We tailgated before the game at a friend's office right down the street from the stadium. It was so great being around all Florida State fans. The camaraderie was amazing and the excitement in the air had the whole area buzzing. There were little Seminole fans running around playing football and tailgaters' grills fired up cooking all kinds of good stuff. We cooked up our own goodies and sat around drinking beer until it was time to walk to the stadium. I was practically skipping my way there I was so excited, and maybe a little drunk too.
Once inside the stadium I was positively giddy. It was the "blackout" game so all the fans and players were wearing black. Almost all the stands were black. It was really neat. The "Marching Chiefs" were playing and we were singing the fight song and doing the war chant and having a ball. The game started out slow but we didn't care because we were having a great time. The only complaint I have is that college stadiums don't sell beer. That was a real downer. I knew ahead of time that was the case but I didn't really think it would affect me all that much. I drank quite a few beers before the game and thought my buzz would last at least through the third quarter. Nope! Half time came and my buzz was practically gone. We left the game a little early to keep the party going. Besides, the Duke Blue Devils were no match for my Noles who easily defeated them 25-6.
It was strange going back to Tallahassee though. We drove by our old apartment and felt a little nostalgia set in. It's weird how everything is so different yet everything is still the same. There are roads that are STILL under construction and new business next to the old ones. The hills and the trees look the same and even the students look the same as they used to. It's like college students in Florida wear a uniform. The guys are in sloppy, baggy jeans, flip flops and polo shirts with their spiky-just-rolled-out-of-bed hair. The girls wear their jean skirts and flip flops and tank tops.... even though it was 50 degrees out. It was great though. We had a blast.
I can't wait to go back to another game. I really want to make it a tradition to get up to Tallahassee at least once a year. I can't wait to have my own little Seminole running around in his/her finest Florida State gear while we tailgate. It's definitely a family affair up there. One big, happy, tomahawk chopping family. GO NOLES!!!
P.S. Becky and Lindsey---- GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!
Monday, October 22, 2007
Jazz Hands
Well, I've gone and done it. I've done something that would make 16 year old Tricia (shoot, even 24 year old Tricia) shudder with disgust. I joined dun, dun, duuuun... Jazzercise. Eeeeek! No, this isn't a scary tale to get you ready for Halloween. This is the honest to God truth.
You all have heard continuously about my struggle to lose weight. Or, more fittingly, my struggle with will power. I'll start something and do it for a day or two and then quit because I'm being inconvenienced. Well, one of my new co-workers goes to a Jazzercise class right down the street from my house and made it sound really fun and somehow talked me into going. I was somehow able to talk my mom into going with me. The way I see it, we'll be doing something other than sitting on the couch and we can hopefully lose weight and get in shape. Plus, now that we're both going, it'll be motivation to keep going.
So we get to Jazzercise class and start to fill out our paperwork. All the other ladies (and gentlemen) start to arrive for class. I was immediately struck by the number of older and elderly people and the fact that almost everyone was in spandex. I have to admit that I was very cocky going into the class. After all, I'm a 28 year old former cheerleader with tons of rhythm and dance experience. If those old fogies could Jazzercise, it should be no problem for me.
I got prepped with my five pound dumbbells and my medium intensity resistance band and me and mom took our places in the middle of the room. We were ready to go. Then the music started. Wow. I quickly realized I'm not the same cute cheerleader who can dance and bounce and pick up moves in a flash. No, now I'm more like a deaf Napoleon Dynamite trying to keep up with the dancers from Fame. Apparently ten years makes a big difference in your rhythm. But, we forged on. Mom and I probably spent the first five minutes of class just laughing our asses off. Partly at ourselves, partly at the teacher, and partly at the whole idea of what we were doing.
However, our laughter quickly turned into gasps for air as the teacher was thoroughly kicking our asses. She say to go one way, we couldn't figure out what way that was, so we'd bump into each other or turn the wrong way. We were like Siamese twins trying to get away from each other. Once we'd finally figure out what move we were supposed to be doing the teacher would move on to something else and we'd have to figure that one out. Meanwhile, the old fogies are dancing and bouncing and having a great time. What the hell?! At one point I looked around and I swear the class looked like a cross between a Sweatin' to the Oldies tape and Michael Jackson's Thriller video. It was quite a scene.
But, as embarrassed as I am that I am currently enrolled in Jazzercise, I have to say I feel great right now. I feel like I've taken a step in the right direction. I've gotten my ass (and my mom's ass) off the couch and moving. If the classes stay at the pace it was tonight, it won't be long until we're svelte and bouncing along with the old people. I have to draw the line at the Spandex though. NEVER! I know, never say never. I'm pretty sure that at one time I said no to Jazzercise and yet here I am, praising it. I'm giving it three snaps in "Z" formation..... and a big jazz hands finish but I give you my solemn vow of no spandex!
You all have heard continuously about my struggle to lose weight. Or, more fittingly, my struggle with will power. I'll start something and do it for a day or two and then quit because I'm being inconvenienced. Well, one of my new co-workers goes to a Jazzercise class right down the street from my house and made it sound really fun and somehow talked me into going. I was somehow able to talk my mom into going with me. The way I see it, we'll be doing something other than sitting on the couch and we can hopefully lose weight and get in shape. Plus, now that we're both going, it'll be motivation to keep going.
So we get to Jazzercise class and start to fill out our paperwork. All the other ladies (and gentlemen) start to arrive for class. I was immediately struck by the number of older and elderly people and the fact that almost everyone was in spandex. I have to admit that I was very cocky going into the class. After all, I'm a 28 year old former cheerleader with tons of rhythm and dance experience. If those old fogies could Jazzercise, it should be no problem for me.
I got prepped with my five pound dumbbells and my medium intensity resistance band and me and mom took our places in the middle of the room. We were ready to go. Then the music started. Wow. I quickly realized I'm not the same cute cheerleader who can dance and bounce and pick up moves in a flash. No, now I'm more like a deaf Napoleon Dynamite trying to keep up with the dancers from Fame. Apparently ten years makes a big difference in your rhythm. But, we forged on. Mom and I probably spent the first five minutes of class just laughing our asses off. Partly at ourselves, partly at the teacher, and partly at the whole idea of what we were doing.
However, our laughter quickly turned into gasps for air as the teacher was thoroughly kicking our asses. She say to go one way, we couldn't figure out what way that was, so we'd bump into each other or turn the wrong way. We were like Siamese twins trying to get away from each other. Once we'd finally figure out what move we were supposed to be doing the teacher would move on to something else and we'd have to figure that one out. Meanwhile, the old fogies are dancing and bouncing and having a great time. What the hell?! At one point I looked around and I swear the class looked like a cross between a Sweatin' to the Oldies tape and Michael Jackson's Thriller video. It was quite a scene.
But, as embarrassed as I am that I am currently enrolled in Jazzercise, I have to say I feel great right now. I feel like I've taken a step in the right direction. I've gotten my ass (and my mom's ass) off the couch and moving. If the classes stay at the pace it was tonight, it won't be long until we're svelte and bouncing along with the old people. I have to draw the line at the Spandex though. NEVER! I know, never say never. I'm pretty sure that at one time I said no to Jazzercise and yet here I am, praising it. I'm giving it three snaps in "Z" formation..... and a big jazz hands finish but I give you my solemn vow of no spandex!
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
She's a bad mamma jamma
I'd like to take a moment to recognize our mother. Mother Earth that is. I don't know if I've mentioned it yet but I have the most amazing drive to work every morning. I smile every time I make the turn onto the main street on my way into work. I smile, at 7:15am. It really makes my day.
My drive to work, though, is not your average drive to work. I get to drive over the river, through a wildlife preserve while the sun is rising in front of me. The sky is pink and orange and the sun rays are just peeking through the clouds. I see dolphin swimming in the river and alligators floating in the waterways along the road. I've always loved nature but this is over the top.
I've been making more efforts in the past couple of years to be more environmentally friendly. I am a huge believer in global warming and am really afraid of what we're doing to our planet. I really love that "going green" is becoming more popular and that magazines and newspapers and the Internet have really made it easy to find ways you can curb your energy consumption.
My girlfriend recently wrote an article in our work newspaper about our cafeteria's efforts to reduce waste by doing away with Styrofoam cups. She also pointed out an article on Oprah.com that has lots of different things you can do (easily) in your own home. I'm just going to list them briefly here but I'll provide a link to the article below if you'd like to look at it more in depth.
My drive to work, though, is not your average drive to work. I get to drive over the river, through a wildlife preserve while the sun is rising in front of me. The sky is pink and orange and the sun rays are just peeking through the clouds. I see dolphin swimming in the river and alligators floating in the waterways along the road. I've always loved nature but this is over the top.
I've been making more efforts in the past couple of years to be more environmentally friendly. I am a huge believer in global warming and am really afraid of what we're doing to our planet. I really love that "going green" is becoming more popular and that magazines and newspapers and the Internet have really made it easy to find ways you can curb your energy consumption.
My girlfriend recently wrote an article in our work newspaper about our cafeteria's efforts to reduce waste by doing away with Styrofoam cups. She also pointed out an article on Oprah.com that has lots of different things you can do (easily) in your own home. I'm just going to list them briefly here but I'll provide a link to the article below if you'd like to look at it more in depth.
- Unplug your appliances when not in use. About 75% of the energy consumed by home appliances occurs while they're turned off but still plugged in.
- Program your thermostat. Every degree you lower your thermostat in the winter and raise it in the summer will reduce your heating and cooling bills by 1% or more.
- Caulk it up. Closing off drafts and boosting insulation can cut your heating and cooling bills by 20%.
- Replacing single-pane windows with energy-efficient double panes can reduce heating and cooling bills by one third. (This one is pretty pricey but could be worth the investment)
- Low flow shower head. Forget the Seinfeld episode for a second and think about this: a low-flow shower head can reduce carbon dioxide emissions 376 pounds and reduce your electric bill $20 to $40 annually.
- Change your light bulbs! This one is so easy. Replace your regular old bulbs with energy efficient compact florescent bulbs. If every US household replaced just one bulb with an energy efficient bulb, we could save $600 million in utility bills and enough energy to light 3 million homes each year!
- Energy efficient appliances. Another expensive one but if one of your current appliances break, consider an energy efficient replacement.
I'm sure there are a ton more things that you can do other than what I've listed here. We should all be recycling but you could also think about trading in the gas guzzler for a more fuel efficient vehicle or you could plant a tree. There are lots of ways to help the planet and I think we really should all take some time to actually do it. Sure, global warming is a big bitch and it will be really hard to un-do the damage that has already been done but if each of us takes baby steps to improve our habits it could make a big difference.
I hope to stay at my job for many years to come. I certainly don't want to have my breath taking drive to work ruined by global warming. And I would hate to think that I had the opportunity now to save the earth for my children and grandchildren and I let the opportunity pass. Showing them amazing things like dolphins and alligators and sunrises would be so much fun. So, I am passing on this request to all of you. Look around your house and look at your budget and see what things you can do to reduce your energy consumption. Let's not ruin what we have had the honor to experience. Let's save it for our future generations.
Oprah article link: http://www.oprah.com/presents/oathome/200709/gogreen/gogreen_b.jhtmlThursday, October 11, 2007
Here Comes the Wife
Four years ago today I was a blushing bride just two hours into my new marriage. It seems like forever ago and I can hardly remember some of the details. Things that seemed so important when we were planning just fade into the background of my memory now.
Joe and I had a longer-than-average 16 month engagement. We took time and planned everything out so our wedding day would be just right. You learn a lot of stuff while planning your wedding. You learn the proper way to address a formal envelope and can calculate the correct postage just by picking it up. You learn to recognize the songs Cannon in D, Ave Maria, and Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring and can tell them apart. You learn how to read a Farmer's Almanac, a satellite radar, and visit the NOAA website hourly to see what the chance is that it will rain on your wedding day. You learn way too much about hors de oeuvres, plated and/or buffet dinners, cake flavors, and champagne. You learn it all and you whip it all up into one magical day.
What you don't learn is how to be married. As I mentioned earlier, today is my four year anniversary. I laughed to myself this evening about this very fact as I was hosing the dog poop and dirt off my pool deck. We've come a long way in four years. Gone are the champagne and strawberry fantasies that you see on TV. I don't mean that in a bad way I just think that after a while you don't need all that bull shit anymore. Life is what you live everyday not just on anniversaries and holidays. If your everydays are good, you've got it made.
It is so interesting, though, how much planning we (as a society) put into weddings but we rarely think about what married life will actually be like. I know that I am speaking as an amateur here but being married is hard. It's not all white dress, cake eating, first dance romantic. I think a lot of people go into married life with a fantasy of what it will be like. I'm sure that fantasy doesn't include arguing about what you'll have for dinner, the power struggle over who will take the garbage out or the mortification you'll feel after your husband finds, and then plunges for you, the mess you unintentionally left in the toilet. You think it'll always be romantic and sweet and loving. And it is, sometimes, but you need to be prepared for the other times too.
In our four short years as husband and wife, we've experienced a lot of ups and downs. We've been through quite a bit from infertility and heartbreak to being so broke we can't even afford to buy anniversary cards to wanting to strangle each other on the way home from long car trips. But, so far, we've managed to get through it all by talking and laughing and remembering that there may be tough times but there are always good times too. There is a line in a song that I love and it always makes me smile. It goes, "it's the little things that only I know, those are the things that make you mine." I think that's true of marriages too. It's the little things in a marriage that make it strong and that make it special to the two of you. If we can remember to take care of the little things, the big stuff should be a piece of cake..... wedding cake.
Joe and I had a longer-than-average 16 month engagement. We took time and planned everything out so our wedding day would be just right. You learn a lot of stuff while planning your wedding. You learn the proper way to address a formal envelope and can calculate the correct postage just by picking it up. You learn to recognize the songs Cannon in D, Ave Maria, and Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring and can tell them apart. You learn how to read a Farmer's Almanac, a satellite radar, and visit the NOAA website hourly to see what the chance is that it will rain on your wedding day. You learn way too much about hors de oeuvres, plated and/or buffet dinners, cake flavors, and champagne. You learn it all and you whip it all up into one magical day.
What you don't learn is how to be married. As I mentioned earlier, today is my four year anniversary. I laughed to myself this evening about this very fact as I was hosing the dog poop and dirt off my pool deck. We've come a long way in four years. Gone are the champagne and strawberry fantasies that you see on TV. I don't mean that in a bad way I just think that after a while you don't need all that bull shit anymore. Life is what you live everyday not just on anniversaries and holidays. If your everydays are good, you've got it made.
It is so interesting, though, how much planning we (as a society) put into weddings but we rarely think about what married life will actually be like. I know that I am speaking as an amateur here but being married is hard. It's not all white dress, cake eating, first dance romantic. I think a lot of people go into married life with a fantasy of what it will be like. I'm sure that fantasy doesn't include arguing about what you'll have for dinner, the power struggle over who will take the garbage out or the mortification you'll feel after your husband finds, and then plunges for you, the mess you unintentionally left in the toilet. You think it'll always be romantic and sweet and loving. And it is, sometimes, but you need to be prepared for the other times too.
In our four short years as husband and wife, we've experienced a lot of ups and downs. We've been through quite a bit from infertility and heartbreak to being so broke we can't even afford to buy anniversary cards to wanting to strangle each other on the way home from long car trips. But, so far, we've managed to get through it all by talking and laughing and remembering that there may be tough times but there are always good times too. There is a line in a song that I love and it always makes me smile. It goes, "it's the little things that only I know, those are the things that make you mine." I think that's true of marriages too. It's the little things in a marriage that make it strong and that make it special to the two of you. If we can remember to take care of the little things, the big stuff should be a piece of cake..... wedding cake.
Monday, October 8, 2007
You're such a dreamer
I'm on a mission to solve a mystery. The mysterious disappearance of my dreams. Not the "hopes and dreams" kind of dreams but actual dreams that I'm supposed to have when I'm asleep. I can't remember the last time I dreamt and it's a little disturbing to me.
I used to have amazing, vivid and thorough dreams. I dreamt in full color with full story lines and a very good attention to detail. I would wake from my dreams and sometimes think about them all day. Not all the dreams were good, some were scary while others were funny and there were some that never made any sense. I used to be able to fly. I would start by running and then take off into the sky. I would glide for a while and then have to flap my arms like a bird to stay afloat. I loved it, it was unbelievable. I was so into my dreams that at one point I bought a dream book and attempted to analyze what my dreams meant.
That's a pretty funny experience. For instance, a dream about death isn't necessarily a bad thing. In fact, according to my dream book, death is rarely a bad omen. There are all kinds of different ways it can be interpreted depending on what you actually see in your dream. One dream can have you flipping all over the dream book trying to piece it all together. My dream about flying actually represented my ambitions. If I was successful at flying, which I was most of the time, it meant that I could expect to achieve my ambitions without too much difficulty. The dream book can really surprise you when you think you know what your dreams mean. But, who the hell knows? I don't know what kind of credentials the dream book people hold. How do they know what your dream means? It's anybody's best guess really.
But, as silly a past time as "decoding" dreams is, I seriously wish I had some dreams to look up. I don't know what has happened to my amazing dreams. They've vanished without a trace. I don't know if I'm not sleeping well enough to have dreams or I'm having them and just not remembering or if I have early stage dementia and I'll be a vegetable soon. Either way, I would really like to know how to get my dreams back! I would really hate to think that my mind has stopped being creative. Maybe too much TV or too much junk food has got my brain all gunked up. Maybe my subconscious mind has stopped trying to clue my conscious mind in on what's really going on inside me because it knows I never listen. Maybe Joe just snores so loud that it scares my subconscious mind away.
I need my dreams. I'm on a mission to find them again. It may take a while to find the culprit that stole my sweet slumber stories but I'm going to narrow them down one by one. I think I need to start with a good night's sleep. I need to go to bed when I'm actually tired. I need to kick the dogs out of the bed. I can not be a slave to them! I may even have to kick Joe out for a night to see if that helps. Then I need to ditch the alarm clock and let my body wake up naturally and peacefully. The jolt of the alarm clock at 5:30am blaring Bon Jovi surely can't help when I'm trying to remember what I'd just dreamt about. At that point all I can remember is, "It's my life, it's now or never..."
Wish me luck on my new quest. I have a feeling I'm going to need it. And to all of you I wish sweet dreams.
I used to have amazing, vivid and thorough dreams. I dreamt in full color with full story lines and a very good attention to detail. I would wake from my dreams and sometimes think about them all day. Not all the dreams were good, some were scary while others were funny and there were some that never made any sense. I used to be able to fly. I would start by running and then take off into the sky. I would glide for a while and then have to flap my arms like a bird to stay afloat. I loved it, it was unbelievable. I was so into my dreams that at one point I bought a dream book and attempted to analyze what my dreams meant.
That's a pretty funny experience. For instance, a dream about death isn't necessarily a bad thing. In fact, according to my dream book, death is rarely a bad omen. There are all kinds of different ways it can be interpreted depending on what you actually see in your dream. One dream can have you flipping all over the dream book trying to piece it all together. My dream about flying actually represented my ambitions. If I was successful at flying, which I was most of the time, it meant that I could expect to achieve my ambitions without too much difficulty. The dream book can really surprise you when you think you know what your dreams mean. But, who the hell knows? I don't know what kind of credentials the dream book people hold. How do they know what your dream means? It's anybody's best guess really.
But, as silly a past time as "decoding" dreams is, I seriously wish I had some dreams to look up. I don't know what has happened to my amazing dreams. They've vanished without a trace. I don't know if I'm not sleeping well enough to have dreams or I'm having them and just not remembering or if I have early stage dementia and I'll be a vegetable soon. Either way, I would really like to know how to get my dreams back! I would really hate to think that my mind has stopped being creative. Maybe too much TV or too much junk food has got my brain all gunked up. Maybe my subconscious mind has stopped trying to clue my conscious mind in on what's really going on inside me because it knows I never listen. Maybe Joe just snores so loud that it scares my subconscious mind away.
I need my dreams. I'm on a mission to find them again. It may take a while to find the culprit that stole my sweet slumber stories but I'm going to narrow them down one by one. I think I need to start with a good night's sleep. I need to go to bed when I'm actually tired. I need to kick the dogs out of the bed. I can not be a slave to them! I may even have to kick Joe out for a night to see if that helps. Then I need to ditch the alarm clock and let my body wake up naturally and peacefully. The jolt of the alarm clock at 5:30am blaring Bon Jovi surely can't help when I'm trying to remember what I'd just dreamt about. At that point all I can remember is, "It's my life, it's now or never..."
Wish me luck on my new quest. I have a feeling I'm going to need it. And to all of you I wish sweet dreams.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Sexy Beast
It's amazing how one piece of clothing or some lip gloss or a bad hair day can make me feel like a completely different person. I've been enjoying the new job "fashion show" these past two weeks. You know, where no one has seen any of your clothes before so every day is a new and exciting outfit. After about two weeks you have to start pulling out the repeats and then it's just not as fun. Everyone at work has been very complimentary of me and my outfits and shoes and even my perfume. It's been quite a self-esteem booster but also a clean slate. I'm like a mysterious creature that they've yet to figure out. I've noticed, though, how much one thing can make a difference in how I'm feeling on any particular day.
For instance, when I have on some really hot shoes I just feel hotter and I step lighter and I get a little strut going. It makes my posture better, I keep my head up and make eye contact with people and I smile at them. Isn't it silly how a pair of shoes can do so much to improve my day? I guess that's why I love them so much. It's like Prozac without a prescription.
I've never been a lipstick person but, like shoes, I'm seriously addicted to lip gloss. I have two favorites that I like to alternate between. It's ridiculous but the lip gloss makes me feel sexy. I slick it on and all of a sudden I'm like an Olsen twin doing the duck-lip-pursing thing. Like I've suddenly traded lips with Angelina Jolie. I know they are still my lips but until I look in a mirror, it's all about the state of mind that the lip gloss provides.
There is a down side to letting how I look or what I wear define my mood though. When something doesn't work, like an ill-fitting outfit or a bad hair day, it can make me feel rotten. I've had many bad hair days in the past so it's not like they are anything new for me. But, when I'm trying to make a good impression and prove to all these new people that I'm hot, a bad hair day is not a good thing for me. I had one of those days this week. I don't know why but I tend to overcompensate for a bad hair day by using more hair spray. I do it with blush too but that's a whole other blog. I've been an admitted hair spray addict in the past and I've been trying really hard to put the can down and back slowly out of the bathroom. But when a bad hair day strikes, that can always seems to find it's way back into my hands. Unfortunately, too much hair spray usually leaves me looking like a deranged Carol Seaver from Growing Pains. It's a very crispy look- not hot.
As I get older, I think I'm working out the quirks. All the magazines I've read and all the makeover shows I've watched are slowly teaching me what works for my body and my curly hair. I'm experimenting with new products and cuts and fabrics. Maybe by the time I'm thirty I'll have it all figured out. Maybe I'll at least have the presence of mind to use the hair spray sparingly. Do they have a 12 step program for that? Hi, my name is Tricia and I'm a hair sprayaholic...
For instance, when I have on some really hot shoes I just feel hotter and I step lighter and I get a little strut going. It makes my posture better, I keep my head up and make eye contact with people and I smile at them. Isn't it silly how a pair of shoes can do so much to improve my day? I guess that's why I love them so much. It's like Prozac without a prescription.
I've never been a lipstick person but, like shoes, I'm seriously addicted to lip gloss. I have two favorites that I like to alternate between. It's ridiculous but the lip gloss makes me feel sexy. I slick it on and all of a sudden I'm like an Olsen twin doing the duck-lip-pursing thing. Like I've suddenly traded lips with Angelina Jolie. I know they are still my lips but until I look in a mirror, it's all about the state of mind that the lip gloss provides.
There is a down side to letting how I look or what I wear define my mood though. When something doesn't work, like an ill-fitting outfit or a bad hair day, it can make me feel rotten. I've had many bad hair days in the past so it's not like they are anything new for me. But, when I'm trying to make a good impression and prove to all these new people that I'm hot, a bad hair day is not a good thing for me. I had one of those days this week. I don't know why but I tend to overcompensate for a bad hair day by using more hair spray. I do it with blush too but that's a whole other blog. I've been an admitted hair spray addict in the past and I've been trying really hard to put the can down and back slowly out of the bathroom. But when a bad hair day strikes, that can always seems to find it's way back into my hands. Unfortunately, too much hair spray usually leaves me looking like a deranged Carol Seaver from Growing Pains. It's a very crispy look- not hot.
As I get older, I think I'm working out the quirks. All the magazines I've read and all the makeover shows I've watched are slowly teaching me what works for my body and my curly hair. I'm experimenting with new products and cuts and fabrics. Maybe by the time I'm thirty I'll have it all figured out. Maybe I'll at least have the presence of mind to use the hair spray sparingly. Do they have a 12 step program for that? Hi, my name is Tricia and I'm a hair sprayaholic...
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Joe and Tricia's Excellent Adventure
Joe and I have been feeling, lately, that our lives are lacking excitement. Our weekends are usually spent cleaning and grocery shopping, watching TV and sometimes going out to eat. We feel like we're kind of stuck in a rut. We've really been focusing so much on fertility treatments and doctor appointments and the future that we've forgotten that we are young and can still go out and have fun and do stuff. Once we have kids we'll probably wish for lazy days like these. So we've been thinking about things we'd like to do and have been trying to be a little more spontaneous and adventurous.
We're already planning a trip to Tallahassee in October to see a Florida State game and we know we want to get over to Tampa for a Tampa Bay Bucs game in December. We've been thinking of little weekend trips that we could take too. But, for the time being, and until I start getting some nice new paychecks we're thinking on a smaller scale.
So, last night, instead of ordering our usual Chinese take-out from our usual (and favorite) local Chinese restaurant and sitting on the couch watching a That 70's Show marathon on Spike TV and going to bed around 10pm, we decided to spice things up and head out into the real world. We're not drinkers so we're not going to head out to a bar. We're not dancers (Joe isn't anyway) so a night club is out. We really weren't in the mood for a movie either. So, we decided on dinner out. I know, it's not really that adventurous but baby steps, right?
So, we decided dinner but didn't want to go to any "regular" place. Nothing in Titusville, not Mexican, not a chain restaurant, nothing that we do all the time. There is a place in Cape Canaveral called "Thai Thai" that I've heard is awesome. They have sushi, which I love, but also cooked food for Joe. We thought, "Brilliant!" something new and exciting! So off we went to Cape Canaveral. Thirty minutes later we pull into "Thai Thai" and find the parking lot packed and people waiting outside. We were both really hungry by this point and starting to get cranky so we decided that we'd skip it and keep driving until we found something else. We headed south towards Cocoa Beach.
Joe thought he remembered a restaurant called Lotus-something so we were looking for that. We never found it but did pass by a restaurant called "Yen Yen" that has been in Cocoa Beach forever. We were even hungrier by then and neither of us had ever eaten there so we decided "Yen Yen" was the winner. We walked in the door and were both a little shocked. The waiters and waitresses were dressed in tuxedos with bow ties and the man at the podium asked if we had reservations. We immediately felt way under dressed, Joe in his t-shirt and shorts and me in my jeans and flip flops. But, there was no wait so we got right in and ducked into a booth before anyone noticed our lack of dressiness.
The decor of the restaurant was interesting to say the least. The booths and the drapes were both made out of pink velvet. There were chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and a step down dining area in the middle of the restaurant with diamond-shaped mirror accents on the walls. The table we sat at had a picture of the "Mona Lisa" hanging above it. It reminded me of a restaurant you'd see on The Godfather minus the mobsters in the corner booth smoking cigars and drinking brandy out of big snifters. But, whatever, we were there and hungry.
The menu had a lot of choices on it so we decided to both try new and interesting things. We both ordered soup, me hot and sour and Joe egg drop, and some Szechuan wontons. The soup was ok but the wontons were not. They were covered in a red goo-like sauce that looked more like menstrual blood (sorry- gross) than sauce. But, again, we were hungry and trying to be adventurous so we dug in. Not good. I have no idea what was inside the wontons but they were not pleasant. Then our dinner arrived. I ordered the beef and scallops and Joe ordered the Beijing trio which was shrimp, chicken, and beef. When I read "beef and scallops" on the menu I thought it would be beef and scallops mixed together in the same sauce with the same vegetables. It wasn't. The beef was on one side of the plate in one type of sauce and the scallops were on the other in a different sauce. It was very strange. Joe's plate was covered in fried noodles and you couldn't even see what was underneath. It looked like a bird had made it's nest right there on his plate. We still went for it though with high hopes that it would be delicious.
My beef was so rare I couldn't even eat it. It was still purple on the inside and the sauce was not good. The scallops were very soft and squishy and the sauce on them wasn't good either. Joe's dinner was a little better flavor-wise but still not great. The steamed white rice was delicious though. We finished our "meal" and were slowly starting to wonder why we'd never heard any review, good or bad, about this restaurant before. Joe's theory was that once you walked in, you could never leave. We said we'd probably walk out the door and be back in the restaurant again like a bad Twilight Zone episode. We were practically delirious by that point. We couldn't tell if it was from the raw meat and bad seafood or if they'd slipped ruffies into our drinks. Then the bill arrived.
FIFTY-ONE FREAKING DOLLARS!! We both almost died when we saw the check. We'd seen the prices on the menu but usually don't mind paying a little more for a good dinner. Now we knew what the smirk on Mona Lisa's face was all about. We could not believe we'd just spent $50 ($60 with a tip) on raw meat and period blood. We payed our check and ran-walked out of that place, thankful that the door did indeed lead outside. We got in the car and wondered how the hell that restaurant had managed to stay open for so many years. We still have no idea.
On the way home we started thinking about our plan to be more adventurous. Maybe we'd already gotten the plan right. I mean, sitting at home is comfortable. We can wear our baggy pajamas and not have to worry about being judged by some Asian man in a bow-tie, we can lay down on our comfortable couch and get up for a drink or a snack or a bathroom break, we can watch pretty darn funny TV and laugh out loud and we can eat GREAT food for 1/3 of the price we'd paid for a crappy dinner. All without the hour round-trip drive, the money wasted on gas, and without leaving our dogs home alone.
I think last night's dinner taught us to stop worrying about what we could be doing and start enjoying what we are doing. It may not be exciting or glamorous but it's pretty freaking awesome, if I do say so myself.
We're already planning a trip to Tallahassee in October to see a Florida State game and we know we want to get over to Tampa for a Tampa Bay Bucs game in December. We've been thinking of little weekend trips that we could take too. But, for the time being, and until I start getting some nice new paychecks we're thinking on a smaller scale.
So, last night, instead of ordering our usual Chinese take-out from our usual (and favorite) local Chinese restaurant and sitting on the couch watching a That 70's Show marathon on Spike TV and going to bed around 10pm, we decided to spice things up and head out into the real world. We're not drinkers so we're not going to head out to a bar. We're not dancers (Joe isn't anyway) so a night club is out. We really weren't in the mood for a movie either. So, we decided on dinner out. I know, it's not really that adventurous but baby steps, right?
So, we decided dinner but didn't want to go to any "regular" place. Nothing in Titusville, not Mexican, not a chain restaurant, nothing that we do all the time. There is a place in Cape Canaveral called "Thai Thai" that I've heard is awesome. They have sushi, which I love, but also cooked food for Joe. We thought, "Brilliant!" something new and exciting! So off we went to Cape Canaveral. Thirty minutes later we pull into "Thai Thai" and find the parking lot packed and people waiting outside. We were both really hungry by this point and starting to get cranky so we decided that we'd skip it and keep driving until we found something else. We headed south towards Cocoa Beach.
Joe thought he remembered a restaurant called Lotus-something so we were looking for that. We never found it but did pass by a restaurant called "Yen Yen" that has been in Cocoa Beach forever. We were even hungrier by then and neither of us had ever eaten there so we decided "Yen Yen" was the winner. We walked in the door and were both a little shocked. The waiters and waitresses were dressed in tuxedos with bow ties and the man at the podium asked if we had reservations. We immediately felt way under dressed, Joe in his t-shirt and shorts and me in my jeans and flip flops. But, there was no wait so we got right in and ducked into a booth before anyone noticed our lack of dressiness.
The decor of the restaurant was interesting to say the least. The booths and the drapes were both made out of pink velvet. There were chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and a step down dining area in the middle of the restaurant with diamond-shaped mirror accents on the walls. The table we sat at had a picture of the "Mona Lisa" hanging above it. It reminded me of a restaurant you'd see on The Godfather minus the mobsters in the corner booth smoking cigars and drinking brandy out of big snifters. But, whatever, we were there and hungry.
The menu had a lot of choices on it so we decided to both try new and interesting things. We both ordered soup, me hot and sour and Joe egg drop, and some Szechuan wontons. The soup was ok but the wontons were not. They were covered in a red goo-like sauce that looked more like menstrual blood (sorry- gross) than sauce. But, again, we were hungry and trying to be adventurous so we dug in. Not good. I have no idea what was inside the wontons but they were not pleasant. Then our dinner arrived. I ordered the beef and scallops and Joe ordered the Beijing trio which was shrimp, chicken, and beef. When I read "beef and scallops" on the menu I thought it would be beef and scallops mixed together in the same sauce with the same vegetables. It wasn't. The beef was on one side of the plate in one type of sauce and the scallops were on the other in a different sauce. It was very strange. Joe's plate was covered in fried noodles and you couldn't even see what was underneath. It looked like a bird had made it's nest right there on his plate. We still went for it though with high hopes that it would be delicious.
My beef was so rare I couldn't even eat it. It was still purple on the inside and the sauce was not good. The scallops were very soft and squishy and the sauce on them wasn't good either. Joe's dinner was a little better flavor-wise but still not great. The steamed white rice was delicious though. We finished our "meal" and were slowly starting to wonder why we'd never heard any review, good or bad, about this restaurant before. Joe's theory was that once you walked in, you could never leave. We said we'd probably walk out the door and be back in the restaurant again like a bad Twilight Zone episode. We were practically delirious by that point. We couldn't tell if it was from the raw meat and bad seafood or if they'd slipped ruffies into our drinks. Then the bill arrived.
FIFTY-ONE FREAKING DOLLARS!! We both almost died when we saw the check. We'd seen the prices on the menu but usually don't mind paying a little more for a good dinner. Now we knew what the smirk on Mona Lisa's face was all about. We could not believe we'd just spent $50 ($60 with a tip) on raw meat and period blood. We payed our check and ran-walked out of that place, thankful that the door did indeed lead outside. We got in the car and wondered how the hell that restaurant had managed to stay open for so many years. We still have no idea.
On the way home we started thinking about our plan to be more adventurous. Maybe we'd already gotten the plan right. I mean, sitting at home is comfortable. We can wear our baggy pajamas and not have to worry about being judged by some Asian man in a bow-tie, we can lay down on our comfortable couch and get up for a drink or a snack or a bathroom break, we can watch pretty darn funny TV and laugh out loud and we can eat GREAT food for 1/3 of the price we'd paid for a crappy dinner. All without the hour round-trip drive, the money wasted on gas, and without leaving our dogs home alone.
I think last night's dinner taught us to stop worrying about what we could be doing and start enjoying what we are doing. It may not be exciting or glamorous but it's pretty freaking awesome, if I do say so myself.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Hump Day
Well, I've officially made it through three days at my new job. Things are going pretty well so far. I've got a long way to go before I think I'll be completely comfortable but I'm trying not to get overwhelmed.
The job is A LOT more complicated than I originally thought. I'm working in the Printing and Micro imaging Department. We make copies for people and scan big engineering plans and put things on disc for people. There are a lot of different things going on in the department. I think the hardest part for me right now is the flow. I'm trying to grasp where the work is coming from, where it's going, and what my role is in the process. So far they tell me that I'm doing really well so I guess that's a good thing. They are definitely not trying to rush me through the training process and I'm very grateful for that.
The hours have been a huge adjustment for me. I've gone from a 9-5 job to a 7:30-4 job. That might not seem like a huge difference but, let me tell you, 5:30am seems WAY earlier than 6:45am. Especially when that alarm clock goes off and I have to drag my tired butt out of the bed. I know what you're saying, getting off an hour earlier should make up for going in early. It is nice to get out of work at 4:00 but it still feels like 5:00 to me. I'm ready to get home and eat dinner but I can't because Joe doesn't get home for another 2 hours. I know I could eat on my own but that's no fun.
Another big adjustment has been my lack of connection with the outside world. I haven't been assigned a computer or phone yet so I haven't been able to check in on my gossip sites or email with my girlfriends like I normally do. That is really killing me. I get home in the afternoon and run to the computer to check my email and to read all about what's going on in the world. I leave for work before even the Today show comes on so I'm really missing out on all the current world (and celeb world) news. I'm used to getting new reports every half hour or so.
Overall, I do think I'm going to like the job. The people seem genuinely nice and most of them have been there for more than twenty years. It's got to be a pretty good place to work if people are sticking around that long. It is just going to take some time to get adjusted to the new routine. And that works for me because I've got nothing but time.
The job is A LOT more complicated than I originally thought. I'm working in the Printing and Micro imaging Department. We make copies for people and scan big engineering plans and put things on disc for people. There are a lot of different things going on in the department. I think the hardest part for me right now is the flow. I'm trying to grasp where the work is coming from, where it's going, and what my role is in the process. So far they tell me that I'm doing really well so I guess that's a good thing. They are definitely not trying to rush me through the training process and I'm very grateful for that.
The hours have been a huge adjustment for me. I've gone from a 9-5 job to a 7:30-4 job. That might not seem like a huge difference but, let me tell you, 5:30am seems WAY earlier than 6:45am. Especially when that alarm clock goes off and I have to drag my tired butt out of the bed. I know what you're saying, getting off an hour earlier should make up for going in early. It is nice to get out of work at 4:00 but it still feels like 5:00 to me. I'm ready to get home and eat dinner but I can't because Joe doesn't get home for another 2 hours. I know I could eat on my own but that's no fun.
Another big adjustment has been my lack of connection with the outside world. I haven't been assigned a computer or phone yet so I haven't been able to check in on my gossip sites or email with my girlfriends like I normally do. That is really killing me. I get home in the afternoon and run to the computer to check my email and to read all about what's going on in the world. I leave for work before even the Today show comes on so I'm really missing out on all the current world (and celeb world) news. I'm used to getting new reports every half hour or so.
Overall, I do think I'm going to like the job. The people seem genuinely nice and most of them have been there for more than twenty years. It's got to be a pretty good place to work if people are sticking around that long. It is just going to take some time to get adjusted to the new routine. And that works for me because I've got nothing but time.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
The New Frontier
I start my new job tomorrow and I'm excited but mostly terrified. Starting a new job is so weird. You know how after you've been at a job for a while you start to know everyone's moods and behaviors and you're in a routine? Well at a new job you have none of that. You can't tell if the girl at the next desk is a total bitch or just a bitch until she has her coffee. You can't tell if the guy down the hall complimented your shoes because he's gay or because he has a crazy shoe fetish and wants to tie you down and lick your shoes. All those things come with time.
I know I have said before that I am not a person who branches out to meet new people. I am definitely a stump. I'm happy with the people I know and feel no need to reach out and make new friends. The "silver and gold" song we learned in the Brownies was completely lost on me. I prefer the "keep the old" part over the "make new friends" part. That probably makes me come off as really shy or a huge bitch to people who don't know me. So at most jobs I have, I normally don't talk to anyone unless they talk to me first. I usually lighten up after the first month or so but until then, I'm quiet as a mouse.
Until I find out what kind of person I'm dealing with, I don't like to reveal too much. I don't want to start any battles about politics or religion or gay marriage or whatever by saying the wrong thing to the wrong person. Don't get me wrong, I'm going to keep on believing what I believe in but I just won't even bring it up to someone who obviously feels differently. It'll be interesting, that's for sure.
I'm also all up in the air about what to wear on my first day. I don't really know what my co-workers' style will be like or even the level of formality of their dress code. Sometimes I think people think the outfits I wear are a little out there so I don't want to shock anyone. I mean, I'm not on the cutting edge of fashion by any means compared to women in big cities but here in Titusville, I think I push the envelope a little. But, I don't want them to think that I dress bland either. On a first day I usually like to wear something cute that's just a little on the fashion edge but not too much. I want to introduce the fact that I'm semi-stylish and will be wearing heels and jewelry and that sometimes I will go to the more trendy side. I don't want to dress down for the first month and then show up wearing a bolero jacket and stilettos and have people wonder where it came from. I figure I can introduce things slowly and build up from there. That way, hopefully, it won't be too shocking for anyone.
I guess the worst part, for me, about starting a new job is having to answer questions about myself. It's just weird telling a stranger about your life. I have my standard, "I'm married, live in Titusville, and have two dogs" story which gets me by for a little bit. I'm sure I'll have to field the questions about if I have any children. That's always fun. People always want to talk about my hair. That's fine too but after a couple of times it gets annoying telling people that my hair is naturally curly and having to hear about how lucky I am to have curly hair. blah, blah, blah. It really throws them for a loop when I show up one day with straight hair. When people ask me about myself I should change my standard answer to, "stupidity drives me crazy, I can be very stubborn, I get psycho when I'm hungry, I can recite celebrity gossip like its the alphabet, I can be a real bitch sometimes, I despise mom jeans, and don't even talk to me about how great your church is or how you think the war in Iraq is going well." I think that might start me out on the wrong foot though.
Oh well, I guess it can only get easier after the first day. I'll just do everything I can to make it go smoothly. I am really excited to start a new career and to learn something different. I'm excited that I'm going to be a part of the space program because I think it's amazing. I'm excited for the financial boost this job will provide and for the amazing insurance that Joe and I will each be able to have. I'm excited to be at a real company with an employee handbook and actual policies and procedures. I am all around excited.
Well, I'm off to shave my legs and paint my toenails. Because, you know, you never get a second chance to make a first impression...
I know I have said before that I am not a person who branches out to meet new people. I am definitely a stump. I'm happy with the people I know and feel no need to reach out and make new friends. The "silver and gold" song we learned in the Brownies was completely lost on me. I prefer the "keep the old" part over the "make new friends" part. That probably makes me come off as really shy or a huge bitch to people who don't know me. So at most jobs I have, I normally don't talk to anyone unless they talk to me first. I usually lighten up after the first month or so but until then, I'm quiet as a mouse.
Until I find out what kind of person I'm dealing with, I don't like to reveal too much. I don't want to start any battles about politics or religion or gay marriage or whatever by saying the wrong thing to the wrong person. Don't get me wrong, I'm going to keep on believing what I believe in but I just won't even bring it up to someone who obviously feels differently. It'll be interesting, that's for sure.
I'm also all up in the air about what to wear on my first day. I don't really know what my co-workers' style will be like or even the level of formality of their dress code. Sometimes I think people think the outfits I wear are a little out there so I don't want to shock anyone. I mean, I'm not on the cutting edge of fashion by any means compared to women in big cities but here in Titusville, I think I push the envelope a little. But, I don't want them to think that I dress bland either. On a first day I usually like to wear something cute that's just a little on the fashion edge but not too much. I want to introduce the fact that I'm semi-stylish and will be wearing heels and jewelry and that sometimes I will go to the more trendy side. I don't want to dress down for the first month and then show up wearing a bolero jacket and stilettos and have people wonder where it came from. I figure I can introduce things slowly and build up from there. That way, hopefully, it won't be too shocking for anyone.
I guess the worst part, for me, about starting a new job is having to answer questions about myself. It's just weird telling a stranger about your life. I have my standard, "I'm married, live in Titusville, and have two dogs" story which gets me by for a little bit. I'm sure I'll have to field the questions about if I have any children. That's always fun. People always want to talk about my hair. That's fine too but after a couple of times it gets annoying telling people that my hair is naturally curly and having to hear about how lucky I am to have curly hair. blah, blah, blah. It really throws them for a loop when I show up one day with straight hair. When people ask me about myself I should change my standard answer to, "stupidity drives me crazy, I can be very stubborn, I get psycho when I'm hungry, I can recite celebrity gossip like its the alphabet, I can be a real bitch sometimes, I despise mom jeans, and don't even talk to me about how great your church is or how you think the war in Iraq is going well." I think that might start me out on the wrong foot though.
Oh well, I guess it can only get easier after the first day. I'll just do everything I can to make it go smoothly. I am really excited to start a new career and to learn something different. I'm excited that I'm going to be a part of the space program because I think it's amazing. I'm excited for the financial boost this job will provide and for the amazing insurance that Joe and I will each be able to have. I'm excited to be at a real company with an employee handbook and actual policies and procedures. I am all around excited.
Well, I'm off to shave my legs and paint my toenails. Because, you know, you never get a second chance to make a first impression...
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