2007 - A year in review

Everyone loves to review the year that is about to pass, so in the time honored tradition - here is a review of my year, month by month:

January - After a VERY stressful December we rolled into January in style. Celebrated my final year in the 20's with great friends at Spaghetti Factory where many trips to the bathroom lasted mysteriously long for some reason! And our friend Becky worried if her husband was being persued by a younger woman who tantalized him with the wonders of being 10!

February - Shortest month of the year ended up being the busiest! We spent a weekend peeking Behind the Cellar Door. And then preparing for Mimsy to turn the BIG 60! We threw a HUGE surprise party with all her friends and collegues!


March - Very interesting month. Not only were we celebrating Rick's birthday but we were also preparing for our first Family vacation to Cabo San Lucas Mexico at the end of the month. Little did we know that I would also be released from my hellish job just in time to be able to actually relax on the beautiful sandy beachs of Cabo while sipping a Margarita and NOT thinking about having to return to the terrible place I called work.

April - After our super fun trip to Mexico in the begining, the rest of April fell short with the only memoriable thing being the ever fun job search.

May - May found me working for a new company and us trying to recoop financially from me being off work for almost a month. All in all an rather uneventful month!

June - Aw, romance and wedding anniversary. We spent our 7 year anniversary camping and having a great time.

July - We celebrated our countries Independence in style - kickin' back "where da Vodka" drinks and lounging by the pool. Much to Miss Amelia's dismay!

August - As the summer came to an end we decided to wave it off with the Brown's camping in Terra's childhood camping area Bear River Resort/Ravin

September - One of the few uneventful months in 2007. Nothing happened and we made it to October!

October - Another big month. In the begining of the month my father passed away and left me to deal with unaddressed feelings. Rick and I had a much needed weekend in our favorite area Amador for their Big Crush weekend where we had amazing food and fun. October also brought Rick's dreams into reality with the launch of his first class at Natoma Station that helped him segway into other schools for the Spring sessions.

November - With Rick's classes going strong and schools signing up left and right we started into the Holiday Season with little stress. The one blip on our radar was the decision to move in January to a new and improved house (more on that later). We spent early Thanksgiving morn - helping Turkey's Trot and then enjoyed a yummy dinner at my Aunts. Then we spent the day after wine tasting and spending quality time with Jeffrey (Rick's brother).

December - As previously posted we went into Christmas more prepared than I've ever been for anything and ended up having a wonderfully relaxing and enjoyable Christmas Eve Open House, and Christmas Day dinner, with our favorite and our best family members and friends there to share the time with us.

Now that we're on the last day of the year I look for 2008 to be more spectacular and fun. Rick's business is picking up a synergy that I know will only spread. We're moving into a home that we love. And hopefully it will be a year of peace and tranquility to everyone!

Informed Consumer - small year end rant

I believe in being an informed and educated consumer. When I buy products I try to know what I will be receiving, what the limitations of that item are and how it will bless my life. I realize that not everyone does the same thing - not everyone makes an educated decision about purchases and thus the reason that most places have a return policies. However some items in your life I would hope common sense would prevail and consumers would educate themselves on how to use whatever they are purchasing.
It is one of my biggest pet peeves when someone makes a life altering decision and does no research into and then turns around to complain about the limitations or guidelines of said purchase. A great example: health insurance. Regardless of if it employer sponsored or an individual plan we're talking about your health here. I've been in the health insurance industry for upwards of 8 years, I've seen every side of the industry. People sit back and complain about how damaged Health Insurance is and while I don't disagree, I think it would be a lot less damaged if consumers would educate themselves on what is and is not covered.
Every single plan that is offered by ANY health insurance company has (by law) a benefit summary which will in detail explain what is and is NOT covered. If people would read this and try with some effort to follow the rules people would NOT have an issue. Alas people do not read this and do not follow the rules and then want to sit back and say its the insurance companies fault that they had a procedure that wasn't covered or bought a drug that wasn't covered.
I know people who put more thought into the television programs they wish to watch than they do the health care policy they pay for monthly. I have family members, friends, COWORKERS who know less about their health care policy than they do about how to built a house. I've had these same people sit and complain to me about their policy and when I offer to look at it, they're amazed that by just reading the book, I can tell them what is covered. They seem to think that the book is in a language not their own.
To conclude my small rant - read before you buy and know more about the important stuff (like insurance) than the unimportant stuff.

Please can I come in and Wassail?

Poor Willow gets stuck outside whilst wassailling abounds indoors

Glorious glorious sleep

After my night of insomnia where I finally fell asleep somewhere between 330am and 4am by the time I got home yesterday I was exhausted. Thankfully my dear hubby had just the cure. He made an amazingly tasty dinner of peanut/thai chicken, brown rice and green beans (a friend of his from work gave him a peanut thai marinade that was SO good). He also made me a Dancing Reindeer (which is sparkling wine and blood orange italian soda). After having a full tummy I was amazed to find that the clock only read 7pm so I was faced with a conundrum: a. take a nap which would possibly ruin the rest of the nights sleep b. force myself to stay awake which might onset another night of insomnia or c. dose myself with Tylenol PM, have another Dancing Reindeer and have visions of sugar plums dancing in my head. I opted for choice C.

Two Tylenol PM, another Dancing Reindeer and only 3.5 hours of sleep the previous night and hubby was lucky I could get into to bed on my own accord. I was out like a light by the clock hit 8:15pm and slept like a log. I remember at one point (it felt as if it was the middle of the night however I know it wasn't because hubby was still awake and I believe asked what I was doing) crawling out of bed and feeling my way to the rest room and then feeling my way back to bed, I am pretty sure my eyes weren't even open.

Needless to say, I am now bright eyed and bushy tailed today. And while the count down to Christmas is at 5 days (till Christmas Eve) the bigger count down to "Terri's 20+10 Vegas Extraviganza" is at 14!!

Oy - Insomnia

I don't know why, but it seems I've picked up the habit of being an insomniac. I am not a fan of this. In fact its rather annoying. Especially when my dear dear hubby is passed out snoring in bed right now and its 250am. Thats right folks almost 3am and I am WIDE awake.
I've been editing and playing on my blog for at least the last 30 minutes - which I thought would make my eyes tired. Guess what? They're not. I've done all I can think of to do with the blog. It's cute now right? Fun colors that are a better respresentation of me.
Great now if I could just those fun colors to be painted in my mind while I dream that would be perfect. To make matters even worse, I can't think of anything to write about right now - so while this is boring its not even taking my mind of the fact that I can't sleep. In fact its so boring I would think that my own writing would be putting me to sleep but alas, it is not.
Blah Blah Blah.
I shall try to go watch my "sleepy" movie, which is Cars. I've seen it so much and it makes me so happy that it usually puts me to sleep with good dreams. So off to watch Lighting and Mater. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be functional at work (HA!). Good night! or rather Good morning!

Things that irritate me during the Holidays

I like the Holidays. I am BIG Holiday person. I like the parties and the decorating and the cheer and the wassailing and the good will towards man and all that crap. What I don't like though is the following:

1.) Angsty, wanna be Indy, post teen/pre adult, retail store seasonal workers. Look - you're out of high school and maybe your local JC isn't treating you quite as well as your hopefully yuppy Benz driving parents had hoped but take it out on someone else. I don't have the time, the patience or quite honestly the compassion to deal with your moody, stupid douche bag hair, spoiled brat attitude.

2.) Yuppy, non working, track suit wearing, stay at home mothers - living beyond their means that have nothing better to do with their day than troll the local department stores. Who think they're darling, screaming, running wild, snot nosed child should be allowed to run muck in the department store and you should just deal with it and GAWD forbid the little darling run into you, you should be watching out for them and move out of there way. Like just because they DID procreate we as a society should feel some unspoken thanks and just allow poor behavior to abound.

3.) Sixteen year old, shouldn't have a drivers license but do idiots who don't know how to a. drive in traffic b. drive in the rain and c. DRIVE AT ALL. And who have a nicer, newer car than mine and yet don't know what its like to make a car payment.

I think if a few rules should apply at the Holidays to keep us all happy:

1.) Fore mentioned Angsty personnel should be replaced by kind, grandmotherly types that are respectful and move with the same sense of urgency as their customers.

2.) Fore mentioned yuppy, non working, track suit wearing, stay at home mothers - should not be allowed to leave the house from Dec 1 until Jan 15.

3.) Just licensed teens should a. have to drive cars that cost LESS than $1000 (trust me they do exist - my first car was one as were both of my husbands first 2 cars) b. have signs posted clearly on the vehicle designating the drive as young, inexperienced and c. not be allowed to drive from Dec 1 until Jan 15.

I really think if these simple rules were followed the holidays and holiday shopping would be a much better experience for all of us.

Holidays

It's December 11th and I am 95% ready for Christmas. Which, quite honestly frightens me. Usually I don't even have my tree up until next weekend and presents - I am a Christmas Eve shopper FOR SURE. So the fact that my home is decorated, almost ALL of my presents are bought has me shakin' in my boots. What am I supposed to do with all of this free time I have. All of this non stress that is consuming me. I am actually stressed out about NOT BEING stressed out - whats up with that?
To be quite honest its a little ridiculous. I am a procrastinator. I thrive on putting stuff off. I am GOOD at putting stuff off. I excel at putting stuff off. So how is it that we're not even half way to Christmas and I am done? Because my dear dear hubby is trying to NOT be a procrastinator. He's trying to make us "prepared and organized". I don't know how to be prepared and organized. I know how to run around like a chicken with my head cut off and stress out. Its not the holidays if I am not up until 3am at least 4x's in the month of December. And I don't have at least 1 major crying fit breakdown? I don't know how to act.
I may need to have a breakdown about not having a breakdown. I'll report back if this happens.

Quick driving thought

This thought came to me this morning while I was driving to work. Their is construction happening on Mather Field Rd (the major street I take to work - also the major street used to access our housing development). They've written the following with spray paint on the ground just before you hit the part of the road they're working on:

Down
Slow

I've never understood why all rules of English language are thrown out when it comes to stuff being written on the street. It's almost as if Cal-Trans (and other companies that work on our roadways) think that for some reason because we're in a car we suddenly stop reading from top to bottom. Another example:

Ahead
Stop

Make sense to anyone else?

Farewell my friend

Today was Heathers last day at work. I am super gonna miss her. My whole afternoon was thrown off I kept wanting to go to her desk to tell her about how someone was annoying me - or try to avoid work by going to get coffee with her.
Farewell my Cinderelly - I'll miss you - San Diego is a lucky city!

It's late

It's late. 12:40am to be exact. I can't seem to fall asleep. I watched Knocked Up again (hilarious flick). I caught up on my internet Yahoo news. I even played Zwinkie for a while. Now I am bored so I thought - blog. Why not! Heather was just giving me a hard time about not blogging yesterday. So Heather - this is for you my friend - hope you're entertained.
I really think sleep would be a good thing at this point since I haven't really slept well at all this week and because tomorrow I have to be functional at work. You would think with as much as I am yawning - I'd be sleepy, but alas - no.

RANDOM THOUGHT
I saw a preview yesterday for P.S. I Love You - which was an AMAZING book by Cecelia Ahern. I am frightened of the movie though. I really really really loved the book and the previews are not looking that great to tantalize me. I hate when they take an excellent book and turn it into a crappy movie. I really think the entertainment industry needs to get their shit together and start coming up with some creative and intriguing films or quite frankly there is no hope for cinema. But alas, I digress. Books. Hmm - haven't had one I most recently love. I seem to go in peaks and valleys with reading. Right now I am at a valley - nothing is holding my attention. I guess I am too engulfed in other things.

LALALALA - amazingly enough it is now only 12:51am. A mere 11 minutes since I started. Nothing new really going on. Buster is throwing himself a right good fit in the living room with his water bottle. Maybe I will try watching my sleepy movie Cars - that usually works. Good Night Sir. I said Good Night Sir!

Terry Hess 1939 - 2007

Have you ever evaluated your life and wondered. Thought about your parents and wondered. It's hard to love someone and at the same time still be mad. It's hard to believe someone to be a good and still hate the person they are to you.
My father was a good man. He would have given anyone the shirt off his back. He would stop in a down pour to change someones flat tire. He would have fed the homeless wanting food.
My father was an ass. A selfish man. He would spend his pay check on his own needs and never consider anyone else. He left his family to do what made him happy. My father was my father. And now - he is gone.
My father was raised in a lumber camp - brought up to think that all that matter was brawn and not brain. He played football in high school and was good - but messed up his knee his junior year and therefore dropped out. He worked as a trucker. He drove the ice roads, he hauled expansive loads. He was a saw filer. Working from every mill from New Mexico to Missouri all the while dragging his family along.
I joke that I saw more of Northern America before I was 3 then I've seen since. I lived in New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, was born in Washington, Idaho, Colorado and Montana.
My mother forced my father to settle in Sacramento. And his roving self did for close to 10 years - but that wasn't him. And so when he lost his job, he worked out of state while my mother and I dealt with the reality he left behind. Or rather, I dealt with the reality he left behind. I learned to upkeep the house, I learned to pay the bills and I learned how to make sure my mother was okay and didn't kill herself - all the while he ate steaks and ignored his family.
I shouldn't expect less. I mean look at his parents - the grandparents I hated. The grandfather I was scared to death of. The man who frightened my entire childhood. The grandmother who compared me to her other granddaughter constantly and thought a great Christmas present for me at 12 was a collage of own school pictures of myself.
My father who moved away from the only child he had a relationship with. And then refused to take ownership of his actions.

My father was a son of a bitch. And I loved him and will grieve his death endlessly.
Terry Ernest Hess
Past Master American River Lodge F&AM, Scotish Rite, Shriner, Father PHQ I.O.J.D.
April 2, 1939 - October 2, 2007

What the last 30 days have been to me

So for those of you "Loyal" readers I have (which is like Rick and Heather). The last 30 days of my life have been have been "HARD" to say the least. I am really trying to be a loyal blogger. PLEASE stand by me. I PROMISE I will become 'REGULAR' soon.
For those of you who don't know. On October 2ND, I found out that my father had passed away. Many of you know, that my relationship with him had been "strained" for the last several years. However the news of his passing hit my life like a freight train hits a tumble weed. In case there has EVER been question I LOVED my father for the person he was, I just didn't accept him for the person he was to ME. He was an GOOD person, he just wasn't the "Father" I needed in my adult life, but he was what he KNEW how to be, which was the guy who would give anyone the shirt off his back. I know that sounds convoluted but its not. Every day since the 2ND, I live with the reality of my fathers death whether by conscience or by dreams which HAUNT me to the point of sleep by Tylenol PM and by day time illusions while walking.

BUT I DIGRESS - - A LOT.
{I have attempted to be private about my fathers death, because I while I don't feel my friends would not support me, rather my own feelings of insecurity lock me into a world of solidarity. I support what all of you COULD offer me. But feel like I need to NOT accept that (I know that sounds LAME).

So LIFE progresses and we move on. October 28Th we're having the ANNUAL Boyd Pumpkin carving party. Halloween we're taking the EVER so CUTE Amelia Trick or Treating. And from there, well, I am just trying to LIVE. Please try to keep reading and I will TRY to keep writing.

Friday

Its a normal Friday by most means. However this week has been lllooonnnggg for me. It started with getting to see the complete incapability's of the Kaiser Health Foundation when I took my mom to the ER and 8 hours laterwe emerged with the diagnosis of acute UTI and were sent on our merry way at 130am. After that the rest of the week is basically a daze. I had a sorority meeting Tuesday that I was supposed to host (luckily Debi did it at her house). Wednesday Rick and I nearly missed our dinner plans with Greg and Becky because of a misunderstanding on our part. And then Thursday I think my body decided ENOUGH and I started to get cold symptoms. 4 packets of EmergenC later and a day of sleep and I am still only about 75%. However today is a BIG day! Rick has 2 of his first assemblies, I have a "girl appt" for an IUD and then tonight we have Bunco.
It's a crazy crazy life. Stay tuned (:

Random thought of the afternoon

I want to be British. Brits have everything that is absolutely positively grand. They have biscuits and crumpets and tea and a queen. Yes I definitely absolutely want to be British!

Hello? Hello? Anyone there?

I am OFFICIALLY back to blogging! I know, I know - you've heard this before. You've seen the futile attempts. But I am making a commitment to do it and I am going to up hold that commitment!
So let's play a quick game of "what have I been doing since April?" Well I have a new job which is going well. Actually I have 2 new jobs! What fun! So my Monday thru Friday is with a brokers office as an account manager. It's been interesting. I've been in the health care/insurance world for 7 years and this is the first time I've been on this side of the fence so I am learning a lot. My other job is on Saturdays working as a Chef demonstrator at your local Warehouse Store. Basically I cook all day and tell people how to cook or give them ideas of what they can cook. It's been an interesting experience to say the least!
Other than that - not a lot has changed. I do have a new edition to our family. About a month ago Rick found a house bunny romping around the neighborhood and long story short - he's the newest member of our happy family! So please welcome Mr. Buster Bunny Boyd
Other than that - nothing new to report. BUT stay tuned as I am sure my life is wildly exciting to read about (:

Looking looking looking

I just realized the pictures I posted didn't post - however if you click on the box with the X it will take you to a Kodak slide show of them (o:

I am into day 4 of looking for a new job. It's been interesting and I think I've learned a little about myself, hopefully this time I won't make the same mistakes I've made with past employers.

I also had to call my previous employer today because its been almost 2 weeks and I have yet to receive the items from my desk. After getting the run around on Monday I was finally advised that in fact they were not mailed as originally promised and they had not in fact been mailed when I called on Monday as I was told. They were mailed yesterday. I am trying not to get irritated with this whole thing however I offered to come in and pick up the items (for two reasons actually, 1, so that I could make sure I got everything before my old desk was pirated and 2, to save them some $ on shipping) but that wouldn't sufice they wanted to mail them. Now I find that I STILL have to go get my umbrella and plant. And I wonder why I am relieved to not be there anymore!

I AM BAAACCCKKK!

I am back! Back home from a wonderful week in the beautiful Cabo San Lucas! Here is a short pictoral diary of the trip:


This is us boarding our connector flight on the tarmack - this is a first for me!!


Our first meal in Cabo was at the Giggling Marlin where we had their famous Skip and go Naked! I'll just say that by the time you drink a couple of these you understand the name!!


Jimmy Buffet had it right when he wanted to waste away in Margaritaville! The margarita in my hand is a SMALL!!


The ladies in Mexico have the right idea! This is one way to keep your man in line (o:


This is one of the views from the patio of our condo - it was so amazing we could see all over the city and into the marina and harbour!



We got a chance to experience the local "wildlife". This little guy snuck onto our kitchen counter!


Here is Rick mixing it up with a sketchy local!

Even on vacation we tried to get some work done at the office!


This is one of Rick and I's favorite bars. It was called Hemingways, it was a tequila and cigar bar. They had the most amazing martini there called Romeo and Juliet. Rick loved the Mojitos!



This is the window of the ocean. Its where the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez meet.

Ahh, the last day

So I've had a headache off and on for about a week. Amazingly today around 5:06p it disappeared - poof gone. Is it that the Tylenol, Advil and Excedrin finally kicked in? Has the tumor in my brain finally exploded and is now leaking septic juices into my brain? OR is it that I've walked away from work not to return again for 11 days! YOU READ RIGHT CRAZY READERS - 11 DAYS! Ahh, the over the counter products haven't helped its the deep deep relief of not having to work for 11 days!
With the weather averaging 88 in cabo for the 7 days I am there all I can say is:
Watch out Cabo - here I come!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RICK!

YAY! Today is my dear dear hubby's birthday! WOOHOO! Last night we had a family dinner to celebrate since we're going to Mexicon on Saturday we kept it low key, we just had spaghetti and bread and appetizers!
Look at Amelia - she loves her favorite auntie's pasghetti!

5 more days

Just 5 more days of the grind until I fly with my family to beautiful Cabo San Lucas Mexico.
Just 5 more days of the grind until I am laying on a warm beach, with my hubby and a margarita.
Just 5 more days of the grind until I am indulging in authentic Mexican food and culture.
Just 5 more days of the grind until I am waking up to 66 degree weather on the beautiful sandy beach.
Just 5 more days of the grind until I am taking a reggae booze cruise with all I can drink and a ton of fun.
Just 5 more days of the grind until I am para sailing over the ocean with all the fishy's below.

JUST 5 MORE DAYS. JUST 5 MORE DAYS. JUST 5 MORE DAYS. JUST 5 MORE DAYS. JUST 5 MORE DAYS. JUST 5 MORE DAYS. JUST 5 MORE DAYS. JUST 5 MORE DAYS. JUST 5 MORE DAYS.
JUST 5 MORE FRICKIN' DAYS!

Anxiety and AMAZING Customer Service

I am a very anxious person by nature. I always have been. I worry and over analyze the lamest things. Because of my nature to do this, I am also a control freak. I'll admit it, I like to be in control. It stops there from being variables that will cause me anxiety (see how that works)!
However tonight is a perfect example of WHY I am an anxiety ridden control freak.
My family is taking a trip to Mexico in a little over a week. And by Family I mean ALL of us (not just Rick and I), my mom, my aunt, my 3 cousins. Because we are staying in one of my cousins time shares he planned the trip. I was squeamish about this to begin with but hey, he was paying for the hotel who can complain.
Then the other issues came up. When the airline tickets were bought, they put the wrong last name for me, well they put the correct one however, I had yet to change to my married name (I know, I know after almost 6 years its a little premature to take on his name, but I had to), so in order to get a passport I had to change my name at the SSN office, and get a new CDL. Okay - DONE, I am flying to Cabo on the 31st with no problems.
WAIT- Nope not done yet.
They ordered Rick's ticket using the name Rick. Now most people would think 'OH, his name is Richard' - yeah no, its Michael (little known fact, he goes by his middle name). So tonight I went about tackling the name issue.
We're flying on Alaskan Airlines (weird right. Flying from California to Mexico via Alaskan Airlines - but hey it was cheap). So first I called them. They couldn't help me because the tickets were booked via Orbitz. I called Orbitz, they said they would send the airline and FYI that his real name was Michael. I called the airline back - that's not good enough it has to be changed I had to call Orbitz back. Orbitz tells me that they can't change the name on an airline ticket I will need to call Alaskan Airlines back. So let's take a quick score up to this point that is 2 calls to Orbitz, 2 calls to the airline.
I finally call the international desk at Alaskan Airlines and I get connected to quite possibly the ANGEL of ALASKAN AIRLINES, Ann. I explained the whole situation to her. She said she could change it however, it would cost me $100 (oh geez). Then Ann (being the angel that she is) started looking and noticed that the tickets for my cousin Mike and Jim (who are legally Michael and James)had the wrong names. So now we have 3 tickets that will need to be changed at $100 a pop. Ann puts me on hold to discuss with her supervisor. When she comes back she tells me that they can waive the $100 charge per ticket since its just first names but that we will need to pay the tax difference but that should only be about $20 a ticket - NO PROBLEM I say.
Now Ann sets about the tedious task of fixing this. She takes MY number and says she'll work on it and call ME back with the fix. Close to an hour later she calls me back. She's fixed the tickets, there is no tax difference and no charge AT ALL!! Needless to say I was overcome with gratitude for Ann. I told her how impressed I was, I had been impressed before, even when it was going to cost me $100 a ticket (because she had noticed that Mike & Jim's tickets were wrong too) but now she's not only fixed ALL THREE but there hasn't been a charge?! WOW.
Needless to say I not only praised her but I insisted on talking to her supervisor and telling them how wonderful she was. Coming from a customer service background I can appreciate good customer service, even mediocre customer service - its a tough job, trust me I know. But to have some one provide AMAZING customer service and not do her job but actually look out for the customer is by far some of the best service I haven gotten in a really long time. So I say HATS OFF to Ann at Alaskan Airlines International Customer Service for being amazing at your job and helping a anxiety ridden control freak rest a little easier when I go to Mexico, now if I could just figure out how to get from the Mexican airport to the hotel . . . .

Age

I think I am getting old. In fact I am pretty sure that I am headed down that road.
Tonight after work I am going to Chevy's for a little TGIF deflation with the girls from work. All I can think is "I can't drink tonight. We're having a party tomorrow. Can't drink 2 nights in a row".
OLD OLD OLD OLD OLD OLD OLD OLD OLD

If nothing else . . .

In a week of crappy day after crappy day, if nothing else I have a great friend who makes me smile by bring me brownies at work. THANKS CINDERELLY!

Saucy

Deep thoughts from Taco Bell mild sauce:

At night the sporks pick on me.

Saturday

YAY! Today was Saturday. I had such a good day!
I woke up early (like really early, not like 9am early but like 645am early) and got to spend sometime with my hubby before he left to walk with Sissy. Then I showered, dressed and went to pick up a birthday gift for my bff's mom, LInny. I even got home in enough time to wrap the gift, sign the card and play on the computer a little before bff got here to get me.
We picked up Linny and then sobf (sister of best friend) and headed to lunch at BJ's Brewery House in Roseville. There Mimsy met up with us for a birthday lunch. After that we went to see "Because I said So" - with Diane Keatton and Mandy Moore. All in all a good flick and a perfect choice for a girls day out and to celebrate Linny's birthday.
After lunch Mimsy and I headed to Folsom to look from some Sandal's for Rick for his Bday at the end of the month. After finding those Mimsy treated me to a pair of shoes and 2 new outfits (I got them at the Bug). When we finished shopping we met up with Rick and had dinner at Jack's Urban Eats (mm, Tri tip and mac&cheese).
Now we're headed over to BFF's house for some wine and friends!
GREAT SATURDAY!!

Pepsi Can

I just bought a Pepsi from our vending machine. I don't like the new can design.

Workday Blues

It's Monday. It feels like a Monday. I think my company is the only company in the world that is open today. And despite the fact that we've been pleasantly slow, I don't want to be here.
I am not sure if my lack of desire to be here stems from normal Monday blues or from something deeper. Those familiar with what has been going on at work are aware that for the last 8 months I have been the supervisor by proxy for the Customer Service Department. Then 2 weeks ago they finally hired a "Supervisor" who has been here since last Thursday. They have yet to let me know how my role will change and what it is now I should be doing. Needless to say I am doing my best to not act like a lioness who's cubs are being attacked. Call it nature or self preservation - whatever you call it, I am trying really hard to not let myself feel like my toes are being stepped on especially since I hope to work well with this new supervisor.
I'll keep you posted to if the mother lioness attacks or not!

Sick and Raining

It's Saturday. I love Saturday's, no work, no school, no responsibilities. Except I am still sick and its raining outside. In all actuality I wouldn't mind the rain if my dear hubby was here to entertain me, keep me company, snuggle with me while we watch a movie. But alas, he's gone to help out a friend by judging a middle school drama competition. So I am here, alone.
I am trying to get my strength up so that later I can help with our garage, hopefully we can get it drywalled today or tomorrow or sometime before the surprise party we're throwing. However for now, its off to the couch I trudge to watch Saturday morning cartoons and eat oatmeal (Mm, I love oatmeal). Maybe later I'll call my friend and see if she would like to come down and watch a movie.

Love never ending

I read an article this morning about archieologists finding bones over 3000 years old of a couple hugging. They've yet to determine their age or cause of death however, how Romeo and Juliet is that? So adorable.

Shower

*Just a quick disclaimer, my brain is slowly turning to pudding as the highlight of my day thus far had been watching Engaged and Underaged - which I am sadly unhappy with the name since NONE of the people are there are actually UNDERAGE, just young*

We all get this way when we're sick. We get in our favorite PJ's, with our favorite slippers and favorite blanket and we hold court on the couch watching mindless TV, fading in and out of conscieness (unless you have a TV in your room, in which case you probably stay in bed), drinking child-like juice and whining (okay, maybe I am the only one who whines - I HATE to be sick). Depending on how long your sick for, this can last days. For me, it's been since Sunday (and I realize its only Tuesday but as afore mentioned, I hate being sick and everyday feels like a week).
I don't know about anyone else but the idea of showering during this time is horrible. I know, I know it sounds disgusting but its true. Who wants to make that effort for your jammies and couch? Who has that energy? So fine reader, I am admitting that I hadn't showered since Sunday, I am sick - get over it. My sweet sweet husband (I think out of desire to not have to sleep next to a sick, snotty, smelly wife) always tells me "Shower, it will make you feel better". I always fight him until finally I give in. And unfortunetly he's usually right. Showering does make you feel better. Maybe not put on your work clothes and haul ass to the office better but clean and not smellying so bad better.
I just got out of a shower. I am in a new clean pair of favorite jammies, slippers and about to be back on the couch however I just wanted to send a kudos to my hubby who, while not here to make me do it, deserves the credit for my shower.

Again, Reward for finding my voice - if seen or heard, please call. . .

Voice - day 2

Day two of my inprisonment without a voice. I don't like this. Not one bit. I like to talk. I am a chatter. I used to get in trouble in school for chatting to much. Now I can't chat at all. I would never last in prison in solitary confinement - NEVER. I'd go crazy. I am about half there now.

If anyone finds my voice please return it - REWARD IF FOUND.

Voice

As sit here in front of my home computer at 9:00 am on a Monday with laryngitis, several thoughts are racing thru my head:

• What do people who don't work do all day?
• How do deaf/mute people deal with our world?

Since I have very little voice and what I do have sounds like Peter Brady going thru puberty, I am in awe and thankfullness that I will get better from this and eventually have my voice back. Not being able to speak is annoying and puts a real damper on what I can get done during the day.

First - we're having some problems with our DSL/home phone. For some reason the data boxes we've always had and never had a prior problem with decided on Saturday they were done working (if that really is the case). So our normal phone is plugged directly into the phone jack which is causing some background data transmit sounds when we make a call. Now normally I would solve this by calling 611/AT&T and reporting the problem - HOWEVER, they have this lame voice response system and you have to answer thier annoying little computerized people to "help direct you to the correct department". This stupid system does not acknowledge my aforementioned voice issue thus leaving me unable to deal with the issue today. Now if I was permanetly like this what would I do?

Second - I work in a call center. CALL CENTER. My job is to make sure that phones are answered, help is given and people are happy. It is difficult to do that when you yourself have no voice. What would I do, if I was permanetly like this?

Third - and last. Having a simple phone conversation is painful (literally and thearetically). It hurts to talk yet I am a people person and love nothing more than a chat on the phone with family or friends. I can't imagine having to go thru TDD to do that. What would I do, if I was permanetly like this?

So to summate my little blurb - laryngitis bad.

Starting over

So far 2007 has been a year of fresh starts for myself and Rick. We've been trying to maintain not only a healthly lifestyle food wise (as I sit eating my 3rd monster cookie of the day) but also a healthier way of life in general.
2006 was a difficult year for us. We struggled. For the most part - this was not because of an outside forces that was inflicting this on us but rather from our own inability to grow up, not be selfish and stop acting like 20 years olds who just moved out of their parents homes and believe Top Ramen really is a balanced breakfast. With this weighing our "boots" down - we have entered 2007 with vigor. One of two things have happened to us - either we're doing a REALLY good job of playing adults OR we really have grown up. My Peterpan syndrome would like to believe that we're wearing the suit and tie over our green leotard and hiding our wooden sword in our briefcases and that we haven't forgotten how to fly altogether. My internal Doctor Phil questions why I feel like I still need to fly. And quitely in shadow is Tinker Bell telling its okay to grow up, just don't grow old and forget.
Therefor that is what we're working on. We're keeping our house a respectable level of clean ALL THE TIME - as compared to when we knew people were coming over. We're balancing our check book BEFORE we spend money - as compared to swiping our ATM and hoping it cleared. And most importantly we're learning that the simplier things really are more important, a night in with friends versus a night out at the bar. A movie on DVD versus the $40 it would cost to go the the cinema. And maybe, just maybe by the time I hit that twenty ten birthday, I'll be able to say "I may be thirty but I feel like a respondsible 21!"