Accessment of the damage after the 4th

Here is the alley on the 5th of July. Notice all of the debris from the fireworks that were set off. The yellow garage is where the people were that set off all of the fireworks. My garage is directly across from the yellow garage.

Those Damn Kids

I must be getting old or perhaps I'm just normal.

To celebrate the birthday of our great nation my neighbors had a 1/4 stick of TNT off.

Yep, the group across the street in the front would set off a 1/4 stick and then the group across the alley would respond in kind.

It was our own little glimpse into the Iraq war.

The across the street crowd was much more annoying because along with their giant booms was the excessively LOUD music. That lovely group wanted to share their musical tastes with the whole block and put their stereo speaker in the window to help us all hear the songs. My house was completely closed with the air on and the music was so loud you would have thought that I had the radio on in my room. Most of this wonderful TNT off was after 10pm. The cops had been there and for about 15 minutes things were quieter but then it just started all over again. Along with the music was the great ability for us to hear our neighbor too. He had a Mr. Microphone type set up and would talk to his friends (standing maybe 10 feet from him) through his cool Mr. Microphone set up. At one time, about 12:15am he proceeded to ask his friends "Hey Mother F--kers, how many more fireworks do we have?"

My poor girl Gidget was just freaked out beyond words. She spent the entire night huddled in her little house trembling. Miss Harley fared better, but even she was getting agitated after 4 hours of 1/4 stick fun.

What is the appeal to just a loud BOOM?

I understand the bottle rockets, firecrackers, the sparklers and other display fireworks, but the BIG BOOM thing is beyond my comprehension.

I must be getting old!

Frustration

This week I am not liking my job.
I have too much work for an 8 hour day and I just can't seem to get anything completed.
It's summer and I don't want to work overtime that I don't get paid for.
Everything that I pick up seems to have a snag in it.
I have to wait for a co-worker to get me information to complete the task.
I have to wait for a customer or vendor to get me information to complete the task.
There's a glitch in our software and a report that I use on a daily basis will not populate and that is holding up things that I could finish.
ARGH!!!!!!
I HATE this waiting game!
So, as the piles on my desk continue to grow I become more frustrated and bummed out.
I sooooooo much wanted to just roll over and go back to sleep this morning when the alarm went off.
I should have been a teacher, then I would have had the summer off and probably wouldn't be so upset about work.

I know, I know, I should take my own advise.

I'm closing my eyes (whoops, not yet or I can't finish this post) taking a deep breath and going to my happy place before I let this day get the better of me.

Hope you have a good day!!!

Weekend

Well, the couch was delivered on Saturday morning and the redecoration is almost complete.
I made a new swap for above the archway by the stairs and the only thing left is to put up the pictures above the couch. I wanted to wait until it was actually in the house and in place before hanging anything above it. Once that is done then the project will be finished and I can tackle the bathroom.

This weekend was a nice one. Friday night I spent it by my good friend Bubbles. We hung out in her backyard having a few cocktails and shooting the breeze. Rhonda another one of my good friends was there too. Bobbi stopped by later in the evening and it was wonderful to sit by the fire pit and just talk about what's been going on in each of our lives. Bobbi has one more class to finish her degree and then on to her Master's she goes. Bubs is out of school for the summer but still going into the office for some last minute work. Rhonda is always busy and it was good to see her sit and relax for a bit before running off to pick up her kids from all the different places they were that night. I was disappointed that Mary Anne didn't show up. I really was hoping to sit and talk with her.

Saturday was couch day and cleaning. I purged another 4 bags of stuff for the Salvation Army. My sister Cindy would be so proud.

Sunday was my niece Tricia's graduation from college party. It was nice to see all of the aunts and to spend time just chillin'. I had a few cocktails at the party and it was very relaxing. Tricia and her fiance Matt have set the date for their wedding in 2008. Between looking for a job and planning the wedding she will be a very busy girl.

So, that was my semi-eventful weekend. I hope you had a nice one.

Vacation

V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N
I've got the Go-Go's song ringing in my head!!!

I just made my airline reservation to go out to California to visit my sister in December.
I'm am so excited.
I haven't seen her in almost two years (it will be over 2 years by the time I actually get there in December).

So it will be super-duper to be in a warm place in December and get to see my sister and brother-in-law and their 4 dogs. I of course will HAVE TO visit the beach and I have asked if we could go to the San Diego zoo, other than that I am open to whatever California has to offer.

The other great part, I am flying United, non-stop out of O'Hare and it is only costing me $5.00.

That's right, FIVE DOLLARS!!!!!

I had miles that had to be redeemed before 12/31 and a $5.00 round-trip to CA just couldn't be passed up.

WOOOOOOO HOOOOOOO, I'm goin' on vacation.

Cubs Fan

I just heard and read that they traded Michael Barrett to the San Diego Padres for a DORK!

Ah, what is my Cubbies management thinking?

The Craft Cellar

Well, I may have mentioned this in a previous post or perhaps I didn't (the perils of growing old). The company that I work for is moving our corporate headquarters (where I must report to work) from Morton Grove to Bensenville. I'm not that happy about the move because it adds 5 more miles onto my compute. I know that 5 miles is not very much, but when you factor in the area, I must go around O'Hare airport to get from my house to work. There are only two ways around the airport for me and both of them are bad. I know this first hand because I have travelled these routes before. My previous job was in Bensenville so I speak from experience.

But alas, I digress, this post is about the craft cellar, not about the move.

Since our move will require a reduction in our office space, we have been selling desks, chairs...
We had a storage unit that I was eyeing because it would work wonderfully for my craft cellar. It had a mail slot upper and a cabinet bottom. I got it for FREE, YIPPEE SKIPPEE!!!!!
I met my brother at the office on Saturday morning and we loaded up the three piece unit and he drove it home and I went across the street to work out.

When I got home the three pieces were in the basement. I assembled them and began the task of filling it up. I started by taking all of the 8-1/2" x 11" paper that I had up in my bedroom and putting it into the mail slots. One side for Stampin Up paper and the other for the stuff that I get from the craft stores.

The middle counter area I have all of the loose 12" x 12" paper that was laying around in bags in my room from my most recent shopping excursions. I also started bringing down the shoe boxes that have the embellishments and stacking them near the "unit".

The bottom storage cabinet will be used to store my rubber stamps.
YES, I already have a cabinet that is full of stamps and I have enough new ones to need a second cabinet. I have already addressed my addictions in a previous post so please do not make any comments about the quantity of stamps that I possess. :-)

Things are beginning to take shape, I am getting myself organized and getting inspiration when I see all of the cool stuff that I have purchased and haven't used yet. Now I just have to get some crafting time, but first I have to do the purge/organization thing and then I can play.

The Purge Continues

Apparently my brother has not gotten the memo about the purge currently going on at the house.

We have a small Weber grill, a Smokey Joe to be exact.
This works very well for the grilling needs of just him and I.
We also have a large Weber grill for when we have people over and need to grill alot of food so that everyone can eat at the same time.

Yesterday he found a Weber grill at the forest and brought it home.
It is the size between the Smokey Joe and the large one we have at home.

We don't need another grill!!!!!

Why does he feel the need to bring discarded stuff home?
Better question, why did someone leave the Weber grill at the forest?

On a better note, I have purged 105 sewing patterns and over 75 pairs of earrings. More earrings will be purged tonight.

So, despite the fact that as I get rid of things and my brother brings them home I am making progress in seeing a clean clutter free home.

Wish me luck!

Anyone need a grill?

I'm In Love

I am in L - O - V - E

I have always said that if I could exercise and have a fan blowing to quickly dry the sweat (oh wait women don't sweat, we perspire) that I would probably work out longer.

I know that I am not the only one that feels this way.
There is a metro-sexual at the gym that always chooses one particular elliptical machine.
Goes and gets a chair so that he can adjust the fan so that it blows down on his machine.
Then hops on board and does his workout looking all studly (in his mind) as he works out but doesn't get all sweaty.

Before you lose your lunch or dinner or any recent meal, he is NOT the reason that I am in love.

Nope.

The object of my affection is the new treadmill at the gym (there are currently four of them) that have large consoles with small 3 inch diameter fans on each side that blow a breeze while you are working out. They are not as powerful as I would like them to be, but something is better than nothing. I have taken to doing 30 minutes on my new friendly treadmill in lieu of the bike.

So, like I said I am in L - O - V - E



P.S. Just as an after-thought, I currently am up to one hour fifteen minutes of cardio each time I am at the gym (see the post about the gauntlet being thrown down). Keeping with that motivation, I have a 57% average of getting my fluffy arse to the gym.

Scenes of Summer

Summer is here and that means white.

White shoes.
White pants.
White shorts.
White skirts and dresses.

Some recent observations made me think:

"Am I just getting old"

Or do white shoes with dark hose look stupid?

"Am I just getting old"

Or should it be against the law to wear patterned underwear under white shorts/pants/skirts/dresses?

"Am I just getting old"

Or should men not be allowed to wear white sandals?


Let me know your thoughts.

I Am NOT A Traitor

I was invited to go to Saturday's baseball game on Friday.

I am a Cubs fan.
I bleed Cubbie blue.
I will die a Cubs fan.

I say this because the game that I attended on Saturday was a Chicago White Sox game.
Yup, I went to the "cell" (U.S. Cellular Field) and experienced the South side brand of baseball.

I don't consider myself a traitor because the Sox were playing an inter-league series against the Houston Astros.

The Cubs and the Astros are in the same division in the National League.
I cheered on the Sox because a Sox win would mean that it helped the Cubs.

It was a nice experience.
I went with my co-worker Kerrie, her husband Gerry and his father.
Kerrie and Gerry are partial season ticket holders.
Since Gerry's father is in a wheel chair they have handicapped seating and it was great.
The handicapped area is roped off from the regular seats.
Our seats were folding chairs and it was great because you could move the chair to your seating pleasure.
The seats are right at a railing and if you wanted to move the seat back and stretch out your legs and prop them up on the railing you could.
If you wanted to lean against the railing you could.
It was excellent.
The stadium is very nice.
I had been to the old stadium 20 or so years ago and this new stadium is much much better.

It's no Wrigley Field.
It's not the loveable Cubbies.
It doesn't have the neighborhood fun that the Wrigleyville area has but it was a good time.

I had a hot dog (who doesn't have a hot dog at the game?)
I had two margaritas (had to go with the margarita over a beer)
I would have had some Cracker Jack but:
a. I had TWO margaritas.
b. I had a hot dog.
c. I had my personal challenge to rid my body of fluff (see previous post).

Afterwards on the way home we stopped for Italian ice on Taylor Street. (so much for the fluff removal). I had blue raspberry and it was wonderful, so sinfully delicious. But when did raspberries become blue? Regardless it was good. I have to admit that I was stuffed when I got home in time to watch my Cubbies play the Atlanta Braves.

I would like to say that all my cheering for the Sox paid off and they won, but Houston broke the tie in the 8th and the Sox just couldn't get it done.

I did buy a scorecard and a fan photo and will use those items along with my ticket stub to do a scrapbook layout to prove that I was at the game.

It's My Own Damn Fault

Vaseline Intensive Care body lotion has come out with a self-tanning lotion this year.
I saw a co-worker who normally does not sport a tan healthy glow come to the office with a bronzed aura about her and asked if she had been "tanning" (in a tanning bed).
She turned me on to the lotion and I bought some last week.

On Saturday morning after my shower I put some on my legs.
I choose only my legs because I never seem to be able to hold color on them now that I work for a living and don't spend much of my waking summer hours in the sun.

To me nothing looked any different so I just chucked it up to you probably have to use the whole bottle of lotion before anything happens.

Saturday night I was up in the middle of the night not feeling well and decided to apply more lotion.

It's my own damn fault:

a. That I didn't read the directions on the bottle.

b. That I should not apply this type of lotion in the dark while lying down in the bed.

c. That I should have felt that one leg had more lotion than the other.

d. That I should have kept rubbing the lotion in evenly and not just let it air dry in some places.

e. I should have gotten out of bed to wash my hands.

It's a good thing that:

a. I didn't apply the lotion to the bottoms of my feet.

b. Most people have a funky tan line on the tops of their feet.

c. The "tan" that I have on the palms of my hands is almost faded to a normal non freaky tone.

(Freaky, like "lady why are the palms of your hands darker than the top of your hands?")

All in all, if you read the directions, take care in applying equal amounts of lotion to both legs, completely rub in the lotion evenly on the leg and wash your hands after application you too can have nice sun kissed legs without the hassle of laying in the sun.

The List

So, I am having a discussion with a friend of mine about "the list".

You know, the list of people that "do it for you".

The list that you make that would be a "freebie" in a relationship.

People on your list wouldn't count as infidelity because you and your partner each have a list and have given your consent that this would not be adultery.

Most of the people on anyone's list are famous and we would never even have a chance at ever having a night of romance with them but never the less we dream.

So, I have compiled my list and let me say it was a bit difficult. Mostly because more than just a pretty face and six pack abs would "do it" for me. I think the man has to have a personality and sense of humor. So without futher ado, here is my list.

1. Howie Long
2. Tom Selleck
3. D.B. Sweeney
4. Mike Holmes (Discovery Channel Home: Holmes on Homes)
5. Hugh Jackman
6. Terry Bradshaw
7. Bill Cowher (Former coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers)
8. John Cusack
9. Jim Belushi
10. Bob Brenly (Former baseball catcher, now does the tv commentary for Cubs games)

I would like to know.
Who would be on your list?

Pornography

Well, if that title didn't catch your attention to read this post, I guess nothing will.

I don't recall how the topic came about but last week, but the conversation in the accounting office (there are 3 of us women in the same room) turned to porno. I believe it started because I didn't know who Ron Jeremy was/is. Now since none of us wanted to surf the net and leave porn cookies in our work computers I had to get my information from my co-workers. Apparently Mr. Jeremy is well endowed and quite the "star" back in the day. So from there we went to the topic of porno movies and the appeal to men of the girl on girl scenes.

I am convinced by the answers that I have received from the men that I have asked that sometime in the growing up of a male child the "guy code" standard answers are given to the new man and they become the "stock" answer for the rest of his life.

The standardized answer that I received from all of the men to whom I asked this question was:

"What is the appeal to the girl on girl scenes in porno movies?"

The appeal of the girl on girl scenes is that it is something that men want to stumble into and either watch or be the lone man with the responsibility of pleasuring two women.

And

The female body is so beautiful compared to a male body that it is a pleasure to watch two women's bodies pleasing each other.

Yup, those were the "stock" answers that I got from all of the men that I asked. Either they gave one of the answers or in most cases both of the answers.

So ladies, the guy code is in operation full force and they teach them young.

Take a moment and ask the man in your life and see if you get the same response. I would welcome any other answers or just confirmation that other men out there respond the same way.

The Gauntlet Has Been Thrown Down

So if you have been reading the previous posts you know that I have started going to the gym again. Summer is here and school is out so I have the time to get to the gym. For the last two weeks I have been using various reasons to motivate myself.

A. In the words of my doctor, "it's getting to be that time in life when you have to start taking care of yourself". My cholesterol is okay, I had lost 8 lbs from my last office visit but the one that scared me was that my blood sugar was borderline. YIKERS!!!! My brother has type II diabetes and I DO NOT want to have that on my plate so to the gym I go.

B. It's summer and the thought of exposing flabby white flesh is enough motivation in and of itself.

C. Thoughts of getting naked right now in front of anyone has brought beads of freak out sweat to my brow.

So with the three reasons listed above I have been kicking some butt at the gym and working off the fluff that I have taken years to put on and have kept on for no good reason.

However, yesterday a NEW reason was added to my list of motivating factors to get my fluffy arse in the gym.

My co-worker (the one that thought she should get to set her hours so that she could go to the gym, please see previous posts) and I were talking about the gym. I was telling her my cardio routine and how I had run into my old trainer over the weekend and followed her personal lower body weight routine as she worked out. We discussed the various machines that we use and the weight. We talked about our cardio minutes and what types of cardio that we do. It was at the end of this conversation that the gauntlet was thrown down. Now there isn't any real challenge taking place between the two of us. In fact she probably didn't realize how her phrase sounded but it made me bristle and it motivated me yesterday to do an additional 5 minutes on the eliptical. What were the words uttered?

"Wow, if I'm not careful, you will get skinnier than me"

I didn't know that it was a competition!!!!!

That in and of itself is not anything bad. The funny thing is that we weigh about the same and are just shaped completely differently. I know that I will never be skinny like a super-model. It's just not in my genes. I am a more athletic built person, I will develop toned muscles and have a more lean powerful body than a thin model body. I am shaped more like an hour glass or a pear and she is shaped like an apple. We will never look the same at any weight, whether it is our current weight or our hope to be thinner and healthier weight. I really don't even know why her statement bothered me but it did and it is my current motivation to keep up my routine and to create a leaner and healthier me. I guess it's just my competitive nature that I am pumped to prove her wrong and get thinner and leaner in a shorter period of time. So, although I know that this is probably wrong it is this week's motivation to kick some flab!

A Glance into the Gym

I am going to preface this post with a disclaimer.

I am not a sports goddess.

I do not look good when I work out.

I wear a baggy t-shirt over capri type sweats and I turn red and sweat like a pig.

I tell you this so that the observations of people at the gym that I am about to tell you about are just things that I find odd, strange or weird. They are not to insult the people that are at the gym.


I HATE speedos on men who are not competing in a swim competition.
I feel that speedos belong on the divers and swimmers who are using them to be the most aerodynamic in the pool.
Anyone wearing one, to me, is just too full of himself or needs to advertise "his wares" way to much to be someone that I would want to get to know.
Speedos at the gym on heavy men is just WRONG!

Running shorts.
The shorts that are VERY short and have the small pouch for "the jewels" so that a runner doesn't have to wear chafing underwear or a jock-strap.
These shorts should be left to the men who are running track.
They do NOT belong on heavy men at the gym working on the machines.
I have seen this man before at the gym, he doesn't run the track or on the treadmill.
The fact that I saw him on the machines and I bet if I was at a different angle would have seen more of him than I wanted is the reason that I believe that these shorts should not be worn while pumping iron or working the machines at the gym.

Plastic sweatsuits.
What is the purpose of these?
Yes, I know that they are designed to produce a vast amount of sweat and therefore giving the short term weight loss.
However, the moment that you drink anything you just defeated the purpose of the suit.
So, while you suffer for the 1/2 or hour that you wear the suit for a small loss, you really haven't done anything other than cause dehydration.
This one just stumps me!

So that you don't think that I have nasty things to say about my fellow exercisers, here is a positive.
There is a man that works out at my gym that smells great.
Even when he is sweating like a pig (and he works very hard at his cardio) he always smells good.
Not like he dumped a bottle of after shave on himself and went to the gym but a subtle sweat, cologne and deodorant kind of way.
If I could work out next to this guy every time that I went to the gym I would probably do more cardio than I do.
I however have the tendency to attract the ones that have garlic oozing out of their pores.
YUCKY!

Lipstick Plant

I really didn't give a good description of my lipstick plant and the blooms that it produces.
This website has a good picture of the plant.
Notice the bloom in the center that hasn't opened yet.
The bloom looks like lipstick in a tube prior to opening to the 5 point flower.

http://www.plantoftheweek.org/week081.shtml

Just Junk

Today is Thursday and to me it feels like a Friday.

Not such a good thing when I know that the alarm will go off tomorrow and I will have to drag my rear end out of bed for one more day of the grind.

One good thing is that we have a three day weekend and I have NO PLANS! YEAH!

I am just going to see what the weather brings and plan my activities around that.

I have a book to finish, a card swap to complete, gardening, laundry, house cleaning, grocery shopping and of course a trip to some craft store is ALWAYS in my weekend routine.

Last night I finished piecing together the baby sweater that I have been knitting in my class at the local yarn store (Woolly Lamb Yarn Studio in Chicago) and have the stitches on my needle to begin knitting the collar. I hope to complete this task before next Wednesday's class so that I can start on the side plackets where the buttons on one side and the buttonholes on the other will be. Then, it is on to a new project for me for the winter. Figure if I start it now perhaps it will be complete for the winter season.

Just got my craft fair application for my space at my high school alma mater's yearly craft fair. I have sent in my application and payment in hopes of securing the same space as last year down one of the busier hallways at the school. Just have to amass some crafty stuff to sell.

So far, my yard and neighborhood have been bug free (cicadas are what I'm talking about). Rick says that the forest doesn't show any signs of the lil' buggers either. I can't imagine what Harley and Gidget are going to think of those noisy creatures when they finally decide to unearth themselves.

I love the freedom of the summer but will be missing my usual tv shows.
Just watched the taped show of Grey's Anatomy this morning before work and I was very shocked and disappointed. George failed his intern exam, Merideth and Derek broke up, Christine and Preston didn't get married, Bailey didn't get the chief resident gig. WHA?????
It all seemed to end in a sad, bad way. Of course I'll tune in when the fall season kicks off but what a bummer of an season ender. Nothing but sadness for the main characters. I guess I need to get a life!!!

I was very happy to see that my indoor lipstick plant bloomed like crazy recently. The blooms are beginning to fall off but it was a spectacular display when they all were opening up. For those of you who want to know what a lipstick plant is, I will try to explain the best that I can since I don't own a digital camera to post on this blog. The plant itself has a maroon/green oval shaped leaf. Once, maybe twice a year it blooms. The flowers are in groups of four. First comes a dark burgundy upside down bell shaped "flower". From the inside of that bell comes a fuzzy red tube that looks alot like lipstick coming out of a tube. Once the "lipstick" is completely up out of the tube then the flower opens up to a 5 point red flower. Since these are gathered in groups of four you have four red flowers in groups all over the plant. It's really very pretty. I got this plant over 5 years ago and it has bloomed every year and it just amazes me. I don't know the real name of the plant, I bought it at Frank's Nursery & Crafts and the little tag on it said "lipstick plant".

I have vowed to get my fluffy arse to the gym at least three times a week and I am happy to report that last week I managed to get there 4 days and so far this week I have been there 2 days with tonight's proposed visit being my 3rd time. I want to get a firmer tighter body and I am not as consumed with weight loss. As the advent of shorts and swimsuits looms with the kick off of this Memorial Day weekend I just don't want to be "the great white whale" at the summer's cookouts. So, this means trips to the gym and a little bit of protected sun exposure. I'll keep this blog posted as to my progress which right now stands at the fact that I can do an hour of cardio without dying and I have begun to use some of the machines.

I also hope to use this blog as my personal "book club".
Currently I am reading a John Grisham novel entitled "The Last Juror".
Normally I LOVE his novels but this one is a bit slow. I love the "law" books and the way that Mr. Grisham weaves the law into the story. This one however, albeit good was not a fast read. The story moves but not as quickly as his other novels.
My suggestion, don't buy the hardcover, get it in paperback or use your local library for this one.
If there are any bloggers out there that would disagree with this critique I welcome a response.

Up in the list of novels to read will be Harry Potter, a couple of Janet Evanovich novels and I believe I have a few more John Grisham novels waiting.

The new couch hasn't arrived yet and as I type this it is my reminder to get out the paperwork and call to find out the status. I want to get the new couch, hang the pictures back up on the walls and start having friends over before the summer is over and the grind of school begins again. If you want to visit and have a nice cool one in the backyard just let me know my door is always open, the house isn't always clean and spotless but if you can live with it so can I.

That's it for now, I will update with gym observations and progress as well as the "book club" ramblings in the near future.

A Fairy Tale

Once upon a time in a house known as mine, this Princess decided to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
I got my paper plate and laid my two slices of bread on top.
I opened the cabinet to get the peanut butter to find that of the four jars of peanut butter that were in the cabinet, only one had any substantial amount of the spread.
The remaining three had just the peanut butter at the very bottom and the sides that needed to be scraped clean.
You are probably wondering why this post is getting posted and what a lazy wench I must be to leave empty jars in my cupboards.
Well, I don't live alone and I can only assume that my brother Rick believes that there is a peanut butter fairy that comes and fills the empty jars with peanut butter.
I was able to scrape enough peanut butter out of the three jars for my sandwich and dutifully disposed of the now fully empty jars in the recycle bin.
Here's the kicker, apparently there is also a jelly fairy too because a similar scenario played out when I went to get jelly out of the fridge.
Does anyone else have these fairies and do they actually ever fill up the empty containers?

General Update

Well, since I haven't posted in quite awhile I am going to sum up everything in this post.

The new carpet was installed on Friday, 5/11 and it looks WONDERFUL!!!
It feels fantastic to walk around in bare feet.
The dogs love the fact that I will lay on the floor and play with them now.
The only negative is that less than 36 hours after the carpet was laid Harley threw up on the upstairs landing.
The spot came out with some carpet cleaner but the "newness" is gone.

Not sure on when the couch will be arriving, I have to call and find out.

My official (posted by the school) grade for this past semester is an "A".
Only two more classes and this girl is going to PARTY!!!!!

Mother's Day at my sister Caryn's was very nice.
Good company, good weather, good eats.

This is my early week here at work (7:00am to 4:00pm) and I have gone to the gym two days in a row.
My how that one hour can make a difference at the gym.
I have my pick of machines and have been able to get in my hour of cardio and be out the door and home at the same time I would have arrived straight from work.
The true test will be the next two weeks when I will be working until 5:00pm and have to go "fight" for the machines that I want.
I just have to remind myself that no one wants to see my jelly belly in a bathing suit so I had better work it off.

With school out of the way I have been reading a novel and not a textbook and that is a great pleasure.
I have a whole boatload of books that I want to read so I had better get a crackin'.

That's all that's new in my world, how about yours?

The List

I am a list maker.
I always have more items on my daily list than any one person could possibly do if they are not smoking crack and doing speed.
Hence the feeling at the end of a day that I didn't accomplish anything.
I don't really think of myself as a true type A personality, but when it comes to my lists I truly am a type A.
So, yesterday I was able to cross off the list "dining room painted".
When I wrote this down I thought that I would come home from work last night and my brother would have painted the dining room and I could cross it off my list.
Well you can imagine my horror when the dining room wasn't painted!!!
I won't get into any detail but suffice it to say that before Rick and I retired to our separate bedrooms last night, the dining room was painted and I crossed that item off my list.
Let's hope that some of the other stuff for the new renovation that needs to be done before Friday morning will be completed and off my list tonight.

Shoe Whore

I am a shoe whore.

I have always found great joy in a shoe purchase.

At one time in my life I had over 200 pairs of shoes.

Right now probably close to, if not over 100 pairs.
Add to that the four pairs that I bought on Sunday and you can call me Imelda.

I don't buy expensive shoes, instead I shop Payless Shoe Source or Shoe Carnival.
So when I find a pair that I like and it is available in many colors, I buy all the colors.
I found a cute strappy sandal for work at Shoe Carnival that came in red, navy, tan and black. I bought them in red, navy and tan. I found a different pair of black sandals first. They were buy one get 1/2 off the second pair.

For less than $100 I was able to get four pairs of shoes and a purse.

Like I said, that is why I am a shoe whore.

Time Is Ticking

As the minutes click away on the clock the deadline to get the stuff done at home is quickly approaching.

I am having new carpet put in my living room, dining room and up the stairs and the small landing.

As of this morning, the dining room still needs to be painted.

There is furniture that needs to be removed from the rooms, knick knack paddy whack stuff that needs to be put in another room until everything is finished.

The carpet and padding need to be pulled up, cut up, rolled for disposal and taken out to the garbage. The staples need to be removed from the floor and everything needs to be vacuumed and washed down before Friday.

YIKES!!!!!

Unofficial

My unofficial grade has been posted by my professor.

I GOT AN "A"!!!!!!!!!

My points total was 89.8 out of a possible 100.
The grade scale: 90-100 = A
80-89 = B

The professor however did round up any score that was 0.5 or higher up to the next whole number. Since I had 89.8 it was rounded to 90 and I squeaked into the A category.

The "official" posting of grades by the school will be available on the 10th.

Freedom until the fall, ya gotta love it!!!!

New Schedule

We FINALLY got the new schedule in place here at the office.

Here's a bit of the story behind this new schedule.
Back in the fall of 2006, the almost 30 year old daughter of our receptionist got pulled over for drunk driving and she also didn't have a valid driver's license because of a previous DUI incident. Needless to say, she could no longer drive. Our receptionist stepped in to become her personal driver and this started the whole, I have to leave work at 4pm so that I can pick up my daughter. Why this became an issue for our company to deal with and not the almost 30 year daughter I will never know.

Around the new year, the daughter got laid off from her job and decided to move to the city and get a job near public transportation. The need for our receptionist to leave early was no longer a valid reason for leaving at 4pm. When I confronted her about the fact that there wasn't a reason to leave (as myself and my acctg dept have to pick up the slack when the receptionist isn't here) it became an issue that I felt needed to be resolved. Her response, I have spoken to management and they say it is okay for me to leave early. When I pressed her further as to why she felt she "needed" to leave early (always riding the broom I am when it comes to things that adversely affect my life) her answer was "I want to go and workout before it gets crowded at the gym". WHAT????? Wouldn't everyone want to get out early and either go work out or do your grocery shopping or run other errands? Of course we do, everyone would love to get the things that they want or need to do done when there are no crowds!!

So what did this broom riding gal do?
I asked management if they gave her authorization to go home early based on the fact that she no longer was needed by her daughter and told them that I don't mind being a team player and pitching in to answer the phones but I or my department shouldn't have to answer the phones every day for an hour so that it was convenient for another party to work out.

The result: we now have a rotating schedule that encompasses three people, myself, the receptionist and one person from my dept. Every third week we will get to start our day at 7am and leave at 4pm. My week is next week and I am going to use it to jump start a work out program. My gym is right across the street from the office so I am going to change into my work out clothes here at the office and walk across the street and work out. It will give me a week to get back into the whole exercise thing and hopefully week two will have me wanting to work out even though it will be after 5pm when I will be able to get there.

The moral of the story: Sometimes it is good to ride the broom like a witch.

Life is Good

Just an update on the goings on in my life.
LIFE IS GOOD!!!!
School is out for the summer.
My garden is shaping up.
The living room and stairway are painted.
The dining room is next in line for the paintbrush.
Carpet is to be installed on 5/11.
Have to call about the couch to see when it is expected to be delivered.
Being free from homework and studying has enriched my social life as I have plans for every day this weekend. Yeah, I love spending time with friends and family.
I have started reading novels again instead of textbooks.
The purge of 20 years of stuff from my house and life is continuing.
I have made a deal with myself, I will not bring something new into the house until I have taken something old out of the house.
So far this has been working well and I have taken more out of the house than I have brought in over the past week.
Now I just have to get my fluffy arse to the gym and get a more summer friendly body.

Freedom!!!

As of this past Saturday at 9:30am I am a free woman!!
I no longer have to give up my Saturday mornings for school at least until after Christmas and if I can get my last class during the week then never again will I have to wake up to go to school on my day off.

As final exams go, I studied things that I didn't need for the test and forgot to study some of the things that I needed for the test. It seems that my reaction was pretty much the same as the rest of the class. We all were flipping pages looking for that one question that we felt very comfortable with and could get it done and move on to the more difficult questions. I wasn't the first one to leave or the last one to leave, I just finished what I could in the best way that I could and let the pieces fall as they may. Worst case scenario, I really bomb and I end up with a "C" in the class. Best class scenario, I get the "A" that I am hoping for. Time will tell, grades have to be submitted by the 8th of May.

Right now I am just sitting back and enjoying the fact that I don't have any homework, presentations or term papers to write and that I will enjoy the summer to it's fullest!

Just Some Fun

Here is a little "getting to know me" thing that I stole from my friend Simone's blog.
This will have to do for an update until I am out of school this Saturday and can learn how to make my blog more fun and post more regularly.

1. I have to have something on in order to fall asleep, either the tv or a radio/cd player.
2. I have two dogs that are spoiled rotten and believe that is why God never allowed me to pro-create because my kids would have been the spoiled brats of the neighborhood and classroom.
3. I love to play in the garden but hate worms!
4. I sometimes use words that I have made up in general conversation and wonder why people give me a freaky look when they don't understand what I just said.
5. My combined family gives me three older brothers and three older sisters. It's a GREAT thing to be the "baby".
6. I have never been married.
7. I am a pack rat and have a hard time "releasing things".
8. At times I swear my home is a black hole where items I know I possess disappear only to reappear when I have replaced the item I was looking for.
9. My trunk is a mini craft room, should I ever get stranded at the side of the road I could start a craft project while waiting for the tow truck.
10. I have the honor of many good friendships that span decades to just a year or so. I am a VERY fortunate person to have these people in my life.

Tell me ten things about yourself!

Only One To Go

Well, the term paper is finished and turned in.
The PowerPoint presentation of the paper is done.
Only one more to go, the final exam, and I am a free woman until the fall semester.

After the beautiful weather this weekend I cannot wait to be finished with this semester.
I always have a hard time with the spring semester.
As the weather begins to get better I get all antsy and just want to spend time outdoors, not in a classroom.

Thankfully, ( please don't moan and groan) I am happy that the weather this week is going to be worse than this past beautiful weekend.
I am happy because I will be hitting the books for the final this Saturday and it will be easier for me to study if the weather is yucky than if it were nice and beautiful like this past weekend.

I have taken a vacation day this Thursday to cram all of the stuff that needs to be in my head for Saturday.
I hope that it stays there and I do well on the test so that I get a good grade.
Quite honestly though, a passing grade at this point is all I care about.
I just want OUT!!!!

Wish me luck!

A Little Quiz

1. Yourself? Crazy Busy
2. Your boyfriend/girlfriend? Don't have one right now
3. Your hair? Looking better than it has in years
4. Your mother? My rock and true friend
5. Your father? No longer with us but he was a wonderful Dad
6. Your favorite thing? My puppy Gidget
7. Your dream last night? I cannot remember
8. Your favorite drink? Diet Coke
9. Your dream car? A sporty hybrid
10. The room you're in? Office at work
11 Your fear? Dying alone
12. What you want to be in 10 years? Married and retired
13. Muffins? Oatmeal raisin
14. Who you hung out with last night? Brother Rick
15. What you're not? Organized, but I am working on it
16. Time? 11:30 am
17. What you're wearing? Jeans, gym shoes, tank top and cardigan
18. Your favorite weather? Sunny with low humidity
19. Your favorite book? The Stephanie Plum novels by Janet Evanovich
20. The last thing you ate? A chocolate chip cookie
21. Your worst vice? Craft supplies, love to buy them for all of the ideas that I want to create
22. Your best friend/s? They are the ones that keep me grounded and support me even when I f-up.
23.What you're thinking about right now? How I should be working and not posting on my blog
24. Your car? Pontiac Sunfire
25. Your life? Crazy Busy



So what are your answers?

Crazy Busy

This week has been a very crazy busy week for me.

Not only do I have a term paper due this Saturday. I have to create a PowerPoint presentation to show on Saturday about the term paper. Add to these tasks that I have spent a good portion of my work day in meetings all week and you can imagine that the pile of work that is ever present on my desk is growing like a weed.

The end is not anywhere near as after I hand in my term paper and do the presentation I have to begin to study for my final exam that will be on the 28th.

Whatever happened to free time for fun?
I sure do hope the near future has some fun time for me.

That Time of Life

It must be the age that we are currently living that causes us to look back upon our lives and wonder, "What ever happened to...."

As you readers know Mr. Big entered my life after 20+ years and since then I have heard from two other guys that were in his class. I had a phone conversation with one of them and an e-mail exchange with the other.

Today I opened my personal e-mail to find yet another "blast from the past".
This e-mail was from Dave W., another friend of Mr. Big looking for him as well as wondering "what ever happened to...".

Dave W. lives in my neighborhood and is divorced with three kids.

I really have to dig out the old reunion stuff that I started over 8 years ago and combine my class with the class ahead of us and make it one big reunion.

But first, I have to finish my term paper (due this Saturday, 4/21) and begin studying for my final exam (Saturday, 4/28) before I can even think of socializing with my past.

An Invention

So I am foregoing my possible million dollars of revenues from this invention if someone will please figure out a way to produce it economically and get it out on the market.

My proposed invention: ear covers to be used by salons when dying hair

Being a 40 something (almost 50, yikes) woman who has been dying her early gray hairs since my thirties have always wanted to come up with a way to figure out how to cover my ears from the potential plop of dye falling on them and then discoloring the ear until nature and daily showers cause the dye to fade. When I was dying my hair at home I was sooooo careful to avoid getting dye on my ears that sometimes it hindered the dye job at my temples, but better a few grays than brown ears.

I thought when I recently decided to go mult-color (highlights and lowlights) and have the professionals do the dye job that I would eliminate the whole worry about dye on my ears.

Such was not the case on Wednesday when I went in for a root touch-up.
The job is wonderful, not a gray root showing.
However, I walked out of there with brown ears.
Yes, not only the rims or outer ear area, but the inside area.
What the heck?

I got my hair cut after the dye was washed out. Did the stylist not see that my ears were brown?

Luckily I had a kleenex in my car and when stopped at red lights on my way home tried to remove as much of the offending brown from my ears. But today, Friday, two days later and I can still see a slight discoloration of my ears.

So, someone out there, here is my invention.
Small shower-cap-like covers with elastic that would fit over the ear during the dying process at hair salons. The need to be disposable, cheap and worth the purchase by the salon to prevent the problem of discolored ears.

So if you have the knowledge and the quest to be the next big inventor knock your socks off and get me some protection from having brown ears next time that I go to the salon.

The other alternative, a good solution that will remove the dye from skin without melting the skin. Either one would do me fine so start inventing!!!!

Crunch Time

Well things are crazy as school begins to wind down and things at work begin to heat up.

I have only 3 more classes before my Saturday mornings are free again, YEAH!!!

Too bad that a term paper (due 4/21) and a final exam (4/28) stand between me and freedom.

Put on top of the school happenings the fact that our fiscal year ended 3/31 and this month begins the compilation of the data needed to produce our corporate taxes.

We also have the author of the software that we currently use coming to our office next week to "go over" some of the areas of the software that either we have not yet learned to use or those areas that seem to have some bugs that need to be worked out.

Last but not least is the home redecorating project that is about to begin. (New couch, new carpet and newly painted walls).

I had better take my vitamins, looks like a full schedule for awhile.

Step Two: Carpet

Today I chose the new carpet for my house.
I haven't done this in 21 years and it was a very hard decision.
Not only did I have to deal with the type of carpet choice, but then there was the most difficult part, the color.
I have decided on a plush carpet in the shade of "fossil".
Delivery has been scheduled for early May so that we have time to paint and pull up the old carpet.
Now comes the MOST difficult task.
Purging and getting ready to paint.
Yuck!!
Now I remember why it has been so long since all of this was done.

Easter

The weather here in Chicago is not at all like spring or condusive to cute spring dresses with new Easter hats and shoes.

However, this morning I would like to extend the very best Easter blessings and greetings to you all.

May you find all of the eggs that you have hidden before they begin to smell.

May you be able to spend this day with family and friends.

May you find a moment to appreciate all that this new season brings.

I have the very best family and friends that a woman could ask for and I wish you all the very best of peace, love and happiness as we celebrate this joyous day.

Happy Easter everyone!!!!

The Purchase Had Been Made

Last night concluded the shopping expedition for a new couch.
I have been searching for the perfect couch and unless I am willing to spend the big bucks and have it custom made the perfect couch does not exist in my life at this time.
Instead, the almost perfect couch was ordered last night.
It is 88 inches long and 38 inches deep.
It is navy blue micro fiber (faux suede for us non-furniture people) with mocha (tan) piping.
It has loose pillows for the back and three cushions for the seat.
The factory should have it done sometime in the middle of May which allows me the time to shop for and have installed my new carpet and paint the living room, dining room and stairwell up to the second floor.
Now armed with my fabric swatch from the store I am ready to call my good friend Joe (Bubbles' husband) to come over and measure my rooms and advise me on the best carpet for my home and budget.
The renovation has begun!!!!

Weekend

After school on Saturday was when the good part of the weekend began.
With the pressure of my presentation and exam out of the way I was free to just relax, and relax I did.
I went home after school and packed my suitcase for my FREE overnight stay at the Holiday Inn in Itasca. I won this stay by coming closest in my guess of how many jelly beans were in a jar last Easter at this hotel where we went for Easter brunch.
I had to use the gift certificate before this Easter or it was no good.
I invited my poker group (sister Caryn, her husband Bruce, cousin Fran, her husband Steve, cousin Sue, her husband Rick) to come to the hotel for swimming and cards.
I usually don't drink when we play cards because I am always driving home, so this Saturday I bought a bottle of rum and some Diet Coke.

I left my house after packing my suitcase and went to my knitting class. After class I was on my way to the hotel and checked in by 5pm. I got myself settled, called the card group to let them know what room and poured myself a cocktail. Being that I am not a big drinker I was buzzed by the time they all arrived. Caryn stated when she walked into the room, "it smells like rum in here!" Perhaps that's because I was drinking rum. LOL!!!

We had a great time, ordered pizza for dinner, played cards until 11:00pm and I was the big winner. I guess being a bit tipsy helps in cards.

The next morning my sister Caryn and my friend Bobbi met me for brunch at the hotel and it was very nice. I was a bit hung over but that was to be expected. It was great to spend time with Bobbi and to hear that she has applied for her graduation and has made arrangements to go to graduate school. Rock on Bobbi, you go girl!!!!

Other than the flat tire that Caryn had in the parking lot of the hotel and the good Samaritan that tried to help but couldn't get the tire to come off the car, the morning was quite pleasant. Bruce did get the tire changed later that day and the tire had a locking device that made it impossible for our good Samaritan to change.

What's With People

This morning at school my study buddy for this semester (Andreea) and I had to give a PowerPoint presentation on FASB 142 Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.

I HATE speaking in front of people so that alone was stressful enough.
The fact that I did the preparation for this presentation and had NO IMPUT from my buddy really stressed me out.
On top of the above we also had a test today!

So, the early morning freak that I am was up at 4:30am trying to cram information for the test into my brain so that I wouldn't bomb.
Still no word from Andreea either via e-mail or phone.
Got to school at 7:30am made sure that the PP presentation could be retrieved from my e-mail.
At 8:00am when class is scheduled to begin, no Andreea, but luckily no Professor either.
Both show up at 8:10am and I indicate to the Prof. that we are ready.

All Andreea said was "thanks for doing this".
That's IT!
Not, I'm sorry I haven't been in touch, or you really saved us, or I completely forgot about the presentation!!!

I should be grateful that she showed up, that she performed well and that she at least said thank you.

I think I will get a very low passing grade on the test so it turned out better than I thought.

Only 4 more weeks of school and then my Saturday mornings are free!!!!!!

Let me hear a YIPPEE!!!!!

Stress

I am VERY stressed right now.
I just can't get my head to straighten out.
Have you ever been this way, where you have so much to do that you just don't know where to start so you end up not doing anything?
I am at that point.
I have a presentation on Saturday at school.
The PowerPoint is finished but I have not heard from my study buddy Andreea with her imput.
I also have homework that is due that I know I will not be able to finish. (shame, shame on me).
The very last and biggest thing is that I have an exam that is covering some pretty abstract concepts that the Prof. is going to create workable problems.
MY HEAD IS NOT WRAPPED AROUND THIS AT ALL.
I have ONE day to cram all of this into my head.
I need to take a deep breath and start with one concept and work from there.
WISH ME LUCK!!!
I REALLY, REALLY NEED IT!

The Final Four

So for those that know me I grew up with brothers that watched and sometimes put wagers on sporting events. I enjoy professional sports and have in my day been the participant in many a pool, whether it was football, basketball, baseball....

It was a very big surprise for me that when I picked my college brackets for the current college basketball pool that I was just picking randomly and by the name of the school. To my surprise I am leading my pool group. It is only made up of 4 other people but they are all male. All four of my teams have made it to the final four. So girls, keep your fingers crossed that I may come into a minor windfall in which to go out shopping. After all, that's why I gamble, to give me extra spending cash for those sales that a girl just can't miss.

You Go Girl

Sorry that it has been awhile since I posted but things are getting crazy busy for me.

Our fiscal year ends on Saturday at work and so this is always a busy time and school is beginning to get crunchy.

This Saturday at school I have an exam, a PowerPoint presentation with my study buddy Andreea on the FASB rule that governs the accounting procedures for Goodwill and Intangible Assets.

That is not the reason for this post so I will get to the main part of this post.

This Thursday in Mesa, AZ the pre-season game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Chicago Cubs (go Cubs!!) will be called by a female umpire. Ria Cortesio who has been calling games in the minors for over 9 years has been "called up" to call a game in the majors.

I think this is great since eyes are eyes and as long as you have a pair that work there shouldn't be any reason that a female can't call the strike zone just like any male counterpart.

So all I have to say is:
YOU GO GIRL!!!

Control

Perhaps I never had it and that is why I cannot remember at what point I lost control of my bed.
I have been sleeping in a queen size bed from the time that I moved out of my parents house when I was 22 years old.
For some reason growing up sleeping in a twin bed I have never embraced "the other side" of my bed.
I always just slept on one side.
This makes for a very easy making of the bed each morning because only one side is messed up.
I have always had pets and they have always slept in the bed.
However, my two current girls are bed hogs!
Not only do they sleep on MY side but they sleep horizontal while my body is trying to sleep vertical.
Now I know you are probably saying, just push them over or why let them sleep on the bed in the first place?
Well my answer to that is, I like having the warmth of them during the winter and as for pushing them over. That is easy with Gidget the chihuahua but try pushing the dead weight of a 75lb lab known as Miss Harley.
She is just stubborn and doesn't always get the hint when I prod her with my foot.
Perhaps the solution to the problem is moving over to the other side when they crowd my side and then I can get a good night's sleep.

The Hug

I have always known this but truly felt the power over the weekend.
A hug is an awesome thing that has a power all to itself.
A hug can be a brief touching or a deep connection.
A hug can be both a platonic gesture as well as one of a sexual nature.
I found the hug this past weekend as a way to reconnect with friends that I hadn't seen in quite some time.
Instantly when I hugged those that I hadn't seen in many months it brought me back to the great friendships that I share with these people and it erased the many months that had gone by.
I love this about the hug and what it says about those that have special places in my life and heart.
So, if you haven't hugged someone today, do so, it's an awesome feeling.

Riding

Today I am riding my broom!
The reason that I am riding my broom is that I am upset with one of my co-workers.
I do not profess to run the office nor do I hold the esteemed title of "Office Manager", that so called self given title goes to Sharon in my office.
When it is convenient for her to use this title and all she believes it holds she whips it out.
When it conflicts with her schedule or what she wants to do she forgets that she holds this title.

Take yesterday for example.
We were having problems with our network server.
We kept losing our internet connection and once that goes our software which runs through the same box (technical terms and wiring were explained to me by the IT guy but it went in one ear and out the other).
Apparently this box was blown and we needed a new one.
This was discovered last night at 5:30pm.
Guess who was the sucker still in the office with the IT guy.
If you guessed me, ding, ding, ding, you win the prize.

I manage the accounting office and yet here I was until a little after 6pm with the IT guy.
We had no computers from about 2:30 yesterday afternoon and I would have loved to have left early but Sharon decided that she needed to go work out since she couldn't "do anything" without the computer. She left the office at 3:45, the IT guy had not yet arrived and I and another co-worker in my department were the only ones left in the office.

I blame myself for this, I allowed her to sneak out when I was on the phone with Mr. Big asking for his help for a homework problem that I was working on for Saturday's class, but now I am still upset and that is not good. I haven't run into her yet this morning and since I am astride my broom will probably have a few words with her.

I'll let you know whether I stay on the broom and fight this battle or whimp out and just stew all day.

Endorphins

I would like to meet the idiot who said that exercise gives you a natural high.
Clearly this person has been smokin' something because I have recently dragged my fluffy arse back to the gym (Mr. Big has alot to do with this new found desire to sweat but that is another story). So, unlike my last adventure at the gym, I am not hiring a personal trainer and I am staying away from the weights for now. I have been setting the goal of just getting some fat burning cardio into my life. So my question to anyone who is an exercise lover and has had this so called endorphin "high" I would like to pose this question: "When does the high kick in?"
Last night I did 60 minutes total on three different machines (recumbent bike, treadmill and eliptical trainer) and did not feel any sense of euphoria or joy. I felt sweaty and tired and just couldn't wait for the hour to end.

So all you exercise lovers, please, when does this begin to feel good?

Lost Creativity

I don't possess great creativity, not like my friend Simone.
I do well in duplicating with a twist things that I have already seen produced by someone else.
So you can understand my frustration when my creative juice has dried up and I have a workshop this Saturday for my Stampin Up business.
I made a card last night that is okay but not spectacular.
I sure hope that the tonight a creativity fairy visits.

Knit One Purl One

Yesterday I completed my first ever knitting class.
I learned to knit and crochet when I was very young.
To date I have been able to do the very simple things like scarves and afghans.
A couple of months ago I went into a yarn shoppe not too far from my home that offered classes for people like me.
You know how to cast on, cast off, knit and purl but not how to read a pattern or many of the other vast stitches that are out there in the knitting world.
I chose a baby sweater to knit this time, not because I have a baby that will wear it but because this class is only four consecutive Saturdays and I wanted to be able to finish the sweater or just abouts before the class ended on 3/31.
I went to Micheal's to buy my supplies because I felt that it would be cheaper.
I found the pattern book that I wanted to use, the needles required for the project and the brand of yarn that the pattern used but not the right weight. So I ended up buying the yarn needed for the project at the yarn shop and if I would have known could have saved the money at Michael's. I may return the yarn that I bought at Michael's just because I am not sure what I would do with it now.
During class, which is two hours long I did my first ever gauge swatch to see if the way that I knitted (my personal tension on the yarn) was in compliance with the pattern.
I passed the first test as it appears that I knit tightly but not so much as to throw off the pattern in anyway.
During the making of my swatch which consisted of stockinet stitch (knit one row, purl the next) it was discovered that all of these years I have been purling incorrectly.
I was "throwing" my yarn in a clockwise fashion during purling when it needed to be thrown counter-clockwise. I often didn't use the purl stitch because I often found that if I needed to knit the row after a purl row that it was difficult for me to pick up the stitches and therefore I didn't use the purl stitch in many things that I made.
Well, if I had been doing my purling correctly I wouldn't have had the twisted stitches that made it difficult to knit a row after a purl row.
Things became much easier for me just in learning that new thing and I was able to make a great deal of progress on my swatch.
By this point there was only about 20 minutes left in class when it was finally time to start me on my project.
I casted on the required amount of stitches and began the knit one, purl one process that would become the ribbing on the bottom of the sweater.
Much to my chagrin the instructor wanted me to rip out what I had done so that she could show me a new cast on procedure that would give the garment a much better edge.
She was absolutely correct in that the new edge is much nicer, even and stable than the way that I was casting on.
I worked on the back of the sweater last night and I am proud to say that I have completed the 1-1/2 inches of ribbing for the bottom and have switched to larger needles and I am about 3 inches into the body of the sweater with 3 more to go. I have to stop when I get to that point because I chose a pattern that will need me to begin decreasing to shape the back and I have yet to learn how to do that.
All in all, the money that I have paid for the class which works out to be $8.25 per hour has already been paid back to me in the lessons that I learned yesterday.
I'll make a separate post to discuss my fellow students.

Spring is in the Air

The weatherman is predicting about 50 degrees today.
Let me hear a WOOOO HOOOOO!!!!

Electricity

My little red car has an electrical problem.
The original diagnosis was wrong, it was her brain that got fried and not the blower motor.
The cost of brain surgery $280.00.
This is still WAY cheaper than buying a new car and there is a list of items that the mechanic says that I should watch as they are wearing out. After all my car is 10-1/2 years old. One of them is the clutch. The other is hoses and belts and there appears to be a small leak of anti-freeze at the heater block. All of which will be written down according to Juan as things that I can prepare for in the future.
So far, this random finding of a mechanic has been a good experience. I believe that if things work out well that they may become my mechanics for future service.

Car Doctor

Well, my sick car is now at the doctor's (mechanic).
It is believed that the blower motor for the heat/air has died and that was the horrid smell that was emitted as it died.
Best case scenario right now is about $160.00 and one day without my car.
Worst case????
I am waiting for the call from the "doc" as to the severity of the problem.
Hopefully it won't be too bad.

Car Trouble

My car is sick.

I don't yet know what the problem is but it gave off a horrid smell this morning that made me open up my window and drive with the freezing air blowing just to get rid of the funky smell. Once the funky smell was gone the fan for heater was dead. No air would blow from any intensity level. I have sent out the SOS e-mail to my brother in hopes that he can come to the office and pop the hood and instantly know what the problem is and how to fix it.

I have my fingers crossed that it is a simple, cheap, quick fix.

First Time Back

Today was the first time that I have gone back to the office on a Saturday since "The Intruder" post back in November. I got out of school early, 10:15 instead of 10:45 and I had an appointment to dye those nasty grays at 1:00. So instead of going home from school to only have to go back out for the hair appointment I decided to go to the office. The office is just a few blocks from the hair salon so I figured I would kill two birds, to be productive at work and avoid shopping and spending money which is always a fun pastime for me but I am trying to be a responsible adult.

I was initially freaked out when I first walked in and realized how quiet everything was but I soon got back into my old routine and turned up the music and got some stuff done. I did however leave the office tight and secure when I had to venture out to the ladies room.

So you could say that today I got back up on the horse that threw me and I am not a scaredy cat anymore.

How do you measure intelligence?

Last night I watched a show that pitted an adult against a handful of 5th graders. The adult was the contestant and had to answer 5th grade questions from a variety of topics. If the adult cannot answer then they must state to the viewing audience that they are not as smart as a 5th grader.

Let me tell you, "I am not as smart as a 5th grader"

Now I know that I have knowledge that goes beyond the 5th grade level but I was truly stumped by some of the questions. Take for instance, "what is a pronoun"? Now I know that at some point in my life (5th grade) that I could answer that question with ease. I had to look it up!!! Yup, a very humbling thing. How about "what is the closest star to the earth"? Tough one for me. As my mind went through the thought process, is the moon a star? Is it the north star? Not so easy for me. Here's one for all you math whizzes, "how many sides does a trapezoid have"?

Now for all of you who are reading this and know the answers I commend you and salute your knowledge retention. For those of you who are like me I will provide you with the answers.

A. A pronoun: any of a small set of words in a language that are used as substitutes for nouns. An example: John gave Mary a new coat. In this example the pronoun her could replace Mary, so it would become: John gave her a new coat. The pronoun her could replace Mary if the reader had been introduced to Mary in previous text and it would clearly be understood that her was talking about Mary.

B. The closest star to the earth is the sun.

C. A tapezoid has 4 sides.


Mr. Big update: I feel guilty and not for the what should be the obvious reasons (he's married). No I feel guilty because since he agreed to help with my paper I have done zero, zilch, nada. He on the other hand has already started reading the annual report and making notes. Yikes! I guess he's not a procrastinator like me. :-)

Mr. Big Update

Well Mr. Big has agreed to help me with my term paper and the entire thing will be done via either e-mail, fax or overnight mail. Speaking to him about the project I was very impressed with the source documents that he will be able to add to the paper. We also had a long talk about my feelings and morals and he respects my feelings. We both decided that our new re-kindled friendship will be just that, a friendship. He and I both know that he has a lot of things that he must think about and do before anything more can happen between the two of us. The fact that we share a history makes it possible for us to respect each other and our feelings.

A Successful Saturday

Yesterday was a good successful day.

The test in International Accounting that I took last week was weighing heavy on my mind when I woke up. In my opinion it was difficult and hard to judge how well I may or may not have done. I momentarily freaked out when I received my graded test because up at the top was a 46!!!! Only after I realized that it was based on a total score of 50 did I begin to breathe normally again. WHEW!!!! So factored on a scale of 100 it was a 92. I like to start the class with a good first test score because as I begin to lose interest as the term progresses I have a fudge factor that I can play with when it comes to the remaining tests.

The day continued to get better as after school I went and did my first demonstration as a Stampin Up demonstrator. My friend Sandy was the hostess and she invited 5 other people and we had fun making a card and a small gift box that we filled with the candy kisses that I brought. I will need boo-ko help from my upline Simone in completing the order entry and such but so far I think any error that I may have made is acceptable. Also, Sandy's sister booked a party to be held in 3 weeks so I have some work cut out for me in preparing new projects for her guests to do at the workshop.

On to the current status of Mr. Big. I have continued to hear from him and as stated in my previous post my head is back in the game. In fact I intend to pick his brain for my upcoming term paper which involves the analysis of the financial statements for PepsiCo. I just can't turn down the potential critique that he can provide before I turn in the paper. This is what he does on a daily basis so why not tap into some free advice. My intention is to carry out this entire process via e-mail. He can download and print the PepsiCo statement online and my paper as I write it will be sent via e-mail. He continues to flirt and talk about a future meeting between the two of us but I keep stating "after he is free".

I look forward to the continued support of my family and friends and hope that they will make sure that my feet remain planted firmly on the ground and that my head remains in control of the game.

Riding a Roller Coaster

Wow, the last 36 hours have been one giant roller coaster ride. Since receiving that first e-mail from Mr. Big (I am going to use this pseudonym from Sex & The City)we have exchanged a total of 43 e-mails and had a 1-1/2 hour phone conversation. I am happy to say that my friend Bubbles has managed to get my head back into the game and I am back to thinking like an adult and not the 17 year old teenager that I was yesterday. The thrill of this whole thing has been wonderful and I haven't felt giddy and carefree in so many years. I thank my heart for taking me back there but I know that for the time being until many things are resolved that my head needs to be the one calling the shots.

To recap: I did ask the dreaded are you married question. The response I got danced around the question and I full out accused him of tap dancing and was persistent until I got a truthful answer.

He is MARRIED!

According to him things are not going well and in a short while he will be leaving.

Like I said, yesterday the teenager with the heart was all giddy and jumpy inside thinking that could my first true love soon be available? Well the head has taken control and there are many issues that need to be resolved before I will allow my heart into this game again. So, I just wanted to update that the saga is not done and perhaps the heart once more will be allowed to jump freely with excitement but right now with no divorce paper in hand and children involved I have come to my senses and hope to keep my perspective.

A Blast From the Past

I had a most freaky thing happen to me today.
I received an e-mail from my childhood sweatheart.
We dated from the time I was in 8th grade through most of high school.
The last that I had heard he was married with two kids living out in the suburbs.
During the few e-mails that we exchanged today there was mention of the kids but nothing about the wife.
I am too surprised, shocked, freaked out... and a bit scared to ask the question, "Are you still married?".
Maybe part of me doesn't want to know because I am enjoying the banter that we seem to have fallen into and knowing that he is still married would make me withdraw because my Catholic guilt would make me feel like I was doing something wrong having e-mail conversations with someone whom belongs to someone else.

So cyber buddies, should I suck it up and ask or wait for him to divulge the data himself?

Restrooms

I hate the ladies room in our building. We have to share it with all the other offices here on the second floor.
I just recently made a trip to the ladies room here in the building where I work.
Just a few mindless observations.

a. Why do they call it a restroom? I know that when I go there it's hardly a rest period and I usually want to get in and out as soon as I can.

b. Why do people, and in this case I only have data from women's rooms, walk out of a stall before making sure that everything has cleared the bowl? How hard is this? If I had a dollar for every time that I have walked into a stall here at work and had to flush before I could use it I would be rich.

c. Why is it so hard to wash your hands after using the facilities? Numerous times I have seen or heard people use a stall and walk right back out the door, never stopping to wash their hands. MAJOR YUCK!!!

d. For those that do wash, why is it so difficult to wipe up the splashes from around the sink after you have dried your hands? I hope that the sinks of the culprits don't look like this at their homes.

e. I can see going to the ladies room for a little privacy during a cell phone conversation that you may not want your co-workers to hear but actually going into a stall and using it during the call, how important must that call be? I know I'm probably freakishly prudish on this one, but I am what I am and I wouldn't feel comfortable doing my business while on the phone with someone.

Sorry for the venting but these are questions that I have often wished I could post on the mirror in the ladies room here at our office building.

Weekend

We had our first test in class on Saturday and mother that puppy was hard. Even with the ability to bring a note card in with some help it sucked. I just hope that everyone else had as hard a time as I did and maybe he will curve the sucker.

I was a good girl and went home after school and did a bit of crafting (crocheting a large afghan for my craft stash) and some pleasure reading (I was able to read a bit of the book I started about a month ago and haven't picked it up since).

I also watched some DIY tv and my particular favorite was the Mission Organization show that ran two episodes back to back. They always come into a place that looks cluttered like mine and make it wonderful. Most of the time they make the owner get rid of a ton of stuff so: family, DO NOT try and get me on that show cuz I ain't parting with my craft and sewing supplies.

I did learn something very valuable. I stopped receiving the paper at my house. In fact I rarely buy a paper because I never have the time to read it and it just ends up in the recycle bin. My co-worker Sharon does get the paper and she brings me the craft coupon from Michael's and Jo Ann Fabrics every week. Well this past week she either forgot or didn't get a paper. Either way, she didn't bring me a coupon and I didn't feel an obligation to go shopping to use that coupon, hence the reason that I went home after school. I realized that if I had the coupons I probably would have gone shopping. How sick is that? I need to curb my coupon/shopping addiction, I feel the need to use the coupon because, well, I'm getting money off of the price. I am going to make a concentrated effort to not bring anything new into the house until I get rid of something else. That goes for food too, I won't bring groceries into the house until I clean out the refrigerator first. We may never eat again, LOL, just kidding!

Speaking of cleaning out the refrigerator, how many of you have husbands, kids, brothers (as is my case) that will open a new jar (peanut butter, jelly, mayo) and not throw out the old one cuz there is a bit left but they don't want to be bothered with the whole scraping the bottom and the sides? This is one of Rick's bad habits and sometimes it drives me crazy. It would be interesting it see if it is a guy trait or just a let someone else do the scraping of the bottom trait.

Oh, I have been making great progress on the organization of the craft space but the black hole returned this weekend when I couldn't find my paper crimper. I know I own one, in fact I own a couple of different designed ones and they are together but they have all fallen into the black hole. I know this black hole syndrome is the reason that I have multiples of the same supply. Man, will I be happy when everything is organized. I know that I will be spending more time tonight searching the black hole for the paper crimpers. Wish me luck!

Poor Puppy

As I was driving to work this morning I caught the tail end of a story and just found it on the web.

In Washington state a woman took her small dog to the groomer.
Weeks later as she was giving her dog a bath because she said there was dirt on her ear, the EAR FELL OFF!!!! Yep, the groomer had cut off a part of the dog's ear and SUPER-GLUED it back on. OMG!!! The ear had gotten infected and that is what was giving the "dirty" appearance. The authorities are trying to find the groomer who has fled the area.

What type of person glues an ear back on when a simple call to the vet and restitution to the owner probably would have resolved the whole thing and the poor dog would not have had to suffer.

Thursday night TV

So, last night, my favorite night for tv had many interesting things going on.
I watch CSI and tape Grey's Anatomy and watch it Friday mornings before I go to work.

First, on CSI the miniature killer is back and let me tell you that the storyline is quite creepy. The fact that someone in the props department of that show has to make those mini crime scenes is in my opinion a super talent because I have tried sewing Barbie clothes and the small scale drove me NUTS!!

On Grey's Anatomy the storyline with Merideth is odd. Is she going to have conversations with Denny and the Bomb Guy to get the meaning of life. Is Denny going to give her a message to take back to Izzy that he is okay and she should go on with her life? Does the actress have a movie deal and they need to keep her out of the scenes recuperating in a coma? I'm not sure but hope that they don't kill her off because that would just SUCK!

Now, Men in Trees. The best line from Marin to Jack and I have to paraphrase because I don't have the exact words. How is it that you can open your heart to the person who broke it into pieces but couldn't open your heart to the one that only wanted to heal it? Will the cliffhanger be at the wedding where Jack and Lynn are about to get married but Marin stands up and professes her love and tells Jack that he can't marry Lynn? Or will the father of Lynn's baby walk back into her life?

Man, I need to get a life!!!!

Recipe Swaps

I got my recipe swaps from Simone on Sunday and put them in a small scrapbook.
Since I wasn't feeling well that day, just reading the pages was making my stomach flip flop.
I brought them to work today to show everyone the great pages and started reading them again, now that my stomach is back to normal.
They all sound just scrumptious and I can't wait to try them all out.
Greta, you amaze me with the caloric details for each serving.
Katie, thanks for the dry ingredients for the sweet corn cakes.
I'm torn between making a dessert first or a meal.
Knowing my hips, the dessert will probably be one of the first made, as I have no will power when it comes to sweets.
Thanks to all that participated and when I make a recipe I will surely post the rave about it.

Heatwave

We're having a heatwave, a tropical heatwave.
It is 82 degrees in my office right now.
The heat is not even on and I am sitting in a tank top and have a fan blowing.
This building is wacky.
We used to have our offices on the first floor and had this temp regulation problem back then.
We are now upstairs on the second floor and it is just as bad.
The tenant next to our office is always complaining that the temp in their office is too cold.
This wouldn't be such a bad thing if I was able to sip tropical drinks at my desk during the day but I am afraid that the books would not balance if that was the case. So, I guess I'll just layer my clothes and remove the ones I don't need when it gets warm like today and dream of a margarita and a nice cabana boy to put lotion on my back.

When I grow up I want to be a patio princess!!!

Packages

Well, my packages from Stampin Up arrived yesterday and it was like Christmas morning.
Even though I have a TON of stamping supplies getting new ones is always a thrill.
I love the new crisp catalogs and mini catalogs.
Going through each of the new treasures was such a good time as I pictured projects in my mind.
I had to be good though and stop before I got too caught up in it as I had to read my textbook for a test on Saturday. But tonight, I plan to mount some of the new stamp sets so that I can begin to experiment with them.
I'll be sending one out to CA for my sister Cindy as she has some people that crop during their lunch break at her vet clinic.
Simone my upline gave me a great tip the last time I saw her.
After the stamps are mounted, lightly sand the rubber with sandpaper to remove the non stick coating that is applied when the rubber is poured in the mold. Very good tip and one that I will pass on to all of the people who place orders with me.

V.D.

Well it's V.D. and the weather is icky.
Last night after coming home from work Rick and I shoveled the front walkway and a parking place for my car. This morning when I left for work it was as if we hadn't done a thing. There was a 2.5 foot drift in the walkway that I trudged through to get to me car. My car was just laden with snow in the front and not a bit on the rear.
If you are here in the Midwest well try and stay warm on this V.D.
If you are somewhere warm then think "loving" thoughts of us here in the cold.

Sick

Bummer, I am under the weather and feeling funky.
Sunday morning I woke up feeling fine but after eating breakfast (made up of the leftovers from the previous night) I began to feel sick.
I had plans to meet Simone at Archiver's and was popping antacids in the hopes that I would feel better.
I met Simone (and I hope that I did not pass any germs to her or Max) and after a few hours of Simone being productive and me just sitting like a blob we left for home.
When I got home I got a migraine and the stomach funk came back even worse.
I ended up with the stomach flu and was home yesterday.
I still don't feel great but I am here at work and plugging along and know that I will get back in my jammies when I get home this evening.
Of all the flu illnesses I hate the stomach more than the upper respiratory.
Hope everyone else is taking care of themselves and staying healthy.

Sweet Time at the Tomato

Yesterday I had lunch at Sweet Tomatoes near Woodfield Mall. I had never been to the restaurant and since I did make a resolution to get out and try new things this was keeping in with that resolution. The restaurant is very nice with a huge two sided salad bar, a large area of soups, chili, homemade bread, pizza, fresh pastas and of course desserts. The best part of my lunch however was not the delicious food but the GREAT company. I had lunch with my friends of more than 25+ years (I decided not to calculate the true length that I have known them as it will only make me realize how old I am). So 25+ years will just have to be enough. I had not seen Bubbles in over a year. Numerous opportunities were there throughout the year but there was always some sort of reason that we missed each other. Mostly it was my too much work and school schedule that made it difficult to get together. Karen I had not seen it at least 5 years and it was so much fun to see both of them and catch up on what was going on in each others lives, families and work lives. Bubbles is sporting a new strawberry blond color in her blond hair and I must say that I LOVE IT!!!. Karen as usual does not look like she had three children and looks the same as she did 5 years ago. I love when time goes by and the people you see still look and act the same way. I had a GREAT time and cannot wait until we do this again at of course, a NEW restaurant.

Really Strange

I am a big fan of Grey's Anatomy and look forward to Thursday nights for a new episode. This Thursday was no exception. There was a part of the episode that bothered me greatly. I found the small lost girl that was hanging around with Merideth to be odd. Yes, she had probably suffered a major tragic event and she couldn't find the adult that she was supposedly with but:

Did anyone find it strange that when Merideth fell over the sea wall and into the water that the girl did not rush to the edge and look down?

Did anyone find it odd that if she didn't go look that she should have run back to the area where other medical, fire or police people were to tell them what she just saw?

Maybe I'm overly weirded out about the girl but if it were me I would have freaked out.

Just something to put out there for any Grey's fans to ponder.

Dreaming

Ah, it is that time of year when I begin to think of my tax return and what will I do with my refund.
I usually take a trip to help in the "see and do something in all 50 states" quest that I started when I turned 40.
I have been to 18 so far plus Washington D.C. (20 if I were to count CA when I was 10 and Virginia when I visited Arlington National cemetery).
I have decided that both California and Virginia have areas that I would like to see so I am keeping my count at 18.
So yesterday I was toying with the idea of Charleston, South Carolina or Providence, Rhode Island. It was during that ponder that I realized that all of my future trips are going to be expensive. Expensive in either dollars or time. I have completed all of the nearby states and will now either have to drive further (time expense) or fly (dollar expense) in order to continue this quest. So I was checking the drive time to Providence and it's about 17-18 hours. If I do it alone that's an overnight stay and a loss of a day. If I fly then that's airfare dollars. My other choice was Charleston, South Carolina and this girl is a spoiled brat because I don't want to stay in some economy hotel when I go there. Nope, this girl wants to stay at the quaint 4 star hotel in the historic district. Either way, I don't think that Uncle Sam has been holding that much of my money that either one of these trips seem feasible this year. Maybe I'll just scrap my photos from last year's Savannah, GA trip and relive the beauty as I scrimp this summer for the kind of trip that I want to take next year.
Maybe I can afford a trip up to Mackinaw Island.
Hmmmm, I'll have to go check that one out.

Stay warm everyone and remember to daydream of the warmer climates.

My New Sideline

I have just received my e-mails confirming that I have been accepted as a Stampin Up demonstrator.

I am doing this mostly for the discount.
If in the process I can make other people happy with crafting and good supplies then all the better.

Muchos Gracias to Simone for letting me in on the opportunity and as my upline for all the help that you have given me so far. I know that I will be tapping in our your creativity in the future so please be patient with me.

So, if you want good craft supplies I am the new kid on the block.

Done!!!!

I finally finished my first scrapbook!!!
I did the title page this morning and once I take pictures of it I will be packing it up for it's trek to California.
I need to get it out of my house because if it stays any longer I will begin to obsess over the layouts and what I coulda, shoulda, woulda done differently.
So a big WOOOO HOOOO!!!

When I get the pictures developed I'll try my hand at posting them.

Almost complete

Well this morning I added the last bit of journaling to my first scrapbook.
I do however have a situation that I am not sure on how to handle.
The entire book was done as two page spreads.
I used the co-ordinating papers and placed my pictures so that the flowed across the two pages.
Well now that the book is almost complete there is the problem with the first page.
"What do I do with the first page that you see when you open the book?"
I was thinking of just putting a title page there, is that what most of you scrappers do?
Any input would be greatly appreciated.

No Joy In Muddville

There is no joy in Chicago, the mighty Bears have struck out.

Last night's game started out very well and hopeful. The defense played great in my opinion. Perhaps if they had some time off of the field that would have performed even better in the second half. I will not put the blame on one person but it was clear that the "good" Rex did not show up to last night's game. Because of that many other areas were under the pressure to pick up the slack and as a result the whole thing faltered. Kudos for the accomplishment of making it to the Big Game and making the season exciting. Speaking like a true Cubs fan, remember, "There's always next year".

Congratulations to all of the Indy fans, your team did play better and deserved to win the game.

Brrrrrr!!!!

Chatter, chatter, chatter.
That's the sound of my teeth this morning as I forced myself out into the deep freeze.
I had to start my car so that it wouldn't freeze, I needed to get gas as I was in the "E" zone and didn't want the gas line to freeze and I wanted to pick up some film from Christmas day to put in a book for my sister Cindy. While I was out and about I drove over to Simone's house to drop off my recipe cards that were 3 days late. I am taking some pics of the page and will post when I finish the roll and get the CD to download the images to the computer. Now that I am back at home, warm and cozy I will not be going out again. With an expected high of ZERO I don't feel a need to be out for any reason. I will even be skipping the 20 mile trip to my sister Jenny's house for SuperBowl!!! I will instead stay home, order pizza and watch the game with Rick and the dogs all from the warm comfort of my lazy-z-boy. So if you have to go out today and live in this area, please bundle up, and get back indoors as soon as possible.

GO BEARS !!!!!!!!!

Ground Dog Day

No Ground Hog Day at my house. Instead it's Ground Dog Day and Gidget my chihuahua puppy has decided that winter SUCKS and does not want to spend anymore time outdoors than is absolutely necessary. Shadow or not, her motto: Run out, do your thing and get back inside where it is warm. When spring rolls around that will be the time to take your time and smell the roses or in Gidget's case the grass, bushes or fire hydrants.

Stay warm!!!

It's All In A Name

One of the ways that I get through winter and looking out at my barren planting beds is to go through the garden catalogs. I get many of these and even receive e-mails from many telling me of the super special and the coupon that is ready for me to use.

This morning I opened one of those e-mails and found a very cool looking flower. It looks very much like a petunia (which is a staple in my garden every year for their easy maintenance). So I was a bit perplexed why this online catalog would be selling petunia via mail order since they are so readily available during the planting season. Well I soon discovered that the flowers that I was liking were really not petunias. Instead they were "Lungworts".

I really like the look of this flower but I am having a hard time getting beyond the name.
L-U-N-G-W-O-R-T. It just sounds icky and gross.

I can just see me sharing with my neighbor what I've planted and cringing when I have to say "And over here I've planted my lungwort".

Just a random thing that trampled through my brain this morning.