Sunday, January 30, 2011

A New Entry!!

A reader told me today that my Blog was on reruns and when was there going to be a new one!  I think I've been on Blog Hiatus!

I have decided that my New Year hasn't really started yet!  I have been going non-stop at work since I got back from Christmas - no break in the work - just one thing after another.  This coming week is January Close - so I figure my New Year will start Monday Feb 7th!  Hopefully by that time I can take a step back and take a breath!

I also haven't been writing because my life has been all work lately and work is something that I have to be very careful about because I may write something that could be taken the wrong way.  Mostly I have just been overwhelmed - I feel like I have too many things going on all at once that all are important and all have must be done now time lines!  I come home exhausted and feeling like I dropped a ball somewhere - I worry when I have too many things going on that I can't give my 100% to any one thing and that items are going to fall through the cracks.  I fond I just don't have the time to give that extra look over and to follow up on things.  Tomorrow starts January Close and usually by now I will have done quite a bit of pre-close work to make things go smoothly and I just haven't been able to do that.

L has had some trials and tribulations over the past week too.  Thursday she got to work and there was a new Asst Manager working.  L hadn't been able to find her work hat for the last few weeks and had told her managers that she needed a new one and they said they would order one.  Well - when she got to work on Thursday the new Asst Manager told her she needed her hat - L told her she wasn't able to find it and that she had asked for a new one - the Asst Mgr told her to go home and find it and then come back to work.  She had a short shift on that day and with the bus schedules by the time she went home - searched for a hat - caught a bus back - her shift would be over so the Asst Mgr told her to just leave.  Really - L's been asking for a new hat - she needs the money - and she is sent home.  Needles to say she was not a happy camper.  She had to work again on Friday and she still hadn't found her hat and she was stressed about what was going to happen.  When she got to work she mentioned it to another one of the people and they said they thought they'd seen a hat in the break room by the computers - sure enough there was her hat.  So alls well that ends well.

My health has sucked for the past month too - my headaches are back - non-stop aching - and that stupid ringing in my ears is back too!!  I just constantly feel like blech.  Maybe if things slow down a bit I will start to feel better - we'll see.

Right now I need to go pull some laundry out of the dryer and get it folded - put the top sheet back on my bed - try to get some sleep.  Oh - why just the top sheet on my bed . . . . . . that would be because last night when I was putting the sheets on my bed after they had come out of the dryer Chrissy decided they felt so warm and cozy that she peed on the top sheet!!

OK - night night!  Hopefully a new Blog Episode will be available tomorrow!

De

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Vitamin V

This has been a difficult week - busy at work and there has been a Bitch fighting to get out of my body!  Ever felt like that - where you can just feel your inner bitch trying to claw it's way out from where you have it trapped deep down inside.  You can feel it slowly coming up from the pit of your stomach and before you know it - WHAM! - there she is just speaking her mind! My inner bitch has a bit of a tone in her voice that tends to creep out during times of high stress. I have been trying really hard not to snap and gritch at co-workers - no sure if I have been successful.

I did discover one thing today that can calm this inner beast down - something I like to call Mother's Little Helper - Vicodin!  Now - before y'all get worried thinking I'm a drug addict just calm down!  I take them for my Migraines - which I felt coming on today - and a wonderful side effect is that it calms the Bitch!  So - I can understand how people could become addicts - but the loopy head feeling is not something I could deal with every day.  Also - for most people Vicodin makes them sleepy but for me it seems to make me energetic when I first take it and then I start to get sleepy - a little like being Bipolar!  Man I sound like fun to be around don't I !!

I am heading to bed!

De

**Chrissy Update - She has yet to figure out how to get out of the new gate configuration I have set up in the kitchen - she has not escaped in 6 days!  Any wagers on how long it will take for her to figure out an escape route!  Right now she is acting like a toddler - she is pulling every toy out of her toy boxes! Time for her to go to bed too!**

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Baked or Fried!

Now - I don't want to get anyone in to trouble so I have to kinda keep this story a little vague and a little short.  Let's just say that frying food is not all they do at fast food places -  sometimes they need a bit of help to get them through the day - so they do some "baking". 

De

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Technology and Older People

Over the past couple of weeks I have gotten stuck behind older people who just don't seem to understand how kiosks work - Redbox and Paying for Parking to be exact.  In my experience - they don't read and/or understand the instructions - they are very impatient - get real snarky when offered help!

Example 1 - The dreaded Redbox Kiosk.  This is a simple machine - you walk up - pick a movie - check out - slide your card - pick up your movie.  Not rocket science.  I went to return some movies last weekend and was behind a woman who was having major issues.  First - she couldn't quite get the hang of how to page through the movie title even though there are big arrows at the bottom that say NEXT and BACK.  She finally picked a movie - was able figure out the check out button.  Then she needed to pay - which seemed to surprise her for some reason, not sure if she thought she'd get a bill or was looking to pay cash.  Any ways - it was time to slide the credit card.  There is a picture right next to that spot which shows how to slide the card and the message on the screen tells you which way the magnetic stripe should be pointed.  Next came the part where you can enter your email address if you want to get a receipt via email - she got all snippy about having to give that info - her daughter clicked the skip button for her.  Then the movie finally came and I was able to return my movies.

Example 2 - The Kiosk where you pay for parking and get your ticket validated so you can leave the parking garage.  There were a lot of the same issues as with the redbox - not reading the instructions and putting the credit card in wrong - but this time there was also impatience.  This machine is not fast but not real slow either.  This lady must have been in a hurry because she kept trying to shove her credit card in the slot before it was ready and then couldn't understand why it wouldn't take it - when it finally did take it she put it in backwards so it spit it out and said unable to process try again - yup she shoved it in there again and ended up jamming up the machine so we had to call for an attendant to come help out.  When he opened up the machine her ticket was all crumpled and stuck in the machine because she had shoved her credit card in the slot before it had fully processed the ticket.

Not big issues - but very frustrating.  This impatience thing happens with computers too - you know - the clicking on the enter key over and over to try and hurry it up - which then usually ends up freezing the whole computer!! 

Should we institute an age limit on how old you can be to use these machines - maybe they should have to go through a licensing test - carry a card saying you know how to follow computer instructions and have the patience to let the machine do it's job without clicking around and pushing buttons over and over again!

De

Preview

I have not been in the mood to write when I get home after work this week. Tired - Frustrated - Writer's Block! I have ideas for topics but just haven't written anything. So - Here is a preview of upcoming subjects - I may end up writing more than one post on Saturday to catch up.

1. Older People and Technology

2. Baked McDonalds

3. Frustration

4. Balancing Work - Home - Church

De

Sunday, January 16, 2011

The Season Is Over

Well - the football journey is over for the season - the Seahawks lost to the Bears.  They tried to comeback from a huge deficit, 28 - 0, in the 4th Qtr but it was too late.  They did bring it to a 35 - 24 ed of game score - wish that team ad been out on the field the whole game.  I was really hoping they were going to make to at least one more weekend - wanted K to come up for a visit!

Tonight was really fun - I went over to the Kennedy's for dessert - they are a family in my ward.  It was a very fun evening - they are such a nice family - their little girls ages 5 and 9 were very cute!  We talked for 2 hours!  I just had a really good time.

Now for a little drama - It has been about 2 weeks since E moved out of the house that he shared with L - She has been doing really well too - I think this is pissing off E even though he was the one who said they needed to break up not just live in separate places.  A week ago he sent her a text calling her a liar and saying they will never be friends and he's glad he left.  A day later he texted her apologizing saying he had been drinking and was sorry - they could be friends and still talk.  Four days after that he sent her a text "It's been 4 days why aren't you talking to me.  You must be real broken up about us you B"  Now - he was the one who kept telling her they were over - she needed to grow up and get over it - and she has and it's pissing him off.  Now - L called me this afternoon to say that she received a bunch of texts from E this morning and they were just horrible - I can't remember them word for word but the he mostly called her names - Whore, B - said he was glad he didn't have to look at her "kicked in" face anymore - glad he had cheated on her - and on, and on, and on.  L responded with how mature - name calling.  Were not even together anymore and you still need to be mean to me.  I'm glad we're over because you have turned out just like Justin!  What is it with him - is he so miserable with his decision and his life that he needs to make sure she is just as unhappy!  I can't believe I liked him - he seemed like such a nice kid and he seemed good for L too - I guess he served his purpose though - he helped L learn how to be on her own - how to pay rent.  Just wish he had done this before Christmas - then I wouldn't be out what I spent on him for presents!  Dumbass!

OK - time to head to bed - it is a Work Night!  Have a good week!

De

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Happy Weekend Readers!

It was a busy work week - a bit stressful just because there is so much that needs to get done in January.  When I look at my desk I get overwhelmed and my brain goes on overload which means things get lost in there!  I make lists of the things I need to get done - I set out a plan - then more stuff gets added!!

Right now I am taking a break from the kitchen - I am about 2/3 of the way through cleaning it - it's amazing!!  I actually have counters!  I'm not sure when the last time was that I could see my counter tops!  Pretty sad I know!  I needed to make space for my new addiction - Keurig!!  I bought myself one and ordered the apple cider to go with it!  So very yummy!

Last night I had the Elders (missionaries) over for dinner and a teaching lesson.  We discussed God's commandments and being of service to others.  Service doesn't have to be big things - it can be something small too.  Listening to someone - being there for a friend - taking someone grocery shopping who doesn't drive - sending college care packages.  All of these things have an effect on the lives of others - even if it is small.  After our lesson we ate pizza and just talked about things they like to do - I discovered that one of the Elders likes to play the same Hidden Object games that I do!  We talked about some of the ones we have both played and I told him that when he is off his mission that there is a new Mystery Case Files that had been released.  We talked about movies that have come out that they will need to rent and what were some of the ones they last saw.  It was such a nice evening.  This time I was prepared for feeding boys!  I ordered 2 Large pizza's which they demolished!  There were only 3 pieces left over and I sent those home with them.  I also made brownies in my new Brownie Baker pan - each brownie has a crispy edge - and they turned out sooooo good!  I sent some of those home with them too.  After they left I just hung out on the couch with Chrissy - it was nice because I had cleaned up the living area before the boys got here.  It is so very relaxing to be in a clean space.

As I was cleaning my kitchen I found lots of bananas ready to be made in to bread/muffins.  I also had forgotten that I have Jumbo Muffin tins so I am thinking of making a huge batch of jumbo muffins.  Share some with the Bennetts who are coming over after church tomorrow and bring the rest in to work.

Speaking of church - the Seahawks game starts at 10 tomorrow which is right in the middle of church.  So now I am debating - do I just follow the game through the ESPN notifications on my phone or do I set my DVR to record the game and try to avoid any mention of the score and how it is going.  What would you do?

OK - break time is over.  Time to finish wiping down counters and then get to baking some muffins!

De

Monday, January 10, 2011

Busy Monday

Picked L up from work tonight to take her grocery shopping - I didn't pay, I was just the transportation.  This was her first grocery shopping trip since E left - she was so funny - having such a good time getting what she wanted and not having to worry about what he wanted also - no one asking her why she was getting certain things!  She is a very good shopper too - after check out she still has $50 left on her food stamps card for the rest of the month!  I am so very proud of how she has handled all this E drama - she's,not moping around all depressed - she is getting on with her life and looking at all the good things this means.  My baby is doing some growing up.

Here are my symptoms - headache, body ache, small bit of nausea.

I am either trying to come down with something - or I am going through withdrawals as I cut back on my soda intake.  I really feel like crap!  If this is withdrawals - no wonder people have a hard time giving up addictions.  So much easier to just have some soda than to feel like this. 

What is it with the Seahawk Haters - they were all whining about how we didn't belong in the playoffs in the first place - then we went and proved them wrong by beating the New Orleans Saints - defending champs.  Now the Chicago Bears are whining and printing crap - Time to prove them wrong again Seahawks - I am so looking forward to this weekend's game.

I am going to head to bed - hopefully to get a good nights sleep and to get up and out of here on time tomorrow.  They are predicting snow tomorrow afternoon so I want to get in at a decent time to get lots of work done in case I need to head home early.

De

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Trending Up . . . . . Hopefully

Hey Readers - I am so behind in writing - yet again!  My goal for this year is to post more than I did last year - if you look at each year the trend is that the number of posts go down each year - time to stop that trend! 

Last week was Year End at work - which we completed on time!  It was also the first full work week I've had in a while - it seemed very very long!  It ended on a good note though - we closed and then went out for a team Happy Hour.  This of course was my first happy hour since I joined the Mormon church - so no alcohol for me.  I thought it might be hard but ti wasn't -  I am going to have to start looking into other things to drink though because I am going to get really tired of soda real fast - I know, weird to hear that from me! 

On my way home I went to QFC to drop of some movies I rented form RedBox and I decided to get some Scratch Tickets while I was there - the machines are right next to each other.  I bought a new $5 ticket - and I won . . . . . . . . . $50!!!!!!!  I have never won anything more that $10 on a ticket!!  I was so very excited!!

Saturday was run some errands - do some grocery shopping - watch me some football!  I needed to go drop my PC Laptop off at Plateau Computers to see if they could fix it - the part of the computer where you plug in the charger has come loose - when I brought it in the guy there said that it is definitely a know issue because he has had to repair quite a few lately - it is not an easy fix though.  The replacement piece is fairly cheap but it takes a lot to replace it.  You have to remove the mother board - remove the old piece - solder on the new piece and then put it all back together.  Takes about 7 - 10 days and will cost about $200!!  I am getting it fixed cause it is still cheaper than getting a new one and there are some things I need a PC for - like working from home and playing some games that I can't do on my Mac.  After leaving my computer at the PC Fix It place I went to do some grocery shopping - hadn't done any since well before Christmas so I needed to get some basics. 

Finally done with all of that and it was time to watch the Seahawks!!  I had faith in them all week.  I had had enough of all the sports announcers complaining about our losing record and how we didn't deserve to be in the playoffs - it was time to shove it all in their faces!!  And The Did!!  Amazing Game!!  I think I channeled my niece K - I yelled at the TV very loudly - I'm sure she could hear me down in TX!  Next in line . . . . . . . Chicago Bears!!

OK - I'm not feeling very well right now so I am going to sign off and head to bed.

De

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Learn Something

I'm just sitting on the couch trying to think of something to write about and all I can think about is going to bed and going to sleep - and it's only 830 - I think my body might still be on TX time - or - it just wants to get in bed to snuggle under the flannel sheets! lol

So - no words of wisdom - no dramatic stories - just tired old me.

I do have an online Word A Day Calendar - here are the first 4 words of the year:


lodestar
\'ld-'stär\ n : one that serves as an inspiration, model, or guide
When she started her own catering business, Melinda used her father’s motto—“Trust your instincts”—as her lodestar.
 ___________________________________
exoteric
\'ek-s-'ter-ik\ adj: *1: suitable to be imparted to the public 2: belonging to the outer or less initiate circle 3: external
*Trying to reach a broader audience, the geneticist faced the challenge of producing an exoteric synthesis of complex information.
____________________________________
 
unreconstructed
\'n-'r-kn-'strk-td\ adj: not reconciled to political, economic, or social change; also : holding stubbornly to a particular belief or view
My uncle is an unreconstructed isolationist who writes frequent letters to the White House warning about trade agreements with countries overseas.
 ______________________________________
flack
\'flak\ v : to provide publicity : engage in press agentry
The billionaire’s ex-wife has been flacking for her juicy tell-all on all the popular talk shows.
 ______________________________________
 
 
De
 
 

Monday, January 3, 2011

Year End Close

Yesterday was the first Fast Sunday of the year.  I'm not sure what it is about Fast Sunday but my body just does not like it.  I wasn't feeling sick when I headed to church - I didn't get queasy at all - my stomach just started making some really weird rumbling noises during Relief Society.  Then I could tell that things weren't well in that area - I kept praying that I would make it through the rest of the meeting - which I did but . . . . . . I didn't quite make it home. Yuck :-P  Got home and started getting the chills so I laid on the couch and fell asleep - woke up at half-time of the Seahawks game.  Finished watching the football game and then went to bed.  Felt a little better this morning - had to go to work because it is Year End Close.

E moved out of the house he and L were living in today - he then updated his status on FB to Single - which I guess makes it official.  Had to control myself from typing in Dumb ass as a comment on his wall.  He told L that maybe they could work things out after they both grow up a bit - yeah, int hat relationship L has grown up over the last year and E seems to have slid backwards.  L is the one who manages her money and has rent money ready on time - she is the one who got her Food Stamps taken care of and budgets it so they have enough food to last for the month.  I think E is going to have a rude awakening over the next couple of months when he realizes how much L did for him and took care of for him.  I guess it might make him grow up.  I told L not to let him come over and mooch off of her - no matter how much she cares about him.  We shall see how it goes.

I had such a hard time getting out of bed this morning - not just because I was tired - but because the flannel sheets L got me for Christmas are just so darn soft, warm, and cozy!  No one would want to leave that for the crisp cold air of a January morning.  Speaking of which - time to head to bed and snuggle under those warm cozy covers.

De

Saturday, January 1, 2011

1-1-11

Happy New Year!

I am very happy to see 2010 come to an end - it was not a year full of fun and games.  Too many sad and stressful things happened - ready to start with a clean slate.  That was the plan - let's call tomorrow the first day of the New Year.

Not sure what it is about travelling to TX but it seems like I have to deal with L drama either while I'm down there or when I get home.  Last May it was getting an email letting me know that she needed to move back in with me for a few months.  This time around it was a call at 130am the morning after I got back - calls at 130 in the morning are never good and this was no exception - L was in tears and the words out of her mouth were that E had beaten her up - yup, you read that correctly - E had been drinking, got mad at her for some reason, and he punched her in the face.  L was calling to see if she could come here - she had her keys and one of the roommates was going to drive her over - I of course said yes.  I fell back to sleep - woke up off and on through out the night thinking I had heard her come in - but I got up in the morning and she wasn't here.  I tried calling and texting but got no response.  She finally texted me at 1030 and said she was fine, she had fallen asleep on the couch after talking with her roommates and she didn't think to let me know she wasn't coming over.  She said E was upset about what had happened and was sorry - they were going to talk about it and figure things out.  I told her I thought he needed to move out - that she should be able to stay because he is the one that has the problem.

Today she called me in tears - E had texted her at 100 am saying he was moving out and that he was breaking up with her - yeah, no matter if it's a text or an actual call - 100 am is never good.  She had gone to a NYE party with friends from work because he was working until 930 - he sent her a message around 10 telling her to have fun - he loved her - his friend James had stopped by.  Suddenly a few hours later he sends her the break-up text.  Yeah - James had told E he should move in to the house he was living in and that he should just break up with L. 

L came by this afternoon - I told her that I thought it was a good idea for him to move out and to not let him effect how well she has been doing - that I am very proud of how far she has come in the past year and I don't want her to fall back just because E has issues.  Tried to help her see that this is on him and not her - that it's not just alcohol that's a problem for him - that there are other issues that he needs to work out - and that she deserves someone who is going to treat her so much better. 

Yeah - So - 2010 kinda ended like it started.  Hopefully this is just a cleansing of the bad luck and 2011 is going to be my year.

De