Today's the day; the day when everybody in the state of Alabama converges in Tuscaloosa to divide themselves up between what is The University of Alabama and Auburn University. It's the Crimson and White versus the Blue and Gold.
The past six years, it's been "fear the thumb," and "fear the finger," for Alabama fans. Despite all the other obstacles the University has overcome, the Crimson Tide has been defeated six consecutive times against the Tigers. Six years...
Then came this season. Alabama wins not one or two, but heads into the most anticipated game of the season to face their biggest rival undefeated. Auburn limps into the arena with a challenging season. And all throughout Tuscaloosa, retribution wafts in the air.
It's been six years of tension, t-shirts, taunting and embarrassment.
I can't wait to give Auburn fans the finger!
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Friday, November 28, 2008
Notice
Alabama's Million Dollar Band is in my head practicing for this weekend's big game against Auburn. They've been there since Sunday and I apologize for their absence. Actually, if you can go ahead and get the rehearsal out of my head, the sinus pressure, the ear aches and the sore throat with it, that would be fantastic!
I repeat: Alabama's Million Dollar Marching Band is not missing, they are ignoring the obscene doses of Zycam, NyQuil, Sudafed and Vick's I've been taking since Sunday and refuse to leave.
Please stay on alert for an alarm: I don't know how much longer I can take this!!!
I repeat: Alabama's Million Dollar Marching Band is not missing, they are ignoring the obscene doses of Zycam, NyQuil, Sudafed and Vick's I've been taking since Sunday and refuse to leave.
Please stay on alert for an alarm: I don't know how much longer I can take this!!!
Thursday, November 27, 2008
The Great Thanksgiving
Let's face it. My cooking skills have never been steller. I think that's why Mum gave me the "appetizers" category this year; something I can't screw up (but I can burn water!).
This morning, I got up at the crack of dawn to start my Thanksgiving. I was excited to get to participate in the cooking festivities this year. So I got showered and dressed and headed to the kitchen. I can't cook but I never said that I don't like to pretend!
This morning, I've made meatballs (actually something Trey said he was going to make) and chicken wrapped in bacon and dredged in brown sugar and spice. Ooohh those loook sooo goood!! Thank you, Paula Dean!!! They are baking right now. The meatballs are ready to be eaten.
Trey has made his peanut butter balls. AKA Recipe for Weight Gain - Jenny Craig's favorite!
I made a dip, a bacon chedder dip. I bought some Triscuits to go with them and have been fighting to keep my husband away from the box all week long! I'm thankful it's Thanksgiving so that he can eat them now!
I may not can cook but in my land of pretend, all of the food sounds delicious! I can't wait to try it!
Now, Trey is getting ready, I'm waiting for the chicken to finish and then we are headed to my hometown to eat at my Mum's house. I'm never gonna lose enough weight for this half-marathon now!!!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Enjoy every bite you eat today and worry about it later!!
This morning, I got up at the crack of dawn to start my Thanksgiving. I was excited to get to participate in the cooking festivities this year. So I got showered and dressed and headed to the kitchen. I can't cook but I never said that I don't like to pretend!
This morning, I've made meatballs (actually something Trey said he was going to make) and chicken wrapped in bacon and dredged in brown sugar and spice. Ooohh those loook sooo goood!! Thank you, Paula Dean!!! They are baking right now. The meatballs are ready to be eaten.
Trey has made his peanut butter balls. AKA Recipe for Weight Gain - Jenny Craig's favorite!
I made a dip, a bacon chedder dip. I bought some Triscuits to go with them and have been fighting to keep my husband away from the box all week long! I'm thankful it's Thanksgiving so that he can eat them now!
I may not can cook but in my land of pretend, all of the food sounds delicious! I can't wait to try it!
Now, Trey is getting ready, I'm waiting for the chicken to finish and then we are headed to my hometown to eat at my Mum's house. I'm never gonna lose enough weight for this half-marathon now!!!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Enjoy every bite you eat today and worry about it later!!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Be Thankfu
Today's Scripture
“Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim His greatness. Let the whole world know what He has done” (Psalm 105:1, NLT).
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
When someone gives you a meaningful or costly gift, how do you show your appreciation? Do you tell them how grateful you are? What do you do with that gift? When it’s something you are truly thankful for, you probably don’t just throw it in the back of a closet; you openly and proudly display the gift. When others see and admire it, you probably tell them about where it came from and about the generosity of the giver.
In the same way, as believers, we should give thanks to the Lord and constantly show our gratefulness and appreciation for all He has done for us by displaying the gifts He’s given us. We should display love, peace, joy, kindness, and hope. We should live our lives in such a way that our very actions proclaim His greatness and cause others to take notice.
Proclaim His greatness by living a life of gratitude to Him and let the whole world know what He has done for you!
A Prayer for Today
Father in heaven, thank You for setting me free and filling me with Your hope, peace, and joy. I invite You to dwell in every area of my being and make my life a continual praise to You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
“Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim His greatness. Let the whole world know what He has done” (Psalm 105:1, NLT).
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
When someone gives you a meaningful or costly gift, how do you show your appreciation? Do you tell them how grateful you are? What do you do with that gift? When it’s something you are truly thankful for, you probably don’t just throw it in the back of a closet; you openly and proudly display the gift. When others see and admire it, you probably tell them about where it came from and about the generosity of the giver.
In the same way, as believers, we should give thanks to the Lord and constantly show our gratefulness and appreciation for all He has done for us by displaying the gifts He’s given us. We should display love, peace, joy, kindness, and hope. We should live our lives in such a way that our very actions proclaim His greatness and cause others to take notice.
Proclaim His greatness by living a life of gratitude to Him and let the whole world know what He has done for you!
A Prayer for Today
Father in heaven, thank You for setting me free and filling me with Your hope, peace, and joy. I invite You to dwell in every area of my being and make my life a continual praise to You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Not good: Chicken Veg Parmesian
Prep Time:
5 minTotal Time:
18 minMakes:
4 servings
What You Need
1/4 cup KRAFT Light Zesty Italian Dressing
2 cloves garlic
minced 4 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1 lb.)
1 tsp. dried basil leaves
divided 1/4 tsp. black pepper 1 pkg.
(10 oz.) frozen mixed vegetables
thawed 2 Tbsp. KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese
Make It
MIX dressing and garlic in large skillet. Cook on medium heat 1 min. Add chicken; season with 3/4 tsp. of the basil and the pepper. Cook 4 to 5 min. on each side or until chicken is cooked through (165ºF).
ADD vegetables to skillet; sprinkle with remaining 1/4 tsp. basil. Cook 2 to 3 min. or until vegetables are heated through, stirring occasionally.
SPRINKLE with the cheese.
Kraft Kitchens Tips
Special ExtraFor a spicier flavor, substitute crushed red pepper flakes for the black pepper.ShortcutTo quickly thaw the mixed vegetables, put them in a colander and run warm tap water over them.
5 minTotal Time:
18 minMakes:
4 servings
What You Need
1/4 cup KRAFT Light Zesty Italian Dressing
2 cloves garlic
minced 4 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1 lb.)
1 tsp. dried basil leaves
divided 1/4 tsp. black pepper 1 pkg.
(10 oz.) frozen mixed vegetables
thawed 2 Tbsp. KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese
Make It
MIX dressing and garlic in large skillet. Cook on medium heat 1 min. Add chicken; season with 3/4 tsp. of the basil and the pepper. Cook 4 to 5 min. on each side or until chicken is cooked through (165ºF).
ADD vegetables to skillet; sprinkle with remaining 1/4 tsp. basil. Cook 2 to 3 min. or until vegetables are heated through, stirring occasionally.
SPRINKLE with the cheese.
Kraft Kitchens Tips
Special ExtraFor a spicier flavor, substitute crushed red pepper flakes for the black pepper.ShortcutTo quickly thaw the mixed vegetables, put them in a colander and run warm tap water over them.
The Auction
Trey has an auction addiction and I have an antique addiction. When I found out there was an antique auction in Sunday, neither of us could pass up the visit! The thing about this auction was that it was in Moundville - which is in the land of no cell phone signal - a.k.a. Middle of No Where. It was a lot of fun, though, and some of the items went for cheap; much to the chagrin of the man who was selling the estates.
We headed out of the house about thirty minutes before it started. Moundville is about twenty minutes south on Hwy 69. Once you are in Hale County, you pass the Hale County High School (original) and turn right at the one and only traffic/caution light. Once you follow the two lane road less than a mile, you'll enter into a very small town.
There is a small restaurant where everybody goes to eat regularly. It's called Ms. Melissa's. I haven't eaten there myself, but I hear it's delicious. Directly across the street from the diner is another two lane road lined with old, brick building's on either side. All of the buildings look like a giant piece of sandpaper ran across them at some point. All of the windows are covered with sheets or signs. It looks desolate. If you were to visit at night, I doubt you'd think anything was ever open. Not one of the buildings had a business sign in the front and all looked like they were teasing with condemnation.
"Where is this auction? Doesn't look like anything is here," I wondered if my husband would be more familiar with this than myself. I had just heard of this place through word of mouth and had no clue what we were getting into.
"Just go in those doors right there," He pointed to the small strip of buildings that sat adjacent to Ms. Melissa's. It was a white store front with sheets in the front. The display windows were line with what looked like bed sheets and had bikes, chairs and all sorts of random objects clumsily strewn in view. It had two glass front doors on either sides of the main display window that allowed the only glimpse of anything inside. "That's where everybody else is going."
I looked around and realized there were other vehicles but I couldn't find any persons to occupy those vehicles. "None of the buildings look open. Which one are they going in? Where is everybody to follow?"
Trey put me in view of the white store front. "Oh," I said, thinking I wasn't stupid for thinking this place was closed, along with everything else in the small corner. We walked inside to rows of metal chairs. Spaced somewhat evenly between were small pillows and cushions to site on. They looked like the pillows that sat on your grandmother's sofa. Some were decorated in white lace, others wore a crocheted brown and orange cover. In the end, I was glad to see them; the seats were cold and hard.
People were standing around the place, picking up some of the smaller trinkets and touching the larger wooden pieces of furniture. There were kitchen tables in the mix, throwing memories of hours spent around a kitchen table laughing and talking, crying and rejoicing in my head. I wondered how many hours families had spent around the tables now about to be auctioned.
The small crowd gathered in their seats and the auctioned started. Then the scene became a Southern Norman Rockwell painting. The auctioneer picked up a microphone and began describing some of the lots. I got tickled thinking of the heavy southern accent on a microphone for the maybe twenty people in the room. He had on a glasses and a pullover and was wearing a ball cap. He sat on a stool the entire time he called for bids. Twice he stood up but he made sure to let us know he was about to take a stand! Meanwhile, the seller, a man who looked like a mix Colonel Sanders and Santa Clause, paced back and forth infront of the buyers, "Put dis with'it!" and, "That's cheap! Ah might'noh sell it!"
We, as Southerners, get stereotyped for our accents and education thanks to those nice people on cable news who find the person who can say, "Eh'sounded lak a frate tren," the best when a tornado comes through. Let me just say Thank God they haven't been to Moundville because there are a plethora of people to fit that stigma there!
Here are some examples:
• "Pewter" is pronounced "Peter"
• "Open Bid" is "How much ya'll wanna start the biddin' fer?"
• "Vase" is not a vase, it's "This glass pitcher, real pretty!"
• "For Sale" is pronounced "Fer Sale"
• "Stained Glass" is "Winders"
I'm born and raised in Alabama, I'm proud of it. I was educated Sunday.
Then Santa got pissed. Furniture wasn't bringing what he thought it was worth, "winders" weren't going for what he paid. Santa rubbed his hands on his red pullover and paced faster in front of the buyers. "Haven't ya'll ever herd of spray paint?! You can paint this stuff! Ah don'know why Ah even try - Not Sold! Not Sold!" When a dresser came up for sale and only brought $20, Santa screamed, "Don'you folks know how t'disstress paint - putsum sandpaper on it? Not Sold!! Ya'll newcomers comin'in here not ev'n biddin' like Ah do this for mah health!"
I thought, "Surely he's not talking about us! He can't expect us to bid on EVERYTHING - His 'antique' glass is a fake, anyway!"
He had this beautiful blue and white plate and pitcher. Thing was, he called it Blue Willow. I know my Blue Willow. There was no badge on the bottom. It wasn't Blue Willow. Plus, it was the wrong shade of blue. It wasn't Blue Willow. When he called the second piece Blue Willow, too, I lost all respect. None of his stuff was going to be worth what he thought it should be, in my opinion any way. To me, he apparantly was bullshitting his way through all of the pieces and had no idea what had value and what didn't!
In the end, they began asking people to start a bid on any other items not listed to be sold. Trey and I had attempted for the lamp we wanted, but they never called our bid out - we weren't about to open the floor on a piece of furniture we'd eyed in hopes it wouldn't go for more than what we wanted to pay and the hope that he'd still sell it to us.
There is another auction coming up in a month. We'll probably check at the auction one more time. The items he did sale went for next to nothing. Plus, you'll never know what kind of lagniappe you'll get with it! Santa's always throwing in something extra!
We headed out of the house about thirty minutes before it started. Moundville is about twenty minutes south on Hwy 69. Once you are in Hale County, you pass the Hale County High School (original) and turn right at the one and only traffic/caution light. Once you follow the two lane road less than a mile, you'll enter into a very small town.
There is a small restaurant where everybody goes to eat regularly. It's called Ms. Melissa's. I haven't eaten there myself, but I hear it's delicious. Directly across the street from the diner is another two lane road lined with old, brick building's on either side. All of the buildings look like a giant piece of sandpaper ran across them at some point. All of the windows are covered with sheets or signs. It looks desolate. If you were to visit at night, I doubt you'd think anything was ever open. Not one of the buildings had a business sign in the front and all looked like they were teasing with condemnation.
"Where is this auction? Doesn't look like anything is here," I wondered if my husband would be more familiar with this than myself. I had just heard of this place through word of mouth and had no clue what we were getting into.
"Just go in those doors right there," He pointed to the small strip of buildings that sat adjacent to Ms. Melissa's. It was a white store front with sheets in the front. The display windows were line with what looked like bed sheets and had bikes, chairs and all sorts of random objects clumsily strewn in view. It had two glass front doors on either sides of the main display window that allowed the only glimpse of anything inside. "That's where everybody else is going."
I looked around and realized there were other vehicles but I couldn't find any persons to occupy those vehicles. "None of the buildings look open. Which one are they going in? Where is everybody to follow?"
Trey put me in view of the white store front. "Oh," I said, thinking I wasn't stupid for thinking this place was closed, along with everything else in the small corner. We walked inside to rows of metal chairs. Spaced somewhat evenly between were small pillows and cushions to site on. They looked like the pillows that sat on your grandmother's sofa. Some were decorated in white lace, others wore a crocheted brown and orange cover. In the end, I was glad to see them; the seats were cold and hard.
People were standing around the place, picking up some of the smaller trinkets and touching the larger wooden pieces of furniture. There were kitchen tables in the mix, throwing memories of hours spent around a kitchen table laughing and talking, crying and rejoicing in my head. I wondered how many hours families had spent around the tables now about to be auctioned.
The small crowd gathered in their seats and the auctioned started. Then the scene became a Southern Norman Rockwell painting. The auctioneer picked up a microphone and began describing some of the lots. I got tickled thinking of the heavy southern accent on a microphone for the maybe twenty people in the room. He had on a glasses and a pullover and was wearing a ball cap. He sat on a stool the entire time he called for bids. Twice he stood up but he made sure to let us know he was about to take a stand! Meanwhile, the seller, a man who looked like a mix Colonel Sanders and Santa Clause, paced back and forth infront of the buyers, "Put dis with'it!" and, "That's cheap! Ah might'noh sell it!"
We, as Southerners, get stereotyped for our accents and education thanks to those nice people on cable news who find the person who can say, "Eh'sounded lak a frate tren," the best when a tornado comes through. Let me just say Thank God they haven't been to Moundville because there are a plethora of people to fit that stigma there!
Here are some examples:
• "Pewter" is pronounced "Peter"
• "Open Bid" is "How much ya'll wanna start the biddin' fer?"
• "Vase" is not a vase, it's "This glass pitcher, real pretty!"
• "For Sale" is pronounced "Fer Sale"
• "Stained Glass" is "Winders"
I'm born and raised in Alabama, I'm proud of it. I was educated Sunday.
Then Santa got pissed. Furniture wasn't bringing what he thought it was worth, "winders" weren't going for what he paid. Santa rubbed his hands on his red pullover and paced faster in front of the buyers. "Haven't ya'll ever herd of spray paint?! You can paint this stuff! Ah don'know why Ah even try - Not Sold! Not Sold!" When a dresser came up for sale and only brought $20, Santa screamed, "Don'you folks know how t'disstress paint - putsum sandpaper on it? Not Sold!! Ya'll newcomers comin'in here not ev'n biddin' like Ah do this for mah health!"
I thought, "Surely he's not talking about us! He can't expect us to bid on EVERYTHING - His 'antique' glass is a fake, anyway!"
He had this beautiful blue and white plate and pitcher. Thing was, he called it Blue Willow. I know my Blue Willow. There was no badge on the bottom. It wasn't Blue Willow. Plus, it was the wrong shade of blue. It wasn't Blue Willow. When he called the second piece Blue Willow, too, I lost all respect. None of his stuff was going to be worth what he thought it should be, in my opinion any way. To me, he apparantly was bullshitting his way through all of the pieces and had no idea what had value and what didn't!
In the end, they began asking people to start a bid on any other items not listed to be sold. Trey and I had attempted for the lamp we wanted, but they never called our bid out - we weren't about to open the floor on a piece of furniture we'd eyed in hopes it wouldn't go for more than what we wanted to pay and the hope that he'd still sell it to us.
There is another auction coming up in a month. We'll probably check at the auction one more time. The items he did sale went for next to nothing. Plus, you'll never know what kind of lagniappe you'll get with it! Santa's always throwing in something extra!
Something I've always wanted to do...
I was talking to a friend of mine on Facebook last night and she put an idea in my head. Scary, I know!
I think I am going to run in a half-marathon.
I'm not absolutely positive yet. There is a lot, and I mean A LOT, of work I have to do to get ready for 13 miles. In downtown B'ham...around hills...
Something to think about. You think I can do it?
I think I am going to run in a half-marathon.
I'm not absolutely positive yet. There is a lot, and I mean A LOT, of work I have to do to get ready for 13 miles. In downtown B'ham...around hills...
Something to think about. You think I can do it?
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Time keeps on ticking slowly
Only 5.5 hours to go till I go see Twilight! I'm so embarrassingly excited about this movie, it's not funny!
I've heard exciting things: It's raked in $35mil on opening day, it's as good as the book, it's fantastic, Twilight fans will be happy...all sorts of good things that make me even more excited.
Another thing I'm excited about: NO MEN TONIGHT. It will be me, and a few other women, for girls night with margeritas (Ole!) and Edward Cullen. Trey, when I come home tonight, I'll have higher standards of you for a couple of days. Be sure to have the house clean and be a slave to my every request. I love you!
I've heard exciting things: It's raked in $35mil on opening day, it's as good as the book, it's fantastic, Twilight fans will be happy...all sorts of good things that make me even more excited.
Another thing I'm excited about: NO MEN TONIGHT. It will be me, and a few other women, for girls night with margeritas (Ole!) and Edward Cullen. Trey, when I come home tonight, I'll have higher standards of you for a couple of days. Be sure to have the house clean and be a slave to my every request. I love you!
Saucy Honey Mustard Chicken
Prep Time: 5 min
Total Time: 20 min
Makes: 4 servings, one topped chicken breast each
What You Need
1 Tbsp. oil
4 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1 lb.)
1/4 cup PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese Spread
1/4 cup KRAFT Zesty Italian Dressing
2 Tbsp. GREY POUPON Savory Honey Mustard
1 Tbsp. honey
Make It
HEAT oil in large nonstick skillet on medium heat. Add chicken; cover. Cook 5 to 6 min. on each side or until chicken is cooked through (165°F).
MIX remaining ingredients; spoon over chicken.
COOK 2 min. or until sauce is heated through, stirring occasionally.
Serving Suggestion
Serve with hot cooked rice and steamed broccoli
Total Time: 20 min
Makes: 4 servings, one topped chicken breast each
What You Need
1 Tbsp. oil
4 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1 lb.)
1/4 cup PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese Spread
1/4 cup KRAFT Zesty Italian Dressing
2 Tbsp. GREY POUPON Savory Honey Mustard
1 Tbsp. honey
Make It
HEAT oil in large nonstick skillet on medium heat. Add chicken; cover. Cook 5 to 6 min. on each side or until chicken is cooked through (165°F).
MIX remaining ingredients; spoon over chicken.
COOK 2 min. or until sauce is heated through, stirring occasionally.
Serving Suggestion
Serve with hot cooked rice and steamed broccoli
Friday, November 21, 2008
When you think you are, you aren't
Five mornings of the week, I get up and go to the gym before work. I wake up, comb my hair into some semblance of normal, put on my gym clothes and sneakers, grab my gym bag and head on my way.
My boss, the Fitness Nazi - he knows that's his name - is the picture definition of "Gym Rat." He eats right, most of the time, stares at his muscles in the mirror more often than he'll admit, knows what every muscle does and knows every exercise and what it works. In short, he'll kick your ass in the gym. Just for fun, he's learn jiu-jitsu. He enjoys pushing his body to its limit more than the normal person.
We both have corporate gym memberships and take advantage of it. Since he goes in the morning and I go in the morning, naturally, we just work out together and work the same muscle groups. Usually, I can keep up. Usually, he pushes me further than I would push myself but I always feel competitive - I have to be able to prove to him that I can do what I or he thinks I can't. I always try! Also, we both try to eat right - or as close to right as possible. We're both at work 10-12 hours a day and work 6 days of the week. Sometimes pizza's just convenient.
So when we had our company Thanksgiving dinner Wednesday, we were both giving ourselves cheating rights. He can eat more than I can anyway. He doesn't have to lose weight like I do. We had all that delicious food...and cake.
Oh, the cake. The cake, with it's delicious whipped topping, it's chocolate flakes on top. It was so tall and so beautiful and so...tasty! It was the most moist cake you've ever tasted. More so than your own wedding cake, I guarantee. It stood two feet tall almost! The cake was already sliced and ready to go in my mouth. The individual servings were huge! Really big enough for two or three people!
I'd already filled my plate and eaten every last bit. The dinner - all the food - it was perfect! I wanted seconds. But I wanted the cake more. It beckoned me.
"Trey," I begged, "Please bring me a piece of that big chocolate cake! I have to try that!"
My husband, who always comes to our holiday dinners along with everybody elses spouse, gladly got up and brought me a piece. He grabbed him some other dessert that I can't remember because this cake trumped his!
The size of the piece on the small Styrofoam plate alarmed me. I asked a few people to share it with me because I jut knew I wouldn't have enough room.
I was very wrong!
I took a bite. It was over. I took another bite, and another. Before I knew it, the whole piece was in my stomach. I thought surely I'd regret it later. Clint knew I felt bad. I think he did, too.
"Clint, I'm going to have to do some serious cardio after this cake!" I declared.
"We'll do some circuit training in the gym on Friday," he mentioned between bites, "gets some cardio in to get all this food off of us!"
Later came, I had another piece! I actually, kind of, sort of, verbally compared it to the act of procreating without the risk of actually reproducing to one work associate or two, or all...sorry, Mum!
When the day was over, I was glad to be away from that evil, sinful food. I felt like I had ruined my day in the gym, even though I had allowed myself this cheat!
The following day, I hadn't planned on going to the gym. I actually had to do the radio show for the dealership and just got up early as usual and piddled around the house until it was time to advertise for Tuscaloosa Hyundai. I came to work knowing that our collision center was going to have its Thanksgiving dinner and that none of that food was coming to us. Thank, God! That's why I was flabbergasted when Lori came in with what she called "a gift." Of course I knew it was leftovers! I had to go see! Who can turn down free food?
I walked over to where she stood to see the white bakery box before her. I didn't think good thoughts that my mother should read and I definitely did not resist the temptation that was in that box.
Inside was the glorious cake. Larger this time, yelling at me to indulge!
"Stephanie, do you want piece?" somebody asked. I can't tell you who it was - I was in a trance.
"Definitely!" There was no doubt I wanted more of it's goodness, despite the little angel on my shoulder whispering about the work I would have to do in the gym the next morning. There was a question of how big a piece I wanted. How big a piece? Ha!
"Why don't you just cut yourself a small piece and give me the box?" I was so greedy! And the cake was that good that I could have eaten the whole thing and never lived to regret it! Lori cut me a piece while laughing at the comment she must of thought was a joke, even though I was serious! It was the power of the cake!
Lori, that was not "a gift!"
In several swift moves, the square slab with it's delicious frosting was in my stomach. I felt peace - peace that lasted an hour until I had to have another piece. And I squeaked 'Oink'! Oh, the angel on my shoulder scolded me.
Yesterday morning, I paid my penance.
I woke up at 5:45 am, as usual. I brushed my teeth, combed out my hair, dressed warm for the cold weather. I was so sleepy. I really didn't want to go to the gym. Usually when I feel that way, I get motivated because I have the best workouts, but today, this morning, it was different. I felt like the cake had sucked out all my energy.
I was at the gym by 6:45 am. Lori was there, getting ready for work already. She was her normal chipper self, bobbing her red head around the locker room.
"We've still got some of that cake left, Stephanie!" She putting her make-up on in the mirror and I don't think she could see my reaction. I quickly put my eyes back in there socket before she looked up.
"Oh, Lori! Keep that away from me today! That cakes so good! I wish it was already gone!"
I put my gym bag up and walked out to the floor. Clint was already there and waiting. It was like the Fitness Nazi possessed him today.
"Circuit train?" he asked.
"Sure!" I said, ignorant.
He kicked my as for an hour. I'm not sure, I think we did 9 or 12 exercises in that hour. Weights, reps, all over exercises - ass-whoopin' as us Southerners put it. Despite the months of gym time I've spent with the Fitness Nazi, I was not in shape enough for Friday morning's workout.
I just remember sitting on the floor and thinking I see Jesus! No, I'm just dizzy...
When I got to work, barely able to move, I still had to deal with hearing about this cake. The cake that got my ass kicked. The cake that made me ache. The cake that had Tylenol for dessert. It wasn't just a small portion of the cake left either. It was a rather large slab in a large Tupperware bowl with aluminum foil on top. Everybody had a piece and raved about how good it was. I heard about it all day. Looked at it all day. I got so busy at work I didn't get to eat my lunch and in the meantime watched as my co-workers indulged in the sinful treat.
At 5:30, I couldn't take it anymore. There was only a small sliver left. I went to the small working fridge, took out the devil and said, "I'm taking my lunch!"
My boss, the Fitness Nazi - he knows that's his name - is the picture definition of "Gym Rat." He eats right, most of the time, stares at his muscles in the mirror more often than he'll admit, knows what every muscle does and knows every exercise and what it works. In short, he'll kick your ass in the gym. Just for fun, he's learn jiu-jitsu. He enjoys pushing his body to its limit more than the normal person.
We both have corporate gym memberships and take advantage of it. Since he goes in the morning and I go in the morning, naturally, we just work out together and work the same muscle groups. Usually, I can keep up. Usually, he pushes me further than I would push myself but I always feel competitive - I have to be able to prove to him that I can do what I or he thinks I can't. I always try! Also, we both try to eat right - or as close to right as possible. We're both at work 10-12 hours a day and work 6 days of the week. Sometimes pizza's just convenient.
So when we had our company Thanksgiving dinner Wednesday, we were both giving ourselves cheating rights. He can eat more than I can anyway. He doesn't have to lose weight like I do. We had all that delicious food...and cake.
Oh, the cake. The cake, with it's delicious whipped topping, it's chocolate flakes on top. It was so tall and so beautiful and so...tasty! It was the most moist cake you've ever tasted. More so than your own wedding cake, I guarantee. It stood two feet tall almost! The cake was already sliced and ready to go in my mouth. The individual servings were huge! Really big enough for two or three people!
I'd already filled my plate and eaten every last bit. The dinner - all the food - it was perfect! I wanted seconds. But I wanted the cake more. It beckoned me.
"Trey," I begged, "Please bring me a piece of that big chocolate cake! I have to try that!"
My husband, who always comes to our holiday dinners along with everybody elses spouse, gladly got up and brought me a piece. He grabbed him some other dessert that I can't remember because this cake trumped his!
The size of the piece on the small Styrofoam plate alarmed me. I asked a few people to share it with me because I jut knew I wouldn't have enough room.
I was very wrong!
I took a bite. It was over. I took another bite, and another. Before I knew it, the whole piece was in my stomach. I thought surely I'd regret it later. Clint knew I felt bad. I think he did, too.
"Clint, I'm going to have to do some serious cardio after this cake!" I declared.
"We'll do some circuit training in the gym on Friday," he mentioned between bites, "gets some cardio in to get all this food off of us!"
Later came, I had another piece! I actually, kind of, sort of, verbally compared it to the act of procreating without the risk of actually reproducing to one work associate or two, or all...sorry, Mum!
When the day was over, I was glad to be away from that evil, sinful food. I felt like I had ruined my day in the gym, even though I had allowed myself this cheat!
The following day, I hadn't planned on going to the gym. I actually had to do the radio show for the dealership and just got up early as usual and piddled around the house until it was time to advertise for Tuscaloosa Hyundai. I came to work knowing that our collision center was going to have its Thanksgiving dinner and that none of that food was coming to us. Thank, God! That's why I was flabbergasted when Lori came in with what she called "a gift." Of course I knew it was leftovers! I had to go see! Who can turn down free food?
I walked over to where she stood to see the white bakery box before her. I didn't think good thoughts that my mother should read and I definitely did not resist the temptation that was in that box.
Inside was the glorious cake. Larger this time, yelling at me to indulge!
"Stephanie, do you want piece?" somebody asked. I can't tell you who it was - I was in a trance.
"Definitely!" There was no doubt I wanted more of it's goodness, despite the little angel on my shoulder whispering about the work I would have to do in the gym the next morning. There was a question of how big a piece I wanted. How big a piece? Ha!
"Why don't you just cut yourself a small piece and give me the box?" I was so greedy! And the cake was that good that I could have eaten the whole thing and never lived to regret it! Lori cut me a piece while laughing at the comment she must of thought was a joke, even though I was serious! It was the power of the cake!
Lori, that was not "a gift!"
In several swift moves, the square slab with it's delicious frosting was in my stomach. I felt peace - peace that lasted an hour until I had to have another piece. And I squeaked 'Oink'! Oh, the angel on my shoulder scolded me.
Yesterday morning, I paid my penance.
I woke up at 5:45 am, as usual. I brushed my teeth, combed out my hair, dressed warm for the cold weather. I was so sleepy. I really didn't want to go to the gym. Usually when I feel that way, I get motivated because I have the best workouts, but today, this morning, it was different. I felt like the cake had sucked out all my energy.
I was at the gym by 6:45 am. Lori was there, getting ready for work already. She was her normal chipper self, bobbing her red head around the locker room.
"We've still got some of that cake left, Stephanie!" She putting her make-up on in the mirror and I don't think she could see my reaction. I quickly put my eyes back in there socket before she looked up.
"Oh, Lori! Keep that away from me today! That cakes so good! I wish it was already gone!"
I put my gym bag up and walked out to the floor. Clint was already there and waiting. It was like the Fitness Nazi possessed him today.
"Circuit train?" he asked.
"Sure!" I said, ignorant.
He kicked my as for an hour. I'm not sure, I think we did 9 or 12 exercises in that hour. Weights, reps, all over exercises - ass-whoopin' as us Southerners put it. Despite the months of gym time I've spent with the Fitness Nazi, I was not in shape enough for Friday morning's workout.
I just remember sitting on the floor and thinking I see Jesus! No, I'm just dizzy...
When I got to work, barely able to move, I still had to deal with hearing about this cake. The cake that got my ass kicked. The cake that made me ache. The cake that had Tylenol for dessert. It wasn't just a small portion of the cake left either. It was a rather large slab in a large Tupperware bowl with aluminum foil on top. Everybody had a piece and raved about how good it was. I heard about it all day. Looked at it all day. I got so busy at work I didn't get to eat my lunch and in the meantime watched as my co-workers indulged in the sinful treat.
At 5:30, I couldn't take it anymore. There was only a small sliver left. I went to the small working fridge, took out the devil and said, "I'm taking my lunch!"
To every action there is a reaction
First NBC cancelled Lipstick Jungle. Now, an even worse atrocity, ABC has cancelled Dirty Sexy Money.
Why does this happen to all the good shows? How could you not like this show? It was the Dallas of today! It was obscenely twisted and mysterious and delicious! I loved the fabulous life of the Darlings!
ABC also canceled Pushing Daisies and Eli Stone. Both we watched but not avidly in my home. PD was so cute when it first started and now it's turned to crap. Trey loved ES but I never got addicted. God forbid they ax Samantha Who?!!
What you see here is the end result of last year's Hollywood strike.
Now, when are they going to cancel the stupid shows? You know, Knight Rider??
Why does this happen to all the good shows? How could you not like this show? It was the Dallas of today! It was obscenely twisted and mysterious and delicious! I loved the fabulous life of the Darlings!
ABC also canceled Pushing Daisies and Eli Stone. Both we watched but not avidly in my home. PD was so cute when it first started and now it's turned to crap. Trey loved ES but I never got addicted. God forbid they ax Samantha Who?!!
What you see here is the end result of last year's Hollywood strike.
Now, when are they going to cancel the stupid shows? You know, Knight Rider??
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Today's Word with Joel and Victoria: Offer Continually
Today's Scripture
“Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name” (Hebrews 13:15, NLT).
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
Praise is more than just singing songs in church on Sunday. In fact, praise isn’t even about singing songs! Praise is a heart attitude. Praise in your heart prompts singing songs, but it can also be manifest in many different ways. Your words, your actions, your daily life are all ways you give Him praise. Like the verse says, when your actions or words declare your allegiance to His Name, that’s giving God praise. How do your actions declare your allegiance to Him? By simply obeying His Word. When we continually follow His commands, even when it’s uncomfortable, even when we don’t feel like it, even when we are tired, that’s offering a sacrifice of praise to Him.Remember, praise is a powerful weapon. Many times in the Old Testament, when God’s people would go into battle, they would send the worshipers out first. Praise precedes the victory. When you live a life that offers Him continual praise, you will see continual victory in every area of your life!
A Prayer for Today
Father in heaven, I do offer You continual praise. I choose to follow Your Word so that You may be glorified through me. Let everything within me honor You in all that I do. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
“Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name” (Hebrews 13:15, NLT).
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
Praise is more than just singing songs in church on Sunday. In fact, praise isn’t even about singing songs! Praise is a heart attitude. Praise in your heart prompts singing songs, but it can also be manifest in many different ways. Your words, your actions, your daily life are all ways you give Him praise. Like the verse says, when your actions or words declare your allegiance to His Name, that’s giving God praise. How do your actions declare your allegiance to Him? By simply obeying His Word. When we continually follow His commands, even when it’s uncomfortable, even when we don’t feel like it, even when we are tired, that’s offering a sacrifice of praise to Him.Remember, praise is a powerful weapon. Many times in the Old Testament, when God’s people would go into battle, they would send the worshipers out first. Praise precedes the victory. When you live a life that offers Him continual praise, you will see continual victory in every area of your life!
A Prayer for Today
Father in heaven, I do offer You continual praise. I choose to follow Your Word so that You may be glorified through me. Let everything within me honor You in all that I do. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
The day the Blackberry lived
When you move, several things get lost very easily. Take, for example, your favorite coffee mug that you didn't pack until the last second, that box with all your some of your office supplies you were sure you put in the car when you were loading or a favorite photo that you always displayed.
Speaking of photos, that reminds me that I haven't seen some of my favorite liquor signs that I always hang in my kitchen...and Trey's never really liked them, either...
In our case, now several items of mine our M.I.A. One of the most important, a phone charger to my Samsung A747. While I am addicted to text messaging and my phone, I do need my phone for several reasons: work, work numbers and messages that I have sent and received regarding work.
Saturday, when my charger was still at the house, I new I needed to make sure I put it in a special place - that special box that I would know exactly where it was at exactly the moment I needed to retrieve my phone charger. Sunday, I charge my phone for what would be the last time. I unplug my charger and place into a smaller, brown box and tuck the top of the box together instead of taping it. That way I would know for sure that it was my box with my phone charger. Trey, I must be disillusioned at the point after this move but this is what I was absolutely positive happened, picked up the important box and put it in his truck. That night, the box was left in his vehicle because we were completely exhausted at this point.
Monday, while my phone is losing some of the precious charge I got from Sunday, I can't seem to locate the box.
Tuesday, not a lot of charge left, the box is missing, and miraculously, a huge box full of yard sale items that was supposed to go with my in laws appears. Let me explain this, my in-laws don't like for us to throw away things. Something about, "You may want this later," "You may need this later," "Why would you want to throw away a perfectly good chord you might could use later," - I don't know but bottom line, they didn't want us to throw away/sell our unused items. Even though my rule of thumb is that if you haven't thought about it in over a year, it's gone, baby, gone.
When I found the box of yard sale items, I immediately thought, "It's a switch!" then I realized that was a little ridiculous and thought, "I bet Wayne and Judy took the wrong boxes - and I bet they have the box with my phone charger in it? But how? We put it in Trey's car?"
By this point, I had to find my phone! Granted, it's been a bit quiet at work and one day without those numbers would probably be OK, I couldn't go more than a couple. I need my numbers. If I could have synced them, I would have but you can't do that with this phone. It's not a Blackberry like my old phone, i.e. the love my life phone.
If you've known me two years, you've seen me with four phones. Maybe five. I change every six months due to some freak accident or other. I'm not staging my phones deaths, they really do get dropped on brick floors, stepped on and turn possessed. But if Trey or I upgrade and don't have a problem with the old phone, we keep it, because I might need it!
Trey upgraded his phone to the iPhone earlier this year, from his Blackberry (he copied me first), and I remembered seeing it when we moved. Now I was looking for two items: a charger or a Blackberry!
"Trey! Where's your Blackberry?"
"I threw it away."
Dammit! "Have you seen my phone charger?"
"No."
Grrr..
Wednesday. Phone is dead. Hope you didn't need me. That night, I had to find my charger. I had Trey looking in his truck again, I was opening all the boxes again; we looked everywhere! In opening up some of the boxes again, a miracle occurred.
"Trey, here's a box of some of your office stuff," I pointed to a small, brown box taped together at the top. I knew it didn't have my phone charger in it because it was taped. It was in the hallway.
When people help you move, no matter how many times you write on there "Office," "Kitchen," or "Bedroom," they still put the boxes wherever they want.
I placed the box in his office and for a shit and giggle, started sifting through the items to make sure I wasn't insane. After I got past a few pieces of paper and a few file folders, I found some chords. "No way," I started yanking on the chords hard to see if one had the little green arrow on the end. That's when I found the small Blackberry Trey used. I pushed the button on the front of the phone. It was one and still had a little bit of charge to it! Plus it was already connected to its phone charger!
I quickly plugged in the phone, moved my SIM card and checked my messages. It was such a relief to be connected again.
Then the old Blackberry addiction started to creep back up into me. I could feel all the possibilities organizing in my head. The buttons seemed too familiar. The programs just as fun as the first time I picked up the Blackberry. All the justification for not replacing my beloved Blackberry sooner was gone. Then I couldn't put the smooth weapon back down - even after Trey's gentle prodding.
It's official: I'm a Crackberry. Hello, my name is Stephanie and I'm addicted to my Blackberry.
What this means for you? More posting from my phone - as soon as I get to the AT&T store...
Speaking of photos, that reminds me that I haven't seen some of my favorite liquor signs that I always hang in my kitchen...and Trey's never really liked them, either...
In our case, now several items of mine our M.I.A. One of the most important, a phone charger to my Samsung A747. While I am addicted to text messaging and my phone, I do need my phone for several reasons: work, work numbers and messages that I have sent and received regarding work.
Saturday, when my charger was still at the house, I new I needed to make sure I put it in a special place - that special box that I would know exactly where it was at exactly the moment I needed to retrieve my phone charger. Sunday, I charge my phone for what would be the last time. I unplug my charger and place into a smaller, brown box and tuck the top of the box together instead of taping it. That way I would know for sure that it was my box with my phone charger. Trey, I must be disillusioned at the point after this move but this is what I was absolutely positive happened, picked up the important box and put it in his truck. That night, the box was left in his vehicle because we were completely exhausted at this point.
Monday, while my phone is losing some of the precious charge I got from Sunday, I can't seem to locate the box.
Tuesday, not a lot of charge left, the box is missing, and miraculously, a huge box full of yard sale items that was supposed to go with my in laws appears. Let me explain this, my in-laws don't like for us to throw away things. Something about, "You may want this later," "You may need this later," "Why would you want to throw away a perfectly good chord you might could use later," - I don't know but bottom line, they didn't want us to throw away/sell our unused items. Even though my rule of thumb is that if you haven't thought about it in over a year, it's gone, baby, gone.
When I found the box of yard sale items, I immediately thought, "It's a switch!" then I realized that was a little ridiculous and thought, "I bet Wayne and Judy took the wrong boxes - and I bet they have the box with my phone charger in it? But how? We put it in Trey's car?"
By this point, I had to find my phone! Granted, it's been a bit quiet at work and one day without those numbers would probably be OK, I couldn't go more than a couple. I need my numbers. If I could have synced them, I would have but you can't do that with this phone. It's not a Blackberry like my old phone, i.e. the love my life phone.
If you've known me two years, you've seen me with four phones. Maybe five. I change every six months due to some freak accident or other. I'm not staging my phones deaths, they really do get dropped on brick floors, stepped on and turn possessed. But if Trey or I upgrade and don't have a problem with the old phone, we keep it, because I might need it!
Trey upgraded his phone to the iPhone earlier this year, from his Blackberry (he copied me first), and I remembered seeing it when we moved. Now I was looking for two items: a charger or a Blackberry!
"Trey! Where's your Blackberry?"
"I threw it away."
Dammit! "Have you seen my phone charger?"
"No."
Grrr..
Wednesday. Phone is dead. Hope you didn't need me. That night, I had to find my charger. I had Trey looking in his truck again, I was opening all the boxes again; we looked everywhere! In opening up some of the boxes again, a miracle occurred.
"Trey, here's a box of some of your office stuff," I pointed to a small, brown box taped together at the top. I knew it didn't have my phone charger in it because it was taped. It was in the hallway.
When people help you move, no matter how many times you write on there "Office," "Kitchen," or "Bedroom," they still put the boxes wherever they want.
I placed the box in his office and for a shit and giggle, started sifting through the items to make sure I wasn't insane. After I got past a few pieces of paper and a few file folders, I found some chords. "No way," I started yanking on the chords hard to see if one had the little green arrow on the end. That's when I found the small Blackberry Trey used. I pushed the button on the front of the phone. It was one and still had a little bit of charge to it! Plus it was already connected to its phone charger!
I quickly plugged in the phone, moved my SIM card and checked my messages. It was such a relief to be connected again.
Then the old Blackberry addiction started to creep back up into me. I could feel all the possibilities organizing in my head. The buttons seemed too familiar. The programs just as fun as the first time I picked up the Blackberry. All the justification for not replacing my beloved Blackberry sooner was gone. Then I couldn't put the smooth weapon back down - even after Trey's gentle prodding.
It's official: I'm a Crackberry. Hello, my name is Stephanie and I'm addicted to my Blackberry.
What this means for you? More posting from my phone - as soon as I get to the AT&T store...
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Food...and boys at the daycare
Tuscaloosa Hyundai had its annual Thanksgiving Day dinner today, complete with turkey, dressing, gravy, cranberry sauce, rolls, sweet potatoe casserole, green bean casserole, mac and cheese, crockpot mac and cheese, a cake that was to D.I.E. for and pumpkin pie - Oh it was all so good! I was in food heaven!! My favorites were the chocolate cake and Brooke's crockpot mac and cheese.
Let me explain something: I am the only female on the sales staff. There are ten other people besides me in my department. So that's ten people with XY chromosomes. Needless to say, I feel like a maid, a mother and a sister all at the same time.
Right now, I feel like I'm a teacher in preschool after all these guys ate their lunch! They are running around pulling pranks, touching everything on my desk while I'm working, being loud and obnoxious.
I feel like I need a whistle to call everybody to order! When will the sugar from all the carbs expire so they all crash??
Let me explain something: I am the only female on the sales staff. There are ten other people besides me in my department. So that's ten people with XY chromosomes. Needless to say, I feel like a maid, a mother and a sister all at the same time.
Right now, I feel like I'm a teacher in preschool after all these guys ate their lunch! They are running around pulling pranks, touching everything on my desk while I'm working, being loud and obnoxious.
I feel like I need a whistle to call everybody to order! When will the sugar from all the carbs expire so they all crash??
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Brain shutting down
Ever have one of those days where you started with a lot of tasks and kept getting sidetracked from you original goal?
That's been my day. All for a good reason, though - we've been selling Hyundai's! It's a great problem!! Eventhough we accomplish some sells during these quiet and stressful times, it still makes me think that I haven't been productive.
My stack of letters? Still not close to a third of the way through. My hands are screaming!
The phonecalls I said I was going to make? Never even had a chance to get to them because other more important phonecalls got in the way.
Instead of looking at the things I didn't do today, I am going to look at the things I did do:
My focus is gone, though. Since I didn't get to accomplish what I set out to accomplish at the beginning of the day, now that it's the end of the day, and despite tomorrow is our Thanksgiving dinner and it's a extremely bad time to delay things, I want - am - going to delay my letter folding and cold calling until tomorrow.
That's been my day. All for a good reason, though - we've been selling Hyundai's! It's a great problem!! Eventhough we accomplish some sells during these quiet and stressful times, it still makes me think that I haven't been productive.
My stack of letters? Still not close to a third of the way through. My hands are screaming!
The phonecalls I said I was going to make? Never even had a chance to get to them because other more important phonecalls got in the way.
Instead of looking at the things I didn't do today, I am going to look at the things I did do:
- Signed up car deals
- Signed over 300 letters with my favorite pen that later was stolen by one of my customers.
- Folded 1/4 of the those letters
- Restocked our coffee supply - crisis averted
My focus is gone, though. Since I didn't get to accomplish what I set out to accomplish at the beginning of the day, now that it's the end of the day, and despite tomorrow is our Thanksgiving dinner and it's a extremely bad time to delay things, I want - am - going to delay my letter folding and cold calling until tomorrow.
Multimedia message
There is no Caffiene here, only Decaf
We have a Keurig coffee maker here at work. If you haven't heard of it, you need to try it! It is definately some of the best coffee ever! We have a guy who comes into the dealership every two weeks and I sit down with him, tell him what we want and he stocks us up.
However, the last couple of weeks, he's been kind "watching out for me," I guess you could say? It's not the best term for it. I keep telling him that we're running OUT of coffee by the time he comes back and I need him to overstock us. Well, he's not overstocking us good enough.
He's due here today to restock, thank God, because it's 9:30 and the cup of pumpkin spice coffee I made myself when I got home from the gym this morning is about empty! There is NO caffinated coffee here! To be honest, I'm shock there hasn't been a riot yet...think about it! How long will it take for us addicts to turn on each other?
He better get here soon!
Monday, November 17, 2008
Fear the Finger
Just got this text on my phone:
The SEC announced that CBS Sports will televise the Alabama-Auburn game on Saturday, Nov. 29 from Bryant-Denny Stadium with kickoff set for 2:30 p.m.
(CST).
The #1 team in the nation is playing in the #1 college football rivalry and it's a day game on CBS? Is Auburn really that bad?
The Great Move
So, as far as I'm concerned, the actual moving of inanimate objects is completed pertaining to Mission Palisades 2008. Hallelujah!
I never want to move again. I really want to leave it at that. I've told you a little of what happened during the move but I really don't have enough medication to relive it again to tell you the story. Ha ha! Just joking! I really don't want to re-tell my account of our move on Saturday and Sunday because I don't want to say anything I'll come to regret later. I hope you'll understand.
Just understand that I am so thankful to have everything under one roof again, including Lucy, whom missed two nights of sleep with me! My poor baby! In fact, she was so ready to go home, she packed herself up for us!
I want to apologize for all the whining I've done about this move. It's not your fault, I should keep my mouth shut. I just think it makes for good story telling. But my attitude has been shit during this move and I don't think I should think like that. I like to try to be the happy, positive one. The one who always sees the coffee cup half full. I like feeling productive, animated and efficacious.
That being said, I am actually looking forward to the unpacking/organizing as a therapeutic lagniappe to myself. I will have all items unpacked by Friday. I WILL have all items unpacked by Friday!
Plus, Wednesday is our Thanksgiving dinner at the dealership. I'm going to make - I mean Trey is going to make sweet potatoe casserole with marshmellows on top! I love sweet potatoe casserole! Plus I/he gets to use the mixer Mum gave me a few years ago. I've never had anything to use it for and now I do - mean Trey does! OK, so I'm "helping" him make it. But don't tell anyone because no one will eat my cooking after I set the kitchen on fire the second time. But I like learning to cook, being in the kitchen has it's own therapeutic touch.
And tomorrow, I promise, I'm getting back in the gym. I swear my attitude will be higher than the mountains after I run off some of this stress!!
The First Supper (Will lightening strike for that title?)
When we first moved to Tuscaloosa, our first meal in our new home was a bucket of chicken fingers from Guthries.
The first time we lived at the Palisade's, our first meal in our new apartment was a bucket of chicken from Guthries.
When we moved to the lake, our first meal in the lakehouse was a chicken box from Guthries.
Our first meal after moving back to the Palisade's was a chicken box from Guthries.
The first time we lived at the Palisade's, our first meal in our new apartment was a bucket of chicken from Guthries.
When we moved to the lake, our first meal in the lakehouse was a chicken box from Guthries.
Our first meal after moving back to the Palisade's was a chicken box from Guthries.
Damn! I want some Taco Casa!
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Clicker Happy
The next time you're browsing the net looking for interesting things, check out David J. Nightingale's site Chromasia. It's one of my favorites. He has one of the best eyes and an amazing talent for digital photography. I wish I had just an inth of his knowledge!
Just take a few minutes to browse his photoblog and soak in the beauty!
Just take a few minutes to browse his photoblog and soak in the beauty!
Commit me. No. Commit Trey.
Moving is evidence that the human species is a hair away from insanity.
It should be against the law to move with your spouse as your help. Movers should come with pack it up and unpack it specials. I should be able to close my eyes and SURPRISE! I'm moved!
Yesterday was extremely long. I never thought I was going to get in the bed. It kept threatening to rain, we were running behind schedule. Trey had a meeting in the middle of the day! But that wasn't what ran us late.
I wanted to be out of the house and moving by 8. We didn't get moving until 8:30. Then we couldn't find the box with the shower stuff in it so Trey could get ready for his meeting. Then it took forever at the bank. Plus, I hadn't eaten and there was so much excitement, my blood sugar was getting kind of low so I had to stop to eat something. Well by that time, everybody had quit serving breakfast, too!
Well, we get the first load to the apartment. Both of our trucks were packed full. All of the kitchen - I think, I'm still not sure! Ha! - got moved, I thought all of the bathroom, and a few things that I had told Trey not to worry about until later so we could get important things like the kitchen and bathrooms done and make another trip for some clothes. I had thought we were staying in Northport for the night until the night before and we had already - excuse me, Trey had already decided that he wanted to get the bed.
Well, our trucks aren't big enough so we got a bigger one from the dealership and got the mattresses.
Well, it wasn't big enough so for our THIRD trip of the day, we had to get the bed frame.
Here's where my therapist would have upped my Lexapro.
First. If you've seen my office or my kitchen or my - OK if you've met me, you know how much I don't like things out of order. I was already having my personal organizational issues with changing our moving plans while we're actually moving and putting kitchen paraphernalia in it's new home. I hadn't even tackled unpacking the bathroom at this point.
My goal for the day was like I said, move the boxes for the kitchen and bathroom and clothes and unpack. Grab furniture and unimportant boxes on Saturday. But as this story is going, and as you should know about Trey by now, that's not how my plans went.
So when Trey said, "Let's just get the sofa and the TV, too. The cable man's coming today," I started to feel the senselessness coming. Hello, Bryce? I need a padded room for one, please?
"OK, how about just the TV and more boxes. And clothes," I begged. "I need clothes for tomorrow."
Trey just had this puppy dog face in his eyes. I hate it when does that. It's the kind of I want it really bad though and it would really make my day and I know I'm asking a lot out of you but I want it anyway face. His eyes look like that cartoon cat that Warner Brother's draws. You know, the one with the big doe-eyes and they twinkle? The kind you can't say "no" to?
"We can just get one section of the sofa and the bed frame and it'll fit!" He had the excitement of a five-year-old. He's evidence that I already have a kid - a 32-year-old named Trey!
"And we don't have a rope, baby," I rationalized, "What are we going to tie it down with?" I put my hands on the tailgate hoping this would bring him back down from wherever he was.
"I've got an extension cord!"
Shit! Why can't I have those doe-eyes like his?
Defeated, I agreed. I agreed to ONE section of our sofa. One. Well...my Einstein decided we could get the other section on there, too.
Let me clarify something: I have the heaviest two-piece sofa. Putting the first section on the truck was challenge enough. Putting the second section on top was enough to qualify me for the strong man competition.
Once we had the sofa on the truck, we had to squeeze the bed frame into the bed of the truck. I was getting madder and more frustrated by the minute but Trey has less patience than I do and was already giving me his opinions -- even though this was his idea. We worked out getting the metal bed frame squeezed between the side of the truck and the sofa and then began tying the extension cord around the sofa.
Moving tip #476. Never use an extension cord to tie your sofa onto the truck. Ever.
It took us several passes with the extremely long cord but we got it tied around the sofa. But did you know that it doesn't stay tight as a rope? Yeah. Us,either.
I followed Trey with several car lengths between us because I was watching the rope slowly but surely slide down the end side of my sofa. I wanted to cry. And when he went over the railroad tracks, the sofa sections literally bounced on top of each other like the top section was on a trampoline! It was my worst nightmare. My beautiful tan and leather sofa bouncing into the highway for a large truck to demolish. It was halfway to the apartment that I realized Trey did this on purpose - because he wants a new sofa! Fortunately, for his sake, the sofa made it to the apartments in its original state. Now we just had to get it up the stairs...
We untied the extension cord. It took half the time it took tying up the sofa since it had gotten so loose on the trip to the apartment. Miraculously, though, despite all the bouncing, the top section of the sofa was still in its original position. We slid the elephant weight off of the truck and headed to the stairs. How do movers do this every day?
Trey started up the stairs and I was right behind him. We got about halfway when my hands just let go. I was so sweaty already not to mention tired, irritable, aggravated, pissed off, frustrated, PMSy and ready to quit. But I kept trying. I'll refrain from the other details but this scene is the reason why married couples should never move houses together by themselves. Ever.
Once the sofa was up the stairs, we had to rest. We were exhausted. Fortunately for us, in more ways than one, the cable man showed up to install everything. This man, Sean, he has this best timing in the world!
Sean was a huge, tough-looking man. His hands were probably bigger than my face. He was very nice and personable and was moving as quickly as he could to get our cable, internet and phone hooked up. It was a nice break from moving objects up the stairs. While Sean was fixing us up, Trey leaned over and said, "We'll get the other half of the sofa when he leaves."
I wanted to cry. My body was screaming enough! at this point. "I can't help you with the sofa. Let me call Kinley. It's almost 5:30, he'll be getting off work soon and can help you. I don't have anything left in me to get this sofa up the stairs."
"Don't call Kinley." He sounded very firm about that, "You can help me. I'll let you go up the stairs first."
"Trey, it's not a good idea. I'm just going to go call Kinley, maybe Jason will let him come over here now and help you." I begged. All of me was aching. I was thirsty, tired, I felt like I'd been beaten up. I know he had of felt the same. We'd been moving all day...up and down those stairs...I wondered why he didn't listen to me to begin with when I told him moving the sofa was a bad idea...
We stopped discussing it for a minute and began joking around with each other. I picked up the phone to call Kinley even though Trey begged me again not to. Meanwhile, Sean had overheard our debate.
"Man, let me help you."
I hung up the phone. When a 7 foot tall man built to be a linebacker volunteers, he's hired! Trey accepted his offer and we waited for him to finish, unaware of the time or the cloud coverage.
I started to unpack more of the kitchen and finally paused to watch a bit of the TV for a second. It was the first glimpse of the world around me I'd had all day. Trey was flipping the channels and paused on FRIENDS for a second when I began to hear an all too familiar relaxing sound lightly tapping the window.
"Trey, is that rain?" I asked, praying that I was hearing things.
"Oh no!" The clouds that had been so ominous all day were finally making good on their promise. We both sprinted outside to see the rain not just coming down but pouring down - on our sofa. We ran to the truck and pulled the sofa into the breezeway. For that moment, that section of sofa was as light as a feather! Upon inspecting the damage, we realized that the section was s.o.a.k.e.d.
"What do we do?" Trey demanded like I knew all the answers. But I didn't have all the answers. All of our towels were still in Northport. I didn't pack my handy shop vac into my back pocket that morning, either! I didn't know what to do.
"I brought my hair dryer?"
"Great," he answered disparagingly, "Go get it!"
"Well we have two towels, Trey! What do you want me to do?" I felt like I didn't deserve his sarcasm. But apparently he felt I did because he walked upstairs to the apartment without saying a word and disappeared. I thought Now I know he didn't leave me out here. I can't get back up to the apartment and it's raining! I hope the cable man gets done soon. I knew that if we could get the sofa inside, it would eventually dry and everything would be fine. I just wanted to try to soak up as much of the water as I could before it made it into the apartment.
Trey then re-appeared with to the towels I had used to pack. We laid them on top of the cushions and sat down, bouncing like children jumping on the bed.
I look back at this moment and laugh at us now. It was something out of a sitcom. However, we were burning mad; we were tired, irritable, sick of this move and now bouncing on a sofa. It was one of those quiet moments where you reflect on the day and think, "Did all this shit really happen?"
He talked me into trying to get the sofa up the stairs. I was headed up the stairs first this time, fortunately. It made it a little bit easier heading up first and Trey was given the opportunity to realize how difficult it was for me to push up the stairs with the first sofa section.
"Oh hey, let me help you with that!" It was the voice of salvation, the voice of Sean, the Cable Guy! Hallelujah! He was finally finished - again, with his impeccable timing.
"Sure! Tell me when you've got it and I'm letting go!" His hands were already in the place of mine and I dashed up the stairs out of the way. As I imagined, this sofa was light weight for this guy. He should be in the moving business! The piece was up the stairs and in the living room in no time.
Wet - but in place.
This Thanksgiving, I am thankful that Stephen helped Trey with the rest of the heavy furniture and not me.
It should be against the law to move with your spouse as your help. Movers should come with pack it up and unpack it specials. I should be able to close my eyes and SURPRISE! I'm moved!
Yesterday was extremely long. I never thought I was going to get in the bed. It kept threatening to rain, we were running behind schedule. Trey had a meeting in the middle of the day! But that wasn't what ran us late.
I wanted to be out of the house and moving by 8. We didn't get moving until 8:30. Then we couldn't find the box with the shower stuff in it so Trey could get ready for his meeting. Then it took forever at the bank. Plus, I hadn't eaten and there was so much excitement, my blood sugar was getting kind of low so I had to stop to eat something. Well by that time, everybody had quit serving breakfast, too!
Well, we get the first load to the apartment. Both of our trucks were packed full. All of the kitchen - I think, I'm still not sure! Ha! - got moved, I thought all of the bathroom, and a few things that I had told Trey not to worry about until later so we could get important things like the kitchen and bathrooms done and make another trip for some clothes. I had thought we were staying in Northport for the night until the night before and we had already - excuse me, Trey had already decided that he wanted to get the bed.
Well, our trucks aren't big enough so we got a bigger one from the dealership and got the mattresses.
Well, it wasn't big enough so for our THIRD trip of the day, we had to get the bed frame.
Here's where my therapist would have upped my Lexapro.
First. If you've seen my office or my kitchen or my - OK if you've met me, you know how much I don't like things out of order. I was already having my personal organizational issues with changing our moving plans while we're actually moving and putting kitchen paraphernalia in it's new home. I hadn't even tackled unpacking the bathroom at this point.
My goal for the day was like I said, move the boxes for the kitchen and bathroom and clothes and unpack. Grab furniture and unimportant boxes on Saturday. But as this story is going, and as you should know about Trey by now, that's not how my plans went.
So when Trey said, "Let's just get the sofa and the TV, too. The cable man's coming today," I started to feel the senselessness coming. Hello, Bryce? I need a padded room for one, please?
"OK, how about just the TV and more boxes. And clothes," I begged. "I need clothes for tomorrow."
Trey just had this puppy dog face in his eyes. I hate it when does that. It's the kind of I want it really bad though and it would really make my day and I know I'm asking a lot out of you but I want it anyway face. His eyes look like that cartoon cat that Warner Brother's draws. You know, the one with the big doe-eyes and they twinkle? The kind you can't say "no" to?
"We can just get one section of the sofa and the bed frame and it'll fit!" He had the excitement of a five-year-old. He's evidence that I already have a kid - a 32-year-old named Trey!
"And we don't have a rope, baby," I rationalized, "What are we going to tie it down with?" I put my hands on the tailgate hoping this would bring him back down from wherever he was.
"I've got an extension cord!"
Shit! Why can't I have those doe-eyes like his?
Defeated, I agreed. I agreed to ONE section of our sofa. One. Well...my Einstein decided we could get the other section on there, too.
Let me clarify something: I have the heaviest two-piece sofa. Putting the first section on the truck was challenge enough. Putting the second section on top was enough to qualify me for the strong man competition.
Once we had the sofa on the truck, we had to squeeze the bed frame into the bed of the truck. I was getting madder and more frustrated by the minute but Trey has less patience than I do and was already giving me his opinions -- even though this was his idea. We worked out getting the metal bed frame squeezed between the side of the truck and the sofa and then began tying the extension cord around the sofa.
Moving tip #476. Never use an extension cord to tie your sofa onto the truck. Ever.
It took us several passes with the extremely long cord but we got it tied around the sofa. But did you know that it doesn't stay tight as a rope? Yeah. Us,either.
I followed Trey with several car lengths between us because I was watching the rope slowly but surely slide down the end side of my sofa. I wanted to cry. And when he went over the railroad tracks, the sofa sections literally bounced on top of each other like the top section was on a trampoline! It was my worst nightmare. My beautiful tan and leather sofa bouncing into the highway for a large truck to demolish. It was halfway to the apartment that I realized Trey did this on purpose - because he wants a new sofa! Fortunately, for his sake, the sofa made it to the apartments in its original state. Now we just had to get it up the stairs...
We untied the extension cord. It took half the time it took tying up the sofa since it had gotten so loose on the trip to the apartment. Miraculously, though, despite all the bouncing, the top section of the sofa was still in its original position. We slid the elephant weight off of the truck and headed to the stairs. How do movers do this every day?
Trey started up the stairs and I was right behind him. We got about halfway when my hands just let go. I was so sweaty already not to mention tired, irritable, aggravated, pissed off, frustrated, PMSy and ready to quit. But I kept trying. I'll refrain from the other details but this scene is the reason why married couples should never move houses together by themselves. Ever.
Once the sofa was up the stairs, we had to rest. We were exhausted. Fortunately for us, in more ways than one, the cable man showed up to install everything. This man, Sean, he has this best timing in the world!
Sean was a huge, tough-looking man. His hands were probably bigger than my face. He was very nice and personable and was moving as quickly as he could to get our cable, internet and phone hooked up. It was a nice break from moving objects up the stairs. While Sean was fixing us up, Trey leaned over and said, "We'll get the other half of the sofa when he leaves."
I wanted to cry. My body was screaming enough! at this point. "I can't help you with the sofa. Let me call Kinley. It's almost 5:30, he'll be getting off work soon and can help you. I don't have anything left in me to get this sofa up the stairs."
"Don't call Kinley." He sounded very firm about that, "You can help me. I'll let you go up the stairs first."
"Trey, it's not a good idea. I'm just going to go call Kinley, maybe Jason will let him come over here now and help you." I begged. All of me was aching. I was thirsty, tired, I felt like I'd been beaten up. I know he had of felt the same. We'd been moving all day...up and down those stairs...I wondered why he didn't listen to me to begin with when I told him moving the sofa was a bad idea...
We stopped discussing it for a minute and began joking around with each other. I picked up the phone to call Kinley even though Trey begged me again not to. Meanwhile, Sean had overheard our debate.
"Man, let me help you."
I hung up the phone. When a 7 foot tall man built to be a linebacker volunteers, he's hired! Trey accepted his offer and we waited for him to finish, unaware of the time or the cloud coverage.
I started to unpack more of the kitchen and finally paused to watch a bit of the TV for a second. It was the first glimpse of the world around me I'd had all day. Trey was flipping the channels and paused on FRIENDS for a second when I began to hear an all too familiar relaxing sound lightly tapping the window.
"Trey, is that rain?" I asked, praying that I was hearing things.
"Oh no!" The clouds that had been so ominous all day were finally making good on their promise. We both sprinted outside to see the rain not just coming down but pouring down - on our sofa. We ran to the truck and pulled the sofa into the breezeway. For that moment, that section of sofa was as light as a feather! Upon inspecting the damage, we realized that the section was s.o.a.k.e.d.
"What do we do?" Trey demanded like I knew all the answers. But I didn't have all the answers. All of our towels were still in Northport. I didn't pack my handy shop vac into my back pocket that morning, either! I didn't know what to do.
"I brought my hair dryer?"
"Great," he answered disparagingly, "Go get it!"
"Well we have two towels, Trey! What do you want me to do?" I felt like I didn't deserve his sarcasm. But apparently he felt I did because he walked upstairs to the apartment without saying a word and disappeared. I thought Now I know he didn't leave me out here. I can't get back up to the apartment and it's raining! I hope the cable man gets done soon. I knew that if we could get the sofa inside, it would eventually dry and everything would be fine. I just wanted to try to soak up as much of the water as I could before it made it into the apartment.
Trey then re-appeared with to the towels I had used to pack. We laid them on top of the cushions and sat down, bouncing like children jumping on the bed.
I look back at this moment and laugh at us now. It was something out of a sitcom. However, we were burning mad; we were tired, irritable, sick of this move and now bouncing on a sofa. It was one of those quiet moments where you reflect on the day and think, "Did all this shit really happen?"
He talked me into trying to get the sofa up the stairs. I was headed up the stairs first this time, fortunately. It made it a little bit easier heading up first and Trey was given the opportunity to realize how difficult it was for me to push up the stairs with the first sofa section.
"Oh hey, let me help you with that!" It was the voice of salvation, the voice of Sean, the Cable Guy! Hallelujah! He was finally finished - again, with his impeccable timing.
"Sure! Tell me when you've got it and I'm letting go!" His hands were already in the place of mine and I dashed up the stairs out of the way. As I imagined, this sofa was light weight for this guy. He should be in the moving business! The piece was up the stairs and in the living room in no time.
Wet - but in place.
This Thanksgiving, I am thankful that Stephen helped Trey with the rest of the heavy furniture and not me.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Always look on the bright side of you life...
Top ten reasons I'm excited to be moving today.
- It is a day off from crunching numbers.
- I will have the best excuse ever to get rid of those clothes that Trey and I NEVER wear.
- No more pool duty (not that I ever had it, really).
- I will have a stove that works year round, not right before I move in and right before I move out. Note to self, write a post about that because that's a funny story.
- I will be saving more than half of what I've been currently paying in rent and utilities, which means more books! And a bookshelf!
- Tanning bed on apartment location. Stephanie won't have an excuse to be pale anymore.
- Thirty minute drives to work and gym have now been shaved to three minutes and seven minutes.
- I won't have to dodge deer while driving down the street.
- Barnes & Noble is less than ten minutes drive. So is Los Tarascos.
- I can go barefoot around the house again since I won't be watching my step for scorpions anymore!!!
Joe should propose!
I was checking my email this morning and this was the first thing on Yahoo!'s front page that got my attention...
NBC axes 'Lipstick Jungle', 'My Own Worst Enemy'
I love Lipstick Jungle! The book was great! That hadn't even broken up Wendy and Shane yet!
OK, the show really didn't follow the storyline of the book at all...But still, Victory and Joe have to get back together and I'll be happy!
NBC axes 'Lipstick Jungle', 'My Own Worst Enemy'
I love Lipstick Jungle! The book was great! That hadn't even broken up Wendy and Shane yet!
OK, the show really didn't follow the storyline of the book at all...But still, Victory and Joe have to get back together and I'll be happy!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
And nobody expected the Spanish Inquisition
Hectic
hec-tic
/ˈhɛktɪk/ [hek-tik]
–adjective
characterized by intense agitation, excitement, confused and rapid movement,
etc.: what my day at Tuscaloosa Hyundai was like after I had to introduce
HMFC to Jesus and find out that a little boy wet himself in my office.
It was definately crazy here today. Was it a full moon?
For the beauty of the Earth
I am so stressed out right now. I wouldn't recommend any joke-playing on me, I might inadvertently kill you.
Currently, I need to win the lottery, I need it to quit raining, I need my Wachovia bank statement to make more sense, I need chocolate, I need clean, open space, I need coffee, I need sugar for that coffee, I need this move to be over and I need the car business to pick up.
Right now, I look over my left shoulder to see the lake and it's covered in fog. I can't even see the lake. It's just a dense, white fog. The leaves are turning and a golden color is are mixing itself in with the other green and purple foliage. All the different shades look like little spots in the fog as the cloud dances around in the woods. My pool is covered in yellow and orange leaves and it makes I feel a pull of sympathy for the lucky resident who gets to take over the responsibility of maintaining that beast.
The scene outside currently is just depressing. It's dark, dense and raining.
A couple of days ago, it was beautiful outside. I had to grab my camera. It was Saturday morning, I think, when it was so cold outside. I was in a hurry trying to get to the gym on time. The sun was shining, which always makes me more awake. I had grabbed something for lunch, zipped up my gym bag, stuffed my book in my purse and headed out the door. I had just glimpsed at the lake when I saw it. If I had been more focused on getting to the gym on time or any earlier getting up, I would have missed it.
I stood staring at the lake for a moment thinking, I really have to go, but I couldn't fight the urge to get my camera. Quickly, I ran inside and grabbed my Nikon. Fortunately my zoom lens was already mounted and all I had to do was remove the lens cap and check my settings. Then are started shooting away.
It was the most beautiful scene - right out of a movie. The sun was melting the fog right off of the lake. The sun's rays were so strong between the holes in the leaves that it looked like little beams of light in the woods. As the mist burned and rose up to the heavens, it turned an almost violet color. It matched the color of dawn perfectly. The lake, for what little of it you could see, was the perfect reflection of a blue sky yet to appear that day.
It was so peaceful looking. Not even a fisherman was out on the lake, which was very unusual. Even if we stayed here, I don't think I could ever see a morning this perfect without the sounds of a boat or two peddling into or out of the slough below the house. It's a quiet morning like that I will never forget but will always make me miss my mornings visiting with the beautiful scenes of the lake while sipping my morning cup of coffee.
Currently, I need to win the lottery, I need it to quit raining, I need my Wachovia bank statement to make more sense, I need chocolate, I need clean, open space, I need coffee, I need sugar for that coffee, I need this move to be over and I need the car business to pick up.
Right now, I look over my left shoulder to see the lake and it's covered in fog. I can't even see the lake. It's just a dense, white fog. The leaves are turning and a golden color is are mixing itself in with the other green and purple foliage. All the different shades look like little spots in the fog as the cloud dances around in the woods. My pool is covered in yellow and orange leaves and it makes I feel a pull of sympathy for the lucky resident who gets to take over the responsibility of maintaining that beast.
The scene outside currently is just depressing. It's dark, dense and raining.
A couple of days ago, it was beautiful outside. I had to grab my camera. It was Saturday morning, I think, when it was so cold outside. I was in a hurry trying to get to the gym on time. The sun was shining, which always makes me more awake. I had grabbed something for lunch, zipped up my gym bag, stuffed my book in my purse and headed out the door. I had just glimpsed at the lake when I saw it. If I had been more focused on getting to the gym on time or any earlier getting up, I would have missed it.
I stood staring at the lake for a moment thinking, I really have to go, but I couldn't fight the urge to get my camera. Quickly, I ran inside and grabbed my Nikon. Fortunately my zoom lens was already mounted and all I had to do was remove the lens cap and check my settings. Then are started shooting away.
It was the most beautiful scene - right out of a movie. The sun was melting the fog right off of the lake. The sun's rays were so strong between the holes in the leaves that it looked like little beams of light in the woods. As the mist burned and rose up to the heavens, it turned an almost violet color. It matched the color of dawn perfectly. The lake, for what little of it you could see, was the perfect reflection of a blue sky yet to appear that day.
It was so peaceful looking. Not even a fisherman was out on the lake, which was very unusual. Even if we stayed here, I don't think I could ever see a morning this perfect without the sounds of a boat or two peddling into or out of the slough below the house. It's a quiet morning like that I will never forget but will always make me miss my mornings visiting with the beautiful scenes of the lake while sipping my morning cup of coffee.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Be still my heart
sigh...
Could he possibly look any more perfect?? Could it be possible he prefers women about five years older than him?
If something ever happened to my dear Antonio Banderas (God forbid!), Robert Pattinson will take his place. Then it'll be Billy Bob.
I've already got my tickets ordered, I've got my friends ready to go, the date is set, the time, and my free iTunes download that I got from Fandango when I ordered my tickets. I'm getting more and more excited the closer next weekend gets!!
So excited that I admit that, yes, I am one of the many followers of the series who is reading Twilight again.
If you are an avid fan, like me, might I suggest you go to Stephenie Meyer's website, where you can get all sorts of neat information and deleted scenes of the book series. It also has news updates on the movie as well as her account of how she literally dreamt up Twilight. I found the link below, another site that just got me more excited about next weekend, on her website. Go check it out!
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20238689,00.html
Everybody go see Twilight so I get to see New Moon on the big screen!!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Men doth protest too much!
In yesterday's paper, there was a Veteran's Day ad that read "Lest we forget" on the header. One of our salesmen showed it to me. I want to word the description of him carefully. He's from up north, and Yankee may be too harsh - we see things differently. Don't get me wrong, he's a cool guy. He has a few funny jokes and he works very hard. He's aggressive in trying to get things accomplished. We just don't appreciate the same things - polar opposites, really. It can sometimes be offensive to me when people are so closed-minded about something I find interesting.
"Hey! English Major!" Just FYI, that's the name you get when you check every body's grammar when they ask your opinion on something they've written. (i.e. a letter.)
"Minor," I corrected.
"Hey! English Minor. [WTF]-ever."He held the ad up in front of my face and said, "What's this mean?" He's not pointing to the words, he's just holding the ad and a cup of coffee. I automatically knew I would have to read and assume to know his inquiry. I didn't.
"What do you mean?"
"Lesss we forget...I don't get that. What is that? What's it mean?"
Did you take English? "You've never of that?" The look on the face answered my question. "It means don't forget. It's Old English."
"What the -" He overreacted a bit for drama I guess. "Why would you put this in a paper? Who actually knows this shit?"
"Well, it's pretty common. You know, literature and all. Kind of like Mark Twain? Shakespeare?" I'm not getting anywhere. I was hoping that he was forced to read some of it in high school.
"I didn't read none of that shit! Who cares how people talked back then?" His eyes looked like they were about to pop out of his head and he kept waving the ad around like it was idiotic and needed to be trashed.
"Well let me ask you this," I started my debate speech. "Haven't you ever wondered what it was like 100 or 200 years ago?"
"Yes, but not how they talked," he answered very matter-of-factly.
"But literature from back then gives us so much information about that. It tells us what it was like. The vocabulary shows us how much -"
"I'm with you, C.Ray. Who needs that crap?!" It was the voice next to me, that I sit next to every day, who like me, has an opinion on everything. "Who cares what they sounded like! It's all boring!"
I couldn't believe this. I just witnessed men prove themselves menial.
"Hey! English Major!" Just FYI, that's the name you get when you check every body's grammar when they ask your opinion on something they've written. (i.e. a letter.)
"Minor," I corrected.
"Hey! English Minor. [WTF]-ever."He held the ad up in front of my face and said, "What's this mean?" He's not pointing to the words, he's just holding the ad and a cup of coffee. I automatically knew I would have to read and assume to know his inquiry. I didn't.
"What do you mean?"
"Lesss we forget...I don't get that. What is that? What's it mean?"
Did you take English? "You've never of that?" The look on the face answered my question. "It means don't forget. It's Old English."
"What the -" He overreacted a bit for drama I guess. "Why would you put this in a paper? Who actually knows this shit?"
"Well, it's pretty common. You know, literature and all. Kind of like Mark Twain? Shakespeare?" I'm not getting anywhere. I was hoping that he was forced to read some of it in high school.
"I didn't read none of that shit! Who cares how people talked back then?" His eyes looked like they were about to pop out of his head and he kept waving the ad around like it was idiotic and needed to be trashed.
"Well let me ask you this," I started my debate speech. "Haven't you ever wondered what it was like 100 or 200 years ago?"
"Yes, but not how they talked," he answered very matter-of-factly.
"But literature from back then gives us so much information about that. It tells us what it was like. The vocabulary shows us how much -"
"I'm with you, C.Ray. Who needs that crap?!" It was the voice next to me, that I sit next to every day, who like me, has an opinion on everything. "Who cares what they sounded like! It's all boring!"
I couldn't believe this. I just witnessed men prove themselves menial.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Boxes are everywhere. Kitchen items everywhere. Only 1/4 of my kitchen is boxed, the dishes, pots, pans utensils - everywhere. Bathroom is boxed up with empty cartons and trash everywhere. Left over items that won't fit in the current boxes and don't fill another box yet E.V.E.R.Y.W.H.E.R.E.
I AM IN ORGANIZATIONAL HELL.
I AM IN ORGANIZATIONAL HELL.
It's what's for supper...
Prep Time:
5 minTotal Time:
45 minMakes:
6 servings
What You Need
Take 1 lb. extra lean ground beef
1 pkg. (6 oz.) STOVE TOP Stuffing Mix
1 cup water and mix & match your recipe from these options...
- 1 tsp. Italian seasoning 3/4 cup spaghetti sauce 3/4 cup KRAFT Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
- 2 tsp. chili powder 3/4 cup TACO BELL® HOME ORIGINALS® Thick 'N Chunky Salsa 3/4 cup KRAFT Shredded Mexican Style Cheese
- 1 tsp. dried oregano leaves 3/4 cup chopped roasted red peppers 3/4 cup ATHENOS Traditional Crumbled Feta Cheese
1 tsp. garlic powder 3/4 cup KRAFT or BULL'S-EYE Original Barbecue Sauce 3/4 cup KRAFT Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Make It In Three Steps
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PREHEAT oven to 375°F. Mix meat, stuffing mix, water and the seasoning until well blended. Press evenly into 12 medium muffin cups sprayed with cooking spray; make an indentation in center of each with back of spoon.
SPOON add-ins evenly into indentations in meatloaves.
BAKE 30 min. or until meatloaves are cooked through (160°F). Top evenly with cheese; continue baking 5 min. or until cheese is melted. Let stand 10 min. before serving.
Serving Suggestion: Serve with a hot baked potato and steamed seasonal vegetables.
Make Ahead: Prepare as directed. Remove from muffin cups; cool completely. Place in single layer on baking sheet; freeze until firm. Transfer to airtight container. Store in freezer up to 1 month. Thaw in refrigerator, then reheat in 375°F-oven for 20 min. or until heated through.
Special Extra: For a little kick, add 2 Tbsp. A.1. Original Steak Sauce to meat mixture before shaping into meatloaves.
Find more recipes here!
I have a 1000 piece puzzle and the table's too small
I need shelving space. I'm going to run out of room. I'm thinking I'm going to store my dishes in the cabinets and then my dry goods. I'll store my appliances in the utility closet and then see what I need to do about my pots and pans.Anybody got any better ideas?
Since this was Trey's idea, moving and all, I decided I would let him do all the moving, all the packing, all the planning, all the work. I am so bad about following through with that. However, he has packed a few boxes. He didn't tell me until last night that we weren't moving furniture until Saturday, which did me absolutely NO GOOD considering the help I had aquired was only available on Friday. So that's been changed due to what is essentially a lack of communication. I hate moving. I just want you to know that.
Bottom line, as much as I love my husband, I don't trust him to organize my kitchen correctly.
And I can't even cook!
Update on the Ghost Hunt
Just to let you know, I do plan on writing a full update on my ghost hunt this past weekend. Haha! It was such a blast.
Trey and I went with the Druid City Paranormal group and the Alabama Paranormal Research Team. We investigated the Bama Theatre on Greensboro. I'm not positive what the stories the are behind the "hauntings" there but we were up until 6:30 Sunday morning and we were so excited about the game that by 7, there was no napping in my house.
Once we got home yesterday morning, we crashed till about 2, got up and started looking over our own evidence and also started some packing. As soon as Trey gets all of his audio together and maybe even if I get to hear what the two teams found, I'll post an update with as much stuff as I can. I'll even give you one of my novel narratives to go with it!
Let me just say, as long as that night was, it was a blast and I'll do it again!! I know. I know. I'm such a geek...LoL!!
Trey and I went with the Druid City Paranormal group and the Alabama Paranormal Research Team. We investigated the Bama Theatre on Greensboro. I'm not positive what the stories the are behind the "hauntings" there but we were up until 6:30 Sunday morning and we were so excited about the game that by 7, there was no napping in my house.
Once we got home yesterday morning, we crashed till about 2, got up and started looking over our own evidence and also started some packing. As soon as Trey gets all of his audio together and maybe even if I get to hear what the two teams found, I'll post an update with as much stuff as I can. I'll even give you one of my novel narratives to go with it!
Let me just say, as long as that night was, it was a blast and I'll do it again!! I know. I know. I'm such a geek...LoL!!
Saturday, November 8, 2008
ROLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL TIDE!! ROLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Alabama defensive lineman Terrence Cody celebrates following their 27-21 overtime win against LSU in an NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
God, I hope that deflates Les Miles and his HellSU team!!
#1 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide is now 10-0!!!!!!!!
I'd like a can of Whoop Ass labed Alabama, please
Currently half time in the Alabama/LSU game. The score is tied at 14. Alabama has made too many mistakes.
If you listen hard enough, you'll be able to hear Saban introducing the Crimson Tide to his friend, Jesus.
Mark my words, a new Bama team will walk out of the locker room in the second half and take the cockiness out of Les Miles and HellSU.
GEAUX BAMA! GEAUX BAMA! GEAUX BAMA! GEAUX!!
If you listen hard enough, you'll be able to hear Saban introducing the Crimson Tide to his friend, Jesus.
Mark my words, a new Bama team will walk out of the locker room in the second half and take the cockiness out of Les Miles and HellSU.
GEAUX BAMA! GEAUX BAMA! GEAUX BAMA! GEAUX!!
Friday, November 7, 2008
Scratch that off your bucket list
"Hey, Steph, rub this on my shoulder for me really quick," David the salesman/manager-in-training asks me while handing me an open packet of "Sore-ez" and holding the sleeves of his yellow polo shirt up to expose his shoulder. "I have done something to my arm. I think it did it holding William this weekend!"
"Sure." I grabbed the small white packet and squeezed some of the green goo onto my fingertips. "Is it just sore to the touch or what?" I started slathering the stuff on the upper part of his arm when the delicious smell began to move around us.
David's pug nose started to wrinkle up after he breathed. "It's really just sore when I move it."
"Oh, so me rubbing it helps, huh? Damn! This stuff is potent! I need to remember this next time I have a cold!" I started to massage the green goo into the skin thinking that would help the smell. "You never thought you'd get a massage from me did you? You like it don't you!" I laughed.
David chuckled. A big smile grew on his face and I just laughed while I grabbed the germ-x to get the green goo off of my hands. David took a paper towel and started whiping the excess off and fixed is shirt. I couldn't help laughing at is pseudo-arrogance.
"Well, Steph, you can scratch that off your bucket list!"
"Sure." I grabbed the small white packet and squeezed some of the green goo onto my fingertips. "Is it just sore to the touch or what?" I started slathering the stuff on the upper part of his arm when the delicious smell began to move around us.
David's pug nose started to wrinkle up after he breathed. "It's really just sore when I move it."
"Oh, so me rubbing it helps, huh? Damn! This stuff is potent! I need to remember this next time I have a cold!" I started to massage the green goo into the skin thinking that would help the smell. "You never thought you'd get a massage from me did you? You like it don't you!" I laughed.
David chuckled. A big smile grew on his face and I just laughed while I grabbed the germ-x to get the green goo off of my hands. David took a paper towel and started whiping the excess off and fixed is shirt. I couldn't help laughing at is pseudo-arrogance.
"Well, Steph, you can scratch that off your bucket list!"
How to make 5'5 fit in a box
I have two boxes for packing purposes. We are going to get so far with those!
I'm so ready for this move to be done with and we haven't really even started getting things moving. I'm procrastonating when I really need to be getting some boxes.
Scratch that. Trey really needs to be getting some boxes. This was his idea!
The only thing I'm thinking about now is how to unpack things once stored in 2000 square feet into 1200 square feet comfortably and organized. If it's not organized, neat and in my quirky order, I'm not happy. If I'm not happy, Trey's screwed!
I'm sure most of you have noticed I have a few small, tiny, barely there compulsions. I just don't like it when my food touches and I have to count how many buttons I've pushed. I don't like to step on lines and I really hate germs! When objects are organized to where I can see them in the open, access an individual object easily and without stress and have plenty of space to use it in, I'm a very happy person. I like clean counter tops, dust free picture frames, shiny surfaces and I refuse to get in an unmade bed, even if the sheets are just wrinkled.
Where I live now, I still have a few issues about how my stuff is arranged, even though I have lots of room. I can organize my kitchen for the most part, even put the nutritional labels all in the same direction and alphabetize my spices. Where we're moving to isn't quite so big. I'm going to have to get creative on furniture and especially the kitchen appliances.
The coffee maker is going to have to be out in the open or all of you risk death. The coffee mugs have to be easily accessable or you might loose a finger. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, can be disheveled in the pantry or cabinets. You CANNOT just throw something in there. You can't put an bigger object on top of a smaller object. With smaller spaces, though, it makes it very difficult to make this happen.
I think I've got a great idea for the kitchen. The living room, however, I'm not so sure. Do you have any ideas on how I can maximize my space to the fullest? If you have any ideas for the kitchen, too, go ahead and let me know. It might work better for me instead of what I'm thinking.
I know you think this is a ridiculous post and that I'm exceptionally weird and have ridiculous quirks. I've heard all the jokes and questions and remarks. I know the food ends up in the same place, I know that not all germs are bad, I know that it won't kill me to have something crooked.
I know the make medication for it, too. The doctor told me it was all in my head. I asked him, "no shit?"
I'm so ready for this move to be done with and we haven't really even started getting things moving. I'm procrastonating when I really need to be getting some boxes.
Scratch that. Trey really needs to be getting some boxes. This was his idea!
The only thing I'm thinking about now is how to unpack things once stored in 2000 square feet into 1200 square feet comfortably and organized. If it's not organized, neat and in my quirky order, I'm not happy. If I'm not happy, Trey's screwed!
I'm sure most of you have noticed I have a few small, tiny, barely there compulsions. I just don't like it when my food touches and I have to count how many buttons I've pushed. I don't like to step on lines and I really hate germs! When objects are organized to where I can see them in the open, access an individual object easily and without stress and have plenty of space to use it in, I'm a very happy person. I like clean counter tops, dust free picture frames, shiny surfaces and I refuse to get in an unmade bed, even if the sheets are just wrinkled.
Where I live now, I still have a few issues about how my stuff is arranged, even though I have lots of room. I can organize my kitchen for the most part, even put the nutritional labels all in the same direction and alphabetize my spices. Where we're moving to isn't quite so big. I'm going to have to get creative on furniture and especially the kitchen appliances.
The coffee maker is going to have to be out in the open or all of you risk death. The coffee mugs have to be easily accessable or you might loose a finger. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, can be disheveled in the pantry or cabinets. You CANNOT just throw something in there. You can't put an bigger object on top of a smaller object. With smaller spaces, though, it makes it very difficult to make this happen.
I think I've got a great idea for the kitchen. The living room, however, I'm not so sure. Do you have any ideas on how I can maximize my space to the fullest? If you have any ideas for the kitchen, too, go ahead and let me know. It might work better for me instead of what I'm thinking.
I know you think this is a ridiculous post and that I'm exceptionally weird and have ridiculous quirks. I've heard all the jokes and questions and remarks. I know the food ends up in the same place, I know that not all germs are bad, I know that it won't kill me to have something crooked.
I know the make medication for it, too. The doctor told me it was all in my head. I asked him, "no shit?"
Health Advice for Women
And you don't need a prescription!
IMPORTANT HEALTH ADVICE FOR WOMEN.
Do you have feelings of inadequacy?
Do you suffer from shyness?
Do you sometimes wish you were more assertive?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, ask your doctor orpharmacist about Chardonnay.
Chardonnay is the safe, natural way to feel better and more confident about yourself and your actions. Chardonnay can help ease you out of your shyness and let you tell the world that you're ready and willing to do just about anything.
You will notice the benefits of Chardonnay almost immediately and with a regimen of regular doses you can overcome any obstacles that prevent youfrom living the life you want to! live. Shyness and awkwardness will be a thing of the past and you will discover many talents you never knew you had. Stop hiding and start living!
Chardonnay may not be right for everyone. Women who are pregnant ornursing should not use Chardonnay. However, women who wouldn't mind nursing or becoming pregnant are encouraged to try it.
Side effects may include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, incarceration,erotic lustfulness, loss of motor control, loss of clothing, loss of money, loss of virginity, delusions of grandeur, table dancing, headache, dehydration, dry mouth, and a desire to sing Karaoke and play all-night rounds of Strip Poker, Truth Or Dare, and Naked Twister!
WARNINGS:
*The consumption of Chardonnay may make you think you are whisperingwhen you are not.
*The consumption of Chardonnay may cause you to tell your friends over and over again that you love them.
*The consumption of Chardonnay may cause you to think you can sing.
*The consumption of Chardonnay may make you think you can logically converse with members of the opposite sex without spitting.
*The consumption of Chardonnay may create the illusion that you are tougher, smarter, faster and better looking than most people.
IMPORTANT HEALTH ADVICE FOR WOMEN.
Do you have feelings of inadequacy?
Do you suffer from shyness?
Do you sometimes wish you were more assertive?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, ask your doctor orpharmacist about Chardonnay.
Chardonnay is the safe, natural way to feel better and more confident about yourself and your actions. Chardonnay can help ease you out of your shyness and let you tell the world that you're ready and willing to do just about anything.
You will notice the benefits of Chardonnay almost immediately and with a regimen of regular doses you can overcome any obstacles that prevent youfrom living the life you want to! live. Shyness and awkwardness will be a thing of the past and you will discover many talents you never knew you had. Stop hiding and start living!
Chardonnay may not be right for everyone. Women who are pregnant ornursing should not use Chardonnay. However, women who wouldn't mind nursing or becoming pregnant are encouraged to try it.
Side effects may include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, incarceration,erotic lustfulness, loss of motor control, loss of clothing, loss of money, loss of virginity, delusions of grandeur, table dancing, headache, dehydration, dry mouth, and a desire to sing Karaoke and play all-night rounds of Strip Poker, Truth Or Dare, and Naked Twister!
WARNINGS:
*The consumption of Chardonnay may make you think you are whisperingwhen you are not.
*The consumption of Chardonnay may cause you to tell your friends over and over again that you love them.
*The consumption of Chardonnay may cause you to think you can sing.
*The consumption of Chardonnay may make you think you can logically converse with members of the opposite sex without spitting.
*The consumption of Chardonnay may create the illusion that you are tougher, smarter, faster and better looking than most people.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Somebody didn't take his Lexapro
I'm currently gathering some information for an idea at work. I thought I would call a few local credit unions here in Tuscaloosa and in the Birmingham-Metro area to help me gather my information and see if any of them would be interested in participating in this idea. I want you to know how this bank treated me the next time you need a bank.
On my list was America's First Federal Credit Union. I called and got a young woman on the phone and asked her for the department that handles direct lending. She transfered me to a man in indirect lending. The differences are slight to you but huge for me.
Finally, the young man says, "Our Vice President, Rick Bricknell, is going to call you in a few minutes to help you out with what you are trying to do."
"Awesome! Great!" I was thinking he was going to have all the answers I needed, straight from the VP! Then he calls...
"Mrs. Hyde..." He had a very dry voice that sounded close to arrogant.
"Yes."
"What is it your are trying to accomplish here, Mrs. Hyde?"
"Well," and I explained to him our idea and asked if he would be interested in catering to some of my Birmingham customers, especially since I understood their bank to already be involved in such ventures.
"Well, Mrs. Hyde, let me explain this to you..." and he thus begins to belittle me for some other unnamed dealership who took advantage of him in another market. His arrogant tone took on an almost scolding style.
"Well, Mr. Bricknell, that's not exactly what I'm trying to accomplish. I'm trying-" I was begging for him to listen but he just kept talking.
"Well, Mrs. Hyde, let me explain this to you..." and he then repeats the whole story again...
"Mr. Bricknell, I think you've misunderstood, I'm lookin for-"
"Well, Mrs. Hyde, why don't you try one of those little banks in the Tuscaloosa area, like Alabama Credit Union or the Firestone?" I was starting to get extremely irritated with his interrupting. His pitch at this point had gone from scolding me to irritated. How had I irritated him? I didn't ask to speak with him! I asked for the Direct Lending Department!
"You mean BF Goodrich, the Credit Union of Alabama?"
"Yes, them! Firestone!"
Why are you behaving like such a jackass??! "Mr. Bricknell, basically, I'm looking for lenders to cater to my Birmingham area customers and unfortunately, they will be out of those 'little' banks' footprints. Basically, are you interested or not?"
"I'm afraid not," he answered in a very flat tone.
Holding onto the very last piece of self control I had left, I said, "That's all I really needed to know."
On my list was America's First Federal Credit Union. I called and got a young woman on the phone and asked her for the department that handles direct lending. She transfered me to a man in indirect lending. The differences are slight to you but huge for me.
Finally, the young man says, "Our Vice President, Rick Bricknell, is going to call you in a few minutes to help you out with what you are trying to do."
"Awesome! Great!" I was thinking he was going to have all the answers I needed, straight from the VP! Then he calls...
"Mrs. Hyde..." He had a very dry voice that sounded close to arrogant.
"Yes."
"What is it your are trying to accomplish here, Mrs. Hyde?"
"Well," and I explained to him our idea and asked if he would be interested in catering to some of my Birmingham customers, especially since I understood their bank to already be involved in such ventures.
"Well, Mrs. Hyde, let me explain this to you..." and he thus begins to belittle me for some other unnamed dealership who took advantage of him in another market. His arrogant tone took on an almost scolding style.
"Well, Mr. Bricknell, that's not exactly what I'm trying to accomplish. I'm trying-" I was begging for him to listen but he just kept talking.
"Well, Mrs. Hyde, let me explain this to you..." and he then repeats the whole story again...
"Mr. Bricknell, I think you've misunderstood, I'm lookin for-"
"Well, Mrs. Hyde, why don't you try one of those little banks in the Tuscaloosa area, like Alabama Credit Union or the Firestone?" I was starting to get extremely irritated with his interrupting. His pitch at this point had gone from scolding me to irritated. How had I irritated him? I didn't ask to speak with him! I asked for the Direct Lending Department!
"You mean BF Goodrich, the Credit Union of Alabama?"
"Yes, them! Firestone!"
Why are you behaving like such a jackass??! "Mr. Bricknell, basically, I'm looking for lenders to cater to my Birmingham area customers and unfortunately, they will be out of those 'little' banks' footprints. Basically, are you interested or not?"
"I'm afraid not," he answered in a very flat tone.
Holding onto the very last piece of self control I had left, I said, "That's all I really needed to know."
Holy Crow!!
I have to be cryptic so bare with me.
I'm going on a ghost hunt!! I'm going on a ghost hunt!!
I'm going on a ghost hunt!! I'm going on a ghost hunt!!
I'm going on a ghost hunt!! I'm going on a ghost hunt!!
I'm going on a ghost hunt!! I'm going on a ghost hunt!!
OK. That's all I can say for right now. I'll give you ALLLLL the detail later!
I'm going on a ghost hunt!! I'm going on a ghost hunt!!
I'm going on a ghost hunt!! I'm going on a ghost hunt!!
I'm going on a ghost hunt!! I'm going on a ghost hunt!!
I'm going on a ghost hunt!! I'm going on a ghost hunt!!
I'm going on a ghost hunt!! I'm going on a ghost hunt!!
I'm going on a ghost hunt!! I'm going on a ghost hunt!!
I'm going on a ghost hunt!! I'm going on a ghost hunt!!
I'm going on a ghost hunt!! I'm going on a ghost hunt!!
OK. That's all I can say for right now. I'll give you ALLLLL the detail later!
I'm going on a ghost hunt!! I'm going on a ghost hunt!!
I'm going on a ghost hunt!! I'm going on a ghost hunt!!
I'm going on a ghost hunt!! I'm going on a ghost hunt!!
I'm going on a ghost hunt!! I'm going on a ghost hunt!!
Taste this
Top 5 coffees I can't be without right now:
- Pumpkin Spice
- Starbuck Caramel Machiatto (iced or hot)
- Donut Shop
- Hazelnut
- French Toast (ohmy...)
Half a cup of tea left
Everybody is so moody after this election!
Yesterday, the salesmen around here were working to make something happen. It's that time of the year, if you want to earn your keep, you have to earn your money. I don't mind it, makes the days go by quickly.
After a few hours of this, the attitudes around the dealership started to reek! Everybody was getting frustrated. I placed a bunch of calls myself yesterday with no answers, no-I-don't-want-any's and voicemails. Lots of voicemails. I didn't really get anywhere with my prospecting. Niether were our salesmen. The guys' exceptions were extremely angry people.
One woman went as far as to tell the salesman, "I am not really looking to trade just yet. My car hasn't fallen to bits yet. But let me get you to do this with me; pray with me! I'm so sick, so elderly!" She then proceeded to tell the salesman about her last 18 months in the hospital and began begging for him to pray with her right there on the phone.
It reminded me of the time that a lead generating salesman called me and I told him I couldn't talk right then because I was going into labor.
Was it a full moon? Or was everybody just sore after Tuesday?
I think it was the latter.
My attitude hasn't been the best about this guy but I'm telling myself this until I make it: This is God's will, this is who He has for us right now. There are apparently more benefits to Obama as our leader than McCain. It's over now and we all need to start moving forward because there is no way to go back.
In other words: Get over it, already!
Yesterday, the salesmen around here were working to make something happen. It's that time of the year, if you want to earn your keep, you have to earn your money. I don't mind it, makes the days go by quickly.
After a few hours of this, the attitudes around the dealership started to reek! Everybody was getting frustrated. I placed a bunch of calls myself yesterday with no answers, no-I-don't-want-any's and voicemails. Lots of voicemails. I didn't really get anywhere with my prospecting. Niether were our salesmen. The guys' exceptions were extremely angry people.
One woman went as far as to tell the salesman, "I am not really looking to trade just yet. My car hasn't fallen to bits yet. But let me get you to do this with me; pray with me! I'm so sick, so elderly!" She then proceeded to tell the salesman about her last 18 months in the hospital and began begging for him to pray with her right there on the phone.
It reminded me of the time that a lead generating salesman called me and I told him I couldn't talk right then because I was going into labor.
Was it a full moon? Or was everybody just sore after Tuesday?
I think it was the latter.
My attitude hasn't been the best about this guy but I'm telling myself this until I make it: This is God's will, this is who He has for us right now. There are apparently more benefits to Obama as our leader than McCain. It's over now and we all need to start moving forward because there is no way to go back.
In other words: Get over it, already!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
I'm not shocked
I'm not scared, alarmed, panicked or flabbergasted. After McCain's attempts, any Republican should have expected this and been ready. I pray that my concerns for Barack Obama are proven wrong.
All you can do is vote and stay informed to inform others.
That's my plan.
Here's the thing, God has a bigger picture for this country, and while it's not for us to understand, it is for to be a part of. As a Christian, is crying and moaning and saying, "what have we done?" helping God's plan? That's your thought for the day.
Meanwhile, look on the brightside. Here are ten "glass is half full" sides:
All you can do is vote and stay informed to inform others.
That's my plan.
Here's the thing, God has a bigger picture for this country, and while it's not for us to understand, it is for to be a part of. As a Christian, is crying and moaning and saying, "what have we done?" helping God's plan? That's your thought for the day.
Meanwhile, look on the brightside. Here are ten "glass is half full" sides:
- It's not Hilary
- A whole NEW generation will learn why this could be very bad for the U.S.
- SNL won't have anything to make fun of Republicans for the next four years (hopefully)
- Boston Legal can go back to being slightly left-winged instead of flat out crazy liberal
- The only Clinton involved is in the Senate
- The economy will turn around faster (it's a statistical fact - before you tell me I'm wrong - and yes, I know the repercussions of a Dem Economy.)
- Biden won't be able to put his two cents into the Senate anymore
- The over $200,000 annual income homes will be taxed more (that's just one man's idea and he's one part of a three part government)
- Did I mention there isn't a Hilary involved??
- Hollywood won't have anything to talk about - which means they'll all go back to making movies again instead of bitching about Bush!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Chapter 44.5
About an hour from now, I'm going to go stand in line again.
It's crazy to hear about it, the lines to vote are infinitely long here in town! All I've heard from the few people who have drizzled into the dealership today is how long the lines are! However, when I go try in a few, while the temperature drops to a cool 48 degrees, I will stand outside, in line, patiently, with my husband by my side. We'll take our ballot, I'll vote (or write in after that interview with Sarah Palin following her visit to the polls) and walk away having done my civic duty.
I felt sorry for one woman standing next to me during my first attempt to vote this morning. She had to hurry in and hurry out to make it to Jury Duty on time. Yuck!
One thing I can't wait for - advertisements for candidates will not be playing anymore! I would say FoxNews would change subjects but we all know that's six months away!
It's crazy to hear about it, the lines to vote are infinitely long here in town! All I've heard from the few people who have drizzled into the dealership today is how long the lines are! However, when I go try in a few, while the temperature drops to a cool 48 degrees, I will stand outside, in line, patiently, with my husband by my side. We'll take our ballot, I'll vote (or write in after that interview with Sarah Palin following her visit to the polls) and walk away having done my civic duty.
I felt sorry for one woman standing next to me during my first attempt to vote this morning. She had to hurry in and hurry out to make it to Jury Duty on time. Yuck!
One thing I can't wait for - advertisements for candidates will not be playing anymore! I would say FoxNews would change subjects but we all know that's six months away!
Good Timing
This was in my email yesterday. Meant to share it:
Tight Places
Marybeth Whalen
“Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer.”
Psalm 4:1 (NIV)
Devotion:
If someone asked you what it feels like to be stressed, anxious, worried or overwhelmed, how would you put it into words? The best way I can describe those feelings is that it is as though something is pressing in on me, pushing me down emotionally and preventing me from escaping my situation. It feels I’m in a tight place. The more these feelings build up, the more I want to lash out, strike out, or push back against my burdens. Though I might look okay on the outside (oh, those masks we wear), inside I am screaming and flailing about. Do you ever feel this way?
Stress comes at us every day, in a thousand different ways. Job stress, money stress, kid stress, house stress, medical stress, relationship stress—the list goes on. Try as we might, we can’t escape it in this broken world. We feel trapped and imprisoned by these things we cannot change, and they weigh heavily on us. When I read the verse for today, I was struck by the explanation in my Bible for the word, “relief.” It literally means, “make room for me in tight places.” Wow. I can totally identify with that idea!
I know what it feels like to want someone to come along and make room for me in my tight places. Someone to remove the boundaries and burdens which threaten to smother me with their nearness. My stress level mounts, my blood pumps in my ears, and my hope takes flight. Whether it is the little irritations in life like being stuck in a car with a screaming toddler, or the big burdens of wondering about the future of my husband’s job, I know these tight place feelings all too intimately.
We all do.
I love that this verse shows us Someone who can come and offer relief. So many times, we try to make our own space in our tight places—handling things on our own and attempting to solve problems without ever calling on the One who best knows how to make room for us. He is faithful to give us emotional elbow room, easing our burdens and offering us His wisdom. He shows us mercy when we call on Him, hearing our prayers and rescuing us from tight places. The next time you feel stressed, anxious, worried or overwhelmed, call out to Christ and let Him find you in your tight place, and make room where you thought there was none.
Dear Lord, thank You for being the God who is near. When our tight places press in on us, Your presence is what we need. Thank You for offering us relief no matter what our circumstances. Help us to remember to call on You in our tight places. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Do You Know Him?
Escaping the Stress Trap by Mary Southerland
30 Days to Taming Your Stress by Deborah Smith Pegues
Visit Marybeth Whalen’s blog
Application Steps:
The Bible tells us to “take captive” every thought. Determine some personal steps today that will help you remember to call on God in those stressful moments instead of giving in to panic or worry.
Reflections:
What does your tight place look like today?
Have you called on God for relief? Have you asked Him to make room in your tight place?
How would relying on God help you deal with stress?
Power Verses:
Psalm 94:13, “You grant him relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked.” (NIV)
Psalm 143:1, “O Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief.” (NIV)
Lamentations 3:55-57, “I called on your name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit. You heard my plea: ‘Do not close your ears to my cry for relief.’ You came near when I called you, and you said, ‘Do not fear.’” (NIV)
Marybeth Whalen
“Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer.”
Psalm 4:1 (NIV)
Devotion:
If someone asked you what it feels like to be stressed, anxious, worried or overwhelmed, how would you put it into words? The best way I can describe those feelings is that it is as though something is pressing in on me, pushing me down emotionally and preventing me from escaping my situation. It feels I’m in a tight place. The more these feelings build up, the more I want to lash out, strike out, or push back against my burdens. Though I might look okay on the outside (oh, those masks we wear), inside I am screaming and flailing about. Do you ever feel this way?
Stress comes at us every day, in a thousand different ways. Job stress, money stress, kid stress, house stress, medical stress, relationship stress—the list goes on. Try as we might, we can’t escape it in this broken world. We feel trapped and imprisoned by these things we cannot change, and they weigh heavily on us. When I read the verse for today, I was struck by the explanation in my Bible for the word, “relief.” It literally means, “make room for me in tight places.” Wow. I can totally identify with that idea!
I know what it feels like to want someone to come along and make room for me in my tight places. Someone to remove the boundaries and burdens which threaten to smother me with their nearness. My stress level mounts, my blood pumps in my ears, and my hope takes flight. Whether it is the little irritations in life like being stuck in a car with a screaming toddler, or the big burdens of wondering about the future of my husband’s job, I know these tight place feelings all too intimately.
We all do.
I love that this verse shows us Someone who can come and offer relief. So many times, we try to make our own space in our tight places—handling things on our own and attempting to solve problems without ever calling on the One who best knows how to make room for us. He is faithful to give us emotional elbow room, easing our burdens and offering us His wisdom. He shows us mercy when we call on Him, hearing our prayers and rescuing us from tight places. The next time you feel stressed, anxious, worried or overwhelmed, call out to Christ and let Him find you in your tight place, and make room where you thought there was none.
Dear Lord, thank You for being the God who is near. When our tight places press in on us, Your presence is what we need. Thank You for offering us relief no matter what our circumstances. Help us to remember to call on You in our tight places. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Do You Know Him?
Escaping the Stress Trap by Mary Southerland
30 Days to Taming Your Stress by Deborah Smith Pegues
Visit Marybeth Whalen’s blog
Application Steps:
The Bible tells us to “take captive” every thought. Determine some personal steps today that will help you remember to call on God in those stressful moments instead of giving in to panic or worry.
Reflections:
What does your tight place look like today?
Have you called on God for relief? Have you asked Him to make room in your tight place?
How would relying on God help you deal with stress?
Power Verses:
Psalm 94:13, “You grant him relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked.” (NIV)
Psalm 143:1, “O Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief.” (NIV)
Lamentations 3:55-57, “I called on your name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit. You heard my plea: ‘Do not close your ears to my cry for relief.’ You came near when I called you, and you said, ‘Do not fear.’” (NIV)
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Chapter 44 in American History
Something life changing is happening to all of us today. The next page in American history is being flipped. Presidential history is being made.
I've had my issues over who I see has the best man for the job: the man with no military background, very little senatorial experience and the edge of something just isn't right about him or the man with plenty of military background, bad jokes and 72 years of age behind him that is a very real concern over the next four years. You have one with no history to compare his promises to and one who has leaned in a lot of different directions in his history.
For the lack of experience and the lack of military background alone, I find it very difficult to find Barack Obama qualified for President of the United States of America. He may preach change and tax cuts - but what has he done in the last twenty months to prove that he can do it? The time he's spent as a Senator has been spent running for President. So please, give me something that proves he is a man who will do what he says he will do and can make things happen. He cannot have my vote.
Despite his age, John McCain is the opposite of Barack Obama. He's probably going to get my vote in the next hour. Is he really more of the same? The same 8 years we've just had? Can you really ask yourself that seriously? McCain has been notorious for jumping on the bandwagon. If you told him that all the Republicans were going to jump off the Washington Monument, he'd do it, too, because he's a Republican, and that's what Republicans do together! You can't say McCain is equivalent to Bush when McCain has never been Bush and, quite frankly, he's political background proves it.
I'm sorry for the rant. I really wanted to just publish a post to encourage you to vote today.
I really wish Fred Thompson hadn't have dropped out!
Go be a part of American History today; not only are we electing (or really the electoral college is electing) the 44th President of the United States of America, we will have a Presidential first today. No matter who you vote for, just remember that this is a country blessed by God; the man in charge of us will be in the right place, at the right time, in God's time.
I've had my issues over who I see has the best man for the job: the man with no military background, very little senatorial experience and the edge of something just isn't right about him or the man with plenty of military background, bad jokes and 72 years of age behind him that is a very real concern over the next four years. You have one with no history to compare his promises to and one who has leaned in a lot of different directions in his history.
For the lack of experience and the lack of military background alone, I find it very difficult to find Barack Obama qualified for President of the United States of America. He may preach change and tax cuts - but what has he done in the last twenty months to prove that he can do it? The time he's spent as a Senator has been spent running for President. So please, give me something that proves he is a man who will do what he says he will do and can make things happen. He cannot have my vote.
Despite his age, John McCain is the opposite of Barack Obama. He's probably going to get my vote in the next hour. Is he really more of the same? The same 8 years we've just had? Can you really ask yourself that seriously? McCain has been notorious for jumping on the bandwagon. If you told him that all the Republicans were going to jump off the Washington Monument, he'd do it, too, because he's a Republican, and that's what Republicans do together! You can't say McCain is equivalent to Bush when McCain has never been Bush and, quite frankly, he's political background proves it.
I'm sorry for the rant. I really wanted to just publish a post to encourage you to vote today.
I really wish Fred Thompson hadn't have dropped out!
Go be a part of American History today; not only are we electing (or really the electoral college is electing) the 44th President of the United States of America, we will have a Presidential first today. No matter who you vote for, just remember that this is a country blessed by God; the man in charge of us will be in the right place, at the right time, in God's time.
Monday, November 3, 2008
I'm waiting in line at a theme park
As soon as I think things are going to be one way, the turn out being another. That's only because the Lord works in His own time, I guess.
Explaination: we are moving. The 15th of this month!! That's so close and so fast but I guess it's better than stressing out over it for months at a time.
We're moving back to our old apartment complex. It's not far from work. We're getting a flat instead of a loft this time, this way we'll have more room. Also, there won't be a huge staircase taking up most of the space. It's two bedrooms and two baths. The kitchen is small (it's the epitomy of small) and the pantry is ridiculous but I can always pay to use the laundry room and use the extra space from the washer and dryer for shelving...or not. Entertaining is going to be nearly impossible but decorating was a lot of fun when we lived there the last time. You walk into the dining room/living room/garden room and face a hallway and fire place. We loved the fireplace, it's gas and keeps you so toasty warm.
I'm in need of boxes, if you have any, email me. I'll come get them from you. I need to start getting things in order to move: all my clothes washed and packed with the exception of the necessities to get me by. The major objects that I do not use on a daily basis need to be put away now so we're not rushing to pack them later. I have extra furniture this time around and I don't have a clue where I'm going to put it! I have bathroom supplies I can pack now, books, guest bedroom items, all of this stuff can be put away now so that when we move (in less than two weeks) it just has to be put in the U-haul.
I am sad about moving. I really like where we live, but with all common sense in these economic times, we have to make this move. If I could have things my way, we'd be moving back into the Hueytown house in a heartbeat! It looks fantastic after all the fixing and renovating! There are still somethings I'd love to do to the house but it looks fantastic as it is! If it weren't 45 minutes and miles from work, I'd be all over that like white on rice! Or I'd stay where we are living currently. I'm going to miss the quiet, the deer, the pool, the lake, the stars at night. At night, you can see every constalation, every star in the Milky Way, every dot God put in the sky to twinkle. I am really going to miss the cold winter nights staring up at the beautiful sky. It has been so peaceful there!
Another post for another day but a good laugh for your afternoon: we've moved A LOT in the past four years. Since this is our fourth move as a married couple and Trey is always the one to say, "Let's move," I'm letting him be in charge of this WHOLE thing!! For those of you who know my husband and know my husband well, imagine this: Trey, packing, organizing (or not), sorting, planning, painting, moving, unpacking, re-organizing, sorting, cleaning, moving utilities around, etc. etc. etc.
No for those of you who know my husband and know my husband now: sit back with your tottie in your lounge chair and laugh now because the moment that he catches us pointing and laughing at him, he's going to make us help!
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Halloween, All Saints Day & The Day of the Dead
Hello, my name is Stephanie and I am addicted to Twilight.
I cannot wait for this movie to come out! We're kind of quiet at work currently, so while all the guys are watching the football games I'm not worried about, I'm reading the final and never to be published (awwwww dang) installment to the series Midnight Sun.
If you haven't read them, do!
I used to be embarrassed to admit that I was reading them. Now that I've met a few people in my demographic who admit to reading them as well, I'm not ashamed anymore.
Warning to the female reader: Reading Twilight may make you expect more than you will ever get from your husband, physically or emotionally. Beware, you're husband is not Edward Cullen and will not ever be and he also is not Jacob Black. He is the same guy you married that participates in the daily chores by sitting infront of the TV, only praises you when he wants something and only cuddles when he wants something else!
I cannot wait for this movie to come out! We're kind of quiet at work currently, so while all the guys are watching the football games I'm not worried about, I'm reading the final and never to be published (awwwww dang) installment to the series Midnight Sun.
If you haven't read them, do!
I used to be embarrassed to admit that I was reading them. Now that I've met a few people in my demographic who admit to reading them as well, I'm not ashamed anymore.
Warning to the female reader: Reading Twilight may make you expect more than you will ever get from your husband, physically or emotionally. Beware, you're husband is not Edward Cullen and will not ever be and he also is not Jacob Black. He is the same guy you married that participates in the daily chores by sitting infront of the TV, only praises you when he wants something and only cuddles when he wants something else!
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