Let's just start the day by saying cancer sucks. A lot. Figuratively and literally. A whole lot.
I don't know what words to say. My heart aches for Jonas and his family. I was friends with his mother in high school and we reconnected on Facebook a few years ago. She is a bright and happy person with a brilliant smile that she has clearly passed onto her children. As I troll through their pictures there is nothing but genuine love. It's always great to see a family that likes each other.
Her Facebook posts have remained optimistic as she has shared her son's journey with Ewings Sarcoma. Her pain is understandable as she has carted him to and from the hospital many times. Anyone who has ever had a child in the ICU not just feels a twang of "how horrible to have your kid in the hospital" but KNOWS. My son's stay was only a few days, not week long jaunts multiple times. Seeing your baby, your tall man sized little boy, laying in a bed with wires and tubes dangling out of him, weak and scared... it takes every ounce of your existence to think straight, hear what the doctors say, and put on a good face for his benefit. You have to dance that fine line between letting him be his teenaged self and knowing when he wants his mommy with reassuring hugs everything is going to be okay. You have to be able to discuss medical issues about his physical body and help clean up little messes yet step out of the room when the nurse checks his catheter. These are the realities of your teenaged son being in the hospital.
It is all very scary. There aren't any classes to prepare you for this shit, maybe a support group but each situation is so unique that it's all very lonely. And scary. Your maternal instinct to scoop him up in your arms and tell everyone to stay away sits forefront all of the time. Oh, and those other kids in your house? The ones needing to go to school? And have you sign permission slips to go to the zoo? Yeah, they need you too.
Kristen and her family are at a very frightening juncture right now. Fifteen year old Jonas has exhausted all of his treatment options. His last surgery to relieve the fluid from his lungs led to the discovery of fluid around his heart. No more chemo, no more radiation, and no more surgeries. He is now in hospice to control the pain as the only therapy left is prayer. And man oh man are we praying for this guy.
Showing posts with label Friends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Friends. Show all posts
Saturday, August 30, 2014
Monday, June 30, 2014
Surviving Your Class Reunion
First I should put in the disclaimer, if high school was a miserable experience and you would rather gouge out your eyes than see any of those assholes ever again? Just skip on by this post.
For the rest of the population, let's talk.
Most people agree that the five and ten year gatherings are a waste. Everyone stays in the same circles they did in high school, no significant mingling, no happy memories. Wait until the twentieth. Enough time will have passed that people break out of their teenaged roles and have actually grown up. Memories fade, names escape you, and you are available to make new friends.
Me? I was a wallflower in a class of 500. I knew only my very small group of friends. Of course I knew the names of the popular kids, but I was never one of them. At my twentieth I was surprised, no wait, ASTONISHED people knew who I was. They remembered me. Me? What the hell?
Then came Facebook. Oh buddy how this has changed the world. People I NEVER knew in high school were becoming my online friends. They were commenting on my woes, cheering my successes, and liking my pictures. It was, and is, pretty cool.
This weekend was our thirtieth class reunion. How am I even old enough for that? Thirty years? Since high school? Me?
A year ago the date was set and eventually the plans came together, most of it done through the miracle of Facebook. Word did get out to those not online. Excitement was building, this was going to be awesome.
On Friday, twenty of us gathered at the high school for a tour. There were no surprises for me walking through the building, I had worked there not too many years ago. What did surprise me was this vivacious woman bounding up to our crowd, hugging EVERYONE, and introducing herself. I found out later she had been a cheerleader. At the mixer at a local restaurant we crowded into a party room and squealed as new faces arrived. I was introduced to the cheerleader's circle of friends and suddenly I was having deep conversations about toilet paper. I still felt a little stifled trying to mingle with the other clusters of people and kept returning to a safe zone.
Saturday was the official event held at a winery. It was a gorgeous venue on a gorgeous day. I charged up my iPhone and decided I should try to get a picture with each person. I don't know where this inspiration came from but I rolled with it. Once I started walking up to people saying I wanted to get a selfie with them they cheered my idea and started snapping a few of their own. I actually did manage to walk up to every person there although my pictures didn't prove that. I'm sure my drunk thumbs missed the button a few times. It didn't matter. It got me off my ass and away from my table, not that I had anything against hanging with my two best friends, but I see them all of the time. It truly was fun and that stupid act of trying to get pictures with each person was a fabulous ice breaker. My favorite line was from Jack who said "Hi I'm Jack, I think we graduated together." Why, yes we did!
Afterwards we had a room reserved at a nearby bar. The band was loud, the room was crowded... are we getting old? Close to 100 people managed to squeeze into the tee-tiny patio, escaping the loud band inside. More laughs, more mingling.
I have spent the last two days adding more friends to my Facebook list. Okay, they're only acquaintances, but who cares? We have a shared bond for having sat in the same football field on a Tuesday night early in June 1984. There is a shared bond and maybe, just maybe a few new real friends have been discovered.
Reunions come in many shapes. I don't have many memories to reminisce, I didn't attend grade school with any of these people, no childhood antics, so reunions have to be something else. For me, on this round, I made new friends.
For the rest of the population, let's talk.
Most people agree that the five and ten year gatherings are a waste. Everyone stays in the same circles they did in high school, no significant mingling, no happy memories. Wait until the twentieth. Enough time will have passed that people break out of their teenaged roles and have actually grown up. Memories fade, names escape you, and you are available to make new friends.
Me? I was a wallflower in a class of 500. I knew only my very small group of friends. Of course I knew the names of the popular kids, but I was never one of them. At my twentieth I was surprised, no wait, ASTONISHED people knew who I was. They remembered me. Me? What the hell?
Then came Facebook. Oh buddy how this has changed the world. People I NEVER knew in high school were becoming my online friends. They were commenting on my woes, cheering my successes, and liking my pictures. It was, and is, pretty cool.
This weekend was our thirtieth class reunion. How am I even old enough for that? Thirty years? Since high school? Me?
A year ago the date was set and eventually the plans came together, most of it done through the miracle of Facebook. Word did get out to those not online. Excitement was building, this was going to be awesome.
On Friday, twenty of us gathered at the high school for a tour. There were no surprises for me walking through the building, I had worked there not too many years ago. What did surprise me was this vivacious woman bounding up to our crowd, hugging EVERYONE, and introducing herself. I found out later she had been a cheerleader. At the mixer at a local restaurant we crowded into a party room and squealed as new faces arrived. I was introduced to the cheerleader's circle of friends and suddenly I was having deep conversations about toilet paper. I still felt a little stifled trying to mingle with the other clusters of people and kept returning to a safe zone.
Saturday was the official event held at a winery. It was a gorgeous venue on a gorgeous day. I charged up my iPhone and decided I should try to get a picture with each person. I don't know where this inspiration came from but I rolled with it. Once I started walking up to people saying I wanted to get a selfie with them they cheered my idea and started snapping a few of their own. I actually did manage to walk up to every person there although my pictures didn't prove that. I'm sure my drunk thumbs missed the button a few times. It didn't matter. It got me off my ass and away from my table, not that I had anything against hanging with my two best friends, but I see them all of the time. It truly was fun and that stupid act of trying to get pictures with each person was a fabulous ice breaker. My favorite line was from Jack who said "Hi I'm Jack, I think we graduated together." Why, yes we did!
Afterwards we had a room reserved at a nearby bar. The band was loud, the room was crowded... are we getting old? Close to 100 people managed to squeeze into the tee-tiny patio, escaping the loud band inside. More laughs, more mingling.
I have spent the last two days adding more friends to my Facebook list. Okay, they're only acquaintances, but who cares? We have a shared bond for having sat in the same football field on a Tuesday night early in June 1984. There is a shared bond and maybe, just maybe a few new real friends have been discovered.
Reunions come in many shapes. I don't have many memories to reminisce, I didn't attend grade school with any of these people, no childhood antics, so reunions have to be something else. For me, on this round, I made new friends.
Friday, August 02, 2013
Friday Fragments - August 2, 2013
It's been a while since I've done this and it looks like Mrs 4's isn't hosting at the moment. So I'll just frag here.
Let's see, since my last fragment back in... March? I have bought and moved into a house. Big ass ordeal but I love my new home.
We finally rolled out the database at work that was supposed to roll out last September, then October, then December, then January. hahahaha. June 1st! It was not smooth, AT ALL. We are still mopping up the fallout. Which by the way, I closed on my house June 13th. So my stress levels were astronomic as you can imagine.
My kid is forced to change high schools as a result of this move. Unhappy and excited all rolled into one. He is hoping to run into old friends from when we lived here 7 years ago.
I'm getting a second grandbaby!!!!!! A girl is expected in November and we will share middle names. That makes me ridiculously happy. So in the middle of moving, hottest day of the year, sweating like a dog, I'm crying happy tears on the sidewalk where they decided to share this news. Buttheads.
Recently we spent a weekend with my college roommate who I haven't seen for a while. It was a great time to catch up, hang out, and relax. It was a mini vacation that I very truly needed. Our husbands hit it off so I hope to have more frequent encounters. Even though I live literally two blocks away from her dad's house it is likely she will take up my offer to stay at my house. Dad's gets crowded with other family members and this would save her a hotel stay. This thought excites me to no end.
So, what's new with you? Any big plans to finish out the summer?
Let's see, since my last fragment back in... March? I have bought and moved into a house. Big ass ordeal but I love my new home.
We finally rolled out the database at work that was supposed to roll out last September, then October, then December, then January. hahahaha. June 1st! It was not smooth, AT ALL. We are still mopping up the fallout. Which by the way, I closed on my house June 13th. So my stress levels were astronomic as you can imagine.
My kid is forced to change high schools as a result of this move. Unhappy and excited all rolled into one. He is hoping to run into old friends from when we lived here 7 years ago.
I'm getting a second grandbaby!!!!!! A girl is expected in November and we will share middle names. That makes me ridiculously happy. So in the middle of moving, hottest day of the year, sweating like a dog, I'm crying happy tears on the sidewalk where they decided to share this news. Buttheads.
Recently we spent a weekend with my college roommate who I haven't seen for a while. It was a great time to catch up, hang out, and relax. It was a mini vacation that I very truly needed. Our husbands hit it off so I hope to have more frequent encounters. Even though I live literally two blocks away from her dad's house it is likely she will take up my offer to stay at my house. Dad's gets crowded with other family members and this would save her a hotel stay. This thought excites me to no end.
So, what's new with you? Any big plans to finish out the summer?
Friday, March 01, 2013
Friday Fragments - March 1, 2013
It's snowing!!!! ...still
I live in St. Louis, Missouri on the eastern edge of the state approximately 300 miles from Kansas City on the western edge. Last week a big snow storm came through, but we didn't have nearly as much snow as KC. The heavy part was centered over Kansas City and when it pushed east it hit Columbia at the center of the state and veered north. If it were a hurricane we only got the outer rings whereas KC and Columbia got the eye.
A second storm came into the state on Monday. The eye veered north again but we also had different temperatures so KC had snow, lots and lots of snow on top of what was still on the ground, and we had rain. Lots and lots of rain. Everyone pondered what our Tuesday morning would have looked like had it been snow. Then the colder temps blew in and what had been drizzle turned into very light snow. Fortunately, nothing stuck. And then another drizzle type snow on Wednesday, actually there was a burst of big fluffy flakes, still nothing significant stuck. I walked out of work yesterday and it was still drizzle type snow. This morning? BIG flakes, sticking. And it's predicted to do this all day with another storm coming in on Monday night. I'm starting to wonder if we'll ever see the sun!
******
Last Friday (after two modified work days due to the snow) a few coworkers gathered for happy hour. The food was so-so and the service was crappy. The neighboring tables were extremely boisterous and then the mariachi band stood next to our table most of the night. It was impossible to talk. BLAH! Definitely not going there again.
******
On Saturday we gathered with friends outside of town at a little brewery for dinner. It was the absolute opposite experience of the night before. The food was exquisite, the service was attentive, and we were able to hold a full conversation! I also ran into my ex's sister-in-law. It was funny since we were both so far away from home. She was there with friends, staying at a B&B for a scrapbooking weekend. After dinner my group moved to the beir garten behind the parking lot. There was a fire pit and more beer. Since we were the only patrons there we hogged the fire and had plenty of laughs.
I've decided that fire pits are incredibly relaxing. The only thing that could ever top that relaxation is sitting on a floaty in the middle of a serene lake.
*******
On Wednesday I took a day off work. Hubby and I attended to some necessary financial business and then finally took advantage of the free movie tickets we got back in December. I don't know if we'll ever participate in the Cans Film Festival again. This was a program collecting cans of food for a local food pantry and for every 10-15 cans you bring in you get a certificate to a local movie theater. We got four tickets. The last time we did this we missed the deadline to use the tickets because of work schedules. Well this time we made a genuine effort, but damn, there are a lot of hoops to jump through. They can only be used Monday - Thursday, before 5pm, not on a holiday, and then we found out not for any movie that was released less than two weeks! Oh, and the expiration date is March 7th. Isn't that insane?
We'll donate our food through the Boy Scouts. Screw the film festival.
We did get to watch one movie, Identity Thief, and we laughed our butts off. There wasn't any toilet humor and it wasn't laden with bad language but it wasn't squeaky clean either, a couple of F bombs. Hubby didn't like the drug lord, feeling it was unnecessary, but he did add to the complications of bringing in the credit card thief. I liked the ending - I won't go on about it so I don't give it away.
I live in St. Louis, Missouri on the eastern edge of the state approximately 300 miles from Kansas City on the western edge. Last week a big snow storm came through, but we didn't have nearly as much snow as KC. The heavy part was centered over Kansas City and when it pushed east it hit Columbia at the center of the state and veered north. If it were a hurricane we only got the outer rings whereas KC and Columbia got the eye.
A second storm came into the state on Monday. The eye veered north again but we also had different temperatures so KC had snow, lots and lots of snow on top of what was still on the ground, and we had rain. Lots and lots of rain. Everyone pondered what our Tuesday morning would have looked like had it been snow. Then the colder temps blew in and what had been drizzle turned into very light snow. Fortunately, nothing stuck. And then another drizzle type snow on Wednesday, actually there was a burst of big fluffy flakes, still nothing significant stuck. I walked out of work yesterday and it was still drizzle type snow. This morning? BIG flakes, sticking. And it's predicted to do this all day with another storm coming in on Monday night. I'm starting to wonder if we'll ever see the sun!
******
Last Friday (after two modified work days due to the snow) a few coworkers gathered for happy hour. The food was so-so and the service was crappy. The neighboring tables were extremely boisterous and then the mariachi band stood next to our table most of the night. It was impossible to talk. BLAH! Definitely not going there again.
******
On Saturday we gathered with friends outside of town at a little brewery for dinner. It was the absolute opposite experience of the night before. The food was exquisite, the service was attentive, and we were able to hold a full conversation! I also ran into my ex's sister-in-law. It was funny since we were both so far away from home. She was there with friends, staying at a B&B for a scrapbooking weekend. After dinner my group moved to the beir garten behind the parking lot. There was a fire pit and more beer. Since we were the only patrons there we hogged the fire and had plenty of laughs.
I've decided that fire pits are incredibly relaxing. The only thing that could ever top that relaxation is sitting on a floaty in the middle of a serene lake.
*******
On Wednesday I took a day off work. Hubby and I attended to some necessary financial business and then finally took advantage of the free movie tickets we got back in December. I don't know if we'll ever participate in the Cans Film Festival again. This was a program collecting cans of food for a local food pantry and for every 10-15 cans you bring in you get a certificate to a local movie theater. We got four tickets. The last time we did this we missed the deadline to use the tickets because of work schedules. Well this time we made a genuine effort, but damn, there are a lot of hoops to jump through. They can only be used Monday - Thursday, before 5pm, not on a holiday, and then we found out not for any movie that was released less than two weeks! Oh, and the expiration date is March 7th. Isn't that insane?
We'll donate our food through the Boy Scouts. Screw the film festival.
We did get to watch one movie, Identity Thief, and we laughed our butts off. There wasn't any toilet humor and it wasn't laden with bad language but it wasn't squeaky clean either, a couple of F bombs. Hubby didn't like the drug lord, feeling it was unnecessary, but he did add to the complications of bringing in the credit card thief. I liked the ending - I won't go on about it so I don't give it away.
Friday, January 04, 2013
Friday Fragments - January 4, 2013
Whew, the whirl wind of the holidays is finally over and now we can recuperate. I hope everyone had a splendid time... and if not that you find a way to make up for it.
New Year's Eve was a spectacular party with friends. It's been a very long time, too long, since I've laughed like that. Laughter is truly good for the soul.
The party's host has opened their home to us quite a bit over the years. We felt bad for all the times they paid for firewood. They didn't believe us that there was wood to be had, so one day we came across a GIGANTIC pile free for the taking. So we took. And delivered. It was several weeks ago and said it was an early Christmas present. Monday night we had the opportunity to stand around the fire pit, in the freezing cold.
Between the smoke, yelling over the crowd, and laughing I sounded like a very sick seal the next morning. And smelled like a walking campfire... one of my most favorite scents EVER.
It was hard getting back into the swing of things. Even though I really haven't been away from work more than a few days, our office has been topsy turvey for the last three weeks. Today was the first day I really felt like it was back to normal. My supervisor reviewed all of my current projects and pointed out how much I've got going on. I guess that might be part of the stress I'm suffering that is now exhibiting as annoying dry skin patches the dermatologist prescribed an expensive oil to heal!
Watching Diners Drive Ins and Dives we saw a recipe for chicken confit (I always thought it was "comfy" and yes, I did take French in high school). It's an old method where you cure the meat with salt and then cook it low and slow in oil. The TV show then skillet fried the meat, which is what we did. It was amazing. The bones fell off the breast, completely clean of meat. We had three breasts left over (because we always cook extra for left overs) and I very easily shredded them for fajitas. We will definitely be doing this again! I did a little research on confit cooking and it can be used for all sorts of meat which we will be trying as well.
Today I'm going to suggest a movie to avoid - Killer Joe. I have a very warped sense of humor, enjoy some really sick entertainment, and am very hard to offend. This movie crossed every line and I was left disgusted. Even hubby was asking WTF. I'm pretty sure somebody will pick it up, like we did, and think the description sounds interesting. WALK ON BY. You have been warned. If your husband insists on watching it (because advice of some insane blogger is no reason to impact your household) take up knitting or scrubbing the crud behind the bathroom sink knobs. Anything. And by all means DO NOT let kids watch it.
Here's to more posting, more reading, more commenting! Happy New Year!!!!!!
New Year's Eve was a spectacular party with friends. It's been a very long time, too long, since I've laughed like that. Laughter is truly good for the soul.
The party's host has opened their home to us quite a bit over the years. We felt bad for all the times they paid for firewood. They didn't believe us that there was wood to be had, so one day we came across a GIGANTIC pile free for the taking. So we took. And delivered. It was several weeks ago and said it was an early Christmas present. Monday night we had the opportunity to stand around the fire pit, in the freezing cold.
Between the smoke, yelling over the crowd, and laughing I sounded like a very sick seal the next morning. And smelled like a walking campfire... one of my most favorite scents EVER.
It was hard getting back into the swing of things. Even though I really haven't been away from work more than a few days, our office has been topsy turvey for the last three weeks. Today was the first day I really felt like it was back to normal. My supervisor reviewed all of my current projects and pointed out how much I've got going on. I guess that might be part of the stress I'm suffering that is now exhibiting as annoying dry skin patches the dermatologist prescribed an expensive oil to heal!
Watching Diners Drive Ins and Dives we saw a recipe for chicken confit (I always thought it was "comfy" and yes, I did take French in high school). It's an old method where you cure the meat with salt and then cook it low and slow in oil. The TV show then skillet fried the meat, which is what we did. It was amazing. The bones fell off the breast, completely clean of meat. We had three breasts left over (because we always cook extra for left overs) and I very easily shredded them for fajitas. We will definitely be doing this again! I did a little research on confit cooking and it can be used for all sorts of meat which we will be trying as well.
Today I'm going to suggest a movie to avoid - Killer Joe. I have a very warped sense of humor, enjoy some really sick entertainment, and am very hard to offend. This movie crossed every line and I was left disgusted. Even hubby was asking WTF. I'm pretty sure somebody will pick it up, like we did, and think the description sounds interesting. WALK ON BY. You have been warned. If your husband insists on watching it (because advice of some insane blogger is no reason to impact your household) take up knitting or scrubbing the crud behind the bathroom sink knobs. Anything. And by all means DO NOT let kids watch it.
Here's to more posting, more reading, more commenting! Happy New Year!!!!!!
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Corrupting My Kids
Found out tonight yet another thing I've done to warp one of my kids.
When I hang out with my friends we gather at someone's house and let the kids run wild. So they have seen and heard plenty. Evidently when our nights devolved into the Solid Gold Dance Hour our favorite tune has become permanently etched in the memory of my youngest. It came up on my playlist driving home and I flipped past it and he stopped me. And admitted HE LIKED THE SONG!!!!
So for your listening pleasure, the mandatory song played at any drinking gathering of my idiot friends.... Be My Lover, by La Bouche:
When I hang out with my friends we gather at someone's house and let the kids run wild. So they have seen and heard plenty. Evidently when our nights devolved into the Solid Gold Dance Hour our favorite tune has become permanently etched in the memory of my youngest. It came up on my playlist driving home and I flipped past it and he stopped me. And admitted HE LIKED THE SONG!!!!
So for your listening pleasure, the mandatory song played at any drinking gathering of my idiot friends.... Be My Lover, by La Bouche:
Friday, November 11, 2011
Friday Fragments - 11/11/11
Everybody is having fun with it being the eleventh of November, 2011. I suspect there are a lot of weddings scheduled for tonight and plenty of ladies are pushing in labor and delivery to have their babies born today. I happen to know one such lady who started labor last night. And she isn't just any lady, she's my best friend's daughter. So by proxy, my daughter. That means another grandchild. A boy is expected. Stay tuned, as of this morning she's dialated to 4 so she has a bit to go. Hopefully in a few hours I can post an update.
PS - labor was bad enough, NOT being in labor and forced to sit around and wait? Oddly enough, worse.
On with my fragments....
On Monday my cell phone was stolen. You can scroll back to Tuesday's post to read the details. Police report is filed, but it's doubtful I'll get it back. grrrrrr
I've been feeling gross the past couple of days and even took yesterday off work. The Husband has it worse, he's loaded with snot, I've just had aches and fevers. Hoping we both clear up today because we have big plans for tomorrow.
Thanksgiving plans are starting to pull together. We've just confirmed times and locations. Now we need to iron out who brings what. I'm always interested in other people's plans and menus. One group of friends host an Orphan's Gathering for people who don't have family nearby. In Tacoma Washington there is a fundraiser called Skanksgiving. I'm not exactly sure of what festivities are planned, it's a party that much I know, but the proceeds go to a local food pantry. I just love the name.
And menus. I love hearing about different menus. Not everyone does turkey, stuffing, and pie. What sort of dishes take center stage on your table? Where everyone gets really creative are the side dishes. What sides HAVE to be at your gathering? And for non-American readers, what would I find at your table for a different celebration gathering?
We will have mashed potatoes, gravy, baked beans, pie, and Grandma's Dessert (a whipped geletain concoction that I've found online as "Woolworth's Cheesecake" but there's not cheesecake to it).
PS - labor was bad enough, NOT being in labor and forced to sit around and wait? Oddly enough, worse.
On with my fragments....
On Monday my cell phone was stolen. You can scroll back to Tuesday's post to read the details. Police report is filed, but it's doubtful I'll get it back. grrrrrr
I've been feeling gross the past couple of days and even took yesterday off work. The Husband has it worse, he's loaded with snot, I've just had aches and fevers. Hoping we both clear up today because we have big plans for tomorrow.
Thanksgiving plans are starting to pull together. We've just confirmed times and locations. Now we need to iron out who brings what. I'm always interested in other people's plans and menus. One group of friends host an Orphan's Gathering for people who don't have family nearby. In Tacoma Washington there is a fundraiser called Skanksgiving. I'm not exactly sure of what festivities are planned, it's a party that much I know, but the proceeds go to a local food pantry. I just love the name.
And menus. I love hearing about different menus. Not everyone does turkey, stuffing, and pie. What sort of dishes take center stage on your table? Where everyone gets really creative are the side dishes. What sides HAVE to be at your gathering? And for non-American readers, what would I find at your table for a different celebration gathering?
We will have mashed potatoes, gravy, baked beans, pie, and Grandma's Dessert (a whipped geletain concoction that I've found online as "Woolworth's Cheesecake" but there's not cheesecake to it).
Baby Nolan arrived tonight around 6:30 pm at 7 lbs and 7 oz by C-section. SO incredibly excited for new grandma, Booty, and her lovely daughter!
Tuesday, November 08, 2011
Stolen Phone
This story is best told through interpretive dance - aka emails to Piranha...
Piranha:
Subject: Elbow Snot
Yo! I saw your post on FB last night about your iphone…that’s pretty rotten! Do you know who stole it? How did it happen? Will your work supply another one?
Are you and The Husband considering joining us at the winery this Saturday after the shop closes for the day? Just wonderin…
Me:
yes, no, yes, no, yes
Here is my long sad saga, because I'm not going to get any work done today, that's clear. Today is my Monday, said in sad, dreary tones. I like the word dreary and have been using it a lot lately. Is that an old lady word? I'm sure it is because I rock the old lady vernacular. I speak old ladyeese. Just shy of knitting, I'd say, dearie.
Soooo... (personal information deleted for privacy reasons, but it was long and detailed and boring and pointless to the whole story. It explained why Hubby and his mother were not tending the shop for the day)
During all this hooplah I took a day off work so I could cover the shop whilst Hubby and his madre galavanted around the town of Union. It was a pleasant change of pace and I was having a wonderful day, as all wistful stories go. Hubby showed up around 2pm once he was done with his mom and at that point it seemed we had rush hour in the shop, people crowding in asking questions, wanting to buy stuff. A guy comes in and is looking for a table to put a chess board on so I take him to the back of the shop and point out a few pieces that might work. Hubby stays at the counter supervising the old woman who can't decide which basket of vines she wants. The woman was oblivious to the guy who was there before her and just assumed we were going to drop everything to help her first. Somehow I juggled the two customers at the same time. He kept pulling me away from the counter to look at stuff, but she was too. Clearly this was taking too long and a second guy came into the shop and I had no indication that these guys knew each other, just happenstance that two, young (late 20's) black guys at the same time were in our predominately old white woman customer based shop. Well, rude granny completes her major purchase of a vine in a basket and goes her merry way. The guys make their way to the back of the store feigning interest in an old, oversized TV which eventually draws Hubby out of his seat. I lug out the extension cord to prove it works and the second guy wants to look at his car to see if it will fit. Woohoo the TV works, first guy says he has to show this to the second guy and leaves the shop. Other customers come in and I go about taking care of them. Hubby walks outside to help assess the size of they guys' car - not a soul to be seen, no car leaving the lot, no black guys milling around. Hmmmm... that's odd, where did they go?
I finish up with the next set of customers and want to check my email like I was doing before the big rush and the phone is nowhere to be seen. I knew immediately that it had been stolen because I know where I left it. I had lost all concept of time being in the shop but fortunately there was that old woman's purchase on a credit card that happened in the midst of all of this so I pulled the receipt to give a specific time to the cop. Neither Hubby or I can describe the first guy even though we had the most interaction with him, but the second guy did stand out because he had a line of tattoos around his neckline. Doubt I could pick out either one of them in a line-up which is unfortunate. But we did give a better description than any of the previous victims.... uh yeah, I wasn't the first.
Today is "special" because the phone system in the office is kaput so I can't call the police to give them the serial number of the phone that was stolen. AUUUUUGGGGHHHH!!!!
Let's see, what were your other questions?
I won't get a "new" phone a replacement as there wasn't any insurance on it, but I still have my old phone that was notorious for dropping calls. Once our office lines are up and running we'll get my old iPhone reactivated.
As long as it's not icky gross outside on Saturday, yes, we are definitely up for a little winery escapism. Hopefully it's not a hilly location that requires Hubby to do a lot of walking. He has seriously injured both knees and can barely get around.
Piranha:
Holy snot…what an ordeal! I hope they catch the phuckers…I’m tired of me, my family and my friends being on the other side of ripped off.
I, too, am fascinated with old ladyese…interspersed with a mixture of 60’s and 70’s lingo of course. I’m a dork.
It sounds like you NEED a trip to the winery! Do you need me to make an appointment with our knee guy so your hubby can start working on a knee replacement? Maybe him and Mickalicious can get a two for one deal!
It suck being old.
Me:
It DO suck being old (read your last line)
A winery sounds great to me. I'm going to try to get Numnuts to join us. She would like us very much and she would be a new playtoy for us to bat around. I like cat toys.
Oh, spicking of cats, what is the long dreary saga with your feline roommates?
Piranha:
Too long to get into here. We are taking Charlie back to the sanctuary where we got her because I can’t take her peeing on our bed anymore. We’ve tried everything within our power to get her to stop (not to mention have spend boatloads of money as well) and nothing has helped. I feel horrible but at this point I don’t feel like we have a choice. Girl-Child is upset but is taking it better than I thought. I think it will hit her harder once Hubby leaves with her Saturday. Argh!
Piranha:
Subject: Elbow Snot
Yo! I saw your post on FB last night about your iphone…that’s pretty rotten! Do you know who stole it? How did it happen? Will your work supply another one?
Are you and The Husband considering joining us at the winery this Saturday after the shop closes for the day? Just wonderin…
Me:
yes, no, yes, no, yes
Here is my long sad saga, because I'm not going to get any work done today, that's clear. Today is my Monday, said in sad, dreary tones. I like the word dreary and have been using it a lot lately. Is that an old lady word? I'm sure it is because I rock the old lady vernacular. I speak old ladyeese. Just shy of knitting, I'd say, dearie.
Soooo... (personal information deleted for privacy reasons, but it was long and detailed and boring and pointless to the whole story. It explained why Hubby and his mother were not tending the shop for the day)
During all this hooplah I took a day off work so I could cover the shop whilst Hubby and his madre galavanted around the town of Union. It was a pleasant change of pace and I was having a wonderful day, as all wistful stories go. Hubby showed up around 2pm once he was done with his mom and at that point it seemed we had rush hour in the shop, people crowding in asking questions, wanting to buy stuff. A guy comes in and is looking for a table to put a chess board on so I take him to the back of the shop and point out a few pieces that might work. Hubby stays at the counter supervising the old woman who can't decide which basket of vines she wants. The woman was oblivious to the guy who was there before her and just assumed we were going to drop everything to help her first. Somehow I juggled the two customers at the same time. He kept pulling me away from the counter to look at stuff, but she was too. Clearly this was taking too long and a second guy came into the shop and I had no indication that these guys knew each other, just happenstance that two, young (late 20's) black guys at the same time were in our predominately old white woman customer based shop. Well, rude granny completes her major purchase of a vine in a basket and goes her merry way. The guys make their way to the back of the store feigning interest in an old, oversized TV which eventually draws Hubby out of his seat. I lug out the extension cord to prove it works and the second guy wants to look at his car to see if it will fit. Woohoo the TV works, first guy says he has to show this to the second guy and leaves the shop. Other customers come in and I go about taking care of them. Hubby walks outside to help assess the size of they guys' car - not a soul to be seen, no car leaving the lot, no black guys milling around. Hmmmm... that's odd, where did they go?
I finish up with the next set of customers and want to check my email like I was doing before the big rush and the phone is nowhere to be seen. I knew immediately that it had been stolen because I know where I left it. I had lost all concept of time being in the shop but fortunately there was that old woman's purchase on a credit card that happened in the midst of all of this so I pulled the receipt to give a specific time to the cop. Neither Hubby or I can describe the first guy even though we had the most interaction with him, but the second guy did stand out because he had a line of tattoos around his neckline. Doubt I could pick out either one of them in a line-up which is unfortunate. But we did give a better description than any of the previous victims.... uh yeah, I wasn't the first.
Today is "special" because the phone system in the office is kaput so I can't call the police to give them the serial number of the phone that was stolen. AUUUUUGGGGHHHH!!!!
Let's see, what were your other questions?
I won't get a "new" phone a replacement as there wasn't any insurance on it, but I still have my old phone that was notorious for dropping calls. Once our office lines are up and running we'll get my old iPhone reactivated.
As long as it's not icky gross outside on Saturday, yes, we are definitely up for a little winery escapism. Hopefully it's not a hilly location that requires Hubby to do a lot of walking. He has seriously injured both knees and can barely get around.
Piranha:
Holy snot…what an ordeal! I hope they catch the phuckers…I’m tired of me, my family and my friends being on the other side of ripped off.
I, too, am fascinated with old ladyese…interspersed with a mixture of 60’s and 70’s lingo of course. I’m a dork.
It sounds like you NEED a trip to the winery! Do you need me to make an appointment with our knee guy so your hubby can start working on a knee replacement? Maybe him and Mickalicious can get a two for one deal!
It suck being old.
Me:
It DO suck being old (read your last line)
A winery sounds great to me. I'm going to try to get Numnuts to join us. She would like us very much and she would be a new playtoy for us to bat around. I like cat toys.
Oh, spicking of cats, what is the long dreary saga with your feline roommates?
Piranha:
Too long to get into here. We are taking Charlie back to the sanctuary where we got her because I can’t take her peeing on our bed anymore. We’ve tried everything within our power to get her to stop (not to mention have spend boatloads of money as well) and nothing has helped. I feel horrible but at this point I don’t feel like we have a choice. Girl-Child is upset but is taking it better than I thought. I think it will hit her harder once Hubby leaves with her Saturday. Argh!
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Nothing Good Ever Falls From The Ceiling
I get the following email this morning from the beloved Piranha:
I respond:
AND THEN... Twenty minute later I had to send this message:
Piranha:
Me:
Okay, I am seriously freaking out. I was just sitting here at my desk minding my own business when a phucking SPIDER fell from above and landed on my chest…I heard it HIT!!! IT FELT LIKE IT FELL FROM MY HAIR!!!!!!!
I rolled my chair back and it fell on the floor so I squooshed it. Blech!
I told my boss she’s lucky she didn’t hear me scream but if it happens again, I don’t think I will be able to contain it.
>shudder * shudder * shudder * shudder<
I respond:
THAT is ooky. The chick in the office next me had a COCKROACH fall from the ceiling onto her keyboard!!!!
NOTHING that falls from the ceiling is ever good. Cuz you sure as hell don't hear about MONEY falling from the ceiling or Brad Pitt? Nope it's always something with more legs than necessary that they like to show in scary movies.
You may quote my profound thought for the day: NOTHING GOOD EVER FALLS FROM THE CEILING.
You're welcome. I might blog about that today. So thank you!
AND THEN... Twenty minute later I had to send this message:
OH MY MUTHER EFFING GOD!!!! AN EFFING COKCKROACH JUST SAUNTERED THROUGH MY FURKING OFFICE! WHAT THE FORK?????
Fortunately someone was standing there and saw it first so I didn't have to burst out into Ned Flanders screams and she squooshed it for me.
WOMAN, KEEP YOUR BAD BUG JUJU OVER THERE!
Piranha:
Ha! Hahahahahahahahahaha!
I guess I won’t tell you that I flushed a toilet yesterday morning and it overflowed all over the place. THAT was also a fun start to my morning!!
Let’s just go home…
Me:
I'm skeered. The toilet might overflow.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Friday Fragments - July 22, 2011
HAPPY FRIDAY!!!
Saturday was the baby shower. Winnie The Pooh is the nursery theme so the expecting couple (yes boys were at the shower!!!) received a lot of Pooh. Grandma here had to interject a little of her favorite character, TIGGER! He's so obnoxious, just like me.
On the way home I saw this guy:
Yes, he is driving with his foot dangling out of the window. Does anyone else hear their mother screaming that a big truck is going to come by and chop his foot off????
Monday I met up with one of my internet friends. She and her family were in town for a mini vacation, taking the kids to the zoo, Grants Farm, and the Magic House (a science museum for little kids, very interactive). I was hoping to take her to a local favorite Ted Drewes for frozen custard but there isn't any place for indoor dining. After spending the day at the zoo, my husband figured she probably would appreciate someplace with air conditioning. So we opted for dinner at Culvers. I still got some frozen custard, but best of all was sitting with a friend and catching up on life since we last saw each other. This is the second internet friend my husband has met and I think he's finally getting that this group of women may be crazy in their own right, but they aren't scary crazy.
We have three planters filled with six foot tall tomato plants. Last week we had twenty close-to-ripe tomatoes. One morning we got up and every damn tomato was GONE. My husband was CONVINCED a person had stolen our precious tomatoes, but I suspected raccoons. He argued there wasn't any half eaten fruit laying on the ground, it had to be a person. Closer inspection shows broken branches where a chubby beast balanced on the planter rims, holding onto the tomato cage to pluck his golden prizes. We have another twenty tomatoes, much smaller this time. I'm not sure what I can do to battle raccoons. I'm thinking bringing back the predators, AKA three big dogs, to my backyard might save the tomatoes. Otherwise I'm going to have to check into chicken wire, bells, a scarecrow and rigged spikes of death.
Not much else is going on in my little world. It's hot. The news talking about the heat isn't making it any less hot. I'm grateful to be stuck in an office with bone chilling cold at the moment. I remember too well when I worked for the school district, lugging computers through closed up buildings with the AC off for the summer. Sitting in the stifling rooms, reconfiguring the systems, chugging gallons of water, and my kneecaps sweating.
In six months I'll be bitching about the freezing temps. By the way, I can tolerate the heat much much better than the cold.
Saturday was the baby shower. Winnie The Pooh is the nursery theme so the expecting couple (yes boys were at the shower!!!) received a lot of Pooh. Grandma here had to interject a little of her favorite character, TIGGER! He's so obnoxious, just like me.
On the way home I saw this guy:
Monday I met up with one of my internet friends. She and her family were in town for a mini vacation, taking the kids to the zoo, Grants Farm, and the Magic House (a science museum for little kids, very interactive). I was hoping to take her to a local favorite Ted Drewes for frozen custard but there isn't any place for indoor dining. After spending the day at the zoo, my husband figured she probably would appreciate someplace with air conditioning. So we opted for dinner at Culvers. I still got some frozen custard, but best of all was sitting with a friend and catching up on life since we last saw each other. This is the second internet friend my husband has met and I think he's finally getting that this group of women may be crazy in their own right, but they aren't scary crazy.
We have three planters filled with six foot tall tomato plants. Last week we had twenty close-to-ripe tomatoes. One morning we got up and every damn tomato was GONE. My husband was CONVINCED a person had stolen our precious tomatoes, but I suspected raccoons. He argued there wasn't any half eaten fruit laying on the ground, it had to be a person. Closer inspection shows broken branches where a chubby beast balanced on the planter rims, holding onto the tomato cage to pluck his golden prizes. We have another twenty tomatoes, much smaller this time. I'm not sure what I can do to battle raccoons. I'm thinking bringing back the predators, AKA three big dogs, to my backyard might save the tomatoes. Otherwise I'm going to have to check into chicken wire, bells, a scarecrow and rigged spikes of death.
Not much else is going on in my little world. It's hot. The news talking about the heat isn't making it any less hot. I'm grateful to be stuck in an office with bone chilling cold at the moment. I remember too well when I worked for the school district, lugging computers through closed up buildings with the AC off for the summer. Sitting in the stifling rooms, reconfiguring the systems, chugging gallons of water, and my kneecaps sweating.
In six months I'll be bitching about the freezing temps. By the way, I can tolerate the heat much much better than the cold.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Birthday Party Blog Hop - Other People's Birthdays
A couple weeks ago we threw a surprise party for dear friend, Ripcord. She's the youngster of the group, just now turning 40. Her husband took her out to dinner with two other couples while the rest of us loaded up on a trolley. Oh we were a sight to behold pulling up to the front of the restaurant. We had EVERYONE'S attention, EXCEPT birthday girl. She's such a dipshit.
We loaded up, took the kids to Ted Drewes for frozen custard and the tooled around town after ditching the kids (at a house with supervision - geez, we're not THAT bad of parents). We didn't cover as much of the town as hoped, but it didn't really matter with four coolers stocked with beer.
Somebody mentioned that there is a new bar with a mechanical bull and that got the birthday girl all excited, so we HAD TO GO.
She was surprised, everyone had fun, and it was not like anyone else's birthday ever! I think that makes it a success.
We loaded up, took the kids to Ted Drewes for frozen custard and the tooled around town after ditching the kids (at a house with supervision - geez, we're not THAT bad of parents). We didn't cover as much of the town as hoped, but it didn't really matter with four coolers stocked with beer.
Somebody mentioned that there is a new bar with a mechanical bull and that got the birthday girl all excited, so we HAD TO GO.
(random picture from another bar, Sybergs)
She was surprised, everyone had fun, and it was not like anyone else's birthday ever! I think that makes it a success.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Birthday Party Blog Hop - Local Celebrations
St. Louis is chock full of celebrations. Each of the little municipalities in the area have their own festivals and then the city of St. Louis hosts most of the bigger parties. Almost all of these are excuses to drink publicly - and St. Louisans love their beer (emphasis on local beer, specifically AB products).
Mardi Gras = drinking event
Cindo De Mayo = drinking event
Rib America (Memorial Day) = drinking event
Fourth of July = drinking event
Oktoberfest = drinking event
And of course, Saint Patrick's Day = HUGE drinking event
The Saturday previous to March 17 is the downtown parade and then on actual St. Patrick's Day is the Hiberian's Parade through Dogtown (one of the many neighborhoods of the city). All of the bars open in the morning and many do serve GREEN BEER.
We like to go to the downtown parade
Yes, we have St. Pat's beads!
Mardi Gras = drinking event
Cindo De Mayo = drinking event
Rib America (Memorial Day) = drinking event
Fourth of July = drinking event
Oktoberfest = drinking event
And of course, Saint Patrick's Day = HUGE drinking event
The Saturday previous to March 17 is the downtown parade and then on actual St. Patrick's Day is the Hiberian's Parade through Dogtown (one of the many neighborhoods of the city). All of the bars open in the morning and many do serve GREEN BEER.
We like to go to the downtown parade
Sunday, April 03, 2011
A Friend Passed Away
David passed away this morning as his family made the difficult decision to remove him from life support. On Friday he was found at the bottom of his stairs. They're unsure if he had an anneurism before or after he fell.
He leaves behind three beautiful daughters, several grandchildren, and many many friends who will all miss him dearly.
David was one of the best guys you could ever know. He was kind and soft spoken, but always ready to gather with friends and have a good laugh. I cannot recall him ever saying a hurtful word.
Clearly, only the good die young.
Dave, I wish we kept in touch these past few years. Everyone has been asking about you. We miss you so much and kick ourselves for not getting the chance to see you one more time. Your girls are so lucky to have you as their guardian angel to shield them as only a father could. Please pass our way in your heavenly travels and stop in for a drink.
He leaves behind three beautiful daughters, several grandchildren, and many many friends who will all miss him dearly.
David was one of the best guys you could ever know. He was kind and soft spoken, but always ready to gather with friends and have a good laugh. I cannot recall him ever saying a hurtful word.
Clearly, only the good die young.
Dave, I wish we kept in touch these past few years. Everyone has been asking about you. We miss you so much and kick ourselves for not getting the chance to see you one more time. Your girls are so lucky to have you as their guardian angel to shield them as only a father could. Please pass our way in your heavenly travels and stop in for a drink.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Booger Boys
Piranha and I have been passing notes since 8th grade so when email was invented we were all over that and have transformed our communication from folded paper passed in the hall to covert messages in the middle of work.
I'll change names and any identifying stuff but otherwise I'm keeping the text in tact and you have to fend for yourself. Enjoy the ride.....
December 3, 2009
Subject: Booger Boys
QQ:
How's life chica? Work going smashingly? Got your shopping done?
[Big Girl] like her new car?
Can you tell I'm trying to avoid work?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Piranha:
Life: BUSY!
Work: kinda slow...
Shopping: ALMOST!!! Only a couple more gifts to go!
[Big Girls]'s Car: She's over the moon.
Ha ha...does that sum it up? I left out the fact that [Husband] is at
home today because the stupid Stratus wouldn't start this morning so
he has to get a new battery. (SO not in the budget.) AND, one of
the cats is pissing all over the beds and since we think it's Rocky,
he's going to the vet today to get his bladder checked. (Also, SO
not in the budget.) [Husband] is monster.coming jobs in South Carolina
as we speak. (It's something we've been thinking about for quite
awhile.) Probably won't happen for awhile but you never know!
Is it Sangria Saturday yet?????
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
QQ:
sangria saturday cannot come soon enough! You do not have permission
to move away so just get that notion out of your pointy little head
right now. Unless you're buying enough property to make a commune for
all of us drunks. Then it would be okay and you can keep THAT
thought in your pointy little head. But that's it. okay?
Just found out that the struts on my new maxima are being recalled so
we have to go get that taken care of soon before the bottom falls out
of my NEW car.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Piranha
Cars suck and I DO NOT have a pointy head! It's shaped more like an upside down pear. (At least it is in the world according to [Youngest Child].)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
QQ:
I didn't say WHICH end was pointy. You just assumed the top.
I'll change names and any identifying stuff but otherwise I'm keeping the text in tact and you have to fend for yourself. Enjoy the ride.....
December 3, 2009
Subject: Booger Boys
QQ:
How's life chica? Work going smashingly? Got your shopping done?
[Big Girl] like her new car?
Can you tell I'm trying to avoid work?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Piranha:
Life: BUSY!
Work: kinda slow...
Shopping: ALMOST!!! Only a couple more gifts to go!
[Big Girls]'s Car: She's over the moon.
Ha ha...does that sum it up? I left out the fact that [Husband] is at
home today because the stupid Stratus wouldn't start this morning so
he has to get a new battery. (SO not in the budget.) AND, one of
the cats is pissing all over the beds and since we think it's Rocky,
he's going to the vet today to get his bladder checked. (Also, SO
not in the budget.) [Husband] is monster.coming jobs in South Carolina
as we speak. (It's something we've been thinking about for quite
awhile.) Probably won't happen for awhile but you never know!
Is it Sangria Saturday yet?????
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
QQ:
sangria saturday cannot come soon enough! You do not have permission
to move away so just get that notion out of your pointy little head
right now. Unless you're buying enough property to make a commune for
all of us drunks. Then it would be okay and you can keep THAT
thought in your pointy little head. But that's it. okay?
Just found out that the struts on my new maxima are being recalled so
we have to go get that taken care of soon before the bottom falls out
of my NEW car.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Piranha
Cars suck and I DO NOT have a pointy head! It's shaped more like an upside down pear. (At least it is in the world according to [Youngest Child].)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
QQ:
I didn't say WHICH end was pointy. You just assumed the top.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Friday Fragments - March 18, 2011
Fridays are such fun days! Wednesday was my Friday this week since I took yesterday and today off work. My coworkers could definitely tell I was suffering from Friday-itis. So today, on the real Friday, I get to share all of my bits and pieces of the previous week. Let's all tip a hat to Mrs. 4444's at Half Past Kissing Time for allowing us a chance to share.
Saturday was my son's All-Star game. His team placed 4th out of 5 for the season. In the game the first and fifth place teams were grouped to play against the other 3 teams. My son's group won! This is his fourth year playing floor hockey and he has come such a long way. I think he's finally growing into his body - he no longer runs like Forest Gump.
Over the weekend I was bragging on the work I was doing for the company's website. As I was doing a bit of show and tell I discovered a HUGE problem with how it displays in Internet Explorer. I spent all day Sunday researching the problem and it turns out IE is a royal pain in the ass for web design. Do yourselves a huge favor and move over to a different web browser like Mozilla's firefox so you can properly see web pages the way the designers intended. After a lot of arm wrestling with the code I finally conquered the problem. I'm quite proud of myself.
Sunday was also the day of Patty's living wake. She has been told her cancer is terminal and the doctors have run out of options so she decided to hold her wake before she goes. Like several of her internet friends I was unable to go to Phoenix for the party so we lifted a few glasses of vino in her honor. It sounds like the party was a lot of fun.
I can't stop thinking about Patty. She has fought this disease tooth and nail and I am certain that her fighting spirit is what has kept her here. She posts every morning on Facebook, greeting the day with a smile and words of happiness. The world is a better place with Patty in it.
We woke up on Monday to a fluffy layer of snow. Although it was gone by afternoon everyone was grumpy about it. Personally I thought it was beautiful. I'm a little miffed that I failed to take a picture of it because it really was beautiful.
I am smack dab in the middle of "busy season" at work. Doesn't it sound like I'm a tax accountant or something? There are just a ton of projects coming at me from all directions so I decided to take a tiny break and come up for air since the next 30 days will be go go go go go. It has already affected me in the blogging world as I am skipping several days of posting and have all but stopped visiting all of you. It makes me sad, I miss you. I promise to be back, just give me a little time.
*************
Saturday was my son's All-Star game. His team placed 4th out of 5 for the season. In the game the first and fifth place teams were grouped to play against the other 3 teams. My son's group won! This is his fourth year playing floor hockey and he has come such a long way. I think he's finally growing into his body - he no longer runs like Forest Gump.
*************
Over the weekend I was bragging on the work I was doing for the company's website. As I was doing a bit of show and tell I discovered a HUGE problem with how it displays in Internet Explorer. I spent all day Sunday researching the problem and it turns out IE is a royal pain in the ass for web design. Do yourselves a huge favor and move over to a different web browser like Mozilla's firefox so you can properly see web pages the way the designers intended. After a lot of arm wrestling with the code I finally conquered the problem. I'm quite proud of myself.
*************
Sunday was also the day of Patty's living wake. She has been told her cancer is terminal and the doctors have run out of options so she decided to hold her wake before she goes. Like several of her internet friends I was unable to go to Phoenix for the party so we lifted a few glasses of vino in her honor. It sounds like the party was a lot of fun.
I can't stop thinking about Patty. She has fought this disease tooth and nail and I am certain that her fighting spirit is what has kept her here. She posts every morning on Facebook, greeting the day with a smile and words of happiness. The world is a better place with Patty in it.
*************
We woke up on Monday to a fluffy layer of snow. Although it was gone by afternoon everyone was grumpy about it. Personally I thought it was beautiful. I'm a little miffed that I failed to take a picture of it because it really was beautiful.
*************
I am smack dab in the middle of "busy season" at work. Doesn't it sound like I'm a tax accountant or something? There are just a ton of projects coming at me from all directions so I decided to take a tiny break and come up for air since the next 30 days will be go go go go go. It has already affected me in the blogging world as I am skipping several days of posting and have all but stopped visiting all of you. It makes me sad, I miss you. I promise to be back, just give me a little time.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
What were you doing ten years ago???
I have a little note about some off the wall stories I thought I would share on my blog one day. Well, this particular one has been listed for a mighty long time and it just struck me that this week is its ten year anniversary!
Have you ever wondered where "QandleQueen" came from? Well, once upon a time, like ten years ago, I called my old college friend who was a PartyLite candle representative to schedule a party which rarely ever happens in the home party world. She said, as is the procedure like upselling french fries, "have you ever thought about selling PartyLite?"
I was adamant that I did not want any part of being a sales rep. Nope. Back in 1989 I signed up to sell Tupperware and I had all sorts of problems. Not with the product, mind you, but personal issues like an unsupportive husband and two toddlers underfoot who always wanted my undivided attention the second I got on the telephone to make a sales call. It was difficult and I had a real problem juggling a home-based business and home life. No way was I interested in diving back into that world.
On Thursday before the party I had over $500 in outside sales. Something clicked and I started to consider that outrageous question. Maybe I could be a rep? My life had certainly changed and I really needed a second job. We turned my Saturday night candle party into a starter party, launching my six year career as a rep. I loved it and actually made money! Qandle is a play on "candle". **and the crowd goes OOOOHHHH!*
Now the more memorable part of the evening happened after the party was tallied. My regular drinking crew was in attendance and really aren't that keen on demonstration parties. They came for the promised after-party. We packed the candles away and headed to a bar. We drank, we danced. we laughed. We had a fabulous time!
At the table we were loud and attracted a lot of attention. The manager visited our table several times, not to tell us to pipe down, but to join in the fun. Hey, we're fun people! We tossed ice cubes into each others mouths and laughed and laughed and laughed.
Unfortunately the bouncer was not nearly as amused with our antics as we were. His grumpy scowl was cast in our direction several times. He even came over to the table and asked us to tone it down. WHAT??? Dude, this is not a fucking library, lighten up. If we were making a mess or damaging property or starting fights, we would have understood, but we were just having a good time and not hurting anyone.
Then he came over and told me how immature my friends are. REALLY? SOOOOO?????
Well, it was time to leave any way so my two bestest buds were going to show him "immature". We were told to wait at the table and hold their purses while Piranha and Booty waltzed out the door past Grumpy, waving toodle-loo.
And they each bent down
And started doing
CARTWHEELS
O.M.G.
The spectacularly tiny Booty did perfectly executed cartwheels down the length of the sidewalk and above the tiny part of the window that wasn't painted we could see her feet flip past. We roared with laughter.
The tall and gangly Piranha had never mastered a cheerleader quality cartwheel and did the strangest... flop... down the sidewalk. We only caught glimpses of her flailing legs.
That genuinely killed us DEAD
As I walked out of the bar, still laughing, the grumpy bouncer stopped me and said that his four year old daughter was more mature than my friends.
Really?
Bite me
Have you ever wondered where "QandleQueen" came from? Well, once upon a time, like ten years ago, I called my old college friend who was a PartyLite candle representative to schedule a party which rarely ever happens in the home party world. She said, as is the procedure like upselling french fries, "have you ever thought about selling PartyLite?"
I was adamant that I did not want any part of being a sales rep. Nope. Back in 1989 I signed up to sell Tupperware and I had all sorts of problems. Not with the product, mind you, but personal issues like an unsupportive husband and two toddlers underfoot who always wanted my undivided attention the second I got on the telephone to make a sales call. It was difficult and I had a real problem juggling a home-based business and home life. No way was I interested in diving back into that world.
On Thursday before the party I had over $500 in outside sales. Something clicked and I started to consider that outrageous question. Maybe I could be a rep? My life had certainly changed and I really needed a second job. We turned my Saturday night candle party into a starter party, launching my six year career as a rep. I loved it and actually made money! Qandle is a play on "candle". **and the crowd goes OOOOHHHH!*
Now the more memorable part of the evening happened after the party was tallied. My regular drinking crew was in attendance and really aren't that keen on demonstration parties. They came for the promised after-party. We packed the candles away and headed to a bar. We drank, we danced. we laughed. We had a fabulous time!
At the table we were loud and attracted a lot of attention. The manager visited our table several times, not to tell us to pipe down, but to join in the fun. Hey, we're fun people! We tossed ice cubes into each others mouths and laughed and laughed and laughed.
Unfortunately the bouncer was not nearly as amused with our antics as we were. His grumpy scowl was cast in our direction several times. He even came over to the table and asked us to tone it down. WHAT??? Dude, this is not a fucking library, lighten up. If we were making a mess or damaging property or starting fights, we would have understood, but we were just having a good time and not hurting anyone.
Then he came over and told me how immature my friends are. REALLY? SOOOOO?????
Well, it was time to leave any way so my two bestest buds were going to show him "immature". We were told to wait at the table and hold their purses while Piranha and Booty waltzed out the door past Grumpy, waving toodle-loo.
And they each bent down
And started doing
CARTWHEELS
O.M.G.
The spectacularly tiny Booty did perfectly executed cartwheels down the length of the sidewalk and above the tiny part of the window that wasn't painted we could see her feet flip past. We roared with laughter.
The tall and gangly Piranha had never mastered a cheerleader quality cartwheel and did the strangest... flop... down the sidewalk. We only caught glimpses of her flailing legs.
That genuinely killed us DEAD
As I walked out of the bar, still laughing, the grumpy bouncer stopped me and said that his four year old daughter was more mature than my friends.
Really?
Bite me
Friday, January 21, 2011
Friday Fragments - January 21, 201
WHEW! What a week!
*I had a friend from Chicago arrive last Friday night to spend a few days away from the chaos of her home. Don't we all need a break every so often? I think I could use a weekend in Chicago... SOON! It was fun to spend a few hours with her catching up and then driving around St. Louis. We didn't stop anywhere to play like real tourists, but we cruised through town and I managed to get some fairly awesome pictures from the backseat - check out last Sunday's post.
*Saturday night we attended our annual Sangria Party. Didn't we just hold a sangria party back in September??? It may be an annual party, but WHEN in the year it happens is a crap shoot. It was a ton of fun. Our adult sized daughters were able to reconnect and while there was a judo demonstration in the middle of the livingroom, no one was hurt, offended or pissed off... at least when I left. My Chicago friend said we were a fun group and wants to come back for Sangria Party 2012 - whenever that may be.
*Monday our office was closed to observe the MLK holiday. I spent the day running errands as the rest of the weekend was consumed with playing with our guest and then recovering from Saturday night. I could use an extra day in my weekend. That was nice.
*Tuesday was HELL. It was the all-staff meeting which is always a stressful day for me with the bagillion requests that roll in with everyone converging on the office at the same time. But it was also the first day of the work week and Mondays for me never fit any known pattern except I usually walk into a shitstorm of someone else's making, frequently multiple shitstorms of multiple people's making. I've learned to not schedule anything or anticipate accomplishing anything on these days. Doing so keeps my stress down at least one notch.
*For several days the weather people have been predicting a doom and gloom snowstorm for the greater St. Louis area. The Husband made the mistake of going to the grocery store Wednesday morning, forgetting that the storm was barreling down on us. He said it was INSANE. A local DJ says days like this the grocery stores open the Panic Aisle, the last two checkouts that are usually stacked with overstock and other miscellaneous crap. Even with every checkout running the lines go all the way to the back of the store with people loading up on french toast supplies (bread, eggs, milk). And salt. Wednesday night the storm arrived and I have a few pictures that are sort of like a time lapse.
*Yesterday was BEAUTIFUL! There is close to seven inches on the ground. Just a few miles north people have close to a foot of snow. School was out and so was my office. I took the opportunity to take a walk, something I haven't done for MONTHS. I managed some really great photographs, but this one excites me the most..
This is the original shot and you can barely see the tiny bird, I think it's a chickadee.
After I attacked the shot in iPhoto, I got this!
Come back next week to find out how my next seven days go. In the meantime check out everyone else's fragments...
*I had a friend from Chicago arrive last Friday night to spend a few days away from the chaos of her home. Don't we all need a break every so often? I think I could use a weekend in Chicago... SOON! It was fun to spend a few hours with her catching up and then driving around St. Louis. We didn't stop anywhere to play like real tourists, but we cruised through town and I managed to get some fairly awesome pictures from the backseat - check out last Sunday's post.
*Saturday night we attended our annual Sangria Party. Didn't we just hold a sangria party back in September??? It may be an annual party, but WHEN in the year it happens is a crap shoot. It was a ton of fun. Our adult sized daughters were able to reconnect and while there was a judo demonstration in the middle of the livingroom, no one was hurt, offended or pissed off... at least when I left. My Chicago friend said we were a fun group and wants to come back for Sangria Party 2012 - whenever that may be.
*Monday our office was closed to observe the MLK holiday. I spent the day running errands as the rest of the weekend was consumed with playing with our guest and then recovering from Saturday night. I could use an extra day in my weekend. That was nice.
*Tuesday was HELL. It was the all-staff meeting which is always a stressful day for me with the bagillion requests that roll in with everyone converging on the office at the same time. But it was also the first day of the work week and Mondays for me never fit any known pattern except I usually walk into a shitstorm of someone else's making, frequently multiple shitstorms of multiple people's making. I've learned to not schedule anything or anticipate accomplishing anything on these days. Doing so keeps my stress down at least one notch.
*For several days the weather people have been predicting a doom and gloom snowstorm for the greater St. Louis area. The Husband made the mistake of going to the grocery store Wednesday morning, forgetting that the storm was barreling down on us. He said it was INSANE. A local DJ says days like this the grocery stores open the Panic Aisle, the last two checkouts that are usually stacked with overstock and other miscellaneous crap. Even with every checkout running the lines go all the way to the back of the store with people loading up on french toast supplies (bread, eggs, milk). And salt. Wednesday night the storm arrived and I have a few pictures that are sort of like a time lapse.
*Yesterday was BEAUTIFUL! There is close to seven inches on the ground. Just a few miles north people have close to a foot of snow. School was out and so was my office. I took the opportunity to take a walk, something I haven't done for MONTHS. I managed some really great photographs, but this one excites me the most..
This is the original shot and you can barely see the tiny bird, I think it's a chickadee.
After I attacked the shot in iPhoto, I got this!
Come back next week to find out how my next seven days go. In the meantime check out everyone else's fragments...
Sunday, January 02, 2011
Sunday In My City - January 2, 2011
WHEW! We made it! 2011 is here... HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
I spent ringing in the new year doing exactly what I have done for the past twenty years - drinking with my friends. Most of the pictures are out of focus but it's obvious what's going on (and I don't have to mess with photoshop to erase their faces - bonus!)
I spent ringing in the new year doing exactly what I have done for the past twenty years - drinking with my friends. Most of the pictures are out of focus but it's obvious what's going on (and I don't have to mess with photoshop to erase their faces - bonus!)
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
BEST Christmas Gift Story EVER
I just got off the phone with a friend and she was telling me about her visit to the hairdresser.
They were chit chatting about Christmas and the hairdresser was a little put out over the gift from her husband. Turns out he gave her a GUN.
And it wasn't even a pretty one and it was not PINK!
She did not want a gun but her husband felt she needed one with the late hours she works.
So what did she give him? Exactly what he asked for - cash.
My friend looked up at her and said, "you need to take that gun and tell him it's a stick up and take that cash away from him!"
Smart girl, that friend of mine.
They were chit chatting about Christmas and the hairdresser was a little put out over the gift from her husband. Turns out he gave her a GUN.
And it wasn't even a pretty one and it was not PINK!
She did not want a gun but her husband felt she needed one with the late hours she works.
So what did she give him? Exactly what he asked for - cash.
My friend looked up at her and said, "you need to take that gun and tell him it's a stick up and take that cash away from him!"
Smart girl, that friend of mine.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Friday Fragments - September 24, 2010
*It's currently 2 am and I woke up with a bit of math running through my head - in my circle of 5 friends we have 9 children, 8 of which were born vaginally, 1 caesearean. 1 friend has had nothing other than childbirth to her name. The other four of us have 5 lapriscopic procedures between us (two in the last 10 days) removing 4 body parts and one of us has had major abdominal surgery with a resulting sternum to woohoo railroad track scar. The babies happened in our 20's & 30's, the lapriscopic stuff in our 40's. Over the summer we were laughing at the husbands as they whined and complained about their various physical conditions and ailments. The next gathering of friends will have the women comparing scars and battle stories. In other words, we're getting old.
*Yesterday I had my follow-up appointment with my surgeon and received a clean bill of health. He doesn't expect to see me back with any complications - YAY!!! In case you didn't catch the news 2 weeks ago, I had my gall bladder out and my timing was perfect because it was in really bad shape. Doc and I agree that I'm probably not suffering any adverse affects as my body had probably already adjusted to the dumb thing not working. I'm back at work and although I'm moving much more slowly, doing quite well.
*Yesterday was also the grand opening FINALLY of our new business (explanation and pictures were posted yesterday). It was kind of a lack luster beginning, as I suspected. I really think today and tomorrow will be better. Once word gets out we will be rocking. Thank you everyone who posted their well wishes, it's truly appreciated.
*Monday was Talk Like A Pirate Day. I took the opportunity to change my facebook settings so that the language is "English - Pirate." Doing this amuses me to no end and so I haven't changed it back to regular ol American English yet. If you've never done it I challenge you to look it up (email me if you need directions)..... "Monday were Yak Like a Pirrrrate Festival. This scalywag happened upon the opportunity to change me facebook vessel to squawk like yon hearty pirrrrates. Wit' many deep belly laughs I gone and kept my squawkin so and not yet parlayed like yon yanks. Partake of the fun, matey, and if ye need any assistance to hoist yer sails just send yer parrot me way."
*Another bread thief moment (check out my labels for "CRIME" for previous attacks). On Tuesday was our staff meeting at work after which we had two full loaves of bread left over. At the end of the day they were in the kitchen. Wednesday morning we had only one loaf. We consumed not quite half at lunch as we noshed on yummy leftovers and maybe one or two slices were eaten later in the afternoon. If you're keeping score we should have a half loaf at the end of the day and we did. Thursday morning? GONE! Nothing else was missing, per usual. One woman asked if maybe one of our coworkers is suffering financially, but if that's the case, take more food, EAT. But the bread? Always the bread? And massive amounts of it? Nah, this is something different. We're ready to whip out the nanny cams.
*Yesterday I had my follow-up appointment with my surgeon and received a clean bill of health. He doesn't expect to see me back with any complications - YAY!!! In case you didn't catch the news 2 weeks ago, I had my gall bladder out and my timing was perfect because it was in really bad shape. Doc and I agree that I'm probably not suffering any adverse affects as my body had probably already adjusted to the dumb thing not working. I'm back at work and although I'm moving much more slowly, doing quite well.
*Yesterday was also the grand opening FINALLY of our new business (explanation and pictures were posted yesterday). It was kind of a lack luster beginning, as I suspected. I really think today and tomorrow will be better. Once word gets out we will be rocking. Thank you everyone who posted their well wishes, it's truly appreciated.
*Monday was Talk Like A Pirate Day. I took the opportunity to change my facebook settings so that the language is "English - Pirate." Doing this amuses me to no end and so I haven't changed it back to regular ol American English yet. If you've never done it I challenge you to look it up (email me if you need directions)..... "Monday were Yak Like a Pirrrrate Festival. This scalywag happened upon the opportunity to change me facebook vessel to squawk like yon hearty pirrrrates. Wit' many deep belly laughs I gone and kept my squawkin so and not yet parlayed like yon yanks. Partake of the fun, matey, and if ye need any assistance to hoist yer sails just send yer parrot me way."
*Another bread thief moment (check out my labels for "CRIME" for previous attacks). On Tuesday was our staff meeting at work after which we had two full loaves of bread left over. At the end of the day they were in the kitchen. Wednesday morning we had only one loaf. We consumed not quite half at lunch as we noshed on yummy leftovers and maybe one or two slices were eaten later in the afternoon. If you're keeping score we should have a half loaf at the end of the day and we did. Thursday morning? GONE! Nothing else was missing, per usual. One woman asked if maybe one of our coworkers is suffering financially, but if that's the case, take more food, EAT. But the bread? Always the bread? And massive amounts of it? Nah, this is something different. We're ready to whip out the nanny cams.
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