Sometimes You Forget

Last night was supper with my two best friends from college. I think it has likely been almost two years since the trio of us has sat down to a meal together. The other two had a falling out and well that made things a bit difficult. There was much fun and lots of laughs.

Also I forgot that girls can be quite um...crass when not in mixed company. We have decided to make this a monthly thing.

Quote of the Day

A mother is a person who, seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.

-Tenneva Jordan

Quote of the Day

A gossip is someone who talks to you about others; a bore is one who talks to you about himself; and a brilliant conversationalist is one who talks to you about yourself.

-Lisa Kirk

Car Wash

     So if it rains you can all thank me. I went and washed the Toyota at lunch today. She purred and was very pleased to be shiny again.

     I also had one of those strange realizations where you have to stop what your doing and concentrate on the enormity of what your mind just revealed to you. So simple, and yet it never occured to you before. It was good I was in line at Subway when this happened, or I might have been in an accident.

Quote of the Day

Not that anyone cares, but there's a right and wrong way to clean a house.

-Joan Crawford

What I learned today

     In regards to having followers the progression is minion who is above a toady. Minions generally get paid and are useful.  A toady is above a lackey. A toady aspires to be a toady and the usefulness is debatable. A lackey is really not all that bright but perhaps tries hard? I hear a rumor that a chart exists with lips and bums but it has yet to materialize.

Quote of the Day

Nobody can make you feel inferior without your permission.
-Eleanor Roosevelt

This NEVER Happens

There was a parenting class this past weekend that as terms of the divorce we had to attend. It was strange and unusual for us to be the most functional couple in the room. Did I mention it wasn't even a close thing? There were several times when we exchanged horrified glances at some of the things other people were saying.

Quote of the Day

Inside me lives a skinny woman crying to get out. But I can usually shut her up with cookies.
(Unknown)

Expanding the Horizons

     Sushi. The Friday crew decided on sushi for lunch today. I winced a bit and the girls were very nice to my fragile little ego and decided to make me feel like going would be fun. I just had to smile when one of the boys decided to pick on me saying I was one of the last people he expected to see going out for sushi.

     I wasn't sure how brave I was feeling so I did the really chicken thing. I mean *ahem* I ordered chicken tempura and then off the side menu decided the thing that sounded least objectionable based on a conversation with a friend before hand would be tuna. So I ordered tuna rolls, and I even tried the miso soup. It was ok but why waste time on things in life that are just ok?

     I waited and eventually on one big platter all the sushi came as did the main dishes and the boat that another girl ordered. I didn't hate it, but I found the smell off-putting. I had one tuna roll and gave 2 away and have 3 in the fridge that I will likely give to willing targets tonight at the game. I might even try another one.

     Did I mention they don't believe in giving out real silverware? Yes I am much comedy relief with chopsticks and a bowl of rice. Sometimes being too vain to ask for a fork and forcing yourself to use chopsticks is good. Other times its just funny or sad, but I am leaning toward funny.

Quote of the Day

You can always find a better cupcake. Keep looking.

-Lauren Antler

Dumb it Down

I am working on Canadian tax stuff today so for those of you who interact with me today please don't expect much more than - fire bad, tree pretty today.

Saturday at the winery and beach

I was excited as there was believed to be many rieslings on the menu for sampling but alas when we got there there were none. I went down the wine list and said nope I won't like anything there and let everyone else sample while I wondered around the little shop they had.
After the wine we went to the beach, yes the beach in Massachusetts in March. Yes it was cold, and there were coats, and for the less vain stocking caps. I didn't use the stocking cap but did have an interesting fight with my borrowed pullover. Maybe putting that on over the t-shirt and jacket I was wearing was not such a good idea. Trying to get it off without accidentally being a show was challenging.
I was able to resist the urge to throw my shoes off and run and play in the water. It was a near thing. Others did fall pray to the temptation and I have pictures, ok so I didn't get the pictures the first time so I stole shoes and ran until they agreed to the photo.
We had what seemed like a long drive back to Mansfield and I fell asleep. I am not sure why with all the fun and not sleeping well how could I have been tired? There was a fondue party that night and it was lots of fun and more food was served. I have some photos of the night that I can use to bribe several people should I ever walk to the evil side.

Quote of the Day

I don't believe in e-mail. I'm an old-fashioned girl. I prefer calling and hanging up.

Carrie ( Sarah Jessica Parker), in Sex in the City

Today I am a Luddite

     I forgot my cellphone today so I am living a simpler life. I am hoping no one from work is trying to get in touch with me today because they will have to instead walk to my desk...the horror. The silly remodel is supposed to be done by middle of May now. I have doubts.

More on the Trip

Friday we went to the Aquarium and getting there turned into an adventure. I think we spent most of the night having fun so we didn't exactly roll out of bed as early as the schedule had hoped. Add to this we did showers in reverse order from the earlier day which left me in the shower last and well I was being girly and did tend to slow the group up but all of us were showered and out the door in under 90 minutes and that included having breakfast.
We went to the subway and as we were late we decided to hop into a cab and try that route. It was actually a nice change of pace to see the city as we drove through it. We got to meet the catherders and spent the day at the aquarium until they were closing the place down. I guess there was an incident with a jelly tank but as I was still using my powers on the sting rays and mesmerized by the huge tank in the middle I wasn't with the group when that happened.
After we left there we went to Chinatown in search of pastries. Many were found and purchased and then we 'went to the zoo' as the catherders drove us back to the car at the subway stop. Mr. Catherder much more patient than I likely would have been. I did get my fresh swordfish that night and wow was it good.
I spent that night in a room of well I am trying not to think about that or to remember things I am still trying to forget. The wood burning stove in the room was nice and toasty.

Quote of the Day

Why is it that everything painful to women begins with the male gender: men-opause, men-tal illness, men-strual cycle and hys-terectomy?

-Diana Jordon

Science or Art

We decided the way of duking it out would be a challenging game of rock, paper, scissors. We being the royal we of course, me. I won so we went to the Fine Arts Museum. We were all together for a few exibits until I looked around and realized that the boys had left me and I had a choice of 4 rooms where they might be and didn't see them in any of the rooms. I wondered then towards the pretty art and eventually we all found each other again.

Question

     Someone said this to me today - True or False?

People love you or they hate you.  No one is ever in­dif­fer­ent.

Doomed!

     I seem to be surrounding myself with introverts lately. This is frustrating for me as I draw my energy from them and while I am recharged, I seem to leave them drained. To the introverts - I apologize.

Quote of the Day

To gain that which is worth having, it may be necessary to lose everything else.

-Bernadette Devlin McAliskey

Back to Reality

The vacation is over and while the weather is a bit warmer. I will miss the company.

 

My programmer has said out loud that she only has two questions. I think I should hide now and avoid the rush.

We Have Arrived In NH

     So BD and I were crazy enough to catch a 7 am flight out of Denver. We flew to Philly where we had to grab some lunch quick and what makes more sense then to get Philly Sandwiches in Phlly? So that's what we did quickly while we waited for our connection. We arrived at the airport and were able to spot the person picking us up if for no other reason then the thick book he was holding.
     I called it an early night while the boys stayed up and did whatever boys do when girls aren't around. This also means I was up before anyone else and was able to get the first shower! It also means rummaging around cupboards to find towels but I managed.
     I think today BD and I are going to duke it out to see if we are going to the Art Museum or Science Museum.

Ah...the sounds of Job security

     I asked my boss who was covering while he was standing at my co-workers desks. The gentle sounds of fighting over who would have to do my stuff while I was gone filled the air. I did let this go on for a bit before letting them know there wasn't anything to be done, but if a short time frame came in the programmer had to give the project to someone. I probably enjoy that they hate my job a bit too much but it's job security right?

In the Roomie We Trust

I took her shopping with me last night to help spend the last of my birthday money and we had much success. She bought a magnetic earring that she is going to put in her nose to purposely make the administration where she works twitch during their staff meeting. Her little rebellion and I think it's amusing.
Last night she started the talk I have heard several times in the last month - When are you going to let me take you to my hair stylist. This is the point where I gambled and lost because she's wily. I said oh sure if she can fit me in tomorrow I'll go. This was while we were on the road going to the mall, so I thought maybe she won't have the number. She made a call and well made an appointment for today after she is off work so she can come along. I am not sure if it is to support me or the poor stylist.

So today I am a trusting soul, and later today I will be either reaffirmed in my trust or quite sorry.

I keep expecting that any moment there's going to be a manual that shows up on my bed that explains how to be a girly girl and there will be highlighted sections and a test.

I imagine I will be so distracted by packing that either way I won't notice. Zombie like in the morning as I have to be on a 7 am flight. Ugly math as to when that means getting out of bed.

I should thank NY Kate as last night I got my boots out to throw into the suitcase and remembered to fill them with things to make the space they take up more useful. I really suck at packing. I wonder if there is a remedial class for it.


 

Wisdom of Married Men

I am laughing so hard this morning that I am practically crying. I am
learning much about how men process information living in this bullpen
at work. One confided that there are a hundred ways that women tell
men to shut up and their job is just to listen and walk away when that
happens. The other one who has been married a few less years but still
a long time admitted that life is easier - if everything is something
he is sorry for. His example - traffic is bad and they are going to be
late - the first thing he does is apologize for traffic. He knows it
has nothing to do with him but it's easier to preemptively apologize
and cut off any problem right there. There was insight gained.

Quote of the Day

Men think monogamy is something you make dining tables out of.
-Kathy Lette

Sometimes It's Easy to Forget

In April, Maya Angelou was interviewed by Oprah on her 70+ birthday.
Oprah asked her what she thought of growing older.
And, there on television, she said it was "exciting." Regarding body
changes, she said there were many, occurring every day...like her
breasts
They seem to be in a race to see which will reach her waist, first.
The audience laughed so hard they cried. She is such a simple and
honest woman, with so much wisdom in her words!
Maya Angelou said this:
"I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today,
life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow."
"I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she
handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled
Christmas tree lights."
"I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents,
you'll miss them when they're gone from your life."
"I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as "making a life."
"I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance."
"I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt
on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back."
"I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I
usually make the right decision."
"I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one."
"I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone.
People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back."
"I've learned that I still have a lot to learn."
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will
forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them
feel."

And suddenly all the crap in my life doesn't seem as important anymore.

Blessing or Curse

I hope they get what they deserve.

I have used it today twice, and in one case I believe it was a blessing and in another very much a curse.

Rebellion or Stupidity?

I got lunch from the nice little fast food Japanese place today and saw a very sad thing. The girl working behind the counter had 6 piercings in her cheeks. Yes her cheeks. Place two directly out from the corner of the mouth an inch. Go up and inch and down an inch and insert two more. I really wanted a sharpie so I could connect the dots and fill it in with white paint and make her into a clown, because that would have been a whole lot less sad. The rest of her was of course quite goth so the paint would have really made a statement where as the piercings, were just well sad.

I wonder how someone gets started down that path, rebellion or stupidity?

Strange Weather

We seem to be continuing this trend in Colorado this week where it is 50 one day and snowing the next. It makes it very hard to plan what to do when. It also means you never really know how heavy of a jacket to grab.

Many thanks to ***Dave who let me know that thankfully I would not be spending an hour in traffic trying to get to work. In fact the roads were so good that even the Californians and Texans managed to keep their SUV's on the road. If you have never seen one of these two try and drive in the snow and ice it is best done at a distance. It still wasn't as funny as the day I saw a hummer high centered on a hail drift. I so wish I had had some kind of camera for that.

I bundled up KK in her adorable pink snowsuit today. It is very lamb like which is to say it is fuzzy and has cute ears. When I started to take it off her , I noticed that it probably clashed with her cow outfit. Oh well she won't remember years from now and blame me.

 

I Am a Tech Geek

Or so I was informed at lunch today, this was prompted by me trying to think of a way to make sure I could remember where I park at the airport next week. I decided the best way to keep track of it would be to text message it to myself. There was much eye rolling at this suggestion. There was head shaking in disbelief and me being called a tech geek.

KK's Pictures

Last night finally we got off our behinds and went and got KK's next set of photos done. She was smiling and giggly through the entire thing. I think they took 12 different poses and out of those there were 2 that we didn't order from. If this trend continues we are in trouble.

It's fun to walk her around in the mall to people looking and saying, aww when they look at her.

I Want to Rant

I have things swirling around in my head that I just want to scream out. I want to unload on someone and hopefully have it be the person who deserves it. I want to know why just being honest is so very hard for people. I want to say things that hurt people as badly as they have hurt me.

There was a time when I would have done all the above because it would have made *me* feel better. Somedays it really sucks to be a grown up.

Quote of the Day

It's the friends you can call up at 4:00 A.M. who matter.

-Marlene Dietrich

I Miss Having a Garage

For those of you who don't live in Colorado, it was damn cold this morning. Yesterday, there was a 30 degree drop in temperature from Tuesday. This morning I had to pry every door open to my vehicle before even starting it. There was a thick coat of ice and I said a few not so pretty words hoping that the fake metal was stronger then the ice. Luckily there were no casualties to report.

KK was not amused with the gloves and hat that I decided were necessary. They cover her hands and really how can she play with things like that? She gave me a look that I imagine I will see many, many, many times over the course of her life. It wasn't a friendly look but luckily, for now, I am immune.

Quote of the Day

Never try to establish a successful flirtation when your hair is a mess.

-Cynthia Heimel

Meeting Wisedom

Generally I don't have to go to meetings often. If I am involved it is because it is absolutely critical that I am. I have gone to great lengths in the past to make sure that I am not in meetings where they are informative instead of interactive.

 I have a very specialized job and really most meetings do not need me. Now if you have a Canadian tax issue, then yes begrudingly I am probably going to have to be in it. Today, much to my surprise I got a meeting reminder. I peered at it careful and absolutely knew at a glance it was in the category of meetings that I loathe. I then did the next logical thing - scanned the meeting attendents. I sighed because I saw from that I was indeed going to this meeting and would not be able to add anything or use what they are talking about. Joy.

Upside: brownies provided and only lasted a half hour.
Downside: was exactly as feared

Quote of the Day

It is better to protest than to accept injustice.

-Rosa Parks

One of Those Days

When your day starts off in court it is going to be one of those days. When you call a co-worker by a friends name instead of his own, it's going to be one of those days. I am currently in the midst of one of those days. I am certain I didn't get enough sleep and I don't believe that was for lack of trying. So I'll open it to the peanut gallery - How do you know when your having one of those days?

It's the Cutest Thing Ever!

This week KK has learned to click her tongue. She has also learned that people laugh when she sticks out her tongue. I think this is something she learned at daycare but it is so damn cute. It makes me laugh every time she does it.

Quote of the Day

Life: It began in mystery, and it will end in mystery, but what a savage and beautiful country lies in between.

-Diane Ackerman

Quote of the Day

Men like cars, women like clothes. Women only lke cars because they can take them to the clothes.

-Rita Rudner

Questions I Don't Get Asked Everyday...Thankfully.

No lie - Have you ever been in a men's urinal at a stadium?

Then I got to see the internet wave file they were looking at. Boys are gross.

Quote of the Day

Do you want me to tell you something really subversive? Love is everything it's cracked up to be. That's why people are so cynical about it. It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for. And the trouble is, if you don't risk everything, you risk even more.

-Erica Jong

The Unique Cute Suitcase

When mentally evaluating for my trip I started to think through what luggage I have. Large, can carry two weeks of clothes, and then very small good weekend bag but not many pockets and it ended there. When I go on a medium size trip I normally stole a suitcase that I had given the husband because it was the perfect size.

Left in this quandary I decided to do the girly thing - shop! I went and looked around and found a super cute medium sized suitcase that was of course (say it with me girls!) on sale! I wasn't out of the mall when another lady stopped to ask me where I had bought it. It will be easy to find in the airport due to the polka dots on it. It has the ever handy expandable zipper because you always seem to come home with more stuff than you left with.

I Think There is a Conspiracy

My roomie took me out for supper last night to Red Robin. Tonight is dinner at the posh Melting Pot with 5 very dear friends. Tomorrow is lunch out with some co-workers and Friday is again lunch out with co-workers. I am paranoid enough to think that I am being fattened for the kill.

Egad the time required in the gym because people want to feed you! I am going to have to force people to show me both hands before anyone gets a hug. I'll be looking for whomever has the axe.