Quote of the Day

I believe the second half of one's life is meant to be better than the first. The first half is finding out how you do it. And the second half is enjoying it.

-Frances Lear

Via Ktbuffy - How Evil Am I?

You are well on the path to eviltude, my friend. Right now, however, you are still the Diet Coke of evil. That means you are a henchperson. Sometimes henchpeople are nameless and faceless and exist to incur the wrath of their evil bosses. Your best bet is to develop a unique skill, like being able to kill people with a hat. You'll become an important henchperson that way, and can take over the evil empire when your boss goes down. Smart!Your friend in Devilish is David the demonic houseboy.

Quote of the Day

The easiest thing in the world is to be smart-alecky and cynical and snide and jaded. It's hard to keep your heart open.

-Fannie Flagg

Quote of the Day

When you see a married couple walking down the street, the one that's a few steps ahead is the one that's mad.

-Helen Rowland

PINKVXN

So at lunch today I see an appauling sight with these plates. Now unlike the normal game I couldn't tell you what the driver looked like because 1) I was just horrified. 2) The windows were tinted so dark I am not sure lazers would breach them.

 

So what did the car look like? Insert guess below :).

Sometimes I am Crazy

I need to get out of the house more often and I should also get more exercise. I have been trying to make sure I walk at least 2 miles a day and get to the gym when possible, but honestly I'd rather get out and go somewhere when I walk then spend time on a tread mill or elliptical machine. It's one of my little quirks and why I hated running track in high school.

One of the things I have been doing since the divorce is a lot of self evaluation and part of that is trying to remember the things I like to do that I haven't done in some time. I used to love to play softball, and I was pretty good at it long ago. I have signed up for the softball team here at work and the first game is tonight.......And the second game is tonight.

It's a bad sign when your roomie hands you icy hot and instructions on where to put it on the drive home. She started playing a couple months ago so the places where I am going to hurt are fresh in her mind. Another bummer is by the time I get home from the back to back games that start at 8 pm the hot tub will be closed.

This should be interesting as I don't really like to run, but as it is running in only short stretches it should be fine. It aggravates my childhood asthma and is one of the few things that does anymore. I generally try to avoid those things I as threw my old inhaler out about 5 years ago. Oh and my balance is dramatically different then it used to be back when I had to run a lot :), but I am pretty sure I won't fall over now.

Yeah so I am a bit crazy but its all part of being healthier.

Quote of the Day

I postpone death by living, by suffering, by error, by risking, by loving, by losing.

-Anais Nin

Brusters

Has anyone out there ever been to a Brusters? Ok granted I hadn't had ice cream since last time I was in NY when Tim took pity on me and took me to Coldstone as I had been promised ice cream :).

Brusters was the best ice cream ever! We went to the stand twice - the first time I thought I had found perfection - turtle ice cream - chocolate, caramel and whole pecans. I was so very very wrong. Now of course the second time we went I got the turtle again - but during the bowling we did for team building one of the locals suggested *cue heavenly music* Birthday cake. So I was really bad and got a scoop of turtle and one of birthday cake. I will be dreaming of that ice cream for some time to come - vanilla ice cream, cake batter, frosting and sprinkles all mixed together. Just thinking about it now makes me have ice wine face.

So if your near a Brusters - I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend birthday cake! Three of us had it and we all agree - best flavor ever.

4 State Tour

In the past week I have been to: New York, Massachuttes, Georgia and....Alabama. Yes I said Alabama. We, my 4 team members ( the new team and the normal Friday lunch crowd) were in Columbus to meet with our boss and the team there that are our counterparts. We realized that 3 out of the 5 of us had never been to Alabama and it was just over the river and well when we were telling everyone we were going to head that way just to say that we had been there the response was always the same.....Be careful. Careful? It's Alabama!

So after a really good supper and on the way back to the fabulous hotel we were in, we decided that oh yes we would be daring. We would cross that river and head into Alabama. The token male in the group was driving - our logic was thus - he is married and has teenagers he can handle multiple inputs at the same time and blow us women off with our chattering. We crossed the river, we were in Alabama and it was after dark. It hadn't occurred to me at the time but in the 6 blocks that we drove and turned around I saw one person....One. We took a turn down a side street to turn around and I was just blinking at all the stereotypes. Every single house had some kind of chair on the front lawn or the front porch. There was some sort of thing in everyone's front lawn that didn't belong there - vehicle engines for example. No exceptions to the chair rule but here it was night and no one was out on them. I couldn't tell you if there were crickets or not because well it's the deep south and even at the 9 pm or so it was the temp was still 88 degrees.

Token male does a u-turn in the middle of the street - I mean there's no traffic and no pedestrians! And we make our way back towards the bridge. Did I mention that the male is blonde? So as we are driving and there's the street light and about 50 feet to the bridge we gently ( there was no screaming :) say you should stop - the light was so yellow it was red and we lurch to a halt testing the anti-lock brakes fully. As we stop about 5 feet past the line in the road, we look to the left and there is a police car waiting at the light. Now for fun we tried to convince our driver to run the light and see if we could make it to Georgia and what would happen, but he wouldn't do it. He was sure the police would be deputized in Georgia the second he crossed the state line. We were glad he didn't pull us over just for having NY plates on the rental car, but we were much more careful drivers after that. Ok we were much more alert backseat drivers after that :).

I don't know it might have been fun to hear him explain to the company how we got a ticket in a state we weren't supposed to be in. Had it been me? I am sure I would have gotten a ticket for something, but that is just my luck.

Quote of the Day

Those who have come here to hate should leave now, for in their hatred they only betray themselves.
-translated from The Book of Life

I'm Back....

Not sure I agree with the quote of the day today, but I don't always have to agree with everything or everyone :). Very busy at work today after a week off and more posting later.

Quote of the Day

Until he says "I love you," you're a free agent.

Kim Cattrall

Beautiful

So I am now in Massachuttes for a bit, and today I took a walk to the beach. I was really tempted to put my feet in but my sandals are real leather and wouldn't take the water well if I tried to slip them on after. I then decided to go hiking around the lake as it was just breathtakingly beautiful. I'd so love to have a cabin on the lake. I had to just had to stop and look around several times. I am so going to go back there tonight or tomorrow in my aqua socks and kick around on the beach :).

PS. Humidity I don't like you either. Yes I understand your power is even greater in Georgia.

Happy Birthday

To my beautiful daughter and the most precious thing in my life.

One Must Take Time for Pampering

It had been awhile since Margie and I had gone and done pedicures and manicures and we remedied that last night. Now what I should have been doing was packing, cleaning, and doing laundry but one must take time for pampering. I am sure I will pay the price for that because when I got home I got a phone call and talked for awhile and well not so much on the packing, cleaning and doing laundry. Luckily it amuses my friend to hear me being scattered and thinking outloud.

I had forgotten my big suitcase at the casa and started packing the little one for the business trip that my vacation turns into. Sadly my laptop from work isn't ready yet which I guess is a good thing and a bad thing. My company credit card still hasn't come through so the good news is that I won't have to learn to do an expense report quite yet :).

So posting will be scarce and far between as I leave late tonight for NY and then from NY to Georgia and then a few days later back to Colorado. I have a very fun trip in store well except for Tuesday when looking at the agenda we will be in meetings all day.

My beautiful roomie has graciously decided to drop me off and pick me up at the airport. Oh and for those of you wondering about her date the other night -- well he shall be known as poker guy. I'd tell the story but you know it is always more fun to hear her tell them. His story isn't in the top 5 but it is laugh worthy.

Quote of the Day

Truth has rough flavors if we bite it through.

-Mary Ann Evans

Quote of the Day

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.

-Margaret Mead

Coldstone Trip

I almost forgot! I had someone order the most interesting flavor I have seen in a long time - Strawberry and gummy bears. Now the question is who do you think eats this?

Not so Aquafresh

Here's more of my morning casa routine then you probably need to know but...

So Kaylee doesn't like to not be able to see me in the morning. She is generally glued to my leg. This presents a problem as I shower in the morning. So I generally leave the bathroom door open at the casa, because she'll be fine as long as I sing to her. ( Yes there is no accounting for taste). This morning she was quiet for too long - A sure sign she is up to something she'd rather I ignored. So mid-shower I open the door and there she is grinning up at me sitting next to the toilet with a sunken tube of Aquafresh in the bottom of the bowl. She looks at me and then at the submarine toothpaste and she giggles. As a parent this is not supposed to be funny, or she will do it again (Giggle Loop Anyone?). So I fish the toothpaste out and throw it in the bottom of the shower with me, and close the lid so that nothing else becomes a submersible toy. Closed the shower door and let the giggle out. -- Fair warning Doyce don't use the Aquafresh!

Quote of the Day

Whoever said it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all did not mean repeatedly, exclusively, and after the age of thirty-five.

-Merrill Markoe

Tagged

Nate tagged me for this:

• Grab the nearest book.
• Open the book to page 123
• Find the fifth sentence
• Post the text of the next 3 sentences on your blog along with these instructions

Don’t you dare dig for that “cool” or “intellectual” book in your closet! I know you were thinking about it! Just pick up whatever is closest, then tag three people.


Brighid's Quest by PC Cast


Brighid drew a deep breath. "Cu, what your remembering...it happened in the past...more than two full cycles of the moon since--"

"No!" With a sharp, jerky movement the warrior stood. "No..." He backed away from her.


Now let's see tag your it -- Random, Margie & Dave G.

And I giggle, and giggle, and giggle

I have now heard from the third person they have offered my job to and who has turned it down. All three were offered lateral moves into it and laughed. It's probably horrible of me that I am this amused. No one wants my job which I have said before but this just proves it again. All I really wanted was a tiny promotion, silly rabbits.

Quote of the Day

Men like to barbecue. Men will cook if danger is involved.

-Rita Rudner

Job Update

See I told you there was lots going on! I took a different position I was offered at work. I am not overly pleased at the rate they offered but they made mention of a possible 6th month review without being put on probation. It is working with a team of people that I really like hanging out with. The downside is it is much more political and diplomatic and much more client interaction. The job helps take me down the path I want to go so that was the deciding factor in the end.

Things get pretty darned interesting in August as let's see I got home yesterday, and mom and dad will be here Saturday until Tuesday and then Wednesday I fly back out with Stan to NY at like midnight. Did I mention that Wednesday is KK's birthday? I fly back with him as far as Atlanta and then I have to abandon him and wait for my co-workers to show up and I get to spend a few days in Columbus GA. There are several luggage questions about all of this and well I can't get answers as to where my luggage will end up if I cancel the last leg of my trip. So as a good little planner I'll check the bag that won't have the clothes I need for the business trip and hope I can get both suitcases with me anyway :). Which reminds me I need to get myself a company card, so I am off to do that.

Step Back to the Real World

I had a wonderful time in NY meeting everyone. I got on a plane in the wee hours of the night on Friday and arrived in the wee hours of the morning in DC - Dulles that is. I met a friend on the plane and we were both traveling to Syracuse from Denver. We decided to have breakfast together and well yes ok I had Freedom Toast. She and I looked at each other and when we sat down I was like -- right were in DC, thus it isn't French toast. Lots of craziness ensued with the arrival time of the plane changing 4 times and eventually ending up right back where it started as they found a different plane. New friend and I are waiting by the luggage when one of the NY crowd comes up and stands beside me. She said is that one of your friends? And all I could say honestly was - I think so :).

So the three of us leave the airport and all in separate cars, thankfully they put directionally disfunctional girl in the middle. We meet up after coffee was hunted and gathered. See this is where the coffee was hot and um... NY was hot so the coffee got to sit until it reached a room temp for me. We dropped off my stuff and took three cars again over to Kirstin's place where I then got to meet the rest of the crowd. Amy and Paul graciously stayed behind with the kiddies while the rest of us were off to the Ren Faire. Let me just say that here in Colorado we are so getting a bad deal with the Faire. The one in NY is huge! Needless to say this was an early night because I was so darned tired.

Sunday - morning err...Late morning early afternoon...I introduced Tim and then eventually Barry to Coupling. Barry was trying to play all cool until he heard continuous laughing during 'Inferno' and then he decided to join us. We watched season one and hadn't realized how much time had passed. Sunday late afternoon and evening was spent hanging out at Kirstins and having fun. This is the night of a third of a bottle of raspberry vodka and a few other little things that I drank and I have been told what happened in North Syracuse this trip, stays in North Syracuse this trip :).

Monday - I at some point early on in the evening told the boys I was taking them out for breakfast so after we all rolled out of bed and got showered -- call it noonish :) we went to one of their favorite spots and it was good. It really was like an old fashioned farm house breakfast. I took Tim back to his place and Barry went to drop off his truck and then I was off to Nate and Kirstin's. I got a bit lost in the complex and finally found the right place about 2 in the afternoon. Much power outage fun and late in-laws and well we didn't really get out of the place until 7:30 which really put a damper on girls day. We ended up running errands and having dinner at the diner at 9ish. I won't complain because well they had onion rings and cheesecake :). Amy and Paul were dear hearts would helped me find my way in the dark and chatted with me for awhile. I had hoped to be back before dark so I could find the way myself but no such luck, and at least I had fun. Stayed up way too early again. Is one supposed to sleep on vacation?

Tuesday - Tim had an early appointment so I got to sleep in a bit more which I suppose I should feel guilty about. I had promised him we'd go for Thai food and we finally were about to work that into the schedule. It was supposed to be cooler than it had been all week so we went to the lake and walked around for a couple hours. The lake is very pretty but apparently one of the most polluted in the US. It was still really pretty and so very quiet around there. I couldn't convince him to go canoeing on the lake. My theory is it doesn't matter how polluted it is as long as you don't fall in and I know he has great balance ;). I think I need a summer house on the lake... And a boat and.....A pony :). Next we were off to the driving range as there wasn't time to fit in 9 holes and I didn't have my clubs with me. We improvised and it was such a hoot. I really wanted to go play in the indoor drive range but it is closed in the summer. We then headed to the mall to hang out and that's where I learned pouting and sulking are both lost on Tim. It was a really really good day, so thanks Tim. We got back to their place and found a grumpy Barry who was left out of our threesome and was not happy about it. Poor Barry I shall have to find a way to make it up to him next time I am there. I had to leave without saying goodbye to him as he was on a call.

A special thanks to Tim and Barry for putting up with me all weekend, and making me laugh and smile more than I have in a long time. You both are the awesome and made me very sad that I had to leave.

Lots Going On

I'll post more tomorrow but there are many things going on. I am still on vacation and reminded again that humidity really sucks.

Quote of the Day

If you always do what interests you, at least one person is pleased.
-Katharine Hepburn

A Heard A Voice Today....

It immediately said -- "Jackie don't eat anything!" I raised an eyebrow and set my coffee down, without even getting a sip of it.

My programmer comes around my cubie and says, "I want doughnuts so bad, let's go my treat."

This is not a normal thing as she is continually on a diet, and doing a great job I might add. She had her weigh in yesterday so today she wanted to be bad. We are driving over there and she decides that Starbucks is a good idea as well as they are both over in the same place.

We get to Target - where everything is housed and she says get whatever you want and proceeds to try and talk me into anything I eewww or aaahhh at. I told her if she kept up spoiling me, I might follow her home. I was very firm though that I wasn't putting out. She laughed and asked what if she made dinner. I said maybe but your boyfriend doesn't get to watch. We both burst out laughing and of course drew stares from everyone. Then somehow the conversation turned to being naked. She thinks I am repressed and need to be naked in front of others more. I think she'd feel better about herself if she looked around the gym and saw that other women have further to go on their bodies then she does.

My Mother Has A Blog

I am sure I am going to regret this but the link is up. Hi mom welcome to cyberspace :). We should sit down soon and talk about limits of what you put up about me. I'll play nice if you do.

mmm...Melting Pot

I had dinner last night at the best fondue place in Denver with three good friends. There was much wine, many laughs and so much food. It was all very good and I was very bad. Counting up the citric acid let's see - Apples, Mojo ( limes in the broth), Strawberries, Pineapple, and wine. I haven't had a reaction yet but it will be tomorrow before I know for sure. Yes, yes I push limits but sometimes you have to live dangerously or you forget how, right?

Quote of the Day

Most beautiful but dumb girls think they are smart and get away with it, because other people, on the whole, aren't much smarter.

Louise Brooks

The Girly Weekend

Saturday tapped my limited creativity for some time to come. We started out by having lunch at a neat little place I hadn't been before and then went to the pottery place to paint some pottery. I think this was a success and I did have to let the perfectionist in me go a bit or I'd have been there all day. We won't know if it was really successful until Saturday when they have been fired and ready for pickup. Then we went for ice cream and I have found one of the best creations ever - chocolate cake batter ice cream. I think it could be the answer to peace in the middle east - it is that good. Then against my objections and under the guise of we will just check it out ... We went to a place that allows you to make jewerly. One necklace and anklet later my creativity is tapped.

Sunday was a day of shopping! I was in need of some new clothes for summer. We also did the very girly thing and went to beauty salons for new shampoo and conditioner. Oh and if anyone is interested, Eddie Bauer is having a huge sale :). We capped off the day with "John Tucker Must Die." It was a cute if utterly predictable movie but worth a few really good laughs.

Quote of the Day

They say that revenge is a dish best eaten cold, but for most people, by the time it's ready to eat, they just don't fancy it any more.

-Jo Brand