Moving... Part LXXIV

Well... I am offically ALL MOVED!!!! Yeah! I cannot tell you how exciting I am. James, Charity and my mom came to complete the task yesterday. This took a good 11 hours. But, now I only have 5 boxes left to unpack, and reorganize my office and I'm all set. Well, work is very busy so I must get back.

Moving....Part XVII

I think I will never be moved.  Never.  Yesterday I got off work on time (for once in like 3 weeks).  I went to UPS to pick up a package that was delivered to my new apt before I even lived there.  Then I went to the Post Office to wait in the long line to change my address.  Then, I moved more stuff from the old apt. Ordered a pizza. Took a shower.  Ate Pizza.  Put more stuff in storage closet outside. Added lock to storage closet outside. Opened random boxes around the apt in hopes of finding the inspiration to unload one of them. Made it to one of the 3 shoe boxes. Unloaded it and then put 3 pairs back.  Moved the box to center of living room which has now been deemed "Garage Sale" Area. Decided I was getting no where.  Went to Bed at 9:30. Still tired today... even overslept until 7. Hmmm... I think I have that 24hr. tumor going around.

Farewell to Sam the Cat

July, 14, 2004.  I had to put Sam to sleep.  His kidneys were failing, and I couldn't afford the surgery to fix him.  I feel awful.  Even if I opted for the surgery there was no guarantee it would work, or the problem would reoccur.  He would have to be on special food the rest of his life.  He might suffer other problems because of it.  He would be 6 on August 25th.  I have cried everything I've come home because he's not there to welcome me.  This sucks.

Pampered Chef Conference

Conference was sooo awesome! I'm so glad I went (and that my mom was willing and able to drive me there AND BACK). I got this really great tote bag that I have now transformed into my purse. I got some great tips on being organized. And the best part is I got totally pumped about booking more shows. So last night, after a day of packing, I called 2 people and booked 2 shows! Yea! Also at conference I picked up some Vintage PC items, and I set up my own Personal Website! Let me know what you think, because after last night, I think I can really fix things!

Home Sweet Home

I was looking over my blog this morning to see if anyone had commented on my awesome trip... I see they hadn't :( and realized I never shared my great news... I HAVE AN APT!!! Yea!!! I'm moving to Pebble Point (thanks to Sam's great idea!) where I will be living in a 671 sq. ft. one bedroom apt sort of next to a lake. (I'm on the opposite side of it... less mosquitos). It has lots of closet space and such.

Weekend Get-a-way

My boyfriend flew me out to Cali to visit him over the weekend. I had an awesome time for many reasons, but mainly because I got to see him. Now I have to wait 4 1/2 weeks to see him again. Here is the run down on what we did.

Thursday: He picked me up from the airport WITH ROSES (He's so thoughtful); met the roommates; went to bed.

Friday: Went to lunch at this Winery Cafe and had an excellent wine: Sangiovese. Drove around and wistfully looked at vineyards and the huge homes that overlook them. Tried my first Jamba Juice. I'm now totally hooked and want to move to Cali just so I can have it everyday. Bought a mug instead. (much Cheaper). Went to San Francisco and ate at a Vietnamese Crab Restaurant, and then a French bakery.

Saturday: Ate at a Thai restaurant that he frequented last summer... very good. Walked around, went to Barnes & Noble (way better than Avon) and Best Buy (bought James' birthday gift). Had another Jamba Juice. Went to mall where I found a Williams Sonama (so excited). Found the bowls I've been searching for (More excited). Realized they wouldn't fit in my suitcase (Not excited). But I did get the other bowls I wanted and learned that Shaun wants a $400 portable ice maker. What am I going to do with him? Then we came home and swam. Went to Cattlemen's (steak place) where we filled out a comment card. When asked how they could get us back there more often, he relplied, "If I lived here I would eat here once a week." Had another awesome wine: BV Cab. Sav. Drove to the city to the Golden Gate National Park where I finally got to see the Golden Gate Bridge... I'm so stoked! We also saw the WWII bunkers.It was freezing up there, and very windy. So we came back and sat in the hot tub.

Sunday: Layed out, swam. Ate "California Pizza Kitchen" frozen Thai pizza - excellent. Watched Offie Space. He made me grilled stuffed sauages (articoke and something?), asparagus, corn on the cob sprinkled with butter and parmesan cheese, and grilled garlic sourdough bread... yummy. Later we took a dinner cruise on the San Francisco Giants boat where we ate Lasagna and watched the Fireworks in 40 degree weather. (I'm shocked at how cold it gets in the city!) Had another awesome wine: Lindeman's Merlot. Man I love this place.

Monday: Layed out. Went to In-and-Out Burger... sooooo good. Got a Jamba Juice for the road, and headed to the airport. Sad goodbye.

So, as you can see I had a very fun filled weekend in wine country, and I'm thankful I got to go! (Thanks Honey). The pictures are good too, but you'll have to wait until tomorrow to see those.

Apt Hunting 101

Have a mentioned I hate moving? No, let me take that back, I hate planning to move. I hate finding a place to live, packing all my stuff, just move it somewhere only to find it doesn't fit and now suddenly I need the latest and greatest organizing thingy to fix my "I own too much stuff" problem. I have been going back and forth for weeks on where I want to move. Lafayette or Indy? West side or North side? Downtown? Under a Bridge? So, finally yesterday I made the bold and daring decision to yes, stay in Indy. Whew. One decision down... 47 million to go. Also yesterday, I came to the conclusion that I really only had 3 days to find an apt. (thanks to my traveling around the US in the month I'm trying to move). So, I started packing and moving furniture around so we could sweep under it and determine if there was anything we could find that's been missing for 10 months and have a place to stack our boxes. Basically we found a bunch of cat toys and a quarter. Alas. If you know of any great places to live, let me know... I can use all the help I can get.

"Surprise! I'm at your Apt!"

So I'm sitting at work yesterday finishing up some loose ends and notice I was supposed to have left 10 mins ago. This doesn't bother me as I have been trying to accumulate some bonus hours and I didn't have any plans until 7...or so I thought. My cell starts to ring and notice it's my mom... ok, no big whoop. I answer... she informs me she is by the airport, which is about 5 mins from my apt. and says she's stoppying by. Umm... I'm not there... I'm at work. So, I hurry up what I'm doing and rush home; meanwhile I sent her to Sonic so she could enjoy a root beer float. We spend the afternoon apt. hunting and I showed her where I work. We came back and cooked dinner and visited with my roommate. Afterwards we discussed my moving option, as I know have to be moving in a month, but will be out of town for practically 2 weeks, so I really have 2 weeks to pack and move. One look at our apt could tell you we don't look like we're close to moving AT ALL. No, it looks like we have settled in and are there for the long hall. So my options are to move into a one bedroom or move back home in Lafayette and commute. I really want to stay in Indy, but after crunching the numbers yesterday, I should really move back home. I have some friends in Indy that would allow me to occupy their residences for one evening a week, and my best friend commutes to IUPUI everyday so I could carppool with her. Yes, this makes sence, but I will have to live a structured life (which I hate) and live out of a suitcase. Ugh. I hate making important decisions.

Productivity Level

My boyfriend has a this habit of telling me his productivity level for the day on a scale from 1 to 10. This amuses me as today it was a 2, and has extreme variance... yesterday he was at an 8. Well, today, I was just flying through projects like you wouldn't believe. I didn't even stop to take and breath. I would consider this a 10 on the scale and I emailed him and told him so. However, I was informed earlier (by Shaun) that a 10 was not obtainable and I must be performing at a 9. What? What?? What you mean I can't perform at a 10? He says that would be perfect and is therefore not really a valid option. Well, if it's not an option, why's it on the scale? And furthermore, what does "Perfect Productivity" mean anyway? That's not a phrase. Chalk that one up with "Baby Fish Mouth." So, I adamantly disagree and was looking for other's opinions.

The Picnic's a Wrap

So, Sam and I were going to make sandwich wraps for our work pitch-in today. Then, her friend Danielle offered to go to lunch with her and suddenly making sandwiches for co-workers you don't like didn't seem quite as appealing... I just don't understand. So, I thought I could just make them myself. Well, I went to my cousin Bob's last night... the one I work on genealogy with. Well, let's just say I tried to leave at 8:30 and didn't leave until 9:50. Alas. So, here I am attempting to make wraps with corn tortillas (not flour) and it's not working well... AT ALL! I get horribly frustrated, start ranting and raving in the kitchen... whorf down 2 pieces of turkey and chesse I was trying to use and stormed to the door. I am asking my roommate where my phone is (3 times) and she tells me it's in my hand (3 times) at which point I'm like, "Oh, it's in my hand." She shakes her head, says goodnight, and goes upstairs. I leave for Kroger. It's now 11pm. So, I get to Kroger, they don'g have wraps, but have a cheese, meat and cracker tray. Fabalous. Let's go. But first I have to wait in line between 2 large scary men.. the one behind me draggin his kid around. (Why is your child still awake and out at 11PM???? Put him to bed! WHO IS THE PARENT HERE?? OH, you're 6 year old is...I see). Five minutes later, I'm leaving Kroger trying not to get accosted by the homeless man lingering out front. (Well, now Shaun will tell me I'm not allowed to go to Kroger in the middle of night anymore). I get home, and almost immediately go to bed, and to sleep. Then I wake up this morning and I can't move my neck AT ALL. Is this my punishhment for bingeing yesterday?

Weight Watchers

So my friend Alecia was talking about Weight Watchers, and how she wanted to do it and how it worked for her before, blah, blah, blah. So, I thought about it, and decided, why not? But then she didn't want to go Mon (when we planned) and will be in ND next Mon, and I will be in CA the Mon after that, and I really didn't want to wait 3 weeks to start, since I was really excited. So, I decided to go last night... by myself. There were 3 other girls there also all starting for the first time. But our Leader was completely clueless. Someone asked her if we had to pay every week after the initial 12, and it took her 3 mins to say yes, yes you do. Until your fat butt is down to a 130lbs we will be seeing you on a weekly basis and taking your money. Yes I was told I should weigh between 130 and 150 for my height which she said is 5'5". I really think that is wrong... I thought for sure I was at least 5'6". :( Oh well, that wasn't nearly as depressing as finding out that a Milky Way bar is 6 POINTS which is about one mean since I only get 26 POINTS for the day.... and I so PMS'ing too...

Random thoughts from this morning

I actually slept pretty well last night, only waking up once. I'm convinced it's because I got my haircut. I got 3 inches cut off at Wal-Mart of all places last night. The lady did a really great job, and best of all only charged me $11.95. What a deal. It's very cute, and she also gave me some tips on how to make it more curly... even better.

My mom is moving to AZ this week. Well, sort of moving... going out for awhile, coming back. Silly mom, in denial of how much stuff she owns waits until last week to really begin packing and moving when she had to be out of the house by last night. She was about 30% packed and moved on Fri (so says her mother) but she was telling me she was almost done. Had I known this before I would've offered to help her, but... I thought she was almost done.

I'm going to Cali to visit Shaun in 2 weeks. I'm very excited, and bound and determined to come up with 5 outfits he hasn't seen before as he is always complaining I wear the same thing all the time. I think I've heard people say that about my dad too... Hmmm. Anyway, I wore a new skirt and shirt today, and put a flower in my hair. No one noticed my hair is 3 inches shorter, curlier than normal, or that I have on a cute outfit. No, no, people are commenting on the flower in my hair. Hopefully Shaun will like it, as I think it's very cute, and reminds me of Hawaii. The flower got me strange looks at the Chinese place for lunch, and stopped traffic in front of work. Oh well... at least no one was going to hit me... they were too busy trying to figure out what was in my hair.

I came into work today wtih a huge looming pile of papers I thought I would never see the end of. Thankfully I'm almost thru the pile. It seems as though it is neverending. I have been quite productive in spite of the copier acting up, and the printer being down. I really love this skirt... I feel like I don't have anything on! What a treat.

I really need to start packing for my move in July, but like my mother, I'm in denial of how long this process is going to take me. I haven't even bothered to take boxes home from work in the event I get the urge to start packing... I should probably do that.

Snackwagon sales are terrific. Yesterday I made signs to run a special of the week. It reads, "Special, This week only... Try Diet Coke with Lime for only 35 cents" I sold 4. Suckers. The stuff is horrible and tastes like a cleaning product, but I told people I had never had it, to try it, and tell me what they thought. Oh, I'm quite the little saleswoman when I have to be. There are 3 odd people in the office that actually like it... they must be confused. I think I'd rather drink battery acid. Probably just as good for you.

Apparently we have our own personal Schwann's Man that comes to work twice a month. He is due this Thurs. and Diane said she would send him my way. I took the catalog home to look at it and try to decide what I want, but have sence lost the catalog, and still don't know what I want. Hopefully I will find it before Thurs.

Well, this is quite long, and I could ramble more, but will wait until tomorrow. Hope you are all having a wonderful day... and if not, perhaps you too should wear a flower in your hair.

The Weekend Scramble

Every weekend I try to fit in all the things I wanted to do during the week, but didn't have time to do... but it never fails that I have something else I have to do that doesn't allow this to happen. This weekend I was so exhausted since I haven't been sleeping that I went to bed at 5pm on Fri, and awoke at 10:30am on Sat. Sat I ran around shopping and buying a wedding gift, then driving to Terre Haute to get ready for the wedding, then driving to Brazil for the wedding and back to Terre Haute for the reception. Then Sun I drove back to Brazil to eat breakfast with family members who attended the wedding, and decided not to attend an annual family reunion becuase I didn't feel like driving to Lafayete for the 5th time in a week. So, I went home bound and determined to get some reading done (I only have about 30 books next to my bed I want to read and can't seem to find time for) and work on my crocheting. Well, I start to work on my scarf and realize I started with 40 holes, only to end up with 32, and had to undo half of what I've been working on. Then I got fed up with it, and went to a friends house for dinner where I did nothing except more crocheting, and watched a movie I have already seen. I then went to bed much later than I wanted, and woke up late again today.... for just once I'd like to sleep well, and feel like I've accomphlised something.

I know I'm nuts but...

I'm pretty sure my co-workers think I'm insane. Last week I was craving Smokey Bones so badly I convinced Sam to go by offering to buy. So, the entire week I'm doing this little "dance" (if you can even call it that) where I make pumping motions with my arms, rock side to side, and in a sing-song voice chant, "Smokey Bones, Smokey Bones." This dance was done more often the day we actually went becuase I was so excited we were going. Needless to say, this made my co-workers laugh at me, and shake their heads in disbelief that I really am a college grad, and there is a brain up there. One day I was singing the Gaston song from Beauty and the Beast..... Nooooo one.... spits like Gaston... and every last inch of me's covered in hair....you know the rest :) My friends point out my oddities to me too on a regular basis. Things I think are prefectly normal turn out to be the bizarre thing people have heard of all month. For instance, I'm talking to my friend Cindy about how I cut my thumb that morning cleaning my razor... to which she replied, "You clean your razor with your thumb?" Ummm yeah... dont' you? Or the time Cindy and I are in Barnes and Noble and I have this ephiany that I need to have a map of the U.S. to put on my wall... so I leave her in the middle of the store and come back triumphant that I have found one. Yes, I know I'm a little off, but if I can humor you in the process, then it's worth it :)

Near Death.... Part II

So I'm driving to Lafayette to visit with my relatives who are in from CA yesterday. I am speeding down I-65N behind a silver Honda Civic. The driver in front of me (which later turned out to be a she) was going a little faster than I was. I was not bothered by this, as I just had my near death experience the other day. So, anyway, we are approaching a car that is going slower than both of us, and there is a SEMI-TRUCK in the right lant (maybe she didn't see it). I slow down becuase we are almost to Lafayette, and I realize I'm not going to be as late as I thought I would be. Well, Ms. Civic wasn't satisfied to do that, so she attempts to pass this other car on the right, but isn't doing so quickly enough as to avoid the semi. Needless to say, she averts the semi, and cuts in front of this car at the last second. The other car, realizing this woman is insane had begun to slow down by this point. Well, Ms. Civic freaks, overcorrects, spins, begins spinning into the ditch (all of this is sounding very familiar), BUT THEN she rolls twice in the ditch, once on the I-65S lanes, and then lands upside down in the opposite ditch. As she's spinning into the ditch she throws dirt all over my car so I can barely see (I just washed it too) and so I pull off to the side of the road and call 911. Yeah, well me and 20 other people, and barely any of us knew what mile marker we were at. The creepy part is she doesn't hit anyway else, and then GETS OUT OF HER CAR while it's still up-side-down! She too must've been saved for a reason.

Elevator Debocle

I work in an extrememly old state owned building. Our basement flooded this past weekend leavin our elevator less than operational. This has been more than an inconvience has we had 3 skids of paper delievered yesterday that are still sitting on the 1st Floor because no one wants to throw their back out carrying it to the 4th floor. Almost all of my co-workers are female, and most are on a diet of some sort. One lady in particular is horrible about asking everyone how many carbs are in this and that, and how many she's already had, so should she eat this or not. It's awful... especially being the snackwagon lady and knowing practically everything on there will send you on a blood sugar rollercoaster. Yesterday I saw her drinking multiple Slim Fasts at one time... doesn't this defeat the purpose. The funny thing is she said she almost died climbing the stairs... maybe she should do that more often.

Pretty Scary

My Horiscope for the day reads: "The day ahead may very well give you great insight into the decisions you face concerning your future. Now is the time to decide what your priorities in life are. Do you want a career right away, or would you prefer to continue your studies? Are you satisfied with your love live and your family relationships? There's some probability that a major upheaval in one of these realms will impact all the others. It's going to be interesting, dear Sagittarius!"

Hmm... maybe I'm reading a bit to into this, but sadly this makes sence (for me and half the free world). What are my priorities? I have been trying to figure this out this week as I've pretty much avoided spending time with friends to crochet, read, and work on pampered chef. This has proven to be quite productive. I don't really know if I want a career or to go back to school... everyone who knows me knows this, and probably can't wait til I just stick with something. And we all know how the satistaction in my love life is... it would be better with "a date." (Next summer perhaps??) So, now there's "evidence" that a major upheaval will effect my entire life. But isn't that true of everyone... you get a new job... so you make new friends, this effects your current relationships... blah blah blah. Oh, well, just thought it was funny.

Weekly Weigh-in

Tuesdays are the weekly weigh-in day at work. This is the day where Sam, Jenny, Marty and I dispute and rationalize the past week's eating and exercising did and did nots while we huddle around the old fashioned green scale and silently watch the bar go up and down. After the weigh-in, Sam adds this weeks weights into an Excel file, and emails us our progess on a big color graph where there is no doubting you are going in the wrong direction. This is our version of a free weight-watchers meeting sans the uninspiring pep talks and unedible receipes. Today's weigh-in was extra ridiculous as Jenny wanted a re-do after she peed. Needless to say, she did in fact lose 1 1/2 lbs because of this. I tried it and only lost a quarter of pound. So, there is now proof that my bladder is the size of a pea.

Who's A.J. Ford?

I'm talking with my boss the other day about her invitation to the Indy 500. I told her that although I am a native Hoosier, and now live in Speedway, IN, just a few miles from the track, I really would have no interest in going. She said she doesnt' like racing, but that practice is actually pretty cool, and you get to rub shoulders with people like A.J. Foyt. Well, I didn't hear Foyt... no, no... I heard Ford. So, I ask, "Who is A.J. Ford?" She just looks at me, doesn't respond, and I'm left to wonder the rest of the day who this A.J. guy is. So, later, I'm talking to my boyfriend Shaun, and I'm telling him this story... he starts laughing hysterically, and says, "It's Foyt honey, not Ford." (As if this clears anything up for me). So, to make the story even funnier, I am riding in the car with Sam and we are driving by The Speedway, something I do at least twice a day... I notice this HUGE sign with a picture of A.J. and his name in HUGE letters, with a bunch of years on it. Years he won races I'm sure. So, why I didn't notice this until 2 days ago, I don't know... I guess Shaun's right... I am pretty clueless to my surroundings.

Friendship

Have you thought about your friends... like how you met them, or why you are still friends wtih me even though if you met this person today you wouldn't even consider being friends wtih them? Well, I went to lunch with one of these friends today. I'm not sure why, or why I continue to talk to this person on a daily basis. Maybe I feel badly that he doesn't really have any other friends, or the fact that on occasion we actually have a good conversation. The most annoying thing about this friend is that he thinks we are better friends than we really are. He tells me his inner most thoughts, and I tell him what I had for dinner last night. I would like to keep this person as an acquaintence, maybe speak to him once a week or less, but that just wouldn't be good enough for him. What are your thoughts on how to rid myself of a clingy friend?