knowing what''s coming

... doesn't make it any easier.

My grandmother passed away yesterday, after many years of illness. Please keep her in your prayers or at least send good vibes to my family. We need it.

I want these...

You know, in case you wondered what I want for Christmas:

 

A good book

A thermos to keep my coffee hot at my desk

New Pajamas

Jewelry (here and here)

Art supplies (for sketching and watercolor painting)

 

heaven...

…is a hot cup of strong coffee when you are very tired and congested.

 

I have the cold that just won’t quit.  My nasal congestion is gone, but the sinus congestion remains.  It’s not enough to warrant taking more medication.  I’m thinking my allergy meds might just do the trick on the inflammation and clear it up.  Which would be great… if I could find the bottle…

 

UpDATE!

The forecast today called for scattered flurries.  FLURRIES.  I live in Ohio.  I expected this sooner.  But then, I forget I live in Central Ohio, which is a GIANT MASSIVE HEAT SINK where it doesn’t get cold until well after fall starts and my flowers planted next to the house are STILL BLOOMING.

they say you know you are out of things to say...

...when all you can think of to talk about is the weather.

Considering the current date, I shouldn't be bummed by the weather. But the awful way that the weather flips from nice to nasty has got me down and has got me sick. So here's to hoping I feel better before tomorrow and can think of something better to say.

bonus 2

[post 2]

I was talking yesterday to a large group of people, and we all agreed that this time of year is just hard.  There is a lot of transition, you face burnout from nearing the end-of-year/end-of-semester/holidays, and usually life just piles up on you like a stack of unfolded laundry.  They all kept apologizing and worrying and expressing anxiety over this “blah” they all felt – knowing it could have an effect on their work or performance was a huge issue for them. 

 

I have experienced this feeling before, so I reminded them – it is NORMAL.  A period of the “blahs” after a lot of activity or in the midst of demands from life is very common.  It’s also common this time of year, with changing weather, shifting day length, change of seasons.  So don’t fret over it.  Just OWN it.  Let yourself feel this feeling.  Realize it is temporary and use it as a time to reflect and recharge with the knowledge that after the first of the year, you can come back fully enthused and ready to tackle life.

 

bonus

[Okay yes, I know I did not post yesterday.  I thought about it.  A Lot.  But being as I was in the CAR for a large majority of the day, posting via computer was impossible.  I need to figure out how to post via phone…Since I didn’t post yesterday, I’m doing double duty today.]

 

[post one]

Go HERE to check out iGive.com.  Best idea ever.  Since online shopping is all the rage, this combines it with the idea of “ads” that iGive tracks.  For every purchase you make online via the iGive.com portal, a donation is made to your favorite charity.  Mine is the foundation associated with my fraternity.  So go sign up.

 

Day 3 - sent from the present

[Now that we are properly caught up... let's do this thing!!!]

After hearing about the Pillsbury Bake-Off, my interest in becoming an instant millionaire has been piqued. Now, personally, I think the chances of me winning that are higher than the ideas I came up with.

• Win the lottery.
• Invest well.
• Find a long-lost rich relative.
• Invent best ice cream flavor ever and sell to Ben and Jerry's
• Write and have best-selling book published.
• Become an instant reality star.
• Sell advertising space on forehead.
• Pursue career as plus-sized supermodel.
• Or I could just work my tail off for years for the same company and then get promoted and promoted and promoted til I am CEO.
  

Day 2 -- from the future!

Fridays rock.

After a very busy week, today was the day I rolled out of bed and decided that today, I did not need to wear makeup. However, I did do my skincare routine. After I finished, I realized that really, today, I didn't need the makeup. My skin looks that good right now. This is what 4.5 months of wedded bliss will do to you...

retroactive ambition

I will here belie my stupidity of the internetverse and say that I cannot remember what the stinkin' acronym is for this thing. This thing that I am doing -- posting everyday for a month. Since I now have internets at home (YAY for WOW cable!), I can do that. You know. Post from home. Rather than risking a job.

I suppose I could backdate this post that it "appears" as November 1. Being as I am writing it on November 3, it'll be like going back in time...

shorty shorty...

I went on vacation for a week, and then when I come back – PooF – it’s fall.  What happened?

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When it rains it pours – last week I was agonizing over one, then yesterday I got four.

 

 

 

 

mooch

Having just purchased a used Apple Powerbook (because I am lazy about getting my old PC set up for home use), my goal in life has been to find wireless internet access.  I’ve priced out wireless for our house, I’m hunting for a reasonably priced wireless router, I’m constantly racking my brain for places to get wireless access that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.

 

Items my search has procured:

 

1.  WOW cable has a KICK BUTT deal.  For just $5 more than what we pay for digital cable now, we can get digital cable, plus a free DVR, and internet.

 

2.  Local library = not enough computers for the patrons, but free wireless internet!  FREE! 

 

3.  Kinko’s internet = Slow and costs $0.15 per minute for computer/internet use.  But very good and nice sales guy now recognizes me by sight because I am constantly there making copies for my new business.

 

4. Panera Bread has free wi-fi.  FREE WIRELESS INTERNETS!!!  And… they give you FREE REFILLS on your coffee.

 

The Problem of no internet access at home is solved.  Mental breakdown has been averted.

september slump

So the days are getting shorter.  I could actually wear a sweater today and not be too hot.  It’s near fall – the fall equinox is this weekend.

 

I’ve had some down days this week too.  That’s another way I know it is soon fall.  My depression always acts up in the fall and winter – my doc thinks there is a bit of the Seasonal Affective Disorder connected to my symptoms.  I’m really worried about having a relapse of my depression in the next few months.  I’ve been doing well, but I think I am finally coming down from the manic pace of the summer, despite adding things to my plate as of late.

 

I think what relieves some of the worry, however, is that I have a support system set up this time.  Unfortunately, my tendency at times like these is to withdraw - which of course is counter to the idea of using the support system to snap back.

 

 

what every one needs to watch...

THIS is great.  Just what I needed today.

 

Although I started WeightWatchers two weeks ago, and have LOST weight… I now weigh 245.

 

TWO HUNDRED FORTY-FIVE POUNDS.

 

I am 5’ 8”.  When I tell people how much I weigh, they never believe me.  I wear at size 18-20, depending on the style, cut, etc.  I fit into a size 2X.  I HAVE BOOBS.  And a BUTT.  Believe it or not, one of my concerns about switching to a healthy lifestyle is that I will lose my curves.  They are a part of my identity.  I have never been a small girl.  I will never BE a small girl.  But I can and will be an in-shape girl, who can take three flights of stairs at work and not get winded.  A girl who can swim laps and keep up with her former-lifeguard/swimmer husband.

 

When I started WW the intent was strictly to lose weight.  I’m changing my mind.  It’s now to change my lifestyle – to incorporate healthy food, food that isn’t healthy that I love anyway, and more exercise!!! – to change my attitude towards food – to be able to have the ice cream.  Joy is right – life is too short to not live it.  I will eat my full fat, loaded with sugar, full of flavor ice cream now.  And you?  The person who judges me for eating ice cream, for telling me I don’t “need” it?  Well, enjoy your tasteless fat free frozen yogurt with no flavor in a futile attempt to deny yourself any of life’s small pleasures in pursuit of the skinny jean (which doesn’t look good on ANYONE).  If I’m going to eat ice cream, I’m going to eat Godiva Belgian Chocolate ICE CREAM.

 

Can you hand me a spoon please?  Thanks.

 

 

just another manic Monday...

Not having work on Monday is supposed to be a good thing, but it just made Tuesday worse.  Not only was it Monday at work, it was Monday at home.  And after three days of no crazy pills (because they were not packed for the weekend trip…), that is not a good thing.

 

But the weekend was fun – camping with my folks and having no chores to do but sit around and drink beer, do word puzzles, and just BE.

 

I think what made Tuesday overwhelming was my decision to start a small business.  I have the first of my inventory on its way as I write this.  I’m hopeful and excited, but also nervous and overwhelmed by all the little stuff I have to do in order to get started.  First task: to set up my computer - reformat the hard drive, invest in better software (business expense) and internet connectivity (business expense) to help manage everything.  Now, considering I am really my own boss at this, I can’t technically get dooced, but I’m not going to tempt fate any further since I do have people helping me out and a company supplying inventory (both of which can cut me out like a bad skin tag if they feel like it).  That’s the thing with contractual agreements – both parties have an “out” clause for “no fault at all reasons.”  Suffice it to say, I’m excited about the opportunity to make a little extra money and to have something I can call my own ambition.

if I had a million dollars...

…I would buy new clubs.  Right now, although I have a kick-butt stand-bag my sister chose for me as a Christmas present, I am playing with my sister’s old driver and fairway woods (which need re-gripped, but I LOVE the way they hit) and my dad’s old irons and putter.  I dig the putter, but I feel like I should be playing with a slightly different flex club.  Or a longer club shaft.  I just don’t feel comfortable with the irons.

 

What I need to do is go get fitted for new irons.  According to this article in Golf for Women, though, I may have some trouble with that.  However, I have to say, every time I’ve gone to our local Golfsmith, they are more than helpful.  I am usually approached by a salesperson in less than 5 minutes of entering the store.  My sister bought her new driver and hybrid woods there, and the person doing the club fitting was professional and knew his stuff.  He was also patient and offered solid advice, including ordering what my sister wanted and needed on a special order, because it wasn’t in stock.

 

Golfsmith also carries a wide variety of two layer golf balls, women’s shoes, and a fair amount of women’s clubs and clothing.  I did notice that the women’s clothing section is bigger than the club section though.  I know I like to look good when I golf (because at least that is one thing I’ll do right that round), but isn’t the equipment more important?

 

she is a sewing queen...

For some crazy odd reason I have the bug to sew.  Don’t understand it.  Considering how many Other More Important Things I have to do right now.  Oh wait, that is how I deal with stress.  I do other things instead.  At least this time it is productive OCD behavior not destructive.  Help me.  Please.

 

One plus side of this is that the sewing… it cannot happen til the Mess that Will Become My Sewing Room is put in order.  So yea.  And yet that is not on the list of things to do after work today.  Which, by the way includes:

·                     paint shelves for massive armoire

·                     buy beetle bags, mulch, and landscape cloth at Lowe’s

·                     lay cloth and spread mulch

·                     Clean garage (some)

·                     Pull electric trimmer out of garage (see Clean garage – “Some” = only enough to accomplish getting the trimmer out)

·                     Trim lawn around patio, house, fence, electrical wiring, sidewalk, etc.

·                     Go to fraternity alumnae meeting (and try to not be bored out of skull while seemingly pointless yet inevitable debate ensues over Issues that Do Not Matter – anyone who is in any sort of group knows this is how meetings always go.  CUT TO THE MEAT PEOPLE!  I have sleep to be getting tonight!)

 

And I am sure I will be sidetracked somehow from the List.  Right now, it will be by actual work.

 

All photos are shared copyright, credit to Mary Stephenson/ Acorns Graphics

Okay... since I didn't post the ONE picture I promised. Here are a BUNCH. Because, quite frankly, I couldn't choose. :-) Enjoy!

All photos are shared copyright, credit to Mary Stephenson/ Acorns Graphics

All photos are shared copyright, credit to Mary Stephenson/ Acorns Graphics

Perfect day?

Yep. It was a perfect day. All photos are shared copyright, credit to Mary Stephenson/ Acorns Graphics.

FINALLY!

I get our wedding pictures.  J  You only get one.  Tomorrow (ha!  Fooled you!  You got all excited and then… POOF.  Nothing.  That’ll teach you to go and get your hopes up.).  I get all of them today after work – I’m meeting with our photographer to pick up our albums and digital proofs.  The best part about all of this is that we can cheaply make our own prints, post them online for family and friends, and not have to worry about negatives or paper proofs fading.  Though I’ll probably make backup copies of our discs and keep them in the safety deposit box… just in case.

 

We now have a guest room with a guest bed set up.  Steve calculated that my immediate family (including my in town sister) could stay over and everyone would have a bed, including us.  You know, if we WANTED them to stay over.  I pointed out that if my entire family decided to come visit and sleep at our house, that I probably would book he and I a hotel room.  I love my family, but I need SPACE.  Luckily, they understand this… and they get hotel rooms.  Or stay at my sister’s condo…because she’s single and doesn’t have a husband to sit on top of when my parents visit.  Though the idea of a one night splurge on a hot tub suite is a good one to file away for the next time they visit.  For us, not my parents.

 

Work has a lunch’n’learn series where they bring in local community college instructors for language classes.  French I class starts today.  YippEEE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

old married lady stuff

I bought a new piece for my next ceramics project.  It is BIG.  About a foot high, three mushrooms and three frogs, so it will probably take me til the end of summer to finish it.  I love it though.  The ironic thing is that it came from a (and I’m quoting my ceramics teacher) “dead old lady.”  Seriously.  So it was only $6 – for a piece that size it was a BARGAIN.  I will probably kick myself for choosing it, because the last time someone picked such a big piece, it took them WELL PAST the holiday for which the piece was to be decoration.  Hopefully that won’t happen, although it may mean taking it home a few times to touch up spots.

 

We have officially moved all MY stuff into OUR house.  Now I just need to get the stuff we are donating out to the garage and into the driveway for Salvation Army to pick up on Monday.  Then I can finish re-doing the GIGANTIC cabinet we took from Grandma’s house for our kitchen storage.  It was a major score, but has also turned into a major project.  One that I haven’t had much time for lately, but would like to finish this weekend if I can get the garage into a semblance of neatness/cleared out so I don’t get pain all over everything.  God bless my dad for teaching me some basic woodworking/refinishing skills – this will save us a whole bunch of money to refinish a piece, rather than buying new.  And it will have some meaning, which is a bonus.

 

I just wish I wasn’t tripping over all our stuff on my way out the door in the morning – it would make the day start out so much brighter!

migraines suck

Up til 2 AM… in shower, naked, with cold… then hot…water running down over my head and back.  Leaning over the edge of the tub to PROJECTILE vomit into the toilet.  Crying for my husband to hold back my hair.  Then two gel ibuprofens, a little water, and a cold pack on top of a towel over my head and eyes.  Finally fall asleep, then get up at 6:50 AM to drive sis to work from the service shop.

 

After that kind of a night/morning… almost anything could happen, and today would still be a good day.

 

every little girl's dream...

…is for her blog to be just like this.  Having extra time now that the EVENT is over, and I don’t need to be obsessively planning, I have begun obsessively blogreading again.  (Is that a word?  If not, it should be.  I declare it so.  *PING of NEW WORD*)

 

I mean, seriously, can you be a cooler person?  Loving, awesome mom and awesome person in the same body – this is what every girl in my generation swears/hopes/dreams she will be when she is a mom, instead of a version of her own mother.

 

I say this with the full knowledge and understanding (because marriage brings such wisdom of the female condition and what it is to be a “woman”… nota bene the sarcasm…) that my own mom is a loving, awesome mom and awesome person in the same body, but from an older generation than Maggie.  If my mom’s generation had blogs, I like to imagine hers would have been similar to Maggie’s.  Except with references to the drabness that is NE Ohio in the winter and the glory of Ohio in spring, not the always superior moments of San Francisco.

 

 

would you help an indie out?

HELP OUT OVAL OPUS!

Dear Friends,

Thank you to everyone for your continued support of Oval Opus in the “Myth Farewell Tour - Battle of the Bands” contest. Oval Opus is in the running to be the headliner thanks to all of your efforts.

We are now asking for your help more than ever as we make the final push towards victory. There are only 9 days left... please see how you can help below.

The band members have always been advocates of goodwill within our community. In particular, they have supported the Dubunkify mission of raising awareness about the hazards of using tobacco products. The winner of the contest will perform on July 14th on the campus of Ohio State University.

You can vote every 24 hours, so please find the time to support a great band that supports a great cause and serves as a positive role model in today’s society.

How can you help?

1. Vote-vote-vote!!! Vote here every day. 

2. Re-post this or a similar bulletin on your MySpace account.

3. Forward this message to everyone you know!

4. Add Oval Opus to your top 8 friends list.

5. Come see Oval Opus perform on July 14th (with your help).

Results will be announced on June 26th. Good luck to all participating bands!

 

Excuse for a Party: No. 137

This is a pretty cool idea. I heard about this via Universe Today. It was posted on the Scientific American Blog: 66 beer bottles = one cheap rooftop solar water heater.

I guess that would be one good way to recycle the massive number of beer bottles we have in our fridge at present. Although, that would require emptying them first…

Killian’s anyone?

wedding countdown...

We are getting married in T-minus three days and counting.

 

I am most excited about the cookie table.  My mom has made 5 dozen each of four different kinds of cookies, my dad has made 6 kolachi (which is about 180 pieces when cut), three aunts have made cookies, and Steve’s mom is making cookies.  YAY!!!  Considering that was the one thing I really wanted when we started planning the wedding, it’s turned out nicely.

 

Dress is just fitting me.  I’ve unfortunately put back on some weight since buying it but it still fits.  Doesn’t help that I’m nervous and bloated, but hey, that’s what control top undergarments are for right?

 

I’ve made two cheesecakes and about two dozen kiffels, still more kiffels to make.  Unfortunately I burned my LEFT ring finger making the cheesecake.  This came after a major hangnail incident and being STABBED under the fingernail by the multiflora rosebush I was trying to take down in the backyard… both on the same LEFT RING FINGER.  It’s like karma for not wearing my engagement ring while doing these activities or something.  Fortunately, all the injuries are healing nicely, probably thanks to the good nights of sleep I’ve been getting lately.  My body is finally on a good schedule, so able to take care of itself.

perfect wedding tips...

1)       Reduce invite-addressing stress by drinking when doing this task.  It puts in perspective that whether or not you get the last name of Uncle’ Sam’s fiancée’s right…they will still come to the wedding.  And if they don’t poo on them.

2)       Buy a dress with a corset bodice = no alterations = no stress about gaining/losing weight from the stress of not gaining weight

3)       Make sure you delegate as many tasks as possible.  However, you should also know that you will have to make final decisions ANYWAY, so make them BEFORE you delegate – no one believes you when you say you do not care what color your dad’s tux vest ends up.

4)       Use the money you would have wasted on nasty wedding cake that is too dry/too sweet/too melty/too tart to get chocolate covered strawberries for EVERYONE.  People might actually eat those.

5)       No one will understand why you put them at their table… and will move to the one they want to be at anyway.  So DO NOT waste your time trying to figure out if Aunt Myrtle will like your Cousin Eunice, or if it is worth putting near-sighted Uncle Fred at a table close to the dance floor when he’ll leave right after the meal.  Put all the names in a hat, and randomly assign table numbers to each guest by drawing them.  Or use dice to roll table numbers for each guest group. 

6)       Forget favors – spend the money on the band.  Everyone always throws them out as soon as they get home anyway.

7)       Buy comfortable shoes you can wear again.

8)       Buy the dress you like, even if it is more than you pay for rent each month and will only wear once.

9)       Get supplies at the Dollar Tree – no one will know.  No one will care, even if they do know!

10)   Marry your best friend.  ;-)

 

Hellooo...

Yes I know I have been not posting. New job, trying to actually work at, rather than goof off and get fired. A job where I have actual work to do most days most of the day, rather than "set up random experiment, wait 4 hours without doing anything else."

I do like the new job. A LOT. Which is why I won't blog about it, cause I'm not stupid.

Wedding plans are done... now it is little piddly stuff like checking on vendors and confirming reservations. The cake is ordered, the rings are picked up, we have the marriage license in hand as of Friday, and I have to go email the reception hall chick about how to spend more money (since our friends are bailing on us left and right after we invited them...).

Ciao!

this is IT

Ladies and gentlemen of Blogville... I present to you, my last will and testament... as a grad student. (Tomorrow is my LAST DAY EVAR...I start the new job on January 8, 2007... so you will see slightly less of me as there will be no new blogging from work... only home during free time, which I will have blessedly MORE of after tomorrow).

To my bench, I leave clean paper and no dust.

To my pipettes, I leave the opportunity to work for someone new.

To myself, I leave with fear of the unknown but courage to face new opportunity. All I have to do is turn in the darn thing tomorrow. Fingers crossed.