Grateful

Today I am grateful for my daughter who decides to dance like a robot at the restaurant, that I got the keys!!! and for 6 glorious days off of work.

Get Recognized

My boss asked me to do more training and review today with the contractors.  So I did.  I came up with some more training material, outlined everything and did all the corporate crap you should do.  She actually publicly complemented me on the work I did, how well done and clear and concise it was and sent it on to the Director with kudos.  I was surprised.  I know it's all corporate BS, but it still feels good to be recognized.  : )
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I received a postcard from Taiwan today.  It wasn't even a registering type postcard.  One of my original postcards went to this 17 year old kid in Taiwan.  I had put my return address on it and she sent me a postcard back telling me thank you and that the one I sent has been her favorite so far.  What a sweetheart! 

The kid sent a postcard to Oklahoma today.  It was so cute.  She wrote on the postcard, "Are there a lot of horses in OK?  I want to be a cowgirl!"  I hope she starts getting some soon.  Maybe there will be some at the new house waiting for her considering I changed our address last week with postcrossing?  I hope so!
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I'm supposed to get the key to the house tomorrow.  I cannot wait.  Sitting through work is going to be pure torture for me!  Thursday I am going to go over and start doing loads and loads of laundry that I've been saving and hopefully transfer the contents of the fridge.  Then Friday the movers are coming.  I hope this move is the beginning of a good chapter.
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Today I am grateful for my daughter, for having a reason to look forward to checking the mail, and that we're down to two days til the move!

Ramblings With Worry

1. If women ruled the Earth there would probably be a lot more compassion and a lot fewer men.
2. My mother's weekly calls (this is a new thing) to me are equivalent to running 10 miles in the Sahara desert without water. I keep seeing mirage after mirage wishing each one was a bottle of wine.
3. I wish I had a light switch in my brain to turn it off from thinking and worrying when I wanted to sleep.
4. If you can make buns of steel, can you make nerves of steel?  I need some of both, preferably with minimal effort.  : )
5. I really want to tell some people to bite me.  And then move on and live happily ever after.
6. I promised myself I wouldn't blog about something that's happened or future happenings, but it's bugging me so much not to get it off my chest.  I can't sleep and my stomach is in knots.  I have a feeling I'm headed back...soon, very soon and I'm not ready for a fight.
7. I've lived in 18 houses and attended 9 different schools, but I'm not a military brat....just an ill-adjusted adult.
8. I don't want to be THAT person.
9. God grant me strength...
10. My give a damn's busted.

Moving Stress

I began panic mode last night about moving.  Being sick really set me back.  I still have things to pack and am beginning to think it's not going to happen.  Then of course, when I panic I start to think too much.  I just realized that in 32 years I have lived in 18 different houses.  That averages out to less than 1.8 years in each house.  Of course I stayed in some houses longer than others, but still...18 houses?  That's just plain depressing...perhaps I should have been born a gypsy.  I'm hoping with this new house we stay put at least until the kid is out of school.  I know I have to stay here for now, but when she's grown and at college, I want to move again.  There is no way I want to stay in this godforsaken state any longer than I have to.  I can reason with moving again because I really have nothing holding me here.  I don't have friends here really, my family isn't here, it's not like I'm part of really anything.  It's been hard living here.  I mean, after college where do you meet people?  The people I work with are a lot older than me, their kids are grown or they haven't got any.  Blah...enough of the Debbie Downer.  I have to get my head straight...maybe one of these days?
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In other news, I've been the postcard queen.  I still am feeling guilty about the kid.  She's still only received one postcard and three of hers have been received.  I got two more in the mail today.  They were just addressed to our address so I assumed they were hers since she's been waiting for some.  I went to register them and they actually belonged to me.  How'd I figure that out?  It wouldn't let me register them to her name.  The postcards I received were from China and France.  I also received one from Chicago this weekend.  I love the Chinese postcard.  I love seeing all the little characters, even in the stamped postmark!  I think it is so cool!

Anyway, I emailed all of my friends overseas earlier today to ask them if they would mind sending her a postcard. They are so kind! They all said yes!!! So she will be getting some one way or another.  Yes!!!  My friends overseas are the best!  I love seeing the joy on her face when she receives mail.  You would think the kid just won the lottery and would never have to work a day in her life.  It's so exciting just to watch her light up.
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Today was the first day back to work since last Tuesday.  I've been wondering all day what possibly went wrong while I was out and when the shit is going to hit the fan.  Why do I wonder this, you ask?  Well, my boss kept coming over and telling me today what a fantastic job I do and how much she really appreciates me and my work.  She told me how well organized I am and that I did a great job training our temps and the training materials were so good she published them on the web.  So....what went wrong while I was out and when's it going to bite me in the ass? 

I know I probably shouldn't think like that, but she NEVER comes over to my desk.  I could go a week without talking to her, seriously.  Her behavior today makes me suspicious, but I have to admit, it was really nice to hear those complements and be reassured that she does like how I work and approves of what I have been doing.  : )
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Today I am grateful for my daughter's ability to rebound from disappointment, that we have 3 more days until we move to a nice, quiet house, and that it's supposed to be nice out on Friday (fingers, toes and eyes crossed!).

Things That Make You go Hmmm.

I was so desperate last night I got Nyquil, which I haven't taken probably since college.  It used to have the opposite affect on me where I'd be up all night.  However, last night it knocked me right the heck out.

My conclusion:  After waking up this morning, I've decided Nyquil is equivalent to being drunk without the hangover.  I can't remember where I put a darn thing before going to bed...hmmm.
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Today I am grateful that I slept in, that my house is quiet and that it's one day closer to moving day Friday.

How to Make Appropriate Sound Effects

The kid was full of humor today - obviously.  This morning she layed down on the floor, lifted her shirt above her belly and started slapping it.  She said to me, "Mom, does this sound like I'm clapping?"  I told her yes, but then asked her why she didn't just clap her hands.  She said, "Because clapping your hands just sounds like one person clapping, but clapping on your stomach sounds like you have an audience..."

Stinky Feet

Our library is holding a poetry contest during the month of April.  Knowing (or believing) that my kid is quite creative, I asked her if she wanted to write a poem.  She said sure, but about what?  Of course, there I go egging her on and say, "stinky feet."  (Because I can never actually be mature!) 

Well, what does she do?  She wrote a poem about stinky feet alright!  My dad's stinky feet!!!  It actually is a running joke between her and her grandpa.  One day my dad whispered to her in church, "You have stinky feet."  just as a joke and she believed him and said back, "Ugh!  I took a shower this morning!"  Then he told her he was teasing and it just became their joke. 

Okay, so now that you have the story behind stinky feet, below is her poem.  I know I'm biased, but I think for a seven year old it's pretty darn good.

The Stinky Feet
One day there was a Grandpa with stinky feet.
His feet smelled like meat, the one that you eat.
I told him to take a bath and he said no!
I wish he stuck his stinky feet in the snow.
They smell so bad I can't even sleep.
I pray my little heart to keep. 
Please Grandpa wash your stinky feet.
Spraying your stinky feet with perfume would be neat.
And he did!
                        ---written by The Kid

To Be a Queen...

I found a list while packing today that the kid made.  On the top was written:  To Be a Queen.  I can see Disney's left quite an, um, odd impression on my kid.

Here's the list with corrected spelling:

To Be A Queen:
 1.  Queens have to ride in carriages or on horses, no cars allowed.
 2.  Do not snore.
 3.  Wear spectacles when you read, no glasses.
 4.  Never wear a jacket.  You have to wear long sleeve dresses and tights if you are cold.
 5.  You always have to have a crown on.
 6.  Put your feet on stools, not other people.
 7.  Brush your teeth.
 8.  Queens do not work on computers.
 9.  Wear sparkly shoes.
10.  Eat chicken as finger food.
11.  Live in a castle.
12.  Do not get married.
13.  No tooting allowed except on the toilet.
14.  Burping is allowed only in an empty jer.
15.  No tickling the Queen.

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Today I am grateful for the silliness that my daughter has within her, for coupons the doctor gave me for some medicine making it free!!!, and that the official countdown to move has begun!

Me Gotta Go Down The Bayou

Yesterday was good.  I took the kid mini-golfing (glow-in-the-dark) and that was fun.  Then we ran around to some stores and came home and made Jambalaya!  Yum!  She wanted to help, so I let her cut up the sausage, okra, celery, parsley, green onions, and yellow pepper.  This was the first time I entrusted her with a sharp serated knife.  I was a little nervous, but after I showed her and then watched her cut a couple of times I decided she was way better with the knife than I ever am.  She managed to cut all those things without so much as knicking a finger.  Every time I chop up that many things I end up with bandaids on my fingers!  She also stirred the dish, drained and washed the beans and added the rice to the pot.  She was so excited to do all of this.  I guess it must have made her feel like a grown up.  Or if she were to choose the words, a "teenager." 

Anyway, it was really good.  I froze some for my dad and we finished the rest off today for lunch.  I think the spiciness I put in it was just right - at least for her.  It had ajust enough heat to it that it ran down the back of your throat after you swallowed.  Me, I added cayenne and more hot sauce to my bowl.  I like my stuff burnin' hot.

I would say this recipe was a keeper.  I made the linked recipe on the 101 in 1001 days page.  The only thing I did differently was not cook with chicken.  I used turkey kielbasa and shrimp.  I only used 1/2 pound of shrimp and 8 oz. of kielbasa.  Next time I would use an entire pound of shrimp (cuz those babies shrink!) and a full 16 oz package of kielbasa.  I added a can of washed and drained dark red kidney beans too.  You can't have jambalaya without beans!  Hello????

We also dyed Easter Eggs yesterday.  We saw this tie-dye kit at Walmart for $1.88.  The eggs on the packaging looked so cool.  I know, suckers for marketing, right?  I thought we should try it.  OMG!  What a mess it was!  You put the liquid dye in these little saucers and then drop drops of die on the egg with droppers, while holding the egg with a plastic bag.  Then you are supposed to rub the bag over the egg to dye it.  All in all, it was messy, but it was fun!  Both of our fingers are still colored today, despite washing them a zillion times with soap! 

I think the eggs look really cool.  The kid just "had" to have one for breakfast this morning.  God forbid she didn't eat one, I wonder if she could have gone on living?  Ha, it was such a big deal to her...almost like she got a new toy.  She's so funny sometimes.

Today....what could be worse than waking up at 12:35am with a burning sore throat, not being able to breathe and having an Alvin and the Chipmunks song stuck in your head?  Wait!  Let me clarify that - ONE LINE from an Alvin and the Chipmunks song stuck in my head!!!  I'm sick.  Ugh!

We were originally planning to go to the park and bike ride today, but I nixed that.  My throat is on fire.  I can't breathe and I haven't got any energy at all.  But...since it's Spring Break I naturally felt guilty to just sit around and be mopey today, so we went to the movies.  We saw How to Slay a Dragon.  I really didn't want to see it, but since it's the only other kid movie out besides Diary of a Wimpy Kid we went.  (The kid saw Diary of a Wimpy Kid w/her spring break program on Monday).  How to Slay a Dragon actually turned out to be REALLY good!  I actually enjoyed the movie.  It wasn't really scary for kids, which surprised me.  The kid jumped a few times though during the show, but only because of the sound effects that went with the scene.  If the sound weren't so loud, I highly doubt she would have jumped. 

And we're back home just chillin' right now.  The kid was so thrilled with cooking with me last night that she's begging to start dinner now.  She wants to do all the cutting again.  I wonder how long this can possibly last???
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Today I am grateful that my daughter unloaded the dishwasher, that the movie didn't suck and that I get a discount on cell accessories through my work.  (got a new bluetooth!)

Sick Bastards

This must be some kind of cruel joke from Target.  I haven't had to refill a prescription there in 6 weeks.  I haven't been sick.  Tuesday I received a freaking thermometer in the mail from them....like they miss me and are trying to entice me to come see them????  Are they losing stock because I haven't been there?  The walls must be crumbling.

Today I'm sick.  Massive sinus infection, maybe something wrong with my throat too.  Bastards!!!  Didn't anyone tell them it's not April Fool's Day yet???????????

Culture Overload

Yesterday I decided to take the kid to the Field Museum.  She'd never been there and I can get us both in for free with my work ID.  We took the train into the city.  Our plan was to do the museum and then try a new restaurant in Greektown.  I've never been to Greektown other than driving through it when I lived on the South side in a past life.

First, let me just say, going to the Field Museum is my idea of hell.  Okay, well going to any museum is pretty much my idea of hell.  I've never enjoyed them.  I don't know why, I just find them boring and creepy and wierd....boring being the big one.  I went to the Field Museum last year or the year before with a friend and that fulfilled me for at least the next 10 years.  But then I'm plagued by the guilty side to parenting that wants to give the kid every opportunity possible and do cool things with her, and it was free...so how could that not be a good idea?  IT WAS TORTURE!!! (for me!)  We spent FIVE AND A HALF HOURS in the museum!!! 

I thought it would be fun for the kid to take an extra camera I have and let her take her own pictures of the city, the museum, etc.  In the museum she literally took a picture of EVERYTHING.  I'm not kidding, she has pictures of dead squirrels, ducks beaks, eggs, mummies, statues, every bone in the place, etc.  I haven't looked at her memory card yet, but there has to be AT LEAST 500 photos on it, hence the reason why we were there for so long.  And she seemed to have suddenly turned photographer because she'd look at the photo afterward and go, "Oh, I didn't get it all right."  And then reposition herself to take another one.  I'm telling you, this could very well be a good way to torture prisoners!!!!

All in all though, the kid thought this was the most awesome place in the world.  She was funny, we were looking at a beaver and she goes, "Sweet chuckles, he's huge!"  Where does she come up with these sayings???  I'm glad she had a really fun time and did enjoy it.  I'm hoping this experience lasts her at least 10 more years and her curiosity isn't peaked to go back any time soon.  Lord knows she has enough pictures to remember the museum.


Next we hopped on some city buses to go to Greektown.  I knew the general vicinity of Greektown, like I said I had driven through it years ago.  Well, I either didn't realize then how run down and um, nasty the place was back then or it has just become that way. 

We ate at this restaurant called The Parthenon.  It was in a magazine I read listed as one of the two places that serves Saganaki.  They pour Brandy over this cheese and then light in on fire right at your table and yell "Opa!"  The kid got the biggest kick out of this.  We ordered three appetizers, the Saganaki, Pan Fried Zucchini with a mashed potato/garlic spread (mostly garlic) and Feta Cheese with a tomato and vegetable sauce.  Since the kid got such a kick out of "Opa!" everytime a new appetizer was served she'd say, "Opa!"  and make these jazz hands.  Everything was very good except for the feta cheese dish.  The cheese was excellent but neither of us cared for the sauce.  It had olives in it and we both detest olives.  It also tasted like it may have had anchovie in it (Yuck!).  I took it home though and ate it for breakfast this morning and it tasted a little bit better.  I also scraped the sauce off the cheese, so no wonder.  The saganaki was very good.  It had a distinct flavor, I think it may have been the brandy.  The zucchini was very lightly breaded and pan fried.  They came out piping hot and the spread was very good.  I wasn't sure what it was except that it was very garlicky.  I asked the waitor what it was and he explained to me that it was mashed potatoes and garlic mixed together.  The Greeks eat this with vegetables and fish.  The spread is served cold and it's not the same texture as our type mashed potatoes.  It was sort of a more grainy but smooth texture.  I would have never guessed it was mashed potatoes.

I really wanted to take a picture of the food and the cheese when they lit it on fire, however this restaurant was a bit more upscale than I thought it would be, so it wouldn't have really been appropriate to whip out the camera like a big, fat, obvious tourist.  

After eating we decided to make our way to Michigan Avenue before heading home.  We were on a postcard hunt for some Chicago postcards for postcrossing.  We had to head North to catch the right bus to get back to the El.  Whoops, that was a little bit of a not so good area.  We walked around the corner and there is this drunk guy and he goes, "Hey baby.  You want some of this, come here hot stuff!"  And the kid looks at me and says, "What does he want by 'some of this'?"  Uh.....I just told her to ignore him because he was drunk.  The guy had two bottles of whiskey he was chugging from.  We ended up standing right in front of a store window just in case he decided to do something.  I figured we would be able to duck into the store. 

Then the bus came.  Boy, was that interesting.  The kid and I ended up being the only white people on the bus until we got to the city center.  Everyone kind of just stared at us when we got on, but oh well.  They probably just figured we were dumb tourists.  (I may not be the brightest when we travel places.  If I want to go somewhere or do something I go, I don't care if we are the only one of a color or culture there.  I just want to see things and experience everything.  You should have seen me in South America or even NYC last year.)  Anyway, the bus was packed, but we managed to get two seats across the aisle from each other.  Then the girl I was sitting next to starts having a seizure on the bus!!!!  Freaked me right the heck out.  All I could think of was, "Am I supposed to grab her tongue so she doesn't choke?"  All of her things flew to the floor and she's jerking around.  Then she came out of it and starts screaming, "I'm okay, I'm okay."  I had picked up her bags for her and gave them to her.  I didn't know what else to do at that point, but I was really anxious to get off the bus! 


We passed Garrett's popcorn.  The place that is supposed to be famous and have the best popcorn.  The kid is a popcorn addict and wanted to go inside to look.  I'm a sucker too because I let her get a small popcorn.  She chose Cheese.  OMG!  I see why it is famous.  It was absolutly delicious!!!  I really have never tasted popcorn like that.  Maybe it was worth the $3.95 I shelled out?  At least we can now say we've experienced Garrett's and it made us both happy.

After Garrett's we made our way down Michigan Ave. for postcard shopping.  We both ended up with 5 each.  What happened to postcards being 10 for $1 or at least 4 for $1.00?  The cheapest we found were $0.40 each. 

Finally we began our trek home on the train.  We actually did not open our front door until 9:00pm!  (Did I mention we left our house at 8:30 am yesterday!?!?!)

The kid was begging on our way home just to be able to go to bed and shower in the morning, but needless to say, the minute the front door cracked open she got her second wind.  All because....

I received another postcard.  This time from Croatia. I also checked and finally the postcard I sent to China arrived after 25 days travelling. Did the postman swim across the ocean to deliver it? Maybe the boat it was on was highjacked off the coast of Somalia and the pirates decided my mail wasn't all that interesting and released it?

Anyway, we both got on the internet and decided to send out two more postcards each for postcrossing.  Of course, we had to use our new Chicago postcards instead of the Marvel ones I have.  She sent one to Canada and England.  I sent one to San Jose, CA and Lithuania.  It's like we're now addicts.  Hi, My name is XXX and this is my kid.  We are postcrossing addicts.  It has become our drug.  We get a high when we check the mail...

We both finally made it to bed then at 10:30.  What a day!

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Today we're going to go glow-in-the-dark mini-golfing and head to the post office.  I've got to get more stamps for the postcards.  I hope we get some more in the mail today!  Or at least I really hope the kid gets one. 

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Today I am grateful for the time I have with my daughter, vacation time, and sleeping in.

Grateful but Exhausted

Big day today - more on that tomorrow cuz I'm beat.
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Today I am grateful for my daughter's strange but funny expressions, that the rain held off until we were on our way home in the car, and for the experience of saganaki.

Hallelujah!

I have five, count 'em, FIVE whole days off of work!  Amen to that!!!!  Thank God because I don't think I could have taken five full days of work this week!
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Today I am grateful for my daughter's knobbed kneed way to try to roller skate, that I have five days off of work, and for the nice bike ride we took tonight.

Accomplishments, Parties and Plans

This past week I accomplished a lot outside of my normal every day goals.  I have to say, the one I'm the most relieved about completing is the photo log.  When I found out I got cancer I lost any desire to take photos I had.  In fact, I sold all of my good cameras and bought a cheap little 3X zoom.  I thought keeping a photo log would help redeem the desire to take photos again - but I was wrong.  I'm just happy to have completed that and be done.  It gave me no joy to pick up a camera again.  In fact, I think just based on the photos I took anyone could tell I didn't care what I took a photo of.  Oh well!

Accomplishments:
76.  Eat a yogurt every day for one month. (30/30) - 2/16/10-3/17/10
77.  Keep a photo log for one month. One pic a day. Blog it! (28/30) - 2/19/10-3/20/10
83.  Do not eat chocolate for one week. Do this 5 times. (1/5)
84.  Pack a lunch every day and eat it for a week. Do this 5 times. (2/5)
97.  Play at least one board game with the kid two days a week for a month. Do this 5 times. (1/5)
100.  Read one new book a month or the equivalent of 33 total. (3/33)

Anyway, tonight was good.  The hockey team that the kid is a fan member of had a special party with the players just for the kids club fans.  I took her and her friend and they had a ball.  We toured the locker room, sat in the zambonie, tried on the goalie gear and got tons and tons of autographs.  The kid had them sign her mini-stick and the other one had the game puck from the last game we went to.  Her friend thinks that this one player is so cute, so it made her night to get his autograph.  Of course they were totally amused by two 7 year olds fawning over them, so they also gave them their name tags at their autograph station.  You would have thought the two of them won a million dollars.  The players were so nice and it was great to see the kids so happy and feel so special.  I got some great photos of the kids!  I have this one of the kid with the goalie gear on making this scrunched up face.  It was her scary face, but she really looks like Pop-Eye the Sailor Man instead. 

The kid FINALLY received a postcard from postcrossing today!  When I got the mail and told her she finally got a postcard she began yelling, "I got one!  I finally got one!  I just can't believe it."  I mean, seriously, her reaction was if she had just gotten the powerball number!!!  The girl that sent the postcard was so sweet.  She must have looked at the kid's profile because she stuck some Winnie the Pooh stickers on the back for her.  The postcard came from Spain. I was so happy that she finally received one!

Well, I'm looking forward to tomorrow.  It's my last day of work for this week!  I'm taking three days off because it's Spring Break.  I still haven't decided what to do.  We were going to go into the city and get a hotel and spend two days down there, but the weather is supposed to be crappy so I'm not spending big bucks to stay in the city with crappy weather.  I guess I'll make a decision tomorrow based on the weather forecast that comes out then.  I do know that one day though we will take the train in and spend it at the museum.  The kid wants to see the dinosaurs.  Then we'll go to Greek Town for some flaming fired cheese.  I think she'll get a kick out of it because they light it on fire right at your table.  Beyond that, I don't know.  We wanted to go up to the skydeck, but again, partly cloudy doesn't cut it for me.
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Today I am grateful that I can give my daughter great opportunities like the party we went to tonight, that I am alive and well to see the utter joy on her face and hear her laughter, and for vacation days!!!!

Grateful

Today I am grateful that I cancelled cable and no longer have to listen to Hannah Montana all the time, that I only have a two day work week coming (phew!) and for the bottle of red that will be popped with dinner.

Mother Nature Phone Home...

THIS is the first day of Spring?  Mother Nature needs medicated because she's got it all wrong!!!!! 

Today was pretty nice considering I had the potential to be extremely crabby.  Last night we rented Disney's The Princess and the Frog and the kid ended up in my bed all night.  Kid in bed = no sleep.  I was really surprised with the movie because there were parts that were really dark and spooky.  It scared the kid, she's sensitive to that kind of stuff just like me. 

Anyway, despite exhaustion, today worked out well.  Her friend invited her over for a couple of hours.  What did I do?  Took myself out for some Matzo Ball soup - perfect comfort food for the weather we are having!  It was delicious!!!  Then I went shopping again.  I seem to be addicted to shopping lately, which is unsual for me.  I normally detest shopping and will wait and wait until it can't be waited on anymore. 

After I picked the kid up we went to one more store since she had a gift card and was in the mood to use it.  It took FOREVER!!!  She would pick something up, "yup, this is what I want."  And then see something else and put the other thing down.  Holy cow, I'm glad I wore short sleeves because I was the hot flash queen today...and when I'm hot - oh boy, the patience wears thin.  But we made it out of there happy and in one piece.

When we got home I had yet ANOTHER postcard from postcrossing!  I was excited when I saw it in the mailbox, but then kind of cringed when I realized it was again addressed to me.  The kid still hasn't received one.  Anyway, this time it was from Finland.  I have now received 4 postcards and originally sent out 5.  The one to China has not yet arrived (22 days in the making!).  I sent two more today, one to Thailand and one to Taiwan.  The kid has sent 2, one to Finland (which arrived) and one to China that is also still travelling.  I let her send another tonight.  This time it is going to New York, so hopefully it will arrive quickly and she will receive one more quickly. 
And now three inches of snow later, we're nestled in our snuggies awaiting our beds!
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Now for my blog n' bitch....
Yesterday I tried setting up all the utilites and such for the new house.  I went online and saw that I could get DSL without a phone line through AT&T (my current provider) for $40 a month.  So I called them to disconnect here and start service there.  The lady on the phone tried to give me a line of total bullshit.  She said it was no longer available at that address and the only way I could get internet there would be through U-Verse....which, get this!  would cost $150 installation fee, and then a $100 one time charge!!!  I told the lady right where to go after I argued with her that that is not what is advertised on the internet.  I then began looking at Comcrap (oops!  I mean Comcast) and they were ridiculously priced as well if you didn't have at least two services.  I then decided to try a relatively new provider in the area.  I chatted online with a rep, a real rep that actually spoke English!  Imagine that!  I decided to try them.  They sent me my new modem overnight.  I plugged it in, no downloads necessary and voila!  It works!  My internet isn't slow any more, it doesn't freeze, nothing!  It's perfect.  I called their customer service line last night to ask some questions and I wasn't connected with India!  I spoke with a real live American!  Their customer service was excellent!  So far I'm totally impressed.  As for AT&T, my current service with them will be cancelled first thing Monday morning and they can BITE ME!!!!!!!!!!!!  $250 bucks to flip a switch - ha!  (I obviously chose the wrong career!)
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Today I am grateful for my daughter, for the three hours I got to have to do whatever I wanted while knowing my daughter was safe and having a blast, and for cute new shoes!

Yay! It's Friday!

It's Friday.  Dinner out, bike ride, showers and pullin' out the sofa bed for some rented movies. 

The kid was so cute today.  She found my German postcard and was reading our address out loud.  She reads:  "1234 N. Smith Street, tic tac toe sign 5.  Mom, why did they put a tic tac toe sign in our address?  Are you supposed to play?"  Obviously she's oblivious to the # sign!  But it was adorable!

Anyway....Ain't America great?  (and isn't that sign the truth!)  Where else can you see an Obama sandwich guy outside Denny's?  I had to take a picture when I saw him today.  I love these guys! 
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Today I am grateful for my innocently hilarious daughter, that it is Friday and I don't have to think about work until Monday, and for my new internet service that so far - rocks!

Nothing Exciting

I'm totally enjoying this beautiful weather and remain in denial that we are yet again expecting snow this weekend!  Today, with the warm spring-y type weather I was reminded of growing up in Milwaukee.  I'm so wierd when I remember or think of things by smell.  When I got home today my neighbor was out in the lot smoking and smelled of beer.  I was listening to country music on the radio just as I pulled in.  What was the first thing cigarettes, beer and country music reminded me of?  SUMMERFEST!  Funny how the mind/sensory smell work to remind you of things?  Two totally disgusting scents and they bring back a good memory!?!?  Maybe I need therapy. 

I received another postcard from postcrossing today.  Today's came from Germany.  I think I'm going to hide it because the kid hasn't received a postcard yet and she is starting to say "it's not fair." She doesn't quite understand the concept of the time it takes or that you write one, you get one.   I feel bad.  I was thinking that if another one came, I could just give it to her and tell her it was for her...but this time they wrote my name on it.  Hmmm.  Two of mine are still travelling now, going on 19 days.  So really, are they travelling or has someone not registered them?  They are going to China and Finland.  The reason I question it is because the kid sent one to Finland and it arrived in 6 days.  What is going on???

Work has gone more smoothly over the past two days.  Glad I got over that bump in the road, but that's not to say I've recovered.  I'm still sour when I think about it.  I'm emotional, what can I say?  But the good news is that my boss has picked me to train three new people.  It kind of cracks me up because I'm still relatively new myself...the problem is is that I'm the most organized in the group.  I got picked because, "You have your shit together."  I suppose it will be good for me career-wise.  I'm not complaining, I just find it interesting.  Fingers crossed it goes well and I can "get my shit together" by coming up with some training materials.  (Did I mention that I have to create them?)

I'm on day 3 of going to the gym.  Yesterday I worked from home, so instead I walked 1.75 miles during my lunch break and then the kid and I rode bikes after school for 45 minutes.  I don't think I've lost any weight but I'm trying to convince myself I feel sexier.  Ha, ha, ha!
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Today I am grateful for my daughter, grilled turkey burgers loaded with pickles, and the warm weather.

Happy St. Paddy's Day!

Happy St. Paddy's day...out of all of my ancestors, only one came from Ireland.  The rest of me is German, German, German.  But hey, I still lay claim to being a part Irish!

An Old Irish Blessing

May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!
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Today I am grateful that my daughter is still innocent enough to believe in silly things like leprechauns, for the grace to work at home today and not have to be in the office,  and for the beautiful blue sky and sunshine.

Hipsters on food stamps

I'm sorry, but I think this is soooo wrong!!!  Shopping at Whole Foods on Food Stamps?  Organic salmon, fresh squeezed specialty juices?!?  I'm not saying you can't or shouldn't be entitled to eat healthy, but um, nothing like blowing it on all this fancy food while people like me work our tail off and watch where and how we spend our money.  Seriously, there just comes a time when sacrifice is necessary.  And then people wonder what is wrong with our country?!?!?!?!  Well, yes, someone in government seems to believe it's okay to keep enabling our citizens with giveaways.  (And yes, I know, I am totally demonstrating my republican-ism, which I swore I would never be!  Deal with it.  Wrong is wrong.)

Hipsters on food stamps

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I (almost) Quit!

Today was my day from hell at work.  I get in to work this morning, open my email and what awaits me?  A nasty email insulting me.  First a little background: There are three parts to my job. The first being to open the user issue with the offshore folks. The second is to send weekly updates to the users to let them know their ticket is still open. The third is to tell them when offshore has fixed the issue and close the ticket.   I mean, it's really not rocket science.

Anyway, I had to send out a follow up (step two), per instructions from my boss.  It's generic and just says, "Letting you know IS is still working on your ticket.  Will follow up with future updates....blah, blah, blah."  No harm in that, right?  It tells the person their ticket is still open and yes, someone is looking at it. 

Whoa-ho-ho!  One particular follow-up email that was sent out was forwarded onto the IS boss.  The user questioned the IS boss about his issue because it has taken over a month to resolve and it's still not fixed.  In addition, the user told the IS boss that he couldn't even understand the offshore guy and the offshore guy didn't know enough English to help the user.  (Very efficient use of money, right?  While half the country is unemployed...oh, don't get me started!).  So that pissed the IS boss off and he emails back to the user, but copies everyone and their mother that I should not have sent an update and it makes it appear like they are not working the issue or have any idea what they are doing.  He basically went on then to tell me that I'm incompetent.  Oh, and did I mention that he did not even address the fact that the issue hasn't been resolved or the fact that his team doesn't speak English?

Needless to say, I was NOT happy. Okay, so I totally cried.  I'm not big on public humilation.  I phoned my boss who was working from home and she totally went to bat for me. Anyway, my boss said I did exactly what I was supposed to and we are not supposed to be telling the user anything more than that when we give them a weekly update.  I phrased the email according to how she had told me and followed directions to a tee (okay, a monkey could do that!)

My boss told me to blow it off and not take it personally.  But me, being an emotional basketcase, thinks, how can I not take it personally?  Especially when he just insulted me to a whole slew of people that I have to work with?  It is personal because that is a reflection of my work.  And I take pride in my work and work hard to do it accurately and professionally.  So yes, I did take it personally.  And yes, I will probably secretly have a grudge against this guy forever.  I'm pissed.  The real issue comes down to the fact that he wasn't doing his job and he didn't like being questioned about it.  I didn't deserve that because he can't manage his workload/people.  He tried to deflect the attention from himself and blame someone else.

I can't wait to hear how the conversation goes between my boss and this guy.  I hope she puts him in his place because crap like this makes me not want to do anything.  It's like you're damned if you do and damned if you don't.  I just want to tell this guy to BITE ME!!!!!...but I'm a professional (cough, cough).
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Alright, enough venting.  This afternoon I then went down to the gym at work.  I needed to blow off some steam, and sweat I did.  I did 30 minutes on the elliptical and burned 300 calories.  Woo-hoo!  I don't know what made me decide to start going to the gym at work, but I'm on day 2.  Yesterday I walked on the treadmill and shot some hoops.  I think though, that I am going to stick to the elliptical.  

It's really nice that we have a complete gym at work, showers and all.  It's free to use, they provide towels, shower supplies, everything.  I hope that I can stick to this.  I never went before because there were always a lot of people in there and I'm super shy about shaking everything on the treadmill or elliptical in front of these slim chicks.  Lucky for me though, I have a boss that allows us to really go anytime.  I've figured out that at 1:00pm there is no one there, so it's cool.
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I got another postcrossing card.   This time from Poland.  It was pretty neat.  The girl that wrote it said that Krakow is the cultural center of Europe...I'm not too sure I would agree, but hey?  What do I know about Poland?  It's so awesome just to get mail from so far away.
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The kid just about killed me tonight.  I had to try so hard not to laugh.  She's on the cusp of being a pre-teen and sometimes does things like a kid that's much older and more mature than seven, but then there are the times when she is just this innocent little kid.  We went out to Friday's for dinner (lazy, I don't wanna cook day) and we were sitting at the table and she gets all wide eyed and says, "Mom!  Guess what I did at school?  Yesterday I took all my green crayons and put them on the floor under my desk before I left school.  And do you know what?  The leprachaun came and took them overnight because they were gone this morning!!!!"  Now how do you keep a straight face to that?  Sometimes her innocence just kills me!
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My doctor emailed me the results on my knee x-ray.  It turns out that I have osetoarthritis.  She recommended losing weight (duh!), exercise and some physical therapy.  No injections or medication at this point.  She doesn't want to start me on something at my age, she says it's too young.  She thinks that at the stage it is at now strengthening exercises will really help.  Based on that information I have decided to cancel my appointment at Rush next week.  I feel like at this point it will be a waste of my time and that that doctor will tell me the exact same thing.  I've decided that I will go the route my lupus doctor recommended and in 3-6 months if I am not feeling any better knee-wise, I will make an appointment again with Rush.
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As if this post isn't long enough...goals this week, water, yogurt, $1.00/day.  Doing well on the no chocolate for a week, but then again, it's only been 3 days.  I figure though that I'll make it because if I didn't endulge today after the work issue, I'll survive.  I wrote my letter this week to the service member, already did my FB free day and ate fish.  Not too bad so far!
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Today I am grateful for the innocence my daughter sometimes displays, that my boss went to bat for me, and that I have the opportunity to work out at work.

Grateful

Today I am grateful for my daughter, that my boss can take my annoying teasing, and the gym we have at work and the hour I am allowed to get away.

It's All Over.

Yesterday was the last basketball game of the season.  Today was the awards banquet.  This was the first time I coached girls basketball and holy wow does it take it out of you.  We combined our team practices with another team, so in total there were 14 screaming, bouncing off the wall 1st-3rd grade girls every week.  It was a lot.  I like kids, used to work with them for a career...but I'm either getting old or I just forgot how energetic they can be!

I coached for three reasons: The first was that the kid kept asking me to coach a team she played on and second, I thought that I could bring something to these kids...even if it was just hugs every week (which I am totally guilty of).  The third, in some sick way I thought that if I coached I could convince myself that I wasn't sick - ha! ha!  What a joke!  Like basketball is going to make cancer disappear?  Or lupus?  I just went home every week more and more tired.  But oh, the things we try to make ourselves believe.  I'm exhausted.

Anyway, the kids were all good kids.  We had one kid on our team that was missing all of her front teeth and she had the biggest smile.  She smiled all the time, even when she didn't make a basket.  In fact, she only made her first basket at our second to last game of the season.  She just never gave up.  Every week when I saw her, she just lifted my spirits.  It was a good season. 

The organization we played through is fantastic.  They ensure all the kids get equal playing time and play every position.  They encourage the kids and really work on building their confidence.  It was nice to be a part of something that wasn't through our immediate community district that is totally based on winning.

The award ceremony was very nice today.  All the kids received a new backpack.  They introduced all of the teams and the kids got to run in down the aisle in their uniforms in front of all of the parents.  Then they had a magician perform that was absolutely hilarious.  I was in stiches, as was everyone in the audience.  Finally, they introduced the coaches (my biggest nightmare!) and presented us each with a plaque with the team photo, our name and year on it.  It's extremely nice!  At the end they did a raffle for the kids with prizes that local businesses donated.  It was all very well done.
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This week I'm going to try to work on not eating chocolate for one week.  That will be my goal.  We'll see how well or not so well that goes.

My postcard to Germany via postcrossing arrived yesterday.  That means I should be receiving another postcard soon.  Yay!  I hope the kid's postcards arrive soon as well so she can start receiving them too! 

I'm not getting very far in my Jackie Collins book.  It isn't holding my interest, and it's a big ass book.  I'm at page 201 out of 504.  Was considering passing on it, but if I'm 200 pages in already, eh?  What the hell?

I didn't go to church this morning either.  Don't ask me why, for some reason God was guiding me toward shoe shopping instead. 
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Today I am grateful for my daughter, that I found some summer clothes that fit and look nice, and it was warm enough to go coat-less today.

Ha!

I had my blood drawn for a three month check up on thyroid, cholesterol, etc.  I've had high cholesterol for at least a year (that I can remember it being checked) and in January it was super high.   The doctor decided not to put me on any medication and advised me on what to eat.  Of course, like everything I go online and start googling and then go to the library and check out books about it.  I found this one book, though I can't remember the title, and I thought it was really interesting.  It even had suggestions and recipes in it.  I decided to try it, after all, it was all food that I liked.  Guess what????  Today my test results came back and my cholesterol is BELOW what it should be!!!  Both me and doctor were surprised.  She said to keep doing whatever I was doing!  So, I'd like to give a shout out to my mother (and let me take cover if she would ever discover this blog!) and just say "BITE ME!"  Go ahead and call me a fat pig now and tell me I'm going to die by heart attack by the time I'm 40.  Just try it and let me know how those words taste.

I'm so pleased with myself right now.  Like I couldn't have had better news between buying misses XL shirts last night and finding out that I lowered my cholesterol on my own - no medication, no nothing.  Just determination and good eating. 
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Today I saw the movie My Family Wedding.  It was ok.  I was the only one in the theater laughing, but that may be because they were speaking in Spanish and not translating it.  Considering that I speak Spanish, I thought those parts were hilarious.  So there is 1/5 mommy movies I saw in the theater.  I did enjoy myself though.  It wasn't crowded and it was a rainy, dreary day - perfect for movie going.

Other than that, no new goals to brag about, just the usual.

I Think My Neighbor Is A Vampire...

I think my neighbor is a vampire.  He was up all night!
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Today I am grateful that it's the last basketball game of the season, my daughter, and that I have less than a month before I move into a house! No More Apartments and crazy neighbors!!!!!

Give Me a Gold Star!

I did it!  Today I did it.  I signed up for a class.  Since I couldn't find the aqua arthritis class to fit my schedule I found a yoga class for people with arthritis, fibromyalgia, etc.  I actually signed up!  My class begins April 1st, and I don't even have to pay for a sitter because the timing worked out perfectly!  We'll see how I do...I know now I took the first step by signing up, but the next step is the most difficult.  I have a hard time walking into a place where I don't know anyone.  I am the biggest wallflower there is, and I know I have to get over it.  I have to not give myself excuses come April 1st to avoid the class.  I will have to remind myself that I don't want to be walking with a cane by the age of 40...that'll do it.

Other than that, I had a pretty good day.  I got my blood drawn this morning again (not that I enjoy it), but it went fast and no bruising this time - yay!  My work from home day was uneventful and allowed me to do a lot around the house.  I was a packing maniac today.  Now I feel like I'm getting somewhere. 

After my required work from home hours I went shopping at Kohls for some summer/spring type work shirts.  I can't believe it!!!!  I fit into an XL in Misses instead of a 1X in plus size shirts!!!  I can't tell you how fast I ran up to the register to ring up.  I swear, it was like if I didn't get there fast enough I would balloon in 5 minutes and be back in a 1X.  I was so happy!  I can't wait to try on the shirts tomorrow with my work pants.  No fashion show tonight though.

On my way home I stopped for some Chinese.  The dish I ordered was called Red Hot China.  There is no flavor to it, totally diappointing.  I also got an order of crab rangoon from the place.  First time for everything, last time for everything - I won't go back. 

And now on to uncork the bottle of wine and relax with the movies I rented:  Double Identity and The Goods.  More on those tomorrow...
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Today I am grateful for how small and sweet my daughter looks when I wake her in the morning, that it was warm enough to wear flip flops today, and that I fit into an XL/Misses at the store!

Say What???

Read this link for the full story:  Signs Warning of Drunk Drivers

UNBELIEVEABLE!!!!

I Did It! No, Not Really.

I was all excited because I thought I'd have something positive to blog about tonight.  I went after work to register, yes, actually register myself for the Aqua Arthritis class.  Yes, I was willing to get into a swimming suit and take this class.  I show up at the gym to register and the lady says to me, "Yeah, well things have changed since I talked with you yesterday.  We are closing the pool beginning April 1 for I don't know how long.  We have to change some things to meet the law."  I guess their drains in their pool were not regulation and they have to make them according to the law.  So, I got the guts up to do it, and then couldn't do it!  What a rip!  Of course, they tried to sell me a gym membership, which uh, yeah, like I have $80.00 a month to blow in a gym that isn't even in the city I live in?

I left, discouraged, but willing to look elsewhere.  I've been on the internet now for the past hour and a half and needless to say, it looks like this place was my only option within driving distance sanity-wise of me.  There are other places that have them, but they are during the day.  I'm guessing that might be because most people enrolling in these classes are retirees???  Not an option for me (although retirement does sound nice!!!).  I think my only option right now is to check back and keep calling in April to find out what they plan to do with the pool?  I just can't believe it though, the day I get the guts up?!?!

Can I say, "Well, at least I made an effort?"  Let's count that as something!
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In other news, there were some seriously strong aftershocks in Chile today.  Those poor people.  I think about Chile a lot and my time there and can't help but feel a connection, a sympathy.  I can only hope that the country comes together to support those that have suffered.  I'm not sure how it's going to be.  The new conservative president was sworn in yesterday...that will be interesting.  I don't know much of him, but I hope he does right for his people.  I pray today that the citizens of Chile can stop living in fear on the next aftershock, earthquake or tsunami and that shaking subsides so that they can begin rebuilding their lives.
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In the way of goals this week, I haven't really done anything new - call me uninspired!  Today for lunch I did eat at a new ethnic Italian restaurant.  OMG!  It was fabulous!  I had gnocchi with artichoke, mushrooms and goat cheese in a light tomato sauce.  Heaven in your mouth...it just melted!  Other than that, it's the same old, same old.  I guess I can't complain, I've almost made a month on some of my goals - woo hoo!

I think I am going to go see a movie on Saturday though.  I think I'm going to see My Wedding (I think that's the name?).  I'm really feeling the need to chill out and sit in a dark theater and enjoy the laughs the two hour escape can provide me!
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Today I am grateful for my daughter, the fantastic lunch I had, and the warm spring weather.

A Little Sunshine Can Clear The Clouds

Today started off rough again.  I thought, 'oh, no...not another one of these days.'  But when I left work the rain has dissipated, the sun was out and it was about 60 degrees!  In March!!!  So I picked the kid up from school and decided to take advantage of the nice weather and grill out - rather than bake in the oven.  We stopped at the grocery store (green bags included) and got some brats and potatoes.  Yummy!  We had a good night.

Another surprise was that I received my first Postcrossing postcard.  That was a happy moment for me.  Just a little more of that sunshine in my mailbox.  It was from a lady in Kentucky.  I posted the postcard today as my photo of the day.  Of course the kid had a zillion questions about it and then decided that she'd like to try postcrossing.  I read the website and it says kids can participate, so I thought, why not?  I think it will be a good lesson for her in writing and in learning about all the parts of the world.  I'm considering getting a world map for her bulletin board when we move and we can stick a pin everywhere she send/receives a postcard to/from.  She's really excited about it.  Tonight she wrote two, one to China and one to Finland.  I think her postcards are so cute!  She wrote, Dear XXX,  My name is XXX and I live in XXX.  I am 7 years old.  I hope you have a happy day!"  From:  XXX.  How can something so cute make you not smile? (yes, I am biased, I realize that!).  I hope she gets a postcard.  She's as easily amused as I am and something as simple as that can make her day - same as mine.

Today I finished my third book.  It was a Sidney Sheldon book - very good (title posted on 101 in 1001).  I've always enjoyed him.  I'm starting on a Jackie Collins, Married Lovers.  I haven't read her in ages.  Usually a good fast read.  I like those! 

Other than that, I haven't done much else out of the ordinary (yogurt, water, etc).  Oh!  I did buy a birdhouse yesterday...now to just hang it when we move.  : )
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Today I am grateful for my daughter's enthusiasm over simple pleasures, the sunshine, and my co-workers who make me laugh.

I Feel As Sexy As Cold Oatmeal

I thought I'd pass on blogging tonight after my doctor appointment this afternoon, but I'm just sitting here brooding, so why not give it a shot?

I went for my routine lupus check up today and needless to say, it did not check out.  My blood work came back crazy high, which I knew deep down it would, considering the flare-up I had and continue to have these past couple of weeks.  But it's finally getting to my joints.  My knees have been KILLING me, they are swollen and tender.  It hurts to go up stairs, down stairs, sit down, stand up, etc.  I ended up leaving with an x-ray of my knees to see how far arthritis has set in and a steroid to try to calm the flare-up and level off my system again.  This prescription better work!

Of course, thinking about arthritis freaks me out.  I'm usually the only young person I see when I go to this doctor.  The waiting room is filled with elderly persons on walkers, canes and sometimes wheelchairs.  So that is the first thing I think, "OMG!  I don't want to be 40 and walking with a cane!!!!"  I know, drama queen!  But isn't it human nature to think the worst?  And to make matters worse, I went back to work and start googling everything...damn the internet!

X-ray results will be back by Friday but she's already talking physical therapy, which I'm not thrilled about.  The one thing that did please me was that she did not think that shots were going to help and she did not want to go that route.  Per my previous post, I am dead set against shots, so that made me happy.  In the meantime, I went straight away to work and was looking at aquatic arthritis classes.  Hmmmm...do I have the guts to attend one?  I think I can rangle some up in order to avoid the decrepit picture I have in my head of myself at 40. 

Now what do I do about the appointment I made at Rush? I was thinking about cancelling it, but was going to wait for the x-ray results. But then I argue that I should keep it and get a second opinion...after all, the lady I'm seeing is one of the top in the US. What if she has something different to say? Or can treat it more aggressively and fix things faster? Or keep it more stable in the long run? The common sense side of me says to keep the appointment, the lazy, 'I don't want to go downtown' part of me wants to cancel it. I should probably listen to my common sense...the little devil.

So now that I am coming to an end, what am I feeling?  Pissed off.  Selfish.  Scared.  I don't want to be like this.  I don't want to deal with this.  I'm frustrated.  But then I say to myself, 'you are so selfish, there are people a lot worse off out there.'  I mean, (and yes, here I go with the drama) there are a lot of people worse off.  Our soldiers are losing their limbs fighting a senseless war, children are born addicted to cocaine, people are starving, living in filth...and I'm dealing with arthritis and lupus.  Sounds selfish, doesn't it?  I'm beginning to wonder if I am even entitled to feel angry or scared or frustrated?

Attennnntion! Salute!

Today I thought about things I should have thought about to put on my 101 in 1001 list because I would have if I had been genious enough to think of them at the time.

What should have probably been #1?

1.  Have a finger free salute day per week on my way to and from work.

God help me if I ever move out east again...I may just really fit right in in NYC.  Just keep me away from Jersey!
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Today I am grateful for my daughter and that she has some good friends, for having health insurance, and the good book I'm reading.

Catch Me If You Can!

I need a weekend from my weekend!  Catch up time.  I think I'm going to work backwards though starting with Sunday and ending on Friday.

Yesterday, da da da dummmm, a miracle happened - two weeks in a row.  We went to church.  Let me just say, I did not enjoy it at all.  Our pastor was gone and we had a guest speaker who I think, bored everyone to death.  It was not an enjoyable service at all.  I guess up until this point, I haven't realized how much I really do enjoy our pastor, his humor and his sermons.  In addition to going to church, I made an effort to become more "involved" in that aspect of my life.  I talked to some people there - usually, me being anti-social me, ducks out as soon as service is over.  I found out more about AWANA and more about the class time/activity that the kid can join in during service.  I had made her sit in service with me yesterday, which made the service even less enjoyable considering she had ants in her pants!

I rented The Time Traveler's Wife yesterday too.  It SUCKED!  What a disappointment.  If you haven't seen it already, I suggest skipping it.  The best part of the movie was the commercial.  It seemed to drag on and on and was just ridiculous!

I made Empanada Gallega last night for dinner (recipe #3 out fo 5).  Let's just say it did not go over well in my house.  I like Empanada Gallega and I made it right, it tasted good...however it is an acquired taste.  I was the same way the first time I ever tried it, but I learned to like it.  Oh well, guess we'll put that recipe on the back burner for now.

Oh!  And Sunday my first postcard that I sent through Postcrossing.com was registered!  I even got an email message back from the registeree!!!!  If that doesn't just give you a high (yeah, ok, I'm easily excitable!).  Now I'm eligible to receive a postcard.  I can't wait to get one!  I love mail!!!!

Saturday we went to the hockey game with the free tickets the hockey team had given us.  I took the kid and her adorable, charming friend.  She really is my favorite friend of the kid's.  I could not believe our seats!!!  The club had given us second row from the ice seats!  Incredible!!!  We were also sitting right where the players come in and leave the ice, so we got to see them up close.  The camera man was also right next to us.  He put the kids on TV and I went on gushing to them about how they were now "famous," which, of course, they fed right into and ate up!  Too, too cute!  The gentleman in the front row must have been a season ticket holder because he knew everyone.  At the end of first period he knocked on the glass to the ref and held up one finger.  Next thing we know, the ref walks off the ice and up to the girls with the hockey puck the teams played with in the first period.  Same thing happened the second period.  Both girls got to go home with game pucks!!!  So awesome!  I was totally amazed at the generosity and compassion that these people showed toward the girls.  It made my heart swell to see such acts of kindness and to see how the girls reacted to it.  It really made me feel so good that there are still people out there like that.  They really made the girl's night, but mine as well.  I was so grateful to these people!  One funny note about the game puck:  When the kid examined her game puck she noticed red marks on her puck (from the paint on the sticks, probably) and she goes, "OMG mom!  There's hockey player blood on my puck!"

I also tried a new "ethnic" restaurant.  Capri Deli.  We are talking very traditional Italian deli.  I've never been to one, but holy meat menu!  Ended up eating pizza since I don't eat meat.  The slice of pizza I got though, was bigger than the kid's head.  I could not believe it.  For $5.00 we got a slice of pizza, a big bag of chips and a soda - impressive deal.  Guess I really shouldn't count that on my list of ethnic restaurants, considering I ate pizza...but doesn't it count that the pizza slice was bigger than a head?  I've never eaten pizza like that before!

Saturday morning also marked a turning point in the basketball team I coach.  All the girls, FINALLY have made at least one basket during the season.  That was really great!  It was so exciting to see the final girl make a basket.  She jumped up and down on the court and hugged everyone.  I love this kid because she always is smiling and she has the best smile, no teeth and all!  Next week is our final game.

Friday night was the kid's best boy-friend's birthday party.  He has been 'in love' with the kid since preschool.  I really like the kid and his parents - very, very good people.  Anyway, we're driving all together to his party and come across this one village hall that looks like Rupunzel towers.  There is a stop sign there and he asks what we are doing there.  I tell him, (because I always give him shit), that we are going to let my kid off there and put her in the tower to grow her hair.  Then he'd have to ride up on his white horse and yell, "XXXX, let down your hair!"  And he says, "Oh yes, my horse will definitely be an elegant white one."  To which my kid replies, "XXXX why would you get a white horse?  I would recommend a black one because then you wouldn't have to wash it as much."  Not a dry eye in the car!  And almost barely dry pants...LOL.

Upon arriving to the party location, he says, "My one birthday wish is to receive a kiss from XXX."  Of course my kid always egging him on, put the gift bag on her head at the end of the night and says, "XXXX, open me up!"  I could not resist.  I told him that now was his opportunity to get his kiss.  Next thing I know, she's against the wall, he lifts the bag from her head and plants one on her.  The kid was having none of that - today she is still denying that he kissed her.  It was really priceless. 

We went out for dinner with them before hand and the party was fun.  I always enjoy spending time with this family.  They truly are good, good people.

Whew!  That was quite a weekend.  I'm not used to so much activity in one weekend.  Today I'm dragging.  I was already looking forward to next weekend, but then I realized that it's basketball game on Saturday and awards on Sunday.  Busy again.  When will I ever catch up on sleep???
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Things I've accomplished in the past few days:  finished book #2, ate at an ethnic restaurant, watered plants, ate fish, added to the 50+ list, new recipe, yogurt, water, $1.00/day, church, & completed my 10 trips with green bags (that I will continue!).
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Today I am grateful for my daughter, my boss, and that tonight is the last basketball practice of the season (I'm wiped!).

How Will I Ever?

I'm still beat today...which is leading me to think how will I ever make it to work tomorrow?  I'm sparing myself the blog today - but reader be warned, tomorrow there will be a novel.
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Today I am grateful for my daughter, the church I've found, and getting to come home & have a lazy day and put back on the pjs!

It's Late

I'm tired and it's late (two nights in a row is a lot for me!).  I have a ton to write, but tomorrow.
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Today I am grateful for my daughter and her wonderful friend, the overwhelming soft spot some people have in their hearts, and all the kids on the basketball team have finally made at least one basket this season.

I Fight the Law...

I have a huge beef with the police force in the city I live.  It's not enough that they cut you off in traffic, don't use their turn signal, blow the red lights to get to the donut shop (AND YES!  I've seen it happen!), they have to continue being jerks.  This morning after I dropped the kid off at school I stopped at the gas station. Cop in a cop car parks in the HANDICAP space!!!!!  Then, I'm walking in to the gas station directly behind him, he sees me and just lets the door go, doesn't even hold it for me.  And I'm not requesting that you stand aside and hold it, but you know, the courteous finger on the door for a second while you're infront of me type hold.  So not only are the police officers in this damned city above the law, they are above being courteous as well.  They are just begging for disrespect.

I think they'd better repaint the slogan on the sides of their cars from "Serving with pride and dignity" to "If You're Being Raped, Mugged or are Handicapped...call someone else.  Serving with ignorance."
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Today I am grateful for the extra couple of minutes working at home on Fridays gives me to snuggle with the kid in the morning, having fish fry with a friend tonight, and the beautiful sunshine this morning!!!

AWANA, I wanna, I don't wanna...

The kid was invited out last night (how sad is it that my 7 year old has a wayyyy better social life than me?).  Her friend invited her to go to AWANA at her church. 

Well, she came home and I asked her if she had fun and she said yes but looked like she was going to cry.  Then the tears came.  Turns out she really enjoyed herself until they told her she had to take a test in order to earn a badge (and what kid isn't going to want a really cool badge?).  They tested her on the Bible verse they learned.  Needless to say, she couldn't remember what she had learned an hour ago so she didn't get the badge.

I'm not sure if it wasn't communicated to her properly, if that's how they run their group or she misunderstood, but how crazy is that that she was expected (if that's how it went down) to know this verse just like that?  Anyway, it's bothered me all day, but then I found a lady at work whose kids go to AWANA.  She told me they can test on a verse anytime to earn a badge, even if it takes them a month to learn.  Now that sounds more like it!

So while I only get emotional kid's side of the story, I don't really know how it was presented to her or how she interpreted what was told to her...but I know now I have to rectify the situation because she was so turned off after last night.  I'm going to talk to our Pastor this weekend because we have AWANA at our church as well.   I think that in the fall, since she doesn't want to play sports anymore, this will be a positive activity for her to be involved in...cuz she's gotta be involved in something.  She sure as heck isn't going to come home and be glued to the TV!
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Today I am grateful for how peaceful, innocent and young my daughter looks when I wake her in the morning, for having a relatively easy day at work, and days like today where I can come straight home from work and put on my pjs.

Deep Thoughts...

Remember that SNL routine "Deep Thoughts?"  I had one of my own today.  I was walking to put my tea cup in the break room and there is this man standing there with SUPER tight pants on.  I mean, I wasn't even looking at the goods, his pants were just so tight...everywhere!  I had to wonder, does this ever happen to anyone else?  I just could not divert my eyes!

Hallelujah!!!!

Just a quick post.  I was so happy this morning when I logged into the computer right quick before I left for work and received an email I've been waiting on since last Saturday.  The last friend I needed to hear from in Chile, who lives IN Concepcion is alive, well and safe!!!!  Hallelujah!!!!!!!!!!!!  She said they have no water, the electricity just got turned back on last night and the military had dropped a food basket off with her family. 

Even though they are still waiting for water, they at least have food, their home, each other and they are all alive and well.  Thank God!

Quiet, Who Me?

Today, I haven't much to say.
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What I accomplished:
Made recipe #2 out of 5.  Pastel de Choclo.  Have to say it tasted YUMMY, but it was NOT like what my family served me in Chile.  Will have to do some further investigation in regard to this recipe.  As a side note, must be "latin week" in my house...first yuca al mojo de ajo and then pastel de choclo....hmmmm, good times!

Facebook free day.

Other than that, I think the same old, same old - except that I took my green bags to Jewel again. I know I'm weird, but I get such a kick out of it. IDK why???

Yesterday, I forgot to mention, I FINALLY made it to the Post Office to mail my Postcrossing.com postcards.  Seriously weird, but such a burden off my shoulders to have them finally mailed.  I left feeling a sense of relief.  But OMG, have international postcard rates gone up - $0.98 to mail to Europe, Asia, S.A. and Australia.  Wow!  Still, I can't wait to get my first one!  Woo hoo!  I LOVE MAIL!!!!!
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The kid went to Awana tonight with a friend...more on that tomorrow.  I think I have to find out more when she's well rested and not so emotionally tired.
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Today I am grateful for my daughter who told me I was her "best friend" this morning (ah!!!  childhood innocence!), cold weather that keeps cream cold in the trunk for 4 hours and best friends that help do the dishes.

#94, Try A New Recipe

Tonight for dinner I tried one of the 5 recipes I have on my list of 101 in 1001.  I made the Cuban Yuca (cassava).  It was very good.  This was the kid's first experience with Yuca, and she enhaled it!  We also had baked Mahi-Mahi in a bitter-orange spice with olive oil and green beans.  It was all excellent!  So look at that, three goals hit with one meal:  Eat fish once a week, photo blog for 30 days, and one new recipe out of 5!  Bonus!!!  (And yes, because I love to cook, we do eat like this on a nightly basis.  Never a crappy dinner in this house!)

What You Believe...

I actually wrote down something from church this weekend.  One thing.  And I never write anything, but I felt so compelled by this one sentence my pastor said because I wanted to think about that some more.  He said, and I quote, "What your believe about God will determine how you live your life."  I totally disagree.

A little background:  I was raised strict Roman Catholic.  It was always a constant battle between my parents and me.  I hated church, I wanted nothing to do with it.  I constantly questioned what they taught us.  I hated the boring CCD classes where if you so much as smiled you were damned.  I hated the hypocrites I saw every Sunday that would act like they were holier than thou but if someone really truly needed help they were out the door faster than you could blink.  I hated how the priest's sermon would be about money and not the Gospel.  Then he would decide we needed to build a bigger and better church with the money he collected instead of even giving a percentage to a homeless shelter or soup kitchen for example.  I was the rebel child who volunteered in homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters and with disadvantaged inner-city children as a teenager and young adult.  That was where I thought real Catholics & Christians should be.  Going to church didn't and doesn't make you a good Catholic/Christian.

Even today, though as an adult I no longer fight about it with my parents, I now struggle with a constant internal battle.  My father is extremely religious, although now he says he learned about many things that aren't "right" with the Catholic church and he is now Christian.  He is extremely involved in his church.  He is always telling me that God is out there and he's going to make things right, etc.  I try really hard to tie my eyeballs down and not let them wander somewhere up above and around the whites of my eyes. 

I have made several attempts to read the Bible.  In fact before I went in for my cancer surgery, my dad brought me a teaching Bible that would explain things.  I didn't get very far.  I had too many questions and no answers.  I don't do well with not knowing things and when I want to know, I want to know NOW.

If there is a God, why does he create so much suffering?  Why do people lose their children, die in war, take some one else's life, starve, die of AIDS, get sold into child slavery, etc?  What kind of God, that is supposed to be so great, would do that? 

Second, who is going to prove that Jesus existed and performed miracles?  There was no DNA testing then.  Who is going to prove that the Shroud of Turin belonged to Jesus?

Also, there were 5 guys who wrote versus and stories in a big book they called the Bible.  How do we know that they aren't 5 guys who wanted to simply write stories?  Where did God come from?  He's just some voice out of the sky?  Forgive me, I may not have paid very good attention during CCD. 

Third, going back to my old-school Catholic upbringing, God is supposed to be all forgiving, but he's not very accepting.  Gay and lesbian is against what is in the Bible.  Who cares about someone's sexual orientation?  If two people truly love each other and are good to each other, what difference does it make?  How many miserable opposite sex couples are there out there?  How many of those marriages fail?  And according to Catholocism, divorce is a sin.  If two people of the same sex can make it, more power to them.  Why is it so wrong?  Love is love.  Goodness is goodness. 

Fourth, I am not a "bastard" child because my parents are divorced.  My daughter is not a "bastard" child because her father and I am divorced.  If God is all-powerful and all-loving, then I don't believe those things should be in the Bible or interpreted from the Bible.  Am I going to repent on my dying day because I divorced my daughter's father?  Not for a chance...because if I didn't I would have already been dead from his hands.

Just some questions...but back to my pastor's sentence, "What you believe about God will determine how you live your life."  I don't believe this suits my life.  I believe I am a good person (sure, there's PLENTY of room for improvement!).  I believe that you can be a good person without having religion in your life.  It's called being raised with morals.  I suppose one could argue that morals come from the Ten Commandments, as most morals are along those lines.  But I don't think you have to "have religion" to know right from wrong, and to behave as such.

Right now I don't know what I believe about God.  A part of me catches myself going, "Oh God, if this works out I'll go to church every Sunday, or I'll pray every night, or if you really are true then show me."  (I know, a convenient Christian, right?) A part of me also sees so much wrong with the world that I think, "Prove it."  A part of me thinks that maybe it is one big story book and the human race NEEDS something to believe in, and this is it.  A part of me wants to really be a true believer.  A part of me is still rebelious and challenging. 

Finally, what I do know is that I like the church I've found.  I like the pastor there.  I think he gives very good sermons.  They challenge me to think.  They challenge me to believe.  On top of that, his humor is great.  I almost feel comfortable at the church...being that I'm not extremely socially ept.  But when I do sit in church, I feel a peace...even if it is for only an hour....I still feel peace.  Sometimes I wish I could sit there longer...
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Today I am grateful for my beautiful daughter and that's she's not yet embarrassed to give me a hug and kiss good-bye in the morning (as long as it doesn't exceed one or two ;p), that my usual torturous one hour conference call turned out to be only 1/2 hour with no arguments today, one hour lunch breaks where I can kick my feet up and enjoy silence and a good book!