Grand AM

2003-01-05T18:06:00.000-08:00

this is it

Go take a gander.. and take a walk on the wild side...

the Red Grand AM is up and running.

Set your links to : http://redgrandam.colagrl.com -

See you there. :)

2003-01-03T20:59:00.000-08:00

last post?

After 6 hours, I finally kicked MT back and figured it out. Now to find a "nice look" for the site. So there is a posting sitting over there, with comments, archives and a ton of other goodies just waiting to be looked at. Now I have to figure how to lay the look out. Won't be happening till tomorrow. I just realized I didn't eat breakfast, lunch or supper. I'm near passin out stage. Kids arrive tomorrow and B headed off to bed at 4 pm today with the flu. I don't think I'm far behind.

Dj over at the "The Three R's" is dealing with her new space and dealing with MT too.. I think I'll drop her a line tomorrow if she still needs help. The words are blurring on this end right now ~

2003-01-02T20:40:00.000-08:00

Not much

Still haven't figured out Movable Type yet. It's kicking my ass. Tons of errors have popped up and since I'm no where a PHP, Perl, CGI novice I have no idea what I'm really doing. But I'm not ready to pay to have it done either.. well.. I am, but I want to make sure it really has knocked me out!

New Years was nice. B and I went to the local Comedy Store which had Vince Morris as the headliner. I have never been to a Comedy show and he was so funny. We had a champagne toast and a midnight buffet and after the drive home and all.. we were snuggling at 3:00am and enjoying our 1st New Years Celebration in years. I then spent New Years day banging my head with the MT install and enjoying the day with B.

Will admit - another vain moment. I have to remind myself that when I'm in a rut and not feeling good I don't put all of my make-up on. Moisturizer, always. Mascara - eh, blush - maybe, lipstick - on a good day, you get the picture. New Years Eve I decked out and even put the sparkles on and I felt good about myself. Even B made a comment that I looked good and that was enough to make the whole evening. Of course.. the new outfit I got myself help make the night. My MIL bought me a nice coat for Christmas, but it's a color I just can't wear, so I had all plans of changing it for a different color (it was RED). I liked the style, but was hoping to find it in maybe in a charcoal color (trying to put "color" in my wardrobe). They had this sick plaid green coat instead so I ended up replacing it with this beautiful 2 piece black outfit. Skirt and shirt. Just black. My favorite color, my dominating color in my closet. black. Now I need to find some boots to go with this outfit. :)

2003-01-01T20:10:00.000-08:00

close - but no cigar

I'm almost ready to move to the new URL. Have hit a snag and I'm a little stuborn about getting it fixed. Should be ready by tomorrow. :)

2002-12-31T12:23:00.000-08:00

comedy central

Bring in the New Year - we are going to catch a Comedy Show tonight. :)

2002-12-31T08:32:00.000-08:00

hotline

My Director has a hotline, and daily she leaves us a message, and with it, she gives us food for thought, a challenge and something to laugh about. Today she asked us to reflect on this past year and celebrate the good things that happened in our life. I can' t say that 2002 was the best year in our family. We lost a lot of things this past year, and filing for bankruptcy was the hardest thing we have ever done in our 12 years of marriage. But with that and other major decisions we have made this year, we are a stronger family, a stronger couple, a wiser husband and wife and I am little more thoughtful in my decisions.

Here is a small recap of my defining moments of 2002:

The review of 2002 in posts, which cover some special moments in my life.

Holiday Open House's, last year I did only $100. This year was better, 2003 will be awesome.

Celebrating B's new job. Life should almost return to normal now.

Hosting Thanksgiving at our house. A first and most likely a last event in our home.

My contract job who has turned into my current job. A dream come true to work with the big league of web design companies.

Not getting out when I should have, but leaving the bad job was the push I needed to get back into a better state of mind.

A chance to play in the big leagues of web design. A quick call and I'm now working on one of the biggest web projects of the year for New York - Lower Manhattan

2002-12-30T13:57:00.000-08:00

{ sigh }

Kick me. Kick me good.

I'm realizing that working for a high power web design company is not all cracked up to what it should be.

Resizing thumb-nail images all.day.sucks.big.time.

2002-12-30T12:53:00.000-08:00

rumblings

I really don't like it when my office building rumbles.

{ Front exterior to our building }

2002-12-30T08:04:00.000-08:00

... New webspace waiting for a new blog! { went with redgrandam.colagrl.com }
... Time with B these past few days
... Another short week of work!
... Christmas was great, gifts were wonderful
... 2002 was good, 2003 will be greater!
... The kids enjoying another great visit with Grandma
... Talking to my sister in Greece on Christmas day
... The friends and family that support me - I am loved

2002-12-29T11:42:00.000-08:00

Colagrl is ALIVE!

When I realized that I had a lot of work to do today, and accomplished a bit of it before noon. I thought about a treat to the movies and see "Two Week Notice" was in order.. then I thought of my new space and domain that is sitting waiting for me to move in to. So I fired up the cocamotion (hot coca) that I recieved for Christmas and I'm going to get at least the gallery or the blog up by the end of today. I might run to the store for some munchies.. I'm trying to eat healthy, but it's going to be a long day behind the computer.. I feel it. I can say this much about the little ones.. they keep this house warm with all their running around. I swear it drops about 20 degress in the house when they go off to visit Grandma.

Anywhoooo.. take a peek: colagrl.com of course I'll have to come up with a link to the new blog.. should I go with:

blog.colagrl.com OR redgrandam.colagrl.com ?

I don't know.....be back in a few. :)

2002-12-28T09:22:00.000-08:00

2002 Review

A few others have posted memorable posts - I picked my favorite ten. Some including work, family, friends and MK moments:

10) Makin a little extra Holiday Cash

9) "Are You Bloggin On Me?" - Just how do you react when you think your husband has found your blog?

8) Leaving a Bad Job for a Good One - then finding out that the good one isn't so hot either!

7) With this New Contract Job - your duties will entail: copy, cut, paste, copy, cut, paste.

6) My 1st Post - give her some Cheerios.. this isn't a post!

5) Talking to a 4 year old long distance can make your phone bill go up!

4) A tribute to Remembering Dad

3) What defines a Best Friend?

2) Best Friends 2.0 who laugh at that photographer.

1) Miss Go-Give 2002

2002-12-28T08:04:00.000-08:00

SNOWBALL FIGHT

I've been HIT!

Not by a Bus -

Dang it... I was wearing my good shoes and trying to stay out of this mess! :)

As ole Yosemite Sam says.... "them fightin words!"

Thanks DJ!

2002-12-27T12:19:00.000-08:00

Hit Me!

For almost 2 months since the bus accident, I have been in constant pain. I saw a doctor right away and he said it should go away and I left it at that. There are days it just feels like someone is putting pressure on my shoulder, others - it feels like someone is pinching the hell out of me and I just want to scream. I now take 25 minute showers with the nozzle turned on to that direct spay to pound on the shoulder, I have turned up the heat on our waterbed to heat my shoulder up at night. Up till a few days ago, the kids couldn't come up and put their arms around me for a hug.. well, yes they could, but D likes to pull and hug at the same time and that puts pressure on the shoulder.

Christmas Eve when we were at my mother-in-law's, J had me sit in my MIL's chair that has this "massager" on it. Some kind of mobile thin padding that vibrates the areas you want. I did about 15 minutes on my shoulder that night and though it wasn't healed, it had made a dent in the pain and I thought I need to take this one step further.

I went and treated myself to a body massage this afternoon. Back in August when I was working contract for this company, they brought in a massage therapist to relax us while we worked on the Lower Manhattan project. I kept the woman's business card and today I went over for a 30 minute massage. What they didn't tell me the 1st time I did a massage, was the pain I would feel if I didn't drink enough water before and after the massage. What they didn't tell me this time, was that I wouldn't be sitting in the chair that they did the 1st time, but I would be partial undressed and on a table. HELLO?!? WEIGHT ISSUES!! OH well, it was the best and now I'm so light headed, I doubt I'll get any work done for the afternoon. Have decided that I will work this in 2 times a month and if at all possible, get my medical to cover it. Hoooo - boy. Then while on the table I thought.. with the 14 Days of Love.. I'll offer in a subsitute of a bottle of wine with glasses, but they (hubbies) pay for a gift certificate for the body massage to give those hard lovin wifes of theirs a special treat!

2002-12-26T11:12:00.000-08:00

Done with it?

Onesome: Merry: Merry times? Hey, did you have a Merry Christmas? How did things turn out for you and yours after all the work and time you put in preparing for the big day? Pretty big and great. Recieved my year doage of Coca-Cola collectiables, new country to add this year - Greece. Turned out great, I figured for sure that we would let the cat out of the bag with the jolly man to our children, but I think we can possibly go one more year.

Twosome: Christmas: Christmas presents? Did you get what you wanted from Santa? ...or are you headed back to the stores with the rejects on 'Reverse Shopping Day'? Recieved alot of great items. A coca machine, coca-cola items, pictures, sweater, "pink" lunchbox, pasta dishes from Italy... only 1 item needs to be returned and only because of size and color. The style is just adorable so I hope to find the same thing in the store.

Threesome: Everyone! Is everyone back to the normal routine today, like work and homemaking and such. ...or are you still entertaining? ...or maybe just taking a well deserved break from it all? Somewhat back to normal. Hubby and I are back to work, but the kids flew out this morning with a 9 day visit to Grandma. They arrived 30 minutes ago.. a big thing for them.. they flew by themselves for a 1st!

How about you? Play along and post your answers in your own space, and leave a comment here so we can find you!

2002-12-25T21:32:00.000-08:00

the simple things

Yesterday on the way home from work, I realized that after the crappy year I have had with money woes - I have been blessed with a few Christmas gift's all year long -

The friends who have supported me, and believed in me - Julie, Jennifer, Maryann, Kim, Stephanie

The job that has seen me through this year - I may not have been "happy" employed, but I was for the year and I know there are many out there that have been out of work longer.

The house I'm in - I grumble that we rent. But for many who are homeless, I'm blessed.

I said at the begining of the year that 2002 was my year for new and great things. I guess it was - my year to find my strength, my will, my growth, my friends.

I'm humbled by the love that surrounds me.

2002-12-24T10:16:00.000-08:00

Ho Ho Ho

Santa arrived bright and early this morning. The kids asked that I wake them before I leave for work this morning, and so we scrambled downstairs to see what goodies were under the tree. D was so happy that he recieved "moustrap". Such a simple game and that's all he wished for. J was a little nervous when there was a yellow volkswagon beetle for her Barbie under the tree and no train...but golly gee, another letter, this time from Mrs. C telling J that she sent Santa to the wrong house with her gift (how can he do that when D's arrived ok?) and to call grandma and see if it was there. AMAZING that when we did call Grandma, she was wondering why she had a travel train under her tree this morning. (snicker snicker snicker).

They opened thier stockings with goodies and then I dragged B to the garage to find his toolbox, totally not assembled, it was kicking my butt at 2am this morning. So I had to at least put it out of the box and tell him him the rest was in side the toolbox. I then said they all needed something to play with while I worked and they opened the race cars. I'm now way more upset with Radio Shack then before. The lady failed to tell me that they were all on one circuit. There's no racing each other. I'm really pissed. She cheated me out of a 40% discount now they can't race. "oh, we test them out, we all want to race them when they come in to the store". Sure you do tramp. Ditto my letter to Radio Shack using Trish's words.

Once again - HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

I'm wrapping up the work day and going home to unwrap some presents!!

2002-12-23T20:51:00.000-08:00

mission control.. it's a go

While J was running to get me a soda from the fridge this evening, I quickly opened the letter from Santa and left it open to catch her eye. D was out getting a hair cut at the time with Dad. She gasped when she saw the image of santa and where it was from and started reading aloud. She was just so blown away. Am I good or what? I'm in so much trouble when she finds out the truth. I'll deal with it. D then arrived shortly after and with his reading of the letter, and B looking over my shoulder it was just too much. B said I did a great job. J made a joke later in the evening about D's burping and he just started crying, huge wails. When we asked what was up, he thought that because he burped, Santa wouldn't arrive. Had to explain..that the reindeer get no sleep, but doesn't stop Santa from arriving. Geeesh. So the presents are under the tree.. we are on our way...

Happy Holidays - our fun begins tomorrow.

2002-12-23T14:41:00.000-08:00

sneaky

I'm so sneaky, I scare myself. We decided that with me working a half day tomorrow, and B working a full day on Christmas, then a 9am flight out to NM the day after, that it would really be wise to have Christmas tomorrow morning. J was so concerned that with Santa getting everything ready for Christmas eve, he won't have time to get over here the day before. I said I wrote him a letter and explained our problem, and had heard in the past of other kids asking of this small favor and sometimes if they are good he will deliver a day early. I said I'm still waiting on his reply via email. Isn't it so cool that Santa is up to snuff with technology??

Then for about 15 minutes this afternoon at work, I found a cool graphic, found a few festive fonts and I composed a letter to the kids. I'm so baad! The letter had this to say:

From Mr. & Mrs. C
North Pole

To: J & D -
Colorado

I was checking my list, and checking it twice, have seen
that you have been a little naughty and a lot of nice.

I know that you have big travel plans - and with your
daddy working so hard - a little early christmas for
you all, will soon bring you some cheer.

J - what a darling young lady, please do get better
so that you can enjoy a visit with your grandmother in
gallup, new mexico. My elves do have pointed ears - you
watch the wrong shows my darling dear.

D - such a fine young lad. mind your manners and
say "pardon me" when you burp. For every chld who burps
so loud and doesn't excuse themselves, they wake up my
reindeer, and they are such in need of a long spring nap!

enjoy your christmas - an early one at that. I only visit
good little girls and boys -and you have shown that!

Dorky, corny, but fun. We shall see if I pass the test tonight... :) I'm now done with the shopping. Picked up a few more things this afternoon while at lunch. I'm complete. Finished. Done. Ovah. Will be a grand Christmas this year. Not bragging.. just feeling good that after a crappy year, we are coming back out of it.

2002-12-23T09:48:00.000-08:00

Yes Susan - there is a Santa

After all these years, my mom is still the Santa that rules. After 4 more visits to stores (super wal-marts, all nighters) not getting home till 1a.m. this morning, calling my mother-in-law and she scouted her area of Colorado looking for the train, I called my mother this morning and told her my situation. Within 30 minutes she called me back and said "you owe me". Travel Train Barbie pulled into the Grandma New Mexico station at 10 a.m. this morning. Not sure how we'll explain that to J, that somehow it arrived at Grandma's.. but we'll make do. I feel so like "Ahnold" in that silly Christmas movie he did with Tom Arnold. My shopping is almost done. A few stocking stuffers and it's a ho ho ho over for me. :) That's a wrap. Bad pun. bad bad pun.

Yes - I "believe" that I will make my daughter's Christmas -

Tell yourself you will succeed at whatever you’re doing at the moment. Troiani suggests setting your mind to predict success. “Convince yourself good things will happen today and they will. If you tell yourself you can’t possibly achieve your goals, you won’t,” she says.

2002-12-22T14:33:00.000-08:00

It's a Christmas Special

Never. I repeat NEVER will I wait this long to buy Christmas gifts. N.E.V.E.R. I have been to 5 Wal-Marts, 3 Targets and 1 Toys R' Us looking for a "Barbie Train". Barbie is taking a train ride and the train pulled out of the station a looonng time ago.

BUT - they do have have reservations at $130 for Barbie's Dream Hotel.

But I did get the best present ever. B always gets me great presents on the holidays, and when I'm trying to pinch corners, he does something nice. Since Oct. I have been putting a little here and a little there a side and then with my holiday sales I was able to buy him something real nice. Julie helped me with her truck, go pick him up one of those red craftsman wheel-able 3 foot tool sets. Oh here - the picture is here. It's in a box and hidden in the garage (along with mine I found this morning) and on Christmas day, while he's working at the corrections, I'm going to assemble it in the garage, we bought this huge bow to put on it and I found wide white ribbon to wrap around it. Then I headed over to Radio Shack with a huge prayer that the zip zaps would be still around. 160 people are on the wait list to get one of those things! They (RS) must have seen me coming... I told them I had my heart set on getting one for each of my kids. She asked how old are they - "33, 7 and 8". She just laughed. Sold me on some expensive race car and now that I'm looking at their website, I think the chic cheated me and I'm going to have to go back and ask for some cash back. Have yet to figure out how I'm going to let them open that gift set up yet. Wrap all three together and make it one big package or single gifts and open at the same time? Dunno know.

I'm now ready for Christmas.

2002-12-22T13:59:00.000-08:00

movin on up

Fish don't fry in the kitchen,
Beans don't burn on the grill.
Took a whole lotta tryin'
Just to get up that hill.
Now we're up in the big leagues,
Gettin' our turn at bat!
As long as we live,
It's you and me, baby!
There ain't nothin' wrong with that!

Hooray, We're Movin' on Up!
Movin' on Up!
To the east side!
Movin' on Up!
To a dee-luxe apartment in the sky! We're Movin' on Up!
Movin' on Up!
To the east side!
Movin' on Up!
We've finally got a piece of the pie!

New web space purchased, now the slow transformation of the move. Details more this week. YEAH!!!!! Care to guess the domain name??? :)

2002-12-21T22:26:00.000-08:00

White Elephants

I DON"T HAVE ANY! If you are still looking for a white elephant gift at this late date - try the zoo with Dumbo and his mother.

Oh yes - and I'm sure Santa would love to know you are looking for some pictures of him choking and his Sexy wife!

2002-12-21T07:23:00.000-08:00

countdown

So what happens when your project manager schedules a meeting on Friday at 2:00 for 30 minutes? It goes till 4:00pm. Shopping has been delayed till tomorrow.

Today is housework / computer catch up time, then birthday party in the evening. With B working a whole new schedule and not at the airport all day today, I might sneak in a few stores this evening and let him watch the kids. Or better yet, get the babysitter and him and I go out and shop. J has come down with something, a tickle in her throat for the past few days and now a full blown cough. Wonderful. Right before the holidays. Right before going off to Grandma's.

My Secret Santa sent me my gifts and they arrived yesterday. I recieved: For God, Country, and Coca-Cola: The Definitive History of the Great American Soft Drink and the Company That Makes It and Moulin Rouge (the VHS version), from Kharis of Seattle. Thanks! I couldn't wait for everyone to clear out of the room to watch Moulin Rouge and I know that when the kids are gone, I'll find some reading time with a great book. :)

I'm now off to buy me some webby space. :)

2002-12-20T09:57:00.000-08:00

recommendations

I have decided to stop waiting on my credit card from the bank to arrive and give B the money and use his card and get me a "pad" this weekend. Yeah babeeee. I have found my host, and I'll be setting up sub-domains so I can keep this little baby hidden from the family, but I'm going to be using it for pretty much everything. Photo blog for the whole family, my journal, my resume and what ever else comes down the road. Now I need some help.

I'm torn between GM and MT. I know GM pretty well, I use it for the Directors / National sites I work on so they can leave their teams a message. But I would love to sink into MT. Any pros or cons out there on the two?

I'm also wanting something cool for the photo log. I want it access easy, so that I can give my sister log in permits and she can upload her own pictures. Any suggestions?

I'm also thinking of going with a Message board. I love Shanni's over at her site, and it's about the only one I use. But the question is - if I put one up... will they post?

I'm hoping I can crank this all out over the Holidays while the kids play with their new toys and head off to Grandma's for another week. Suggestions?

2002-12-20T07:45:00.000-08:00

mission abort! abort!

WTF? All freakin week (I just can't swear- can't do it, ain't gonna) I worked. I sat here with nothing to do most of it, but I did my hours and then some. I worked the weekend, gave up family time to get this project out. I now need to Christmas shop. Today is my only day. ONLY DAY. So I had planed to take this afternoon off. Its Friday. RIGHT? My other Project Manager (I have 3 oh joy) decided to have a group meeting at 2:00 today. Not 10:00am, not 11 or possibly 9 when we are ALL IN THE OFFICE. I promised the kids I would be home in time for them when school gets out. We have a sleep over today, I need to clean house. I have to go shop, drop off an order, go to the bank, drop off my check that got stuck in a snow storm YESTERDAY - and she wants a meeting. at. 2:00. I'm pissed. ROYAL pissed. (How pissed is she?) PISSED-OFF. (still can't swear. I typed it then removed it) I'm so lame.

2002-12-19T20:51:00.000-08:00

Not bad.. not bad at all

I sat down to count all my sales tickets for this Christmas and for my first Christmas Holiday promotion - I did $500. I know there were women in my Unit doing $1,000 a weekend, but I think for a months hard work, and very little making calls.. $500 isn't bad at all. Just wait till next year.. better yet - Valentines Day and the 14 Days of Love! :)

2002-12-19T16:37:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays from the unemployed

No - No. Not me. Not this year. :) From Odd Todd.com. He comes up with the coolest flash cartoons: This "quarter" is his Greeting Card. Go - Go laugh. Send it to friends. :)

2002-12-19T13:45:00.000-08:00

Let Me Take You On a Sea Cruise

When I was in the military - onboard ship - Not ONCE, did I ever consider it a "sea cruise". But with all that is happening on the commercial ships, it was just a matter of time it would happen here: http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/12/19/flu.carrier/index.html. When I was on the USS Lexington, I was always sick the first 2 days. That ship was an old salty so there was nothing to stop the roll of the ship. Ships like the USS Forrestal was a little easier on my stomach on our adventures for "quals" every month.

2002-12-19T12:39:00.000-08:00

Still on the Christmas theme:

Onesome: Google's: Did the net help you find gifts this Christmas? ...not just buying things over the net, but actually finding gifts for people. Not this year. I would love to have the net become my best friend and help me shop next year, but I'm actually hitting the malls tomorrow and I'm sooooo happy about that. :)

Twosome: Christmas: Got your two front teeth? What is your "wish gift" this Christmas? No, not the one you're hoping to get, but the one you'd love to wish for! A spa retreat in Vegas. Pamper me bab-eeee!

Threesome: Cache: Hiding the gifts again? Where are your favorite spots? Shh... Don't tell us the one they haven't found yet! Maybe you'd be better off telling us of "great hiding places from the past"...That's never been a problem. The kids are too young to go looking for gifts, but I used to hide a Jack Daniels bottle when I was a teeanger in the bottom of a sweater box in my closet. It went throughout my whole Junior year. My friend Marti and I would drink a couple swings from it when we were cheerleaders (warm, straight JD mmmmm) and next thing you know.. we are cheering for the other side too! Yeah Team!!

How about you? Play along and post your answers in your own space, and leave a comment here so we can find you!

2002-12-19T09:00:00.000-08:00

family feud

I was reading Robyn's entry about letting family read her journal last night. I haven't told B that I'm personally journaling / blogging, but he is aware that I'm reading the journals and I'm addicted. He found me reading her entry last night, and thank goodness to Robyn, she has the skin "word" - so he was wondering what legal mumbo jumbo I was reading.

I simply replied "a journal"

He said "oh, you mean a blog"

I sat for a few seconds quiet. Wondering how to tread on this subject. Has he seen my bookmarks that say "bloggers"? Had he done a search on something that googled my journal? That's why I don't give his name out in my journal. He has a very uncommon name and when he was working for the computer company, he was spending 8 hours of complete surfing - he likes to find his name in stuff... what were his odds of finding my journal? So I asked and he said he read about it at CNN.com. "Oh - that's neat". But his next statement pretty much let the cat out of the bag - "why, scared I found all your stuff?" I laughed. A long laugh. A scared laugh.

Is it such a bad thing for him to read my journal? No. Just the parts of the anger I feel for his mother. He knows I'm not crazy about her, just as I know he's not crazy about mine. But that's where the line draws. How "not crazy" is he about my mom? I don't know. Does he despise my her? Hate her to the core? Tolerates her? Same way with his mother. He will never know the full anger I have towards her and would love to just never ever see her again. evah. Yeah I know. Pretty hard anger. evah.

Do I want him to know that Tuesday was a very hard day at work for me and I cried? Not really. But on the other hand - do I want him to know that with him working with the county, doing what he loves best, I'm feeling better? No migrane headaches in the past 2 days. With him sleeping at night with me, in the past 2 days, I'm sleeping better? Yes. That I love him more then ever with what we have been through this year? Yes. That he has cramped my "blogging" and reading journals late at night because he's at home, but I'm ok with that? It's hard to bare the soul, and wonder if it's the right thing or not. Then question - why do I tell all to strangers (who I consider new friends daily) - but not to him? I don't know - seems simpler that way. For now - I'll just keep going, doing my thing. Hiding my journal. :)

2002-12-18T13:29:00.000-08:00

I am not a Programer, I am a.... a....

Hell - I don't know what I am. A co-worker who started about the same time I did, but only works 3 days a week, asked me some questions about coding, then said "you programers know that stuff, I don't". Programmer?? I don't think so! Well, yeah, you're right, but it really threw me back. I'm a progammer. I'm not on the graphics team here, and I'm only doing content and web building - I must be a programer. And there's nothing wrong with that. I've only been a graphic designer for 8 years now. On and off again during the lay off times, but I'm a Graphic Designer - 256 colors and more!! Maybe I should have said "No.. I'm not a programer, I'm a pink biz chic" and really numb his mind. :)

2002-12-18T08:16:00.000-08:00

revealing

I guess I can mention it now. It's press news and my part of the project is done. This afternoon New York will be revealing the 7 ideas of design for the future WTC. When you go look at the "slide shows" that's all my work. Cropping photos, placing them, sizing them. It's always been a dream of mine to be in on the beginning of something big, and to me, viewing the sketches before the whole world was kind of cool. I couldn't even talk with B about it. So if you are interested - head over to "lower manhattan.info" around 1pm eastern to view the photos. Already this early in the morning and we are getting reports that our servers are being slammed. The press conference is going on as we speak.

Another great 1st - B reported to work as a Corrections Officer. He dressed up in his best suit and for a fleeting second I just wanted to throw away our day and just do something together. He looks real good in a suit. Mark this day for him. He is back on track with his life.

I also think he's catching on to my pink biz. He thought it was funny that we didn't check our phone messages to late in the evening, and there in the messages was a $50 gift certificate order for a customer. She wanted to purchase one for her mom. Two customers that haven't ordered in over a year coming back to life. I just about wrote them off this next quarter in my mailings. It was a nice feeling to wake up this morning and say "I earned $50 in a phone call last night". Coolies.

2002-12-17T20:26:00.000-08:00

regular or super-size?

I think I went through my first "hell day" at work. It's been going so well up to today and when I hit a brick wall - it whammied me. I sat there hour after hour getting madder and madder that I was offering to help people reach a deadline and they couldn't utilize me, and they are throwing a fit because they are tired and don't want to work late. My PM told me that if it wasn't for my work on Sunday, we would have been working late last night and tonight but we're not because of my help. I don't know. I have to keep busy. I've tried to soak up the knowledge and the training they do because I want to learn from them and it seems that they horde it and keep it from me. Oh well. It's been a rough day for everyone. Tomorrow is the launch, all seems in place, I think things will be fine. Can't say I didn't try.

Moms with babes - don't wish for the kids to grow so fast. Don't wish for "when will they leave the Happy Meal portions?" mine did tonight and we had a $15.00 meal from from McDonalds! How can they be losing money when we went from a $9.00 dollar family meal to $15.00??

2002-12-17T09:27:00.000-08:00

musical mime

I did this a few weeks ago - I'm starting it today. Lets see where it goes -

It's a "Beautiful Day"

The heart is a bloom
Shoots up through the stony ground
There's no room
No space to rent in this town

Rules:
1) Post your site url here, and put the next section of lyrics (one chorus) on your site with this same message in your comments.

2) Add a link to this post using the word "previous"

3) Be ready to add the "next" link to the first person that posts to your site with the next section of lyrics.

4) Last person needs to bring us back to the beginning at http://redgrandam.blogspot.com/2002_12_01_redgrandam_archive.html#86174089

2002-12-17T08:57:00.000-08:00

pros / cons

I told B about the dream job contacting me and I really didn't think he would be happy to see me even considering it an option. But he was and I can only guess it was for the same reasons I thought - they might offer me benefits, and the drive alone will save us so much. The company is a 10 minute drive tops. I think he's ok with the idea that if nothing happens, like it has in the past when they say they are looking for people that I still have a job.

I have given the current company a ton of pros of why I would like to stay but I can say one major con in it's behalf that could be a major decision breaker - work. Steady. work. Daily, sometimes hourly, I'm having to find someone and ask them do they need help. What do I do now? What project is needed to be completed now? I'm here to help - call on me. I'm sitting over in there yander cube journaling because there is nothing else to do. Throw me a bone will ya? "No. I'll email you in a few minutes." "Nothing right now, go read the manual of proper design. again." "again" "again". That right there - could be the push I need to go back to the other job. I know that working at the other place, I'll have at least 15 sites in my in basket to do, 5 waiting on approvals, and about 30 in the "project basket" will be waiting for someone to take assignment on them. My load would be good.

So I sit here with my journal again - waiting for work. {HUGE SIGH}

2002-12-16T21:21:00.000-08:00

home early

After putting in a full day yesterday and my PM working Saturday and late Friday - we were at a point today that working late was not a needed requirement. B had to go to traffic court for his speeding ticket - so he dropped the kids off at my office and they hung out with me for 30 minutes, saw where I worked and then it was home for the night. Tomorrow I'm sure it will be different and for sure the late night, but it was nice to know that I didn't have to do a late night today.

The wierd thing about today was - I did something I don't normally do. I drank about 5 bottles of water. Big bottles too. I hate water and would usually drink coca-cola, but I just had this constant feverish head and felt hot and prickly and craved water. One of my co-workers thinks that I was under stress and thinking a lot and my head was warm the whole time. Does that make sense? It does a little bit - by the time I got home, I was grabbing for blankets, looking for something to keep me warm. Maybe I got into a bad batch of estrogen patches.

Last week on Pink Bubble Wednesday, one of the Directors that we recieve training from - brought in a photographer, and for $10 he took photos of newly made up faces and printed them right there for us to take home. It's been a long running joke with B that he wants a twosome with Julie and me, and if possible a third with a good friend of mine Annette - so I thought it would be a riot to have pictures of Julie and I together and give him the photo for only of 5 minutes then take it back. Here are a few samplings of our photos - the photographer posted them on his web and I borrowed them. :)

Photo 1, Photo 2, Photo 3, Photo 4, Photo 5

My favorite:

Of course - I love the photos but hate my image. Major weight issues I need to work with. Maybe that 5 bottles of water was a good thing today. I know before I head off for bead tonight I'll do another full glass. I didn't post all the images he took, and we only bought one, I think it's photo # 2 or #3. The straight and serious one. I can't remember what the guy said that cracked us up but it took us 10 minutes to get back into a serious look. Some of the single shots - one shot, I could only see my father in the photo, in another it was my sister in her heavy years. I took a look at the photographers other photos and have decided when money is better I'm going back for kid shots and family shots.

2002-12-16T14:48:00.000-08:00

breath - he he he he he he. Breath he he he he he

While the big conference call goes on, I have a few minutes of downtime to catch my breath and stop thinking and relax. My brain falls to mush.

I really love stuff like this. I think this really out does any of the other deadline moments in my life I have ever had. New launch of a site this coming Wed. related to the World Trade Centers. Major. Big and everyone from upper management down to my project manager are scared we won't make it. I have faith that we will. This is about the only time in my dedication in work that I'll stick to my guns and say it will happen. I like making deadlines and I like working under the pressure. The time has flown today and I'm looking at the clock realizing that it's 3:45 and I still have about 6 more hours of work to put in.

Have hit a small snag today - unrelated to the project. My so-called dream job from a year ago got a hold of me. They are looking for another developer and want to give me first crack at the position. I have sat here and weighed the pros and cons - I'm not sure what I want. So lets weigh them shall we?

Dream Job	Current Job
10 minute drive to work	1 hour drive to work
Get to work on graphic design again	work on major name websites
Have to log into call center and take calls	work in my own little corner, no one bothers me
Have to work with Stacey again	Don't have to work with Stacey
Will have to work contract again - possibly	Not contract, but not full benefits employee

So how was this my dream job? Working on a ton of sites at all times, at least 20 a week, with full control and working with the client one on one. They were small potoato companies - so they don't go for the bells and whistles like the current clients I work with here. I was laid off because my contract was finished and they could only let 1 out of 5 of us stay and that was Stacey because she became the manager's best friend. To come back now - would show that I need the work, not neccessarily, but I'm sure some would think it that way. The pay for both jobs are the same, unless the "dream job" has upped their price. I told Julie I would only consider going back if they offered full time employment from the get go and more pay. I'm going greedy this round. If not. I'm staying here. I really like the work environement, the politics are not that bad compared to the dream job and though I know I would have much more 'fun' with the dream job - I'll get overtime and stuff where I am at now and learn a great deal more in the next few months. I guess I answered my own question. I'll check into the pay of the dream job, but I'm pretty sure no matter what - I'm going to stay where I am at. Wow. A first. Turning down a job, and my dream job at that.

2002-12-16T13:28:00.000-08:00

Less then 72 hours and the deadline is coming upon us. Tension is getting tight and I'm living the life I love. Give me more deadlines.. I love the heat!

2002-12-15T21:11:00.000-08:00

cookies, chips and dips - oh my!

I posted earlier a funny paragraph all the cool searches that's pulling my journal - but it didn't go through so I'll have to redo it later. I'm trying to stay away from the computer right now - with work today, tomorrow and Tuesday going to hard, I felt that I don't need to be blogging too.

Should get interesting at work over the next few days. I'm not expected to be home till at 10pm for the next 2 nights. I haven't worked hours like that since I was either in the military doing watches or a few print deadlines when my dad was alive.

2002-12-14T18:28:00.000-08:00

workin for the weekend

It's been a wild 24 hours for me and my days are just getting started. Since last Monday I have been counting down the days to tomorrow so that I could kick back and relax and enjoy the weekend. From last Monday to today, I have put at least 4 1/2 hours in the car driving, going from one end of this town to the other and in a circle and coming around again. Minutes as I was walking out the door to meet up with B and the kids to see Toy Story 2 on Ice - I heard one of my PM's talking about the "situation". I knew it wasn't good and like a bad girl, I sat outside her office and listened to the problem. It's the New York site that I hold dear to my heart. Major, Huge New, Wednesday launch of new stuff and everyone who has worked on this site doesn't want to deal with it, despises it, and has crawled away from it and we are not going to make the deadline this coming week. She has started calling other contractors to come in over the weekend to help get this launch finished. I walk out the door, push the button to get the down elevator and just wait. I end up going back into her office and tell her that if she can get me out at least by 6:30 I'll help. She sends me home, but I have to find a babysitter for I'm now working on Sunday.

I rush home to meet up with B, refresh my make-up and get back into the car and go right back downtown, about 8 blocks from where I work and catch Toy Story. (*Personal Note to dad...I'm sorry I was a brat and whined that we sat in the high up seats and never got to sit near the ice as kids. Those low seats suck. I'm sorry. I'll never ask for it again). We sat like 8 rows from the ice and because they are not the stadium seats, the incline wasn't there and so I had every 6 foot father there in the first 8 rows blocking my view. We had fun. Home by 11:00 and by then, after staying up late last night - sleep had kicked in and I was yawning before the first yawn was finished.

Then back up at 6:00am this morning for a Pink Bubble Brunch. Once again - at the other end of town. I went and got Julie and then we drove over to her mom's house who drove us to the brunch. This is my 1st Christmas Brunch in the 2 years I've been doing this. It's a lot of fun. Consultants bring hostesses that have had parties and their name is put in a for drawing of $1000. If the hosts name is called, she splits the $1,000 with her consultant. Then there are few extra give aways for us consultants. For the past 3 months for certain accomplishments, I have been submitting my name into categories. Attendance to Wednesday nights, sales, reorders, orders from the company, open houses, facials, stuff like that. I think total I submitted 14 tickets, but I know that another consultant submitted 45 so I knew my odds were not that great. My National Director drew 8 tickets then started calling names. The first lady went up and then my National looked at the 2nd name and said "I know this gal" and called my name. I just looked at her. She didn't say my name. Julie nudge me and said "go - you won". So I went and stood with the other lady and then she called another gal that I knew that was sitting at my table and then a few others. We all got to draw envelopes and all I could think was "what will I do with the cash?" I know in the past that this was usually an extra $100. We opened them and found out they were gift certificates to local merchants. I received a free Italian Dinner for two and the girl next to me received a month free of tanning. I was pretty tickled that I won. Not the $100 - but hey, I have a free dinner waiting now. :)

We wrapped up the brunch and then it was back home to pick up the kids and off to see Santa. Santa talked to the kids for 3 minutes, popped the bulb of a picture, took my credit card of $25.00 and it wasoff doing other things. Visited 2 more customers today and I only have 1 more delivery next week and I'm done. DONE.

I took the kids to McDonald's so I could read the latest Pink Bubble Magazine that came in the mail and then we came home. Tidied up the house for the babysitter and now I sit here typing. phew. Then there is tomorrow - work, Monday - late night work, Tuesday - late night work and Wednesday - anything lose end that needs fixing for launch that afternoon. I have decided that I'm taking Thursday or Friday off. Would like Friday so I get a 3 day weekend. Would like Thursday so I can just catch my breath.

I know all this is boring - but to top it off.. I'm in pain with my shoulder. From that stupid bus accident I'm now in pain more then ever and it's getting worse by the second. I can't think what it will be like for the next 4 days with sitting for hours and hours with the pain in the shoulder. I'm going to have to buy a heating pad. There's no ifs ands or buts on that. Now to catch up my blog reading..

2002-12-13T14:34:00.000-08:00

swearing

I was reading Trish's comments about her son not liking swear words. My kids are the same way. Turn the channels if they hear "ass" and the look of wide eyes on me "ohhhhh they said a bad word". Last night we recieved from Net Flix "Christmas Vacation". It was funny watching the kids crack up every time Chevy Chase was getting ready to do something stoopid. I think what cracked me up the most was the statement Clark said near the end that all I heard in my house were 2 open jaws dropping to the floor, tounges hanging out with the wide eye look -

Hey! If any of you are looking for any last-minute gift ideas for me, I have one. I'd like Frank Shirley, my boss, right here tonight. I want him brought from his happy holiday slumber over there on Melody Lane with all the other rich people and I want him brought right here, with a big ribbon on his head, and I want to look him straight in the eye and I want to tell him what a cheap, lying, no-good, rotten, four-flushing, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, dickless, hopeless, heartless, fat-ass, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped, worm-headed sack of monkey shit he is! Hallelujah! Holy shit! Where's the Tylenol?

And I only see 2 bad words, 1 used twice! Is it me? My dad talked like this all the time!

2002-12-13T10:15:00.000-08:00

the whole truth, nothing but the truth

Yes - after 3 hours of sleep - I have decided to tell B I was paid. I know it sound devious and all.. but he won't get it all, or know it all. He hords his money from me (see future Christmas present from him to me) and I know I have to do it to him to keep up with him. I'm keeping $200 of the huge paycheck (he will get more of it) and putting it away for some MK supplies and I'm going to plop down some webspace next week. So I'll be getting a new site within 2 weeks. I'm waiting on my new bank card from the bank and so I've been pulled in on the purse strings by my own bank.. I was stupid to forget to get a new bank card when it expired and I ran out of checks so I've got cash but no way to pull the money out. Of course, in the city of Denver - we picked a Credit Union that only has one building. No branches, no nothing - and it's 30 miles from the house. It sucks. :)

In the meantime - I'm going to learn PHP, skins and a few other web coolies. I'm setting up space for my journal and I'll get a another domain for my family so they can post photos for the family. I could just see letting everyone in my journal world access to my sister's photos and all these strangers commenting on her stuff.. she would pretty much freak out (ahhh freak out!). Now to name my space - I have 2 domain names picked out.. which one shall it be????

2002-12-13T01:17:00.000-08:00

I'm so going to be hating it in the morning (less then 4 hours away) when I have to get up and go to work.

My real dilema? Do I tell my husband that another HUGE paycheck from when I did contract work came in? Part of me wants to spend it for Christmas stuff. Part of me feels I have to give hime some (see.. not all of it) to get our bills back on track. I know what is right but I'm not ready to be the good kid right now. :)

2002-12-12T10:46:00.000-08:00

writing mood

I'm in the chatty catty mood today. I was reading Robyn's and Promo guy’s posts about learning about Santa. WHAT? There isn't a Santa? Well crap. There's a first... "Blogger Finds Out St. Nick Not Real Through Online Journals". It could happen. I found out the same time Robyn did. I was 8. Walking home from school and a kid neighbor was telling me how she saw her parents putting the presents under the tree. I fought it. I called her a liar and she was wrong and said her dad looked like Santa (he didn't but it was easy to confuse the two in the dark right?) and ran to my mom hoping she would go tell that girl how wrong she was. My mother’s face. The quietness of the room. The sickness in my stomach when I found out he wasn't real.

But I guess I should have known... just that Christmas earlier, I was at home alone while mom was next door having tea with the lady, we got a phone call and I answered it and it was some lady from a store telling me to tell my mom that the "Barbie Hair Station" was out of stock, but the "Cher doll" was still in and would be in replacement. Those were my Christmas gifts I asked for Santa! Cher was my back-up gift if Barbie Hair Station wasn't ready by the elves yet! I can't even remember the lame excuse she gave me but I know she covered it up well... but I remember that conversation with the lady. She never once considered it might be a present for me.

With the heartbreaking moment of understanding there is no Santa - and I couldn't tell my sister, she was/still is 3 years younger then me.. I said ok and went off to play. I came back seconds later and asked does that mean the Easter bunny and the tooth-fairy? How bummed I was to find out no more free cash for fallen teeth. The delight was when it came to Easter, my mom was very sick and my dad was at work - I got to do my sister's candy for her and I made it real hard for her to find her stuff but so easy to find mine! (I still had to pretend he showed up for me)

J is 8 and D is 7 - it is now a matter of time before we tell them the truth. B says he was 10 before he found out. Dang.. putz was good at keeping the wool over his eyes.

2002-12-12T09:00:00.000-08:00

Onesome- Faith: Are you faithful in keeping your New Year's Resolutions? Not always - but there is always next year. :) I'm going to try to be a better person and hold myself accountable for my things in 2003. If I say I'm going to do it.. I better do it.

Twosome- Hope: ...and what are your hopes for the New Year? Financially - I hope B and I do better. Spirtually - I have room to grow and I welcome it. Physcially - tons of room to go down in size. :) Hope that the kids are well, our families and just a better year then what we have had in the past few.

Threesome- and Charity: Do you support any causes or charities? Any special projects this time of year? Does Me, Myself and I count? I try to give to the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation; to help support the issues she held to her heart: finding a cure for women's cancers and putting an end to violence against women.

How about you? Play along and post your answers in your own space, then leave a comment here so we can find you!

2002-12-12T08:29:00.000-08:00

pop-up boxes

I think my husband either hates me or has caught onto my 'blogging'. He installed an anti pop-up box application on our computer at home and now when I click to read my own comments, or post comments on other journals - the pop-up's just don't pop-up. I have to hit control click and that sucks. But then.. I love him too.. he re-programs my cell phone every once in awhile with the welcome messages.. it used to say "Kick Some Butt - Do Sales!" and once it said "You Can Do It!" for a month it said "Viva La$ Vega$" and now it says "Have a Coke and a Smile!" He took it one step further last night and programed the memory numbers to where it used to say "Home" it now says "Handsome&Kids" and "B Cell" is now "Studmuffin Cell". He knows when to make me giggle. I think this turned into a Reason for Love.

2002-12-11T10:22:00.000-08:00

The Blues Brothers - Correction Officer: One Timex digital watch, broken. One unused prophylactic. One soiled.

HE GOT THE JOB!!! He starts work on Wednesday as a Correction Officer.

2002-12-11T09:55:00.000-08:00

rockin

When the good gets going, it goes and goes. I think I'm wrapping up Holiday Sales today. I visited my last customer last night and did another $100 day. I did some of those shrink wrap gift baskets and she went ape over it and bought 2 and then stocking stuffers for her friends at work. Nice thing? They were all wrapped and she didn't have to do it. That's so cool. I think I might ride the bus to work a few days before Christmas and carry a basket with me and see what happens.

I think it's ironic that the days I want to work, and put in the hours, there is nothing for me to do (hence once again - new layout.. I need my space so I skin my site like crazy) then the days I have things going on (this whole week) they get the crunch going and need me over-time. Not a biggy. My "baby" website is getting ready for some new releases, and a deadline crunch of next Wednesday has been put upon us. My baby site is the job contract that got me in here so it's awesome that I'm slowly turning into the lead on this project. Everyone else who worked on it was in on the site long before I was and they just want to be rid of it and have nothing to do with it, so I've been slowly taking it over. Next Monday and Tuesday they said we will be doing over time and roughly working till 10 pm both nights. Nice cash for after Christmas. For me - its the push of the deadline that gets me going. My PM is nervous we won't make it. I have no doubt that we will make it - with Christmas lights to top it!

So my list of things going on this week has now been added to next Monday and Tuesday and now the kids want to see Santa this weekend along with about 4 orders that I wasn't able to make last night.. I'm thinking next weekend will be my weekend of rest and relaxation.

The countdown begins for B now. He took his final test today and now the call that says it's official that he's a Correction Officer is out there waiting to be answered. He's a tad over-weight but I'm thinking that with him getting back into Corrections, this will be his push to become a police officer and the weight will start going off. I'm already drinking more water (about choked on it last night) and with nice weather - at lunch I'm going to start walking the 16 Street Mall.

Speaking of choking - have you ever choked? I have never before, and even when I thought my sister was choking me at a young age of 12, I realized last night that it was no where near that. My friend squeezed some lemon juice into my water to sweeten it up and I don't know what happend, but on one of my sips, it went down wrong and next thing you know, I can't breath out my nose, I'm coughing and I'm not breathing. I couldn't talk. I just sat there trying to gasp for air and none was getting in. Nothing was in my throat, but I think it had something to do with the lemon. It scared us both. I think I'll stop accusing my sister of the choking thing - because I could breath on that one.

2002-12-10T10:39:00.000-08:00

I'm God and you're not

Major vent. My mother-in-law. {insert huge, pissed off sigh here}. I swear when I get my own space, I'll have to go to Moveable Type for categories blogging and I'll have one section just for her. Then everyone can have a laugh and send me pitty cards for dealing with a woman like her. I do like her. It's in her "moments" that I really could just throw her into a brick wall and be done with her. I'm sure she runs back to her family telling all my mean little things and how rebellious I am to her and she makes me look like the bad guy - I know she does. She does it about her family to me. Where to begin? 1996? No. Too far back. Save those when I need a laugh. This past weekend.

1) She e-mails B on Friday that she is having a Christmas Party for some friends of her from work and her husband (3rd husband) has invited some people from his work and not everyone is showing up - all the extra food, blah blah blah... can we show up too? Ahhh we are afterthoughts. It has made me think over the past few days how many other parties she has had that we were not invited to. I doubt many, if any at all. You have to know her - this isn't her thing. She's now upset that B can't get off from work in time to go to the party and upset that I'm doing "that pink thing" all day Saturday, never mind that her other son flat told her out that he wasn't coming. It's ok if he doesn't go but we have to go?

2) The kids and I arrive around 7pm. No one is there. But slowly people show up. At the end there are about 8 couples. B shows up at 8 and she's mad he's not dressed up. He just got off work lady! I guess the topper was - they ended up being all her co-workers and they talked all work. Never talked to B, me, or my father-in-law and went into this little group thing. Turned into a major bitch session of how un-happy they are at work and dogged everyone that didn't show up for the get together.

3) Finally B and I had enough of the complaints and decided to head home. J asked if she could spend the night and I said that if 'putz' was ok with it, I was. Putz said that she was going to church in the morning and I said I would be up already; I'll bring church clothes and meet them there. She agrees and says good-bye to D. He gets this face on him and B and I caught it quickly and we told Putz that D wanted to spend the night too. She then said "well ok". I knew then that she had no intent taking D for the night. I'm so glad that B said something and at the same time I should have said that's ok, he'll come home with us.

4) I drop off church clothes the next morning, tell her I'll pick them up at 12 (even though I have an Open House at that time) and she says she would take the kids for the day and I'm to pick them up later in the evening. Ok, fine with me, to me all is fine and dandy. I find out later she was miffed that I didn't go to church. She expected me to go to church with her. Hello? God? I will not go to her church or be a part of her religion; I'll lose my religion before I go to hers.

Ugh. This is where it gets tricky and since B will not talk to her about it - it's a stand off right now. I go to pick up the kids around 6pm and they are earthly quiet. Usually at her place, lots of noise and things going on and a fight to stay ensues. Not that night. They got their stuff together and ran out the door like I have never seen before. I knew right there and then something was up. We get to the car and I asked if all is ok, J says no. Putz got mad at them in a store and told D that if he ever asked to spend the night again it would be no. WHAT?! You're telling YOUR GRANDSON that he can NEVER spend the night again but your GRANDDAUGHTER CAN?? What the FUCK? Yeah.. that was the rage of my emotions at the time. I should have got back out of the car and confronted her on the spot. Well why didn't ya? Reasons - and I'm sure for all the wrong reasons. I wanted to make sure the comment was a tease and not an out right statement. You know - if you don't behave now, you'll never come to the house again. My mom and I do it all the time to them. "Behave or no more Grandma's". Did Putz say the same thing in a different way and come across a total different way? Or is she still telling us after 8 years that she doesn't want a grandson and only a grand-daughter and doesn't have the time to bother with him? Yes - I was told for the first 3 years we were married and trying to have a baby she didn't want a boy. "I've raised my fill of boys; by golly you better have a girl". When I had D a year later she told me what a shame, J wouldn't have a sister to play with. Putz has a sister she can't stand to be with longer then a day and all I hear about is the fights they had as kids, but it's a shame my daughter doesn't have a sister?

By this time though. I just want to go home. I'll talk to B, he will deal with his mother, not me. I have to deal with my mom on issues he can't handle, he will deal with his. In the meantime, all sleep-overs have suspended, even J won't be able to. Damn right unfair to say J can and D can't. The kids by this time are in fear that they will be grounded. Daddy had warned them to behave themselves the night before and so this to them is major trouble. I had to reassure them that I have to hear both sides. If D did do something wrong to have this comment said, then he owes Putz an apology. Otherwise if she's in the wrong - well fat chance of hearing an apology come from her. She's God right hand woman. She can do no wrong. (yes - this is one of our communities’ future minister leaders)

I told B later that night and he agreed with me, no sleep-overs but I don't think he will ask her what happened. I think it's more "feel this one out". B will never get into a heated battle with her because she will turn it back on him and say what a bad kid he was and how no one loves her and blah blah blah. She's not worth the fight. But she has put a cramp in my Christmas, because she will want us to go over Christmas day.

And with my regards to the comments on God. I totally believe in him. But I really think if he's going to "call on someone" to do his 'work', I think he meant the person next to her, and not her and he missed the aimed target for his calling.

2002-12-09T22:02:00.000-08:00

Is it Sunday?

Julie emailed me earlier today asking me what my schedule was like this week. I sat back and thought about it and though I'm happy it's a busy one, I don't think I'll get rest till Sunday. Tomorrow I'm off delivering orders to 7 customers. I don't think I've ever delivered that much in one day. I also got another customer. I have to share her with her cousin who also does the pink biz, but you know.. I don't mind. So tomorrow she is one of those 7 I'm delivering to. Yes.. work is in there somewhere and it's picking up so I don't know how I'm going to do it all.

Back to my list -

Monday (today) - tree up. Ended up having to go to the store for tinsel for the tree. We didn't finish till 9:30 and already emotions are running high. B and I were at each other from the minute the first light bulb went up. Gotta love him.
Tuesday - 7 deliveries - 5 at night.
Wednesday - Pink Wednesday and it's a photo shoot and I volunteered to help.
Thursday - Must See TV (yeah - some relaxing but I'm not crazy about Scrubs so it's shower time for the kids).
Friday - Toy Story on Ice with the family
Saturday - Pink bubble biz brunch / possible birthday party
Sunday - not getting up all day

I know staying up late will not be in the scope of things so I need to head off to bed soon. I have a major mother-in-law rage to throw but I'm keeping my cool until I hear her side of the story. I'm going with my gut feeling though - and if what I feel what happened with the kids spending the night with her Saturday night is true... she has lost me and D as a part of her family. I wish I could pull J from her too but I don't think it could/would happen. But D wouldn't care. He's known for a long time that she never favored him. Anyway - won't go into details on that till I hear 'putz' side of the events of the weekend.

2002-12-09T10:16:00.000-08:00

Work! Yeah!

$100 day!

1 New Customer

Christmas Tree goes up tonight

Visit with Annette and Mary Ann tomorrow while out doing order deliveries

Having some mon-ay (as oddtodd.com says it) for Christmas for B and the kids

2002-12-07T17:25:00.000-08:00

Stand Up and Make Some Noise!

Ok - yes. Drunk indeed I was. We went out for dinner last night to T.G.I.Fridays and I had 2 margaritas and I was pretty much a light weight and gone for the night. Making lude and crude suggestions to B in front of the kids, making dumb jokes, thinking back on it now - I was so much a person that I despise when I see in public, especially around their children. Bad mom. Bad bad mom. It didn't help that over the past week I haven't been eating decent meals, or had breakfast or lunch by the time we went to eat so everything hit pretty fast. When we got home, I went straight to bed to sleep it off. I can't remember the last time I went to bed at 8:30 pm. It was a great sleep and a needed drink - but I'm going to have to watch myself carefully. What made me mad was that when we got home, B was offering to take J to girl-scouts in the morning and I couldn't figure out how he would handle that with getting off work at 7am, getting sleep then going off to work at the airport by noon. He couldn't get up and take her at 10. Find out minutes before I pass out that he's off for the night. Well dude - I wouldn't have gone over the edge and constrained myself if I knew you had the night off! Geesh!

So in the process of getting J to girl-scouts, cleaning the house, doing some dishes it was setting up another weekend full of Open House items. Julie came over and took over the set-up this time and did a great job. I then called a few of the remaining customers that hasn't been yet and wanted to see if they would attend. One couldn't make it but she placed a $110 order with me over the phone and one has been very sick and asked if I would come visit her on Tuesday and said to bring the big baskets, I asked in what sense? Money or size? She said - money. Good! So my weekend was a bust, but I made $100. I'm no where complaining. Julie's personal Director came over to see how we were doing (she's in another Unit then I am - but adopted into mine due to long story) and we had a great chat with her and got some goods on stuff coming up and so I really liked that she came over and talked to us. She wasn't crazy about letting Julie go to another meeting, and my Director wasn't too crazy about taking another adoptee, but they both figured that if Julie and I team up, in the long run it will pay off. And HOW! We sat down and started planning Valentines.. yes. Not even Christmas yet and we are working on Valentines sales. Girls -- listen up.. have your sweetie get a hold of me if you like this idea. Guys - want to be the hero for Valentines - read on... I was thinking in the car (a scary scary concept and idea) when picking up J - that we have the 12 days of Christmas sales. A gift a day, starting small, getting bigger, and on the Christmas day (or Hanukkah) she (he) gets the big gift. wa-laa.. 12 days of Christmas. Why not 14 days leading up to Valentines? We have the brochures for it, just add 2 items to make 14 days and on the end day wine and wine-glasses come with the main gift. 14 days of gifts! Then Julie came up with a better idea, that on the 14th day or the 1st day, they get the travel roll up bag to put all the goodies they receive. Marsha.. isn't that the best??? We are going to promote this between January 1st and the 15th to assure delivery for the 1st of February. Is this not the best? Want more details? please.. email me. I deliver. Want your sweetie to do something nice for you? email me.. I'll call him. :)

2002-12-06T19:50:00.000-08:00

major no no

I'm drunk.

2002-12-06T10:52:00.000-08:00

slogan generator

Jerry had this on his site.. I think I just found a ton of affirmations to put around the house -

I'm Not Gonna Pay A Lot For This Red Grand Am.

Where's The Red Grand Am?

Red Grand Am, Take Me Away.

See the USA in Your Red Grand Am.

The Queen of Red Grand Am.

Get the Red Grand Am Habit.

It's Red Grand Am Time.

The Right Red Grand Am at the Right Time.

Reach for the Red Grand Am.

Make Room for the Red Grand Am.

I'd Like to Buy the World a Red Grand Am.

You Can On a Red Grand Am, Can Do!

Dude, You're Getting a Red Grand Am!

Ok.. I think I had enough fun with this one...

2002-12-06T09:14:00.000-08:00

odd

I think I did the hardest thing yet... I just went to all the job boards and deleted all searches outside the Denver area. B is one test away from hiring with the county corrections. He said that if (it's now when.. they sent him the offer letter) he gets the job, we will not move for a long time. The process to become a correctional officer is a long road and he never wants to do that again. We are here for a good long time. It's now the decision do we make Parker, Aurora or Littleton CO our home. It really hurt to delete Vegas off my job search list. I guess I'll just have to build my MK career up and get that 2nd home in Vegas for weekends. heh? ;)

2002-12-06T08:34:00.000-08:00

musical meme

It began Here. Then it was Here. For awhile it was Here. Then "roared" over to Here. It found it's way Here, then through the jungle.. it went Here and then in the peaceful village it landed here and I think I'm taking it home.

We-de-de-de
De-de-de-de-de de
We-um-um-a-way
We-de-de-de
De-de-de-de-de de
We-um-um-a-way

The Rules...

1) Post your site url here, and put the next section of lyrics (one chorus) on your site with this same message in your comments.

2) Add a link to this post using the word "previous"

3) Be ready to add the "next" link to the first person that posts to your site with the next section of lyrics.

4) Last person needs to bring us back to the beginning at http://www.thegardencafe.com/archives/00000471.shtml

2002-12-05T23:02:00.000-08:00

undecided

I have two great stories to tell... but which one should it be? The Pretty Woman moment we all want or the Light Bulb went off on J's head? I think the Pretty Woman moment is something we all want... and yes, it can happen.

As I mentioned back in October, my Director qualified for the famous Pink Cadillac. It's not an easy goal to attain, but once you set your mind to it, it can be reachable. We as a unit worked hard and we wrapped it up. So what next? Well.. the car is placed on order and is designed especially for her. So it's about an 8 week wait for the car to arrive to her. In that time she can change her mind at any time to take the cash option (I think about $650 a month, I can't remember at this moment). My wonderful Director has been in the dilemma.. car? cash? car? I'm not saying she's stuck up or vain, she's pregnant, due next week with her 3rd child, and she's questioning if the cadillac is proper with a family of 3 boys, where right now she's driving the MK Jimmy. We have been hounding her for weeks to fess up with her decision and she finally laid the plan out to us the other night... she called a few dealers in town, told them what she was looking for (I was guessing the Escalade) found out what she qualified on her credit alone (yes - no help from her husband at all) and she started looking.

The Pretty Woman moment... she took her husband to one of the dealerships the other day and told them what they were looking for (the Escalade). The salesman started sucking up to her husband and he had to point out that it was she who was doing the dealing and buying. He got flustered then brought another salesman to talk to her. He too started talking to her husband and once again he said it wasn't him that was making the deal. She said she was getting a little tee'd by this time, but she said that within seconds the attention was all on her. About 3 other women and I cried out "it's from Pretty Woman! Just how obscene an amount of cash are we talking about here? Profane or really offensive?" That right there set a goal for me to make it. How cool it would be to say "thanks honey, I know you can do it, I know you can help me, but this one is on me".

So with that in mind, I set a goal today to gain 100 new customers in the year 2003. B said that averaged a customer every 4 days. Yikes, I had no idea. But I'm sticking to my guns. While out running some errands and visiting a customer today, I carried my $5 basket - every thing in the basket was $5 items and I gained my first new customer. Calling her tomorrow. 99 more to go.

2002-12-05T17:07:00.000-08:00

Theme Thursday

I haven't posted photos in a while.. but this one was to cute to pass up. It's my children- the weekend they were going to Grandma's.

2002-12-05T09:26:00.000-08:00

Onesome: Free Do you watch the ads for "Buy this and get this trinket free" just so you can get that second gift? ...and then wonder what to do with the first one? Sometimes. I think the rock spa is really cool and to get the oils and all.. oh my. Giddy inside. I'm usually too broke to do that kind of thing, but in the same fashion, any of my own customers get a free gift if they spend over $30. :)

Twosome: Gift How the heck figure do you figure out how to buy gifts for family members? You know, the ones with no list who say, "Oh, whatever..." Why does my mother-in-law come to mind? I've seen her mode of operation. She gushes over the item and then odds are you will find it in the basement 6 months later. I get her stuff that will not hurt me if I find it in the basement 3 months later.

Threesome: Wrapping Are you a wrapping maven? ..or are are you wrappingly challenged? Who does the gift wrapping around your place anyway? Oh boy. A favorite of mine. My in-laws (yes, again, them) mainly mom-in-law and her sister go all out with the wrapping. I know that her sister has the department stores wrap them, but MIL will go all out and put the fancy bows on and decorate it real cute with ornaments hanging from the gift, and go as far as wrapping my gifts in Coca-Cola paper. Me? I'm working on the presentation thing... but bows are not my best friend. Oh, so the question was "who does the gift wrapping" - me.

How about you? Play along and post your answers in your own space, and leave a comment here so we can find you!

2002-12-05T07:44:00.000-08:00

getting it together

New layout. New outlook. New attitude. Same weight issues.

I want to thank all those who wrote me and said to not let this get to me. I normally wouldn't have, but I guess I skipped a patch of estrogen or got a bad patch and was already in a turmoil of emotions, and the review sent me over the edge. I have to remind myself that I asked for it. She didn't have to do it, wasn't paid to do it. I asked for it. I guess what pissed me off was that she hit the graphics. Yes, I knew that the border was off, I tried to fix it. I think it had something to do with Blogger too. I could have chosen a different Christmas theme, but you know, it's Christmas. Do you leave that hiuge snowman that is fan operated out in your yard all year long? (*look at my mother-in-laws home) NO. I wasn't leaving the graphics up all year, and from the get go I said this wasn't my style but I thought it was cute.

I was also upset about the quotes / stories she liked or disliked. Only a set of quotes from one day and the articles about how I disagree with my mother-in-law. If my best writing is when I pick on my mother-in-law, then I really must pack up and go. I'm not here to have a bitch session daily on her or my life in general. And honestly, I only have so much material on her (ba da bump). I did find the email request I sent her and I had to describe myself and why I wanted the review. The whole email was revolved around my "pink bubble world". Review my bubble, not the other aspects. Ok, I did some searching, my journal was to be on my pink bubble successes, and it's turned into a so-so journal that averages to 90% blah stuff and 10% pink related stuff. I'm working on turning those numbers around. as. we. speak.

No, I'm not going away. Like I said, it was an emotional day yesterday. I couldn't explain it. Crying one second, then a third, then a fourth for no reason. I'm breaking out due to stress and I can't find the stress related problem. I think I have it narrowed down, but it seems stupid to have me in a turned around state. I'm totally paranoid that I'm going to lose this job, so I'm trying to hard and I'm messing more things up and then have to re-correct them at work and then that worries me even more about my standing with work. They reassure me I'm not going anywhere, I'm even getting a cd-burner installed in a few days on my computer. That's great proof of my status. I'm just still scared.

As for the pink bubble world - I have goals set in place. With Julie now attending "Pink Wednesday's" with me, I know I have my power-pal and we are going to change things this coming year. Goals I have set for myself - Priorities: build to a 100 customer base and make Star Consultant. From there - move into my Red Jacket and go for Team Leader. Start putting money aside for Seminar (in Dallas Texas this coming July) and to make it to Career Conference in March. First step? To visit 4 customers today, Open House this weekend and start calling some husbands for last minute shopping.

I have said it before. I'm saying it again. New Attitude.

2002-12-04T21:26:00.000-08:00

Twas the Week Before Christmas -
Mary Kay Style

Twas the week before Christmas & all through the nation,
Not a pink jar was stirring, not even foundation.
The cases were hung on the doorknob with care,
In hopes that no Director would be seeing them there.
The profiles were nestled all snug in the drawer,
Though customers might call me to open my store.
And I, without makeup and the neighbor in back,
Had just settled down for some coffee & snack.
When out in the office there arose such a clatter,
Sprang out of my chair to see what was the matter!
Over to the phone I flew like a flash,
Picked up the receiver and tripped over the trash.
The light of the lamp on my inventory below,
Gave it the luster of diamonds and a kind of glow!
When what to my longing ears should I hear,
But my Director telling me, "This is YOUR year."
"To dream a GREAT dream! Be lively and quick,
I know you can do it, lickety split…"
"More rapid than ever you'll go to the top,"
She whistled and shouted, "I know you won't stop!"
Now cleanser, now Lip Gloss, now Day Radiance & Freshener
On Blusher, on Lipstick, on Eye Cream & Conditioner!
To the women of the world, for the skin of them all,
Now call them, call them, call them all!
As dry leaves before the wild hurricane wrinkle,
So will my customers, if I don't give them a jingle.
So up to the phone my fingers they flew,
With a handful of pink slips and calculator too.
And then in a twinkle, I heard on the phone,
Mrs. Smith, my last hostess, with her daughter now home.
As I listened with glee and was turning around,
She placed a large order & her VISA card found.
I was dressed all in glitter from my head to my foot,
Imagining Seminar stage and all of my loot!
A pink limousine would be waiting for me,
On Queen's Court of Sales I surely will be.
My eyes will be twinkling, my dimples quite merry,
My cheeks like roses with a blusher called Teaberry.
My proud little mouth will draw up in a grin
To know that I've worked & tonight I will win!
The keys to the Grand AM I'll clench in my teeth,
And the diamonds from Queen's Court, I'll wear like a wreath.
My Unit will be there, applauding like mad.
Such excitement and praise, they'll all wish they had.
President Tom Whatley on stage, a right jolly elf,
And I'll laugh when I see him, in spite of myself.
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Will reassure me to know, I have nothing to dread.
So I spoke not a word to my neighbor from out back,
And give up the coffee and the sugary Christmas snack.
And laying a finger again in the dial,
I called Mrs. Jones, and said with a smile,
I almost forgot you, it's Christmas, you know,
We have beautiful gifts and wrapping to go."
And I heard her exclaim as I hung up the phone,
"Thank God for my Consultant, she's the best I have known!"
--Author unknown

2002-12-04T10:33:00.000-08:00

My life is a hell right now. Lesson learned.. if you don't want to hear the truth, don't ask for it. If you came to see the bad review site... go away. I took down the graphics. Major revamp will be done this weekend and will turn into a priviate journal.

:: edit ::I take that back.. I took down the graphics that Sherry designed and gave for free. I don't care if they were big and bold and oh.my.God! Pink! SO shot me in the head for making a terrible mistake on a Christmas holiday for my journal.

2002-12-03T08:59:00.000-08:00

Well, while I have some time waiting for blogger to burp and work.. I'll post a day late my positives for the week:

Thanksgiving is over and most of the food is gone

Kids are back in School! Yeah!!!

B was offered the corrections officer job, only one more test to pass

Working - can never say that enough. I'm working this holiday

Orders to deliver this week. Makes me a busy bee

2002-12-03T07:41:00.000-08:00

blogger

I love blogger... but I need to find my own space. soon.

2002-12-02T08:20:00.000-08:00

bug

I'm home for the day. I have had no sleep and I'm sick. Not posting anything today though I went to bed with so many thoughts. They are all gone now.

2002-12-01T10:11:00.000-08:00

A poem

Rewind my thoughts
to a moment in time
Unlock my secrets
to share with the world
Give thanks to those
who have surrounded me with love
Growth, Spirit, Leadership, Knowledge
I acquire

2002-11-30T15:25:00.000-08:00

Playing catch up on entries.

Reason 4 Love -

My mom. Since she was such a great mom to take my monsters for 2 weeks, then fly up and visit for a few days, a mom's love is all you need sometimes.

Mom - for being such a nut and being yourself - I love you.
Mom - for giving me advice wether I want it or not - I love you.
Mom - for stepping back and watching us make mistakes - I love you.
Mom - for being my friend, my mom, my mentor, my vent - I love you.
Mom - for being so strong when dad died - we love you.
Mom - for setting the example, leading the way and never telling me how scared you were - I love you.
Mom - for being you - I love you.
Mom - I love you.

2002-11-30T15:15:00.000-08:00

Off topic...

Onesome: Game- What's your favorite game? Sports? - Hockey and Baseball, but it has to be, I have to be there to watch. Watching on tv isn't fun. Playing tha game? Golf. Board Game? "Life" and a bunch of others that I play with my in-laws.

Twosome: Set- Do you collect anything? Is there anything you've worked to get a full set of? Coca-Cola. It's terrbile - here's a post with all my pictures.. that has just SOME of the items I have, not all. I think 3 to 5 boxes of Coca-Cola items are still packed downstairs.

Threesome: and Match- Have you ever broken something belonging to someone else and tried to replace it with a perfect match? Breaking? No. Dead fish that the children take care of? - Yes. A replacement of a dozen red roses that was given to a room-mate from her boyfriend that my dog ate up.

Happy Thanksgiving, y'all! Now play along, leave a message and go eat *g*

2002-11-30T14:46:00.000-08:00

web day

I'm catching up on some web stuff today and lets all just shout "It's About Time!"... I learned to password protect a directory on one the Directors websites that I design and mantain today. That only took 3 months to learn, but by golly I got it figured it out then spent the next 2 hours trying to remember the password I had given it! DOH!

Julie and I quickly knocked out 30 more invites for our next Holiday Open House and then I can say "Yes.. I'm done for the season, bring on Valentines day".. NOT! Ok, at least not yet. I then worked on Anna's site. Yeah I know.. you would think I'm obessed with her lately, but she has become a great friend over the past few weeks, and I thought her blog could use some sprucing up (but I loved her purple look for the longest time!) and designed her a set from my own computer geeky hands thanks to work saying "Create!". Check her site out later... the images might be in place. Then I'm going to work on my own set for the new year, I still love this Santa look for a few more weeks. I change designs more often on my journal then I change the lint machine in the dryer! Eewww I know.. TMI.

Ugh. I have 2 used kids with teary eyes for sale. They just came back into the house and just tattled on each other. D's telling his friends about our slight "move" we had to make last March by saying we were "kicked out of the house". Sometimes I have to learn to keep my stupid trap shut so that these little ears don't tattle to every damn kid in the neighborhood.

2002-11-29T23:00:00.000-08:00

There are no holidays in the fight against evil.

Or in my case... dishes. I think I am now on my 3rd round of dishes and still not everything is done yet from what we messed up yesterday. I want the 3 tier dishwasher I saw on the H&G channel a few weeks ago in my future home.

My mom is safely planted back at home, trying to fight off another cold. I hate to say this.. but I have got to get myself into better shape before I hit my 30's, I mean 35, I mean 40's or I'm going to be hating it later on and though I love her.. I don't want to really end up like her.. I still have time to refix things right?

We then went later in the evening to visit my in-laws. Some weird tradition is that we do Thanksgiving, (at her house most of the time) go home and come right back the next day for more pigging out, watching movies and playing some family games. Never fails. Tonight we let the kids play with us, so it was hard finding a game they could handle, and my in-laws receive an average of 5 new games a year, so they went rummaging through boxes that have never been open. They found a game called Trumpet and B and I had to help J and D, but by the end of the game, J was doing ok and not needing me and D once in awhile had to rely on dad for help and ended up winning the whole game. I'm still looking for the Mickey Mouse Family Trivia game set so we can have some fun with that.

Now to get ready for Christmas. Decorations will go up I think on Monday. B's only night off to be with the family. I can't believe we are heading into another year so soon. J will be 9 this coming year... egads! D will be 8. B and I celebrate 12 years of marriage, my longest boyfriend of all time. :) But the nice thing is.. right now, at this moment, I'm working. I can't say that enough. I'm working and I'm working my pink business and Christmas will be nice. Not grand, but nice. I'm not asking for much.. just a job.

I'm also a little late in posting some things I'm Thankful for -

My husband B - a scary thought to lose him in my life

My children J and D - the light of my life

My mom - spending time with her

A job

My MK career - without it, I would not have the self-image I have today

Julie - my dear friend

Life - I'm breathing, I'm living, I'm here

2002-11-28T20:46:00.000-08:00

Photos

The Table -

The Food -

B and I worked as a team and it was a blast. He got home from the midnight shift (make mental note of that comment) and started on the turkey. We cleaned up the house a bit and we moved the dinning table out of the kitchen into the formal room because there is no room in the kitchen for 4 people, let alone 7. I did the table up, I wish I had better pictures, but I have a crappy digital, so hopefully my mom took better ones that she will scan later. The table looked awesome, the fish behaved herself. Then about 1 pm, my mother-in-law showed up and we went into team work. B worked on the yams, I worked on the mash potatoes, then the corn, then he worked on the cranberry stuff, then I went to corn-on-the-cob and he went to carving up the turkey, the ham (yes, we had ham too) was already cut, just needed warming up. Slowly things went out on to the extra table we had out and it was just full of yummy things. My mother-in-law brought over 2 pumpkin pies, a pecan pie, rolls and stuffing. By 2 pm we were eating the works. Everyone full to the gills... my mom ends up taking 2 naps (she has a sugar problem) and my mother-in-law takes 1 and in between the naps, my mother-in-law brought "pre-Christmas gifts" for us, so we watched D play with his new "Spongebob CD game" on the computer. B got some light/tire gauge/gadget toy and J and I both recieved Christmas sweaters. I'm always telling my mother in law that I don't have any festive clothing like she does and so now I do.

By 5 pm we were watching the Travel channel and watching all the Disney secrets and B and I are justing wanting to go back there as soon as possible. (yes.. B is still going full strong) In-laws leave around 7 pm and B heads off to bed for the first time since 7 pm LAST NIGHT at 7:30. Mom heads off to bed for the 3rd time today at 8:30. My friend who lost her husband called a few minutes ago and we talked about how she and the boys are doing. Her husband was in need of a lung transplant and never told anyone because he didn't want anyone to feel sorry for him. His body just shut down and he went down hill and never recovered. She said the boys are just in shock and she's trying to cope and I'm sitting here just wondering what can I do? She doesn't need me to babysit but has asked that I help with Kevin's birthday party that was cancelled because of his dad dying and now has to be rescheduled. I said not a problem. Can you believe her? She asked me what day was good for me to have the party? I told her to name the date.. I'll be there.

I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving. I have a lot to be thankful for tonight and I'm now going to go cuddle with my babes and watch the Santa Clause.

2002-11-28T19:45:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving

Photos to follow.. food was great, everyone is full, mom took 2 naps... I'm waiting for the kids to come down off their sugar high.

2002-11-27T22:22:00.000-08:00

Told You So!

Taking a small break from movie quotes..

Today I got home from work early and knew I had to hit the basement and dig through 30 boxes to find my china box. To give a small background on the china, my mom gave me her wedding set of china that was given to her from my Grandmother. I had the packers pack it - 7 years ago and since then the box has moved 6 times and never been unwrapped. I really had no idea what I would find in the box. But I figured that if the packers did it, we could get lucky and not have anything broken. Mom swore up and down that everything is broken and I'm sitting on false hope, so close to Thanksgiving. She follows me like our dog Shadow down to the basement and I find the box within seconds and I start unwrapping paper. I figured if anything is going to be broken, it will be at the top.. not so. Plates, platters, gravy bowl, salad plates, serving bowls, a depression bowl, one by one each item is unwrapped and everything is fine. I was doing the pee-pee dance of happiness that nothing was broken. But we didn't have to use everything and it was then I realized that there must be another box unopened because her tea cups were not in this box, so I'm not out of the woods yet, but those dishes are for another day.

I then took mom to the computer and went to "replacements.com" a site that warehouses china and stuff and you find your patteren and can buy replacements to your set. It took us a while to find who made mom's set, then it took us 40 links to find the right pattern. This is the pattern to my china that will be used tomorrow. Pictures to follow.

Then mom and I went for the pink night. It was a quiet night being Thanksgiving Eve and all but people still come, and we still get training. I finally got to pin my mom, considering she's been my personal recruit since January and minutes later she was pinned for her own recruits, she loved it all. They held the drawing for the $100 Dollar Day, which I have only won once before and I really liked this month's prize.. a pink cadillac business card holder (pictures to follow) that is no longer available to buy. I wanted it, but being it's November and many other consultants are doing $1,000 and $1,400 weeks.. my odds of my 2 business cards were not great. I was pretty much wrong on that thought. My name was pulled and I got the car caddy. :) Totally made my night.

My Christmas present from B arrived today. He's really on a fickle about it. I know it's from the coca-cola.com store, and that is it. He had them gift wrap it so he could put it right under the tree.. they sent him 2 pieces of tissue paper and a card - he's pissed now. So I know I'm guaranteed 3 coca-cola items for Christmas this year. My sister and mother-in-law will, now B is into getting me something.

B also got a letter from the corrections and they offered him the job for corrections officer, but he still needs one more phase to pass. He says the letter means nothing, he could still mess up the next test (physical), I think it does mean something and that the job is in the bag. We shall see. Happy Thanksgiving ~

2002-11-27T13:31:00.000-08:00

lil Devil I am

Work has given me the task of desiging websites for practice. They want me to play with color, styles, textures and go off the deep end of design. I did a layout for Anna and her journal and we have been playing tag, I send her ideas, she has me change a few things. It's been fun doing something for her.. I can't create anything without having a 'theme' to go off of, so Anna was easy with her culinary skills, (ok and her party / single lifestyle too) :) ...but I'm wondering if I should put a tag-board in the code for her and once she loads it she will have one in place..hmmmmmm

2002-11-27T10:16:00.000-08:00

Shock

B just called me, D's best friend - Kevin who is also 7, his mom just called. Her husband died a week ago and they burried him this week. We just got the call. I'm just shocked. She's not a few years older then me, she has 3 kids, all boys and they adored their dad... he was a work-at-home dad and though some of his ethics and thought process wasn't always on my level, he was a great father to the boys and I thought they were so lucky to have him do things with him. He had them all love baseball like it was going out of style.. and the oldest boy has mentioned that when he makes the majors.. he would by his mom their next house. I'm just in shock. I don't even want to think what would happen if B ever died sudden on me.

2002-11-26T21:02:00.000-08:00

Can I call my mom and tell her I won't be home... ever?

Babies are home and so is my mom.. too tired, busy to post much today ~

2002-11-25T23:06:00.000-08:00

It's the same things your whole life. "Clean up your room!", "Stand up straight!", "Pick up your feet!", "Take it like a man!", "Be nice to your sister!", "Don't mix beer and wine, ever!". Oh yeah, "Don't drive on the railroad track!"

The main quote is "Clean Up Your Room!" In 4 hours or less, B and I did a tornado like sweep of the house, getting it ready for my mom to arrive tomorrow. All of a sudden I'm major anal about her showing up and disapproving of something. I found out a week ago, on one of her last visits that she took back a table cloth she made years ago because I wasn't "taking care of it" and now all of a sudden I'm looking around the house now and going "What? What will it be this time?" So I know the kids will see changes to the house, we hung up paintings that I had no desire to put up in this house because we are renting, but yet she will point it out and make me look like an ungrateful person for the gifts she gave me. I love her.. but all I have to say is this.. Moms. Sad part? I'll probably turn out to be the same way on my daughter!

B and I wrapped up our Thanksgiving Dinner food shopping tonight. Got the turkey, yams, the "presentation" to make everything look cool (Anna... you're going to die!) and we even had a funny fight in the store and had another woman in the aisle just dying over our comments. We have turned into kids, I swear. Total misbehavior in the stores lately.

Got a haircut. Went short and sassy and B made a joke that it looked like a mullet cut and now I'm scared that it really looks like that. Butt head he is. There will be no pictures tonight, I did some on the web cam and they just look terrible. Maybe tomorrow.

OH - So Anna gave me some ideas of what to do to make the table look nice for Thanksgiving (and Anna - when it comes to blogrolling, add them where you see fit. I didn't add you till I started talking with you, because I wasn't sure if you would feel comfortable with it. Other blogs that have other blogrolling - go for it!) :) So I went looking for placemats and thought I would get festive "thanksgiving" placemats. This Coca-Cola nut can't turn down the stuff if it's on display.. and there in the table setting section was Coca-Cola placemats! I asked B - Traditional or Normal? We went with normal.. 6 C-C placemats, with 4 plain brown ones. Found out later my brother-in-law will be out of town so that counts him and his girlfriend out for dinner. I got this nice off white running board, and while in the arts and crafts, I was looking for a centerpiece, B made a joke that one of the vases looked like the bowl that holds our Meta Fish. He said we should make that the center piece. (I know Anna is going OH NO!) I grabbed some red poinsettia garland, wrapped it around the vase and said "Yep. The fish has become our center piece. The fish is even going to get festive colors in the bowl to match the placemats and season. We found dark red heart shaped marbles, with some white stones to set the color. I hope I'm doing the right thing, I'm sure it sounds tacky but you have to admit.. it will be a talkative piece! While walking around, we found a total decked out Coca-Cola bathroom set; shower curtain, bath mat, toothbrush holder, soap holder, the works. I told B that the ideal home for me is to be new so we can have our way with colors and scheme. I want a retro's 50's kitchen (black and white tile) so that it looks like a soda shop and all the coca-cola stuff will go in properly, but now I'm getting nervous that we might have to do the whole house that way. We also found Coca-Cola bedsheets and I thought about torturing the kids and getting them for their beds. They are Pepsi kids (yeah traitors.. they will get rich after I'm dead selling my stuff off) don't know where and how that happened!

Tomorrow everyone arrives at noon, if there are no problems with the flights. B was telling me yesterday the company (the airline) forgot to pay a bill that pays for "de-icing" and so they could not de-ice the planes for flights yesterday, about 45 out of 65 flights were canceled. HELLO? WHO forgets to pay the dang bill?? So it put everyone back a day in take off and with us getting snow up till early this morning, I was nervous they would cancel the flight all together tomorrow. But Denver is famous for melting quickly, and by 1pm it was almost all gone.

Other quick news then I need to sleep. I recieved another email from another lady in pink. I was is deep fear that when they did their google searches and found my site that they would be upset with me, telling dark secrets of the pink world, but I don't think I really do.. but I just felt that some would be upset that I'm telling my journal online. This sweet lady made my day when she told me this:
Hi from a sister consultant...

Last night, I was trying to find out if director's suits come in my size just to motivate myself to rise above lowely consultant status, and google gave me your blog. I have to say, it has been like reading my own life. All the ups and downs of MK life...the highs and lows...it seems like the highs are skyrockets and the lows are black holes, to me...but you have it all expressed perfectly.

I had a crapfest of a day with customers and turned to your blog and continued where I left off last night. Now I feel much better and like I should keep going, trying to build my business and not letting a few turd heads make me quit.

Thanks for sharing your happiness and sorrows with those of us who know them so well. it so made my night, and I know she's reading.. thank you. Thanks for reading and telling me I'm doing ok. :)

Night all.. Night Anna, Night Julie, Night Jennifer, Night Marsha, Night Althea, Night John Boy!

2002-11-25T10:26:00.000-08:00

.:> Weather permitting, my babies come back tomorrow!

.:> Julie time this past weekend

.:> My babies come back tomorrow!

.:> My Holiday Open House - Made $300!

.:> My babies come back tomorrow!

.:> New Clothes!

.:> My babies come back tomorrow!

.:> The house has been clean for 2 weeks!

.:> Did I mention? My babies come back tomorrow! (I'm homesick for them)

.:> I'm working :)

2002-11-24T20:25:00.000-08:00

Moms

MOM! I want to get off the phone now!!!!

2002-11-24T17:12:00.000-08:00

Hey, pretty girl...time to wake up

Had our 2nd day of the Holiday Open House.

Lessons learned over the weekend..

1) follow up, follow up, follow up
2) make sure next movie to watch with Julie is a chic flix and not a wierded out movie (Mulholland Dr)
3) more junk food on hand

We had a blast, even though it snowed, and we ended up watching a movie, but I know we could have done better. Mulholland was strange and for those who have seen it, I now understand why my darling husband B - watched it twice. He called during the movie and I talked him and he told me "yeah, I watched it twice, but not all of it twice" so I know exactly what he's talking about. Pervert. Julie and I have decided we are going to go for 1 more open house in December for last minute shopping.

Another lesson learned over the weekend - shopping a "midnight special" is not always that "special". B and I hit Kohls last night after he got off work and I got back from the Unit Christmas Party. I need some pants. My weight issue is getting a little out of hand and I need some new clothes. After going to the Nordstrom training on Friday (oh crap, forgot to talk about that) I knew how to shop a little better this time around. But with all this knowledge, could I find what I needed? No! I couldn't find a darn pair of pants 1) my style 2) my size 3) my color 4) my length period. I started to believe that I was on a mission for shopping - just to shop and when I get home I would not like my purchases or I would walk out frustared that I didn't get what I came in for.

My point is - could I find any help? HELL NO! The one lady walking around the area I was in, was putting clothes away. She didn't want to help anyone, just wanted us all to get out so she could get home. I understand, but I'm there to shop! So I finally tackle her football style and get her to point me in the general direction for my size and all I find is the 80% off rack of clothes, and it's clothes from the summer with tons of jungle safari prints, shorts and sleeveless t-shirts. I later confirmed this with Julie - she had been there earlier.. they sent her there too. I about gave up and started to do a google seach on B in the store when I found 2 pairs of pants that were my size, color and style. Small problem was that one pair was a rich brown and doing a quick inventory in my head (I'm so glad I'm anal about how my closet is set up color wise) that I didn't have anything to match the brown pants, so I was able to talk B into 2 new shirts too.

I never told B that I went to the Nordstrom / Pink Lady training on how to Dress for Success Friday. I took a half day for it, so I know he would be a tad upset that I didn't go to work. But I went and I'm glad I did. Other great lesson's learned and the main 2 I got was - a) if it hasn't been worn in a year, toss it b) for every new shirt / shoes / pants, toss out an old one. So right there at the check out.. I told B he had to throw out 2 shirts when we get home and so was I. He never asked me where I got the information from, he didn't question me why it needed to be done and when we got home, he marched upstairs and tossed out 2 shirts. I ended up getting rid of 3 and 2 more this morning. My goal is to clean it out over the week and show him I need new clothes!

Anywho - here are the 2 ornaments I recieved this year from my Unit. The ornament is the one I picked from the goodie bag. We do the "White Elephant" way. Not sure how to explain it, but it's fun. If I open a gift and someone else wants it, when it's their turn they can take it from me. I can in return take it back, open another gift or take someone else's. I had my eye on 2 other ornaments that I wanted to take, but I knew when I opened this that J would fall in love with this and so I kept it. It was taken from me by another gal, for the same reason why I kept it, her daughter.. but I promptly went back and took it back. The 2nd ornament is from our Director. Every year she does a theme, and we all get the same. This year's is "Your Ship to Come In". Her wish for us is to take charge of our life, and to swim out and claim our ship. I'm the Captian of my life, have the power to set sail and make my choices. Pretty cool.

2002-11-23T17:08:00.000-08:00

Well we always do our Christmas shopping early.

Today was one of my Holiday Open Houses. Did great in orders and had a blast visiting with customers and getting "Julie" time for the day. Julie and I decided to have our Open House at my place, since she started her new job this past week, with stress and all she came down sick, so I told her "let's not go all out but have some fun, and we'll watch a movie between customers coming and going". My good friends Jennifer and Annette showed up, and Annette, Julie and I used to work at the same place.. Annette is still there, so it was catch-up for those 2. She stayed till 4pm where I had to send her home for the day and get ready for my Unit Christmas Party. That's in a hour and I'm bumming because I was hoping to go and get my hair cut and done up and not have to mess with it myself and all the places closed around 5pm. I remember a time when most stores closed at 7pm. Geesh.

Tomorrow, Julie and I do the same thing again and hopefully I can get about 3 more customers and in the amount I need and I'll be a happy person. If you are interested in a "goodie basket" from your personal Santa and need some "pushing" from him. Drop me an email and I'll call your loved one for some Christmas shopping. :)

2002-11-22T14:08:00.000-08:00

Name that Movie Quote

JC wrote me and said it would be cool if I put the quote up and everyone else guess where the quote came from, naming the movie and who said it. So I'm game. I think at the end of the day I'll post the answer and in a little bit I'll make a graphic up so that you can post on your site if you got the winning quote of the day.

More later - been a fun day. So glad it's Friday.

2002-11-21T22:24:00.000-08:00

Yeah.. I just had to do it

When I saw Bran raving about Sherry's new set, I just had to check it out and just knew I had to use it for the holidays. So not me, but so much fun.

So enjoy the holidays with me and lets make some noise!

Tonight B and I went out for dinner and then went shopping. Every time we usually go shopping we are either hungry and buy everything in the store, or we are low on cash, so we have a plan of what to spend and get in and get out. Tonight we ate before, and we had cash. I was so stuffed that the idea of buying MORE food was just revolting. I had no idea where to start or stop and just kept asking "Do we need more?". It was an experience in itself. We got some potatoes, cranberry stuff, almost picked out a turkey but they all looked to big and even though we are feeding 9, we are also cooking a ham and so not everyone will eat turkey (I won't!).

I guess the best part of the day was I got paid today. First time in a year I got a great check. I mean GREAT! Felt good to put that puppy in the bank too. Other great news, B has passed stage 2 of about 5 or 6 stages to get back into Corrections. It's not easy and I was a little nervous after last time he went through the process and was declined he would never do it again. He felt he blew it with the interview stage yesterday but today they called him and gave him his meeting times for tomorrow and Monday for the next steps. If all goes well, they will hire him December 18th. He says he doesn't think they are letting him just go through the steps till the end and then say 'no, we don't need you', because it's expensive with some of the stuff he has to do. See a phsyc (sp?) doctor, take a lie test, physical, a few other things. How easy it would be for him to just say "lets go home" and all he would need to do is sign his letter of offer and that's it. But we still don't want to go home yet. It's not even home to us, so lets go with - we don't want to go 'there'.

Tomorrow should be fun. I'm taking a half day off to go do something "pink". There is a Dress for Success training at Nordstrom for consultants, and there was a mix up in dates and stuff so it was cancelled last month and rescheduled for tomorrow. Because of rescheduling a lot of Directors and Consultants orginally booked to go can't go, and so it opened up about 50 spots and no requirements were needed and I thought this would be great for me to go to. Might get a new hair cut out of and with my wieght issues, learning what is good and bad for me would be best in my interest.

So with that - I'm once again heading off to bed. Late nights are not my best friends, but mornings are my enemies!

2002-11-21T09:13:00.000-08:00

Keep your goddamn hands off my wife!

In my case.. My Husband! Ok women.. Stand back.. he's all mine. He's the hunk You can't have him.

Such a stud he is. He e-mailed me this morning and wanted to know if I wanted a date night seeing the Avs play tonight. I said yes, if they were cheap seats. His idea of $120 for 2 seats is cheap, I shot him down. We then talked a bit ago and said a movie sounds good, but right now, there is just nothing we want to see so I said lets just do dinner then come home and relax. He just called me and said "hey baby, I know what you want and you won't say no to this idea... lets go to Costco and get stuff for Thanksgiving". Oh honey..you know how to melt a woman's heart! LOL

2002-11-21T08:00:00.000-08:00

Onesome: Through-What torments (or pleasures) do you have to go through to get to your Thanksgiving Day destination? ...or are you one of those who stays home? ...or perhaps someone who works on this holiday? Ususally Thanksgiving is spent with my in-laws at their house. Since we moved to Denver, it's only a 30 minute trip, not a biggy in torture. I think spending the day with her is the torture itself! (evil grin) This year Thanksgiving is at MY house!

Twosome: Thick-Who are you looking forward to seeing this weekend? ...and is this a special gathering with friends and family from far away or more of a routine get together? This weekend is my Holiday Open House. Hopefully I'll see about 5 of my favorite/best customers. Then I have my Unit Christmas Party and that is always fun. We have a Christmas Ornament Exchange and it's about the only time we are not nice to each other. :)

Threesome: and Thin-Are you going to thin your wallet or purse down a bit on Friday? ...or is it time to do some decorating? ...or are you just glad it's over? With bills behind and finally getting a job, our wallet/purse is still a little thin. Hopefully with my Holiday Open House I can bring in a little mad money for Christmas, but I'm not expecting much, I still want to put in a big order for inventory purposes.

How about you? Play along and post your answers in your own space, and leave a comment here so we can find you!

2002-11-20T21:32:00.000-08:00

How many of them hormones you takin', honey?

I'm heading off to bed.. but I had to tell the funny Baby Shower story before I do.

I've been to only 1 other baby-shower all my life...mine, till tonight. My Director, Stephanie is due next month and so our Unit gave her a baby-shower. It was a blast and I won a prize for not crossing my legs the whole time we sat. Yes.. can you believe.. no crossing legs! That's not the funny part. The girls had us grab a sheet of paper and while they walked around with these 5 diapers we had to guess what chocolate bar was in the diaper. Easy? Yes? NO! The chocolate bars were mushed up to look like POOP! I got 3 out of 5 right, thank goodness for Almonds Joy which has coconut in it, Reeses Cup with peanut butter and Snickers with nuts. I missed Twix and I can't even remember the other one, but it's a candy bar I don't ever eat. I'm actually surprised I did so well with the 3, I'm not a chocolate person in the first place. It was no surprise though that Stephanie got every one right! :) She got a ton of goodies, I got sugared up on punch and cake and had a blast. Now to sleep off the sugar.

2002-11-20T10:14:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking of my dad lately. He's been gone 6 years now. How odd it was that the first 6 months I thought I would never make it a year without hearing his voice ever again.

~ Dad you are my reason for love:

You were my rock. You never showed me your fear on the rollercoasters so it was easy to go with you. (age 6)

You made things fun when you had other things to do. Many times you had to take me to work at your office. Playing in your office and riding in the truck are some of my best memories. (age 6 - 9)

You supported me in all that I did. Band, Cheerleading, Drama, Speech, Dancing, Ballet, School Dances, Braces, Back Brace. (age 12 - 17)

You kept me grounded. Take this both ways..
...You made me tow the line if I missed behave... my whole Freshman year. (age 14)
...You made me laugh at the emotional moments when tension was high and I needed a break to get through things. (age 22)

You were proud of me when I didn't know it.
...Remember the mall with Band? (age 14) Graduation - you took me shopping for clothes, luggage (age 17) Visting me when J was born. Or was it visiting J and I was a side line attraction? No one got to hold her when you were in the room :) (age 28) Being there when D was born - "Men are NOT in the room when a baby is born. It's obsurd!" Yes dad.. you were there 3 minutes after and once again no one could hold D after you got a hold of him. :) (age 29)

You always knew...
...when I needed a shoulder to cry on. (age 18, 22, 28 and countless others)
...when to give me advice in life decisions or when to stand back and watch me do it myself (age 18, 21, 25 and others)
...when I needed help with my marriage (age 23 and others)
...when the babies needed something - surgey for J, asthma for D (infant ages)

You guided me into the career that I am today - thank you for never giving up with all the no's I said to you (age 28)

You made me strong after your death. Something I wasn't ready for. (days after April 21, 1996)

I may have been your reason for love while you were living, you are mine now. Thank you dad.. I hope I'm the best you thought I should be.

2002-11-19T14:41:00.000-08:00

I'm going to Bombay, India, to become a movie star!

Usually this is a very quiet office, all the lights off, so the high lights don't bother the eyes, you can hear a pin drop on the carpet it's so peaceful (dead?) here. An email came out about a hour ago - Channel 4 is coming by our office tomorrow. People are fixing the lights, people are talking, yelling, DAMN! Turn that light off! I had already planned on dressing up tomorrow being it's Wednesday, Pink night, but the email we got is saying "please dress accordingly". You would think the Pope himself is showing up! (and I'm no where making fun of him...)

Should be an interesting day tomorrow.

2002-11-19T08:48:00.000-08:00

I am yesterday, today, and tomorrow

Got this from Bonkrood. She got it from elsewhere.

10 years ago, I...
Married to B for one a year
He was station in Milton, FLorida (outside of Pensacola)
I was stationed in Philadelphia, PA on the USS Forrestal
I was a YN3 (Secretary) working in Safety and then to Operations
Having kids were on our minds but not yet talked about
Our "kids" were our female Corgi "Tuppy" and yellow Lab "Buddy"
Weekends were spent at the movies and walking the mall
Visiting family in nearby Georgia, Alabama and Tennesse

5 years ago, I...
Married to B 6 years
We were both out of the military
We lived in Gallup, New Mexico
We had 2 children, J who would be 3, D would be 2
My dad had died the year before, we moved back home
B would start working at the County Jail
I was in college at the University of New Mexico - Gallup branch
I was taking classes in Graphic Design
I worked as lead designer at my father's business with my mom and sister
Weekends were spent learning to surf the new "www"

2 years ago, I...
Married to B 9 years (my math maybe wrong, but it's been a long time)
B left the COunty Jail (burned out) and was going into networking
We moved to Denver, Colorado
J would be in kindergarden and D would be in preschool.
I finished school and started working at my first .com company, many to follow
I started doing the "pink" thing on the side
Weekends were spent doing nothing, we took a hit on cost of living and weekends were broke. If it was the summmer, our townhouse had a pool, so I took the kids swimming every day. Some weekends were spent having dinner with in-laws.

1 year ago, I...
Married to B 10 years
Living in Denver, Colorado
Laid off from dream job, now working for mother-in-law in bakery
B had been laid off, but just started with current company
J is in 2nd grade, D is in 1st. The kids are growing faster then weeds
Still doing the "pink" biz, 3 new customers a month.
Weekends are none existent. Trying to make ends meet.

Yesterday, I...
Went to work at the cool .com company
Watched "We Were Soldiers" with B
Worked on a Director website
Talked to the kids (visiting with Grandma)
Talked with Julie and Stephanie

Today, I...
Will go to work at the cool .com company
Will shop for Stephanie's babyshower gift
Work on a Director's website
Talk to the kids

Tomorrow, I will...
Go to work at the cool .com company
Go to "pink" night and attend Stephanie's babyshower
Call customers for this weekends Holiday Open House
Call it a late night

Five things I have brand loyalty to:
Coca-Cola (always and foreva!)
Mary Kay Cosmetics
Dorittos
JC Penney

Five snacks I enjoy:
3 Musketeers
Peanuts

My five biggest joys at the moment:
My marriage to B
My children
WOrking full time, full pay, decent pay
Not giving up on my pink biz and it's still steady
Live if getting back to normal.

2002-11-18T08:56:00.000-08:00

|:| - 9 days and I get my babies back!

|:| - B getting the call for the County Corrections

|:| - I'm doing Thanksgiving Dinner!

|:| - My Holiday Open House this weekend

|:| - The clean house that just looks so great!

|:| - I'm working!

|:| - The quietness I've been getting and the work that has been getting done. :)

2002-11-17T14:51:00.000-08:00

No, David. Nobody's happy in a poodle skirt and a sweater set.

This is very interesting.

Somehow We Survived

If you lived as a child in the 60s, 70s or the 80s.

Looking back, it's hard to believe that we have lived as long as we have...

As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags.

Riding in the back of a pickup truck on a warm day was always a special treat.

Our baby cribs were covered with bright colored lead-based paint.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors, or cabinets, and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets. (Not to mention hitchhiking to town as a young kid!)

We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle.

Horrors.

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then rode down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times we learned to solve the problem.

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on. No one was able to reach us all day. No cell phones.

Unthinkable.

We played dodgeball and sometimes the ball would really hurt.

We got cut and broke bones and broke teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents. They were accidents. No one was to blame but us. Remember accidents?

We had fights and punched each other and got black and blue and learned to get over it.

We ate cupcakes, bread and butter, and drank sugar soda but we were never overweight....

...we were always outside playing.

We shared one grape soda with four friends, from one bottle and no one died from this?

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo 64, X Boxes, video games at all, 99 channels on cable, video tape movies, surround sound, personal cellular phones, Personal Computers, Internet chat rooms, ... we had friends. We went outside and found them. We rode bikes or walked to a friend's home and knocked on the door, or rung the bell or just walked in and talked to them.

Imagine such a thing. Without asking a parent!

By ourselves!

Out there in the cold cruel world! Without a guardian. How did we do it?

We made up games with sticks and tennis balls and ate worms and although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes, nor did the worms live inside us forever.

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment...

Some students weren't as smart as others so they failed a grade and were held back to repeat the same grade.....Horrors. Tests were not adjusted for any reason.

Our actions were our own. Consequences were expected. No one to hide behind.

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke a law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law, imagine that!

This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers and problem solvers and inventors, ever.

The past 50 years has been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.

We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how too.

And you're one of them.

Congratulations!

Please pass this on to others that have had the luck to grow up as kids, before lawyers and government regulated our lives, for our own good?

2002-11-17T08:43:00.000-08:00

You know, I really think I can put together a great Thanksgiving dinner.

For years now, B and I have done Thanksgiving either at his mom's house or my mom's house. There was one year that we did Thanksgiving in VA just the 4 of us, and it was pretty good, but nothing spectular in the cooking area. We have gone out for dinner a few times on Thanksgiving, I'll be honest, I'm not a turkey kind of person. Give me ham and small portions and I'm good to go.

Then when you compare my mother-in-laws cooking to my mom's.. big difference. My mom does the basics, my mother-in-law goes all out. So where am I going with this? For the past few years, I have "offered" to do Thanksgiving at my house... to a degree. We have the bigger homes, the bigger table, and sometimes the bigger kitchen (depending on what rental we are in that year). But my mother-in-law always shoots me down and says "oh no.. I have everything, it's at my place" and I figure I did the good deed of offering my services. I once again, offered it this year, "lets do it at my place" knowing full well she would blow me off and I quickly forgot I mentioned it to her.

A few days ago B got an email from her (she's too busy to call you know) and says with her work schedule, it's going to be too hard to do Thanksgiving this year, I'm taking Susan up on her offer.

WHAT?!?!

B is nervous, he says we'll never be able to cook the meals like she does and he doesn't want to compete with her. I'm not competing with her. For once she's going to eat the meals I set on the table. Then I opened my big mouth once again and told my mom and my mom started making this list of things I have to get and I thought "HEY! This is MY Thanksgiving this year!". I want to make the cool dishes (ANNA - HELP!) I want to do the work, I will make the list up. I want to make the dishes. HMPH. Dang! My mom is bossy! B will help, he did the turkey the first and last time we did it in VA. Watch for more details on this one...

2002-11-16T09:19:00.000-08:00

Hey! If any of you are looking for any last-minute gift ideas for me, I have one

Recent searches on my blog - this one was really looking for me:

"Drivin My Life to a Red Grand AM!" search (My website covered the first 5 searches and a bunch of other friendly blogs that link me are there too)

"Breckingridge, Colorado Jobs" search

"Girls Being tickled in the military" search

Oh yes - I really do have some last minute gift ideas - email me if your are intrested.

2002-11-15T22:53:00.000-08:00

Alas, little ones, I do not rule.

Nothing to do with todays events.. just restless quote searching and maybe because it's J's favorite show and I miss the kids.

I talked with Julie early this morning and we have decided to do our Holiday Open House next weekend at my house. So I need to quickly wrap up this post and work on the flyer so it can get in the mail tomorrow. If I can get past the yawns. I went over to Hobby Lobby after work and bought a few baskets, frames, christmas wrap and other goodies, everything 1/2 off and spent $13.00 I was really proud of myself. Then I went over to Party City and got some raffle tickets, each customer who attends, brings a guest and spends a certain amount gets to put a ticket into a drawing for a goodie basket that I have yet to figure out will be. A lot of my customers earned "Holiday Dollars" through out the year and will redeem them at the Open House. SHould be fun. While checking on email at work, 4 of my favorite customers wrote me and asked when it would be and wanted to go - so I know I have a 4 signed up!

I talked to the kids this morning. J was acting up and said she wanted to come home until she realized that grandma would really send her home if she cried wolf like that. They are having fun, but mornings are hard on J and so she acts up. Mom asked me why I put up with it.. maybe it's such a routine I just deal with it and get going. I dunno. Tomorrow is house cleaning and website design... again. Story of my life. Need to knock out 2 of the sites so that they can become maintenance and not rebuilds every 3 days.

2002-11-15T09:00:00.000-08:00

I see you don't chase dreams, you live them.

B just called me. He applied 2 weeks ago to the county corrections to go back into corrections. When we were out at Chili's on Monday, we discussed his options of where to go to get back into corrections. To stay in the Denver area, this was one of the "musts". He takes the test for pre-requirements on Tues. and then we go from there. I have no doubt in my mind that he would be a shoe-in for the job, his weight might throw him out, but I saw his references, two of them from prior corrections facilities that say they will take him back now if he would say yes to them. This is it.. I'm going to get my husband back soon.... I might be pre-judging, but I think Christmas came early for the two of us this year...

2002-11-14T08:30:00.000-08:00

I can't find a movie quote on this... you would think "Shake, Rattle and Roll" I would find something -

Shake- Is there anything that makes you shake in your shoes? Any phobias you'd like to share? Heights and spiders. It's not easy working on the 24th floor of a high rise. The building rumbles all the time. Spiders.. <<>> Enough said.

Rattle- What's rattling around in your mental trunk that you need to take care of? That I won't do great in my Christmas sales. That I'm not ever going to make it great in my life and that I'll end up like my in-laws working just to pay the bills and not enjoying life. Need to get over my self-esteem and feel better about myself. Dang.. my mental trunk is huge!

and Roll- When you run up against an unexpected challenge, do you adapt and roll with it or scrap your original plan and go with Plan B? Depends on the challenge. Most time, in the graphics world, I'll tackle it. If it's life, I consider the option of Plan B but I try to go with the flow and handle what comes in.

Now play along in your own space and leave a comment so we know where to find you!

2002-11-13T23:04:00.000-08:00

After all ... tomorrow is another day.

Oh a classic and a favorite. It is raining outside and if I'm lucky, I'll wake to snow on the ground tomorrow and call in and not go to work. Tonight was a pink night. It's been, what, 2 weeks since I last went? Felt really out of the loop, so many new people and I didn't have anything to take for my shoulder so I was in a lot of pain. We talked about our goals for Christmas and being that it is now Nov. 14th, I'm a month behind in sales and I'm getting cold feet by the second. But with some pep talk, and a little encouragement, I'm going to put a flyer together for my customers husbands and send them out hopefully tomorrow or Friday and see if I can get some Christmas orders by Thanksgiving from the guys. I had to lower my goal amount, but I think I can still pull it off and work it hard. I'm also going to call some corporate businesses and see what is in store for the holidays. I'm not on track, but I'm back on the thought process, so we shall see.

2002-11-13T10:32:00.000-08:00

...and it was everything that I hoped it could be

Small little details that I will work here permenatly (but I haven't brought in my "cube" stuff yet)....

1) ~~get e-mail account~~
2) ~~name on plate outside of cube~~
3) ~~they clean out the ex-employee's stuff out of your cube~~
4) ~~two monitors in your cube means your a full time employee, not contract~~
5) get a window view cube
6) get medical, vacation and 401k benefits

2002-11-13T09:16:00.000-08:00

Movie Quote - I found out what the secret to life is: friends. Best friends.

I'm going to give my reasons for love on Julie. My best friend.

She is the best friend I have ever had.

She knows when to make me laugh, when to make me think on issues that need serious thought... and in that same sentance - she knows when to step back and let me think it through, she knows my ups and downs, my strengths and weakness.

She leaves me funny messages on my phone and we play a great game of phone tag weekly.

When I need support - she rallies on my side 110% and more

When I had an awesome day, a shoulder to cry on, someone to vent to - she is the first person I think of

She is my best friend - Julie

On a side note - we were talking this morning before work. Usually we do catch up on the phone in our cars. This morning I was late getting ready for work, so she was in the car, I was doing my hair.

She had called the other night and I missed her call (we were at Chilis). B made a fuss about it. He said something along the line, you talked to her earlier today, do you have to talk 5 times a day on the phone?

No. Not really. More like 10 to 20 times a day.

If we don't get our "Julie" / "Susan" fix for the day we are in a rut. I don't know what we would do without each other. We have been through so much together.. dead beat husbands, money woes, great days and lack of "pink" business (yep, she's a pink lady too), lay-offs. We have been through so much, and we are always just days or months from doing the same thing. We both learned to play golf together, we have a lot of the same passions and goals in life (GRAND AM!) that I know when I say something, she won't think I'm nerdy (ok, she does but in a fun way). She's my biggest support on my website designs. Talking this morning, she mentioned she liked the new feature I added to one of the sites. Not even the client said anything about the little bullet change I made. She said it best - it took us awhile to find out we were meant to be friends, and our friendship has slowly built over the past 2 years. I could go on and on about the things we do for each other - and I'm sure to a few people.. this all sounds nerdy, but up till then, I have never had a "BEST FRIEND". Never. Friends that come and go like a NASCAR race... racing the track at 180 miles an hour. Friends long enough in the pit stop then off and gone in seconds. Julie has been my friend for so long and a great support to my low self esteem. Thank you Julie. I'm so glad you stayed in Denver. Now to keep me in town. :) Our long distance bills would be a killer!

2002-11-12T17:08:00.000-08:00

My job sucks. It's got no benefits and no future.

When I first started doing movie title quotes for my subject titles, I thought that in 2 days I'll be banging my head against a wall trying to find movies to match my thought. What did I get myself into? I found a "random quote" page on the IMDB site and type in the word that's going with my thought process then I search a list of movies and pick one from there. I'm going to try and stay with movies I've seen.. but hey, at least you know that when you come to visit.. you got some movie quotes to look at.

So on to the topic at hand. SUCKS. Heck, that's a cuss word on this blog. I better be careful. But it's true. I feel guilty as crap when there is nothing to do at work and I sit there doing nothing but surf, read a little on what you can do to a pdf file (which is pretty cool) and then check to see who has visited the site (this one) lately and then who has updated their blog in the past 30 minutes, then I look to some co-workers for work to do, they have nothing for me, then it's back to surf, read, check stats, check blogs,... catch my drift? It sucks! I should be grateful, and I am, that I am working. But i don't want to wear out my welcome and one day they realize that there isn't enough work for me and let me go.

So what do I do? After at least 5 hours of this silly routine, I go home for the day to work on my own personal stuff, and because my shoulder is getting worse and I'm just about out of meds... I don't get much done. THIS SUCKS!

Oh well.. I've vented. I'm going to go and relax in the clean living room I did yesterday and I cleaned my bathroom today. Threw out a ton of pink samples that I use for myself that were no good.(anyone want some NEW - lips, cheek or eye samples? - Let me know). A clean bathroom with no toothpaste on the counter for 2 weeks.. how lucky can I get?