Weekend Update (with a touch of love)

Our weekend of love began with a surprise birthday gathering for Trish on Friday. We had about 10 of her good friends over for a potluck and party hats. Rosalind was passed around and there was much laughter and conversation.

It was the first gathering, aside from the post wedding brunch, that we've had in our new house. And we decided 15 people was about the max.

Saturday morning, I met Jamie for brunch, then we did a little shopping up on Capitol Hill for some....personal items. Let's leave it at that.

After brunch, Todd and I were domestic, then it was time to head to Ballard for the Thornton Creek show. Kim-n-Tim joined us because Milo had an overnight, and since it was an early show, Steve, Todd and I invited ourselves back to Kim-n-Tim's for some low key social time. Low key social time turned into Tim playing some albums and us laughing our asses off. It was a great evening.

Sunday morning, I slept in. Until I was awakened by my husband, standing over me with our lap tray. On the tray was coffee and a plate with bacon, eggs and a biscuit. How fantastic is that?

And how sucky am I that I actually believed Todd when he said we didn't need to do anything for each other for Valentine's Day, so I got him nada? Pretty darn sucky. He even made me a card that was so sweet and earnest, it just made my heart melt.

After breakfast, I got cleaned up and dashed off to meet his sister, his niece and stepmother at the ballet. Because I am very cultured like that. We saw "Sleeping Beauty", and thank gawd Todd and I watched the movie a few weeks ago. I had forgotten the ballet has no dialogue. So there's a lot of acting out stuff. And if you don't know the story, it's very confusing. Sara was very helpful - she's a ballet connoisseur. Like when everyone started clapping for no reason toward the end, Sara leaned over and whispered "It's for the orchestra." Thank you, Sara.

The ballet was beautiful, but not something I could take part in very often. I'm a words girl. I need dialogue. I need action! But it was a nice afternoon of bonding with my new family.

Sunday night we watched Across the Universe. I didn't think I was going like it because I'm not a huge Beatles fan (back off!) but it was really good. A little spastic in the beginning, but it got much better.

Monday was a holiday!! We love the Presidents! Well, we love our current one.

Todd and I were up relatively early, so we walked down to the Junction, had some coffee and just toodled around. It was a nice, lazy day. I wasn't stressing because I felt like there was something else I needed to be doing. Except laundry. Which we got done that afternoon.

And we splurged that evening on Indian take out. Yummy poo. Kayleigh, however, had pasta. She's doesn't do Indian. But she liked the tandoori chicken, and the naan. So, baby steps to new food. And the movie of the evening was The Beastmaster. I'm sure it was a hit in it's day, but holy crap, what a bad movie. We just mocked it all the way through. And said "boobies" a lot.

By the time the movie was over, it was time for everyone to retire and get ready for the work week. Except those pesky kids are off all this week for mid-winter break. What the hell is "mid-winter break"? They get winter break and they get spring break. Who came up with "mid-winter break"? No wonder they have to go to school until late June. They're always on holiday!

Okay, yes, maybe I'm a bit jealous.

Because I'm running at break neck speed at work and it's just not letting up. I'm so tired and blah all day, however, we're hoping that changes as my brand new dawn simulator arrived today! It's a big 'un too. I got it all programmed, so we'll see how tomorrow morning goes. It will start lighting up at 6am and by 6:15, it will be at full light. Just like waking up to the sun....right beside your bed. Good stuff.

A side note: I'm sitting on the bed, blogging to you on my BRAND NEW LAPTOP. It's wonderful. I feel very hip. Now I just need to get Quicken loaded, and then I am done with the desktop computer completely!

Look at me! Entering this wondrous age of technology!

Now if I could just figure out how to email on my cell phone....then I'll be golden!

Random Thoughts

I am damn perky for waking up at 4:30 this morning. And to answer your next question, I have no idea.

I was awake at 2am Tuesday morning. Wasn’t nearly as perky that day.

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When I put my earbuds in at work, I put a note on the back of chair that says “I’m rockin’ out. Got the earbuds in. Can’t hear you. Approach gently.”

Then I tell my co-worker “I’m goin’ under.” He always laughs and says, “Okay.”

Dad used to say that. After dinner, he’d go in and lay in front of the stereo with these huge headphone on, listening to music. And he’d always yell, “I’M GOIN’ UNDER!” so mom and I would know he couldn’t hear us. And man alive, that music was so loud we could hear every word. We always said dad was going to go deaf like that.

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My new red laptop is scheduled to be delivered today! And as I was emailing mom to tell her this, it occurred to me that I have never purchased a piece of electronic equipment. Ever.

Mom and dad bought my very first computer (as a Valentine’s day gift because I’d just broken up with a boyfriend and was sad. Ahhh). All of my TVs have been hand me downs or a present, as well as VCRs and DVD players. My current computer that I use now was given to me by Sergio when his company upgraded and was giving away their old systems.

But this laptop? I purchased it with my own money. Mine.
Well, except for the whole marriage and common property thing.

Mine.

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I’ve never had Dots before. My co-worker, Matabulor, gave us some today as a thank you. For what, I have no idea.

Anyway, I learned something about Dots.

Never put one in your mouth when you’re on hold. Because there is no way you’re getting all of that crap off your teeth before the customer service rep comes on the line.

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I hate being stupid. HATE IT. I am very intelligent person who, for the most part, has her shit together.

However, I set up an automatic bill payment from my credit union to my new car loan credit union (because MY CU, who held my car loan for Ruby TURNED ME DOWN for a car loan for this silver thing. Something about “debt to income ratio”. Well, duh, I just signed a mortgage for an exorbitant amount of money, so yeah, I have a wee bit of debt right now. Because I wasn’t expecting to have to get a brand new car loan two months later!). And I set it up to pay half of the amount twice a month. My financial advisor told me this ends up accumulating less interest that you end up paying. You see that balance go down a lot quicker.

But I failed to tell my new car loan CU what I was doing, so come my due date, they only received half of my car payment.

Fantastic.

This just hit me out of the blue, so I called them, I called my CU, I filled out forms, I faxed back and forth to get a quick payment made before the end of the grace period. Which is Monday.

I am now exhausted.

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Did I mention my laptop arrives today?

Priorities

I just spent 10 minutes sorting through my paperclips. I am very picky about my paperclips.

And I also maybe don’t want to work.

Now my paperclips are all free of each other and those stupid ones that have grooves in them are now back in the community paperclip bin over in the copy area. I hate those things. It’s like nails on a chalkboard when I pull them off paper. I don’t know how they make it to my desk.

Wait. Yes, I do.

The woman next to me LOVES them. And she brings me lots of crap. Which I immediately staple together because paperclips only cause frustration when you’re filing because everything gets stuck together.

Sheesh.

So now, my paperclips are groove free.

Oh. That’s normally not a good thing.

I’m glad I’m not groove free.
I know how to shake it.

Lots O' Random Thoughts

My IT department just changed our screensaver. It’s no longer some educational something. It is now multiple scenes of crystal blue water, sandy beaches, rolling green hills, beautiful landscapes in far away places. And the text reads “Thanks for all of your hard work.”

I think their real meaning is, “Thank you for sitting in front of this computer for eight hours everyday, but you still aren’t earning enough money or vacation time to visit any of these beautiful places, so we’ll just show you pictures of what you’re missing.”

Thanks, guys.

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I think I may have gained a wee bit of weight. I now sweat when I vacuum.

That can’t be good.

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I have a hair appointment on Sunday. It’s coming off. Not all off, not pixie off, but mostly off. Maybe a messy bob with layers and bangs. Who knows what I’ll feel like when I sit in the chair.

I wish I had enough money to get it colored, too. The gray is really starting to get to me.

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As is our weather here in the great Pacific Northwest. It’s been 50 degrees and rainish for a few weeks. It’s winter, for cryin’ out loud. Give me some kind of extreme! Cold, snow, pouring rain, SOMETHING. I’m bored.

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Speaking of bored, my brain is wandering now. I’m in a lull at work. I was so busy with other things this past year that I was just glad to have a flexible job. Now I don’t have much else to dwell on (aside from my gray hair and excess weight) so I’m examining my job. I just don’t feel like I’m working toward anything the end of the day. I don’t feel like I’m accomplishing much. Except buying centrifuges and vials of antibodies.

Sigh.

I talk to myself a lot and I ask, “What could I possibly be doing every day that makes me feel like I’m accomplishing something worthwhile each and every day?”

The only job I can come up with is a stay at home mom.

Funny, huh?

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On to happier topics…

How’s about them Saints?! That was one of the best games I’ve watched in a long time. While I love Favre (even though I think he needs to call it quits, especially after the beating he took during this game), I’m excited to see the Saints go to their first Super Bowl. And against the Colts!

We may have to have a Super Bowl party.
I will buy football themed napkins.
And use our new serving platters!

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Speaking of the weekend, there was a lot of sittin’ around and reading and relaxing.

I am extremely proud of myself.

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Except for when Tom snuck out, after I caught his head in the door and yanked* it open again so I wouldn’t kill him. Rather than backing up and coming inside, the little bugger darted forward, onto the back porch. He kind of froze when he got to the steps, so I grabbed him and threw him back inside.

I got really ticked off at him and told him maybe I’ll just open the door and let them both run free. Let’s see how well they do out in the wild with the raccoons, coyotes, and cars that speed down our road. I bet they’ll realize they really don’t have it so bad being kept indoors.

But then I realized I really do love my kitties, so I think I’ll buy two kitty harnesses**, and take them for a walk. Then they can see the outside and not feel like it’s such a great unknown.


*I originally spelled that “janked”. And I wondered why it didn’t look right. I am losing my mind.

**Todd suggested buying just one kitty harness and taking them out separately. Which surprised me because I thought Todd knew me better than that. They are BROTHERS. They must go out TOGETHER. Silly.

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I get to see Val and Rachelle tonight, and I am uber excited. It’s been a long time since we’ve gotten together for one of our walks and gab fests.

The original plan was a walk around Greenlake, then maybe dinner afterwards. But then Val couldn’t make the walk, so it turned into me and Rachelle walking, then meeting Val after for dinner. But then Rachelle had an appointment come up, so while she could still make dinner, she wouldn’t be able to make the walk. So I thought, okay, I’ll walk Greenlake by myself (see: vacuuming and sweating above) then meet them for dinner.

Yeah, that’s a dumb idea.
I’m in a skirt and boots and all done up. I’m not ruining this for a walk.

I’ll just skip the margarita at dinner. That balances, right?

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Last Monday, when I was out shopping by myself, I went to Half Price Books to find some new stuff read. I’ve read seven of the 10 Sookie books, and I absolutely love them (but don’t care for the series they spurred, “True Blood”. Weird). But Trish, who is supplying my Sookie crack, is about to spit out her little girl Rosalind, so she’s been a bit preoccupied and I haven’t gotten the next book.

So, in the meantime, I picked up “Bitter is the New Black” by Jen Lancaster.

And I cannot put it down.
And I’m an expert and walking and reading now.

I started reading Jen’s blog after Todd sent me the link this post of her’s. It had me crying at my desk, so I bookmarked it and now I’m addicted to this bitchy, funny woman.

“Bitter is the New Black” is her first book of four, and it details her (and her husband’s) downward spiral from Dot Calm rich execs to barely scraping by to make bills. And what I love so much about this book is, while it’s really easy to not like her (although, I already did because I read her blog), you can’t help but love her. She knows she’s a bitch. She knows she’s materialistic. But over the span of the book, she evolves and realizes she needs to grow up. Then you start to really like her, and respect her.

I do believe I’ll have to make another run to Half Price Books to pick up her next three books.

Reading these also makes me want to write for a living. But what’s new?

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I’ve gotten really good at sleeping with earplugs in. I hardly wake up at all during the night.

But my ear holes hurt from having them in there all night.

What to do?

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Every now and then, I have a brief, powerful memory of the wedding that just hits me out of nowhere. And then I get teary eyed.

This most often happens when the song “Bombananza” by Bob Schneider comes across my iPod.

That was our first dance. And it turned into a conga line. And my bustle got ripped because somehow I ended up leading the conga line. As any bride should, I guess.

We didn’t want to have a first dance be a slow song, where we just rocked back and forth while everyone gazed at us and made us uncomfortable. That’s not our life at all.

So, after the cake cutting (during which we used FORKS to feed each other, thankyouverymuch) we walked down to the dance floor and hounded a couple of people to join us, while people wondered what the hell we were up to now.

Then Kyle pressed play.

Now THAT’S the way to start off a new life together.

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Okay, I’m off to kill time until dinner with my gals. Maybe a drink at the lovely little wine bar down the street while I read some more of “Bitter is the New Black.”

I’ll just skip the sour cream and guacamole at dinner.
See?! I can balance!

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UPDATE:

Rest assured, dear readers (and my HR department - Hi!), I am not job hunting. I really like my job. I love my boss and my co-workers, and I’m really lucky to have such a great group, especially with the wedding, honeymoon and all of the Tyler issues. They’re all very understanding. Yes, I feel like I’m in a lull right now, but I blame that solely on SAD. It’s dark here, it’s 50 degrees, and I just feel blah. About everything. So do most people I know right now.

Funny thing, though. In the book I’m reading, “Bitter is the New Black” Jen was bluntly turned down for a job just because of a website she put up. It was a list of all of the companies that wouldn’t hire her. She titled it “Companies That Suck”. As soon as she made mention of that website, I saw it coming. So yes, it’s always on my mind.

Reason # 3 Why I Hate My Job

Letters like this:

“Dear Valued Customer,

Beginning in August 2009, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics (OCD), Therakos, Inc. and Veridex, LLC will implement changes to our Customer Services to align with those of other Medical Devices & Diagnostics Companies of Johnson & Johnson. Our goal is to provide simpler, more coordinated processes for order management, billing, returns and inquiry resolution. To do this, Customer Services previously managed by OCD, Therakos and Veridex are transitioning to Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems Inc. (JJHCS).”

Um. What?

This is what happens when a company gets too big.
Just tell me who I need to call to order crap.

I Broke My Own Rule

I wore flip flops to work today.
And I annoyed myself as soon as I walked to my cube.

But it's supposed to be 80 degrees and it's the day before a holiday weekend and I have on my brand new-I-don't-care-if-it-looks-like-a-nightgown-I'm-bloated-and-it's-comfy-dammit dress and the only "shoes" that look good with it are my black flip flops.

Oh, but let's up the Raechelle Is Crazy anty, shall we?

My toenail polish is chipped.

I KNOW!

Not only am I showing my toes AT WORK, my polish is disgusting. Red, chipped and disgusting. And I don't care.

Because I have a pedicure tomorrow. Hee.

Every now and then, when the circumstances are just right, I can not care. It's rare, but it happens.

I'm sure I'll be wound up and back to normal tomorrow.
At least until my pedicure....

Random Thoughts

I’m smelling football players.

I used to be a football manager in high school, which really meant I got boys’ athletics, I did the team’s laundry, I helped load the buses for the out of town games and I stood on the sidelines to do anything the coached yelled at me. Good times.

Anyway, the bus rides with the football team had a very distinct smell. Some of it was sweat, some of it was the material that the jerseys were made out of.

I’m smelling that right now. I can’t pinpoint it.
Maybe my jeans are dirty.

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Todd, Steve and I went to see Bob Schneider at the Triple Door last night. He is a fantastic performer.

It was so good to have a night out (that didn’t include therapists or case workers) and forget about all the challenges for an evening. We had a great dinner, a few drinks, and finally got home at almost midnight (Steve did not come home with us).

It’s making for a difficult day today, but it was well worth it.

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One of my customers needs to order a dongle, but I’m having a hard time locating a vendor so I’m saying the word “dongle” a lot. Which makes me chuckle. Which is keeping happy.

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I also had to order a Protease Inhibitor Cocktail Set when I first started.

I have no idea what it actually is, but I would have no problem coming up with all kinds of good stories about it.

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I have not ordered shoes yet.
But I wore my red Anne Klein babies to the show last night.

So pretty…..

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Rumor has it, it's sunny outside. I wouldn't know. Cube and all.
But I bought a poster of a beach scene and put it up on my wall, so that's helping.

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Well, would you look at the time?
I'm outta here.

Work No-No #48

There is absolutely no reason whatsoever to clip your nails at work.

NO REASON.

And we're in cubes, for gawd's sake!

Why not just go ahead and pick out your toe jam, too? Make it a complete little grooming session?

Okay, yes, maybe I'm a smidge irritable because I was up most of the night with a stuffed up nose and cramps and a noisy gut because, even though I know better, I had steak for dinner.

And maybe I'm a little cranky because I went upstairs to sleep on the couch so my tossing/turning/churning/sniffing/cramping wouldn't disturb TBFE, but Elvis got excited that there some some to to cuddle with so he laid on my chest, purring louder than a jackhammer and nuzzling my neck. Which was not helping the stuffiness, but goodness he's so adorable!

And then lets throw the 30 mph wind and rain and hail on top of everything, and for love of puppies, why can't you just let me sleep?!

I am so tired. There is no amount of coffee that will wake me up.
I think I will spend my lunch napping in my car.

How Tired Am I Today?

I just bought 40,000 gallons of alcohol (200 proof) from my vendor, totaling $2,483,898. I meant to buy four gallons. Just four. (And yes, it’s for a lab. Not for me.)

Luckily, I have a have a very fun relationship with this particular vendor, so he called and asked if I could make that check out to him, rather than the company. I didn’t know what he was talking about. Then I looked at my purchase order.

Ah, crap. I don’t know how a two million dollar PO even got through the system.

I need to go back to bed.

Reason # 36 Why I Love My Co-Workers

I just heard Metabulor leave a message for one of our customers.
All he said was:

“I want my two dollars.”

Then he hung up.

I laughed out loud and said, “Nicely done.”

Sweetie Pie didn’t get it. He just kept say “What? What?!” as Metabulor and I cracked up even more. Sweetie Pie isn’t so hip on the movies.

Sigh.
Yes, sometimes I love my job.

We Love The Voodoo

So, after being awakened at 3:30am by a couple of kids on spring break, then realizing on my way to work that I forgot my wallet and when reaching for my cell phone to call TBFE to see if he could maybe meet me half way if I turn around to get said wallet, I realize I have forgotten my cell phone, it was a nice surprise to find a present on my desk.

One of my co-workers (not the cranky non-decorating one) gave me a wedding voodoo doll. I was touched.



And I’ve already stuck some pins in some appropriate places.
I feel much better.

St. Patty’s Day Woohoo!

Despite my lack of decorations for St. Patrick’s Day, I decided I would still make cupcakes for my peeps. Cause that’s how I roll. I used devil’s food batter and put green food coloring in the white, whipped icing. Very festive.

And while I was baking, Todd sat down to cut some shamrocks out of green construction paper, just so I’d have something to put up in my cube.

Well, cutting some shamrocks turned into cutting shamrock garland, which turned into making me Irish flags. Kayleigh joined in and by the time they finished, I had a very large bag of St. Patrick’s Day decorations.

My cube was a hit. Even Mr. Cranky Non-Decorating Co-Worker liked the decorations. And they were extra special because they were handmade.

I love my little creative family.

St. Patty's Day Poo Poo

So, I went to the Dollar Tree yesterday to load up on enough St. Patrick's Day decorations to make my co-workers, and even my boss, throw up. And wouldn't you know it...

The two aisles of green decorations were reduced to one little corner by the door. They had hats. And whistles. And that's it.

Now what am I supposed to do?!

I've got people coming by, asking when the decorations are going up! This isn't just about me and my need to be the center of attention and the department moral gal. I have fans! They want decorations! And this is my holiday. I'm Irish! I think.

And I'm marrying a Scotsman!

Help me!

I could have Todd (artist extraordinaire that he is) draw me a shamrock, then I could use that as a stencil and make a ton of green, construction paper shamrocks. But would that be enough? I could bring in my little iPod speakers and blare the Pogues, The Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly all day. Would that get my Irish across?

I'm just at a loss.

I may have to make up for this at Easter. Bunnies EVERYWHERE.

That'll get 'em.

My Latest Soap Opera

I was in the kitchen this morning, preparing my oatmeal, and a co-worker walked in. I don't know her name, but we're friendly and chat when we both happen to be in the kitchen at the same time. She also compliments my cube when I decorate it.

This morning, she told me that she asked my fellow buyer and cube neighbor, if I was Irish. He wearily replied, "I think so" with a sigh. The woman said, "I can't wait to see what she does for St. Patrick's Day!"

This is the same fellow buyer who scowled at my Christmas decorations and threatened to remove my Valentine's Day decorations. All with a slight grin, as if he were joking, but I don't think he was. I think he genuinely hates decorating.

Hmm.
It's unfortunate that he sits next to me.

In a shocking twist, it was my SUPERVISOR who actually took down my heart paper garland, in a fit of humorous Valentine's Day disgust. Imagine her surprise when she walked through the office later that day, only to find that the Valentine's Day garland she had stolen had MAGICALLY REAPPEARED!

Ha!
I bought two. Just in case a tragic event like this should transpire.
Do not mess with my decorations. I mean it.

However, I really love my group, so I have compromised with Mr. Cranky Non-Decorating Co-Worker and Ms. I Have No Holiday Spirit. I have agreed to only decorate on St. Patrick's Day proper. I see now that I may have pushed them a little too far with four days of red hearts and frilly garland.

If it weren't for this kind of drama, my life would be so boring.

(Just a Few) Random Thoughts

I find myself right clicking on pictures of bouquets I like or hairstyles I like and saving them in my Wedding folder. Quick and easy way to save and organize ideas.

Take that, Martha Stewart.

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Office Max is pissing me off (watch their new commercial). I had written an entire post dedicated to how much they’re pissing me off, but let me just say this:

Just because I’m a woman doesn’t mean I’m going to throw all logic to the wind and buy your $40 silver stapler or your $.99 baroque file folders. Just because you’ve revamped your image to include a bazillion flowers and pretty colors does not mean I’m going to be suckered into spending more money than I should just so my office looks all pretty. Yes, you’ve discovered that 80% of your customers are women, but holy crap, overdo it much? The two men I work with are as offended as I am.

Now, that said, the shoes that the woman is wearing in the advertisement that came today are FANTABULOUS. I don’t give a shit about your Candy Apple Red 4WRK paper shredder, but I need to know where I can buy those shoes.

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I still haven’t tried on any wedding dresses. Isn’t that funny? You would think the first thing I would have done after getting engaged was go try on the big frilly dresses. But no. Maybe I’ve been too busy. Maybe I think I’m fat. Maybe I’m scared that it will be harder than I think and I’ll get discouraged.

Maybe I’ll make an appointment for next weekend. Maybe.

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I decorated my cube for Valentine’s Day. It’s not that I love Valentine’s Day so much, it’s really just to irk my co-workers who made a fuss when I decorated for Christmas. And because they’ve made their feelings known, I will be decorating for St Patrick’s Day and Easter and maybe even Memorial Day. So there.


Last year, I wore black (bad year and all) and I found a black hat complete with veil on my desk when I arrived to work. I know who left it. He's a funny guy.

So I wore it all day.


I live to entertain my co-workers.

The Cube Life

As you know, I work in a cube now. It’s quite an adjustment. I’m aware that my neighbors can overhear my phone conversations. And the problem isn’t that I make a lot of personal calls while at work, maybe a couple a week (personal admin stuff), it’s that I’m afraid I’m going to say something wrong when I’m ordering something from a vendor (“Yeah, well….your prices SUCK!”) and one of my co-buyers will correct me. I fear being corrected.

And here’s why.

When I was 23, I was teaching ballroom dancing in Houston. How does one get into teaching ballroom dancing?

Slight tangent:
My then boyfriend Matt, my buddy Bob and I were hanging out at our local bar, the Vapor Room. Oh, I have so many stories from the Vapor Room. Anyway, one particular night, there were two or three dance instructors there, teaching swing dancing. This was at the height of the swing craze and the Ernie Savage Revival, a big band, was playing. I guess the manager of the Vapor Room thought having swing lessons would be a cool and profitable idea. And it was. Bob and I got up with group, boys on one side, girls on the other, and learned the basic rock step and turn. I say woohoo!

Well, Bob and I met while dancing at another club, so we were no newbies. We started improvising and Bob starting throwing a kick in there and one of the instructors eventually came over and asked if we’d ever thought about teaching dance. We were dumbfounded. Really? Teach?

We ended up going to the studio to talk with the manager and find out the details. Bob quickly declined when the manager told him he was going to have to cut his hair. Bob’s hair was down to his waist and very red. Dancing wasn’t worth it.

I, however, had nothing else going on. I was going to the University of Houston in the mornings, working at Coldwell Banker as a receptionist in the afternoons and drinking and partying at night. So, my schedule was open.

I continued to go to school in the morning (when I actually got up and went to school) and working in the afternoon (I’m very responsible. Never missed work. Even with the worst of hangovers) and then I’d go to the studio after work and take all of the classes and work with the other instructors to learn the dances and how to break them down and teach them.

And I’ll let a secret out of the bag.

Dance instructors have to start somewhere. Most of them have no idea how to foxtrot or tango when they start. So they take the classes and learn when they aren’t teaching. If you’ve ever taken dance lessons, chances are you’ve had a new teacher who learned that traveling box step mere minutes before you arrived for your lesson. It only takes a few months to get up to speed, but those first few weeks of teaching are stressful.

And here’s the example of why I hate people overhearing me.

I was in my third week of teaching dance. It was around 4pm so the studio was pretty empty as most students didn’t come in until after work. I was teaching my surgeon, who was brand spankin’ new, a foxtrot step. I forget what the step was, but I had just learned it the day before, when the manager was teaching all of us instructors some fancy moves. So, I was all pleased with myself, showing him this new step, talking very confidently because I had JUST learned it and I remembered every detail. And I taught it very well. The surgeon caught on quickly and by the end of his lesson, he had it down.

During his hour long lesson, the other instructors were practicing with each other over on the other side of the room. They were very good at congratulating the surgeon when he did well, but they never corrected me. They never threw in any tips or suggestions on how to perform this move. They just observed and gave praise.

After the surgeon had left, the other instructors erupted in laughter. I, being the newbie that I was, didn’t get the joke. I did good! The surgeon did good! Just what was so funny?

They told me I had taught the step very well, and they weren’t laughing at my ability. They were laughing because that step I had just taught my brand spankin’ new student was a Silver level step.

My surgeon was only at the Bronze level.
The first level.

The steps we had been learning with the manager of the studio the day before were advanced steps. For advanced students. And for teachers.

So now I had this student who know four steps in the foxtrot and one of them was a Silver step, which was going to bite him in the ass at the Friday night student dance party. He was going to pull this fancy move on another Bronze level student and she wasn’t going to know what the hell to do. Thus, making me look like I didn’t know what I was doing.

Fantastic.

At the surgeon’s next lesson, I had to fess up and apologize. I told him that I had gotten carried away because he was doing so well, and had inadvertently taught him an advanced step. He didn’t know enough to think I was an idiot; he just thought I was THAT good. And he felt very special that I had taught him a Silver step.

Now, when I’m on the phone with a vendor, I always expect one of the other buyers to listen patiently while I completely break all of the buyer rules and then erupt into laughter when I get off the phone, and tell me, “Raechelle! You can’t promise to bake the vendor cookies! That’s a conflict of interest! Sheesh!!”

So far this hasn’t happened.
But the fear is still there.

Random Thoughts

Ruby finally left the carport this morning. She’d been trapped there since Saturday. The dirt driveway was mostly snow covered ice. The street that runs in front of our house is a sheet of ice, with carefully placed patches of dry. Not enough of them, though. I didn’t make it to work on Monday and a co-worker drove me in on Tuesday, but I had to walk up the hill to meet her on a dry street.

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Our high for Friday is 26 degrees.

Speaking of our cold weather, we put new carpet down in Tyler’s room, so we had to move everything out of Tyler’s room. We put his desk out on the carport so I could spray it down and clean it. I sprayed it with Simple Green, then got a phone call. When I got back out to the carport, the Simple Green had frozen on the desk.

Granted, the dirt chipped off pretty easily, but I had to bring the desk in so the Simple Green would thaw and I could finish wiping it down.

Funny.

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Signs of age:
I can’t see my eyebrows to pluck them. My vision blurs out.
After sitting on the bed for 30 minutes, doing Christmas cards, I creak and hobble when I get off the bed.
My hands cramp up and ache while I'm blow drying my hair.

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I have run out of people to squeal appropriately with about my engagement. Who doesn’t know yet? Who can I call?

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Remember that whole branching out in the blogospher and blogging for the Seattle PI?

Yeah, that’s done.

I was using that blog to spew about what I’m seeing and learning in my new ‘hood. And I was getting nice little comments telling me that I should be blogging about the current goings on and the events in the neighborhood because no one really cares about me and I only had three posts and I was already blogging about a stupid flag?

Um. Okay. If you want news and happenings, that’s what the West Seattle Blog is for. My blog is not news. I am not a journalist. I do not want to be a journalist. I had no intention of writing what these people want me to write about, and that makes it kind of like work, so I had the blog removed.

Oh well, that was fun. Now what?

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My business cards just arrived!
I’ve never, ever had business cards before. Well, when I had my cleaning business, Mighty Tidy, I made up cards – Cleaning Enthusiast.

I wanted my cards to say Shopping Enthusiast, but my boss said no. Poo.

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Last night, TBFE and I laid in bed after the kids were tucked in and talked about our wedding. And I laughed until I thought my throat was going to explode. My gawd, the man is funny. I was also reminded of how we are damn near perfect for each other. I would think "Oh, I want this and this, but I don't want to say it...I'll just wait and see what he says..." and inevitably, he would say exactly what I was thinking.

Sometimes I think he's put a chip in my head so he can read my thoughts. That's probably why I'm not sleeping soundly through the night. He wakes me up when he does the download.

Got a bit a bit sneakier than that, babe. I'm on to you.

Old Fart

When I was young, my parents had a rule. No phone calls after 9:00pm. Mom and dad usually went to bed at 9 and they didn’t want my friends calling and waking them up. I think I probably had to go to bed when they did, or at least go to my room. And I remember thinking, “Ug, gosh!! It’s only 9:00!” And then I’d curse them.

Mom and dad, I’m sorry I cursed you. I totally get it now.

Todd starts the bedtime process around 9:30pm. It takes a half an hour to get jammies on, teeth brushed, guinea pig fed, hugs and kisses, etc etc. Once the kids are tucked in at 10:00, then Todd and I bed down. And then we end up talking until 11:00 and then 6:00am comes and I’m cranky. And every morning I say I have to get to sleep by 10:30 at the very latest. The VERY latest.

Because I just absolutely hate getting out of bed. Once the alarm goes off (and I’ve made the decision that I cannot hit snooze anymore because I’ve already shorted the morning process by not washing my hair, just wearing jeans, not having coffee and eating breakfast at work), my 15 minute process starts with cuddling, then I moved away from the cuddling, then I kick one leg out from the blanket, then that leg hangs over the edge of the bed, then I sit up (eyes still closed), then finally I stumble (eyes still closed) to the bathroom.

And I’m grumbling the whole time.

Once I’m in the shower, I’m all good. I laugh at Marty and Jody on the radio. I sing along to the songs. By the time I’m saying goodbye and hugging the kids, I’m damn near perky.

And this morning was no different. I hit snooze until 6:35 and whined and moaned that maybe I should just work 9:00am to 5:30pm. That’s when Todd said we need to have the kids in their rooms, settling down by 9:00, so we still get our talking/cuddling time and I can be asleep by 10:00.

In bed by 9:00. I get home at 4:30pm. That’s four and a half hours of “life” after work and that’s just sad. Makes me feel old.

On a side note, the mega millions is up to 170 million. I think we have tickets.

My Horoscope

From Yahoo:

Quickie
There is a real problem with a co-worker -- and it won't go away until you two talk.

I checked with my two co-workers. It's not them.
Whew.

Wonder who I have a problem with? I'll ask around....

Random Thoughts

I think I'm poor.
No, I know I'm poor. How do I know this?

I've been eating Cup O'Noodles or Top Ramen noodles for lunch for three weeks. Four for a $1! But I'm kinda sick of noodles now. I'd like some fresh vegetables, please.

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And I think I'm morphing into a mom. How do I know this?
I can't remember when I painted my nails last. Just can't seem to find the time to either.

So Jamie and I have manicure appointments tomorrow evening. Gift cards are a beautiful thing.

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I haven't shaved my legs in over a week either, but I thought that might be too much information.

I did, however, "schedule" a bath for this evening, so we can remedy that. And yes, I shower every day. Just so you know....

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The Christmas cards are almost ready. The address and return address labels are typed; we just need to sign them and stuff them and stamp them.

There's another sign that my free time has dwindled. No homemade cards this year. Oh, you still get a picture, but we bought these beautiful Papyrus cards and just did up some Word labels. Much quicker.

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I bought my plane ticket to Texas for the big retirement move.

Did I not tell you about the big retirement move?

My parents have sold their house, so I'm driving with them from Texas to West Virginia, up to Pisswilly Ranch. This trip was originally supposed to be next summer, but once the house sold, mom and dad said there ain't no way they're waiting. So, we're shippin out on December 29th. I shit you not.

The ranch has already gotten about 8 inches of snow. Should make for a fun drive.

And, of course, there will be a stop in Louisiana for a little gamblin'. Cause that's whatcha do when yer retired.

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Work is work. Not too bad. Except for the whole getting-up-at-6:00am thing. Well, 6:15am. Sometimes 6:30am. Cause Rae-rae ain't so good at early.

And apparently, just typing about West Virginia makes me twang like a country bumpkin.

Yeehaw.

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Okay. Lunch is over.
It was nice chatting with you. Do be sure to stop back by.