No...no I haven't been hungover for the last week. In fact, St. Patrick's Day was pretty low key. We went to our local for lunch, had drinks and saw friends, and around 6:30 or so, went home. It's a good thing, too, because from what we learned later in the weekend, all kinds of naughty things happened after we left, including some dangerous liasions in the parking lot, fights, police intervention, bottles thrown at said police and the front door being broken (result of the fight.) We aren't really into that kind of celebrating, so I'm happy that by the time all that started, we were enjoying TV and some vegetarian Shepherd's Pie...
So, what have I been up to? Well, I put a post up earlier in the week and then took it right back down. It was mostly a commentary on some of the "celebrities" who have been dominating the media with stupidity recently, but then I decided that by writing about them, I was doing exactly what the media was doing and giving them more attention that they deserve less than the air and space they're taking up by existing, so I took it down.
But I will comment on this; Since that post, Chris Brown had his temper tantrum then dramatically left the set of Good Morning America because the reporter asked him questions in an interview, and he was enraged about it. I'm not going to go all off on how he was wrong for beating Rhianna, or how he still clearly has anger management issues, or any of that. What I will say is this...if you decide to be famous, and you choose to hit someone, wreck your car numerous times, abuse substances, forget to wear underwear, make inflammatory statements about countries/races/sexual preferences, post ridiculously hurtful things on Twitter or steal things, THOSE are the things you're going to be known for, forever. It doesn't matter how talented, broad-minded or charitable you become. You will always be known as "(Fill your name in here), the (fill in occupation here) who once (fill in embarrasing fail here)." So, Mr. Brown, you can be mad that people care more about whether you are sorry for your crime than they do about your new music, but that's just the way it is... Price you pay for celebrity (and for being stupid.)
I'm not saying it's right. That is just the way it is, even if you break things or rip your clothes off.
In this day and age of reality shows, I think it would be awesome to put Charlie Sheen and the Goddesses, Victoria Jackson, Bill O'Reilly, Lindsey Lohan, Rush Limbaugh, Chris Brown, Michael Moore, Joe Fisher, Joan Rivers and that "minister" from the Westborough "Baptist" Church all in a deserted farmhouse in the middle of nowhere, leave and come back in a month to see what was left. No webcameras streaming the madness...I just want to see what the outcome would be. I would have Ricky Gervais host the outcome show and debriefing interviews documentary style.
Don't ask me what makes me think of these things...
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
This is my first St. Patrick's Day with my new, Irish last name! Wonderful...
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Not At This Time...
Steinvic and I were thisclose to getting a puppy. Yep, we're still looking for the right furry friend for us.
This one was a "morkie" or "yorktese," meaning a combo of Yorkie and Maltese. Cute, cute, cute. The price was right, but it didn't include a first vet visit. At the time, I didn't think it mattered, but since, I've decided that this is now a requirement, if we end up getting a puppy.
The woman was responsive to my e-mail inquiry and put the target wean date at April 11, which sounded great to us...time to puppy proof, get supplies and baby gates and mentally prepare for the responsibility.
We kept in touch. We offered to give her a deposit, which she never got back to us about. We asked to come see the dogs and she was busy, but never offered another time for us to come.
Suddenly, she e-mails to say that the puppies just opened their eyes this week and said we could come get the one we want this weekend...huh? Four weeks early?! She asked that we dropper feed him and said that the momma just isn't that interested in being around the puppies anymore.
I replied saying that we'd be more comfortable if the dogs could have their natural wean cycle completed before we selected one or took one home. Were the dogs still able to nurse at all?
Then the truth begins emerging...she has four other dogs, plus a cat that just had six kittens. Steinvic and I started thinking that perhaps she just had her hands full and wanted to move these little guys on.
Not getting a full wean can lead to a ton of problems - bad immune systems, social issues, health issues, developmental issues - and we just don't want to risk it. How devastating would it be to bring a little pup home and have it die or become very sick?
I asked if she was bottle or dropper feeding him and last night she said that the mom was nursing a little, and she just put a bowl of milk in the pen for the dogs to supplement. Hmmm...
We decided this puppy isn't for us. It just seems fishy. (Was that a little sigh of relief I heard from Steinvic?! Just kidding...) So, we're going to hold out for the right one. It's just kind of disappointing...but I'm sure it's the right thing to do. Hopefully, no one will want to adopt them and they'll be able to stay with their momma a little longer...every day makes a difference!
This one was a "morkie" or "yorktese," meaning a combo of Yorkie and Maltese. Cute, cute, cute. The price was right, but it didn't include a first vet visit. At the time, I didn't think it mattered, but since, I've decided that this is now a requirement, if we end up getting a puppy.
The woman was responsive to my e-mail inquiry and put the target wean date at April 11, which sounded great to us...time to puppy proof, get supplies and baby gates and mentally prepare for the responsibility.
We kept in touch. We offered to give her a deposit, which she never got back to us about. We asked to come see the dogs and she was busy, but never offered another time for us to come.
Suddenly, she e-mails to say that the puppies just opened their eyes this week and said we could come get the one we want this weekend...huh? Four weeks early?! She asked that we dropper feed him and said that the momma just isn't that interested in being around the puppies anymore.
I replied saying that we'd be more comfortable if the dogs could have their natural wean cycle completed before we selected one or took one home. Were the dogs still able to nurse at all?
Then the truth begins emerging...she has four other dogs, plus a cat that just had six kittens. Steinvic and I started thinking that perhaps she just had her hands full and wanted to move these little guys on.
Not getting a full wean can lead to a ton of problems - bad immune systems, social issues, health issues, developmental issues - and we just don't want to risk it. How devastating would it be to bring a little pup home and have it die or become very sick?
I asked if she was bottle or dropper feeding him and last night she said that the mom was nursing a little, and she just put a bowl of milk in the pen for the dogs to supplement. Hmmm...
We decided this puppy isn't for us. It just seems fishy. (Was that a little sigh of relief I heard from Steinvic?! Just kidding...) So, we're going to hold out for the right one. It's just kind of disappointing...but I'm sure it's the right thing to do. Hopefully, no one will want to adopt them and they'll be able to stay with their momma a little longer...every day makes a difference!
Monday, March 14, 2011
Random-andom-ding-ding
(I don't even know what that title means. My fingers did that all on their own...)
It's Monday again. We did make it to Columbus this weekend, saw some friends, had dinner, drank way too much, stayed downtown (in the hotel room that I thought was for last weekend), had a nice brunch, attended our family meeting and drove back to Cincinnati after.
All the while, my right eye has been watering. Originally inspired by allergies, I now suspect that my eye is jacked because makeup went into it (due to watering) which made it irritated which means that it continues to water. And water. And water. And burn. And then water some more. TOTALLY ANNOYING. I know what you sensible people out there are saying: "Why don't you just take a break from the eye makeup to let your eye calm down?" Are you kidding me?! That is like you asking Batman for the keys to the Batmobile, or asking Superman if you can blow your nose on his cape. Ain't happenin'! We'll just stick to the waterproof stuff until the watering subsides.
Our family meeting was interesting. You remember when I said last week that we'd gone to Columbus to take a phone to a family member who is down on his luck? Well, it's more than that. It's complicated and we were meeting to talk about what to do to best help the family member. (Actually, the family member was supposed to be there, but didn't show.) So...it goes on. It's a source of heartbreak and worry and praying. It's too much to write about just now. But that is where we were and why we were there.
I had an exam for work last week and even though I studied like crazy, I failed it...failing is 70% or worse. It was the final part of a three-part course of study. Something you may not know about me...I'm not a good test-taker. Actually, I would say that I am a horrible test-taker. Here is how it goes for me - I go into the room to sign in. I notice my hand is trembling a little when I pick up the pen to write. I actually write in the wrong space because I'm nervous. I sit at the computer assigned to me and I notice how bright the light seems, and how bright the computer screen is and how someone is chewing bubble gum and the smell is making me want to hurl. (And I really like bubble gum, so I don't know what that was about.) The test administrator says we can begin. The woman in the cubicle next to me is taking an open answer test, (the rest of us have multiple choice), so she is innocently typing her answers on the keypad. However, it is loud and distracting, like she may as well have been hammering keys in the same box that I'm in. I notice my heart is beating in my head. Words I'm reading aren't registering, so I'm reading the questions over and over. There are 85 of them. It takes me an hour and a half to fail. I knew I failed then but got the details today. I failed with a 68 or 69%...it's on a graph and kind of tough to tell where the line falls, but still...really close. I can take it again on my own dime and get reimbursed once I pass, but I have such a difficult time preparing for tests...I dread doing it all again. The goofy thing is that it's on a subject I know a lot about...we'll see what happens. I gotta psych myself up for it.
Steinvic bought a gorgeous pair of sneakers for me (and matching socks!) last week, and soon it will be warm enough to start back on our evening walks. My former shoes were so old and hard and I'd broken down all the padding, so these will be great. And, from a fashion perspective, they happen to match the awesome Reds hat Steinvic also got for me, so I am set! (And spoiled, I think...)
The time change has me completely out of whack. It will be great to have more daylight tonight, but it was hard getting up in the middle of the night (my 5:30 a.m. was actually 4:30 a.m.... ugh!)
Anyway...that is about it from here. Besides that I forgot to pack a lunch for today. Okay, now that's it from here...
It's Monday again. We did make it to Columbus this weekend, saw some friends, had dinner, drank way too much, stayed downtown (in the hotel room that I thought was for last weekend), had a nice brunch, attended our family meeting and drove back to Cincinnati after.
All the while, my right eye has been watering. Originally inspired by allergies, I now suspect that my eye is jacked because makeup went into it (due to watering) which made it irritated which means that it continues to water. And water. And water. And burn. And then water some more. TOTALLY ANNOYING. I know what you sensible people out there are saying: "Why don't you just take a break from the eye makeup to let your eye calm down?" Are you kidding me?! That is like you asking Batman for the keys to the Batmobile, or asking Superman if you can blow your nose on his cape. Ain't happenin'! We'll just stick to the waterproof stuff until the watering subsides.
Our family meeting was interesting. You remember when I said last week that we'd gone to Columbus to take a phone to a family member who is down on his luck? Well, it's more than that. It's complicated and we were meeting to talk about what to do to best help the family member. (Actually, the family member was supposed to be there, but didn't show.) So...it goes on. It's a source of heartbreak and worry and praying. It's too much to write about just now. But that is where we were and why we were there.
I had an exam for work last week and even though I studied like crazy, I failed it...failing is 70% or worse. It was the final part of a three-part course of study. Something you may not know about me...I'm not a good test-taker. Actually, I would say that I am a horrible test-taker. Here is how it goes for me - I go into the room to sign in. I notice my hand is trembling a little when I pick up the pen to write. I actually write in the wrong space because I'm nervous. I sit at the computer assigned to me and I notice how bright the light seems, and how bright the computer screen is and how someone is chewing bubble gum and the smell is making me want to hurl. (And I really like bubble gum, so I don't know what that was about.) The test administrator says we can begin. The woman in the cubicle next to me is taking an open answer test, (the rest of us have multiple choice), so she is innocently typing her answers on the keypad. However, it is loud and distracting, like she may as well have been hammering keys in the same box that I'm in. I notice my heart is beating in my head. Words I'm reading aren't registering, so I'm reading the questions over and over. There are 85 of them. It takes me an hour and a half to fail. I knew I failed then but got the details today. I failed with a 68 or 69%...it's on a graph and kind of tough to tell where the line falls, but still...really close. I can take it again on my own dime and get reimbursed once I pass, but I have such a difficult time preparing for tests...I dread doing it all again. The goofy thing is that it's on a subject I know a lot about...we'll see what happens. I gotta psych myself up for it.
Steinvic bought a gorgeous pair of sneakers for me (and matching socks!) last week, and soon it will be warm enough to start back on our evening walks. My former shoes were so old and hard and I'd broken down all the padding, so these will be great. And, from a fashion perspective, they happen to match the awesome Reds hat Steinvic also got for me, so I am set! (And spoiled, I think...)
The time change has me completely out of whack. It will be great to have more daylight tonight, but it was hard getting up in the middle of the night (my 5:30 a.m. was actually 4:30 a.m.... ugh!)
Anyway...that is about it from here. Besides that I forgot to pack a lunch for today. Okay, now that's it from here...
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Weekend Update
Sooooo...we headed for Columbus on Saturday after work to take care of some family-type things.
We've got someone in our flock who is down on his luck and trying to start over, and so last week, Steinvic activated bought a pre-paid phone for him and we covered the first month's minutes, too. We were headed north to deliver the phone and see Young Man while we were in town, too. Our plan included whooping it up at the place where we had our reception, as well as stopping into our favorite local bar there, and then spending the night.
I'd Pricelined a room in advance and snagged a good hotel using the "Name Your Own Price" feature and paid only $50! We were stoked.
And then we were especially stoked because Steinvic realized it was the Arnold Sports Festival weekend and the hotel we'd booked was like right across from the event. The going rate for a similar room there was $299...wow!
So, we dropped off the phone to our family member and decided to check into our room before meeting Young Man for dinner. I hopped inside only to learn that we did not have a reservation for this weekend. It was for NEXT weekend. DUH...
We still met Young Man, which was lovely, and stopped by our local, but I volunteered to be the DD and drove us clear back to West Chester around 8.
While we didn't get to have the yii-haa we hoped for, it was still a nice night and it was so good to be in our own bed...
...and we get to do it all over again THIS weekend! Plus, it's the weekend before St. Patrick's Day, and the festivities always start early in Columbus...
We've got someone in our flock who is down on his luck and trying to start over, and so last week, Steinvic activated bought a pre-paid phone for him and we covered the first month's minutes, too. We were headed north to deliver the phone and see Young Man while we were in town, too. Our plan included whooping it up at the place where we had our reception, as well as stopping into our favorite local bar there, and then spending the night.
I'd Pricelined a room in advance and snagged a good hotel using the "Name Your Own Price" feature and paid only $50! We were stoked.
And then we were especially stoked because Steinvic realized it was the Arnold Sports Festival weekend and the hotel we'd booked was like right across from the event. The going rate for a similar room there was $299...wow!
So, we dropped off the phone to our family member and decided to check into our room before meeting Young Man for dinner. I hopped inside only to learn that we did not have a reservation for this weekend. It was for NEXT weekend. DUH...
We still met Young Man, which was lovely, and stopped by our local, but I volunteered to be the DD and drove us clear back to West Chester around 8.
While we didn't get to have the yii-haa we hoped for, it was still a nice night and it was so good to be in our own bed...
...and we get to do it all over again THIS weekend! Plus, it's the weekend before St. Patrick's Day, and the festivities always start early in Columbus...
Friday, March 4, 2011
I'm Still Here...
I really am. I've just been busy sewing. I have a whirlwind day ahead of me and then work in the morning and then some travel, but I will post just as soon as I have a normal moment, I swear!
Until then, I hope that you are blessed with a million things that make you smile...
Until then, I hope that you are blessed with a million things that make you smile...
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