Ramblings

So, really, blogging and blog-reading is addictive.  Tell me about it.  I just spent 2 hours of my 7.5 work day actually working.  This is not good.  Granted, our department has been very slow (hey, if the legal department is slow that’s a GOOD thing!), but honestly – I don’t need to be on the Net that much at work!!  Discipline.  I need more of this.  Memo to self: Cut It Out!!  This is why they have filters and limited access – because of people like me!

Texting While Driving Ban.  Really?  Are we that stupid as humans that we need to have bill for this?  Even as enamored with my new Blackberry as I am, I would never even dream about trying to text while driving – I’m a bad enough driver as it is!!!!!

Rain!  Come on and rain already!!  I’m feeling far too lazy to go out and water my plants!  What the heck is this forecast for 40% chance every day if I don’t get a little?  Update:  I’m getting some as we speak!!  Not THAT kind!!  Get your mind out of the gutter.

Hubby.  What the hell does it matter to you?  I want to cut out a square around the tree.  Did I ask you to do it?  No.  I wanted to dig a trench so I could set up a sprinkler system.  Did I ask you to do it?  Again, no.  So quit questioning me!!!!!  Just roll with it already.

Neighbor guy.  Really??  Why do you have to mow (or whatever  it is you are doing) every other day?  Do you dislike your family so much that you feel the need to be out in the yard making so much noise while I’m trying to relax??

Other neighbor guy.  Why are you such an ass?

Again, blogging is addictive.  This will be my third post of the day.  If I don’t delete it that is.  I tend to write stuff and then realize it’s absolute total crap and I don’t want it out there for you to see (yes my friends, I’m thinking of you – if you saw some of the stuff I deleted you would thank me for not wasting your time!)

Man-Child.  Do. Not. Tell. Me. To. CHILL. ever again.  Or I just may kill you.  I’m serious.

Kid Rock.  Please come back soon.  I had a FABULOUS time at your concert!  As one of my girlfriends described you, “You are skanky-hot!”  I myself don’t find you adorable, but still, I love your new album (oops, just dated myself there! Do they even call them albums anymore?  Told you I was cool!)

I’m thinking in “blogs” now.  Is this normal???

Hubby and Man-Child.  Really, what is the deal with flat surfaces?  How hard is it to throw something away, put something in the recycle bin, or back in the pantry?  Really??  Is there some kind of testosterone thing that prevents you from doing this?  Can it be surgically fixed?  ‘Cause I’m willing to pay for it if it is!

Okay, I’ve bored you enough with the random thoughts floating through my brain.  I’ll go ahead and post this . . . or maybe not.

Gigi

I’ve Been Tagged!

Blame Tara Meme

I have been tagged by the Chic Mama in a blame Tara Meme. Wow – it’s my first time so be gentle in the criticism in the event I somehow screw it up.

1) Who is the hottest movie star?

This is a toughie.  Top three off the top of my head would have to be George Clooney, Johnny Depp & Matthew McConaughey.

2) Apart from your house and car, what is the most expensive item you've ever bought?

Another toughie – because I’m kinda frugal.  Maybe my wedding dress – which I never even wore?

3) What's your most treasured memory?

Having my boy – oh and the first time he ever took a two hour nap!  Before that he would only sleep in 10 minute intervals – this will quickly drive a mom insane.

4) What was the best gift you've ever received?

I get more excited by the little things – like when hubby hung up a shelf, or fixed the kitchen drawers that were falling out because they weren’t on the tracks right.

But as for an actual gift – I guess I would have to say my hammock.

5) What is the biggest mistake you've ever made?

Gee – this is a list that could go on forever.  I’ll just pick one.  Hmmm – I guess I would say certain indiscretions in my youth.  Let’s just leave it at that, shall we?

6) Four words that describe you.

Short, stubborn, sassy, & strong

7) What was the highlight and lowlight of 2008?

Highlight: moving into our new house.  Lowlight: moving

8) Favourite Film

Easy!  Steel Magnolias and Divine Secrets of the YaYa Sisterhood

9) Tell me one thing I don't know about you.

I can be very shy

10) If you were a comic book/character who would you be?

I’m going to say Spider Man – I always thought swinging around on those webs would be cool.

This list really had some posers on it!  It was much more difficult than I anticipated!

I now pass this tag onto:

Liz

Angie

7 Favorite Summer Items

Many thanks to Mama's Losin It for starting this workshop -

My summertime faves (in no particular order):

• Sandals.  (of course you knew that shoes had to be somewhere on the list!) High heeled sandals; flip flops, jeweled sandals; the list goes on. But no matter what – definitely not Teva’s.  Not too enchanted with the gladiator look either.
• The Beach! Okay, so technically, it’s not an item, but since this is my blog I rule that it counts.  Unfortunately, since hubby hates the beach (I really think there must be something wrong with him).  I don’t get there as often, or for as long, as I’d like.

 

 

 

 

 

 

• My gardening tools.  Spring/summer means I get to go play in the dirt!

• Summer clothes!  So much more freeing than winter clothes.  In the summer everything is laid back and casual and the clothing reflects it.

• My back deck.  It’s my favorite place in the whole house.  In the summer I live back here.  It’s usually got a beautiful breeze flowing through and it’s very peaceful – until the neighbor decides it’s time to mow – again.
• And my lounge chair – which is on the back deck.  I recline with a good book and beverage and could stay there all day

• Hair clips.  I mean really – how can you get through the summer without clipping up your hair?

Many thanks to Momma @ Live Laugh Pull Your Hair Out for pointing the way.

How Much To Share?

As I am slowly working my way into the blogosphere – I keep asking myself how much information to expose. I realize that I have to be real and I have to be honest and share – but how much? If I’m not any of those things then truly I have nothing to say.

I would like to write more about my son – but once he figures out that I am blogging (and I think he has an inkling) will he appreciate some of the stories I could share? Most likely not. As it is; I know he has stolen his naked baby pictures out of the family album so that no one will ever see his cute little tiny baby tush (sssssh, don’t tell him but I know where he hid them and have posted for you to see! Wasn’t he a cutie pie?!  Yes, I am a mean and sneaky mom – I admit it).  

 

So, I feel pretty certain that any sharing of info about him would be taboo. You know how easily we parents can embarrass our teens to death! Ditto for hubby-kins.

Then there’s the whole safety issue. Although I’m sure all the folks that read my blog (wait a minute – I’m busy rolling on the floor and laughing hysterically at that comment – particularly since I think I’m just about the only one reading it.) are exactly as cool, friendly and safe as they seem to be (and for the record, I am cool, friendly and safe).

So where do you draw the line?

Angie

PS – I just realized I have two; count ‘em TWO followers – so apparently I’m not the only one reading what I jot down.  Many, many thanks to Liz and Chic Mama for joining me in my nutty little world!

Patio Saga

Oh the tug of war between us.

He wants a patio; I think the money would be better spent somewhere else – say like toward or son’s outrageous tutition or maybe toward getting him a new bed since the one he currently has is in horrible condition

The outcome? We now have a perfectly lovely patio that we just did not need to have right now.

As I am sure you don’t know (how can you since I just stared blogging?) we moved into our home in September (after waiting forever for it to be built). We send our son to a Catholic High School which charges an eye-popping amount for tuition; not to mention all the various mandatory fees, books, etc. So as I’m sure you realize between that and the new mortgage – things are pretty tight.

I’m a patient woman – I need new dining room furniture. I would like to do some other things to the house. We NEED an outbuilding. But, I can wait. I don’t have to have any of these things right now. In my opinion, the patio should have been one of the lower priorities.

But in his opinion; we need the patio so he can have a place to put his beloved grill. And we need to get our old patio furniture off the screened-in porch and onto the patio to make room for outdoor furniture that we don’t even have yet! Yes, it’s all logical – in his mind.

He is our financial guy. He pays the bills, etc. We generally discuss major purchases and usually agree. He is very conservative when it comes to money (well, in pretty much every other aspect of life too, come to think of it). That’s why this decision is such a surprise to me.

But yet, he is currently on the phone with me telling me how poor we are. I’m biting my tongue – hard. Really, really hard.

GRRRRR - Teenagers

Why is it so hard to get them to do the simplest things? Why?

He knows that he is supposed to clean the kitchen after dinner. The definition of after dinner to me is – immediately after dinner. The definition of after dinner to him is whenever he feels like it after dinner. This makes me absolutely nuts.

Once again, last night, before I crawled into bed at a shockingly late 10:30 – I reminded him that the dishes needed to be done and I needed his signature on two papers that I need to send back to the school before the end of the week. I informed him in no uncertain terms that if the kitchen wasn’t clean when I got up in the morning I would drag him out of bed by his ears and he would do it before I let for work.

Well guess what vision greeted me as I stumbled into the kitchen for a much needed cup of coffee? Yup. A mountain of dishes and two unsigned forms. This is my biggest pet peeve – I want my kitchen clean when I get up in the morning. Granted, it would be easier for me to clean my kitchen every evening – and would be done correctly. But I am trying to teach this kid of mine responsibility and all that jazz. Besides, I’m a firm believer in chores. He lives in the house, he is fed, clothed, loved, etc. He is part of the family and as such, should pitch in. He doesn’t have too many chores. He is to clean the kitchen, do his laundry, clean his room & bathroom and help take out the trash & recycling. This is not a lot to ask from a 14 ½ year old - especially one who is home all day long during the summer.

Hubby growled, “You oughta take away the computer or something.” I might point out that hubby is not the disciplinarian in our house. Never has been, never will be. So I told him to wake the boy up and get him down here as that was the deal. Why should I have to do all the disciplining around here? After 14 1/2 years it gets old being the Mean Parent. Naturally, hubby didn’t.

I took my coffee and paper out to the back porch and decided I’d deal with it after I had a shot or two of caffiene. I’m not a morning person and after staying up to the ungodly hour of 10:30 I was a little more cranky than usual.

In the end, I decided I was not up to listening to bitching and moaning that early in the morning. So I got dressed for work and as I was walking out the door – I hid the computer.

I’m sure I’ll be getting a panicked phone call soon and a nomination for the Meanest Mom award – which I will display proudly on my mantle should I win.

Mothers of teenagers know why some animals eat their young.

Angie

Adolescence is perhaps nature's way of preparing parents to welcome the empty nest. ~Karen Savage and Patricia Adams, The Good Stepmother

****
UPDATE: Just got the call. Very casually apologized for the kitchen claiming that he couldn't fit all the dishes in the dishwasher. (Yeah right). Also had an excuse for not handwashing them. Claimed he did turn on the dishwasher - no, he didn't. Explained that it was my fault that he didn't sign the forms because he didn't know he had a deadline. Then casually asked about the laptop. I told him that I took it because of the kitchen. More excuses. Then asked where it was. I told him I had it (utter lie - it's hidden very well in the house). Response - "Are you serious!" My response - "Yes." His response - "Whatever" Typical teenage-speak. Am I wrong to feel smug? Naaahhh.

A Mid-Afternoon Mini Rant

All I wanted was a Snickers bar. Granted, I don’t need a Snickers bar. But I was lusting for one.

Instead, I had to settle for M&Ms. Not that there is anything wrong with M&Ms – but they are not a Snickers.

The reason I had to settle is because for whatever reason our breakroom is so damn hot it melts anything chocolate in the vending machine. Except, of course, for the M&Ms – which melt in your mouth – not in the vending machine.

I have complained to Office Services before. As the breakroom is mostly windows they tell me there is nothing to be done. Really?? It’s hot enough to melt the chocolate right off the candy bars and there is nothing to be done? Sounds like out and out bs to me. So what about the folks who eat lunch out there – should one suffer from heat stroke would that make Office Services take another look? My stars – the CHOCOLATE IS MELTING!!! That alone should make someone sit up and take notice. That means its really, really hot in there!

Now I have eaten a bag of M&Ms I didn’t want and the guilt is setting in. ::sigh::

Angie

Where to begin? So much fun this weekend.

I had finally made a decision on the whole blackberry vs. ozone issue earlier this week. Yay me! I must be getting better - this time I only agonized for two weeks. Anyhoo - I decided on the Blackberry. OMG! I received it Friday morning - I'm in love with this thing. So that was the beginning of a great weekend.

My weekend actually started at noon on Friday. My wonderful, fantabulous friend had bought Kid Rock concert tickets for my birthday. Since the concert was in a town about an hour and half away - I took off early so we could get out of town early. Didn't happen exactly the way we planned. It never does.

I came home and took my son to lunch - because he's been stuck in the house all week (actually all summer). While at the restaurant, my boy receives a text from another friend of mine who was planning to attend the concert too - she has an extra ticket and wondered if he wanted to go with her family.

Now my first friend and I were planning a girls only, spend-the-night event. The second friend was planning to attend the concert with family and friends and return the same evening. So after talking to hubby, we agreed that he could go. This would be his first concert.

So after lunch, I had to dash over to #2's house to drop the boy off and then race back home to pack. I was supposed to meet up with #1 around 3:30pm which was when she expected to be home. Of course, with #1, I knew this wouldn't happen. So finally, around 4:00 I get to her house and we get on the road. Apparently, she needed this WAY more than I did. She's been having a week (or two) from hell at work and so I listened to her vent most of the way.

For whatever reason, neither one of us thought to actually reserve a room ahead of time. This is really strange - particularly for me as I tend to like to plan ahead. Also, neither one of us thought to get directions to the venue. Luckily, the place was really easy to find. Finding a hotel proved to be another matter.

We should have left earlier than 4:00 though - because when we hit town we hit rush hour. Now rush hour where we live is laughable. Especially since I come from Houston where rush hour is really and truly RUSH HOUR. But rush hour in this town isn't laughable and while it wasn't RUSH HOUR, it was Rush Hour. So we were stuck in traffic for a good bit of time - my husband would have lost it completely - thank goodness he wasn't invited.

We finally get near the exit of the venue - and of course, there was even more traffic because of the concert. It's getting close to 6:00 - the concert starts at 7:00, so we are scouting around for a hotel - because I had remembered that when I looked at hotels (but for whatever reason didn't book one) that there were supposedly a number of them within a four mile radius. We didn't see any in the area. Hmmm. So my dear friend begins to make noises about just going to the concert and driving home after. NO, no, no!! This was to be a get away for both of us that we had been planning and talking about for the past three months. We will find a hotel. So we stop at a convenience store and I swear the two guys that helped us didn't seem to know anything about the area. Finally, we get back on the highway (by now, had hubby been with us, his head would have completely exploded), still in good spirits and go back two exits where we had thought we saw a place. Score! A Red Roof Inn (not fancy - but at that point who cares?). We run in, stand in line forever only to be told that there was no room at the inn. Crap. They send us down the road to another place. Comfort Suites. We scored big time. Not only did they have room and the rate was reasonable - but the place was brand new. We had virgin sheets, pillows, bathroom. It was great. But now it's creeping up on 6:45 and we are all icky. So we rush up to the room to spruce up a bit. We had the front desk call for a cab, so we wouldn't have to worry about parking etc. Let me tell you - that was the fastest spruce up ever.

We got to the concert a little late - but that was cool because the first band was still playing and really not the reason we went. I haven't been to a "rock" concert since high school. I've been to others but not a true rock concert in many years. It was way tamer than I expected - but it was utterly, utterly awesome. We eventually hooked up with #2 and her crew (and my son). I have been hoarse ever since. It was like being back in high school - only better. The place was packed but everyone was cool with each other - I didn't see any arguments or fights or anything that could have spelled trouble. It was the perfect first concert for the boy. He loved it.

#2's crew was nice enough to drive us back to the hotel. And boy am I glad we had the hotel. After talking to my son the next day, the normally 1 1/2 hour drive home took them four hours! Apparently there was concert traffic, construction traffic, two wrecks and a very, very long train. Meanwhile, #1 and I slept like babies.

Up and out early on Saturday - made it home before ten. Meet up with all our friends at my favorite little's guys 2nd birthday party. Fun was had by all.

Tonight, dinner with dear, dear friends.

::sigh:: What a wonderful life.

The stuff dreams are made of . . .

I would kill for this closet – wouldn’t you?

Notice all the space for the shoes?  ::sigh::  The fact that it’s large enough for a chaise?  The chandelier?  And fresh flowers?  ::sigh::  I love the way everything is behind glass doors.

The only way I could get a closet like that would be to convert a whole room.  Which really isn’t feasible – not to mention the fact that my husband would have a stroke if I attempted this.  He would figure it would just give me more incentive to buy shoes (not that I need the incentive).

If I had that closet I would put a lock on the door and spend lots and lots of time in it.  Perfectly happy to putter around re-arranging my shoes.

Angie

Indifference

Indifference drives me absolutely nuts. I firmly believe that if you have a job to do – you bring your A game and do it right.
I am so tired of dealing with people who don’t care about doing their jobs well; if at all.

What is so frustrating about this is that I find it across the board – it’s not just an isolated incident. I see it where I work. I see it where I shop. I see it everywhere. Heaven help me – I even see it in my family!

If you don’t like your job – get a new one. If that is not feasible – then suck it up buttercup and put your best effort forward until you can find a new one. What completely amazes me though is that their managers don’t seem to see the problem. Well, on second thought, the managers are probably just as indifferent. Aargh!!!

I have seen receptionists – you know the “first impression” of a company – who glare at visitors when they enter the building; who consistently send phone calls to the wrong departments - - repeatedly; who do not make a valiant effort to put on a good first impression. It drives me wild. Were I the president of a company this would NOT BE ACCEPTABLE at all.

Now granted, I wouldn’t want to be a receptionist – having to be “on” all the time – but they have chosen to accept the job – so do it well! I wouldn’t want to work in retail or in the food industry either. But again, you chose to accept the job – do it to the best of your ability with the best possible attitude.

With that being said, I have worked in positions where I wasn’t happy or didn’t like the job or the company – or even my co-workers. And I still put my all into it – because that is what you are supposed to do -- until I found a way out. Now, I work for a great company, in a great (for the most part) department with great people. Yes, I have off days – we all do. But that is not the problem of the person on the receiving end. They deserve to be treated with respect and receive the best possible assistance that can be offered.

People notice when you do a job well-done and with a positive attitude. Especially in today’s world of sub-standard service. I have written notes to managers to praise employees who go above and beyond. I have also written letters to Presidents and CEO’s to let them know when I am dissatisfied.

I think if we settle for less than this is what we get - we have to demand better - from others and ourselves.

Angie

"People forget how fast you did a job - but they remember how well you did it."

~ Howard Newton