Travel

I'm traveling for work this week.  Of course I am.  If I was traveling for pleasure I can almost assure you I wouldn't be blogging.  Except maybe to tell you how incredibly awesome my trip was. 

I actually like traveling for work.  That is probably because I don't have to do it too often and it is a nice break from the constant stream of complaints interruptions employees.  The one thing I don't like about traveling, however, is the food.  I  know, the company is paying for it, I should have a nice meal.  But I sit here wondering how it can be so much more difficult to have fruits and vegetables away from home.  And why do companies think a continental breakfast is actually a breakfast?  Bagels and pastries are ok, but I want fruit and maybe some oatmeal.  Heck, I'll even take a nice cereal. 

I'm beginning to sound a bit high maintenance.  OR maybe I always have and I'm just now realizing it.  Either way, I'm not.  :)

I promise to post more when I get back.  Maybe.

Randomness

I must confess.  I really like to blog.  I like writing about myself, reading about myself, re-reading about myself.  And I hate it when I don't have much to write.  I lead kind of a boring life.  Honestly.  Work. Home. Bed. Repeat.  In that order, every day.  I know, I'm lazy.  Some of it is my schedule, but that is probably just as much my fault as my boss(es).  But on top of reading about myself, I like to defer blame.  So we are back with it being my boss(es) fault.  Just a few minutes ago I was giving a co-worker a hard time about a horrendous fashion choice he made today.  Honestly.  Horrendous.  With three full syllables.  He said "didn't your parents raise you to know that if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything".  To which I promptly replied "you've clearly never met my parents".  See...blame diversion.  I mean, it's true, but still.  Some people just can't handle the awesomeness that is me.  But it is a truly awful shift.  Bright (as in blind you and make you think you have finally found the color of the sun, up close) yellow with large flowers on it.  It's so bad that Hawaiin shirts won't claim it. 

This isn't where I wanted to go when I started this post.  I can easily have conversations with myself, which is why I am so narcisstic.  I keep telling myself how awesome I am.

Brad and I are trying to figure out if we want to move.  Well, if we want to buy a different house.  I don't think anyone truly ever wants to MOVE.  As in, pack up all the crap you haven't used in two years so you can unpack it in another house to do nothing with.  Last time we moved we hired movers.  For anyone who enjoys being married, I highly recommend this.  Men and women shouldn't move together.  Again, referring to the actual act of moving.  Men and men do great.  Women and women do great.  Men and women, not so great.  Men have this inherent ability to know exactly what the other is thinking; this piece of furniture needs to go here, be picked up this way, will take this much momentum to get up the stairs, will make their wife this mad if they break it, etc.  Women know these things as well, but not according to men.  Most women I know are good packers.  I, like my friend Tracey, am a semi-pro packer.  Honestly.  I can pack a car with the best of them.  I can pack a box perfectly.   I can pack a kitchen like nobody's business.  But get me in a room with men during a move and I am inept.  I mean, only in their eyes, but inept nonetheless. 

That all of a sudden made me want to say "Nobody puts Baby in a corner!".  Yes, I am Baby in that scenario.  Actually, I have been told I look like Jennifer Grey (pre-nose job) quite often.  I can't decide if I like that or not. 

This is what peaceful looks like to me

I took a much needed day off work recently.  It was one of the first days of really nice weather.  Most of you probably know, but I'm a windows open kinda girl.  We have been looking a few houses recently and I'm quick to mark off any that don't have screens.  We often sleep with the windows open when the temperature allows.  This could be the reason for my sniffles, but the trade off is fair...I think.  I took a few pictures that I that made smile while I was home.





















Lucy enjoying some rays.  Please ignore all the hair on the floor.










Kitty making sure no one steals our mail. 

I couldn't get one of Maddie that day.  She is adverse to cameras.  The other two ham it up.  Maddie is more like me that way, bashful and ornery!

Not what I was expecting...

I have a few bosses at work.  Yes, more than one.  More than two.  I have three bosses.  If ever there was a way of trying to tell someone they need more supervision....having three bosses is it.  Of course, I am blogging while at work so that could be the issue.  But I am taking a quick break and I rarely take lunches.  I can validate anything.

So I was talking to Boss #2, who I actually really respect and like.  He is almost married to this place though.  Honestly, he gets here at 6:00 AM and doesn't leave before 6:00 PM.  One day last week I was excited because I worked more than he did.  Yes, one day in 8 months.  Anyway...I am the resident candidate entertainer.  When we have a candidate coming in from out of town I have to pick them up, take them to dinner, etc.  It sounds glamorous.  It is not.  It is actually tiring.  It is a good way to interview them, however.  I made the mistake of scheduling two college grads to interview back to back (different days).  This means free dinners and lunches, but long hours. 

Today I had to drop one of the candidates off at 2:30 and pick one up at 5:30.  I was going to go home and rest during that time, but needed to come back to work.  Just a minute ago he came in my office and you do you  know what he had the nerve to tell me??? 

"Wow, you are such a whimp for not going home."

How awesome is that??  I mean, awesome in the sense that he was ok with me going home for a few hours.  Not awesome as in "he called me a whimp and I think he kinda meant it".  At least that is what I'm going with.

Lunchtime Goodies

On my way back from lunch today I saw the following on a church sign:

"True freedom comes from an empty tomb."

Yes, yes it does.

Hear no Evil

A quick email exchange this morning led to this post.  It's probably good too, I was starting to worry about not having light-hearted posts anymore.  As much as I try not to be, I am just too darn sarcastic.  And awesome. 

You know how most people just tell us what they think we want to hear?  Well, I am thinking of things I DON'T like to hear.

1.  The alarm.  Really, does anyone?  And if you comment and say you do, I know you are lying and will no longer be my friend.
2.  Fingernails on a chalkboard.  Have you noticed it isn't as bad if you do it?  So making others hear the awful sound is sometimes worth it.
3.  "I know, but..."  Just say it.  Just say "You're right".  Was that so hard?  I am extremely guilty of this.  But I'm awesome so it is ok. 
4.  "No".  when you mean yes. 
5.  "Yes, dear".  Bullcrap.  Trust me, it doesn't work as much as you think it does.
6.  The TV on when no one is watching.
7.  People who talk just to talk.  It really is ok to have silence.  Of course your talking covers up my under the breath comments.
8.  Woodpeckers on vinyl siding.  If you've never heard it, come on over.  You just have to bring something with you like coffee or wine.  Or both.
9.  When someone says "you probably don't want to go in there".  As in, I just let out last night's bean and spinach burrito. 
10.  On that same note, I basically don't like to hear anyone in the bathroom.
11.  Gum smacking.  I'm a gum chewer, but I can't stand to hear someone smack their gum.  Yes, I'm talking to you.
12.  Anything that has to do with snot NOT coming out of your nose.  You know, those people who make that awful noise that is making me dry heave right now just thinking about it.

I never get tired of hearing how awesome I am though.  Imagine that. 

Sweet Relaxation

Brad and I are kinda in a stressful place right now.  Luckily not with our marriage, but we've got a lot going on, some decisions we need to make, basically just life! 

Last night I was particularly stressed, and I'm not a good stressed out person.  I get cranky (crankier), impatient (more impatient), and all those other bad adjectives.  We went to bed late due to a dog related incident (would anyone like a particularly snuggly and affectionate dog that just happens to shed?) and I just couldn't sleep.  I envisioned myself laying there for hours and then envisioned myself getting up to fold laundry and clean.  Luckily that didn't come to fruition.  So I prayed.  I have to admit, my prayer life is lacking and I wish I was better.  But last night I just prayed for God.  When I pray I rarely ask for things for myself.  Last night I begged for things for myself.  I begged for His guidance, His strength, His mercy and a big whopping dose of His patience. 

And then I felt it.  I felt Him taking over and me allowing it.  I felt myself relax and I was almost immediately asleep.  I woke up this morning and I'm sad to say, I didn't think anything of it.  While driving to work I was struck by it while I was thinking about what my day will hold.  And another peace filled me.  It was amazing to have that peace, just when I needed it.

I've had a favorite benediction since I was a kid.  I get goosebumps everytime it is said in church.  I give it to all of you today.

The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26 ESV