Wednesday, November 26, 2008

yay and ouch

I finally have my baby Maximilian back. He had to get a new thermostat. Yes, in the grand scheme of things, I probably could've replaced that part myself. However, it was nice to have someone else do it correctly the first time. I always worry about working on systems that are full of fluids. I got him back yesterday morning and just about did a little dance when he got me to work safely without overheating. I figure after 148K miles, he deserved a new thermostat. =)

As to the ouch, I had a session with the personal trainer today. We started with 30 minutes of racquetball for cardio then followed with 45 minutes of arms and shoulders with weights. I wanna die now. I can hardly lift my arms to take off my sweatshirt! I just gotta keep telling myself it's good for me, it's good for me.

I got to see the Canuck last night. He was back for business again for a night or two. He's supposed to leave tonight, but he's gonna try and change it and fly out tomorrow so I can see him again tonight. Sweetie! Funny that neither of us has really done a whole lot in the month since we saw each other last. He did get to see Coldplay in Denver (good for him, I'm not a huge fan). When they dropped some crazy confetti shaped like butterflies, he caught and kept one for me. What a dork (rolls eyes). At least he was thinking of me!

Ya, that's about all I can come up with right about now. I think I might need a nap now so I can relax my poor arms.

Monday, November 24, 2008

things that make me happy

1. Having people at the garage where I take my car (a) know me by name when I call, and (b) let me take a car {albeit a minivan} for the day when they can't repair my car fast enough to make them happy.

2. My first full stat run at the lab reading differentials (counting white cells, red cells, platelets and such under the microscope). Finally a new skill!

3. The boys on the back of the sofa looking out the window waiting for me to come home.

4. A perfectly brewed pot of Teavana Silver Needle tea.

5. Pillar Gypsy salami from Central Market to nosh on while trying to get tired.

6. Knowing that I have friends and family that are there for me if and when I need them.

My car is still in the shop, I'm getting PMSy crampy, didn't have time to go to the gym, and (because of the car) I can't finish my Christmas shopping for my family due to lack of fundage. Things should have really sucked all day today, but for some reason I just can't get out of a good frame of mind. In the grand scheme of things, I still have it pretty good. Hope I can keep it going in the morning!

(and yes, this is the 3rd post today--3rd time's the charm!)

zee update

My poor Maximilian is still in the garage. He needs a new thermostat. In the meantime, the behemoth is carting me to and fro. I do like the tallness of the minivan, but the rest of the mom-mobile concept evades me. I'd much rather drive a station wagon. They're kinda hot. Not the wood panelled ones from the 70s mind you. The cool Subarus and Volvos with 4 wheel drive and car like driving abilities. Ya. I could dig that. Or another S2000. Hmmmm, station wagon or sports car??? My tastes do run the gamut.

Anyway, I'll have the behemoth until sometime tomorrow. Hopefully, I'll get my Max back without having to spend too much more money. If only I'd been able to make that tree actually leaf out in green bills....

ray-DEE-ay-tor

My poor car. I finally get the title in my possession, and all hell breaks loose. Or brakes loose. Whoa, bad pun. Especially since the brakes are fine. I shouldn't tempt fate I suppose.

Anyway, as I was trying to drive to a handbell rehearsal yesterday after Sunday morning choir duties, I noticed my temperature gauge start to creep up. By the time I got home, Max belched out all his coolant all over the driveway. First thing I did (after calling my handbell director and telling her I wouldn't be there) was rinse all the antifreeze into the grass or down the drain. Yes, I know. Pollution and all, but I'd rather pollute a little than kill a neighborhood kitteh or puppeh. Then Mother came and saved me. She took me to lunch (wouldn't even let me pay), took me to Pep Boys for more coolant, then came back to take me back to church later for an evensong. Props to Kathy for driving me home after the service. In the hour break I was at home, I refilled the radiator with coolant, let it sit a bit, then drove about a 2 mile round trip. By the time I got half way through my circle, the temperature started to skyrocket again. NOOOO!!!!! Yes folks, Max belched the rest of the coolant out starting at the end of my driveway up until I stopped the car. That's when I called AAA and set up my towing to the garage this morning. Poor baby Max is still there. They thought it was just a kaput radiator cap, and they bled and refilled the system. Then before I could get to work, the dang thing almost overheated again. Now I am driving a minivan. Yes kids, a minivan. Don't think this makes me just a little bit unhappy. I'm driving a "mom-mobile." Ugh.

I'll let you all know how it turns out. Hopefully I won't have to give people Christmas gifts of cards saying "Thanks for understanding, but I fixed my car instead of buying you a gift."

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

tooting my own horn

If you don't want to read about my recent successes, stop reading now. I'm gonna brag about myself a little bit.

So I had jury duty today. For the first time ever, I was out relatively early--11am today! I ended up going down to Neiman Marcus to wander and look at the Christmas decorations (hey, I'm not downtown often), and my father met me there for lunch. Would you believe their cafe has good turkey meatloaf? Well, they do. Then it was errand time. I came home, grabbed a bunch of clothes and went back out to consign those suckers. Would you believe no one wanted my stuff? The consignment stores either (1) would only take things less than one year old, (2) would only take "designer" brands (I thought Liz Claiborne was a designer...), or (3) already had too much stuff. Fine. A woman did hit me up in a parking lot asking about my red leather jacket. She said she gets paid tomorrow and may call me then to inquire about it. We'll see. Then I went to Vickie's to exchange a bra for a size that actually fit. Dammit.

Anyway, to the bragging. I went across the mall to The Gap. I had no real idea what size I would wear. My current Levis are 12s so I figured 12 or 14 would be the right size for me. Oh, ya. I have no dress clothes or skirts that fit right now. I figured I needed something to get me through the holidays. Now I do! I bought a black pencil skirt in a size 10. Yes people, a ten. This is the size I wore in high school. Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!!! (does a little dance around the store) I would've bought a lot more than I did if I'd had the money. As it was, I got one skirt and one skirt/jacket combo (on sale). So I now have at least 2 different things to wear until next year. Woo-hoo!!! Yay me!

Okay, that's it for today. I'm sure there will be something more exciting later in the week.

Monday, November 17, 2008

2 weeks, time to post

Again, I find myself apologizing for my crap ass ability to blog on a regular basis. Right now I'm sitting at work waiting for the last driver to bring in samples to be analyzed by my amazing abilities of urine-problem deducing power. Actually, I'd really love to be home in bed with a cup of tea. I feel like ass crack. Well, I don't really know what that would feel like, but since it sounds bad, that's what I'm going with for now. Here: let me explain my weekend and you'll understand....

Saturday was glorious. It was super sunny and beautiful. The perfect day for a church chili cook off. Oh ya, except it was only about 55 degrees and the wind was blowing ninety to nothing. The wind even blew over the chili samples onto the judges (of which I was one). I thought these people were smart and would move the fiesta inside since it was so windy and cold. Nope. Ergo, your favorite naughty mouse was sitting outside in the shade with a thin long sleeved shirt, a vest, and jeans on. That was not warm enough!!! Would have been better if the chili had been spicy. =) By the time I left I felt like a popsicle. Then it was time for me to go to work. I got there at 5pm and left at 2:30am. Yes kids, 2:30am. I got home about 3:30 after having the wits scared out of me by all the drunk drivers out on the road. I sped like a bat out of hell getting home daring a cop to pull me over. If he had, then I could've pointed out all the drunk drivers!!! As it was, I was WIDE awake by the time I got home.

I got about 4 hours of sleep before I had to get up and go to church to sing yesterday. It started off badly when I got told to sing soprano instead of alto (a numbers issue). After so little sleep and all the coldness of the day before, my voice was not in its best shape. After church there was a choir party, and since I'm never one to snub a party, I went. I spent most of it outside in a beautiful backyard with tons of beautifully colored trees. About mid afternoon, I thought I should go home and take a nap before going and being counselor to a bunch of EYC kiddos. That nap didn't happen. By this time, I was getting very allergy-ridden. As soon as I laid down on the futon, I couldn't breathe. If I sat up I felt better, but I couldn't sleep sitting up. Screw that. I went to the store and go some exciting purchases of cat litter, milk, yogurt, and frozen dinners. Then it was time to go to church again. Poor kids. I sat there the whole night with my box of tissues at the ready. When I got back home, I put the flannel sheets and fleece blanket on the bed, got in, and holed up for the evening.

Then comes to this morning. I soooooooooooooo didn't want to get out of bed. I still woke myself up most of the night with congestion and drippy nose issues. Also, since Thomas looooooooooves the new sheets, I was extra warm all night because he wanted to be warm with me. I called and told work people I'd be in later when I felt like getting up. Yes, I brought in my special box of tissues to work with me. And my Mentholatum. And my Zyrtec and Sudaphed.

Yup, I live the glorious life of snotty allerginess. I hope you all are faring better!

Sunday, November 02, 2008

bad naughty mouse

Sorry. My blogging ability seems to be full o' snark lately. It's not that I haven't had things to blog about either. I just haven't made the time. Sorry. Let's see if I can catch y'all up to date. And don't worry, it'll be so train of thought that it'll prolly be very out of order. =)

Lessee...where to start. This weekend was Halloween, and I didn't do a damn thing to celebrate. I've been fighting a sore throat and cough, so I stayed home per Doc's orders. I was so worried about actually being home for kiddos coming by that I stopped on the way home from work and got 2 bags of candy. Ya, I'm taking all that chocolate crap to work. I didn't have a single trick or treater. And the Stars lost. Boo on Friday night.

I went with a coupld of kids from work to see Weezer Tuesday night a week ago. I hate to say, but I was actually disappointed. Number one, I was basically a chaperone, a third wheel, an outsider. That made for a fun night. Secondly, they really didn't put on that good of a show. I was surprised. The best part of the whole night was when they got this group of local amateur muscians on the stage to play Island in the Sun with them. The trumpet and accordian were the highlight of my evening. Oh, and I didn't received the tickets in the mail until 2 days ago. Thank goodness for Will Call and picture IDs.

Then the following Friday, I got a text message from the ex as soon as I walked in the door to my house. He wasnted to know what I was up to. Random. Then he calls me and asks if I want to go see REM with him. Hmmmm, cute man wanting to take me to a good concert I don't have to pay for??? Hells ya! Now that was an amazing show! Those men may be getting old, but they can rock hard! And we had kick ass seats. The only somewhat funny part of the night was when he asked if I wanted a drink before we went in to our seats. We're waiting in a bloody long line and he realizes that he's left his wallet at home. Really? Are you kidding me? After the way you just drove us here trying to get us here in time for the show? It's a miracle we didn't get pulled over. Anyway, he held our place in line while I went to the ATM to take out money for adult beverages. (shakes head and chuckles at the boy acting soooo blond) That's okay, the seats were incredible. It was worth buying a couple of drinks. At least he offered! =)

Lessee, what else.... Oh! The pre-Halloween party at Winny's was FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC! I only wish I hadn't had to work the next morning so I could've stayed longer. Granted my costume was uber lame (mad scientist--just wore scrubs and a lab coat--sooooo original), but everyone else looked great. JCC was the best as a carrot. A caniballistic carrot. (I have a pic of her eating a carrot--trust me, it was hilarious). Then the H-bomb was a naughty Magic Eight Ball. And WC was Chef from South Park. Too funny!!! They went all out on decorations and food. All the typical Halloween foods you can imagine: green slime dip, smashed bug pizza, jello brain in the blood punch, etc. Oh how I love my friends!

Anyway, that's enough of a catch up for you kiddos. I'll leave you with a pic from the party. Tell me Winny can't do it up right!