November 28, 2003
Oy
Remember my long-time friend (10 years) who made my wedding gown? The one who expected me to arrange her transportation to and from my wedding (she's 3 hours away) because she doesn't drive, then implied that I must not want her there if I couldn't find transportation for her? (Exact words: ME: "I don't know if I'm going to be able to find someone to pick you up and bring you back on such short notice being that it's a 6-hour round trip for each." HER: "I guess that depends on how badly you want me to be there.")
My dad wound up driving up there to go get her (in his rental car), and she took Greyhound back. She was fine all that weekend, and she and a BF came to visit shortly before last Christmas - that visit went well. She called me one day in January crying - she and BF were on the verge of breaking up. We were on the phone for 2 hours, and she called me back a couple of days later and left a message on my machine saying "I thought you might like to know what's happening... call me."
A couple of days went by before I actually had the time, but then I realized that any time I hadn't called her back right away, I got a lecture on how I was a bad friend. I wasn't in the mood for that, so I didn't call. She hasn't called since.
Until yesterday.
The phone rang. I checked the caller ID, my heart went down into my stomach and I almost dropped the phone like a hot potato. I was NOT ready for that. I'm still not.
I should probably call her back, but I have no idea what to say. She's going to want to know why I haven't called her in 10 months. How the hell do you tell someone they're too needy? I am a VERY low-maintenance friend. I can pick up with someone after a year and have it be like we never left off. I don't have the time or the patience for someone who needs that kind of constant contact, and I'm NOT a phone person to start with (she doesn't have a computer, so no e-mail). In the past, she's called me just as I was going to bed and then got pissed when I try to cut the conversation short after half an hour. If I don't call her back within a day or so of her calling me, I get a lecture on how I'm a bad friend. Every conversation we've had for the last 5 years has been all her, all the time. She's never had a kind word to say about my husband. I don't have the time or energy to give to that sort of "friend"ship.
And truth be told, I'm still seething about the crap she pulled before my wedding.
Indicator?
I really hope my first call this morning is NOT going to be an indicator of how my day is going to go.
A man called with an account number, his voice in a barely-controlled rage, and said he was the husband of the account holder. He said "you'd better cancel the account. My wife did NOT have permission to open this account, I will NOT have internet in my home, and the second I found out about the account I went downstairs with a knife and cut all the computer cords."
Nice. I swear when he said "knife" my heart sunk into my stomach and I thought he was going to say he went after her.
Is it wrong that I just want to go hug that woman because her husband sounds like a supreme fucker?
November 27, 2003
Oh so warm and yummy
Not even 24 hours after arriving at its new home (a.k.a. Our Kitchen), the aforementioned 5qt., pre-seasoned cast iron Dutch Oven gave us The. Best. Beef. Stew. I've. Ever. Had.
Okay, well, hubby had a hand in it too, but day-um!!! I'm having some for breakfast, too.
November 26, 2003
Awwww yeeeahhhhh
Check that baby out! 5qt. pre-seasoned, cast iron Dutch Oven. The thing that puzzles me though, is how it can be $38.95 and $8.00 shipping on the website but only $24.99 + tax at Shopko.
November 24, 2003
Poetic Justice
Participant at KKK initiation wounded after shots fired into sky.
JOHNSON CITY, Tennessee (AP) -- A bullet fired in the air during a Ku Klux Klan initiation ceremony came down and struck a participant in the head, critically injuring him, authorities said.
I'm so happy I'm not a loud person
We have a new woman in my office. She's currently training by sitting with various people and listening to how they take calls. She was supposed to sit with "N" from 8-10 this morning - she showed up at N's desk at 8:50, then said she'd be sitting with him after she was done with breakfast. She then proceeded to tell our team lead about how she's currently addicted to banana nut muffins and then took 20 minutes to eat one, so she didn't get to N's desk until 9:10.
Then on her lunch hour, she was on the phone with her "daddy" (not that I can say anything about that, because I still call my father "daddy"). She was SO. FREAKING. LOUD!!!!! She finally got off the phone at 1:03, saying that her lunch hour was almost over and that she needed to go smoke before she had to work again. It's now 1:50 and I can't hear her at all, so she's probably not back yet.
She's gonna be in quite the state when she has to be on the phones full time.
UPDATE: I just found out that she actually FELL ASLEEP this morning while she was listening in on calls with another coworker.
Just in case you didn't know...
If you report your credit card or debit card as lost or stolen, you will. not. be. able. to. use. it. for. anything!!!!!!!
{/random work vent}
A-freakin'-men!!
"A woman who is not in charge of her reproductive life is not in charge of her life." - Jeanne Phillips, a.k.a. Dear Abby
Foreshadowing?
"If this were a dictatorship, it'd be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I'm the dictator." ~ George W. Bush, December 18, 2000
November 20, 2003
Decisions, decisions...
We were in such a cleaning frenzy last night that neither one of us made anything for lunch. I have to go out (oh, the tragedy). I do not want to drive. Within walking distance, I have the following:
Panera
Biaggi's
Quiznos
Simply Soup
Casa Bianca
Where should I go?
I have to decide in the next 2 minutes, so the decision will be made before anyone reads this, but I'm still interested in hearing other people's choices...
November 18, 2003
Thought I was done, didn'tcha?
hand holding - you like to be in constant physical
contact with your special someone but you don't
want to take things too quickly.
What Sign of Affection Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla
SP'd from Erica.
I agree with the first part, but the second part is totally off if my current relationship is any indication.
For anyone not in the know, I met my husband online March 8, 1998. We said "I love you" for the first time toward the end of April, 1998. He visited me in NY may 15-18, 1998. I moved to WI to live with him July 2, 1998.
Not taking things too fast? Heh.
Food musings...
Why is it that garlic powder gives you MUCH different garlic breath than fresh garlic?
Not that I would know or anything.
Weekend Update
Unfortunately not with Norm MacDonald.
Friday night was awesome. Kim blogged about it if you're interested. It was at our friend Bill's house rather than ours, and Bill, Dave and my hubby cooked a fabulous gourmet meal for us all.
Read on for the rest of the weekend...
Saturday, I went to the bridal shop with Carrie so she could try on her gorgeous gown. :) I'd post a picture here, but the one picture I've been able to find online does it absolutely no justice (not to mention the fact that I can't remember what company makes it). We went out to lunch, then to Claire's to pick out jewelry - the maids are all going to be wearing little mini-tiaras! Hooray! Carrie was nervous about whether everyone would want to, but I told her that anything that would make me look even more like a princess was just peachy with me. I've got such a princess jag right now. Maybe I just haven't gotten over wearing my own tiara... oh, ... 15 months ago? ;) Well, then again, I'd wanted to wear a tiara for YEARS before I got to at my own wedding, so maybe I just want to be a princess. And why not?
When Carrie and I got back from Claire's, hubby was on the couch, fast asleep and feeling crappy. We wound up ordering in and spending a night at home.
Sunday, I alternated between watching the Queer Eye marathon and cleaning my bedroom. I'm having a Partylite party on Saturday and I actually want to be able to use my bed for coats, so that means... MEGA-CLEANING!!!!!
Yesterday, we went to the in-laws' for dinner for my FIL's birthday. Hubby's car died at their house, so he left it there overnight and had a new battery put in this morning.
That is all.
November 17, 2003
Busy busy day
I have had literally no time to do anything today. I've taken about 80 calls and I am totally ready to go home.
November 14, 2003
Yeah, I'm going overboard
Mean lil fellow, arn't you?
What Monty Python Character are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
Could I DO any more quizzes?
You are Neo, from "The Matrix." You
display a perfect fusion of heroism and
compassion.
What Matrix Persona Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla
November 13, 2003
Yet another quiz
My Dave Matthews album is...
This quiz was created by Krazy K. Take it here!
I'm just quiz-happy
i am open-minded!
How indie are you? test by ridethefader
You're pretty knowledgeable about music in general. You like indie music, sure, but that's only part of it. You'll listen to any old shit as long as it sounds good to you. You're not snobby about music at all, you just like what you like. How boring. Curiously, this makes you popular with the opposite sex.
Yeah, I'd agree with that one.
Quiz time!
You're Cyprus!
Your parents probably had different ethnic backgrounds and now they're almost certainly divorced, or at least they argue all the time. You mostly just wish they'd leave you alone instead of using you as a pawn in their tortured conflict with each other. Instead, you've become the battleground for a fight that doesn't really feel like it's yours. You'd rather just go fishing. But that doesn't look likely in the immediate future. Just keep cooking with olive oil and you'll live longer, at least.
Take the Country Quiz at the Blue Pyramid
Ummm, my parents are still married. They have the same ethnic background, but much different childhoods. They'd fight more if my mom stood up for herself once in a while instead of "going along to get along." I don't wish they'd leave me alone, because I know that would leave my mom with precious few to vent to. I've never been fishing, although I love to eat fish. And I cook with olive oil all the time. So, this isn't quite fitting, but at the same time, it is.
So... how well does your family really know you?
A hilarious article, from none other than the fine folks over at The Onion.
I have to say, I don't think I'd really care if someone in my family (other than J, since he's already found it and is a semi-frequent commenter) found my blog. Like I said in the comment on Erica's post, from whom this idea was SPd, I don't think any of them would be shocked and/or appalled at anything I wrote. Wait, my uber-Republican uncle might be mildly appalled, but definitely not shocked. My "I'm a devout Catholic even though I don't go to church" Grandmother would be more shocked and appalled than her "devout Catholic and is a Catholic NUN" sister would be.
Not to mention, it might give some of them an insight into my thoughts, ideas, etc., without prefacing them with "well, what does she know, she's just the kid." Yep, I'm 27 and I still feel like I'm the daughter, niece, granddaughter, grandniece. Not an adult, "the kid."
Anyway, I digress. My family can read this all they want - I have nothing to hide.
Okay, I think I'm addicted
Diet Barq's root beer.
Now, before you go sticking your nose up at diet root beer, which I will agree is usually some nasty stuff - try it. I think it's great!
I'm so glad the soda machine at my job is only a quarter. Crack in a can, I tell ya.
Warm fuzzies
Out of nowhere, a coworker I respect very much came to me and told me that she really admires the way I do my job and that she thinks I'm "one of the better ones" in the department. :) She just made my day.
It's the little things, I tell ya. So I pose a challenge - if there's someone at your place of employment who you feel does a great job, tell them! You just might make someone's day.
"Everybody loves brownies!!"
So proclaimed my baby sister one night after dinner, while standing on a dining room chair, at the age of 5. She turns 21 today {{sniff}}.
Happy birthday, Theresa!!
In honor of her divine proclamation, how do you like your brownies? Fudge-y, cake-y, nuts, no nuts, chips, no chips, frosting, no frosting?
I like my brownies fudge-y, no nuts, no chips, no frosting, no NOTHING except rich, moist, chewy, fudgy goodness.
WTF?!?!
If you're asked to choose a 4-digit PIN (Personal Identification Number) for security on something, why on earth would you choose something you won't remember THREE. WEEKS. LATER, even after being given the first digit?
I just had two freaking calls in a row where someone set their account up three weeks ago but couldn't remember their PIN.
November 12, 2003
Greedy little wench
Over there to the left, I've included links to both my Amazon wish list and my Target wish list.
I'm just sayin' is all.
I thought this happened to other people
The father of a friend of mine was killed this past Sunday, November 9, 2003, when he tripped and fell into the path of an oncoming LIRR train.
I'm so sorry, Dan. May your father rest in peace.
A little late, but...
discover your jack-o-lantern face @ quiz me
November 11, 2003
Quote time
"Every child should have mud pies, grasshoppers, water-bugs, tadpoles, frogs and mud-turtles, elderberries, wild strawberries, acorns, chestnuts, trees to climb, brooks to wade in, water-lilies, woodchucks, bats, bees, butterflies, various animals to pet, hayfields, pine-cones, rocks to roll, sand, snakes, huckleberries and hornets; and any child who has been deprived of these has been deprived of the best part of his education." ~ Luther Burbank
Because you always wanted to know
I love cows!
Now, go make yourself a Ben & Jerry's Action Toy Cow!!!
Please won't you (not) be... my neighbor
Our neighbor Jeanne came banging on the door at 7:45 PM last Friday, saying she had two pictures fall off her wall from one of our guests' children "jumping around."
A little note: for anyone not in "the know," we have guests every Friday night, sometimes up to 15 people in our apartment. Apparently Jeanne has had problems with us before, but she's only addressed it with us directly once (in JUNE). She's had the manager come to our apartment on a number of occasions, during all of which they've listened at our door, determined that it just sounded like we were watching movies and not being excessively noisy and that they didn't even need to ask us to keep it down. We never even knew about this until the manager told us less than a week ago.
Wait, I take that back - the manager's wife, Nicole, knocked one night, asking us to just tone it down even more just for that one night, because Jeanne said she'd just keep calling them until the noise level was to her satisfaction. Nicole had been awakened by Jeanne's call and was drop-dead tired, which is why she asked.
Okay, back to this past Friday night...
First of all, the child jumped once. Second of all, if two pictures fell off her wall, she must have them hung with scotch tape - We've had heavy books fall off a bookcase and have never had anything fall. Granted, the child is heavier than a book, but - I've tripped and fallen in the living room and have never had anything fall off the wall, and I weigh probably 10 TIMES what the child weighs. I was tempted to give her a box of picture hangers. Honestly, I think she's lying. There have been nights where the child has been MUCH more rambunctious and Jeanne hasn't said a word, and pictures tend not to fall off a wall unless they're hung improperly.
DH asked her to step into the hallway so they could discuss the situation, since we had people over. She wasn't interested in listening to a word he said or discussing the situation rationally, just yelling and belittling. She said she's spoken to both him and me about the situation. He reminded her that she's spoken to me twice, and never to him, and she's never been anything but rude to me - the first time when they first moved in, when I told her she was more than welcome to call us if she ever had a problem, the second time when she called us at 10:20 to complain that her lease said noise had to stop at 10:00 (we hadn't been making any, it just wasn't silent enough for her), which was some time in June. She was completely rude to me when that happened (I answered the phone).
He reminded her again that she's never been anything but rude to us, and told her that he will not tolerate anyone being rude to him or rude to his wife. He also told her that if she wanted to discuss the situation rationally like adults that our door was always open. Which is the truth. She just walked away muttering under her breath.
We both think she probably thought she'd come up, say what she wanted to say and go back downstairs and that she didn't expect anyone to stand up to her. She actually threatened to call the police on us, but either she didn't call, or she called and they told her they couldn't do anything, because the 5-oh never showed up, LOL.
About half an hour later, our neighbor Lisa came over, said she heard the whole thing, and said that next time Jeanne comes up to say something, she'll have to talk to her first, LOL.
We called Mike (the apartment manager) right after she left. He stopped by on Saturday morning and we had a nice chat. He said that EVERY TIME HE SEES HER she complains about us (which we pretty much knew - while she NEVER complains TO us, we know she complains ABOUT us), and rants and raves about how she "just wants peace and quiet," like she used to have (she used to live in an apartment building where it was absolutely silent and no guests were allowed after 10:00), which she more than gets during the week. We've actually had other neighbors ask us if we've been on vacation because they can never hear us.
She tells Mike that we have loud parties all weekend and that we always have a loud stereo on during the week (both completely false). She's completely overstating everything, so I'm guessing that's her way of saying that we have some people over and that we - gasp! - watch TV and move around the apartment during the week. I mean, really - if I think DH has the TV too loud at 6:15 in the evening, I'll ask him to turn it down - I'm NOT a loud person (except in the car, LOL).
Mike reassured us that we have as much right as anyone to have people over, and he's told her several times that having neighbors who make more noise than you do, or even more noise than you're used to, is a chance you take when you move into an apartment complex, and that if she wanted complete silence that she should move to a retirement community.
Heh... time out
Take the 100 Acre Personality Quiz!
I wonder if I could give my downstairs neighbor a time out?
More to come on the neighbor situation...
Pingalingaling
Okay, I should be pinging now!
It still sounds dirty. ;)
November 10, 2003
WHY is this an issue?
So I found out from a friend today that today's Dr. Phil is about staying at home vs. working outside the home. WHY is this an issue? I mean, I'm sure both sides have compelling arguments, but every family has to do what's best for them, emotionally and financially. Just pick what's best for your family and go with that and leave everyone else ALONE!!!!
Don'tcha just HATE it?
I heard a song on the radio this morning - one of the many songs I heard - and now I can't get it out of my head!!!!
{{{wailing at the top of my lungs}}}
Oh won'tcha marry me Biiiiilllll
I love you so
I always will
Come on Bill
Wont'cha marry me Bill
I love you so, I always will
Come on Bill
Wont'cha marry me Bill
November 07, 2003
Unconscious Mutterings
Well, since everyone *else* is doing it...
1. Taboo::
2. Poison::
3. 1983::
4. Tim::
5. Groovy::
6. Italy::
7. Think::
8. Penthouse::
9. Shelter::
10. Twinkie::
1. Taboo:: Really cool board game (even though it's not really a "board game" per se)
2. Poison:: Cherry Pie
3. 1983:: Moved to the condo
4. Tim:: Best (the boy I had a crush on in 5th and 6th grade)
5. Groovy:: B52s
6. Italy:: Food!
7. Think:: Big
8. Penthouse:: Letters
9. Shelter:: Homeless
10. Twinkie:: :9
Quiz time, kiddies!!
You are the playful pin-up! Do you know how to be
serious?
What Type Of Retro Gal Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla
Shamelessly pilfered from Dee (not sure if she wants her blog advertised, so I'll courteously withhold linkage until approval for said linkage is granted).
ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS?!?!?!
So, hubby and I have had our airline tickets for NY since September. Hubby didn't think having his vacation time approved would be a big deal. Heh.
His boss came to him yesterday and said "ummm, you put in for time off right before Christmas?" Hubby told him that he did and his boss said "I'm assuming you're spending the holiday with your in-laws?" Again, yes. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news but since that's our busy season, it's actually in the employee handbook that no time off will be approved December 1-24."
Our flight schedule is WI-NY on 12/20, back to WI on 12/27.
Shit.
It costs $100 per ticket to change.
Shit.
I'm able to change my vacation - thank God. I was worried about switching because holiday phone coverage is bare minimum, but as it turns out I had already been scheduled off on New Year's Eve anyway. So the rest of it is cake and has already been approved by my manager.
But now we have to change our flights. The ONLY good is that since the tickets are actually $14 less than they were when we bought them, so they apply the difference to the cost of switching - so it'll be $86 per ticket to switch rather than $100.
Oh, wait - there's more good - I'll be off work from 12/23 - 1/1, which is a day longer than it was going to be before.
But it still sucks.
Why the hell does it cost $100 to switch flights? I mean, really - I can understand $25, maybe even $40, but $100?!?! It entails nothing more than a 5-minute conversation with a customer service rep (BTW, Midwest Airlines, formerly Midwest Express Airlines has kick-ass customer service reps - and VERY yummy chocolate chip cookies baked in-flight)
November 03, 2003
New system, post #1
Well, here it is... my inaugural post in MT - hooray! Many many thanks to Mel for making it happen!