A Likely Story!

Secret Confessions

I wish I liked to garden. I wish I had the talent for gardening. There is nothing nicer than a well manicured lawn with perfectly shaped hedges and lots of colorful flowers. With maybe a cute little seating area on the porch so you can wave to the neighbors as they walk by as you enjoy your lovely front yard.

I clearly do not share my Dad's or my brother Brian's DNA.

Still? I am helping the local economy. And I know my gardener appreciates the fact that I suck at gardening.

Just remind me never to invite Tom and Dale over unless it is the dead of winter.

Recipe For Birthday Funness

Combine a birthday friend, add more friends, pick a kick-ass band to rock out to at an awesome venue and you are pretty much guaranteed a great time.

While there was no birthday cake, there were Vodka Tonics a plenty and hard-core rocker chicks and lots of screaming and singing and dancing. And isn't that what birthdays are all about? 

And finally, Jeff's thoughts on turning 28. Or was it 29?

My Dirty Little Secret

Everyone has a part of their life that they are not proud of. Call it a 'weakness' or ' an area that needs improvement' or maybe even a 'flaw'.  As someone who prides herself as being organized and on top of things and in control, there is an area that I am woefully NOT in control.

So in the interest of keeping it real and transparency and all that other new-age blog speak that is rampant these days, here is my dirty little secret.

Clutter. Yes, the person who ahbors clutter actually HAS clutter.

This is the pile I had put on my countertop the other day.

This is my pantry closet where I have all my paper goods, wrapping paper, bills, receipts and all sorts of papery detritus. (Sorry, you'll have to look sideways. Typepad is wonky on picture placement)

And this was my closet AFTER. Can I tell you how FREAKIN' AWESOME it felt to get to this place?? Just beyond awesome. (Sidways again!)

There's still tons of shredding to be done that I will get to later tonite. Even with the shredding ahead of me, it still feels good to actually SEE the inside of my pantry. And it inspires me to keep it this way. And even inspired me to get brave enough to share my 'dirty little secret' with all of you!

In case you were interested, here is my kitchen from the inside looking out and the outside looking in. Other than the paperwork on the counter that you saw in the first picture, this is how my kitchen looks all the time. See?? I do really like my surroundings neat and clean.

Testing 1, 2, 3

Had a battery of tests last week to determine what is causing my dizziness.  As far as tests go, as long as no one is punching, sticking, burning, or cutting me, I can handle anything.  For the most part.

So last Tuesday I headed off to University Hospital's Audiology Dept to undergo one of these tests. It was your basic listen to beeps and words and stuff in a soundproof room with a pair of killer headphones that would put Bose headphones to shame.

Then it was off to  more testing in a darkened room with space invader infrared cameras masked to your face. Those tests lasted about an hour and were pretty science-fictiony and interesting. The end test was this puppy The Caloric Test that I had heard about. I had heard it would make you puke. I hate to puke so this did somewhat alarm me. 

Basically they fill your ears with warm water for 30 seconds, then drain it, then measure your eye movement since the water-in-the-ears makes you really dizzy. To be honest, when the water first hit my ear I jumped...not cause it hurt or anything...cause it was so damn loud. After a couple of seconds, it was actually pretty nice. And then? The dizziness started. Maybe cause I was safe and secure and was not going to fall, I LOVED the dizziness....just absolutely loved it! Kept saying  "Awesome" and when it ended I was really bummed. The techs were laughing, saying I was the first ever adult to call it awesome...mainly the kids do that.

Then they repeated it on my left ear...more awesomeness and more dizziness. Then all over again with cold water.

Serious! Controlled dizziness is like being shitfacedly drunk on a waterbed...a sensation I happen to like...having done this quite a bit in the past aka college.

At the end of testing I was sad that I had to leave. It was so much fun and the techs were really cool. All that was missing was margaritas...and actual waterbeds and boyfriends to go with waterbeds...and it would have been perfect.

So if you ever need to have one of these tests, take it from me, there is nothing to worry about and everything to look forward to. Plus, you'll have really clean ears afterwards!

Looking Backwards

It was a short song, less than two minutes. The last line always stuck with me for some reason...

Time it was, and what a time it was, it was 

A time of innocence, a time of confidences

Long ago, it must be, I have a photograph 

Preserve your memories; They're all that's left you

(From the Bookends Theme by Simon and Garfunkel)

When all is said and done, what do you leave behind? Other people's memories of you and your life and the impact you had on them. And what you leave behind may determine how you are remembered.

Sure, there will be pictures. And videos. And oral history of who said what and when they said it. And then there will be the blogs. Those longwinded and sometimes boring and maybe repetitive renditions of how a life was spent and what mattered to that person in their life.

Whenever someone asks me why I blog, the answer is pretty simple. Cause I want to record my life in a written format. And I want to see what others have to say. It doesn't have to be a lot of others chiming in...it doesn't have to be anyone I know (altho I have met so many awesome people thru my blog). But it's the best way...for me... to document my life.

Many many people have said they are not fond of the internet or they have nothing to say. My response is that everyone has something to say. Especially if you are a parent. Or a daughter or son or aunt or uncle. There is someone out there...and maybe more than just one someone...that cares what goes on in your life. And that's why I blog. To relate. To share. To leave something behind.

Now I don't plan on going anywhere anytime soon...but if I were to vanish...I can bet you that even my relatives who have never or hardly ever (hey Dad!) checked out my blog would somehow find their way to my site.

So on this Monday after Blogher and Netroots Nation, think about giving some love to your blog. Update if you haven't updated in awhile.  It's your chance to leave some memories behind.

Yep

New phrase I can sorta kinda indentify with...'mouse potato'.

Ticks, Dicks & Chicks

Most of the spam I get revolves around one of these three things.

Loooong Day

...is over.

When I take a day off from Job #1, it means a days worth of callbacks will not get done. That normally isn't a problem if I can catch up on those uncalled calls the next day I am in the office. If the next day happens to fall on a weekend, we don't get rooted on those calls until Monday. And then on Monday?

Watch out.

So. Just spent a long long day tying up lose ends that started last Friday and kept rolling in until 7p tonite local time. Also made up the 4 cumulative hours I was out this week for medical type appts. My day tomorrow will be manageable IF I stay on target and IF I focus and IF IF IF no burning-down-the-house emergencies hit.

Working Friday, Saturday, Sunday at J#2 so tonite was my last chance for work catch up until next Monday.

Grabbed a bowl of cereal and made a pleasant discovery. It has taken me 2 1/2 years to go thru one box of 100 sugar packets. When I moved here I decided to try little things to eat healthier. Like not having a sugar bowl and using sugar packets instead. Then I thought some more and remembered the movers offloaded my furniture exactly 2 1/2 years ago yesterday cause I did my first shopping trip once my truck was offloaded by the movers.  

Wow...2 1/2 years already. Time flies. And I don't want to type this next part, but I guess that Summer is 1/2 way over. Noooooo! I don't want that to be true. I need to have a lot more fun before I can say goodbye to Summer.

Anyway, first comes sleep and then comes fun.

NNSD from here and have a fun weekend!

Doin' The Happy Dance

That trip to the Mothership in FL that I was whining about last week? I'm off the hook! Don't have to go.

SWEET!!!

Decided to tell my Director of J#1 that I had a J#2. So I did. She was taken aback. Asked where I worked...told her..then told her that the training they wanted me to have onsite at the Mothership I had already experienced at J#2.

So. No more secrecy which makes me happy. No trip to hot humid steamy FL which makes me incredibly happy. And no spending $ I don't have on a trip to hot humid steamy FL. And no leaving CO.

What better reason for a happy dance?

Like You Really Want To Know!

Tough luck...it's been ages so here ya go :

1. Do you like blue cheese salad dressing?

Gross! (Does that answer your question?)

2. Have you ever smoked heroin?

Nope

3. Do you own a gun?

Nope and never will

4. Your favorite drink at Starbucks or other specialty?

I finally have a fave Starbucks drink! Passion Raspberry with Lemonade. Or something like that. My friend that works there made it up for me.

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments?

Depends on what they are for.

6. What do you think of hot dogs?

LOVE the 4 legged ones.

7. Favorite Christmas song?

My December - Linkin Park

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?

Define morning.

9. Can you do push ups?

As in plural?

10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry?

My 4 hidden piercings that no one knows I have. Until now!

11. Favorite hobby?

Live concerts

12. Do you have A.D.D.?

Nope. Not sure it really exists.

13. What's one trait that you hate about yourself?

I am a huge klutz.

14. Middle name?

That which shall remain nameless cause I hate it beyond what words can tell.

15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment?

1) Why did my parents give me that stupid middle name.

2) Maybe I should legally change my middle name this year

3) When will the food fairy show up with my dream dinner?

4) Am I in trouble for having a 4th thought?

16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink?

Raspberry iced tea. Coke. Pepsi.

17. Current worry right now?

Is it too late in life to learn how to yodel?

18. Current hate right now?

Comforce.

19. Favorite place to be?

Here. Right here.

20. How did you bring in the New Year?

Um, I didn't do that.  It kind of came in by itself.

21. Like to travel?

As long as it doesn't involve leaving CO anytime soon

22. Name three people who will complete this?

HDW, Flea, LG

23. Do you own slippers?

Flip flop fleecy ones courtesy of Aree

24. What color shirt are you wearing?

Orange. With white accents

25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets?

Nope. Give me 1000 thread count Italian any day

26. Can you whistle?

Only when I inhale

27. Favorite color?

All together now....PURPLE!

28. Would you be a pirate?

Been there, done that!

29. What songs do you sing in the shower?

None...it disturbs my shower boy.

30. Favorite girl's name?

A name I made up years ago then I found someone that actually had the name....Kren

31. Favorite boy's name?

Max

32. What's in your pocket right now?

$10 bill and my cell phone

33. Last thing that made you laugh?

Jeff at work ('Shrink Wrap is the Solution to the problems of the world")  Guess ya had to be there.

34. Best bed sheets as a child?

Dry

35. Worst injury you've ever had?

Broke my neck

36. Do you love where you live?

Beyond love it! I adore it.

37. How many TVs do you have in your house?

1

38. Who is your loudest friend?

Sky. He sings loudly. But lovely!

40. Does someone have a crush on you?

Millions do.

41. What is your favorite book?

The free ones at the library.

42 What is your favorite candy?

Skittles

43. Favorite Sports Team?

Av's and Steve Nash...Steve is a team unto himself.

44. What were you doing 12 AM last night?

Something I should not have been doing but did it anyway.

45. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up this morning?

Yay...3 more hours until I have to get out of bed. Then I went back to sleep

Whew! Finshed!

Time to tag : Her Hottness, Her Heatherness, Her Highness, Her Shmederness, Her Legaless, Her Texasness, His Humorness and the Count of Chulajuana.  You know who you are!