Almost unbelievable*.

(( *Until you remember you worked 305 hours of overtime last year. ))

Today was horrible and awful. My work treated me like their work mule for the day. PILED work on my desk, put me on phones, sent flaming DO RIGHT NOW emails, and overall gave me NO time to close up on things. I was there until 5:30 and only getting paid until 4:15. Crying.

Then I get to a restaurant to go out for dinner and my cell phone rings - I look and it's my boss' number. *sigh* I answer. (why why why why why why why why why. oh why do I torture myself?) Oh yes, in the midst of ME LEAVING THE JOB, I honestly forgot to pile on the added task of checking all the night voicemails for the different phone lines. (this month the task was assigned to Mary - in Mary's absence I'm the backup) No, they weren't cruel enough to really lay the guilt in, but it was just a little icing on my cupcake of a day.

You may all think I'm just straight-up crazytown for crying and feeling horrible, but I can't help it I genuinely care about excellence in this job. I really wanted to end on positive hardworking note. In a sane and sensible way. When it all came about today to frack with my plan, inner drive, and ambition I'm on some emotional rollercoaster for the day.

I still have work I have to put a close to on Monday. Hell, people were transferring calls to my voicemail box at 4:30 on my "last" day of work. The last day ending at 4:15. The voicemail that says you've reached an INVALID voicemail box for me.

I'm usually one to get it ranted out to my bubs and other people and calm myself down. As I'm writing this post though, I'm still getting myself worked up over today. You don't have to comment - I KNOW it will all be over and I shouldn't care....But I do. And it sucks.

You give an ounce of help and get a baseball-bat-to-the-head of pain. Ow.

Blog away

I actually have a lot to blog about today. I'm kinda mixed up today. Bear with me...

I had a dream last night - a very clear and strange dream. First I went some sort of a road trip to Miami. When I drove back, I went to my parents house and walked in. My dad was there rocking a baby. He then proceeded to say, "Well, what do you think of your new baby brother?" WHA?! The baby had red hair and looked like my dad.... adorable, but WHA?! Baby had a name even! (Samuel) It was such a WEIRD dream. I like that I dream and that I can remember them and all their details, but sometimes they freak me out. It is obvious why I dreamt about a baby... Jonahbebe's mum and dad(my brother) are expecting a baby boy any day now. I'm really excited bout it and must have been on my mind. I'm hoping for a smooth birth for them and looking forward to cooing at a little one soon. Trust, nephews and nieces are great things. Secretly, I know I need to rock this baby to cure my own biological clock ticking in me! It is just weird why I would dream that my parents would be hiding a pregnancy and a birth from me... Why my mom?!? (she is so going to freak reading this!!!!)

I do remember when my little brother Zach was born quite clearly... I was 13. My dad had the cutest and proudest little smile on his face when he woke me up that morning (6am) to tell me I had a new brother. I remember that old house and my old room and exactly how my bed was in that room (behind the door) when he walked in. (Oh man, the memories of that blue floral wallpapered walls and crazy blue carpeting.) This dream sort-of reflected those moments too. I've always said that the birth of Zachary brought great happiness to our family, so I'm not sure if this dream is reflecting that this new little one will be a great addition to our fam. I know. Go ahead and say it: "Awww."


__________________________

In very very sad news, my coworker's daughter died last night. She had had lymphoma for a while, but only recently was in the hospital for the flu. They couldn't get her over the flu and she started to develop weird symptoms... Then she had a stroke and lapsed into a coma this last Saturday. Really, it would be like dying from the common flu. A body just can't fight with a weakened immune system.

Please, please. Say a prayer for my coworker Mary and her family. Her daughter was only in her 20s and I know Mary will need strength and a sense of peace to come with this.


With this news welled something inside of me. Sometimes we feel hopeless that we can't do "anything" to help someone when they are dealing with all of that. Today I really reflected that our work department would be without Mary for quite awhile... I know that once she is back there will be a lot of strain for her with the current stressors. Trust, our department is crazed out.

They already have a replacement for me lined up - A super awesome candidate from another department. However, they couldnt' get this new girl in for training until this week - and we only have her for half days.

So.

I offered to come back to work again next week to help training of the new girl more. Before you all gasp in horror, I did it for a number of reasons and I really think this was the right decision. Please follow along:

1. I really timed out my end date all wrong... February 29th is not a payday. I really wanted to end on a pay period day anyway.

2. It will ONLY be half days.

3. It will ONLY be for training. If an agent needs to get ahold of me after this Friday, I'm technically non-existent there. Tough jerky for them.

4. I know that getting my replacement trained will help the department with Mary being out for awhile.

PLUS

5. It will help once Mary is back to not stress her so much

6. My boss gave me a huge hug today and really sincerely thanked me for offering this. She told me if I ever needed a solid gold reference, she would be there.


I am technically celebrating me leaving, but I will go back next week to help out.

Isn't it hard to celebrate when there is a very sad event occurring?

Oops

I forgot to add in an entry explaining my reason for posting my strange entry in regards to why I'm voting for Barack.

The thing is, I can't convince people one way or the other any more. We all have our reasons for voting for a particular candidate. No matter what I blog, it will feel inadequate and sometimes I feel hurt when my reasons and justifications are torn apart. Discussions can get heated and I just can't think straight. George W. Bush makes my brain hurt in many many ways and it hurts my brain to know that people out there in this world love him. Like BIG PUFFY HEART love him. If it were up to me, he would go down as the most damaging president in our entire country's history. My brain is on perma-ipod listening to some other song playing until inauguration day.

Most people have the dumbest reasons for voting for a particular candidate. There's a certain definable laziness curve when it comes to people educating themselves about political candidates. I can even admit to liking John McCain at one point simply because he refused to take out of a speech a portion referencing his age. As John McCain stated "I'm old, you can't change my age just because I'm running for office." For some reason that really stuck out with me. Of course, I then educated myself a bit more about the candidates (and still liked McCain at that time).

I've really only give $$ to 4 political figures'campaigns:
- Wes Clark
- John McCain
- Russ Feingold
- Barack Obama

.... and rallied behind electing John Kerry. Didn't think money was needed there.

I know that Obama is a good speaker, but I really believe in the speeches. All politicians give lip service. I believe in a person who wishes to change the current lip service and really be a proper human being. I brush the inexperience aside as I believe he is a better person in life than one George W. Bush. He will choose qualified advisors and I truly believe that he will do the best to keep the country focused on accomplishing things. Accomplishing things would be GREAT. I like that he has a background in international relations and knows that how important it is to help Afghanistan and figure stuff out there. I cannot stress this enough - Afghanistan must be dealt with if we want to make progress in Pakistan and the rest of the Middle East. Actually, Afghanistan and the Palestinian problems are the biggest issues I feel our government should be compelled to act upon.

I am worried about Iraq. Things are still not good. There is going to be a huge vacuum and some asshat dictatorship will replace the asshat that our asshat president decided now was the proper time to replace.

Well, there I went. It was either politics or the IMPENDING SNOW STORM today to blog about. Yes, a storm. Not just cute fluffy flakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes.

WIND BLOWING STORM ADVISORY.

GAH.

Overheard

"The news is saying there's going to be a snow storm next week...Why do they report it as a storm? Why can't it just snow? I don't know whether to hate on the media or God."

Jukbox Friday: Version "I still can't video post"

I still can't get a video "en post", so you will just have to exert force upon your mouse and click this link yourself


I'll even keep this one pretty short.


I like that this can be a new sleepy lullabye. I really like singing lullabyes... especialy when I'm sleepy. Like now. Plus it totally reminds me of my dad. He loves this movie. I've probably seen it more than most 26yr old girls. I never noticed this song in it though!

So, I'm really sleepy. I cannot believe how stressful this week was! I cannot fathom that in 5 more business days, I'm done with it. It is so taxing on my mind. You have to constantly, with NO breaks, multi-task.

Seriously. I have to think about this case and this follow up and that query and answer the phone and this person gone and this person here and call that guy back and work this case and help compose a letter and check licensing for that person and send a TR request because the systems are slow and go off the phone to run that type of quote no I really think I gotta go to the bathroom but first I'll have to make sure that policy goes OVERNIGHT OVERNIGHT but you cant tell it went overnight because the file is marked wrong and WHY isn't this file marked and email the supervisor of that department to assign the case and get this case moved in this system and why aren't the premiums matching and have to find the check that was signed for by Ed in the mail room and the agent is screaming screaming screaming because we. are. so. overworked.

Why do people keep asking me if I'm really going to be OK for an entire month not having to work? I am REALLY going to be ok. The reason I know this is that I have had two full continuous years of this crazed work. I gots it all stored up, thank you very much.

Seriously. This next month I will really take my time organizing things and reading and working out and taking my yoga and having a nice walk and getting a smoothie on Thursdays and checking facebook and leaving comments on Lorraine's blog and taking random pictures and fluffing pillows and cooking a nice dinner and learning how to cook a nice dinner and praying and reading and seeing more of the sun and getting new glasses and seeing my Godmother more and going to the dentist and getting laundry done and watering plants and throwing out shoes and buying a new pair of shoes to replace the ones I threw out and giving myself a pedicure and getting my hair cut and planning for a trip and making kokeshi dolls and going through college papers and singing lullabyes and getting. more. sleep.

I'm still kinda scared, but overall excited. g'night!

I still don't like politico-blogging

The only reason I'm voting for Barack Obama is because we both get to celebrate a birthday on August 4th.

There. I feel much better for getting that out.

Maybe I can do this.

Well, I have the day off, it's snowing another bazillion inches (SURPRISE!), and it's the day before the primaries here in good ol' moo-country. Apparently, we have now become battleground for sweet head to head Obama Clinton action. Gag. I hate media over-reactions, hype, and stupid headlines*

I sat through a news show last night that had an "exclusive" interview with Hilarious Clinton. Guess what they talked about? OMG. LOL. It was, like, about her favorite SHOES and, OMG, did you know that Bill Clinton did something totally outrageous ummm, like, years ago? Yes. They talked about SHOES and asked Hilary if she could be focused on USA when Bill was a terrible husband** a long time ago. OMG OMG OMG.

Stupid.

Moving on***, I would like to state that I really cannot and do not articulate my opinions regarding the topic of politics well. I very rarely will step in and shove some political opinion down other people's throats. I do not engage in political debate and discussion because I go all shy and waver on certain topics. It is my openness and willingness to understand the people behind the opinions that gets me in wavering problems. I will most likely go, "yeah, you're right." and that's it. It does annoy me that I cannot be well versed.

So instead of going into all the points I have about Hilary, John McCain, Obama, and Ron Paul, I'm just going to say:

1. I'm voting for Obama in the primaries tomorrow. I'm pretty excited about this vote.
2. If I ever have an "exclusive" interview with Hilary, I will not talk about shoes.
3. If you don't know who you are voting for tomorrow and you are in this state, please figure it out. It is IMPORTANT. I don't want to hear you bitching about who is chosen from the parties when you didn't come to this first party. It will then not be your party and, no, you cannot cry if you want to.
4. Yes, it's still snowing.

_________________________________________________________________

* Although these provide hilarious fodder for The Daily Show

** Before you think that I am pro-Bill Clinton, I need to review a couple of opinions. I do NOT appreciate how Bill Clinton corrupted the office of the Presidency and got everyone all crazy, but I did not mind him as a president. He really shook up the offices and got rid of stodgers who were contributing nothing in the way of new ideas. I don't think what happened with Bill Clinton is directly related to Hilary Clinton's run for presidency.

*** NOT to be confused wtih MOVEON.ORG the crazy bastards who use email as a mind-bending tool. Oddly enough they were started by passing around a petition asking Congress to "censure President Clinton and move on", as opposed to impeaching him. Smart. Smart. Smart. Still relevent every time Hilary is interviewed.

In the Projects lay a Bitter Sweet P

Scene: Apartment is all quiet. Sick husband sleeping.

Judges announce "Chris, you're in" - I shot straight up and almost yelped in girlish gleeeeeeeee! WHEEE!!! Then.... "Rami, you're also in." Damn.

IF ONLY Chris had done something slightly different and still "haute."

I hate that Drapey McDraperson drapes guy. I can even list why:
- He drapes fabric. The end.
- He peeved me with his slave-driver 'tude towards the P. Totally not necessary.
- He's already dressed tons of celebrities. Why does he even need to show at Bryant Park?? Why is he on this show?? Why do people keep buying his drapes??
- How can one be "passionate" about draping garments? YAWN.
- He always tries to distinguish himself as being "foreign" and having an elitist chic attitude. Get. Over. Yourself.
- I haven't even really liked the looks of any of his gowns.
- He's hot but gay. I'm bitter.

We'll just have to see how the 3 best looks of Chris and Rami compare.

For all who want to know (hi 2 readers - err - Mom and Aunt! bahaha), I actually really like Christian. Shocking, I know. I can even list why:
- He knows what he wants to do right away.
- He can execute a vision. BOOM.
- He uses fun gay phrases (Tranny ice cream, FIERCE, etc)
- He sews like a maniac. The other people will be pulling their fabric out of the bag and Christian is flouncing about the room with an already-made shirt. It's like he's a magical fairy elf in the workroom.
- He really "gets" the challenges. (prom dress challege was his weakest moment, but I really believe he had a difficult client who really didn't know what the heck she wanted)
- He has CRAZY hair.
- He really could have beaten the P in the arm wrestling match
- He never seems to get too stressed out. Pretty refreshing from crazy monotone Jillian.
- He is still relatively cordial to other designers
- He calls other designers out when they start to get too bitchy/stressed
- He clearly has talent
- His confidence really doesn't bother me. It's refreshing that he can back up his confidence.
- Did I mention the CRAZY hair????

Jillian is meh. That girl's monotone soft voice really gets ME on edge. I keep thinking: Oh. Man. she's gonna snap, she's gonna snap, she's gonna snap. Plus, she's ALWAYS last-minute. At least she's remained in.

Poor Sweet Pea. She really is sweet. Also, I noticed last night her blue star tattoo on her hand. I kinda liked it. The other tattoos are just distracting. Good lucked to our auffed P.

Chris I like. I wish he would just contain his fanciful notions of grandeur. Keep the outfits a little more finished and polished.

Overall, Chris or Christian could win and I would be happy. Jillian might suprise me - or snap.

That's all! I really liked last nights episode. PLUS - I was excited that they actually went to The Metropolitan museum - I can proudly say I've been there. How cool would it be to be in there with only 10 other people? Tres cool.

FUN times with the nephew

I always manage to get one "quintessential" bebe pic whenever he comes and visits. This would be this weekend's picture...


















... Usually the pictures end up like this because, well, he is a three year old boy who doesn't SIT STILL. He also has an impressive sixth sense whenever someone is holding a camera. He knows how to make it so you can never get his face in a shot. He's such a turkey.

Anyway. I could go on and on (and ON!) about his cuteness. I'll list some of the highlights of his short stay with us:

- Guitar, guitar, guitar. With us having Guitar Hero 3, now there is bubs' real guitar and bebe has his own smaller guitar. No more having to share the one guitar. Trying to help him play Guitar Hero 3 produced our one (and only!) tantrum. In the middle of the tantrum, kid is face down in our carpet and wailing "I'm Saaaaaaaaaaaaaaad." hilarious. only kid I know who is hilarious while throwing a tantrum. The best part is that this kid's tantrums only last about 30 seconds.

- Eat grilled cheese sandwiches? nooooooo. Eat soup? noooooo. Eat pudding? YOU BET!

- Having Jonah tell bubs what to look up on YouTube. Green tractor! Lion! Penguins! Penguin hatchin out a da egg! Frosty the snowman! We watched them all.
(note to self: what a great/useful way to entertain a kid)

- Making up songs. Yesterday's playlist included: Angels, birds in a tree, clouds, sky, stars, lions, rudolph, and that song from Blue's Clues. Today's playlist included: Elmo's world, saxophones, tubas, guitar, trwumpets, and things beeel (his name for bubs) likes to do

- Having Jonah open the door at 7:30 and cheerfully announce: "I'm awake!"

- Putting all the stuffed bears to "sweep" with all of my "wankets" in the house.

Nephew

Nephew Jonahbebe is coming to stay with his *cough* favorite *cough* aunt and uncle today and tomorrow. we're so excited. Isn't he the cutest?

Would madame desire a swim?

That's our pool right before the fence.

Would sir desire a sit?

Would sir desire a sit?

The Snow. It's here.

Snow. Work is open. Snow. Snow Snow. I have a tiny Saturn car. I took my own snow day. The End.

ummmm...

BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

It is 10:10 pm (sleeptime!) and there is NOT A FLAKE OUTSIDE

WTF*
WTF*
WTF*

I'm a gonna be so mad if I wake up to this no flake bullcrap



(*hey, I can swear on Mardi Gras right? Get it out of my system?)

The snow. It's coming.

18-20" predicted! whoooot!

chant it with me: I will have a snow day. I will have a snow day.

A pretty happy birthday!

Of course, High School Musical cake courtesy of my ever-talented mums


Some notes:
1) Yes, we have a deer head in our dining room
2) My husband almost always ends up lighting candles at my family birthdays. Every time. This amuses me.
3) High School Musical signage everywhere
4) Amazing pretzel dip and pretzels sitting on the table
5) Dad - wearing some sharp lookin dress pants (he gets fashion snaps for today!)
6) She ended up with 3 boyfriends, in case you wanted to know!



Classic Savannah... I let her know the poster was LIFE SIZE TROY from HSM and this was her reaction! hee hee.


Mmmmm strawberry ice cream. (notice the HSM pillow next to me and the HSM sign on our windows.... above the couch was a whole HAPPY BIRTHDAY HSM banner)


Ok, this is the FUNNIEST picture from today. We asked Jonah bebe to "smile and say cheese" -- I think he was afraid of flash cuz this was the reaction we got! That's my grandpa (Jonah's great-grandpa) in the background laughing hysterically!



Some other notes:
- A fun time had by all.
- My little brother made the paper for scoring the game-winning 3 pointer at his bball tournament! whoot! Apparently it was one of those moments with seconds left on the clock, down by two, everyone chanting for him to shoot, shoot! - so he did!
- We found a news snippet from 30 years ago in a local paper which read: My dad's aunt was a guest at the home of my grandparents for my dad's 2nd birthday. Ahhh, the days when "guests" for parties were reported in the local papers! amazing.
- Savannah only had 3 outfit changes for her birthday. I'm suprised it wasn't 6 or 7.
- The food highlights were the blueberry cream cheese thing my mom made, the pretzel dip by 'reenie beenie, and strawberry spinach salad from jeanie beanie.

Banana

Happy 9th birthday Savannah Hannah Montana Banana!

Here's hoping you are our sweet little girl today. Otherwise this could be a long day......

(I'll take some pictures and get them posted later tonight)

Jukebox Friday - A Magical Mystery Link Around The World Extravaganza

YAAAAAAAAAAY. It's Friday.

*ducks sheepishly* mrs here the thing emailed me great instructions for posting videos into blogspot, but I still haven't taken the steps she meticuously provided.

Sooo people are going to have to settle for clicking links. It's a mystery jukebox Friday and everyone is invited! Click - I mean party - away!



1. FREEEEEEEEEEE
In honor of:
* The fact that I handed in the resignation letter (listen to the lyrics!)
* The sweatshirt I threw on this morning (Because I overslept)

2. oui. mellow me out.

3. Quality mystery TV returned!
(plus an awesome song! this is an interesting version too )

4. I want it to be summer.
(Isn't this a cool one?!)

5. BAHAHAAAHAAA
(oh man. you are going to be so pissed at me for this one!)

6. Happy 9th Birthday Savannah Banana!
(Feb 3 an explosion of HSM gear will invade the 'rents house. bracing myself.)

7. I have no idea what this song means. (But I sing it all the time...)

8. Learn Korean.
(or just enjoy the cute video)

9. Still the coolest music video
(I can watch this over and over again)

10. Finally.
(I know the drummer to this group... Although, oddly, he isn't the drummer that is in this song. They are punk/rock/country. Think Merle Haggard... ummm.... modern? It appeals to me. yes? no?)


_

This mystery party has taken you around the world, gotten in your head, made you fabulous, confused, amazed, kept it old school, kept it new school, and maybe angry. Feel free to comment away! Have a great weekend!