Jukebox Friday - providing entertainment

Hey! I'm still here. Hi.

Lately, amidst packing, we've been rewarding ourselves by watching episodes of the CBS show "Big Bang Theory." We really dig the nerd humor of this show.

Anyway, the Barenaked Ladies sing the theme song and this is the expanded version. It's been heard every hour or so around the ol' apt. - when we reach the point where we wonder how the FRACK we've managed to accumulate tons of crap/ how the FRACK does one pack up tons of crap after a long day of work without a proper collapse. Little rewards work wonders for motivation.



Work, moving, holidays, and life will all be moving at warp speed for the next month. I really just need to buckle up and enjoy the ride. After all, I have much to be thankful for and really cherish.

haha, jukebox bonus:



Peace, Love, and Hugz. - SFOOOOFIE.

4 x 4 blog to your brain

1. Our house loan was FINALLY approved. At least over the phone. We still haven't gotten any official-lookin-documents in the mail. Yargh. Closing should be 11/28. We should be finding some sweet deal on a new computer for me early morning, closing on the house late morning, and jetting up north in the afternoon. That is, if N hasn't gotten a deer dead yet. Sorry for the hunting reference.... It's WI, and it happens. (The worst is driving along the highways and seeing animals hanging off the back of vehicles these next couple of weekends.)

2. It was the unofficial anniversary with the N last week. Yessirree, 6 years since the day we met and never parted. (Yeah, we're "one of those" couples that become inseperable from day 1). It's also been 3 years since the day I was proposed to on the top of Lebanon at a waterfall. A waterfall where, mythologically speaking, Aphrodite and Adonis shared their first kiss and "love began." Looking back, I would have wanted to shout YESSSS to the entire country and to the heavens above....instead I cried/mumbled/gasped out a meager 'yes'. So, anyway, I tend to get a little moopsy schmoopsy around this day every year. The man will never officially admit he gets a little moopsy romantical around this time of the year, but I think I could attest to some extra sparkles of romance.

3. "Sfoofie, if you were born to Sarah Palin, your name would be: Krinkle Bearcat Palin"

*giggles*

aaaand I giggled extra because the certain current job I'm in allows me to see what parents are naming their childrens lately. Let's just say I noticed that some parent had named their kids the following*:
(* names have been altered because I don't want to lose my job!)
- Pepper
- Paprika
- Chandmuth
- Cayenne
....aaaand Katie. Now, I'm not sure how I would feel if I were "Katie" in this scenario. Thankful? Or left out?

4. Oh, peoples, let me tell you a thing about "job satisfaction." I HAS IT!! I finally has it!!! ohboyohboyohboy, tis a great thing.

Peace out fwiendz.

Wow. With a lot of whoa.

I feel like this entry could be 20 pages, single spaced, long. There has been a lot going on in sfoofieville.

First, and crazily important, I believe that we just bought a house this week. Let me repeat that: We just bought a house this week. My dear N and I had been looking for quite a while for a place to stick our bazillions of no dollars, and this past weekend we spontaneously set it all into motion. We've been giggling fools all week thinking about this burst of spontaneity TO BUY A HOUSE. It is our first home purchase and absolutely blowing my mind that I'll be in a place where I can have non-white walls. If all goes according to plan, we'll close November 30th. If things do not go according to plan, you'll be hearing from my lawyer. Baahaaha, I love saying that. Really, we do have a lawyer. I can't believe I'm in a position to finance a home instead of ending up in a trailer home back in clunkerville. I guess that's how we defined "success" growing up. The new dig is actually a condo, but we have a nice corner unit overlooking a field. The cathedral ceilings are nice, it is a spacious 1500 square feet, and the upstairs loft area has a cozy fireplace in it.

Secondly, and crazily crazy, today is my last day of sabbatical retirement life. I start a job on Monday that I'm thrilled to start. Mainly because I won't be around the screaming childrens. Yeah, they suck. I look back on these last months with great fondness. It was the part between being home from vacation and landing this job that I really hated. I've learned so many important and non-important things during this time. I'll list those some time. I count myself triply blessed with this new job:
1. My new job is at a company that is always on the "100 best places to work" list. They care about their employees - including FREE gourmet lunches and FREE fitness center and trainers.
2. Um, Hello, My former job no longer exists.
3. The new company I'll be working for announced today that, while they aren't cutting jobs, they've placed an INSTANT moratorium on new hiring. Yeah, that made me yell out a HOLY CRAP! If I hadn't gotten this job, I would have had no chance of getting in for a looooooong time and forced to work some other job I wouldn't have liked.
I could even throw in a 4th great thing: I get to work for the same company as N. I kinda like him, so this is a positive development worth noting.

So this is all HUGE peoples. Thanks for buckling your safety belts here in sfoofieville. Peace out.

Jukebox Friday - I'm there for you

Hey, you, this is dedicated to the upcoming battle. I know you are so scared, but my outpouring and constant support is with you.


(sorry it is only pictures of the artist for the "video")

I will be the answer
At the end of the line
I will be there for you
While you take the time
In the burning of uncertainty
I will be your solid ground
I will hold the balance
If you can't look down

If it takes my whole life
I won't break, I won't bend
It will all be worth it
Worth it in the end
Cause I can only tell you what I know
That I need you in my life
When the stars have all gone out
You'll still be burning so bright

Cast me gently
Into morning
For the night has been unkind
Take me to a
Place so holy
That I can wash this from my mind
The memory of choosing not to fight

If it takes my whole life
I won't break, I won't bend
It will all be worth it
Worth it in the end
'Cause I can only tell you what I know
That I need you in my life
When the stars have all burned out
You'll still be burning so bright

Cast me gently
Into morning
For the night has been unkind

We have a lot of catching up to do....

This will be brief...

Yesterday I received a job offer for the company, job, pay, EVERYTHING that I wanted. I'm perfectly thrilled and cannot help but feel really blessed. I thank everyone for their confidence in me and constant motivation when I've been down the last couple of months during my search. Really, everything happens for a reason.

This weekend will be a grand family gathering to CELEBRATE my GREAT-grandma's birthday. It is pretty remarkable that I have all my grandparents and this greatest great grandma still alive. I cannot wait to have all of us gathered to honor her and shower her with hugs, kisses, and love.

Chicago - One Great Day!

First and foremost, I can't believe how much FUN I had this Saturday in Chicago. I don't always take the time to detail out some of these visits, but now I shall. Be aware that this entry will be LONG, but fun-filled.

There were several negative factors that weighed in for the day that made for some concerned anticipation. Namely:
- The recent cold rainy days we were having
- Being around my 9 year old sister for longer than 20 minutes. (love her, but...)
- Feeding my 9 year old sister banana pudding for breakfast and then remembering I have to be with her for a period longer than 20 minutes.
- Missing the 810am Metra train (completely my fault) and navigating the entire way into downtown with no maps. Relying on my memory. The memory that failed to remind me what feeding my 9 year old sister sugar for breakfast can result in.

Whee.

Well, I navigated the crew properly into the parking garage (as chicagoans would call it the 'parkn gratch') and put us squarely in front of a mcdonalds in which to fuel my bubs with some breakfast. We think a bum took a dump in the stairwell and was getting yelled at by security. Triple gold points for me!

Knowing full well we arrived a clear 45 minutes before our tour guides anticipated us, I suggested we go on a riverwalk. Little girl being adorable in the big city:
So far, so GREAT! It was a gorgeous day for us to tackle Chicago, so I was very happy with our little walk.

We then promptly called our tour guide shop and hurried their little bums through their morning routine. Profuse apologies owed. Minus myself 4 points. We took a hasty visit out to their balcony quickly keeping an eye on all their sneaky kitties. Found all their cool action figures and geegaws which always entertain. I get served water in a Guiness glass. Bitchin. We boarded the MHP tour bus and she showed us THE 7TH FLOOR including some dude casting evil sweat glares from his treadmill in the exercise room. Iwanski gets snared by a spider web. I hate it when that happens.

Ok. We moved onward to THE CORN COBS!!!!! Through the tremendous generosity of JBuckW (funniest thing is that I can sometimes only think of him as "Buck" and he can only think of me as "Sfoofie". Apparently we are asking MHP all the time what our "real" names are!!!), we got to go up to the roof of the building. It was completely free, completely without lines, completely memorable, and totally thrilling! I grew up seeing these buildings all the time in Chicago, but never thought I would ever be running free up on the roof with family and friends. I like these three pictures I took -one from the outside, the other from the rooftop, and the final of my adorable MHP and I!



Although the visit was brief, I hope Buck knows how much this opportunity was appreciated. I can't believe someone so cool is tucked away into the corncobs!

We all then headed to Millenium Park. I've come to really like this area. I don't get bored from seeing 'The Bean', the acoustically perfect outdoor theater, the plants, or the Crown fountain. Us girlies kicked off our shoes and socks and even splashed around in the fountain waters. Here are my favorite pics from the park:




(note: at this point my dear sis is still being an ANGEL. It was fun to see her enjoy her first visit to a huge city!)

We decided on a visit to The Field Museum (since we were doing so well on time!). Along the way Iwanski entertains the crowd by yelling out "I LOVE PEANUT BUTTER" which had all of us in stitches - especially my younger siblings. I also got two of my FAVORITE pictures from the day headed over to the museum. First, you can see two skyscrapers reflected perfectly in the skyscraper across the street and a cute lamppost and flowers are tucked into the picture as well. I am pretty proud of the shot. Also there is lovable Iwanski fervently trying to seduce our bus into stopping.



At the Field Museum was the big red ball! We counted ourselves lucky to see it tucked right up against the Field Museum's columns.

We quickly divided into two camps at the museum: people willing to fork over a few dollars to see the weather exhibit (and, it should be noted, that they were EXCITED to see a weather exhibit) and the other camp being "haters of forking over extra dollars for a weather exhibit". The haters chose to see the awesome "Native Americas" exhibition and some relaxation time. (Hey, if I wanted to experience a tornado live, I'd head to Kansas sometime.) We then all toured the Egyptian and Animals exhibitions. The animals exhibition was COOL and GROSS and sometimes COOL BUT GROSS. I guess it was cool to do "The Bear": Guess that's Iwanski's way of meditating for a good NFL season. Or else he wants to go crazy and live in Alaska like a bear like this guy.

We then decide to head to Wrigleyville and dinner. Things quickly went sour when we boarded the "free trolley" to only go about 2 minutes away. As we slowly become confined in the small back corner with no driver in sight, you can see the mental notes being made in the Iwanski brain: We could have been there by now. When did we get on? 8 minutes ago? Yeah, definitely could have gotten there by now. This is why Chicago really doesn't deserve the Olympics. I'm never taking this free trolley ever again. All seven of us will have to get out of this corner at the very next stop and inconvenience the eight people standing in the aisles. I hate inconveniencing people. Also: Iwanski don't tell stories on stairs. etc. We made a smart strategic move putting MHP and my mom next to each other. Those two can chat their ears off of one another and become oblivious to their surrounding environment. Until Journey begins to play, in which case they sing loudly and get in fits of giggles. Very much sisters:
The trolley finally did move and, yes, we inconvenienced the packed aisles by shoving our 7 asses (as Chicagoans would call them 'aces') out at the next stop. Our trip on the brown line over to the Belmont stop was another event filed under "Reasons Why Chicago Might Not Be The Best Choice For The Olympics." You see, for that day (and that day only. Oh. Hmmm. Maybe.), the brown line was running on an orange line rail. And then shuttles (?!?) were set up at the end to provide additional confusion to the party. Luckily we got off before the shuttle service began.

Our dinner at Mi Tierra was (in the annoying manner of Giuliana Rancic) A.MAZING.
We had margaritas, real queso fundido, and I tried a plate of 3 different A.MAZING. items. (guacamole taco, chicken tostada, pork tamale). We all laughed and us margarita girls giggled when the tequila hit our systems.

After dinner, we made our way over to Navy Pier. Yes, after this entire day of awesomeness, we still had energy for Navy Pier. Navy Pier was really cool - despite us hitting one of the only non-firework-weekends they have. We walked out to the point, headed back through the buildings and the stained glass exhibition SO COOL,btw), got the kids some souuuvenirs, and ended the night with ice cream. Actually, the night ended with getting our driver (bubs) some coffee from 7-11 to make the trip home.

None of us can believe we did all of this in a single day. Besides one heart-attack-inducing trip over Iwanski's foot at the station platform and a couple other sugar rushes, my little sister was very well behaved. I also took special pride in my navigation skills on the fly and enjoyed the gorgeous weather.

Overall, I had nothin to worry about. Especially because we hired the MHP & Iwanski tour firm....If anything they provide the comic relief in any cramped free trolley corner.



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FYI: You can find some of the coolest Chitownphotos here

Things that amuse/interest me here

* Hawa Chicken shops (I say it like a ninja...HAWA!)
* The people who have lived here a long time but don't really know Arabic. They can get away with only speaking French and this amazes me
* The signs / tv or movie captions / instructions all in three languages
* My poor poor butchered French pronunciations
* Huge Jesus on wheels (he moves around a certain street we drive through...it's like "FIND THE JESUS!")
* The freedoms here that I can't decide if they are good or bad (eg: drinking alcohol in cars)
* The traditions (eg: there is a specific kind of rice pudding you serve to all the visiting guests after you have a baby)
* Lizards in the garden
* My "quest" to try all different kinds of man2ousheh to see if the man2ousheh here in Brummana is really the best in all the land
* The old old old buildings that are so pretty in their ancient-ness
* The religious shrines that dot the sides of the roads
* The veiled women walking with their skimpy dressed friends
* The staring....everyone stares at everyone else in cars. (Not just because I'm the blondie.)
* The millions of flower boxes put up along fences in the villages
* The kindness of a total stranger to take off her bracelet and give it to me after I only commented that it was pretty. (this kindness is very common in the older generations, but you don't apparently find it in the younger generations. the girl, Issan, who gave me the bracelet will always be remembered when I put on the bracelet!)
* When going to the movies you sign up where you will be sitting in the theater
* The ability to find a full dinner for $2
* Paying for things in US dollars
* Planning out our perfect beach day for tomorrow
* How cheap it is to get a manicure, pedicure, and eyebrows done ($30 dollars and they do such a good job!!)
* Sitting at a restaurant by the sea with the breezes hitting my face
* Picking out the girls who had nose jobs
* Learning tons of Arabic in only the week I've been here
* Truly amused by the fact that so many things simply don't have a system here (especially traffic. and the fact that I didn't even need a visa when I entered at the airport. we decided it was probably because it was 430am and the guy didn't feel like filling it out!)
* All the flags flying around here due to the soccer Eurocup that is happening. People take soccer here very seriously! (go Germany!)
* Burger King and almost every place delivers here. Oh, and you can tell the guy to pick up something from the store along the way...
* Around every corner is an amazing view

I'm sure I'll keep thinking of more.

Oh Happy Day!!!

For those wanting an update...

Downtown Beirut had become "tentown" with people setting up tents and constricting downtown travel/business to oppose and protest the government.

As of today in Beirut, the tents are being dismantled and people/press have gathered to watch it....ummm peacefully! Finally, and most importantly, preparations are being executed at the parlimant for the "elections" on Sunday.

So according to the news, the agreement was reached around midnight last night as follows:
- Current government resigns
- "Election" of the new President on Sunday apparently
- Dismantlement of the tents in downtown
- Creation of a National Unity Government
- Session by Parliamant to approve the new Election Law to the election of parliamant members

Cross your fingers, but it appears we will be able to go to Lebanon!

Bad Habits

My dear aunty dauntingly posted her bad habits, so I guess I'm inspired to post my own. You will not see any bad habits of my husband as that subject is termed illegal** by said husband


** "Where?" I wanted to ask. Thinking if it was legal in Slovakia to post them, I'd have a strong urge to google "day trips to Slovakia" and post from there! Oh wait, I don't think I can even reference that he has any bad habits! He's perfect. The End!

Here goes ten of mine I can think of...

1. Number one will always be that I HATE doing dishes. I will put of doing dishes as long as possible...soaking them, rinsing them, doing everything but washing them. I do know I am allergic to soaps and household cleaning products and I think some aversion was born because of that. And, no, I'm not just making up an allergy to put off doing the dishes. There was a summer job in Door County once that made me wash dishes and I was sneezing and miserable I told them to hire someone else. I was blessed in college by a roomate who would always do the dishes. Hey, I made up for it by being a great friend to her.
I have become amazingly better since all other stressors in my life were cleared up. Dishes are done on an almost daily basis and I've learned to use my dishwasher when needed. Just ask The N...oh wait, that's illegal :D

2. I am horrible about sending mail/letters/etc. I have tons of blank cards and postcards purchased for birthdays, aniversarys, "thinking of you", "miss you", etc. I don't quite know how to resolve this. I am trying to send more emails out to family and friends or make quality phone calls. I hope everyone out there knows they really do have a card here with their name on it.... I just have to resolve myself to correcting this bad habit.

3. I have TONS of beauty products in TONS of bins in my bathroom. I have gone through and thrown away stuff, but it is hard. I have 4 different kinds of mousses and about 16 other types of hair products. It is so difficult for me to find a good hair product as I have the "weirdest" hair ever. I have super curly hair, but it is pretty thin and fine. I can't put a heavy product in it to tame the curls, but I can't put in a light product or I will have clown hair. Hence, I am constantly trying out new beauty products to resolve hair situations. Currently I use (wow, this has like 14 different names) "EXTREME STYLE VO5 CURVACEOUS CURLS STYLING MOUSSE 24HR HUMIDITY RESISTANCE" and it works pretty well. I also use very little lotion (hey, maybe that's a bad habit: "needs to use lotion more") but have tons of bottles around.

4. I am an addict to buying towels, pillows, and blankets. I've curbed this addiction since I feel a tad more settled in life, but at some points it could be ridiculous. I have an insane fear of having a household of guests needing to spend a night and not having any bedding for them. I think I'm good now...wanna have a sleepover?

5. I am a generally messy person. (laugh, mom, laugh.) I LOVE clean spaces, but I'm just generally laid back *cough, lazy, cough* and can't always grasp at really cleaning all the time. The good news is that our main bathroom (the one not cluttered with tons of beauty products) is ALWAYS clean. It is the one room that will always be clean. One thing I know is that there is NO such thing as having a "perfect" house where every room will be perfectly clean. So, ahem, back off.

6. I am always forgetting stuff behind when I stay somewhere. Sweatshirt put under a chair at a basketball game? lost. Backpack filled with all of my homework desperately needed in college? Left behind at home. (my mom really had to UPS it to me) I will go over and over and over in my head where I set things down, but always seem to forget something. This is a bad habit that has gotten me in trouble (backpack incident, cell phones left places, etc). LUCKILY, this has gotten better. And, oddly, I am not scatterbrained about keys or other items.

7. I talk on the phone and use up our cell phone minutes... this takes away from time N has calling his family. Across an ocean. D'oh.

8. I can be really really competitive...not at family games or sports, but in school and work. I always did the best in classes where I had a close friend to compete with. This was usually kept to myself, but I would always feel so much better if I got a better grade.

9. I've discovered recently that I haven't been paying much attention to the news. It was always a regular thing to read the news online during my lunch period at work with follow up news checks in the evening at home. All of a sudden last week the N wanted to talk to me about a news story and I had to admit I didn't know about it. "YOU DIDN'T KNOW SOME GUY TRAPPED HIS KID IN A BASEMENT FORCING HER TO HAVE OTHER KIDS AND THOSE KIDS HAVEN'T SEEN DAYLIGHT IN 19 YEARS?" Yep, reality check.

10. I will eat things I know will upset my stomach. 'nuff said.


Coming up in this week's programming schedule:
- One, two, three hours at a DMV: Logging the outrage.
- Top Chef Wedding Wars Better Be Good: I-Team Investigates.
- A jukebox dedication to my Mom: Makes baby kittens perched on rainbows smile
- Scheduled debate: In which countries should blogging about a husband be legal?

Today's Revelations

* I dont like peeling oranges. I like cutting them into wedges and eating the delicious part out of the skin.
* Eating oranges made me happy
* Static electricity at the gym is scary. Kept shocking my poor left ear!!
* The internet is an endless resource for learning about static electricity. I think I've cured what the problems were (dry skin, fresh laundered clothes, dry air, cold morning, dry shoes)
* Gimme Arabic bread (thin pita) and melted mozzarella and I am a happy woman
* Pineapple scented things are totally ruined when they contain other totally not necessary scents like coconut. Or mandarin orange. Or "tropical" artificial scents. WHY CAN'T IT JUST BE PINEAPPLE?
--> sidenote: Boo to yankee candle for discontinuing pineapple paradise. That scent was the only reason I ever bought from them...and was the BEST smelling thing EVAR.
* I can totally tune out anything when I'm reading a book.
* Tuning everything out while reading a book is fabulous.
* There is a big crack in our wall that I never noticed
* I really do love and appreciate all my friends
* A band from college that I know totally got 5000 times better with the changeup of the lead singer. I've told the guitarist that they've needed a new lead singer for YEARS. To know how much better they sound now is pretty gratifying
* I need to do dishes. yuck.
* The apartment really is a lot better now that I'm around a lot more
* I don't miss taking a billion phone calls a day and solving horrid insurance cases.
* I keep dreaming about past jobs I've held.
* I dream a lot. and a lot more vividly than most people. I had a dream this week containing some random person from high school. Then I get a message from his wife (who I also went to high school with) that they are expecting a baby girl. So random that I had a dream and an important announcement involving the same RANDOM person.
* Even when I have access to all the cable channels at the gym, I always seem to end up watching a channel I get at home. I'm just used to all the food network, bravo, style, and women's channel entertainment.
* I can't wait until I can go play tennis, go for a bike ride, have a picnic, BE OUTSIDE AND NOT BE COLD, go for morning walks, golf, etc
* I've set my goals for tomorrow: dishes, buying soil to start the patio garden, going to a strength class at the Y, and going through one cupboard in the kitchen to match containers to covers.
* I can't bring myself to get rid of the bridal magazines. Why?
* Enchanted is a delightful movie
* Cuddling and watching Enchanted is the best
* I definitely know which kind of contact lenses I'm going with. I was given two sets to try out and one is a ton better than the ones I'm wearing today.
* You don't need to have a fancy camera to take a good picture
* I love my bestest friend

Caleb- "Like a heart"

Caleb Owen Lapp - newest nephew - born 3/1/2008.

He looks different from Jonahbebe, but completely adorable in his own way. The parents are doing great and everyone in the families are completely thrilled!

I did it.

Sometimes in life there are those moments

"time grabs you by the wrists / directs you where to go"

You have to make the changes needed. You have to seriously evaluate the unhappy factors.

"go confidently in the direction of your dreams"

sooooooooooooooooooo

.
.
.

I quit my job today. February 29th is my last day ("leap" day. get it? yeah? too barfy? k. noted). I have no other job lined up. I will have March / April / May for myself (with some adventures in the works) and then LIFE will really be stirred up. I worked 305 hours of overtime in 2007 and I do not like the person who worked 305 hours of overtime in 2007. I would cry on the commute home, write awful sad blogs, and not want to talk to ANYONE else but bubs most days. This is me we're talking about. Me not wanting to talk to people is indicative of some serious issues.

But now? Now I'm REALLY excited about this all.

Stay tuned...