Friday, August 29, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Lazy mom
Anyone who has been reading lately may know that I've been dealing with some amount of insomnia. It's mostly related to the decongestant I've been taking that has kept me from being too miserable while I was sick. Yesterday I felt like I could make it through the night without taking any and I slept like I haven't slept in weeks.
This morning at 5am when the waking of the teenager was to commence, I didn't really feel like getting up quite yet so I hit snooze for five minutes. The alarm went off again I still didn't want to get up but I knew that if I didn't wake her up, I was not getting to work anytime soon. So I called her cell phone to give her a hotel style wake up call and went back to sleep for 30 minutes. Does this make me a bad person? ;)
This morning at 5am when the waking of the teenager was to commence, I didn't really feel like getting up quite yet so I hit snooze for five minutes. The alarm went off again I still didn't want to get up but I knew that if I didn't wake her up, I was not getting to work anytime soon. So I called her cell phone to give her a hotel style wake up call and went back to sleep for 30 minutes. Does this make me a bad person? ;)
Monday, August 25, 2008
A beautiful mistake?
Because my birthday is coming up next weekend, my wonderful hubby told me that I could go get a new table either for the breakfast area or the dining room. As much as I would like to have a table for the dining room, we wouldn't use a formal table as often so I decided that I wanted a new table for the breakfast nook. I have been patient for a long time to get a new table. I bought the old one from my grandmother not long after I graduated from college. We relocated the old table to the dining room as seen here:
I set out on my quest for the perfect table. I went to several stores to look around but none could beat the table I found at Gallery Furniture. For those who are unfamiliar, Gallery Furniture is a massive warehouse of furniture that used to carry lower end furniture only. They have started carrying a lot more higher end furniture in the last several years so I have started shopping there more.
I drove there after work and walked back to the area where they display the tables. Instantly I fell in love with a certain line of tables they carry that are made of Mango wood. I'm in a mode of trying to be more eco-friendly and the wood that they use in these tables is supposed to qualify (although I will admit I didn't research it so hopefully they aren't lying to me).
So I bring the hubby back in to make sure he likes these table too and he does. The tables I considered are bigger so that I can can get a lot more people around it. We regularly have more than four people at our dinner table these days since four actually live here and then the college student's boyfriend is here often as well. I've always loved the pub height tables so I was leaning towards those but still considering regular height tables too
Each of these tables are solid wood with no wood veneers. Rather than finishing the table to be smooth, the company that makes these tables do them all by hand and leave the beauty of the wood evident. After lots of hand-wringing over which of these beautiful tables I wanted, I chose the 58 inch square pub height table with eight leather chairs. Yes, I said eight. We have a lot of space in that breakfast nook and I'm not afraid to fill it!
Another reason I love Gallery Furniture is that they guarantee same day delivery and this works well with my need for instant gratification. We bought it Saturday morning and as promised they delivered it Saturday evening. The delivery guys bring this table in and they struggled with it because is just that heavy. They put it where I wanted in the breakfast area and it's BIG! It looks bigger than it did in the store but I love it anyway. You can see it in the picture below:
Sunday evening was our first family meal at this table and tonight it was just the four of us. I wasn't prepared for the feelings that I had when I got ready to set things on such an expensive real wood table. I put all of the food on silicone trivets to protect the wood from the heat. Then the teenager sat down and promptly set a soda can on the table. I just about came unglued inside and got a coaster to put her drink on.
We all decided on a new spot to sit and plopped down to eat. As I sat there across from the teenager I found that I was very sad that she was nearly five feet away. I realize now that I enjoyed the more intimate feel of that little old table.
Have I made mistake? Only time will tell. As I sit here looking at it, I think I know what must be done. I need to put the new table in the formal dining area and continue to use the old table. At some point in time I will have the money to buy a nicer table for my breakfast area. The next new one will be a good bit smaller and much more abusable than my birthday gift is.
I set out on my quest for the perfect table. I went to several stores to look around but none could beat the table I found at Gallery Furniture. For those who are unfamiliar, Gallery Furniture is a massive warehouse of furniture that used to carry lower end furniture only. They have started carrying a lot more higher end furniture in the last several years so I have started shopping there more.
I drove there after work and walked back to the area where they display the tables. Instantly I fell in love with a certain line of tables they carry that are made of Mango wood. I'm in a mode of trying to be more eco-friendly and the wood that they use in these tables is supposed to qualify (although I will admit I didn't research it so hopefully they aren't lying to me).
So I bring the hubby back in to make sure he likes these table too and he does. The tables I considered are bigger so that I can can get a lot more people around it. We regularly have more than four people at our dinner table these days since four actually live here and then the college student's boyfriend is here often as well. I've always loved the pub height tables so I was leaning towards those but still considering regular height tables too
Each of these tables are solid wood with no wood veneers. Rather than finishing the table to be smooth, the company that makes these tables do them all by hand and leave the beauty of the wood evident. After lots of hand-wringing over which of these beautiful tables I wanted, I chose the 58 inch square pub height table with eight leather chairs. Yes, I said eight. We have a lot of space in that breakfast nook and I'm not afraid to fill it!
Another reason I love Gallery Furniture is that they guarantee same day delivery and this works well with my need for instant gratification. We bought it Saturday morning and as promised they delivered it Saturday evening. The delivery guys bring this table in and they struggled with it because is just that heavy. They put it where I wanted in the breakfast area and it's BIG! It looks bigger than it did in the store but I love it anyway. You can see it in the picture below:
Sunday evening was our first family meal at this table and tonight it was just the four of us. I wasn't prepared for the feelings that I had when I got ready to set things on such an expensive real wood table. I put all of the food on silicone trivets to protect the wood from the heat. Then the teenager sat down and promptly set a soda can on the table. I just about came unglued inside and got a coaster to put her drink on.
We all decided on a new spot to sit and plopped down to eat. As I sat there across from the teenager I found that I was very sad that she was nearly five feet away. I realize now that I enjoyed the more intimate feel of that little old table.
Have I made mistake? Only time will tell. As I sit here looking at it, I think I know what must be done. I need to put the new table in the formal dining area and continue to use the old table. At some point in time I will have the money to buy a nicer table for my breakfast area. The next new one will be a good bit smaller and much more abusable than my birthday gift is.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Business Casual
A few months ago my company sent out an email regarding proper business casual for our company. I don't really have a problem with anything they said just a dilemma on the definition of one particular section of the policy. So instead of going to the source of the email (HR) and getting them to clarify, I felt the need to let you, the internet, help me out with this one. Makes perfect sense in my insomniac fog (read the next post for explanation).
The section in question is the following:
"For all locations, unacceptable dress includes, but is not limited to: t-shirts or tank tops; sweatpants, sweatshirts, or workout attire; shorts, cutoffs; beach attire; halter or tank tops; sheer clothing or clothing that is otherwise revealing or tight fitting; mini or short skirts; loose fitting sandals or flip-flops; clothing that is frayed, faded, or torn; or any other attire that is excessively distracting. Any clothing displaying offensive, derogatory or inappropriate language, slogans, or images is strictly prohibited."
This is from the policy that they have posted on our intranet. I have no problems with anything stated there. I think the request above is completely appropriate. In an email reminding us of the policy, they stated that we could wear casual sandals. This is where my problem occurs. Where does one draw the line between casual sandal and flip flop?
For instance is this considered a flip flop?
The white sandals have garnered some attention from the male coworkers on my floor. I have worn both shoes to work without management making a comment. However a group of my male coworkers who are obviously jealous said that the white pair were flip flops.
I'm trying to figure out what the distinction is between the two. They are both flip flop shaped. Both are leather with some sort of decoration and both have normal sandal type of soles rather than the flip flop style. I personally think the brown pair is much more casual looking than the white ones but the brown one seem to be more accepted.
My definition of a casual sandal is one that I wouldn't wear to the beach for fear of ruining them. Another female coworker agreed with that definition. So internet, am I right to wear either of these sandals or should I be flogged with a wet noodle by HR?
The section in question is the following:
"For all locations, unacceptable dress includes, but is not limited to: t-shirts or tank tops; sweatpants, sweatshirts, or workout attire; shorts, cutoffs; beach attire; halter or tank tops; sheer clothing or clothing that is otherwise revealing or tight fitting; mini or short skirts; loose fitting sandals or flip-flops; clothing that is frayed, faded, or torn; or any other attire that is excessively distracting. Any clothing displaying offensive, derogatory or inappropriate language, slogans, or images is strictly prohibited."
This is from the policy that they have posted on our intranet. I have no problems with anything stated there. I think the request above is completely appropriate. In an email reminding us of the policy, they stated that we could wear casual sandals. This is where my problem occurs. Where does one draw the line between casual sandal and flip flop?
For instance is this considered a flip flop?
No one has commented to me on those sandals. Consider the next photo... Sandal or flip flop?
The white sandals have garnered some attention from the male coworkers on my floor. I have worn both shoes to work without management making a comment. However a group of my male coworkers who are obviously jealous said that the white pair were flip flops.
I'm trying to figure out what the distinction is between the two. They are both flip flop shaped. Both are leather with some sort of decoration and both have normal sandal type of soles rather than the flip flop style. I personally think the brown pair is much more casual looking than the white ones but the brown one seem to be more accepted.
My definition of a casual sandal is one that I wouldn't wear to the beach for fear of ruining them. Another female coworker agreed with that definition. So internet, am I right to wear either of these sandals or should I be flogged with a wet noodle by HR?
Lack of sleep promotes bursts of blog activity
Every once in a while I have a short period of insomnia. There are usually two types of insomnia for me. The first is due to something stressful happening in my life and I find it impossible to shut my brain off. For me this is the worst kind but there is nothing I can do about it short of taking some sort of sleep aid.
Fortunately my current insomnia is due to the second reason which is physical discomfort. The reason this is fortunate is that I can generally do something about it. Last night it was all about the cough I have developed from the cold that I've been suffering. I didn't have any good medicines that would allow me to sleep so finally at midnight I took the one that would likely keep me awake all night but at least I would be comfortable and wide awake.
The side effect of this sort of insomnia is that I have an idle mind at a time when there is no one to talk to. I got up and read a magazine for about an hour then went back to bed around 1:15am. I slept for about 2 hours and was wide awake again. So I laid there for an hour with my mind pondering things like whether people who weren't born as pasty white as I was are bothered by the fact that their are no band aids to match their skin color... or maybe there is and I just needed to find them since the standard color matches my skin almost perfectly. You know, important stuff like that.
So if you are reading this later today after my little burst of blog postings, you will know two things:
1. I haven't had much sleep which will explain any lack of coherent thoughts
2. My idle mind is a dangerous thing
Fortunately my current insomnia is due to the second reason which is physical discomfort. The reason this is fortunate is that I can generally do something about it. Last night it was all about the cough I have developed from the cold that I've been suffering. I didn't have any good medicines that would allow me to sleep so finally at midnight I took the one that would likely keep me awake all night but at least I would be comfortable and wide awake.
The side effect of this sort of insomnia is that I have an idle mind at a time when there is no one to talk to. I got up and read a magazine for about an hour then went back to bed around 1:15am. I slept for about 2 hours and was wide awake again. So I laid there for an hour with my mind pondering things like whether people who weren't born as pasty white as I was are bothered by the fact that their are no band aids to match their skin color... or maybe there is and I just needed to find them since the standard color matches my skin almost perfectly. You know, important stuff like that.
So if you are reading this later today after my little burst of blog postings, you will know two things:
1. I haven't had much sleep which will explain any lack of coherent thoughts
2. My idle mind is a dangerous thing
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Don't judge me!
I don't enjoy grocery shopping much anymore. I like it less these days now that I have a teenager and a college student living with me that can eat anything they want and still lose weight (join me as I hate them for a second). It's painful for me to buy all of the things I love to eat but just can't anymore.
I don't really need anything to add to my dislike of grocery shopping since I'm the only one in the house who will actually do it. However, I found another reason to hate grocery shopping this week. I had already been to the store before the weekend to pick up food for the visit from my family. However Monday evening we were out of milk and a few other things so I decided that I would just stock up on a few of those items that the young, skinny things love to eat. This means a basket full of frozen pizza, quesadilla, taquitos, oreo cookies, etc.
I gathered up all of these items and headed to check out. I don't mind it when the checker wants to chat. It can't be too fun to just check groceries all day without chatting with the customers. However I draw the line at the conversation I had with this particular Target checker. He started off commenting about my Weight Watcher cookie crumb covered ice cream bars. He said that he needed to buy some of those too. Not a bad comment so I engage in conversation.
Then came the 12 pack of oreo cookie single serving packages. He commented that I must really love oreo cookies. For some reason I needed to explain that THOSE were for the teenager. He keeps checking my groceries which includes 4 personal size frozen pizzas and then the fixings to make a pizza (for the teenager and her friend because the like doing that sort of thing). At this point the checker comments how I must love pizza and again I felt like I had to explain my purchases.
Why do I care what this Target checker thinks?? Because I have too many moms out there who are APPALLED that I let the teenager eat so much processed food. I was even told once that this wasn't who I am. My response to that is... No really it is who I am! NOW STOP JUDGING ME!
I don't really need anything to add to my dislike of grocery shopping since I'm the only one in the house who will actually do it. However, I found another reason to hate grocery shopping this week. I had already been to the store before the weekend to pick up food for the visit from my family. However Monday evening we were out of milk and a few other things so I decided that I would just stock up on a few of those items that the young, skinny things love to eat. This means a basket full of frozen pizza, quesadilla, taquitos, oreo cookies, etc.
I gathered up all of these items and headed to check out. I don't mind it when the checker wants to chat. It can't be too fun to just check groceries all day without chatting with the customers. However I draw the line at the conversation I had with this particular Target checker. He started off commenting about my Weight Watcher cookie crumb covered ice cream bars. He said that he needed to buy some of those too. Not a bad comment so I engage in conversation.
Then came the 12 pack of oreo cookie single serving packages. He commented that I must really love oreo cookies. For some reason I needed to explain that THOSE were for the teenager. He keeps checking my groceries which includes 4 personal size frozen pizzas and then the fixings to make a pizza (for the teenager and her friend because the like doing that sort of thing). At this point the checker comments how I must love pizza and again I felt like I had to explain my purchases.
Why do I care what this Target checker thinks?? Because I have too many moms out there who are APPALLED that I let the teenager eat so much processed food. I was even told once that this wasn't who I am. My response to that is... No really it is who I am! NOW STOP JUDGING ME!
Monday, August 4, 2008
My cars hate me
I don't know why they hate me but they do. And really it's not just my cars it's also other cars around me that hate me. As soon as I get near them, they make me pay. It's really a shame too because I had planned on a really awesome post featuring Max the mutt-iferic puppy. He will always be this mutt-ilicious so that can wait. Right now I must talk about why my cars are making think that I should never drive again.
It all started after a perfectly innocent happy hour with friends a few weeks ago. I was happily driving home in the nearly brand-new Mini and out of nowhere came a ginormous piece of 18-wheeler tire rubber. The car in front of me ran over this huge piece of tire. It came at me fast and hit my car on the windshield on the passenger side. It pretty much scared the crap out of me because it hit my car with a very loud bang. I immediately checked the windshield and miraculously there were no cracks at all. I was joyous.... until.... I looked out the passenger window and where the mirror used to be there were only lovely colorful wires sticking out. WONDERFUL!!
So I take the car straight up to the Mini dealership since it was pretty close by to let them look at it and make an appointment to get it replaced. They tell me it will take a few days to get the parts in so I make an appointment for the next Tuesday right before vacation. I ask if they can get me a loaner and they say they can.
That next Tuesday only a few hours before I am to drop the car off to be fixed the next morning, the service chick calls and asks me about my appointment. She lets me know that they will need to order all of those parts for my mirror. I'm thinking that they really should have had time for that but I decide not to be bitchy about it. I tell her that we are going on vacation and I would just bring it in when I get back. I remind her that I will need a loaner.
After my wonderful and restful vacation, I take my car into the dealership. She happily takes the car and is acting like we are done. I remind her nicely that I asked for a loaner and she gives me this look like she has no memory of this (keep in mind that I've told them twice about this!) She looks through the available cars, tells me that they don't have much, and asks if I can drive a standard. I give her a nice blank stare since I just gave her my car... a standard.
So she sends me off with the loaner which incidentally is the spitting image of my car. I happily left driving my car twin and went to work without any problems the next morning. On the way home that next afternoon, I was gunning it a little to get out into the crazy Houston traffic and I felt a weird pop in the car.
I didn't think much of it right away and took the car to get some overpriced fuel. When I left the gas station the car felt a little weird and sluggish but it still seemed ok. I drive home to pick up the hubby and Max's kennel so that we can pick him up from the vet. As I drive back out of the neighborhood, the car keeps getting worse and worse until it gets to the point that I can accelerate and nothing happens. So I turn around and limp home.... very.... slowly.... to the annoyance of about 10 cars behind me. We make it back and call Mini to come get their stupid loaner.
Mini was only supposed to have my car from Thursday until Saturday morning. On Saturday they call to let me know that they don't have all of the parts. Really? Mrs. Mini Serviceperson, you have only had two weeks to get these freaking parts! Apparently Mrs. Mini Serviceperson hates me too.
So I've come full circle and I'm driving my Miata again. I really don't mind it all that much because I still love that car but it is a little annoying when I need to carry more than one person. On Monday or Tuesday (I am losing track now...) they call to let me know the part is still not in so they keep the car and I continue to drive the trusty Miata. On Thursday (which was this last Thursday by the way) they inform that due to a miscommunication, no one ordered the part. REALLY??? Yep, Mrs. Mini Serviceperson definitely hates me but at least trusty Miata loves me.
Until today! Trusty Miata hates me too. Trusty Miata gets me about halfway home in rush hour Houston traffic when Trusty Miata decides to join the "Cars who hate Carol" club. Did I mention that Trusty Miata decided to die in front of a very impatient angry 18-wheeler? And did I also mention that I had to move in front of a very impatient angry Big-Ole-Pickup redneck driver?? I think Trusty Miata was the ringleader of the club personally.
So my cars all hate me. I don't think I'm gonna drive ever again!
It all started after a perfectly innocent happy hour with friends a few weeks ago. I was happily driving home in the nearly brand-new Mini and out of nowhere came a ginormous piece of 18-wheeler tire rubber. The car in front of me ran over this huge piece of tire. It came at me fast and hit my car on the windshield on the passenger side. It pretty much scared the crap out of me because it hit my car with a very loud bang. I immediately checked the windshield and miraculously there were no cracks at all. I was joyous.... until.... I looked out the passenger window and where the mirror used to be there were only lovely colorful wires sticking out. WONDERFUL!!
So I take the car straight up to the Mini dealership since it was pretty close by to let them look at it and make an appointment to get it replaced. They tell me it will take a few days to get the parts in so I make an appointment for the next Tuesday right before vacation. I ask if they can get me a loaner and they say they can.
That next Tuesday only a few hours before I am to drop the car off to be fixed the next morning, the service chick calls and asks me about my appointment. She lets me know that they will need to order all of those parts for my mirror. I'm thinking that they really should have had time for that but I decide not to be bitchy about it. I tell her that we are going on vacation and I would just bring it in when I get back. I remind her that I will need a loaner.
After my wonderful and restful vacation, I take my car into the dealership. She happily takes the car and is acting like we are done. I remind her nicely that I asked for a loaner and she gives me this look like she has no memory of this (keep in mind that I've told them twice about this!) She looks through the available cars, tells me that they don't have much, and asks if I can drive a standard. I give her a nice blank stare since I just gave her my car... a standard.
So she sends me off with the loaner which incidentally is the spitting image of my car. I happily left driving my car twin and went to work without any problems the next morning. On the way home that next afternoon, I was gunning it a little to get out into the crazy Houston traffic and I felt a weird pop in the car.
I didn't think much of it right away and took the car to get some overpriced fuel. When I left the gas station the car felt a little weird and sluggish but it still seemed ok. I drive home to pick up the hubby and Max's kennel so that we can pick him up from the vet. As I drive back out of the neighborhood, the car keeps getting worse and worse until it gets to the point that I can accelerate and nothing happens. So I turn around and limp home.... very.... slowly.... to the annoyance of about 10 cars behind me. We make it back and call Mini to come get their stupid loaner.
Mini was only supposed to have my car from Thursday until Saturday morning. On Saturday they call to let me know that they don't have all of the parts. Really? Mrs. Mini Serviceperson, you have only had two weeks to get these freaking parts! Apparently Mrs. Mini Serviceperson hates me too.
So I've come full circle and I'm driving my Miata again. I really don't mind it all that much because I still love that car but it is a little annoying when I need to carry more than one person. On Monday or Tuesday (I am losing track now...) they call to let me know the part is still not in so they keep the car and I continue to drive the trusty Miata. On Thursday (which was this last Thursday by the way) they inform that due to a miscommunication, no one ordered the part. REALLY??? Yep, Mrs. Mini Serviceperson definitely hates me but at least trusty Miata loves me.
Until today! Trusty Miata hates me too. Trusty Miata gets me about halfway home in rush hour Houston traffic when Trusty Miata decides to join the "Cars who hate Carol" club. Did I mention that Trusty Miata decided to die in front of a very impatient angry 18-wheeler? And did I also mention that I had to move in front of a very impatient angry Big-Ole-Pickup redneck driver?? I think Trusty Miata was the ringleader of the club personally.
So my cars all hate me. I don't think I'm gonna drive ever again!
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