Monday, November 30, 2009

Back from Vaca

Well, made it back from our Black Hills Vacation / Hartman Thanksgiving / 5th Wedding Anniversary Celebration...

I took the day off to recoup and finish traveling and guess what happened...leaned over to pick up some of my junk at home and W-ratch! My low back went WAY out of place.

I physically yelped when it happened - and with no one around to hear my cries, that's how you know it's bad.

I went to the chiro in the afternoon (and of course to the allergy clinic for my bi-weekly shots), and am now home "resting" with the help of Domino's, mass ibuprofen, and the drink of champions - Lord and Diet Coke. I will either feel better soon or pass out trying.

Wish me luck at the desk job tomorrow. Seriously, it could suck.

UPDATE: Having difficulty with bodily functions and pain in low back synching up. I either need to stop being in pain or stop processing food. Anyone able to relate?

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Made It!

Back in SD at last. After my 6:20am flight from Atlanta and a connection in MSP, I have finally made it back to one of my homes - Rapid City. Jason picked me up from the airport and now we are just waiting for Jeff to arrive from Aberdeen and having a good ol' lunch at where it all began - Qdoba.

I say "where it all began" because many of our first dates (which I didn't consider dates for a very long time, like maybe until this year) happened over burritos and nachos at Qdoba.

Don't judge us - we were in college! No steak, wine, and roses for us...no matter how far - or not far - we go in life, you can't change your beginnings.

And what great beginnings those were - after almost 5 years of marriage I still like the guy. And we can still be content with a date at Qdoba.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

The day before vaca

I love and hate the day before vacations. Here's why - instead of getting increasingly excited for a trip as it is coming up, I instead get freaked out by all of the things still on my plate that need to get done before I go...


Saturday, November 21, 2009

Extermination

BAM! POW! WHAM-O!

Yes, it's true. Our exterminator came for his quarterly visit today. Junebugs that look like roaches to me, you have nowhere to hide.

Bella and Maddie are each playing with some kind of wasp-y things that are not quite flying anymore, and I have spotted a turned up scorpion in the corner.

Regular maintenance on household items makes me happy when the results are so obvious and immediate.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

The Cleaning Authority

As most of you know, Jeff is the neat and clean one in the relationship. Therefore, during his absence, the house has become a bit of a disaster zone. Not bad, by my standards, but he would flip seeing all the shoes I have not put away.

And, he is also the one that vacuums regularly. Since I just can't quite get up the gumption to do it, or sweep or mop or anything else, imagine my thrill when direct marketing arrived on my doorstep:

"Life's too short to clean your own house."

I freaking couldn't agree more. And I would totally spring to get a deep cleaning done before he comes back as a nice surprise, cuz seriously, I would pay a lot of money to get it done once by someone else and take total credit for it.

I tore that direct marketed brochure open like nobody's business and immediately went to the website. Once there, to get a free estimate for someone from The Cleaning Authority to clean my house, I had to put in my zip code. And was surprised to see this message:

"Unfortunately, we do not have a location in your area at this time. However, we are continually expanding our locations across the country. The Cleaning Authority may have franchise opportunities available in your area. Click here to find out more."

Seriously???? So not only was this brochure DIRECT MARKETED to ME - MY NAME, at MY ADDRESS and ZIP CODE and the service IS NOT AVAILABLE IN THIS ZIP CODE, but to add insult to injury they think I totally want to reverse course and instead of paying someone to clean my house, I just might want to buy a franchise instead to earn the right to clean a bunch of other people's houses.

What? This story is probably really funny, if I hadn't been so excited by the prospect of this cleaning service.

Instead, I am seriously irritated by this. And calling Merry Maids.

Monday, November 16, 2009

This time, Pittsburgh

Any idea what it will be like? Anyone? Heading out tomorrow and sooooo not ready for it...I don't even have my appointments booked for Wednesday...lame, huh?

So, I looked at my calendar and figured out I have been gone a good portion of each work week for over a month. I am jonesing for 2 complete weeks at home, with Jeff, and the kitties. Not likely to happen until after Christmas, I'm afraid.

On the upside of life, a major project that I was handed ("new responsibilities" as a result of a downsized department, but I'm not complaining, don't get me wrong) about a week ago has been launched and put out to bid. I worked on it majorly all week last week, and this weekend - hopefully I will get some really awesome responses and "prove" to the business unit that my group, and myself in particular, is here to help, not hurt or dictate anything, and we can actually get them better deals than they could on their own. We shall see!

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Crock Pot deliciousness

This weekend's treat:

3 chicken breasts
1 packet of taco seasoning
1 jar of Mrs. Renfro's Peach Salsa
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can green chilis

Throw it in the crock pot on low for 6 hours and you there you have it! You can eat it over rice, in a taco shell, or shred the chicken and eat it plain. I plan on doing all 3.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Could it get any redder?

Just when I thought I had seen it all in Georgia...I went to Alabama.

Ok seriously, it wasn't that bad but it just blows my mind that I live in the south and am fortunate enough to go to exotic cities like Birmingham.

On a kind of neat note - the Tutwiler Hotel had a photo gallery of historic Civil Rights moments captured in Birmingham. It's still hard to believe that the movement was not that long ago when the world is such a different place now.

Totally changing gears, but I am kind of sick of not having a husband or friends down here. I tried to get a date to the Twilight "New Moon" premiere next week but so far have been rejected by everyone I asked so far. Apparently their schedules are much busier than mine. Boo.

Any thoughts on how to make friends in a new city? Ok, maybe not even friends but just a movie buddy? Craigslist? (Just kidding!!!)

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Happy Birth Day

Shout out to Anna, Jed, and little Owen who was born yesterday 11/10 and weighing in at 8 lbs, 3 oz and 20.5 inches long. YAHOO!

Also, for those that care, got my H1N1 shot today at my asthma doc's office. Whew.

Monday, November 9, 2009

Live from Florida...it's Baby P

Ok, maybe not *quite* yet...but I am very much thinking of my good friends Jed and Anna in Florida as they await Little Owen's Birth Day!!! Can't wait to see photos.

Also, tonight I went to the airport and spent a little QT with my old friend Barry and his brother Dan, who stopped through ATL enroute to South Dakota. We only got to catch up for about an hour but it was totally great to see old friends' faces!!!

Off to hunt wasps in the house (nothing ever dies here, I swear, and it MUST be time for the exterminator again).

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Back from Copenhagen

The whirlwind of activity called my-life-for-the-past-2-weeks is over. I got back from Copenhagen on Friday (yes I was only there a day and a half, not including the 19 hours enroute and back), after my week in DC last week, and have pretty much spent the entire weekend recouping:

- I had NO food in the house (ok, Easy Mac but that's it) so I went grocery shopping yesterday.

- Ran out of deodorant while on the road and have been using Jeff's extra Old Spice (it's dorky, but it makes me miss him more now that I smell like him, kind of). Target stop is next, sometime today. UPDATE: It is 7:30 pm and I have not made it out of the house yet. Oops.

- Got my hair cut and colored and brows tinted and spent WAYYY too much money, accidentally of course (when you keep saying yes to services somehow the bill goes up).

- Plucked said tinted eyebrows. When they are not super blonde it is much more obvious how negligent I've been.

- Nearly ran out of gas after the haircut on Saturday and stopped to fill up.

- Caught up on my reading list of blogs after 2 weeks' absence.

- Petted and played with my kitties like crazy! They don't like parental absence.

- Painted my nails dark purple.

- Got addicted to new smut reality shows: Tabatha's Salon Takeover, The T.O. Show, Dr. Drew's Sex Addict Recovery show, Million Dollar Listing. Most of these will (thankfully) be over before Jeff returns. He will never know they are on the Season Pass (except if he reads this).

Lamest weekend ever? Only if you think being lame is looking beautiful and jamming out to the new Glee soundtrack (which arrived while I was gone).