When I See You... Finish My Sentence

Your answer choices:

• Just plain wrong no matter what
• Wrong in most situations
• Wrong in some situations
• Acceptable

The descriptions you have to categorize with the answer choices available:

• "Closet Snackers" - Those who hide their snacking and/or deny that they ever snack.
• "Snack Snatchers" - Those who steal snacks from others.
• "Greedy Grabbers" - Those who always grab any snack by the heaping handful.
• "Snack Hoarders" - Those who do not share their snacks with others.
• "Double Dippers" - Those who double-dip their snacks.
• "Public Snack-Offenders" - Those who snack in public places (while on public transit, waiting in line at the grocery store, in the library, etc.).
• "Snack Yappers" - Those who snack while talking (on the phone, in a meeting, etc.).
• "Sloppy Snackers" - Those who chew snacks with their mouth open, have food around their mouth, and/or drop crumbs everywhere.

For some reason, this struck me as very amusing tonight. Funny? Not funny? Do we share a brain (or half a brain, as the case may be)? If so, I believe you just had to crack a smile. Whatever... roll your eyes if you must. But I choose to smile.

We All Fall Gloriously Short

A few details of the day:

• much too early wake-up (preceded by multiple wake-ups as my mind tried to make sure I was up & at 'em by 4:30am)
• seeing the insides of too many airports (four in six hours)
• enjoying the best possible time to live in SE Georgia on the drive from SAV to the Boro... LOVE the colors (trees, flowers, etc.), LOVE the warmth, LOVE everything about it really
• thoroughly enjoyed saying hello to the poochies... that is, until we read Sarah's note of the damage incurred this time... these darn hellions
• tried to actually get some work done, but was more successful in getting some of the Tivo'd shows cleared off
• my mommy took lots of time away from her busy schedule just to listen to me because I needed to talk... thanks, Mom
• I'm tired... off to bed

... But not before I give you the fun link of the day. Take the FOX Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? quiz to see how YOU stack up! I made a 90%. I missed the term limit of a U.S. House of Representatives member. Who remembers that?! Well, except for those guys & gals who are elected to the House of Reps.

Our Own Little Square Of The Airport

Well, Haley won't wake up... she's not the "sport" I am when it comes to answering AM phone calls... well, she answered, but wasn't going to be talked into chatting. So, I'll sing to you guys.

Drain the veins in my head
Clean out the reds in my eyes to get by security lines
Dear x-ray machine, pretend you don't know me so well
I won't tell if you lied ...

To Every Season

I must mention, once again, Mad Mex's big azz margaritas. Thoroughly enjoy. Of course, at 6:00 am on our first-flight-out in the morning, I'm sure I won't be so complimentary.

So, one question, then I'm off to an early bedtime. Do you think you REALLY know how precious time is???

We'll talk more later. Must pack and get ready for bed to get up extra-early and catch a 5:15 taxi in the AM. Fun, fun. But at least we'll be back in the SAV by lunchtime-ish.

If I Wrote You A Symphony... Or A Simple Little Blog Post

What Heidi Means   H is for Happy   E is for Energetic   I is for Intelligent   D is for Delicious   I is for Influential What Does Your Name Mean?

I love swiping links from Thumper. I especially love when Thumper swipes links from me. It makes me smile when I find evidence that you guys are really reading. So, Thumper... turns out you probably would've been a MUCH better choice for the position we discussed way back when. I've heard the scoop on the newbie and it's not going so well. You would've been perfect! By the way, it's not the head job... not even management... but if you're ever interested in a do-bee job with us, let me know. There are seven positions open at this point... and with your personality and "geniusness", I have no doubt you'd rule the company in no time.

Jon & I thoroughly enjoyed dinner with my friend, Judy, tonight. Oh wait... Jon zoned out most of the time because Judy & I were in major catch-up/vent-about-work-stuff mode. Oh well... Jon got his time with his classmate last night. I got my time with the most-favored SCE colleague tonight. Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed.

Meanwhile, working in the office is getting me VERY behind on actual work. I spent all day today flitting from person to person answering questions, giving updates, saying quick hellos that turned into hour-long conversations (doesn't everyone just LOVE those?!), helping with this & that, covertly arranging a surprise celebration at Jen's baby shower at lunchtime, teaching people how to fish (as opposed to just giving them the daily special), venting, catching up, listening attentively at meetings (yeah, right), etc., etc. I can't believe I'm already down to one last day in the office. No way will I get everything done that needs to be done. DANG IT! Oh well... I guess I'll need to plan yet another trip up here soon. Maybe I can actually spend a little bit of time at home before I set out on the road again, though. Speaking of another trip, though... Jen told me today that there is ONE daily DIRECT flight between State College and Atlanta!?!?! Who knew? I've got to check that bad boy out. Perhaps I could sidestep these two layover nightmare trips one of these times!

So, anyway... let's do this all again tomorrow. What do you say? X to tha O.

Awkward At First

My face is frozen in a perma-smile. Funny how it gets like this when I go back to working in an office. Yeah, that's what it is.

For those of you we haven't talked to since it ended... Jon's defense went as well as could be expected. In fact, he prides himself on how accurate he was in visualizing it all beforehand. He started a little after 11 and they went for over 2 hours. Now, he has one more rewrite (hopefully, it's not that dramatic) and it's Doctor Jon all the way. (His colleagues told him they were going to have his name plate changed out for him when he gets back... the "Mr." for a "Dr."... sounds like a great plan!)

In other news, I spent two hours or more in my boss's office chatting with her this afternoon. Gosh... I forget how much I love spending time with her. It's hard because she's going through tough times personally right now, and I want her to be able to talk to me about it if she needs/wants to. But I don't want to be the pusher. So, I just ask her if she's doing okay. Sometimes just that simple little question (no matter how you ask it) means the world to someone. I know it means everything to me.

Dear Lord, Please Welcome This Rameses to Heaven Since He Won't Be Coming Back to the Southern Version

Turns out the random guy's blog was right... Jason Ray died this morning: http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/1248309/. That story is so sad. Just puts things into perspective, huh?

The Power of Five

Positive thoughts
Positive thoughts
Positive thoughts
Positive thoughts
Positive thoughts

Today's the day. Eleven o'clock's the time. You got it, Jon. Can't you feel the good vibes coming from everyone we know?!

And while it may not be appropriate/related/whatever, I thoroughly enjoyed the C.S. Lewis Thought of the Day from my e-mail inbox this AM:
You cannot go on being a good egg forever. You must either hatch or rot.

Singing about the Unconquerable Instinct in the Inviolate Room

How do I get stuck working this late?! I start off by simply trying to clean up this week's e-mail in my Inbox. (Of course it's piling up on me... I haven't been online for two days while I've been in training!) But I get stuck working on tasks that end up taking forever to complete. And I even don't finish a few. But I've been working on them since coming back to the hotel from dinner & drinks 6 hours ago!

Speaking of dinner & drinks, there was a fun group of 5 of us still hanging out in Waco tonight. (It's funny... there were two women here who very-much reminded me of people I know... one, an old friend from Northwood and another, a good friend's mom! One of these doppelgängers was with the group tonight.) We visited Cricket's, a neat little bar/restaurant in the Warehouse District... which happens to be about 2 blocks from our hotel. This is a cute little downtown-ish area. We're directly across from the Convention Center, within sight of the Brooklyn Bridge prototype (I'll explain when I eventually tell you the fun facts about Waco), and walking distance from anything/everything you'd want in Waco. Well, anything a stick-close-to-the-hotel-business-traveler-not-really-interested-in-exploring-too-much would want.

I'll save my few fun facts about Waco for another post. I've already packed that brochure in preparation for a relatively early departure in the AM. Man... I hope I'm better at getting up tomorrow than I was this morning. Seriously... I went from out cold to downstairs & ready to leave in 15 minutes... TOPS. Obviously, I'm very proud of that fact.

My reading of choice during this trip has been George Orwell's 1984. No, I've never read it! (And, if we're being honest, I bet most of you haven't either.) Anyway, just wanted to share a few quotes with you before I hit the hay. You should know, before I write these out, that this book is pretty darn depressing. It's fabulous, but pessimisticiticicicitic to the Nth degree.

For whom, for what, was that bird singing? No mate, no rival was watching it. What made it sit at the edge of the lonely wood and pour its music into nothingness?

Now that they had a secure hiding place, almost a home, it did not even seem a hardship that they could only meet infrequently and for a couple of hours at a time. What mattered was that the room over the junk shop should exist. To know that it was there, inviolate, was almost the same as being in it. The room was a world, a pocket of the past where extinct animals could walk.

In reality, there was no escape. ... To hang on from day to day and from week to week, spinning out a present that had no future, seemed an unconquerable instinct, just as one's lungs will always draw the next breath so long as there is air available.

Ugh... mornings

Don't you just hate the feeling you get when... you wake up at 7:28 and you're expected in the lobby at 7:30?!?! Screw that... my shower/prep routine can be cut to 2 minutes. Can't yours? Pssha.

Slip Into Position

My favorite, favorite, favorite playground activity:


Come on. You KNEW that.

Any my favorite kiddies mid-walk:

I Keep Looking for Willy, Waylon, and the Boys

What makes a trip bad when there really are no travel glitches?

- hotels that advertise wi-fi when your computer refuses to pick up even the faintest of signals (makes for tedious, thumb-cramping blog posts)

- dumping a cup of water in your own lap on a tiny State College-esque prop plane (otherwise known as peeing your pants)

- actually ending up appreciating TSA's baggie policy when your liquids spill out into said baggie... but cause not-so-fun clean-up session in Houston airport bathroom

- a scrape on your knuckle (experienced during said clean-up session) that won't stop bleeding... and no band-aid to be found

- having to buy a band-aid for $2.50

- a pain in the neck that just willl not stop hurting

Is the phrase "crick in the neck" used outside of NC or the general southeast? I bet I find out tomorrow... mainly because I'm positive that I can't go a whole day (shoot... I can't go an hour) without complaining about it! Waco's not my friend yet... but we're scheduled for some get-acquainted time tomorrow. Hopefully we'll like each other in the daylight. Although, s/he is getting off on the wrong foot with a 7:30 call time. We need to talk....

Over and out from bestie. Tired girl says g'night. G'night.

The Moments Before I/We... Ease on Down, Ease on Down the Road

The hours before a trip are so predictable for me. I pace. With no purpose whatsoever. I just walk around aimlessly, feeling restless, thinking that there must be something I should be doing (which, of course, there are plenty of things), but not wanting to really do any of them. I should pack... eh, it's still too early. If I've already packed, I'm pacing thinking of things I know I must be forgetting. I consider plopping down in front of the TV, but that seems like such a meaningless way to spend the last few hours at home. I consider the computer... and, honestly, usually go there... even though I know that's just as meaningless. I look over things. I think about cleaning and organizing things. I make piles. It's ritualistic.

Tonight, it's somewhat premature... since I have pretty much all day tomorrow to get my pace on too. These poor wide, old boards.

Meanwhile, I think I've finally gotten the details ironed out for the trip up north next week. Who knew State College was hosting a festival this weekend?! After one hotel switch after the first night, we should be golden.

Can You Spell F-L-O-P?

I'm sorry, but I THOROUGHLY enjoyed the Dook loss. I started feeling guilty for rooting against the ACC at the end... when there was 1.8 left and I felt pretty confident that, without Christian, the Dookies couldn't pull it out. Boo hoo. Actually, the biggest reason I was disappointed with the Dook loss was because it added a loss on my bracket. And, please believe me when I say I really truly DID have VCU in my original submission. Changed it just this morning... at the last minute when I thought... ugh, no matter how much I'd like it to happen, it's just not likely to. But it did. *snicker*snicker*snicker*

I nearly peed my pants when I saw this during the Dook loss. (Apologies for the crappy vid quality... it's recorded on my digicam from the TV... so it's pretty decent given that!) Greg Paulus demos lesson #1 on day #1 at Dook b-ball camp:


Did you see him lean in? C'mon, watch it again. It gets better the more times you play it. LOL! Watch how he falls, how his neck bends when he feels the slightest bit of contact, the lean-into-it movements just prior to falling over, the dead-weight feet hitting the floor after the fall. Man... that is hilarious. How could anyone not think so?!

Meanwhile, Carolina... thanks for the mini-panic attack during the 30-9 Eastern Kentucky run. Phew. Wouldn't it be just like a team of mine to be the first #1 seed ever to go down in their first game?! Luckily, they pulled it out & made it a decent 1v16 win for us. And Dick E. gave us a Maddenesque quote worthy of blogging: "That was like dogs going after a pork chop. ... First one there eats first." Oh, Dick, you're so dang funny.

In the Headlines...

In today's New York Times: Google Is Reviving Hopes for Ex-Furniture Makers. Thought you Lenoirites (Lenoirians, whatever) and Hickory-folk would like to read. :)

And Today's Quote in ye olde Daily Inspiration:
Life is what we make it. Always has been, always will be.
-Grandma Moses

COME ON and DO SOMETHING

Well, I was going to talk about "colleagues" tonight... a word which, evidently, I use a lot. Lucky for you, Jon & I watched a movie that I feel is much more pressing to discuss. Colleagues will just have to wait for another day.

So... I told you a few days ago that I'm a truth convert. Well, I'm also a cynic; something of a pessimist; an untrusting person; someone who doesn't take kindly to being told what to think, say, or do; and a conservative Republican. And as of tonight, I'm an inconvenient truth convert. Yes, I've been sharp-tongued when it came to Al Gore. I've been snide about global warming and the "climate crisis" we're facing. I've been more likely to believe the nay-sayers than Al Gore. I reveled in the news stories that say Al himself is a huge consumer of energy and isn't "green". I hate it when celebrities jump on an issue bandwagon... especially when it's not one I'm already on... because then they just make me feel small(er). I watched Al Gore at the Oscars, and I was simply perturbed by the hoopla.

Tonight, I think there should've been more hoopla. I wish more celebrities were on the bandwagon. I don't really care if Al Gore is "green" because I feel that he's pretty much doing his part by giving his presentation and making this DVD. It's the other celebrities who are on the bandwagon that I care about being "green". It's everyday people that I want to be more "green". I don't believe the nay-sayers anymore. Al and his movie convinced me that global warming and the "climate crisis" we're facing is real. I'm going to stop being anti-Gore.

And I blame the polar bears -- the poor innocent polar bears -- for this change of heart.

Tomorrow, for the polar bears, I will:

• Stop consuming so much energy
• Do more research about what I can do personally that will make even the smallest of differences
• Pay more attention to recycling everything that is actually recyclable
• Stop buying so many things that aren't recyclable
• Start looking into the possibility of buying a hybrid car (does it really make a difference?)
• Explore more of www.climatecrisis.net to see if there's anything else I can do to become more "carbon neutral"

And tonight, I'll tell you all to watch the movie An Inconvenient Truth.

So, maybe it's not as bad as Al makes it out to be. Maybe the whole global warming thing isn't as oh-my-gosh-we're-all-going-to-die as he wants us to believe. But, even if that's the case, what's the harm in us making an effort to reduce our small little effect on the globe?

I'm embarrassed about being so flippant about my ecological footprint a month ago (huh... interesting that I'm going back and re-reading mid-February posts today). I was partially dismissive of the 5.8 number (of planets necessary for the world's population if everyone lived like me) because I think that's a much-inflated number. I already do some things to be more carbon neutral. I recycle. I don't drive a lot (some days, at all). I turn off lights when I leave the room. I bought a tree (okay, I killed one too... but I replaced it). I try very hard to keep the plants I do have alive and thriving. But, yes, there is much more I can do. There's a lot more we can all do. So, COME ON and DO SOMETHING with me.

Some of the Safer Words of Wisdom from Erica (and Kierkegaard)

Of all human activities, none is so useless and potentially destructive as trying to predict the future. The future is merely a shadow which blocks out the joys of the present and emphasizes the miseries of the past.

Live or die, but for god’s sake don’t poison yourself with indecision.

Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards. (Kierkegaard)

And the rest are tidily tucked away in the bowels of the computer... well, and on the shelf buried in the pages of her self rescue guide. While I may have finished it long ago, it somehow brought me comfort to continue looking at the all-too-familiar, all-too-personal, wow-how'd-you-know tome sitting on my desk every. single. day. Obviously, to someone who likes to check things off the to-do list, it also brought me dismay. There were tons of turned down pages with words of wisdom leaping off the page... some not fit to share on a family site, some too difficult to explain, all much too close for comfort. So, I pick the there's-something-there-for-everyone generiticities (yes, that's my very own made-up word... you like?) to share with you tonight.

Haley, to answer your Q... this one is my fave. I like the randomness of the leaves & branches breaking up the bright white of the sky. Jon ultimately picked this one. And I had just learned that day (from a post on the Digital Photography School) about creating a diagonal in your pics (from bottom left to top right is most pleasing), so I kept the last one on the post for it's that quality.

Is there a restless bug going around this evening, or am I (as the only sufferer) in a quarantine? It wouldn't be the first time I've been quarantined... only the time before, there were two of us. I'm just curious... is there anyone else out there now? ASH, ARE YOU STILL WITH ME (screamed on an answering machine just so you hear me enough to wake up)?

Oh well, I make myself laugh. That's all that really matters.

Also, you should know... I have replaced my DC habit with a DS one (Diet Sunkist). What?! I told you I had an addictive personality! Hey... at least I'm sticking to one of my Lenten commitments.

Finally, my restlessness possessed me to lie down on the breakfast nook table and try to photograph what I thought would be a cool perspective of my funky chandelier. The pics don't really look the same as what I see. Wouldn't it be fab if there was a camera that could duplicate the beauty of what the eye beholds? Anyway... I'll share the fruitless results... but only because they're dumb. Is that a good reason? I'm sure no, but what the hell:


Is it over?
Yeah.
Cool, later kids.

Today is the Day... or Tomorrow... or the One After

So, um... our back yard finally grows in (although, it's currently stuck in yucky brown dormant stage) and our neighbors' is desert. I talked to New Neighbor (when I learn to spell his name, I'll use it) at length before they closed... about a little bit of everything re: living here. First of all, he knew my name. I figure... no big deal. I'm sure Jamey (our shared builder) told him. No... he didn't know Jamey built my house. Turns out, he's been looking us all up online. He has name, rank, serial number on just about all of us here. I was a little disturbed; but kudos to him for doing his homework, I guess. Anyway, so I end up telling him our back yard FINALLY grew in... after much TLC and finally giving in & installing the sprinkler system. Oh no, he tells me. He doesn't like sprinkler systems. He assures me he'll find a way to make it grow without the much-needed H2O. Okay. Good luck with that. Maybe he will... but given my own personal experience with how hard it is to make grass grow from seed here in our own little corner of the Sahara, I'd shell out the dollar bills for the ready-made oasis. Right Dad? I know you're a DIY'er, but I think you even decided we were right to finally take the plunge into full-yard sprinkler heaven, no?

Yes, so, this might be a pretty picture, huh?... if not for the un-grass that is New Neighbor's backyard.




Meanwhile, my new tree is budding! It's so exciting to have a backyard tree that has lived! I had the kids on a 3-mile hike this afternoon, found myself on the next street over (the one that looks into our backyard), and noticed that there are green baby-leaves on our tree! I was so excited, I ran back home and grabbed my trusty digicam to give my digital macro setting another workout. I couldn't decide between these three... well, actually, I could... but then Jon picked a different one... and I still semi-liked the last one... so I decided to post all three. You have a fave?




The baby-leaves actually look a little large in these pics. They're actually about 2 inches tall. Leave it to digital macro to work its magic and blow them all out of proportion.

Springtime is so pretty. Haley, go write an inspiring post about the wonders of spring. Oh wait... your car is still displaying the snowflake while my thermometer is telling me to wear tank tops and shorts when I walk the hellions.

Anyway... not to make this a long, boring post... but there are several things on which I can update (since it's been a few days since we connected). We booked the trip to State College. Now, if Jon could only tear himself away from Rainbow Six Vegas during his spring break to work on his presentation...! Okay, that's a little over-the-top. He only plays that at night. How excited are those Heels fans among us? Most excellent weekend for b-ball-watching, yes? These crazy dogs... if they run outside of our yard after another dog again...! I ♥ chocolate birthday cake... even when it's no one's birthday. (I can always claim the "Happy Birthday" in frosting is dedicated to one of my many much-loved March-birthday-celebrators... how about little J.R.'s 20-something today?!) Those grocery store bakery cakes don't HAVE to be bought by the birthday boys & girls among us; they can be for celebrating life, spring, weekends, or birthdays. I have been ultra-ultra productive for work. Forgot what it felt like to actually get tons of stuff accomplished! Meanwhile, my Inbox is down to SIXTY messages. Holy cow... I haven't seen that low of a number since I was hired!

I think spring inspires me. What's next?

What Would You Do?

Quick question...

The Part of You That No One Sees

You are compassionate, caring, and soothing. You like other people to depend on you... In fact, you don't feel right unless you are helping someone out. Underneath it all, you feel the burden of everyone's problems. Without your guidance, you fear that many people's worlds would fall apart. You like to feel in charge, even if it brings you a lot of stress.

What's the Part of You That No One Sees?

It's Most Definitely the Best Policy

A quote in today's New York Times got me thinking a little bit about honesty and truth this morning. Yes, again. I know I've written about this before... well, maybe not in so many words. I think my previous post was more about things I can't say... like I'm sorry to Mrs. Carey for that blown call in the junior league game (and "I love you", but that's another post altogether). But, one of the underlying themes, in my mind at the time of writing it at least, was telling the truth in the face of adversity. Anyway, today, a court case reminds me that it's important for me, on a small level, to continue to strive for honesty in all things... so that if ever called upon in the bigger picture, the justice system won't collapse:

"The truth is what drives our judicial system. If people don’t come forward and tell the truth, we have no hope of making the judicial system work."
PATRICK J. FITZGERALD, the prosecutor in the Libby case.

A lot of things revolve around the whole truth, nothing but the truth so help you God, don't they? Court cases, punishments, friendships, self esteem... shoot, I'm sure you could make a case for just about anything needing truth as an underlying foundation.

I remember this one time when I was growing up, I had gotten into Mom's makeup. I didn't know much about makeup... still don't... but it was fun to play with. So, I had a little bit on my face. I think I was old enough to know better than to smear it all over; so I was careful to put the lipstick on my lips (as paper-thin as they may be), blush on my cheeks, and eye shadow on my eyelids. Who knows what you're supposed to do with mascara?! That stuff still has me bumfuzzled. Anyway, so Mom finds me there. Catches me red-handed, I believe the saying goes. At that point in my life, I hadn't figured out how to tell the truth in the face of adversity. She's looking at me (and my made up face), with my hand basically in her makeup case; and I am afraid. I simply cannot admit that I've been playing with her makeup. What is up with that!?!? Fear is an awesome motivator.

All my life, I've struggled with that type of situation. I knew that kid walked. Mrs. Carey knew that kid walked. My BFF and crush knew that kid walked. I had blown it. But when it was time to face the music and admit I was wrong, I made excuses. Shoot... I flat-out lied. I'm not proud of it. But I hope I'd never do it again. I have definitely seen the light. I'm a truth convert. Have been for a while now. Can't really put my finger on when... but sometime between that makeup incident, the junior league game, and now, I became a bigger person. Literally and figuratively.

It's still incredibly hard for me. I am still so tempted to make excuses when I make a mistake. But I'm trying. And if you ask me for the truth... by gosh, I will try my hardest to give it to you. If for no other reason than to do my part in upholding the fate of our justice system.

Anyway... the heart attack I spoke of last night was on a TV show. Sorry to scare everyone. And Mom, the point of that post was that it wasn't the best Tuesday ever. Believe me... my best Tuesday ever would definitely have y♥u in it. Sorry I didn't call you back tonight. Let's catch up tomorrow.

Do You Believe In Signs That Whisper Inside Your Mind?

Since about lunchtime today, I have had my computer up & running and my brain up & running with work stuff at the forefront of all. I'm tired. But dang if I didn't get a lot of tasks completed... well, at least started. I did take a small break for a walk and a quick trip to the grocery store. But I received IMs even during those breaks (to which I responded as soon as I got back to the screen). So, it was kind of like I was ON the whole time. It's definitely time for a good night's rest.

First thing this morning, Haley told me about the "best Tuesday ever". I believe she heard it on the morning news... perhaps the anchor was having a good morning?! Anyway, so we both attempted to have the "best Tuesday ever". Mine didn't work out so well. Why, ask you? Well, don't fret, of course I'm going to tell you why.

1. I had to ignore Haley's call (in which she was planning to tell me about the plan for the "best Tuesday ever") because I was on my weekly Tuesday morning useless conference call.
   
2. It's March and it's still semi-chilly. I want warm weather again.
   
3. The Dominos people gave me breadsticks instead of cinnasticks. (Did I neglect to mention the quick trip to the grocery store included a drop-in to the local Dominos for a carry-out order? Oops.)
   
4. I can't seem to feel productive. No matter how many hours I put in, I can't get the big projects... the ones that seem to have been on the to-do list FOREVER... completed.
   
5. We're 6 days... scratch that... we're 5 days from the beginning of Open Enrollment (for which I'm partially responsible... but I don't take the blame for not being ready to roll yet... I've made myself available, just can't seem to get all our ducks in a row (as per our usual) as a department). I know it's coming. Looks like another series of long nights getting everything finalized again this year.
   
6. I was completely helpless to Haley in her graphic design efforts. At least if I can't get anything done in my job, I like to help Haley finish something!
   
7. Yonk's heart attack, Duncan + Kat. What in the hell?

Another ho-hum day. What's up with those lately? Maybe tomorrow will be the "best Wednesday ever". I guess that's the good thing about a calendar that repeats itself every 7 days... another chance. I mean, really, what's the hurry to have the "best ever"? Just regular same old same old is fine, right? U.g.h.

Melanie... Cooper & Kona say to come on over any day now. They will thoroughly enjoy the company on one of their walks. And by "thoroughly enjoy the company", I mean "nip at your ankles, knees, bottom, clothes, etc. while barking incessantly". Obviously, we need the practice.

Time's Been Too Long

Okay, I'm just really not even going to go there. If you've talked to me in the past day or so, you know my feelings on it. And even if we didn't cover it, if you know me at all, you know who I think was in the wrong. I'll just say two things (well, copycat one and subtley refer to myself for another):
1) "He had to rip somebody, didn't he? Henderson? Coach K? The officials? Packer picked Hansbrough's nose. Apparently it got in the way of Henderson's elbow." (Dennis Dodd, CBS Sportsline, blog)
2) 30 minutes later, I still can't find the post. Dang it... it was something about the Knicks/Nuggets game when the fight broke out and how dumb I think Isaiah Thomas is for his comments after the game about how Karl should've already conceded the game. Golly gee, Isaiah, I thought you still wanted to win. Anyway, you get the point. Did I seriously NOT write that post? Jon says he remembers it... shoot, maybe I just wrote it for him?!

Oh yeah, and just one more thing... if you still don't read Adam Lucas, you should start. He's great. I still ♥ Adam Lucas. (Lucas: Seeing Red).

Dang it... there are just too many good posts today about this incident. I must quote one more fave (Jack) from his top 10 excuses for "G" (that's Coach K's nickname for Gerald Henderson, evidently): "9. He was attempting to block the shot, assuming Hansbrough was trying to shoot his head into the basket."

Anyway, just in case you haven't seen it yet, go out and rent The Departed. It really is as good as they say (whoever "they" is). However, get ready for a reallllllly long period of on-the-edge-of-your-seat intensity. I felt like I was in suspense for the whole dang 151 minutes.

Meanwhile, life is life. Thanks for checking in... even if it is just periodically. You've gotta know I'm thinking about y'all even when I'm quiet. Just can't quite come up with the right words to share. I'll work on that. You work on whatever you've got going on. Until next time... snakes are horrible, horrible, horrible creatures... and ruin otherwise perfectly good walks.

ugh.

I Don't Trust Myself With... Oh, Anything

It turns out I'm a huge second-guesser. I'll pretty much second-guess any little thing you say or do. Oh wait... no, that's not exactly true. I'll pretty much second-guess any little thing I say or do... and pretty much believe in whatever you say or do (do you think maybe that's a problem in and of itself?... I DO... but we'll leave that for another day).

Anyway, I second-guess myself... in everything. Tonight, it's the taxes. There was a TV show on a while back. It was probably a few years ago by now. I think it was while we were still in PA. I could look it up... I know it was Diane Lane's boyfriend/husband who starred in it (Josh Brolin, right?). It was about a newly-elected senator. Right up my alley, huh? Well, this new senator, on one of the episodes (there weren't many... I don't think it made it very long), was doing his own taxes. His staffers were trying to get him to let a professional do it for him; but he firmly believed that (especially since he was now in charge of helping to write the tax laws) an intelligent American citizen should be able to do his or her own taxes. I let a CPA do my taxes the first couple of years, I think. And for anyone who's self-employed or has complicated situations, hey... CPA it till your heart's content. But I don't think my tax situation is all that complicated. It should be relatively straightforward. Plus, I really love playing with numbers. And I delight in keeping meticulous details about what I spend (category, amount, etc.). So, I've got the tools (& hopefully the smarts... my dad would be all kinds of disappointed in me if I didn't reap something from that Carolina edumacation) to do my own darn taxes.

But, hello, second-guess city. I've had everything ready to go now for at least a week, and I've been unable to just hit the button. What if...? What if...? What if...? Just file already. So tonight I did. Done. Right or wrong, good or bad, friend or foe.

I wish I could just trust myself. In everything.

And that TV show was called "Mister Sterling" (and it ran in 2003). Yes, I looked it up. You know I'd second-guess myself all night if I didn't get the answer.