Who Ya Gonna Vote For?

If you didn't see it live on Saturday night, and you are interested in presidential politics, you might want to check out the Saddleback Civil Forum. Pastor Rick Warren asks Obama and McCain the same questions. Obama went first and was a little long-winded. McCain sat in a "cone of silence" during Obama's interview and then answered the exact same questions when he came on-stage. Interesting. Marked differences, and yet so many similarities. Despite what you may think you know about my preference for president, I like both of these candidates. And I want to believe in both/either of them!

http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS

Where've I Been?

Today's Quote
Days are scrolls: write on them only what you want remembered.
-Bchya Ibn Pakuda


Contrary to what my actions lately may have you to believe, my days have been GREAT recently... it's just that I haven't written the good stuff down here on my scroll.

I'm determined to start doing better. I loved blogging back when I was doing it religiously. But I let the personal I-don't-really-want-to-share-with-the-world stuff get in the way of my public airing-of-laundry. And that's not really me. I'm a very open person... sometimes to my detriment. I'm also a very protective person of those about whom I care. So, if something could've been hurtful to them, I haven't written it for the world to see. But, time heals, right? And if things are good in my life, it's okay to share, right? I mean, if you really care for me, you're happy to read aobut the good stuff that makes me happy, yes? Yeah, I don't know. It could still be hard. So, be warned. I'm coming back out with my happy scrolls. If you don't want to read, delete the bookmark or RSS feed.

Pics and good stuff to follow...

How Freakin' Cute

http://www.mommytrackd.com/video/mt6

Early Mornings, McDonalds, and iPhones

Two things on my mind this morning:
1) Certain McDonalds hate me... a McGriddle is NOT a biscuit and steak 'n cheese is not sausage 'n cheese. BUMMER.
2) Go Little Guys! The big phone carriers who grab these exclusive deals on the fun new phones need to BACK OFF. The little guys are gunning for ya: Let's Go To Court.

Can't Live With 'Em OR Without 'Em

I was all ready to write this nice long blog post tonight, but... my computer has decided to take FOREVER to bring this page up. I swear, wireless networks in hotels... sometimes they're great. Sometimes not so much. I'm not complaining. My compadres are paying $170 a night for a smaller room, no breakfast, and less atmosphere. I choose Hyatt Place once again for $100/night and breakfast thrown in. They like the Hilton points. I say Hyatt points are just as valuable.

I'm back in Atlanta (well, really, Duluth/Suwanee/John's Creek) this week for more Integration Project "stuff". Because my job is so nebulous at the moment and I can straddle the worlds between HR and Integration, I think maybe I'll take advantage and sleep in in the morning! Oh shoot... I hope no one's on here who can tell on me. Carrie, Larry? Shut it. I was thinking tomorrow morning, especially with tonight's late supper and drive back from Buckhead, would be a good sleep-till-8-then-work-out-before-going-in-to-the-office day. Yeah, sounds like a plan to me. That way, I'll be perked up from the workout just enough to be productive... from my temporary away-from-everything office that they stuck me in for the week.

I was going to write tonight about decisions in interpersonal relationships... how it's interesting to watch the paths of people's lives... when one person decides to befriend (or not befriend) another. Tonight, I went to dinner with 4 Dutchmen/women and 1 American (plus me). I would classify the American as one of my best work friends... although when we actually worked together in PA, we hardly spent any time together. Now that we're on opposite ends of the country, we're much closer. One of the Dutchmen has been my coworker for years now. We've hung out. We make an effort with one another, but we're just casual acquaintances. This Dutchman and my American friend, however, are much closer. Coming back from dinner tonight, the American was telling me all about the life of the Dutchman. I should make relationships like that, I thought. Then I remembered why I don't... because I don't remember. Someone can tell me their life story today, and I'll be doing good to remember their name tomorrow. AND being in an HR-related position, people seem to clam up when it comes to sharing personal life details around me. Stupid HR. Anyway... the point was going to be how relationships change and shape our lives. More than any other thing, it's the people we choose to befriend, live with/around, and learn from that shapes our personalities. Yes, no, maybe? Well, it's definitely true in my life and work. Now, could I change myself and become more of a relationship-builder? How many of my friends/acquaintances would say I'm already a very good relationship-builder? Many, I hope... because that's what I need to be in my next life... work life, that is... if it all comes through for me. :) But, no, I haven't heard anything more yet.

Anyway, Joey's & Kate's wedding was lovely. A few pics for your review:

As Promised... A Few Little Picto-Memories

... More to come later, perhaps, when my battery doesn't just have 16 min left on it!






And yes, I like to play. :)

What is this Madness?

Okay. Telltale sign that it's been a really really really long time since I posted? I forgot the address to get here! Even worse? Not only did I forget the address for the posting side (where I go to write this randomness), but I kinda forgot the actual blog address, too. And for the record, the last post was one month and two days ago. Of course, there were lots of missed days between it and the second to last one, too. Yeah, yeah. I've been slack.

First things first (in reverse chronological order, at least), for those of you in warmer climates, sorry... but you missed our this-is-becoming-too-much-of-a-regular-thing April snow.


Let's see, backwards from today:
- Eat, eat, eat... feel fat
- Learn of even more family/friend health problems
- Shop at multiple big malls, get tired, feel regret for spending too much money
- Narrowly avoid extremely bad situation
- Celebrate birth of Bear with medium-sized bad moods and homemade chips
- Cheer Intimidators to victory
- Spend time at hospital
- Spend time at hospital
- Spend time at hospital
- Spend time at hospital
- Mourn Tar Heel loss
- Celebrate bachelorette-ness o' Kate at HHI in p.h.a.t. rental house
- Spend time at hospital
- Spend time at hospital
- Learn of cancellation of Gran's party
- Freak out over Gran's trip to hospital
- Work on putting together family slide show/dvd for Gran's party
- Celebrate the return o' the newlyweds
- Celebrate Tar Heel victory
- Miss bestie terribly
- Send newlyweds off on week-long honeymoon
- Celebrate nuptials of Mr. & Mrs. at very-fun reception
- Hold back tears and snot during Mr. & Mrs. wedding ceremony
- Hurry, hurry, hurry; work, work, work; rehearse, rehearse, rehearse for weekend wedding activities

Okay, you get the picture. It was fun making a reverse-chronological list there for a second. Now it's just getting annoying. Isn't that just like life? Fun. Not fun. Fun. Not fun. I want to land on FUN more often! Maybe tomorrow's fun can include a pictorial of the last few months. Eh... maybe not. For now, hope y'all have enjoyed the silence... and hope you enjoy me actually breaking it tonight as well. And if you don't... you know where to stick it. ;)

You ALSO Have a Great Evening

You know what burns my butt? (Besides the flame I usually like to answer with.) Being on the phone with "customer support" for over thirty-three minutes, being transferred four times, having to explain the problem four times (plus the few times I had to repeat it because the customer service person didn't understand what I was talking about), and ultimately having DARRYL (not the other brother, but the original) tell me that this is a known issue, technicians are working on it, he doubts it will ever be fixed, good luck figuring out a work-around because nothing really works right now, but please, have a great evening.

The Freakin' Service These Days!

I love the fact that you can call up a hotel at which you have reservations and cancel said reservations at the last minute with no penalty. I've made two drastic changes to my travel schedule this week (after having made hotel reservations both times) with absolutely no financial penalty. In fact, they're almost pleasant about it! Try calling up the airline once you've booked a flight and asking for a change. Cha-ching, $100 change fee please. Oops and, cha-ching, your new flight has a higher fare, please provide your credit card number. But at the hotel... they say, cancel your reservation by 6:00 pm on the night of check-in. They'll actually give me until 6:00 pm to cancel!

Speaking of 6:00 pm, do you consider that time afternoon, evening, or night? Just wondered.

So, hopefully, I can get out of here fairly early tomorrow. I can't wait to hop back into Charlie and smell new car all the way back up the road tomorrow afternoon. I love him... I love the way he smells, I love the way he looks, I love the way he feels. Mmm... ♥ ! Sweet Charlie.

OK. 6:47 is going to come awfully early tomorrow morning. And now that the yummiest-ever swordfish has settled a little in my tummy, I'm ready to hit the hay. Hope you guys are having a good Wednesday and have an even better Thursday tomorrow. Peace, love, and sweet dreams to each of you. XO

Note to Self: When I Hear "Snickers", I Need to SHUT IT.

With things as they are in my life, I honestly have felt hesitant to write anything here. But I see you guys still checking in with me, and I appreciate your patient interest and continued friendship. It's kind of hard to know what to tell and what to keep to myself, though. Y'know?! That's always been something that's difficult for me in real life as well... knowing when to blab and when to hold my tongue. As I said just tonight (and no offense, Mom)... I am my mother's daughter, and we can't help but disclose, disclose, disclose. In fact, Haley likes to remember and share a story from years ago that demonstrates, to her at least, how likely I am to tell what I know. Haley & I used to ride the elementary school bus from JES to ACHS (where Mom worked). Mom often had after-school meetings, and we, being the wonderfully-behaved, studious children that we were, spent our time wisely... raising hell and running the halls. One day, Haley ran across some change for the vending machine. I wish I could remember how she acquired said change... MAYBE that would shift the focus of the story from my sins to hers. Alas, she had 50 cents burning a hole in her pocket (as cash often does in the britches we wear) and a strong desire for some peanut butter nougat topped with roasted peanuts and caramel covered with milk chocolate. Evidently, I couldn't stand that she had something that Mom didn't know about. As soon as Mom came back to her room from whatever meeting she was in that day, I simply HAD to tell her what Haley had had. I seriously do not remember it being that I was tattling. It was more that I was just moved to share what I knew. (I swear, Haley!) Anyway, Haley will often look around at me (usually as I'm telling something I probably should've kept to myself) and say simply, "Snickers."

So, before I dive back into the world of telling-all via blog, I'm going to continue to think carefully about what things are appropriate and what things are better left unpublished. It's the least I can do for all of you actually in my life... especially since I can't not talk about you in real life.

Back with more soon...

A Little Tidbit on a Monday Morning... from the Audi Dealership

Daily Wisdom

I love the recklessness of faith. First you leap, and then you grow wings.

-William Sloane Coffin

I ♥ CHARLIE

I'm Maybe Possibly Could-Be Back... At Least From Vermont

As I work to catch up on my e-mails (good gosh... how many can one person receive when they're only away from work for two days?!... the answer to that would be 100+), I figured I'd share one of the cute -- and inspiring -- quotes from one of them:

Thought for the Day:
What feels like the end of something good may actually be the start of something better!

I may share more later, too; but here are a couple photos from the weekend (the ONLY two I got of the snow!):

A Little Daily Wisdom

Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart. And try to love the questions themselves.

-Rainer Maria Rilke

Yes, I'm still here. No, I don't have anything more to say right now. But I will soon. I promise. :)

Sleep well, little ones. There is life on the way.

Note To Self: MOVE IT

Exercising seems to have become a way of the past for me. These days, my kick-butt treadmill is packed up in the garage (with the rest of the junk I'm "storing"), Mom's lower-tech treadmill is going unused, and the fancy schmancy Elliptical & I only got acquainted for a very short time once earlier this week. So, while I sit here waiting for Mom's computer to find its new printer (with the Wally World cord that Mama just had to have tonight!), I'll take the opportunity to write a reminder to myself: Get up off your lazy bottom, Heidi, and DO SOMETHING.

A Little Prayer For Us All

Dear Lord, please protect me from them.
Also protect them from me.
You know we mean only good and no hurt, although all too often our actions have unintended consequences.
Let the hurdles I create in others' paths be as low and easy-to-clear as possible.

You say a prayer... So can I. Ribbit,ribbit.

A Quickie

For the pilots among you (or anyone who's just semi-interested -- like me -- in seeing the cockpits of various planes): http://www.codeonemagazine.com/archives/2007/articles/jan_07/cockpits/cockpits.html.

Thanks, Lois, for a fabulous dinner tonight! LOVE YOU GUYS!

A Few Pics From the Snow

Calling All Heels & MJ Fans

A Few Pics To Clean Off the Old Camera

A Statesboro Storm A-Brewin' (Ironically, the day Fun Melanie, Fun Amy, and I went to Statesboro Brews!):


A couple of each of the kids:

Change is hard. End of story.

Watch Out, World!

I so should've taken a picture of my big sexy truck. You just can't understand it's pure sex appeal until you've seen it... or driven it. I'm amused at the image of myself driving that darn thing. Man... and no one even SAW me! LOL Thank goodness my experience with Sexy Truck... we'll call him S.T. for short... is not yet over. Oh boy... I can't wait to load him up and vroom, vroom, vroom up the road for 6 hours. (Okay, seriously... how many of you have ever tried to SPELL your favorite words/sounds that you use when demonstrating how a big truck sounds. I went through buddin'/booddin', putt putt putt, and rrrraarrarrraarr before settling on vroom. Silly onomatopoeia.)

Anyway, going to get the truck is gonna have to count for several boxes. I was determined to get at least five more done tonight even after girls' night at the martini bar... but it was not to be... as I have run out of tape. Eh... so I worked on the 2nd hard room and just sorted through stuff. I'm getting there. I swear I am.

Two days left in the Boro and with my little muffins. Winds of change, they are a-blowing. I like the warm air they bring. :)

How Good Am I

5 boxes packed before running - check
Run - check
Dinner (pssghetti @ home) - check
5 boxes packed after dinner - almost check (4 completed... lots of other stuff sorted through with boxes ready to be packed.

This gives me a headache, though.

Crazy is the Forecast All Week

Daily Wisdom

Forgiveness is giving up the possibility of a better past.

-Unknown


And I'll just add to that... and allowing for the possibility of a better future. :)

Hope your Monday's as warm and sunny as mine. Despite the 1/2 mile visibility because of thick fog around and below Chester (not including Chester), the trip down to S'boro was pleasant. Now, it's so warm and beautiful here, I think I'll go to the pool! Oh wait... there's packing to do. And I'm in the mood to do it. Maybe I should focus.

Here's to good news all around.

Beginnings and Endings