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

Yes, It's Another Group Pic... I'm in Training for Haley's Wedding!

SO WHAT?! I make people pose for big group pics that they don't want to take. What are you trying to say???