Not Worth The Fuss Or The Cost

i've heard a lot about this fiji water--seen the celebs drinking it and decided, okay, i'll try it. i bought a 16 oz. bottle at the grubstore the other day. the silly thing cost $2, so i'm thinking it's gonna be awesome tasting water. nope. in fact, our tap water may taste better. here's the weird thing, i had a big ole bottle of evian a few weeks ago and was stunned by how ordinary it tasted, and it's like at the high-end cost of bottled water. what gives?

i think the freaking french and fiji-ians are ripping off us silly u.s. consumers that are always jonesing for the next big thing. from now on, i'm sticking to deja blue, dasani, and perrier. oh, how the h2O snob in me is ready to be quenched.

I Don't Know About You, But I'm Relieved

You Are 44% Gross

You're more than a little gross, but probably no more gross than the average person. Maybe it's time to drop some of those disgusting habits that could eventually embarrass you!

How Gross Are You?

I Must Be Channeling Veronica Mars

so last night i had this dream that the adorable one and i had bought me a scooter and it was brand new and shiny and wonderful. and instead of going to work, i went off to school. and for some reason i was wearing silk lilac slippers, which by the way, i would never wear because i am not a satin slipper kinda of gal. and i also remember, in the dream, locking up my scooter with a lock, like the one we used in key west.

so i'm at class and there's logan echolls and for some reason i have this crush on him. which, hello, makes no sense as i am completely in love with the adorable one. anyway, it's like we're buddies and then i confess my crush and then i'm persona non grata. in fact, he seems repulsed by me. so i try to find my shoes and go home. only i go to my scooter and it's not my scooter. in fact, the scooter that is in the place of where i parked my scooter is another scooter, all beat up and dirty. so i go back to inside the school and find out that logan has taken my scooter, so i run around trying to find directions to his swanky pad.

then i'm on my way to his home and i wake up. shiznit. as usual, i have no idea of what that dream was about. but i sure would like a scooter. just no slippers.

and logan, you're not as cute as you think you are. in fact, you're nowhere as cute as the adorable one. and you're a scooter thief. i bet you wear slippers.

I Get Why The French Go To The Market Daily

ever since taking over the cooking duties, i've graduated from making things like tuna salad sandwiches, macaroni-n-cheese, lasagna, spagetti and tomato sauce (ragu that i doctor significantly), chili, toasted cheese sandwiches, etc. i've gradually spread my wings (no pun intended) to include martha's roasted chicken, kugel, flavorful salmon, perfectly-roasted/sauteed vegetables (including ridiculously easy corn-on-the-cob), fantastic chicken salad, etc.

now, i haven't hit a home run every time. on monday, i made rachel ray's almond crusted chicken cutlets with scallion beurre blanc. my problem was that i didn't actually have chicken cutlets. at our grubstore you can either purchase boneless, skinless chicken breasts or boneless, skinless chicken strips/tenders. so, i opted for the chicken breasts, pounded them flat, and cut them each in half. still, i don't think they were flat enough. i was also supposed to grind the almonds in the food processor, but i used my handy steel kitchen mallot and crushed them into small pieces--just not small enough.

and then the sauce (beurre blanc) never thickened. and i added an extra step, which was also probably my downfall--instead of just dipping the chicken into beaten eggs like the recipe directed, i first dipped them in flour, then into the egg, then into the seasoned bread crumbs with crushed almonds. and i guess it might not have been a good idea to try to cook all the pieces of chicken at once, instead of in batches as ole rachel's recipe mentioned. anyway, the chicken turned out moist but practically had no flavor. very disappointing. maybe if i seasoned the chicken more and was able to make the sauce correctly it would be okay. not sure i want to, but it might be worth it.

last night i decided to try the barefoot contessa's parker stew recipe. now i had to marinate, overnight in the refrigerator, the stew meat (two pounds) with an entire bottle of red wine, three whole cloves of garlic, and three bay leaves. i probably spent 1 1/2 hours of prep work when i got home yesterday and it wasn't tough stuff--chopped mushrooms, onion, carrots, and potatoes, plus minced garlic. again, i didn't follow the recipe as i only chopped half an onion and less than the 1/2 pound of mushrooms as recommended. then i really veered from the recipe when i decided to dredge all the stew meat at once in the flour versus doing it in batches. and i cooked all the meat at the same time, again, not in batches as recommended by the recipe.

i think i was supposed to take all the meat out and keep it warm and use the same pot to cook the vegetables. but i opted to saute the vegetables in a separate pan. i kinda deglazed the pot with the meat with the leftover marinade as recommended. and i added the chicken stock, worcestershire sauce, two sprigs of rosemary, etc. but i added the frozen peas (and i also did frozen corn) instead of waiting until the stew came out of the oven. i wanted the stew done before like 9:00 p.m., so i opted to cook the stew at 350 degrees (versus 300 degrees) for 1 1/2 hours versus two. and it was okay. the problem is, it tasted too much like the wine marinade. i think the adorable one and i got buzzed on one bowl of soup, no joke. the sad part was, it just didn't really taste very good. and based on the long prep time, i don't think i would make this again.

so tonight, i'm going to make something much simpler and quicker. i'll pair it with sauteed green beans, which should be decent. this weekend, i'm making a new ham recipe, which again, i hope turns out because we're having my twin and her hubby over for dinner. i'll probably try this sesame asparagus recipe or just saute some stalks with sugar snap peas.

anyway, the point is, i'm spending more time every week at the grocery. which isn't a bad thing. i'm becoming more familiar on where to find stuff, but i still have to backtrack and i always forget one item. but i see why the french hit the market every day because you have to get ingredients. i would love to say that we have all this stuff laying around our house, but we don't.

i've got a couple more recipes i'm jonesing to try, so i imagine as this continues, i'll be on a first-name basis with all the folks at the grocery store. the funny thing is, i used to make a weekly grocery store run and always hated having to go for a second trip. now, i'm there three times a week and i kinda like it.

okay, how weird is that?!

Oh Tommy, You're So Fine You Blow My Mind. Oh Tommy.

i already have two tommy hilfiger watches, both received for the past couple of birthdays. in fact, the adorable one bought me the one i wear daily. somehow that tommy has designed yet another watch that has me a'drooling. maybe it's me, but it just looks dreamy. and would probably look even dreamier on my little ole wrist.

seeing that the adorable one has yet to confess to coming up with any ideas for my bday gift, i'm giving him a wee bit of a hint to help him out. now, i know this seems ridiculously shallow, selfish, and vapid. but a girl's gotta have something to be drooley about, doesn't she?

seriously, if you answered "no," you should so not be reading this blog. because as much as i try to be nice and decent and good and wonderful to others, i'm still gonna want things too. lordy, i really hope that doesn't make me a bad person. because the tommy watch is damn droolworthy.

I Just Want To Know

if you live in a place like florida, there's a hurricane bearing down, and you're told to evacuate (like the florida keys), and your workplace closes--do you have to charge your time to vacation or is there a timesheet code for inclement weather? i just wanna know.

because if you had to take vacation time if you were not supposed to be at work and were stuck in your house waiting for a natural disaster to potentially hit your area, or you evacuate to a safer location, what's the rule on how companies pay their employees?

i'm really curious. because if there is a hurricane code, i sure as heck would like a snow day code. or ice storm code. or it's raining so hard that it's like ten-gallon buckets are being dumped on my car time code. yup, that would work. frankly, i just need a code that would pay me to stay home from work any time there is bad weather.

then again, i just need a timesheet code that would justify me taking off early every day to nap. that sounds good. really good. anyway, back to the hurricane thing. if anyone knows anything, spill the beans.

Holy Cow

it was dark this morning when i got up for work today. i mean it wasn't dim, it was like middle-of-the-night black. it doesn't help that it's getting dark earlier, more so as each day passes. i understand that it's the time of the year where this happens. i just don't have to like it.

thank goodness the crickets and cicadas--at least they understand that we need their swan song of summer. now more than ever.

My New Desk Decor

a few months ago, i received an amazon gift certificate from work--everyone in my group received one for recognition of the past year's sales support. originally, i purchased a seiko watch, which i thought would be really nice, but the face was so small and it was damn hard to set the date, so i returned it.

and bought igor today, who will happily grace my teeny-tiny workspace. let's hope he wards off any evil spirits. then again, that may include me, so i'll let you know if i'm spiritually booted from my cube. keep your fingers crossed people. and your toes.

It's Really Weird

but every time i get my period, my vagina gets really itchy. don't know why, not sure i want to know why. but damn, i feel like a dog with fleas. not that i really know what that's like. i'm just saying.

She's A Goddess & Coming To The Food Network In October

if you ever saw "nigella bites" (it's on the style network), you know what a treat it is--i mean this is a woman who dips candy bars in batter and deep-fat fries them. she's kinda messy, never stuffy or proper, and makes what appears to be easy, yummy dishes. she's got a killer ham cooked in coca-cola recipe i'm jonesing to try, as well as a potato gratin that looks heavenly. and yay, it doesn't hurt that she uses real cream and butter in her recipes, and loves fried chicken. i wonder if we're related.

Really Sad, Wonderfully Addictive

I Sent These To My Mom & Saved $10. Score!

i didn't spring for the upgraded vase, but she loved the bouquet. some times it's the little things you do for others that make all the difference in the world. luckily, the adorable one has no clue of what i'm having shipped to his office, which is scheduled to arrive on monday. tee hee!

Here Comes The Rain

it's supposed to rain all weekend, which sounds dandy. it's been hot all week and we're ready for a change. plus, it will be warm again by the next weekend, if the weather boobs are right. while i don't want it to rain every weekend, it's gonna be nice to have a good soaker as everything is so dry. plus, it's even better for reading, napping, napping some more, did i mention napping?, oh yay, and napping.

An Open Letter To Jason Stratham

dear jason:

can i call you jas? okay, jas you showed a lot of potential in flicks like "snatch," directed by your pal guy ritchie, "the transporter" (cheesy, but great action flick), and the super cool, fun, and snappy "the talian job" with marky mark.

but dude, seriously, what on god's green earth inspired you to take a role in the obviously-rotten-from-the-get-go "the pink panther." i mean, shit, jas--fucking bey0nce, beyonce, the most witless, worthless, talentless loser is in it doing nothing but taking up space.

now, you're starring in "crank," another "transporter ii" look alike. jeez jas, we thought you had taste. we thought you had style. we thought you had a brain.

apparently, we were way wrong. all we can say is, hope you got a mass paycheck for the drek you're showing up in, because if you are actually enjoying this crap, god help you man. god help you.

xoxo,

princess superstar and the adorable one

Quite The Yummy Breakfast

only surpassed by the one filled with chocolate pudding. yowsa!

It's Not Such A Small World After All

poor pluto. you got kicked to the curb by a bunch of geeky astronomers. and i thought i was a peon.

Elevator Etiquette

it seems really difficult for people to manage basic manners when it comes to entering and exiting elevators, so here are a few, tried-and-true, tips that makes riding piece of cake for yourself and fellow travelers. so without further ado, onward and upward:

#1 get off
when you are on the elevator and reach your floor, get off. walk out and keep on going. no need to stand in the doorway wondering what you should do. just move.

#2 think ahead
while riding on the elevator, think ahead about where you need to go when you get off the elevator. here's just a thought--try not to walk into the people actually waiting to get on the elevator. i know it's crazy, but just try it. you may find that less people are giving you heinously, evil looks. just a thought.

#3 don't be a chatty cathy
most people hate talking in the elevator unless they are already carrying on a conversation. a nod, a smile, that's all is needed. in fact, if you could just ride another elevator, not the one i'm in, even better. don't be offended, you feel the same way.

#4 no one likes crowding
if you see a stuffed elevator car, there is absolutely no need to join the can of sardines. in fact, it won't kill you to wait maybe like another minute for the next elevator. won't kill you and it's less squashing for the rest of us. thanks, in advance, for your consideration. really.

#5 there is actually more than one elevator in the building
it's true. i know it's hard to believe. you don't have to throw you arm or any other body part into the elevator doorway as the doors are closing. seriously, another elevator will come along. i promise.

with a little bit of luck, i won't have to carry a sign with these tips. but, i'm starting to think i better start pumping up my arm muscles so i'll have the endurance needed to educate the masses.

Take Us Out To The Ballpark

one of the benefits for working at a global company is that we have an e-classified system where you can buy and sell stuff, including sports tickets. we purchased a set of tickets for our local baseball team from a guy in another division for a game next month. while the seats aren't in the crown club section, they are right behind them--so we'll have a great view (i'm soooo taking the digital camera!), get some ballpark hotdogs, and hopefully score a free dozen donuts if the royals get 12 hits. the team is hot right now, so i see krispy creme in my future.

more importantly, it's gonna be a fun date night with the adorable one. and we're getting pretzels! and crackerjacks! and chocolate malts! so here's to the boys in blue, summer still being here, and to the weekend right around the corner.

So Busy, I'm Dizzy

okay, so i'm not really spinning like the tasmanian devil whirlwind with activity, but i'm a heckuva lot busier than i have been in what seems like ages at work. and that's a good thing and i'm happy about it. and i keep coming up with other ideas that will generate other projects. so i feel like a top that has righted itself--kinda like i'm back on keel. i'm even getting along with mr. perfect and the cph. whoa.

and in other good news, we signed on our home equity loan paperwork, finally, today at lunch. the check will be available for pick up on monday, so the adorable one is getting the pool contractor scheduled for the fill-in project, and once the check is deposited, we are sending in our final payments on the credit cards. we're closing two of the accounts as the adorable one doesn't even have the cards anymore (he cut them up) and that still leaves us with our marriott visa (which we use for vacations, special purchases like birthday dinners, and emergencies) and my american express card, which i pay off every month.

the adorable one feels like we're on our way toward financial independence and that we are doing much better regarding eating out less, not making impulse buys, etc. it's a really good feeling, as it seems like we've struggled to get out of a black hole that nearly swallowed us a couple years ago.

we're making progress and kicking up dust. and i can say, thank goodnesss--thank goodness things do really turn out okay and we can change our fortunes, slowly but surely. we may never be completely debt free, but we'll come as damn close as possible.

and the other really kick ass news . . . my credit score rocks.

We Heard This Rocks & We're Seeing It This Weekend

I'm Intrigued

i was watching football the other day and they showed a preview for this new abc show, "the nine," which will follow "lost" on wednesday nights. it's got some okay people in it--chi mcbride, tim daly, scott wolf, and a bunch of other people i've never heard of. it's another one of those shows where something happens, in this case a bank robbery gone wrong, and they have to endure a 52-hour hostage standoff that will leave two people dead. when it's all said and done, these nine people will never be the same. of course. because they will always share the common bond of what happened in the bank . . . which only they know. and they will be forever affected and intertwined by it.

i don't know if it was the little movie-like trailer for this show, but i'm curious. which is good because it's been awhile since i've been interested in a new tv show. there are a few others--"heros", "friday night lights" and "30 rock" on nbc all seem worth a look-see.

Another New Recipe

i get a daily recipe via email from allrecipes.com and while i have a lot stored in an online recipe box, i decided to make a dish sent to me today, which was omelet pie. i usually don't make baked egg dishes, but this one involved a cast-iron skillet, which we have and rarely use--which is too bad because i like things cooked in them. anyway, it turned out decent, so thought i would share.

ingredients:
1 large baking potato
6 eggs (i cheated and used 8)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (i used a tablespoon, which i thought was plenty)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, chopped (i used half)
1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh mushrooms
1/2 cup chopped ham (i used baked chicken)
1 tomato, sliced (i used half and diced it)
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese (i used a mix)

directions:
1. bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil (i used a small pot as that was all that was needed, really). add the potato and cook until tender, but still firm--about 15 minutes. the directions say to to cool, peel, and slice. i peeled and sliced and then boiled the potato--always seems to work better for me that way, but if you are a stickler for following the directions, go for it.

2. preheat the oven to 350 degrees f (175 c). beat together eggs, salt, pepper, and parsley. again, i used about a tablespoon of the parsley and that seemed plenty. also, i mixed in garlic powder and dried dill for flavor.

3. in a case iron skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. saute the onion and red pepper until soft, then stir in the mushrooms. when mushrooms start to shrink, add the chopped ham, potato, and tomato slices. now, i'll confess that i put everything in at once, sprinkled with sea salt, freshly-cracked pepper, and garlic powder. stir the potatoes into the egg mixture, take the iron-skillet off the heat, and pour the egg mixture into the skillet.

4. top with the 1/4 cup of shredded cheese--the recipe says to use cheddar cheese, but i used a mix that included mozzarella. place the skillet in a pre-heated oven and bake until the eggs are firm, 10 to 15 minutes. we had to cook longer, closer to 40 minutes, but we also had a potoato dish in the oven and i used an extra couple of eggs in the recipe. allow to briefly cool before serving.

now, you can swap out ingredients depending on your taste. i spaced getting ham at the grubstore, so i used half a breast of cooked chicken that luckily i had in the fridge, but you could go without. also, if you prefer green peppers, or don't like onions, just tailor it your taste. be sure to flavor with plenty of salt and pepper as eggs can be bland.

i know we wouldn't make this every week, but once in awhile it's a nice change of pace. i paired it with easy-to-make lemon horseradish new potatoes, which turned out pretty tasty.

and in future spooky cooking news, i'm actually making a rachel ray recipe tomorrow. if it's good, yes, i'll post pics, the recipe, and a link to her creepyass recipe page. just don't expect me to call olive oil evoo. that's just evil, rachel. e-v-i-l.

Vrrroooom

i have a need for speed and the k & n air filter increases horsepower and acceleration while providing excellent filtration. i can't be sure but i think my civic has a secret crush on it.

Even Better In 3-D

Fine Dining A La Costco

want to have an absolutely fun, yummy, and cool summer supper? well, we have the recipe for you. start with someone who is positely cute, like the adorable one.

add your twin, who is rockin' cool and makes the best guacamole (see below) on the planet, nay the universe.

mix in the drinkmaster, who makes the smoothest mojito (as shown below).

you may think you've had the best guacamole, but you really haven't until you tried my twin's. which may be a problem if you don't live in cowtown, because it truly is the finest in all the land. positvely droolworthy.

i mentioned the drinkmaster's mojito right? please note the kickass bendy straw, which only added to the enjoyment.

mmm . . . shrimp cocktail

we're addicted to my twin's tomatoes topped with mozarella cheese, seasoned with sea salt, freshly cracked pepper, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar. divinity.

squish, natch. pretty decent considering it comes from a wholesale warehouse.

the best part? we purchased everything at costco, which provided a lot of food for a small amount. and it was all really good. thanks and kudos to my twin, who once again rocked the house with her guac and tomatoes and mozarella, and for coming up with a different dinner idea.

man, i'm stuffed.

A Farewell Supper Of Sorts

so friday night we had supper with our friend miss meliss, who used to be my next-door neighbor when i had my own house in midtown. melissa is a brilliant, and i do mean brilliant, graphic designer. she did our wedding invitations, which if i ever figure it out, will post up here 'cause they turned out incredible.

anyway, we picked up dinner (chicken fried chicken, homemade mashed potatoes, roll and butter, and green beans with bacon) from lew's grill & bar and it was quite delish. but dinner in my mind was tinged with great sadness as melissa is moving away--first to portland to live with audrey (the channeler) and then to new york. i've never seen more excited about an internship than anything else in the eight years i've known her. she's really juiced about taking her life in a completely different direction. and while i'm sincerely happy and want the best for her, i'm sad that she's moving away.

yes, there is email, telephone, the u.s. mail, and plane tickets. but it's not the same. it never is.

Vegas Baby, Yay

the adorable one is interested in attending a conference in sin city right after thanksgiving that will last about a week. it's at the venetian and very reasonably priced for a weeklong conference at a four-star hotel. so, he asked the president of his firm that said he would either get to go this year or next, but with friends going to mexico, disneyland, and hawaii, i'm jonesing for a little getaway of our own.

maybe i'm being selfish and shallow, but i want another vacation--somewhere fun, different, and off-the-wall. vegas, i think, is all those things. i don't hold out much hope, but if we make it there, we can make it anywhere. oops, wrong city.

the funny thing is, i've never gambled before--no slots, no card games, no nothing. i'm all about the people-watching, five-star restaurants, and free entertainment (the animatronics at the mall, bellagio fountains, etc.). and i hear the shopping ain't bad either. yay baby!

The Intoxicating Lure Of (Free) Phones

the adorable one re-upped with verizon wireless and as a result, got a spanking new shiny razor phone. it's got all kinds of neat bells and whistles and for god's sake, it's a razor phone. how cool is that? i know, super cool. because he's the primary person on our contract, he got the phone for free. if you want to call it free--but we didn't pay anything for it, so in my mind, it's free.

for me, we paid $30 and got the phone below. it's an upgrade from the one i have now, which is a little lg speaker phone that we got a couple years ago. it works just fine, but we figured since the adorable one is getting a new phone, we might as get a new one for me too. plus, this one has a camera. at first we were very resistent to camera phones--the reason being, we had a decent camera and didn't see that the quality would be there. then, we got a digital camera, which i love, love, love. the problem is, i can't take it with me everywhere and there are so many times i just wish i had a camera so i could get a shot of the sunrise, a piece of sushi, or a bird of prey.

so, we're spending $30 so i can be an amateur photographer with a cell phone. and it looks cool. and i'm all about looking cool.

this is the motorola q, in case you are not familiar with the latest object of my lust (other than the adorable one). unfortunately, it's major $$$$, so i will have to save my pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, george washingtons, and ben franklins before we invest in this baby. but oh is she a honey. why you ask? well, i'll be able to blog using it. and take pictures. and surf the internet. and send emails. too lush. too dreamy. so please excuse me while i wipe the drool from my chin.

Why Lunch Was So Dreamy . . . I Mean Yummy

Cheatin' Chicken

okay, technically this is a clip art image of a hen, but i couldn't really find the chicken image i wanted. so we're stuck with the hen, but she's a cutie, right? okay, i make this ridiculously easy recipe i wanna share, so enjoy:

4 chicken breasts
1 to 2 cups of green goddess or ranch salad dressing (maybe more or less depending on the size of the chicken breasts)
2 cups of plain bread crumbs
1 to 2 tablespoons of garlic powder, just depending if you want to ward off vampires
1 tablespoon dill
1 tablespoon rosemary
sea salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste
4 tablespoons butter

wash the chicken and pat dry. mix the bread crumbs with the herbs, salt, pepper, and garlic powder in one bowl. in another bowl pour the dressing. using an assembly line, coat the chicken in the dressing then roll in the crumbs. place in a 9 x 13 pan lined with foil and sprayed with cooking oil. repeat until all four breasts are in the pan.

i also quarter a vidalia onion and place in the four corners. i usually season them with salt, pepper, and garlic powder and drizzle with olive oil. for the chicken, dust with additional garlic powder, salt, and pepper, and top each breast with a pat of butter. cover with foil and bake in the oven for an hour at 375 degrees, or until the juices run clear.

now, the reason i call it cheatin' chicken is because it's relatively easy and it turns out pretty tasty due to the salad dressing and whichever herbs you choose to use (just use them liberally). chicken, as a rule, tends to be bland, so to make it flavorful is quite a feat in my opinion. it just seems like cheating to use salad dressing to get the desired effect versus finding a sauce or seasoning that really makes chicken taste good. but hey, it works and once the chicken is in the oven, you can do a quick clean up of the kitchen while your supper cooks.

and because you bake the chicken covered in foil, it should turn out quite juicy. which means if you're like me, you can wave buh-bye to the sahara-desert chicken days of old.

The Best Corn-on-the-Cob Ever

so i was watching tyler florence the other day on the foodnetwork as he was making one of my favorite dishes of late, yes, fried chicken. naturally, i was enthralled. but what i found really interesting is that he took corn-on-the-cob, still in the husk, put it on a baking/cooking tray and stuck them in the oven for 40 minutes at 350 degrees. that's it.

at first i was skeptical. i mean, could it really turn out that great without having to do anything to the corn? that's what i wanted to know. but then tyler mentioned that when you boil corn-on-the-cob, all the flavor ends up in the water. but if you roast the corn, the flavors are concentrated. oh that tyler, he was soooooo right. i picked up three ears on my way home, along with some other groceries including chicken breasts, got home and did exactly what tyler said to do.

and the corn, hoo wee, was the best-tasting corn i've had. it was even better than my recipe for grilled corn-on-the-cob. and the beauty of it all? it was so easy and totally yummy. just don't forget the butter!

Oh The Slippery Slope

so today was a rollercoaster of emotions. it started out bad as mr. perfect chewed me out for getting irritated with him yesterday when he sent me this ridiculous redundant email and i called him on it. i just don't think he gets it. anyway, luckily i was having an inner strength day, so i just brushed it off. then i had to deal with the cph being a total yahoo. as usual, she decided to fight me via email, which is hopeless in her case. she just doesn't have the gift of written word and she can't out-manuever me. by the time she gives up i feel better about me. which is always good.

it also helped that my supervisor assigned additional projects so hopefully i will stay busy. and i had lunch with the adorable one, which is like the highlight of my day. alright i get it, i'm a pathetic mushball.

thankfully mr. perfect is out of the office the rest of the week and i think even oscar de la grouch who also hates me is attending training, so the two people who like me the least won't be around, which in most cases reduces the likelihood of the cph showing up as there is no one to suck up to. i am now convinced, more than ever, that she is bipolar. seriously and truly, she needs medication.

and in other news, sasquatch seems to have forgiven last week's blowout. like i said, it was a topsy-turvy kind of day. hopefully, it's all downhill from here.

Well, Now We Know

You Are Lightning

Beautiful yet dangerous People will stop and watch you when you appear Even though you're capable of random violence You are best known for: your power Your dominant state: performing

What Type of Weather Are You

I'm Debbie Reynolds, But I Would Rather Be Elizabeth Taylor

ever wonder which movie star (ladies only, sorry) you are most like? well, a team of researchers got together and analyzed the 20 personalities of movie stars. the gathered has been incorporated into this quiz. there are only ten questions so it doesn't take long. please don't read ahead.

number your paper from one to ten, answer each question with the choice that most describes you at this point in your life, and then add up the points that correspond with your answers. don't look ahead or it will ruin the fun!

1. which describes your perfect date
a. candlelight dinner for two
b. amusement park
c. rollerblading in the park
d. rock concert
e. have dinner and see a movie
f. dinner at home with a loved one

i picked "e" as that's a fav of me and the adorable one.

2. what is your favorite type of music?
a. rock and roll
b. alternative
c. soft rock
d. classical
e. christian
f. jazz

i picked "b" as i like u2, genesis, peter gabriel, etc.

3. what is your favorite type of movie?
a. comedy
b. horror
c. musical
d. romance
e. documentary
f. mystery

i picked "a" as i'm a silly gal and luv to laugh.

4. which of the following jobs would you chose if you were only given these choices?
a. waiter / waitress
b. sports player
c. teacher
d. policeman
e. bartender
f. business person

i picked "b" as what a life you could as a sports player. not having a normal job would be fab-u-lous.

5. which would you rather do if you had an hour to waste?
a. work out
b. make out
c. watch tv
d. listen to the radio
e. sleep
f. read

believe it or not, i chose "f" as i really love to read and never feel like it's wasted time, like i do when i oversleep on the weekends. the adorable one will say i'm fibbing, but i would rather read than sleep.

6. of the following colors, which do you like best?
a. yellow
b. white
c. sky blue
d. teal
e. gold
f. red

i love the color red, always have. and i have to say that ever since i saw the movie "heathers" with the lead heather liking the color red, it made me like it even more. so, there you have it.

7. which of the following would you like to eat right now?
a. ice cream
b. pizza
c. sushi
d. pasta
e. salad
f. lobster tail

even me mum would know that i would choose "c" for squish!

8. which is your favorite holiday?
a. halloween
b. christmas
c. new year's
d. valentine's day
e. thanksgiving
f. fourth of july

i know the adorable one would choose halloween, but i'm a sucker for ("e") thanksgiving. i love the whole meal and the way it's about family. and that yummy meal. did i mention i find stuffing positively dreamy?

9. if you could go to any of the following places, which would it be?
a. reno
b. spain
c. las vegas
d. hawaii
e. hollywood
f. british columbia

most folks would think i would choose hollywood, but i've been there, and frankly i've always wanted to go to hawaii. let's face it, i want to be a professional beach bum and what better place than the big isle of hawaii?

10. of the following, who would you rather spend time with?
a. someone who is smart
b. someone with good looks
c. someone who is a party animal
d. someone who has fun all the time
e. someone who is very emotional
f. someone who is fun to be with

really anyone who knows me or even reads this blog would know that i would choose "f" as that is the definition of the adorable one. he is not only accidentally savvy, he is, by far, the funny one in the family.

now, total up your points on each question:

1. a=4; b=2; c=5; d=1; e=3; f=6

2. a=2; b=1; c=4; d=5; e=3; f=6

3. a=2; b=1; c=3; d=4; e=5; f=6

4. a=4; b=5; c=2; d=1; e=3; f=6

5. a=5; b=4; c=2; d=1; e=3; f=6

6. a=1; b=5; c=3; d=2; e=4; f=6

7. a=3; b=2; c=1; d=4; e=5; f=6

8. a=1; b=3; c=2; d=4; e=5; f=6

9. a=4; b=5; c=1; d=4; e=3; f=6

10. a=5; b=2; c=1; d=3; e=4; f=6

now, take your total and find out which movie star you are:

(10 to 17 points) you are madonna
you are wild and crazy and you know it. you know how to have fun, but you may take it to extremes. you know what you are doing though, and are very much in control of your own life. people always don't see things your way, but that doesn't mean you should do away with your beliefs. try to remember that your wild spirit can lead to hurting yourself and others.

(18 to 26 points) you are doris day
you are fun, friendly, and popular! you are a real crowd pleaser. you probably have been out of town your share of times, yet you come home with the values your mother taught you. marriage and children are very important to you, but only after you have fun. don't let the people you please, influence you to stray.

(27 to 34 points) you are debbie reynolds
you are cute and everyone loves you. you are a best friend that no one takes a chance of losing. you never hurt feelings and seldom have your feelings hurt. life is a breeze. you are witty and calm most of the time. just steer clear of backstabbers and you are worry free!

(35 to 42 points) you are grace kelly
you are a lover. romance, flowers, and wine are all you need to enjoy yourself. you are serious about all commitments and are a family person. you call your mom every sunday and never forget a birthday. don't let your passion for romance get in the way of the real thing.

(43 to 50 points) you are kathrine hepburn
you are smart, a real thinker. every situation is approached with a plan. you are very healthy in mind and body. you don't take crap from anyone. you have only a couple of individuals that you consider "real friends." you teach strong family values. keep your feet planted in them, but don't overlook a bad situation when it does happen.

(51 to 60 points) you are elizabeth taylor
everyone is in awe of you. you know what you want and how to get it. you have more friends than you know what to do with. your word is your bond. everyone knows when you say something it is money in the bank. you attract the opposite sex. your intelligence overwhelms most. your memory is the next thing to photogenic. everyone admires you because you are so considerate and lovable. you know how to enjoy life and treat people right.

Sadly, I Know I'll Be Addicted

to season 3 of "laguna beach." damn you mtv!

According To Nebraska Furniture Mart

we spend a third of our lives in bed asleep. at least that's what the commercial said. and we know they must be speaking the truth, right? of course, the adorable one, being not so adorable pointed out in his evil way that i spend at least 47% of my life in bed. the thing is, he just doesn't get into napping like i do. napping is genetic, you know? my whole family naps. i'm just trying to fit in with that overly skinny, waffle-addicted, cheeseburger-hating bunch. i'm trying to be part of the herd for gosh sakes!

but i'm working on my man and by the time we're 90, i'm sure he'll see it my way.

We're Having This For Friday Dinner

and i am damn stoked. yes, i know--i need more excitement in my life. i'm working on it. okay, need to work on it. alright already, i'll get on it! but doesn't the bucket 'o chicken look juicy? just ignore the adorable one chanting, "it's an instant gut bomb!" i know i am.

Okay, I Admit It

i played hookey yesterday. haven't done it in awhile. the idea of going to work and being bored off my gourd just sounded awful. i left a lame-o message for my boss saying that i was "under the weather" and wouldn't be in. naturally, i used my best sick voice. i just couldn't stomach sitting at my desk for eight hours doing not much and either making up stuff to do or reading blogs. don't get me wrong, i like to take a break at work just as much as anyone else. but i also enjoy getting a lot done. i get it, i'm a weirdo. i like to be productive, so sue me.

i used the "i got dehyrdrated" excuse when people asked. i know no one bought it, but hey, they all have work to do and are hoarding it. and i got the distinct impression that everyone was talking about me, but then again, i'm a hyper-sensitive paranoid. i just felt like odd girl out.

and i guess to make matters worse, i had to deal with both mr. perfect and his prodigy, the cph. all i needed, naturally, were just some files regarding a specific geographic location for an internal client in another division. simple, right? oh, but no. i email the files i have to the internal client and i'm sure to copy mr. perfect, the cph, and my supervisor. so then mr. perfect emails me to ask if i've contacted the cph for files for her product line. hello? the cph has been copied on all the correspondence. can she not figure out what she owes?

so i leave a very detailed voicemail message, knowing full well that she would not return my message. and i email him, explaining that i left the message and what else does he want me to do. see, this is the kind of stupidass shit i have to deal with. it's pathetic. he just doesn't get it. if the cph did her job, she would have sent me the files i needed. but she didn't. so i'm supposed to babysit her i guess. the two of them deserve each other.

and yay, it's enough to make me sick.

I've Been In A Nasty Funk Of Late

which seems dumb when i analyze it. mostly i've been bummed about being so bored at work, not having enough to do. my twin is fond of telling me no matter what marketing job she's ever had, it's never kept her busy 40 hours a week. which is especially true in our industry, which i cannot disclose as i live in fear, i hate to say, of my blog being discovered.

yes, yes, yes--i get it. i break the cardinal blogging rule about talking about work. but i spend eight hours a day there and some times i do need to vent. having to work with cabbage patch head (cph) and mr. perfect, along with the emotional basket drama queen can make what would be an average day a total suckfest. and truly, the only people that get it are the adorable one, my twin, and her husband.

anyway, i feel like there is more i can do at work and i'm running low on projects and i'm bored. and i hate that. i hate spending my day feeling like i'm reading blogs and not being productive. because i like being busy and having stuff to do and feeling productive. i get that i'm a worker bee, a drone. and most days i'm okay with it. i've accepted that i just need to stay at my desk, mind my own business, not be nosy, and focus on my work. although i have to say that lately people have been sharing all kinds of interesting bits that pique my interest. i try not to be so fascinated with the power players, the scourges, etc., but usually my gossipy side gets the better of me. let's face it--work is dull. or, okay, my work is dull.

i haven't been to the pool in two weeks as it's been so blasted hot that that water isn't refreshing. supposedly, according to our local weather boobs, a cool front is coming through and the temperatures are going to be more moderate--highs in the 80s, lows in the 60s. because we're eventually moving to florida we are prepared for the warmer temperatures. but the truth about florida is, it's more humid and it's warmer longer. that's it. there were times when my grandfather, who lived in deerfield beach, would call and say, "you know, it's hotter where you are than it is here." true enough, but the humidity in south florida (hey, it's a swamp) is thick as pea soup. all i have to do is step off the plane in the sunshine state and i start sweating, no joke.

so, where was i? oh yes, the icky funk. i think i see my 38th birthday coming up and i'm going nowhere in my career. i'm overweight an out-of-shape (my fault, i do agree, and no i haven't done dick to resolve the situation, thanks), i feel ugly and disgusting and grosss. and i don't think that my anti-depressant is doing it's job. i'm gonna say something to my doctor when i go for my appointment in a couple of weeks.

i know i'm treading over old ground here, so forgive me for sounding like the broken record that i am. i have no witty comebacks, so smart solutions, or hopeful sayings to close with. because i know, deep down, i've got so much better than a million other people and sounding like a pathetic whiner doesn't help.

some chocolate would do me good though.

These Are Pictures From Trinidad

one of my friends in another department is working for two months in this lovely locale. he's an older guy with grown kids, no pets, and a lives out a fifth wheel for a home here in town. so, it's no problem for him to pick up and go. guess rod stewart was right when he sang, "some guys have all the luck."

Our Maiden Voyage On The "Lookin Fast"

which unfortunately was rather short due to the 100+ temperature. still, the adorable one was a pro getting her in and out of the water.

Take That Cap Fed

when we started the home equity loan process what seems like six months ago (when it was like three, or maybe four weeks), we thought it would go fairly quickly and be relatively easy as we both have decent jobs, a little bit of credit card debt, retirement funds, etc. naturally, it was not that easy--first, we had to turn over two paycheck stubs, our w-2s, and our mortgage paperwork. then i get a call that goes like this:

idiot bank person: so, how much do you plan to sell your house for?

me: well, probably $190,000 - $195,000

idiot bank person: uh huh. well, how much did your house appraise for three years ago when you bought it?

me: $179,000 (please note: we paid $172,000)

idiot bank person: well, the idiot county you live in did a random appraisal this year of your house and it came in at $161,000, which hey, coincidentally, is how much you owe on the house.

me: whatttttttt? you've got to be kidding. there is nooooooooooooo way our house would appraise at $161,000.

idiot bank person: well, unless your appraisal was completed by one of the firms on our approved appraisers list, well, you'll have to get another appraisal and that's gonna run you $325.

me: whatttttt? i don't know who did our appraisal, so what are supposed to do?

idiot bank person: bring your appraisal paperwork in and i'll talk to the underwriters. maybe they will accept your appraisal.

a few hours after lunch . . . .

idiot bank person: yay, the underwriters said that because your appraisal is over two years old and not from one of our approved appraisers, you need a new appraisal. so bring the check by the bank tonight and we'll get it ordered.

me: fine.

idiot bank person: good.

me: great.

idiot bank person: okay.

me: bye.

so this is a thursday that we drop off the check, thinking that they will get the appraisal ordered for at least monday. but ooooooooh no. they don't get it scheduled until tuesday. and even though the appraisal company has not turned in their official report, they called the idiot bank, who called the adorable one.

and you know what our house appraised at, even with the gaping hole in the backyard, the unfinished floors, the exterior that needs to be painted, and the driveway that needs a fresh coat of asphalt?

drum roll please . . . $190,000. yup, we've done nada to the house except paint the office, put in a new ceiling fan, and install some new faux wood blinds. that's about it. somehow, through choosing a decent neighborhood, the house has thankfully appreciated. with the improvements planned, we may sell it for even more than we had originally planned.

which just goes to show you two things:

1. bank mortgage people are a total pain-in-the-ass and know nothing about house appraisals

2. alls well that ends well does come true

It's Got Tons Of Detail

which may explain why it's 16 cds. and i'm only on disc #6 after what seems like having it for two weeks, already in my car. just glad i'm not slogging through the text as i'm not sure i would have made it. bless the folks that came up with this ingenious idea.

We're Almost Through The Chute, I Think

so we had the appraisal completed yesterday, which was the last piece that we owed the bank for our home equity loan to fill in the pool (depression, but it's time) and pay off our credit cards. it's going to be a very good thing in the long run, especially from the perspective that we won't have this gaping hole in our backyard and by consolidating our debt we'll be saving money. it's a win-win situation. and truthfully, the pool would have been bath water (or warmer) because of the heat wave summer.

more than anything, i'm glad we finally are taking care of things that are long overdue. we put this off for far too long. it was easier to just ignore it and hope that it would fix itself or go away. but that's not real life. the backyard is not going to ever look the way it did when we bought it. but when we plant sod next spring or put in a small patio, maybe brick, it's going to be nice.

so, in the next few weeks we'll bid adieu to the reason we originally bought the house. and maybe get inspired to get more projects done. and in the famous words of a hilarious episode of the magnificent seven, "who can say what the day will bring?" with a fresh coat of paint on the outside, refinished hardwood floors, and a newly asphalted driveway, we may decide to stay.

Nobody Puts Baby In A Corner

i had a really crapola day at the office. i intensely dislike personal conflict and am always trying to minimize it. i usually apologize for stuff that is not my fault and try to be extremely accomodating. i never want to step on toes, land in mud, or hurt anyone's feelings. on the flipside, i am noone's doormat. and if perceive to be unjustly accused of something, watch out. because that's the exact type of thing that gets my blood boiling and the dander up. i hate, hate, hate being tagged for something i had no part in. so if you wanna piss me off, that's the quickest way to it.

this morning i received an email from a project manager that needed files, which should have been stored on the server last week. so i emailed the project manager and explained that we would send the files when the person responsible completed the upload and copied that person. while i have liked this person, she's an emotional basketcase drama queen who always has some kind of crisis going on and is very moody.

remember when i wrote about how stephen covey says you should make your own weather--essentially you determine your own moods and attitudes. well, she doesn't prescribe to that theory. instead, if it's raining or gray or gloomy, she's blue and depressed. the thing is, you decide how you are going to feel every day. it's that simple.

okay, so i stop by about an 1 1/2 hours after my original request to her. i can hear her talking and as it turns out, she's on the phone. and i can tell she's pissed. so i go back to my cube and then return about 25 minutes later as i want to confirm that the files have been uploaded, so i can send them onto the project manager. now, she's talking quietly to a coworker and when she turns to see, i get the most hateful look.

so, i once again return to my desk. i finally checked the server and found the files were uploaded, except for a few, and send the ones on to the project manager. and that really should have been the end of it. but of course, it wasn't. i get this email from her saying that she had sent the files to the project manager (and essentially not told me), which was stupid as it looked like we were not in communication. our job is to take care of the client and i think she loses sight of that.

okay, so i email her back saying that i sensed some frustration on her end and would she like to clear the air. of course, i do not get a reply. so, i continue on hoping that she'll finish uploading the remainder of the files. when that doesn't happen, i leave a voicemail and send an email because at this point i can't trust her to do her job.

finally after lunch, i stop by and talk with her coworker, a really cool guy that i like a lot. they are friends, but he was very decent and mentioned some stuff to me. i hate having to ask people to get involved, but some times i need information that i cannot get on my own. anyway, the file i need is finally uploaded and i email her to thank her and mention that we will probably revise files tomorrow and would she be available to help (as i don't know her workload).

this was not the thing to send because she sent this heinous reply about how she would carry through her responsibilities. notice, that is not what i asked. i asked if she had time to work on it. so being a butthead, i go over there to clear the air. again, bad idea. i tried to talk with her and she just lit into me. gave me all this crap about the emails i sent first thing this morning and then the follow up. blah, blah, blah.

for once, instead of immediately apologizing and backing down and cowtowing, i gave it right back. i stood up for myself and threw it right back at her. hell, it's not my fault that she didn't do her job. and i'm not gonna apologize for that.

so, we're done. kaput. finished. we're both stubborn and head-strong. she's not going to back off from her position and neither am i. the hard part is that she sucks up to everyone and people love her because she's all sugery to them. and no one else, of course, has a problem with her. but me. so i look like the bad guy and the problem child. i hate that.

i am supposed to use her as a resource, but i am not going to do it because every time i let my guard down she burns me. and i know she thinks i'm an easy target because i've allowed her to use me as a whipping post previously. i'm just beyond that. i know, unfortunatley, this is going to cause me problems.

but the bottom line, as i see it, is that nobody puts baby (that's me) in a corner. nobody.

Our New Weekend Mode Of Transportation



decals created and printed by the adorable one's little brother.

Awesome Cloudscape Courtesy Of The Adorable One

How To Find Me

just type in "costco tortilla rollup sandwiches" and here i am. who knew it was this easy?

I Liked Being Off The Grid

i turned off my cellphone on friday and didn't turn it back on until sunday on our way home. and in that time, my mom left me four voicemail messages--two on saturday and two on sunday. now i know there's gonna come a day when i won't be able to talk to my mom and i will regret it. i know it. i just wish it wasn't such a pain to tell her not to call every day. the truth is, my life is one big ball of dull.

in fact, unless i'm fired up about mr. perfect or cabbage patch head, i usually don't have a whole lot to say. speaking of those two, they spent the better part of an hour jacking their jaws. which is kinda strange considering those two are always blubbering about how busy they are. whatever.

back to phone calls. i know it would hurt her feelings to tell her that we don't need to talk every day. i don't know why, but it would. the thing is, i've got take advantage of our talks--just wish there was more to say. but she shuts me out of a lot of stuff. i have to hear about things like her oesteroposis shots and her staying at her school district from my sister. i'm like the last one to know about anything, which is weird because i'm the only kid left living in town.

but that's the way it's always been. she's always had this incredible relationship with my sister, who is exactly like her. maybe that's why they are such good friends and i'm like the third wheel. it never gets easier i can tell you that. my mom and i have shields a thousand feet thick. mostly because we've hurt each other.

and it was nice, really nice to be what felt like out of cell phone range. which i wasn't. but that didn't change the fact that i felt like i was not reachable. and i liked it. a lot.

Things That Made Us Smile In Yuma

the adorable one (trying to snap the ever-elusive little ole me) with his stepdad, paul

the mischievous two together

the adorable one and his mom, darlene (a total sweetheart)

the adorable one with his grandpa harry, who designed and built the house we stayed in

my cutie patootie with his awesome folks (i wish my parents were as cool)

they look soooo innocent, but don't be fooled!

real wildlife! we saw two sets of deer on saturday night, plus pheasants