I need a vacation

This last weekend was busy. I got up to take my truck in at 7:30 in the morning to get the clutch replaced. Joseph picked me up and we took the cats to the vet. He then had an appointment with the dermatologist (warts, gross). After that we had some time to clean house, pick up my truck, and then go to a baby shower. We left the baby shower to meet an old friend, Meghan, and her new boyfriend Rich.

We ended up going to this restaurant that everyone had raved about. I expected it to be a fancy sit-down.

Well, you definitely sit down.

Joseph had called ahead to try and make some reservations. He got laughed at. Our puzzlement vanished as soon as we walked in.

Imagine a very dirty cafeteria. It was a shocking experience, but the food was good and the company was great, so we couldn't complain much.

The bathroom was interesting. One stall was out of order, so the only one that could be used was the large handicap stall. I was surprised to see a door to the outside in the stall. I was so busy pondering the door that I didn't notice the mirror until I sat down. Yes, I had a full view of myself. On the toilet. It was awkward. I couldn't meet my own eyes.

This week has been a little crazy too. At work I have a project that's taking a lot of time and I'm training someone who transferred into the department. I also had a run-in with a coworker who is a stranger. I was going down the escalator to lunch and he yelled at me, "Hey! I saw you at Home Depot!" I just started at him, not knowing how to respond and trying to figure out if I should know him. I'm pretty sure I would have remembered that monstrous mustache. He then went on to say, "I'm surprised you guys have a life outside of work!" I had no response. I continued to stare as the escalator took me down very slowly.

My department is fairly small, and we have a pretty good visibility to certain areas. I've given presentations to large groups and I can be seen regularly with people from my department. I joke that we are celebrities. (I do not mean that in a vain way. It's just that a lot of people know who we are, but we have no clue who they are. Or they remember when we last interacted with them when we have a hard time placing them. Not because we're arrogant, but because we can't remember one person from the other 500.) But being spotted outside of work and then yelled at on the escalator was a new experience for me.

Outside of work I've started going to the gym. I read in Reader's Digest (after Meghan told me about it, I'm not the only one who reads Reader's Digest and it is not an old woman magazine!) that you start to lose 2% of your memory functionality every year, but aerobic exercise halts the loss. One of these days I just might not tell the same story to the same person three times. I don't know if I appreciate it when they just smile and nod or if I should be indignant, because they probably didn't remember the story. (Memory loss or no, I'm still pretty sure I should have recognized that mustache.)

Last night we were leaving the store around 8:00 when Joseph mentioned that he would just be getting off work with his old job. I thought about everything I had already done after getting off work. I went to the gym, came home and checked my Facebook, had dinner while watching The Office with Joseph. Took a shower, practiced my violin, kicked myself for slacking on my Spanish, and then told Joseph we needed to to go to the store to pick up fruit. I am so glad he doesn't have that job anymore.

Very productive, very tiring. Maybe I should hope to get picked for jury duty so I can just sit for awhile and not do much. Maybe it will turn out to be a gift, considering I got the summons in the mail on Christmas Eve. Nice timing.

Put it into perspective

A few coworkers and I were out to lunch and two of them started complaining about some changes that were being made to our benefits.

Our health benefits are still better than most companies. Our retirement benefits freaking rock. Our Paid Time Off is rocking awesome. We get bonuses. But they were irritated that our health benefits were changing slightly and they would have to pay more.

These are two people who have very nice cars and cell phones and go out to eat at nice restaurants without batting an eye.

And they started talking about decreasing their donation to United Way, which our company supports.

Because apparently the reduction in benefits was negatively affecting them. So they are going to take it out on people less fortunate than them.

Of course I said something. You know me. I tend to offend people by saying what I think. About how there are people out there in need and we need to appreciate what we have and it's our job to help those people and shut up about the benefit changes already.

One coworker turned to me and said, "Yeah, but you're Mormon, so you're happier than most people."

The Shed. For Reals.

The Shed

Oh, you think this is going to be a post about my shed? Showing how we put it together and proudly displaying the final product?

Nope.

We went to buy the shed. After having our eye on it for six months, saving, measuring it so that the foundation would be the right size. We got to Home Depot and.....it was $150 more.

GARRRRRRRRDSALKDMNPFFFFFTSTIIIIIIINK.

Do we wait for it to go on sale? Do we look for another shed? Do we suck it up and pay the exra $150 (my least favorite option)? I find myself with a Saturday and no project.

It feels weird.

****Update 12-20-11

We have found a similar shed for the original price at Lowe's. YES. We don't have enough daylight to put it up, but we snatched that baby up as fast as we found it.

Take that Home Depot! I've always been a Lowe's customer anyway. Pfffft.

Adventures of Brat Cat

Our baby cat Lilly is a trouble maker. She is very social and loves to be near us. She reminds me of a two year old who feels like she's not getting enough attention so she does things that are naughty. She is still feisty like a kitten.

The other day we caught her in the tree.

This is one of her favorite activities. When J is sitting in his chair on his computer, she licks his head.


Here is my other cat Marley. She's more like a teenager. She sulks and doesn't like people, but when she's in a good mood she'll come over for a cuddle. She thinks her little sister Lilly is annoying, and Lilly just adores her.

Do you notice the bump in the rug? I did not do that. J did not do that.

It's Lilly's new toy.

She is so weird, and yet so entertaining.

Water Heater

Hot Water Heater was only with us a short time. While he was with us I didn't really appreciate him. I could get two inches of hot water in the bath until it turned ice cold. But he was old, and needed to retire.

Plus he started leaking.

I called out to the FaceBook community for a recommended plumber. Joseph and I are DIY, but we know our limitations. When it has labels on it showing the different ways things can explode, we call in the experts. Luckily my mom saw my post and called in the Expert Dad. I try not to bug him. The man works really hard and has eight girls (and one boy, but the Marine son pretty much takes care of himself). I really appreciate my Dad taking one of his days off to come show us how to take care of things.

Good bye Crusty. You won't be missed.

I probably won't be messing with fire or solder anytime soon. That will definitely be a Joseph job. Since I can't even put something in the oven without burning myself.

The new heater is glorious. Glorious!!! I can get a full bath of scalding water. I turn pink and pruny and it's heaven.

Isn't my Dad a handsome man? I have a picture of him and my Mom up at work. One of my coworkers walked by and asked, "Why is your Mom standing next to Tom Selleck?"

When I count my blessings my parents are top of the list, next to my Love J.

Foundation for the shed

We haven't even bought the shed yet. But we have one picked out.

We started last weekend. It took all. freaking. day. To just dig out the rocks (with a little dirt mixed in), put down the gravel and the sand. We finished the pavers today.

And even though these are only photos of Joseph, I did the work too. I just don't do my hair or put any make-up on since I have to shower after anyway, so no way am I going to be in the photos. My luck I would end up viral on the internet with some sarcastic caption regarding my likeness to a zombie.

One of the videos we checked out suggested laying down one inch PVC pipe to help you level it out. Brilliant.
You take the pipe out, we just hadn't gotten around to it.

I can't believe a small section of 8' x 8' pavers was so much work.
Look at that handsome man. Go ahead and take some time to admire the photo. Just remember that he's taken, and it's going to stay that way.

If Joseph and I ever get around to having children, I hope I have a little boy with his heartbreaker smile.